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Out of the Pond

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Tesilya Hanauer grew up on a commune deep in a Northern California forest. When she was five, her mother joined a nomadic group of people whose philosophy involved breaking the bond between mother and child. They were called the Shivalila, and they believed that if parental bonds were severed, a communal consciousness might emerge that could eventually transform society. Over the next few years, Tesilya would follow them from California to the Philippines to rural India, hoping always for a glimpse of the mother she once had.

Nicholas DePrey composed the music for this piece.

Tesilya's mother, Meredith, in India.
Tesilya’s mother, Meredith, in India.
Tesilya with a family in India.
Tesilya with a family in India.
Meredith, Tesilya's mother, in the garden at Black Bear Ranch around 1976.
Meredith, Tesilya’s mother, in the garden at Black Bear Ranch around 1976.
Tesilya and her father, Creek, at Black Bear Ranch around 1975.
Tesilya and her father, Creek, at Black Bear Ranch around 1975.
3-year-old Tesilya carrying an infant on her back at Black Bear Ranch.
3-year-old Tesilya carrying an infant on her back at Black Bear Ranch.

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