The Courage of Spring by River Roberts 
As I write this, the snow is piled up several inches deep outside my apartment here in Chicago. We’ve been battling bitterly cold temperatures for several weeks, and there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight. We’re past the winter solstice, so the days are beginning to grow longer—but the process is gradual. Darkness still has a firm hold on us. This is when I begin to dream of spring. *********************************************************
 Every natural place has an atmosphere created by itself or by the spirits of that place—spirits who do not speak English or walk upright. Diana’s Grove is a place of sanctuary that preserves the ecology of the Ozarks. A place where trees can stand until they are old, and lie down to rest on the ground they sprouted from. A place where native prairies replace non-native fescue fields and create a much-needed home for indigenous wildlife as “civilization” encroaches.
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By Shaun Perkins 
When we want to be entertained or enlightened, or to entertain and enlighten others, we often tell a story. As humans, we are all natural story-makers. We are all mythmakers. In Diana’s Grove Mystery School, myth—as Cynthea Jones, one of the founders, puts it—“doesn’t mean fiction. Instead, it refers to a larger-than-life truth.” | “It’s time for our Professional Development day.” As a teacher, I cringe when I hear those words. Too often they have meant long, boring hours spent listening to someone who knows little about teaching explain how to teach; or long, boring hours spent watching videos because there was no time to plan a workshop and the professional development requirement had to be fulfilled—worthy or not! **********************************************************
by River Roberts and Laurie Dietrich
 What We Do Communities ritualize their values. They can’t help but do so. What a group chooses to give energy, focus and attention to—and “energized, focused attention” could certainly describe ritual behavior—those choices tell you a lot about the group’s beliefs. Its values. In ritual at Diana’s Grove, we strive to align our words and actions in a way that is both inclusive and empowering.
********************************************************** Why We Rescue Dogs by Cynthea Jones
 We don't look for the dogs that we rescue. In most cases, they weren’t looking for us either. They simply stand before us, creatures of circumstance. Fate places them in our hands. Why do we do it? Why do we have over 100 dogs that require care, feeding, medical attention and love?
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SPRING 2009: Sanctuary |
