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Stonehaven Ranch: Conference and Retreat Center for Social Change, a Project of the Foundation for a Compassionate Society and the Center for the Study of the Gift Economy
By Lee Ann LaBar
Stonehaven Ranch is a 200 acre Conference and Retreat Center, which is owned
by women, and operated by women. The purpose of the ranch is to accommodate and
serve progressive groups who are working for social change and peace. Stonehaven
is also a center of networking and resources. Stonehaven ranch is provided free
of charge or at a very low cost. The meals, the cook and staff are provided.
Stonehaven Ranch is one of the many projects of the Gift Economy, and in accordance
with the theory proposed by author/owner Genevieve Vaughan in her book For-giving.
A Feminist Criticism of Exchange (1997).
The Gift Economy theory is a sociological/ economic blueprint for creating a modern matriarchal society. Giving to areas of need, however we can, until something sustains on its own, are things all mothers do (and, men who have been given this kind of love), and it is life supporting.
It is evident and clear to the majority of the people in the world that the patriarchal systems (male dominated profit motivated world economy) have not worked and are not working. Within this context, we are facing terrible human rights injustices, great human suffering, global environmental destruction, war, greed, multi-national control of the world, and people ruled by armies. The United States, as a society must start to think in a different way. We must change the "powers that be" to nurturing instead of dominating, to giving instead of taking. We, as the people, must do what we can and all we can to make this change for our children and the next 7 generations. Anything you can do, helps. It is a natural way of existing.
In the original teachings of all religions and cultures, 'giving' was/is a core value, and it existed without exchange, as instead patriarchy demands. In societies before the 'Inquisition', this was the way of life. In the language of all Indigenous cultures this is within the language that is still spoken today. Giving creates a consciousness. We must renew and restore these values, and matriarchal systems, to the modern times we live in. These things are the foundations for the Gift Economy theory, which is a blueprint for change.
Restore the mother image as the human image and giftgiving as the human way.
In our personal lives empower ourselves with gift values, gratitude, community,
turning towards the earth, spirituality. We must pay attention to needs. Validate
empathy. Learn to give with dignity and sensitivity. It is our sweet and sacred
responsibility. (Vaughan2002)
Stonehaven Ranch is an example of the Gift Economy. Stonehaven is given as a "common
ground"/ home, for all. And the ways of gift giving are in effect, by all. It
is everyone's home, and a gift to the next generation.
Stonehaven, holds us all safe, like a big mothers love. We are safe from the
world we have come from, the world we are trying to change. You give us clear
thoughts, good hearts, and successful meetings. Stonehaven, you hold the prayers,
the good intentions, the fortitude, the courage and the joy of all the people
that have come before, and us. Those things live in the stones of your lodge
walls, and upon the earth of you. You who renew life in us. And, in the darkness
of the night and the hanging stars, you give us good dreams. A guest.
Stonehaven Ranch is in the ancient homelands of the Indigenous peoples, the Choctaw
and Natchez nations, and the medicines of the south, where the earth is covered
with a vast array of plant life, medicines, yucca, stone, oak trees, caves, and
water. Stonehaven is also wild animal and bird sanctuary, where many endangered
species still live. Stonehaven is in the beautiful hill country of Tejas, 32
miles from the 'progressive' city of Austin, Tejas.
Stonehaven Ranch sits on a hill boldly facing all directions. All of the buildings are made of stone from the area. There is a Main Lodge, the Mother house, that will sleep 20 people in 7 bedrooms. There are also two other houses for guests, the Madre and the Carriage that will accommodate another 12 people, 32 total. There is vast dining and living rooms in the main lodge. The floors are oak and tile. There are 2 big stone fireplaces in the living room. All interior walls are tall and made of stone. The ceilings and overhead beams are cedar. There are vast stone patios that surround the main lodge. There is a pool and hot tub year round.
Stonehaven can accommodate 300 campers for conferences and gatherings. There is an outdoor kitchen, outdoor showers and a large fire pit. There is a 'tennis court' turned 'pavilion', with a stage, for speakers and entertainment. There are several meditation and sitting areas. And there is a prayer tower. It's the old windmill/well tower. The life size sculpture of the Goddess Sekhmet, by Marsha Gomez, is there.
Stonehaven is approx. 200 acres with no development bordering her in any direction. 15 acres are as 'common grounds'which are mowed and maintained and patrolled by Faye, the Stonehaven dog. The rest of the ranch land is wild, with walking trails.
There are vast aquifers under the earth in the hill country here. Rivers come out of the ground in this area and run all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. So, there are many birds here. The majority residents are the bright red cardinals. They zoom thru the air chirping at each other all day. If you find one of their feathers, legend has it you will have luck in love!
There are parrots from Chiapas, Mexico that migrate to this area in the summer. When you hear them for the first time, you will think you are on the TV set, of 'wild queendom'. Large herds of deer come thru and sometimes sleep on the grounds. At night, all the animals on the hill come feast at the new compost pile in the garden, gifts from the guests. It is a 'golden buffet' for the raccoons, foxes, armadillos, birds, squirrels, skunk, and deer. And at night in the winter you can hear the coyotes, (but sometimes its the guests, in the hot tub laughing and telling stories).
The staff lives on site. We are like contemporary 'Grass Dancers' (those who prepared the meeting grounds for the tribes, in the old days). A modern day F-Troop. Ms Stonehaven demands to be looking nice and everything fixed, and a big dinner cooking in the kitchen, for the guests who she knows, are coming. She can be quite demanding, so the staff is not in need of 'going to a gym'! The groups coming are some of the best people that there are, so Friday arrivals are exciting.
And, as 'staff', we are fortunate to be examples of the economic blueprint within the Gift Economy. We have a 'job in the market in a non-polluting and non-exploitive business. We give money, time and creative imagination to social change activities while validating the gift paradigm and our own gift giving both socially, intellectually, spiritually, and in our individual relations'. We are encouraged to do this by Gen Vaughan. Thus we are able to be our natural selves, live a full life, and participate in gift giving, That helps others.
"Stonehaven, all of us that have come and gone from you, are strengthened. You have healed hearts, minds and spirits. You have given us all a home. You have given clarity to the meetings, and blessings to the intentions and endeavors of all. You have given us a place to touch the earth, be close to the stars, to pray, to dream, to laugh, and to dance. You have held descendants and ancestors, and us. You will always be in our hearts and part of us will always be here too. ." The staff
Stonehaven Guests 2003: 39 groups/ approx 1,050 guests
American Friends Service / San Antonio American Indian Center / Spiral Door workshops / National Organizer Alliance-Immigration Caucus / Artist Workshop / Sisters of the Moon Artist Workshop / Tibetan Buddhist Conference/ Permaculture Workshops (2) / Tejas Web / The Joy Workshop (2) / Women of Color Writers Workshop / AFSC Women and War Conference / ALLGO / Youthful Creations- Bilingual Theatre Group / The Goddess Salon / Jump Start Activist Theatre Group/ Full Circle Drumming Workshop / Fellowship Of Reconciliation: Activist Youth Training / Unity Church of Austin / Texas Civil Rights Commission / Diana's Grove Mystery School / Sisters of the Red Moon / Memorial- Anna Lee LaBar / Unity Church of San Marcos / Quakers Board Meeting / Secada Recovery (2) / The 11th Annual Goddess Festival / Indigenous Two Spirited Conference / National Organizers Alliance / MANA Midwives Conference / Unconventional Mothers Of Austin / Brujas Workshop / La Pena Cultural Gathering / Roxanne's House for Youth / The Hildegirls Workshop / Memorial- Erin First / Peace Group of San Marcos
Stonehaven Ranch Guest List 2002: 44 groups / approx. 1,000 guests
United for a Fair Economy / Unity Church of San Marcos (2) / AFSC: Women & War Conference/ U.S.-Cuba Women's Peace Summit / Texas Comm. on Family Violence / Texas Civil Rights Project / Elder Women's Workshop / La Pena Cultural Arts Commission (2) / Divine Redeemers of San Antonio / Feminist Perspectives / Gift Economy Int'l conferences (2) / Wounded Healers Workshop / Spiral Door Workshops (5) / Unitarian Church of Austin / Esperanza Peace and Justice Center (2) / Full Circle Drum-dance workshop / Women of Color Writers Workshops (2) / UT Multicultural union: Poet honoring / Diana's Grove Mystery School / The 10th Annual Goddess Festival / Statewide Latina women's meeting on El Paso murders / The Goddess Salon / Women Rising: HIV advocacy / Ywca girls group / Katherine Ann Porter School / Domestic Violence Counselors Retreat / Triple Goddess Retreat / Sisters in Action-Youth Training / ALLGO / Secada Recovery Project / Tibetan Buddhist Retreat / Tibetan Buddhist Workshop / Quakers National Board Meeting & Retreat / Marsha Gomez Memorial Accommodations / AFSC National Women's Board Mtg.
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