Tamera

Alentejo, Portugal

A peace research village developing models for a future without violence

Key facts

  • Country: Portugal
  • Region: Alentejo
  • Founded: 1995
  • Members: 170
  • Land size: 154 hectares
  • Governance model: Council-based with spiritual and ecological guidance
  • Economy model: Donation-based with educational programs and guest income
  • Ownership model: Foundation-based with cooperative stewardship
  • Status: active
  • Website: https://www.tamera.org

About

A peace research project in the Alentejo, Portugal, founded in 1978. Around 200 people living and working toward a social model built on nonviolence, ecological sustainability, and what they call the political dimension of love. Uri Ayalon describes vision as the animating force of community life. Aida Shibli came from Israel-Palestine to work on reconciliation and has stayed for decades. Five published interviews.

Full description

Tamera Peace Research Village, founded in 1995, is an international research center and ecovillage in southern Portugal dedicated to developing models for a nonviolent coexistence between humans, animals, and nature. The community focuses on three main pillars: water retention landscapes, renewable energy systems, and healing of community and sexuality. Tamera has pioneered water retention landscape design, creating a series of lakes and water systems that have transformed the arid landscape and serve as a model for ecosystem restoration. The community hosts regular courses and conferences on peace work, permaculture, and social healing, attracting participants from around the world. Tamera operates as a political ashram, combining spiritual practice with ecological activism and social experimentation.

Research summary

Tamera is an intentional community in Portugal, committed to exploring and practicing coexistence, love, and sustainability. Currently, community members focus on the transformative journey of understanding personal identity and the collective dynamics that define their interactions. Members, like Aida Al Shibli, emphasize the importance of addressing systemic power dynamics to cultivate true inclusivity and reconciliation. Other members, like Uri Ayalon and Joshua Gottenko, highlight the balance of personal desires with communal responsibilities, reflecting on the evolution of community governance and the emphasis on transparency as a means to foster trust. The community actively engages with the complex interplay of relationships and systemic challenges, striving to create a living model of interconnectedness and healing.

Themes

Quotes from members

Creating intentional communities in the global North is one of the most essential things we need in this time.

Aida Shibli

Learning to say no was one of my biggest lessons.

Joshua Gottenko

If you want to build community, first understand racial justice and white supremacy.

Aida Shibli

Timeline

1978
Bauhütte project founded in southern Germany by Dieter Duhm with Sabine Lichtenfels, Charly Rainer Ehrenpreis, Sarah Vollmer, and others. The community precursor to Tamera, named after the Templar lodge used in building Chartres.
1991
ZEGG (Center for Experimental Cultural and Social Design) founded in northeast Germany by members of the original community as an independent offshoot organization.
1995
Tamera founded on a 140-hectare site at Monte do Cerro in the Portuguese Alentejo by Sabine Lichtenfels, Dieter Duhm, and Charly Rainer Ehrenpreis. The name was received by Sabine in meditation and later traced to an ancient Egyptian word for the land of water.
1999
Main community hall destroyed in a fire on the night of January 31. No one was injured. The community rebuilt with widespread external support, constructing a new permanent building for the Institute for Global Peacework.
2003
Joined the Global Ecovillage Network.
2007
Construction of the Water Retention Landscape began, inspired by Austrian permaculture specialist Sepp Holzer. Lake 1 reached capacity on December 31, 2009.
2026
Reopened to new co-workers through a three-year educational accompaniment program after a decade of not welcoming new permanent members. Spring 2026 marks the start of the new era of growth.
2026
Completed winter restructuring introducing the Ring Co-Creation and Ring Autonomy framework, calibrating member agreements to distance from daily community life.
2026
Received approval for a new land-use designation of the Monte do Cerro site through the PIER rural intervention process with the municipality of Odemira, a long-prepared legal milestone. The community set out to convert its legal structure into a cooperative, the Tamera Cooperative, and to rebuild its economic foundation after a period of serious financial strain.

Research insights (112)

  • Sharon Avraham published a long-form case study of Tamera on Supernuclear, drawing on archive interviews with Sabine Lichtenfels, Joshua Gottenko, Uri, Bori, and Aida Al Shibli. The piece documents the community's founding question, governance structure, water and energy infrastructure, internal economy (200 euros monthly per member, 1.2 million euro annual turnover), and the 2026 reopening to new members through a three-year educational pathway. [culture]
  • Aida calls for studying prevailing social systems that inhibit community living, indicating that understanding these structures is crucial for effective governance within intentional communities. (Aida Shibli) [governance]
  • Aida describes a shift in her values over time, particularly moving from a focus on justice to prioritizing reconciliation, reflecting the community's emphasis on transformative experiences. (Aida Shibli) [culture]
  • Uri's transition into living in Tamera involved significant personal sacrifices, indicating that joining such a community necessitates a deep commitment and personal transformation. (Uri Ayalon) [joining]
  • Aida states that communities often hold romanticized views, which can obscure the necessary engagement with underlying conflicts and social structures that need to be addressed. (Aida Shibli) [conflict]
  • Uri's experience in Tamera encompasses a significant shift in managing his own reactions to disagreement, demonstrating a cultural learning process where emotional responses are moderated to maintain harmony. (Uri Ayalon) [conflict]
  • Aida emphasizes that genuine belonging within the community requires ongoing engagement with complex issues such as racial justice and the shared understanding of individual and collective needs. (Aida Shibli) [belonging]
  • Tamera organizes its daily life around collective routines, such as shared meals and communal meetings, which were fundamental during Uri's initial years and reflect a strong commitment to community engagement. (Uri Ayalon) [governance]
  • Tamera promotes the idea that successful communities must connect to broader global issues, integrating their spiritual goals with political realities to avoid becoming insular. (Sabine Lichtenfels) [joining]
  • The community fosters a sense of belonging through structured forums that prioritize truthfulness and the eradication of secrecy, which allows members to express themselves openly. (Uri Ayalon) [belonging]
  • Tamera's growth strategy prioritizes the development of a core group to establish close relationships, which helps prevent feelings of isolation as the community expands. (Sabine Lichtenfels) [belonging]
  • Uri describes Tamera as a space that both encourages and evokes radical personal exploration, offering tools and language to navigate complex themes such as love and sexuality, which he views as political issues. (Uri Ayalon) [culture]
  • Rituals play a vital role in Tamera's practices, viewed as tools for raising consciousness and fostering a collective spiritual commitment that transcends individual paths. (Sabine Lichtenfels) [culture]
  • The community engages in practices to openly address emotional issues, such as jealousy, through creative expression and dialogue, fostering accountability and healing. (Sabine Lichtenfels) [conflict]
  • Tamera's leadership structure emphasizes mutual growth and support among community members, where leaders are seen as facilitators rather than authoritative figures. (Sabine Lichtenfels) [governance]
  • The community values open discussions about love, sexuality, and interpersonal relationships as a way to confront and understand deeper fears and traumas within its members. (Joshua Gottenko) [culture]
  • A strong emphasis is placed on mutual support and transparency as foundational values that facilitate trust building and community integration for both newcomers and established members. (Joshua Gottenko) [belonging]
  • The community engages in forums as a primary tool for processing conflict, fostering transparency and enabling members to experience collective support during individual struggles. (Joshua Gottenko) [conflict]
  • The community has shifted from informal decision-making processes based on trust to experimenting with sociocracy and consent-based decision-making to address low levels of trust and improve transparency. (Joshua Gottenko) [governance]
  • Bori expresses a strong commitment to Tamera as a community that resonates with her values, emphasizing that stepping out from conventional societal structures requires courage and risk-taking to find a sense of belonging. (Bori) [belonging]
  • Bori's experiences in Tamera reflect a culture that encourages open discussions about sexuality and interpersonal relationships, challenging societal norms and fostering acceptance of diverse sexual expressions. (Bori) [culture]
  • The community utilizes a forum system to address conflicts and promote transparency, allowing individuals to share their issues in a public space where they can receive feedback and support from the community. (Bori) [conflict]
  • In Tamera, the decision-making process is characterized by a learning consciousness, where conflicts are viewed as opportunities for personal growth and self-responsibility is emphasized, allowing members to navigate conflicts without blaming others. (Bori) [governance]
  • Aida's journey into the community illustrates a pathway driven by the desire for social justice and healing, emphasizing the necessity of understanding systemic issues that inhibit communal living. (Aida Shibli) [joining]
  • Aida's values of post-capitalism and reconciliation reflect a transformative cultural journey influenced by communal living, which prioritizes healing and interpersonal connection over individualistic pursuits. (Aida Shibli) [culture]
  • Aida emphasizes the need for understanding racial justice and inclusive practices within the community, highlighting that true belonging requires shared recognition of and active engagement in these issues. (Aida Shibli) [belonging]
  • Aida highlights the tendency for romanticized views of community life, suggesting that without addressing underlying conflicts and tensions, the community risks creating shadows around its ideals. (Aida Shibli) [conflict]
  • Tamera emphasizes love and integrity as central values, framing their exploration of intimacy and sexuality as part of both personal and communal growth. (Joshua Gottenko) [culture]
  • The community fosters a sense of belonging through mutual support and transparency, essential for building trust and establishing a supportive network among members. (Joshua Gottenko) [belonging]
  • Conflict resolution at Tamera has shifted towards more formalized methods, including the recognition of the community as a low-trust environment and the introduction of structured onboarding processes. (Joshua Gottenko) [conflict]
  • The community employs frequent Forum sessions to facilitate communication and decision-making, which are seen as essential for building trust among members. (Joshua Gottenko) [governance]
  • Tamera's governance structure has evolved to include sociocracy and consent-based decision-making, addressing previous challenges of low trust and informal leadership dynamics. (Joshua Gottenko) [governance]
  • Aida proposes that communities must study and understand the systems that hinder communal living in order to create effective governance structures that promote inclusivity and resilience. (Aida Shibli) [governance]
  • Aida notes that understanding racial justice and actively sharing resources are essential for creating a more inclusive community environment. (Aida Shibli) [belonging]
  • Aida indicates that without addressing underlying social justice issues, communities risk becoming romanticized spaces that overlook critical conflicts and challenges. (Aida Shibli) [conflict]
  • Aida describes her values of post-capitalism and reconciliation, illustrating the transformative effect of communal living on individual identity and purpose. (Aida Shibli) [culture]
  • The use of 'forum' as a structural tool enables open dialogue within the community, facilitating trust and shared understanding as members discuss personal issues in a collective setting. (Bori) [governance]
  • Tamera's cultural practices center around transparency, open communication, and acceptance of diverse sexualities, which contribute to a unique communal life that seeks to redefine societal norms. (Bori) [culture]
  • The community engages in a learning-oriented approach to conflict resolution, where each conflict is seen as an opportunity for individual learning and personal responsibility, emphasizing self-reflection rather than external blame. (Bori) [conflict]
  • Bori made a conscious choice to leave their previous community and join Tamera as they sought a living environment that aligned with their values and desire for a new societal model, despite the risks involved in disappointing expectations of others. (Bori) [belonging]
  • The community encourages gradual joining through experiential learning and shared values, as seen in Uri's journey from visitor to resident, highlighting collective decision-making about personal commitments. (Uri Ayalon) [joining]
  • Uri articulates that true belonging in Tamera is cultivated through shared experiences and structural openness, allowing individuals to explore their identities safely. (Uri Ayalon) [belonging]
  • Cultural practices in Tamera emphasize acts of vulnerability and openness through rituals, such as the Forum, where members can share truths without the burden of secrecy, contributing to a strong sense of belonging. (Uri Ayalon) [culture]
  • Members learn to manage conflicts by allowing open expression while working towards minimizing immediate reactions, fostering a respectful environment for disagreement. (Uri Ayalon) [conflict]
  • Tamera's community governance reflects a transition from a highly structured routine to a more diverse daily rhythm, indicating adaptability in response to changing community compositions and individual needs. (Uri Ayalon) [governance]
  • Aida Al-Shibli, teaching at Tamera: 'nothing grows in the land of guilt. What is needed is mourning, witnessing together, so that responsibility and movement can emerge.' She frames re-indigenization as remembering, not return to the past. [belonging]
  • Tamera's new Ring Co-Creation and Ring Autonomy framework codifies the relationship between distance from community life and the need for explicit agreements. The further a member is from daily life, the more agreements they take on (e.g. defined work hours). The closer they are, the more those agreements become obsolete because organic social regulation can do the work. [governance]
  • Tamera names the breakdown that preceded its new framework directly. Earlier years had a more cohesive social fabric where responsibilities flowed from a sense of togetherness and love for shared purpose. Over time this gave way to disengagement, increased social pressure, resentment, and individuals overgiving to compensate for systemic gaps. The Ring framework is their attempt to repair this without becoming an organisation where people are financially incentivised to take on tasks. [conflict]
  • Members often face challenges in reconciling personal commitments to family with their communal ideals, reflecting an ongoing negotiation of family structures within the community framework. (Bori) [joining]
  • Bori's journey to join Tamera was driven by a deep desire to escape societal norms that felt restrictive, indicating a broader struggle for belonging that resonates with many in the community. (Bori) [belonging]
  • The community emphasizes free sexuality and open relationships, fostering a culture of trust and communication to support individual and collective exploration of desires. (Bori) [culture]
  • Conflicts in Tamera are viewed as learning opportunities, where community members are encouraged to reflect on their roles in creating situations and maintaining inner peace. (Bori) [conflict]
  • The community employs a forum-based approach for conflict resolution, emphasizing transparency and collective learning, allowing individuals to express personal challenges openly. (Bori) [governance]
  • For Tamera to fulfill its purpose, it must remain connected to global issues and avoid becoming an isolated bubble, emphasizing the integration of spirituality with political life as essential to community resilience. (Sabine Lichtenfels) [joining]
  • Sabine discusses the significance of establishing a strong core group from which the community can expand, stressing that inclusivity and open dialogue are crucial for fostering a sense of belonging. (Sabine Lichtenfels) [belonging]
  • Tamera fosters a culture that integrates rituals and performances designed to elevate consciousness and encourage individual expression of personal issues, enabling healing and transformation. (Sabine Lichtenfels) [culture]
  • Sabine believes that tensions within the community stem from unaddressed projections and personal traumas, emphasizing the need for open communication and the willingness to share one's feelings to navigate conflicts. (Sabine Lichtenfels) [conflict]
  • Leadership in Tamera is described as a process of balancing between natural authority and the responsibility to guide others in their growth. Sabine emphasizes the importance of trust and non-identification with projections of others. (Sabine Lichtenfels) [governance]
  • The practices in Tamera center around openness in love and sexuality, inviting deep emotional work and a shift from exploration to nurturing intimacy, which is a cultural evolution for the community. (Joshua Gottenko) [culture]
  • Joshua emphasizes the importance of mutual support and authentic communication as foundational elements of belonging within Tamera, where individuals learn to express their needs and boundaries honestly. (Joshua Gottenko) [belonging]
  • Joshua describes an evolution in how Tamera handles conflict, moving from a low-trust environment to recognizing the need for transparency and structure in addressing disagreements and tensions. (Joshua Gottenko) [conflict]
  • Tamera has shifted from informal decision-making practices to incorporating more structured models like sociocracy and consent-based decision-making as a response to trust issues within the community. (Joshua Gottenko) [governance]
  • All members in Tamera contribute to community labor, which reflects a collective approach to resource management, though there is recognition of the diversity of family roles and external commitments. (Uri Ayalon ) [money]
  • Members are encouraged to develop emotional resilience and self-awareness in processing disagreements, moving away from immediate expressions of anger and instead fostering respectful dialogue. (Uri Ayalon ) [conflict]
  • Decision-making processes in Tamera have evolved from more structured communal meetings to a more diverse and less centralized approach, reflecting changes in member engagement and community dynamics. (Uri Ayalon ) [governance]
  • The daily rhythm in Tamera emphasizes communal activities such as shared meals, morning gatherings, and structured reflection times, which contribute to a strong sense of community identity. (Uri Ayalon ) [culture]
  • Tamera fosters a culture that encourages truthfulness and openness, allowing individuals to feel at home by letting go of secrets and engaging in open communication. (Uri Ayalon ) [belonging]
  • Aida highlights the contradiction between striving for inclusivity while maintaining exclusivity for one's community, calling for a reconciliatory approach to governance and participation. (Aida Shibli) [governance]
  • Aida emphasizes the need to study systems of oppression to fully understand the challenges that communities face in achieving unity, suggesting that these insights are crucial for conflict resolution and communal healing. (Aida Shibli) [conflict]
  • Aida challenges the romanticized image of community, asserting that true belonging requires confronting unaddressed issues, such as racial justice and inclusivity. (Aida Shibli) [belonging]
  • Aida reflects a profound transformation in her values, particularly shifting from a focus on justice to reconciliation, emphasizing the importance of healing and collective growth in a community setting. (Aida Shibli) [culture]
  • Tamera emphasizes the necessity of connecting spiritual practices with worldly political realities, warning against isolationist tendencies that could undermine the community's purpose in addressing broader societal issues. (Sabine Lichtenfels) [joining]
  • The growth of the community necessitates a strong core group to mitigate the risks of projection and misunderstanding among larger groups, suggesting that foundational relationships are key to maintaining communal integrity. (Sabine Lichtenfels) [belonging]
  • The community places significant value on rituals and communal practices, such as building a stone circle, to foster a shared spiritual commitment that transcends individual beliefs and promotes unity. (Sabine Lichtenfels) [culture]
  • Tamera employs practices such as performance-based expression and the 'master-slave game' to facilitate emotional transparency and address underlying traumas, promoting healing and reducing competition among community members. (Sabine Lichtenfels) [conflict]
  • Effective leadership in Tamera is characterized by support for individual growth, ensuring that voices within the community are empowered and heard, while also recognizing that projections and misunderstandings can arise in a larger group setting. (Sabine Lichtenfels) [governance]
  • Uri's journey from visitor to community member illustrates the importance of shared experiences and collective motivation in the process of joining Tamera, indicating a model that encourages incremental commitment. (Uri Ayalon ) [joining]
  • Uri describes a deep sense of belonging cultivated through the communal practices at Tamera, particularly in spaces that allow for truthfulness and openness, such as the Forum. (Uri Ayalon ) [belonging]
  • The community practices daily rituals such as morning attunement and shared meals, which foster a sense of belonging and connection among members, although these practices have become less consistent over time. (Uri Ayalon ) [culture]
  • Uri reflects on the personal challenges of navigating conflicts within the community, particularly the cultural differences in expressing disagreement and the importance of learning to manage emotional reactions. (Uri Ayalon ) [conflict]
  • Tamera emphasizes communal gatherings and meetings, such as Forums, as essential structures for decision-making and reflection among members, though the frequency and nature of these meetings have evolved over time. (Uri Ayalon ) [governance]
  • The value placed on love and sexuality as central themes in community life reflects Tamera’s unique cultural identity, aiming for depth in relationships beyond societal norms. (Joshua Gottenko) [culture]
  • The community life emphasizes mutual support and the creation of networks of care, which reinforces the sense of belonging among members. (Joshua Gottenko) [belonging]
  • Past tension and distrust in Tamera have prompted a reevaluation of conflict-resolution practices, leading to a focus on transparency and shared responsibility in decision-making processes. (Joshua Gottenko) [conflict]
  • The introduction of sociocracy and consent-based decision-making has been implemented to address low trust and improve collective governance within Tamera. (Joshua Gottenko) [governance]
  • The community engages in regular Forums to facilitate communication and decision-making, promoting transparency and trust among its members. (Joshua Gottenko) [governance]
  • She mentions the need for communities to balance aspirations for inclusivity with the realities of exclusivity, especially regarding identity politics. (Aida Shibli) [governance]
  • Aida asserts that communities must study the external systems that hinder communal living to effectively address internal conflicts and foster resilience. (Aida Shibli) [conflict]
  • Aida argues for a deeper understanding of racial justice as foundational for inclusivity within communities and calls for sharing resources and understanding needs to foster belonging. (Aida Shibli) [belonging]
  • She believes communities must transcend romanticized perceptions and engage critically with social issues, such as racial justice, to avoid pitfalls and shadows. (Aida Shibli) [culture]
  • Aida emphasizes the transformational value of community, contrasting her prior individualistic self-image with a deeper understanding of self that emerges through communal interaction. (Aida Shibli) [culture]
  • The community fosters a supportive environment where individuals are encouraged to express their fears and challenges, creating a culture of trust and open communication. (Sabine Lichtenfels) [belonging]
  • Tamera incorporates rituals as a means to cultivate consciousness and community solidarity, operating outside of specific religious frameworks while promoting a shared spiritual commitment to peace. (Sabine Lichtenfels) [culture]
  • The community practices rituals and open forum discussions to address emotional challenges, encouraging members to externalize their personal traumas and engage in shadow work collectively. (Sabine Lichtenfels) [conflict]
  • Tamera emphasizes a core group approach to community growth, suggesting leadership should foster empowerment among members to prevent projection and promote open communication. (Sabine Lichtenfels) [governance]
  • The community prioritizes transparency and authenticity as core values, which shape interpersonal relationships and influence the framework for navigating love and sexuality. (Joshua Gottenko) [culture]
  • Trust is built through regular, structured forums that provide spaces for vulnerability and support, although participation in these practices has varied over time, impacting community cohesion. (Joshua Gottenko) [belonging]
  • Conflict resolution within the community has been strengthened by acknowledging the existing low-trust environment and implementing forums for open communication and emotional processing, which is essential for community cohesion. (Joshua Gottenko) [conflict]
  • The community has evolved its decision-making processes from informal discussions to integrating sociocracy and consent-based decision-making due to lapses in trust and challenges with new members taking on leadership roles too soon. (Joshua Gottenko) [governance]
  • Daily routines in Tamera traditionally began with collective morning rituals, emphasizing community coherence and shared purpose, though this structure has become more diverse over time due to changing member priorities. (Uri Ayalon ) [governance]

Interviews (4)