Commencement

Waking up to a weekday, it's time to get ready for work.

For a job not designed to feed the soul, or serve as a creative medium. But for a job to fill both time and pockets, so that one may simply survive in society. A society captured by a single middle-man butting its way into every meaningful exchange: money.

But what's this, no alarm. The phone isn't on, nor is it charging. Now the morning is quiet and dark: no alarm, no texts, no social media likes, no news reports. Nothing. Not even the time. Nothing to blast ones brain with its real first morning coffee: dopamine. Don't look to the sun outside to figure the time of day,  just reach for their phone on the other side of the bed. But same thing: nothing. 

A scary revelation. Lonely. Boring. Unpacified.

But an idea came, one that hasn't since childhood. To look to the sun for the time. A feeling of ease passes from this, realizing it's still early morning. And because now there is nothing but a sunrise. 

Maybe the little one's phone is working. It is only a flip phone after all. No internet; just calls, texts, and some apps to keep in touch with family in other countries. Look at that, it works!

Texting some friends now, it seems that only flip phones survived the night. As it turns out, the world's money markets have finally collapsed. The system could be propped up no longer by printing money that did not exist. The world's currencies across the globe are now useless. Technology seems to have shut down from a combination of bugs and lack of resources or staff. People stopped providing these services either out of the greed from not being paid, or because they realized there were now more important things to do, since all their money disappeared. Very essential services, like powering machines at hospitals, or basic calls and texts, remained. Because people believed in them even without getting paid to run them. 

Almost all other systems however, gone overnight. 

After a bit of initial panic and some sunrise gazing, it's time to head back to the morning routine, get ready for work, while the little one gets ready for school. Even though nothing would be open. What else is there to do? It's a weekday afterall.

It's quiet and peaceful in the kitchen, and realizing now there's nothing to look down at, it's time to look up. From there, a feeling of beauty came from seeing someone to build a life with. And a little one, raising up as someone to be proud of. Mid laughs, arguments, the quiet of eating, and discussion of the day ahead are halted by a jarring TV emergency broadcast, bright and loud, explaining:

" All global markets have collapsed. Certain tech is now useless, as is all currency. Supply chains have halted and many services ceased."

The world's leaders have debated all night on how to advise their people . . . 

"We will work to get these systems back up, but in the meantime we need to come together and get organized."

"Flip phones will be distributed throughout the nation. . . "

Very telling that the first order of business is about phones.

". . . along with water and water filters for harvesting water from rain or local lakes and streams."

"The nation's farmers have already been contacted about delivering fresh foods to farmer's market style locations every week. They will be given the resources needed to switch to more natural, permaculture practices, shifting a focus from profit now to long term sustainable food production."

"Discuss with your neighbors and decide on a community food garden location. All zoning restrictions are hereby suspended for restrictions regarding growing food and composting."

"Start planting whatever you have, especially root vegetables that are already in your kitchen now . . . "

In one day, the world was forever changed. People got organized as best they could. Group chats were created even across oceans to share ideas and resources. Days blurred into weeks, then months. Fixing the now-failed systems seemed futile.

Not only futile, but people began to talk: do we really want to go back to how it was? 

The path back seemed familiar, easy, safe. A new path felt unknown . . . yet ancient, like a distant calling, echoing between mountains. Through blades of grass. A way that our blood remembers.

What would a new way even look like? How does it get organized? Current leaders are not equipped for new systems. Lawyers don't know how to formulate organizations based around communion instead of money. Judges don't know how to solve conflict outside of adversarial court systems. Economists don't know how to track payments or debts without establishing the same faulty currency that requires infinite growth.

There are those who retained the knowledge. The keepers of indigenous wisdom, after being passed underground all these years. The eclectics, the artists, being tapped into something beyond society. Even still, their wisdom remains.

. . . 

So the world chose a more beautiful world.

What is Law for a More Beautiful World?

In this new world, our current systems will become almost unrecognizable, and guides will be needed in these new systems. Law is one of them.

So what is law for a more beautiful world? Well maybe first, what is law? As a society, and even as a profession we have strayed so far that it's rare to answer this. Like the other sciences, law has lost its philosophical origin, relegating its magic which taps into the natural laws and connections of the cosmos, to an A+B logical equation. No longer does some inherent underlying truth rule. Now, the god is logic. Moreso demagogic. Now, anything is true, so long as it can be reasoned. Therefore, nothing is true.

Laws exist within nature. And written law as we know it is something very human. We are only ourselves because of others, so law is also about connections. Every law written can be tied back to some sort of relationship. The law then in its purity is something natural, human, and it is about connections and relationships.

Law for a More Beautiful World is a "law firm" for right now, as if we have already reached the crossroads above. Because in many ways we have. The truth is that our current systems are already failing, and have been failing many for quite some time. Law for a More Beautiful World is here to provide legal-oriented services that offer something different. Something more beautiful. Like in nature, this will be an ever-evolving and living thing. It relies on what is practical, tangible, and rooted in community instead of transaction. Peace instead of conflict. Healing instead of revenge.

Specifically, this organization will: facilitate talking circles, structure nature-based enterprises (bar license pending), and offer wisdom wills. Many folks probably read that as if it were in an alien language, not of this earth. One thing is for sure, a lot of it is not of this world. Or rather, the world that we live in. Much of these systems require something from us to even understand them: to step out of the current frameworks that we believe to be undeniable truths. Listen with an open heart, and you will hear their echoes.

Talking Circles

Also referred to as Restorative Justice or Peace Circles. These practices have been used across many indigenous cultures on earth, who went through great lengths and sacrifice to preserve these teachings. As an American, I owe much of my gratitude to American Indian tribes who have kept these teachings in tact and hidden. I prefer these teachings because it is the land I'm on, and it was what I was exposed to early on. And, my ancestors have nearly lost all of their circle processes in what is now Europe. Through war, genocide, and great loss, indigenous have protected this work, only to gift it back to the world. Thank you for this gift.

In our legal systems, current conflicts are solved with more conflict. If a party is harmed, they fight in court to obtain justice. If someone breaks the law, they are punished with fines or sent to jail, perpetuating more harm. Meanwhile, the harm the victim has received has not been undone. Laws not unbroken. Harm can never be undone, you will never be the person you were before. But we can decide where to go from here. We can use harm and pain as our own excuse to pass more harm onto others, or we could use it to break cycles, and begin to connect with ourselves and others even beyond where we were before the harm occurred. Excitingly, talking circles can come in many different forms, not only to solve conflicts! 

But in the case of a talking circle responding to conflict, it is not one party against another. As opposed to an adversarial system, circles are communion based. Several parties participate, whether directly affected by the harm or simply a part of the community. A circle may be made up of: the person who was harmed, who did the harm, their respective support system (family or friends, etc.), community members, and a facilitator or two.

The goal is not peace. That may very well never come to either party. The direction is discussion and understanding. At the very least it is to meet others where they are, and to truly see them.

Nature-Based Enterprises

Our current enterprises, such as corporations, are structured in a way that is centered around money and issues of liability. Business starters or groups are often disheartened when forming their legal organization to find a rather stale, lifeless, and restrictive framework for creating something beautiful. The funny thing is, by building businesses in line with nature, we decrease liability and increase thriving levels of resources, financial or otherwise. This can be applicable to businesses, nonprofits, organizations, or any form of living community or group with people in it.

This part of Law for a More Beautiful World aims to legally structure enterprises to meet not only regulations, but also to align with nature. The Cooperative framework will be heavily relied on here, which centers community and dispersed ownership as some of its core tenets. Talking circles can also be woven in here, to foster community and discussion. Concepts of de-growth economics and even negative or neutral-interest investment are also possibilities. This gives businesses the resources needed to grow, then level off and remain there. All while ensuring that everyone who is a part of the enterprise, thrives.

Wisdom Wills & Gifting Ceremonies

Also referred to as Ethical Wills. When thinking about what we want to give away when we are gone, this is important to think about, and lawyers are very useful for this. And what about all the intangible things? The things that aren't things at all. No no, I don't mean stocks. Wisdom Wills welcome the opportunity to gift the lessons, mistakes, and wisdom you've obtained throughout your life. They also leave space for unsaid things: maybe apologies, or words of affection that may be difficult to express face to face.

This wisdom is invaluable to humanity and for us to end the cycles of our ancestors. Many people even tend to value these nonmaterial gifts over the material ones. I will guide you through creating beautiful books for those you care for, as big or as small that feels right to you.

Much of the world of wills and estates deal with gifts after-death. Much of this could be done before we pass on. If the situation calls for it, it could be a powerful and beautiful experience to begin to let go of your material possessions in a gifting ceremony. Those you love can be there to receive your gifts, and with it you both receive a more meaningful exchange. 

Let's return to beauty

Right now this exists as a blog and launching off point for what is possible to lawyers and others to serve towards a more beautiful world. We are still awaiting bar licensure to practice law, and some of these offerings will be considered to be that. A good portion of these processes are not the practice of law, so they can begin today. If you have interest in these services or work, contact me through this blog, or through my pages on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram.

Peace and Love, 

AB