The 25th Anniversary of the Founding of the Temenos Center

This fall marks the 25th anniversary of the founding and opening of the Temenos Center in Maryland—a tremendous life-changing experience that occurred during a period of radical de-construction and spiritual evolution.  “Temenos” was the name that arose and felt right for my work, my business. I thought it was a meaningful name, as the word temenos means ‘sacred space.’  

I did not have a clue that what was happening was more than a naming, or that I was taking on stewardship of a temenos.  I had no idea.  I was simply willing… open to what was being asked of me at the time.  I also didn’t know that a temenos was an actual alchemical vessel that would utterly transform me, my life, the lives of others so profoundly.  How often do we say ‘Yes!’ to something based on some limited idea that later we are absolutely stunned and amazed to realize what it turns out to be?  I certainly would not have believed myself capable of what was later called for and happened. Grace has been ever-present, guiding my way and the unfoldment of this temenos.

The energy, the hologram of this temenos became very strongly activated within me in August and it became clear that I was to re-dedicate this temenos, re-dedicate myself to serving it, re-affirm my devotion and commitment to its stewardship and continued evolution.  

Throughout these 25 years, it has been the holding vessel for the healing and awakening of many people, myself included, a container for all that has arisen and evolved.  It began with the women’s initiation vessel, named the School for Women Healers in the early days and later re-named the Temple of the Sacred Feminine.  Then Samyama Healing arose followed by the Samyama Healing training program. My move from Maryland to Colorado re-shaped the women’s initiation groups and process, and out of them the two-day Portals emerged and they  eventually came to welcome and include men into the work.  

There have been numerous retreats in amazing sacred places in Crestone, CO, Mexico, West Virginia, and Ghost Ranch, NM.  
I can recall the exact moment that Dangerous Old Women Productions arose in the field of consciousness one day in a group.  This is the film company started by Kirsten D’Andrea Hollander and myself in collaboration with the women from the School for Women Healers that co-created Eve’s Fire, and Embracing the Divine Feminine, our evocumentary films about women’s spiritual initiation.  My recent ‘shaggy pony ride’ through my 60th year emerged in and was held by this temenos, too, and shared with a group of others on their own shaggy pony ride via teleconference, even as my life as I knew it de-constructed and I travelled around the west.

So, in the last month I have been guided to re-dedicate the Temenos Center and open a  portal  for it, into it, on my website with a new address, www.temenoscenter.org.  The site will be a sacred space for writings and who-knows-what else will emerge?

At the heart of my stewardship, essential to all of the teachers and teachings given in and through this temenos, has been devotion. I bow deeply and humbly to This which has brought me to this temenos and continues to lead others here.  My heart is bursting with gratitude for all of the teachings and teachers, the initiations and wonders, and the precious Beloveds that have come to Temenos. Some have been challenging beyond imagination, and every experience and initiation has been complete, beautifully and exquisitely perfect, each in its own unique way.  While the geographic location of the temenos changes as needed, the real temenos is within each of us, within you. 

It is my honor, my privilege, my devotion to live and serve this temenos.

http://www.temenoscenter.org

A Shaggy Pony Ride in My 60th Year

© Sheila A. Foster 2008

A couple of months before my 59th birthday in May 2007, i dreamed that i was driving down the middle of a dark road, following the white line which seemed very white and clear, going the Middle Way. Abruptly, the road came to an end and i was looking into the Vast Dark Nothingness. I woke up.

Upon awakening and reflection upon the dream, i experienced this nothingness as both a terrifying and compelling Beloved beckoning me into the Great Unknown. {as i write this i hear poet David Whyte passionately reciting: "Leave everything you know behind, everything, leave everything you know behind..."}

The Call was irresistible, undeniable, inevitable. Did i have choice? I don't feel it was a choice, it was more of an evolutionary unfoldment. My egoic mind, which sometimes thinks it can choose, offered no resistance. Mythically it was a great Call to Adventure, so eloquently spoken of by Joseph Campbell. Spiritually, it was, for me, the next big Surrender, the next initiation, the next death of all of my ideas and constructions about me and my life and my i~dentity.