There are worlds we can believe in. Tepeyac Mountain Sanctuary is one of them. A world of sanctuary wherever we gather. Where we honor our sacred connections with the elements and each other. A world of embodied solidarity and freedom. A space to fortify our hearts as we traverse the Great Turning. A place of protection and love. 

Today I’m honored to share about this world building initiative, weaving in language crafted by my brilliant compas, who describe it so vividly. 

Born from a vision of “land, love, and liberation” given to my dear friend Marisol Jiménez over a decade ago, Tepeyac Mountain Sanctuary is at a thrilling moment of manifestation. (You can read a wonderful interview with Mari about this moment on East Fork Pottery’s website.) 

Over time, Mari drew together a founding circle of women with deep roots in Western North Carolina as organizers, advocates, artists, healers, and community builders to help move this vision forward. I am grateful to be part of this circle. We’ve been holding this dream close to our hearts and tending it with devotion, through the polycrises of our time and escalating authoritarianism that disproportionately impacts our communities. 

Like many other dreamers and doers around the globe, we are creating the world we want. As Sweet Honey in the Rock sings, “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.” 

LAND 

Tepeyac Mountain Sanctuary is a world of being in right relationship with land, stewarding it with care, intention, and reverence. 

As we continue creating sanctuary wherever we gather, we are also working towards the collective purchase of a 34-acre farm in WNC. 

To make this possible, Sanctuary Land Cooperative was formed to hold the land, with Tepeyac Mountain Sanctuary being the organization that carries the programming and offerings that will take place there. 

Our collective, cooperative approach centers shared responsibility, mutuality, and long-term stewardship for the land itself and for our interconnected communities.

LOVE

Tepeyac Mountain Sanctuary is a world of love. 

On the land, we will create a retreat and healing space and resilience hub for the people who care for and protect each other on the frontlines of oppression every day. An offering of love.

There our community of liberation workers and dreamers can gather, organize, rest, grow food, cook meals, share skills, sing songs, speak prayers into the soil and send tears down the river.

While transformative power of love surrounds sanctuary everywhere.

LIBERATION

Tepeyac Mountain Sanctuary is a world where we practice living as if the liberation we imagine for all is already here. 

This practice is rooted in a healing justice framework – the deep understanding that the trauma many of us are experiencing is political and collective. Our healing is inextricably linked to our liberation.

Through healing justice and cultural organizing, we honor the legacy of our teachers and ancestors, and plant seeds for the liberated future we know is possible.

This chapter of the story is just beginning. 

To best keep updated as this world evolves, sign up for the Tepeyac Mountain Sanctuary newsletter here (look for the “Stay in Touch” form at the bottom of page) and follow us on Instagram.

A campaign is underway to gather the resources needed to make Tepeyac Mountain Sanctuary a success. Click here to make a donation, and watch the newsletter and IG account for other ways to contribute. 

Onward. 

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