Here I am basking in the joy of community as we build a sweat lodge together. It's been a long time since we've gathered like this & I'm looking forward to being blessed by these gatherings again. These days I'm dreaming of heading out to the fresh air & open skies of New Mexico. In early Fall 2021 I did just that. It was blissful connecting with the land & dreaming of a new life. A quieter setting. A place to rest deeply & practice my medicine. October, 17th 2021 marked one year since I’ve been dealing with serious health challenges, which is another big reason I need a place to practice deep rest. (For more details on this, please see the caring bridge link below.) As a result, in this last year I’ve had to learn to receive which was really hard at first, but here I am now, believing that there are some of you that will support me in this dream. I'm calling this home/land in. For myself & for my community. My vision is that this home/land will never be sold again. It will be freely given to me & then another Two Spirit on the Red Road who, like me, chose to follow their heart & brings that medicine, heart medicine grounded in indigenous ways, to help uplift other Two Spirit/QTBIPOC relatives. And just like that, this home/land will be given freely again & again creating a cycle of love, generosity & healing.
This home/land will also serve as a community ceremonial space. To start with, I see this home/land being used for Two Spirit/QTBIPOC vision quest ceremonies. I am trained in how to conduct them. I, myself have done four of these ceremonies & I found each of them profoundly healing. Also, I am certain, that the vision quest ceremonies would only be the tip of the iceberg. I envision a medicinal garden & visiting healers who come to teach & bless this home/land & our communities with their medicines. In addition, we would be certain to cultivate good relations with our local indigenous relatives by making a ceremonial offering, asking permission & sharing nourishment together.
While I was in NM in Oct. 2021 I was able to view a number of properties & I've been doing lots of research on zillow. I'm confident that I can find a good Home/Land in NM for $250k or under (a list of current properties being considered is listed below) , which is considerably lower than what can be found in most parts of the US. A property of that value would be easy to acquire for most people who have been fortunate enough to develop good credit. That is not me. Due to student loans & medical bills that were accumulated during a time when I didn't have health insurance & was hit with illness, my credit score is too low to qualify for a loan. That's why I'm reaching out to community for help. I do have one supporter who has promised up to 20k toward a deposit & that is a very good start!! Also, I was advised by a realter friend in NM that I may be able to get a "real estate contract" for a property, but I would need to raise at least 20% of the cost, which I am capping at $250K. So, If I can raise $30K (as I already have 20K promised), I have a good chance of securing a property through a "real estate contract" (similar to "rent to own"). Can you help? I'm looking for big hearted folx who have resources that they want to invest in a project that will continue to have ripple effects for the Two Spirit/QTBIPOC community for generations to come.
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Please take a few minutes to view this short "work sample" MP4 that I created for a grant that my project, Spirit Root Medicine People/Indigenous Two Spirit Lifeways recently applied for. It's a good example of the work I'll be doing on the Home/Land. BTW, we won that grant & are guaranteed funding for the next two years! ✨✨✨✨✨
This home/land will also serve as a community ceremonial space. To start with, I see this home/land being used for Two Spirit/QTBIPOC vision quest ceremonies. I am trained in how to conduct them. I, myself have done four of these ceremonies & I found each of them profoundly healing. Also, I am certain, that the vision quest ceremonies would only be the tip of the iceberg. I envision a medicinal garden & visiting healers who come to teach & bless this home/land & our communities with their medicines. In addition, we would be certain to cultivate good relations with our local indigenous relatives by making a ceremonial offering, asking permission & sharing nourishment together.
While I was in NM in Oct. 2021 I was able to view a number of properties & I've been doing lots of research on zillow. I'm confident that I can find a good Home/Land in NM for $250k or under (a list of current properties being considered is listed below) , which is considerably lower than what can be found in most parts of the US. A property of that value would be easy to acquire for most people who have been fortunate enough to develop good credit. That is not me. Due to student loans & medical bills that were accumulated during a time when I didn't have health insurance & was hit with illness, my credit score is too low to qualify for a loan. That's why I'm reaching out to community for help. I do have one supporter who has promised up to 20k toward a deposit & that is a very good start!! Also, I was advised by a realter friend in NM that I may be able to get a "real estate contract" for a property, but I would need to raise at least 20% of the cost, which I am capping at $250K. So, If I can raise $30K (as I already have 20K promised), I have a good chance of securing a property through a "real estate contract" (similar to "rent to own"). Can you help? I'm looking for big hearted folx who have resources that they want to invest in a project that will continue to have ripple effects for the Two Spirit/QTBIPOC community for generations to come.
.
Please take a few minutes to view this short "work sample" MP4 that I created for a grant that my project, Spirit Root Medicine People/Indigenous Two Spirit Lifeways recently applied for. It's a good example of the work I'll be doing on the Home/Land. BTW, we won that grant & are guaranteed funding for the next two years! ✨✨✨✨✨
Possible HOME/LANDs .
This is a list of properties currently being considered. This list is being updated regularly as properties in NM are selling fast! If you'd like to view them & check if they're still for sale, just go to zillow.com & type in an address 💚
29 Gonzales Rd, Tijeras, NM 87059 - this property is on the top of the list as there's lot's of flat land with trees, which is good for vision questing, ceremony & camping. There's also a large garage that can be converted into a "classroom." The other great thing about this place is that it's only 30 minutes from ABQ. It would be having the best of both worlds...rural but still close to community.
18 Arabian Ln, La Luz, NM 88337 - a little farther out than I had imagined I would be, but the land & the place seem special. It does needs work. The cost shows. It has 3 bedrooms & there’s a basement that could be converted into a "classroom." Has 5 flat acres.
The ideal scenario: A supporter or supporters purchase the property with cash & then sign the deed over to me.
Other scenarios: A) Someone gets the loan in their name & an agreement is written up where I pay the mortgage. B) If I can raise $30K, I may be able to get a "real estate contract," which is similar to a "rent to own" scenario.
BONUS: Documentary on LGBTQ youth that my 20 year old self is featured in. This film is a testament to why the work I'm doing with the Two Spirit/QTBIPOC community is essential. It was 6 years after this film was made that ceremony found me & made me the person I am today. Every Two Spirit deserves this opportunity to heal in community & reclaim their rightful place in the circle of life.
For those wanting more info on my current health, here's the link to the caring bridge page that was started by my dear friend in 11/2020:
https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/raheni
Would you like to make a contribution?💚 Venmo: @RaheNi-Gonzalez PayPal: raheni13@gmail.com For large contributions requiring a check or wire transfer, please contact me. For those concerned with taxes, I'm working on getting fiscal sponsorship.
https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/raheni
Would you like to make a contribution?💚 Venmo: @RaheNi-Gonzalez PayPal: raheni13@gmail.com For large contributions requiring a check or wire transfer, please contact me. For those concerned with taxes, I'm working on getting fiscal sponsorship.
