Ray's belief in the sacredness of our Earth, the animals and each other has touched a cord within us that vibrates passionately! For three summers now, my daughters have returned to Ekone to experience just that. 2008 will be their fourth! Their time with Ray and the camp have helped shape them into confident, self-reliant, and compassionate young ladies.
People come into our lives for a reason. I will always be grateful that Ray came into my daughters' lives.
Most Sincerely,
Laura Tidwell

Samantha and Kathryn 2006 camp

It's nearly impossible to measure the effect that Ray and Ekone had on me. I googled Ekone on a whim and found that Ray had died. I'm deeply saddened, but I'm also glad to know that Ekone will be going on in his memory. As long as kids are still taught about how important the land is and still have fun on horseback Ray will still be around.
I was a camper some years ago (8 or so) and I'd love to do anything I can with the upcoming summer's sessions. Please get in contact with me if you need any help.

Alden Goodman, brother of Joel Goodman of Portland

A Truly Great Human Being

When Jade called me on Tuesday evening to tell me that Ray had passed away, my first thought was "This is big. Really big." But that's the way Ray always did things, big and bold and without reservation. In all the years that I spent at camp as a camper and then an intern and eventually camp director and horse staff, I developed a rewarding and challenging relationship with Ray. We never really had similar working styles and often did not see eye to eye on things, but there was always a deep mutual respect and love. He trusted me even when I did not yet trust myself, and I learned to trust his intuition and faith even when I did not see any logic or reason in it. The emotional and physical challenges of working with Ray at times left me wondering if it was even worth it, but somehow I knew that there was still something I had to learn, and something I had to offer, so I didn't give up. I learned to take better care of myself and speak-up even when it was difficult and I can see now that my honesty and directness was part of what Ray trusted so much, even if it was not always what he wanted to hear. He also held me accountable for my actions and reminded me to keep my attitude positive and my spirit strong and bright.

Many people over the last few weeks have called Ray a great teacher, and he was. But to me he was not a teacher in the way that the word is often used. In my experience, Ray taught by challenging and without much consideration for how anybody would feel about it. You could either learn the lessons or get out of the way. He made me cry more times than I can count, made me so mad I wanted to walk away and never come back, and frustrated me to no end with his crazy ideas and non-linear thought process! But somehow, throughout it all I knew that he loved me, and everyone else, deeply and unconditionally. I think in many cases he did not even consciously realize the lessons he was teaching, he just lived them.

Ray also taught by example and inspiration. He was committed to living his life on his own terms, no matter what. I have a lot of respect for that. You had to be strong to work or live with Ray and those of us that chose him as a teacher were made even stronger by it.

As I think about what happens now, I am struck by the incredible gift we have been given, and the huge responsibility. Ray let go in the best way he knew, big and bold and without reservations. And so here we stand, together, faced with the reality of what comes next. Even just doing the daily tasks at the ranch, we find ourselves in the somewhat amusing situation of having all the parts without the instructions, or a project halfway done but the tools have gone missing. Sometimes I think of Ray looking down at us and saying..."See, you should have paid closer attention!" and I have to laugh! The task ahead of us will likely be a challenging one, and frustrating and confusing, but I am sure that it will also be rewarding and inspiring. And if I know the Ekone crew, there may even be some fun along the way!

Ray had the biggest heart of anybody I have ever known and with every child that came to camp, and every horse that was born, and every acre of land protected, it grew a little bigger. Maybe it just got too big for this world...

I am so deeply grateful that our paths crossed in this world and that I got to share so many joys, challenges, blessings, and adventures with such a truly great human being.

Thank you Ray, you will be in heart forever.

Caitlin

Camper, Staff, Board Member

Aloha ~ I sent an e-mail out yesterday to Ray's web site in remembering him deeply. . . I think it went out to cyberspace and was gone, . . .maybe it went straight to Ray? I was thinking today of sayings he used to use. . .like: 'TRAVEL AT THE SPEED OF FUN!', 'ALWAYS EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED!', 'DON'T LET SCHOOL GET IN THE WAY OF YOUR EDUCATION' and 'SAFETY FIRST BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE', (although, there were those times when Ray loved being on the edge), and ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!!!! . . . these I live by in my everyday life. . . So much gratitude for Ray and ALL he gave and taught to me and my children. . .and all our children! He is FOREVER WITH ME!! Namaste' and With Endearing LOVE, Christine

I also just saw Ray 11 days before he passed at Vibrance's Wedding after many years (The Love Family Days). I lived with Ray at Ekone for 3 years with Jackie, Susan and Vibrance. He helped me heal tumors I had and my cells were filled with Love as I fell in Love with Ray/Simeon and experienced the healing energy of Ekone. No phones or electricity there then - real simple - making candles on the woodstove, milking the goats for milk for morning coffee, holy treks to the outhouse in the snow under a clear cold starry night sky, hearing the roosters crowing in the morning and the horses hooves running, listening to Prairie Home Companion on the radio, Fresh Garden Greens, Ray's great smile and wide open embraces, Love, Tears, Enrichment, Expansion, Contemplations, Unfoldment, Challenges, Loving Neighbors, Shadow the Great, Mazar, the Canyon, Rattlesnake for breakfast, Sleighrides in the Snow, Getting lost in the woods for hours trying to find my way to the neighbors to use their phone!!! Once, Ray told me to "hold the fort down" - that is to stay at Ekone alone to mind it as he and others went to pick fruit on the river for several days. Well, Mazar, the stallion, cut his penis as he was jumping over the barbed wire fence with an erection to get into the next field to a mare in heat! I hysterically ran to the neighbors to call Ray (Mazar's penis was bleeding) and somehow Ray convinced me to put comfrey compresses on Mazar's penis!!! I somehow actually did this until Mazar kicked his back leg hoof up to about an inch away from my face. I dropped everything and ran in gratitude that I wasn't kicked. That was that. I told Ray that Mazar was "raw horse". After I left Ekone after lifetimes of experiences on so many levels, I moved to Connecticut and Ray flew out there to see me and we took the Tom Brown Survival in the WIlderness Course together in N.J.. Ray and Tom Brown were very connected. After taking the Tom Brown Course in N.J., we were driving thru New York City and Ray had never been there before. We parked my car at the Empire State Building and we went up to the top of the building. When we got back to the car, theives had smashed the windows of the car and broke into it and took all our belongings! I remember Ray saying that all his beautiful special leather clothing and other special things were stollen and that it probably was for the good as it was all "ego stuff". Beautiful! That's Ray. Just 11 days before he passed over, I got to see him again at the Wedding and a little gathering afterwords. His last words I heard him say as he was walking out the door were "I LOVE YOU ALL". We Love You Ray and I am so glad to hear all the beautiful stories everyone has written for You! With Much Love in My Heart, Susan Ulicny, Translucence, Makushla XXOO

Most of our memories of Ray are of his beaming smile, open arms, and focused purpose...his ability to connect with people deeply and to share his love of horses and his love of the land. All of these things are a part of the memories that I hold dear of our time together and then continuing friendship through the years as he held true to his role of father to my daughter Vibrance. But a time when I watched him struggle with a great loss also tells alot about who he was. It was the year the trees were cut in the long treelined meadow leading to the canyon just before you reach the pond. We called it the cathedral because of the way the light shone through the tall trees as you approached the spectacular canyon sanctuary.

When he heard the chain saws in the distance, he jumped up startled and horrified, jumped on a horse and rode out to check it out. What he saw was his worst fear...the trees were coming down. Ray sprang into action, begged them to stop, made phone calls to everyone he could think of who might be able to help in any way to stop the process and to preserve what was left. I remember he cried for days....his heart was broken. He did succeed in the end in securing the land but it was too late for many of those giant trees.

In the days that followed, I wrote this poem, that for me speak's to Ray's vision....a vision that Ray will need our help to continue on..... Susan Mitchell

Moving quietly
to blend with nature's stillness
Listening to birds' songs,
squirrels' warning calls,
leaves rustling.
Miles and miles of quiet.
Feeling a part...
not more, not less
One with all creation
Huge canyon stretches before
small human
Weary from so much business
in mad modern world...
My spirit is healed hear.

Who dares to destroy this sacred place...
Cathedral passageway
to canyon sanctuary?
Surely one who doesn't understand
who hasn't experienced it's healing power...
Cat drivers and loggers who didn't know
this ground is sacred ground.
Doing their jobs
collecting their money
feeding their families.
Did their hearts hesitate...
when they saw the magnificence
of this place?
Did they notice anything extraordinary
then dismiss it as foolishness?
Or were their eyes
and their hearts
and their souls blind?
Just another day and another job.

Great spirit, hear my humble plea....
Give those who have the eyes to see
Your Sacred Places
the Strength
and the Power
and the Wisdom
To Protect them
And to Share them
For the Healing of Humanity.

Dear Ray,

Last night I had a wonderful dream about Ekone. I was there with my sister and friends. We were all gathered around the large wooden table that sits right inside the lodge. Jeanie and Vonnie were there also, and so many other faces who had come to gather. I did not know in my dream what I was doing, or why I was surrounded by all my friends I had met there. As I left the table I turned to face westward, and I saw you, sitting comfortably in a chair woven from Willow branches. You were smiling warmly at everyone passing by. I felt that in my dream, I was able to give you my feelings of good passing and peace on your journey. You were not the slightest bit ungrateful or angry, not even an ounce of dismay in your body. You were at peace, completely content, full to the brim with joy and love from all of your friends, family, and animals. I had a cloud of bittersweet memories wash over me. It was as if I knew you were alright and that I was able to say goodbye to you and tell you how much I loved you. I miss you and I will always keep the hundreds of memories I shared with you and everyone else at Ekone close to my heart. Ekone meant so much to me, it was such a huge part of my life. As I count back the nine summers that I came to Ekone, I feel that it has made me a better person. I am so grateful that I was able to share Ekone with my friends and family. We all love you, and we will miss you so much.

You Will Live Forever In Our Hearts,

Love Gillian

There is a great thundering
In the clouds
When the great man arrives

The Stars make a passage
And the planets make a stair
The Sun in her brillance
Lights the heavens, forever clear.

The soul soars with the Troubadour
as the trumpets roar in response
God has welcomed this Good Spirit
To the land of buffalo and coyote
Never to be forgot.

Hawk and eagle have his hand
Cloud Spirit gently rides him in
Good Ray Mitchell, forever our friend.


Cheryl Trine
an eternally grateful Ekone-camper's mom

It's mid-January here at Ekone. Jade and Daniel are off in warmer climes; Chris, Bob and I (and soon, Liz) are holding down the fort. As I watch the sunlight dancing on the sparkling snow, I reflect back on the past month of my life. I guess my greatest fear around Ray's passing is that he won't be with me any longer. The strange thing is: he is with me, every moment of every day, STILL!  He is in my every thought, feeling and action and I find myself doing everything 110% with enthusiasm and ease. I feel that he gifted me some of his great strength, commitment and focus as he departed. And, most importantly, he left me full to overflowing with his big hearted LOVE. We all knew he was an amazing human being!

For me, Ekone has always been about the life, death, life cycle. Sacred Drummer's belly grows bigger by the day, and I expect to see her baby (and Troubadour's!) before long. Ray always wanted to give our daughter, Carol, a puppy, and that puppy, a border collie, healer, Brittany spaniel combo, showed up several days after Ray died. Star, 9 weeks old, lives at Ekone with Angel and Quill (our son, Ben's, dog). Quill has fully recovered from 8 weeks of paralysis caused by a raccoon bite on his nose and he is enjoying life to the hilt again.

I am beginning to sink into the peace and quiet of January at Ekone. It has always been one of my favorite times here. Solitary walks in the snowy woods, thick fur on all the critters, toasty heat from the wood stove and the ever present pot of soup bubbling away on top of it, the long, starry nights: it is a sacred time here.

I LOVE YOU RAY! Fisse

Italy: November, 2007
Ray, Fisse, Mimsy (mom), Diana (sister) and Ben (son)

Aloha Family ~ Here are some pictures of Ray during the almost 12 years we were together. . .some wonderful memories that are deep within my heart and soul.

View my Slideshow

Enjoy! Love Forever, Christine
p.s. EVERYTHING IS SACRED!

Today I was reading over some of my favorite medicine songs, and I suddenly thought of Ray and it seems that these speak for who he was. . . so much of an Earth Steward with such dedication and perseverance to his vision. . . .I am so grateful to have lived my years at Ekone and to have helped to build such a beautiful reality for so many. IT WAS A GREAT HONOR!
Love Eternal, Christine

Here on the Earth ~

Here on the Earth I see so much beauty
My Mother she shows it to me
Forever I want, forever to be
With my Mother next to me

This Power, this Force it flows like a River
Surrender and flow to the Sea
Forever I want, forever to be
With my Mother next to me

Rei Jagube e Mamae Rainha
From the Forest across the Sea
Forever I am and forever shall be
With my Mother next to me

My Own Two Hands by Ben Harper

I CAN CHANGE THE WORLD
with my own two hands
MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE
With my own two hands
MAKE IT A KINDER PLACE
with my own two hands
with my own with my own two hands

I CAN MAKE PEACE ON EARTH
with my own two hands
I CAN CLEAN UP THE EARTH
with my own two hands
I CAN REACH OUT TO YOU
with my own two hands
with my own with my own two hands

I'M GOING TO MAKE IT A BRIGHTER PLACE
with my own two hands
I'M GOING TO MAKE IT A SAFER PLACE
with my own two hands
I'M GOING TO HELP THE HUMAN RACE
with my own two hands
with my own with my own two hands

I CAN HOLD YOU
in my own two hands
AND I CAN COMFORT YOU
with my own two hands
BUT YOU GOT TO USE
use your own two hands
use your own use your own two hands

With our own with our own two hands
WITH OUR OWN WITH OUR OWN TWO HANDS!

 

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