How do I get to Seed of Life?
Austin Bergstrom and San Antonio International Airports are both an hour drive from Seed of Life. Resident is responsible for their transportation.
Can I drive myself there?
Yes, the Seed of Life is very easy to navigate to and right on a major highway. Residents may drive to Seed of Life with their own transportation. A car is encouraged for getting to town and back for any needed supplies.
Is there a vehicle available for my use?
No. However the Seed of Life may offer companion rides when going into town for shopping.
Can I leave the property?
While jaunts to town are needed, frequent or extended trips that are not “project” oriented are discouraged.
What is the weather like?
The weather in Texas is unpredictable. It can be freezing one day and 100 degrees the next. Please refer to weather averages for zipcode 78636 for the time you intend to visit. Generally speaking, if it is a hot day it does cool down at night.
Here is a weather link.
Where can I learn more about the location?
We have a complete website dedicated to our Peace Sanctuary. you can see the layout and many highlights on this page.
Seedoftexas.com/peace
What are the accommodations like?
This is not a luxury resort by any stretch. You may also bring a car-van-or tent to sleep in. However, we do not offer hookups. And there is NO wifi. Where you sleep will be spartan. We have campsites available and five twin beds scattered on property available for inside sleeping depending on your type of residency. We may also be able to provide a tent.
What about coconnectivity?
You must have a working cellular device to stay with us. WiFi is not available so make sure that you have your own hot spot for internet connections. There is no landline telephone service, although we have found that most all mobile providers have a good connection here. Confirm with your cell phone provider that you will have service while you are at Seed of Life. There is high speed WiFi available at the Johnson City or Fredericksburg Public Libraries or coffee houses in those towns.
Is there electricty and water?
Yes. We do have electricity and a communal room with a tv that offers streaming and dedicated charging station for all of your electronic devices. We have clean running water that was tested for potability. There is spring fed creek for bathing and rinsing and a communal solar shower for more civilized bathing.
Do I need to bring any equipment or supplies?
Residents need to bring their own laptop should they choose to use one. There is a printer available for short run prints. Awarded residents will receive a full list of available amenities and a recommended packing list.
Can anyone accompany me; spouse/partner, collaborator, children, pet?
The whole point of a Residency is for you to focus on your work mission… undistracted. Spouses, partners, and collaborators are not allowed at this time. Children and pets are not allowed. If your spouse or partner wishes to stay and help as a volunteer during the time you are here, they may apply to do that separate from your “residency.”
May I invite any guests?
No guests are allowed unless the Seed of Life is having an Open House day or other public event or with prior knowledge or approval. This is to keep your safe creative space safe.
Is the residency accessible for people with disabilities?
The property is currently not ADA accessible and the residency is unable to accommodate people with disabilities or significantly impaired mobility.
Am I required to interact with the community?
Yes. While not required, this is hoped for. There are nice libraries in Johnon City and Fredericksburg where a resident could set up a showing, workshop or reading for school children or the community in general. Seed of Life could help facilitate this.
Can I just stay as a guest with a formal project or “residency?”
Yes. We offer WWOOF style arrangments for individuals to come and barter working on the land in exchange for a free night stay. If you prefer not to work and just soak up the vibes, we have paid options through Airbnb and Hipcamp.
Is there a stipend?
No. We do not provide financial support. We do provide you with the dedicated time, mentorship, free working environment(s), community kitchen access with some food (vegetarian) provisions, as well as a free camping spot or WWOOF style bed. For Artist Residents, we waive our standard WWOOF agreement (hourly labor-barter for free overnight stay) arrangement (unless you feel like helping of course). You will have a peaceful place to live and plork on a month-to-month basis. We will offer announcements and links to your work and message on our various forums (facebook, meetup, rumble, etc.). In return, you are expected to share and showcase your talents according to the type of residency within an agreed upon time period.
Can I sell my work while on site?
Yes. You will be responsible if you chose to sell your work. If permits or other formal legal processes are required, the artist is responsible for fulfilling those requirements. We ask that when you make a profit as a result of your stay that you tithe a protion of proceeds back to the Temple that supported you, so we can continue our Residency Program.
Are there contracts that I will need to sign?
Before choosing the awarded Residents the finalists will be asked to review Seed of Life Residency Contract, Liability Disclaimer Contract, the House Rules and adhering to church policies, and events / presentations. Awarded Residents will be required to sign these contracts before or upon arrival at Seed of Life. Artists also agree to allow Seed of Life to use their application materials, their work, and images in any promotions. Submission to any of our residencies indicates acceptance of these terms and requirements.
Do you provide any kind of insurance?
Absolutely not. The artist and their companions or visitors are responsible for themselves to be fully insured and in time for the residency. The Seed of Life is not responsible and will not cover any damages to the artist(s), property, or anything during the term of the residency or public engagements.
Are there any animals on the property?
Seed of Life is home to two feral but friendly cats named Bootsey and Benz. There are numerous wil animals that inhabit the land: deer, armadillo, fox, possom and plenty of seasonal birds.
What about food?
As previously stated, we offer a community vegan kitchen with limited staples. The resident is responsible for their own meals and housekeeping. In order to mimic the communal nature of historic Essene living, if you feel like contributing appropriate foods to the pantry, that would also be appreciated.
I am not vegetarian, but is it okay if I just to stop eating meat while I visit and work in your community?
Well, we hope that the reason you are applying to create here is due to you already being on, or transitioning to, plant-based living. And while of course, meat-eaters are welcome to visit our land as long as they refrain from eating flesh while on property. We never ask for people to CHANGE in order to stay at the land. We lead by example.
The land is a sanctuary for those that are in the process of changing on this Way. Our mission is to provide support for those wanting to live in a world that is not dependent on death for survival. Think of abstaining from meat, not so much as a temporary thing just to come here, but something that will increase your health, your mind, your spirit, and ultimately increase your connection to G*D.
Are you vegan?
We are not a strict vegan property, we are vegetarian with certain suggested guidelines around the consumption of dairy and eggs. You do not require dairy or eggs for protein, however, many people use these animal-based products as training wheels to help get them closer to a Genesis 1:29 lifestyle. If you chose to consume dairy products, we recommend you only consume “raw” unpasteurized, un-homogenized, unprocessed products. realmilk.com We advocate smaller scale farm goat or sheep milk over cow milk. If you chose to consume eggs, we recommend you find “pasture-raised” from a local ethical chicken farmer. And if you consume honey, we recommend raw honey, again from small local farms. Eventually, we are open to members of our community raising chickens, bees, sheep and/or goats as part of our animal sanctuary and in alignment with the lives of the Essenes.
Is there a drug, and alcohol policy?
Only drugs prescribed by a medical professional are permitted. Alcohol consumption is not permitted.
I am not an addict, but I do like to have a glass of wine or a little MJ now and then to get the creative juices flowing. Is it okay if I do that?
We do not condone the use of any substance that is illegal in the state of Texas on our land. We are personally not against the use of plants and their byproducts that our Creator has provided for us. That being said, just because castor beans are “beans,” does not mean they are designed to be ingested on a regular basis!
Many people justify the use of mind-altering substances because it was written that Yashua potentially partook of fermented grape juice for the Passover meal. However, this is debatable, because as a Nazarene, he would have taken a vow against grapes or fermented grapes. He may have only used the second cup of Passover wine as a symbol when the cup of deliverance or “Haggadah” is traditionally spilt as a remembrance of Egypt.
Substances are created by G*D for limited ritualistic “coming of age” ceremonial uses, not regular daily, weekly, monthly or even annual usage. If you have a purpose and plan for a substance, (not to get high or get loose), we just ask that you inform someone on property in advance, so we will be aware of your altered state of consciousness. But if this kind of “creatuve juice” is required for you, this is not the right residency for you.
I smoke. Is there a place where I can take tobacco?
We understand that nicotine can be used as a medicinal treatment for certain imbalanced conditions. We encourage you to work on correcting those imbalances so you are no longer dependent on any substance, and can use it in more of a special ceremonial sense. However, in the meantime, as you are working on those issues, we ask that you respect the land and limit your usage to the two locations which are considered our “smoking rooms.”
- The firepit ring just outside of our ceremonial space has 7 stone seats around it where you may sit and contemplate the smoke.
- If it is raining, the space under the Rocky Creek bridge provides an excellent covered protected place to contemplate the smoke.
Please always take your cigarette butts with you and dispose of them in a trash receptacle.
I would like to come to the land for ceremonial use of a plant entheogen. Is this possible?
If you have a desire to use an entheogenic substance to conquer a specific issue within a religious context, please inform us of your plans ahead of time so that we can make proper arrangements. Like LSD trips in the 1960s, entheogens are very popular these days and becoming accepted as a means to “enlightenment.” The current cultural belief is that it is ONLY through such external means that one can achieve higher states of consciousness. Consider that this belief closes the mind to the possibility of doing it on your own without “IT.” When this “exclusivity” energy surrounds the substance, we see entheogens as a potential porthole to demonic infestation.
We have personally experienced the voices and visions of the ethers withiut an external mind altering substance. When you become a clear vessel (through fruitarianism, fasting and meditation, etc.) you hear those voices and see the Spirit without needing to go “on a trip” to get there. We believe G*D gave us mental, emotional, spiritual and metaphysical abilities to access other dimensions without the use of an external crutch.
We do not advocate regular usage of entheogens. Yashua taught us to go into our inner room to find the kingdom, through fasting, meditation and prayer. We are not suggesting any specific meditation technique. each person finds their own Way.
“But as for you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
Matthew 6:6
However, after reading our thoughts, you still feel called to use an entheogen, we do inner-stand this choice. But once you have taken the elevator ride to the top floor and seen the view from up there, consider taking the stairs (of an altered lifestyle) from that point onward. It IS a lot more work to get there, but you might be surprised on the insights and you will pick up on the floors in-between.
What about “Bufo” ceremonies?
As per our mission to be stewards of animals, we feel that this type of ceremony is totally inappropriate for our land. The source either comes from synthetic pHarmaceuticals or a very traumatized Bufo alvarius (Sonoran Toad). Neither one sounds good.
“The catch-and-release experience can be quite traumatic for the toads. To trigger the venom excretion, the toads must become agitated. Then, the milky venom is extracted by scraping or squeezing. So the toads go through anxiety and then pain.”
https://realitysandwich.com/dmt-milking/
Please be kind to all our amphibian friends. Find your enlightenment through other means that do not include hurting another sentient being.