August 18-24

This week brings with it an end to the 2011 summer program season. The program with Arun Gandhi ended last Friday. Since Saturday, Joel & Michelle Levey have been leading a “Dance of Change” workshop, offering teachings on mindful approaches to the inevitable changes that are woven into the fabric of life.

It has been a busy summer, with full programs and lots of activity. Eight programs, with average attendance in the mid-60’s. Which matches the average high temperatures that were a prominent feature of this cooler than usual summer.

Experiences have been shared, memories created. Many have expressed their deep appreciation for this place and what it provides for those who come here. New threads have been woven into the lattice work that continuously composes Indralaya and gives it sustenance as ‘an ongoing experiment in theosophical living...’

And after 44 consecutive weekly entries, it is now time for a short break.

This Week at Indralaya will resume on Monday, September 12.

August 11-17

There is only time for a short entry this week as we are in the midst of a program with Arun Gandhi, a lifelong advocate of non-violence and the grandson of Mohandas K. Gandhi. Arun has been offering insights into the ethical foundations necessary for building a non-violent world and sharing stories from his and his grandfather’s lives that offer examples of these qualities.

Chris & Arun, brewing chai in the coffee kitchen

Arun’s visit was arranged with the help of Chris Farmer. Chris attended therapeutic touch camps at Indralaya and Pumpkin Hollow Farm in the 1980’s. She was inspired to invite Arun to lead a program here because she felt that his teachings are in alignment with the peaceful energies of the place.

Peace to all Beings

August 4-10

The Connections program began on Saturday and continues through this coming Sunday, August 14. Over 70 people are attending all or part of the gathering. The program places significant emphasis on maintaining and rebuilding Indralaya’s physical plant.

Projects have included rebuilding Heather cabin, completing the siding and renovations to the resident manager's cabin (RMC) that began in 2010, building of a wood shed for the dining hall and construction of six new fire hose stations around camp.

Nick & Steve lay foundations for a new fire hose station

Marilynne and Petr at one of the new stations

the first wall of Heather cabin is raised

Michaela and Bryan working at Heather cabin

Mark & Ian work on the RMC siding project

new dining hall wood shed

Ed Abdill, the Vice President of the Theosophical Society in America,
and author of The Secret Gateway, is also here, leading morning discussion.

deep thinkers

young campers assemble cinnamon rolls

afternoon tea and cookies at the RMC

volleyball is an evening highlight

all for one and one for all!

July 28 - August 3

dining hall as art studio...

This week just over 50 participants gathered for an exploration of Creativity and the Subtle Realms with Deborah Koff-Chapin and David Spangler. It was a magical Indralaya week, weaving together art, music, exploration of inner realms and subtle experience, great food and open-hearted participation into a cohesive and joyful experience of community and emergence.

Minor, Julie, David, Deborah, Leonie

David shared his insights during morning presentations in the library, while Deborah taught and guided touch drawing sessions in the afternoons as the ideas shared by David were brought to life. Evenings included an August 1 celebration of Lammas around and over a fire in the grove. Lammas is the ancient Celtic harvest festival marking the halfway point between the summer solstice and the autumnal equinox. Many of those at the campfire observed the tradition of leaping over the fire three times!

teepee art alter

artistic impressions of the angel of Indralaya
(click on any image to see it full size)

ready for action

Captain Hook
One of the yoga week participants, Arthur Huebner, devoted some of his winter to preparing 108 salvaged hangers for use all around Indralaya. The hangers were installed while he was here for the program and they are turning up in all the right places: cabin walls, broom closets, rest rooms, shower stalls, and elsewhere. Thank you, Arthur!

sunlit canopy

July 21-27

The completion of the July 23-28 Yoga Week marked the halfway point of the 2011 summer season at Indralaya. The Yoga retreat was lead for the 9th consecutive year by Melanie Whittaker. Melanie is from the Methow Valley, which is east of the North Cascade mountains. This year the teepee was filled with approximately 50 participants for the twice daily hatha yoga sessions that are grounded in the Iyengar and Ashtanga Vinyasa traditions. In the above photo, Melanie exhibits trikonasana or triangle pose.

Spencer sautés breakfast mushrooms

The fellowship and wwoofer staff continue to play an important role in helping programs and activities at Indralaya run smoothly. One of those on fellowship is Spencer Corley (pictured above). Spencer has been here since late June and has been helpful in many ways, including breakfast prep (which begins at 6:30 every morning), daily mopping of the kitchen floor and transportation of food waste to the worm bins for vermiculture composting. Thanks to Spencer and the rest of the long-term staff who are currently here: Alise Nielson, Eric and Jackie Green, Amy Stolov, Terrence Zander, Jake Doty and Petr Senkerik for all your good work.

Aaron Clemons & Peter Van Gelder

Leonie’s brother Peter Van Gelder stayed with us for several days this past week, on a visit from his home in the Netherlands, where he lives in Rotterdam with his wife Lis-Britt. Sitting with Peter in this photo is Aaron Clemons, son of Art Clemons and grandson of Margie Clemons (the sister of Phoebe Bee, Barbara Michelle Berry and Arthur Lehwalder). Aaron and his wife, Ellen Pillow, have been consistent participants in the summer Yoga week with Melanie since its beginnings in 2003.

Swallows leave the nest

This week saw the next stage of development in the nesting box that two swallows moved into back in May (see the entry for May 23-29). A few weeks ago, the chirps of the recently hatched nestlings could be heard and this week they took flight and left the nest!

Far East Beach Art

July 14-20

Saturday saw the return of Deep Singing week, which has grown to become one of Indralaya’s most popular programs. Attendance this year was near 90.

Participants gather in the teepee each morning to sing songs, chants, and rounds. Every afternoon there are opportunities to explore different styles of song and the evenings are composed of a variety of musical activities: singing around the piano, campfire songs and small group performances.

Although my cinematography could have been better, the following video provides a sense of the shared joyousness that was present throughout the week.

Siyahamba

Two of the participants in the program have ties to Indralaya that go back to its earliest days. Helen Barclay and Joan Taylor (and their sister Susan Brady), came to camp in the 1920’s with their parents, Gene and Viva Emmons. Many of the cabins and the current dining hall were built with wood that was obtained through Gene’s door and sash company. Viva contributed in many ways as well and often led singing at the evening programs with her beautiful voice.

Helen & Joan

Helen conducts Barbershop

“hi mama”

July 4 - July 13

menu board

The past 15 days have been filled with the two family weeks that traditionally begin the summer season at Indralaya. In all, more than 50 families were represented and nearly 200 people were here over the two weeks.

The family weeks are composed of centering circles, the honoring of the ages, sockhop, arts & crafts, singing, workshops, tea times, the walking of the labyrinth, work on behalf of Indralaya, and the many other memories that weave the days together.

Thanks and gratitude to everyone who plays a part, with particular appreciation for the dedicated and spirited leadership of coordinators Victoria Bennett, Ondine & Elliot Toler-Scott, Viola Marx, Hugh & Annie McManus, and Penny Sharp Sky.

family week morning circles ~ week one above, week two below

many hands

During big weeks like the those that have just finished, those on fellowship and long term staff play a crucial role in assuring that things run smoothly.

Spencer, Leonie, Minor, Jake, Laurie, Christopher, Lilly, Petr & Zach

It Was 84 Years Ago Last Week...

The Excelsior Diary ~ 1927

(click on the photo for a full size view)

These two photos are from Fritz Kunz's day book for 1927. That was the year that Fritz and Dora were married, and journeyed across the country to participate in a gathering of Theosophists on Orcas Island. The penciled note in the lower photo indicates that Dora and Fritz ‘went to Orcas’ on Tuesday, July 5. From that moment in time, much has ensued!