Events and Rituals

Many people associate ritual with religion or spirituality. This can often be the case but ritual can also be any pattern of behavior that is often repeated (like brushing one's teeth before bed). At DR we are developing a number of homegrown rituals, some more imbued with spirit, others not, but all helping to build our community and our sustainable culture. For example, at our weekly community dinners the group gathers around the table and holds hands. The cook asks if there are any announcements, and then they have a moment of silence. There's no expectation of what any individual should do (some of us may use the time to reflect, to breathe, to pray or maybe just to think), it's just a short time for the community to be together in silence. Then they sing a song of the cook's choice, which may be beautiful, goofy, solemn, ridiculous, or any possible combination of the above. Some of us also have personal rituals. Some might do yoga each morning. Others might stop to listen to the birds or check the progress of a budding milkweed on the path to the common house. Some may write in a journal or sketch each night. These rituals serve people in any number of ways and they add a great deal to our culture here at DR as well.

We also have some monthly and annual events that are growing to be a tradition:

• From the first year we moved here and we have been sharing New Year's Eve with Sandhill Farm. The new year has often not felt like it arrived until Cecil played Auld Lang Syne on the trombone.
• We usually get our year going with a retreat. We gather our time and energy to vision, plan and make decisions for the upcoming year.
• For several years we have celebrated Validation Day on or around February 14th. A card is handmade for each member, individually designed with the recipients' interests in mind. Then we have several weeks to fill them with appreciations. Then we have a special gathering to pass to out the cards.
• Each year we also celebrate Passover by having a seder with Sandhill. Passover is a Jewish celebration of freedom from oppression, which involves consuming plenty of symbolic foods and wine.
• We celebrate springtime with our friends at Sandhill for their May Day party (their anniversary) complete with Maypole dance and sweat lodge.
• In early July we have had an annual birthday float trip on various rivers and lakes, often ending in Independence Day fireworks.
• We celebrate our community's anniversary every year in early October with Land Day, including a ritual storytelling of our history and a big party with music and games.
• On Halloween we have developed the tradition of having a Progressive Fiasco. We dress up and move house to house, trick-or-treat-style, bringing the party to houses (and tents!) large and small.
• Thanksgiving is a particularly meaningful holiday for us, as we have often grown most of the food that we are consuming. We traditionally celebrate with Sandhill, and it feels particularly intimate as it also marks the end of our visitor season.

We look forward to ever more rituals and events becoming part of our community as we grow and mature.

Birthday Spectacles