What is a tribe?

A tribe is a group people living with interdependence. It means, “I understand that the worth and well-bring of my lifetime depends equally on that of your own.” And through this I remember that this interdependence is universal. My life depends on all life. Read more about our passion for reviving tribal relationships to increase our mutual wellbeing and that of the entire planet.

What is a year-long tribal living program?

Many of us have a clear sense that something isn’t right about the way life is playing out. We are waking up to our deep desire to have real community. No more relationship based solely on Zoom calls or “communities” meaning condo board meetings :). We yearn to really be alive and know other beings to share this life with. We want to raise kids and grow gardens and read books and hug trees together. We want to cry and mourn the calamities of climate and our daily struggles together. We want to simply be with real humans, in nature, right now.

Real tribe is a beautiful and complex endeavor. You need land, direction, lots of legal knowledge, just the right people and lots of luck along the way. For most people it doesn’t happen - although we all feel the loneliness and lack of connection in the matrix of modern life.

We are offering the experience to become part of a real tribe on 716 acres of preserved forest, while you keep the ties to your existing home, job and life “in the matrix,” for now. This is one year to get a much deeper sense of what it’s like to share authentic parts of yourself and life with a close group other people. Over the course of 12 months you’ll experience a new interdependence and collective worth.

How DOES it work?

Applications will be accepted between Jan 10th and March 10th. Mar will begin the one-year journey with a diverse group of people.

MONTHLY VIRTUAL SATSANG

Once monthly (March 23 - Feb 24) you’ll join on an hour-long Zoom call to stay connected and continue exploring the themes of community and self development together. We’ll use the Japanese process known as Ikigai, “a reason for being” to help us find or rediscover our sense of purpose and reason for being alive. We will also have a selection of readings book to add shared depth to our conversations each month.

2023

March: Online Gathering - Meet your tribe

April: Discovering your bliss - what do you love?

• Learning Love: April 5th - 9th, Forest retreat

May: Honing your gifts - what gifts are you blessed with?

June: Offering yourself - what does the world need?

• Living a Life of Stewardship: June 7th - 11th, Forest retreat

July: Reciprocity - the energy of money and stewardship

August: Sacred Relations with Nature

September: Sacred Relations with Tribe

October: 30 day Sadhana

November: This Gift of Life: Bringing it all together

• Living a Sacred Life: November 4th - 8th, Forest retreat

December: Hibernation, Reflection and Sharing

2024

January: Hibernation, Reflection and Sharing

February: The New Earth, a Thriving Tribe for Modern Times

ThRee WEEKS OF FOREST LIFE WITH THE TRIBE

Every other month March-Sept you’ll all come to your forest homes for 2-5 days to live together in the forest. Each week/weekend will focus on themes for community, service and self development. See below for detailed topics and a sample schedule.

An optional PERSONALIZED FOREST RETREAT FOR YOUR OWN GROWTH

Once in the year, you’ll optionally have a chance to go and stay in forest homes deeper in isolation and reflection. This is typically a one-week hermitage experience. Each of you will be working on specific areas personal and community growth and will have one week to focus on yourself on retreat. After we start the program, you’ll design your hermitage experience based on what you discover about your passions and your tribe.

The opportunity to explore permanent community

At the conclusion of your year, if you feel the call, you may be invited to continue on becoming part of an ongoing forest tribe. We are hosting working meetings on the vision for what permanent community could look like.

What’s THE Commitment?

Community (common unity) takes commitment. We are only looking for people who can understand that our interdependence is given reciprocally. In short, the wellbeing of the tribe depends upon your own ability to prioritize what’s important and say no to distractions. The expectation set is that we will pledge ourselves to only miss a maximum of one in-person in the forest and one virtual meet-up.

What about money?

Tribes are best made of all types of beautiful beings. The exchange of money is done only to cover basic needs of the land and team that supports this. To sustain the program we ask $150/month. That includes all program management, online content and teachings as well as accommodations for three 5-day forest experiences. The only additional costs are food when on retreat in the forest, which will be bought and prepared collectively by the tribe when together and an optional individual forest retreat that is priced based on your needs. We will be able to create balance of people based on some offering to pay more when able balanced with those best aligned to pay less currently. Everything financial should be committed in a healthy, discerning and balanced way. We ask everyone to apply regardless of ability to pay and share what you are to regarding your relationship with money.

How & when is this year’s tribe selected?

The intention is set to create a diverse group of different types of people that will offer a balance for peaceful growth and learning. There is no ideal person, it is only the balance of all parts that people offer the tribe that is sought. All applicants will be notified on a rolling basis with this year’s program to start in March 2023.

ARE there other benefits?

Why yes, there are. Only tribe members have the ability to stay overnight at Just Love Forest during all public weekend events such as forest therapy, meditation and public retreats. You may also invite up to three guests to stay with you. The cost per person per night is $50. All other program fees must be paid additionally for a given event.