The house is permeated with fresh melon's sweet syrup, the sink full of rainbow chard larger than my torso and cucumbers that Little Jack Corner's plumbs wouldn't dare compete with. The refrigerator is painted with tomatoes, peppers and eggplant and the air outside heralds the coming of fall.
This is Vermont right now, this is home. I awoke this morning to a sky brightened to an aquamarine blue and dotted with clouds highlighted with the sun's magnificent golden glow. The wind was blowing through the quaking aspens who were waving their leaves to all the morning creatures.
After having gone for a walk, it occurred to me that we are at the cusp of summer turning to fall. Of warm southerly winds shifting to crisp, chilly, sweater- and- tea inducing temperatures. Our natural instincts ready to switch over to root vegetables and warm stews and pies. Trees are adorned with sparkling, red crab apples and golden rod is at its peak, while all the while the Staghorn sumac has already begun its transformation from bright green to scarlet red, sunny yellow and crimson orange (if such a color exists :)
Yesterday, I helped harvest red and orange habanero peppers at the University of Vermont's Horticultural Farm- Common Grounds. The plants were standing there, like pregnant women days before giving birth, aching to be relieved of the weight of their elegant, beautiful and perfectly shaped babies. From every stalk there hung a firm pepper, each one's body shaded uniquely with oranges, reds and yellows. As my hand reached in to the thicket of plants to harvest, the pepper bodies would knock together and make sounds that reminded me of wooden chimes knocking in the wind. All around me from where I stood, grew not just peppers, but marbleized eggplants of an heirloom variety that I had never seen before, massive blood red peppers, tomatoes, sweet corn, rich melons and...multitudes of apples.
I feel compelled to now mention, with the height of the summer harvest, comes the welcoming of the beginning of the fall crops. While the tomato plants are bending over from the weight of their cargo, the winter squashes are just getting ready to reach maturity, the apples are enticing us to pick them from their thick branches and the pumpkins are competing to grow large in their patches. Hubbard squashes and gourds are beginning to poke their faces out from underneath their over sized leaves and even the beans are still coming, betting with one another who will be put raw into a salad or who will be made into the ever-loved "dilly bean"?
When we cook applesauce this season, the soft bubbles will make their way out of the pot and the air will be infused with the apples' natural incense: the perfect ratio of sour and sweet. The biggest butcher knives come out from hiding to tackle all of the overgrown root vegetables and the canning jars emerge for the undertaking of pickling and jelly making.
This is nothing short of a miracle. Therefore, I must say to you, we live in a miracle.
Food is life. And life's magnificence, subsequently, is greatly dependent on food. Since I lived on the ecovillage this summer, my relationship and connection with food has changed dramatically.
My body and soul have done a complete 360 recently as, having experienced on the ecovillage, I have come to take my time to prepare and eat my meals. It's quite ridiculous as a matter of fact, to not be able to finish my first meal of the day, breakfast, in under 30 minutes, but it really can't be done, nor do I want it to be done any more quickly than that. It's a time to take in the essence of the world that lies before us and within us.
How about this. Have you ever eaten a toasted almond and been transported to an old musty library with wood flooring and book shelves made from deep oak? Have you crunched on a piece of fresh lettuce (I mean fresh, straight from the ground you walk on) drizzled in olive oil and apple cider vinegar and felt a sweeping rush of what it feels like when you run through a wet field of grasses and wheat in mid summer? Or how about have you ever chewed on a clump of freshly cooked brown rice, only to soak up its naturally chewy coating and absorb its juicy, tender nectar? If you haven't- then please try it and you'll know what I mean and if you have, then you already understand when I say that our relationship to food can, and I believe should be, so deep and so personal that it's nearly impossible to explain.
It's in our hands and our decisions to choose what goes into out mouths, ultimately, to choose what our souls will be nourished with. I believe that we are pulled to our core and back to our essence when we find that part within us, the part that exists there for everyone, that is deeply rooted in our ancestral lives of food growing, preparation, respect and enjoyment. Rich spices, chopping up the freshest of foods, so fresh they sound like a symphony on the cutting board, boiling rices and grains and watching the bubbles froth over the top, chewing, creating, nourishing and loving.
With delightfully cold feet and nose holding a hot cup of tea, open and ready to learn and experience all that's to come this fall season,
Yours truly,
Rebekah
"...and as the winds shifted, her hair blew northward and steam rose from the hot cup of tea straight to the horizon. Pumpkins, apple pies and fortitude were ready to come to life."
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Yalla! 2010
My Fall 2010 semester as a junior at the University of Vermont has just begun and I'm ready, but not before I send a thank you.
As I sit here at dusk, with the sky a deep ocean blue and the trees darkened by a shade of green that only the forest can mix on a palette, I want to write. I want to write to thank my family and my friends. Without you I would not be who I am. Without you my seamless chatter would fall to deaf ears and my spirit would not know what it is to soar, to rise to new heights. I cannot easily explain what I feel from day to day. And words are confining. And, unless in the physical presence of one another, as a friend once told me, "they're the best thing we have."
Waking up to the sunrise, to a never-ending array of clouds taking the form of camels, castles, dogs and angels. Having the privilege to stretch my muscles that are just opening their eyes for the hours to come, to slowly cook and eat a breakfast that inspires me to write poetry, to, day to day, be included in a family that, despite long days of work and migraines, never ceases to emit kindness, patience and love. It's remarkable to the highest degree.
To go to class with the confidence that the morning sky instills and smile to hundreds of beautiful people each day, recognizing that the boundaries we place between ourselves and all others is completely self-imposed, to eat lunch with family and friends and discuss the world, its theories and magic, to talk about the day's events and to simply be with one another, To sit in a room full of other people, there for the same cause, and listen to lectures that explore the realms of electromagnetic frequencies, public speaking, social values, environmental law and even to be so fortunate as to attend a course in which food preparation, food systems explanations and taste is explored all at once....it's a blessing that makes me feel so strong and powerful that sometimes, I'm being completely serious when I say this, I need to drop and do 20.
With the beginning of such a semester, with so much about to come, I want to say
Thank you.
In deep peace,
Rebekah
As I sit here at dusk, with the sky a deep ocean blue and the trees darkened by a shade of green that only the forest can mix on a palette, I want to write. I want to write to thank my family and my friends. Without you I would not be who I am. Without you my seamless chatter would fall to deaf ears and my spirit would not know what it is to soar, to rise to new heights. I cannot easily explain what I feel from day to day. And words are confining. And, unless in the physical presence of one another, as a friend once told me, "they're the best thing we have."
Waking up to the sunrise, to a never-ending array of clouds taking the form of camels, castles, dogs and angels. Having the privilege to stretch my muscles that are just opening their eyes for the hours to come, to slowly cook and eat a breakfast that inspires me to write poetry, to, day to day, be included in a family that, despite long days of work and migraines, never ceases to emit kindness, patience and love. It's remarkable to the highest degree.
To go to class with the confidence that the morning sky instills and smile to hundreds of beautiful people each day, recognizing that the boundaries we place between ourselves and all others is completely self-imposed, to eat lunch with family and friends and discuss the world, its theories and magic, to talk about the day's events and to simply be with one another, To sit in a room full of other people, there for the same cause, and listen to lectures that explore the realms of electromagnetic frequencies, public speaking, social values, environmental law and even to be so fortunate as to attend a course in which food preparation, food systems explanations and taste is explored all at once....it's a blessing that makes me feel so strong and powerful that sometimes, I'm being completely serious when I say this, I need to drop and do 20.
With the beginning of such a semester, with so much about to come, I want to say
Thank you.
In deep peace,
Rebekah
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Shanti
My dear family and friends,
Today I travel to Vermont, to another home of mine. Thank you for your presence in my experience here at the ecovillage, now completing a full month.
And because this land, its people, the experiences, emotions, knowledge, feelings and beauty that I have gone through is all so immense and very internal, I simply want to say that as I move onto the new adventure, the new stage in my life...
I thank this community for its support, kindness, love, care, concern, unity, gentleness, energy, compassion, spirit, knowledge, time, patience, freedom....I thank the land for its bounty, its timelessness, its symbolism, its words, gratitude, simplicity, wonder....
Thank you in that you have helped extend my family, as you have all become a part of it, and thank you for helping lend a glowing hand, allowing my soul to fly!
With deep love forever and thoughts at each moment amidst whatever may come along the way,
Rebekah Gordon
Today I travel to Vermont, to another home of mine. Thank you for your presence in my experience here at the ecovillage, now completing a full month.
And because this land, its people, the experiences, emotions, knowledge, feelings and beauty that I have gone through is all so immense and very internal, I simply want to say that as I move onto the new adventure, the new stage in my life...
I thank this community for its support, kindness, love, care, concern, unity, gentleness, energy, compassion, spirit, knowledge, time, patience, freedom....I thank the land for its bounty, its timelessness, its symbolism, its words, gratitude, simplicity, wonder....
Thank you in that you have helped extend my family, as you have all become a part of it, and thank you for helping lend a glowing hand, allowing my soul to fly!
With deep love forever and thoughts at each moment amidst whatever may come along the way,
Rebekah Gordon
Sunday, June 27, 2010
"Celebration, It Surrounds Us"
Hello to all family and friends,
Home is where the heart is, and if you bring your heart with you everywhere...you get the picture. This is why it is such a privilege to have such a steady flow of love from Vermont (everywhere I go I talk about Vermont and my family as if it were my firstborn child), it allows me to bring the same goodness that I've received from my family to anywhere else in the world. Thank you.
I have, as they say, oodles and oodles of knowledge that I am going to share with you. And before I start, I want to say that this knowledge should not be kept a secret, it is to be spread and passed on if you feel inclined to do so! Like the sticky sludge that a potato bug passes on to his neighbor in a potato bed...yes, I've been gardening a lot :)
I'd like to begin with this quote from the sculptor Michelangelo:
"In every block of marble I see a statue as plain as though it stood before me, shaped and perfect in attitude and action. I have only to hew away the rough walls that imprison the lovely apparition to reveal it to the other eyes as mine see it."
A close friend of mine here at the community reminded me of this quote the other day. And each day I seem to encounter the meaning of these words in the day's task.
I'll begin with the topic of Edible Forest Gardens. You might imagine this to mean a fenced in forest of tall tree-sized broccolis or asparagus, but in fact, an edible forest garden is a paradise of trees, shrubs and ground cover that all work in conjunction with one another to produce the most food possible, but here's the catch: if you left it on its own and essentially, abandoned this creation, it would thrive and still be there if you ever returned. The layers of the forest garden include:
canopy, shorter trees, bushes, herbacious cover, ground cover and insectaries (plants to attract insects).
So, let's paint a picture. Imagine a garden with its base layer being woodchips. Not only do these woodchips provide a home for beneficial mycelium (helpful fungal branching) to grow, once these chips break down they fertilize the underlining soil layer and help the ground retain moisture. (One word of caution: NEVER, I repeat, NEVER use walnut or spruce to fertilize. Walnut produces juglans, a toxin that kills out the surrounding plants...eek!). The next layer could include clovers and comfrey, two strong ally plants that any gardener should respect, both having multiple uses medicinally and agriculturally. Above this we can include highbush blueberries and raspberries. In New England, these species can be seen growing in nature frequently and in great abundance. (P.S Always make sure you have a clear idea and understanding of any plant or berry that you feel strongly inclined to take and pop into your mouth). The blueberries and raspberries can be picked and used in cooking to make wonderful treats as well as can be shared with the surrounding wildlife.
I should take a moment to mention here that within the framework of permaculture, sharing and respecting the land and its produce is of great importance. Making sure to give certain preexisting plants their space as well as acknowledging the birds, insects and other friends of the garden that are in need of food. (Of course if you are having a problem with a certain friend, i.e. the all too friendly porcupine that lives around the edible forest garden here, we try our best to work in conjunction with porky's needs without forgetting that we are trying to enjoy the produce of our hard work too). Balance is key.
Your layer of trees can include all sorts of variety including: pear, plum, cherry, pawpaw!, peach as well as vine shrubs such as kiwi and grapes. The assortment and possibilities are enormous.
With care, work, respect and dedication, in giving to the land, one can truly hope to benefit by receiving fresh produce and bounty.
Well now, I see that in my procrastination I've filled quite a storage space of experiences and facts to write about so I think I'll have to select my most memorable and favorable few more for the rest of this entry.
Ever since I took a course with an amazing professor at my university entitled, Dendrology- the study of trees, I have fallen in love with identifying just about anything in nature (if Identifying proposed to me, I'd marry it). The other day, my roommate and I went on a wild edibles walk!
This included not merely identifying trees, but shrubs, grasses, rushes, sedges, mushrooms...if it was outside, it was ID'd. There is so much food surrounding us at every moment. Our ancestors knew so much about every stalk that grew from the earth, its uses and characteristics. It is this information that we have to retrieve for ultimately, I believe our surivival and the survival of the planet depends upon it.
Meet some of your closest and most friendly neighbors:
1. Winecap Stropharia- a mushroom which propagates with a powdery black dust, has a tan cap and simple white stalk. When cultivating mushrooms always place them into a paper bag immediately in order that they can dry out and then can be used in soups, stir frys and stews!
2. Sarsaparilla- (those silent r's) it grows everywhere in New England, a short ground plant with five elliptically-shaped leaves. The shoots between the leaves seem to always spread out at 120 degree angles (so in case you have brought your protractor into the woods with you, you can check). The root can be boiled and used in drinks which help with a variety of skin disorders.
3. Slime Mold- resembling a glob of toothpaste on a log, these fungi will, at some point in their interesting lives, decide that their location is not as great as it could be and so the molds near each other gather together, yes they move, and search for better real estate. If you don't believe me, I don't blame you, I'm not sure I believe myself.
4. Jewel weed- never forget this plant. A moderately tall and light green stalk, this plant is filled with the antidote to poison ivy! Simply pull it from the ground, crush and rub the plant's stalk in your hand and spread it on the infected area.
5. Stinging Nettle- although this plant has a nasty temper, its only trying to protect itself. In fact, the nettle means well for it is chock full of Iron and protein. The stinging prickers only are found on the underside of the leaf, so if you gently fold the leaf top down in your fingers, pull it off the stem and fold it until no stingers are visible, you can eat it raw! Delicious.
Although I could keep going with this list, I will leave you in suspense and encourage you to go out and learn about the wild edibles (make sure you know it's an edible!) in your area. There's so much to discover. A last tip to help in your identification process:
"Sedges have edges, rushes are round and grasses have joints when the cops are not around."
In addition to having been taught the basics to bicycle repair, having experienced a truly beautiful and important holistic healing session, learning how to drive a tractor..STICK SHIFT and having been taught about the herbs that one can plant and cultivate, each day I am learning more and more about life at its essence.
The quote of Michelangelo that I mentioned a few paragraphs earlier seems to relate to the deep aspects of a healthy life. A balanced lifestyle maybe doesn't need to be discovered through a period of enlightenment or a feeling of monumental change. I think it comes from what already exists around and within us. Just as the statue's essence and form already exists within the marble, the essence of health and goodness lie in the world, and if we "hew away the rough walls that imprison" ourselves from connecting to it, we will truly find a beautiful statue that stands there waiting; one which exudes the energies and power of peace and love, exuding whatever your true self identifies with.
As humans, I think we are always changing, progressing and evolving. It's not possible to remain in one state of mind forever. And because I know that, just like a stone wall can only grow taller and stronger if it has rocks that create and steady each layer along the way, every thought and experience, whether positive or negative, is an opportunity to "add a stone" and grow stronger.
Grab onto your inner drummer and find a beat.
Thank you to all.
In deep peace and respect,
Rebekah
Home is where the heart is, and if you bring your heart with you everywhere...you get the picture. This is why it is such a privilege to have such a steady flow of love from Vermont (everywhere I go I talk about Vermont and my family as if it were my firstborn child), it allows me to bring the same goodness that I've received from my family to anywhere else in the world. Thank you.
I have, as they say, oodles and oodles of knowledge that I am going to share with you. And before I start, I want to say that this knowledge should not be kept a secret, it is to be spread and passed on if you feel inclined to do so! Like the sticky sludge that a potato bug passes on to his neighbor in a potato bed...yes, I've been gardening a lot :)
I'd like to begin with this quote from the sculptor Michelangelo:
"In every block of marble I see a statue as plain as though it stood before me, shaped and perfect in attitude and action. I have only to hew away the rough walls that imprison the lovely apparition to reveal it to the other eyes as mine see it."
A close friend of mine here at the community reminded me of this quote the other day. And each day I seem to encounter the meaning of these words in the day's task.
I'll begin with the topic of Edible Forest Gardens. You might imagine this to mean a fenced in forest of tall tree-sized broccolis or asparagus, but in fact, an edible forest garden is a paradise of trees, shrubs and ground cover that all work in conjunction with one another to produce the most food possible, but here's the catch: if you left it on its own and essentially, abandoned this creation, it would thrive and still be there if you ever returned. The layers of the forest garden include:
canopy, shorter trees, bushes, herbacious cover, ground cover and insectaries (plants to attract insects).
So, let's paint a picture. Imagine a garden with its base layer being woodchips. Not only do these woodchips provide a home for beneficial mycelium (helpful fungal branching) to grow, once these chips break down they fertilize the underlining soil layer and help the ground retain moisture. (One word of caution: NEVER, I repeat, NEVER use walnut or spruce to fertilize. Walnut produces juglans, a toxin that kills out the surrounding plants...eek!). The next layer could include clovers and comfrey, two strong ally plants that any gardener should respect, both having multiple uses medicinally and agriculturally. Above this we can include highbush blueberries and raspberries. In New England, these species can be seen growing in nature frequently and in great abundance. (P.S Always make sure you have a clear idea and understanding of any plant or berry that you feel strongly inclined to take and pop into your mouth). The blueberries and raspberries can be picked and used in cooking to make wonderful treats as well as can be shared with the surrounding wildlife.
I should take a moment to mention here that within the framework of permaculture, sharing and respecting the land and its produce is of great importance. Making sure to give certain preexisting plants their space as well as acknowledging the birds, insects and other friends of the garden that are in need of food. (Of course if you are having a problem with a certain friend, i.e. the all too friendly porcupine that lives around the edible forest garden here, we try our best to work in conjunction with porky's needs without forgetting that we are trying to enjoy the produce of our hard work too). Balance is key.
Your layer of trees can include all sorts of variety including: pear, plum, cherry, pawpaw!, peach as well as vine shrubs such as kiwi and grapes. The assortment and possibilities are enormous.
With care, work, respect and dedication, in giving to the land, one can truly hope to benefit by receiving fresh produce and bounty.
Well now, I see that in my procrastination I've filled quite a storage space of experiences and facts to write about so I think I'll have to select my most memorable and favorable few more for the rest of this entry.
Ever since I took a course with an amazing professor at my university entitled, Dendrology- the study of trees, I have fallen in love with identifying just about anything in nature (if Identifying proposed to me, I'd marry it). The other day, my roommate and I went on a wild edibles walk!
This included not merely identifying trees, but shrubs, grasses, rushes, sedges, mushrooms...if it was outside, it was ID'd. There is so much food surrounding us at every moment. Our ancestors knew so much about every stalk that grew from the earth, its uses and characteristics. It is this information that we have to retrieve for ultimately, I believe our surivival and the survival of the planet depends upon it.
Meet some of your closest and most friendly neighbors:
1. Winecap Stropharia- a mushroom which propagates with a powdery black dust, has a tan cap and simple white stalk. When cultivating mushrooms always place them into a paper bag immediately in order that they can dry out and then can be used in soups, stir frys and stews!
2. Sarsaparilla- (those silent r's) it grows everywhere in New England, a short ground plant with five elliptically-shaped leaves. The shoots between the leaves seem to always spread out at 120 degree angles (so in case you have brought your protractor into the woods with you, you can check). The root can be boiled and used in drinks which help with a variety of skin disorders.
3. Slime Mold- resembling a glob of toothpaste on a log, these fungi will, at some point in their interesting lives, decide that their location is not as great as it could be and so the molds near each other gather together, yes they move, and search for better real estate. If you don't believe me, I don't blame you, I'm not sure I believe myself.
4. Jewel weed- never forget this plant. A moderately tall and light green stalk, this plant is filled with the antidote to poison ivy! Simply pull it from the ground, crush and rub the plant's stalk in your hand and spread it on the infected area.
5. Stinging Nettle- although this plant has a nasty temper, its only trying to protect itself. In fact, the nettle means well for it is chock full of Iron and protein. The stinging prickers only are found on the underside of the leaf, so if you gently fold the leaf top down in your fingers, pull it off the stem and fold it until no stingers are visible, you can eat it raw! Delicious.
Although I could keep going with this list, I will leave you in suspense and encourage you to go out and learn about the wild edibles (make sure you know it's an edible!) in your area. There's so much to discover. A last tip to help in your identification process:
"Sedges have edges, rushes are round and grasses have joints when the cops are not around."
In addition to having been taught the basics to bicycle repair, having experienced a truly beautiful and important holistic healing session, learning how to drive a tractor..STICK SHIFT and having been taught about the herbs that one can plant and cultivate, each day I am learning more and more about life at its essence.
The quote of Michelangelo that I mentioned a few paragraphs earlier seems to relate to the deep aspects of a healthy life. A balanced lifestyle maybe doesn't need to be discovered through a period of enlightenment or a feeling of monumental change. I think it comes from what already exists around and within us. Just as the statue's essence and form already exists within the marble, the essence of health and goodness lie in the world, and if we "hew away the rough walls that imprison" ourselves from connecting to it, we will truly find a beautiful statue that stands there waiting; one which exudes the energies and power of peace and love, exuding whatever your true self identifies with.
As humans, I think we are always changing, progressing and evolving. It's not possible to remain in one state of mind forever. And because I know that, just like a stone wall can only grow taller and stronger if it has rocks that create and steady each layer along the way, every thought and experience, whether positive or negative, is an opportunity to "add a stone" and grow stronger.
Grab onto your inner drummer and find a beat.
Thank you to all.
In deep peace and respect,
Rebekah
Saturday, June 19, 2010
The Occasional Compost - "I'll Do my Best To Explain"
I decided to dive right in, skip the salutations this time...just know that I send out a hello to all who may be reading this :)
Initially, at the beginning of my stay here at Sirius Intentional Community, I had internal uncertainties. So used to being the individual in a crowd that emits a calm aura and a peaceful sense, I suddenly found myself amidst people emitting such a strong current of self-awareness and respect that my role was reversed. I found myself feeling frantic and "on the outside". It was very quiet and very different than any feeling I had ever experienced. I think the initial sense was a feeling of loneliness and confusion as to where my place was here. How did I fit in? What was my niche? I always want to give and share, yet I felt like I was in no place to give out my thoughts because I had a feeling that everyone around me was on a higher plane and in a higher place.
Having been here for one week, I want to proclaim loud and clear, I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY! I have learned, other than the incredible amounts of knowledge I'm being exposed to regarding permaculture, natural healing, herbal medicine, ecological design and building, food preparation, community living and beyond, about who I am. It's so difficult to place into words. I often find the process of choosing words to describe experiences very difficult and so I often resort to using superlatives everywhere, but let me do my best this time. Give me a moment...
I am learning to wake up in the morning and enter into the healthy silence that exists naturally all around us. I am learning to love, because that is one of the things a human being can do best. I am learning to listen to and tune into my body and mind in a way that allows me to choose how I want to act, how I want to think. I am learning to take time. Learning that silence among people is beautiful. I am learning to speak my mind while still be open to others and allow others to influence me and help me form better developed opinions and observations. I can't really tell you all that this place has done and will do for me, other than the biggest truth: I will leave this place knowing more about myself, how I want to live and how much potential there is in a human being to do good to him/herself and this world. If it sounds like I'm a dreamer and an optimist , let me fill you in, I am. That's how I was born to be and that's how I can best create, construct, heal and understand. I am not unaware of the suffering in the world. And I hope with all my heart that I do not show any disrespect to those who are suffering. For that is the exact opposite of what I wish to do. I am not trying to go out into the world and be the all-knowing "helper superhero". Rather, I am expanding all that I know, and allowing myself to hear the essences inherent in the world around us. I want to learn, to share, and to discover. As a close friend of mine put it, so many people in the world today suffer in order that we may live luxurious, comfortable and blessed lives. It makes me suffer to know this. And so, in my optimism, rather than thinking that I am blinded and naive, know that I choose to join in the suffering of others and in doing so, wish to work together to move forward. If one of us is in trouble, we're all in trouble. If something in nature is harmed, we're harmed. We are nature.
In every supposed problem, is the solution. Here at Sirius, if there is a problem in the gardens, we don't yell, become upset and frazzled. Rather we sit, understand the logic behind what's happening and why and hence, seek to understand what message the problem is sending i.e. "Are we neglecting this garden patch and therefore, this is why the woodchuck is eating the lettuce?" "Are we neglecting ourselves and therefore, bringing a negative and fruitless energy to the land as we plant?"
I can't stress enough the powerful changes and wonderful energies that I am receiving from this place. But I can say this, that these energies and feelings can be found anywhere if we're willing to be unafraid and true to ourselves. When we open our eyes, there's so much to be seen. Not all of it is easy, some is sweet, and it's all there for a reason.
These are my discoveries and things I am learning that are important to me. I respect all that anyone has to say and I truly hope that my elders in the world don't find my tone in writing to be condescending or arrogant. I do not proclaim. I merely feel and observe. There's so many ways to live life and this is some of what makes me feel healthy and empowered to achieve my full potential.
Thank you for sharing in the Sirius experience with me thus far. And stay tuned if you want to hear about what permaculture actually means, if you want to know about herbs and plants and some of their remarkable properties, if you want to know how to create a house from mud and straw, if you want to know about.......there's a lot in between those dots :)
In peace and love,
Rebekah Gordon
Initially, at the beginning of my stay here at Sirius Intentional Community, I had internal uncertainties. So used to being the individual in a crowd that emits a calm aura and a peaceful sense, I suddenly found myself amidst people emitting such a strong current of self-awareness and respect that my role was reversed. I found myself feeling frantic and "on the outside". It was very quiet and very different than any feeling I had ever experienced. I think the initial sense was a feeling of loneliness and confusion as to where my place was here. How did I fit in? What was my niche? I always want to give and share, yet I felt like I was in no place to give out my thoughts because I had a feeling that everyone around me was on a higher plane and in a higher place.
Having been here for one week, I want to proclaim loud and clear, I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY! I have learned, other than the incredible amounts of knowledge I'm being exposed to regarding permaculture, natural healing, herbal medicine, ecological design and building, food preparation, community living and beyond, about who I am. It's so difficult to place into words. I often find the process of choosing words to describe experiences very difficult and so I often resort to using superlatives everywhere, but let me do my best this time. Give me a moment...
I am learning to wake up in the morning and enter into the healthy silence that exists naturally all around us. I am learning to love, because that is one of the things a human being can do best. I am learning to listen to and tune into my body and mind in a way that allows me to choose how I want to act, how I want to think. I am learning to take time. Learning that silence among people is beautiful. I am learning to speak my mind while still be open to others and allow others to influence me and help me form better developed opinions and observations. I can't really tell you all that this place has done and will do for me, other than the biggest truth: I will leave this place knowing more about myself, how I want to live and how much potential there is in a human being to do good to him/herself and this world. If it sounds like I'm a dreamer and an optimist , let me fill you in, I am. That's how I was born to be and that's how I can best create, construct, heal and understand. I am not unaware of the suffering in the world. And I hope with all my heart that I do not show any disrespect to those who are suffering. For that is the exact opposite of what I wish to do. I am not trying to go out into the world and be the all-knowing "helper superhero". Rather, I am expanding all that I know, and allowing myself to hear the essences inherent in the world around us. I want to learn, to share, and to discover. As a close friend of mine put it, so many people in the world today suffer in order that we may live luxurious, comfortable and blessed lives. It makes me suffer to know this. And so, in my optimism, rather than thinking that I am blinded and naive, know that I choose to join in the suffering of others and in doing so, wish to work together to move forward. If one of us is in trouble, we're all in trouble. If something in nature is harmed, we're harmed. We are nature.
In every supposed problem, is the solution. Here at Sirius, if there is a problem in the gardens, we don't yell, become upset and frazzled. Rather we sit, understand the logic behind what's happening and why and hence, seek to understand what message the problem is sending i.e. "Are we neglecting this garden patch and therefore, this is why the woodchuck is eating the lettuce?" "Are we neglecting ourselves and therefore, bringing a negative and fruitless energy to the land as we plant?"
I can't stress enough the powerful changes and wonderful energies that I am receiving from this place. But I can say this, that these energies and feelings can be found anywhere if we're willing to be unafraid and true to ourselves. When we open our eyes, there's so much to be seen. Not all of it is easy, some is sweet, and it's all there for a reason.
These are my discoveries and things I am learning that are important to me. I respect all that anyone has to say and I truly hope that my elders in the world don't find my tone in writing to be condescending or arrogant. I do not proclaim. I merely feel and observe. There's so many ways to live life and this is some of what makes me feel healthy and empowered to achieve my full potential.
Thank you for sharing in the Sirius experience with me thus far. And stay tuned if you want to hear about what permaculture actually means, if you want to know about herbs and plants and some of their remarkable properties, if you want to know how to create a house from mud and straw, if you want to know about.......there's a lot in between those dots :)
In peace and love,
Rebekah Gordon
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Compost- A Second Time
Hello from Snow White's Cottage!
I decided that I needed to open blogspot.com so that I would be able to start writing before my relaxation carried me away into the lands of imagination and sleep. So here I am and boy is there so much to tell.
After some very quiet "off days" here at Sirius, this morning I awoke to a bright blue sky and a crisp yellow sunlight mixed into the palate. The perfect thing to get me ready to begin my first "work day" here at the ecovillage. I was told that at 7:30 in the morning, some members of the community like to gather together in the room known as "the octagon". Can you guess why? You hit it on the spot! Because the shape of the room is, in fact, that eight-sided geometric shape. So, gently gliding out of bed after having had the luxury of hitting the snooze button twice, I laced up my sandals and headed out the door. It's such a privilege to be able to open a handcrafted, wooden door with a knob so perfectly formed just for this space, and enter out onto the stone steps and greet the day. The chickens, those silly little women, were running about freely in the orchards to the left and the wood chip path opened out in front of me, leading in so many different directions.
I went up into the octagon room and found a dear community member in the middle of her daily practice with a candle lit in the center of the room. Not having done much meditation before, I sat on a chair quietly and just let whatever was to happen, happen. I see so much benefit in taking some time each morning just to simply, "check in". We all seem to wake up, get dressed, complete our daily morning ritual in the bathroom (I won't delve into details :) and then stuff in breakfast so that we can run out the door. I do think that we need to be orderly and have a sense of time, but what about changing our schedules a bit on order to allow time to wake up and realize..."hey! I'm awake!"? I'm learning more and more that a healthy and balanced lifestyle is not something you can just decide to have one day. It does take "work" if you want to call it that. It takes planning, preparation and time.
After a short meditation or reflection, I headed downstairs in the CC (remember? That stands for community center) and found it to be pretty busy. Two members eating their morning meal and getting ready to head out into the town of Amherst to work and complete some errands and other workers getting their morning nourishment in preparation for the work of the day.
A meal that looked delicious was a blend of fruit and yogurt and another was brown rice being warmed up on the old gas stove, named Hephaestus, mixed with a healthful microalgae. I decided upon granola, rice milk and a seaweed rice cake...a delicious blend of salty and nutty sweet! It's such a miracle to be able to take my breakfast, head out into the greenhouse and look out onto the world, see the trees waking up, and slowly eat my meal. Sometimes I like to read while I eat (despite the fact that my mother tells me it's not a good digesting practice :) and it's just completely peaceful.
After attending the work circle at 9:00 my roommate and partner in the program, one of the main directors and I headed out to the central vegetable garden here, Shanti Garden. (Shanti- a very important word. In Sanskrit I believe it means, peace). And to fill you in, a "work circle" is when all the community workers gather together at the sound of a majestic bell toll and find inspiration together to complete the work of the day. In this circle, members also discuss the various jobs that are to be done that afternoon.
I must pause here to tell you that this woman I'm working with, this woman with whom we went to Shanti Garden, is a green thumb in human form. She knows everything about any plant, any medicinal property of a green specimen, all about vegetables and what they need, flowers and their characteristics, about cooking and is in deep touch and awareness with the plants in the garden. Nothing hoaxy about it. We are living and so are they and there does exist a strong connection between all living things. It's up to us to seek it out and to understand, accept it.
Today, I learned (SO MUCH!) that red clover shouldn't be seen as merely the Vermont state flower or as "another plant that's taken over Grandma's squash bed". No. Rather, if you take the flower, the red clover head itself, harvest it and dry it, you can use it as an extremely beneficial tea. Most notably used for helping to regulate women's natural cycles, including menstruation. Plantains are not just a pesky plant that look like an elephant's ear. Not even close, for if you get stung by a nettle, if you get stung by a bee and are swelling up like Uncle Earl's belly after too much Thanksgiving meal, take that Plantain that you were going to pluck and throw out, roll it between your hands to release its juices and place it over the wound. It will heal! and swelling WILL go down. And you know something else? Most of the plants that we call "weeds", are the most delicious greens out there. Give your plants a chance. Don't call something a weed without knowing what you're talking about. Every plant is there for a reason. The plants that you do remove actually create the best and most nutritious compost out there. Did you know that Yarrow, that beautiful white plant that tends to grow in overgrown fields can be harvested, dried and turned into tea as well? And rose! Snip off the heads of blossomed roses and put them in water, place the jar of water in the sun and make rose water. Or take the buds that are soon to open and put them in oil!
I was in awe of the fact that, today, I was sitting in a field of supposed "weeds" and harvesting them! As if they were strawberries or tomatoes. I also learned how to mow the lawn with...a scythe and a sickle! You think to yourself, "yea, but that takes so much time. No one would ever do that." You're right, it does take time and you sweat and you work hard. That's precisely why it's so great!
Sirius community does use a gas-powered lawn mower for some places on the land, but some places, such as Shanti garden, have a specific personality and energy that make sickles more effective tools for maintaining grass. And it's true, when you work with plants, you must do your best to be in positive energies/spirits, because they feed off of what you send to them. It sounds like witchcraft, but in fact, it is simply life.
It's also interesting to note that in the gardens here, only half of the grass is mowed at a time. The untouched half is there in order to give the displaced insects and creatures a place to go as the scythe takes away their homes in the chopped half of the field.
We harvested and ate deliciously plump sweet peas today as well as cut back the bolted centers of fruitful spinach plants. Getting rid of the center stalks helps the plant to concentrate its nutrients and energy on growing healthy surrounding leaves that are most often used for eating.
Not only did we get to get our hands dirty in the garden, but we got down to business in the beautiful kitchen here too. I learned how to cook for a large amount of people. Dinner was to be served at 6:30 and we began our preparations after lunch at 2:30! This must mean that dinner was a feast no? YES! It was. My roommate and I were coached in making homemade baguettes, garlic/basil butter, pesto, hummus, pasta with vegetables from the garden and salad with vegetables from the same wonderful place with basil dressing. After this wonderful cooking, the gong was struck which signals to the whole land that a meal is ready and waiting for hungry mouths and thankful souls. As the community members who had signed up to come and eat this evening arrived, we all held hands and closed our eyes, finding time to pause and understand the gratefulness in having this food and for the work in creating it, as well as the situations of all people around the world who may not have this luxury and the creatures in the world who must work so hard each day just to make end's meat (at least, those are the things I think of when we gather before meals. I think that's the point. The silence and time is not filled with guided speech, but instead it's just a moment to give yourself the time to think about what you find important).
I took a shower this evening for the first time in a while and you can rest assured that it was with water, not with compost or soil :)
Before heading to my room to greet the night and sleep, I went into the orchard nearby and heard the delicate sound of the little women clucking softly in their coop. I took out my violin and played a little melody just to give thanks and to remember the incredible gift that this is.
Music can go a long way.
From Shutesbury, Massachusetts,
Rebekah Gordon
(Brazil vs. North Korea, Fifa World Cup 2010, Brazil won!!)
I decided that I needed to open blogspot.com so that I would be able to start writing before my relaxation carried me away into the lands of imagination and sleep. So here I am and boy is there so much to tell.
After some very quiet "off days" here at Sirius, this morning I awoke to a bright blue sky and a crisp yellow sunlight mixed into the palate. The perfect thing to get me ready to begin my first "work day" here at the ecovillage. I was told that at 7:30 in the morning, some members of the community like to gather together in the room known as "the octagon". Can you guess why? You hit it on the spot! Because the shape of the room is, in fact, that eight-sided geometric shape. So, gently gliding out of bed after having had the luxury of hitting the snooze button twice, I laced up my sandals and headed out the door. It's such a privilege to be able to open a handcrafted, wooden door with a knob so perfectly formed just for this space, and enter out onto the stone steps and greet the day. The chickens, those silly little women, were running about freely in the orchards to the left and the wood chip path opened out in front of me, leading in so many different directions.
I went up into the octagon room and found a dear community member in the middle of her daily practice with a candle lit in the center of the room. Not having done much meditation before, I sat on a chair quietly and just let whatever was to happen, happen. I see so much benefit in taking some time each morning just to simply, "check in". We all seem to wake up, get dressed, complete our daily morning ritual in the bathroom (I won't delve into details :) and then stuff in breakfast so that we can run out the door. I do think that we need to be orderly and have a sense of time, but what about changing our schedules a bit on order to allow time to wake up and realize..."hey! I'm awake!"? I'm learning more and more that a healthy and balanced lifestyle is not something you can just decide to have one day. It does take "work" if you want to call it that. It takes planning, preparation and time.
After a short meditation or reflection, I headed downstairs in the CC (remember? That stands for community center) and found it to be pretty busy. Two members eating their morning meal and getting ready to head out into the town of Amherst to work and complete some errands and other workers getting their morning nourishment in preparation for the work of the day.
A meal that looked delicious was a blend of fruit and yogurt and another was brown rice being warmed up on the old gas stove, named Hephaestus, mixed with a healthful microalgae. I decided upon granola, rice milk and a seaweed rice cake...a delicious blend of salty and nutty sweet! It's such a miracle to be able to take my breakfast, head out into the greenhouse and look out onto the world, see the trees waking up, and slowly eat my meal. Sometimes I like to read while I eat (despite the fact that my mother tells me it's not a good digesting practice :) and it's just completely peaceful.
After attending the work circle at 9:00 my roommate and partner in the program, one of the main directors and I headed out to the central vegetable garden here, Shanti Garden. (Shanti- a very important word. In Sanskrit I believe it means, peace). And to fill you in, a "work circle" is when all the community workers gather together at the sound of a majestic bell toll and find inspiration together to complete the work of the day. In this circle, members also discuss the various jobs that are to be done that afternoon.
I must pause here to tell you that this woman I'm working with, this woman with whom we went to Shanti Garden, is a green thumb in human form. She knows everything about any plant, any medicinal property of a green specimen, all about vegetables and what they need, flowers and their characteristics, about cooking and is in deep touch and awareness with the plants in the garden. Nothing hoaxy about it. We are living and so are they and there does exist a strong connection between all living things. It's up to us to seek it out and to understand, accept it.
Today, I learned (SO MUCH!) that red clover shouldn't be seen as merely the Vermont state flower or as "another plant that's taken over Grandma's squash bed". No. Rather, if you take the flower, the red clover head itself, harvest it and dry it, you can use it as an extremely beneficial tea. Most notably used for helping to regulate women's natural cycles, including menstruation. Plantains are not just a pesky plant that look like an elephant's ear. Not even close, for if you get stung by a nettle, if you get stung by a bee and are swelling up like Uncle Earl's belly after too much Thanksgiving meal, take that Plantain that you were going to pluck and throw out, roll it between your hands to release its juices and place it over the wound. It will heal! and swelling WILL go down. And you know something else? Most of the plants that we call "weeds", are the most delicious greens out there. Give your plants a chance. Don't call something a weed without knowing what you're talking about. Every plant is there for a reason. The plants that you do remove actually create the best and most nutritious compost out there. Did you know that Yarrow, that beautiful white plant that tends to grow in overgrown fields can be harvested, dried and turned into tea as well? And rose! Snip off the heads of blossomed roses and put them in water, place the jar of water in the sun and make rose water. Or take the buds that are soon to open and put them in oil!
I was in awe of the fact that, today, I was sitting in a field of supposed "weeds" and harvesting them! As if they were strawberries or tomatoes. I also learned how to mow the lawn with...a scythe and a sickle! You think to yourself, "yea, but that takes so much time. No one would ever do that." You're right, it does take time and you sweat and you work hard. That's precisely why it's so great!
Sirius community does use a gas-powered lawn mower for some places on the land, but some places, such as Shanti garden, have a specific personality and energy that make sickles more effective tools for maintaining grass. And it's true, when you work with plants, you must do your best to be in positive energies/spirits, because they feed off of what you send to them. It sounds like witchcraft, but in fact, it is simply life.
It's also interesting to note that in the gardens here, only half of the grass is mowed at a time. The untouched half is there in order to give the displaced insects and creatures a place to go as the scythe takes away their homes in the chopped half of the field.
We harvested and ate deliciously plump sweet peas today as well as cut back the bolted centers of fruitful spinach plants. Getting rid of the center stalks helps the plant to concentrate its nutrients and energy on growing healthy surrounding leaves that are most often used for eating.
Not only did we get to get our hands dirty in the garden, but we got down to business in the beautiful kitchen here too. I learned how to cook for a large amount of people. Dinner was to be served at 6:30 and we began our preparations after lunch at 2:30! This must mean that dinner was a feast no? YES! It was. My roommate and I were coached in making homemade baguettes, garlic/basil butter, pesto, hummus, pasta with vegetables from the garden and salad with vegetables from the same wonderful place with basil dressing. After this wonderful cooking, the gong was struck which signals to the whole land that a meal is ready and waiting for hungry mouths and thankful souls. As the community members who had signed up to come and eat this evening arrived, we all held hands and closed our eyes, finding time to pause and understand the gratefulness in having this food and for the work in creating it, as well as the situations of all people around the world who may not have this luxury and the creatures in the world who must work so hard each day just to make end's meat (at least, those are the things I think of when we gather before meals. I think that's the point. The silence and time is not filled with guided speech, but instead it's just a moment to give yourself the time to think about what you find important).
I took a shower this evening for the first time in a while and you can rest assured that it was with water, not with compost or soil :)
Before heading to my room to greet the night and sleep, I went into the orchard nearby and heard the delicate sound of the little women clucking softly in their coop. I took out my violin and played a little melody just to give thanks and to remember the incredible gift that this is.
Music can go a long way.
From Shutesbury, Massachusetts,
Rebekah Gordon
(Brazil vs. North Korea, Fifa World Cup 2010, Brazil won!!)
Monday, June 14, 2010
The Sirius Compost (Computer Post)- a title created by my awesome big brother
Ahoy my family and friends!
I don't know how I did it... actually I do, I signed myself up for it...how I ended up here.
After having recently returned from Israel, filling an entire journal while there, I now find myself here at Sirius Ecovillage in Shutesbury, Massachusetts. Haven't heard of it? That's okay, no one else has either. But driving out here three days ago with my loving parents, I knew immediately that this place was special.
It felt like we were entering deeper and deeper into a labyrinth of trees and mystery, surrounded by houses and farms, wooded land and open fields. I didn't think that one town could be so deeply embedded in the country, for it felt like we were moving into an endless center.
I arrived to Sirius to find massive buildings that were clearly designed and built with much planning and love. Arriving on a Saturday, there were many community members around finishing up their communal lunch, washing up, talking and just relaxing. It smelled delicious.
The people were very friendly, relaxed and obviously at home. I could see some barefoot, others in aprons and children running around. It turns out that we were in the Community Center, aka. the CC. With a beautiful thick wooden beam in the center, the main room resembles a tree house. A greenhouse is connected to the end of the room where you can sit and eat, read, meditate, do whatever you want! Initially, my parents and I wandered around for a while until we were shown where to park in order to start unloading my things. Goodness only knows I'm no light packer, which is interestingly ironic considering I don't own too much...(though I suppose the state of my room could claim otherwise).
Opening the wooden door to the Long House, or as I refer to it, Snow White's Cottage, we headed straight up a flight of steps. With my large suitcase, violin, laptop, music bag and pillow, I should probably mention that the stairs are approximately 2.5 feet in width :) Needless to say, we made a tight entrance.
In my beautiful room there are three beds. I share this space with my roommate and partner in the Immersion Program (the program I'm in) and we've both unpacked and moved in quite nicely. It's very cozy. If you were to come visit me, you would notice two interesting doors. Two Secret Doors I call them. They both belong to two residents here at Sirius. Both sweet, caring and interesting women that were so helpful and kind when I first arrived, and have been ever since.
Unpacking my belongings, I noticed right away all of the wonderful and fact-filled books I'm surrounded by, "Homeopathic Medicine", "The Teaching of Buddha", "Are You a Cultural Creative?" (I stare at that one every day, still trying to figure out what that title means. You'd think I'd open the book by now?).
My stay here for the past three days has been remarkable. And extremely quiet. You see, I have arrived during the off days for Sirius community members. Here, Sunday and Monday are days of rest and the work week is Tuesday through Saturday. And so, ladies and gentleman, I am learning a whole lot about myself. I always knew I had trouble with relaxing, with not being on the go. I always have enjoyed peace and quiet and love having time to myself, and yet this is very different. I am learning how to share peace and quiet. In a sense, how to live void of the thing we might call, "awkward silence." For while there are people here, these are days of calm and peace. Each person taking time to be with their inner self and connect to what's around them. So while I've always loved to be alone and have time to accomplish my personal goals, I've never done this in an environment where everyone around me is doing it too. Where each person has a plan for his/herself and is doing it. So while one person may be in the kitchen cooking a meal and I walk in ready to cook for myself, one can just simply say, "hello" and continue about one's own business without feeling obligated to speak. You could speak if you wanted to, but you could also just be with yourself. Which, I'm learning, is so important to be able to do. Silence is a good thing sometimes and especially when you're surrounded by such beauty as there is here.
I've also been grappling with the question in my mind that asks me, "How do you, Rebekah, have the right to spend so much time simply doing whatever you'd like to do, having so much time just to be, when you know there's so much out there to do and work with?"
And my answer is, "Rebekah, you need to work on yourself, on your ability to learn to be in quiet and silence and in addition, you are here to learn many skills that you need for your future life to come. This is an opportunity that you've been so lucky to have been given and that's why you're here. If we don't know ourselves, we have no right to go out and work with others."
I've been taking many photos so far and this land is magical. There's so much happening on each leaf and rock, in each cubic foot of air, that I pause very often just to stop and watch it all.
It's interesting how these people essentially form their own lifestyle and laws, parameters and schedules. It's so neat because it makes me realize that we all create our own realities. Yes, we must work within communities and together but, for example, like I mentioned earlier, the work week here is Tuesday through Saturday and the weekend is Sunday and Monday. Some of the members work in town, in Amherst, but also in the community and each put in a certain number of hours per week. We are the makers of our destinies. Nothing has to be set in stone.
The kitchen for cooking here is huge and beautiful. There are pots and pans hanging from the ceiling, organic dried herbs and spices, a refrigerator of leftovers in reused containers (beware the labeled ones with people's name, those aren't communal!) and of course the massive walk-in refrigerator overflowing with greens, yummy weeds and eggs. Then there's the huge bulk section of dried foods, I've only ever ventured into the granola bin so far.
And how could I have almost forgotten to mention the toilets. ...Composting toilets! I won't go into too much detail, but let's just say that the smell is completely fine, the process is simple, and the Earth is loving it. (I should also say that I have named two of the spiders who seem to enjoy living in one particular toilet nearby. If you ever visit, their names are Jean and Gerry. Just to fill you in on the local scoop).
And so, tomorrow begins my first day of a Sirius Community work week. We'll begin to learn all that we're here for: (though there's much that I've learned already that only I can teach myself) organic gardening, permaculture, sustainable design/architecture, cooking for large amounts of people...a whole variety of amazing topics.
(And I almost forgot to mention, I attended a coffee house here for the first time and it was wonderful. The amount of talent in this community is spectacular and inspiring. Right before the shows were finishing, I ran outside into the dark to my cottage to get my violin. I couldn't hold back any longer, and I ran up into the room where everyone was almost ready to leave. I did a short improvisation piece on stage and the people in the room were so friendly, accepting and warm. It was a really important experience that is getting my musical juices really, really flowing).
I'm realizing more and more that no matter what your location or situation, life is an adventure at each moment. And home is an important place.
So, for now, I'm going to read and hop in bed. And that's a good thing.
Sleep well everybody. Lights off in Snow White's Cottage (after I finish reading that is :)
Thank you life,
~Rebekah Simone Gordon
I don't know how I did it... actually I do, I signed myself up for it...how I ended up here.
After having recently returned from Israel, filling an entire journal while there, I now find myself here at Sirius Ecovillage in Shutesbury, Massachusetts. Haven't heard of it? That's okay, no one else has either. But driving out here three days ago with my loving parents, I knew immediately that this place was special.
It felt like we were entering deeper and deeper into a labyrinth of trees and mystery, surrounded by houses and farms, wooded land and open fields. I didn't think that one town could be so deeply embedded in the country, for it felt like we were moving into an endless center.
I arrived to Sirius to find massive buildings that were clearly designed and built with much planning and love. Arriving on a Saturday, there were many community members around finishing up their communal lunch, washing up, talking and just relaxing. It smelled delicious.
The people were very friendly, relaxed and obviously at home. I could see some barefoot, others in aprons and children running around. It turns out that we were in the Community Center, aka. the CC. With a beautiful thick wooden beam in the center, the main room resembles a tree house. A greenhouse is connected to the end of the room where you can sit and eat, read, meditate, do whatever you want! Initially, my parents and I wandered around for a while until we were shown where to park in order to start unloading my things. Goodness only knows I'm no light packer, which is interestingly ironic considering I don't own too much...(though I suppose the state of my room could claim otherwise).
Opening the wooden door to the Long House, or as I refer to it, Snow White's Cottage, we headed straight up a flight of steps. With my large suitcase, violin, laptop, music bag and pillow, I should probably mention that the stairs are approximately 2.5 feet in width :) Needless to say, we made a tight entrance.
In my beautiful room there are three beds. I share this space with my roommate and partner in the Immersion Program (the program I'm in) and we've both unpacked and moved in quite nicely. It's very cozy. If you were to come visit me, you would notice two interesting doors. Two Secret Doors I call them. They both belong to two residents here at Sirius. Both sweet, caring and interesting women that were so helpful and kind when I first arrived, and have been ever since.
Unpacking my belongings, I noticed right away all of the wonderful and fact-filled books I'm surrounded by, "Homeopathic Medicine", "The Teaching of Buddha", "Are You a Cultural Creative?" (I stare at that one every day, still trying to figure out what that title means. You'd think I'd open the book by now?).
My stay here for the past three days has been remarkable. And extremely quiet. You see, I have arrived during the off days for Sirius community members. Here, Sunday and Monday are days of rest and the work week is Tuesday through Saturday. And so, ladies and gentleman, I am learning a whole lot about myself. I always knew I had trouble with relaxing, with not being on the go. I always have enjoyed peace and quiet and love having time to myself, and yet this is very different. I am learning how to share peace and quiet. In a sense, how to live void of the thing we might call, "awkward silence." For while there are people here, these are days of calm and peace. Each person taking time to be with their inner self and connect to what's around them. So while I've always loved to be alone and have time to accomplish my personal goals, I've never done this in an environment where everyone around me is doing it too. Where each person has a plan for his/herself and is doing it. So while one person may be in the kitchen cooking a meal and I walk in ready to cook for myself, one can just simply say, "hello" and continue about one's own business without feeling obligated to speak. You could speak if you wanted to, but you could also just be with yourself. Which, I'm learning, is so important to be able to do. Silence is a good thing sometimes and especially when you're surrounded by such beauty as there is here.
I've also been grappling with the question in my mind that asks me, "How do you, Rebekah, have the right to spend so much time simply doing whatever you'd like to do, having so much time just to be, when you know there's so much out there to do and work with?"
And my answer is, "Rebekah, you need to work on yourself, on your ability to learn to be in quiet and silence and in addition, you are here to learn many skills that you need for your future life to come. This is an opportunity that you've been so lucky to have been given and that's why you're here. If we don't know ourselves, we have no right to go out and work with others."
I've been taking many photos so far and this land is magical. There's so much happening on each leaf and rock, in each cubic foot of air, that I pause very often just to stop and watch it all.
It's interesting how these people essentially form their own lifestyle and laws, parameters and schedules. It's so neat because it makes me realize that we all create our own realities. Yes, we must work within communities and together but, for example, like I mentioned earlier, the work week here is Tuesday through Saturday and the weekend is Sunday and Monday. Some of the members work in town, in Amherst, but also in the community and each put in a certain number of hours per week. We are the makers of our destinies. Nothing has to be set in stone.
The kitchen for cooking here is huge and beautiful. There are pots and pans hanging from the ceiling, organic dried herbs and spices, a refrigerator of leftovers in reused containers (beware the labeled ones with people's name, those aren't communal!) and of course the massive walk-in refrigerator overflowing with greens, yummy weeds and eggs. Then there's the huge bulk section of dried foods, I've only ever ventured into the granola bin so far.
And how could I have almost forgotten to mention the toilets. ...Composting toilets! I won't go into too much detail, but let's just say that the smell is completely fine, the process is simple, and the Earth is loving it. (I should also say that I have named two of the spiders who seem to enjoy living in one particular toilet nearby. If you ever visit, their names are Jean and Gerry. Just to fill you in on the local scoop).
And so, tomorrow begins my first day of a Sirius Community work week. We'll begin to learn all that we're here for: (though there's much that I've learned already that only I can teach myself) organic gardening, permaculture, sustainable design/architecture, cooking for large amounts of people...a whole variety of amazing topics.
(And I almost forgot to mention, I attended a coffee house here for the first time and it was wonderful. The amount of talent in this community is spectacular and inspiring. Right before the shows were finishing, I ran outside into the dark to my cottage to get my violin. I couldn't hold back any longer, and I ran up into the room where everyone was almost ready to leave. I did a short improvisation piece on stage and the people in the room were so friendly, accepting and warm. It was a really important experience that is getting my musical juices really, really flowing).
I'm realizing more and more that no matter what your location or situation, life is an adventure at each moment. And home is an important place.
So, for now, I'm going to read and hop in bed. And that's a good thing.
Sleep well everybody. Lights off in Snow White's Cottage (after I finish reading that is :)
Thank you life,
~Rebekah Simone Gordon
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