Hello Dear Ones,
i'm Leonidas, 39, from Austria. I first arrived in Florestral as a guest in December 2014. I instantly fell in love with the land and the people there, many of which became dear friends, and i returned many times after.
My time there, the experiences i had, the friends i made and people i met, and last but definitely not least: the sacred medicine of the forest – all this really changed the trajectory of my personality. I went from introverted and isolated to open and interconnected. I developed new skills. I changed.
Eternal gratitude for that shift!
In 2015 i attempted to move to Florestral. I made a downpayment for a small lot, but i had health issues in regard to the humidity and at that time also became disillusioned about many aspects of community living. I decided it was not for me at that time.
After having lived in Costa Rica for two and a half years, in 2017 i made the (rather difficult) decision to return to Austria. Even before my full return, i began organizing works here for a variety of facilitators, including Vismay & Nicole, and we had some really great times over here, including an amazing vision quest.
I returned to Florestral on occasion, to visit, to meet and spend time with the people and the land. But my home became Austria (again), this time more stable though than ever since i was 18. I literally haven't lived in the same spot for more than a year and a half since, until now. In my current house i have lived for more than three years. That's a real record for Leonidas. The call to return to Austria was mostly due to a lack of stability i had in Costa RIca. And i gave myself just that by returning here.
I had no intentions to leave again. It's not an easy thought for me. But current developments in the political landscape, the outlook of where Europe is heading, the tirelessly corrupt heads of government and the economic/political agendas driven here, all give me good reason to reconsider.
As such, i am currently considering to return to Costa Rica and rebuild my life there. Luckily my job is remote, so that is not a primary issue.
But if i do return to Costa Rica, i do not want it to be an escape route. Especially not if i move into a community situation, like Florestral is. I feel now more than ever, that the old ways of living are moving towards becoming obsolete. Living on your own. Doing everything on your own. We are social beings and i believe – in most cases – best of flocking together in tribes. Humankind seems to have entered a critical stage in its development. We seem to be at a forking in our path. A lot will depend on how we collectively deal with the challenges of this age. Becoming self-sustainable in a communal setting is probably a really good thing to do now.
I am not fully decided at this point. I would have to leave behind so much. My friends, my beloved cats, our medicine circle that i founded and nurtured for multiple years. That's already a lot for me, and it sure isn't all.
My decision will depend on many factors. I hope to find more clarity around my decision in the next few weeks and months to come. And i hope that by engaging with more details around the Florestral Expansion, i will find that clarity more easily.
Vismay pointed me to this forum to get started. So here i am. Some of you know me already.
Much Love to All of You!
–– Leonidas ––
