Camel &

Sacred Camel Retreats 2011 (& horses...)

2011-02-28T22:45:00.000-08:00

Providing time and space for humans to 'drop out' and deepen in feeling amid gentle Bactrian camels, horses and other non-humans living their true nature.

The Sacred Camel & Horse Gardens of Da Fear-No-More is a place where Sanctuary is already present. We invite people to enter, refresh, let go and reconnect with life's purpose. Integral to this process are the animals who live in natural Divine Contemplation and wordlessly draw us to do likewise.

These are camping retreats - in tents, under stars! (Housing with amenities is available if required.) Your campsite, beside the camel herd, is near a beautiful swimming lake. Delicious vegetarian meals are served throughout. Relaxing massages are available on request. The days are full, evenings are rich and retreat guides are knowledgeable and supportive. A weekend with our family of camels, humans and horses will move and inspire you for years to come.

Retreats are open to anyone...

www.cameland.blogspot.com
www.fearnomorezoo.org

Retreat Fees: (deposit due upon registration)

Award -- $fee (at discretion of management, please ask)
Discount -- $200 (monthly supporters of camels & horses)
Standard -- $300
Groups -- $ negotiable (family, friends, 'corporate', birthdays, etc.)

Registration:
Write to reserve your place. A release waiver will be sent to you for return with 50% deposit. Once registered you will be forwarded
1. travel directions 2. list of what to bring 3. retreat materials and daily schedule 4. preparation reading list. See retreat dates below.

Address:
-- scamps@adidam.org
-- Fear-No-More Zoo, 12040 Seigler Springs Road, Middletown, CA 95461 USA
-- (707) 355-0638

Retreat Dates 2011

MAY Friday 20 7pm >> Sunday 22 5pm
OCT Friday 21 7pm >> Sunday 23 5pm

Stuart Camps (retreat guide)

Yearling Bactrian Camels for Sale (photos)

2011-01-09T18:46:00.000-08:00

Pictured here are our two yearling bulls, both for sale, looking for good homes. We are a non-profit 5013c organization and all proceeds go back into the development of the Sacred Camel Gardens. Please write or call for price and info... Also read two previous posts for more info.

phone: 707) 355-0638 (ask for Stuart)
email: scamps@adidam.org


Phoenix DOB: March 25, 2010, 11.30am / Sired by Everest and Google Mama

Phoenix, face shot

Sage DOB: Feb 28, 2010, 9am / Sired by Jelly Baba (deceased) and Muffin

Sage, head shot

Phoenix and Sage

Photos of our herd Sire

2011-01-07T21:52:00.000-08:00

Everest, son of Tom Dooley, is our handsome herd sire. Everest is large, with a great disposition, massive humps and big barrel belly. He is five years of age. These photos are dated January 2011. Photos of our two yearling bulls for sale will be uploaded soon. Please check back. See previous post for our philosophy on selling our camels...

Our Approach to Selling Camels

2011-01-07T21:43:00.000-08:00

Philosophy - always in consideration...

We keep our herd of Bactrian camels in a spacious 40 acre park-like setting. With one bull, eight cows and two fixed males they live a fairly natural herd life, are well fed and cared for and lovingly related to. Each season, in the natural course of things, they breed, and young are produced. Most of these young camels need to be sold for reasons of maintaining herd integrity, affordability of our non-profit project and healthy land usage.

You will receive camels from us as healthy, well-trained individuals, with good manners and a happy respect for people. Likewise, we are looking for the new owners of our camels to be happy and healthy, with good manners and a deep respect for camels and all living things. We will only place our camels into homes, and with people, where they will be loved and well cared for.

It's time to change the way humans tend to buy and sell, and invariably abuse. We can do things differently.

Each year we offer a select number of camels for sale. We like our camels stay with their mothers, and with the herd, until they are about 10 months of age. This way they grow up knowing they are camels, and receive significant input and education from the herd, and us, before they move out to live with you. This time also allows us to better know what their strengths and weaknesses are so we can better match them with their new homes and caretakers.

In the wild, in optimal circumstances, young camels are naturally weaned from their mothers between one and two years of age. At around two they are sent out of the herd by the elders.Our approach embraces more the natural culture of the camel herd, resulting in better adjusted camels.

There have been cultures that sold and owned nothing, realizing that nothing can be owned... not land, nor rivers, nor water... and not animals. In such cultures the "human beings" recognized themselves as caretakers of the fields, protectors of the rivers and forests. And they saw all these as brothers, conscious and equal.

I have sat hours on end among the herd, considered long and hard how to approach the business of selling my friends. Gradually it is becoming clear. If you resonate with our approach and would like to consider acquiring one of our valued herd members we'd be happy to hear from you.

Buying one of our camels

When you get one of our camels you don't just get a beautiful healthy, polite, respectful, camel who was lovingly raised by his or her mother. You don't just get a camel who likes and trusts people.

When you get one of our camels you are also accepting a relationship that requires love, patience, kindness, respect, mutual acceptance and learning. When you get one of our camels you will be entering into a world felt between humans and non-humans that is not about training, controlling and having, but about listening, feeling and giving. You will not just be buying a camel. You will be receiving so much more that it might just change and enhance your outlook on everything.

If you want to join your life with a camel's I invite you to consider another approach from the usual. Whether you acquire one of our camels, or one from somewhere else, I invite you to not just think of him or her as an equal, but to live the Golden Rule in relationship. And something almost magical will happen...

Sales contracts and delivery arrangements are handled in person, case by case.

Facilities requirements we recommend:
1. sufficient room for your camel(s) to be able to wander and to run
2. a sturdy shelter from heavy rain, snow and sun
3. an area of raised, solid, ground that will never get muddy, including inside shelter
4. clean water supply
5. good alkaline grass hay (or alfalfa mix), grain feed, tree cuttings and supplements (we will advise)
6. capability to afford having a large animal, including vet care and insurance if you choose or need to have insurance
7. the time, patience and care to put in to make the camel's life full and interesting
8. preferably a second camel, or more... herd animals do best with company

"Camels see the world from a unique point of view."

As each person sees the world uniquely, so too does each form of life on earth. Camels, likewise, are unique, as is each individual camel. Are you ready to begin discovering what and who a camel is? Are you ready to look beyond owning and having, beyond controlling and riding, just because you can, or want to? Are you ready to reach across the apparent divide between human and non-human, to listen, feel and respect, and to simply "be" with your camel... and yourself?

What you do with you camel is not of as much concern as how you do it and why, with how much humanity, sensitivity and regard. If you want one of our camels this is where our conversation begins. What is important is that your camel will WANT to do things with you. We want your camel to like and respect you that much, to be interested and bonded with you to that degree, and you the same. If you want this too, then it is completely possible, and quite easy to achieve. We will show you how.

Once you know how, the rest is between you and your happy, gentle, giant, camel.

Sincerely,
Stuart Camps

Yearling Bactrian Camels For Sale

2010-12-27T19:12:00.000-08:00

We have two young Bactrian Camels for sale.
One is white. The other brown. Both in good health and size. Well disposed and basic trained.
More info and photos to be posted here soon.

Stuart

Camel Herd Visits Herd Member's Grave

2010-08-20T18:12:00.000-07:00

Sacred Camel Herd Visits Jelly Baba's Grave
On Friday August 13, Jelly Baba, the large black bull of the Sacred Camel Herd, passed away. Jelly was born March 13, 2004 and left behind him 13 camels. He was six years old. It had been decided to not breed Jelly Baba anymore so we decided to geld him so that he could join the herd and live an enjoyable herd life once again, rather than live horny and apart from the others. The main bull of the herd is the great, white, Everest, one of the top white Bactrian bulls in North America. During Jelly's simple gelding procedure, while under sedation, he quietly passed out of the body.

A ceremony was done shortly after the time of his death and another later in the day, and he was buried like a saint.

When I visited the herd the day following Jelly's passing I found the whole group sitting together right on his grave-site, quiet, calm, peaceful, connected, contemplating. They do like to sit on soft, freshly turned, earth, but there was more too it than just that. I sat down among them. I lay across a couple. Google Mama reached out and touched my hand... Imperceptibly, I gradually felt like I was on Jelly's back... yet with him already gone over and me still here... all the camels staying connected through his passing... feeling deeply, as they always do... and drawing me there, too...

They've continued visiting and sitting together on the grave at random intervals.
Please read the short tribute story about Jelly Baba at the bottom of this post. Also scroll down through the two previous posts to see a photo essay of Jelly Baba reclining under a tall oak.

Inspiration for Camel Temple
Some form of shrine was in the plans soon after Jelly passed away. Seeing the camels sitting over the body of the great Jelly Baba gave vision to a layout that will make the Temple fully usable by them. A spacious elemental shrine will be developed above Jelly's grave that the camels can enter, hang-out and "odalisque" in... a unique Sacred Camel Temple that they, and we, together, can use and serve.

Peaceful Baba and Jingle Baba, when living in the original Zoo compound in the central core of the Sanctuary, often connected bodily with the Sacred Temples of All True Things Park. I've written about this elsewhere.

Set within a grove of old-man oaks, the basic design of the shrine will include an 80' diameter circle of boulders with one or two entrances. Inside this circle will be a bed of sandy gravel that the camels can roll in. At the rear of the circle will be a higher wall of boulders set on a raised area of concrete with a flower pattern inlay. A ceremony will be engaged here daily to potentize the location, invoking and concentrating benign, positive, Spiritual energy there. The camels will be able to come and go, rubbing on the interior rocks and the boulder circle, and reclining on the sandy gravel pad. The Temple will be open above to sky and trees. As much as possible we will use raw, natural, materials, including boulders and rocks from within the Sacred Camel Gardens. A formal Temple Name is in consideration.

In the wild setting, non-humans move throughout their range for food, water, mineral and herbal sources, and other survival needs. They also interact with their own kind and other species for a variety of reasons, not least including the exchanging and transmission of energies that serve their psychic life as well as their potential for Full Awakening. Non-humans are also drawn to visit and interact with certain natural features in the environment, through which their contemplation is served and supported. This shrine for the Sacred Camels will enhance their already evident connection, and naturally lived process, with the Free, Living, Divine.

This Temple will be a gift from human beings to the non-humans, for the sake of these camels and for non-humans everywhere. And for our sakes too.

Building the Camel Temple
Some aspects of the Temple construction will take time to complete, such as the cement pad, floral inlay (and possibly a sculpture) but the first phase can be done relatively quickly. Installation of the boulders and sandy gravel pad will cost about $3000 USD completed.

Please Join Us to Create This Unique Sacred Camel Temple

Choose from among these payment methods:

- send checks to Sacred Camel Temple, 12040 Seigler Springs Road, Middletown, CA 95461
- online: via Paypal - indicate for Camel Temple Project

The Little Girl and the Camel (in tribute to Jelly Baba)

The little girl enjoyed the large camels, but was nervous and shy. The young mother reassuringly held her daughter's hand.

The large black bull, Jelly Baba, approached them. He looked down at the girl, leaning slightly toward her. She shuffled back a little.

The bull stood tall again, and quiet. He gazed across the field. Then he pressed his face toward the mother and brushed his great, soft, muzzle against her cheek.

He looked down at the little girl again. She leaned away. He leaned away, too, for a while. Then he brought his face down to the mother and daughter's joined hands.

Jelly Baba opened his mouth around their hands, gently holding them, keeping one eye on the little girl. She was starting to relax.

Jelly Baba gently brushed his whiskers across the mother's cheeks again, and held hands with the pair once more.

Again he stood tall and silent, and calm, for the little girl.

After a while his long, woolly, neck drew right down to her. And this time she drew toward him.

They brushed cheeks and he snorted warm breaths in her ear until she smiled and petted his nose.

Then Jelly Baba looked up, turned and wandered across the field to rejoin his herd.

Sincerely,
Stuart

Images from Sacred Camel Gardens, July 2010

2010-07-02T12:16:00.000-07:00

April Photos - Da Fear-No-More

2010-04-11T20:20:00.000-07:00

The Sacred Camel Gardens

Images of Jelly Baba

Son of Jingle Baba

(five years old, 2500 pounds)

Baby Bactrian Camels, 2010 - 1st pair

2010-03-22T20:14:00.000-07:00

It's been too long since my last post. Have probably lost all "my" readers by now...!

Rather than go back and try to catch up I'll just pick up with current events.

Baby Bactrian Camels! Lots off of them! Well, actually, four of them. Two have been born already, and we are expecting two more in the next month or so.

A handsome little white bull was just born from Everest (his very first offspring), and Google Mama (her fifth baby.) No name yet for this little guy - but soon. And already several weeks old is our first calf of 2010, the little grey bull named, "Sage", who was born onto a bed of spring sage, beneath flowering manzanita bushes. Both are strong, robust, babies with a lot of vitality and curiosity. They will be fun to "train"...

Enjoy the pics below....

HiHo Silver; Away !

2009-02-06T23:13:00.000-08:00

Some of you personally know HiHo a little. Others might remember reading about him.

HiHo is about two and a half years old as of this writing. He's a smallish bull camel, a little quirky, very intelligent and chronically lacking good boundaries and social skills. He's the kind of camel who, anywhere else, might be sold and re-sold, and sooner or later put down. He can be difficult, and we have to be careful with him. With no bad intent, he simply has very little in the way of "brakes" and can't be counted on to respect boundaries, whether human or camel... He's our very own little mad-man! and a great teacher....

In a wild herd a camel like HiHo would probably be ostracized by the herd because of his inability to fit in and be a viable member. His aberrant behaviors would be a disturbance to the herd's equanimity and a lure for potential predators. If he didn't come around somewhat they'd sooner or later send him off.

Ever since HiHo came to live in the Sacred Camel Gardens we've served him in a variety of ways, employing various training approaches and remedial practices, all of which have been beneficial. He nevertheless remains somewhat aberrant, and maybe always will. My promise to him is that he will have a life here, and will never be sold. We will take care of him.

Some months ago I found that if I worked his soft upper and lower palates he would quickly calm down and connect with me. This was progressing well for a while, until his tendencies found a way "around" the good effects that the palate work was having. I was a bit disappointed by this as his mouth had become a good place to warm up cold fingers! HiHo always manages to find a way around all the training approaches I introduce. He keeps developing new ways to reassert his "uniqueness". His wild sense of humor and his will to stand as he is, are irrepressible!

Techniques and methods fly in the wind with him, and he has drawn me to the simplicity of "only relationship". And this is proving to be increasingly effective, something he doesn't push against or try to get around.

All I do now is stand with him and say out loud, with real feeling, "I love you. I love and appreciate you. I love and respect you. You are perfect the way you are. No need to change, ever. I love you. I love you. I love you." And as I stroke him all over he just soaks it up, becoming still and respectful of me in a way no other approach has brought forward. He can still get up to some tricks, but with the respect and love being expressed and appreciated in both directions we can communicate. It's a fine line. If my attention wanders the connection gets broken and the old HiHo reappears, reminding me to mind myself and be present with him in love. This process is serving me too, teaching me to let go and be in the moment, and more and more in feeling...

When we connect I feel his massive energy informing my own experience of being human and alive. What I'm coming to value most about HiHo is his level of unconcern. He's just not worried about very much at all. He doesn't even put much stock in food or water. The only fundamental thing I need him to learn is this matter of respecting the personal space of others, which he is only willing to do when he feels that I am completely respecting him... and he knows the difference.

As soon as put my hand on him, with real feeling, and say, "I love you and respect you," he becomes respectful. It's a moment to moment thing, alive and fresh every time, and not something I can control with my mind or body, or with equipment. It's 100% in the feeling.

Stuart

Help of Herd Elders

2009-02-06T22:48:00.000-08:00

An interesting process is unfolding in the rearing of our younger camels. I often work with, play and relate to our young calves within the herd, out in the larger pasture. I learn a lot about all the camels this way, and what I do with one is observed by all. Sometimes I get input and help from one of the observers.

Our ten month old calf named, "Barack O'Mama", by Adi Da, is always coming forward to interact with me. The others, "Not-Two Mama" and "Green Smoothy" are more shy, generally, though they are coming along in their own time. So far I've mostly interacted with Barack while the other calves look on, and learn.

When I play with Barack her energy, sooner or later, starts getting large and boisterous. I like this because she's not intimidated by me. We wrestle a bit, and run around, with her rearing up, cavorting, and bucking. I try to let her feel big and powerful, because it's in this space that she learns the most and develops a deeper trust of me as I guide and shape her interactions.

Always at a certain point either Peaceful Baba or Everest will come into our space and send Barack away when they feel she’s getting too out of hand. If the older camels don’t do this I will guide the calf through and calm her energy down, or send her away, showing her what I will and won't allow. But these older male camels often choose to do it for me. I think they are certainly being careful to keep me safe. They have this quality, especially Peaceful. But they are also taking care of, and guiding, their own; teaching the young ones appropriate behaviour.

In the midst of their guidance, and mine, Barack O'Mama, the bouncy baby camel, is learning her place within the herd and with people. Sometimes when she's playing with me she simply has to only catch sight of Peaceful watching us and she'll calm herself down enough so that he doesn't come over. So she's getting the lessons...

I'm extremely fortunate and grateful in knowing these camels, and becoming an integral part of their lives and culture, and learning first hand from them.

As our inter-species learning process develops we are slowly realizing a unique approach toward camels and horses, specifically. In time this process may be referred to as, "Da Camuus Equus" -- the gift of equality in relationship, between humans and camels, and horses, via ever deepening meditative communion with the Living Divine in each moment. This will not be a training method, or technique. It will simply become the pure enjoyment of relationship, understanding and communication, recognizing all forms within One Form, which is Love.

Da Fear-No-More, the Sacred Camel & Horse Gardens and Da Camuus Equus are only about this integration of all beings into one diverse sacred culture where all are equal at Heart.

Stuart

Sacred Camel & Horse Retreats 2009

2009-01-04T21:20:00.000-08:00

Our Sacred Camel and Horse Retreats provide time and space for you to 'drop out' and deepen, in feeling, amid gentle Bactrian camels, horses and other non-humans living their true nature.

At the Sacred Camel & Horse Gardens of Fear-No-More Zoo, Sanctuary is already present. We welcome you to refresh, let go and reconnect with life's purpose. Integral to this process are the animals who live in natural Divine Contemplation, wordlessly drawing us to do likewise.

Scheduled retreat months are warm and sunny so these are camping retreats - in tents or under stars! (Housing with amenities is available if required.) Your campsite, beside the camel herd, is near a beautiful swimming lake. Delicious vegetarian gourmet meals will be served throughout. Healing massages will be available. The days are full, evenings are rich and retreat guides are knowledgeable and supportive. A weekend with our family of camels, humans and horses will move and inspire you for years to come.

Cameland (info & updates on 2009 retreats will be posted here)
Fear-No-More Zoo (material here provides fuller context for these retreats)

Retreat Fees: (deposit due upon registration)

Retreatant with Google Mama & Barack O'Mama

Award -- $000 + (at discretion of management)
Discount -- $200 (all Fear-No-More Zoo monthly supporters)
Standard -- $300 (all others, members and / or public)
Groups -- $ negotiable (family, friends, 'corporate', birthdays, etc -- can be tailored)

Registration Info: (Participant limit 10 max and 2 min. Age limit 102 max and 10 min)

Write first to confirm space. A release waiver will then be sent to you for return with 50% deposit. Once registered you will be forwarded :-
1. travel directions
2. list of what to bring
3. retreat materials and daily schedule
4. preparation reading list.

See retreat dates below.

Address:
email: scamps@adidam.org
postal: Fear-No-More Zoo, 12040 Seigler Springs Road, Middletown, CA 95461 USA
phone: (707) 355-0638

2009 Retreat Dates to choose from:

MAY Friday 22 7pm > Sunday 24 5pm
JUNE Friday 26 7pm > Sunday 28 5pm
JULY Friday 24 7pm > Sunday 26 5pm
AUG Friday 21 7pm > Sunday 23 5pm
SEPT Friday 25 7pm > Sunday 27 5pm
OCT Friday 16 7pm > Sunday 18 5pm
NOV Friday 20 7pm > Sunday 22 4pm

In service,
Stuart

Camel and Horse Dressage

2008-11-16T20:20:00.000-08:00

One day we will see something like this being done completely without bridle and reins on both camel and horse. But as it is this is still impressive to watch.

Nevzorov Haute Ecamel !

2008-11-16T19:45:00.000-08:00

In Canada recently, under the instruction of Michael Bevilacqua, I had the good fortune of participating in a seminar about "interactivity with horses beyond training". This approach, developed by Alexander Nevzorov, unites horse and human through deepening trust, intimacy, respect and understanding -- and no force (no bits, bridles, reins, whips or spurs, and no punishment, ever)... a wonderful approach we are now blending with our own organically developing approach at Fear-No-More for working with horses and camels.

To learn more about the Nevzorov Haute Ecole approach to horses click the following links:

1. Equiforme
2. Alexander Nevzorov

Stuart

(photos used with kind permission of Michael Bevilacqua and Catherine Scott)

Some Videos of Our Camels

2008-11-08T13:19:00.000-08:00

1. GENTLE CAMELS
2. GOOGLE MAMA'S BABY
3. GOOGLE'S BABY - 6 days
4. GOOGLE'S BABY - 4 weeks
5. THREE CAMEL BABIES
6. TILLY'S ARRIVAL

Camel-Horse Retreats

2008-10-27T20:26:00.000-07:00

Last weekend (Oct 17-19) saw the happy completion of the second Sacred Camel-Horse Retreat here at the Mountain Of Attention Sanctuary. This month's and last month's retreats were attended by some great people, each of whom went home feeling softened, stilled and strengthened in spiritual contemplation and connection . (See testimonials below.)

Prolonged time in the contemplative culture of these large, gentle, animals reveals a new way of looking at and relating to the world. The camels loved the retreat, too. By the end of the weekend they had clearly become more intimate and connected with the group of humans who had come into their home.

During the October retreat Craig Love introduced us to "Contact Care" - for humans and animals. Visiting for two weeks from NZ, Craig worked a lot with the camels and the two horses, Bright and Holy, both of whom are healing and regenerating from years of eventing and competition. The black gelding, Bright, was Craig's partner for the Contact Care demo which was very interesting and useful.

Toward the end of Craig's presentation Carmen May (also a bodyworker) was approached by the white mare, Holy. The horse stood in front of Carmen, gazing into her face... it seemed obvious she wanted some bodywork so Carmen stood up, put her hands on the horse and began... Holy went into a deep meditative trance, and at one point virtually performed a simple piaffe (prancing on the spot) releasing whatever stuck energies began shifting... both horses stood in a daze of pleasure afterwards.

Ongoing Camel-Horse Retreats

These first two Fear-No-More weekend retreats served our planning and preparation for running ongoing monthly retreats starting next April or May.

In the meantime we will continue through the fall and winter months with very simple two or three hour retreats with the camels, where people can just come and drop out into the Contemplative herd culture for a while. Details on these free afternoon retreats are forthcoming. Write us if you're interested.

As these retreats evolve it's conceivable that they'll be variously designed to cater to: weekend group retreats (max 10); personalized weekend retreats (max 3); retreats for young adults; for children and parents; for people interested in our "training" approach; possibly even for corporate or business groups. Some retreats might also be focussed around other non-humans living here, such as the birds, reptiles and trees. And some retreats will host well known guest presenters working in the various areas of positive human-animal relations.

Since arriving here, Bright and Holy have undergone a transformation of their hooves, and have received hours of body work from several body-workers (from Lake County, New Zealand and Santa Rosa). They have also had their teeth realigned and "floated" by an equine dentist from Santa Rosa. As a result they are walking and running better, eating and digesting better, and feeling healthier in body and temperament. And they have come to experience and enjoy humans in a way they had probably given up hoping for a long time ago... They are now enjoying, in body, mind and psyche, increasing relief from years of ignorance by previous owners...

The schedule for 2009's Camel-Horse Retreats will be forthcoming. Check back for dates.

Stuart
Fear-No-More Zoo

Sacred Camel-Horse Retreat Testimonials:

Fiona Syme: It is strange to try to find the words that best describe the gifts of spending time amongst the integrity of camels and horses because "words" are exactly what you are relieved of experiencing in their company. And yet, one feels surprisingly full and happy... and wordless... and that is the gift -- the gift of being truly content without words....aaaaah!

Susunka Christmann: This was the most delightful and happy thing I have done in a very long time. Being with these extraordinary wide eyed and gentle beings made me remember how to be released into harmony with my environment without the slightest agenda. Doing "nothing" for many hours is doing "something" very important. All of this has a lot to do with egolessness and prior unity of all that arises.

Thanks to Stuart's unobtrusive guidance we entered slowly and more and more deeply into the "Sacred Camel Gardens". These retreats are for those who know Adi Da already and for those who don't yet -- a great opportunity to "meet" Him.

The breath wide, expanded and as effortless as can be - something that seemed to be helped by the camels - all restlessness gone - everything - nature, humans and non-humans were full with life and contemplation was naturally all around and stayed around for the longest time.

Barack at Four Months

2008-10-09T20:42:00.000-07:00

As often as possible I spend long hours sitting with the camels; in their spacious paddock they come and go as they wish. Sometimes I'll sit completely alone for hours. At other times they all surround me, each politely hoping for a carrot piece. Sometimes I put my chair right in the middle of their circle of hay and sit among them as up to nine camels feed and move about. Even when they argue over hay piles they respect my space, making sure not to bump me as they move around. It's a little dangerous but I'm careful. It's also useful for getting to know them.

This morning, after coming and going a few times, young Barack (4 months old), plodded over to
me, sitting there in my plastic chair, and draped her long, lazy, neck over my shoulder. She lifted her front left leg and rested her knee on my lap, sort of perching there. She was, and is, extremely respectful of my space, usually not pushy at all, so I let her do what she wanted.
Unable to get into my chair with me she circled around and sat at my feet where she spent the next twenty minutes pulling on my shoe laces until they were completely undone. Then we sat quietly together for about an hour, meditating and randomly touching and acknowledging one another. The herd went about its usual random routine of wandering the pasture, coming and going as we sat...

This afternoon I found Barack again and went over and sat with her on the ground. Wrapping my arm around her neck, we sat together, side by side, as the sun softened behind tall trees.

When Barack was born it wasn't clear whether she was really coming to stay so a few of us (Ron, Andrea, Shawnee and I) remained with her and her mother for most of the calf's first 48 hours, until she was steady on her feet and suckling confidently. For the first two weeks Barack slept a lot, often with her head on my chest or belly. So we know each other well now and the trust is deep. Working and interacting with her as she matures should be very rewarding and interesting.

As Google Mama (Barack's mother) observes my care and relationship with Barack, her trust and respect of me deepens also. To a lesser degree the same process is occurring with the whole herd. I interact closely with everyone in the herd, including the other calves, and Barack's interactions with me communicate deeply to the others.
When I'm sitting in the paddock, whether the camels interact with me directly or are far away doing their own thing, the same process of bonding and trust-building is taking place. I'm always surprised at how much goes on between us when we're at opposite ends of the pasture. I can still leave at day's end, feeling deeply connected, and part of the herd, even if they never visited with me, though they usually visit a lot!

Stuart

Camel Herding & Horses

2008-09-10T22:58:00.000-07:00

Recently, with support from friends, Carmen and Victor, I've essentially made the transition from other duties to being more-or-less full time with the camels and horses. Though still connected to and overall responsible for the rest of things at Fear-No-More Zoo, I'm now much more concentrated in the camel-horse areas.

This move is essential for the developments we are effecting here. We wish to develop a form of interaction with the camels and horses that is rooted in an understanding of their culture and who they are as individuals... rather than imposing our otherwise uninformed "human" points of view on them. Spending a lot of time among them is necessary for this to truly occur.

Already, with the increased time I'm spending among them, I'm noticing a change, or deepening, in their acceptance of me. Some have also begun testing me in various ways. We already know each other pretty well but are now getting to know each other better. Moving back and forth between camels and horses is interesting too as they are very similar but different.

A couple of nights ago, just on dusk, I was standing around with nine of the camels as they ate. Young Barack approached, wanting me to pet her. So I rubbed her all over, firmly and softly. She reached her head back to nuzzle me briefly a few times until I found a spot on her tummy that I began circling gently with my open hand... her lips quivered, her neck stretched, her back gently relaxed and she shuffled her hind legs out behind her until she was almost balancing on toe-tips, and she couldn't get enough of this tummy tickling.

After I finished and moved away she was glued to me, following me around everywhere. As I approached her little sister, "No-Two", Barack immediately got between us and sent her sibling away. I like this kind of confidence. She's still young and there is plenty of time to gently shape her as she grows so that this same confidence doesn't become dangerous for me later on.

This month, and in October, we're running our first Sacred Camel and Horse retreats. These are practice runs to get us up to speed for running monthly retreats next year, starting in April.

Now that I'm out with camel and horse people much more I'll be adding new posts more frequently so please check back from time to time to keep up with developments.

Stuart

Becoming Friends

2008-07-10T14:29:00.000-07:00

This morning I was in a funk. I fed the horses a little sweet-mix with supplements and trudged across the field to fill their water trough. On my way back to the gate the pair approached.

I was surrounded. They asked me to pet them. There was little talk. I concentrated first on the black gelding, "Bright", then the white mare, "Holy". They kept putting my face between their two big heads... stroking cheeks and necks, warm breath blowing in my ears.

Together they were softening, returning me to feeling, re-energized, relaxed. I still had to check on the camels. Walking down the paddock, grateful that the horses bothered to connect and make their point... which is simply to feel, relax, release and feel... I was very happy we were able to rescue at least these two feeling, intelligent, beings from slaughter by horse industry "cleaners"...

Stuart

Bathing the Girls

2008-07-08T21:23:00.000-07:00

In hot weather the girls piss down the inside of their hind legs a lot. It may serve to cool them as the urine evaporates. In the dry hot weather a few days of pissing can start to get a bit hard on the nose, at least for some.

So every few days I halter the girls one at a time and lead them to a tie post near the hose. I make it fun and pleasant and throughout the bathing they get random carrot bits. After washing we go together for a short, happy, walk then the halter comes off, and in goes another carrot. Then it's the next girl's turn.

I don't force anyone, just going with those who are willing. Luckily they are also the ones who need it most! The other girls watch, and one by one they are getting interested. Observing how much fun it is, how many carrots get served and how fresh and relaxed the washed ones feel... I think its starting to look like not such a bad idea to the older girls, and the guys too.

HiHo, our resident "monkey", a young bull with enough personality for two camels, often comes over and sits by the "camel wash"... sitting to the side, hoping a carrot will come his way just for looking cute and, occasionally, low and behold, a carrot does somehow end up in his mouth...!

Stuart

Fear-No-More World WALKS

2008-07-06T21:25:00.000-07:00

For the "Vision of Fear-No-More", "Fear-No-More Zoo" & the "Sacred Camel-Horse Gardens"... World Walk BLOG

Two Horses Join Us

2008-07-04T14:25:00.000-07:00

For half a dozen months now I've been considering bringing some horses into our developing camelid "program". I want to begin working the camels and horses together eventually. We also love horses, just as much as camels...

Somehow, recently, we ended up helping in the rescue of two handsome thoroughbreds, Holy and Bright. Holy was on her way to a slaughter house in Mexico I believe, and Bright was going to be euthanized by her teenage rider's parents with the intent of teaching their daughter a lesson!! Both horses gracefully emerged from those situations to arrive, last week, at our sanctuary, never to be hit or forced or threatened again... now to live their lives here happy as horses, only to be ridden at their pleasure, not ours.

They haven't met the camels yet. That should be interesting. The camels will most likely just stand and stare back. The horses will probably explode at their first camel sighting. Its quite a site. But they quickly work things out.

Our program here will eventually have half a dozen horses and 20 or so camels.

Our training of both will draw predominantly from Carolyn Resnick's "Seven Waterhole Rituals", from the animals themselves and from Adi Da Samraj's spiritual wisdom with regard to animals.

Stuart
FNMZ

Herd Moments...

2008-06-04T18:27:00.000-07:00

After a leisurely breakfast of fresh hay, and cool shade under tall oaks, the camels meander off to graze and browse in small groups, or sometimes alone, coming and going as inclined and attracted.

Peaceful Baba heads off along the fence-line to where the watering hose runs under the wire and out into the lower paddock. Sitting down, he uses his mouth to retrieve the entire length of hose, foot by foot, dragging all of it back up onto his "lap", hoping the open end will be running with cool, fresh, bubbling water. Sometimes it is, this time not. And he sits there quietly, on the grass under the sun.

HiHo, eyes flickering with mischief and anticipation, bumbles over to the ranch truck to test the air pressure on all four tires!

The older Google Mama, herd matriarch, draws her calf away to a nearby tree where they sit together quietly. One of the other calves bounces over to Google and Barack, wanting to join their repose or to draw Barack into a game. The often accommodating Google Mama doesn't care for this distraction and deftly sends the young calf away, clearly wanting to spend some quiet time with her baby, apart from the herd. A few more times the frisky young calf, Green Smoothy, bounds back to the tree, pestering Barack and her mother, each time finding herself sent away.

Eventually alone Google Mama and her two month old calf, Barack, sit side-by-side, silent and motionless, gazing out across the pasture, immersed deeply in the "feeling of being". Both mother and daughter are intensely steady, deep and serious camels.

Stuart

"Nothing" is close...

2008-06-04T16:13:00.000-07:00

Gradually as I find my way in the training of these camels, I'm realizing that the best way forward with them is, largely, to do "nothing" -- just being with them. More and more when asked, "What do you do with these camels?" I find myself replying, "Nothing."

"Nothing" is not quite true, but it's close.

As old points of view, ideas, agendas and techniques erode, simply from being around the camels, my approach to them becomes more one of trust, respect, mystery, feeling and patience. This is them teaching me, showing me... And with this I find the camels entering into relationship with me much more readily. Interactions take on more of a flowing quality, where each camel in turn comes and goes within the herd to visit with me, and me with them. The more I manage to let go of wanting to control this process the more I find myself drawn in by them. When they are given the space to choose to do something with me, if they choose it happily, willingly, rather than feeling "trained", or conjured, into it, then the thing they just learned, or chose to do, be it wearing a halter, lifting a leg, sitting, lead walking, need never be learned again. Because they trusted my invitation, and because they chose it, they don't forget it, and it seems not to need further re-enforcement.

The less goal oriented and intentional my approach, the more the "results", if I want to call them that, become better and surer...

I see little signs of this every day, and we never go backwards -- unless I revert to what my teachers taught me back in school.

Stuart

Becoming Untrained

2008-06-04T15:54:00.000-07:00

When the now two month old calf, Barack, was in her first week or so she did a lot of sleeping, as new babies love to do. And in those moments I took to napping or lying with her. Sometimes I fell fast asleep too. Through sleeping together Barack and I formed a bond of trust that has made everything else we do together a secondary matter. If I stay true to this bond there may be very little she will be unwilling to do with me in the future -- and also, I think, requiring very minimal "training".

The lesson of Barack so far has been one of my "untraining"... becoming untrained through the force of relationship -- a great relief !

Stuart

Galloping in the Moonlight

2008-05-21T01:12:00.000-07:00

Peaceful Baba
Tonight I went out to check on the camels around midnight. The bright moon was high and the wind was brisk and blowing about.

I found all the camels eventually and started heading out across the pasture. Running across the moonlit fields I was suddenly surrounded by nine camels of different sizes and colors, all cantering, trotting and galloping along with me, weaving in and out of the trees, kicking out, snorting and bucking at shadows, swaying branches and rustling trees.

Big Peaceful Baba kept appearing beside me from out of the night just in time to block one of the other camels from getting in too close around me. A few times I thought Peaceful might bump me but he didn't. Its spontaneous moments like these that I like to capitalize on to deepen the bond. The camels enjoy and feel this as much as I do, I think.

Carolyn Resnick

2008-05-20T15:30:00.000-07:00

Her method is the 7 waterhole rituals that she learned as a member of a wild horse herd when she was in her pre-teens. Her method comes down to a family of rituals that comprises a healthy herd culture... being present, "hello", taking space, leading from behind, eye contact, table manners, companion walking, forming the bond at liberty...

It's foundation is love, trust, respect and no separative or manipulative, agenda -- being in the moment, being a leader who listens, yields, follows through, is firm yet bends... Carolyn isn't a conventional horse trainer... she's really actually a horse! a herd member, and a consummate herd leader.

Stuart

HiHo on the Highway

2008-05-20T14:29:00.001-07:00

After several months of intensive, firm, but gentle interaction with HiHo, he is now relating with the other camels and with people in a much happier and more respectful manner. Thanks to Carolyn Resnick's method of herd acculturation even a classical "pirate and joker" such has HiHo is now well on the road to herd integration and participation, with no loss of his spark for life.

HiHo needs still more time and maturation, and appropriate guidance, but he is doing so much better, and is also much more content and happy within himself. And the other camels are finally accepting him to participate with them.

Purnimama's New Calf

2008-05-20T13:57:00.000-07:00

On Friday May 16 at about 8am Purnimama gave birth to our third baby camel of the year. Mother and baby are doing well. The baby, named "Not-Two Mama", is a female, of cream-gray coloration. This is Purni's first baby. She is proving to be a good mother.

The three mothers move about and camp down together in a loosely-knit pod. The babies follow closely, playing and cavorting with one another and with their much larger aunts and uncles. The mothers share the child-rearing responsibilities, spelling each other from time to time, suckling one another's babies. Two of them are first time mothers, and clearly having to adjust to their new responsibilities. They can no longer be as carefree as before. Purnimama has undergone a remarkable change in her relational capacity. Once very shy and timid she is now steady, forceful, grounded and personable.

Google Mama, the matriarchal herd leader, while introducing herself to the other two calves, clearly impressed the two new mothers that both their new babies are also hers, that she is ultimately in charge of all the young ones. Purnimama accepted this without difficulty. Muffin argued a little before yielding to the herd matriarch. Google Mama has her attention on all three babies, frequently connecting with them and guiding them.

Stuart

The Camels' Favorite Vet

2008-05-01T14:11:00.001-07:00

Dr. Lisa Takesue DVM has been looking out for our camels for about five years now, helping us through some tough issues at times.

Dr. Takesue's office manager, Isa, getting to know Peaceful Baba on a recent visit.

Bidding Farewell.....

2008-04-30T21:58:00.000-07:00

We’re bidding farewell soon to Andrea Schwab. Andrea has been involved with Fear-No-More Zoo since about 1992.

She has been integral to the last few years and more of steady growth and improvement, helping in all aspects of the existing zoo and the new camel developments.

Andrea, we couldn't have come this far without your creativity, drive, patience and inspiring commitment. We and the animals will all miss you, and wish you the best as you step out into new things. Send postcards!

I, personally, will miss you very much.

Stuart

2008-04-23T23:30:00.000-07:00

Muffin (4 years) gave birth to a strong, healthy, baby girl today.... Muffin's first calf.

The birth process took just over an hour. As soon as the baby was out, Muffin turned and connected with her... another very good mama camel...

Camels & Babies - some pics

2008-04-22T19:56:00.000-07:00

Ginger meets Barack

Ginger meets Google

Riley meets Peaceful

Bringing Up Barack

2008-04-22T19:37:00.001-07:00

Our new baby camel was recently named, "Barack", which means "blessing".

Google Mama, her mother, is raising her within the herd and both are doing well.

As she grows, each day the baby is full of new surprises. Taking my cues from her mother I'm letting the calf be fully expressive, emotionally and physically, while letting her learn the consequences and rewards for everything she does. In another month or two I'll start becoming more direct with her about what she can and can't do around me... jumping on me will have to stop, kicking out at me exuberantly will have to stop, pushing on me will need to stop. But for now I'll let her do those things. She's at a size where I can handle it, and I think it's important to let her be expressive and participant in ways that she's naturally moved to do. And at the same time I can get to know her character, her infant strengths and weaknesses, and help to guide her growth as she develops.

We also spend periods lying together in the grass, napping on each other, forming a deep trust and understanding through this. She already wears a halter easily and I'm starting to teach her to sit (kush) by inviting her to sit with me and connecting a word with the action of sitting each time. Today I began introducing a cue for every time she rears up on her hind legs.

As we go along in this way she'll be able to learn, in the natural course of things, close to everything she needs to know in relationship to people with very little formal training having to be done. Just as she grows up with her mother and within the herd, learning everything as she goes, she can also learn things from me in the same natural kind of way.

It's good that Barack is living in the herd culture, with her mother. This will ensure a well rounded individual, interested in people but not dependant upon them. With the contact she is having with humans each day, her inter-cultural up-bringing will allow her to know herself as a camel while at the same time learning how to relate to humans happily and respectfully.

Stuart

Baby at 6 Days

2008-04-10T22:22:00.000-07:00

Video filmed 6 days after birth

Also view earlier post of baby at 2 days old...

Google Mama's New Baby

2008-04-10T22:20:00.000-07:00

Around midday on March 25, 2008 Google Mama easefully delivered a silvery gray female calf.

Enjoy the video, taken 2 days after birth

Update on HiHo

2008-04-08T20:18:00.001-07:00

Little HiHo is a bit bigger but still pretty small for a camel over 18 months of age. He's most likely going to stay on the short side. He's about the height of a medium sized horse at this point.

I guess this entry is basically a further acknowledgment of the excellence of Carolyn Resnick's method with horses, which we employ with our camels. For whatever reasons (size, breeding, born character, karmas) HiHo is an unusual mix of traits from sweet and loveable to mean, cranky, incredibly stubborn and willful, mischievous, even sly.

Now at 18 months or so he's of an age where we are now concentrating on bringing him through all this, but still retaining his special spark for life.

The basic method we are employing is what Carolyn Resnick calls "leading from behind". We walk him without lead rope or halter, walking behind him, moving him forward. And we walk quietly and gently for half an hour or more. All the camels love this "herding activity". It calms and balances them and serves the creation of a bond of respect and affection like few other things can.

As expected HiHo requires more "leading from behind" than the others but the results are really encouraging. He's becoming calmer, more receptive to contact, more respectful of boundaries and better at listening and responding.

Stuart

Appreciation for Ron Bartlett

2008-04-08T19:33:00.000-07:00

Its been 4 months since the last entry here.... But before I get back into more on the camels I want to briefly express my appreciation for a man named Ron Bartlett.

Now retired (he used to be some big-shot back in Ohio), Ron has been invaluable to the Camel Gardens, willing and available to help out in all kinds of areas -- feeding, cleaning, building, carrying water, sleeping overnight with baby camels, running errands, putting up with my nonsense and more...

Ron, thank you! And take good care of yourself because we want you around and involved for years to come.

Stuart

ffffffffffff

2007-12-21T10:14:00.001-08:00

hhhhhhhhhhhh

Progress with HiHo

2007-12-05T22:22:00.000-08:00

Since we moved HiHo in with Jelly, Peaceful and Muffin he has gradually started to learn the skills of listening, yielding and cooperating. Meals are becoming more relaxed again, and HiHo is feeling increasingly less inferior around the others. The three big camels are tough and strict with him, especially Peaceful Baba, but they also let him be when he shows deference to them. So he's learning both sides. It's interesting to notice how, even though (or probably because) Peaceful Baba has become HiHo's main "tutor" in camel etiquette that Peaceful is also becoming closer to HiHo than the other two. They are forming a bond of trust. Peaceful is dedicated, and rarely lets HiHo get away with anything.

It's really good to see tiny HiHo finally standing among the three big camels, relaxed, aware, not being punky, and eating quietly along with them. He's finally starting to fit in and find his place.

I've also, noticed a shift in Jelly Baba of more respect and sensitivity toward me. I think this stems in part from him watching me work with HiHo and, through this, getting a better sense for himself of what I'm expecting when I ask for his (or any camel's) compliance or cooperation. Jelly, as a young, generally headstrong, bull has become much more responsive and trusting when I ask him for things, such as backing up, coming forward, waiting, and so forth.

This is all very elementary of course, but it's becoming the solid foundation upon which we'll do much more together in time. This is the precious time of gradually nurturing the bonds of trust and devotion to one another that will last a lifetime. Its all based on respect, love and mutual understanding.

Calves Expected

2007-12-05T13:37:00.000-08:00

Camel breeders, Al and Terry Deutsch from Montana, visited the Mountain Of Attention Sanctuary this week. They confirmed our feelings that three of our females are pregnant, with the calves expected any time. They confirmed that all our camels are doing really well.

Last year Al and Terry sold us a young bull named HiHo. HiHo is still tiny for his 16 months of age, but well proportioned. He should be twice his current size by now... if he does remain small he may become the head of a unique line of mini camels.

Four of our camels came from Al and Terry's ranch over a year ago. When they spotted Al and Terry coming up to the gate the camels trotted over and started clucking around the two of them. Young Delany "glued" herself to Al for his entire visit, clucking behind his ear wherever he walked. Al visited and knelt quietly at Lily's grave.

The growth of The Sacred Camel Herd is moving forward just as we had projected it would when we began this long-term endeavour.

By 2010 the Sacred Camel Gardens will begin achieving increasing self-sufficiency, becoming progressively capable of supporting the entire Fear-No-More Zoo, as well as aspects of the general Sanctuary, both directly and indirectly.

In a world of difficulty the sign of Avatar Adi Da's Sacred Camels will increasingly become a refreshment for all of us. They will touch many of mankind, perhaps indirectly for most, but directly, at heart, for everyone... we have a vision and plans !

Update on HiHo

2007-11-20T18:14:00.000-08:00

Little HiHo is steadily becoming more impressed by the guidance and discipline of his older herd members. Gradually, his trust of them is deepening, and his ability to receive pressure and direction from the others is strengthening. He is, through all this, slowly fitting into the herd culture, gradually becoming less eccentric, more conformed to the life being lived around him by the others.

This evening all four camels grazed from the food trough together, with barely a grunt from any of them. Nice and quiet throughout the entire meal. Right near the end of the meal Muffin and Peaceful were the first to leave the trough to go over to where I'd put the the hay. As Peaceful Baba walked by HiHo's rump he turned his long neck back and, in passing, gave HiHo a sharp nip on his backside, indicating to the little camel that "school is still in". HiHo meowed plaintively while continuing to eat the grain remnants along with Jelly Baba.

Getting Closer

2007-11-16T21:58:00.000-08:00

My relationship with the young (3 year old) black bull, Jelly Baba, is deepening of late.

Jelly watches me working with our little silver / grey guy, HiHo. He watches and takes in what I'm doing, with and for HiHo, and then he starts doing the same with HiHo. HiHo is kind of a "problem kid". He's very sharp and smart in all kinds of ways, quite a bit smarter than the others, but he is socially impaired in some way. It takes him much longer to "get" what the others get in a few minutes.... In terms of sharing food especially, but also just knowing when to back off and show respect.

For a little guy among these 2000 + pounders he is full of a kind of dominance type behaviour, perhaps based in his fear of not getting what he wants, being small, and so on. It is amusing to see his little guy clear a feeding trough of three BIG camels, each of whom would rather walk away than get into a scrap with him.

But seeing me disciplining HiHo has drawn Peaceful and Jelly into it, and so gradually HiHo is getting served more and more consistently and I see gradual changes in him; he is gradually learning how to be more yielding, softening through it, but its going to take some time with this one before he's all the way with it.

I'm touched by Jelly Baba's growing trust of me. We seem to be herd-building together. I'm feeling more and more a part of their culture. He did accidentally kick me the other day, bounding by me full of exuberance, legs going out like a helicopter, his left hind foot collected with my right thigh and I spun like a top, then as if I was on a spring I spun back and just kept walking almost as if we'd rehearsed the thing.... with hardly a bruise.

One thing I'm finding, with HiHo's "help", is that Jelly and Peaceful and I are forming a bond, a working alliance.... Muffin also a little though not as strongly.

They know I "know" what's going on and they are valuing my helping them out with the HiHo situation. They look at me with different eyes, more connected eyes, faces that are listening, watching and trusting.... and of course I'm only at the very beginning of things.... I can see this going so much further.

Also, watching these guys with HiHo its so clear that these creatures are not by nature aggressive. Even when HiHo is at his worst, and really annoying the big camels, there are times when they could flatten him, and often appear as if they are about to, but they don't. One day Jelly reared up over HiHo. As his front feet came back toward the ground Jelly intentionally placed his feet either side of HiHo, rather than on him. And I've had similar experiences with some of them, including the time when Google Mama chased me across the field.... not to hurt me as it turned out, but to teach me something.

If a camel is aggressive, and some most definitely are, it is because they have really been provoked, mistreated and abused, protecting young, or defending herd and territory... all of which serve a legitimate purpose. There may be some camels who are just outright aggressive for basically no good reason, but I haven't yet met one. I have heard of one, actually, and my hunch is that this bull was the way he was because his owner had abused him at some point.

2007-11-06T12:48:00.000-08:00

Fear-No-More Zoo has "chapters" in four locations around the world.

Each location is set within a beautiful sanctuary property for both humans and non-humans.

The Sacred Camel Gardens is part of the original Fear-No-More Zoo chapter at the Mountain Of Attention Sanctuary in California.

These Sacred Zoo's represent a unique process. They are not intended to be "zoos for animals". The processes of Fear-No-More Zoo include the integration of both human and non-human cultures resulting in one, great, diverse culture of living beings, founded in spiritual contemplation.

"It's about 'fearing-no-more', about going beyond the knot of separate self, being in the Condition of the Samadhi of Real-God-Communion, and, at the level of form, participating in the Great Unity." -- Avatar Adi Da Samraj

The Sacred Camel Gardens (and Fear-No-More Zoo) is to become a major aspect of the Mountain Attention Sanctuary. The camel herd will become an integral part of the human culture here, and we will be the richer for it.

Most people don't understand or comprehend this yet, but in time, as it unfolds, they will. It's a process that represents a huge shift in point of view, so it's understandable that it might take a little time...

The beginnings are in place, and day by day the seed is pushing through little roots and buds. The camels will help us get there.....

HiHo Changes

2007-11-06T12:22:00.000-08:00

A few days ago we decided to move little HiHo from Everest's herd and move him in with Peaceful, Jelly and Muffin. Everest was constantly chasing and moving HiHo so we wanted to try to change HiHo's experience.

I felt that Peaceful Baba, Jelly Baba and Muffin might be more tolerant of HiHo's eccentric character and so far its working well.

After initial introductions all three of the older camels began "hazing" HiHo all over the place. Luckily HiHo is fast, and can manouver quickly, because a few time Jelly and Peaceful ran down on him like massive freight trains, pounding the earth behind the little guy.

Amid the jostling HiHo is starting to settle into this group much better than he could in Everest's. Jelly, Peaceful and Muffin appear more willing to converse with HiHo and let him find his place with them. I think Everest is still just too young and doesn't have the emotional maturity to let HiHo find his way. Consequently he brought too much force to bare on HiHo, and didn't build trust.

This morning the tiny HiHo stood right in among the towering Jelly, Peaceful, and Muffin, quite comfortably holding his own at the feed trough. Nice to see...

Starry Night

2007-11-02T12:13:00.000-07:00

A few nights ago around 1am, I dropped by the camels on my way to bed.

Wandering about the pasture I first found Delaney and HiHo standing together under a tree. Then I came upon Everest, Google and Purni kushed down in a pod of three out in mid pasture.

Walking further I came to Jelly, Peaceful and Muffin. Peaceful was sitting with the other two standing nearby. They were under a stand of trees, gazing out into the pasture and the clear night sky. The moon was close to full and the air was brisk. It was quiet. There was a very slight, intermittent, breeze.

I joined them, standing there, letting time go, letting my mind go, feeling my head open up to the starry, vaulted sky.

It's a bit hard to describe next what arose. As I stood with the camels, hearing their gentle sighs, and grunts, gazing out into the night... I perceived "inseparableness". Meaningless time travelled nowhere. No motion, almost. There was some kind of motion but not in any one direction. There was no strife; no war anywhere, no conflict in the heart anywhere. There were no "results" to anything. There was just this indescribable feeling that I dipped into, that the camels seemed to be bathing in. And there were no, or very little, differences there.

After a while my fingers were turning white with the cold so I quietly whispered to them and made my way across the pasture to my bed of blankets. The big camels shadowy bulks continued to bathe under the trees, under the stars.

Adi Da Samraj once mentioned that, "Camels view the world from a unique point of view." Of course, all creatures are unique in their "view-points", but for Adi Da to bother to mention this in reference to the camels is a pointer for me to take special note. The camels have something I can learn from; that humans can learn from. Something accessible, something transformative if we contact it. This I am finding to be true.

Without even riding on their backs these camels are capable of taking us "places" that we might otherwise never visit, or know. For me, they are bringing me back, healing my heart, taking me right to "here".

Wall and gate

2007-10-25T20:55:00.002-07:00

The gates at the head of Peaceful Camel Valley currently consist
of a set of rustic gates and rock-wall. We like to joke that the rock-wall was designed by the camels... :)

In time, as funding allows, the gates themselves will be custom-made to feature a camel motif, and the posts above the rock-wall will be decorated in some manner still to be decided.

Set into a stone shrine, our Sacred Camel Valley sign features an image of Allen Deutsch's great, "Tom Dooley", probably the best white Bactrian bull in the country.

Tom is the father of our handsome, two year old white bull, "Everest".

Trailer, truck & shed

2007-10-25T20:55:00.001-07:00

Initial accommodations in Peaceful Camel Valley consists of a 35 foot 5th-wheel trailer. Much thanks to good friends Bart and Ina Burger, and Michael Macy for making this possible.

It's not yet hooked up, so might be in for a cold winter... :) But it's a whole lot drier and more comfortable than the cheap tent I tried living in last winter!

At left is our hay, feed and tool shed, still under construction. The red toyota truck was made possible by good friend, Sandra Gutman.

"De babies are like birds."

2007-10-24T22:17:00.000-07:00

Recently, in an artifact shop in Sacramento, an old man from Senegal, Mamemor Mbacke, reminisced about some of Africa's animals with us.

When we got on to the subject of camels his face lit up, "Oh, yes... spiritual animal. Camel are sign of spiritual tings. Camel is only creature on eart to remember all 1000 names of God. Deep inside troat he 'rumble rumble...' all de names -- evry dey. Camels, also, can live widout food and water. And de babies are like birds!"

When he learned about the camels at the Sacred Camel Gardens, Mamemor responded, "Aaahhhh... good. Very good. Your people are most lucky to know dis type of animal."

Training Thoughts

2007-10-20T23:36:00.000-07:00

No-one has the right to train another unless LOVE is the main ingredient of the relationship.

By love I don't mean an imaginary love or a romantic love, but love that is humble, self-less and filled with respect and understanding.

Too many people begin training before they have any knowledge, or intimacy, of the individual they wish to train.

As Bill Dorrance was fond of saying, "You have to get the feel of the horse. And the horse has to get the feel of you."

Get to know one another. Spend time. Expect nothing. Accept the camel, or horse or dog completely. Be willing to give more than you receive and you will get more than you expect.
Be patient. Don't force or rush. Slower is faster. Be willing to yield. Be willing to feel fully, as fully as possible. Never endanger yourself or the animal. Deepen trust at every opportunity. Listen.
Breathe. Relax. Be firm and clear. Don't ask for much. Build daily on the "ask". Give lots of praise when you get what you want. Praise them when they try for you. The "try" is worth more than any result.

Intelligence in Camels

2007-10-20T22:44:00.000-07:00

I'm often asked if camels are smart, or how intelligent are they? I frequently hear something like, "are camels as intelligent as horses?", or "are they as smart as dogs?"

There are so many scientific studies, magazine articles, TV shows and books published on the relative intelligence of animals that are, mostly, very limited in their scope.

A large percentage of such research and reporting compares the intelligence of one species over another, almost always comparing a dog, a parrot, or a horse to a human. The basic thought is that if an animal is kind of like a human, displays any kind of intelligence or behaviour that seems close to that of humans, then in that species we can acknowledge some kind of superior intelligence.

But if a modern, civilized, human being entered the world of the baboon, or the sloth, or the lion... in that world he would display an extremely low level of intelligence. If such a human entered the world of a primitive tribal culture and had to fend for himself there he, or she, would like-wise be shown to be a complete idiot.

Reverse these positions and you would see the baboon as the un-intelligent one in the human landscape as well as when compared to the human mind.

So, how intelligent is a camel? For what it is intended a camel is exceedingly more intelligent than a human. And a tree, or a tick, is vastly more intelligent in it's world than a camel could ever hope to be. And so it goes...

Comparing the intelligences of other beings to our own intelligence serves, really, to impress upon ourselves how little we know, and how humble we are.

When the mind winds down, and comparisons dissolve, the intelligence of the heart, and of the "feeling life" becomes revealed as the constant, unifying and equalizing 'knowledge'.

Adi Da Samraj: At heart, all are One.

At heart, a human being is not the slightest bit different from the reptiles, the birds, the former dinosaurs, the elephants, the plants, the trees, the wind, the sky, the microbes.

Apart from their function in conditionality, all beings are the same.

Human beings are not uniquely to be...

3 Minute Memory

2007-10-20T22:31:00.000-07:00

I recently read an article in a well-to-do horse magazine, the subject of which was equine memory.

It stated that after some extensive scientific research horses have shown that their active memory is around 3 minutes at best and often shorter.

I wish my memory was that short! :)

Of course, such a report makes no sense to people who know their animal companions.

A few days ago I was hand-feeding our 3 year old bull, Jelly, a flake of grass hay. Actually three camels were there together, completely absorbed in the hay. After about 15 minutes Jelly did an abrupt back-step and headed directly to the grain ration trough to lick up the grain-dust still lying their. In one gesture of his actually quite extensive memory, Jelly Baba obliterated the findings of some "esteemed" scientists somewhere in Europe.

It's really amazing what nonsense we are fed by those who claim to "know".

Diet Tips

2007-10-20T21:49:00.001-07:00

A basic healthy diet for your camel (or horse):

- Hay = grass & alfalfa mix, but mostly good grass hay

- Grain = a good rolled grain mix with some alfalfa pellets etc

- Fruit and Veg = apples, oranges, bananas, carrots, broccoli, cabbage etc

- Natural browse = leaves, bushes, tree bark, grasses, herbs etc

Three good supplements:

- Azomite = This is an organic mineral and trace mineral compound mined in Utah, which supplies almost all the known minerals and trace minerals known to man. We mix the powder into the daily grain ration.

- Himalayan crystal salt = Mined in the Himalayas this is organic mineral salt, which supplies all known minerals and trace minerals. It comes in blocks or in powder form.
We supply our camels with both the blocks and in the powder - free choice. The camels love it.

- XPC Green from Diamond V Mills = This organic dry-yeast culture supplies B-vitamins and other fermentation products for healthy digestion and immune function.
We mix the yeast in with the daily grain ration.

If you use these three nutritional supplements, combined with a healthy diet, you will have covered most of the nutritional needs of your camels (or horses)at a fraction of the cost of high-end designer supplements, and your animals will also be getting organic nutrition the way nutrition should be.

Gentle Camels

2007-10-18T12:07:00.000-07:00

The Lily Fund

2007-10-17T23:04:00.000-07:00

In honour of the late camel, Montana Lily, the Lily Fund has been set up as the fund into which support and monies for the Sacred Camel Gardens are held

From the collected (donated) resources of the Lily Fund the Sacred Camel Gardens will be supported, maintained and developed with the intention of, day by day, transforming our, and present-time humanity's, approach to camels and all non-humans, and the world itself... for now and into the future.

The Sacred Camel Gardens' activities will develop in the direction of retreats with the camels, a training school for camels, equines and humans, and to serve as an educational resource for furthering knowledge about camels in the west.

To contribute to the Lily Fund choose from these tax-deductible options:
- online: sign-up for a monthly subscription
- check to FNM Zoo, 12040 Seigler Springs, Middletown, CA 95461
- we accept Mastercard and Visacard also
- encourage friends and family to do likewise

Thank you!

Visitation of Sweetness

2007-10-17T22:35:00.000-07:00

A Visitation of Sweetness and Innocence
Montana Lily; 4/28/06 -- 8/20/07

On the morning of August 20 I noticed Montana Lily wasn't waiting with the others for her morning grain. I went looking and found her off in the rear of the enclosure, part way down a slope into some bushes, lying on her side, groaning. I called the vet and we started trying to help her. We couldn't get her to sit up, let alone stand. She was panting, her belly bloated. Her rear legs were not responsive. Every few minutes her whole body shuddered and cried in pain. We stayed with her for about an hour, trying to calm and cool her, keeping her hydrated, shading her from the sun. Eventually sweet Lily exhaled and let go. We all sat silent. Some started sobbing. I drew away, wanting to leave and never return. I wrote a letter to my spiritual teacher instead.

What kind of person was Lily? From her very first day here we knew Lily was special. Lily was born about a month premature. At birth her tiny feet had not yet fully formed and they took another few weeks to do so. She was little at first, yet she grew into a fine young camel of good size and proportion. Her face was a bit flatter than most camels'. Lily had big soupy eyes. She always felt compelled to walk up to everyone and look them directly in the eyes with her love. Her gaze and greetings were disarmingly sweet and innocent. She had her pouty, pissy, side but mostly she was the epitome of gentleness and depth. She stole your heart. She really was this way. More etheric than the others Lily would virtually brush you with her aura.

How did she die? We will never know for sure as no autopsy was done and nobody was with her when she fell, nor prior to it. At this point we are considering the following as possibilities:

- A rib may have punctured a lung
- Congenital internal weakness
- Fatal bloat due to something she ingested
- Snake bite or other venomous creature (no bite marks were found)

In Fiji, Avatar Adi Da did a very concentrated Blessing ceremony for Lily via her photograph. Later, He was exquisitely loving with those around Him.

We buried her body the next day in Peaceful Camel Valley. With the summer heat, by the time of the burial those present experienced the vision of death and decay very directly. Sweet Lily was now gone, her body simply a decaying, swollen, stinking, lump; yet even this was still loveable.

Coal, the big black Sanctuary dog, joined us in Lily's vigil. He sat all day with Lily's body, rarely leaving her side. Even when things happened that would normally draw him away he either stayed or came right back after investigating. He and I were up all night sitting with Lily's body. I'd never seen him so one pointed for so long. He showed me how to do a vigil. He also gave everyone so much good, serious, happy, energy.

Coming now at the very beginning of the Sacred Camel Gardens, Lily's life and sudden death is a gift of some of the sweetest innocence shown by non-humans, as well as the seriousness of this undertaking. We move forward now with this lesson always before us.

The future of Fear-No-More-Zoo and its Sacred Camel Gardens is in all our hands. More support is needed... please get involved. We invite your help and care.

According to Avatar Adi Da, the process and development of Fear-No-More Zoo can have a thoroughly benign, positive, influence in the world of man, and in man's relationship to the world we live in... and more profoundly than through any other non-human / environmental cause or project.

By giving energy to Fear-No-More Zoo, and the Vision of Fear-No-More, we contact, support and combine with what Touches the roots of human egoity, healing the heart as fear dissolves...

Service and support to Fear-No-More Zoo is a Prayer of Changes, in action, for the world at large.

When Lily died a part of me died also. Fear-No-More touches and soaks my heels. There are no mere animals at Fear-No-More Zoo, or anywhere else. Whether human or non-human we are all persons... "equals at heart".

Back at the Trough

2007-10-16T14:34:00.001-07:00

At this point Peaceful Baba pretty much has the hang of things in terms of food sharing. This morning the four of us, including Jelly and Muffin, stood quietly around the grain trough. Peaceful, to my right, was grumbling a bit. Muffin circled a little and Jelly, at my left, kept gesturing for the food by stepping back an inch or two, with a bit of head winding added to his request. We stood this way for about five minutes until the three of them settled down and the bargaining subsided.

When everyone was calm I whispered, "Gooo-ood...!" and leaned back slightly to invite them in. All three heads came down gently and quietly, and began vacuuming the grain up, calmly eating until it was all gone.

In the upper pasture, Everest galloped up to the food bowl as I poured the grain. As he closed in on me I gently nickered, "ah!" and he pulled up gracefully and respectfully stood with me. "Gooo-d..." I signaled and he began eating...

As Google Mama and Purnimama galloped in I brought them to a gentle lope with another "ah.." as they drew down to the food bowls. And I let HiHo and Delaney figure it out for themselves this time.

Feeding, Sharing, Peaceful Baba

2007-10-13T21:32:00.000-07:00

Peaceful Baba was hand-raised from birth because his mother didn't take to him quickly enough. She was young, herself, and not emotionally ready for mother-hood. Her new baby both entranced and terrified her. So Peaceful Baba grew up with humans. Consequently, Peaceful developed a variety of traits that he might not have had he been raised by a wise camel Mom. We did our best. He was my first child :)

Today, at about seven years of age, Peaceful Baba tends to be more complicated around food than the other camels. He likes to dominate the feeding trough, whereas camels in general are great at sharing food within the herd. Sometimes Peaceful is fine and content to share. But more often than not he gets into barking, grimacing, shrieking and spitting at the other camels to get them to retire from the trough. He's discovered that if he plasters the grain in the trough with his regurgitated cud the other camels' interest in dinner evaporates and he gets the whole lot to himself. The other camels also just get tired of Peaceful Baba's drama, and persistence, so they just move away, letting him have at it all.

When all the camels ran together we fed them their grain ration in four or five separate bowls and troughs. So everyone got their share no matter what mood Peaceful was in. But when we recently moved them into two groups Peaceful, Jelly and Muffin ended up with one trough between them.

With one trough it has become more important for Peaceful to out-grow some of his anti-social leanings. We've been approaching the issue gently, steadily, carefully, slowly letting Peaceful know that his smart eating habits are inappropriate... giving him the opportunity to take our cues and shift his behaviour without us having to get tough. He'd clearly come to know that his food hogging was not appreciated, but he'd only partially let it sink in.

I wanted to be sure that when I got tough, if I had to, he knew exactly what for. I also wanted to apply just the right energy, not more or less than was needed, when I was ready to stand my ground on this issue.

Yesterday the time came. He was particularly obnoxious right from the start. I gave him a moment to calm down and then sent him away. I sent him away a good distance while inviting Jelly and Muffin to eat. Peaceful did not like this. He pulled his lips back exposing all his teeth and the insides of his villi covered cheeks. Growling in high pitched tones he started approaching. I headed toward him, forceful in my energy. He moved back again, lips flickering. He wasn't being aggressive at all, just protesting this new situation. I held him there, under the large oak tree, with my gaze. He kept moving one foot forward, his lip flickering at me. I'd lean toward him, holding him in check, until he stepped back.

After a minute or so I moved further away, still holding Peaceful in place with my attention and gaze. I moved over on the other side of the happily feeding Jelly and Muffin, about 30 feet from Peaceful. At this particular meal, because he was so riled up, Peaceful wasn't going to get any grain at all.

Each time he made a move toward the trough I leant back toward him with a "haa!", and a stare... Jelly and Muffin cautiously kept an eye on the two of us. Jelly would lift his head to look at me, then at Peaceful and back at me before burying himself in the trough again, clearly appreciative of the situation. And eventually Peaceful resigned himself to his position.

After the meal, when the three of them had moved over to the hay, I went to Peaceful. I wanted to connect and give him a pat and a hug. He was very receptive, with no carry over from the earlier interactions. Things felt good between us.

The next day, when the grain went into the trough, Peaceful barked a little again so I backed him up a few feet, waited, then invited them all in. Jelly and Muffin dove into the trough, while Peaceful held back, looking at me with a little uncertainty. I stepped back and guided him forward with a soft tone. He brought his head down smoothly, and quietly, alongside Jelly. I bent forward and praised him, scratched behind his ears, praising him some more.

It's going to take some further work with Peaceful but the standard for him has been set now, and he knows it. He clearly appreciates something about it, but is not yet convinced that it's all good. Another good, very important, result of this process is that Peaceful Baba's respect for me is deepening through my gentle, graduated, firmness.

When Peaceful was still a 'pup', yet another military crisis had just broken out in the world and Adi Da Samraj named the young camel, "Peaceful Baba". This camel has his rough edges, but he much prefers the peaceful way once he is shown it.

Folded Wings

2007-10-12T21:41:00.000-07:00

Most people tend to think that a camel's hump is a repository of water for the enhancement of their desert survival. This idea is but one of the many legends that surround the mysterious camel.

If you give thought as to how much a camel might drink in the hot desert you will quickly realize that a hump or two full of water wouldn't last long enough to help much in drought conditions.

A camel's hump is actually comprised of dense fat tissue, and sinew. The humps serve several known purposes.

One is to support the camel through long periods without nourishment. Camels adapted to harsh conditions have been known to survive more than 40+ days without food or water. The fat in the humps is consumed during long periods without food. Surviving without water is made possible because the camel's physiology becomes highly adept at moisture conservation, giving them the ability to do without additional water intake for very long periods.

Other purposes of the humps are to help regulate temperature. The humps provide increased surface area, which in hot weather can allow for greater regulation of body temperature through the skin and extra fat. In cold weather the humps of fat along the back provide additional reserves of body warmth.

Also, in the realm of legend, is another story about camel humps; a story that came to me the other day while observing some camel antics. This story is mythic. It is also symbolic of the world's need for man's re-awakening, and of the non-humans' patience with us, while we still sleep.

Camels can be looked at from physical and scientific points of view. They can also be seen from many other points of view.

There is their own point of view. There is the point of view that their predators have of them. They can be seen from the viewpoint of the birds overhead, or the birds who break open the camels' dung to find seeds. Or the view of them by the soil beneath their feet.

A camel, like anything else, is never just one thing... unless we make it so.

Looking at camels, or looking at anything, from as many, and varied, points of view as possible changes our view of reality and deepens our understanding of any one thing, and of everything. "We are more than what we look like."

Picture a camel (one humped or two) standing in an open grassy field. Picture it gallivanting about, jumping, bucking, twisting, rearing up on its hind legs, leaping exuberantly as if trying to fly. Can you picture a camel flying? What would it look like? Do you think camels have the impulse to want to fly? I know I do...

Did you know that camels actually once did fly? And that they might do so again? Folded tightly and neatly within those humps are their now dormant wings, with which they used to use to soar through the skies.

When humans once allowed themselves and the world to be free and wild, the ancestors of today's camels used to be the creatures we now, in our imaginations, call dragons. We rode them in the skies. We were partners. Now, neither of us fly. We both share the memory and the desire to fly again, but we humans are now afraid, and our fear keeps the world around us from being free.

So the camels wait. They wait until we are ready. And in the meantime, if you ever get the chance to know a camel up close, and with due respect, you may notice that they will try to help you beyond your fear, because they know that in such direction lies our, and their, renewed flight, and freedom.

Throughout recorded history camels have been beasts of burden, carting us and our goods across continents, into war, over deserts. The wild herds live in remote places, as far from human fear as possible. Both wild and domestic camels are waiting, as are all creatures, for humans to let go of our fear so that all can be free again, and again to live as equals, at heart.

Look into a camel's eyes and you may come to feel that this is true.
One day, now, when we have surpassed our fear, the great wings within the camels' humps will unfold once more, and they will begin to fly again, and we will know we are free!

Keeping Watch

2007-10-11T13:42:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we discovered that HiHo had a few scratches on his chest and forelegs. We haltered him and cleaned them off. They were superficial luckily. How it happened we don't know. They have a big pasture with bushes, trees, rocks and logs. Keeping watch over the camels' safety is a daily, constant, responsibility. Every night before going to bed I go out into the pasture, either by moonlight or with a flash-light, usually around midnight, to find each camel and check them over for anything unusual.

They have a few favourite groves of brush oak they like to camp in, but lately I find them, each night, clustered together at the fence dividing the upper and lower pastures. Both groups come together there to sleep the night as a herd, finding comfort in greater numbers. Everest and Muffin are often close, with the fence between them. Jelly and Peaceful usually seem to be co-joined at the hip, looking like a two-headed dragon sometimes. Google Mama is often seated about 20 feet from the group. HiHo and Delaney tend to pod together. And Purni takes her bed somewhere near either Google or Everest.

Visiting them in their camp is always a treat. Their big, warm, woolly, bodies set down in scattered, quiet, repose, wide eyes firmly on me through the darkness. I don't presume to intrude on them beyond a brief head count and then I'm away with a "goodnight, monkeys".... and I'm off to my own non-camel bed.

Lessons for HiHo

2007-10-08T11:50:00.000-07:00

We have a little yearling bull here, silver in colour with a white blaze and a little white beard, and black tufts along his "ridge-crest". He's cute. Humans think he's cute. His character, and facial expression is a little quirky and quizzical too, and humans think this is cute as well. But the rest of the camels have a different opinion about HiHo.

What humans find cute and endearing in HiHo the other camels see as not quite right. HiHo, for whatever reasons (size, upbringing, early-life influences), is very strong-willed, wants to do things his way, resists guidance, becomes defiant. He clearly knows what is being asked of him but mostly wants to do things his way.

The other camels see HiHo's behaviour as an endangerment to the herd. In the wild HiHo's independent streak might put him, and others, at risk, drawing predators around the herd. Additionally, his social behaviour isn't conducive to the cultural balance of the herd. Because of this he has a hard time fitting in.

The older camels are always watching HiHo's behaviour. They repeatedly lay down the law of the herd and demand that the little guy get straight, and become safe to be around. This involves repeated chasing away and bites to the rump, with HiHo squealing like a pig.

In the months preceding HiHo's introduction to the bigger herd I spent many hours patiently repeating myself to HiHo, gradually getting his agreement to respect me and stand on his own, but in relationship to me. It took a long while, not pushing too hard, gently bringing him through. And at a certain point he started to get it, he started to come with me.

Now, with the herd this last week, he's going through a repeat of that same education process and a deepening of it. Everest and Purni, especially, are on his tail a lot. I can tell its challenging for him, and I really hope he can respond appropriately and become evened out by the other camels' input and guidance (a mixture of mild shunning and hazing).

For his own happiness, balance, maturation and acculturation as a camel we are hoping he'll soon accept the social demands that the others are offering him.

Al Deutsch, Pioneer

2007-10-05T21:45:00.000-07:00

Al Deutsch, and his wife Terry, have been incredibly good to us, helping us build up our herd, giving us loads of good advice and encouragement. We consider them both very good friends now. Good people who have good camels.

Their love for camels is infectious. Al has been breeding camels for over 30 years, and developed probably the biggest herd of Bactrians in the US, numbering over 70 at one point. He has some of the very best breed-stock in this country, some really top bulls and a lot of high quality females.

Al's camels really love him too. You can see it in the way they relate to him. Terry is also excellent with the camels, especially the babies. Camels have been a major part of their lives, and one of the things that brought them together.

We bought five young camels from Al and Terry, who were incredibly good to work with through the negotiations and deliveries, and with follow-up advice. In a lot of ways they seem to consider our new camels to still be theirs too, often calling just to see how they are getting along.

Al and Terry moved their ranch from Colorado to Montana. They can be contacted on their Montana phone number: 406-467-2365 (current as of Oct 5, 2007)

I wish they would move closer to us, so we could help them with their ranch work and learn from them as much as we can, and cut down on phone calls.... :)

I think Al and Terry have significantly raised the bar on high quality camels and camel husbandry in this country, and we hope to follow on from their lead and continue with their good work, while bringing in our original energies as well.

Al and Terry will always significantly figure into the history and tradition of camel ranching in the United States.

Wishing them well in Montana, and hoping to see them soon (and often, if it wasn't for the distance).

Stuart

E-Fencing for Camels

2007-10-04T14:12:00.000-07:00

For camels we have found it very effective to run a single hot-wire along the top of the fences (and gates if desired) to prevent them from leaning on fences and gates. They quickly develop respect for the fences this way.

Unless your pastures offer natural surfaces for rubbing and scratching, be sure to provide ample rubbing posts for the camels if you set up hot-wires on the fences.

As soon as funds permit, we want to convert our entire fencing to one of the high strength electric braid fences, running 3 or 4 strands.

Because of our pasture's remote situation we are using a solar power charger for the fence, which works well enough.

A draw-back with the electric fence is that in the winter when our Bactrians' wool gets thick their flanks, necks and backsides can contact the hot-wire without the zap penetrating to the skin. So far, though, this hasn't ultimately diminished their overall respect for the fences.

One Becomes Two

2007-10-04T13:34:00.001-07:00

For some time now we've been running our camels as one group. With the two bulls getting older (2 & 3), larger and more precocious, and with the winter breeding phase nearing, we recently transitioned everyone into two herd groups.

It was a gradual transition, over about a week, so as to minimize their concerns over the new changes and to reduce the chances of accidents.

In our lower pasture we now have our three year old black bull, Jelly Baba, living with Muffin, who is a mare, and the gelding, Peaceful Baba.

And in our middle pasture we have our two year old white bull, Everest, living with Google Mama, Purnimama and Delaney, who are all mares. Little HiHo lives with them too, for now. HiHo is a silver yearling bull with a huge character. We're not certain yet whether he is going to get much bigger, but right now at a little over a year old he seems to be in the "miniature camel" category.

This week we also set up a 200' X 100' arena to more formally serve our human / camel cultural integration "rituals". We have called this arena, "The Arena of Feeling Camels".

Only when, in each case, cross-species relational integration has reached a clear depth, will other types of personalized training be explored... such as, consensual ride training, trail riding, light jumping, consensual dressage, pulling, trailering... all with a view to furthering understanding, and deepening relationships, between camels (and other animals) and people.

Attempting To Do...?

2007-09-22T21:36:00.000-07:00

Our group of camels currently numbers eight.

Our charge is to create a facility and a process that will embody, and share, what we are calling "The Sacred Camel Gardens".

Commenced in early 2006 a small group of people have been working steadily to create the beginnings of The Sacred Camel Gardens, here in northern California.

The camels are living in an area of about 40 acres currently, with room to expand to about 100 acres overtime, if desired.

As you may know already, our camels are Bactrian camels. We like the Dromedary camels very much, but we happened to start out with a beautiful Bactrian bull and things just developed from there. We currently have some white ones, brown and tan ones and one "black" bull.

The Sacred Camel Gardens has emerged as a distinct project of the longer existing Fear-No-More Zoo and Gardens.

Both Fear-No-More Zoo and the Sacred Camel Gardens were founded by the Spiritual Teacher Adi Da Samraj, out of His love for animals, and His wish that human and non-human cultures become, eventually, one whole but very diverse culture founded in a unifying Spiritual Wisdom... for once and for all...

As of today, right now, we work humbly and simply to install the seed of this Vision of Adi Da's, such that it can grow, touch, inform and embrace all mortal beings within this world we call Earth.

Essentially it is about coming into the disposition of "fearing-no-more", embracing a deeply surrendered and Divinely contemplative existence of inter-connectedness and unity with all beings, and things, rather than living a life of intentional (or unintentional) separation from, and chronic fear toward, all beings. Sure, that's a bit of a mouthful, but if you play around with it a bit I think you might get a sense for it...

We have a Sacred Camel Gardens website under production, and will soon have it on-line. Until it's ready we'll keep it under wraps.

What we have ahead of us is a big undertaking. Fear-No-More Zoo itself is a big undertaking; add to it this further Vision that incorporates the camels and it gets even bigger.

So yes, we do need help. But we need good help of certain kinds right now. The big one being funding, but I won't go into that here, yet.

Eventually the Sacred Camel Gardens should, and will, be a self-sustaining enterprise, and it will also be able to support the rest of Fear-No-More Zoo.

Our plan is not the usual plan, because the camels themselves are part of the plan, and they influence and shape the plan... all of them as a group, and even each one individually.

Please keep reading the posts to find out more...

Rut Season

2007-09-21T18:08:00.000-07:00

With Autumn upon us we'll need to separate our two young bulls, Everest and Jelly Baba. Everest is 2 years old and Jelly is a bit over 3 years now. It would probably be fine to let them run together for another winter season, but we're deciding on the side of caution. I don't want them fighting. Jelly just might become too much for the more mellow, and younger, Everest. Fights between camels are to be seriously avoided.

Since they moved into these large pastures, last November, the whole group of six have been running together, which has been great for them, and us. Now, with the bulls soon to be separated we'll have to decide which cows will keep company with which bull. As much as we can we'll take into account their individual friendships and characters as we decide.

The gates and fences have to be up to it as well, at least in the early days as we all get used to the new set-up.

Funding is always a challenge, as this is a non-profit project, 100% reliant upon donations by people who are behind what we are doing, or behind what we are attempting to do.

It'll be an interesting few days when we break the herd into two areas.

Camels on hilltop

2007-09-20T22:46:00.001-07:00

Full of Feeling

2007-09-20T22:17:00.000-07:00

Standing alone among a group of large camels in an open field.

Wandering around with them.

Being with them for hours.

Just standing, looking, looking, looking.

Camels stare away into infinity, in silence, standing or sitting, for hours on end.

When I'm with them I am soon doing the same, or similarly, as they do. A large part of what a camel is as a being, and a process, is found in this contemplative space that they hold.

They live profoundly full of feeling.

Another major part of who a camel is can be found within their emotional and social/cultural life.
Again, all the nuances of character and personality are discovered anew in each camel.

A camel's eyes communicate a depth of feeling and awareness.

When you've earned a camel's respect and trust you can feel it in your own body. It is energetic, and is that part of them that forms the herding bond. It is a tangible connection.

A couple of weeks ago six of the camels were congregated in a group, sitting about in the warm morning sun. About 20 feet away, also sitting calmly, was a lone coyote. It seemed as though the coyote was enjoying being around the camels as much as we do.

One day I watched a camel follow a mallard duck around the field as it sifted the grass looking for food... the camel had dropped her head to grass level and, walking a few feet behind the waddling duck, the two of them cruised about together, exchanging time and energy with each other, and learning who knows what about one another....

Camel&

2007-09-19T21:59:00.000-07:00

The "&" in "Cameland" is everything about, beyond and to do with camels.

It is everything that camels have supported in human culture for millennia, both practical and spiritual.

And it is anything else you care to think about or imagine.

It is everything that the innocent camels have witnessed of the "ascent" of man through the ages, the changes in the land, the victories and the catastrophes, the winters and the summers, births and deaths...

Where desired, topics as varied as any throughout human history, and future, may be drawn upon in these blogs.

Camels are an archetype for the capacity to survive through hard times, whether crossing a desert of sand, or the deserts of culture, humanity and the heart... the ability to endure hardship with wisdom, calmness and class.

Little HiHo

2007-09-19T21:47:00.001-07:00

Lounging

2007-09-19T21:38:00.001-07:00

Camels I Know

2007-09-19T21:11:00.000-07:00

Camels are beautiful animals.

Given the chance they are regal, proud, sensitive, gentle, fierce, playful, trustworthy. Treat them with respect and they will treat you with respect.

People often think of camels as cranky, smelly, spitting, biting and stubborn animals. They can definitely be this way too, but only as a result of wrong handling.

Every camel is an individual, and unique, character, as different as any human is from another human, and as similar. Each camel therefore should be related to uniquely in order to bring out the best in its character, rather than the worst.

In a herd situation camels expect the best from each other. This is how they ensure the herd's survival. Therefore, it is the responsibility of a good camel owner to serve as the herd leader and draw out of each of his camels the best they can be.

This first requires a process of getting to know each camel well, which involves real time spent with them... building a relationship and friendship of trust and respect.

Cradle of the Moon

2007-09-19T00:46:00.001-07:00

Bright moonlight. Golden autumn grass. Open field. Deep blue sky arching. Camels nearby, munching, grunting, rumbling. Large, dark friends, seeing the world from a very different point of view than me... I want to understand them, to know them fully, how they see things, who they are...

The Sacred Camel Gardens is about life with camels, developing something unusual, the trials and successes, the births and deaths, challenges and fears, and the gifts that the camels continually share with us.

I am going to post things here regularly so you can stay up with the day-to-day of our creation of a camel ranch with a unique orientation. The posts that will collect here will also serve as a document of these early days of the Sacred Camel Herd of the spiritual teacher, Adi Da Samraj.

Bare with me while I learn how to do pics and other tech things to do with this blog.

So, welcome and hello.
Stuart

PS: There are two major groups of camels. The more commonly known are the one-humped, or Dromedary, camels out of Africa and the Middle East, and now wild in Australia also. And then there are the two-humped Bactrian camels of Asia. Understanding the utility of one hump on your back (if you're a camel) seems fairly straightforward. But to understand the purposes of having two humps takes some pondering...

Bright Moonlight

2007-09-19T00:46:00.000-07:00