Cultivating joy off the coast of Maine
JOY FARM is the island home of artist and mentor Dechen Siri, where contentment is found in a simpler kind of life.
Hi! I'm Dechen.
We start with three principles: Balance, Acceptance, and Radicality; and we move forward from there. Life "on the farm" is built around the idea of mindful days, with meditations both on the cushion and in the garden, on the porch or by the fire.
I’m an abstract artist working mostly in acrylic paint, with a soft spot for elements of graffiti and whatever else wants to sneak in. I’m also an on‑again, off‑again meditator and spiritualist who’s on‑again for good, learning how to stay with the full mess and beauty of being alive.
I’m currently a student at Naropa University in the Mindfulness‑Based Transpersonal Counseling program. Until I graduate, I’m building community through the mission of JOY FARM—gathering people who are curious about gentler, truer ways of living, and experimenting together with what a more contented life might look and feel like.
What I do...
Gatherings
At Joy Farm, the year turns around four seasonal gatherings:
STILL LIFE (winter), nestleblossom (both spring and fall), & SHINE (summer).
Each one is a different way of pausing, paying attention, and experimenting with gentler ways of living—through art, conversation, and shared quiet on this special little island.
In time, we will have built a community of people who lives differently, connects closely, and carries the energy of these gatherings back into their respective worlds.
Mentorship and Companioning
Until I've finished my training in counseling, I am focused on helping in the ways I know how -- providing guidance for folx who want to simplify, live more intentionally, and create more mindful moments in their days.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to contentment, but I do have a few solid guardrails for us. We'll strive to bring things into a healthy balance, work through what we can't change, and explore the roots of discontent.
What you get will be personal to you, and you'll have the safe support you need to voice the questions that might otherwise feel too heavy.
If what you've read sounds like what you're looking for, Olive and I welcome you. Complete the form at right or contact me directly.
Ready to Slow Down? Let's chat.
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