BDC weather report, Margaretville, NY

BDC weather report, Margaretville, NY- For the last many weeks, it may have seemed that I was complaining about the weather. It was a cold winter here in the Catskills and cabin fever took over me. Well, Spring fever has officially taken hold. Yesterday, temperatures soared into the sixties and we expect almost 70 degrees today!  The sun is brightly shining. This brings expectations of much nicer weather ahead.  The forecast for next week is several days of 70ish weather.

With the warmer temperatures, I was drawn to the river this morning and took a river break in place of my coffee or tea break. The river is a wondrous mix of deep greens, browns and blacks. So clear you can see all the rocks and sand on its bottom. The river has calmed from its roar over

the last few weeks. Although the trees are still slumbering and have not started to bud, I expect any day now they will awake from the slumber and greet us with the bright greens of spring.

More from the BDC on Spring time and what is happening very soon.

Can’t wait to see you at the Blue deer!

New Program Year welcomes New Staff!

 We begin 2015 by welcoming our new Center Director, Kate Barrier and our new Program Director, K’Anna Burton to the Blue Deer team. They bring to these positions a long time commitment from many years of participation as volunteers here at Blue Deer.

I am very excited to be working alongside them to be in service to you and all who will visit Blue Deer this year.

Here is what Kate and K’Anna have to say about beginning their work here…

With Gratitude,

Mark Gionfriddo
Executive Director



 After the long journey to Blue Deer Center, I always feel a rush of excitement and anticipation as I drive around the reservoir and turn toward the Center.

Stepping out of the car into the cold February night I am greeted by the clean, brisk air. Turning my gaze upward I see Orion high in the sky standing bold and bright overhead. The half moon illuminates the snow-covered land.


What a beautiful welcoming!!


In that moment I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for this opportunity to be on sacred ground and serve Blue Deer Center in a greater capacity as Center Director.

I am grateful to have my partner, K’Anna Burton, as a fellow pilgrim on this path of Sacred Relationship. There is much work to be done. I will need the help and support of the larger community to continue to forward the mission of Blue Deer Center to provide a place for ancestral wisdom.

I hope to see many of you here this summer. Sign up for a program, volunteer for a work weekend, come walk the land, sing with the river, or sit by the fire.

“Retreat, Discover, Heal” on this Sacred Land.

Kate Barrier











Hello everyone!

I am so very excited to begin working here at Blue Deer Center.

I come to this position of Program Director with a love of Blue Deer Center that has developed over many years of program participation, communal gatherings around the fire and as a long-time volunteer staff.

I feel, as many do, that this land, the mountains and valleys, and this sacred river hold my heart and my soul in a very deep way. It is always a beautiful welcoming when I “come home” here.

To this important work, I bring a willingness to learn, grow and share what skills and talents I have that may be needed for the continued growth and development of Blue Deer Center.

My gratitude for this opportunity includes being joined by my life partner, Kate Barrier, on this challenging and rewarding work path.

To all who come to Blue Deer Center this year for a program, a community gathering, or just to sit by the fire, I am honored to be of service. And, I humbly offer my support and hard work toward the continued unfolding of the Center’s mission and greater work in the world.

K’Anna Burton


 A HEART FELT THANK YOU!

As we move into 2015 program year and begin to cultivate and nourish our new fields, I would like to take this opportunity to extend a thank you to last year's program staff, Ted Finkle, Aaron Bauman, Maria Quintana and all the volunteers that made the work at Blue Deer possible in 2014.
                            
Without their dedication and timeless work we would not have been able to deliver the experience that Blue Deer has to offer.
 

The 20th Anniversary of the Publication of Plant Spirit Medicine

Now available in a new edition

“Plant spirit medicine works partially because it has broad perspective. It does not look only through the eyes of physics and chemistry; it sees human beings as expressions of divine natural forces. It plumbs the human mind and emotions. It gives paramount importance to spirit, the mysterious core of our lives.”
...

“By way of tipping my hat in respect, I will mention that the Huichols are an indigenous people whose once-extensive homelands have been reduced to some rugged areas in the western Sierra Madre in the states of Jalisco, Nayarit, and Durango, Mexico. Like all indigenous peoples in the Western Hemisphere, the Huichols have been and are being hard pressed by the dominant culture..."
Read more...

Spring brings lots of activity and more snow!

With Spring comes activity at Blue Deer, Spring Healing Camp has just ended for the many participants. The participants were lucky to have several warm days during their stay but as they packed the bags to head back to the hussle and bussle of their lives, colder temperatures have fallen around us. On Thursday morning this week, many of us locals woke up to snow covered lawns and vehicles. Temperatures have stayed below normal most of this week and we expect warmer temperatures to return again next week. 

HAP Volunteers working to unwrap, inventory, label and getting it ready to display.

As the staff work on preparing for the next program, Huichol Art Project Volunteers have arrived today to open the many packages of Huichol Art that will be available for sale in the gift shop and around the community. Some many beautiful pieces to choose from, shopping is definitely on my list of things to do this week.

One of my favorite pieces of art so far! adding it to my shopping list.

How many pretty bracelets does on girl need? More then I have now, adding a few of these to my shopping list.

Many of the final touches in process to the new administrative offices located at 1044 County Rte 6. The floor will be finished, painting is scheduled, trimming it out and putting up doors is all that need to be done. Next time you visit the Blue Deer stop by and see the new office space.

You are always invited to stop by, come for an hour, a day or just a cup of tea.

Up coming events!-

Come to the Catskills for a day of discovery, camaraderie and just plain fun on Saturday, May 30th, 2015. The day starts at 10am. Everyone is welcome to come for the entire day or for a cup of tea or coffee. It is a day to meet new and old friends on sacred land with the beautiful Platte Kill River running through.

There will be opportunities to take part in group discussions, talk one on one with people from ancestral ways, listen to the Native American Spirit of Thunderheart Drummers, meet Sacred Fire Community firekeepers to learn about community fires, take tours of the land and facilities,  learn about upcoming programs, participate in ceremony with Saskawhihiwine (Platte Kill River), buy indigenous art from the Huichols of the Sierra Madres in Mexico, sit with Shamans around the fire, enjoy good food, and more.

Mark and Ralph unwrapping some of the Huichol Art that just came in from Mexico

Eliot Cowan, author of the seminal book, Plant Spirit Medicine, will be featured and lead a participatory demonstration around the fire about the living world.

Mark May 30, 2015 on your Calendar for a day of exploration, fun, music, food, art and new friends.

More information click here

Volunteer Work Weekend April 9-12, 2015

Please join us for a weekend of community service and fun at Blue Deer Center.

So many of you have given of your time and talents over the years to the success and continued growth of Blue Deer Center and its mission in the world.

Once again we are asking for your help and support!

We will be cleaning the Guest House and Main House and setting up for our program year. Dried wood will need to be stocked near where we use it: the areas supplying the tipi, main house, and yurt, as well as re-stacking existing piles that have fallen down, plus any new wood. General tidying of the grounds and possibly some maintenance projects will be addressed. Some painting may be able to continue if weather permits on both the Main and Guest Houses.

We invite you to join us on the land anytime after 3pm on Thursday, April 9^th. Dinner is at 7pm. Volunteer work will be all day Friday, April 10^th and Saturday, April 11^th. Everyone departs Sunday, April 12^th after breakfast clean up. If you want to stay a while to enjoy some time with the land and river, then feel free.

You can participate for the entire weekend or just a day, half day…we welcome you…

All meals and lodging will be provided by Blue Deer Center based on your participation, and your RSVP.


Please RSVP to K’Anna Burton at kannaburton@bluedeer.org. 

I think I see Spring?!

 Today, a flower bloomed in the entrance to the main house. It is a sign that Spring is just around the corner. Even though the temperature this morning was 24 degrees and we had freezing rain. We expect temperatures in the 50s today.

This will melt much of the snow and help to green up the grass that is finally showing through in some spaces of the lawn. The deer have come out of the woods to find food. They greet us each morning at the entrance by the road. They are not afraid. They just stand and stare and welcome us to the center. When day is done, they come back at dusk to find more.

The snow will soon be all melted and the mud season will begin. It is just the cycle of nature and the gifts that help to make us realize there is more to this world then just you and I. We are blessed in this knowing and thankful for it.

The Sun will shine; The clouds will come; The rain will fall; Each day will bring a new beginning.

I hope to see you at the Blue Deer.