WINTER SOLSTICE-Alban Arthuan

Solstice Blessings to You!
We stand here at the turning point of the year as winter closes around us and the earth beneath our feet rests, for the harvest is in and the new seeds not yet sown.
The winter solstice, the shortest sunlit day of the year, the day when the sun is farthest away from us and his light is most remote, has been celebrated in ceremony the world over for as long as human memory exists. The celebration was most enthusiastic in areas of the earth where the winter is very dark and very long, and the yearning for sun and light was so passionate. Although we now have electricity, and can "see" with the a light flick of a switch, we still honor the power and mystery of darkness, both literally and symbolically. The nights are long and we may all feel the darkness entering into areas of our life. Let this darlness of the longest night be felt, for only out of darkness does light arise and we become aware that the inner sun rises again in our hearts as at one with the outer sun, bringing warmth to both our hearts and the earth.

The seed stirs in the earth
Once again, the Winter Solstice of the year is upon us.
The season when we learn, from nature, how to honor the darkness of Life's Mysteries without losing faith...how to recognize the seeds of growth and nurture them in our own inner warmth until the Light returns...how to dignify the elder who lives always within us, and to face our own old age with serenity and faith and power.
Once again we learn, that even in the darkest moments, health, serenity, and healing energy are available when we focus on them with positive intent.
As the golden Oak King triumphs in battle over ,darksome twin the Holly King
....now we can see the first flicker of light,
the first ray of hope, the first seeds of solution, to any darkness that has invaded our life light.

FIRE

The element of Fire is both creative and destructive, its qualities are Brightness, Thinness and Motion and its mode is Active. It is fire that we and our ancestors used to warm our homes, we use it to cook our food, we sit around it to ward of the darkness of night, and it fuels our passions. Fire, unlike the other elements, does not exist in a natural state.
Its physical form can only take place by consuming some other element. Fire is the transformer, converting the energy of other objects into other forms: heat, light, ash, and smoke.To feel the manifestations of this power, go out on on sunny day and feel the warmth and light of the Sun, hear the crackling of logs and smell of smoke from a burning fire. As you gaze into the transformational flame of a candle, immerse yourself in the energy of Fire.
Fire is the natural element of animals and mankind, and they "have, in their natures, a most fiery force, and also spring from celestial sources."
In order to gain benefit from the energy of this element, we need to control Fire's destructive aspect. When we light a candle, we are not only calling upon the energy of Fire, we are also limiting its power.
This destructive aspect should not be seen as negative, forest fires, actually help, clearing away underbrush and encouraging seeds lying dormant within the Earth to burst forth into new life.Fire is a masculine element, its aspects being change, passion, creativity, motivation, will power, drive and sensuality. It is sexuality, both physical and spiritual. Fire is used in spells, rituals and candle magick for healing, purification, sex, breaking bad habits or destroying illness and disease. Fire is the element of authority and leadership.The properties of Fire, Heat, Making things fruitful, Celestial light, Giving Life to all things. Its opposite the Infernal Fire are a parching heat, consuming all things and darkness, making all things barren.

RATHER DEPRESSING

We are now very concerned about the Yurt canvas and the mildew that has developed.
The extent of the problem is very distressing.
we finally has a response from the Yurt maker, who gave a logical explanation as to why the mildew may have developed where there are two layers of canvas and it may not dry out as easily and said that they would send us some mildew cleaner which we havent as yet recieved. However ,the mildew is also on the single canvas wall which doesnt make sense and also a good number of poles are black! at least six , ( we havent been able to inspect them all) The wheel spokes are also black in places. Icannot believe that we have this degree of problem after only 31/2 months of use!

Have taken some pictures to send to Yurtworks so they can see the extent of the problem.
not sure if i want to post them on hear as they are too depressing for words.

Really feel that we need to take immediate action to try and prevent it spreading any further, but waiting for yurt maker to advise.
We had planned to take it down for the winter as advised,but we were not expecting to work on any form of restoration at this point in time. so we must now take it down ASAP to assess the extent that the woodwork, trellis and poles are affected. But we cant really store it until this problem has been properly resolved. We are gutted to say the least. spent all my savings on this venture and have really enjoyed it over the last couple of months, but what was a total delight is now a real worry:(

STOVE INSTALLATION

Over the last few months there has been much deliberation about where to site our stove.
Consultation with various Yurt makers and fellow Yurt dwellers, revealed conflicting information about the best place for stove installation.
Commonly people place it in the centre of the yurt with the flue pipe going out of the wheel.This wasnt something we wanted to do because we felt it would interfere with the beautiful wheel and it would also take up precious space in the centre of the yurt.
Another option was to take the flue through one of the wall trellis diamonds , but this meant a large amount of flue to run up the outside of the yurt for clearance that would then need to be stabilised in some way.
Finally we decided to install the stove in the west , allowing the two hotplates to be easily accessed from the kitchen area and keeping the floor space in the centre clear,and to have the flue pipe go up through the roof canvas between two poles.
Having moved the stove to its final location prior to installing we lived with it for a while to see how it felt( and to give us time to pluck up the courage to cut a hole in the canvas roof !) which was actually the easiest but most heart stopping stage of the installation.
We bought a lovely piece of limestone for the hearth ,and the flashing attached to the canvas prevents it and the wood from heating up. I think i will source some aluminium sheeting and make a decorative a back plate behind the stove to really protect the canvas and wood at a later date , but we have the stove the correct distance from the Yurt wall so it would really be belt and braces!
Thankyou to Matt and Chris from Yurtshop for the helpful advice on installing and for processing our flue order so promptly.

It really changes the ambience having a woodburning stove. It gives gorgeous glow to the inside of the yurt, keeps us toasty- the crackling sounds and stepping outside to see and smell the woodsmoke puff- puffing out the chimney are a delight! It changes the use of the space too, no longer will we be forced under the covers when the evening chill creeps in. Lots of evenings of crafty work to look forward to .

The stove makes it a real home!

Willow all snuggled!

craft worker !

.. some insulation next to keep the heat in !

AUTUMN EQUINOX -Alban Elfed

Once again we have reached the point of balance, night and day are equal in length.( 23rd sept)The leaves are beginning to fall and the Equinox tides and winds may bring storms and floods.
The last harvests of fruit and vegetables are now in and it is time to accept what we do and don't have and what we have achieved.
Equinoxes can bring many unexpected things and many may find their lives reaching an unexpected turning points in spring, so it is necessary for a good autumn clean out.
We spring clean in order to make way for new growth but in autumn it is to make way for reflection and study.

Why in Autumn do we want to match the animals in
nature and hibernate?
The energy on the planet changes.
This energy is called life-force energy, Christ-force energy, Universal energy, Supreme Being's energy.
In the Autumn this energy is drawn down into the Earth. Outwardly, the leaves are drawn off the trees. Inwardly, we experience feeling drained.
But the good news is that the energy that is draining is most likely not our own anyway. We took on someone's energy (thoughts, emotions) and obligingly, or in most cases, ignorantly carried it around, until the fall season draws our attention back to ourselves where we experience a change in energy within and around us. That is one of the purposes of the seasons, to be different from all the others so that we notice changes we might not have if everything stayed the same.
Each season prompts us to reflect (go inward).
It makes us pause to review our lives.
With Autumn equating to the harvest time of year, what have we harvested in our lives? Well, it depends what type of seeds we have planted.
We are farmers with our thoughts, ideas and emotions as much as a farmer who uses soil as his medium. That is why it is so important to put our attention on what we truly want to experience, and then create the correct atmosphere (attitude or medium) for that to manifest. Autumn is the season between Summer (the season with lots of activity) and Winter (hibernating, slowing down time),a balancing time, equal time.
In Winter we plant our seeds (do our mock-ups or New Years resolutions). In Spring they sprout, in Summer they mature, and in Autumn, they are harvested. So like seeds in the ground, our ideas are also nurtured and grow, through the combination of cosmic and earth energies.

Not only is it harvest time, but it is also time to prepare for the next season of crops (mock-ups).
The Autumn Equinox symbolizes harvest time outwardly and inwardly.
Because the Autumn Equinox happens during the time of year when people generally slow down, it is a great time to get rid of all the excess baggage before New Years so we can start anew with a clean slate.

We may notice that many of the creatures around us are making preparation for winter, birds are migrating and squirrels and hedgehogs are gathering food and preparing nests for hibernation.
The darkness is increasing and energy levels begin to drop so we may have to accept that we may not feel like making any great achievements and instead prefer to curl up in our warm and cosy home for some inward reflection.
So celebrate making wine, gathering dried herbs, plants, seeds and seed pods, walking in the woods, scattering offerings in harvested fields, offering libations to trees, adorning burial sites with leaves, acorns, and pine cones to honor those who have passed over!

ALBAN ELFED

Autumn Equinox, Fall, Second Harvest, Mabon, pronounced MAY-bon , after the welsh god Mabon ap Modron, which literally means 'son of mother', Michaelmas, the feast of the Archangel Michael all names for a wonderful season!
All the leaves are turning colors and the air is getting a bit crisper.
After today we start heading into the dark half of the year.
This time of the year, we, as Pagans, give thanks for what we have sown.
Not just what we sow in the garden, but what we have sown in everyday life.
Our work, children, relationships. All these things that we have put time and energy into, we give thanks for and reap the benefits.
Mabon appears in 'The Mabinogion' tale. The Druids call this celebration, Mea'n Fo'mhair, and honour the Green Man, the God of the Forest, by offering libations to the trees.

Offerings of ciders, wines, herbs and fertilizer are appropriate at this time.

The Welsh know this time as 'Alban Elfed', meaning 'light of autumn' or 'light of the water'
The Wheel turns and the time of balance returns,Alban Elfed marks the balance of day and night before the darkness overtakes the light.

Symbols of Alban Elfed are wine, gourds, pine cones, acorns, grains, corn, apples, pomegranates , vines such as ivy, dried seeds, and horns of plenty.
Foods that can be used are: Breads, nuts, apples, pomegranates, and vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and onions.
Colors are very rich and colorful. Red, orange, russet, maroon, brown and gold are the colors of Mabon.

The time of the second harvest, usually of the fruit which has stayed on the trees and plants to ripen under the Summer Sun. It is this final harvest which can take the central theme of the Alban Elfed ceremony.

Thanking the Earth, in her full abundance as Mother and Giver, for the great harvest, the beginning of Autumn.

We now enter the all-important time of inner growth.

During summer, there was little time for the juices of contemplative creativity to bubble up from deep within us.

Now is the time to prepare for this to occur most fruitfully.

Only when we surrender to our inner nature can we begin to hear the still small voice within, and we must set our outer affairs in order now to be ready when it calls.

Our inner fire burns brilliant and strong to guide our way through shadows long.

Hold sacred and close passion’s fierce flame for when all falls away,

it is our dreams that remain.

- Mara Friedman

The change in the world is becoming obvious now.
A scattering of fallen leaves gathers at the roadside.
The grain harvest has been brought in, and only stubble is left on the fields.
Here and there, leaves are beginning to turn to golden or russet, and the virginia creeper in
next door's garden is beginning to blush scarlet.
The last fruits are being picked, and the Goddess is letting go of this world.
She is turning inward, to look at the mysteries within.
And so must we. It is time to look back over the past year and examine what we have gained and lost.
We are asked to see how we have changed, so that we can take what we have learned
on to another revolution of the Wheel.

COZY EVENINGS!

We have been enjoying some really cozy evenings!

Havent blogged for a while, no access to computer in the yurt( wink), and laptops are banned! so got some catching up to do...let me see....
Made a curtain for the window and been lighting small fires in the stove to seal it prior to installation.... building a log store its a bit ramshackled but i kind of like that, all the wood was from broken up pallets.

MILDEW PROBLEM!

Havent blogged for a little while.
Sadly after only 3 months of our Yurt being up.. we have mildew problems and we are gutted particularly after only having the yurt up for a short period of time.

We are so sad to see our beautiful yurt being spoilt in this way. We will contact the yurt maker " Yurtworks" and are hope to hear back from them soon.
we are bitterly disappointed as this Yurt is so beautifully crafted.
Our plans had been to keep the yurt up until the autumn and take it down then to help the canvas last. I cannot believe it, surely there shouldnt be problems in the summer !
Especially when we are in the drier far south east of england.

Been looking on the net for information on how to remove mildew from canvas it doesnt look easy.

SUMMER YURT LIVING!

We have just enjoyed a few days of glorious sunshine and some real summer yurt living.
The yurt's circular space has this month offered a wonderful healing environment for recovery from another back procedure. At 3.30pm at this time of the year the sun shines through the crown straight onto the floor cushions, just in time for a snoozy and sometimes dribbly siesta on the floor.

We have been enjoying simple food;bbq's, forraged salads, new potatoes ,green beans,tomatoes straight from the veggie patch.

We are pleasantly surprised that there havent been lots of mosquitos, no need to use the mosy-net. Chris getting very proficient with the night-time swatting by torchlight, means that the few that are around dont last long!
Feel like we are getting a real taste of yurt life , very settled into the early morning, early night routine, and lying in bed with all the candles lit is magical.

Amazing metorite showers, standing on the farm track we saw lots of shooting stars.

There has been a good harvest of calendula petals this year. Once dried we shall infuse some in oil and use the rest for cosmetic concoctions.

We have a resident blue tit!! He/she roosts in between the canvas , just under the roof canvas.
Every night( remarkably early) he tucks himself in and you hear him turning in his bed and ruffling his feathers! I think its amazing that he/she is happy to be so close, with only canvas between us he must know that we are there and can hear us. we have named him rather unoriginally "Timmy the tit", so i hope if its a she , shes's not offended!
And also a beautiful little wren that roosts in the shed .

still havent had the roof cap off at night, the evenings havent really been balmy and we just havent had the confidence that it wouldnt rain! Think i may save some pennies and have a clear roof cap made at a later date.

MUSING ON THE CIRCLE

The circle is a sacred symbol of life,

individual parts within the circle connect with every other ;

and what happens to one ;

or what one part does affects all within the circle

The circle is used by many traditions the world over from time immemorial is referred to by such names as the Medicine Wheel, Sacred Hoop, and the Wheel of Life .
It has also been used in the sacred art of many religious traditions as an image of wholeness.
Ceremony and religious rites were practised in circles, life was lived in circles and moved with the changing seasons.

The circle symbolizes the sacred unity of existence and is used in the designing of sacred spaces all over the world.
Today's lifestyle has removed us from this natural experience, cushioning our senses with central heating, piped water, flush toilets and supermarkets.

The seasons pass us by year after year and we become more anaesthetized.
To step into the circle is to say yes to becoming - becoming more aware of who we are as individuals and more aware of our interactions with others and the environment we find ourselves in.
It brings a fuller sense of being and knowing, that the journey we walk in this life has a rhythm, and that rhythm can become revealed to us.

Stepping into the Circle, Stepping onto the Wheel

Stepping into the circle is about aligning ourselves to a rhythm.

Nature offers a constant reminder of movement through the changing of season, from the Sunrise and Sunset points to the Moon's ebb and flow.
To bring ourselves into alignment with these changing seasons brings us onto the wheel of life and our own energies into alignment. http://livingintheround.blogspot.com/2007/06/eight-fold-yesrt_1821.html

How often have we felt frustrated in the middle of Winter wondering what to do with ourselves instead of taking the time to be still and allow ourselves to rest? The CIRCLE is a reminder of wholeness and the round-and-round nature of life-cycles. We can take a lot of comfort in the way seasons and the very hours of the day repeat endlessly.
In becoming aware of what our changing energies do at these seasonal times gives us a picture of who we are, how effective we are in our actions, how our energy comes and goes....
Stepping onto the wheel means becoming conscious of where we stand at any one moment on the cycle or rhythm of life.
To become aware of our own personal circle of energy also brings us in touch with a greater sense of awareness around other peoples' energy fields - knowing when to offer healing and when to stand back; knowing that perhaps what is being said is not quite what the person is feeling.

Working with Mandala

The word Mandala arises from the Sanskrit and means sacred circle, they are used as objects to aid contemplation.

The circle symbolizes the womb of creation; and mandalas are geometric designs that are made through uniform divisions of the circle. The shapes that are formed from these divisions are symbols that embody the mathematical principles found throughout creation. They reveal the inner workings of nature and the inherent order of the universe.
Mandalas act as a bridge between the higher and lower realms. They are interdimensional gateways linking human consciousness to the realms of archetypes and the infinite. The relationship of form, movement, space and time is evoked by the mandala. Mandalas offer a way to engage with the inherent harmony and balance of nature. They bring the principles of nature into our field of awareness. For thousands of years, mandala imagery has served as a means to an expanded way of thinking. The images transcend language and the rational mind. They bring about a certain wisdom of universal knowledge and a deeper understanding of human consciousness.

The circle is perhaps the purest, most profound and the most common symbol in existence. It has many interesting associations and appears in or lives in a number of forms.

With the probably infinite billions of stars, planets, moons and galaxies full of the same, the circle is well represented in the physical universe in the form of spheres.

A circle, having no beginning or end, represents infinity, eternity, wholeness and femininity. Other meaningfully significant symbols or objects are circular: Stonehenge, Ouroboros, the Wheel of Life, a halo around the head of a saint, etc. In a very practical way, it can be said that circles rule the world.The circle is a sacred symbol of life, individual parts within the circle connect with every other ; and what happens to one ; or what one part does affects all within the circle

Think of all the things that are circular. From the symbol for nothing to the symbol for the powerful life-giving sun, circles cover a lot of territory. Circles are egalitarian and inclusive; it was for very good reason that King Arthur placed his knights at a Round Table.

As the Tibetan woman spins an endless prayer written on a strip of paper coiled inside the cylinder..........

Give some thought to all of the interconnecting circles in your life.

How can we invite a more inclusive way of being into our lives?

LUGHNASADH

Lughnasadh - the Harvest festival in honour of Lugh/Llew, the Sun God.

The Christian church recycled Lughnasadh as the feast of Lamas, a word meaning "loaf mass" from the Anglo-Saxon "hl af-masse". Traditionally on this day a new loaf of bread was offered at mass as the first-fruit of the harvest. In the old days bread was truly your harvest fruit - you tilled the land, planted the grain and watered to soil to make it grow - the making of the Lamas/Lughnasadh loaf was packed with mystical symbolism.
The bread-maker and those who ate it were acutely aware of their relationship with Mother Earth - a relationship not of words but of conscious interaction. Just like the Sun God whose heat has nourished its growth, the grain that goes into bread must be cut down in its prime to be useful. Death is necessary for life to flourish, otherwise life dies. In the past humankind the world over acknowledged this relationship between death and life - harvesting grain for bread and seeds for next year's crop - through ceremonies and rituals. One of the famous ones in Britain is told in the song John Barleycorn.

There were three men came out of the West Their fortunes for to try And these three men made a solemn vow John Barleycorn must die.

The crops are ripening and will soon be cut,the fruit is swelling upon the trees and the land is about to slip into the richness of fall. The growing crop, must die each year in order for the seed to ripen and so yield the harvest.

At this time the sun God is nearing the end of his reign.
The name of the festival (pronounced loo-nus-uh) comes from the druidic festival of Lugh, the Celtic sun God. In some ancient traditions, this is the festival in which the sun God dies, usually in a ritual of sacrifice of some sort. To commemorate him, the ancient peoples of Britain and Ireland held processions, feasts, and athletic games in his honour. It makes more sense if we see this as the beginning of the hunt for Lugh - the chase that will end in the fatal cut that marks his death at Mabon (Fall Equinox), the end of the harvest. With the first cutting of the grain, this was traditionally a feast of bread.

It is tempting to see echoes of ancient human sacrifice, but that is not really what this time is all about. The god does not really die, he continues in the form of next year's growth, he continues in the form of the food and drink he provides for people's sustenance against the coming winter. So who (or what) is it, that is being killed?
What is being killed is the child, to make room for the man.

The period of growth is ended and it is time for the completion of a purpose.

This must happen in all our lives. At one level, we must always remain children, for we never stop learning, we never stop growing. But at another level, we reach a plateau in our development, we step over into a new phase of existence.

In our late teens or early twenties we reach a stage of development of our physical bodies that we call adult. With our new status we acquire certain responsibilities: there are certain aspects, freedoms and liberties, of our childhood that we must lay aside forever so that we may properly fulfil our new role.

So in later life, we reach a state of mental and spiritual growth where we may stop growing for a while and start to make more use of our more developed faculties, for the benefit of others. This is not merely a right, but it is a duty, aresponsibility.

What is all your knowledge and spiritual insight for, if it is not to be used?

Thus, for example, one of us teach. Another may heal. Someone else may be a writer, or an artist, and so on. Some of you may still be looking for your path, not yet quite certain of the way to go on your spiritual journey. This particular time of year, Lammastide, is a good time to be looking for those answers. If you already have the answers, then it is time to put them fully into action.

It is the time of maturity,

of completion of growth,

of the final step towards attainment of purpose

It is an ideal time for completion of projects. Also, like the other major festivals of the old pagan calendar, it is considered to be a time when the veil between our world and the other worlds, the worlds of the spirit, is particularly thin, it especially benefits those projects that are spiritual in nature.

visualisation exercise with the object of bringing about a certain state of events, perhaps to help someone in difficulties or maybe to sort something out in your own lives. This kind of visualisation is usually concerned with the early stages of a project, with getting something off the ground, to a point where you can consciously take over and continue the good work by your own efforts, without the help of outside forces. Then, eventually, your project reaches a state of maturity and you can, indeed must, take on full responsibility for it, just as you take on responsibility for your life when you reach adulthood. But sometimes bringing a project to its intended conclusion can be as difficult as initiating it in the first place. It is not unreasonable for us to request help from higher forces. If the project is worthy, help will be granted. But, you have to ASK.
So, do you have a project that is about to come to fruition, which maybe needs a little final push to get it there? Or, if you are still seeking a direction, is it time that the direction became clear to you? These things are what we will seek to put in hand today, by means of our visualisation.
Lughnasadh: Prepare yourself for meditation in the usual way. Sit comfortably and relaxed. Close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths to cleanse your body and mind of everyday cares and concerns.

Visualise yourself in the countryside, on a warm summer afternoon, surveying a field of ripe, golden wheat. Think about how it will shortly be harvested and baked into delicious fresh bread. Enjoy the beauty of the moment.
Now turn your thoughts to your project, or your question. Form it clearly in your mind, with every detail of where you stand at the moment, and of how you came to be where you are.
Make sure you have every detail of your situation clear in your mind.
Now visualise a successful outcome. What is necessary to complete your project, or to give a satisfactory answer to your question? Let this, too, form clearly in your mind.
Now, quickly dismiss the pictures you have formed in your mind into the ether, and return to normal consciousness. Your petition will be dealt with. Do not think any further about your project or your question for a little while, perhaps a few days, and then the answer or the resolution will come to you.

Now is an appropriate time to take a little refreshment, something to eat and drink. Take a biscuit, or a cookie, or a piece of bread, and break it. As you do so, think of those people in the past, who would celebrate with the eating of new bread, the coming of the first harvest. Feel close to them, and feel close to the time of year, the time of coming to fruition. Then eat in silence, and sip the drink.
Take a few hours, or a few days, to absorb the significance of this meditation. If you wish, you may repeat the meditation several times during the period around the Festival .

COME ON INSIDE....OUR YURT

WELCOME! come step inside.. please take off your shoes.we are still moving in ,so please excuse the mess:)

carpet has kindly been donated , which we laid down last week,moved the bed round twice.. think we've found the right place now!

splashed out on the hand carved chest.. its made of cedar wood and smells wonderful... got somewhere for our clothes to be hidden away in and it doubles up as a stunning alter.

It was beautiful on tuesday , lying on the floor cushions with the sunshine beaming through the crown wheel. Hoping for some good weather this weekend , with a clear sky so we can have the cap off at night and stare at the stars! (might just need that mozzy-net though)

really enjoying spending time in this space, love the light and the beautiful shadows that are cast on the canvas each morning.. it changes each day.

Definately prefer living/ sleeping in the round.. woke the other morning thinking i was in the yurt and being boxed in by right-angled walls felt really strange .

YURT RAISING!

Cant begin to say how beautifully crafted this yurt is.. thanks Tim.
had a huge beam on my face for a couple of weeks now...the yurt is fantastic. Was surprisingly easy to erect,pulling the roof canvas was a bit of a struggle as it was so heavy, but i did request heavy duty canvas for the roof !
It hasnt stopped raining since it arrived home with us, but its so cozy inside it doesnt matter. There's this beautiful glow inside, even when its overcast and grey outside.
The other night it was put to the test, with freak storms and floods and hail stones the size of a two pound coin! No leaking, though the sound of the hail bouncing off the roof poles was a bit hairy... sounded just like fire crackers going off inside.
Got the essentals inside now.. bed, rugs, gas camping stove. Think if this weather doesnt improve may need to get a wriggle on with connecting the woodburner.

picys of inside to come soon...

YURT COLLECTION DAY

June30th/July 1st

Drove all the way back up to Devon again this weekend to meet up with Tim Hutton ( the Yurt maker) at the wood fair to collect the Yurt. It was pouring with rain so it would have meant dismantling and packing a damp canvas so unfortunately we were unable to put the canvas on.

Tim Hutton ( Yurtworks), me and our yurt!

( minus the Oak doors and canvas.. too soggy to put it up completely)

very happy bunnies!

hoping for fine weather this weekend and the arrival of our groundsheet so that we can erect the yurt in its full splender!

COLLECTING YURT TOMORROW!!

Almost there with preparation of the site. Been away on our yearly pilgimage to Glastonbury ( place not festival!)

Had a fantastic time , a wonderful place shared with very special friends :)!!

Collecting our Yurt at the summer solstice didnt quite come to plan.

Tim was unable to complete the order in time without working crazy - crazy hours.. that was fine as it was more important to us to have our Yurt made with good positive vibes, and not too much frenetic energy or the posssibility of the final crafting being in a cloud of red air!!... as it turns out it probably would have been a bit of a squeeze in the camper complete with dog and so we have arranged to meet Tim and collect the Yurt at the Taunton wood fair TOMORROW!!!

UTOPIA

UTOPIA

we'd gather around all in a room fasten our belts engage in dialogue

we'd all slow down rest without guilt not lie without fear disagree sans judgement

we would stay and respond and expand and include and allow and forgive and enjoy

and evolve and discern and inquire and accept and admit and divulge and open and reach out and speak up

we would share and listen and support and welcome

be propelled by passion not invest in outcomes

we would breathe and be charmed and amused by differencebe gentle and make room for every emotion

we'd provide forums we'd all speak out we'd all be heard we'd all feel seen

we'd rise post-obstacle more defined more grateful we would heal be humbled and be unstoppable

we'd hold close and let go and know when to do which

we'd release and disarm and stand up and feel safe

lyrics by Alanis Morrisette

EIGHT FOLD YEAR

The purpose of celebrating the eight seasonal festivals is to create a pattern or rhythm in our year that allows for a few hours’ pause every six weeks or so in our busy and often stressful routine, so that we can open to the magic of being alive on this earth at this special time. It gives us a chance to fully enter the moment, to connect with the life of the earth and the land around us, and to feel the influence of the season in our bodies, hearts and minds. If we celebrate on our own, it is a time when we can enter into meditation, perhaps reviewing our life since the last festival, thinking forward to the next one, then returning to open ourselves fully to the Here and Now – soaking in the energies of earth and sky, and the trees and plants around us, and radiating our love and blessings to the Earth and all beings.

Adapted from What Do Druids Believe? by Philip Carr-Gomm, Granta, 2006

NEARLY THERE WITH THE PREPARATION!

Not long to go now before we are living in our Sacred Circle of Ash and Oak!!!

what will rougly be the view from the Yurt door!

LEVELLING SITE

16ft circle spray painted

Site cleared and levelled. Sand base laid - just got to keep those bunnies from digging it up now! I may have to undo all Willow's bunny-friendly training soon as the numbers have really increased and im loosing alot of our veggies this year to to the fluffy critters.

The Sand- dance!

Rang through the final details of or yurt requirements to Tim, door type and stove etc. Went for double oak dooks and wooden latch . Undecided on whether to have a window or not, traditionally Yurts dont have windows, but it may be nice to have one over the kitchen area .Tim usually makes round ones, which i dont fancy , but he could make us a rectangular one instead.
Hope to collect our Yurt when we go to Glastonbury for the Summers Solstice and Chris's birthday next month!

CLEARING AND MARKING SITE

further ground clearing and post marking of the 16ft yurt

veg beds finally under control again!

a local resident of the herb patch !

CLEARING OF SITE CONT..MARCH 07

The clearing continued until we were in a position to mark out the space for a 14ft Yurt (A family sized yurt). It soon became apparent that we could accomodate a slightly larger Yurt, if we could afford it!.. considering that our Lurcher , Willow whom we are sure would take up as much room as she could, and would probably require her own very large comfy bed and the fact that we could do with the extra space in front of the door to do craft work when it rains it seemed sensible to check out the possibility of an upgrade.

Luckily Tim hadn't started work yet, and was in agreeance that a 16ft would make a real difference. Two foot difference in the round is quite a lot of floor space.

The cost wasnt much more , and the crown ( or roof wheel from which you can gaze into the sky through) increases in size with a 16fter from 40 inches to 50 inches in diameter. so we upgraded!!

For my Birthday, Chrissy brought me a boxwood stove, which should keep us nice and toasty through the winter months .It has two cooking plates , so we wont go hungry.

CLEARING SITE FEB 2007

The site required a fair bit of clearing, but as i had already cleared the area for a veg plot there wasnt too much to do.. the Brambles needed a little taming, and it was unfortunately necessary to sacrifice a herb and veg bed or two. And transplant the herbs into new homes.

Having been ill most of the winter i hadnt been able to do much on the plot so, the remaining veg beds needed a bit of work getting them back under control.

clearing