History & Legends | The Vision | Structure & Plans | Community Integrity | Financial & Legal Structure  Contact Info & Appendix | Taanaashkaada Prospectus | Yraceburu EarthWisdom

The Vision You must approach quietly as a doe to the river for evening drink... You must be slow as the ripening wood            with the patience of an ancient weaver...            bringing into being one perfect tapestry... If you cannot be free flowing... If you cannot commit to all that you are meant to be... Do not toy, because we re on a mission...                                           We are snake, puma and eagle, and we have dared to dream...   We have come together to make a difference with the intention of creating an experiential lifestyle that will model ways of building an environmentally sustainable future while at the same time preserving and restoring a natural eco-spiritual environment. A sustainable future requires that we reconnect with the Earth, our Mother and re-member ourselves as who we really are. The site for this work that we were led to is a wonderful place that is known locally as the Lone Spruce Ranch. It is certainly one of the most singularly wonderful pieces of land in northeaster New Mexico. Larry Brow was called to this land to preserve it a number of years ago, saving it from a 200 house development plan. He has done this very well. The community cannot be grateful enough for this achievement. At this point in time there is a strong sense of synchronicity as people appear with clear visions and capacities of continuing the preservation of the natural beauty and felt sacredness of the land while at the same time finding ways to facilitate a deeper understanding of sustainable practices. Under the umbrella of Taanaashkaada Sanctuary, a name given by Grandfather Ten Bears we propose to offer the services and structures to hold the space for hands-on educational, experiential and life-affirmative projects, courses, healing and eco-spiritual retreats. The Vision         Our Vision is one of education and leadership by traditional earthlife example in creating alternatives to the present society and culture. We honor, respect and grow in harmony with Earth because we value: the sacredness of Earth's diverse life, Earth's spirit, and the interconnectedness of all creation participation in Earth's self-healing We  honor, respect and grow in harmony with the bio-region because we value: being responsible community gaining knowledge and skills of earth-friendly sustainable methods and appropriate technologies sharing knowledge and resources We honor, respect and grow in harmony with each other and friends because we value: trusting relationships characterized by honesty, integrity, and compassion, individual uniqueness and diversity, collaboration and shared leadership We honor, respect, and grow in harmony with our own selves because we value each person's: spiritual journey, mental and emotional well being, physical health We co-create eco-social justice through community, spirituality, and sustainability and to celebrating our lives together The Intention         Our primary aim is to establish the services and structures to support the goals defined by the intention of Taanaashkaada Sanctuary to conserve and restore the natural habitat and host projects that promote an environmentally sustainable future. Whether involved in a project or in the ongoing services, we become an intentional community through our daily interactions with one another. The community is comprised of the workshop participants, facilitators, staff, interns, visitors, guests and the community at large who have chosen to visit, work at or support our vision. It is a group of like-minded individuals who value interdependence, mutual respect, integrity and responsibility in living together in community. We create this rural community based on a philosophy that is not only sustainable for the present but also for future generations; not only in terms of ecological concerns, but economically, socially and spiritually. We also aim to establish the community as a working model to demonstrate its various aspects to the wider community including but not limited to public seminars, demonstrations, guided tours and participation through the world-wide-web. It is an important consideration that we demonstrate real achievable alternatives, showing that a quality of lifestyle can be reached both materially and environmentally, all the while aiming for sustainability and self-sufficiency. As experience and growth happens naturally in a continuous evolution the Taanaashkaada Sanctuary can encourage and assist other projects in New Mexico and the world. Taanaashkaada Sanctuary is a center where we can experience the beauty of nature while exploring our potential as human beings. We operate this retreat and workshop center as a service to others, with common values guiding our actions. Together we choose.... To recognize our reliance on this land, water and air, and be responsible in our earthkeeping of it To provide an atmosphere of safety, comfort and quiet, encouraging all to awareness of their own being To behave harmoniously, bringing communication, respect, integrity and love to our daily interaction To welcome people of diverse cultural, economic and social backgrounds To explore and present alternatives in the areas of human potential, bodywork, relationships, and holistic thinking To cultivate lives of spiritual awareness and presence, while encouraging others to do the same To create a place where the human body is nurtured, respected and celebrated To manage our human and financial resources in a way that will permit the improvement of Taanaashkaada Sanctuary and the support of related projects In all our work, decisions and interactions, we choose to use conscious awareness as our guiding principle.