What is The Eden Movement and New Edenism? 2
Ancient wisdom using plants, herbs and vibrations to heal and be heathy are welcomed, however only practices based on scientific fact are encouraged. Any practice, be it tarot cards, fortune telling, or any unscientific method that seeks to ‘provide answers’ to vulnerable people do not belong in Eden. Instead, fellowship and support should provide the emotional security for those seeking answers they may need through personal growth. Beliefs involving God, gods, superstition, tradition, the occult and so on should remain personal to the individual and not become part of an Edenist doctrine. Practice of religious or spiritual rituals at gatherings may not be experienced as inclusive and could alienate rather encourage togetherness, but discussing faith and the issues that surround them is welcomed for as long as those debating remain respectful to personal belief systems.. Edenism is not a cult and members are encouraged to see faith as individual choice, not a prescribed doctrine for all to adhere to. The same principle applies to those with particularly strong opinions on vaccines and Covid; everyone is entitled to do their own research and make their own decisions but must remain kind, even when someone else’s logic seems flawed. Discussing evidence with an open mind and willingness to ‘follow the money’ to see who is behind certain narratives will help us to take more pragmatic and less emotive positions when trying to uncover the truth.
The movement rejects toxic consumerism and supporters aim to lose the desire to own the latest gadgets, travel unnecessarily or support industries that still rely on fossil fuels or animal products. Edenists believe that desiring less frees up individuals to be more time rich, less anxious and more united as we grow food together and support each other. The power of supply and demand is not to be underestimated and Edenists believe that personal choices made with kindness will shift the collective consciousness beyond the need to vote out current political regimes; they will simply become less powerful. Until our government start listening to what really needs to be done to halt climate change, Edenists will not sit around waiting, and are forming in numbers ready to resolve the issues ourselves; it begins by setting aside our differences and focussing on what we need to happen and how we can achieve it with or without assistance.
Edenists understand that society has grown up around many lies and that history books, advertisements, political agendas and current educational curriculums should be questioned on every level. Truth is more important than political agenda.
Edenists do not believe in wasting resources on pomp and ceremony and weddings are simple affairs usually in nature. The same ethos is applied to funerals, with Edenists believing we should decompose naturally so that our bodies become part of the eco-system. Sacred forests where people can be buried are preferable to cemeteries.
Like Quakers, Edenists do not believe that any one day is more ‘holy’ than the next and nor are certain people to be considered more important than anyone else. True enlightenment is considered a humbling experience and therefore facilitators, administrators, ministers, missionaries, charismatic speakers, and pioneers furthering the Eden Movement consider themselves servants to a cause bigger than themselves. By removing power from the people who seek it, the world is far less likely to be run by narcissists, sociopaths and dangerous psychopaths who will always attempt to charm their way into power with lie upon lie. True mentorship comes from a yearning for justice and equality for all, especially for those unable to obtain it for themselves. The sharing of skills alongside the willingness to give whatever you have even if that is only your time is valued in Eden far more than qualifications or financial equity. In other words, a person’s worth is measured by their intentions and actions and not how financially ‘successful’ or academically gifted they are considered in modern society. Those with money help those without until such time that money is not the commodity by which we trade with.
There are no churches in Edenism. Meetings take place in nature wherever possible, or failing that, in people’s homes and local community buildings. Meetings generally follow the format of bringing and sharing vegan food, followed by the discussion of important issues after which there may be music, singing and dance. Edenists are inclusive to all and seek to meet the additional needs of neurodiverse and differently abled people and will always endeavour to find ways to make everyone comfortable, whether that means providing a safe space at meetings or holding smaller gatherings for people easily overwhelmed by large groups. Simple agreed sign language with appointed facilitators as used in Extinction Rebellion meetings are welcomed techniques to keep group activities kind to all and give everyone a voice. Non-violent communication techniques are incorporated, and conflict resolution has agreed stages and protocols to follow so that win-win options are explored over compromises.
Edenists will often meet in nature for camp-outs, conservation projects and gatherings. Participants are encouraged to take their shoes off, connect with nature and practice meditation and mindfulness. Such Groundations are good opportunities to share wisdom and make plans around campfires with singing, dancing and the sharing of cruelty-free food. There are no single use plastics, drugs, alcohol or meat or animal products, at these events so as to be as planet conscious as possible and fully inclusive to all. When feeding large groups of people, plant based, gluten free and preferably organic and seasonal food is considered the most logical and cost effective way to ensure everyone is catered for; after all even the most addicted carnist can enjoy a plant based meal when attending an event. Edenists will always leave a green space free of litter after any gathering and Groundation organisers will carefully choose locations that will not have a detrimental effect on the delicate eco-systems that occur in natural environments.
As an antidote to modern narcissistic conditioning, Edenists prefer to reject society’s ‘norm’ as to what is considered attractive and instead embrace inner beauty. The patriarchal stance that women, men and children should look a certain way is rejected and many opt for ways of living that are not gender specific. Equality between the sexes is paramount. There is no place for toxic masculinity, warmongering, misogyny or discrimination in Eden.
Edenists do not subscribe to the opinions of current mainstream media and reject the idea that people should be ashamed of their bodies, their hair, their size, their colour or any of their imperfections. Differences are celebrated not vilified. Advertising should not seek to shame people into buying products, but if individuals seek to dress a certain way to convey their personalities or preferences then no-one should be judged for their choices. Fashion should be about personal expression and not a uniform that genders are expected to conform to. Toxic masculinity and anti-feminist ideology are not welcome in Eden, but instead everyone is encouraged to freely express themselves and their needs. Whilst it is unlikely that any infrastructure for living alongside each other will meet everybody’s needs, a society based on kindness will have measures in place to help people struggling to find happiness and acceptance.
Edenists are aware of the power of language and will seek to convey truths in ways that do not offend but instead speak the truth with kindness and love at its core. Certain words are emotive to many, so whilst free expression and truth is paramount, Edenists are encouraged to pose questions rather than make accusations and to make first person statements about how they feel rather than apportion blame.
Anyone can implement Edenist principles into their lives – it is open to all, but for those who wish to adopt the movement as a way of self-identifying, facilitators can help by running free downloadable mentorship ‘Evolve’ courses in their homes, workplaces or community buildings. The courses usually following the format of a sharing a planet conscious meal followed by the delivery of a discussion based course based on self-reflection, choices and kindness. The course finishes with a pledge to adhere to the code of ethics wherever it is possible to do so for those who wish to commit. Where possible, the mentee will become the mentor and host a course from their home or place of work to help further the cause. The course is available as a free downloadable resource to all schools, clubs, workplaces and colleges as a way to combat inequality and bullying as well as educating people about kindness, empathy and climate change regardless of whether they are signing up to join the movement.
Please note that there are various other definitions of Edenism currently being used and any similarities between those and this code of ethics are purely co-incidental. Victor Isaken’s Conspiracy Theory on the ancestry of man and Peter F Hamilton’s ‘The Night’s Dawn Trilogy’ are not in any way connected to the Eden Movement. There is a Christian church of Edenism, but again, they are not affiliated with New Edenism. It has also been noted that the use of the word ‘Eden’ may be emotive to some because of anti-feminist bible stories in Christian theology. Supporters are urged not to focus on what is just one of a few definitions in dictionaries of the word Eden but instead embrace the philosophy contained herein. These are new times and supporters are urged to find the truth that resonates from the central ethics of the movement and not get caught up in subjective semantics.
Everyone is invited to support the movement whether or not you wish to call yourself an Edenist. It is understood that not everyone will resonate with every ethic explored in this current manuscript which should change over time if it is to evolve with us. This is not written in stone. To have your say on where you think the code of ethics could be improved, feel free to contact us or bring it up at gatherings and Groundations as valid points of discussion, as what is relevant at the time of writing this first edition may well be different to when a new supporter joins the movement.
First Edition February 2020
The movement rejects toxic consumerism and supporters aim to lose the desire to own the latest gadgets, travel unnecessarily or support industries that still rely on fossil fuels or animal products. Edenists believe that desiring less frees up individuals to be more time rich, less anxious and more united as we grow food together and support each other. The power of supply and demand is not to be underestimated and Edenists believe that personal choices made with kindness will shift the collective consciousness beyond the need to vote out current political regimes; they will simply become less powerful. Until our government start listening to what really needs to be done to halt climate change, Edenists will not sit around waiting, and are forming in numbers ready to resolve the issues ourselves; it begins by setting aside our differences and focussing on what we need to happen and how we can achieve it with or without assistance.
Edenists understand that society has grown up around many lies and that history books, advertisements, political agendas and current educational curriculums should be questioned on every level. Truth is more important than political agenda.
Edenists do not believe in wasting resources on pomp and ceremony and weddings are simple affairs usually in nature. The same ethos is applied to funerals, with Edenists believing we should decompose naturally so that our bodies become part of the eco-system. Sacred forests where people can be buried are preferable to cemeteries.
Like Quakers, Edenists do not believe that any one day is more ‘holy’ than the next and nor are certain people to be considered more important than anyone else. True enlightenment is considered a humbling experience and therefore facilitators, administrators, ministers, missionaries, charismatic speakers, and pioneers furthering the Eden Movement consider themselves servants to a cause bigger than themselves. By removing power from the people who seek it, the world is far less likely to be run by narcissists, sociopaths and dangerous psychopaths who will always attempt to charm their way into power with lie upon lie. True mentorship comes from a yearning for justice and equality for all, especially for those unable to obtain it for themselves. The sharing of skills alongside the willingness to give whatever you have even if that is only your time is valued in Eden far more than qualifications or financial equity. In other words, a person’s worth is measured by their intentions and actions and not how financially ‘successful’ or academically gifted they are considered in modern society. Those with money help those without until such time that money is not the commodity by which we trade with.
There are no churches in Edenism. Meetings take place in nature wherever possible, or failing that, in people’s homes and local community buildings. Meetings generally follow the format of bringing and sharing vegan food, followed by the discussion of important issues after which there may be music, singing and dance. Edenists are inclusive to all and seek to meet the additional needs of neurodiverse and differently abled people and will always endeavour to find ways to make everyone comfortable, whether that means providing a safe space at meetings or holding smaller gatherings for people easily overwhelmed by large groups. Simple agreed sign language with appointed facilitators as used in Extinction Rebellion meetings are welcomed techniques to keep group activities kind to all and give everyone a voice. Non-violent communication techniques are incorporated, and conflict resolution has agreed stages and protocols to follow so that win-win options are explored over compromises.
Edenists will often meet in nature for camp-outs, conservation projects and gatherings. Participants are encouraged to take their shoes off, connect with nature and practice meditation and mindfulness. Such Groundations are good opportunities to share wisdom and make plans around campfires with singing, dancing and the sharing of cruelty-free food. There are no single use plastics, drugs, alcohol or meat or animal products, at these events so as to be as planet conscious as possible and fully inclusive to all. When feeding large groups of people, plant based, gluten free and preferably organic and seasonal food is considered the most logical and cost effective way to ensure everyone is catered for; after all even the most addicted carnist can enjoy a plant based meal when attending an event. Edenists will always leave a green space free of litter after any gathering and Groundation organisers will carefully choose locations that will not have a detrimental effect on the delicate eco-systems that occur in natural environments.
As an antidote to modern narcissistic conditioning, Edenists prefer to reject society’s ‘norm’ as to what is considered attractive and instead embrace inner beauty. The patriarchal stance that women, men and children should look a certain way is rejected and many opt for ways of living that are not gender specific. Equality between the sexes is paramount. There is no place for toxic masculinity, warmongering, misogyny or discrimination in Eden.
Edenists do not subscribe to the opinions of current mainstream media and reject the idea that people should be ashamed of their bodies, their hair, their size, their colour or any of their imperfections. Differences are celebrated not vilified. Advertising should not seek to shame people into buying products, but if individuals seek to dress a certain way to convey their personalities or preferences then no-one should be judged for their choices. Fashion should be about personal expression and not a uniform that genders are expected to conform to. Toxic masculinity and anti-feminist ideology are not welcome in Eden, but instead everyone is encouraged to freely express themselves and their needs. Whilst it is unlikely that any infrastructure for living alongside each other will meet everybody’s needs, a society based on kindness will have measures in place to help people struggling to find happiness and acceptance.
Edenists are aware of the power of language and will seek to convey truths in ways that do not offend but instead speak the truth with kindness and love at its core. Certain words are emotive to many, so whilst free expression and truth is paramount, Edenists are encouraged to pose questions rather than make accusations and to make first person statements about how they feel rather than apportion blame.
Anyone can implement Edenist principles into their lives – it is open to all, but for those who wish to adopt the movement as a way of self-identifying, facilitators can help by running free downloadable mentorship ‘Evolve’ courses in their homes, workplaces or community buildings. The courses usually following the format of a sharing a planet conscious meal followed by the delivery of a discussion based course based on self-reflection, choices and kindness. The course finishes with a pledge to adhere to the code of ethics wherever it is possible to do so for those who wish to commit. Where possible, the mentee will become the mentor and host a course from their home or place of work to help further the cause. The course is available as a free downloadable resource to all schools, clubs, workplaces and colleges as a way to combat inequality and bullying as well as educating people about kindness, empathy and climate change regardless of whether they are signing up to join the movement.
Please note that there are various other definitions of Edenism currently being used and any similarities between those and this code of ethics are purely co-incidental. Victor Isaken’s Conspiracy Theory on the ancestry of man and Peter F Hamilton’s ‘The Night’s Dawn Trilogy’ are not in any way connected to the Eden Movement. There is a Christian church of Edenism, but again, they are not affiliated with New Edenism. It has also been noted that the use of the word ‘Eden’ may be emotive to some because of anti-feminist bible stories in Christian theology. Supporters are urged not to focus on what is just one of a few definitions in dictionaries of the word Eden but instead embrace the philosophy contained herein. These are new times and supporters are urged to find the truth that resonates from the central ethics of the movement and not get caught up in subjective semantics.
Everyone is invited to support the movement whether or not you wish to call yourself an Edenist. It is understood that not everyone will resonate with every ethic explored in this current manuscript which should change over time if it is to evolve with us. This is not written in stone. To have your say on where you think the code of ethics could be improved, feel free to contact us or bring it up at gatherings and Groundations as valid points of discussion, as what is relevant at the time of writing this first edition may well be different to when a new supporter joins the movement.
First Edition February 2020
26-30, F
