Turning this World-Changing Thing Up a Notch...

Since Gaiam coined the LOHAS term, I think it's the perfect parent company for Zaadz.  Wow, indeed!

To Evolution!

here's to more “greening” and rapid growth :)

Awesome news Brian!  From the immortal words of … well I dunno couldn't find the origin … sombody cool I'm sure … anyway …  “You 'da man”

Congratulations and blessings!  Looking forward to exploring collaboration with Zaadz, all the Zaadzsters, Gaiam, the Gaiamers, Conscious Enlightenment, the Consciously Enlightened, Lime, the Limeys, and everybody :-).

in community,

Habib
Seattle

Congratulations, Brian!

Group hug:)

OneLove

Sean

Awesome!

With this unprecedented merger of four spiritually aligned groups of changemakers, our joint aspiration of changing the world for the better is getting closer indeed.  Calls for a BIG CELEBRATION.  It's like the planets have aligned!  Cheers!  Frost! Kampei! Bravo! Hep, hep, hurray!  Mabuhay!  Viva Zaadz, Lime, Gaiam, and Conscious Enlightenment Partnership! CONGRATULATIONS to all of us and the whole universe!  What an exciting development indeed!

Jubilant Mila

Brian and all the zaadz team,

Wow, congrats!  This is amazing news and look out world!

Zoey

Welcome to the team!!!  I'm looking forward where this leads…

Manny Otto
Site Producer
Spiritual Cinema Circle
(a Gaiam company)

I see a whole lot more goodness growing in your garden, Brian.  You are so appreciated.

All the best,

Deb

Great News!! Welcome to the Family!! Namaste,  Jerry  (Real Goods/Gaiam team member)

Here's to taking it to the next level. :)

Takin it to the HNL, yeah yeah yeah

Brian… Green Day will finally be our victory! Congratulations everyone! Wow! I see the Earth is on the way to bigger and better things… The best has yet to become onto the greatest greenery ever… Now we have flowers! :-)

Michael

You go, Brian (and the whole Zaadz team.)
I've been a huge believer and supporter of Gaiam for years. It's a match made in heaven!

Critical mass… here we come!!!!!

Katrina

Congratulations and welcome to the team / family. I am a very happy and proud Gaiam employee and look forward to the new opportunities this will bring for everyone. It is a positive move and a collaboration that always seemed to me like it would work very well. Zaadz is a fantastic community of like-minded people from all walks of life - you have created a beautiful thing.

Thank you thank you thank you all!

I'm personally thrilled (and absurdly excited) about the potential of this partnership, and about what we'll be able to do with this suddenly expanded group, and about what we'll be able to explore in the weeks and months and years to come. It's an honor to see this community grow.

Count me in on Bri's *group hug* ;)

well ~Matthew has much better post of dis cuz has fotos ^.^

but not so sure if i understand all dis…  a bit too much writings for me but i guess zaadz got aquired… something like that since it has a parent now…  well guys if ur all happy then i'm happy with u….  n love uuuu ^.^

Congratulations and BIG *Group HUG*!!

I'm enthralled with all Zaadz is and is to become… and to be a part of it with this Divine community.

I thank you.

Teiwaz

flowing like a river…..to the sea!
:)

Zzzz is not sleeping

Wonerful news..I actually found Lime recently..what a great site!!!

Had a look at the new sites - COOL- best wishes!

Word!^_^

Consolidation is the next best thing to Unity:)

  - Zo
Feel me, hear me, be my friend.

Yay! Lovely! thinkarete!

Fabulous!!!
United we stand strong!!!
Congratulations and ~Group Hug~

This sounds wonderful! 

Even though I've never heard of those other sites before.  I'm sure it will be slow and shaky at first.  I picture a large room with all the people from zaadz, all the people from Gaiam, Lime, and Conscious Enlightenment standing around staying in there groups waiting to see who mingles first.  Then all of a sudden someone walks in wearing a “free hugs” t-shirt and next thing you know we got the worlds biggest org……. I mean “merger”.

Well we might not be the biggest, but I know I'm excited. 

Hah! And Don John, didn't you know that's on our big wall o' ideas?

Oh yes indeed.  I can't wait to cross that one off.

Great job! Looking forward to what we collectively create in the future.

Hello Brian & Fellow Zaadzsters,

I can see by the comments posted here that there is unanimous agreement that the decision to merge Zaadz with Gaiam, Lime, and Conscious Enlightenment is a good one. I thought I would weigh in with a contrarian view and see if anyone else shares similar concerns, and also give the Zaadz inner circle a chance to respond, if they want to.

I woke up this morning from a dream where I was talking to a close friend about Brian's merger letter saying, with a mixture of astonishment and sadness, “they sold us out!”

Looking at things from the outside, I have no way of knowing what is really happening. Or how inspired the decision to merge Zaadz with Gaiam, Lime, and Conscious Enlightenment is/was. What I can tell you is when I read Brian's letter, I had the same reaction that was reflected in my dream. While the merger is being presented as a fantastic opportunity – a bold and empowering merger of like-minded networks, it looks to me an awful lot like a classic “corporate merger”. And this, in turn, typically concentrates the power and resources of the many into the hands of a few whose primary mission is to generate money for the corporate bottomline.

Assuming that Gaiam, as Zaadz new “parent biz”, will be the one ultimately calling the shots, I wonder if this is a move in the right direction. Instead of individual networks taking their place on the world's stage, each with their own unique identity, focus, collection of like-minded people, and ability to think and act independently, it looks like larger networks are eating up smaller ones – which, in turn, will be tempted to turn them all into generic, spiritually-oriented MacMalls. Zaadz, in my mind, is unique in that it appeals specifically to people who share an integral vision. And this vision, in my mind anyway, is very distinct from the watered-down, smoothed over, cookie-cutter New Age vision that is presently going mainstream. Am I missing something here (which is certainly possible), or is something that is actually not that good for a truly integral vision being repackaged to look like it is?

Don't get me wrong. I think it is healthy, empowering, absolutely essential for like-minded networks to join together, share resources, acknowledge one another's contributions, and encourage interaction among their memberships. But to have them all be owned, overshadowed, and controlled (either overtly or covertly) by one network and/or an increasing small group of individuals, however well-intentioned? That seems like a bad idea to me.

If I/we did not have a personal investment in Zaadz, I wouldn't have said anything. But since I have come to view Zaadz as a major player in the effort to ground a more integral vision, I felt I should give voice these concerns and see what the rest of you think about them.

I should also mention that I hesitated to say anything because Brian, Siona, and the other core Zaadzsters all appear to feel really good – sincerely excited even – about this new direction. And since they more connected to the core vision of Zaadz than anyone, who am I to wonder if this is the right move? Moreover, I know practically nothing about the corporate world or what kind of hoops an organization the size of Zaadz has to jump through to survive. For all I know, once all options have been considered, the only way Zaadz can move forward is to merge with other like-minded networks.

Anyway, in the expectation that others may have the same concerns I do, or that voicing these concerns might lead to a deeper understanding, I thought I would stick my neck out and say something.

My hope and prayer for Zaadz (and all the other spiritually-oriented networks, and network members) is that we all live up to our full potential and do everything in our power to carry each other, and the planet we share, to higher, safer, more fully realized ground. If merging, in the classical corporate sense, is the best way to do this, sign me up. If, however, there's another way, or another way to view corporate mergers that I'm overlooking, I'm all ears.

David Sunfellow

My vision, in case it isn't obvious from my profile, is that isolated visionaries find each other and form teams for potential projects, then attract the necessary investors or philanthropists so that projects can be launched. My personal role is to apply my video production and filmmaking skills and talents towards the success of such projects. But first, to make sure there is enough seed money that everyone involved gets paid more than they could earn elsewhere.

I see this merger as beneficial all round because it widens the macro network which can only facilitate each individual's personal network.

David!

Thank you so, so much for your note, and your honesty, and for sharing your dream. I'm so touched by your caring, and I do want to respond from my own heart.

As a member of the Zaadz team, I'm thrilled with this merger. But I'll start with what grabs me most from your note.

You wrote that you see Zaadz as being unique because of its integral vision, and you're concerned about that uniqueness being diluted or somehow watered-down beneath a larger organization.

I can promise you that this community is not going to lose that core–at least not as long as you're committed to keeping it. Zaadz IS this community! Zaadz is you. Zaadz is US. And I have a slightly different view about the impact and effects of this new phase. Instead of being concerned about what the effects ON us might be, I'm enthused about that effect we might have: I'm personally excited about being able to bring this culture and this commitment to Gaiam—which, to my mind, is already a fantastic company with a mission very resonant with ours, and whose values and commitment to community, spirituality, and environmental consciousness are very much in alignment with the sort embodied here. This, in my view, is a wonderful opportunity for all of us at Zaadz to bring our core values to a larger audience, and to communicate with those myriad others who are intrigued by, as you put it, the possibility of moving to a “more fully realized ground.”

I feel we're strong enough to be able to do that.

And I don't know. I suppose I'd ask, personally that you trust us–or trust me. :) I know that we've had some wonderful and very rich dialogues already about this site, and this business, and the community, and I can say with a fully and happy and open heart that this, for me, is one of the most exciting things that could have happened. Again, please don't forget your OWN power. Zaadz is not a series of documents to be signed and exchanged. Zaadz is this community… Zaadz is the minds and hearts of all of you coming together here, to talk and write and collaborate and share. Whether we can do so under the larger umbrella of Gaiam (and with their support and larger reach) is not going to make a difference–your voices are still your own.

But again, thank you thank you thank you for your courage in bringing this up, and for your care, and for BEING here, with and for us. Do you know how much I love this community?

I thought so. :)

Siona

Thank you for providing a haven for seeds, so ripe, to grow!

Remain inspired…

John D

Change the World….that's what led us to join the Zaadz community.  Thanks for your leadership Brian and willingness to collaborate to strengthen the vision.  We all benefit from being apart of this dynamic growth.  Change the world by being willing to change yourself and each of the organizations Gaiam, Lime, and Conscious Enlightenment provide tools, information, resources, and wisdom etc. to super charge our growth. 

Blessing, Joy, and Much Success!

As a member of the Gaiam community for over 6 years, I can assure the Zaadz community that we are indeed “on the same wavelength”.  I welcome this opportunity to re-vitalize and extend our visions for change, in harmony with our beautiful & wondrous planet Earth. May we enhance our understanding & compassion in building a better world, right here, right now.  Namaste,  Jerry

That was beautiful Jerry!  Thanks for sharing your perspective :)

I have to echo Jerry's perspective.  Though I've only been with Gaiam since January, I have known about them since '02.  It was a dream come true to be invited to join their ranks and have since found it to be as great of an experience as I'd hoped for and then some.

I really appreciate David Sunfellow raising the issues that he did because they are valid concerns.  If there was one company that I would (and have) placed my bet on to successfully take on the very real challenges that we are attempting to confront in the dialogues undertaken on Zaadz, it is Gaiam.  At a certain point, we have to find a balance between the nostalgic attachment to the idea of a “small group of thoughtful, committed citizens”  to whom Margaret Meade referred in that famous quote of hers and the next stage of a movement large and strong enough to realistically take on the enemies of the ideals we collectively support.  The spirit of the individual dream must definitely be preserved, but then bolstered by the might and organizational scope of a company like Gaiam.

Hope this additional point of view helps to alleviate some of the concern.

Warmly … Manny Otto, a.k.a. “Heart Vajra”

Site Producer
Spiritual Cinema Circle
(a Gaiam company)

Well stated, Manny!   Here's a a well organized, finely tuned “Power to the People” effort.  I love John Lennon's music & enduring spirit, don't you?  Many blessings,  Jerry

oh im glad im not d only dreamer ^.^

Enthusiastic congratulations to Zaadz!  Great comments here. :) 

I'm so excited!  Way to go!!!

yay ;  )

For those of you who might be interested, I tracked down a bit more information about Gaiam, and Gaiam's acquisition of Zaadz, Lime, and Conscious Enlightenment. I will include a few informative links below.

Among other things, these links provide information on how much Gaiam paid for the three companies (approximately $10 million), a comprehensive overview of current income and expenditures, what Gaiam's future plans are, and who will be in charge of the upfolding merger. “The community”, reads one press release, “will be led by Internet community veteran Eddie Dombrower, who joins Gaiam as president of the division. He was previously Senior Vice President at Match.com, where he launched Chemistry.com. Before he worked at Atari, Jim Henson, AT&T Wireless and was one of the early employees at eTrade.”

The press releases also indicate that Gaiam plans to launch an “overall community site” in the fall. I'm assuming this means that Zaadz will somehow be incorporated into the other communities and they will all then move ahead under the Gaiam umbrella. Is this a correct assumption? I'm wondering if this means Zaadz will continue to look and function as it does now, or if there will be significant changes? Perhaps Siona can shed some light on this for us? I continue to be concerned about the possibility that the unique, cutting-edge character of Zaadz will be lost amid a more homogenized, commercialized network. One of the things I have really appreciated about Zaadz is that you are not bombarded by endless advertisements, or the faces, books, lectures, articles, videos, and ever-present wisdom of spiritual authorities and teachers. Yes, there are a few ads on Zaadz, but the focus is clearly on building and supporting community, not moving product or promoting specific teachers and their products. Will the current atmosphere of Zaadz survive, or is it scheduled for a major makeover?

Along similar lines, I need to ask a question that specifically relates to my organization's involvement with Zaadz: Is Zaadz-Gaiam planning to continue to develop/support zPro? Considering all the changes currently unfolding, it seems to me a reasonable answer might be: “until the merger is further along, until we've had a chance