Greetings Friends!
I’ve always been intrigued by the tagline for the annual Burning Man event in the Nevada desert, “Welcome Home.” It feels inviting and inclusive, even if you have no idea what Burning Man is about.
Home isn’t so much a physical location as it is a group of people you feel deeply connected to, people who share your values and beliefs, people who love you and accept you as you are. Home is where you’re known and where you feel like you fit in.
I think home has become an elusive concept for some of us. We’re isolated and we feel like outsiders. We’re focused on differences rather than commonalities.
The feeling of not being at home in the world is part of the story of separation — a feeling that we’re separate not only from each other, but from nature and the Earth itself.
I look for gatherings where I can feel at home. I haven’t been to Burning Man, but I do enjoy a handful of people and groups where I can be myself. And I’m grateful that I feel like I can be myself in these messages to you! Thank you for taking the time to follow along.
Happy Solstice, Friends! Welcome home as we begin another cycle around the sun.
Where is home for you? I’d enjoy hearing your thoughts. You can share them with us in the comments section below.
With love and appreciation,
Cassandra
Painting at top: “Connections,” 36″ x 60″, repurposed acrylic latex paint on canvas. Available for purchase on my website.
Welcome Home has been the slogan for the Rainbow Gathering since 1972 in Colorado,where the first gathering happened.Every year at the public forest land a site high up in the mountains will be selected by the “tribe’.It always has a spring and a big meadow for gathering,circles for food distribution after chanting and announcements.I have been at several gatherings during 4th of July for 10 days, California, Wyoming,Arizona etc.Recently the gatherings have been in the Eastern Stated,so it’s a far travel.
Unfortunately ,because it’s a free event,many drifters have been arriving with their dogs,so that is taking away a lot from the spiritualty of the gatherings.
So that community had been my home.
I tried Burning Man,it’s a monetary based exhibition of art light structures.people have established small surviving camps for kitchens and protective shelters against terrible sand storms.The environment is rough,based on the gypsum powder of the previous lake it is hazardous for breathing and all of your possessions you bring.Car,tent,bike,clothing and your physical body take on an enormous damage,so I never went back
Although the concept is good.
So where is my home now? Here in my home and the neighborhood,with the people,who you can relate to as a community,that is my home now,but I have not given up on the Rainbow.
Check web on Rainbow Gatherings: Welcome home
Hi Helga. I hadn’t heard of the Rainbow Gatherings before. Interesting. Thanks for the information.
I’m not sure why Burning Man is held in such a harsh climate. It does look daunting to be there, but the art is amazing.
As I think about it today, welcome home to me right now means welcome home to my real self, my deeper self. My soul or spirit, or whatever you want to call it. The “me” that is underneath the facade of my persona.
I always love what you have to say.
Cassie- This touched my heart.
Thank you for your kind words, Karen. I so appreciate you following along and taking the time to leave comments.
Ya,Cassandra,but is home at your inner base enough,just by yourself ….
For me, being alone with just myself is enough to feel at home. But it’s not enough for a life. I think we all need other people for that!
I believe that feeling at home is very much like how you feel about yourself. Therefore there is a constant change in one’s life. (Hopefully) The development of the wise stage of the psyche requires steps from not been sure who we are, to accept ourselves, not only the part we like, but even more importantly the part we don’t and are trying to hide from the world. The next step comes when we no longer are able to shut off our unconscious which keeps telling us to accept the totality of us. Courage is needed for that, but the reward is great, finally we can discard the role we were playing in life, instead be honest with ourselves and the world. At my age I shy away from crowds. I am too possessive of my freedom.
Well said, Elfie! It makes me wonder if this is a natural process, or if it’s due to the restraints our society places on us.
I so look forward to your blog,I am 76 and not able to get out much.A lot of my best art friends have died and I miss them so much.All of them were fiber artist.I still do art and really relate to everything you write.You are very inspiring and I love your work.I feel very grateful and blessed to have a way to reach out to other artist.In this most scary time,I think we need to reach out more than ever,we need each other to make it thru.Thank you for being there for us and keep doing your wonderful work..
Thank you so much for your heartfelt words, Donna. And thank you for following along. It made my day to hear that my writing resonates with you. I never know what the response will be when I send out a newsletter, and I’m grateful that you took the time to share your kind thoughts with me. I think you’re right that we need to reach out more than ever, and that we need each other. Thank you for being part of my community.
I like Donna s words,Hi Donna!
I just finished a set of nine small irregular painting’s..
I might exhibit them on the next first Friday at Michelle’s.
Maybe I could meet you there.Then Cassandra might show up again,I miss those sitting around the fire talks.
Welcome home!