While I can't say that everything is 'fixed' at ZMS, there has been some definite progress. For the first time in many months I see stewards working together. I hear more we's than I's. I hear a willingness to move forward. As a result of the envisioning meeting we had last Saturday, the stewards have agreed to look into finding facilitators to have both a communications workshop as well as a workshop on consensus. The greater community wants to help in moving ZMS forward and believes that having a more defined focus would be of great help. That is where the idea of a healing center comes from. We realize that there are a great many changes that are still needed both in personal relations and physical infrastructure but we believe we need to start somewhere and getting the greater community involved is part of that. I’m sorry Jerako if you had such a negative experience while you were there. I know for the five years that I lived there my experience was one of great joy and growth and I am willing to do whatever possible to see that at ZMS again.

Thanks to all who have been attending our weekly heart circles on the land.

Since our envisioning meeting we have decided to meet weekly to better the flow of communications on the land.

Heart circle have really been a healpful tool for us in maintaining "real" communications with one another and for those who call ZMS their home.

grace and gratitude,

Hitirus

also, I was thinking... along with providing wholesome nourishing primarily organic food, and cutting down on the purchasing of habit forming items like coffee, I think an exercise/yoga place could be fully established.

tis proven that lean muscle mass extends life without meds for HIVers, and improves quality of life for everyone, but especially for those on meds. in that veine, I've been told by a few of the founding members, that ZMS was intended as a place of healing for all, but especially for people dealing with HIV and AIDS.

Frankly, though the place is CERTAINLY cleaner than it was this time last year, it isn't really safe for people dealing with compromised immune systems. a friend of mine is stuggling with AIDS, and he got some kind of stomach bug from being out there. and remember the shamans gathering two years ago? a dozen people got sick. I'm not trying to set a panic, or be the naysayer here, or the "town cryer"....

if your'e seriously considering healing center, I want to be involved. however, I feel that certain things really have to be agreed upon by the whole group, encouraged by that group. like if the general overall intention is to set up a healing center, then what are the second tier intentions that reinforce that? not just a willigness to cooperate, or in general foster healing, though that's important. but also, preactical matters, material "raod blocks" to change our bad habits that keep us from healing, and not just revel in them. this is why I suggest the food, and the exercise room. it sets up encouragement. it "fosters an environment for healing" as hitirus is so fond of saying.

we should(and don't discount me cus i'm "shouldding") patiently support each other in this process. but I do believe there comes a point where it's not support but enabling. you can say " I gave up alcohol, but held on to coffee and cigarettes" or like me " I gave up cigarettes but now smoke pot 2/3 of the day." that maybe good for a while, I know for people on the edge with alcohol, taking up something else is a life saver. but I'm going on a year of justifying my pot use with the fact that I gave up cigarettes last shamans gathering. Now I am ready to give this up too, and I hope that I can find support from people this coming gathering. I am forever greatful to everyone at last gathering, because the energy we collectively moved helped me to quit smoking for good!! THANKS EVERY BODY!!!

if I'm addicted to something, I'm not fully present.

I'm not the only one intimately involved with ZMS struggling with this (addiction to material world--through substance, through anger, through sex, through judgements--). I think people who stay long term at ZMS are all dealing with these issues of overcoming and integrating their persona/shadow split. these are the psychic issues at hand I feel. not just for me, not just the way I see it, but for everybody to some degree. I mean we are unique, but really, there's more in common than uncommon.

then there's some physical considerations:

although the on demand water heater has been working, the water pressure has not. I understand that these things are being fixed, but nonetheless have been issues.
and even when there was running hot water, sanitation was not suitable for immune compromised individuals.

then, when it wasnt' working, it was tedious and inconvienient to boil water to wash your hands before you eat, it winds up not happening. I even found myself washing my hands in front of people who were normally avid handwashers, but weren't at the time...and especially when the counters only get cleaned with cold water.. it's not sanitary. (someone may say here "i've seen you not wash your hand's before!" but I promise, it wasn't since I tested poz myself that I became a convert. and I realised, it is not healthy to go into a "public" kitchen with immunity issues and just start making something on a surface. it's got to be wiped down with a fairly fresh hot towel, with at least vinegar or soem kind of citirc acid to be effective. and of course waching hands is a part of that.... there is too little neglect of this issue in particular. not every body is participating in that fully, and they need to be in light of consideration for a healing center.

my house is a cluttered mess. my room at ZMS was a cluttered mess. when I first got to ZMS july of 02, I was a cluttered mess. and I got a lot of help. some from the people living there, but laregly from the community that regularly attends the gathering, and those living in candy kitchen. over the months of living there as short term and long term visitor, I feel a home there. I want to live there. I feel the remoteness has and can continue to help me with my discipline, art, and practice. and I hope that under this post or any other that people be welcomed to offer advice, suggestions, ideas to think about.... I really want to see where I can plug in, not to the daily chores, that's easy when everybodys cooperating. but the bigger picture.

I think one of the biggest things that has hampered ZMS is this myopia that developed as cooperation broke down. --or at least retreated to a minimum... sorry for the lengthy post, but I mean every word of it, i read over it to make sure I didn't have anything to take out. so thanks for bearing with me!

sincerely,

aletheus

Very cold!!! No outside camping unless you're into that thing. Average highs in the 40s and lows around 10. Small chance of snow. I haven't heard the specifics but I'm pretty sure that space will be provided in the resident houses.

Wow! May the Golden Age of ZMS begin.... (hope that doesn't sound rediculous, but I am so hopeful of the direction things are going in over there)

love and healing,
Littlefoot