18th Jun 2024 Gemini 1.5 Pro
Jessica Flore Angel, an architect with a passion for utopian communities, embarked on her journey with Feÿ in 2016. Disillusioned by the growing urban-rural divide and inspired by her time at the Embassy Network in California, she sought to create a space that bridged these worlds. She purchased a dilapidated 17th-century chateau in rural Burgundy, France, envisioning it as a "laboratory for the world of tomorrow."
And I completely fell in love with it. I think at this stage, it's like you can think of all the post-rational for buying a chateau. But to be honest, you don't own a chateau. Chateau owns you.
Initially relying on bootstrapping and personal funds, Jessica began hosting events to breathe life back into the chateau and its surrounding land. These ranged from art festivals and spiritual retreats to village gatherings and even a gypsy wedding. This eclectic mix reflects Jessica's belief in the power of diverse communities and cross-pollination of ideas.
Feÿ distinguishes itself as a matriarchal space, with women playing leading roles in its governance and operation. Jessica acknowledges that while not a perfect solution, this structure fosters a sense of trust and encourages a more collaborative approach.
And I think... for the longest time because it was like collective governance, everybody is equal. Well, that's not true. Not everybody is equal.
Jessica believes in acknowledging the inherent power dynamics within communities. She advocates for rotating leadership and encourages members to make strong proposals, fostering an environment where individuals feel empowered to step forward and contribute.
Despite its diverse and ever-evolving community, Feÿ experiences surprisingly little conflict. Jessica attributes this to a shared ethos of "the map is not the territory," emphasizing the importance of open communication and recognizing that individual perspectives shape reality.
But I think the general culture is the following, which is the map is not the territory. I think if there's something that unites all the people that have been drawn to FEH is people that have been good at navigating the box but don't want to exist within the box.
Central to Feÿ's philosophy is the concept of "extitution," coined by community member Primavera de'Filippi. Extitution recognizes the limitations of traditional institutional lenses in understanding complex social dynamics. It encourages awareness of the fluid, informal relationships that influence decision-making and interactions within communities.
Feÿ's programming is intentionally diverse, emerging organically from the interests and passions of its community members. Nevertheless, several key themes run through its workshops, retreats, and events. One focuses on the ethical implications of technology, particularly artificial intelligence.
And so it's like obviously integrating fun with um serious things um and so that's one track um which obviously will link to web 3 and and all of these debates around you know what feels right or not and and when are we kind of fooling ourselves and and also what are all the amazing potentiality around um certain advancements in the technological world.
Another explores well-being from individual to planetary scales, recognizing the interconnectedness of personal health, community support, and environmental health. Addressing climate change through local and global action is also paramount, with Feÿ actively supporting eco-activism and sustainable living practices.
Feÿ recognizes the importance of both physical and digital spaces in fostering community. While technology allows for connection and coordination across geographical boundaries, Jessica emphasizes the irreplaceable value of face-to-face interaction and connection with nature.
And I think the only danger by an extreme metaverse is that you forget how to connect with the beauty of the real, right? And of the earth. And I think it's just about finding that sweet spot.
She sees Feÿ as a "home base" for digitally connected nomads, offering a grounding space for recharging and reconnecting with the physical world.
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