Gaia Passages (Gaia Girls)

Photo by their guide Chiara. They spent the Saturday working in a garden.

With the global pandemic of 2020/202 causing us all to be at home more often that not, I worried about the spiritual and mental/emotional implications that an extended shelter-in-place would mean for my two small gems. Their school was opting to do outdoor learning but we felt more comfortable with them distance learning at home (until May, when they returned in person). Still, I knew that they needed some type of support to nurture heart and mind if they were to remain home most of the time. This is where Gaia Passages (formerly Gaia Girls) came into play.

During the summer, Amara did a 5 day backpacking trip with Gaia Girls, which is a outdoor, nature based program that supports girls with nature based activities. It was a the perfect rite of passage for Amara (versus the bat mitzvah we could have opted for) as it connects young females with the earth through song, hiking, gardening, crafting and more. When I saw that Gaia Girls would be doing their outdoor program for the school year, I knew that it would be the support I was seeking for the girls.

From October to May, the girls met twice a month. They would alternate between a park in Oakland and the backyard of another family in El Cerrito.  Some months, they would meet for an entire Saturday. Nine girls, who over time got to bond with each other while learning to more deeply connect with the earth. Amara was on board from day one. Havana took a bit more time adjusting to the program as the pandemic seemed to impact her psyche more (she did not want to get outside much at all.) But over time, the girls formed relationships with their peers and their older guide Chiara, which proved to be nurturing for heart, body and soul.

One of the main focuses of the program was that the girls learn to make fire, which ended up with them tending to a fire by themselves, for three hours, during a two night camping trip. It was very exciting for the girls to have learned this responsibility. Grandfather Fire is an important element in life and I was most grateful the girls formed a relationship with fire. I was also beyond thrilled that Havana opted to do the camping trip. She has not been one to spend the night out without her parents. That she joined the group for two nights of camping was a big milestone. For Don and I, that alone was the highlight of our decision to make the commitment to invest the time, energy and resources that the program required of us. 

The program ended last month, with the girls making a group fire at their last meeting. They were sad to say goodbye but they were also ready. With things shifting in the world, their return to school and spring in full bloom, it was time to focus on other things. But their time with Gaia Girls was something that was exactly what they needed, at exactly the right time. And what better experience that deepen ones relationship with Mother Earth.

Photo by Chiara