It has recently been announced that Seven Circles Retreat (SCR), located in the Sierra Foothills and well known to many Subud California members, has been sold to a new owner. It is a timely moment to briefly recap its history, including its connections with Subud. Here is an outline of the founding and development of Seven Circles. The brief history provided here includes remembrances from some of the Subud members who were key participants in its founding and direction.
20 Years of History: 2003 to 2023
Lusijah Darrow (then Rott), when Regional Chair of Subud California, prioritized the idea to create a Regional Retreat Center for Subud California. A key goal was to find a location as equidistant as possible between Northern and Southern California, for broad accessibility by members. The hope was that all of the (then) 14 Subud Centers in California could make use of and come to this new Regional Center for events and meetings.
Sulfiati Harris, then Vice Chair of Subud California, took the initiative to find potential properties for the Regional Center. Several places, including one in Kings River and one called Sequoia Lakes near Badger were viewed, but not selected. Then, Marwan LoMele, who had already moved to the Badger area, suggested that an old motel, called Riley Lodge, was becoming available.
The owners of the Riley Lodge used the slogan “THE LIFE OF RILEY” to attract visitors. They painted this on the rocks on the hillside, as can still be seen nearly a century later. (photo by Rachmat Martin)
Lusijah and Dainuri Rott initially purchased this property in August 2003, to ensure no other buyer acquired it. Subud California then purchased it from the Rotts, reimbursing them for the down payment of $175,000. Rachmat Martin was the first Chair of the new Board of Directors. Other early directors were Lusijah Rott, Paul Edwards, Halfrid Nelson, Dainuri Rott, Rifka Several, Joshua Horst, and Doug Card.
As people moved to the area to support site development, the San Joaquin Valley Subud Center grew as well. For a glimpse of life at Seven Circles during these early years, see the wonderful video made by Marwan LoMele, available on YouTube HERE, which features music written and sung by Hamid Camp, an interview with Lusijah Darrow and Paul Edwards, plus footage of Subud adults and children at the Center.
Above: Some of the key contributors at the Center in January 2005: (back) Doug Card, Halfrid Nelson, Joshua Horst, Paul Edwards (front): Lusijah Rott, Rachmat Martin
However, as the Subud California Regional Council learned more about the project over the next year, the majority felt they could not handle an entity that was quite different from a local Subud center. After many meetings, the founding group decided to buy back Seven Circles from Subud California.
Doug Card had incorporated Seven Circles as a nonprofit in 2003, and then applied for and received the 501(c)(3) tax exempt status in 2004. So, all was in place for it to operate independently when Subud CA was ready for the transfer. SCR purchased the property from Subud CA in November 2005, and has operated it since then. Sulfiati Harris was the first manager, and subsequent Subud member managers have included Halfrid & Larry Nelson, Rifka Several, and Laura Horst.
Significant investment of time and resources by both Subud members and contractors improved the facility, including upgrades to guest rooms and kitchen, and modernizing the water delivery system. (Left: back hoe at work at Seven Circles)
One significant addition to the facilities was the installation of the yurt as a capacious additional meeting space, as well as a fine location for latihan during Subud events. (photo of yurt from the center website)
Early on, the SCR Board realized that it could not be financially successful operating only as a Regional Center for Subud California, so realigned the marketing efforts to become a public Retreat Center for many types of groups, which also included Subud meetings and gatherings. The onsite management team, led in the last 9 years by Chris Caldwell, focused successfully on marketing and hosting events to achieve this goal.
However, mandated closure due to the COVID pandemic resulted in loss of the income necessary to continue, and a new owner was sought and secured. The property is now operating as the Sierra Sage Retreat.
During this time of transition to the new ownership, Rachmat Martin has been a key local resource and member of the Board of Directors. For a glimpse at what is happening under new management, see the Center’s website HERE. To read remembrances from some of the Subud members who were founders of Seven Circles, go HERE.
It seemed in the early years of Subud that it was our responsibility to create Subud projects to “save the world” with big doses of our collective Subud energy. However my experience with Seven Circles brought me to the conclusion that the laithan is leavening, like yeast that makes the bread rise. A small amount of this energy is sufficient. Too much yeast and not enough of the stable ingredients makes the dough rise out of the bowl and get all over the kitchen. These projects have thrown people into a crisis, especially those who were put in charge and then dismissed. My experience has been vastly better when one or a few Subud people were working with the local community for the betterment of all without even the mention of Subud and the latihan..
YES, Sulfiati. The center was, and still is, a major part of my life.
Love, Robert.