Here’s my attempt at summarizing the words I heard that night:

“Certain objects or places have spiritual power/energy because of what they are, but also because of how we interact with them. When an object or a song or even a particular place is employed/engaged with intention, attention and –especially — with prayer, this energy of mindfulness and respect is imparted to it.  If we always use care and respect when we employ them, these items become more and more attuned to Spirit.  In a sense, they become like antennas to the world of the sacred.  Ceremonial objects and places which have been habitually cared for and used mindfully can serve as tools to help us in the sometimes challenging task of connecting with the spiritual side of our nature and of life.”

When I reflect back on the lessons I learned that night when the voice spoke to me on the buffalo robe, the word that comes to my mind is: “sanctify.”  Sanctify, and it’s cousin: :sanctuary,” have as their root a word that means, “to set aside for special purpose.”

The reason I’m going on about this is because to me, and to many of us, Little Pond is such a place — a sanctuary and a sacred space which has, by loving and conscientious use, become even more spirit-filled over time.

Over the years Little Pond has played host to weddings, poetry readings, Bahai feasts and gatherings, productions of plays and sacred music, and unique New Years parties where people shared stories songs and prayers instead of strong drink.  People from diverse faiths and lands have met and shared there.  Spiritual workshops, retreats, fasts, sacred dancing, sweat lodge ceremonies, men’s and women’s meetings where deep sharing and personal growth are encouraged and facilitated — all these have taken place in the woods, meadows and halls of Little Pond.

I was married on the top of the hill at Little Pond one perfect October afternoon.  I’ve fasted in a sweat lodge in the meadow, and feasted in the great room on Bahai holy days.  On a cold New Years night, I jumped over a bonfire with Iranians who shared this custom for leaving the past behind and moving toward new beginnings.  I’ve cried prayed and revealed secrets, pain and hope in meetings and ceremonies there.  At Little Pond, I’ve picked wine berries and shared the day with deer, turkeys, coyotes, owls, hawks and the many ground hogs to whom the place is holey (pun intended).  On clear nights, Winter to Summer, I’ve watched the stars and the moon dance over our sweat lodge fire. This hidden, and largely unknown retreat center, is a sacred ground to me.

Now, with the advent of this new place of sharing — the expanded Little Pond web page — I want to begin by acknowledging the power and the importance Little Pond has for many of us.  As we formulate an on- line Little Pond Community, one of my express goals and purposes is to keep strengthening this sanctuary and to continue to imbue it with the energy of intention and high purpose.

Blessings,

Rob

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Here’s my two cents.

When dealing with art work that has an interest in the spiritual, the sacred, I often come across a lot of “pretty” work or work that makes assumptions about how important it is “to be nice”, promote “good” things, be symmetrical or use soft uplifting colors and ornament the work with symbols like a Cross or the Star of David or…you fill in the blank.  Do you know what I’m talking about?

And I can understand that.  I perceive spirituality as something that is in opposition to my animal nature, that slough I have to drag myself out of when I awake in the morning. This way of thinking says that spiritual art is something that helps draw me away from the painful or boring, anxiety ridden or lusty, particulars of this dog eat dog world by pushing away from it towards this preconceived opposite. Not tense–Peaceful.  Not frightening–Loving.  Not dark–Light.

For instance, one couldn’t possibly use the word “f..k” in a spiritual piece.  (There, now I’ve gone and done it.  This can’t be a spiritual meditation.)  One can’t do a spiritual piece on pornography.  One can’t do a spiritual piece that’s any good and have it showing sacred figures in an “unacceptable way”. Different traditions have different taboos.

I’m of the belief, presently (and constantly evolving) that everything is permitted. It is true, as a Baha’i I am not allowed in dramatic presentations to portray the person of the Manifestation of God (Jesus, Buddha, Moses, Muhammad, Zoroaster, Baha’u’llah), as this is seen as insulting by definition. And I accept this.  I think it’s wise.  We can talk more about this at some later time perhaps, but other than that…

I work from the point of view, that in principle, everything is permitted–certainly at first, and then choices must be made depending on what one’s objectives are, what the call of “truth” demands.

The first consideration should never include restrictions.  They may come quickly, but held off as long as possible I think.  Far better to be thinking about giving energy to what it is you want, what you wish to bring to life and deal with the consequences second.  You must deal with them eventually, but not first, and … nothing is forbidden.

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I was looking through my 2011 Journal.  It has three entries. One on January first and one on January second and then it skips about five months to the final entry which reads:

Monday, June 13, 2011

Well, I’m back.  It seems pretty clear that I try to do too much, put too much into the day, and eventually I can’t sustain it and things fall apart.  Typical pattern of coming together and making a super effort to be better than I am, and pushing too hard, can’t hold it together.  There’s a sensible moderation that is within reach. And so it’s off to try and get my life together again.  As Thoreau says:  ”Do it again, and again, and forever again.”

There’s a truth to that, the need to work every day to improve ourselves.  But there’s another truth that needs emphasizing as well.  I had a dream the other night.  I was riding my bicycle along a path and traveling side by side with a freight train.  It began going faster and I tried to keep up.  It was picking up speed and pulling away, heading out over a bridge. I peddled more and more furiously, trying to catch it, eventually watching it disappear.  My trail went off to the side and then down below the bridge.  I knew that I HAD TO CATCH UP! The train was going into the mountains and it would crash if I didn’t stop it!

That’s life itself, busy day to day life, pulling away as the New Year begins, and I tell myself I have to be there to keep things from crashing.  But that’s an illusion.  It’s the frantic chase that robs us of the life that is with us now and always with us.  All I can say to myself this New Year is:  Bill, don’t try and catch the train. Don’t try and catch the train.

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I am particularly grateful for the exciting developments that have gone on this last year — particularly the Penn Dixie Productions and Flux Theatre residencies that took place here in the late summer, crowned by the marriage ceremonies of Joanna and Tommy in July and then Gus and Heather in September.

Every other Tuesday a men’s group meets here at Little Pond, part of the Mankind Project. It’s been going on for about three years now, and they do good work, good work indeed. I didn’t participate at first, too busy; but about two years ago I braced myself for the New Warrior Training Adventure (a sort of combined initiation/get-your-life-on-track weekend) and stepped into the circle. It’s been very rewarding. A Women’s Group, a monthly Sweat-Lodge Ceremony, and Baha’i Devotional Gatherings–all pepper the calendar with various events.

Come on out and see us, give us a call. We’d love to see what you’re up to.

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