The Sharma Center closes its doors

For any of you that know me you understand I am not a fan of some endings.  I feel lately there have been so many traditional things that I have enjoyed knowing are there that have run their course.  From the announcements of long running television shows ceasing (yes, I will miss Oprah but dig her new network a bunch), closed restaurants, businesses that no longer exist I feel a twinge of sadness as I realize things do run their course and of course, some joy that room is being made for new experiences.  I also know that I am aging, have a long history in Seattle and remember it!

Part of my reason for this reflection is the recent closing of the Sharma Center.  I know the people that started the Sharma Center have been dedicated to making community better and must be feeling this loss as many of you are.  I enclose their letter to the community in full and look forward to their celebration of all they did on Saturday, May 7th.  Ms T. 

Dear Community,

It was little over two and half years ago that the four of us sat around a table at the coffee shop and talked about what a club would be like that we would open ourselves. Since then we have had thousands of people walk through our doors, hosted over 500 events and had an adventure we could never have imagined. What touched us most was the amazing people we met, the authenticity and love that was expressed, and the passion and intimacy that every one of you brought to the Sharma Center.

As some of you may know, we were informed last week that the holder of our rental agreement had to suddenly end the lease of our space with the owner of the building. The reason for this had nothing to do with us, but we were impacted nonetheless. After attempts to create a lease directly with the building owner ended, we had to empty our lovely space of it belongings and bid farewell to this place which has been our home and our place of connection to all of you.

The heart of the Sharma Center has always been, and still is, you; you, who have come through our doors and become a part of us and what we are up too. Our website and this mailing list will continue and we will be posting events throughout the area that embody our commitment in the areas of love, relationship, intimacy and sexuality. The next space that will physically occupy the spirit of the Sharma Center is not certain and is in a phase of exploration at the moment. If you have ideas in this area, feel free to share them with us.

 Allena, the Director of the Center for Sex Positive Culture, has told us that she is happy to continue to honor our memberships to their events throughout the durations of current memberships and she invites you to attend an orientation to find out about all that they do.

The Invitation:
We invite you to come celebrate the completion of the Sharma Center as we have known it, on the evening of Saturday May 7th. Set that date aside, an announcement with details will be coming soon and we hope to celebrate with you the completion of this grand adventure.

Lovingly yours,
Deanna and John
Co-Directors of the Sharma Center
directors@sharmacenter.org
(206) 898-5876

Thanks to Deanna and John for this post.