February 28 - March 6

A rare early season program provided the ingredients for a somewhat intense week at Indralaya. The below freezing temperatures that had defined the previous week continued into the early days of this week, which meant that the water in the dining hall and plumbing cabins couldn't be safely turned on until Tuesday.

This made for a very busy few days leading into the program as turning the water back on inevitably leads to a few surprises. This year, for example, we learned that over the winter someone had turned the power to the empty hot water tank on in Moss, which burned out the heating element. From Moss it was on to Wisteria, where one of the plumbing lines under the cabin had somehow come uncoupled. Once that was repaired and the water was on, a sour smell began to emerge from the shower drain. Whether that has something to do with last year's installation of a new shower in the cabin remains to be seen.

Cedar cabin was next. At the February work party a crew had installed plywood skirting around the base of Cedar to keep out the otters that have been eating their meals under the cabin. One problem with the project emerged - no human access point had been provided, so when water was heard running under the cabin the only way to get at it was to pry off one sheet of the plywood skirting. Fortunately, once there was access the problem was easily solved. It was also fortunate that turning on the water in the rest of the cabins and dining hall went smoothly.

There was further fortune in having the help of maintenance staffers Mike and Thea during the run up to the program. Mike helped with the water problems and also installed a new filtered water tap in the coffee kitchen, while Thea was busy tacking chicken wire to some of the slippery porches around camp.

On Tuesday, Linda Jo Pym and Kathy Miners were here for an afternoon visit. Linda Jo and I spent some time working with the registration program, while Leonie and Kathy cleaned cabins. Crystal Mossman, along with Kari and Margot Van Gelder also came by and provided much needed support. Crystal prepared bread and granola for the weekend while Kari cleaned up the dining hall and lounge. Margot cleaned up branches and other debris from the labyrinth.

Crystal prepares bread

On Thursday morning it felt like everything was ready to go. It was a bit of a shock, then, to check the morning weather and find out that an 80% chance of sleet (sleet?!?) was forecast for the next 24 hours. However, it seems as if someone had put in a good word with the weather gods, for the sleet never came and in fact the sun was out for much of the weekend. It was hard to deny that Spring was arriving in each moment.

By Thursday night, the 44 participants attending the program had arrived and the 2011 program season was underway! The program was a Sea Temple Retreat, led by RJ Stewart and Anastasia Nutt. Their teachings are rooted in the faery tradition of the British Isles. During the weekend, we were led on a series of inner journeys and visualizations aligning with and attuning to the powers and energies of the Sea Temple. Among other attributes and qualities, this inner temple of the West is said to be the source of love and compassion on our watery planet. On Sunday morning there was a procession to near east beach, where offerings were made to the sea.

Among the participants were Shelagh and John Levey. On Saturday we celebrated Shelagh's birthday. John and Shelagh noted that 2011 marks the 40th anniversary of their first visit to Indralaya. This leads one to speculate on how we might open our arms to a family or families that will visit for the first time this year so that they might still be coming with their children and grandchildren forty years hence.

happy birthday Shelagh!

Shara waits for the bell to ring

This was the first visit to Indralaya for both Mary and Beth. Mary attended therapeutic touch camps at Pumpkin Hollow, Indralaya's sister camp in upstate NY, during the 1990's.

at the beach

offerings

RJ pipes the offerings to sea: