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| Sacred Camel Gardens Begin |
| Posted December 18, 2006 by Stuart |
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On December 8, 2006, after months of preparation, six of our Bactrian camels were finally walked across the Mountain Of Attention Sanctuary to their spacious new home pastures. This day marks the beginning of "Adidamcamelashram".
We walked all six camels (Google Mama, Purnimama, Peaceful Baba, Jelly Baba, Muffin and Everest), un-haltered, as a herd group, following us in caravan from their previous enclosure to the new pastures. The move went very smoothly. Once there the camels moved about over the expansive new terrain, keeping in a close-knit group for much of the time, their eyes and nostrils wide and taking in as much as they could about the new surroundings.
By evening they were starting to settle into their new pastures.
Within hours of the camels arrival in the valley the winter rains finally began. We couldn't have timed it much closer.
Our three younger camels (Lily, Delaney and HiHo) will stay in the main Zoo compound until they each are large enough to move in with the other six.
Sacred Camel Gardens
Our intention is to develop our herd of camels in such a way that the Sacred Camel Gardens will become known as a leading center for Bactrian Camels in the world. The camels will be cared for according to the highest principles for the right care of animals.
We have tentatively begun referring to this new area as "Thunder Valley". It is a large area of fields, open woods and scrub country. There is natural running water for most of the year.
Facilities
The current pasture is about sixty acres, divided into two adjoining paddocks, one for each grouping of camels.
Later we will add a third pasture. Rain shelters are still to be installed in each pasture.
Additionally, we will create a spacious arena area where we will do our formal training with the camels.
Water troughs will be installed in the spring for the several months each year in late summer when the creek dries up.
As funding allows, proper stables will be built for bad weather use, for sick camel care, for calving mothers and so forth.
The entire area of Thunder Valley will be maintained consciously at a high level as the "Sacred Camel Gardens".
Temporary formal signs have been installed at the upper end of Thunder Valley. More permanent ones will be created soon.
Breeding, Training and Culture
Our camels represent high quality breed-lines. Working closely with our camels as feeling, intelligent, individuals we will develop the highest quality Bactrian camels.
All our camels will be well trained. Individuals, who show particular aptitude, and a liking for it, will be more highly trained in riding and showmanship, sacredly oriented dressage, and in special service to visitors and retreatants.
The basis of our camels' "foundation training" is being modeled after an excellent horse training method called, "Liberty Training", developed by Carolyn Resnick.
Because there are some clear cultural and character differences between horses and camels we are adapting the method to suit camels better. The basis, and focus, of Liberty Training is to develop a sound relationship of trust and respect, wherein the camels become willing and cooperative partners.
Once the Liberty Training, or the "Seven Water-hole Rituals", has been taken to the point of "companion-walking", without lead-rope and halter, further training methods will be employed for riding and other training, including physical work on the Sanctuary for those camels who enjoy it, or will benefit from it.
Residential cabins will soon be constructed adjacent to the camel pastures so that camels and people will be living side by side as an integrated culture. We will always have people living around, and with, the camels, seriously involved with them and drawing others to experience them.
Camels at the Mountain Of Attention Sanctuary
We will probably end up with between 15 and 20 camels living here as an average number. Additional numbers will be made up of seasonal calves and yearlings. We will also most likely retain a small number of camels at the main Zoo compound. Various camels may be brought back and forth from the Camel Gardens to spend time at the Zoo from time to time.
The camels who are inclined for it will participate in various Sacred activities on the Mountain Of Attention Sanctuary.
Equine-assisted therapy has become more popular in recent years. While we probably would not intentionally use the camels for conventional types of therapy, their contact with people has the potential for healing on physical, emotional and energetic levels. The camels' dispositions and strong contemplative quality are also instructive to people. The cooperative form, and order, of their herd culture is also instructive to observe and feel. The camels support and encourage people's relationship to the Divine in a most natural and powerful way.
Contemplative retreats among the camels will be developed in time.
Camels in Service To Humans
The Sacred Camel Gardens of Thunder Valley, together with Fear-No-More Zoo as a whole, serves to educate people who visit, and others further afield, about Adi Da Samraj's Profound Teachings about the non-humans. This education is being furthered through both direct contact and participation with the camels and through the Sacred Camels Website and other materials that we produce. The Sacred Camels website is still being considered and planned. It will parallel and companion alongside the Fear-No-More Zoo website. Eventually an educational center may be constructed in upper Thunder Valley for use by visitors and trainees.
Stuart
"Camels view the world from a unique point of view."
-- Adi Da Samraj |
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Permanent Link | Category : Sacred Camels
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© 2005-2006 The Avataric Samrajya of Adidam Pty Ltd, as trustee for The Avataric Samrajya of Adidam.
All rights reserved. Perpetual copyright claimed.
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