Nurturing Those Who Care for Others
Creating space for people whose lives are devoted to the well-being of others,
so their gifts can continue to flourish.
Luna’s Story
When I first met Luna and her family, I was struck by the warmth, love, and contentment that filled their home.
There was such a beautiful sense of completeness. Nothing about their lives felt lacking. There was nothing I could imagine adding to the fullness of their lives, except perhaps an invitation to share a dream I felt Luna might also hold.
Her gifts as a curandera and herbalist had already touched my life deeply. We began imagining a space where her knowledge and healing work could grow and reach more people.
There was a natural alignment between what Luna dreamed of creating and what Temple of Return was becoming. Her trust and belief in the vision helped the project grow, just as the project opened new possibilities for her work. Neither of us could have woven it quite the same way without the other.
When rising rent threatened the family's ability to remain on the island, our shared dream found an unexpected opportunity to take shape.
A new space became a home for Luna, her family, and her creations. An herbal kitchen emerged, its shelves filled with remedies and preparations. Beneath the trees, a yurt found its place, welcoming those who came to experience her womb healing work.
As the project grew, so did the possibilities. Luna remained on the island with her family, continued her studies with women of the Amazon, and brought her gifts to an ever-growing circle of people.
Looking at all that has unfolded, I sometimes wonder who needed whom more. Perhaps that is the beauty of what we created together. Each of us brought something the other could not have brought alone, and a shared dream became a living reality.
Rebecca’s Story
When I first met Rebecca, she was living in a community on a mountain where people from many different backgrounds had come together to create a place of healing and connection. They cared for the land, shared responsibilities, and brought their individual gifts into projects that supported others.
When the mountain was sold, Rebecca had to leave the home and community she had helped nurture.
For a time, she lived nomadically, sometimes staying in her trailer, while continuing to offer her work to those who needed it. She asked only for donations, giving generously of herself wherever she went.
I had rarely encountered someone so humble and generous, whose work could touch people's lives so deeply.
Together, we began dreaming of what Temple of Return might become. What started as a tiny seed of an idea gradually grew into a shared reality.
Today, Rebecca lives at Temple of Return, a place she now calls home. She tends the gardens, cares for the property, and helps guide the many projects through which the space continues to evolve.
Her presence is woven into the life of the place, just as the place has become part of hers.
What we dreamed of together continues to grow, nurtured by the very person whose generosity helped inspire it.