Time for Centering

    I recently drove up to Trinity County to visit a ranch. Skunk Ranch. Yup. It used to be a ranch in the 1930's where skunk were raised to make coats. Pretty weird. I found out about this ranch from a woman whom I teach yoga. This woman's aunt and a couple of her friends bought this 325 acre property in Hyampom. Literally in the middle of nowhere. I packed a few things and headed out for the weekend.
    Leaving the city brought up much excitement within me. Yes. Time for Peace & Quiet. It was quite the journey. As soon as I was in the midst of all of the trees I felt peace...my body and mind were connecting. Fresh air!
   So, I met up with Brian and we drove down to the ranch together down this 16 mile dirt road. So many beautiful trees and I even saw a little brown bear cub. Brian is quite the character. A man of not many words, but when he speaks it is always about something interesting. Whether it is about his stories of living in the back country of Montana, gold mining in the 70's, and his travels in other countries.

    We arrived on the property and I see the house in the distance with a beautiful wooden porch and the two dogs wagging there tails in excitement to see us. The property is huge and includes a plentiful garden which includes blueberries, strawberries, tomatoes, onions, beets, kale, lettuce, arugula, and collard greens. The food tasted so fresh and vibrant! Near the garden there is a small green house and a pen for chickens and  hens.

   Brian and I spent most of the day exploring the property. Betty, Brian, and Monika plan on making this a conscious living and healing center for the future. They planned this all out 30 years ago when all of them met back in the 1970's. Now they are beginning their dream. We hopped on his RV and he showed me all of the different cottages along the property. Riding on the RV was so exhilarating. Passing quickly through all of the trees and feeling the rush of the wind. It was so meditative.
   The fist cottage is a top a hill overlooking the valley below. We arrived there just as the sun was setting. Him and I sat on the porch and watched the sun set in the distance. Before it became too dark we decided to head back to the house. Both of us enjoyed dinner together in the candle light. We spoke about politics and how he has been imagining change for our country and our world for a long time. From his studies as an anthropologist he believes that we are at the end of an era in our history. That we can no longer follow the same system in which we currently are. That it is in the process of degradation. I hope so. I certainly dream of a different way of existence for everyone.
   The next morning I woke up to the sound of cock-a-doodle-doo at 6:00am. That was the best sleep I had in a while. Brian and I tended to the garden then went back out on the RV. I saw the other five small cottages on the property and he showed me the meadow where he wants to build more homes. The property needs a lot of tending. There is so much brush on the forest floor, which they need to be aware of for fireproofing.
   We went back to the garden and I picked out greens for a salad. There was a party at one of his friends ranches, so we decided to go. I had no idea what to expect or who would be there. As we arrived, there were about 20 cars parked outside this ranch. As i was walking down to the party I noticed the horses, the band setting up, and a pile of lumber for a bonfire. It was a party full of Hippies, Rednecks, and Indians. I knew this would be an interesting night. I spent most of the evening talking to the people my own age. All of us had very similar stories. California seems to represent this in kind of freedom for us in some way. Or this freedom that we have imagined. Hope and Scott told me how they just felt in their soul that they had to come here for some purpose. That was exactly how I felt since I first went on a road trip to California with my family 10 years ago. The band began playing and the fire was lit. As I sit there soaking in this experience I just smile watching everyone around me dance and singing under the bright moonlit sky. After a couple of hours of amazing music, Brian and I journeyed back through the valley back to the ranch.

   My final morning at the ranch I woke up again and around 6:00 in the morning and sat on the porch for a few hours. Sitting in stillness. Then I realized it was time to leave the ranch and head back to the city. But I left with a stronger and open heart. Nature really heals me. It is peaceful, true, and has no expectations for me. On the flip side, it is also uncompromising. All of the elements doing their daily task to stay in sync. I left with the gift of a crazy spider bite.
  Arriving back in the city, I looked refreshed. Almost like recharging a battery. Plugging into and connecting to nature centers me. What gives you peace and center You?

Namaste Friends,

Agie