The Oasis Sanctuary

posted by Sybil on Feb 19

“Vida est Sanctus”

AN UPDATED MISSION STATEMENT

The Spiritual Basis for The Oasis Sanctuary

Sybil Erden – Feb 19 2009

The Oasis Sanctuary’s primary mandate is life-care of exotic birds. As such, over the past 11-12 years, The Oasis has become one of the most prominent parrot life-care facilities in the US, and more recently, in the world. For this I am grateful to our incredible staff, board, and volunteers as well as the generous donors who support this facility.

But there is so much more than simply caring for birds that has gone into the creation and development of this Sanctuary.

Words and Images

Rather than calling The Oasis a refuge, the word “sanctuary” was very carefully selected. The word’s root is Latin: “Sanctus” meaning sacred.

Personally….

In my life, most of my activities have had, at least to a major degree, a spiritual bent.

As a painter I used archetypal imagery and religious iconography to define social situations, in an attempt to connect the secular and the spiritual.

As a photographer, I deal with humane issues: hunger and poverty, in an attempt to bring awareness.

As a sculptor I created contemporary deities and icons.

As a dancer, I followed a Sufi-like trance mode and used the dance floor as a means of energy distribution.

Even my tattoos followed the Asian belief system of energy transfer based on the imagery brought into ones flesh….

All the above were means of mediation for me. All the above were a means of growth.

Today, I bring that desire, that seeking of awareness to the mission of The Oasis Sanctuary.

We Are One

Even the fact that I have been a vegetarian most of my life has spiritual origins: I cannot eat my relatives.

Whether one follows the Judeo-Christian Bible, or Hindu/Buddhist/Spiritual beliefs, we all need to recognize that we are made of the same dust, and are imbued with the same spark of life given by the Creator or by Chance….

As such we have a responsibility to the Earth and to our brethren who inhabit this mote of space stuff hurling through the Universe.

At The Oasis we have an obligation to care for the birds, as well as the abandoned animals i.e. “Other Critters” who find their way out here.

Moreover we have a responsibility to care for the people who are, whether long or short term, giving their lives, their time, their emotions, their finances and themselves, to the care of the animals and the development of the facility.

Higher Ground

There are many out in the world working in animal welfare, as well as for human welfare. And there are as many reasons for these efforts as there are people doing this incredibly demanding work.

That said, At The Oasis Sanctuary we all, staff, board and volunteers in particular, need to hold ourselves to the highest of ethical and moral standards.

We cannot do the most expedient.

We cannot hold ourselves to one standard and other people to another.

The Oasis, as a true Sanctuary, must be the home for the birds at greatest need,

The Oasis will not become the refuge for the birds of the wealthy. Birds are not responsible for the finances of their caregivers. At the end of their lives, it is our duty to reward those who have long and well cared for their birds, regardless of their ability to pay.

We must look into our own hearts and understand that the only reason for this sort of work is for the Greater Good.

And that crosses all boundaries and all preconceived lines.

It is the belief at The Oasis that in spirit and in fact, the sanctuary belongs to all who love birds. A such, we believe that one dollar at a time, the funds will come to care for the birds in need.

Self-Awareness

The Oasis is a means of obtaining personal growth and self-awareness for all who work at, volunteer or visit the sanctuary.

That awareness may a new found empathy and patience for other people in need. Or it may be the understanding of the cognition and intelligence of the animals we work with.

We each arrive here with different histories, experiences and beliefs.

We arrive with different levels of personal and other awareness.

We arrive with the baggage of fear, anger and ignorance.

We cannot treat birds one way and other animals, whether domestic companions of farmed animals, another. We must recognize that they and we are One.

It is the belief at The Oasis that we can each leave the sanctuary, or this life, as better people, for having been connected with The Oasis Sanctuary, the animals and one another.

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Note: “Vida est Sanctus” is Latin for “Life is Sacred”