Earthaven is like two different villages in the winter and summer. In winter all the leaves are off the trees and everything in the village feels closer together. I can see buildings in other neighborhoods and mountain horizon around us. When the leaves grow in, bright green curtains shift how our neighborhoods relate physically with each other. As the leaves come out, so do the people. We move into the season of work and play.

Every year around the first of May, we celebrate this shift of seasons and life with our Beltaine Festival — a day of celebration, ritual, and feasting. The festival begins with a May Faire. We gather on the Village Green to make flower wreaths, paint faces, play games, have a picnic lunch, and just chill out together in the sun. We dance around our Maypole, dancing in the summer. We jump over our sacred Bel Fire. We feast around the fire, sing songs, and recite poetry into the night.

Beltaine is the Celtic name for the cross-quarter holiday between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. Linguistically, one of the meanings of the word Beltaine is “lucky fire.” Ancient Celtic culture was a herding culture. Beltaine was the time of year to move the herds from the winter fields into the summer shielings (fields). Villagers would drive the herd between two fires, blessing the animals and also driving away disease and insects. The Bel Fire would also bless the villagers and the land.

At Earthaven, villagers jump over a small fire in pairs, in groups, and individually to bless their new and continuing relationships, while the community sings, dances, and reflects on the vast web of relationships in the village.

At Earthaven, we are inspired by long-established customs around the world and are developing our own traditions for our community. As we move around the wheel of the year, having traditions that ground us in the season is important. As Beltaine comes to Earthaven, we know that we will once again play together at the Beltaine Festival. I enjoy how this yearly gathering highlights the growing children and our changing lives. Annual traditions help us notice what has changed, as well as appreciate what has stayed the same.

Establishing traditions for your family or community is easy. Choose something to do every year to welcome the summer. It can be as simple as a special meal or a campfire. Your traditions will evolve over time. Honoring the seasons with tradition can help us to honor ourselves as we grow and change. Finding ways to do this together is what community is all about.

What does this change of season look like in your area and how do you celebrate? Please leave a comment in this blog post.

As we move into the season of work and play, Beltaine is a great time to bless and celebrate our bodies. Gathering in community to play in the sun is a wonderful way to bless the coming season.

The post Seasons Changing: Beltaine Traditions at Earthaven appeared first on Earthaven Ecovillage.

There I am. Arms, back and legs sprawled out on the yoga mat, with a blanket over me, and a bolster under my knees. I would say this posture is as vulnerable as it gets. Nowhere to go. Nowhere to hide. Just my body, my mind, and the many sounds enveloping me. I hear the birds chirping in the distance. A sweet soft wind subtly liberates the leaves on their branches. Children laugh and dogs bark in the distance. And then come the instruments.

The sound ceremony begins.

As we drop into the presence of the moment, we enter into a deep space of receptivity. What I’ve learned is that this experience is called nada yoga — the art of deep listening. The art of getting out of our own way and getting quiet. It is the yoga of remaining open as a vessel to what wants to re-emerge from the past, what wants to come into the present, and what has yet to be in the future.

To practice this type of yoga, first, we must pause and take in our environment. Pay attention to the nuances and observe the interactions among beings. And then come back again and again. Only then can we approach our relationship in the most aligned way possible for all involved. You wouldn’t go up to a stranger and say “wanna get married?” It’s the same kind of thing. We need to court the creatures, the spirits of the land, and the ecosystem that is weaving this web on the foundation of the mountain, the ocean, the forest, and the river.

And when we say YES to allowing our environment to wash over us, we build rich and nourishing relationships with the beings in our energetic field and we allow our place and space to shape our experience and perspective in this life. We become healing agents for the earth and all that walk on it.

This is the dance of receptivity and action at its finest. 

How can we use the power of receptivity to live and move in a way that supports the ecosystems of the land and people around us?

How can we choose to attune to our environments while also supporting our own needs and desires?

And how can we live in right relationship so that we become tuning forks for the earth and its creatures?

I encourage you to check out Place-Based Living, our new, self-paced online course that details the journey of Earthaven, moving from a consumer culture to a land-based, place-based life. This course looks at the geographic and cultural context for the Earthaven project, and then examines how creating Earthaven in this context influenced the building of our systems, including our homes, roads, agricultural fields, and power, water and waste systems.

I invite you to take a few minutes today to be still, to listen, to learn, and to respond from a place of attunement and connection to the people and land around you.

Your evolving tuning fork,
Jillian xx

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Transcript from Video:

Hi folks, my name’s Steve Torma, and I’m coming to you from Earthaven Ecovillage. I’d like to share with you five of my favorite moments of being here at Earthaven since the beginning really.

The probably the first one that comes to my mind is the first day that we as a group ritually entered the land on September 11th 1994. We formed like a bird as we all walked in and it was just really special moment that I will always cherish.

The next one that comes to my mind is working on building the council hall. We did it all ourselves. We were kind of figuring it out as we went along. It was a lot of fun . It was very exciting; a lot of both playful and creative energy going on.

Another one for me is playing sports on the village green. Kickball has been one of my favorites because it’s so inclusive of people of so many different ages and skill levels. Especially watching the kids learning the rules and having fun. Making sure that we don’t keep score so that people feel bad and all that kind of thing. I just really have a lot of fun just being out there running around playing.

I’ve also had some great beautiful moments in the stream near the neighborhood where I live, Village Terraces. There’s this gorgeous stream and a little waterfall and it’s such, especially in the hot weather, it’s such a beautiful cooling nourishing sensual experience. I just so, so love that!

Then the last one is the most recent one.  We just had a an NVC class so I call it a level three class and the level of connection between people was so sweet and nourishing to me. The depth of learning. All of us kind of learning together these beautiful principles that help make our lives more wonderful. On our final day we had a gift exchange kind of process where people just offered and asked for all things that they wanted to make our lives more wonderful together. That was a really nourishing experience for me as well the whole class was but especially that last day.

So thanks for listening and look forward to talking to you some more…

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His work was popularized when he published pictures comparing water molecules that were subjected to positive and affirming thoughts with those subjected to negatively charged thoughts. The molecular formations of the former were dynamic and beautiful, while the later were discordant and chaotic.

Here’s a video of my dear friend, Courtney Brooke, giving thanks to the water in our beautiful village.

To stay up to date on what we’re doing these days, you can subscribe to our  Youtube Channel.

Wherever you are, may your waters be flowing free, nourishing your body and soul, and feeling the love and gratitude of our hearts.

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Village Hearts Day is our community response to Valentine’s Day. Village Hearts Day is a time when we can really appreciate each other and hear how other people appreciate us. This connection is even more important this year when some of our members need to be physically isolated.

This year we are pasting a card on a large envelope for each person. The artwork is from our beloved ancestor, Kimchi Rylander. People can write on the cardvelopes or create messages to put in the cardvelopes. In February, we’ll have a drop-in session with punch and cookies for folks to receive and enjoy the contents of their cardvelopes. The Village Hearts Faeries will distribute the cardvelopes to villagers who are physically isolated.

We hope this description gives you ideas for connecting with your community this winter.

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Five years ago a tradition began here at Earthaven, the tales of which are likely to be told for generations to come. This alternative to Halloween is an annual tradition now. Mana McLeod, resident and creator, calls it The Elementals Walk.

Mana drew inspiration for the walk from her alternative education in the Netherlands, where theater is deeply valued. She recalls one particular event in elementary school that sparked it all. There were theater pieces scattered throughout the woods. Fast forward more than thirty years, that spark is a full-on flame once a year for Mana’s two boys and the 25 other children in the village.

The Elementals Walk has evolved from its modest beginnings with a few parents and some characters. These days, it’s more like a production (though mostly done behind the scenes to keep the magic alive).

Five staple characters grace the night, with a small team of other individuals who set up luminaries to light the path. There’s the Earth Troll, Water Fairy, Fire Spirit, and Air Weaver, each with its own flare.

The character known as Grizelda creates the backdrop for the whole evening, which begins with her mysterious emergence as the children huddle in anticipation. With her scarlet finery, box lantern, and scroll, she is the keeper of the story of how the elementals came to be. Grizelda’s calm, steady presence ushers the kids into an otherworldly realm, where they stay mesmerized for two hours.

The Elementals Walk is quite the contrast to the Halloween of our larger culture. The children stay connected to their bodies, to their gratitude, and to mystery in a way that feeds more than their appetite for candy.

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The Big Day, as it is so often referred to, is not merely a symbol of two people sharing their devotion in the company of loved ones; all too often it also represents the internalized values of consumer culture. This means that stress, pressure, and anxiety make as much of an entrance as wedding cakes do.

In this newsletter’s Behind the Scenes, you can read about two of our community’s beloveds and their big day. Keep reading for the full article.

“Mentally, we had already taken our vows,” said Deborah about that day and her marriage to Lyndon at Earthaven on Saturday, November 9. As we started to create the ceremony, searching within ourselves for how it would reflect our values, the usual trappings of more traditional weddings just fell away. We opted for no rings, no bouquet. We borrowed a LOT from people, and decided that anything we bought had to be re-usable by the community.”

For them, the wedding was about bringing together the families of their origin with the cultivated family of this village.

Over 100 people, from as far west as Portland, Oregon, and as far north as New York, gathered in our Council Hall to bear witness. Yet it wasn’t the physical distance traveled that made this ceremony special, it was the emotional distance that got traversed.

The wedding wasn’t just a tribute to the love that Deborah and Lyndon share. It was a tribute to the love of a village for this couple and a tribute from two families that span the cultural divides of their respective lives in Texas and in Maryland. It was even a tribute to Deborah’s late partner, Chris, as many of his kin also gathered in support.

One could say the day commenced with the persimmon tree planting—a symbol of something that starts out small, grows over time, gets more stable, and bears fruit—intentions that Deb and Lyndon have for their relationship. Or maybe the big day got its metaphorical start a week earlier when a team of villagers held a tortilla-making work party, where corn that was grown on this land got soaked, ground, and rolled out into one of Lyndon’s favorite foods.

The contributions by community and family members were numerous. We became the wedding planners, the decorators, caterers, musicians, and space holders. Deb’s dad, the photographer. Kaitlin, the priestess.

Ancestors were named, the directions were called in, and people were invited to share as they felt called to. Folks shared their hearts in the form of blessings, prayers, songs, life anecdotes, family memories….

This day, this big day, seeded something more than the commitment that Deborah and Lyndon share—it allowed for the seeds of a life we are creating here at Earthaven to carry onward with the tailwinds of other’s lives.

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Written by Arjuna da Silva

It was hard to lose three of our most outstanding members last year, though it sure showed us what kind of folks our community is made of. Kimchi, Goddess of Beauty and Determination. Suchi, Queen of Loyalty and Cooperation. Chuck, Champion of The Good Fight and Lama of Permaculture—they all carried the banner for Earthaven for over a decade (Chuck having been a founder). These principled people helped make us who we are today.

Folks feel so much gratitude that we were able to help them as much as we did, when their lives were ending. It brought us such a strong dose of sobriety about the precious value of a human life—and more connection than we ever might have felt had we not shared these experiences.

Another dear early Earthaven member, David Tree Malpass, also passed away last year. Tree helped design the Council Hall, and participated in much community planning from the very beginning. When feeling light-hearted, I say they left to work things out for us in eternity.

(remembering, from left to right: Kimchi Rylander, Susan (Suchi) Lathrop), Chuck Marsh, David Tree Malpass.

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On Sunday, April 30, we celebrated Beltaine, or May Day, the holiday mid-way between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice, which celebrates the full flowering of the powerful energy of Springtime. In lighting the Bel-fire together we take part in an ancient and universal ritual of community healing and intention. These sacred magical fires were found in cultures from Europe to China, from Africa to the Middle East, and across Native America.

Maypole dancers at Earthaven, 2017

Native peoples on this continent had a version of the Maypole to celebrate the awakening springtime before the season of the planting of the corn. For both young women and young men, it was symbolic of their commitment to care for and nurture each other and the Web of All Our Interconnected Relations, honoring the gifts each brings.

Early European Maypoles used strips of red and white cloth ribbon. Their entwining represents the union of the creative forces that rise within us, and was considered a spell for the healing and balance of the community. There is no Christian equivalent for Beltaine; it is “the people’s holiday,” established in nations around the globe as the ultimate workers’  holiday.

River Otter (aka Melissa Lemoing) is our Outreach Coordinator, among her many other gifts and talents. Let her know if you’d like to come for a visit, at least by Beltaine next year!

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Kimchi Rylander came into my life 10 years ago at the Southeastern Permaculture gathering in Celo, NC. In the last year of her life, we were on “The Divine Feminine” committee for the gathering and when we met she would share her perspective, saying, “This is not ‘my cancer,’ this is ‘our cancer’ and what is playing out in my body is what is being done to our momma Earth!”

When she received the terminal diagnosis, she said, “I’m dying and the cancer has spread throughout my body. So I want to work on dying well and supporting a positive death-ing culture.” I still remember feeling such awe and inspiration, mixed with sadness and curiosity.

A few other examples of how Kimchi held up the light of her wildly creative heart in the face of death and said, “I’m going out with style!”:

– She decided to have a “give-away” because it was so important to her to share the stories of each precious object that might live beyond her.

– She created a “Guess which day Kimchi will croak?!” raffle, the proceeds going towards positive education about death.

I was blessed to be a part of a loving transition team as a death doula during her final weeks at Earthaven. As the cancer took over her body, she spoke much less, and when she did speak it was softer and slower. During one visit with friends she said, “It’s all about love; really, it’s all about love.” She was visited by a river of loved ones who were eager to share their gratitude and love with her.

Kimchi found comfort in being able to walk on her own until the day before her transition. She also wanted to send out a community voicemail I wrote down for her: “It’s time for me to go, and I’ve had a wonderful time in this play box of life. I was happy to do things together, but I have new projects awaiting me….”

left: Kimchi’s funeral procession.

Kimchi passed surrounded by loving witnesses, holding her sister Bridget’s hand. Her body was planted back into the Earth she loved so much on the exact day of her 56th birthday. In her honor, a song group continues to gather to send support during the 9-month Gestation Period some believe it takes to die and travel to the Land of the Ancestors.

above: At Kimchi’s orchard gravesite.

May we long remember the ways Kimchi challenged and inspired us, feel more alive as we remember the unique expression of her life, and sing gratefully and often in her memory.

Earthaven neighbor Sarah Anne Amazon is a dedicated meditator who loves to attend extended retreats, including with prisoners, and to support the little people for a better world. She also loves Nature, cooking, dancing, singing and NVC.

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