Mother Nature is performing her wonders at La Casa; our trees are fascinating. This ancient red oak is in front of the Chapel and it’s ‘sealing’ itself. Trees do not heal, but respond to injury by “compartmentalizing” injured tissue with the gradual growth of new, healthy callus tissue.

Reference: Shigo, A.L. 1982
Alex Shigo was a plant pathologist and

Slowly but surely, the grounds of La Casa de Maria and the Center for Spiritual Renewal are getting cleaned up and plans are being made for the rebuild of the property.
In making plans for the rebuild, the staff, the Board of Trustees and the Coordinating Council are visioning what is possible with the property, given new maps of the

Each year on August 6, the anniversary of the US detonation of an atomic bomb over Hiroshima, the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation (NAPF) holds a remembrance event in La Casa’s Sadako Peace Garden. This year marked the 24th annual gathering and it was especially poignant – as just six months ago the Peace Garden was awash in mud and debris

The record-setting heat was the headline for many in Santa Barbara on Saturday, July 7 but for two small groups on the grounds of La Casa de Maria that day, it was barely a footnote.

In the relatively cool Terrace Room of the big stone house – the Center for Spiritual Renewal – a group began the day in

 
In a normal year, July would be a busy time at La Casa de Maria, with programs, groups, and retreatants all making use of our facilities, land, and unique offerings. But, due to the December fires and January’s massive mud and debris flow, sadly, we are still closed while we plan for our renewal and rebirth.
We have, however,

On Wednesday, June 20, founder of Spiritual Paths Institute and longtime friend of La Casa de Maria Ed Bastian came for a visit. His purpose was two-fold – Bastian wanted to see firsthand the devastation that is a result of the 1/9 mud and debris flow. But he also came to offer financial support and delivered a $12,000 donation in support of

This one-day workshop and retreat will introduce participants to Healing and Wellness practices, which were devised by Capacitar International and have been used in more than thirty countries for over 25 years.
Capacitar International is a wellness training organization, integrating spirituality and body wisdom practices with a research-based focus resulting in an experience that is truly holistic, incorporating body,

Students from del Sol School in Manhattan Beach made their yearly pilgrimage to Santa Barbara Friday, April 20 carrying with them 1000 brightly colored origami cranes that they had painstakingly folded as part of their annual study of peace. For the past twelve years, student groups from del Sol have hung the cranes in La Casa de Maria’s Sadako Peace

Dear Friends of La Casa:
We write today to tell you of the tremendous progress we have made since the devastating mud and debris slide of January 9, which wreaked utter havoc on our small town and our beloved property just three months ago. In the days following the slide, the damage and loss seemed almost overwhelming – nine buildings