I have just received an email post from a wonderful place called Madre Grande Monastery. They are a Paracelsian Order and they believe in honoring all beliefs. They have opened their heats, homes, and land to various aspects and sub-cultures of the community. The body-mod community has hosted a large event at Madre Grande for years now. In addition, pagan faiths have held rituals on the land, members of the leather community have camped and played on the land, and the monastery hosts Native American sweats monthly.

Madre Grande Monastery is a non-profit (501c3) and they harvest white mountain sage, that grows naturally on the land, and make cone incense to sell as a source of income for the monastery. As one might think, this does not generate much income. The bulk of the income that keeps this monastery open to the community is through those that come onto the land to use it for their events.

Earlier this year this income was literally cut off, by a neighbor who erected a gate across the only road access to Madre Grande. The monastery took the neighbor to court to win use of the road but lost. Those that live on the land have open access, but guests to the land are locked out. Cutting out access and the major income for Madre Grande. All the wish to do is live there, study, and just love others.

If this was not enough, the current fires in San Diego county have consumed the monastery and its land. The email below reports on the damage.

Madre Grande Monastery need help. I am asking faery sanctuaries, sister houses, and any others reading this who offer grants to non-profits to please contact me or the monastery. I am interested in applying for grants to help out this wonderful place.

I have included a link to their website for anyone who wishes to learn more about this great loving Monastery. madregrande.org/ Included in the email below is also information on how to offer donations directly to Madre Grande.

Much Love and More Glitter
Sister Kali
(email below)

Madre Grande Fire update‏
From: Madre Grande Monastery
Sent: Fri 10/26/07 10:25 AM

Hello and let me begin by thanking everyone for the extraordinary amount of love and help that was offered to Madre Grande. With all your efforts, we got an animal rescue team (Emergency Animal Rescue out of Ramona) to immediately respond and they went to our home and fed our cats. They saw 3 of the 6, so continue your prayers for Ferdie, Trance and Vader .

They also confirmed our main house is untouched so we at least have that home to go to. She said all else is gone, but we have yet to confirm that. We hope Mario's trailer and the Sun Center survived as well. We should be able to go home tonight or tomorrow. We'll be in touch. There will be a lot of helping hands needed to help relay power and water lines and of course damage clean up, and we'll email you when we are ready to begin.

Some people have been asking about donations and of course that will be a huge help with all this. Donations can be sent by check to Madre Grande Monastery 18372 Highway 94, Dulzura, CA 91917 or via Paypal to reservations@madregrande.org
Your donation is tax-deductible and will help us get back on our feet to continue our efforts to move forward with everything we were dealing with before.
Thank you again. The response was truly amazing!

With love and gratitude,
Tracey