Via Lactea Sanctuary

Via Lactea Sanctuary is an emergent animist agrarian community, spiritual and religious education center, and immersive retreat space organized as a 508 (c)(1)(a) non-profit, tax exempt faith-based organization and Member Association.  We are currently recruiting highly skilled faculty and potential clergy who can develop, model and teach religious curriculum (both hard and soft skills) around agrarian animism and Earth-centered spirituality.   Applicants possessing a mix of hard skills such as off-grid homesteading, subsistence agriculture, permaculture, ecosystem-based forestry management, natural building, organic farming, diesel mechanics, heavy equipment operation, livestock (poultry, dairy, fiber) management, beekeeping, herbalism, cheesemaking, breadbaking and soft skills such as Non-violent communication, conflict transformation facilitation, Internal Family Systems therapy, anti-racist education and, ritual/ceremonial design and gift economy are encouraged to contact us to apply for membership and a position at the Sanctuary.  Current positions include: Caretaker, Forester/Green Man, Farm Manager, Cheesemaker, Natural Building Instructor and Permaculture Design instructor.

Current members (3 permanent full-time adults, and two part-time) live and homestead on and off-the-grid surrounded by beautiful NY State Forest.  We live simply and work in close connection to our waters, soils, forests, plant, animal and beyond-human-allies, while providing Wheel of the Year Earth-centered religious programming to the local community and developing our immersive curriculum.

We are especially interested in providing young or potential families with a place to produce nutrient-dense food, to homeschool their children, and to teach simple, Earth-centered living, all of which our founding family has done for 18 years and would like to share with interested and capable potential members and students.

Student, faculty and clergy housing currently includes small, private rustic yurt and grid-tied large old farm-house for two small families or up to six individuals (including possible partners), with additional cabins planned and already financed.  Our 62 acres of mixed soft and hardwoods, and agricultural land are surrounded by New York State Forest and contain a primeval valley with wild water creek for dipping in the summer.  Pond development is planned.

Shared values connect us.  We hold the Earth as sacred, and we hold our work on/with the land and each other as a form of worship, prayer and/or meditation.  We encourage Earth-centered spiritual practices such as ancestral connection, recovery of individual and cultural lineage-derived spiritual technologies, and Earth-based healing practices.

Core self-organizing agreements: 1) we use ADVICE PROCESS to consult with those who will be impacted by a decision; 2) we commit to an established CONFLICT RESOLUTION process; and 3) we seek regular practice in providing and receiving FEEDBACK.  With time, we are working toward integrating INTERNAL FAMILY SYSTEMS-based Self-leadership into our community practice toolkit.

We center consent and bodily sovereignty. We hold war as a fundamental tool of oppression, identify as an anti-militarism member organization, and work for peace on all levels of society—not just the absence of war.

People of color and all gender/sexual orientations are welcome here and we commit to being in a continual process of examining and dismantling our racism, privilege and cultural biases, while working in solidarity with liberatory, land-based, BIPOC-led projects.