Learning as a Living Art
Learning at Sacred Mountain Sanctuary
““The art of education as it is meant to be in the present and future is to take its place in a living spiritual grasp of the entire nature of the world and of humanity.””
“My hope is that all children will become earth literate. That they will experience no separation of spirit and matter... That they will come to know the Story of the Universe as their own story...That they will have a deep sense of being a unique expression of the universe and that they ARE the universe celebrating itself in their songs, dances, and rituals. Finally, I hope that they realize they have a purpose to fulfill and that they are a gift for the whole web of life.”
SOLA Sanctuary of Living Arts
Sanctuary of Living Arts, or SOLA, is a learning environment located at Sacred Mountain Sanctuary. SOLA’s classroom structures and areas of activity function together much like an ‘learning ecology’, supporting meaningful study, presence and practices with Living Earth that are essential to the lives and wellbeing of our own and the greater community.
SOLA is comprised of families and educators who mutually recognize the Sacredness of Nature as a primary context for learning. We view the Living Arts as enlivened pathways for learning that place emphasis on ‘learning relationships’ and the diverse ways that human beings enter into these realtionships - through cognitive, embodied, intuitive, imaginal and relational pathways. SOLA’s curriculum is inspired by the developmental and pedagogical indications of Rudolf Steiner and fundamentally by the spiritual and physical ecologies that comprise a divinely designed, Living Cosmos. Our reverence for the sanctity of childhood and recognition of the sacredness of each child’s relationships with self, others and the world around them are expressed through our daily rhythm of activities - our Living Curriculum.
Living Earth & Arts Guild
The Living Earth & Arts Guild - LEAG - offers global, interdisciplinary practicum and ‘Presencing’ experiences with Earth, intended to develop a ‘LEAGue’ of individuals, educators and future mentors, who wish to reconnect their own and others’ lives with the Truth, Beauty and Goodness of the natural world. Hosted in the Mountains-to-Sea Landscapes of Appalachia, the wild vitality of the Scottish Highlands, Mysterious and Magical Ireland, the Ancient, Archaic Luberon and Pyrenees Mountains of Occitanie (and other global locales) LEAG’s interdisciplinary and contemplative practicum will facilitate inner cultivation, the development of personal practices, and artful sharing with others. LEAG Cohorts are grouped by age: ages 18-25, and ages 26 and up.
The Living Library for Contemplative Research
The Living Library at Sacred Mountain Sanctuary is an esoteric & contemplative reference library & wisdom repository that provides on-site access to various collections, books, folios, & print materials on a broad range of topics that are relevant to nourishing the vitality of Humankind, & our Living Earth & Cosmos. Collections include, but are not limited to: Biodynamics & Life Sciences, Arts & Humanities, Contemplative & Celebratory Arts, Contemporary & Ancient Sciences, and collections from or related to the work of Rudolf Steiner, Thomas Berry, and others. Housed at the wifi-free Tortoise Lodge, the Library is a space for quiet reflection and respite, and can accommodate individual or small group residencies. If you wish to visit or arrange a residency at the Living Library please contact us to arrange a time.
Sanctum Wellness
Sanctum Wellness is an innovative SMS program currently in development. Sanctum recognizes the latent, potent abilities of each individual human being, and sovereignty of each individual’s pathway to inner resilience, vibrant health and homeostasis. Sanctum will offer restorative wellness as well as contemplative hermitage options, wherein innate wisdom that supports self-healing, health and homeostasis can be recovered. The environment for Sanctum Wellness experiences includes a garden inspired by Hildegarde of Bingen, access to the Living Library at Tortoise Lodge, hundreds of acres of wild, pristine forest and trails, and an option to engage on-site practitioner services. Sanctum’s guiding ethos includes economic accessibility. As such, Sanctum continues to develop a provider network & endowment that will support access to all who need it. As of 2025, Sanctum practitioners are caring for staff in other SMS programs, and hosting private, invitation-only experiences to develop and refine offerings.
