There was a time when the majority of humanity had no money at all. It was a time when the majority of humanity lived in rural areas, predominantly in small hamlets and villages. At that time, money – in the form of coins – was only known in larger cities.
Nevertheless, even the so-called common people wanted to trade, and at some point a gift was needed to make progress. The harvest had been poor, hardly any seed had been developed, tools had broken and a storm had damaged the barn roof. Instead of exchanging goods or services for coins – as in the city – people in the “village” community acted differently. They knew the gift. The gift was a process of unintentional giving, knowing the condition of a shared fate to life in the same village. Those who have lived together in one village for ages don’t need to keep score. Over time, all accounts are balanced. It simply made no sense to strive for profit, for added value or for economic success. The “village” community of shared destiny was a higher-level organism and was perceived as such. It was legitimate and advisable to pass things on within one’s own group and thus keep them within the group’s grasp. There were other villages, after all.
Coins – once valuable – were replaced by paper money. The link to the precious metal gold was lifted, and the printing presses ran hot. Wars were necessary to destroy valuables. Then, during the reconstruction phase, they could be sold again.

For a few years now, an open bookcase has stood at Calle Las Parras 19 in the mountain village of Cervera del Maestre (Castellon, Spain). The books are a gift for those who are interested. This bookcase has two additional compartments, one for other gifts.
Now, you can also find power tools and other items there. They are given without any intention.
Gift-giving itself is almost perverted. We constantly suspect a trick. We’re not even familiar with people giving freely, without any obvious or hidden intentions. The inner dialogue can be seen again and again in people’s faces when they stop in amazement in front of the cupboard, connecting what they see with their knowledge. And they look around carefully before they reach out. But reaching out also involves understanding.

For the last 5,000 years, we have had a money-driven history, and the villages resisted this for a long time. The villages will be the first to return to the gift. Enjoy it!