A bit about Inanitah

Of course, you can go to the website, which I have posted many times already, but: www.Inanitah.com. There are also quite a few videos on you tube, such as this one, which I really enjoy because it brings back a fun day when I was here in November 2010:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFS94qqnZAQ

But I would also like to sink into sharing something more personal as well of my experience here. This community is just 26 months old. It's a baby, and looking around the "baby" analogy works very well on many levels. There are only 3 real structures in place, the temple (classroom), the kitchen (original small one still in use, new one work-in-progress), and the bodega (tool shed). Oh, Gaia and Paul's house as well, but that doesn't count as community space. The living accommodations are tents and hammocks around the property. The social structure is fluid within a daily routine as follows: 5:30 a.m: meditation (5 rhythms dance, OSHO, zazen, other...), 6:30: breakfast, 7 a.m: community meeting (discuss flow of the day), 7:30-12: working on projects collectively or individually, 12 noon: lunch, 1-3: siesta/relax, continue projects, 3:30 p.m: yoga, 6:30 p.m: dinner, evening circle/activity/movie, quiet time.
Everyone's usually in bed by 9 p.m.
It's a really sweet flow, where I've found that I am loving being held by this community. I feel that I am supported to go deep here into my own process and given the opportunity to hold space for others in a way that empowers me. I am not asked to do things that I am not interested in doing or that feel obscure. All of my time and energy can go into developing massage programs and deepening my connection with the earth, spirit, and other humans around me.
This lifestyle is something I have always known is good for me. It feels very healthy and gentle.
During my years of living outside of community, I have missed this soft space of having other loving people nearby who are available to connect with me whenever I need it. This is extremely important for me as a single woman. I think Erika, who has lived her for the past year now, said it best the other day. To paraphrase her, "I remember feeling so lonely living in the states. If I wanted to visit with someone, I needed to schedule an appointment. I haven't felt lonely since I've been here."
I remember the ridiculousness of that feeling as well. How hard it was to realize that in order to spend time with people I loved I needed to schedule them in my calender. This was a brutal feeling, especially since there were many nights I would spend alone in my house, wanting to connect with others but not feeling like putting out the effort to get in my car and drive somewhere or hang out in a bar with really loud music or TV blaring in the background. It all felt so challenging a lot of the time.
So, I am thriving being in community right now. I am eating from the earth. Finding the abundance of the garden so nurturing, 80-90% of our food is from our own earth or the neighbors and we take turns cooking. Practicing yoga everyday and teaching it as well.
I walk around barefoot a good amount of the time. I haven't seen a mirror since I arrived. I lost my hairbrush a week ago, and I don't give a damn.
Feeling blessed with this time here. Just wanted to share that joy with whomever reads this blog.