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How does one come to this Work and where does it take them…
Excerpts:
The Early Days: Sherborne House
George and Mary embarked on their journey of teaching and community building at Sherborne House in England. They sent around 53-55 students to the five courses held there. Many of these students returned home to start their own groups, further expanding the reach of George and Mary’s teachings. To be part of the Ashiatan Brotherhood, one needed to bring in one hundred people, and George and Mary certainly surpassed that number, both directly and through their students.
A New Beginning: Claymont Court
After their success at Sherborne House, George and Mary moved on to Claymont Court in West Virginia, where they organized the first eight courses. This phase marked the ‘middle of the middle’ for them, but it was far from the end of their journey. Their work continued to inspire and bring together many individuals who shared their vision.
Establishing Roots: Cave Junction, Oregon
In 1981, after a long search, George and Mary purchased six acres outside of Cave Junction, Oregon. They relocated there to start a new work community. John McPherson, a student from the first course at Sherborne, played a key role in facilitating their move. The first task of the summer seminar was to build a large, two-story barn with a kitchen below and a movements hall and meeting space above.
A Flourishing Community
The first seminar at Cave Junction was attended by notable figures such as Lord Pentland, who gave a seminal talk on ‘sequence,’ and the well-known movements teacher, Paul Reynard. The seminar also saw the participation of Robert de Ropp and Annie Lou Staveley. This gathering marked the beginning of an effort to bring together different groups and lineages to make a common cause. Practical tasks such as building, gardening, and organizing were undertaken alongside movements, inner exercises, and meditations.
Memories and Legacy
One memorable story from Cave Junction involves a menu planned for a three-day seminar. An enthusiastic resident prepared a detailed vegetarian menu, complete with a shopping list and prep strategy. However, when she presented it to Mary, she was met with a smile and the words, ‘Very detailed; very self-willed. I shall have to consider further.’ None of her menu was served at the seminar. Every summer seminar, until Mary’s death in 1991, was a time for people from various backgrounds to come together. George and Mary’s legacy lived on through these gatherings, fostering a spirit of cooperation and shared purpose.