2007

• Join us at one of our Spring Equinox celebrations 2 - 4.30pm Saturday 17th March at Fromus Valley, north Suffolk and 7.30 - 10pm Friday 23rd March at Mangreen, near Norwich
• Awakening to Nature's 'Wheel of the Year' (tune into your rising energy this spring)
• Orchard Barn Yoga and Holistic Health Centre (embryonic) - Sarah writes about how her dreams are becoming reality
• Kaaren Whitney's Spring's Dance
• Hints of Spring and Vision of Promise by Andrea Gibbons 2007
• More Spring Equinox poems

Join us at one of these Spring Equinox celebrations

2 - 4.30pm on Saturday 17th March, Spring Equinox ritual at Fromus Valley (beautiful, undulating, water meadows with avenue and ancient mound - great for meditation, North Suffolk) optional shared picnic afterwards. Email for more information about ritual/directions

7.30 - 10pm Friday 23rd March Spring Equinox evening workshop/sharing/ceremony at Mangreen, near Norwich led by Sarah Partridge

Equal day. Equal night. Balance. Poised to step into Spring. Come and celebrate this Celtic Festival with us.

Awaken your Spring energy £6

To book telephone Anita Martin

01603 502228

Or visit www.souljourneyonline.co.uk

 

Awakening to Nature's 'Wheel of the Year'

It's the 9th March and the pond is alive with the sound of croaking. Soon it will be a mound of frogspawn.

At the top of the garden at Sanctuary, the rooks are back - busy restoring their nests with newly gathered twigs. They are great community birds - everytime one of them drops a contribution to the bedroom - they all have to hear about it. I like their closeness, their raucousness and family spirit.

Baby animals are emerging.

So, as the creatures of earth, air and water prepare for their new cycle, you might like to ask yourself what creative project you would like to 'birth' this year. AND just in case you are wondering - 'creativity' doesn't have to be expressed in terms of babies! It can be any new project - maybe of an artistic nature, professional or personal development.

Try this exercise to awaken to/tune into your rising spring energy and creativity.

Place your back against a tree and tune into the earths' energy; settle into just being with the trees and the earth. Clear away anything that you may have 'carried' from your everyday existence so that you can be fully in this experience. Ask the essence of Spring for guidance/insights into what this new cycle holds for you. Breathe in some of the rising Spring energy and when you breathe out - consciously release any 'residue' left over from the Winter. Ask the Earth to 'recycle' this residue, and appreciate all that is given freely from Nature. With every new breath, affirm your most positive wishes for this new cycle, and in doing so feel the 'seeds' of your new self circulate with your breath around your body to every cell of your being. Arise and feel renewed in mind, body and spirit. A new cycle has begun. Welcome Spring.

Orchard Barn Yoga and Holistic Heath Centre

At Imbolc I told you about Orchard Barn - which I hope will (in the fullness of time) become a larger Sanctuary - for day retreats and workshops - in the converted barn and in Nature. The barn is set in 1.25 acres of 'antique' orchard/woodland - the 1838 Tithe map of the area shows that it was Orchard at that time! I completed the purchase on Tuesday 20th February - this is the manifestation of a long-held dream, and now the physical work begins!!

Until I can get planning permission, my focus is on getting to know the land, trees and wildlife - finding out what is there.

Many of you have been out to help begin to clear some of the 40 years growth of bramble. We've reclaimed the area that will soon become hard-standing - until then parking is on the sugar-beet pad across the road. My son and older daughter have helped prop the west elevation of the barn up with acros.

I have had numerous discussions with planners, architect, structural engineer and most recently a local historian. Last week's big excitement was that the ruins of the farmhouse are probably medieval and the barn itself 17C. So I hope to be able to make a good case for 'conserving' the barn by converting it.

So far, the land has yielded a second pond, a mature Holly, Walnut, Pear and several elderly Apple trees. AND much to my delight several live and currently flowering Elms. I have never seen Elms flower, they are pink and fluffy - a bit like me when I'm all fired up and ready for action!

Much of the southern end of the plot will remain a wild and inpenetrable area, but then that may be no bad thing. Am getting to know my neighbours who tell me that this area was the home to Mrs Fox and her cubs last spring/summer. Apparently there are Crested Newts in the main pond and evidence of a bat in the barn.

Am finding the planning (council) side of things a bit weighty, but am thoroughly enjoying connecting with the local people, the land and the history of the place. Thanks to my mum, I am finding my way the local Records Office and discovering the delights of Parish Electoral Registers and old maps.

The barn is at Ringshall, just 5 miles south of Stowmarket and 6 miles from Offton. According to the history books, 'Rings-hall' is the site of a 'vanished, ancient circular monument'. I likes circles - especially when they have been/are used for celebratory purposes!! Feels like I've been called home.

If you would like to get involved with the project I would really appreciate your help/encouragement/support. Am planning to encorporate many eco-features into the centre, and have to admit to being a bit 'green' in this area - so if you have any experience of sustainable building project and/or renewable energy systems and/or permaculture I'd love to hear from you.

On a practical level your help would be very welcome with snipping away at the brambles. Having started in the West, we are working round the barn, currently clearing the South - so next stop - 'finding' the Eastern elavation. Other things that I need help with include starting/feeding bonfire(s), making tea and generally establishing ourselves in the area. Warm hearts/fire/hot soup, community and connection offered in exchange for your time, energy and support. Please email me to find out when the next community clearing party is.

 

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