A special ceremony for the holy day was held in the Temple here at the Tree of Life the other day, and only did it occur to me, after we said prayers, sat in silence forgiving all those that we imagined we needed to forgive, all the ways we imagined we needed to forgive ourselves, that it was Septmeber 29th, a very significant day in my life for whatever perfect reason.  It initially marked my wedding anniversary, and six years later coincidentally and in a cosmic joke kind of way, marked my exit. 

The gardening program here  at the tree is nothing like I thought it would be, although I have to say the whole thing happened so quickly and divinely I hadnt given it much thought.  Just trusted, signed up, and showed up.  For our application I said that I was in reasonably good shape, even worked out at the gym five times a week.  But, I had not been  working out for six to eight hours a day, in high elevation, in a dry desert, in 90 degree weather and in direct sunlight,and  in an intentional community with land containing healing vortexes.  Things came to a head yesterday, when feeling especially dizzy I said I needed to sit down for a bit and not only did I sit for hours not able to get up, but drifted in and out of consciousness, had visions, sweated profousely from only one area of my body, the solar plexus, and, remembered  that the last healing crisis/fainting spell I had was in the desert during a ceremony in Sedona a year and a half before, that led to the selling of my home and most of everything I owned. 
Hmmm.....wondering what on earth we have signed up for here!
And, now that some of the toxins have been purified out, the body has adjusted to the altitude, has been sufficiently hydrated, and gotten used to the level of physical work enough to do more than eat, take showers, go to temple, and sleep, and sleep, and sleep,,,,,maybe there will even be more entries....and pictures!! 
Om Shanti.

Insights and integrations are beginning to come as the body continues to adjust to the altitude and dryness of the high desert here in Arizona.  Grateful to be in the garden here at the Tree of Life and tuning into the Mother energy.

What does an Arizona sunset have to do with this saying?  Nothing actually.  I just took this picture on my way back to Patagonia from Tuscon about an hour ago.  It was so beautiful thought I would share it.

Funny that a week ago I had never heard this saying before.  In fact, when one of my fellow garden apprentices mentioned it, both myself and another apprentice, Jane, said, Oh no, It isnt Devil in the Details, its God is in the Details.  We both were familiar with that phrase, but had never heard the devil thing before.  It became a running joke for the next few days.  Its the devil, we joked about more than a few things.  In the details, you know.
Now, it just so happens that I was reading Paulo Coelho's new book, Brida. Great read, by the way, and if you do happen to pick it up you will notice that midway one of the characters mentions the phrase, the devil is in the details.  No way.  Too strange, although in the flow the synchronicities do come.  In the book the character went on to explain that the phrase usually came up as a warning to pay attention.  As I understand it, the phrase means that if you do not pay attention to the details, it will come back to get you.  You will be sorry.  So, I had to ask myself, what was it that I needed to pay attention to right now. 
What were these devilish details that I needed to pay attention to and take care of?
One of the other main themes of the book is that of the Soul Mate.  Interestingly, I have been in the habit of picking an angel card every morning, of the Doreen Virture variety, and over the last two weeks three cards have shown up consistently.  Music, Study, and Soul Mate.  I have to say the relationship area has not been the most pleasant in the past and every time that card comes up, so does an impulse to pull a card the way my daughter does.  If she doesnt like what she gets she puts it back and draws another one.  Well, if she can get the deck from me.
I wonder.
Can you put your Soul Mate back in the deck and pick another one if you don't like the one you get?  Is it really best to create a relationship/partner manifestation checklist (which seems it would come mostly from an ego trying to get what it wants, rather than from a Soul interested in unconditional love, non-attachment, spiritual growth and selfless service.)

So, in this moment I am understanding that if I would rather attract an angel than a devil in relationship, I need to be clear in the details of what is desired. Knowing only the highest good is served in any relationship. Grateful for all of the lessons learned, all of the connections in the past, and to let go of any devilish resentments or limiting ideas of relationship from the past that may still exist in consciousness. 
And in the meantime keep enjoying these beautiful sunsets, time in the garden, my wonderful co-apprentices, gormet raw food, satsang and shabbat and every other blessed adventure here at the Tree of Life.
Om Shanti.

those who have gathered from near and far
seen modern society as strange and bizzarre
who have felt the call to live in grace
who have overcome the ego need to chase

who have listened to the ancestors as they have told
do not be attached to a material world
for it will fall in these times, nearing 2012
let go of the things of the small self

for if you let go of the mind you are free
and you will reside in eternity
and all of your worries and doubts of this plane
will be transmuted to a higher frame

no longer will you grasp and hold on and fear
you will live with the angels my dear
and as they guide you to your desitny
you realize what you were born to be

they say the market is crashing
and we are heading for doom
but it is universal law
sweeping out with a broom
all that does not work
what has been built on greed
a new world is being born
a new world indeed
so instead of fearing
it is time to celebrate
a new world is coming
one built on faith,
one built on love, and peace, and joy
and a world built on Truth
no thing can destroy

it is not built just in the world
it is built in the heart
so now is the time to let go
and make a new start
get out of your mind
and into what is Real
not what you can see
or what your hands can feel
but what has been planted
deep in your soul
what is asking to be born
what you have always known

you have come to this earth
to heal and grow,
to remember and plant
the seeds of your soul,
no longer cut off
no longer separated
but grateful for the One of us
joyfully, finally, congragated

I have never participated in Yom Kippur before, or known much of anything about Jewish tradition, but here at the Tree of Life it is an integral part of life- shabbat every Friday, ending the night and celebrating the new day with the setting of the sun (that one feels so in alignment with the natural cycle), and other ceremonies, along with american indian sweat lodges and other spiritual practices.
Yesterday I was called to go through the Yom Kippur ceremony in the Temple with about 20 other people, led by Gabriel and Shanti Cousens.  What a profound gift.  What a beautiful remembering of sacrifice and surrender.  And what a feast afterwards!!  We broke the 26 hour dry fast in the temple with raw   grape juice   and   living challah bread (sp?) and then came down from the temple to eat together.  It just so happened to be the party for the cafe apprentices and there was a table full of raw chocolate, brownies, pastries and divine food of the goddess YUMMINESS.  Wow!!!  This place is simply amazing.....simply.

Once again, the title may be a little deceiving.  What can I say? Creative liscense? Creative spelling one too I guess.  Anyway.....

On Friday our garden apprentice crew here at the Tree of Life (Now known as the Clover Club, given my daughters penchant for locating four leaf clovers, and giving them to everyone in the group to put in their nametag.)  Anyway,,,,
Friday was the day one of the new greenhouse domes was ready to be prepared for planting.  This was much more exciting news before we learned we were going to be the ones preparing it!  Kidding, kidding.  In fact, I actually didnt know I had it in me to shovel dirt and gravel into wheelbarrels for several hours.  After nearing exhaustion (which could be discerned by the fact that not only had we  begun singing that inspiration classic....Hi ho, hi ho,.....we also all picked corresponding dwarf names) , we finally had the last bit of dirt spread into the raised beds inside.  Yay! Completion.  And, the energy is great!!

I mentioned Shabbat is on Friday evenings here at the tree, but I am not sure any garden apprentices made it.  I had an image of the circle dance, when the jumping and kicking started, those from the Clover Club falling out left, right, and center....just, you know, collapsing.  A funny thought. Then maybe everyone could have just dragged us into the center for the healing part of the evening.  But seriously, it feels good to work like that and still know you have it in you.  Of course it is nearing the end of October, so tempatures are only about 80f, and everyone has acclimated to the altitude and healing energy vortex, and raw food end of things, so that was a plus.
One thing.  They are not kidding when they say this a space to discover yourself, heal, and know god.  My back was in good enough shape to work the next day.....could not help but think.....there must be a god!

Wow.  Such a sweet (no put intended) party last night! 
It was the annual raw pie contest/party held at the Rothrawk Alley house here in Patagonia.  There was such an amazing selection, and of course you had to have some of each one in order to vote.  Thank you Sevrah for this amazing offering-- and how organized everything was!  Everyone is so used to working as a team in the kitchen or the garden or the office, there is a natural level of efficiency.....everyone seemed to go into work-flow mode.  The winner was ______, with his not pie, pie (pictured) (okay I will have to get the name straight and come back and edit- I have most names down....)
(also, is a not pie really a pie?? hmmm... no one seemed to notice.....it was soooo good..  all of them were sooooo good!!)
I have to say my organic heirloom pumpkin pie was acknowledged as the most authentic......the durian pie from the clover club was given the most likely to get lucky (durian is thought to be an aphrodisiac), there was James grape macadamia which was deemed the cutest pie, and many many- 10 altogether- others.  I dont think Ive ever seen a group enjoy their food more!  Yay raw living food!!

Here is the gang....enjoying the pie samplings....getting ready to pick their favorite.