''This is chapter 5 of the [[SolSeed book]].''
: It is a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link of the chain of destiny can be handled at a time.
::: ~ Winston Churchill
[[The Destiny]] of [[SolSeed]] is to take root amongst the stars. Getting involved with a movement that has such far ranging goals can seem daunting at first. Especially if you don't already have skills pointed directly at [[The Destiny]]. But then, none of the movement's original founders had such skills either... So what is the first step? What is the first link in the chain of this grand destiny? The first step is to incorporate SolSeed into your experience in small ways that [[Brining Life|Bring Life]] to you and your family.
Create associations between the core concepts of SolSeed and created value. For example, one of the core concepts in SolSeed is [[Bringing Life]]. Make a donation to an existing cause or organization that [[Brings Life]], but make it on behalf of SolSeed. This creates an association in your mind between the cause and the values of SolSeed, and between SolSeed and the donation that adds value to the cause. Another core concept of [[SolSeed]] is mindfulness. When you notice that you are bolting down your food as you multi-task with cooking and cleaning in the kitchen, create a [[SolSeed Practice]] of always sitting down while eating. The mindfulness and connection with your life that get created will again be associated with SolSeed in your mind.
The regular association of life bringing actions and practices creates a positive feedback loop. SolSeed as your Spiritual Tradition gets invested becomes more solid each time you associate it with a life bringing action or practice you perform. As SolSeed gains solidity and sacredness from these associations, the meaning and purpose it can imbue in a new activity also increases. This is a very natural way of creating time and space for your spiritual tradition in you life.
Fun is one of the most important associations to connect with SolSeed. Create your [[SolSeed Practice]] in a spirit of playfulness rather than heavy gravitas. When things are serious and significant they weigh on your mind when you aren't working on them and create stress and attachment when you are. This is not a life bringing recipe.
==== Tell the World Who You Are ====
: By associating with wise people you will become wise yourself.
::: ~ Menander
Write a bit about who you are and what about SolSeed inspires you on your page on the wiki. This is very much in line with the notion of being a [[Starfarer]] now. It recognizes the power in declaration and the wisdom that comes from introspection. Work on your own personal vision statement of what you can contribute now, what you'd like to contribute in the future, and who you would like to be. This includes an assessment of where you have the [[Lesser Gift]] and the [[Greater Gift]]. Then share this purpose statement with others. Ask them how you occur to them. Ask for their honest feedback and start to create a program of study that will help move you toward being recognized by others as the person you intend to be. When you share your aspirations with others, ask them to help connect you to people who are already further along your path that can serve as mentors for you.
==== Cultivate a Topical Community ====
: “The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now.”
::: ~ Chinese Proverb
Pick an area of topical interest to you and get involved in the communities that discuss and write about that topic. First, select 3-5 kindred news sites/blogs/forums that are authoritative on the topic. As you are making your selection, create a page on the wiki describing the cluster of blogs/news sites/forums you've chosen and why you think they are important for the topic. Next, subscribe to the sites so that you can keep up with the reading of them every day. Make it a goal to write a couple of comments every week spread across the sites. Finally, watch for opportunities for those sites to mention content or projects that SolSeed is working on.
Alternatively, you might select social media as the venue for your topical interest. Ideally you will create an identity that searchers interested in the topic will find and subscribe to. This goes well with the effort to read blogs/news sites/forums described above. Reading these sites will give you a source of interesting articles and discussions to tweet about. This in turn gives back to the communities that you tweet about by increasing the amount of attention they receive.
Cultivating a Topical Community is slow growing. It would be nice if you had already been cultivating your expertise in the topic for 20 years, but since you haven't been yet, today is the next best time to start. It can help to think about it like planting a tree. The growth is too slow to observe directly, but before long you've created something strong and beautiful that can be tapped as needed.