Welcome to
The Foundation of Light
A Spiritual Center for Meditation, Healing and Study
Our mission is to be a vibrant, welcoming, and inclusive space for the community to gather for mind-body-spirit healing, learning, creative expression, and to celebrate life. We envision deep connections forming among participants, which strengthen all our hearts so we can bring more courage, wisdom, compassion, joy, and peace to ourselves and to the world.
FALL FUNDRAISING & MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
Join us in expanding into our greatest good for the community!
Help us evolve and grow to better serve the Ithaca community and Finger Lakes region! Our staff are busy expanding our public programming and developing a new series of day retreats to make personal revitalization more accessible and affordable. Your donations help us cover extra costs as we transition to becoming a more vital force in the community. In this time of change and uncertainty, let the Foundation of Light be your shelter from the storm, as a place of healing, connection, and empowerment. Thank you!
Spiritual Community Events
To promote spiritual awakening and practice in a supportive community:
• Sunday meditations
• Workshops, retreats, and performances
• Seasonal celebrations and ceremonies
• Education on wellness and healing
• Conscious dance, movement, and yoga
• Meditate at the Ellis Hollow stone circle
• Enjoy the Peace Pole garden
• Multiple spaces available for hosting workshops
• Space for weddings, celebrations of life, and other sacred gatherings"The thing for all people to do at this time is to maximize their efforts at intercommunication among people...survival in this new age depends on intercommunication and group affinity. Face this with both courage and loving responsibility."
Kate H. Payne, November 29, 1985
About Us
The Foundation of Light is a Spiritual Center for Meditation, Healing & Study
The Foundation of Light is a spiritual center for meditation
The study and regular practice of meditation, as an aid to the expansion of consciousness and self-realization, is a fundamental part of all Foundation of Light activities. Attend our Sunday morning meditations, participate in seasonal celebrations and ceremonies, and meditate in the powerful Ellis Hollow Stone Circle.
The Foundation of Light is a spiritual center for healing
The founders of the Foundation of Light, John and Kate Payne, along with Mabel DeMotte Beggs, were experts in many forms of ancient healing techniques. Learn their powerful healing techniques as well as healing methods of leading contemporary practitioners and experts that we bring to the Foundation of Light to give talks and lead workshops.
The Foundation of Light is a spiritual center for study
The Kate and John Payne School of Ancient Wisdom will introduce you to powerful healing techniques and tools and give you the opportunity to learn dowsing, how to communicate with Devas and other spiritual beings, and show you how to bring your vision and needs to fruition.
Events
Spaces to Rent
Complete the Building Use Request Form below to initiate a booking. Here is our current rate sheet.
Main Retreat Facility
Built in 2000, the main Foundation of Light building has several diverse rooms available, depending on your group size and needs. Ideal for workshops, study groups, meditation groups, reiki shares, yoga classes, day long retreats, etc.
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Great Room
This spacious light-filled room seats up to 150 and holds up to 240. Its excellent acoustics, large windows, and hardwood floors make it ideal for concerts, weddings, or other large events. Chairs and tables, sound system, and an upright piano are included.
Kitchen
This fully equipped kitchen is available for your next event as an adjunct to your use of the Great Room. It offers plenty of prep space, including large counters and a movable island, full size stove and refrigerator, and a large serving window into the Great Room.
Library
The atmosphere is perfect for a book club or perhaps a study group.
Meditation Room
The Meditation Room is the perfect space for meditation, yoga, or any type of contemplative experience. The room easily accommodates groups up to fifteen participants.
School House
This Greek Revival one-room schoolhouse, called Hibbard’s Corners, was built about 1840 and functioned as a public school until 1936. It seats up to 50 and is currently booked through November 2024.
Building Use Request Form
Join Us as a Member
Welcome to mindfulness, healing, community, and connection to the universal!
The Foundation of Light invites your involvement and support as members of our community. Membership is open to all persons interested in our programs, regardless of age, race, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or national origin. Your membership contributes to sustaining the mission of the Foundation of Light as an inclusive spiritual center. We offer several categories of membership, including Lifetime memberships. Family memberships include children under 18. Partial or full membership scholarships may be available for those in need. Memberships run for 12 months from the date of joining.
Membership benefits include:
- The knowledge that you are contributing to the health and vitality of the Foundation of Light, so we can serve the greater community as a place of spiritual and personal growth, exploration and understanding.
- A free listing in our new directory of members and practitioners. It's a great way to promote your skills, products, interests and blessings to our welcoming community. The registry will be posted online and in the building, and mailed once a year to members. Scroll down to see the latest edition!
- 50% off the rental of the Great Room once a year (for up to three hours & for events with 50 people or less), subject to availability.
- Free use of the library, meditation room or grounds once a year (for up to three hours). Invite your friends to game night, host a book club, or try out a class you're thinking of leading here.
- Preferred registration for any vendor/practitioner events, such as a healing arts fair (planned for 2025).
- Plus everything that we offer to non-members, though perhaps with a greater sense of connection! This includes access to all of our classes, workshops and events, access to materials in our library, and access to the Stone Circle and meditation spiral - plus the welcoming atmosphere of this community!
Membership Categories
When choosing a membership category, please consider your financial ability and the value you receive from the FOL,
- Helping - $55/year
- Supporting - $111/year or $11/month
- Family - $222/year or $22/month
- Sustaining - $369/year or $33/month
- Lifetime - $1,111 (Individual); $3,333 (Family)
- To join, click on one of the buttons below, with options to pay monthly or annually.
Thank you for considering joining FOL! Your generosity helps us provide exceptional programs and events with inspiring local, regional and international teachers and healers.
FOL Member Directory
Explore a wide range of goods, services, interests and blessings offered by Foundation of Light members. Great for holiday gifts!
Aug. 2024: An updated version of the FOL member directory is in the works, with an option to be listed in our new professional directory too. To be included, please fill out this form.
More details here. New deadline to get added is Sept. 30, 2024.
Make a Donation - Friends of the FOL
We invite you to become a "Friend of the FOL" by making a generous contribution today. Please take a moment to consider your circumstances and the value you receive from the Foundation of Light, and then follow your heart's direction on what and how to give. We are grateful for all of your donations, which support our mission and vision for inner peace and harmony in the world. Your generosity adds to our momentum as we grow into a truly thriving organization. Thank You!
To make a donation on behalf of or in memory of a loved one, please include the person’s name with your payment.
The Foundation of Light a 501c3 nonprofit organization, and all gifts are tax deductible. There are several ways you can donate:
- Make an online donation, using PayPal, a credit card or a debit card. Click on the yellow “Donate” button below. It’s easy, safe and secure.
- Mail a check to: Foundation of Light, 391 Turkey Hill Road, Ithaca, NY 14850
- Call 607-391-0245 to make special arrangements.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement
The Foundation of Light is a center for meditation, healing, creative arts, and the study and practice of spiritual matters spanning many traditions. As such, it is open to all. For fifty years, the Foundation has opened its doors to any who seek to explore or develop their spirituality. Our buildings and facilities have been available for rent for decades to diverse groups for celebrations, memorials, workshops, and much more.
The Foundation of Light applies the values of nonviolence, diversity, equity, and inclusion in conducting all business including program administration and the recruitment of participants, members, and board members.
We encourage participation by diverse populations in all of our activities without regard (but not limited) to the following traits: national origin, language, race, color, ethnicity, religion, age, ability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, familial status, marital status, military status, political affiliation, socio-economic status, and source of income.
We consistently work toward greater equity to guarantee fair treatment, access, and opportunity.
We foster a culture of inclusion that encourages collaboration, flexibility and fairness.
DEFINITIONS
“Diversity” in this context includes all the ways in which people might differ.
“Equity” means fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all people, striving
to identify and eliminate barriers to equality.
“Inclusion” entails creating environments where any individual or group can feel
welcomed, respected, supported, and valued for their participation.
APPROVED by the Foundation of Light Board on 2/12/2023.
Foundation of Light Blog
Sharing our thoughts and goals as we strive for joyful sustainability.
October 31, 2024The October 5 firewalk, with the theme, “the courage to be yourself,” was a wild success. Ten...October 22, 2024Our Fall Fundraising and Membership Drive has just launched today! We are asking for your...The Foundation of Light is delighted to have Peter Fortunato presenting a performance on November...September 4, 2024The Foundation of Light Annual Meeting was held on July 28, 2024. After a delightful potluck meal...May 31, 2024On May 11th we celebrated Linda Vierling’s life at the Foundation of Light (FOL). The plan...Friends, If you've been to the Foundation of Light recently, you'll know that there's a...September 7, 2023Warm greetings to you all :) We continue to grow! The Foundation of Light is entering a new...June 19, 2023June is a busy month for us with several special events and many recurring classes and happenings...June 12, 2023At our 50th anniversary celebration in May, we met for a conversation focused on the Foundation...Newsletter Sign Up
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