The Human Being (with audio)

The “primary material” of Life-as-a-Craft is the Human Being. As wood is to the carpenter or clay to the potter, so is the Human Being to the practice of Life-as-a-Craft. A natural, uneven material, the Human Being requires very special handling. It is both fragile and resilient under the right conditions. Human Beings sprout and grow from the gardens we call Family.

For this reason, we place knowledge of Family Heritage, Family Management and Family & Personal Finance as Elements for study in advance of the study of the Human Being; the fruit of the family tree. The ultimate goal of practicing Life-as-a-Craft is to make a masterpiece of your life, and to teach our children to make a masterpiece of their own.

Your Life

Your life is unique and in the primary care of a single craftsperson. You are that craftsperson. Your life is a work in progress. It is always changing and evolving. Sometimes the progress is rapid and distinct. Other times, it is slow and imperceptible to you while to others, the changes may be dramatic.

To shape your life into “a masterpiece” requires skill and the careful application of the tools of the craft of life. To become a master craftsperson is gained only through experience. You must act. This is the practice of Life-as-a-Craft.

During your apprenticeship you will apply yourself to the study and understanding of life as craft. You must learn the characteristics of the Human Being — the raw material of the craft of life — just as the potter studies clay, or the physician human anatomy. Like other natural substances, the Human Being is organic. It is not a perfect uniform substance like gleaming sheet metal.

Each one is therefore, as unique as the trees of a forest. Like trees, Human Beings are both very strong yet very fragile beings. Therein lies the beauty, and the wonder. They must be handled with great care, or they will break.

Your Craft

You must also dedicate yourself to perfecting the skills necessary to use the tools of the craftsperson. Tools are very powerful instruments. When used in the hands of a trained Journeyman or Journeywoman, they can produce superior results. But if used carelessly or by the untrained, they can cause great and irreparable damage to the Human Being.

The principals of practicing Life-as-a-Craft are as well defined as any other endeavor to which Human Beings apply themselves. In life-as-a-craft, you are being introduced to the principals surrounding the care and development of the Human Being and resources such as teachers who have spent their lives studying this unique “material”.

Life-as-a-Craft concerns itself with gaining the knowledge and skills progressively over your lifetime allowing you to manage the overall balance of your inner self and your outer self in a state of good health or wellness; a state of physical, mental and social well-being.

The Inner Human Being

The Inner Human Being concerns itself with: Beliefs Emotions Spirit Values Personal Goals Self Expression Education & Knowledge Career & Livelihood Relationships & Companions Recreation

The Outer Human Being

The Outer Human Being focuses on attributes commonly (but not exclusively) associated with our physical self. Birth Sexuality Death Self Preservation Diet & Nutrition Exercise Health Examinations Grooming & Personal Appearance Personal Care & Hygiene