Federation of Damanhur

The community Damanhur, often referred to as " Damanhur " is a municipality at the same time ecovillage and spiritual community in Piedmont in northern Italy, 50 km north of Turin. The eco-village is located in the foothills of the Alps in the valley of Valchiusella, adjacent to the National Park of Gran Paradiso. The community has its own constitution and its own currency, the Credito.

The name comes from the Egyptian city of Damanhur Damanhur (Demi - enHur = Horus city ) in which there was a temple that was dedicated to Horus.

The community was founded in 1975 by Oberto Airaudi with about 24 followers and has grown up to the year 2001 to 700 people. The inhabitants are followers of the New Age, partly neo-pagan. As the presence of a large, underground dug Temple ( Temples of Humankind ) was published, Damanhur became known to a wider public. The underground construction was begun in 1978 under complete secrecy. The Italian authorities initially stopped construction activity because they had begun without permission, but to works of art in the temple could continue. Later the building was allowed to gradually return.

The supporters of Damanhur say that growth and activity of the community go out also a revitalizing effect on the surrounding area. The Community of Damanhur has centers in Europe, North and South America and Japan. In 1994, the Berlin Centre was opened.

Life in Damanhur

At the beginning, three departments were first established: the school of meditation (ritual tradition ), social (social theory, social realization ), and the game of life ( for experimentation and for dynamic, life as a game, change ). A fourth section was added recently: Tecnarcato (individual inner refinement).

Members of the community can - depending on the commitment of a lane of four stages: Stage A Community members share all resources and live continuously on the premises. Community members of the B level contribute financially and live at least three days a week there. Community members of the Level C and D live outside.

Community members of the C level participate fully in the school of meditation.

Furthermore, the residents can assign various ways according to their personal nature, such as the way of the Knight ( Volunteer Services ), the way of art and integrated technologies or of the word, the way of the oracle ( ritualism, music, dance ), the route of health (ecological life ) or the way of the monks ( living alone) and the esoteric Couples ( life together ). Most live in shared apartments from 10 to 20 people; the residential communities together form the community of Damanhur.

Marriages are renewed every few years.

Criticism

By outsiders and dropouts, the Community of Damanhur is often seen as a sect. According to the president of the Italian National surveillance of psychological abuse, Patrizia Santovecchi, the community of Damanhur characteristics that are typical of a psycho - sect met. These include the lack of ability to express themselves freely without extortion; Manipulation by peer pressure, the impossibility of criticism and the imposition of a total obedience, bid farewell to the family, the complete depersonalization of the individual, deprived of any decision-making ability and the duty to ask the teacher, what must be done.

Some former followers report alleged mental and physical abuse, they should have suffered over the years.