Here in detail:
History
25 Years of community exploration
Nomadic journey until finding a little eden
1987 - 2000
Previously, Achim lived for 14 years as a travelling artist, while he occasionally collaborated in various community projects and Eco-villages. Many years ago a special connection to the village of Yator occurred. Every year, Achim used to spend time in the village square. There, he produced his musical instruments and art around his circus caravan, while being observed by the mostly elderly villagers. Again and again, the natives tried to motivate him to stay in the village: "We need creative people," but he never felt like ending his life as a traveller.
Until .... one day he accidentally ran into this paradise valley. Right away, he felt like the place was calling him. A week later he had bought it and moved his caravan into the shade of olive and orange trees next to the small stream winding through the valley. Achim and Sandra Morillas were apparently the first people to inhabit this maiden valley.
Living creativity in sensual contact with nature
2000 - 2003
During the first months, Achim used to visit the various places and corners of the valley, asking for visions of what wanted to be created here. The images of small artistic spaces embedded in nature turned up. Together with an original educational infrastructure. He also saw people exploring how to "live creativity in sensual contact with nature" .
Achim, then, studied the appropriate techniques in order to create to all this, ordered books, contacted experts, took samples and experiments: earth building, permaculture, composting toilets, living buildings, and much more.
Many former travelling friends of Achim came, partly converted their trucks into workshops, and supported the first phase of the project construction.
Learning in Action inside community
2003 - 2006
In 2003, the infrastructure of the place had reached a standard that allowed it to accommodate groups of guests during all seasons. The Valle de Sensaciones opened its doors. More and more interested guests visited the place and learned about earth building, the construction of tree houses, and much more while they supported the construction of the place.
From 2005, a clearer format was given to the educative activity, offering workshops where learning in action was combined with facilitating communal life, music, and creative expression.
Offering inspiration and knowledge about creative natural living
2006 - 2010
It became increasingly clear that most of the participants, next to living out their creativity in the midst of nature, were interested in concrete knowledge and inspiration for transforming their lives. Many of them living in cities, frustrated by human culture, aiming to start a new fulfilling life. Lacking clear visions, skills and contacts to implement their dreams into practice.
This motivated us to transform Valle de Sensaciones from a pleasurable place for travellers, towards a training centre for creative, collaborative, sustainable living.
Now more and more people found the needed impulses and tools to implement real steps of change into their lives.
The artist and craftsman Peter Storck and Rahma Benimmas stepped into the project and completed the team.
Opening the horizon towards global networking
2010 - 2015
It became increasingly clear that the number of participants must remain moderate in order to ensure a familiar atmosphere with open hearts. As Achim had the desire to reach even more people and contribute effectively to the global change, he decided to use the Internet as a platform o radiate inspiration and knowledge. After creating an intricate website for Valle de Sensaciones, which should also serve as a platform for artists dedicated to sustainability, he then joined first the Iberian and then the global Ecovillage Network in order to realize this laborious development work in a supportive team context. The platforms GEN sites and Solution Library arose subsequently.
Although it was satisfactory and credible to write in clay houses and hardware stores sitting the code which sent the inspiration about sustainability in the world. But this work soon became so complicated that the project Valle de Sensaciones greatly suffered. Guests did not always understand to be found intensive computer work in the highly anticipated paradise. And Achim had less and less spare capacity for the organization of events for the project.
Offering the place for project incubation, thematic exploration, tribal gatherings,..
2014 - 2016
Recentering our focus on our locale, but now informed by a global perspective and international connections, Achim recognized the distinctive potential of possessing a comprehensive educational ecovillage environment untethered to a pre-existing community. The opportunities, particularly on a social level, are exceptional. While established communities excel in experimenting with ecological, agricultural, or economic aspects, a neutral human environment within an ecovillage context uniquely facilitates social and cultural exploration of innovative territories, as well as the mediation and healing of existing obstacles.
The "Rent the Lab" framework was developed, establishing clear conditions for renting the Ecovillage Laboratory. It was offered for the incubation of new projects, conflict resolution within existing communities, exploration around specific themes, tribal gatherings, and more.
Simultaneously, we continued to organize our workshops and ceremonies, such as clay and mandala roof construction workshops, full moon celebrations, wild women journeys, shamanic ceremonies, and community-building experiences.
Love, sexuality and the power of agreement fields
2016 - 2019
In 2016, we embarked on a vision quest within our team of four capable individuals to realign our work with our authentic longings. Through this process, we discovered a shared resonance – a profound longing for an environment dedicated to the exploration, reflection, and healing of issues surrounding love and sexuality. Recognizing that these issues undergo significant transformation within our public and alternative cultures, and often constitute the primary reasons for conflict and failure in community projects, we aimed to create a space where these matters could be made visible and consciously addressed.
Starting with the three months of the "Summer of Eros" in 2017, we laid the foundation for the "ErosLab" – a community space dedicated to the exploration, reflection, and healing of Love and Sexuality. The "Summer of Eros" earned recognition as a finalist in the Sexual Freedom Awards. The ISTA training emerged as the most impactful event during this exhilarating season which then got repeated in 2018 and 2019.
Finding my essencial longing: Resonance
2020 - 2023
During the challenging times of the Covid pandemic, when the world seemed to be in a state of freeze and drama, we considered ourselves exceptionally fortunate to be residing within the tranquil enclave of Yator village. Our neighbors exuded trust and ease, fostering a non-judgmental atmosphere where individuals were free to decide whether to wear masks or not. Many maintained the beautiful gestures of body contact, maintaining the sense of connection.
Coliving, Coworking, and Communitarian Exploration in Resonance
from 2023
Years ago, Achim’s first attempt to extend Valle de Sensaciones into the village of Yátor faltered, leaving him with a burning question: why do capable people, united by values, fail to align in vision? The answer came in a flash: Resonance. It was the thread through his whole life—music, architecture, facilitation, love. Valle itself had always been his artwork of resonance with people, nature, and creativity. Now, reborn after the Covid pause, Resonancia Community prepares to open its doors. With his soon-to-be wife Goddess Melanin joining from Africa, weaving her skills, spirit, and roots, the next chapter begins.
