Crowdfunding a Move
What follows is the text of my GOFUNDME campaign, which you can read about and donate for and share here…..
Hi! My name is Sabine Wilms, and I am an educator, writer, translator, and publisher of material on traditional Chinese medicine with more than two dozen books under my belt, as well as a goat farmer, mom, podcaster, poet-musician and whatever else the universe guides me to do.
It is my mission in life to bring the ancient wisdom from the Chinese classics to life so that we can all together cultivate health and harmony in ourselves, in our families and communities, and in the cosmos between Heaven and Earth. As a translator, a part of me lives in the world of the ancient Chinese philosophical, religious, and medical texts, and I know in my heart that they contain solutions and balm for the challenges we are all facing today, in our families and communities, our countries, our professional circle, and the universe at large.
Started many years ago on a biodynamic goat farm and apple orchard outside of Taos, New Mexico, my company Happy Goat Productions has been successfully producing books, courses, memberships, and a podcast to promote that goal.
Why I Am Asking For Your Help
Located on magical Whidbey Island, just a short drive and 30-minute ferry ride north of Seattle, Washington, Happy Goat Productions has outgrown its current tiny-home location and is in urgent need of a more expansive physical space, to spread its wings and step into its full potential, like the butterfly emerging from the chrysalis into the sun. I have an admittedly grand but very clear vision that now requires outside help to bring it to fruition and push it across the finish line.
To be precise, I found the perfect place for sale nearby that will allow me to make the following dreams come true:
Hold intimate retreats in my home as we gather around a big table, in a beautiful serene location an hour from the Everett airport and two hours from downtown Seattle, supplemented by early morning Qigong, forest bathing, and afternoon beach walks or swims, with the Puget Sound to support our work;
Offer a restorative peaceful island retreat and creative space to my colleagues, co-teachers, and fellow practitioners from all over the world, as we collaborate on books and courses, I host private students, or you decompress and rest or write in peace;
Complete an ever-growing pile of book projects by writing and researching at a desk that is large enough to hold the dozen or more books I work with at any given time, while also teaching, distributing my publications, and housing my private reference library that includes many Chinese sources not available elsewhere. Forthcoming book projects include a translation of Sun Simiao's writings on longevity from the 7th century; a translation of the second half of Qi Zhongfu's "Hundred Questions on Gynecology," covering fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum treatments, from the 13th century (to be published as "Channeling the Moon," Parts 3 and 4); an advanced analysis of information on "Nurturing the Fetus"; a meditation on seasonal alignment with advice from traditional Chinese culture along with my personal reflections throughout the year on Whidbey Island; and a series of workbooks on teaching classical Chinese to practitioners of Chinese medicine.
Add the badly needed production, storage, and packaging space to continue to offer the highly specialized, top-quality books published by Happy Goat Production;
Expand the reach of my message as I transmit the wisdom of the ancient Chinese classics to a much larger, general audience through podcasting, writing, and teaching, to exponentially increase the benefits that come from alleviating suffering in accordance with Leo Lok's "Bodhisattva Math";
Share the strength of the majestic maple that is calling me to this land and will be holding us for this collective work; and, last but not least,
Offer my happy goats and chickens expanded foraging on salal, huckleberries, invasive blackberries, and other local delicacies, and offer YOU the precious milk they produce.
Through a true miracle, my offer on this magical place has been accepted, but I now need to sell my current home right away to make this happen. The clock is ticking, and it is the dead of winter, not a good time to sell.
Here is what your donation shall make possible:
Drop the sale price of my current home so that I can sell it within the required timeframe while the other home is under a contingency contract (38,000).
Fencing and a barn for my animals (3,000).
Simple infrastructure for student camping (2,000).
Furniture for teaching, research, and writing (2,000)
The Long-Term Impact
Your support will allow me to acquire this magical space, which my business needs to enter its next stage. This new spot offers the perfect combination of
Serenity and remoteness to allow me to sink deeply into creative writing and translation work, to offer intensive retreats with deep inner work in a beautiful natural setting, supported by a verdant hillside behind us, and an incredible ancient maple tree and the ocean in front; and to share my peace with visitors.
Closeness to Seattle and a small local airport, to support the local, national, and international learning community that I have already created with online courses and events like my Imperial Tutor Tea Time Talks and the amazing text readings of the Peach Blossom Spring Translators Collective.
A breath-taking setting with a view of the Puget Sound, close enough to hear the whales breathe and watch the moon rise, and with enough wild land for us to practice qigong, forest bathing, and meditation, and for me to have a little mini farm with my beloved goats and chickens and garden.
A full-size kitchen, an open concept living and dining room big enough for intimate retreats, a spare bedroom for co-teachers, and a large enough studio for a dedicated desk for writing and research, a clean space for teaching online courses, and an area for producing, storing, and distributing the books published by Happy Goat Productions.
I have been trying to move mountains this past month to make this dream come true but cannot do it on my own. I now feel a need to reach out because the dream is too precious, the vision too powerful, the potential too great (and my own means too small), to turn back and let this opportunity slip through my fingers. I don't ask flippantly. Those of you who know me know my dedication to my work!
Other Ways You Can Help
I fully realize that money can be tight and not everybody can contribute financially. Here are some other ways in which you can help:
Most importantly, help me spread the word about this campaign by sharing it in your own network and asking your friends, students, and colleagues to also spread the word. This is the single biggest thing you can do! You can see a range of options through "GoFundMe" by clicking the "SHARE" button, or after you have made even the smallest donation.
Purchase my books, sign up for my memberships, and take my courses.
Review my work, share links to my podcast with your audience if you liked it, suggest my books to your colleagues and students, get your local bookstore or library to carry them, or even assign them as textbooks in your classes.
Send me a nice little note, or if you are local, help me move...
It is my sincere wish that I get to share this beautiful sacred place with the precious community of healers who I dream of supporting with my work in the Chinese medicine classics and beyond. With a little help from my friends, I will be able to make this magic happen over the next couple of weeks!
Your Imperial Tutor,
Sabine Wilms, PhD
P.s.: Here are some links to my work if you want to learn more about me:
My offerings on learning how to read the classics of Chinese medicine, and
My work in traditional Chinese gynecology.
Thank you for your consideration. And to those of you who have bought my books, attended my courses, supported my teachings, or responded to my newsletters or podcasts, THANK YOU for everything, since I would never even dream of expanding if it weren't for your continued encouragement. I am a very lucky duck to now dream of spreading my wings even further, rather than riding off into the sunset on a water buffalo!
P.p.s.: I am completely committed to making this move happen and have set things in motion that cannot be reversed. I know it will. The messages are too strong. But if you are concerned at all about what would happen if my dream fell through, please rest assured that I will be happy to return any donation over $50 (or under, if you desire) or compensate you with books, courses, memberships, private consultations, or whatever else you may choose, since I will no longer need this money.
