u/musical_sanctuary

Hi Reddit,

I am a Canadian citizen, wondering if it is possible to find an off-grid eco village (located anywhere in Canada) to permanently live in; whereby my daily/weekly labour contributions and a civil, cooperative disposition would grant me the right to live and remain in the community (after one trial period of roughly 3-4 months).

I am not interested in visiting any intentional community that would require an upfront cost and/or ongoing costs, in order to live in the community.

Having said all of this, is it possible to find a Canadian eco village that checks off these criteria? If so, which community(ies) should I reach out to/what are some resources that I should resort to, in order to try to find such communities?

Any advice/feedback would be greatly appreciated 🙏.

Hi Reddit,

I was wondering if it is possible for an EU citizen to find any off-grid eco village in any EU country to live in permanently, whereby his/her daily/weekly labour contributions in the community would be sufficient in granting him/her the right to remain living in the community (after one or two trial periods as a vistor)?

If the above is possible, how would the arrangements look exactly? For example, would the individual in question be required to formally register in some kind of permanent work-exchange program?

Any insights would be greatly appreciated 🙏.

I just saw "Eyes Wide Shut" for the second time, last night. I want to say that out of all the films that I have ever seen, none have ever captivated me in quite an unusual way that EWS has.

I am referring to the oligarchic sex-cult ceremony that takes place approximately halfway through the film. Who else felt a combination of fear, disgust, and utter fascination, while watching that sequence unfold?

Furthermore, the music (that can be heard throughout most of the scene) is so chilling/demonic. I felt scared and repulsed while watching it; yet, also entranced.

Furthermore, while watching that sequence, I couldn't help but contemplate what really goes on during secret-society gatherings. I caught myself thinking, repeatedly: "You're abhorred by these cult rituals? Imagine how you would react if you read/were told by a credible source that/who reveals treacherous debauchery that is actually indulged upon by the uber-rich; and that makes anything that you see in the film look like the behaviour of a choir boy."

I attribute this strangely visceral feeling (during that scene) to the amazing cinematography and the sensitive hand of Kubrick's directing. I thought that I was going to get trapped in a dark corridor of that palace. The scene legitimately felt like a purging of the dark corners of my subconscious.

What did you guys feel when you saw that scene for the first time? How many of you felt exactly the same way as I did?

I would highly recommend "Eyes Wide Shut" to anyone who is at least 18, loves psychological thrillers (that you can pick up more details on, with subsequent watches), wouldn't watch the movie with any minors, and who appreciates sensational acting from Cruise and Kidman. This film is truly a modern classic in Kubrick's vast canon.

Hi Reddit,

The following information is of my circumstances relating to my Italian lineage (which does indicate that I am not currently eligible for Italian citizenship - by descent). However, further down in the post (following my family history), I have an inquiry regarding the option of filing a court petition through the Italian court(s):

I was born in Canada in 1998; my mother was born in Canada in 1959. My maternal grandfather was born in Italy in 1929. He emigrated to Canada in 1958. He held exclusively Italian citizenship upon my mother's birth. My grandfather naturalized as a Canadian citizen in 1978 (after my mother had already reached the age of 18).

All 4 of my grandparents were born in Italy, but naturalized as Canadian citizens pior to 1992 - and therefore, prior to my birth. My father was born in Canada in 1953. Both of his parents were exclusively Italian citizens upon his birth. However, both of his parents naturalized before he reached adulthood (his mother was the last to naturalize of his parents; and she did so in 1969).

I have not ever established residency in Italy (I have yet to even set foot in Europe). None of my grandparents had ever and none of my parents have ever established residency in Italy - in my lifetime. However, all 4 of my grandparents had resided in Italy for at least the first 20 years of their lives (before emigrating to Canada).

I have been in contact with a law firm that is based in Milan. The firm quoted me the equivalent of roughly $12,150 in Canadian dollars (which includes court fees), for taking my citizenship application through the Italian courts. There is the potential for a reduced total cost to the petition (with any additional people tagging in with their own separate applications).

One of the lawyers at this firm said that my father & I would have strong cases, since my father has evidence of making inquiries (about the process of obtaining necessary documentation (pertaining to his mother and/or father) - before submitting one's application) to our local Italian consulate in Toronto. This evidence (in the form of emails) dates back to 2021 - which would make my father & I subject to whichever regulations happened to be in place (upon my father reaching out to the Italian consulate).

However, would I be assuming correctly if my dad also had to be involved in any joint court petition with me (if I was going to reap the benefit of being pinned to 2021 regulations)? I ask because it was him, afterall, who got in contact with the consulate - not me. Furthermore, and even if my father would not need to be involved in any court petition for me to benefit, I assume that I would still need to designate any of his parents (who he inquired about to the consulate) as the start of my ancestry line (in my application). Please correct me if also this assumption is incorrect.

But even if I am right that my dad would have to be involved with me in the petition route (and that I would have to also choose one of his parents as the start of my ancestry line), this wouldn't be a big deal. I'm sure that my father can be convinced to tag along with me, if I was serious about filing a petition via the Italian courts. Also, since the "minor rule" was not in effect back in 2021, how would designating my dad's father hinder the strength of my case (anyway)? 🤷‍♂️ I single out my paternal grandfather because for all I know, the "1948 rule" was still in effect back in 2021, and choosing my paternal grandmother would make me subject to it (my dad's mom was born in 1927).

I want to stress that since I am not currently eligible for Italian citizenship (by descent), I am leaning in the direction of launching a petition through the judicial system in Italy - unless any of you would advise against doing so. The thing is that I don't think that there is enough incentive for the Italian government to make regulations less stringent. So I am pessimistic about the thought of holding my breath for any subsequent ruling (at any point in time) that will make my eligibility stronger.

In a nutshell, would I be better off just filing a legal petition (whether or not I would also need my father to be part of it - in order to be subject to the 2021 set of regulations); or is it likely that my eligibility will improve following any subsequent ruling (that occurs in 2026)? If it is a good idea to go with the court route, should I try to find another firm that would charge me less? Or is $12,150 (for 1 person) in Canadian dollars par for the course, for this type of matter?

Mille grazie, in advance 🙏!

Hi Reddit,

I have felt adrift/spiritually confused for quite a long time now; and I am hoping to get some direction to the most productive and fruitful life course for me. This goal is very much aligned with my desire to treat crippling mental health issues - primarily OCD-related ones and corresponding depression.

Ever since that I had two very profound psilocybin experiences (back in late 2021/early 2022), I have been inclined towards a radically different way of life (specifically, playing a productive role in a shamanic community that also acts as an eco village - ideally). But I have been aimless for all these years, because it is very hard to find a community in Canada that checks off any of those criteria (while also being detached from our overriding economic model of capitalism).

I could be recognizing Italian citizenship (by descent) within the next year or so. I'm still in the initial stage of getting the complete picture of my eligibility. If I am eligible for citizenship (by descent), then many communities across Europe would be potential opportunities for me to get integrated to (especially because I am more flexible about the notion of any community still having no choice but to operate in the capitalist framework).

However, another crucial reason as to why I remain "in limbo" is because I am desperate to find an all-encompassing purpose to exist (that resonates with me spiritually and intellectually); only to come up short, time and time again. I cling to my search for the answer because I have suffered so much (in not even 30 years of existence) that the thought of continuing to suffer after I die (as if nothing that I can do in my current lifetime has the potential to benefit my circumstances for when after I pass on), is terrifying to me.

Since 2022, on-and-off, I have gravitated toward the idea of adopting Buddhism (even going so far as to consider undergoing a trial period (or multiple) to see if I would like to live in a Buddhist monastery for the rest of my life). Buddhism seemed to be among the most logical and devoid of dogma, compared to most other spiritual disciplines (especially compared to my Catholic roots/upbringing) - and to it's credit, probably is. But I have recently moved on from Buddhism because concepts like rebirth and Anatta require faith; and at the end of the day, Buddhism is organized (even if it is not an "organized religion", per se). Like any organization, it has hierarchies and is a culprit of repression/prone to abuse of power.

If there is any spiritual discipline/worldview that I am currently inclined to, it would be shamanism. This is because it predates even the oldest organized religions by at least 10,000 years, and there is discernible/verifiable evidence of how core practices of shamanism (conducted by shamans/shamanic healers) have actually cured people's chronic physical/mental afflictions - including via the medicinal value/sacred intuition of plants/fungi. I love the quote by Terence McKenna that goes something along the lines of: "The shaman is not merely a madman. The shaman is a madman who has healed himself/[herself]."

Despite my misgivings about Buddhism, I still believe in enlightenment (as the concept of which seems to be aligned with my exalted psychedelic experiences). However, do shamans/shamanic practitioners even recognize enlightenment as real (let alone as something that should dictate one's life goals/purpose)? I have this nagging worry that even if the concept of enlightenment is compatible with shamanism, ultimately if one were fortunate enough to live part of his/her life as an enlightened individual, it still is not a guarantee that such efforts that the person made (in order to achieve enlightenment) are what leads to a person/soul suffering less (or not at all) - after leaving this world.

If this is indeed true, then I feel that I will remain at the mercy of the pain and despair that come along with existential dread/angst. I can't see myself continuing to live with the acknowledgment/suspicion (deep down) that my life entails more suffering than otherwise, that there is no real lasting meaning to anything that I do (or can do) in my life, and that the reason as to why I don't kill myself is because of the fear that I might make things worse for myself - by doing so.

I am not averse to hard work (whether emotional/spiritual or physical) in order to overcome adversity that I have already been dealt (and the adversity that life will inevitably "throw" my way). But without a purpose that truly resonates with me/convinces me how/why the hard work has lasting value (after death), it is all too easy to succumb to despair and not muster the energy to address anything beyond very immediate priorities. I have this nagging fear that rock bottom is near me; that my depression will get so bad that even though I couldn't see myself ever committing suicide (directly), I might decide to tread a fine line of doing so. An example being, purposely undereating and undersleeping for a few days leading up to a night whereby I go out walking until I pass out and possibly die.

I don't want to come across as melodramatic, nor am I saying that the above scenario is a likely undertaking. However, I would be remiss if I said that I can eventually learn to co-exist with spiritual confusion/corresponding mental health issues.

If any guidance/inspiration/advice/spiritual wisdom can be provided, I would greatly appreciate it 🙏.

Hi Reddit,

I posted with a very similar inquiry, recently. However, I thought that I would re-work my first post to make another one that is more concise (to hopefully make it easier for me to not get stuck in confusion about my eligibility - as a result of wording things in a convoluted way (the first time around).

With the current legislation/regulations, would I have a strong claim to Italian citizenship (by descent)?:

I was born in Canada in 1998; my mother was born in Canada in 1959. My maternal grandfather was born in Italy in 1929. He emigrated to Canada in 1958. He held exclusively Italian citizenship upon my mother's birth. My grandfather naturalized as a Canadian citizen in 1978 (after my mother had already reached the age of 18).

All 4 of my grandparents were born in Italy, but naturalized as Canadian citizens pior to 1992 - and therefore, prior to my birth. My father was born in Canada in 1953. Both of his parents were exclusively Italian citizens upon his birth. However, both of his parents naturalized before he reached adulthood (his mother was the last to naturalize of his parents; and she did so in 1969).

I have not ever established residency in Italy (I have yet to even set foot in Europe). None of my grandparents had ever and none of my parents have ever established residency in Italy - in my lifetime. However, all 4 of my grandparents had resided in Italy for at least the first 20 years of their lives (before emigrating to Canada).

If my circumstances deem me strongly eligible, then I am certainly going to lean in the direction of establishing legal residency in Italy (as my route for recognizing citizenship). However, even if I am currently eligible to a great degree, is there at least a reasonably good chance that any subsequent set of regulations/revision(s) in legislation could throw a wrench in my plans?

Mille grazie, in advance 🙏!

Hi Reddit,

I am a Canadian citizen, currently residing in Canada. I am very interested in the notion of obtaining/recognizing Italian citizenship (by descent).

I believe that I am an unrecognized dual citizen. I know that designating any of my grandfathers (as the start of my ancestry line) would give my application the strongest case for citizenship.

However, I tried to find out the specific years of naturalization (for both of my grandfathers) on the Library and Archives Canada Citizenship Database - but came up short.

Myself, my father, and my mother were all born in Canada (in 1998, 1953, and 1959 - respectively). My paternal grandfather naturalized in Canada, in 1957; making my father & I subject to the "minor age rule" (if we were to designate my paternal grandfather as the start of our ancestry lines - in our applications). My mother believes that her father naturalized in 1978 (which if true, would not make her or I subject to the "minor age rule" - in our applications).

In any case, how can I find credible information on the years that my grandfathers naturalized in Canada (before paying for the applicable document that is formally required for my application - obviously, pertaining to just one grandfather)?

As a side note, I am hoping that I am fully eligible for citizenship (by descent) because I like the idea of filing my citizenship application, directly in Italy (very soon after obtaining a residency permit from the particular comune that I may decide to take up residency in). I am definitely not partial to long consular wait times.

EDIT - Additional Clarification:

My grandmothers were born in Italy (just like my grandfathers were). My paternal grandmother naturalized in 1969 (which means that I would fall under the "minor age rule" - no matter which paternal grandparent I may designate as the start of my ancestry line). My maternal grandmother definitely naturalized before my mom's father did. But I am uncertain about her year of naturalization, as well. So I only know the years of naturalization for my dad's parents.

But would I even have a stronger case for citizenship, if my maternal grandfather did naturalize after my mother's 18th birthday? I hope that I am wrong about this; but it seems to me that since none of my grandparents were Italian citizens upon my birth, the strength of my application would be the same between a grandparent who would categorize my application with the "minor age rule" and one who wouldn't.

I am in initial discussions (via email) with a law firm that is based in Milan. In Canadian currency, the firm quoted me approximately $12,150 (which includes court fees) for one person filing their citizenship (by descent) application/petition via the Italian court(s). This firm is not currently assisting clients with the residency route to citizenship, so they are pushing for the court-petition route.

I am certainly open to referrals for firms (based somewhere in Italy) that would charge less than the aforementioned firm would (for the court pathway). Any firm that would not only charge less for the court petition pathway, but would also be willing to assist with the residency pathway, would be wonderful lol.

But I'm also thinking of booking a 1-hour consultation with a firm (based in Canada) that specializes in Italian Immigration Law. I've been in contact with two, and both of them quoted me in the range of $450-$500 (Canadian - including taxes) for the initial 1-hour consultation. Both firms do assist clients in any of the pathways to Italian citizenship (by descent) - that they may choose (depending on their eligibility).

Correct me if I am mistaken, but there are a total of three ways that a Canadian citizen can apply for Italian citizenship (by descent):

1. Making an appointment with the local Italian consulate in Canada and then filing their application (online or in-person) - on the day of their appointment

2. Filing their application/petition through the Italian court(s)

3. Establishing legal residency in any comune in Italy - before directly submitting one's application with the particular municipality

Since I do not have a clean case for citizenship (by descent), would the residency pathway mean (for me) that I would have to be a legal resident for at least 2 or 3 years (continuously) after getting my residency permit - before I am eligible to file my application with the municipality? If one is not fully eligible (by descent), does that mean that they would have to possess a certificate proving at least B1 level of Italian proficiency?

Furthermore, the lawyer from the firm that is based in Milan, told me that the court-petition route is almost always a safer bet than the residency route. What he meant by this is that, unlike with the residency pathway, a person filing their application through the court(s) would be subject to the Italian citizenship laws/regulations that happened to be in effect at the time that the petition was filed with the court. The residency route is a lot more risky because a person living as a legal resident (as their means of obtaining/recognizing their Italian citizenship), would be at the mercy of any new regulations that are put into effect - any time during the process (putting the whole application in jeopardy). Is this true? Or is the residency pathway just as safe as the court-petition route (after one obtain's their residency permit from the comune that they've chosen to "set up shop" in)?

Mille grazie, in advance! 🙏

Hi Reddit,

I am a Canadian citizen, currently residing in Canada. I am very interested in the notion of obtaining/recognizing Italian citizenship (by descent).

I believe that I am an unrecognized dual citizen. I know that designating any of my grandfathers (as the start of my ancestry line) would give my application the strongest case for citizenship.

However, I tried to find out the specific years of naturalization (for both of my grandfathers) on the Library and Archives Canada Citizenship Database - but came up short.

Myself, my father, and my mother were all born in Canada (in 1998, 1953, and 1959 - respectively). My paternal grandfather naturalized in Canada, in 1957; making my father & I subject to the "minor age rule" (if we were to designate my paternal grandfather as the start of our ancestry lines - in our applications). My mother believes that her father naturalized in 1978 (which if true, would not make her or I subject to the "minor age rule" - in our applications).

In any case, how can I find credible information on the years that my grandfathers naturalized in Canada (before paying for the applicable document that is formally required for my application - obviously, pertaining to just one grandfather)?

As a side note, I am hoping that I am fully eligible for citizenship (by descent) because I like the idea of filing my citizenship application, directly in Italy (very soon after obtaining a residency permit from the particular comune that I may decide to take up residency in). I am definitely not partial to long consular wait times.

Any feedback/advice is greatly appreciated 🙏.