Voluntary Simplicity

In the summer of 1976, while working in the think-tank at the Stanford Research Institute, Duane Elgin coauthored a report with Arnold Mitchell for the Business Intelligence Program titled, "Voluntary Simplicity. Because of the 60's and early 70's segment of the population that was quitting their jobs and returning to the simple lives....building their own solar heated home, growing their own organic foods, etc., Elgin and Mitchell believed that their was a major social movemrnt afoot which had the potential of touching the United States and other developed nations to their cores. The history of Voluntary Simplicity began it's nexus in Seattle, Washington and the west coast. Voluntary simplicity study groups that meet in homes across America are called "simplicity circles," an idea that originated with Seattle resident Cecile Andrews in 1997.

The definition of "voluntary simplicity" simply means that you choose a way of life marked by balance between inner and outer growth, reducing your lifestyle to a minimum. Voluntary Simplicity movements share a preference for the middle way of moderate consumption, and agree that American society has gone beyond the lines of "having enough. It is estimated that 4 to 5 million adults fully live a life of voluntary simplicity.

Another form of Voluntary Simplicity is the Eco village. A group of people opting for a simple lifestyle pool their money to buy land. Simple homes are built around a common house. The common house is the hub of the community, offering shared meals, childcare, business help, and social activities. Sharing major expenses allows each household to live a fulfilling and simpler lifestyle.

The Voluntary Simplicity movement, once popular with the 60's Hippie movement, is a non-consumer life-style based upon focusing more on becoming a person of spiritual value, rather than focusing on having more than one needs. The movement is again becoming popular because of our environmental urgency. It is also important to keep in mind what Voluntary Simplicity is not.