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Peace from Harmony
3. The First Historical Use of the ABC of Harmony

Nicolas Strelkov

 

"Demiurge" Club (1976–1980) – Source of the ABC of Harmony and Harmonious Civilization

 

Dedicated to the memory of club member Vladimir Strelkov (1948–2010)

 

"Оh "Demiurge", a club of my youth,

I am still longing for your harmony!"

 

USSR, Leningrad, 1976. Junior students of Leningrad Institute of Fine Mechanics and Optics, who were studying philosophy o­n the course of Prof. Leo Semashko, teamed up by his initiative in "Demiurge" Club. In the first phase of its existence creative meetings – symposiums – were held in the institute dormitory o­n Karpovka river.

On the basis of the four-spheral theory of Semashko (system-spheral approach) the club was divided into 4 micro groups in accordance with spheres producing: Things, Organizations, Information and People. Leaders of micro groups and club president were elected. The club developed and approved a plan of harmonious development for the next academic year and tried to accurately follow it.

In the second phase of club existence, after a year and a half since its creation, the workers of Kirov Plant and also the students of other Leningrad universities joined it (altogether there were from 20 to 30 people). The club got its permanent premise in the plant dormitory which was put in order and decorated with wall frescoes with harmonious attributes "Young man opening door to the new and beautiful world of harmonious future" – 'harmonious civilization' – as we would say now, after 35 years.

Semashko was preaching the principles of system-spheral harmonious development of a person and society as a whole and believed that we would become specialists in future. But who will help us to expand horizons of this life, who will show us its variety which, o­n the o­ne hand, stimulates professional growth of each o­ne and, o­n the other hand, discovers new abilities of personality that will possibly push to new, more effective life choice?

What school did club members pass in their harmonious development?

Firstly, there were information reports by Semashko and the most active club members, philosophical and creative discussions took place as well. The center of communication became a symposium, that is "feast of intellect", under the club slogans: "Nosce te ipsum and per aspera ad asrta": "Know yourself and through the thorns to the stars!" and "Free development of each o­ne is the condition of free development of all!"

Secondly, there were methods of mutual learning, organizational conflictive dialogue and retelling of literary texts.

Thirdly, role-playing theatrical games, sketches and performances, "skits" for the International Woman's Day the 8th of March and so o­n.

Fourthly, acquaintance with methods of accelerated development and personality rehabilitation – theory of inventions creation, self-development and self-hypnosis psychology, speed reading, hunger therapy and others.

Fifthly, o­n weekends, – joint visits to theaters, art galleries, museums, walks in the city at nights, Saturdays work and tourist field trips, sport mock battles, meetings with other theatrical and philosophical clubs, evening meetings at the apartment of Semashko. And wherever "Demiurge" was gathering, its inspirer would never allow our brains to relax – neither at a symposium, nor in a theater, nor even by a campfire.

Student years was an amazing time of life in its fullness when life "gushed" as a spring brook, we wanted so much to change everything for the better, we dreamed so much of creating the world without wars and endless struggle for existence, we believed so much in ourselves!

We walked in a crowd in art galleries, read poems of Evtushenko and Akhmatova, sang songs, contemplated about creativity and means of self –realization of personality not having yet a penny to our names – and all that excitedly, to the crack of dawn and during the white nights of Petersburg … romantic and beautiful!

Club members acquired communication skills, developed intellect and outlook, mastered the basics of collective creativity and most important of all strengthened the faith, learnt new, harmonious thinking and matured as personalities with high moral principles isolating and protecting their consciousness in the "club world" from numerous and dubious temptations of the modern industrial society.

And if people could manage to reveal at least half of creative human potential by means of life harmonization and decent education, then full energy supply of Earth, outcome of this population in outer space and exploration of the Universe would be inevitable, that could be compared in the space scale with supernova explosion!

In conclusion, I would like to say that in the rest of my life I will probably never see again such team as "Demiurge", that would not be associated with either money or orders, but o­nly with inspiration of mutual human communication! But I hope that my children and grandchildren will see new, harmonious civilization, and our Demiurge club has become its first conscious community.

The content of the article is expressed in a logical model-37 of tetranet thinking. In Demiurge we successfully built the similar models and they were highly appreciated.

 

Nicolas Strelkov – President of "Demiurge" Club, Design Engineer.

Address: Ulyanovsk, Russia.

Web: www.peacefromharmony.org/?cat=en_c&key=259 E-mail: strelkov_at_2a2.ru

 

Svetlana Vetrova

 

Club of Preschool Esthetic and Spiritual Development "Clever Kids": Saint Petersburg, 1991–2005

 

As a student I was a member of the happy club "Demiurge" (1976–1980). Later o­n it stayed with me, whether I was looking for a similar way of communication or creating similar organizations.

After the birth of my own children a question of their harmonious development arose. I understood well its necessity and the destiny sent me a confederate – Galina Vladimirova. Her children were of the same ages as mine. Our union appeared to be durable and productive. We organized a group of esthetic and spiritual development of children (up to 7 years old), parents and pedagogues – "Clever kids", about 15–30 children and parents.

First, we found teenagers club that gave us a shelter. But after the group had acquired experience, had grown strong and had elaborated its program we moved to the kindergarten №66 of Primorsky district of Saint Petersburg. As a result we were transformed into a group with additional paid services that exempted us from legal formalities.

Development of this creative organism, affectionately called "Clever kids", lasted from 1991 till 2005. The uniqueness of our group is in the fact that we sought to create a fertile habitat for communication between parents and children, development of their creative abilities and formation of harmoniously developed personalities. Through acquaintance, communication and education a friendly team of children and adults was formed o­n the basis of respectful attitude to a child personality.

Through all activities (drawing, singing, physical culture, intellectual classes) we developed in children a respectful attitude to other children and adults. "Clever kids" became a place for parents and children where they were perceived as they were, supported and loved.

The whole system of values was established in "Peas": a group of part-time for the youngest children from 2 to 3 years old, where parents attended classes with their children being at the same time active participants of pedagogical process. Here the main thing is the formation of harmonious worldview of parents. Communication with other parents, children and their own child in the process of creative activity, observation of classes – all that gave priceless experience to parents and revealed something new in themselves and their children.

If pedagogical process of "Peas" was constructed o­n the basis of complex classes that at the same time included different activities, in the group "Clever kids" there were both complex ("Morning") and specialized classes: mathematics, speech development, singing, applied arts, drawing, intellectual preparation for school, classes with psychologist – all that ensured foundation for a harmonious personality.

It is necessary to elaborate o­n complex classes "Morning". It was a 20-minutes long working mood setup. It is hard for little children to get away from home, from mothers (some of them shed tears), that is why a general positive attitude is extremely important. We sat in a circle o­n a rug and discussed what day was today, what the weather was or what kind of interesting things had happened during the weekend, what had been seen, who had they met with. Short stories or even remarks were in fact the bright memories of home and family, and expressed the mood of a child. Depending o­n it we adjusted further plans and classes. It was clear to whom special attention should be paid and who should be left alone. After that gathering in circle we sang songs in chorus. I began to write words for songs sung by parents with children at home. That's how a song book of my children was born and later published.

In conclusion I would like to note that in the same way as was formed as a personality in "Demiurge", happy, harmonious children grew and developed in "Clever kids". This can be proved by the fact that parents brought new generations of their children to our organization, and we even had to pre-subscribe the newborn children to the group. It is nice to realize that many parents "grew up" as personalities, they have formed a positive outlook, a wish to do things for others, to give.

We arranged meetings with pedagogues for parents, studies with psychologist (optional), a group of drawing lessons for parents were organized. Parents together with children attended thematic excursions around the city and went camping. Thus, in fact, our "Clever kids" in the time of its peak was the CLUB of harmony of parents and children of preschool ages.

"Clever kids" lived for 14 years (1991–2005). Galina Vladimirova and I had got other goals, but we carry through life the priceless experience of inner harmony elaborated in this club. It was not o­nly a collective ideas generator but also like Demiurge a conscious prototype of the future harmonious society that starts with harmonious children.

The main ideas of my article are expressed in the model-38 of tetranet thinking:

 

Svetlana Mihailovna Vetrova – songwriter-singer, pedagogue, musician. For 14 years worked as a music teacher in the group "Clever kids". Teaches guitar accompaniment. Leads workshops, takes part in work of juries of different bardic festivals and contests. Goes o­n tours in Russia and also in Germany, Israel, France, the USA. Her book of children's songs "About Koha and Myha" was published (2010). Address: Saint Petersburg, Russia

Web: www.peacefromharmony.org/?cat=en_c&key=78 E-mail: svetrova_at_yandex.ru

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