Since May of 2022, Friends of South Family has been in discussions with the new Abode Board about transferring sole membership to FSF, and relieving the Inayatiyya of financial and management obligations. FSF has the funds, plans and support to bring the Abode forward into the future, and to carry through on the values and vision of the founders and all who have loved, worshiped and cared for this sacred place. Though we are still in a holding pattern around a transfer for the Abode property, and no one could have foreseen how long this process would take, FSF is looking forward to a time when the Abode can be open for its extended family once again. We continue to hold space for what we hope is this eventuality, and while doing so we are deeply grateful for the Abode community.

In Service, 

Al Bellenchia     Blair Davis      Aimée Brodeur Johnson     Kimberly Martel      Whitney Scott     Christopher Steadman

The Friends of South Family Board of Directors

From Venerable Dhyani Yawahoo the 27th generation lineage holder of the ancestral Ywahoo lineage in the Tsalagi / Cherokee tradition, who taught at the Abode in the 1980’s:

“During harvest time we have the opportunity to observe just what we have planted and the efficacy of our care of the garden. Our lives are the garden, and the seeds of our speech and our thought are what we see harvested. So often we may forget the power of our voice and our minds. When we are in the garden, we prepare for the harvest by removing weeds of confused thought, by removing weeds of obfuscation, and see there arise in the harvest time something good to nurture the life force and the ability to explore.“

We have been receiving many requests for updates and information on the status of our activities.

Since May, FSF has been in discussions with the new Abode Board about transferring sole membership to FSF, and relieving the Inayatiyya of financial and management obligations. FSF has the funds, plans and support to bring the Abode forward into the future, and to carry through on the values and vision of the founders and all who have loved, worshiped and cared for this sacred place through the generations.

We are hopeful that our discussions will be fruitful, but we are also realistic. We have been negotiating under an exclusive agreement, and out of respect for the request that we keep the discussions confidential, we will not provide further details until those negotiations are complete.

We know others have expressed interest in acquiring the Abode lands. We do not know the details of the groups or offers, but we do know this: under NY State law, the Abode cannot simply be sold to another party. As a not-for-profit religious institution, a sale is not permissible without approval of the NY State Attorney General’s office and others. Preference will be given to those entities continuing on the purpose of the institution, which FSF is committed to doing.

We have made several offers to the Inayatiyya that are fair, generous, and respectful. We hope they will be successful. We are also prepared to vigorously defend the rights of the Abode, our far-flung spiritual community, and to ensure that the future is one consistent with Pir Vilayat’s vision of this blessed sanctuary.

We appreciate all of the support we have been given, and expect to remain silent until discussions conclude.

~ The Friends of South Family Board of Directors

Dear Friends,

We would like to invite you to a special Universal Worship this Sunday, August 28th, at 11:00. The theme is Sacred Land/Sacred Nature: we wish to celebrate this beautiful land that we have been blessed with and to offer prayers for the Earth. Officiants for the service will be: Nizam Ellen Ash, Wahida Janice Young, Saraswati JoAnne Spies, Michaelann Murphy, and Aimée Brodeur Johnson.

Dear Friends,

As FSF looks to the future we are working on plans to support the Abode property so that it can remain the sanctuary that we all love, for many generations to come. We understand that many people are having concerns about what a possible loss of the Abode property would look like for them. We understand the lack of a resolution for several months has been pressing on all. Currently, as early stage communications continue with the Inayatiyya order, but with no final outcome yet to report, we are working to create some Basic Q&A information to support those local and afar. Please be assured that we will announce more of our campaign and any news as this process unfolds.