Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Yraceburu.
Maria, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I grew up in an earth-based tradition, being part Native. This means I learned from the stories, the ceremonies, my family. As I grew I found I have a knack for these things I was being trained in, groomed if you will. When it was my time, the power was passed to me, giving me the go-ahead to start working with others.
In college, I founded our first little women’s support group, which grew into moon lodge and continued through the years. Then about 2002, 4 years after I got together with my life partner, Lynda, my family got together and helped us found our eco-spiritual nonprofit here in San Diego. Basically, we’re a church, but it goes far beyond that, as we follow traditional indigenous structuring for our community, meaning we do everything from education to healing, to spiritual work. Nature and earth are our foundation, and from there support for individuals, community, and the world grows.
Has it been a smooth road?
No, of course not. As the old saying goes, anything worth having takes some effort. We’ve run into opposition from Natives and none Natives alike for what we do. Truth has been twisted into accusations of being fraud, and then on the other side, there are those that sing our praises so highly it’s almost as detrimental. What we found is that we just continue on doing what we do, and what the Sacred Parents – Earth and Creator, put us here to do… help people heal their isolation and reconnect. That’s what the elders call taanaashkaada – the great coming together. We come back to earth and spirit and being humane.
Everyone’s got their sad story, and this is a place where we hear all stories and learn the tools to move beyond them. This is what I learned in my life, and the system has never failed me. It’s what I teach the members of our community, and well, we have members that were members 40 years ago, so we’re doing okay.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Now, this could be a little harder. We’re known for love, support, and if anyone has anything going on in their lives, they call us up to pray. I have been a prayer maker since I was 10 years old. I do it monthly now for the Sedona Journal of Emergence and have for the last four years.
I guess what I am proudest of in our community/the church itself, is the community and how we have all bonded together to make life better. In doing this we’ve launched authors, healers, scientists, we’ve an effect globally in our work. Making Relations is the name of the game, but in a healthy way, where boundaries support mental health, standing in our truth provides empowerment to join with others in co-creation of our individual and group dreams.
What sets us apart is the authentic love you feel when you walk into one of our gatherings. We’re not playing at working our principles, we’re living them.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I have lived many places, most recently in New Mexico…. I always return to San Diego. It’s home. Our community is strong here.
Like anywhere else one might move, it take some putting yourself out there, allowing yourself and your dream to be seen to succeed, but yep, I’ve found San Diego to be one of the best places for this. If you want to succeed, this is one of the best places to be.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.yraceburu.org
- Phone: 505-414-1583
- Email: yraceburus@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EarthWisdomSD/
Image Credit:
Lynda Yraceburu
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