Dreaming 2012

Dreaming 2012

Some say this is all a dream, some say we create our future from our past, some say chaos and of a random nature. 

My bet and hope is on the dream and so as I begin this new year, softly I drift with images of a healthy earth. 

More community, change and love, less hurt, greed and conflict. 

2012 may go well, we shall see what is the dominant dream of our collective imaginings, seeds of change have already begun to sprout.

 I create my reality as the dream uncurls, misty thoughts solidify only to dissolve and float away again. 

May all your good thoughts be blessed, may you too dream a wonderful 2012, use those wishes for others, allow your resolutions to benefit all...

Guest Post- Lovely doily hat

Lovely Ladies Hat

This spontaneous and original tutorial is by my guest designer Dakini Le Fay 

Aged 6.

 1. Take from your doily stash, a pretty piece.

 2. Tie a double knot with string or ribbon on one side.

 3. Place on head and measure a comfy length to the other side.

 4. Tie

 5. And wear.
 

Can be worn as a necklace, apron etc.




Thank you Dakini for this guest post today!

Making friends with the land, come along!

When we take time out to walk around this land, we are almost always surprised by something new, something changed! 

Flowers unfolded, blushing fruit, colours of leaves, the formations of clouds above, the colour and sound of heavily seeded grass, under our boots and blowing in the wind. 

The animals are changing too at this time, the self-shedding sheep have only small wool tuffs hanging ungracefully from their skin, and the cows bristly hairs, have fallen to reveal a smooth hide. Duckling babies swim further from their mothers, day by day their confidence has grown. 

To notice these subtle changes, one must walk quietly, gently, and hold in ones heart a feeling of friendliness.

 It's all in a graceful approach, to watch their lives, we must show them calm peaceful steps.

So that we don't miss out on all the small wonders.

I haven’t shown you around yet, come lightly sweet ones, on a small walk with us... Enjoy

First to the chickens we go

This is Gold Wing The Royal Rooster and his babes.

Bindi

Blossom

And then the cows

Meet Blossom and Bindi, baby bull Thermos is around here too.

Over the hill and through the grass to the horses.

Past a temple,

 a windmill and the caves.

Around and up to the 10 Alpacas,

 back past the organic garlic drying so nicely.

To finish up at home in the kitchen garden

for a cup of tea!

Celebrating, the ones who are stimulating!

I would love to share with you some places of beauty and substance, that I have been enjoying ever so much lately.

Obaitori- for the gentle reminders to connect with the essence of life and for the sprinkle of sacred dust into everything she does.

Spirit cloth- Inspiring way to look at art, life and the manifest

A Soulful life Beautiful parenting insight, on things weighing heavily on my mind lately.

and anything by India Flint, including her books, articles and journal

What a wonderful blessing it is, to be inspired, awakened and bedazzled by word smiths, weavers of wonder, lady's of light and the artful amongst us.

And so now to colour this page, here is some of our solstice revelry.

Good Night !

Faerywise and a change.

I decided to have a change of banner and I’m really not sure, I’m happy with it here. So I'm asking you! 

Quickly- This beautiful picture was a wedding present from my longest and lovely friend Katrina, and has a central place in our home and means so much to me. It was done in Byron Bay by an Artist Named Ella Risebrow. And we love it so! What is your opinion, do you like the new picture as a banner, for a little while anyway?

Old Banner!

Young Priestess of the Cloud Lands!

Her arms danced upwards only to stall in mid air, her eyes closed, she brought her hands down parting the mist, a smile on her face, she was through, Avalon awaits. 

Today was spent in heavy cloud, the mist was so thick that objects a few meters away would dance in and out of view, Something in me awoke, I became for a while a spinner of tales, and with my voice intense and my whole body engaged I retold to my daughter and her friend the Arthurian legend of Avalon. I explained that the only thing better than being a princess was to be a Priestess as they are like royalty, only with charms and magic and otherworldly friends. 

My enthusiasm was infectious the children caught the spell I was weaving, and outside into the misty day they flew with capes and lace and pixie hooded coats to be characters in there own evolving version of Avalon. Watching their games and attempts to part the sky, I longed for my own childhood again, for the forests and gardens that were home to my own imaginings.

Today for just a few moments, I saw through the eyes of my child self, to experience life like I did today, is a blessed thing indeed.

Learning Through Yoga

Each Monday we get a little bit better at Yoga, Dakini discovers a new pose that she likes more then last weeks favourite, she practices her headstand and little bird pose, after sustaining her effort for a few seconds, she tumbles, giggling in a blissfully silly mess.

Her awareness of left and right improves each time, so does her ability to follow verbal instruction. I couldn’t think of a better way for a child to grasp direction and space concepts than Yoga. And learn names of body parts and there location.

This is our equivalent of school sport. Instead of learning to work with an external team, she is harmonising the rouge players within. Teamwork with others, will come a little later.

 

Its fascinating to watch her explore her body, and maintain concentration, balance, and work with physical challenges. One and a half-hour classes are defiantly her limit, and in the last 20 minutes, she can get particularly jittery, but manages. (Lucky for us, the teacher is tolerant, and the classes are small in numbers.)

My Mother is a Yoga teacher and at almost 60 years of age, teaches 6 classes a week, Years ago I also was a Yoga teacher although only for a few years unlike my mother who has taught for about 35yrs.

I sometimes imagine (especially when I should be quieting my mind) that Dakini may also teach yoga one day; she would be the 3rd generation yoga teacher and 4th generation student as my grandmother was very keen on yoga too.

This thought makes me happy, it would be great to know that all those Yoga books will continue to come in handy. Really though, I do hope that yoga, if needed can be a positive tool for her life.

My earliest yogic and meditational experience occurred while doing my mothers classes. I would often get out of school by pretending to be sick, and then like a miracle be healed just before her class, in order to participate. And It's one of my fondest memories.

Blessings be.

One year I will indulge in a Christmas, my rebellious, anti conformist nature, does take a brake every now and again…

But it’s not this year, well not really!

Christmas has strange threads for me, that reach into my childhood and bring up emotions, that I still find hard to make sense of. You see, I share my birthday with Jesus, and a day dedicated to mass economic hope, and consumer glee. I don’t stand much of a chance amongst it, and understandably Jesus always wins, at having the most at his party. 
It’s all-ok though; it is an accidental, but effective way, to reduce ego and clinging to notions of specialness. Generally I find some sweet warmth to these celebrations, and remember fondly the excitement and anticipation that it can foster.

I usually focus on nature, seasons and connection with the earth, and this year is no exception. Sweet solstice gatherings await us. The longest day and shortest night- midsummer is significant to me, only in that it marks a peak in the wheel of the year, that in reflection of it’s opposite-winter solstice is a note worthy occurrence. 
Living in the country as a neo-peasant growing our own food, keeping animals for milk and wool, one must be in harmony with the rhythms of the year or one unnecessarily toils.

In my heart I try to cultivate thankfulness alongside the mind-boggling awe I have always had, at my life here, on this blessed earth.

I would like to wish those, who it is meaningful to, a "Merry Christmas", Others a "Blessed solstice" and the few whom landed here on earth, this specific day, a "Happy Birthday" too.

A Gypsy in New York

My Yarn along today is Juliette De Bairacli Levys', travel memoirs of New York

This week Juliette’s herbal books have been invaluable, for herbal healing wisdom, and now I’m stealing moments to finish her fascinating tale- A Gypsy in New York. 
This is the first novel I have let myself read since my 2nd baby, and only a book of high entertainment and meaning, could captivate me enough to juggle my time, in order to make space for it in my days. 

This book gives insight on the way of travellers, specifically Gypsy’s in America. It also describes New York City very well, emphasising the small natural beauty found amongst all the buildings, cars and people. 
I wrote about this incredible woman-Juliette a little time ago, see here. As for knitting I’m still working on my Debbie Bliss dress, but have distracted myself with the beginnings of a blanket, in order to practice different knitting techniques 

Zema

These days My Knitting is often under attack from the cute ones, its not just Chimme that finds my yarn fascinating, its our new friend Zema now too!