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I took on the bridge project because I had a vision of a thing of beauty at the crossroads of our community. My plans originally included more extensive stonework, but in the end I settled for a strong and simple foundation with a pyramid at one end. I collected stones for over four years, but the reality is that I had all the ideas but never laid a stone until Travis came, with his 25 years of experience as a mason, tiler and general builder. He has done an inspiring job with meticulous and creative care.

On the mystical side, one of the ideas I had was to put stones in the wall from all over the world, thus building an energetic bridge back to their source countries. Many wonderful contributions have been made by the community and neighbors to this end. Travis also spent time researching and building special Organite devices (based on Wilhelm Reich’s Orgone principles) as a means to possibly clear the air/water of pollution, EMF, chem trails, etc. On the physical side, our process included digging out, rebuilding and reinforcing sections of the ground up to five feet underneath the corner stones and then cementing those to the ground in a continuous pour. We spent extra time and effort making sure the work would survive long-term vehicle traffic and possible creek overflow.

After Travis designed and formed up the walls of the bridge, several people helped when the cement truck arrived—thanks to Brent, Ryan, Seaver and several others for timely help at that stage. We faced the concrete walls with attractive stones and crystals. Ivy had the idea for Chakra-color stones and I envisioned engraving them with the corresponding Sanskrit symbols. Travis spent a day, with a little technical drawing help from Peggy (thanks, Peggy!) engraving the symbols.

In all, Travis spent a lot of thought and energy making sure the vision I had for the bridge would have the best chance of long-term durability and beauty, much as I imagine he did for his home remodeling clients. It’s been a wonderful father/son project for me and I look forward to completing it with him in the near future!

Gaspar Robles, an 11-year member, founded the free store and tool share at Earthaven. Gaspar dispenses flower essences, guides trauma release exercises, and offers chiropractic care in the community. Travis Robb is Gaspar’s son.

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Here’s what’s most exciting to me in the talk about 2012: the ancient stories are in step with results of scientific research and measurement!

These correlations may not be getting into the major newspapers or on the radio, but that doesn’t make them any less true.

Many scientists now understand that there are geometric, spiraling, interconnected rotational movements of energy from the atomic to the intergalactic, everywhere. Everywhere!

As Earth approaches the evolutionary peak that, according to the fossil record, occurs every 25 to 26 thousand years (and is anticipated between 2012 and 2014), it’s interesting to ask…..

Is it time yet for us all to evolve to a more life-affirming condition as human beings

Our body-minds may be in an evolutionary shift that could activate perceptual powers in us, allowing intuitive, direct experience of life to gain precedence over our generally abstract and mental approach.

One thing seems especially possible: as we build our skill base in so many ways at Earthaven, each of us doing what we can, we also build a non-physical energetic grid that could help boost our evolutionary potential.

In our ecovillage, if we can maintain the view that challenges give us opportunities to offer and receive guidance, understanding and support from each other and from our mentors, we are likely to mature as connected beings, more ready than not for the unexpected and the unbelievable!

The images in this article are by artist Ryan O’Sullivan, who currently lives at Earthaven on a natural building internship. Ryan has been drawing since he could hold a crayon. His fine art portfolio can be viewed here and his cosmic paintings under the name Black Wolf can be viewed here.

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• How do we deal with our inner and interpersonal realities so we can live in proximity and interdependence when many of our instincts evolved strongly against that?
• How can we move forward in creating a shared cosmological and spiritual foundation so our life together can have more creativity, unity and fulfillment of purpose?

“It was great having my long-time dear friend Ecozoic co-conspirator with us for two lively presentations,” said Earthaven Firekeeper Steve Torma.

For more information about Michael Dowd, see his website: http://thankgodforevolution.com/.

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In addition to the more down-to-earth activities here at Earthaven there are those among us who are intrigued by the mystical, the magical, the unexplained and the downright weird. This intrepid bunch of soul-searching, truth-seeking, consciousness-expanding light beings naturally came together to form what is known as “the Cosmic Club.”

It all started about four years ago and has been going more or less steadily ever since. Once a week we gather to watch a video documentary or listen to an audio interview. No subject is too far out!

We’ve covered the Esoteric (known only by the few) to the Occult (hidden from view), initiating ourselves into the Great Mystery seeking Gnosis (knowledge). And as we fell deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole, a picture of reality began to emerge, a ‘Revealing’ of sorts. And let’s just say, “things may not be exactly as they seem.”

For me personally, it’s more than just an interesting intellectual pursuit or an enjoyable social gathering, it’s a vital process that is necessary for the awakening of humanity. Only by knowing the Truth can we make informed decisions.

So if you’ve ever asked yourself questions like these:

•  If the universe has been expanding since the Big Bang, then what’s contracting?
• How did the first single cell organism emerge from the Primordial Soup with fully formed DNA?
• Why is there DNA in every single cell of every single living thing on Earth?
• Why can’t they find the ‘missing link’ in the human fossil record?
• How did you know who was calling you before the phone even rang?
• Why is the American flag waving on the Moon?
• Why do the richest 2% of adults in the world own more than half of global household wealth?
• How come I never heard of a pyramid in Bosnia that’s bigger than The Great Pyramid?
•  What do those crop circles really mean?

Then come to Cosmic Club!

Same cosmic day: every Friday.

Same cosmic time: 7:30 PM.

Same cosmic place: Darren’s house.

Darren Geffert is a carpenter and homesteader in the Piney Knob Neighborhood of Earthaven. He has been an Earthaven member since 1998.

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In Oriental metaphoric tradition, Spring’s direction is East, its color yellow (or green-yellow), its quality innocence. The time of day is sunrise, and it corresponds to the Wood element. Its animal image is an eagle, flying high over the landscape. Spring is a time of many possibilities, and springtime energy brings openness.

Spring begins with the Equinox, a few days’ relative balance of Sun and Moon power, the days once again as long as the nights. Here in Western North Carolina, there is the likelihood of warm temperatures and the potential for snow (of which we’ve had very little this year).

By this year’s Spring Equinox, Lenten Rose, Crocus and Daffodil had already flowered. When I knelt down to smell the Hyacinths (swooning), I saw the Irises already fanning out their broad, flat green leaves. Robins were everywhere, nests and birdsong appearing literally out of the blue.

On days like these, the heart leaps up to see the trees and bushes budding, while the mind sends a flash of fear for them and the weather they may yet have to survive. However, at press time, we can say that Spring temperatures stuck around and all the buds were saved.

In general, the last frost date for the Asheville area is May 10th, but Earthaven is tucked into the edge of a iso-thermal belt that runs through Rutherford County, so we often have frost-free nights several weeks ahead of Asheville and Black Mountain.

This Spring at Earthaven is definitely a time of new beginnings! Just come up to the end of Camp Elliott Road and see the cleared, graded, soon-to-be-seeded “big sky” reality at Gateway Ag Field. Major food production planned here for years to come, with several of our young men earning “sweat equity” during the establishment of the farm. (See “Sweat and Ye Shall Receive” in this issue. Gateway Farm will be featured in the Summer newsletter.)

Continuing along Another Way to Rosy Branch Creek (second crossing), you’ll soon be driving over our second bridge. On the far side, turn right to Imani Farm and meet new residents Carla and Hijo, a ewe and her lamb. (Don’t forget to say hello to Bridgit the cow, now almost a year old.)

More surprises: arrive in the Hut Hamlet and discover that ag field in its new incarnation as “Finally Farming CSA.”

And those are just the obvious things. Interiorly, Earthaven members are creating and recreating our community with every conversation, meeting, decision, and with a revitalized Strategic Planning Committee that has begun actualizing visions that have been nurtured for more than a decade.

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