From October 2010 to October 2020, Bonita Domes was my private home studio and retreat. Bonita Domes remains a model and icon for the Earth Dome Building enthusiasts and those seeking a respite from the mainstream lifestyle.
Earth Architecture meets Shamanic Art
Bonita Domes, was built using SuperAdobe Earth Bag technology as taught by Cal Earth. Bonita Domes includes my Dome Home, Studio and The Village. The Dome Home is 1360 square foot one bedroom, two bath primary residence. The Studio is a 12 foot diameter detached structure. The Village is comprised of three separate structures; one 12 ft diameter shower dome and two 8 foot diameter structures used for sleeping quarters.
All the structures were built using minimal resources, materials, and supplies that are easily accessible and 85% of materials used to build the structures were from excavated earth here on site. The long continuous sandbags were filled with a coffee can at a time.
Since 2004 and during my training as a Holistic Health Practitioner, I developed a passion for the Shamanic Healing Arts. I began crafting drums for spiritual growth and practices and eventually integrated into becoming a Drum Medicine Woman. My practice and reputation flourished however, it was time to build a new structure, practically and metaphorically, in order to grow and sustain my career and lifestyle. I embarked on a quest to find a new structure to create and build a sustainable life living close to nature.
Committed to my spiritual path through visions and dreams, in December of 2009 I purchased 2 1/2 acres in Joshua Tree, CA. This was the beginning of dreaming the dream awake and into reality. As I continued to dream and take the next steps to manifest building my own home made of Earth while committed to my spiritual path, I found CalEarth, The Institute of Earth Art and Architecture.
The founder of Cal Earth, Nader Khalili (1936-2008), was a world-renowned Iranian-American architect, author, humanitarian, teacher. Mr. Khalili was committed to providing solutions to the human need for shelter through research, development, and education in earth architecture. In 2010, I attended a one week intensive workshop on earth dome building, natural plaster, and finishes. Although Mr. Kahlili had passed way in March 2008, his children continue to share his commitment, vision and teachings with books, videos, and hands-on workshops. During my intensive, I was watching a video and it was as though Mr. Kahlili was speaking directly to me through the screen. Mr. Khalili was a Rumi philosopher and his lectures were mystically poetic. In the video, Mr. Khalili spoke to us about our the spiritual nature of our dreams. As Mr. Kahlili pointed at me through the video screen, I became humbly inspired:
“We dream, we vision we take steps in life to follow our goals, passions, desires. Destiny starts to work with us, and the guideposts reveal themselves along the way. We are following our call to meet our Dream. Then one day we find ourselves in the very place we were seeking. All the pieces are there, and perhaps we were so busy taking those steps that once we reach that place, we forget why we came. This is when the Dream you have been following has met you from the other side. For the Dream has been following its call to meet YOU.” Nader Kahlili
This is when Earth Architecture meets Shamanic Arts. A symbol that it is believed to represent the cycle of creation is the vesica piscis. The Vesica Piscis is a configuration found within the patterns of The Flower of Life. The Flower of Life is found everywhere in nature and in the cosmos. Earth dome structures are built using the principles of the vesica piscis. Shamanism is a way of life. A way to connect with nature and all of creation. Earth dome building combined with a way of life connected to nature began to materialize into my Dome Home. By the end of the workshop, I purchased the Eco Dome Blue Print packet. I was ready to take the next steps in creating a sustainable life for myself and for my children.
After attending the workshop in Spring of 2010, I began the process to acquire a building permit for my Eco Dome Home . At that time my Eco Dome Blue Print packet was still in compliance to for the 2007 building code cycle. In the Winter of 2010, auspiciously on the very last day of the 2007 building cycle, I submitted my application to the building department for San Bernardino County. The structural pieces to build the dream were in place and I was strategic and diligent with the approval process.
Eventually I received my building permit in the Spring of 2011. We broke ground and began the construction process. I received my final occupancy permit in April of 2014.
My initial intention was to to build a home for myself and my children and create a sustainable lifestyle that supported my work as a Drum Medicine Woman. Little did I know that by following my inspired path, a blend of Sacred Architecture and Shamanic Arts would be created. This creation continues to affirm the magical lifestyle I am blessed to experience.