TaikoPeace BE-Hive Project
Stay tuned.
“BE the change you want to see in the world.”
TAIKOPEACE BE-HIVE PROJECT: PILOT STAGE
Right now some TaikoPeace activators are busy (like bees!) creating a space for people committed to the TaikoPeace movement to connect, share, and create together.
It’s a pilot project now and will welcome other bees to join us and also start their own BE-Hives in the new year (early 2021). Together we can create truly nourishing gifts that can sweeten our lives and can be shared with all!
So, while we’re exploring the BE-Hive’s potential for instigating systemic change, there are plenty of other ways to engage with the TaikoPeace movement and we’ll let you know when the BE-Hive Project is live.
HOW WAS THE PROJECT CONCEIVED?
The BE-Hive Project was conceived by PJ Hirabayashi, a life-long taiko player, community builder, teacher, and arts leader. PJ’s countless interactions coalesced into waking up with this a-ha idea around bee hives - and how the hive concept could become an accessible, scalable, and fun tool for TaikoPeace.
WHY “BE-HIVE”—WHAT’S BEHIND THE METAPHOR?
In TaikoPeace vocabulary, “BE” stands for “Build Empathy”. “BE” is also meant as a verb to activate our true BEing and potential.
“Hive” represents a safe space, a community where purposeful work is happening collectively by equals, with no ego, and with common goals.
Our intention is to build empathy so together we can create a more peaceful world - both our inner worlds and outer worlds.
WHAT EXACTLY IS A BE-HIVE?
BE-Hives are small groups of seriously minded and kindly driven people from the greater taiko drumming community who are focused on a particular goal related to building peace culture through shared TaikoPeace Heart Values and practices.
BE-Hives will be…
Incubators for cultivating tools to share and embody TaikoPeace Heart Values within and throughout our communities
Safe places to gather where there is no hierarchy, manipulation, or power over another, to simply BE
A model to grow an interconnected, interrelated, interdependent peace culture
WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES OF THE TAIKOPEACE BE-HIVE PROJECT?
To empower taiko players and leaders to BE part of the change they want to see—in their taiko groups, in their communities, in the world.
To change the way we create, collaborate, and innovate as equals within non-hierarchical, trusting, and supportive groups or hives..
To collectively imagine and build shared taiko resources free from ownership and open to all in the spirit of TaikoPeace.
To spawn self-organizing BE-Hives that integrate TaikoPeace Heart Values, practices, and tools as well as BE-Hive culture.
5 FUN BEE FACTS
1
Bees are essential to life.
Every one of them equally important to sustaining the ecosystem we need to survive.
2
Bees are creatures of co-creation.
One honeybee makes enough honey to fill one-twelfth of a teaspoon in a lifetime - they can’t do what they do alone.
3
Bees work hard.
For every jar of honey produced, 50,000 bee-miles have been traveled.
4
When we think of honeybees, we think of the honey. But bees create much more than that.
They also make beeswax, propolis, and royal jelly which are used to build, protect, nourish and nurture, keeping the hive community thriving.
5
Bees communicate through movement to share their knowledge of resources so that others can benefit.
This takes the shape of either a circle dance or a figure of eight ‘waggle dance’.
WHAT WILL THE TAIKOPEACE BE-HIVES HAVE IN COMMON, WHAT MAKES THEM DIFFERENT?
Inclusive approach to finding other bees
Embodiment and integration of TaikoPeace Heart Values, tools, and practices
Common meeting format to be shaped by individual BE-Hives
TaikoPeace support
Sharing of inspirational BE-Hive stories in Community Garden
WHO CAN BE A PART OF THE PROJECT?
Anyone interested in being with TaikoPeace-minded creators including:
Taiko community players
Artists, writers, musicians, dancers, and composers who collaborate with taiko
People active in their communities who are interested in co-creating with taiko drummers
Social activists who value the arts for social change
WHAT KIND OF TAIKOPEACE BE-HIVES ARE YOU ENVISIONING?
While we don’t plan to prescribe any particular BE-Hives, here are a few ideas:
Integrating TaikoPeace Heart Values in my taiko group for leaders and players
Composing taiko pieces with empathy, kindness, and respect for elders
Accessible taiko for players and audiences
Curious about the project?
We welcome your thoughts, ideas, and questions about the TaikoPeace BE-Hive Project.
Feel free to connect with us!