Hi Friends,

I am honored to share with you what's been happening for Miriam's Well and me these past few years. It's been a time filled with great challenge and difficulty, great hope and change, and mostly great appreciation of life as it unfolds and offers its gifts to us all.

There can be no rebirth and renaissance without collapse. For me this started with the deaths of John O'Donohue, a favorite presenter and friend of Miriam's Well and Brugh Joy, my beloved teacher and mentor for 25 years. These events were followed by the collapse of my marriage of 34 years. To say I have experienced shock and trauma is an understatement! What is my next step? Where do I go from here? This underscores my ongoing education and practical application of the art of "letting go."

Our theme for 2011 was "Become the Change." It was intended to mean what Ghandi referred to: "become the change you want to see in the world." That is a worthy and admirable vision, yet, as part of my own journey, I also had no choice. I realized I am always becoming the change. There is always change in every moment. Our 2011 programs reflected this experience for all who participated. We supported each other as we continued to do the deep personal work necessary to practice "conscious spiritual evolution," the heart of our mission statement.

And Miriam's Well, this small oasis of reflected love, is always there to hold us. Miriam's Well appears on the earth every so often through its stories and its legends. It continues to bring forth its gifts of sacred space, loving kindness, unconditional love. We are a community of citizens sitting in a circle practicing democracy free from politics.

This year we have created new programs, welcomed wonderful volunteers, built new bonds of community and taken steps to solidify our financial base. We have also been gifted with some new and talented people. Lesley Vann has come on board as director of fundraising and development. Jay Koebele has become head of our publicity and social media. Abbe Aronson is helping with public relations and overall guidance. Together with others, this team has generated creative energy and infused Miriam's Well with a new beginning.

So it is an organic and natural progression that our theme for 2012 will be "Resilience, Recovery, and the Mature Human." For me, I have found the beauty of resilience - how it seeps into my cells to help me through the pain and chaos that is always present when something new is being born. Recovery is an ongoing practice of focusing on my own personal work. And all of this is to birth the mature human, one who commits to listening to the wisdom that speaks to us and through us, regardless of how life unfolds.

And all this is possible through your support. We will continue our workshops, dream circles, concerts, classes, poetry readings, and we are very excited about our new projects. "In the Voice of our Mothers" is a performance piece that tells the intimate, powerful and personal stories of our Biblical matriarchs. Performed by five exceptional professional actresses, it is written and directed by Carol Fox Prescott. And we are aligning ourselves with a brand new group of extraordinary change agents called "Wisdom Workers" doing brilliant work in the world.

We need and value your support to continue our vision and mission. You are an essential part of Miriam's Well. There are many ways you can help. Please know that a gift of any amount is greatly appreciated.

Your donations are needed and vital, and will help us fund the following: An updated website, office computers, fundraising activities, publicity, technical support, and community outreach.

Please send Miriam's Well a check with your donation to our address below, or call me at 845-246-5805 to donate by phone. You can also donate online; click here for more info about membership levels and to make a donation. I would love to speak with you and tell you about all the remarkable work that is unfolding within our Miriam's Well community. Also, we are always looking to add to our Board of Directors; should this pique your interest, please let me know.

This land, this yurt, this house all coalesce to shine a bright light out to all those who are called to rest and reflect here awhile. Come, it says. There's room for you here. You are welcome.

On behalf of the Board and all of us at Miriam's Well, I wish you happy and healthy holidays and a year full of courage and resilience.

With love and blessings,

Susan Rosen
Spiritual Director Miriam's Well Organization, Inc.
13 Simmons Street
Saugerties, NY 12477
845-246-5805
845-246-7597 - Fax
susan@miriamswell.org