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  • Orren Whiddon
  • 14 September 2010

The Age of Limits

by Orren Whiddon
First published
in 2006

“To those who followed Columbus and Cortez, the New World truly seemed incredible because of the natural endowments. The land often announced itself with a heavy scent miles out into the ocean. Giovanni da Verrazano in 1524 smelled the cedars of the East Coast a hundred leagues out. The men of Henry Hudson’s Half Moon were temporarily disarmed by the fragrance of the New Jersey shore, while ships running farther up the coast occasionally swam through large beds of floating flowers. Wherever they came inland they found a rich riot of color and sound, of game and luxuriant vegetation. Had they been other than they were, they might have written a new mythology here. As it was, they took inventory.”

-
Frederick Turner

 

Hydrocarbon and Natural Resource Depletion. Global Warming and Climate Change. Population Maximum. Debt Economics and Globalism. Water Wars and Permanent Drought. The Age of Limits. Peak Everything.

Over the past two decades these issues have moved from the discussion of specialists, into public consciousness and policy discourse. It would seem that we are facing “The Perfect Storm” of separate global problems, when in fact they are symptoms of a unifying core issue.

Read more ...
  • Orren Whiddon
  • 18 February 2017

TriSpiralCreating a Better Community

By Xan Hall

Building a community is hard work; it is often also thankless, exasperating, and overwhelming. But the dividends of that work – a community of people who support each other, who do thingsthat are mutually beneficial, who make sacrifices for each other – that’ s worthwhile. 

We all know the stories about the ‘ bad old days’  at the farm. But in case you don’ t, here’s a  recap. There was that time Orren had to fight in court so we could access the land at all, because there was a legal injunction against setting foot on the land from October until April one winter. There was that time Stones Rising happened during a hurricane, and the hardy brave souls who stayed out in the rain raised those Stones anyways, and got soaking wet and weren’ t done before dark. There was that time a car got irretrievably stuck in front of faerie camp, necessitating a bypass (that’ s why the faeries have a parking lane). There was that time a flood took away the lower shower house and many campsites in the Soggy Bottoms. There was that time the woods caught on fire, nearly ending in disaster. There was that time in the kitchen without proper refrigeration, when veggies were stacked in the corner with ice bags and tarps, and two people cooked for a thousand. There was that time...

Read more ...
  • Four Quarters
  • 24 August 2010

ContactLogo

As an institution, Four Quarters exists to hold the Land open for your Spiritual use, and as a practical Center for understanding and adapting to the emerging global Age of Limits.

Four Quarters is Land owned by a non-profit and now perpetually set aside from the cycles and vagaries of private control. Of this we are truly proud.

We who live here, and our Member Volunteers, are happy to answer your questions, assist in your visit, and hopefully, earn your respect and support. All of us began with our own first visit to Four Quarters. We want your visit to be a new beginning too!

 Contacting Four Quarters

Four Quarters is always open, 365 days a year. For first time visits a call ahead is appreciated, but not necessary. Our office is staffed from 9 am through 6 pm, with extended hours during scheduled events. But we are country people and our lifeways do take us out on the Land unexpectedly. If your call goes unanswered, try again in an hour. We will be sure to pick up.           
               That's...    814-784-3080      9 in the morning to 6 in the evening
We try to answer email query's the day we receive them, but there may be a few days delay during event weekends. If timely information is needed, please do call us!
               Our central email address is:    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Visiting Four Quarters

Four Quarters is almost always open for day visits and over night camping. We really do encourage you to drop by, see the Land and especially experience the Stone Circle. If we have a free moment we will be happy to give you a tour.  We have a No Pet Policy, please do not bring your pets to visit.  Thank you for understanding.

Exceptions are our major fundraising events, when registration for the event is required. Our Events Schedule Page will give you full particulars. Or give us a call with your questions.

 We are located in the Allegheany foothills just a mile from the Pennsylvania - Maryland state lines, 100 miles North West of Baltimore, MD and Washington DC. Three miles North of Exit 68 on Interstate 68.
    Google "Four Quarters InterFaith" and their map will take you to our front door.
            That's...
                       Four Quarters InterFaith
                       190 Walker Lane
                       Artemas PA 17211
.

    Safe Journeys and Our Best Wishes
    Four Quarters

 RidgeTopforWeb

  • 06 March 2009


Living Close to The Land
Orren Whiddon

Canning
For those of us who live at Four Quarters, simplicity has always been a way of life, either through necessity or foresight. In the early years we relied on gifts of food and clothing from Members simply to survive and make it through the hard winter into the next season. By the turn of the millennium times were easier, and we focused on maximizing the money available for the camp by minimizing our living costs. Five years ago we began a very conscious effort to put into practice the skills required for long-term adaptation to the emerging Age of Limits. It has been a process that began from simple need and has grown to be seen by us as an integral part of our Earth Spirituality.

We have learned a lot over the past ten years, and we have quite a few “facts on the ground” to show for it. Energy efficient buildings, gardens, orchards, root cellars, tools and equipment. As important as the physical is the social, the mechanics of how a diverse group of people can come to share their everyday living needs and arrangements in an emotionally and financial productive way. And as we have learned on our local level we have expanded our understanding of the global predicament, the exponentially growing ecological load on our very finite planet. The Age of Limits.

Ours is a rural strategy, obviously; but we believe there are urban strategies of “Power Down” that are just as valid. And we use the word strategy, because the challenge before us is that of evolving adaptations to address how we live and interact with the planet. It is not a set problem that is amenable to a set solution.

In the beginning, it is a matter of education as to the nature of the global predicament and how each of us are tied into that web of cause and effect. How the sum of our small everyday choices have huge ramifications. Once we reach an understanding of that big picture, we can begin learning about the small, but important changes we can make in our choices. Many of these choices are technical in nature and range through our options in more efficient transportation, housing and personal energy generation. Others are cultural-financial and often reflect what we chose to stop doing and stop consuming. Finally, the deepest choices are social, how we interact with those closest to us and to the global society of which we are a part.

We living here at Four Quarters are under no illusions that there are quick and easy answers, but we know from our own experience that it is important to start somewhere, sometime. And that place is here and now. Four Quarters  is our start in taking on a larger mission, personally and as an organization.

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We want to share what we have already learned of the nitty-gritty of sustainable country living, and we want to increase that storehouse of knowledge. We want to identify and develop the strategies of adaptation that are appropriate to the urban setting too. We believe that there must be a broad mix, that there is no “one way.” Gardening techniques vary between the city and the country, and an amazing amount of food can be grown and stored in a small city house. Where to start, how to begin? Some may have the financial resources for large scale grid-tied photovoltaic systems, while others will will need the basic hand skills to wire up a system for their laptop and a light. Solar thermal systems can be equally complex or simple, and great savings are possible through simple details. How do they work, what does it take? Very sophisticated automobiles are in the offing, but transportation efficiency is also as deep as choosing to live where you work. And the deepest response is how you live, day to day. Understanding the global picture and making preparation.    

Earth Living will not develop overnight, it will take years to create the content and infrastructure required of a teaching center. It is not a money making project and is very long term, like much else that we do here at Four Quarters. But we are well under way with what has already been learned and created, and the need is pressing.

In the near future we hope to have installed the beginnings of active solar thermal, photovoltaic and windmill systems; and with our shops we can show you how to build and understand these systems. In our gardens we can range from small to large scale food production with bio-char generation for soil remediation. And it may be that a CSA from our gardens will be in the offing for the Members. We hope to organize our first full weekend intensive for the fall of this year, to focus on the fundamental issues of global resource depletion. And we will soon begin a complete redesign of the Four Quarters websites, with the goal of recreating them as information access portals for issues of Earth Spirituality and Earth Living.

For the time being The Center will operate under the Four Quarters non-profit umbrella, but it may be that in time it will spin off into its own non-profit. We would appreciate hearing about your own concerns and interests, what kind of programming would benefit you and your family and how you would like to see the Center for Earth Living become a part of the mission of Four Quarters.

Earth Living through Earth Spirit.

What could be more natural?

  • Orren Whiddon
  • 18 February 2017

MoonArmsCeremony with No Tools:
Meditation Communication with Guardian Spirits

By Patricia Althouse


Two years ago I wrote a ceremony that used no tools. It was a general ritual, accessible to anyone, and a ritual that could help connect or deepen one's relationship with the Elements and the Divine. It was intended to help provide a physical, mental, and magical space to grow and connect with the Earth on a spiritual level.

One of the elders of my path of Wicca, known as Stone Circle Wicca, has taught me that it is through Wiccan ceremony – especially its regular practice thereof – that we come to innately know our overwhelming ethic, which is the knowledge of our connectedness to everything around us. This connectedness is inescapable to one practiced in Wicca, and a source of spiritual intuition which informs our active intention as we navigate the conflicting choices we make every day. This feeling of connectedness extends beyond ceremony and into our every day as we live our life.

Read more ...
  • Kurt Griffith
  • 26 April 2013

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 MayPoleDance
Our Return to the Land!
A Four Quarters Fundraiser and Members and Guests Weekend

Friday 3rd -Sunday, May 5th, 2019


Balefire burns in our bellies and the Maypole rises to reach new heights while Drummers and Dancers unite as one.
It is time to return to the Land, to dance, to sing, and bless the Land and its Tribe with love of life and fertility.
The Land awakens with the tribe returning to the Land: setting up and cleaning, making ready for a new season.

Planned Highlights for 2019!
-- Friday afternoon: Thanks and Blessing of Sacred Sites
-- Friday evening: First Fire Drum Circle

-- Saturday afternoon: Annual Tea Party and Raising of the May Pole
-- Saturday evening: Main Ceremony Blessing of the Land

-- Sunday morning: Raising of the Seed Stone by the Children's Stone Crew

 

  • Click to enlarge image 1b4.jpg Beltaine... photos (28) Beltaine... photos (28)
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View the embedded image gallery online at:
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"Now the green blade riseth, from the buried grain;
Wheat that in dark earth, many days has lain..."


 
Join us for our annual homecoming as we celebrate the Sweetness of Spring! It’s Beltaine at Four Quarters! As the Land awakens, we awaken to returning for a weekend of renewal!

The season of hibernation is at its end, nature sprouting inspiration for joyful fecundity! It is time for playful activity and growth to begin, for Balefire burns in our bellies and the Maypole rises to reach new heights while Drummers and Dancers unite as one. It is time to bless the Land and its Tribe with love of life and fertility, sweetness of inspiration and creation for the betterment of community… to greet the tribe you haven’t seen all winter long, and welcome new friends first on the Land… to share in communion of this sweet, sweet time and in this space.

Friday is cleaning and preening the sacred spaces of the Land as well as campsites. The first of ceremonies, first of hugs and laughter. First Coffee… Opening Ceremony with the lighting of the Balefire to kick off the weekend.

Saturday is filled with workshops and activities for adults and children: preparation of the Maypole, Ribbons and Wreath, Tea party, biannual Members Meeting, Main Ritual, and Feast for all from our Starvin’ Artist Café. The whole of the tribe is needed to lend a hand to raise the Maypole, dance, sing and celebrate. After ceremony, drumming and dancing at the Fire Circle, songs, stories, and poems at Bardic Circle.

Sunday, the whole of the tribe is needed again to nourish the sweetness of teamwork in the hearts of our children as we pass along the Stone Raising tradition. The Children’s Tribe will work the rollers and ropes to bring the Seed Stone home in our Stone Circle. We will witness as they raise the Seed Stone, giving their own blessing to the Circle and the Season. Followed by closing ceremony where we give thanks and remember the times we have had together during the weekend, and shout Merry Meet Again!

Want to present a workshop, or get involved?
Many hands make for light work.
Call the office or email us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

  • Click to enlarge image 7e8f6713f9ec1e11734f9ea0.jpg The Kids Tribe Seed Stone Pull... photos (14) The Kids Tribe Seed Stone Pull... photos (14)
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In addition to all your gear and springtime finery, please bring flowers to share for the Beltaine workshops and ceremonies. We want to the see the beauty of flowers everywhere we turn, so, if you would, pick up a grocery store bouquet or two on your way, and drop them off at the buckets by the Coffee Dragons.


Registration Information:

Pre-Registration Deadline is April 26th.
Member's Pre Registration: $60
Guest Pre-Registraion: $80
Guest Saturday Arrival Pre-Registration: $70
Gate Registration: $90
Gate Saturday Arrival Registration: $80


Children Under 16 are Loved, Cherished, and Free!

Meal Plans

Saturday's Beltaine Feast is free for all attending.
Beltaine Meal Plan by the Starvin' Artist Cafe!

3 meals and the feast, Friday Dinner-Sunday Brunch.
Omnivore and Herbivore options available.
Pre-Registration required, $45/person.


As Always you are welcome to arrive before Friday and stay after Sunday. Early-In, Late-Out Camping $5/night for Members, $10/night for guests!


Register On-Line Here
Your questions are welcome!

WreathProcession

Our In Camp Domitory is available!
Rooms have double beds, blankets and pillows; Bunks have fitted sheets.  During events rooms and bunks are bundled with meal plans and are booked for the duration of the event; you must call the office for reservations.

You are welcome to arrive before Friday and stay later than Sunday. Early In and Late Out camping is $5 a night for Members and $10 a night for non-members. Four Quarters has two hot shower buildings equipped with super low-flow dual-flush toilets, state of the art on-demand heaters for our low-flow showers and drinking water spigots throughout the camp. We are Green!

Schedule for 2019!!
 
Please stay tuned for our 2019 Beltaine Schedule and watch the News Page for Announcements.
  • Orren Whiddon
  • 08 February 2014

 Sweat Lodge at Four Quarters

 The Sweat Lodge ceremony, is older than recorded history and is practiced in some form by every culture in the world. We heat ancient rocks in a fire and bring the glowing hot rocks into the center of the lodge. When the lodge is closed, we pour water on the rocks and pray. Through prayer and sacred songs we ask for support and give thanks for what we have already received.

Our sweat ceremonies facilitate personal and inner cleansing and healing. The lodge brings us into connection and harmony with the Mother Earth and all of Creation. This ceremony is open to all people of all beliefs and remains a gift and an offering to those who are open and willing to further their own personal journey, and who want to participate and experience the beauty and wonder of this most powerful and healing ceremony. It is a place to repair your spirit, of refuge and healing, and to obtain personal answers and guidance Our ceremony leaders represent a number of sacred traditions and we follow the same interfaith view as Four Quarters Interfaith Sanctuary. All are welcome to come pray


sweatlodgesketchwebPlanned* 2018 Lodge Weekends:

Fri April 13 – Rock hop
Sat April 14 – Setup Day (backup day April 21)

April 27-28 – Beltaine - Setup
May 17-20 – Flower of Life
May 25-28 – Member's  Weekend
June 22-24 – Wickerman
July 4-8 – Drum N Splash
July 25-29 – Big Dub - Sweat Theme Camp
Aug 29-Sept 3 – Stones Rising
Sept 8-(9?) – Recovery Moon
Sept 21-22 – Bass Harvest
Oct 26-28 – Samhain - Shutdown
*Subject to change and the needs of ceremony


  • Click to enlarge image 2d1d7faf1292b2dd007a34da.jpg Sweat Lodge... photos Sweat Lodge... photos
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Growing a Sweat Lodge Tradition

by Valerie Haag, Kurt Talking Stone, and the Lodge Team
Wheel of the Year Calendar 2017

The Sweat Lodge Site is a beautiful and sacred place on the land at Four Quarters and we invite you to come by to pray and sweat with us! The sacred fires will be continuously burning, and at any time you are welcome to come in to meditate, visit with the helpers and facilitators, chill out, talk with us, and reconnect in this area.

The Sweat Lodge ceremony is older than recorded history, and is practiced in some form by every culture in the world. Our sweat ceremonies facilitate personal and collective inner cleansing and healing. The Sweat Lodge at Four Quarters holds to the same interfaith view as Four Quarters Interfaith Sanctuary and does not follow a single tradition or path. Our Water Pourers represent a number of sacred traditions including Navajo, Lakota, and others. All are welcome. From time to time, we have had visiting Elders and ceremony leaders offer ceremony for our community.

Read more ...
  • Jon Noll
  • 05 November 2010

 

FiresRising2019 Graphic1200

Fires Rising 2019

     Friday May 30st
   through Sunday June 2nd

     Alchemical Fire Circles: Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

  **A clean and sober event**

“That which is Below corresponds to that which is Above, and that which is Above corresponds to that which is Below, to accomplish the miracle of the One Thing.” – The Emerald Tablet

Join us for the 15th Fires Rising, as we explore the archetypes and images of Alchemy. If you thought that “turning Lead into Gold” was an impossibility, guess again! It’s a metaphor for the spiritual process of seven “Operations,” Chakra by Chakra, Planet by Planet. Our Fire Circle will be transformed into a living Alchemical vessel, a container for our own transformations.

Think of the Dragonfly: It begins as an egg in the water, then becomes a nymph, until it reaches its final form soaring above, flitting so fast that in a blink, you’ll miss it... yet able to stop and hover as if defying gravity. By the end of this experience, we will all be Dragonflies!

This year, we will distill Friday and Saturday nights, with some of us staying through to the dawn, although that is not required. We explore Alchemical metaphors with afternoon Playshops and Discussions, and turn them into rhythm, song, dance, and random acts of beauty for the nightly Laboratory.

We strive to remain fully aware and fully present, taking personal responsibility for our own safety, healing, and entertainment. In that spirit, we refrain from alcohol and other mind-altering substances, Fires Rising is a SOBER event. Fire, Community, Creativity, and the Night are our potent ingredients.

All faiths are welcome here, and all ability levels — so whether you’ve circled this fire before, or you’re brand new to the Laboratory, all we ask is that you bring your Whole Self: your strengths and talents, your love and kindness, as well as your hurts. Bring on the didgeridoos, gongs, singing bowls, frame drums, incense and oils. Bring on the drums, chants, spoken word, dance, painting, fire spinning, theater, and decorations — bring YOU, in your Truth and Creativity..

“The pendulum-swing manifests in everything; the measure of the swing to the right is the measure of the swing to the left; rhythm compensates.” – The Kybalion

Registration and Accomodations

Registering by May 25th:
Four Quarters Members $85
Guests $110
Pre-reg by May 25th, $125 after that date.
 

Children under 16 are loved, cherished and FREE. 

Registration covers your attendance at Fires Rising and your land-use/basic camping fees for Thursday through Sunday afternoon. Additional services such as dorm space, car camping, in-camp car parking passes, fire rings, etc are available at a reasonable fee when you register.

Our In-Camp Dormitory is available for rent: handsome, hand-built bunk beds as well as private rooms. You must call the Office for reservations as space is limited. Handicapped, special circumstances? Questions about accomodations? Call the Four Quarters office at 814-784-3080.

Volunteers and participants co-create Fires Rising, arriving early on Thursday to set up and build the Alchemical Container. If you can, do plan on arriving then; you will be glad you did! Saturday arrivals are welcome but please, arrive in time for the afternoon playshops. You are welcome to arrive before Thursday and stay later than Sunday. Early In and Late Out camping is $5 a night for Members and $10 a night for non-members.

Children under 16 are loved, cherished and FREE. And while Fires Rising is not anti-child, we are pro staying up all night! Supervised children are welcome, but no separate children's programming will be provided.

Meal Plan Information

Our Friday Dinner through Sunday Brunch Meal Plan is included in your registration.

The Starvin’ Artist Café offers a meal plan of delicious, hot meals able to accommodate a wide range of dietary restrictions including vegetarian and gluten free. Meals offered are Friday dinner through Sunday brunch; Pre-Reg only.

In addition to the meal plan:
~Please plan to bring any snacks you would like to eat throughout the day or night.
~Please also bring a store-bought, individually wrapped snack and/or food items to share at the Food Altar at night. Examples would be single serve packs of snack foods (chips, beef jerky, dried fruits), or single serving size juices. The Food Altar is a communal space to grab a snack in the middle of the night when your energy is flagging, and it is stocked by the attendees of Fires Rising. Four Quarters provides The Coffee Dragons, serving coffee, tea, and hot chocolate.

“We are travelers on a cosmic journey; stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment.” Paulo Coelho

Fires Rising 2018 Outline schedule - subject to transmutation!

Fires Rising is a drug and alcohol free event. 

THURSDAY May 30th
Early Arrivals. Building the Laboratory & set-up.
Homecoming Fire.

FRIDAY May 1st
Playshops and Prayerformance:
The Fire of the Dragonfly.

SATURDAY June 1st
Playshops and Planetary Groups:
The Fire of the Seven Chakras..

SUNDAY June 3rd
Grounding the Laboratory,
Closing Ceremony & Leave-taking..

You are welcome to arrive before Thursday and stay later than Sunday. Overnight camping fees are $5 per night for members and $10 per night for non-members.




  • Four Quarters
  • 05 November 2010


DnS composite 2019 1200

DSswoop

Updated 2/11/2019
Drum 'n' Splash 2019!

Our 24th Year!
Wednesday, July 3rd -
Sunday, July 7th 2019

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More Drum and Splash Photos From Our Archives

“Fire Circle is Sacred Space, the beating heart of our community, something precious that glows brighter as it is shared.”

One of Four Quarters best kept secrets, Drum and Splash is simply a Very Good Time, and a great way to Celebrate an Alternative Nation’s Birthday with Family, Friends and Tribe, with no agenda other than to Drum all Night and Swim all Day, sharing a working vision of the possible through Community, Sustainability, and Personal Responsibility. 

We have developed over the years an alternative idea of community and of the greatness of our nation, a modern day American Tribe of flourishing diversity and tolerance. A place that values family in all of its flavors and supports the family choices of each individual. Where, for a time, we can return to our human roots and take simple pleasure in simple things. Song and Dance. A swim in the river. The laughter of children. Sharing a meal under a spreading oak tree. For these are the things that are worth keeping close, and worth celebrating on this nation’s birthday.

Drum and Dance go together in a deeply symbiotic relationship that’s existed since the dawn of percussion. The Drum feeds Rhythm to the dancers, who provide Purpose for the Drum, in its  own small ecosystem of light and spirit. Beyond the Fire Circle, a parallel schedule of Dance workshops complements Drum teachings.

Since our beginning there has been a Fire Circle at Four Quarters. Once again as we celebrate Drum and Splash, we continue to dedicate ourselves to holding the Sacred Space within the Fire Circle as we focus on sharing the Power of the Drum and the Grace of the Dance with the next generation of Drummers, Dancers and Teachers who will continue to hold Sacred Space for the next 20 years of Drum and Splash and, in turn, cultivate the generations of Drummers and Dancers yet to come.

As the years have gone by, we have grown and evolved, and our experience of Fire, Drum, Dance, Ceremony, Community, and Tribe has grown and evolved also. We have come to understand that Fire Circle is Sacred Space, the beating heart of our community, something precious that glows brighter as it is shared. As we go about creating this space in a good way, we make a place of respect and of safety where the Drum supports the Dancers, the Dancers feed the Fire, and the Fire feeds us all. Inside this Sacred Space we step out of the ordinary and into our authentic selves.

Yes, Drum and Splash is all about Drumming and Splashing, but it is much more. For five days we create a village along the river, with lots to do:

 

Typical Weekend Highlights:

Dance and Drum Performances
Workshops with the Masters of Drum and Dance
Planned activities for the Kids’ Tribe
Fireworks, Fire Spinning, and Fire Arts
The Dragon Dance and Procession of Talent
Qi Gong, T’ai Chi, Meditation, and Yoga
The Middle Eastern Vibe of The Kasbah
The Terrifically Talented Teen Tribe
Sweat Lodge and Native Ceremonial Drum
Mad Hatters’ Tea Party
Pig-pickin’ Feast and lce Cream Social
Universal Temple of Spirits Ceremony
Bathing Aphrodite Procession
Rubber Ducky Race
All Night Fire, Dance, and Drum!!!

native sdong• Enjoy the solace of The Land itself, listed as the most ecologically diverse tract in Bedford County by the Western Pennsylvania Nature Conservancy.
• Swim in Sideling Hill Creek, an unspoiled treasure among Appalachian watersheds. Hemlock Hole is a spectacular swimming area, shadowed by our cliffs, cherished by young and old. And there are four other swimming holes strung along a creekside trail.
• Learn something new in one of our many engaging workshops: dancing, drumming, hooping, fire-spinning,  drum building... and so much more!relaxation
• Rejuvenate in one of our classes and activities in yoga, Qi Gong, chanting, stone stacking, trance dance, sweat lodge, and journaling.
• Explore the living natural history of The Land with guided hikes, nature walks, garden tours, and service projects.
• Experience the magic of the performances in the Upper Drum Circle at sundown every night. Children hold the place of honor here at twilight. As the night deepens and the kids fall asleep, the serious drumming begins. And even later in the night, Pure Magic!
parachute kids • Relax and vacation with your family and friends while camping under a sky full of stars, or enjoy one of our other lodging options: The Loft by the farmhouse with bunkbeds, WiFi, showers and toilets. Or the Dormitory in camp with bunkbeds and easy access to our showerhouses. A limited number of private rooms are also available.
• Participate in lively discussion or open jam at The Coffee Dragons outdoor cafe. Early morning through late night serving free coffee, tea and cocoa from their pavilion on the High Meadow. meal plan 3
• Study with the Masters of Drum and  Dance in intensive free and fee paid workshops for the serious drummer and dancer.

• Pig-Out at our Four Quarters Pig Pickin Feast & Ice Cream Social! It is absolutely the best back-yard block party EVER.
• Immerse yourself in the rich traditions of many different cultures' rhythms, dances, celebrations, and ceremonies.
• Re-enact the Bathing of Aphrodite, an Ancient Greek patriotic festival that parades through our village.
TeenTribe • Create some extraordinary memories to take away with you and bring back to share with others in future years.
• Discover the unique wares of our Merchants Green village within a village.
• Compete in The Rubber Ducky Race! No “sailor” wants to miss this light-hearted note!

• Witness the magic of a procession of talent at dusk, featuring an escort of fire artists, the pageantry of the dancers, the passion of the drummers, and the mystery of the Dragon Dance... building a crescendo of energy punctuated by a breath-taking fireworks display.

Our Energy Builds from Wednesday Night with the First Fire Circle leading into a Thursday and Friday filled with Workshops, Play and Performance, flowing into Saturday’s Masters Classes. The River waits cool and inviting – refreshing us before we gather together for our Annual Four Quarters Pig Pickin Feast Ice Cream Social on Saturday afternoon. As Saturday evening descends, fireworks light up the Sky as our Fire Arts Procession dances the way to a Fire Circle that will Light up the Night.

About Registrations

Members-
$95 PreReg by June 22nd
Non-Member Guests-
Wednesday-Thursday arrival, $125 PreReg by June 22; $140 at the Gate
Friday arrival, $105 PreReg by June 22, $120 at the Gate
Sat. Arrival, $90 PreReg by June 22, $105 at the Gate

Register Online Here

Handicapped, Special Circumstances? CALL US !
Children under 16 are loved, cherished and FREE !
Visa/MC Credit Card Registrations on-line at www.4qf.org.
Or call the office at 814-784-3080 with your registration or questions.

About Meal Plans

The Starvin’ Artist serves Brunch and Dinner with Herbivore and Omnivore selections, all you can possibly eat, Pre-Registered only.
Dietary options are Omnivore, Vegitarian, and Gluten Free. Please note the kitchen is *unable* to accommodate specific dietary restrictions.


Much of our meat and produce is raised right here in the fields and gardens of Four Quarters, and what we don't raise we try to source from our local farms. We take our kitchen very seriously.

And our Saturday Pig Pickin'/Veggie Feast & Ice Cream Social is Free, you’re invited!
   

Wednesday Dinner-Sunday Brunch; 8 Meals $120
Thursday Dinner-Sunday Brunch; 6 Meals $90
Friday Dinner-Sunday Brunch; 4 Meals $60
Saturday Brunch-Sunday Brunch; 3 Meals $35

About Accommodations

Rooms have double beds, blankets and pillows; bunks have fitted sheets. During events rooms and bunks are bundled with meal plans and are booked for the duration of the event. You must call the Office to reserve. 814-784-3080
You are welcome to arrive before Wednesday and stay later than Monday. Early In and Late Out camping is $5 a night for Members and $10 a night for non-members.
     Camp Fire Permits and In-Camp Car Camping Permits are $15 each. In-Camp Car Parking passes are $25 and very limited.
     Unlimited free Main Parking. Handicapped, please contact us for your free In-Camp parking pass.

     Merchant Booths are juried, pre-registered and very limited. Contact us early to merchant.
     Four Quarters has two shower buildings equipped with super low-flow dual-flush toilets, state of the art ‘on demand’ heaters for our low-flow showers and drinking water spigots throughout the camp. Four Quarters is Green!

  • Kurt Griffith
  • 05 November 2010

Stones Rising 2019

Wednesday, August. 28th-Monday, September. 2nd - 2019
Sunday, September 2nd - The Rising!
The Stone Peoples Intensive, Friday Aug. 23 - Tuesday Aug. 27

Service, Ceremony, Celebration - Our 25th Year of Raising Stones!

StonesRisingHeader 1200

Accompanied by witnesses, the Tribe leans into the ropes to  bring a new Stone into the Stone Circle. Stones Rising 2018.

“If you go to work on your goals,your goals will go to work on you.
If you go to work on your plan, your plan will go to work on you.
Whatever good things we build end up building us..”
– Jim Rohn


A Work of Years... Stone by Stone.

SR18 Griffith 4554 800Four Quarters is an Interfaith Sanctuary: a place of safety of spirit, allowing all who attend the opportunity to seek, evolve and grow as they would wish. The heart of our Sanctuary is the Circle of Standing Stones, begun over 20 years ago when a single Stone was raised to inspire those that would come after: Follow in our Footsteps, Gather, Labor Together, Build a Circle for Yourselves and those not yet Born. For while the Stone Circle has many different meanings to each of us, we might all agree that it is the Heart of our Sanctuary… and it is good that we build it together as Community.

We celebrate the seasons of the earth here at Four Quarters; and as summer wanes and harvest begins, our Tribe will gather together to Raise new Standing Stones, gathering in the achievements and abundance of the year. Stones Rising is ancient tradition made new. It echoes the burial grounds, cairns, and megaliths that were built millennia ago by our ancestors; the act of building and growing the Circle is our Gift, Hope and Promise to Ourselves, to our Ancestors, and to the Generations yet to come.. 

Stones Rising is a six-day intentional community, where all actions are done with the purpose of furthering the growth of the Stone Circle, the Interfaith Sanctuary Church, and the Greater Tribe. It is a deep wellspring of our commitment to the Land, our Church and our Tribe. From Wednesday evening to Monday noon we recognize that service is sacred, and we celebrate the service of our Tribemates. For it is by working with others on behalf of the community that the Stones are Raised.

There is a place for you.

We gather to celebrate a Ceremony of Ceremonies: a six-day matrix of ritual, service, and celebration of the Divine, the Land, and the People. Each ritual is a step along the way, and together all of them create a single ceremonial act of commitment to the Vision that is the Stone Circle on the Land of Four Quarters. There will be spaces of work, of rest, of devotion, service, ceremony, and celebration for all. Whether it’s your first time, your third time or your umpteenth time at Stones Rising, there is a place for you. Every year our spirits reach back and propel us forward. 

SR18 Griffith 4570 800There is a place for you in the single ceremony of Stones Rising, and a chance to use your own gifts for the growth of the community, whether your place is with the Warriors, guarding and Preparing spaces for ceremony, or among the Corn Mothers, making the food that Empowers the people for their work on the Land. We recognize the work of the Witness connecting the people inside and outside Four Quarters. We encourage the experience of drumming, dancing, singing, praying, working, in some way Sustaining the Vision of the Stone Circle. Here there is a place for you. Experience the myriad connections that you have with others in your Tribe, others whose work may be very different from your own.

Together we will raise the arbors, we will sing the songs, we will feed the people, we will drum up the sun, we will chant our prayers, we will witness the ceremonies, we will untangle the rigging, we will pour libation, we will dance the way open… and we will, all together, raise the Stones. Once again, the Stones will rise, the Circle will be consecrated anew, and we will join together in celebration of the growing Circle that is Four Quarters.

There is a place for you and yours at Stones Rising. The planning team has prepared a place for you, but only you can make that place your own; step into the Center of the Circle, gather with your Tribe, and join us in this new year of Stones Rising, sharing in the magic of a sacred circle of Standing Stones.

Stones Rising is a Ceremonial Intensive that brings together ritualists representing the world’s Earth Religious traditions including: Wicca, Santeria, Druidism, Shamanism and Trance, Tibetan Buddhism, Ceremonial Magic, Voodoun, The Black Madonna, The NeoPagan Revival and the world’s indigenous peoples. The ceremonials begin Wednesday afternoon and continue to build through Sunday’s Rising of the Standing Stones, accompanied by a variety of
in-depth workshops.

The threads that bind together these ceremonies, the people and the Stones are the Pathways of Sacrifice and Service: the means, great and small, through which any person at Stones Rising is able to personally make a ceremonial commitment, see it fulfilled and become an integral part of the ceremonial whole.

Together, these Ceremonials and Pathways work to create six days of ritual that is inclusive and transforming… where, like the Ceremonial Circle, there is no beginning or ending other than the place in which you stand.

SR18 Griffith 4403 800

A Few of the Pathways of Service at Stones Rising

Vesta’s Hearth.  Perhaps the most demanding commitment at Stones Rising, the preparation of The Feast of the Standing Stones.

The Witnesses.  Who stand under the arbors and validate the ceremonial commitment of others, that “it was done in a good way.”

The Stone Crews.  Those who work the ropes and rollers, Community Teamwork to bring the Stones into Circle.

The Stone People.  Who take on the dangerous work of rigging and positioning the Stones for their Rising.

Stone Singers Chorus.  Songs of honor, prayer and ceremony, the ululations of the Women’s and Men’s tribe.

Ceremonial & Spirit Drums.  Through rhythm, song and chant, honoring the Stones, People, Land and Spirits.

Preparing the Loaves of the Corn Mother.  Preparing and baking the hundreds of loaves of bread needed to share before Sunday’s Rising of the Standing Stones.

SR18 Griffith 4577 800The Sweat Lodge.  Chop wood, carry water, haul stones, tend the sacred fires in a place of prayer and purification.

Preparing and Serving Sacral Food and Drink.  The sacred and symbolic foods that will be served to the Stone Crews, Commitment Makers and Witnesses during the Ceremony of Commitments and The Rising.

Fire Circle Synergy.  Maintaining the Heartbeat of the Tribe through our Service to the Fire Circle, each night through the Eve of The Rising.

Painting the Body Tribal.  Ceremonially painting the bodies of Commitment Makers and those Standing in Witness before and during Sunday’s Rising.

Preparing the Pathway of The Stones.  Those people who accompany the Stone Crews and prepare the way for the Stones with corn meal, dance and drum.

Preparing Fire Circle.  Cleaning, raking, and preparing Fire Circle as an Altar for Trance, Dance and Drum.

Preparing the Altar of Prosperity and Thanksgiving.  Preparing, consecrating and maintaining Ganesh’s Altar of Prosperity in the Merchants Village.

See you in the Stone Circle!


 
  • Click to enlarge image 00ChildPassSR03.png Stones Rising... photos (30) Stones Rising... photos (30)
  •  
View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://4qf.org/values/earth-spirit#sigProId4dd86cda7c

The Stone Circle is the Heart of Four Quarters.


It is a work of years, and each year we gather at Stones Rising to celebrate and continue that work.

Torchlight ceremony

Though it is a group experience, Stones Rising moves every person in a different way. For some it is the opportunity to unplug: to serenely walk the Labyrinth; to contemplate the misty mountains in the early morning; or immerse themselves in the magic of the creek. For others it is the expectation of meeting new people—people who will go from being strangers to family in only a few short days. But for all of us Stones Rising is the opportunity to do something that matters—something that will last far longer than any of us will. It is the opportunity to continue the creation of sacred space as we raise megaliths with our brothers and sisters.

The Circle's story is not just about the Stones: it is overlaid with personal histories, with hundreds of stories and memories and milestones. You will often see people laying their hands on the Stones. They might tell you that this is the first Stone they helped raise, or how it was raised in the rain, or how the rope broke. They might tell you about how this Stone took all day to pull, prompting you to remark, “It's so small compared to the others!” The other person will smile and say that the Stones have minds of their own. They might tell you of the year that their baby was passed through the Mother Stone during the Baby Blessing, and of the people who were there who no longer come to the Farm. And with each year, the Circle's history grows richer.

Dreema in the Stone CircleNo membership binds us; no specific faith binds us. What binds us is a belief in the value of this world, this life, and the humanity we all share. Can you help raise Stones if you're not a Four Quarters member? Yes! Can you help raise Stones if your path is spiritual path is solitary and unique? Yes!

What if you're new and have never set foot on the Land before? Can you help raise Stones? YES!

We raise Stones the old way, the hard way, with heavy ropes, rollers made from tree trunks, and people. It could be done so much more easily, with so much less sweat and strain, if we would just use heavy construction equipment. But what would be the point? Machines are not important: it is the hands and feet and hearts of the people who move and raise the Stones that is important.

An infamous Long Stone PullUsing heavy equipment to move and raise Stones would make the whole process faster, too. We could have had the Circle finished years ago and would probably be building a dolman somewhere by now. But this is not our goal, to have an Instant Stone Circle. When we raise Stones together, one or two at a time, we have the opportunity to take a moment and think about the sanctuary we are creating. In the interval between one Stones Rising and the next, we have time to appreciate that what we are doing is holy work. It is the work of creating connections between all of us regardless of how different our spiritual paths may be.

We are not here to recreate Stonehenge or Avebury. We are here to create thisCircle, here in this place. We are here together on this sacred land to join hands, to join earth with sky—to raise Stones.

And we'll all stand together and we'll Raise another Stone,
To the Seventh Generation and the Children Yet Unknown!
 

Registrations

Membership Privileges Apply
Children under 16 are loved, cherished and FREE

Members Only Early Bird, $80 PreReg by June 8.

6 Days arrive Weds or Thurs, Pre-reg by Aug. 17
Members $100, Guests $120, $140 at the Gate.

4 Days arrive Friday or after, Pre-reg by Aug. 17,
Members $85, Guests $105, $125 at the Gate.

Late Registrations, CALL US!
Handicapped, Special Circumstances? CALL US !

Sunday morning’s Loaves of the Corn Mother,
Sunday afternoon’s Feast of the Standing Stones
are included in your registration.

Credit Card Registrations on-line at Stones Rising Registration.
Or call the office at 814-784-3080 with your questions or to register.

You are welcome to arrive before Wednesday and stay later than Monday. Early In and Late Out camping is $5 a night for Members and $10 a night for non-members. Merchant Booths are juried, pre-registered and very limited. Contact us early to merchant. Four Quarters has two hot shower buildings equipped with super low-flow dual-flush toilets, state of the art on demand heaters for our low-flow showers, and drinking water spigots throughout the camp. Four Quarters is Green!

About Lodging at Four Quarters -
Accommodations in our new dorm building are available. Rooms have double beds, blankets and pillows; Bunks have fitted sheets. During events rooms and bunks are bundled with meal plans and are booked for the duration of the event; you must call the office for reservations.

Meal Plan Information:

Meal Plans with the Starvin’ Artist are Brunch and Dinner.
Dietary options are Omnivore, Vegitarian, and Gluten Free; all you can eat. Please bring your own utensils.

Please note the kitchen is *unable* to accommodate specific dietary restrictions.

  • Dinner Weds - Monday Brunch, 8 meals - 2 feasts,
    $120 pre-reg only, Omni or Herbivore.
  • Dinner Thurs - Monday Brunch, 6 meals - 2 feasts,
    $90 pre-reg only, Omni or Herbivore.
  • Dinner Fri - Monday Brunch, 4 meals - 2 feasts,
    $60 pre-reg only, Omni or Herbivore.
  • Brunch Sat - Monday Brunch, 3 meals - 2 feasts,
    $35 pre-reg only, Omni or Herbivore

If your child is old enough to need his or her own plate, please register them for the meal plan.
If they can share your plate, there is no need to register your child for the meal plan.

 
 

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  • Four Quarters
  • 06 November 2010

Yule and Winter Solstice

The Longest Night & the Sun’s Return

A Solstice Celebration: Barding, Gift Giving, Holiday Wassail, Seasonal Fun and an Extravagant Yuletide Dinner!
Friday, December 20th - Sunday, December 22nd, 2019

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“The Winter Solstice is the time of ending and beginning, a powerful time — a time to contemplate your immortality.
A time to forgive, to be forgiven, and to make a fresh start. A time to awaken.” – Frederick Lenz

 

Stonehenge sunset

The Wheel has turned; Harvest has ended and frost covers the land. The days are short, the nights long and cold. We yearn for the long, warm days of summer, for the green grass and the scent of flowers on the breeze; we yearn for the sun’s return…

Prepare with us for the Long Night; Celebrate with us the rebirth of the Sun; Share with us the works of your Hands, Heart and Spirit. Exchange with us Gifts of Love and Laughter, and Remember with us that the Wheel does turn, and soon the Sun’s light will once again warm our faces. Come and celebrate the return of the Light in the heart of Darkness.

For many, many years we have scheduled Yule here at Four Quarters well in advance of the actual celestial solstice, sometimes as much as two weeks in advance. But once again, this year is different. The actual Winter Solstice will fall at 11:19 PM Satruday Night the 22nd of December. For the second time in many years, and the second year in a row, Yule will fall on the Solstice. It is interstingly, also the first night of Chanukah.

Join us for a time of reflection to draw tight around a blazing fire, snug and warm as the woods and fields lie sleeping. Meat and drink from the Land, stories told in a whisper, and a midnight hay ride to discover just how many stars float above us.

Activities from Previous Years Include:

•    Blessings of the Hearth: The Cup of Welcome!
•    Opening Ceremony: The Long Dark Begins
•    Solstice Bardic Circle: Songs, Stories & Prose
•    Sharing during the Long Dark: “Talk, Listen, Teach, Learn”
•    Blessing the Land on the Shortest Day
•    The Feast
•    Main Ceremony: Seeking the Light
•    The Gift Exchange: What is the meaning of Giving?
•    Songs for the Season!
•    Thanks and Farewells!

Attendees are encouraged (but not required) to bring a small wrapped gift (~$10) to share in the Gift-Giving exchange—Regifting is welcome!

We are seeking volunteers to help in a variety of roles, big and small; if you have ever been interested in helping out, this would be a good way to try it out! Call the office or contact Carrie Krystek at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Members $45, Guests $55  Register On-Line
or call the office at 814-784-3080
The Saturday evening Feast of the Light, is included in your registration.  

A call or email is required for Bunk or Private Room acomodations, as they are limited. $10 per night for bunks, $70 for a private room for the weekend. Feel free to call ahead with questions,  814-784-3080.  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Children under 16 are loved, cherished and free.

The Weather? Sometimes cold, sometimes not. Dress warmly, our Yule Ceremonies are often outside if the weather cooperates. Check back here a few days before for the final schedule and location!

The Gift Exchange is easy. Just bring a small wrapped gift for your fellow Tribemates. It can be something you made, something you buy, or something you would like to pass along. (suggested price range: ~$10 or less...the intent is more important than the item!)

We will have ample heated sleepover space for all, allocated on first come-first serve. Please, do RSVP or register online if you will be staying over. Just bring your bedding, your warm clothing, something for the little donation box if you can spare it, but mostly let your heart come to Four Quarters for Yule.

We are closer than you think, 100 miles and less than 2 hours from the Baltimore-Washington Beltways. About 2 hours from State College, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Harrisonburg VA, 3 hours from Philadelphia and Wilmington, about 6 hours from NYC, Columbus and Cinncinatti, OH.

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  • The Land of Four Quarters
  • Four Quarters InterFaith
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Four Quarters Interfaith Sanctuary 190 Walker Lane Artemas PA 17211 USA 814-784-3080 office@4qf.org
Incorporated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as an InterFaith Non-Denominational Church, Monastery and Spiritual Retreat Center.
All donations fully tax deductible as allowed by law. PA EXMP 75-538-546 FED EIN 25-1853964
© 1995-2014 The Church of Four Quarters™, Four Quarters™ and Four Quarters Farm™
Free use of text expressly granted for all non-profit purposes; unchanged and with attribution to Four Quarters. All other rights reserved.

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