Creating Community 

The concept of community is something which seems to hold a sacred place within us all.  In the early stages of our lives we discover a sense of community in connection to our family and friends.  In later years, we find community in our schools and/or our churches.  There always seems to be something inside which calls us to join with others and build connections, friendships and support. 

Still, as we enter the so-called adult world, we begin to shift our focus more towards our personal sense of self. We look towards what it is we need to do in order to support ourselves and our family.  Our attention shifts to insuring we have a home and a sense of safety.  We learn the concepts of competition, lack, mistrust, and self doubt. In reality, we learn to separate ourselves from others.

This separation teaches us a lot about who we are and allows us to become strong in many ways.  However, in some ways it blocks us from our good.  It allows us to hold on to the belief that in order to make it in this world we must disconnect, stand out, or be seen as the best.

In truth we all have gifts, talents and skills to add to our community.  Many times I find myself referring to those I know in the healing arts as being a part of the “Holistic Community.”  There appears to be a way of thinking, a way of getting things done which lends itself to this community at large.

The Holistic Community at large seems to have an understanding of bringing mind, body and spirit together.  Yet, as I look around at the amazing number of healers, teachers, speakers, coaches, writers and others of skill there seems to be disjoinment.  It is hard to find the services which are being offered.  It seems those with the largest bank accounts are the one who succeed while the new and growing businesses get lost in the mix.     

As I wander the malls or plazas I notice how coming together and forming shopping communities supports the owners of all the businesses within each community.  These businesses come together and as a group are able to serve more people in a much more effective way.  In short, they see the business next to them as support not as competition.  

Since 2001 the Earth2Spirit Center has been working to bring together the Holistic Community.  I have traveled across New York State meeting with many of you.  I have had workshops, been at holistic fairs, served on leadership boards, spiritual boards and received and given treatments and services from many of you. I have met and continue to meet wonderful and exciting people filled with passion, vision, and a strong desire to serve others, build community and bring to the world health, wellness and joy. 

The time has come to take the next step in creating a true Holistic and Spiritual Community.  Plans to open the Earth2Spirit Center for Empowerment and Discovery on April 12, 2008 are under way. The purpose of this center is to have a central community large enough to provide space for the holistic and New Thought practitioners in our region to come together to Empower, Inspire and Encourage the visions and growth of us all.

The Earth2Spirit Center focuses on five main areas that affect us:  Mind, Body, Spirit, Money and Relationships.  Through our Mind will focus on personal growth by discovering new thoughts, beliefs and passions through knowledge.  This is an area where practitioners across the region can share their knowledge and skills with people from many communities. It is a place where someone from another city that is certified to teach a specialized skill can meet with people from around the area and have them take this knowledge back to their own communities.  Through our Body we will focus on building and maintaining a strong and healthy body and body awareness.  This is another area where the Holistic community offers a wealth of skill and knowledge.  Together we can empower, inspire and encourage the physical health of those across our region by joining together and teaching these skills to those who will then return home and provide this knowledge to others.  Through Spirit will focus on ways to connect with our Spiritual Center and Empower, Inspire and Encourage growth and personal vision.  In this area we are able to open ourselves up to local, regional, national and international speakers.  As such we learn from our community at large how to give back to our local communities. 

Through lessons on Money we focus on ways to release debt, embrace abundance, and build and maintain strong and healthy businesses.  In this way we give of our talents and increase the wealth and services within our community and our state.  Through Relationships we focus on building strong affirmative relationships in all areas of our lives as well as how to connect with those of like mind from our region and around the world.  In addition, we learn to fill our lives with music, art, entertainment, and excitement.  By weaving together our different areas of knowledge, skill and passion we create whole body awareness and universal community.      

The purpose of this center is to have a place where the Holistic and Spiritual communities in our state can come together and share our skills, knowledge, passion, desires, and goals.  It is a place where we support one another in achieving all of our dreams. 

What many of us can not do alone due to the high cost of rent or purchasing property we can do as a community.  Together we can support an environment which encourages holistic awareness, and spiritual vision.  As a community we have a space where people come to seek our services as well as share and receive knowledge. 

Through shared vision, shared space, shared resources and shared energy, we as a community can embrace many of the goals and desires we have while encouraging and supporting others to do the same.  We are a community and it is time we have a place to call home. 

None of us can do this alone.  They say to raise a child requires a village.  To create a community requires a passion so strong it cannot be held down.  I hold that passion.  However, I cannot do this alone.  A community requires members of that community, skills and talents of that community, commitment of that community and the love, passion, and energy it take to move the seed of a vision to the growth of the dream.  Together we can build something, strong, lasting and powerful. 

If you are interested in creating a true Holistic and Spiritual community and would like to be a part of developing this vision I invite you to call me, Terrie Cashimere, at 607-786-4487, or join us for a “Passion Through Music” night; or the upcoming Building Community workshop on March 17, 2007 at the Endicott Visitor Center, 300 Lincoln Ave, Endicott. NY (2:00 PM – 7:00 PM).

We are looking for people from across the state interested in providing workshops, speaking at services, providing music at “Passion Through Music” nights, renting space in the Earth2Spirit Center for Empowerment & Discovery, or joining one of the teams such as fund raising, board of directors, workshop committees, newsletter committees, community out reach committee or other committees.  If you have an Empowering skill or talent you would like to share with our Holistic and Spiritual community, I would love to speak with you.

Our goal, our passion is simply to have a Spiritual and Holistic community which serves to Inspire passion for a healthy and joyous life; Empower ourselves and others to know the benefits of self love and Encourage one another to keep moving towards the life we know we deserve. You are invited to be a part of creating this community.   As Jonathan Winters says “If your ship doesn’t come in, swim out to meet it.”  I’m ready to meet that ship.  How about you? 

Terrie Cashimere is the Spiritual Leader and Director of the Earth2Spirit Center for Empowerment and Discovery. She leads workshops, retreats and seminars and is a LifeSuccess consultant. Terrie is a story teller who shares her own personal journey and spiritual insights straight from the heart with a warm sense of humor and down to earth sensibilities.