A residence for project creators in the heart of the mountains
A look back from the 2024 Summer Camp “Giving body and roots to our dreams”.
This article is an attempt to bridge Inner and Outer Permaculture. On the Inner side, I explore emotions, feelings, communication, motivation, and self-worth, as well as the process of setting aside self-sabotaging strategies.
I hope that one day, Permaculture will also be recognized as an evolution in thoughtware — transforming how we relate to reality, the universe, plants, animals, and the care of our planet, as true Planetary Gardeners would.
Despite dedicating an entire day to Earth Care — making it a prioritized songline in last year’s Dragon Dreaming organization — we struggled to find time for individual projects during the Summer Camp I describe in this article. Yet, the projects presented here offer a glimpse into what has been unfolding.
To me, this is a celebration of Earth Care, People Care, and Care for Possibilities (also known as Fair Share). If self-observation is a strong theme in this article — aligning with David Holmgren’s first Permaculture principle, Observe and Interact — then his second principle, Catch and Store Energy, is reflected in the many projects that emerged. The process of coming together could be seen as an expression of principle eight, Integrate Rather Than Segregate, as we welcomed people from diverse social backgrounds, using a sliding-scale payment approach for participation.
What other bridges do you see between Inner and Outer Permaculture?
I don’t believe that biology — the primary science that shaped the foundations of Permaculture as envisioned by David Holmgren and Bill Mollison — is sufficient on its own to grasp the vast universe of possibilities that arise within the human soul.
A materialist might say these arise in the human brain. I, however, prefer to consider non-material value as another point of reference — therefore, I will use the term Being.
Thank you for reading this foreword.
“When your feet don’t want to carry you, you climb with your head. And it’s true. It may not be in the natural order of things, but isn’t it better to walk with your head than to think with your feet, as often happens?”
— René Daumal, Mount Analogue
To give substance to our projects, we must embody them and allow ourselves to take steps into the unknown. As we create our story along the way, we write our destiny on water. It takes extraordinary clarity to stay present and maintain the delicate balance between nothingness and creation — without everything collapsing like a house of cards.
Who decides what is valuable — you or the market? The norms of a society driven by material profit, or that vulnerable heart that knows another world is possible?
With no ready-made solutions, we are left with our ultimate responsibility: to choose with our gut rather than our mind — so often filled with “things to do” rather than “willingness to be”.
Without preconceived ideas, what remains is our Being — our ability to exist and to assert, with clarity, what we no longer want and what we do want. What remains is our presence, expressing a deep desire to connect.
How easy is it to stay on course? Alone, it’s nearly impossible. With others, it becomes more likely — provided we trust each other.
The judgments and injunctions we internalized at school or home reflect a rigid framework that later reproduces itself at work, in rules, laws, and protocols — becoming a deadening routine of nonsense. How can we free ourselves from this without falling into its opposite extreme — sabotage, procrastination, chaos, or directionlessness?
We need to reorganize. From the inside.
Between rigid structure and self-sabotage, there is little chance of bringing to life truly innovative, socially responsible projects that honor the living world. We need to build the rudder that will keep us on course and create a culture where injunctions, judgments, and subtle forms of violence are quieted — making room for true presence.
We need to reorganize. From within. We need to reclaim our power from within.
A cultural off-piste
It was a challenge to meet without a pre-set program — to create a cultural off-trail experience where the present moment and our deepest dreams were honored. But we did not abandon our wild idea of gathering without knowing in advance what we would do, working for life with what was alive within us. In short, our focus was on trusting ourselves, trusting others, and trusting human potential in the present moment.
The human element was more important than the program. The ergonomics of the present moment outweighed the fear of making mistakes. The worst outcome would have been to make no mistakes at all.
During the project residency in the Pyrenees, we explored the Dragon Dreaming methodology and philosophy, as well as the transformative practice of Possibility Management.
With a sublime view to uplift our hearts, we used a dream circle practice to weave our shared aspirations together. The dream of one person nourished the dream of another. The collective dream of leaving home, in turn, fed individual dreams.
This gave rise to a raft of projects, including:
Emotional Gastronomy, a living theater on the four feelings, by Gabriel Lechemin
A “Curious Café” (or Permaludique), presented in a children’s hut, by Ludivine Thiburs and Gabriel Lechemin
A gesticulated conference on Dragon Dreaming, by Julien Berlusconi
A workshop on coded sign language, led by Gaëlle Mory
A presentation of the eco-village “Commune Ô Terre,” by Nadia
A presentation of “Mowatouatounous,” an eco-region project led by Paloma Alvarez
And so it happened…
Dawn was breaking over the Mélilot gardens, overlooking the Pyrenees mountains. It was the eve of Summer Camp, and signage had just been installed to guide new arrivals. The groundwork was laid for the next seven days of co-creating a shared culture — like signposts within ourselves.
What is a proposal? What is a clear proposal? What does consent mean in decision-making? In short… what is the raison d’être of human language (which, incidentally, I never learned at school)? These questions became central discussions.
For the first two and a half days, our primary focus was our reason for gathering, our way of communicating, and how we would make decisions. After negotiation and the establishment of rotating facilitation roles, we found a common pace of learning and sharing.
A necessary slowing down, so that we could truly evolve together.
Over the next four and a half days, we immersed ourselves in the Dragon Dreaming project methodology and facilitated practical workshops using Possibility Management’s tools for interaction.
Dragon Dreaming: Methodology and Philosophy
The Dragon Dreaming approach was fully presented and put into practice, including:
Dragon Dance: Identifying unconscious energies that might sabotage us if left unchecked
Karrabirdt: Non-linear task planning
Dream Circle: Transforming individual dreams into shared visions for creative collaboration
Charismatic Communication: Tools for announcing and inviting participation in residency activities
The Experiential Practice of Possibility Management
We engaged in experiential practices such as:
Stating what we do and do not want
A workshop on the four feelings: “I’m angry because…,” “I’m scared because…,” “I’m sad because…,” and “I’m happy because…”
A deep listening workshop to develop clearer communication and emotional intelligence (Completion Loops)
In spite of the short time we had to honor the Earth, carry out our individual projects, organize our joint residency outing, and learn from Dragon Dreaming and Possibility Management, the impossible was achieved: we set up a residency outing and presented our projects!An unusual residency outing, with an array of projects!
An Unusual Residency Outing, with an Array of Projects
Completed spoken French workshop
Starting from the ‘Dancing Room’, Gaëlle’s workshop on completed spoken sign language occurred in legendary fashion: “As the doors were closed in the room, I was able to tell someone who entered not to disturb the space and to leave. Before this event, it would have been inconceivable for me to say that to someone in such a determined and frank manner. I’ve learned to honor my space and my boundaries.”
Assert Yourself! Workshop on Expressing What I Want
Gabriel’s workshop on assertiveness was held under the ‘Dream Tree.’ In this workshop, participants took turns expressing what they didn’t want using their four feelings (fear, anger, sadness, joy) and then what they did want. Shouts, cries, and bursts of laughter punctuated the lively exchanges.
“I didn’t think it could be so intense to say what I want and don’t want,” said one participant.
The Café Curieux (Curious Cafe)
Then we headed back up to the ‘Cabane des Enfants’, where Ludivine and Gabriel had set up the ‘Café Curieux’, with Gabriel’s energetic paintings and the ‘What does potatoes feel?’ game, which almost held up the whole troupe because the players didn’t want to stop.
A genuine, intimate card game designed to stimulate dialogue and cooperation within a team, family, or company, the “What Do Potatoes Feel?” card game has now reached its prototype stage, waiting to be printed and distributed in cafés across France — and perhaps beyond.
Dance of the Dragons
Ludivine led the ‘Dance of the Dragons’ and realized that this space didn’t need music; the dance and music were already present within the people themselves.
“For me, it’s a workshop that invites you to meet your shadows intimately and in the physical body. That’s where the magic lies, because the physical body does not deceive. Then there’s the act of putting oneself in the skin of one’s ‘dragon,’ which allows us to change our identity. It’s about integrating a hidden part of ourselves. It’s revealing.”
Since then, Ludivine has led a number of workshops, such as ‘Creative Communication,’ which enables everyone to develop their own personal way of communicating about their business.
Creative nap
Before resuming the afternoon, a creative nap was proposed to let emerge any project, dream or desire to do or not to do something during this time of relaxation.
Gesticulated Dragon Dreaming Conference
On our way to the ‘Parley Tree’ we met Julien, who had prepared for his first international Gesticulated Conference on Dragon Dreaming.
What is a dragon?
Julien had several.
Perfecto, which prevents him from taking action until it’s ‘completely ready’ (which is to say, if he listened to him, he wouldn’t take action), and Timidus, which prevents him from expressing himself.
“What’s the right recipe for a successful project?”
Julien explained Dragon Dreaming with his special recipe for 4 quarters (‘Quatre quarts’). Was it his love of French Brittany that made him talk like that? I’m not sure. In any case, his sense of humor soon had us laughing and celebrating our disappointments as entrepreneurs and cooperators.
“What feeds enthusiasm for a project, as a collective?”
Perhaps it’s the ability to dream, and not only that, but simply celebrating the milestones we’ve achieved helps us to see things more clearly and avoid the ‘hamster wheel’ phenomenon of acting while losing sight of the project’s substance, its heart, its foundations. There’s a practice that makes this possible: it’s called Dragon Dreaming.
Emotional Gastronomy
Then it was my turn to present the premiere of “Emotional Gastronomy”: a live, improvised show in the moment.
A performance improvised with your daily moods, full of cold sweat, clammy hands, and a dry throat.
What are your emotions made of? How do you savor them? What cutlery do you use in your culture to taste them?
Do you like them hot or cold, raw or cooked? To be taken with a pair of tongs or scooped up with a spoon? Sprinkled with anxiety or mixed with perplexity? I’m a bit of all that — and you?
Mowatouatounous, an eco-region project led by Paloma Alvarez
After exchanging emotions, we head to the terrace to listen to a presentation of Paloma’s eco-region project.
“On the path to realizing this project, both the preparation and the actual experience of the summer camp were obvious milestones. I find that both Dragon Dreaming and Possibility Management approaches are beautiful paths to take to support us in the emergence of our new cultures, those that take care; care of Self, care of Others, care of the Whole. The summer camp gave me the opportunity to taste and explore these paths by meeting other dreamers. To share our impulses, our colors, our treasures, to feel the possible synergies… All the while offering us this space-time to work on each of our dreams! The summer camp was very rich, very nourishing on many levels, all in the Pyrenees with a magical view… Golden Nugget!”
“My central intention, that of the dream that has been growing inside me for twelve years, is to foster the fulfillment of all, sustainably.”
Commune Ô Terre
A short detour and Nadia Banzante’s ‘Commune ô Terre’ project is presented.
Inspired by her many visits to communities, Nadia paints a portrait of a political space created by and for citizens.
Maude’s coaching
Maude also spoke to us about her coaching and accompaniment practice in the midst of flowers and fields.
What makes accompaniment special?
Maude has her own way of answering that question, by reconnecting us to what’s really important to us in the present moment.
The closing celebration
We were all able to present our projects to a dozen people who had come for the occasion.
Then the evening was built around a shared celebration: Occitan songs, a campfire, a shared meal and thanks to the Earth.
What happens when you let the living in you do its thing: your feelings in the present moment? What emerges is a tenfold capacity for action, without judgments, without complexes, authentic and sustainable for the Earth.
See you next year for new discoveries and new projects, for the international Camp from 15th to 25th July in the Pyrenees.
Interested? Contact gabriel.lechemin (à) gmail.com
and visit that web page: https://revedudragon.org/summer-camp-2025/