SweetWood Temenos Newsletter #1

September 25, 2000

SWT INTERIM COUNCIL REPORT

by Kim Ingersoll

Sweetwood Temenos is now an official subsidiary organization of Church of All Worlds and has also achieved non-profit status as a charitable organization in the State of Wisconsin. The bylaws and some other policies are in place. The bylaws and policies relating to SweetWood Temenos are available to any interested party via email to Jack or via snail mail at SweetWood Temenos c/o Jack Ingersoll, 310 E. Penn St., LaFarge, WI 54639-8637. Of course, nothing is written in stone and we welcome members' input and ideas.

The 3 members of the interim council are: Jack Ingersoll - President, Kim Ingersoll - Secretary, and Kyril Oakwind - Treasurer.

Priorities at this time include raising funds for development of campground facilities. First on this agenda is deciding whether to build a road & space for parking first, or to use funds to run electricity back to the camping area for powering the future well pump as well as tools needed for building shelter, shower house, etc. Member input on this is welcome.

The road will cost approx. $5000. The cost of running electricity is approx. $6000. These estimates are based on conversations Jack has had with construction people. Because the Temenos is located on a ridge top, the well will need to be about 400 ft deep and will cost about $8000.

Solar power has been considered, but a stand-alone solar system has practical problems in the climate of Wisconsin. Hybrid solar/wind systems have successfully been used here, but the costs are considerable. A solar power array could be connected to the grid, offsetting the cost of electricity. Rather than being isolationist, Jack & Kim like the idea of adding energy to the grid that serves ourselves and others. Solar energy can easily be adapted for heating water on site with little extra cost. What ideas do you have?

As of 9-22-00 there is $1,479.41 in the SweetWood Temenos checking account. Contact Kyril, our treasurer, for a more complete financial report. Funds have been raised from members' fees, the Freedom Fest, and from the sale of T-shirts donated by Parris and various donations by members. Thanks to everyone for your help!

THE LAND SPEAKS

by Delta

This year the spring started out very dry, but soon became the wettest on record in the Kickapoo Valley area. 15 to 18 inches of rain fell within one month, washing away roads and bridges while encouraging a bumper crop of mosquitoes. The Temenos fared well because of its higher elevation. The woods are nice and juicy - the morels grew fat and plentiful among the spring violets. The bulbs planted by members and friends came up in a profusion of color, red & white tulips, grape hyacinth; white and yellow crocus all chased away the winter cold, once and for all.

The woodland is a happy and diverse ecosystem. As summer grew, the toads and tree frogs jumped and sang for joy. The presence of those sensitive amphibians is a good sign of a healthy forest. Monarchs and swallowtails weave through the woods and fields, drunk on the nectar of clover. The fireflies are like fairies sending secret messages of light in the dusky evening. Hepatica, bloodroot and trillium give way to ferns, jack-in-the-pulpit and wild geranium as the song of bloom changes to the tune of a waxing Sun.

Oaks and pines have lost their branches to lightning and wind, but their stored up energy has brightened our campfires at night. Even the stones are alive, as an altar built by Jack from rocks brought by members, grows in the north part of the circle. Jack is donating a large slab of Labrador Granite to place upon the stone base. (Getting this down the hill to the circle will be a project in itself!)

As fall approaches a chill is in the evening air. The soft thunk of nuts falling amongst the swirling leaves calls us to remember and give thanks for the abundance of Harvest. A touch of bright yellow paints the maples now, as SweetWood prepares for leaf-fall, and finally sleep…

REMEMBER, as a member of SweetWood, you have special-use privileges of the woods. Some members and friends have already taken the opportunity to use SweetWood for solitary campouts. Just contact Jack to let him know when you will be up here. Simple, easy, and worth the drive!

THAT VISION THING - WHAT IS A TEMENOS?

by Jack Ingersoll

Temenos is Greek for a piece of clan land cut off from the rest, dedicated and consecrated to a Deity or Deities. A temenos was a sacred precinct set aside by the clan for gatherings, contemplation, celebrations, rites of passage, education, healing and rituals of Holy days. In old English the term wick is the Angle-Saxon equivalent to the Greek temenos. The clan operated the temenos for the benefit of themselves and the greater community.

SweetWood Temenos Inc. is a legal non-profit and federally exempted subsidiary organization of the Church of all Worlds or C.A.W. As an organization SweetWood Temenos seeks to attract those friends and friends of friends who by becoming members constitute its clan.

Funds raised through membership dues, celebrations, festivals, gatherings and donations will be used primarily for the development and maintenance of a campground upon land that SweetWood has a lease with an option to buy. The development of the campground is important as it allows members overnight access to the land for contemplation and celebrations. Further the campground allows members greater access to the shrines they have developed on the land and makes SweetWood Temenos a more attractive site for fund raising gatherings or festivals as well as celebrations of Holy Days.

In providing an attractive site for fund-raising gatherings, festivals and holding Holy Day celebrations it is hoped that SweetWood will serve the nature spirituality of the greater community. It is SweetWood's understanding that nature spirituality includes such activities as star gazing, bird watching, contemplation, observing the cycles of nature, creative pursuits of Arts and Crafts, gardening, and education and healing that facilitates harmony with Nature within and without the human soul. SweetWood Temenos is dedicated to fostering this wider vision of nature spirituality

SweetWood Temenos is dedicated to these 5 values: (1) Deep friendship, (2) Self knowledge, (3) Positive sexuality, (4) Attunement of humanity with its nature and that of its planet through ritual and (5) Pluralistic religion. All members of SweetWood Temenos vow to keep these values and foster them in the greater community. SweetWood Temenos is dedicated to evolving poetic metaphors or myths that embody and expresses these values.

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