Community building

What is community building?

Community building according to the model of Schloss Glarisegg Academy for Community Building is based on a deep understanding of interpersonal connectedness and the development of authentic, sustainable communities. Schloss Glarisegg, a place on Lake Constance in Switzerland, promotes the process of community building based on principles that have a profound effect on an emotional, spiritual and social level.

The most important concepts that characterize this form of community building

1. deep encounters and authenticity
The focus of community building at Schloss Glarisegg is on encounters at eye level. Participants are invited to show themselves authentically and vulnerably, which enables a deeper connection between people. Dealing with emotions, wishes, fears and needs together creates a space for genuine encounters in which trust and compassion can grow.

2. process work and conflict resolution
A central element of community building is dealing with conflicts and tensions. Conflicts are not seen as a threat, but as natural and necessary elements of communities that offer the opportunity to create more clarity, depth and connectedness. Process work methods, such as non-violent communication, Possibility Management and other dialogic tools, help to penetrate and transform tensions to create a more sustainable community.

3. individual and collective development
Community education aims to promote both personal and collective development. The focus is not only on strengthening the individual, but also on transforming the collective. In practice, this means that each individual places their own needs and growth processes at the service of the greater whole. At the same time, the community is experienced as a support system that accompanies the individual on their journey.

4. role awareness and responsibility
Another important element of community building at the academy Schloss Glarisegg is the awareness of roles within the community. The participants learn which roles they take on within the group – whether as leaders, supporters or mediators – and how they can fulfill these roles consciously and responsibly. Everyone takes responsibility for the success of the community and contributes to harmonious coexistence.

5. spiritual and energetic dimension
Community building at Schloss Glarisegg is strongly linked to an holistic and spiritual dimension. It is not only about interacting with each other on a social level, but also about creating a shared energetic space in which spiritual practice and inner work can take place. This spiritual orientation promotes the awareness that a deeper, non-material level of connectedness exists, which forms the foundation for a stable community.

6. circular leadership and decision-making (torus technology)
Another key aspect of community building at Glarisegg Castle is the way in which decisions are made. In many cases, a circular management model is practiced in which power and responsibility are evenly distributed. This promotes a culture of equality and shared commitment. Consensus building and collective decision-making processes are central to ensuring that all voices are heard and respected.

7. long-term community structures
Academy for community building Schloss Glarisegg attaches great importance to creating communities that exist not just for the moment, but for the long term. Sustainability in interpersonal relationships and in the community’s way of life is a central concern. This concerns both the careful use of resources and the conscious development of stable social structures.

8. focus on healing and transformation
The processes of community building are often experienced as healing and transformative. Participants learn to heal old wounds, recognize unconscious patterns and free themselves from limiting beliefs. This process of healing happens both on an individual level and in the collective dynamics of the group. Community is understood as a healing environment in which personal growth and transformation are possible.

9. trust and connectedness
A key principle is to create a space of deep trust and connectedness. This means that people learn to trust each other unconditionally, communicate openly with each other and support each other. Community building aims to promote this space of safety so that each individual can develop their full potential.

Community building according to the approach of the Academy for Community Building Schloss Glarisegg is a multi-layered process that enables both personal and collective transformation. It is based on authenticity, deep emotional encounter, spiritual practice, conflict resolution and communal responsibility. The aim is to create spaces in which people can live together in trust and mutual support, creating sustainable, stable communities that support both the individual and the group.

Further information and offers from the Academy for Community Building can be found here: https://schloss-glarisegg.ch/kalender/