The bittersweet finale dawned — our 10th and final construction day. Despite weary bodies, spirits soared fueled by anticipation of seeing our dome whole. We swiftly stacked the last rows, closing the eye-like apex. Four meters wide, 34 layers high…our earthen haven is complete!
In a last-minute thrill, we decided to add a skylight. Centers openness, but compromises structural integrity if too large. Ours is 30 cm, cut after frame removal. We gingerly extracted wood boundary pieces from windows and doors as well.
After lunch, Mariana initiated the celebratory ritual adapted from CalEarth’s founder. We circled the dome, touching its surfaces, embodying months of combined effort from past and present. Reciting the poetic verses engraved our unity.
Signing the interior walls links our legacy to future residents finding refuge within these sculpted soils. After photos immortalizing our shared pride, we wandered downhill for a nostalgic final sunset viewing. At camp, I logged one last steaming shower before joining the crew around the crackling fire.
We sang and laughed into the night, imprinting these precious people on my soul. Tomorrow morning we’ll embrace and start our journeys in diverse directions. Though having gained a worldwide family, I know our spirits nestle forever in these very walls we lovingly erected grain-by-grain.
I’ll return home with my uprooted heart replanted here, nurtured by Conscious Impact’s profound ethos resonating through students, staff and smiling neighbors alike. Two beautiful globes now orbit within me — earthen womb swelling with potential; Conscious Impact’s empowering touchstone guiding my path.
Words can’t encapsulate my gratitude for this profoundly life-shifting passage. I merely hope sharing my experience sprouts inspiration that we may build harmonious habitats — both material and soulful — wherever we go.
