Gathering Ground provides community for people of many beliefs – on many journeys – to share and forge meaning.

We are a queer-friendly and justice-seeking group of many ages and beliefs. Our shared identity is earth-centered and DIY making of meaning and fun. Our motto is: Do stuff. Reflect. Connect.

We observe the earth’s cycles, share creative practices, and listen deeply to each other. We find that gathering to creatively share practices, stories, and snacks is deeply connecting. Often playful, sometimes raw, there is something about doing and reflecting together that makes space for authentic questions and deep listening. We are on equal footing after doing something side-by-side, rather than a relationship of helper/receiver. Practicing connection to a deeper wisdom, together we are more present for our world’s deep needs.

People in our gathering call the yearning for meaning by various names: collective unconscious, mystery, spirit, higher power, the universe, becoming real. We are enriched by each other’s paths.

Whether you encounter truth by celebrating seasons of the earth, bringing socks to an encampment, writing bad poetry, cultivating strength to grow as a de-colonizer, or playing with crafts, come on in.

Accountabilities & Partners:

These accountabilities guide choices of programs, leadership and process.

We acknowledge we gather on territories of the Duwamish and Coastal Salish Tribes. We honor their longtime stewardship of these lands, waters, and creatures.

We commit to work toward justice in the linked oppressions of race, income, disability, gender, and orientation within ourselves and within cultural systems. 

We revere the earth and its seasons, a cyclical story that all people who live here participate in.

We partner with the University Heights Community Center to cultivate community. We are a member of the Wild Church Network, an emerging community of eco-spiritual groups from many beliefs. We have also partnered with Love Wins Love project, a community of unhoused & housed folks who bring art projects into neighborhoods to build relationships & respect. We share members, events, and hopes for our region.

Financials: Gathering Ground is a community collaboration. Together we all help to meet the cost of gatherings: online spaces & tools, leader honorariums, and our very part-time Convener. In total, $25,000 for 2023. Some folks can pay more.  Some much less. All are welcome to attend. Come on in. Together we’ll make it happen.

We gratefully acknowledge in-kind support from University Congregational United Church of Christ, our non-profit fiscal sponsor. Contributions to Gathering Ground are tax deductible under their tax umbrella. We are an independent program partnered with this progressive Christian Church, which provided start-up funds to launch this experiment in meaning-making.

Gathering Ground is a collaboration. Its activities are guided by a Convener and 3 circles of community members. Guest presenters lead some of our programs – lineage bearers & skilled leaders. We follow a model of Sociocracy, which allows for horizontal sharing of power and concensus-based decision making.