by Jenna Payne

My mother recalls an incident when as a toddler I picked up my chair and threw it across the room. I was born this way—and now I live with a lot of folks I’ll bet threw their chairs around!

After many adventures since leaving my suburban upbringing, I’m amazed to have landed in this vibrant, life-supporting place—the closest Home I have ever experienced feeling. The learning, growth and healing opportunities are unimaginable! Earthaven is also a sort of graduate school for me, where I can pursue forgotten intelligences within heart and body through creative, intuitive, feminine means. Bolad’s Kitchen, Tantra, Goddess culture, dance, plant medicine—it’s all bringing me deeper into the mysteries of intelligence.

One thing that sometimes challenges me is my inability as a “non-member” to be more politically active within Earthaven, but I’ve found purpose here in other ways: being a leader in the Hut Hamlet Kitchen, working at Imani farm, working/mentoring with Corinna [Wood], offering yoga, dance, and massage; gardening projects and loving friendships feed so many of my needs. I hope I can give back even a fraction of the gifts I’ve received here.

Jenna Rose Payne brings gifts of beauty, dance, yoga, food and friendship to her beloved Hut Hamlet neighborhood and to many members throughout the community.