THE CRYSTAL GARDEN

↠Nature Sanctuary↞
↠Permaculture Farm↞
↠Retreat Center↞

Nature teaches us to embrace the rhythms of the year. All things take time to mature. From a tiny seed, a plant will grow and replenish the next generations.
As we honor the blessing of being the caretakers of this land, we continue to tune into the wisdom of the earth and the beings that reside here.
Modern society generally puts us in a state of pursuing instant gratification, oftentimes forgetting and disregarding the slow pace of nature’s timelessness and gradual expansion. Just as it takes years, decades and centuries for good soil to form, so do we experience more harmony when we let go of our self-centered, short-term pleasures and consider the bigger picture and the well-being of our wider community of all life that surrounds us.
Indigenous wisdom teaches us to consider our ancestors and the next seven generations in all our actions; to honor and listen to the earth; to relate to spirit and not just the material dimensions.
Sustainable and holistic farming techniques give us a relevant compass to be in right relation with how we will survive and thrive simultaneously. We work with Permaculture principles and biodynamic faming techniques to practice a deeper connection to the land. We recognize that all life forms are of value and it is not up to us to kill certain plants, insects or animals because they may not serve our ideas at that time. Instead we are gifted with the knowledge to observe what imbalances they represent within the ecosystem, so that we can guide the process of long-term improvement. This can only happen through choosing life and not death, through ecological diversity and through less mindless action and more mindful being.
We are incredibly fortunate and blessed to call this earth our home and while one can’t expect to live a life of no harmful impact, we can continue to self-reflect, stay connected and adjust our behaviors.
We will develop this property slowly and patiently. We will observe and listen more and act in accordance with what the land teaches us. We will bring in a large variety of plant life and support the process of ecological resilience. It is amazing to witness how nature will rebound and diversity will return once we start supporting it by planting more, cutting less and not using chemicals.

Collective Well-Being

As we look deep within ourselves and the programming of modern western culture, we continue to take action to de-colonize our thoughts and behaviors. This is a process and means to be humble and willing to admit our misdoings towards our own self and the broader community.
We are here for each other, to grow together and evolve a new way of being. Our life isn’t determined by a passive acceptance of past circumstances, but rather defined by our empowered attitude of actively reprogramming and relearning to create a new way.
We hope to offer a space and events / retreat center that is supportive of our individual and collective process of healing. When we do the inner work, we can show up for ourselves and our communities and be a beneficial presence on this planet.
Through music, art, intentional body movement, spiritual practice, meditation, breathwork, self-accountability and a deep connection with nature, we are able to experience more balanced and expanded states of being.
As we develop the retreat space of The Crystal Garden, we hope to offer workshops with skilled facilitators and teachers.

TO ALL OUR RELATIONS

  • SOIL

    The sacred earth beneath our feet. Teeming with ancient life, we are so grateful to recognize the value of a living soil and that it is so deeply connected to our well-being.
    We honor and respect all of earth’s life, we consider all our relations as we tend the garden.

  • WATER

    The sacred flow and the primal substance of life. Miraculous and magical, flow free and pure mighty water.
    Humble yet powerful, teach us your ways of flexibility, perseverance, patience and healing.

  • AIR

    The sacred breath of life fills our being with renewed vitality and life force. With each cycle of inhalation we acknowledge the many plants that are an equal part of our respiration in the external world. Let us tend to the ones who pour life through these lungs (the trees).

  • FIRE

    Let us gather around the sacred fire and share stories of insights and wisdom learned, of prayers for our human family and this earth. When we come together in the circle, we support, uplift and inspire each other and we grow our community.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We gather here today on the ancestral lands of the Caddo people. We acknowledge and show respect to the indigenous people that occupied this land in the past, in the present, and those who will occupy it in the future. We acknowledge the ties we all have to the land, in both spirit and form. We hope that what we do here today will honor the legacy that Native people continue to build.

find out whose ancestral lands you inhabit

We are honored to be the caretakers of this special land here in the crystalline landscape of the Ouachita Mountains. We acquired this 15 acres-site in 2021 with the intentions of stewarding its resources and honoring all the life forms present in the most upstanding way.
Tending to this property is the fulfillment of a long-held dream and is allowing us to integrate our talents and experiences from the past 20 years of study and pursuit. We are combining both our work within the mineral / artist community and our background in organic farming techniques to create this space.

  • Offering a visitors center and gift shop is a wonderful fulfillment of the role ‘Crystals Of Arkansas’ has played in the local community for over a decade, educating and sharing a passion for rockhounding and appreciation for the minerals of the earth.

  • Offering a site for learning and immersion into the principles of sustainable farming, permaculture and biodynamics is a core vision and will play a role in inspiring visitors to find deeper connection with our earth.

  • Offering a space for the community to meet and grow together. We host events centered around music, conscious connection and land-based experiences.

This is The Crystal Garden.

Visit us to learn more about these projects and intentions and how you can get involved.