“Inspiring the sacred…”

Summer Solstice. Today at 2:16. I’ll take the opportunity to introduce another dear friend of mine, Elizabeth Cogburn.

I met Elizabeth and her husband, Bob, their two daughters Robyn Ann and Maria and Elizabeth’s mother, Kathleen Summit, in 1971. I had been on the road for almost a month–my VW squareback crammed with camping equipment and my worldly possessions–en route to Corrales, NM. Having crossed the border from Colorado into New Mexico, I reached the town of Red River, pulled a crumpled piece of paper out of my glove box, found a pay phone and called complete strangers who promptly, and without reservation, invited me to dinner. “We’re just putting on some rice and veggies from the garden, please come and have dinner with us and plan to stay the night. We’re the last house on the Arroyo Seco rim–it’s a funky mud house with blue trim.”

I had never been in New Mexico before and pondered what a “mud” house might look like. Red River was a tourist town with mostly A-frame architecture mixed with a sort of “Wild West” look. When I arrived at the Cogburn’s adobe, I immediately felt at home and as if I had know them forever. It was the beginning of a long friendship and for me, a gathering of soul family. I took dance classes with Eliza-betsy, helped mud the walls of her dance studio, celebrated Full Moons, Lammas, Candlemass, Solstices and Equinoxes. Together with Bob and my friend, Tom, we spent three weeks paddling our kayaks down the Green River from Green River, UT to the confluence with the Colorado River.

In 1982, I made the journey from the Hudson Valley to Albuquerque with my seven month old daughter, Sara. From Albuquerque, we headed north and west toward Mesa Verde. We spent two weeks camping in the wilderness in community with The Cogburn Family and 40 people—celebrating the Summer Solstice, exploring the rich experience of ritual and ceremonial life.

This is Elizabeth and Kathleen at Mesa Verde at sunrise…

Sara and I shared a tipi with Kathleen, who was a renowned storyteller. It was an amazing experience to spend time in silence, in movement, in dance, in music, in community, in creativity.

This is Kathleen and Sara…

Elizabetsy inspired my life; taught me the importance of story and of sacred ceremonial–an intentional “pause to reflect.” Over the years, we’ve stayed in touch and bow with gratitude to my friend, my teacher, my daughter’s “Godma” and my companion on the path.