Aquarius Ranch is home to cats, dogs, chickens, and horses. They are the most friendly, fear-less, and loving animals I have seen. Urban animals simply can’t compare. Freedom to these simple creatures is having space to run around, food and water to drink, and nature’s bounty of toys to play with.
Here, the dry desert soil is being transformed into fertile garden soil. You can do this with a few years’ time, nutrient-rich horse manure compost, and lots of garden love. The heat is unbearable, but the beauty is breathtaking.
The horizon is pure magic, where no skyscrapers or bright lights pollute the land’s sweeping beauty. It is, as they say, where Earth meets Sky. If you take a moment to look, to step into the embrace of Earth and Sky, you become a part of the landscape, one with the horizon. The energy of your beating heart can be released into the air. There are no people, cars, or buildings to stop you.
Breathe.
The air is clean, free of toxins and exhaust. No purple bands of smoke above.
On the ranch, there are homes for the animals, two vegetable gardens just starting to grow food, trailers for people, and two superadobe domes. One is finished, the Avatar Dome. The other is in progress. The rest of the land is Desert Earth and Blue Sky.
There’s something magical about earthen structures.
Our home here is a little off-grid travel trailer.
The day begins at 6am. We feed the animals, work on odd jobs or the superadobe dome. We work until 10am, when the heat gets too hot.
My day is spent indoors. The Avatar Dome soaks up the harsh heat during the day, so we nap in there.
At 6pm, the heat has cooled to a moderate warmth and we begin our evening work schedule. We plaster the superadobe dome for two hours and leave to rest for the evening.
Naturally, the way of life here is reduce, reuse, recycle. There is no such thing as convenience here. Sustainability is survival.
At night, the breeze is refreshingly cool. I wait earnestly for nightfall, for the mystical, twinkling night sky. Stars fill every pocket of darkness with light. Some are bright, some dim, some are close and some are far, far away. They are everywhere, beyond my sight’s escape. I can see the Milky Way, a shadowy arc across my personal planetarium. At first sight, my heart stirs. I can’t see the Universe in the city. Here, we are met face to face. I have missed seeing its beautiful tapestry of stars. I am one being in one solar system of one star. Earth is my home, one speck in the Universe. I wonder how much other life is out there?
Overall, Aquarius Ranch was a beautiful, relaxing, grounding experience. My next stop is still Merlin’s Perch in Carmel.
Until then, love and peace to you all.
Photos by Aaron Story and myself. See more photos of Aquarius Ranch on my Flickr page.
Beautiful post, Lynn!
Can’t wait to hear about Carmel.
Thank you!
Amazing! What a hot spot! I feel so happy that you have broken free and are exploring the mystery and magic of nature.
Thank you! I feel very happy about that too
Lynn, that sounds amazing. I love hearing about your new adventures. I think I might be too wussy to do it long term, but I’d love to visit!
Thanks, Jennifer! The first time I tried this I took 5 vacation days from my day job, so you could totally do the same! I’ll let you know when I’m in Carmel, perhaps you could stop by.
What a beautiful post Lynn. Your photos are gorgeous. Your happiness comes through loud and clear. Can’t wait to hear more about your journey.
Thanks so much, Lori!
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Wow. That photo of the desert stretching to low hills on the horizon really did make me take a deep breath. You’re on such an amazing journey, and I wish you peace, clarity of mind, and strength.
Thanks, Andrea!
This look absolutely wonderful. I’m jealous. Good luck to you!
Thank you, Ollin!
Lynn,
I’ve been away from UCL for a little while. Not by design — it’s just the way life has been the last couple of months. But I come back and read the last three posts from you and can feel such a change in your writing; your heart and mind seem to be finding such a warm embrace, with your thoughts and words just dripping with raw and unfiltered feeling and love. It is absolutely beautiful.
Aquarius Ranch looks like it rocks — in so many ways. Could that stained glass image be any cooler?!
May the feelings you experienced here stay close to you and nurture you further. Be well!
Hi Bill, I’ve been taking a little break from the blogosphere myself, so I completely understand. Things are evolving here, as my personal life changes too. I’m not sure what the future holds just yet for this site. Thanks so much for your kind words! Hope you are well.
I love taking in a view, without a single man-made item to obstruct it, no roads, no wires, no lights, signs. Purity. It is surprisingly hard to find, but amazing once you do! Sounds like you are having a wonderful experience, slowing down, and realizing what our beautiful world has to offer! Enjoy!
Thanks so much, Sherry!
I love this and especially that adobe structure with that beautiful stained glass. Post more.
Thanks, Tammy!