Land Art Day

Land Art Day

Don't ask me where I got the idea from....it just popped into my head, the evening before.  A day of land art creating, but doing it on the move, so there was a trail.  I planned a trip to Southampton, but not a direct route and the trail had to be circular. I decided I would walk, bus, then ferry, walk a lot more, and then finally catch a train home....I didn't want to use the same external mode of transport twice, or more. 

So packed my camera bag up and set off in the morning, I started off in my local town and visited 3 different places here.  I created 5 pieces in total in this area before moving on.

No.1 Oak Star - Oak leaves and Ornamental Cherry berries (Eling Rec), this wasn't too difficult to plan and make, as I already had the idea in my head.

No.2 Grass Spiral - Grass on grass (Goatee Field), would have love to make this a lot bigger, but the grass was too spread out!

No.3 Beach Rings - Shingle (Goatee Beach), this was harder than it looked, as the shingle wouldn't stay put! It was difficult to photograph too, as there wasn't much contrast.  I did like this one and would have loved to make it bigger!

No.4 Sticks and Fir - Sticks & Fir (Rum Walk), this was a tricky one to do, I had no plan and the ground, although wet, was still quite solid.  Graced with the presence of a Kingfisher, whilst making this.

No.5 Snaking Leaves on a wall- Leaves (Rum Walk), this was simple to do, and I would have loved to make this more elaborate but, there wasn't the room, and it was tricky to photograph too.

I then took a short bus trip to Hythe to pick up the ferry.

No.6 Rose of Sharon Mandala - Rose of Sharon leaves and flowers (Hythe Marina), this was quite easy as the colours the bush provided, gave me the idea.  This was the first piece of land art create in a BUSY environment, plenty of quizzical looks, appreciative ones too though, I'm glad to say.

I then enjoyed a 10 minute ferry trip to Southampton, the weather and visibility was good, so it was a really nice voyage.

No.7 Geranium, Cherry & Bindweed Mandala - Leaves of all 3 plants (ruins of Holyrood Church, Southampton), this one kind of created itself, and the contrast in colours was good.  The only problem was trying to get it to stay put, as the breeze kept lifting the leaves up.

I then headed for Southampton city parks.

No.8 Stick Pyramid - Sticks (Hogland's Park), this was one of the hardest to create!  There was nothing much in the way of plants in this park, lots of trees, and lots of fallen branches and sticks.  So I set about collecting them, whilst trying to see if I could conjure something up. As they were led out on the ground, Jenga sprang to mind, so I set about building a tower....which soon changed into a pyramid.  I can't tell you how many times I got close to finishing this, and then the whole thing would collapse,  I would have to start all over again.  Still, I made it in the end, standing about 70cm high.

No.9 Pebble Stick - Pebbles (Houndwell Park), this was small compared with the last one, but just as tricky.  This too was made over, and over, and over, until the right points of balance were found.  This stood about 20cm.

No. 10 Daisy Wreath - Daisies & tree debris (Houndwell Park), this was another that made itself.  I tried to fan the tree debris out into a circle, but it was too messy, so I went with the messiness.  I built a nest!! I wasn't sure what to do next, but my eyes were caught by the beautiful daisies all around.  I pick them, and placed them randomly around what was becoming a wreath.  All done and pretty as a picture.

No.11 Yellow Loosestrife Mandala - Yellow Loosestrife and other bedding plants (East Park), this was a hard one to do, because I couldn't visualise it.  I had collected the materials, but it wasn't really saying anything to me.  Managed to accomplish though.

No, 12 Yellow Sunflower - Leaves from a tree (yet unidentified, they looked like Laurel, but it wasn't) (East Park), I loved creating this one, and I think it shows.  Found lots of fallen leaves from a tree, and they were either brown or yellow, so I collected lots of each.  I felt an impulse to create a brown circle, to which I immediately started fanning out the yellow leaves, around the brown, and Voila - a sunflower.  This mandala was about 1m across.

I was well and truly hungry, hot and thirsty by this point, so I took a break and went and had some rather yummy lunch at the Art House.  Refuelled and refreshed I travelled on...only one park left before the train station.

No.13 Lime Tree Mandala - Leaves & flowers of a Lime tree (Watts Park),  this was a nice little mandala to make, as it all came from one tree....yet there was a contrast in colours.  The acid green and yellow leaves and flowers, made this quite a zesty mandala.  Had a Red Amiral butterfly on my arm for a few moments, whilst making this mandala.

No.14 Fuchsia Pentagram - Fuchsia and other bedding plants (Watts Park), this was another difficult one for me.  I tried several different placements with the materials, before giving up trying to make it round.....it obviously didn't want to be round!! It wanted to be a pentagram!  This was the last one made in Southampton.

I headed for the train station, bought my ticket and jumped straight on the train, which was waiting to take me back home.  The ride home gave me the time time reflect on the days events.  After I departed the train and walked the rest of the way home, I realised I had one more piece to make, the piece that would mark the real end of my journey, and also the piece that would make the count 15......I didn't want it to be an even number.

No,15 Mallow, lavender & cotoneaster mandala - Mallow, lavender, cotoneaster and other leaves and flowers (Home - front garden), this was a poignant one to make, because is was the last one, the final piece.  It was possibly the most colourful of them all, due to the fact that I was using garden flowers rather than wild plants......and I join by bees for this one, the colours I guess.

So there it is a rather mad, messy, fun, and challenging day!  I may do it again, but it would have to be a different journey and a different season, I think......

Just before I go....someone in Southampton got in touch and said that they'd seen a little mouse run across and sit dead center of a mini mandala, in Southampton Park.....I wonder if it was one of mine...........
Exx

How Mother Nature Looks After Us

How Mother Nature Looks After Us

Where would we be without Mother Nature and the elements?  Often we take our surroundings for granted, but the natural world and all that fills it is a consistent feature to us all.  In this present age we spend a lot of time in buildings or in cars, shut away from the real world.  Perhaps only noticing the world outside if we have to go out and it's raining.  We forget that we are part of this world, part of this beautifully delicate and detailed system that has been working perfectly since the dawn of time. 

When I consider the man made world we live in, full of electric gadgets, lighting, cars, video games, consumer shopping, it makes me feels tired...it's fast paced and emotionally empty.  Of course we all rely on some or all of these things, but they don't bring me the sense of well being that I get from walking out in the forest.  I love connecting with our natural world, being out in the elements, even when I'm out in horizontal rain and high winds.  In fact the only time I don't like being outside is when I am on a time limit, and I feel the pressure of responsibilities calling.

There is no doubt in my mind that when we shut ourselves off from the world outside we can become low and depressed, but given the chance to be outside on a regular basis, it lifts our spirits and we fell refreshed and rejuvenated.  So here's the science bit.....

Everything has a electro magnetic field, the earth’s natural electromagnetic field has a frequency measured as about 7.8 HZ or Hertz, this is well known and documented Schumann Resonance, that is measured daily.

Also the energy field of the earth interacts with the energy fields of other planets and constellations. Those changes then reflect on the energy fields of living bodies including humans.

So all energy fields are connected to all living matter … humans, plant, animal, and the earth, and what effects one thing will effect the whole. 

 

This is why we should look after our planet, and in doing so we look after ourselves. It is a

diverse and beautiful  place and we are truly blessed to have it as a playground, to share, to explore and to respect.

                                    

Moon - Waxing Gibbous 83%

Yoga - Surya Namaskara, Prasarita Padottanasana, Virabhadrasana Eka & Dvi, Charioteer, Marjaryasana/Bitilasana, Ardha Chandrasana, Sarvangasana, Sphinx, Anjaneyasana - Balasana, Baddhakonasana, Janu Sirsasana, Parsva Pavana Muktasana and Full Yogic Breath

Card Message -

6th January - Twelfth Night/Epiphanyof Kore - Persephone/Christian Epiphany

Twelfth Night, when the debris of the Yule feast is cleared away.  In the Julian (old style) calendar it is the Old Christmas Day.  The nocturnal rite in honour of Kore was held overnight 5-6 January in the Koreion at Alexandria.  It was a mystic drama preparing the way for Kore/Persephone's rise to the world.

Gratitude - I am willing to find new ways to express my creativity

When people meditate and calm their brain chatter, their brains emit alpha frequencies of 7 to 9 Hz. The human brain in a relaxed state then has the same frequency of vibration as the energy field of the earth.
When humans live close to nature, their energy fields are in synchrony with the energy field of the earth, so they experience more balance and better health.
Before the invention of electricity, people lived in harmony with the earth and her daily and seasonal cycles.

Technology advances have added huge levels of electromagnetic energy millions of times higher than before … microwaves, x-rays, mobile phones, television, radio frequencies, high tension wires, etc.

An awakening......non conformity

Whatever has caused the shift, I'm grateful!

I did my rebellious bit as a teenager, as often we do.....after many years of doing as I was told, by parent, by teacher, by society.
I then settled down and conformed as is expected of us, but bubbling under the surface is the true me....who never left - the one who dares to be different, who ask questions that make some people feel a little awkward.....who likes the alternate view on the world.

The world is changing.....waking up and I'm all for it!

I am passionate about looking after our planet, it's environments, it's flora & fauna and it's humans. I struggle with accepting information handed out by government officials and the like, who expect complete submission from us - a 'no questions please' policy. They live in a world completely disconnecting from the majority of us, away from nature, and completely wrapped up in figures, statistics and power. It's a world so sterile, without love and happiness, without beauty and wonder.....where exploitation, abuse and lies are commonplace.

I am glad that we are waking up, deciding that it's time to be heard.....unifying for common causes.....loving and caring voices, cutting through the corrupt bleakness. Joining together and pooling our resources, sharing our skills for the well being of all. X


Moon - Waxing Gibbous 73%

Yoga - Moondance, The Bridge, Child, Triangle, Star

Card Message - The Hanged Man
Go deeper now, let go of your striving. True freedom and independence are found through surrender.
Peace, understanding and patience.
The seeds of inspiration may soon be harvested in a period of successful creative activity. You could experience deep feelings that seem to have little to do with your everyday circumstances, as your inner awareness and sensitivities develop. Letting go of your expectations in order to discover more about a particular situation. A radical reversal of values or attitudes.

On this day - St Nicholas Day

http://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/st--nicholas-day.html

Animal Healing - The Plan

It really does seem a bit surreal going to do a Animal Healing workshop, straight after our guinea pig has died.....but it is the way of things!  Sadness and happiness all mixed up!!

So why animal healing?

Let me start from the beginning ...........
I've always loved animals, right from when I was very small.  My rabbits, guinea pigs and gerbils were very dear to me as I was growing up, I loved even my Granny's cats! One of them was pretty moody and didn't like children, but she would always tolorate me.  As I grew up I wished to be a Vet and even did my work experience at a local practise, but soon after that I dropped out of education and went to live on the road.  As a traveller I had never lived that close to nature and it was one of the aspects of that lifestyle that stirred something deep within my soul.  We all had dogs too, many of us had more than one, they ran like a pack and they were some of the best behaved dogs I have ever come to meet - even to this present day!

When I left the travelling life and moved into a house,  I bought with me, my dogs and also the need to be outside with nature.  I settled down and gave a home to not just the dogs, but rescued rabbits too.  These pets have now sadly passed away, but always after a period of time I have acquired more.  My house will never seem like home without an animal or two.

So now we jump forward to this year.....
So they say that life begins at 40, well it certainly does seem to be looking that way or maybe I'm just conscious of that fact and am engineering things to happen - who knows??
After I injured my leg whilst training for a half marathon, I spent a lot of time with not much physical activity and I was struggling to cope with it. Then one day the penny dropped, with the help of Mother Nature,  that I should stop focusing on physical challenges to appease my ego, but now look at at more subtle ways that I could achieve good things, for all.  I started thinking about healing, after all I had recently trained in Reiki, but I was still thinking about animals, as I had recently had a couple of very close meetings with wild animals and birds - I had felt very privilged when a young blackbird hopped up my back and sat on my head, for some time. Animal healing, it felt intuitively right.
So I did a book search on Amazon, the first book that came up was by a woman called Margrit Coates, so I googled her and found that she lives in the New Forest - what are the chances of that??  I looked up her webpage and found that she was doing a talk on animal healing the following month, before she was off round the world.  So I jumped at the chance, as it was almost being given to me on a plate. 
The talk was very interesting, and I had by then also read one of her books by then,  so when I talked to her afterwards, I was fairly well prepared.  She was very happy to meet a fellow animal lover and also a New Forester.  We talked a lot and she invited me to come back and do a animal healing workshop, that she was running.  After I returned home, I had a call from my mum - who had also been to the talk also, she proposed that I should do the workshop (she would as well) and she and my dad would pay.  I was flabbergasted and very grateful.  Since then I have found out how Margrit has trained and have looked into following the same path.  The base of the training is done with the National Fedaration of Spiritual Healers, and to my amazement the person who teaches the whole of the south/south east region lives just outside Southampton - another coincedence????  Maybe, maybe not!

So there you have it - the whole story to the eve of the workshop I'm about to attend.

Where do I hope to go with this?
I will see where it takes me, but I would love to be in a position to give healing to all animals, to help with all manner of issues regarding their well being..........because they give us so much.......so much love....so much friendship and they are great teachers too!!!

So I hope to be able to come back to this topic in the future and add more details and more information, as this journey progresses. May I say a big thank you to all those who are supporting me in this venture.
 - wish me luck.

Moon - First Quarter 53%

Yoga - Earth Gratitude, Moondance

Card Message - Death
The old and unesscessary wants to die.  What passion! The new prepares to open like a rosebud at the dawn of a new day.
Clearing away the old to make way for the new.  Precursor to transformation. Intense passion. Initiation.

On This Day - 3rd December  - Roman festival of Bona Dea the Good Goddess