The Beguine Project
Creating Safety Nets for and by women serves as the “working focus” of the Beguine Project. We gather to create and support the development of women’s communities. We honor the experience of the 13th century Beguines of Europe as a model for the creation of successful lifestyles; economically, socially, and spiritually. Affirming women’s sensibilities, we gather to dream women’s communities into being through mutual support, laughter, and celebration as we age.
Contact for the Beguine Project: |
| Morgana Morgaine |
| 828-277-9504 |
mk(at)mekilkenny.com | morgainem(at)bellsouth.net |
Members of ElderSpirit Extension Program – www.elderspirit.net For more information about the Beguine Culture: http://www.wnc-woman.com/0604beguine
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BEGUINE PROJECT, GO TO:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/beguineproject/ |
Beguine Culture and Legacy
| The Beguine’s Then | Women Seeking Community Now |
Social | - “Wily Women” - independent minded visionaries
- Eager to live in “grouped” communities of diverse structures
- Large urban populations of single women
- Caring, mutual support, simplicity and independence
- Reinvention of women’s options in secular world
- “Spontaneous” movement: no founder/no centralized leadership
| - Golden Girls, Ya Ya’s, Boomers
- Multiple models: co-housing; shared housing; apartments; etc.
- 51% of women age 50 and over living solo
- Honoring of both independence as well as inter-dependence
- Mutual support, a caring culture, and celebration of aging
- Widespread interest in “alternative living options”
|
Health | - Beguine community provided financial support for health care of their members
- Community involvement in the health and welfare its own
| - “It takes a village” to care for our own
- Re-defining the adventure of aging
- Consciously celebrating a “good death”
|
Economic | - Intention to create safety nets for single women not supported by other societal structures
- Sustainable financial practices: “Beguine takes care of Beguine”
- Desire to maintain personal income and possessions balanced with shared resources
- Cottage industries thrived
| - 51% of women over 50 “flying solo” designing and implementing communal safety nets
- Desire to maintain personal income and possessions balanced with shared resources
- Affordable models of living: fun, celebratory, & sustainable
- “Have laptop will travel” women working for and with women!
|
Spiritual | - Deep commitment to spiritually creative life
- Shared daily practices supporting a “soulful” life
| - Respect and honoring of all spiritual paths
- Soulful living: weaving the fabric of a meaningful life
|
