Enjoy a mountain retreat with us!
Lotus Lodge is a unique cohousing-like community of 10 long-term adult residents on 2.5 acres of land with large old trees, a stream, pond, organic gardens, deck and fire circle. We are in a semi-rural area yet just 12 minutes from downtown Asheville, NC.
In addition to the 1800s barn, we have two buildings - a duplex and a large, 1915 vintage home with 2 apartments, workshop space, library, main kitchen and one private room for short-term visitors.
Short-term Vacation Rentals
Enjoy a lovely, private, sunny room with a queen bed (see photo) and high-speed wireless access and full access (day and night) to a kitchen that has all the utensils available at your convenience. Our current rates are $75/night, $65/night if stay 3+ nights, $390/week (all fees included, bring your own food).
If interested in visitng our community for a few days please call: 828-667-4343, whether or not you email.
Lotus Lodge's Personalized Retreats
Resident and psychologist Gayatri Erlandson, PhD, now hosts personalized retreats for individuals. Other professionals are also available - especially to assist in healing work and creativity coaching.
Treat yourself or a loved one to a 3- or 6-day retreat. We have a nice large private room for you (see below) and you'll have full access to the main kitchen - with designated cupboard space, library, music/group room etc., and have high internet wireless access. Silent spiritual retreats are also welcome.
Note: If you are relocating to the area, let us refer you to a really good real estate agent for assistance, even if you don't stay here. Call Gayatri Erlandson at (828) 667-4343.
Our Unique Cohousing-like Community
We are a collection of about 9 diverse, unique and interesting men and women who are artists, authors, gardeners, musicians, philosophers, counselors or life coaches (or combination thereof). One man is a home-remodeling designer and handy man, another works for a solar energy company. Some come here to write or take an extended personal retreat. Others simply love to live in community with like-hearted others, in support of their personal, spiritual and creative unfolding.
We enjoy a nice balance between privacy and the opportunity for spontaneously shared meals, great discussions, celebrations, movie nites and much more. Conversations are often rich sharings of personal wisdom and growth, discussions of inspiring books, movies or visions of possibility, and typically are punctuated with laughter.
Our Community Vision, Purpose & Practice
As a community, Lotus Lodge is a cocreative learning center and an awakening sanctuary. Our vision is to be a model for sustainable, new paradigm, cocreative, cooperative living. It’s also the home of this website, Living NewStories. Both are places where people are supported in living joyous, 'on purpose' and empowered lives.
In practical terms, this means that residents endeavor to communicate consciously - both with their own higher guidance and with others. We endeavor to take ownership of our power to create a loving world and develop skills along those lines. We believe that what we think and speak gets manifested.
Thus, much of the processing is done internally by individuals - using challenges as opportunities for personal growth. Everyone here endeavors to own and transform our "buttons" rather than play victim, and we compassionately support each other in our ongoing practice of that.
In other words, there is little outward conflict, although people do share challenges. These are seen as "obstitunities" (coined by Liz, a long-term member) for clearing, connecting, expanding our skills and awareness. At the same time, everyone is encouraged to negotiate for what they desire - using Conscious Communication (see class taught by Gayatri Erlandson, PhD, founding member.)
Creativity and positive use of one's imagination are highly valued (consistent with the teachings of Abraham-Hicks and Goddard Neville) as is consciously cocreating with Spirit. Some members consider “Co-Creative Science” as taught by Machaelle Wright of the Perelandra Institute (Perelandra-ltd.com) foundational. Also, 'The Work' of Byron Katie is practiced by some and highly valued (thework.org) among many other resources.
Everyone is free to choose what's best for him or her. In fact, freedom to choose is considered essential within the new paradigm. Rather than adhering to rules, roles or any external authority, it’s living from the inside out, from one’s inner wisdom and guidance.
Possibilities of Joining Our Community
Individual rooms and/or apartments open up intermittently, so please contact us and ask, if moved to join us. It may be yet to be posted!
We currently have a private room available for an individual who might like to be a long-term resident and community member.
The room is within an upstairs apartment shared by two very active, progressive and positive middle-aged women, so prefer a woman. It is 13' x 12.5,' sunny (has two tall windows), individual base-board heat, partly furnished (with bed, dresser, night stand & chair) and in front, with view of very old Oak tree.
Rent for this partly furnished room is just $350/month plus a share of the electric bill. It's in a sweet, sunny apartment - with its own kitchen, dining area and bathroom, in the main building at Lotus Lodge. Includes high speed internet wireless access.
All residents have full access to the grounds - a nice deck, fire pit with log seating, pond, stream and of course to the organic gardens. We would really love new tenants who strongly desire to live in a good community, who enjoys participating with others, and will help with some of the general maintenance - such as sweeping the deck or stairs intermittently, the garden, or any other area.
If interested in long-term rental, please email us information about you - your age, interest in community, interests in general, vocation, space needs (whole apt. or room) projected time frame, etc. Email via this site and also call Gayatri at 828-667-4343 to alert her to the email.
Note: We do not have work in trade for living space and request that people call ahead to make an appointment to visit, as everyone leads a rich and busy life. Also, no pets or smoking please.
Directions:
From Asheville, get onto I-40 West & stay in right lane
Take the next exit (#44), will see construction,
turn RIGHT at the bottom of the ramp, onto 19/23 (Smoky Mtn Pkwy). Go 3 miles.
Turn LEFT @ Shell Stn onto 151 South (Pisgah Hwy) @ a light.
Go 1/2 mile down 151.
Turn RIGHT @ FIRST LIGHT
We are the first property on the right - old barn and two white buildings with blue trim.
So, turn right at the chain-link fence and right again into our driveway. Park immediately on the asphalt, to the right OR
Go past the 5 mail boxes, drive between the white buildings & park under the line of hemlock trees.
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Address is: 11 Old Candler Town Road, Candler, NC 28715
Call if you need assistance.
Namaste,
Gayatri Erlandson, PhD
managing editor of this site,
Proprietor of Lotus Lodge
(828) 667-4343
