Farm Fresh News - December 2019
In this issue:
  • The Grace of Essential Truths
  • Marianne Williamson for President
     
  • The Farm School Holiday Bazaar Dec 7 & 8
  • The Farm Market Day December 21
  • Dances of Universal Peace in Chattanooga January 17, in Atlanta January 18 and February 22
  • Breema: Embracing the Timeless Moment March 14 & 15
  • Awakening Journey March 27-29
  • Dances of Universal Peace with Bernie Heideman April 3-5
Dear Friends,
Lately my thoughts have returned to a discussion I initiated a while back about Essential Truths. The Farm Community was established with the belief that all major religions and spiritual practices share the same Essential Truths, and that we would create our community using these as our spiritual foundation.
 
Our community’s founder Stephen Gaskin spoke using an analogy from the previous century, a time in which early analog computers used mechanically manipulated punch cards, paper cards with holes punched in them, to represent the “1"s and “0"s of binary code. If a query was generated to compare religions, the holes that aligned and went through every single card representing a religion or faith would be said to mark the universal ideals or Essential Truths.
 
Although many years of classes and hours of discussion ensued, for the most part, these Truths were never specifically identified, listed, or written down through this effort.
 
In 2018, I created the Facebook group Essential Truths in an attempt to find and discuss these concepts, and it appeared that rather than clear Truths, what we were coming up with were core Teachings. Still, it is these teachings that have been repeated by spiritual teachers and religious scholars for hundreds, even thousands of years, but are so easily lost or forgotten in today’s world.
 
As we in this nation use this time to express our gratitude, I invite you to join me in restarting this discussion. My ideal intention is to collect and edit our discussions, our clearest content, and relevant quotes into a website and one day, a book, something that could be passed on to our kids, grandkids and great grandkids, as a handbook for sanity.
 
Namaste y’all!
Douglas
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Essenetial Truths: A Facebook group discussion, A New Web Site
In my quest to identify Essential Truths, it seems to me that Gratitude, to be Grateful, is fundamental, at the core or primary. But how do you state this as a Truth? Or is it a Practice?
The way I see it, when we express our gratitude, we embody a “state of grace,” which can be defined as aligning ourselves with the Divine, to be at Peace, in tune with the vibration of Love that is our essence.
 
I cannot say “You should be grateful,” but I can say “I am grateful.” And when we come together, it can be said “We are grateful.”
 
I am grateful for my time in this plane of existence, this reality, in this body. I am grateful for the beauty all around me on this earth, in this universe, for the things I’ve seen, sounds I heard, the things I have touched, felt, for all the senses I have experienced.
 
I am grateful for all those who cared for me from the day I was born. Without their love, I would not be here. I am grateful for my family, my friends, and for every lesson I have learned.
 
I am grateful to the energy that has come through me, that has allowed me in any way to be of service.
 
And I am grateful for whatever time I have remaining, for this journey. May I remember to be grateful everyday.
Join us on Facebook   The website: Coming Soon!
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Marianne Williamson for President!
I really did not know much about Marianne Williamson. Like most everyone else, I had written her off as some ethereal New Ager, and was surprised to see she had enough support to make it into the Democratic debates. Then a friend shared with me a book called A Course in Miracles, and said Marianne used it as a foundation of her study for over 20 years. I decided to see what she had to say, and was blown away. Although I have always been a fan of Bernie, and like the fire of Elizabeth Warren, Marianne Williamson is the one who is talking about the state of the world at a deeper level. And of course, since inclusion in the current debates is based on now much money you have raised, it is hard for someone without corporate funding to make it to the stage, so it is no surprise that she no longer gets to participate. Here are a few quotes from the Democratic debate where was included:

"The Democratic Party needs to understand that we should be the party that talks, not just about symptoms, but about causes. We need to realize, we have a sickness care rather than a healthcare system. We need to be the party talking about why so many of our chemical policies and our food policies and our agricultural policies and our environment policies and even our economic policies are leading to people sick(ness) to begin with."

"Flint is just the tip of the iceberg. We have an administration that has gutted the Clean Water Act. We have communities, particularly communities of color and disadvantaged communities all over this country who are suffering from environmental injustice. This is part of the dark underbelly of American society. The racism, the bigotry, and the entire conversation that we’re having here tonight."

"The issue of gun safety, of course, is that the NRA has us in a chokehold, but so do the pharmaceutical companies, so do the health insurance companies, so do the fossil fuel companies, and so do the defense contractors, and none of this will change until we either pass a constitutional amendment or pass legislation that establishes public funding for federal campaigns."

I hope I have sparked your curiosity. If so, I urge to check out her speech at the National Press Club. Her voice sounds a little strained at times, but the message is solid.
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I am excited to bring Dances of Universal Peace to Chattanooga January 17, a Friday, from 7:30 to 9:30 PM. We are so grateful to Sarah Yvonne for hosting our gathering at Spot Venue, an incredible 4000 square foot venue in Chattanooga’s historic arts district.  If you are in the area, please come, and let your friends know, and share this link. 
 
Then on Saturday, DJanuary 18, I will be in the Atlanta area  at the Heron House in the Mountain Park area of Roswell. The Heron House is a wonderful spiritual retreat center located at 102 Russell Road, Mountain Park in Roswell, GA, 30075. I will be there again February 22. Contact me for details!
 
 
Within every one of us is the spark of life that is the essence of our being. When we allow ourselves the time and space to align our heart, and attune to the guidance that comes from within, there is opportunity to grow and change, and move another step forward toward joy and fulfillment.
 
This weekend was created as a gift to you. By nurturing your inner and physical being, you build strength, clarity and vision, and above all, the peace that comes from within. Click here to learn more.
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Blessed Within - a book by a Farm Fresh Subscriber
 
Farm Fresh subscriber Bettty Dudley, asked me to share with you her self-published book, Blessed Within, which adresses inequality for women embedded in Bible transltions.
 
It includes a contributing article "Priesthood of Women" by Rev. Roy Bourgeois, Nobel Prize Nominee, and recipient of the American Peace Award. Father Roy is the founder of the School of America's (SOA)protest outside the gates of Fort Benning, in Georgia, a facility used for training foreign military personel in torture and anti-insurgency techniques.
 
I had the good fortune to meet Farher Roy and hear him speak several times at the SOA, and found him to be truly inspiring.
In 2008, Farther Roy was a celebrant in, and delivered the homily at the ordination ceremony a member of Womenpriests, at a Unitarian Universalist church in Lexington, Kentucky. After serving as a shining example of Christianity in action for over 45 years, he was stripped of his priesthood and excommunicated from the Catholic Church for this unpardonable offense.
 
Is it any wonder that the Equal Rights Amendment, passed in 1972, went unratified by 38 states?
 
From the Amazon description: "Mankinds inequality became more than beliefs of Might makes Right, hiding the feminine half of God's nature by translating scriptures into Patriarchal languages, with male terms like Father, He, His, Him, leaving out the feamle half of God's image when "Both created in the imagage of God." Genisis 1:27; 5:1 Available on Amazon
 
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A big thanks to everyone who has become a patron of Farm Fresh!
When you become a subscriber, your contribution helps spread the word about community based alternatives and the spiritual path.
Take this one small step to be part of the solution!
Let me know your interests. Click here to take the survey.    I look forward to hearing from you.
 
 
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I hope you'll make the effort to take a firsthand look at The Farm during one of my GreenLife Retreat Weekends, and that it will inspire you to pursue your dreams and find your chosen path!
 
Speaking Engagements
At the same time, I recognize that I can reach a lot more people if I go outside the community. One of my goals is to speak at colleges and universities where I can talk to young people about Right Livelihood, Service, and Finding Sanity in an Insane World. This is a time when people need to hear an uplifting message of hope.
 
If you are part of an organization, event, or school (or you just want to learn more about my life's work), I invite you to visit my web site www.douglasstevenson.com, where you'll find information on my lecture topics and how to bring me to speak in your area.
 Thank you for your interest, and your support. I hope to see you down the road.
 
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out to change the world
new society
 
 
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My wife Deborah is one of the primary midwives practicing on The Farm right now. She is also a teacher with the midwifery workshops and our College of Traditional Midwifery. If you, a friend, or family member are considering a midwifery assisted birth, I encourage you to visit her web site and check out her podcast.
 
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www.awakeningbirth.org - the Web Site
www.awakening birth.net - The Podcast 
Her birth resource web sites for families seeking guidance on subjects such as
  • Choosing a Care Provider.
  • Health and Diet
  • Challenges and Complications
  • and much more!
  • The Awakening Birth podcast is now available on iTunes or at www.awakeningbirth.net
Please spread the word to anyone in your circle who is thinking of having a baby, expecting, to your favorite midwife, or care provider. Please like us and give us a good review on iTunes. It helps!
 
 
GreenLife Retreats
A division of Village Media Services
PO Box 259Summertown, TN 38483
931-964-2590 - office / cell
Douglas@villagemedia.com
www.villagemedia.com
www.greenliferetreats.com
www.douglasstevenson.com 
Douglas@thefarmcommunity.com
 
 
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