EarthShip EcoTraining

Construction has begun on the new EarthShip here at Terrapin Hollow. From 6/11/2012 through 6/16/2012 we'll be hosting an EarthShip EcoTraining. Learn how to build an earth friendly home out of tires and aluminum cans. Based on the work of the orginal Garbage Warrior, Michael Reynolds, an EarthShip home is a beautiful, low cost, highly sustainable homage to Mother Earth.


Come to the beautiful Ozark Mountains of Northern Arkansas for a week and we'll feed you and teach you everything we've learned in the last 7 years on our homestead, Terrapin Hollow. You can check out the home-made wind-mill and solar panels, rain water harvesting, organic gardening, chickens, and even learn to make your own earth friendly laundry detergent and cleaning supplies. We'll have some indoor sleeping space, and/or camping. Bring your grubby clothes so you can get your hands into the dirt while you gain first hand experience in sustainable construction.

Why lend your back to this project? Terrapin Hollow is not just our home, it is a place of peace and renewal for others. As soon as the EarthShip is done, we'll have indoor lodging for up to a dozen people in two attractive cabins. At that time we'll launch our non-profit retreat center. We'll host spiritual events, sustainability workshops, writer's retreats, leadership development training, meetings, etc. There are other blog posts about Terrapin Hollow.

We hope you'll trek our way and have some fun in the sun with us. We're 36 miles from the Folk Music Mecca, Mountain View, AR. Most summer afternoons there are dozens of circles of musicians picking and grinning 'round the courthouse square. Also, we're in very close proximity to Blanchard Caverns and to the Buffalo National Wild and Scenic River. Heck, you could even borrow our canoe... Friend E. Steven Newby and/or Tree Newby on FB. Or reply to this post.

Oh, and as for the food, we'll be providing farm fresh eggs and veggies and store bought lean meats and carbs. I will probably get a keg. And I can cook a variety of dishes for vegetarians and omnivores. If you're vegan I'll need your help making sure you get what you need. The nearest health food store is in Mountain View and is quite small, but there's a Whole Foods in Little Rock.

In love and light,

Tree of Terrapin Hollow

Going Green for Gaia

Here at Terrapin Hollow we're getting ready for a very exciting summer. On Memorial Day Weekend (2012) we're hosting Going Green for Gaia, a fun filled pagan festival with rituals, drum circles, workshops and activities including:

• Make your own earth friendly laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, and cosmetics (with Tree and Brightwing, bring empty spray bottles and empty gallon jugs)


• Tour the home-made windmill and solar panels (with SuperDad)


• Pick blackberries (on your own, bring a bucket)


• Check out the organic garden and say hello to the chickens and dogs (pullets may be available for sale, depending on how many hatch this spring)


• Learn about rain barrels and other rain water harvesting methods (with SuperDad and Talon)


• Hoop dancing: the significance of the circle, oneness, and the spiritual practice of losing yourself to a force distinct from your physical self (with Innergy)


• Renaissance Topic Workshop (with Felicia)


• Free hand massages (get your mind out of the gutter, BellaDonna massages your hand!)


• Other spiritual workshops/topics are available by request. Reply to blog post or write on the event wall inside of FB.

GGG is free and we're taking the first 50 people to sign up. (As of this post we have 30.) For an event invitation, friend Tree Newby on FaceBook, then send a direct message and mention you're interested in GGG. We're open to vendors, but so far most of our favorite vendors have opted to have the weekend off to enjoy themselves.

Friday night is a potluck. The rest of the weekend food is your family/clan/group responsibility. Fire rings will be permitted in group campsites, however we are in a fairly windy valley and extra care will be required. Please don't leave your fire unattended. We'll have both a "home fire" and a ritual fire to cozy up around and play music.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Dialogue Circle Basics

Beginning on January 12, 2010; Gaia Rising will host monthly dialogue circles on the second Tuesday of every month. The conference line will allow up to 96 separate callers and even with half that many we must all be aware of some guidelines and ground rules in order to keep the process as smooth and fluid as possible.

Ground Rules and Pointers

1. Join the call a few minutes early so that we can begin promptly.
2. Call in from a phone which has mute capability, if at all possible, and keep yourself muted except when it is your turn to speak.
3. Bring a pencil and paper so that you can keep track of when it will be your turn to speak.
4. Honor all beliefs and values and speak only in love and trust. Seek not to prove or disprove, seek only to hear and be heard.
5. Only speak when it is your turn. Be patient and trust that you will be heard when the time is right.
6. With the exception of the 2 minute check-in at the beginning of each call, take as much time as you need to say what you need to say, but also be mindful of others and as concise as possible.

The Process For Our Dialogue Circle:

1. Tree will begin by asking for first names which begin with the letter A, B, and so on. When your letter is called speak only your first name (or nick-name, it's your preference).
2. After gathering all the names Tree will read back the alphabetized list in order to establish the seating arrangement for the virtual circle. Please write down the several names before yours so that you'll be aware of when it is about to be your turn to speak.
3. Tree will then make opening remarks and the first trip around the circle will begin.
4. The first round is a 2 minute check-in. During your 2 minutes we'd like you to share your name, your geographic location, how you are feeling (mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and/or physically), and whether you enter the circle in the spirit of RELEASE, ACCEPTANCE, or INVITATION. You may take less than 2 minutes, but please do not pass on this round.
5. When the last person has checked in, Tree will pose a question for the next round. Everyone will have the opportunity to either speak or pass.
6. Depending on how many participants are present, there may only be one round before check-outs.
7. Each participant will have up to 2 minutes to check out by sharing their name and any brief sentiment they choose to share.

Watch for subsequent blog posts which will offer additional information about the theory and practice of dialogue.

Gaia Rising: Monthly Dialogue Circles

Gaia Rising hosts a monthly dialogue circle via conference call. The purpose of the circle is to explore personal and planetary transformation in a mutually supportive and caring environment.

Up to 96 people may join a call. Tree will facilitate the dialogue by establishing a virtual circle (in alphabetical order by first name). Each participant will be given the opportunity to speak or pass the "talking stick". Each call will begin with a 2 minute check-in, in which each participant shares where he/she is (emotionally, geographically, mentally, etc.). After the check-in, the dialogue will continue in rounds, with each round centering around a question.

In the beginning, for sake of ease, Tree will pick the questions. After a few calls the group will co-create questions.The calls are scheduled to last 2 hours and will occur the second Tuesday of every month at 8:00 pm Central Time (US) which is 9:00 pm in New York City (as a reference to international guests).


Date: Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Time: 8:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: 218-844-0850, passcode: 209064#

Walking the Path Together

At study circle on 11/14 we discussed the Self Healing Journey. Each one of us is on a self healing journey. We shared some of the twists and turns in our own path before sharing a feast and an open ritual at the Terrapin Hollow home fire.

Each of the six participants, in his or her own way, during the rite, acknowledged the present phase of the journey of self healing. Each person was given the choice of three energetic movements to describe their present moment in the healing journey: Release of some past scar tissue, Acceptance of some current state, or Invitation of some future state.

For our next study circle (12/12/09) we'll Walk the Path Together. Whether your choice was release, acceptance, or invitation; Walking Together will amplify the success of your own Self Healing Journey.

Please plan to share more of your journey with the group. If the elements permit, we'll have our study circle and experiential activity at the Sacred Fire Circle (about 1/8th of a mile down a trail in the woods, so please bring walking shoes). Then we'll follow with a feast and party at the home fire.

This event is open to everyone. RSVP by email or a comment to this post. Blessed Be!

The Self Healing Journey

Our first study circle topic will be the Self Healing Journey. All people have scar tissue, wounds from past experiences. Over the years we have all done a variety of things for our own healing. In this study circle we'll get to know each other by discussing our paths and sharing the sorts of self healing we've each done in the past.

This will allow us to learn each others history, interests, and talents. It will also get us thinking about the power of sharing our healing journey with a circle of like minds. Each of us has something to bring to the circle, some gift or insight to share. Whether you have been walking your path for 2 or 20 years, your perspective is valuable.

This is an open study circle. Any spiritual or religious tradition is embraced. It will be from 3-5 at Tree's house. Email Tree or post a comment below to request directions for attending. Tree respectfully requests to know in advance who plans to attend, so please either email or leave a comment --even if you already know how to get to Tree's house.

Study Circle Schedule

The study group is open and the dates have been set as follows:

• November 14th, 2009
• December 12th
• January 16th, 2010
• February 13th
• March 27th
• April 24th
• May 15th
• June 26
• July 24th

These will be afternoon meetings, location to be determined and may vary. At the Samhain Merry Meet we'll discuss the location of the first two. If you are interested in study circle but aren't going to make it on 10/31 for the Merry Meet, please leave a comment here or email one of us.

Brightest Blessings!

Tree

Samhain Merry Meet

On October 31st, Gaia Rising will host a Merry Meet. Join us from 1-4 at the Clinton Park on Hwy 65 in Clinton. We'll meet at the covered pavilion next to the play ground. This is visible from the highway.

Please bring food to share for the potluck. Bring drums, flutes, guitars, etc. We will eat, laugh, share stories, and in general just get to know each other.

The event is open to anyone and everyone. Bring your children and let them play in the park while the adults visit.

We hope that people who come to the Merry Meet might also want to start coming to our study circles and maybe even one day join the coven.

For additional information post a comment here on the blog (below).
Brightest Samhain Blessings!