This past Thursday, we returned to our long-standing weekly Thursday evening Community Dinners, BUT: During our “circle-up” time, just before Jeff agreed to offer a prayer, we needed to tell everyone present (about a dozen altogether, including two who have never been here before) that we are going to shift from weekly to bi-weekly for the near future. That means first and third Thursdays of each month. (If you are on the Dinner List, you will get a notice every Tuesday about what week it is!)

We had stopped our Dinners in December, given that a few people here were ill for awhile, and most were otherwise preoccupied with family, in one way or another during the annual Holiday Season that coincides with the darkest time of year in the northern hemisphere. Keep that light shining, no matter what!

Even when you’re down in the dim basement, scrounging around, trying to figure out what should go and what should stay; sending the first pile to Goodwill (two carloads worth so far), and then organizing what remains, section by section. Here’s the first section we organized, at last Tuesday’s work party, mostly the art supplies. So many, still! We’re thinking about getting some of them to grade school teachers. 

Then during yesterday’s work party, we went at it again, organizing a different section and unloading a huge number of oddly shaped vases, plus boxes of psychology books given to us by a neighbor that somebody here, a few years ago, wanted to offer for sale . . .

Imagine: I’ve been here in Bloomington for 20 years now. And starting a few years after I arrived, others began to arrive, first for this house, then for the second house, and finally for the third house — staying from one week (very rare), six months, one year, two years, three years, five years, up to ten years (only one, so far). Probably 45 very unique individuals altogether have cycled through here, most of them storing some of their stuff in the basement.

AND: There’s only one basement . . . So we clear and reorganize it, either every year or every other year, hauling lots of stuff up, out, and away.

Meanwhile, if you have moved in, and need a different chair, or another lamp, or desk, rugs (large or small) —or pens, tape, an electrical cord, etc. etc., “check the basement.” What you need is usually there.

The two new people who came to Thursday dinner were both associated with IU graduate school, in cognitive science. I forgot to ask Ningyao how she had gotten on the Dinner List. She emailed to ask if she could come and also invite Ben, whose house she currently resides in. Yes. They have been realizing that they need to begin to plan for whatever’s comin’ down; and that means grow food and know your neighbors. YES!

These two are standing at the top of this photo, having walked in the door a few minutes earlier. They still looked somewhat befuddled, when my ipad camera happened to notice them.

However, by the end of the evening, they both asked if they could join our work parties. Sure! Come next Tuesday, because we’re going to try to finish work in the basement on Saturday, and that’s not going to teach you about gardening! On Tuesday, we will begin the next growing season by cleaning the greenhouse walls and shelves. Come then.

Marita and I then decided it’s time to create a new group me list, besides the one we have for residents (plus Dan, who lived here for five years, lends his truck, and and still joins us on occasion. He’s the one sitting with high top tennis shoe showing.).

So Marita got right on it, that very night, and added Ningyao and Ben. Good!

One of the folks at the Dinner had an announcement to make: her intentional community, she said, (which she started about a year ago, when she bought a house and land) “has failed.” One of the three people, she said, will have to move out. She was clearly upset by the situation, and appreciated both our concern and our advice, to “treat it as a learning experience” — and keep going, Find someone else.

Yes, it’s not easy to live together! But . . . that’s why we’re here on this planet as embodied souls, to learn how! By interacting with others, we learn about ourselves. Each time there is tension, there is also mutual projection. Which can result in conflict. Solution? Take back projections. Recognize them as denied aspects of yourself! In other words, each of us needs to learn how to do what Jung called “shadow work.” 

A couple who live a few hours from here, on the Ohio/Indiana border, contacted us last week, also wanting to come to a Dinner. They have been talking about their need to move to a place where they can do the same thing that Ningyao and Ben also recognize. In other words, awareness is rising, folks. We need to get together, stick together, and learn to collaborate with both each other and our dear Mother Earth.

Thursday’s Dinner contained a plethora of goodies, that all just happened to compliment (or is it complement?) each other —including Ben’s wonderful Indian dish with cabbage and peas.

So many goodies, that I almost forgot to get the main dish (a large meatloaf made with pork) out of the oven! Luckily, Marita reminded me.