This is me at my happiest. Dirtiest, and happiest. For almost three weeks I got to work in the gardens and greenhouses at the Oregon Eclipse Festival in the high desert. Watering and making land art, knowing that all of it would exist for just this moment and then it would return to its natural state… prairie grass, sage brush…

After spending a few months working at festivals I wasn’t prepared for the way we were treated at Eclipse. All the workers, volunteers and paid, were treated as partners/co-creators. We were fed well, there was WI-FI until the 1st day of the festival, and everyone was constantly looking for ways to be helpful. I felt so loved and valued by the crew I was on, the Green Team. Every night I’d crawl into my tent completely exhausted but also so glad to have spent my day creating and nurturing something beautiful. 

So many amazing new friendships, beautiful artwork everywhere and then the Eclipse moment. It slowly became cold and dark and all the lights on the various art installations were turned on. Everyone gathered at the temple and around the lake starting whooping and there were tears and laughter and a new closeness. I got to spend the Eclipse moment in the garden with a friend from Portland, eating strawberries and catching up on her summer. I would not have wanted it any other way. The Eclipse festival showed me that I can be braver than I thought was possible, that if I let go and lean in, the universe will be there to catch me and hold me close.