The News from Four Quarters

August 8, 2019

Building the North Copse

    Our Pennsylvania quarry came through for us and after two more deliveries we now have enough of the very special stone required to begin construction of the North Copse.
    And what is the North Copse you ask? With The Great North Stone as it's northernmost minor axis, the Copse is a 45'x30' ellipse set with the stones almost touching. Intended to create a sanctuary within a sanctuary, very much in keeping with the "Fore Courts" associated with British neolithic long barrows.

     In order to follow the very tight curves of such a small ellipse, we need stones no wider than 4 feet, and hopefully in the 12 foot range in height, and all of the same beige colored sandstone of The Great North Stone. Such stones are not easy to find, even when our good quarry-men are setting their blasting charges just for us. So part of this years Stones Rising involves the trimming of our stony friends to fit into such a narrow envelope.

August 8, 2019

Big Dubbers at Stones

    Stones Rising at Four Quarters, Labor Day Weekend
    An Invitation to our Big Dub Family

You've seen the Stone Circle and you've danced with the Standing Stones.
Four Quarters wants you to be a part of building the Circle too!

    We raise the Stones Sunday, Sept 1st;  Labor Day Weekend. We make ceremony, raise the Stones and share a great feast together, prepared by The Starvin' Artist Kitchen.
    Traditionally we don't charge for Sunday arrivals; but we do ask for a telephone RSVP and what ever donation you care to give, so that we can plan for the feast.
     This year will be an especially demanding Rising, as we are working on a set of Stones set very close to The Great North Stone. Bring your gloves and boots, and become a part of how we raise the Standing Stones! 

The pair of length-wise split, book matched stones. Showing their interior colors for the first time in millions of years.

August 5, 2019

Big Dub – The Road Less Traveled

We went to Big Dub this year to help out and experience it for a first time. We where a little worried about what kind of experience we where in for. Would we fit in or stand out? Exactly how crowded would it be? I’m not too sure about this music or all these young adults half my age. Would they respect the land and each other? Was there magic to be found?

We arrived on the land super early Wednesday morning and where greeted by security guards who immediately knew we where Farmies. Guess it was grey hair that gave us away LOL. We had arranged ahead of time to camp on the periphery, remembering the Gaian Mind days where the music NEVER stopped …. BOOM, BOOM, BOOM OMG. This turned out to be a great idea for Maura’s sanity, although we realized there was quiet time and we could rest easily. We shuttled back and forth into camp as we needed fairly easily.

We spent very little time in the crowds at the stage, just kinda hanging back and watching the vibe blossom. I enjoyed most of the music even though it’s not my favor, Maura loved it. The lack of judgement on body image and flavor was impressive. There was Big Love to everyone and all where respected. They care for each other, look out for each other and jump in to help each other without even having to ask. Everyone was extraordinarily open and friendly.

August 1, 2019

Rocks!

     Our Pennsylvania Quarry opened a new vein of stone last year that is now producing the largest stone we have ever had access to, the stone above measuring over 18 feet long. These stones are of the same black and reddish staining that we have used for the South West and North West quadrants, and will be used when we continue with the main circle.
     This is the same quarry that produced the Great North Stone that was raised in 2017, a stone which came from a different bed at the quarry that shears in a thinner plane and is of a beige body coloring.  It is this kind of stone that will be used for the North Copse over the next 3-4 years.

     Because of the road washout last year we were not able to get any more of this beige stone to continue with the North Copse, but our quarry-men spent the season setting aside select stones from this beige bedding. And this week we brought the first load home!

July 24, 2019

Rainbow Bridge Fundraiser

Part of the experience of Four Quarters is seeing what’s new each year. Roads, buildings, and more. In 2015 Four Quarters purchased New Camp and has been working ever since to make this land available for regular use. Scrub was replanted in pasture, roads built, and last fall a deep well like we have in Main Camp.

One of the greatest joys of Four Quarters is that “A River Runs Through It.” But if you haven’t noticed, climate change has brought weird & unpredictable weather with it. Fifteen years ago places where we could reliably walk across the river on stones are now reliably underwater!

July 22, 2019

Drum & Splash 2019

We had a truly lovely, fun and funky, more intimate, drier Drum ‘N’ Splash for 2019. The weather was much more cooperative, and the Thunder Nation thankfully spared us deluges, in favor of a few passing blessings. We’ll take it!

We can’t say enough about our presenters, who went over the top to make the event a blast for everyone attending. Ken Crampton was the everywhere man with healthy doses of delightful lunacy to delight all comers, including duck herding. Newcomer Nina Amaya stepped up and into the Casbah and more than represented for the Middle Eastern Side of Drum and Dance, and the Faeries!. In addition to the usual Native American sounds, Kurt Griffith also introduced Japanese Taiko to Drum ’N’ splash, and his workshop students bravely demonstrated Miyake Daiko at the Saturday Night Drum Circle with fierce thunder! Kudos and huge gratitude to Billy West, Kristen Arant and the ladies of Belebele, Kewku Owusu, Erro Gutshall, and Gloria Mahin. Thank you all so much for your talent, creativity, and improvisational chops.