Tai Guëy Itainos (family)! Welcome to All Paths.

A loving reminder to our Tribe: Taíno Woods Sanctuary is a sacred place open to all people, regardless of lineage. While the founders are of Taíno descent, giving this place its name, we are a welcoming community for every spirit called to walk with Atabeyra and the Ancestors.

The call of the long night season

The quiet of December brings us to the Winter Solstice, a pivotal moment in our sacred calendar. In Taino cosmology, this is when Yoka Hu, the spirit of Energy and Life, retreats into the sacred womb of Coa Bay (Atabey’s watery underworld). This cyclical journey is a powerful teaching: a time for deep rest, regeneration, and preparation for rebirth at the Spring Equinox.

We are invited to follow his lead: to embrace the stillness of winter for introspection and renewal. For a deeper exploration of this ancestral narrative and its wisdom, we encourage you to read Behike Miguel Sague’s article, “What is Solstice?” on the Indigenous Caribbean Network.

Let the journey of Yoka Hu guide your own spirit as you reflect, release, and prepare for the abundance to come.

At TW “stillness” doesn’t mean to stop moving your body and cells. Movement keeps us alive. During the winter – We will have snow day call outs for those inclined to help the land- So keep on the lookout for the call via text. On those days: We will clean snow off the roofs to prevent collapse, and use roof rakes while playing in the snow… keeping our inner child in harmony during the winter months.

📅 The Fire Rises: Upcoming Sacred Gatherings

1. 💻 Winter Virtual Sanctuary Series: Closing the Year’s Cycles

• Date: December 4, 2025
• Time: 7:00 – 8:30 PM (Virtual)
• What: A year-end reflection and ritual led by Yaqui Rodriguez.
• The Invitation: The close of the year is the sacred time to review and honor all cycles completed. Join our community in powerful journaling, meditation, and ritual to clear the path for the new year.
• Action: Donations are welcomed. Click Here to register and obtain the Zoom Link! (Questions? Email: Events@Tainowoods.com)

🔥 Winter Solstice Purification Lodge – FULL MOON

This sacred ceremony honors the longest night and the return of the light.

• Date: Saturday, December 6, 2025
• Location: Taíno Woods Sanctuary, Harris, NY
• Time: Arrival at 9:00 AM | Ceremony begins at 10:00 AM
• The Invitation: Enter the deep stillness of Winter to honor the return of the light. This is a powerful space to reflect, release, renew, and give thanks for the loving service that nourishes our community and the Land.
• Contribution: Sliding scale donations of $50, $75, or $100 are warmly welcomed to sustain this sacred work and our community. Donate Today!

What to Bring – Solstice Lodge Protocol

• Lightweight, modest ceremonial clothing (Dress/skirt for Women, shirt & shorts for Men).
• Two towels (one for sitting, one for drying).
• Change of weather-appropriate clothes.
• Reusable water bottle & 1–2 gallons of drinking water.
• A sacred offering for the altar (flower, fruit, stone, etc.).
• A prepared dish for the post-ceremony potluck.
• Tradition & Encouraged: Sacred gifts for ceremony leaders (tobacco, cedar, copal, etc.).

Let us honor the darkness with gratitude, welcome the returning light with joy! Han Hankatu.

💻 Winter Virtual Sanctuary Series: Kundalini Yoga, Meditation, Movement, Breathwork, Music, and Indigenous medicinal practices.

• Date: January 18th, 2026
• Time: 3:00 PM (Virtual)
• What: Practice with Luna Sol self-regulation with grace and unconditional love. As we enter 2026, we’re invited to use every tool in our wellness bundle — from intentional breath to the power of the spoken word. It’s all medicine, and it’s all yours.

🌕 Facilitator Highlight: Luna Solrise

Luna Solrise is an Afro-Indigenous Dominican cycle breaker dedicated to nervous system regulation and elevating the auric field through Kundalini Yoga, Meditation, Movement, Breathwork, Music, and Indigenous medicinal practices.
Their work awakens the body, mind, and spirit to its divine power, opening new pathways of clarity, peace, and self-mastery.

Meditation:

Beaming & Creating the Future You Desire

Benefits:
• Reduces negative thoughts to zero
• Promotes balance & self-control
• Clears mental distractions
• Teaches you how to project your visions into the future
• Strengthens the power of presence and intentional words

🍄 Ancestral Skill Share: Virtual Winter Gathering

• Topic: Grow Your Own Mushrooms
• Date: February 17, 2026
• Time: 7:00–8:30 PM (Virtual)
• The Teaching: Learn the essentials of mycology and the life cycle of fungi. We will cover how to grow Shiitake on logs, and Oysters & Winecaps on wood chips, focusing on successful cultivation and the powerful benefits of these living beings.
• Action: Register Today! Become a paid member to enjoy this offering in the Gatherings section of Tainowoods.com.

About the Instructor: Michael Del Rio (Naya/Elle/They) is a farmer, teacher, and lifelong student of Atabey, passionate about the powerful, supportive relationships fungi hold with the Earth.

🦅 Team Call: Openings on the Sanctuary Team – We are excited to expand our Tribe! We invite dedicated community members to join us in supporting the vision of Taíno Woods Sanctuary. Your unique gifts are needed to help the Sanctuary flourish.

We are seeking Outreach, Grant Writers/Seekers, Sponsorship, Social Media, Event Coordination, and Ceremonial Support.

Role Types:                            Focus 

Remote    –     Administrative and content support 

Hybrid      –    Event coordination and logistics 

In-Person –     On-site maintenance and ceremonial assistance 

• Action: To express your interest and share your talents, please email: events@tainowoods.com.

💛 Tribe Gratitude: Honoring Those Who Serve

We extend deep heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has contributed to the beauty and energy of Taíno Woods Sanctuary this past year!

A Rite of Release and Renewal

• We reflect with immense gratitude on the profound experiences shared during the Los Niños Tea Ceremony and Purification Lodge on the 30th day of October. We held open a sacred space for deep prayer, transformative connections, and planted the seeds of intention for the paths ahead.
• Thank you to the generous hands who joined our Final Volunteer Land Stewarding Weekend. With your strength, we met the threshold of winter, securing the communal gathering spaces and taking down the tents.
• A special honor song for our brother, DJ Michael Casiano, whose powerful, ancestral drumbeats fueled our community throughout those days!

Every offering is sacred and needed. We cannot do this alone. If you feel called to contribute in other ways—fundraising, organizing, or leading workshops—please reach out to events@tainowoods.com.

🪶 Membership Keeps the Fire Alive

Becoming a member of Taíno Woods Sanctuary is more than a donation—it’s a commitment to keeping prayer alive on the land.

For $10/month or $99/year, your membership sustains sacred spaces, cultural preservation, and healing for our community.

Your Benefits	Your Impact
Access to Gatherings & Lodges	Sustaining Sacred Spaces
Online Winter Teachings, Apprentice  in person teachings	Preserving Cultural Wisdom
Knowledge Resources Library, Song and Fire circle	Supporting Community Healing
Private Social Network	Keeping the Tribal Fire Burning on and off land
Free Overnight Stays during ceremonies. (Limited space)	Spending time in Nature’s Essence for wellness

 Become a Member Today!

Crossing the Threshold Blessing

As we follow the Land into the quiet of the Long Night Season, may the Sweet River keep your spirit cleansed, may the Forest hold your body in restorative rest, and may your heart never forget the wisdom of Atabeyra’s children— You are home. You are protected. You are walking the path of your people.

Han Han Katu. Seneko Kakona.

— Taíno Woods Sanctuary