By Joni Carley, DMin

Essential Commons is a field for negotiating what James Quilligan calls “…our mutual commons – the dynamic interrelationship of human subjectivity and material substance,” (Kosmos Journal. Spring/Summer 2013).

As policies and practices are beginning to better account for the commonality of our materiality, it’s critical that we also account for the intangible drivers of our subjective choices. As the integral space of our commons concerns, essential commons is a domain for accessing the fundamentals of the interdependence between self and all else. Essential commons is a model for inquiry into the axiology (values), metaphysics (causality), and ontology (nature of being) of the transformative impulse toward commons consciousness.

In the spirit of statistician George Box who said, “all models are wrong, some are useful,” essential commons theory breaks down into civil commons, spiritual commons and universal commons:

As the domain where subjectivities come together, our civic spaces are where we interact in or out of accordance with our common interests. Civil commons grounds the civic dialog in norms for happiness and wellness. It’s a domain of inquiry into the behaviors required for life to thrive, including consideration of programs, economics, policy, law, resource management, opportunity, nourishment, dignity, connectivity…

Spiritual commons makes sacred space in the commons conversation as a domain of inquiry into the life-force that is unique in each of us and common to all. It is a clearing for inter- and trans-denominational dialog, visionary impulses, wisdom traditions, humanism, metaphysics, spiritual insight, as well as renewal, vibes, and mojo. Spiritual commons is a domain for syncing up our inner GPS’s toward negotiating all of our commons in Golden Rule compliance, a central concept in every major religion and ethical system.

Scientists agree that we only understand about 5% of our reality – that 95% of what’s so in the universe is, in some ways, a common frontier while in other ways it is the ultimate common ground from which everything occurs. The universal commons is a domain for wrestling with the majority mystery we’re a part of. It is a realm for exploring consciousness, energy, volition, provision, evolution, dimensions beyond space and time, anomalies, and the as-yet-to-be-discovered.

As we re-negotiate our relationships with shared resources, the essential commons are a domain for conscious evolution of the commonality of our deepest resourcefulness.

About this Kosmos Reader:

As an expert in progressive leadership, Dr. Joni Carley co-authored Stepping Stones to Success, Vol 1, with Deepak Chopra, Jack Canfield and Dr. Denis Waitley. Her talks, workshops, and moderation at the United Nations have been commended by Global Vision Institute for her “authenticity, ease of engagement, and dynamic human connection that generates real impact.” Joni presented a short philosophical piece at the Gross National Happiness USA Conference in Vermont Here’s the link to it: Seed of Happiness Pecha Kucha (20 slides, 20 seconds per slide, 6.5 min).  www.twitter.com/jonicarley