Calendar of Events
Upcoming events and things to do in Asheville, NC. Below is a list of events for festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, group meetups and more.
Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.
We team up with Claxton Elementary each year to find folks who’d love to provide gifts for students who would otherwise go without. If you’re looking for a way to give back this season, these children need you!
Once you sign up, we will match you with a child and email you a printable ornament with their sizes and wish list!
You can drop off gifts at Asheville Community Theatre.
ACT staff will deliver the gifts to Claxton Elementary!
More specific details will be included in an email after you sign up.SIGN-UP BY:
December 1, 2021
WHERE TO DROP OFF GIFTS:
Asheville Community Theatre
35 East Walnut St. Asheville NC 28801DROP OFF GIFTS BY:
December 6, 2021
We team up with Claxton Elementary each year to find folks who’d love to provide gifts for students who would otherwise go without. If you’re looking for a way to give back this season, these children need you!
Once you sign up, we will match you with a child and email you a printable ornament with their sizes and wish list!
You can drop off gifts at Asheville Community Theatre.
ACT staff will deliver the gifts to Claxton Elementary!
More specific details will be included in an email after you sign up.SIGN-UP BY:
December 1, 2021
WHERE TO DROP OFF GIFTS:
Asheville Community Theatre
35 East Walnut St. Asheville NC 28801DROP OFF GIFTS BY:
December 6, 2021
We team up with Claxton Elementary each year to find folks who’d love to provide gifts for students who would otherwise go without. If you’re looking for a way to give back this season, these children need you!
Once you sign up, we will match you with a child and email you a printable ornament with their sizes and wish list!
You can drop off gifts at Asheville Community Theatre.
ACT staff will deliver the gifts to Claxton Elementary!
More specific details will be included in an email after you sign up.SIGN-UP BY:
December 1, 2021
WHERE TO DROP OFF GIFTS:
Asheville Community Theatre
35 East Walnut St. Asheville NC 28801DROP OFF GIFTS BY:
December 6, 2021
We team up with Claxton Elementary each year to find folks who’d love to provide gifts for students who would otherwise go without. If you’re looking for a way to give back this season, these children need you!
Once you sign up, we will match you with a child and email you a printable ornament with their sizes and wish list!
You can drop off gifts at Asheville Community Theatre.
ACT staff will deliver the gifts to Claxton Elementary!
More specific details will be included in an email after you sign up.SIGN-UP BY:
December 1, 2021
WHERE TO DROP OFF GIFTS:
Asheville Community Theatre
35 East Walnut St. Asheville NC 28801DROP OFF GIFTS BY:
December 6, 2021
Wells Funeral Home is presenting a starlight luminary display around the grounds of Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Candler, NC on Monday, December 6 from 5:30-8:00 p.m. (Inclement weather make-up date is Wednesday, December 8). This drive-through event will feature approximately 2,000 luminaries as well as seasonal music.
The luminary experience is free with donations accepted to support DayStay Adult Day Services. Based in Candler, DayStay is a non-profit adult day care providing daytime, weekday care for elderly and impaired adults.
DayStay fosters socialization to support the dignity and self-esteem of each participant and provides an affordable alternative to institutionalism. Through respite care and resource information, the program seeks to support family caregivers in their efforts to provide care to the aging or impaired adult in the home for as long as possible. Center participants include adults who experience a lack of socialization, depression, Alzheimer’s, dementia, are at risk of falling, or who need limited assistance with daily personal care.
DayStay participants take part in diverse programs including arts and crafts, music, chair exercise, games, trivia, gardening, and more. Activities are adapted to meet the individual needs of each participant. All activities are conducted in such a manner that each participant can succeed without shame or risk of failure.
DayStay is open Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. DayStay’s daily rate is intentionally kept low so that families can take advantage of this cost-effective service. Financial assistance is provided through grants and scholarships. For more information on DayStay Adult Day Services, visit www.daystayasheville.com or call (828) 665-1575.
Forest Lawn Memorial Park is located at 1 Chapel of Faith Drive, Candler. Additional event information can be found on the Wells Funeral Home website, www.wellsfuneralhome.com.
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Transmission with Singing Bowls, Discussion &
Participant Q & A
LIVE
12-6-21
6:30 – 8:00 pm EST
(Please register as we are keeping this small and intimate.)
Registration: [email protected]
As you know I’ve been connected to a group of light beings. When I first started sharing, it was just important to share the frequency as there were no words.
Now there are words accompanying the energy. The words are guidance and teachings.
When others resonate this frequency gets stronger for everyone. Therefore when we meet as a group there can be an exponential shift. This shift has a ripple effect and can be felt around the world.
I will be starting a small in person group that will meet the first and third Monday of each month from 6:30 to 8:00. The space will be limited to 6 to 8 people.
There will be singing bowls and the opportunity for people to ask questions. Please bring your questions and make your questions succinct.
You must register and can do so without a donation. There will be an opportunity at the end of the meeting if you would like to donate.
Registration: [email protected]
You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment by Thich Nhat Hanh was published in 2010. This book has a 5 star rating with 1560 reviews. We will discuss this book during an online zoom call. This book is available in print, audio, and Kindle formats. Use this link to purchase https://tinyurl.com/brubf48j
Description of the book: Cut through the busyness and anxieties of daily life to discover the simple happiness of living in the present moment, as taught by a world-renowned Zen monk
In this book, Thich Nhat Hanh—Zen monk, author, and meditation master—distills the essence of Buddhist thought and practice, emphasizing the power of mindfulness to transform our lives. But true mindfulness, Hanh explains, is not an escape. It is being in the present moment, totally alive and free.
Based on a retreat that Thich Nhat Hanh led for Westerners, You Are Here offers a range of effective practices for cultivating mindfulness and staying in the present moment—including awareness of breathing and walking, deep listening, and skillful speech. These teachings will empower you to witness the wonder of life and transform your suffering, both within and outside you, into compassion, tenderness, and peace. As Thich Nhat Hanh declares, “the energy of mindfulness is the energy of the Buddha, and it can be produced by anybody.” It is as simple as breathing in and breathing out.
Our circle will resume on January 22, 2022.
Ana Estrada is a Quantum Light Practitioner with more than 25 years’ experience of working consciously with Beings of Light and Ascended Masters. Her graduate degrees in Transformative Art and Spirituality took her to the Amazon jungles and the temples of India where she studied shamanic cultures and visionary art making processes. She is certified as an Intuitive Energy Healer in various healing modalities and serves as a channel for the Divine Mother and her sacred Light Language. Ana offers Quantum Light Alignment Sessions privately and at sacred sites around the world.
Donations appreciated and accepted via Paypal at:
[email protected]
To schedule a private Quantum Light Channeling and Alignment Session visit: http://www.QuantumLightPractice.com/private-practice
7 miles | Moderate Forest Walk, Holiday Celebration
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Discover America’s most-visited national park with a guided day hike! The Classic Hikes of the Smokies feature interpretation of the history, flora, and fauna of park trails. Hikes vary in distance, difficulty, and location within the park to provide a comprehensive overview of the Smokies, exposing hikers to high Appalachian vistas, streams teeming with aquatic life, the best collection of log structures on the Eastern Seaboard, and much more.
After completing registration…
You will receive an email the Friday before the hike with directions, and more information. All hikes begin at 9 a.m
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Have you spent hours learning how to identify trees by their leaves, only to have them all drift away come winter? Well, lucky for you, the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy will be leading a hike on Saturday, December 18, to Hemphill Bald, focusing on Winter Tree Identification. On the hike, we will explore strategies to identify trees in winter — such as examining bark patterns, community types, the form of the tree, and more.
This moderate 5-mile roundtrip hike with an elevation change of 900 feet begins on a road used for hiking and horseback riding. Expect to see mountain streams and lovely cove hardwood forest mixed at times with hemlock stands and the ever-present rhododendron and mountain laurel. At the top of the ridge, the woods are replaced by open high altitude pastureland, and there is the chance for superb views of four counties and a number of mountain tops, including Cold Mountain, Crabtree Bald, Mt. Pisgah, and many others. The only difficult part of the hike is the last climb to the top. At the top is a stone table, moved there by Tom Alexander, Jr. and placed in the memory of his parents, Tom and Judy Alexander, founders of Cataloochee Ranch.
This hike is currently full. If you would like to be added to the waitlist, please fill out the form below.
Come get your dance on — let’s ring in the New Year together with a fully conscious, alcohol-free, playful and pleasurable evening together.
Hosted at Making Whole by SeekHealing. Evening will begin at 7pm with a meal and facilitated Connection Practice meeting focused on setting intentions for the new year.
Dancing begins at 9:30pm; mixture of live DJ sets and playlists: electronica, hip-hop, house, glitch-hop, and vapor-twitch.
In addition to the evening meal, SeekHealing will be providing a classy mocktails bar and also serving a variety of delicious, infused water.
Kick off the new year in Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park during this First Day Hike! A Park Ranger will offer an informative discussion about the Park’s history while the group strolls, hikes or bikes up to the 3.2-mile entrance road. Usually restricted to motor vehicle traffic only, there will be no cars in your way if you show up for this special, early morning hike that’s free to participants!
Meet at the Old Rock Café at 8am. Registration is not required. Please visit North Carolina State Park website for additional information.
💜A 45-60 min. practice centered around VISION and creating the best year possible in 2022
💜An introduction to some really great essential oils and ways to add them to your practice and daily life.
💜An introduction to vision boarding + all the supplies you need to create your board during the workshop (poster board, scissors, glue and magazines provided)
💜Oils to take home with you (there will be an option to have these shipped for those participating on Zoom)
💜An opportunity to purchase oils (and any other doTERRA products) at wholesale prices.
💜A welcoming community, fun, and more!
Up to this point, we have relied on voluntary contributions to compensate our speakers for their considerable time and effort in preparing and presenting their talks to our members. For some time now, however, this has not been working. Therefore, we will be asking attendees to make their speaker donations prior to attending the talk as part of our new registration process.
This is how it will work. Attendees will register by going to PayPal and sending your contribution to [email protected]. This is Deborah Hellman’s (our Treasurer) PayPal account, and it will show up as Akashic Records Education. Contribute to our speaker (add a note that you are registering for AFOA’s January 2022 meeting) and Deborah will send you the Zoom link and password for Benjamin’s talk within 24 hours before the presentation. Of course, please do not share this link and password with anyone else.
We are asking you to make a minimum speaker’s donation of $5. Feel free to contribute more and the PayPal account will also be open after the talk if you are inclined to increase your donation amount. We hope that you appreciate that our speakers put in many hours of preparation in order to deliver an informative and enjoyable presentation filled with astrological insight. If you feel that you cannot afford the minimum donation, you may contact Deborah at [email protected] to negotiate a sliding scale fee. Also, if you do not have access to PayPal or are having a difficult time making the donation, please contact Deborah.
In 2021, we experienced a world still turned upside down. So what can we expect in 2022?
AFOA founding member Benjamin Bernstein will give his annual forecast lecture via Zoom on Friday, January 21 at 7 PM US Eastern Time. This call may reach capacity, so register early.
The Saturn-Uranus square that we experienced last year is still active in 2022 and Benjamin will be telling us about an important “mini grand trine” that will be coming into aspect soon. Expect Benjamin to be recharged and full of his good energy as we explore what lies ahead astrologically.
To register, go to PayPal at https://www.paypal.com/us/home and make your minimum $5 speaker’s donation to [email protected]. Your Zoom link and password will be emailed within 24 hours before the presentation. The event is being recorded and all registrants will receive a recording link shortly afterward.
AstroShaman” Benjamin Bernstein hosts This Week in Astrology, a Top 10 Astrology Podcast, and is a 3-time Best Astrologer Winner. He has done over 9000 Astrology, Shamanic Healing and Life Coaching sessions with a global clientele, and runs the “Awakening Plus” online spiritual support membership. He has lectured or taught at national Astrology conferences and retreats, and wrote the Shamanic Astrology chapter in the book Transpersonal Astrology: Explorations at the Frontier.
Learn more about Benjamin’s work at https://www.astroshaman.com/
We look forward to seeing you!
Receive a Light Language transmission from the Galactic Magdalene Lineage. This powerful activation does not come through believing in anything. It does not come through a book, education or philosophy. It comes naturally through alignment with the Divine Source that is alive inside of you. This alignment activates the inner wellspring of Peace and Divine Love that is always feeding and nourishing you. No matter what is occurring in the outer world, experience the truth of who you are as a Sovereign Divine Being of Light.
Ana Estrada is a Quantum Light Practitioner with more than 25 years experience of working consciously with Beings of Light and Ascended Masters. Her graduate degrees in Transformative Art and Spirituality took her to the Amazon jungles and the temples of India where she studied shamanic cultures and visionary art making processes. She is certified as an Intuitive Energy Healer in various healing modalities and serves as a channel for the Divine Mother and her sacred Light Language. Ana offers Quantum Light Alignment Sessions privately and at sacred sites around the world.
Donations are appreciated and received via Paypal: [email protected]
For more information about Ana and the Quantum Light Practice visit:
http://www.QuantumLightPractice.com
What if we gathered at the Botanical Gardens, stared up at the clouds, and danced with plants? Maybe we will tell a joke. Maybe we will draw each other’s portraits. Maybe we will discuss what the clouds look like. Maybe we will share some strawberries. Maybe we will stretch together. Maybe we will write a song together. Maybe we will just look at each other, sharing space, breathing the same air.
Multidisciplinary Performance Artist, Mike Durkin, will lead a participatory mediative performance where audience members will gather, share space, tour the grounds, dance, and find a deeper connection between the variety of environments and worlds we occupy on a day-to-day basis.
The experience, located on the grounds of the Botanical Gardens on UNC Asheville’s campus, will last approximately 75 minutes and will have periods of walking, dancing, and other activities. Plan on wearing hiking attire, clothes you can move in, and complimentary tea will be served during the experience. Audience members can participate in as much or as little as they are comfortable with. All movements and activities require very little exertion.
Email [email protected] for reservations for performances 1/22-1/27
Buy tickets at www.ashevillefringe.org for the Saturday 1/29 and Sunday 1/30 performances, available January 1st.
For More Information, www.mikedurkin.info
Follow him on Instagram: @MikeDurkinProjects
What if we gathered at the Botanical Gardens, stared up at the clouds, and danced with plants? Maybe we will tell a joke. Maybe we will draw each other’s portraits. Maybe we will discuss what the clouds look like. Maybe we will share some strawberries. Maybe we will stretch together. Maybe we will write a song together. Maybe we will just look at each other, sharing space, breathing the same air.
Multidisciplinary Performance Artist, Mike Durkin, will lead a participatory mediative performance where audience members will gather, share space, tour the grounds, dance, and find a deeper connection between the variety of environments and worlds we occupy on a day-to-day basis.
The experience, located on the grounds of the Botanical Gardens on UNC Asheville’s campus, will last approximately 75 minutes and will have periods of walking, dancing, and other activities. Plan on wearing hiking attire, clothes you can move in, and complimentary tea will be served during the experience. Audience members can participate in as much or as little as they are comfortable with. All movements and activities require very little exertion.
A special zoom performance will be held on Saturday 1/22 for individuals to gather, share space, and dance with plants across the interwebs. Performances on Saturday 1/29 and Sunday 1/30 at 3pm are part of the Asheville Fringe Festival.
Email [email protected] for reservations for performances 1/22-1/27
Buy tickets at www.ashevillefringe.org for the Saturday 1/29 and Sunday 1/30 performances, available January 1st.
For More Information, www.mikedurkin.info
Follow him on Instagram: @MikeDurkinProjects
What if we gathered at the Botanical Gardens, stared up at the clouds, and danced with plants? Maybe we will tell a joke. Maybe we will draw each other’s portraits. Maybe we will discuss what the clouds look like. Maybe we will share some strawberries. Maybe we will stretch together. Maybe we will write a song together. Maybe we will just look at each other, sharing space, breathing the same air.
Multidisciplinary Performance Artist, Mike Durkin, will lead a participatory mediative performance where audience members will gather, share space, tour the grounds, dance, and find a deeper connection between the variety of environments and worlds we occupy on a day-to-day basis.
The experience, located on the grounds of the Botanical Gardens on UNC Asheville’s campus, will last approximately 75 minutes and will have periods of walking, dancing, and other activities. Plan on wearing hiking attire, clothes you can move in, and complimentary tea will be served during the experience. Audience members can participate in as much or as little as they are comfortable with. All movements and activities require very little exertion.
Email [email protected] for reservations for performances 1/22-1/27
Buy tickets at www.ashevillefringe.org for the Saturday 1/29 and Sunday 1/30 performances, available January 1st.
For More Information, www.mikedurkin.info
Follow him on Instagram: @MikeDurkinProjects
What if we gathered at the Botanical Gardens, stared up at the clouds, and danced with plants? Maybe we will tell a joke. Maybe we will draw each other’s portraits. Maybe we will discuss what the clouds look like. Maybe we will share some strawberries. Maybe we will stretch together. Maybe we will write a song together. Maybe we will just look at each other, sharing space, breathing the same air.
Multidisciplinary Performance Artist, Mike Durkin, will lead a participatory mediative performance where audience members will gather, share space, tour the grounds, dance, and find a deeper connection between the variety of environments and worlds we occupy on a day-to-day basis.
The experience, located on the grounds of the Botanical Gardens on UNC Asheville’s campus, will last approximately 75 minutes and will have periods of walking, dancing, and other activities. Plan on wearing hiking attire, clothes you can move in, and complimentary tea will be served during the experience. Audience members can participate in as much or as little as they are comfortable with. All movements and activities require very little exertion.
Email [email protected] for reservations for performances 1/22-1/27
Buy tickets at www.ashevillefringe.org for the Saturday 1/29 and Sunday 1/30 performances, available January 1st.
For More Information, www.mikedurkin.info
Follow him on Instagram: @MikeDurkinProjects
I invite you to commune with Mary Magdalene’s sacred mysteries for healing, personal transformation and self mastery.
Mary Magdalene’s story is shrouded in mystery. In the sacred circle, we invoke her truth, wisdom and deep love and reverence for visceral teaching, clearing and activation.
Each month we will gather to connect and commune with the essence of this visionary aspect of divine feminine. We will explore the alchemy of Mary Magdalene in relationship to her Divine attributes of mysticism, sacred sexuality, Divine adoration, surrender, faith, and unity consciousness to support the expression of your authentic self along your path of self mastery. I will offer teachings on alchemical interventions and guided meditation to invite the Divine Feminine to rise in greater ways of clarity, vibrancy and empowerment in your life.
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Do you need a little inspiration to get moving after the holiday season? Well, lucky for you, our Annual Virtual Hiking Challenge is back!
The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy Virtual Hiking Challenge sets a goal for you to complete 60 miles in 60 days at your own pace. Those can be miles you’ve walked, run, or hiked – in your neighborhood, on a flat walking track, up a rugged mountain trail, or meandering in fields and forests. Whatever works for your comfort and skill level, all you have to do is move 60 miles within the 60-day challenge period, running from January 1 to March 1. Sign up before January 1 to have more time to complete the Challenge. Registration is open now and ends on February 1.
Registration is $25 and all participants will receive informative emails with details on some of our favorite places to hike across the mountains of NC and TN. This special email series will include recommendations to areas SAHC has protected and some of our other favorite trails and excursions. We all know that some of our favorite hiking places are experiencing overuse and suffering impacts from their popularity. We will try to share tidbits about some of the lesser-known trails and areas to enjoy the great outdoors, so you can help alleviate stress on fragile trail ecosystems. All participants will receive a Hiking Challenge patch, coupons and will be entered into a raffle to win a certificate good for two to either cave, climb, or raft through USA Raft (after March 1). The registration fee will give participants access to the portal throughout the Challenge.
Time spent outdoors and in nature can help with both mental and physical health. We hope this Challenge will inspire folks to explore places you may not have hiked before and rediscover the joy of nature in your own neighborhood. Please note, you DO NOT have to pay to hike public trails.
Are you a little unsure about hiking in winter? Read our helpful Winter Hiking Tips so you can feel more confident hiking during the cold winter months.
Rumi was a Sufi mystic and poet in the 1200’s AD. His poems on love, soul, and God inspire people of all faiths to this day. I’ll bring some of my favorites for discussion but encourage others to bring some of theirs as well.
Food and Supplementation are often at the forefront of the Medical Medium®️ healing discussions. But one of the MOST important aspects of healing is the SPIRITUAL aspect of healing.
What we’ll do:
11:00 Short introductions
11:15 Discussion/Q&A
11:55 Bathroom Break
12:00 Continue Discussion/Q&A
12:25 Closing Blessing
(Please be on time. We’ll begin right at 11:00).
*Please be in a location with a quiet background and where you can devote your full attention to the person speaking. We often get personal and emotional and being present helps keep this a safe and compassionate space.
Unplug, unwind, and reconnect with yourself as you relax into the wisdom and beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Unplug, unwind, and reconnect with yourself as you relax into the wisdom and beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. 3hrs, 2 miles, all-levels yoga, guided meditation, and panoramic views…just 30 mins from downtown Asheville!
Take time away in nature to breathe deep, relax, and immerse yourself in the beauty of our wild places! Enjoy a 2-mile round trip hike along an easy/moderate trail to a mountaintop with stunning panoramic views then settle in for an hour of yoga for all levels on the summit. The full experience takes approximately 3 hours and the trail head is only 30 mins from downtown Asheville so you’ll have plenty of time to explore the town too!
Enjoy wide open spaces, fresh mountain air, and endless views. We’ll bring the mats. You bring your spirit of adventure!
Prefer a private adventure? Sunset, Morning, and Afternoon hikes are available daily year round for private groups…even if you’re a solo adventurer!
Traveling with a group? Discounts available for parties of 6+
Unplug, unwind, and reconnect with yourself as you relax into the wisdom and beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Unplug, unwind, and reconnect with yourself as you relax into the wisdom and beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. 3hrs, 2 miles, all-levels yoga, guided meditation, and panoramic views…just 30 mins from downtown Asheville!
Take time away in nature to breathe deep, relax, and immerse yourself in the beauty of our wild places! Enjoy a 2-mile round trip hike along an easy/moderate trail to a mountaintop with stunning panoramic views then settle in for an hour of yoga for all levels on the summit. The full experience takes approximately 3 hours and the trail head is only 30 mins from downtown Asheville so you’ll have plenty of time to explore the town too!
Enjoy wide open spaces, fresh mountain air, and endless views. We’ll bring the mats. You bring your spirit of adventure!
Prefer a private adventure? Sunset, Morning, and Afternoon hikes are available daily year round for private groups…even if you’re a solo adventurer!
Traveling with a group? Discounts available for parties of 6+
Unplug, unwind, and reconnect with yourself as you relax into the wisdom and beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Unplug, unwind, and reconnect with yourself as you relax into the wisdom and beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. 3hrs, 2 miles, all-levels yoga, guided meditation, and panoramic views…just 30 mins from downtown Asheville!
Take time away in nature to breathe deep, relax, and immerse yourself in the beauty of our wild places! Enjoy a 2-mile round trip hike along an easy/moderate trail to a mountaintop with stunning panoramic views then settle in for an hour of yoga for all levels on the summit. The full experience takes approximately 3 hours and the trail head is only 30 mins from downtown Asheville so you’ll have plenty of time to explore the town too!
Enjoy wide open spaces, fresh mountain air, and endless views. We’ll bring the mats. You bring your spirit of adventure!
Prefer a private adventure? Sunset, Morning, and Afternoon hikes are available daily year round for private groups…even if you’re a solo adventurer!
Traveling with a group? Discounts available for parties of 6+
Organically Divine
Rev. Darlene Strickland
Minister at Unity of the Blue Ridge
Unconsciously a person crafts an individual identity and personal reality. As Ram Dass said, “We all go through ‘Somebody’ training”. All the while, our Divine Identity is intact, organic, complete, and immutable. In any moment you can realize and live from your Divine Identity. You do not have to acquire your Divine Identity; you have only to mature in your experiential understanding of this essential identity and allow it to become your moment-by-moment reality.
*****
Rev. Darlene Strickland is a spiritual visionary and mystic for our times. She is an outstanding speaker and singer who has a knack for weaving spiritual wisdom and transformational practices into real life experiences.
Darlene is an openly intuitive, gay, cancer survivor, who experienced an extraordinary and powerful kundalini awakening when she lived and worked on Maui. Speaking of that experience and what followed, she said “You can’t poo-poo what’s woo-woo if it happens to you-you”.
Raised in eastern North Carolina, Darlene became uncomfortably aware of racial injustice and religious intolerance at an early age. “I was white in the rural South and I was part of the ‘right’ religious affiliation. So, I was told. But my heart knew there were no better-than or less-than people… and my soul knew we came from the one, same divine Source.”
Darlene became an Ordained Unity Minister in 2004 and previously served ministries in Kansas, Hawaii and Washington State. Prior to seminary, she served as the Music Director at Unity of the Triangle in Raleigh, N.C. She currently serves as Senior Minister at Unity of The Blue Ridge in Mills River, N.C.
Before entering seminary, Darlene was a Senior Executive in the children’s toy industry, working with BRIO Toys and TY Inc. She has a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and is a Seminary graduate of Unity Worldwide Institute.
She lives with her partner Tia and their fur-angel Ari Grace. Life is best when rendezvous with Mother Nature, family time, and sharing home cooked meals and hearty laugher are involved!
Join us for an orientation to the Museum’s VALLEY HISTORY EXPLORER HIKING SERIES, which consists of 8 hikes to historic locations around the Swannanoa Valley, one in each of our communities. The hour-long orientation will cover specifics of each hike. The orientation will take place at the Swannanoa Valley Museum at 223 West State Street, Black Mountain, NC 28711.
This series was developed to introduce the significant history of the region to visitors and residents of the Swannanoa Valley through moderate, approximately 3-mile hikes to historic locations. More information…
Hikes generally occur on the 2nd Saturday of each month (March – October) at 9:00am and meet at the Museum. Each hiker will receive a punch card that serves as a log and validation of the completion of each hike.
REGISTRATION FOR THE 2022 HIKING SERIES IS NOW CLOSED. Please e-mail [email protected] with any inquiries.
All are invited to join St. John in the Wilderness for any or all of our Lenten Series sessions, to take place each Thursday evening in Lent. The evenings each have three offerings all of which are open to the public with adults and youth most welcome. You do not have to be present for all three portions of the event to participate. See below for details.
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Evening Prayer at 6:00 in the Atrium Chapel in the Parish Hall
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Dinner at 6:30 in the Parish Hall – RSVP required below – $8/person or $20/family of 3+
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Program from 7:00 to 8:00 in the Parish Hall, or join via Zoom with RSVP
Our Lenten program this year will be led by the Sisters of the Community of St. Mary. These Episcopal Nuns live at their convent in Sewanee, TN and are members of a monastic movement that goes back to 1865 when their order was started in New York. The sisters will take turns sharing with us the richness of their ancient monastic way of life. Together we will learn about their Benedictine way of living that includes prayers, work, radical hospitality, rich community, accountability, and more. While many think of monks and nuns as being something restricted to the Roman Catholic Church, the Episcopal Church has a long history of monastic life that continues to influence our churches to this day.
For the first session on March 3, we will host the Prioress of the Community of St. Mary, Sister Madeleine Mary, who will travel from Sewanee to be with us. Sister Madeleine Mary has been living in religious life for over 50 years having entered the cloister after teaching middle school in New York and spending time advocating for environmental justice issues.
In the sessions following on March 10, March 17, March 24, March 31, and April 7, we will meet in person at the Parish Hall to gather for a virtual visit with other Sisters from the Order, including Sister Hannah Winkler, who made her life profession in January 2021, and Sister Elizabeth Grace, who will share on Rule of St. Benedict’s emphasis on humility. You may also participate on Zoom for any of the sessions, but we will hope you will join us in person if you can. Click here to sign up to be emailed a Zoom link.
All are also invited to join us for Evening Prayer in the Atrium Chapel of the Parish Hall at 6:00pm on each Thursday in Lent (March 3 – April 7). Dinner follows at 6:30pm in the Parish Hall. RSVP and pay for dinner by clicking the one of the boxes below by Tuesday of each week so food is not wasted. Masks will be required except when eating.
Sister Madeleine Mary will also be preaching at St. John in the Wilderness on Sunday, March 6, at the 8:45 and 11:00 services. Please join us as we journey through Lent together.
For more information:
https://www.communityofstmarysouth.org/about
https://www.facebook.com/communityofstmarysouth/