Kundalini and the Art of Being ... 1through the following morning, curled up together under our pile of
sleeping bags. Later that day, reluctantly, we packed up our things
and hitched back to Arcata, since she had to work in the evening.
Over the next month or so we continued to spend a few days a
week together. Although we shared more physical affection in the
form of cuddling and occasional kisses, that was the only time that
we made love. We must have sensed that we would part ways soon,
and that it was best not to get our lives too entangled. Though we
had a strong connection and much love to share, we knew that, ulti-
mately, we had different paths to follow.
I spent part of my time in Arcata researching communes around the
western U.S., hoping to visit some during the upcoming summer—
perhaps even find one to call home for a while. I’d bought a copy of
the hefty Communities Directory, which contained descriptions of
over five hundred different communes spread across the country. I
eventually found six that seemed like potential prospects, and sent
away to them asking for more information. After corresponding over
the next few weeks, I decided on two that seemed like the type of
community I was looking for.
One was in Sedona, Arizona, called “Aquarian Concepts.” Their
spiritual beliefs centered around a large channeled work known as
The Urantia Book. I had never heard of it, though I had come across
the term Urantia—an ancient name for Earth—in other spiritual texts.
I continued correspondence with them over the next month, letting
them know that I might stop by for a visit during the summer. They
said that I was welcome to come by and visit and participate in some
of their group activities, and to call once I arrived in Sedona.
The other community was in Twisp, in north-central Washington,
and was called the Methow Valley Collective. It was organized by an
older man named Hanson, who sounded like an eccentric, fun-lov-
ing character—a paranormal enthusiast, with a good sense of humor.
The response I got back from him was a large manila envelope with
a friendly letter, a few articles on the community from some local