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De Gaarde |
Leerplek voor Spiritueel Ecologisch Leven
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De Gaarde in 2007
De Gaarde, Spring 2007 - we had to let go of the poplars
For the ninth time it is Christmas and New Year in De Gaarde. Together with you I want to look back at and reflect on a dynamic and fruitful year. Let us count our blessings together!
The season in Spring started with groups around the film An Inconvenient Truth of Al Gore; Global
Warming and all the effects of it. We also brought the film under the attention of several groups
outside De Gaarde.
I find it very remarkable that consciousness about the situation of Earth has grown so fast over the past
year. A lot has happened around us because of this: activities, plans, symposia, articles, new movies.
With the determination that now something has to change.
There is a great difference with the earlier years here: then so much energy and attention had to go
into building the awareness that Earth is in crisis. A certain phase of pioneering is now over; we have
turned a page! Denial of the ecological crisis is disappearing fast and more and more there is the need
for insights and guidance in an ecological way of living and ecological spirituality. How can we live
courageously in these dangerous times and not look away from the situation? How can we generate
hope and creativity and not give up?
As always we celebrated the seasons. More and more people find these cosmic moments so important for their life. Special moments of joyful celebration, reflection and creative rituals. It has become a tradition in the life of De Gaarde.
In Spring they came again; our volunteers and those who share and help to carry on the daily life in De Gaarde. They come for various reasons. With a diversity of possibilities, gifts and talents. But always finding healing, integration, new vitality in the deepening connection with wind and rain, growth and fruits, seeds and birds. In harvest and celebrating the daily “Soup”. The quiet beauty of garden and yard, the fields and trees fulfils the hearts of many. Not only of the visitors and guests, but also of butterflies and birds, of moles and mice. Of woodpecker and the buzzard, that keeps an eye on us from afar. And our chickens too; they are now so domesticated that they literally eat the bread in our hands when they get a chance.
We are grateful for the cooperation with several organisations, also of the municipality Tilburg, that refer people to De Gaarde. It is seen and understood, that the connection with earth and nature brings wellness to those who cannot work in a normal job. Those organisations start to pay for our services and that helps to generate more income
Volunteers Fuji factory Tilburg-Daily meal with volunteers and staff
In Spring there was a very special day: a day workshop with a group of men and women who grew up on a farm. A day of deep sharing, great feeling and deep conviction. We carry a precious heritage as a gift for our times for an Earth in crisis.
So many offered their gifts for the programs and activities. All kinds of aspects for personal and societal renewal. Insights and tools for a more sustainable lifestyle and a spirituality that supports that. Workshops about myth and fairytales, radical ecology and economy, inspired work in government positions, sound-healing meditations, meditative walks, the story of cosmos and Earth in art, spiritual direction and leadership training, daily and monthly meditations. In the fullness of the summer garden there was a meditation week on deepening one’s connection and belongingness to Earth, attention to food as cosmic gift, experiences in nature. In autumn new courses and activities started; a course on the Gift of becoming an Elder, a vision group on new insights in cosmology and an merging ecological worldview, and a circle to share inspiration and hope. And this is not even all that we offered.
There were also several opportunities to share our experience and inspiration with groups and
individuals outside De Gaarde.
There is the monthly Gaarde- Email letter; a source of news, inspiration and study, now in the third
year . We reach hundreds of people, and the number is growing steadily. The website is also a source
of information for many. It brings new encounters, also worldwide and activities elsewhere.
A great surprise was the visit of an Earth-friend from the USA; his interest to see De Gaarde was our
shared inspiration by Thomas Berry. We decided that we will explore the possibilities of translating the
works of Thomas Berry in Dutch! De Gaarde contributed to a book on Ecological Spirituality ,published
in Belgium this year.
In autumn there was a weekend on Hildegard of Bingen in a retreat house in Steyl. 20 people
participated. In November there was a presentation for a group of parishes/ Christian churches in
Breda. A choir sang Earth songs. It was a beautiful and moving evening with 80 people.
More and more people, who participated in workshops here over the years, share the inspiration and
vision in their own areas, meditation-groups, in education and other organizations.
So the story continues, who knows where it all goes!
A remarkable step this year was the connection with Duurzaam ( Sustainable)Tilburg. It is an
organisation that coordinates all kinds of activities for a more sustainable city. We participated in a
symposium and it was a great opportunity to be present there. One of the fruits of the symposium is to
create a centre for information and inspiration for sustainable living. De Gaarde will also participate in
building up this centre when the time is there.
A group of the Franciscan ( Earth) Community, Stoutenburg came to visit us. We decided to work
together in a “green” retreat in the coming year.
The future of De Gaarde
In 2007 Medical Mission Sisters gave the much needed financial support. We are very grateful for that.
Though there is more income now because the volunteers also contribute out of the stipends they
receive for the needed care and help, we still need financial support. We are very grateful for friends
and donors; some donate money, others give time and energy and expertise to the programs.
Mooi Zo Goed Zo, an organisation that supports small projects like De Gaarde, gave us chairs for the
garden, curtains and cupboards for the canteen .
We are very grateful that the Mission of De Gaarde can be continued in 2008 through the support given
by different groups and funding agencies
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The Conference of Dutch Religious offered a considerable amount of money as an incentive bonus,
because of the important themes we work with here in De Gaarde.
Also SKANfonds supports us in 2008 and De Vrienden van de Medische Missie Zusters offer the rest of
the funds needed. So we can continue our Mission; many activities are waiting for this coming year.
In the course of the year a Committee that will support the Board of De Gaarde in looking into future
possibilities for continuation, was founded.
The Mission is as relevant as in the beginning: to spread inspiration and vision and continue the work on the development of a Spiritual Ecology and Spirituality.
We trust that there will be funding, human resources, and leadership to go .
We hope that in 2008 more clarity about the future will come.
To conclude
New visions, new activities, new contacts and encounters, people moving on to spread the vision in
their own life and work; all this happened in 2007. So much is growing and together we were able to
contribute in many ways to a more sustainable Earth-community.
In the silence in the mornings gathered around the Light of the burning candle, we find the strength of
the Oneness of all Life. In many different circles we share our hope and inspiration. More and more we
grow in knowing that all we do will bring blessing and healing to the Whole and will mend the broken
web of Life. And in all of this we recognize that moving and cooperating with the Life-powers of
Cosmos and Earth brings peace, healing and power to our souls.
2007 is a year that stands out; a year of new hope, of taking steps towards the future and continuation
of all that has grown here over the past eight years. We believe that the fruits of today carry the seeds
of tomorrow. The gratitude we feel is the germinative power of the new Spring for De Gaarde, our
surroundings and life-community and the Earth –community.
With confidence and hope we cross the threshold to a new year!
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“We cannot doubt that we too have been given The intellectual vision, the spiritual insight, and even the physical resources we need for carrying out the transition that is demanded of these times, transition from the period when humans were a disruptive force on the planet Earth to the period when humans become present to the planet in a manner that is mutually enhancing” Thomas Berry; The Great Work, pag. 11 |
Udenhout, December 2007
Elly Verrijt
President of De Gaarde Foundation