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Rainbow Hearth Sanctuary and Retreat CenterA Visit to the Other Side of the RainbowBy Autumn Rhea Carpenter
The Muppet Movie, 1979 Rainbows conjure up different memories for everyone. For me, rainbows remind me of the two things – "The Muppet Movie" and Pamplona, Spain. The first one is simple, in the movie’s opening song, "The Rainbow Connection" Kermit strums the banjo and solemnly ponders why there are so many songs about rainbows. I was seven-years-old and henceforth rainbows were forever associated with The Muppets. In 1996, I visited Spain and another rainbow experience overshadowed those furry Jim Henson creatures. I was attending the annual Running of the Bulls event. The original plan had been to visit Barcelona, but a train ride filled with gleeful bull fans influenced the change in venue. After three days of festivities, sleeping in an ATM booth, wearing the same clothes and a steady diet of day-old bread, nerves were wearing thin. Just when the tension was about to break, I looked skyward and witnessed the most amazing rainbow covering the Spanish sky. Our group stopped and was momentarily lulled into a peaceful state by Mother Nature and by the glorious colors stretched across the sky. This same feeling returned recently while visiting the Rainbow Hearth Sanctuary and Retreat Center, located at Lake Buchanan. Only this time there were no lingering fears that a bull would soon be chasing my heels.
Richard explained their philosophy toward the land. "We’ve strived to create a welcoming atmosphere for our visitors while simultaneously respecting the sacred land. It’s been a labor of love." "We’ve been developing this land since 1985," said Richard. "The first decade was spent making the land more receptive. We’ve managed to maintain the native plants and trees, by learning more about their purposes. We have junipers, laurels, oaks and evergreen trees. Even the cedar trees are welcome here."
Richard, a high-tech retiree and an experienced carpenter, has renovated all of the structures at Rainbow Hearth. "We’ve been adding rooms slowly over the years and it’s starting to come together," he said. "We now have a dining area with a connecting kitchen, with a stellar view. We wanted an area where people could share meals. It’s important to give our guests freedom to share and retreat to themselves." He explained how they’ve utilized permaculture methods to improve Rainbow Hearth. "We placed hundreds of thousand bale of hay on the ground to hold rainwater," he said. "The straw bale helped to balance the unleveled property, 200 feet from the lakeshore. By capturing rainwater, we are self-sufficient and in harmony with nature and all of its critters (raccoons, ring-tailed cats, possums, skunks, wild turkeys, squirrels, rabbits and foxes) and with our neighbors. This method creates a sponge that seeps nutrients into the Earth." Rainbow Hearth maintains an extensive water system, with various streams flowing throughout the property." The permaculture method is off the grid and utilizes electric generation to heat the water. Richard plans to continue enhancements. "We’re going to build a 30-foot teaching area and a 44-foot monolithic dome," he said. "The dome will last for centuries and is five times more energy efficient than standard buildings. Our goal is to provide yoga classes and offer more space for people to teach and learn." They are also adding a two-bedroom suite, which will offer a panoramic view. As our trek, continued, Richard explained that Native Americans have reported spirit interaction while there. "We’ve received much gratitude for our efforts to preserve this property and for our efforts to preserve the sacred areas. Many Native Americans have visited this land and report that there is a beautiful energy here and that the spirits haves returned to bless the land."" There are various areas where Indians are said to have held prayer ceremonies. "Anywhere where there are rock piles, we have found no arrowheads," Richard said. "We decided that meant the Native Americans were at harmony when they were here. The piled stones were used by Native Americans for vision quests." Richard explained a large rock covered with pencil cactus, where sacred ceremonies occurred. "This rock holds a strong source of energy," he said. "It’s similar to a medicine wheel and when a person walks along it, should be able to track significant life moments by stopping along the rock." He discussed his approach to introducing guests to the rock. "95 percent of our visitors come here to be nurtured by the land. If there appears to be a connection with the Native American beliefs or alternative healing, I show them the sacred places. We’re not interested in forcing our ideals on our guests; we simply want to share this wonderful place and in the process, sometimes doors are opened to new ideas." Rainbow Hearth offers various types of amenities to its guests. Including a garden cottage, a tree house cottage (yurt), organic gardens, a sprout room, spa and massage room. I was offered the yurt experience and was able to spend the night among the trees. The yurt design began as nomadic dwellings of some indigenous population groups in the Tibetan highlands, amongst them, the descendants of the Mongolians. Mongolians refer to them as ‘gers,’ which means home, rather than yurt, which is of Russian origin. Theses structures are considered environmentally friendly, stable, adaptable and weatherproof. The yurt fostered a warm, inviting space for me. It helped clear my head and I slept better than I had in a long time. There’s something to say about returning to the tree house days. Homegrown meals are another amenity available at the retreat. Rainbow Hearth offers its guests at least one organic meal each night, often including sprouts from their sprout room. This room is a tight operation, complete with charts, formulas and schedules. The staff grows buckwheat, sunflower, alfalfa, radish and fenugreek sprouts on a 13-day cycle. When we entered the sprout room, I heard classical music lilting through out the room. "Mariah gives her sprouts special care and attention," Richard said. "She treats them to music and it really makes a difference. I think that’s why our salads are so amazing." Rainbow Hearth also maintains an extensive fruit tree orchard including plums, peaches, pears, apples, persimmons, pomegranates, figs and apricots. Richard and Mariah also support an intern work-study program at Rainbow Hearth. "We’ve been able to meet some amazing individuals, who want to gain gardening, carpentry and life skills as well as learn more about themselves during the process," Richard said. "They are usually recent college graduates, who don’t yet have many responsibilities and are able to give a few months of their lives to the program. One of their assignments is to keep the sprout room schedule on track." While there, I met the current intern. "His progress has been tremendous," Richard said. "When he first arrived, he could barely look you in the eye." The intern has a social disorder and has a difficult time even introducing himself to strangers. Richard and Mariah have spent many days learning about his life and helping him make progress. "He can now shake your hand and be confident. It doesn’t sound like much, but it’s huge for him. He’s flying home today, and we’ve created a progress report for his parents to read and mailed it to them, before he arrives home. It’s important that they understand he wasn’t wasting his time at a hippie commune, doing who knows what. He’ll return there with a new vision and self confidence." Intern applicants are required to complete an application and interview. They must be hard workers and open to discussions. Not everyone is automatically accepted into the program.
She offers several types of treatments, including hot stone aromatherapy, raindrop therapy (this detoxifies the nervous system and removes bacteria from the body), and others. "Rainbow Hearth offers people a great deal of solace and peace," said Mariah. "The transformation from their arrival to their departure is incredible. I love to see the change in our guests in that after they experience bodywork, their eyes open with clarity, there is a spiritual connection and they start to feel good in their own bodies." Of course, the serene environment isn’t for everyone. "Some folks fall apart in the quiet," Mariah said. "People create various forms of noise to avoid hearing themselves. The visitors who need constant stimulation and entertainment will be disappointed." I would like to devote more energy to body work techniques, but I’m spending a lot of time as my alternative ego, Hilda, the German housecleaning lady," said Mariah. "Soon we’ll be able to add to our staff and that will allow me to concentrate more on my trade. I would love to teach classes out here and offer treatments for healers. They are notorious for running on empty and not taking care of themselves." Rainbow Hearth’s remote setting is unique for workshops and group retreats. It is equally open to hermitage and individual retreats. "We are very isolated out here, and we love meeting all of the different kinds of visitors," said Richard. "Can you imagine living here without ever seeing a new face? It helps to break up the monotony. Our philosophy is pretty self-explanatory, so our visitors usually share the same beliefs in caring for their bodies as well as the Earth." For more information on the Rainbow Hearth Sanctuary and Retreat
Center: Images by Autumn Rhea Carpenter |
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Rainbows are
visions, but only illusions, and rainbows have nothing to hide.
After
arriving at the retreat, I was greeted by owners Mariah Wentworth and
Richard 
Gerstner, as well as
by their two heeler and border collie mixed dogs, Bodhi and Reyna, Pecos the
Sicilian donkey and Piggy (his name gives his species away.) My visit
commenced with a tour of the nine-acres of land, which included intense
hiking and mind opening discussions.
Mariah explained
how she discovered the property during the eighties. "My best friend was
about to give birth and I came here to be with her," she said. "I discovered
this land and back then it was still thought of as ‘hell and beyond’ and was
relatively inexpensive. My family and ex-husband helped me collect the money
to purchase it. It began as a gift and we’ve continued to share this gift
with others."
Health
and healing are important elements instilled at Rainbow Hearth. Mariah, a
licensed massage therapist with 30 years of healing experience, also manages
the spa and massage room. "Our philosophy is that this is a peaceful setting
that provides a backdrop to connect with nature and to renew your body, mind
and spirit. I’m a myopractor, which means I work at the tissue level and can
usually repair damaged muscles quicker than with other body treatments" said
Mariah.