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nature

Buddha Bag Meeting Events Events

Buddha Bag Meeting 23 July: Nothing is Separate

by Admin July 22, 2015

written by Admin

The Magic and Inter-Relatedness of Nature with Vincent McMahon

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The Lantern Centre, Dublin 8, Thursday 23 July, 8pm. Facebook event page

Tickets €15/10 concession. email buddhabagmeeting@gmail.com to book.

In 2000, Vincent McMahon was invited by a tribe from the West Papuan Highlands to learn about the forest that covers their land and how they live there. He learned how inextricably linked the people and the land are. The relationship was so harmonious that the land benefits from the tribe, and the tribe benefits from the land, nothing is separate.

In understanding the miracles at work on a daily basis in the natural world, such as the dust from a dry lake in Northern Africa being blown across the Atlantic Ocean to fertilise the Amazon Rainforest, we reconnect with magic and wonderment and experience how it feels to be truly supported and interconnected.

Vincent holds a Masters in Healthcare Management and is a Business Consultant. He has been initiated in Heart Centred Consciousness by the Peruvian Mystic Don Americo Yabar and is the author and lecturer of Quantum Consciousness for Paramount College in Australia. He has also been appointed Ambassador by the Winam Eragayam Tribal Council of West Papua to help protect their rainforests.

July 22, 2015 0 comment

Positive News & Interviews

Our Life as Druids – Spirituality as Nature Intended, By Eimear Burke & Howard Campbell

by Admin November 2, 2013

written by Admin

Our Life as Druids

By Eimear Burke & Howard Campbell

Spirituality as Nature Intended

As druids, our spirituality is interwoven through our daily lives. Our connection with nature is always present. In our home, we created a wild garden where the trees, plants, birds and insects live freely. This allows for the engagement of our spirits with theirs. Our own natures and relationships with each other are also part of this natural world.

We look to the landscape and seasons as a metaphor for how we live our lives. Following the wheel of the year brings us into harmony with this world and the otherworld.

Our joys, worries and pleasures and how they connect us are also part of the natural world, which we honour with our attention. The landscape and how our ancestors related to it are a source of fascination – earthworks and megaliths aligned to phases of the sun and moon.

To engage with all of the above we use our spiritual senses, intuition, imagination and ceremonies that connect us to the seasons and our ancestors. We also engage with the sciences and history to widen our understanding of ourselves and of the world around us.

The arts are a valuable way of communicating aspects of the natural world and ourselves which are otherwise difficult to articulate. Our ceremonies are followed by a ‘Night Court’, a space for the arts including poetry, storytelling, songs, and music. The Druid’s path enriches and nourishes all aspects of our life together.

www.kilkennydruidry.com

November 2, 2013 0 comment

Events Special Event

Summer Solstice Event, Shamanic States/Sacred Sites, June 21st 2013

by Admin May 24, 2013

written by Admin

This three day workshop is open to those who wish to explore the Shamanic realms at a deeper level. It is also an opportunity to meet old friends and make new ones. This workshop is held twice a year at the Summer and Winter Solstices.

We will come together in the circle to create a supportive healing community where we can journey deeper into ourselves and beyond. We will be performing ritual and ceremony on the sacred sites of the Boyne Valley. There will also be a sacred Celtic sweatlodge ceremony and we will journey into Mother Earth inside the cairn.This workshop will include the following:Celtic sweatlodge
Ecstatic Journey – using trance dance, breathwork and drumming to journey deeper
Healing circle
Spirit boat
Firewalking ceremony
Shamanic healing work
Trance dancing
Time in nature
Free time/party timeThis workshop is facilitated by Martin Duffy
Martin is the director of the OakTree Charitable Trust, a nonprofit organization that runs the Irish Centre for Shamanic Studies and The Transpersonal Institute at Dunderry Park.

The Centre is dedicated to promoting and preserving shamanic traditions from around the world, particularly those of the pre-Celtic and Celtic era. Contemporary Transpersonal approaches are also taught at the centre. Martin has worked as a mental health care professional since 1977. He is an accredited transpersonal /Jungian psychotherapist. He has trained in various forms of consciousness raising methods including Holotropic Breathwork ™, Dreamwork, Trance dancing and Firewalking.

His grandfather and mother are traditional folk healers and he is following in their footsteps. His work is influenced by the Druid traditions of ancient Ireland.

He has done fieldwork with indigenous Shamans from Mongolia, Mexico, the Amazon, Andes, and Africa and also has trained in core Shamanism with the Foundation of Shamanic Studies (U.S.A.) and the Scandinavian Centre for Shamanic Studies.

Martin brings warmth and compassion to his shamanic practice. He has strong values with regards integrity, honesty and openness, in particular he believes in empowering the individual to find healing, knowledge and wisdom within themselves.

To see a video of past events see – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3smoXdkZlls

For more details and booking contact Annette Peard on 046 9074455 or email info@shamanismireland.com

Cost is €325 Tuition, Accommodation and all meals included.

May 24, 2013 0 comment

Positive News & Interviews

Lessons from the Vegetable Patch, Jenny Grainger

by Admin October 11, 2012

written by Admin

By Jenny Grainger
Tending to your manifestations

“You’re going to reap just what you sow.” ~ Lou Reed, Perfect Day

As autumn draws in at Chantry Hill, we are harvesting the last of the vegetables which we have grown from seeds planted earlier this year. It has been our first full year as vegetable growers, and we have learnt many lessons. I am always amazed at the awesome intelligence of nature, and how much we can learn from it, especially when it comes to applying the Law of Attraction (LOA) to our own lives.

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” ~ Ecclesiastes III

Our vision of harvesting and eating our own vegetables did not manifest instantaneously. We had to wait and trust in nature to do its work; while we did all that we could to create a healthy, nurturing environment for growth. We didn’t look at our seed trays every day and get impatient and start shouting at them or chuck them in the bin because they weren’t growing. Yet, one of the main reasons that so many people lose faith in the LOA is because they want their dreams to manifest NOW, on their time scale. The Universe is much more intelligent than that, and, from my own experience, it pays to trust in the Divine Order of things. If I had met Eoin before I did, I am pretty sure that I would not have been ready for the type of relationship we have, and I would have sabotaged it. I had to nurture myself and trust that it was all unfolding perfectly.

Similarly, our vegetable patch needed planning and quite a lot of our time and energy for it to bear fruit this year. Back at the start of the year, we decided on what veg we enjoyed eating most, and we talked about how wonderfully satisfying it would be to be able to walk outside and gather our food straight from the garden. We nurtured the seeds for weeks before we started to see signs of life, and then, once we planted them outdoors in the prepared beds, we checked them daily for pests and weeds. We protected them from our dog, hen, and other wildlife which might destroy them. Then, finally, back in May, we were able to gather our first spinach and salad and share them with friends during a joyful celebratory feast.

This is exactly the same process I go through when applying the LOA to my life. I decide what I want to enjoy in the future, then I plant the seed and, even though I cannot see it yet, I nurture it every day by writing about it, talking about it, visualising it, putting it on my vision board and connecting in with how it will FEEL when it has manifested. It never occurs to me that the seed will not grow. I have zero doubt. I check in with myself every day to make sure there are no pests or weeds growing in the form of negative behaviour patterns or limiting beliefs which might attack my dream. I protect my dreams from anyone who might energetically stand on them or damage them. And then, when nature says it is time, my dream manifests into something physical which nourishes me and brings me joy, and I share the joy with those around me.

“I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.” ~ WB Yeats

The vegetable patch has taught me this year that not all seeds are destined to mature or bear fruit. Did I give up or lose faith because a few didn’t make it? No… I just planted some more and repeated the process, but I made sure to celebrate the ones which did grow and gave us so much satisfaction and pleasure when we harvested them.

www.freshstartcoaching.co.uk

October 11, 2012 0 comment

Feng Shui Positive News & Interviews

Harvest Time – Feng Shui for Autumn Transitions with Amanda Collins

by Admin October 10, 2012

written by Admin

By Amanda Collins

Feng Shui for gentle autumn transitions

Feng Shui for autumn means a gentle transition from the fire element, the most yang time of year, to the water elements of autumn, the slow, deep and inward energy of the most yin time of year. These elements are symbolic of the forces at work within the universe and, therefore, within our minds and bodies as well as the seasons.

When we consciously align ourselves and our homes with the cycles of nature, we find more harmony and balance in our lives, for there is a rhythm to everything in life. There is a time for turning outwards and growing, and a time for retreating inward and processing – which autumn invites us to do.

In the autumn, nature prepares to shed her leaves and let go of the past. We can reflect that in our homes by clearing clutter. Clutter usually represents things we resist and places we don’t want to put our attention. If you want to welcome good changes into your life in the new season, clear the clutter. Remove piles of laundry, old magazines or junk you hide in your drawers.

Clear your closets. If you have not worn something in a year, get rid of it. Keep only those clothes that you love and that make you feel good. Clothes lose their chi too! Then, rotate your summer clothes and store them away until next year.

Make sure all your clothes for autumn are not just dark colors. Add passion and excitement to your wardrobe and your life with the rich colors of autumn, such as red, yellow and burgundy. These hues possess a stimulating chi and uplift your mood.

As you arrive into autumn, bring warm tones into the house itself by switching some pillows or throws. This will make the home feel welcoming during the next few months. By hanging curtains, you can add a new decorative touch and also insulate the window area. Pay special attention to adding warm colors to your bedroom and bathroom so they don’t feel cold.

In the bathroom, clear out any old medicines or half-empty shampoo bottles. Then, move on to the kitchen, clearing out the pantry, storage and refrigerator. Bring in healthy, local, organic foods (that are in season) to nourish your body.

Make sure there is no stagnant energy in the corners of your home. Plants, artwork and floor lamps can improve the energy in these places, and ensure that it stays gently flowing throughout the year.

Invite the radiant light of the sun inside. Simply, open the curtains and blinds. Sunlight provides many natural health benefits.

Cleansing the energy in your home, and honoring the change of seasons, connects you more deeply to yourself and to the natural world around you. Use a burning stick of sage, or light candles, to encourage any negative energy to burn away. Ring bells or raise your voice in song to invite a fresh flow of healing and inspiration into your home.

Honour all five senses, including smell. Since autumn means being inside more than in summer, use essential oils of lavender or geranium, or other loved scents, to maintain a joyful mood.

All of these actions must be done with a clear intention. Whether you are removing clutter, cleansing energy or adding natural elements, your power of intention is what removes any stagnant energy and replaces it with fresh, supportive, loving energy that can inspire you.

Take practical steps to get your home ready for the yin time of the year. Check the heating system; clean chimneys and fireplaces; check all light bulbs. Warm the bedding and flip mattresses to create more support for sleep.

Finally, go outdoors and feel new life. Take time to explore Mother Nature, and then bring her abundance inside in the form of acorns, pine branches, fresh flowers, stones or crystals. Embrace the new season, breathing it in with gratitude that you are alive to enjoy it.

www.amandacollins.me

October 10, 2012 0 comment

Positive News & Interviews

Positively Newsworthy – Winter 2008

by Patrick March 12, 2009

written by Patrick

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Life is beautiful. The other night I went to “The Funky Seomra“, a wonderful alcohol-free dance evening, where lots of my friends and I danced for hours in the huge room above Cultivate, the sustainable development centre in Temple Bar, Dublin. We drank herbal teas, home-made chai and bicycle-made smoothies, ate all sorts of cakes and heart-shaped cookies and rested on big comfy Buddha Bags and meditation cushions. It was the perfect environment to ask my girlfriend Eveanne to marry me, so I presented the sapphire and white-gold engagement ring and she said “Yes”. The fantastic organiser and DJ, David Mooney, made an announcement and played our song “Better Together” by Jack Johnson. We danced in the middle of everyone who gathered around and moved in to give us one big group-hug. Now that’s positively newsworthy.

by Patrick Bridgeman

Here are some other great stories from around the world…

Alexandra’s Lemonade Stand – Continuing to Make a Difference

It started 8 years ago. 4 year old Alexandra Scott pursued a “career” as the owner of a lemonade stand. But the stakes were a little higher for her. She was trying to raise money to help her doctors find a cure for kids with cancer because she herself was stricken with it. Her brother Patrick joined in and for the next 4 years, regardless of Alex’s health, the team would hold an annual lemonade stand to raise money for childhood cancer research.

As the story of their lemonade stand grew, so did business. Inspired by their example, thousands of lemonade stands sprung up across the nation, creating a formidable fund raising team.

On August 1st, 2004, Alex Scott died peacefully at the age of only 8 years old. She had raised over $1 million for childhood cancer research in her short lifetime.

But her spirit lives on…and so does her lemonade stand. As of July 2008, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation has raised over $20 million for childhood cancer research. That’s some positive news for children with cancer…and positive news for lemonade stands everywhere.

On the Trail of the Urban Scout

Peter Bauer started reading books on the structure, history and future of humankind. From there, he began a life-long journey to rewild – a process of ‘dismantling’ that he believes is vital for the continued development of ‘us’. “I decided to walk away from this culture and learn to hunt, gather and garden for all of my necessities,” he says, referring to his previous city-slicker lifestyle. “I have a duty to mythologize the process I’m going through and inspire others to join the rewilding renaissance,” Urban Scout explains. “So I write stuff, make videos, take pictures, design things, teach classes and maintain a blog that’s a public exhibition space.”

Now 25, Scout has pioneered an internet community for fellow rewilders or for those who want to learn more worthy ‘living’ skills – an online field-guide, gathering and providing valuable information on primitive or sustainable practices. “Our elders have long since disappeared,” he explains, “and the information they held and the skills they used, only exist now in pockets – a few books, a few schools and practiced by only a few… We need something else to stand in for our elders… This website attempts to do just that.”

Visitors to the forum can learn, for example, how to organise their own rewilding camp, how to seek out water and test for heavy metals before consuming it or find out which native plants are edible and, more importantly, which are not. They can search for courses on subjects such as foraging for wild fruits, nuts and vegetables or how to extract oil from plants.

“Civilisation has been a process of making people perceive the world as dead,” Scout informed Marjorie Skinner for the Portland Mercury. “It’s time we create stories that will inspire new cultures and bring the world back to life.”

Contact: www.rewild.info and www.urbanscout.org

Art E Amor

Arte E Amor, which translates as Art and Love, has found a second life for old or discarded glass products by turning them into beautiful, marketable jewellery.

Based in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 20 year old Leandro and Jucimeire, aged 23, wanted to improve the quality of life for young women considered impoverished and at risk. The aim was to generate an income, while at the same time recycle, educate and help to clean-up the community.

Now Leandro and Jucimeire employ dozens of young workers, who melt down hundreds of pounds of unwanted glass and turn it into fashionable necklaces, earrings, belts and rings. They sell the jewellery at local markets, using a share of the profits to fund the upkeep of other invaluable community projects.

In two years, they have sold thousands of items and created successful income-generating jobs for many young women in their neighbourhood.

For more positive news stories, log onto www.positivenews.org.uk

March 12, 2009 0 comment

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