History
The Vision
Raices Y Brazos began as a vision, seeded by observation and intention. When the founder, Peter Domecq, moved to the Baja area he began to connect with the creative community, the artists, the healers, the performers, those seeking to expand, educate, and explore. It was acknowledged that a beautiful and powerful community existed yet there was no central venue for these people to converge, to share ideas, to explore realities, and to inspire each other. The venues were mostly hotels, resorts, spas and bars. It was also observed that much of the valuable knowledge, insight and experience these beings had to share was not accessible to most of the local people. These realizations combined with the inspiration to build bridges within the local community; across gender, ethnicity, tribes, generations and socioeconomic stratifications, and between this local community and the global community. To facilitate a meeting place where the local community can cross pollinate with the global community. Where individuals can explore their roots, their connection to the earth, and also extend their branches and reach for the heavens. Where individuals and groups can take an active role in the evolution of consciousness and the consciousness of evolution. This is envisioned to be a co creative process, and thus was the vision received, with the intention to manifest a space and invite the community to then transform that space into a place, into a dynamic, living, evolving, positive, intentional organism called Raices Y Brazos, Roots and Branches.
The Space
Upon the reception, clarity and sharing of this vision came a lead to look at this particular building where the center now is. At first visit it was discovered that the building had just been sold and this was accepted and the search continued, with faith and intention more than material resources, with grace more than will. About six months after the first visit to the site, Peter randomly passed bye after leaving a Dzogchen Buddhist transmition and recognizing the building he felt pulled to stop and see what was happening there. The building looked the same as it had six months prior, unfinished and vacant, and the gate was open. He entered the lower gate and walked into the courtyard, looking around, envisioning all that would happen in this space, when a man emerged from one of the doors and greeted him. This man turned out to be Mario Tellez, the designer and builder of the building. As the two began to speak Mario asked Peter if he has seen the sign on the gate, the sign which read "No se renta, no se vende" (not for rent, not for sale). Together they walked out to the gate and found the sign face down on the ground, having come off the gate before Peter arrived. Mario took this as some form of fate, and Peter as a sign of synchronicity. The two toured that building and the vision was explained, as foreign as it sounded Mario liked what he heard and made it clear that he felt the place he had pieced together over seven years was intended for this purpose. It turned out that the previous sale had fallen through due to some title issues, and on course the day before this encounter Mario had received a call notifying him that the papers were finally ready. Peter did not have the financing for the purchase but agreed with Mario that he would search for it and contact him within two weeks time. Mario had another buyer lined up but said he felt so strongly about this encounter that he would wait for word from Peter. A deposit was secured within a few weeks and the building handed over at that time. The whole deal was based on trust, minimal contracts, and within a year the building was paid for and all the loans secured. The space continues to evolve as does its community, functions, and inhabitants. Ever changing. Between the dance of will and fate it seems Mario’s will may have led him to build something that was fated to be…
The Place
Beginning as an empty shell the space began to become defined. The first inhabitants were a band of drummers and performers, invited in to occupy the building for some time of travel. Six were invited to stay and they multiplied into about 13, the place filled with rhythms, dance, art, performance and joy. At this time the space began to become defined as a place, specifically "la casa de los mochis", because most of this crew came from that part of Mexico. An identity was taken on, a reputation began to build. After that initial time this tribe moved on and the space was opened up to the community for classes, workshops, gatherings. The place then began to evolve in a different direction and was dubbed "casa de Pedro". It all started very grassroots, and remains so. Decisions were made through consensus, the development was largely reliant on volunteer help from the surrounding community and the residents of the place. Raices Y Brazos became a intentional community and cooperative household. Meetings were held at least once a week. Everyone took on chores, responsibilities, we all provided reflections for each others growth and the space provided a canvas for us to create ourselves and our reality. Guests, locals, travellers, new friends and old friends all came through the doors, taking what they needed and leaving what they could. The place continued to evolve and change, there have been many peaks, unbelievable high points, and also some challenging low points, all necessary for learning and growth. The duality must exist for one to find the middle path. We have had some of the most unbelievable parties and gatherings, ones where you think it could not get any better, yet it does. We host workshops and will be hosting more and more. Trainings, fundraisers, consciousness raisers, concerts, dinners, films, open mikes, dances, blessings, activist meetings, art events, eco events, massage, kirtan, healing, education, awareness and whatever else arrives to us from the ethers. Our current class schedule contains yoga, transformational breath, Pilates, capoeira, meditation, dance, music, acro yoga, art and healing. We have witnessed some of the most unbelievable breakthroughs and also breakdowns, only to pull back together and move forward with intention and purpose. One thing that will remain constant through the intention of this place is that it is real, human, honest, accessible, comfortable and welcoming to all who allow themselves to be present and grateful to this miracle of life. This place is a dynamic microcosm of the universe, moving towards full consciousness, and a macrocosm of the self, also moving towards full consciousness through the process of self discovery.
We are now making a move away from hosting local residents and rather opening the spaces to host visitors and more classes, retreats, trainings and workshops. To foster the valuable crosspollination that takes place as we evolve on this spinning ball in space, moving from entropy into balance…
A dynamic living organism, to share, learn and evolve with intention, consciousness and compassion…
Create your world… we don’t see the world as it is, we see it as we are…