Elder Family

Statement of Purpose: To live together in peace, harmony, and ecological balance; to respect one another and all forms of life; to attune to and act in harmony with the Universal Life Force which is the essence of all existence.

Meet Anthony and Ann

We presently have a large three-story shared home, guest house and meditation/studio building with wraparound decks. One more group home is a possibility. We have raised bed organic gardens, own a 30 ft complete yurt kit and have materials for a greenhouse.

Members of Elder Family are non-smokers, past child rearing age, have good retirement income and lots of free time to spend on shared activities. We join in regular spiritual gatherings and healing circles. Like-minded interests include healthy shared meals, exercise, mutual support for physical, spiritual and emotional health. We have a shared passion for exploring the (right brain) side of life, including meditation, healing prayer and service to others. Members will use cooperative consensus group decision-making. Age range is late 50's to early 70's.

Sunroom with infra-red sauna

If you have a desire to feel deeply connected in our loving space, we invite you to come for a visit. A longer stay to get to know each other is needed before becoming a Supporting life member who will equally share the land and building cost, leadership and consensus decision-making. We live lightly on the Earth and save significantly by sharing utilities and transportation and through group buying and organic gardening.

Board Members

Ann Thompson
Co-founder and Supporting Member
Background in teaching, homesteading, singing and theater
Business manager, gardening, animal rescue
E-mail annariel@dnet.net
Phone: 828 497-7102

Rev. Anthony "Bearheart" Beckett
Co-founder and Supporting Member
Phone: 828 508-6243
A lifetime of training and practice as a spiritual healer, life-change counselor and facilitator of spiritual study and practice and consensus decision-making.
National Board certified Masssage and Bodywork Therapists.
Minister of AIWP (Association for the Integration of the Whole Person)

Annie Christie
Co-founder and Associated Member
Nurse, emotional and nutritional counselor, mediator, and rascal
17 years of experience with shared household living

For more information e-mail Ann at annariel@dnet.net or call 828 497-7102

We are retired members of Union Acres eclectic spiritual community, located near Cherokee, NC and the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. We are co-founder/builders of Elder Family, a heart and soul connected family-of-choice located in a private cove within the larger intentional community and within a covenient distance of shopping and medical facilities.

As a nonprofit congregation of AIWP (Association for the Integration of the Whole person), our main focus is spiritual values, awakening, healing and caring for each other as a loving extended family. We are a "family" of loving friends comitted to living, playing and working together as a cooperative team for the good of the whole.

We share Union Acres community membership, which includes the community building, swimming pool, organic garden, meadow and trails. There is an adjoining 46 acres wilderness spiritual retreat center.

We enjoy a quiet forest sanctuary and shared home living with private personal space which includes bedroom/office and personal bath. We share a large common kitchen (with individual storage and refrigerator space), living room, sunroom, healing sanctuary room, infrared sauna, and other common areas.

Meditation/studio & one of Elder Family homes

Lots of wrap-around porches