Requirements to Be a Seed
There is no enrollment process. Just stand up, step forward and follow the simple requirements below. When you are ready to submit photos, provide some basic contact info. That’s it!
Click on each requirement to expand and provide more detail:
Embrace the values of Spread the Hug, which include respect, kindness and honesty.
Respect, kindness and honesty toward fellow humans is the most important message we are sharing with Spread the Hug. These are our core values and they are more important than hugging. Treat others as you’d like to be treated.
Be open, willing and have the courage to give ONE BIG HUG to any human being.
Have the openness, willingness and courage to give ONE BIG HUG to any human being as long as they meet your minimum hygiene standards, they don’t present a perceived safety threat, and you don’t have a personal conflict with them. However, if you can hug and forgive your enemy, magic will happen for you. You don’t need to love all people–that is not a requirement. But, becoming a Seed will begin to change that.
Hold a sign that says “Need Hugs” or "Free Hugs", and ASK for hugs.
We are all about spreading the hug in every way possible but we recommend that you hold a “Need Hugs” sign as we feel this approach is more impactful.
If it feels more comfortable to offer free hugs, then hold a “Free Hugs” sign. But once you get comfortable with free hugs, it is recommended that you give the other method a try.
I would like to acknowledge Ken Nwadike at the Free Hugs Project. He has courageously helped pave the way with his free hugs and amazing videos to make it more socially and culturally acceptable for all of us to hug in public. On many occasions, he has offered free hugs in the midst of very hostile and volatile situations.
I would also like to honor Juan Mann, the pseudonym for the incredibly awesome human being that was the grandfather of this movement.
We love all the free huggers out in the world. They are making the world a better place and deserve many Awesome Cards!
Photograph each hug and upload to us.
Becoming a Seed requires two people. Get a friend or someone you know to photograph each hug. Photo’ing each hug is a very important part of our mission. We want to show the world what is possible. We want the world to see what you see. Also, when you share a hug, you can’t see the other person’s face. Once you look at a photo and see the facial expressions of the people you hug, it will crack open your heart even more.
We will share your photos in the photo galleries and the best photos may be highlighted throughout our site and shared on social media platforms.
Submit each hug photo that you take through our Dropbox upload link. You receive points for all of the eligible photos that you take, which are redeemable for more Awesome Cards.
Highly recommended but optional: Gift an Awesome Card to each person that gives you a hug.
This is highly recommended. If you are holding a “Need Hugs” sign, when someone grants your request for a hug, they are doing a very kind act. Likewise, if you are holding a “Free Hugs” sign and someone accepts your offer for a free hug, they deserve a “Thank You for Being an Awesome Human Being” because it takes trust and vulnerability to hug a stranger. It is a bit more fitting to gift out Awesome Cards if you are holding a “Need Hugs” sign, but either scenario works.
When you gift an Awesome Card to someone that you hug, you are encouraging a culture of kindness which is another very important aspect of this mission. You will also help them to Spread the Hug and get involved.
If you would like to gift Awesome Cards to every person that you hug, to get started, you’ll need to make a small donation to pay for your first batch of cards. We will then cover the rest of your cards for as long as you continue to Spread the Hug, through merchandise sales and the donations that we receive.
An initial card purchase is required in order to start receiving points. The minimum quantity of cards you will need to order to get started is 100, but we recommend 250 cards. 100% of the proceeds from your initial purchase contribute to spreading the hug and transforming the world.
Seed Benefits
–You will be doing a great service on this planet to transform and heal
the world — helping to solve the problem behind the problems. This is
what our world sorely needs right now. See Why?
-Hugging strangers will continue to open your own heart. If you harbor
any ill feelings — prejudice, dislike, contempt — toward a particular
group of people, those feelings will begin to be extinguished.
-You will walk through this world with more confidence and freedom,
including freedom from being self-conscious of what people think of
you based on superficial things.
-Be recognized for your service. We will highlight the service of Seeds
throughout our website, social media pages, and videos.
-For every photo of a new hug that you upload, you’ll receive points
that are redeemable for free Awesome Cards and other Spread the
Hug items.
-It’s a lot of fun — even thrilling. Hugging strangers can actually be
addictive, a very healthy addiction to have.
SEED IMPACT
-In just a couple hours of hugging, it is possible to directly impact over
a hundred people, opening up hearts and breaking down barriers,
ONE BIG HUG at a time.
-In just a couple hours of hugging, you will have gifted dozens of
Awesome Cards into the world. These cards circulate and encourage
a culture of kindness. This is optional but highly recommended.
-You will make an impression with the countless people who do not
hug you, but still see you and walk past. These people are also
positively impacted.
-You will have photo documented your hugs which will create a
positive impression with hundreds and possibly thousands more
people that see your photos online.
-You will have inspired others to stand up, step forward, and help
transform the world.