Hail The New: Virtual New Year's Eve Gathering and Ritual
With David Dunn Bauer, Russell Halley, Lee Stern, Jim Mercer, Jay Freeman and Members of the Easton Mountain Community
December 31, 2020
Online
- $21.00 – Happy to participate. I wish I could give more!
- $121.00 – Happy to participate. I support your mission.
- $221.00 – I value Easton Mountain and I'm pleased to give this gift!
- $521.00 – Easton Mountain nourishes and enriches my life, and I'm thrilled to help it continue and thrive!
- $1,021.00 – Easton Mountain is important to me, and I have the means to give a significant gift!
- $2,021.00 – I want to support Easton Mountain thriving as it moves into its 3rd decade, and I have the ability to give a generous gift!
Ring in the New Year with the Easton Mountain Community!
This online event is a fundraiser for Easton Mountain. Your support is vital in helping us to continue our mission, especially at this very challenging time. You will find donation options on the registration page. (If the donation levels present a barrier to participation, please contact us )
Do you yearn for an alternative way to mark the passage of the year with connection rather than isolation?
Our annual New Year’s Eve ritual at our Hail the New event has been a special part of the lives of many of our extended community members. We may not be able to gather in person this year, but this past year has challenged us to adapt, and find new ways to remain connected. Therefore, we have put together a virtual version of the ritual, so you can tune in from your home and ring in the New Year with us!
- We will begin at 10 pm with an opening ceremony led by Jim Mercer and Jay Freeman. We will light the fire in the hearth here at Easton Mountain in the Great Room, and set some intentions for the evening.
- We will then have some time for people at home to introduce themselves and check in.
- At 11 pm, we will begin the Hail the New Ritual, led by David Dunn Bauer, Lee Sterna and Russell Halley with special guests. It will be an hour of ritual, songs and readings, leading up to a moment of silent reflection at the stroke of midnight.
- You will have an opportunity to send us a note ahead of time about something you would like to purge from your life, and any wishes to bring in to the new year. Will will write these on paper and throw them into the fire as part of the ritual
- We will then close out the evening with music from composer Jonathan Comisar.
Please join us to welcome 2021 in community!
About the Facilitators
David Dunn Bauer
Rabbi David Dunn Bauer is a unique pastoral counselor, ritual leader, community leader, scholar, artist, sacred intimate, and writer. His numerous writings on God, Queerness, and sexuality are published in anthologies and on-line. For two years he served as the Bay Area Director of Programming for Nehirim, the leading national provider of community programming for gay, lesbian, […]
Learn more about David Dunn Bauer
Russell Halley
Russell first came to Easton Mountain in 2013, fell in love with the community, and has been participating, facilitating and volunteering ever since. At Spirit Camp four summers ago, he was introduced to tantric practice, which set him on a path of deepening spiritual practice. He is so happy to have this opportunity to reconnect with his […]
Learn more about Russell Halley
Lee Stern
When Lee Stern was 13 he won the Scout Spirit award at the Boy Scout National Jamboree...he has been a lifetime devotee of camp, in the old-fashioned (and sometimes new) sense of the word. He has created music, drama, poetry and outdoor fun with children of all ages; from twenty-five years of summer volunteering with […]
Learn more about Lee Stern
Jim Mercer
Jim Mercer is a culinary artist whose food philosophy is grounded in the slow food and locavore movements. His flavor inspirations come directly from his philosophy of “Start with the local culinary heritage and add in flavors or techniques from Europe; the spice traditions of India or Morocco; and the bold flavors of the Orient.” […]
Learn more about Jim Mercer
Jay Freeman
Jay Freeman AKA Laniakea is a graphic designer, musician, dancer, introvert, nature-lover, and anosmic. Along with his husband Freddy Freeman, he is a co-host and organizer of Bear Your Soul retreats at Easton Mountain. He is a co-leader of Loving Our Bear Bodies workshops and leads cuddle parties at Bear Your Soul events, and at […]
Learn more about Jay Freeman
Members of the Easton Mountain Community
Easton Mountain has community of residents who live on the land and play vital roles in the management of the retreat center. The community acts as a host for events for locals such as pot-lucks holiday parties and more! We look forward to welcoming you to our home and showing you what Easton Mountain has […]
Learn more about Members of the Easton Mountain Community