Hello from Faith Kingsley, a child at heart, hailing from Sirius Intentional Community in Massachusetts!
What a time we interns have had in the past month! From moving great big logs by the power of teamwork, to surviving the potent punch of extra spicy chili powder, we have rarely encountered a dull moment since we arrived. Where to start? There are so many adventures to be told.
I suppose I’ll begin by introducing the current interns, and what they contribute to the community:
Chowder – If you’re craving a delicious, soul nourishing meal, Chowder has you covered! Not only is she an excellent chef, but she also adds so much nurturing energy and entertainment value to our conversations.
Kassandra – If you have a sweet tooth, it’s likely you’ll come to love Kassandra. She makes excellent vegan desserts, and is very sweet herself, though you’ll find she packs a fun, fiery punch as well!
Faith (Me!) – Based on my frequent fits of joyous laughter, it’s likely evident that I find magic in the silly little moments in life! You can count on me to bring a smile to nearly any circumstance.
Gillian – As our newest arrival, we have yet to get to know their fun quirks and character traits. However, we are so excited to meet Gillian, and know we will share many wonderful memories with them by the end of our time here!
Isaac – It’s easy to see why Isaac ended up here at Sirius – his goofy, fun loving attitude, along with his determination to work hard make him a fantastic addition to the community!
Teddy – If you ever have a struggle in life getting you down, you can count on Teddy to lend a listening ear and a warm heart. You’ll likely end up laughing and having a grand time with him as well!
Tim – Tim’s peaceful spirit and thoughtful approach to life are gifts to us all! We can all learn a thing or two from him when it comes to patient mindfulness and bold curiosity.
We begin our days by stepping out the door into the fresh, golden glow of morning. We tramp over the woven strands of sunlight and shadow, each arriving in our own time to the community center. We make ourselves breakfast there and meet up with Linda (a founder of Sirius for those of you who don’t know) and Llani (Linda’s daughter, who grew up here in the community). Both of them have a bottomless well of stories to tell about the goings on here over the years, and the amount of wisdom they’ve gained is impressive to say the least. After touching base with everyone for the day, we trudge off, ready to tackle whatever adventures are in store.
Some days are easy, and some days are choked to the brim with hard, honest work. One day we may be simply blending dried herbs and putting them in jars for delicious tea, and the next day we’re carrying heavy metal beams for the wind tower project in the sweltering sun. Yet one thing remains consistent, day in and day out: we always have a good time.
Every hour of every day, our laughter rings out over the land, carried on the breeze that ruffles the white pine’s fur. There never really is a dull moment here, and we’re always goofing around in some way or another. From doing handstands in the ditch we’re digging for a solar line, to eating grubs for the heck of it, and making kitten sounds in the kitchen, we’re forever finding ways to turn work into joyful productivity!
Aside from our silly shenanigans, we’ve also been enjoying all the learning experiences brought our way. Although our official classes are on Wednesdays, we are learning new and wonderful things every day of the week. Much of the knowledge we’ve been soaking up has to do with plants and gardening, such as how to prune raspberry bushes, which direction to plant peas in for proper sun exposure, and how plants benefit from one another. But really, we’ve been learning about all aspects of living sustainably. We’ve been steeping in the wisdom of a tried and true community, and that wisdom has been slowly seeping into our bones. We are sowing the seeds of growth and change within our souls.
Most of all , we are learning how everything here is done mindfully. Each meal we make and every seedling we set gently into the earth is given a blessing, perhaps in a song or a murmured phrase of gratitude. We thank the earth for all her wonderful gifts, and the hard work of many loving hands that was put into the food that nourishes our bodies. We give thanks to the tools we use, and recognize the thought, energy and resources needed in order for them to exist. We are beginning to see how everything truly is interconnected.
On Saturdays, we join Sirius members for a half-day of joyful productivity. There, we do much the same work as during the week, only we have the pleasure of interacting and connecting with people we don’t see as much. It really feels like a celebration, even as we’re stacking wood or cooking up an elaborate afternoon feast. Even when things don’t work out, perhaps the woodpile collapses or the food is a bit late, we are surrounded with love and many helping hands to make up for mistakes and keep spirits high.
As the saying goes, “many hands make light work”, yet I would also argue that light hearts make light work, no matter how many or how few hands are involved. With this in mind, I encourage you to think of ways you could show up to your work with a cheerful spin. Work doesn’t have to feel like drudgery in order for it to get done, and holding a space of gratitude for the silly little things in life can create energy and motivation. Sing, laugh, and most of all, prioritize your well being. You never know what magic is in store until you tackle a task with a few goofy people and a smile on your face.
Until next time!
Love and light,
Faith
