August 2024 NEWSLETTER

AUGUST 2024 NEWSLETTER
By David Whitaker

Nurturing a community is much like nurturing a garden. The relationships are mutually beneficial. Sometimes the garden gives to you. Sometimes you give to the garden. Sometimes you give to the community. Sometimes the community gives to you.

There are times when a particular plant or community member (present company included) needs attention or care but most of the time things are good—growing on their own into what they are meant to be.

With community as with gardening, we start from where we are with the nurturing of small beginnings. Seeds germinate. The energy starts moving. It can be perceived but cannot be seen. And then, it can be seen! The first sprouts appear above the ground, a few leaves form.

There is rooting. There is connecting. A plant puts down roots into the ground to access the nutrients and moisture in the soil. There are conversations about ideas and relationships are established. Trust begins to form.

And then, if the conditions are right, Boom! Summer solstice hits and the plants are growing visibly each day. There are more cucumbers than you can eat and the tomatoes are springing out of their cages to scramble across the ground. Someone you chatted with a month ago, reaches out and offers to volunteer or they sign up for the work party and they have just the skills and enthusiasm needed to do it.

This is our ranch. All of ours, and it is your enthusiasm, your contributions (small, large, and in between) that make it what it is.

It’s Tom Forbath staying over the weekend and doing labyrinth maintenance, and then, picking a vegetable for the first time in his life (see above).

It’s Richard Chan showing up and asking, "How can I help?"

It’s Justin Jayne being Justin Jayne.

It's Mark, Paul, and Vincent visiting the ranch to connect and walk the land.

It’s Eric, Wendy, and Susan coordinating a local Santa Barbara ministers meeting at Windermere (pic above and more on that below).

It’s Chris from Advance Cable Systems, who helps with stuff just because, and doesn’t charge.

It’s Joan Shea asking John Morton to add a new quality to the list of qualities (understanding is now adoptable as a quality). Click here to adopt!

It’s Martha Ringer showing up to process documents.

It's Michael Feder sharing a vision for what is possible.

It’s Christi Mider doing it all.

And Chris Phillips showing up on his motorcycle tour.

It’s everyone who adopts a quality and everyone who donates.

It’s John and Leigh, holding the Light and offering encouragement.

It’s David and Kathryn Allen springing for a new garden design from famous landscape architect Paul Hendershot.

It’s Linda Whitaker (Grandma Linda) moving to Windermere to be with her grandkids (and us) and to help with the animals and garden.

It’s all of you, reading this newsletter and having a relationship with the ranch and with the peace inside of you.

This last month, I've become aware that there is no perfect community member. There isn't someone out there who is going to arrive here and make everything a happily ever after.

I used to think that there was a perfect person. I realize now that instead of perfection, what is perfect is wanting to be involved and the willingness to do the work of being in community. The willingness to have difficult conversations in order to get to understanding. The compassion to be with each other on grumpy days. The grit to show up for each other when it’s not convenient. This is community.

When I talk to people who want to be involved with what's going on at Windermere, I often say, you already are. You are part of the community. You are part of what is going on here, just by reading this newsletter. Windermere meets you where you are.

And like the garden needs water, soil, and sunlight, community needs communication, kindness, and acceptance. The delayed gratification in the garden is akin to the slow deepening of a relationship. Plants coexist, cross-pollinate, become a garden that is greater than the sum of its parts. We connect, show up, work together, and become community.

We are Windermere.

Love, David

P.S. Stay tuned for a report in the upcoming newsletter about a collaboration between Teen Insight and Windermere Ranch.

In previous years, IIWP provided an official tour of Windermere post- Conference, which I have heard may be making a debut again next year. Stay tuned!

For this year, we orchestrated an unofficial tour. The van, carrying an intrepid group of six peacemakers set off from Prana’s parking lot around 8:30 am. Our intention was to leave earlier, but we took an extra half-hour to realize which van we were taking and where the key to that van was located. Oops, my bad. What we lacked in organization, we made up for in enthusiasm!

The ride up the California freeway into the Santa Ynez Mountains was a road trip with new and old friends filled with song, stories and of course snacks, all set with the beautiful backdrop of the ocean.

After a pit stop at the supermarket for lunch supplies, we arrived at Windermere Ranch. The fresh, mountain air and song of birds greeted us. Starting at the barn, we walked down to Quelín Rocks, passing a herd of curious goats and through an archway marking the trail. We called in the light and spent some time lying on the rocks and taking in the glorious healing energy. I felt tension melt away and gratitude well up from within me.

We enjoyed a picnic lunch at the pond, walked the labyrinth, and toured the property, admiring the vast landscape, curious rock formations, and palpable presence of peace as we went.

Before long, it was time to leave. But not before saying good-bye to Bucket the ranch dog, Joker the donkey, and some of our human friends caring for the property. We stopped for dinner in Santa Barbara to cap off the day, and the ride back to Prana felt to me restful and reflective in the wake of all the beauty I had experienced.

On July 21, 2024, 19 ministers in the Church known as the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness gathered in-person at the Buddha Rock house at Windermere Ranch to hold their monthly ministers meeting. (Joining online by Zoom were 40 other ordained ministers from many areas).

The meeting, facilitated by the multi-talented Eric Lumiere, revolved around the theme of Windermere, with Moments of Peace videos taken at the ranch, blessings and heartfelt sharings from current volunteers, former Windermere residents and staff, IIWP Adopt-A-Quality donors and others. The energy and vibe in the Buddha Rock living room and online were both electric and peace-filled, affording an even greater opportunity to experience Windermere as a place of peace, a sacred space always accessible on inner levels as well as a physical sanctuary open for visitors and peace-lovers.

After the meeting ended, the ministers present joined Ashley Whitaker and her and David's two Jolly Ranchers for a potluck brunch, which was truly a fabulous feast and a soulfest. The camaraderie, fun and upliftment of this gathering generated an intention by the local ministerial board to host more ministers meetings and support more events at Windermere. For me and for so many others, there is a renewed intention to expand the peace inside, envision the world at peace and live more fully in the peace that is always present.