Tucked down a quiet private road, sits a serene half acre alongside the Los Duranes acequia. This parcel, once part of a large farm along the Rio Grande, was the home of Meinrad Craighead, an artist and former contemplative nun. It was here, Meinrad created much of her spiritual art that became well known and widely sought after. And it was here and across Europe and the United States that she began lecturing and conducting workshops and retreats on the divine feminine, launching “Praying with Images: Creative Retreats for Women”. It was here at her home nestled under the cottonwood trees that she shared a space for connecting with the divine sanctity of nature.
I met Meinrad Craighead for the first time, more than 15 years ago. At that time she expressed grave concern that upon her passing, her special place would be sold and “one of those ridiculous giant houses would fill the entire space”. She was firmly committed to preserving the quiet setting and serene nature of her piece of peace – located less than half a mile from the Rio Grande Valley State Park, Paseo del Bosque Multi-use Trail, Rio Grande Nature Center, and the Candelaria Nature Preserve. It was through our visits that Meinrad made the decision to entrust RGALT with preserving her property by naming RGALT as the recipient of her generous bequest. Her vision for her cherished place was to protect the open space as a sanctuary garden for wildlife and people – a setting that would provide sustenance for the body and spirit and a place to connect with nature and the cultural history of the historic farm property and the community.
Upon Meinrad’s passing, RGALT received the property and honored her wishes to protect the peaceful character of the place. And as was mutually agreed, RGALT sold the conserved property, seeking buyers who would honor and respect her vision.
“What a place! Although it’s only a tiny piece of bosque, its archaeology is remarkable. Ms. Craighead’s art and words tap into a deep, primal energy rooted in the land. We think the studio retains that energy. Giving form to these powerful narratives while projecting into the future is an amazing opening.”
The funds generated from the sale have allowed RGALT to hire new staff and expand our conservation work. With more boots on the ground, we are able to protect more land and water, build new partnerships, bring more conservation funding to NM and better serve the conservation needs of both people and wildlife in the middle Rio Grande. Meinrad Craighead has not only left her land legacy behind, her gift allows RGALT to help others preserve their land and leave legacies behind that benefit all of us.
An estate gift is a way to have a huge impact on RGALT’s conservation efforts. And most of all it is a way to leave a meaningful legacy behind – protecting the places you cherish for future generations.
To learn more about options to give, please visit rgalt.org or call 505-270-4421.