Last day in Findhorn

This is a picture I took while doing a workshop this afternoon on meeting processes.  We worked with a set of cards that had pictures and words of different processes that happen during a meeting or meetings we had experienced.  We had to take the cards and put them together in a way that expressed what happened.  In this group there were various things which could happen in random order as expressed by the circle.  It was interesting that in our group we thought things tended to happen in a linear way and in the other group there was a mixture of linear and circular.

Later in the workshop I got a set of cards which I think showed the responsibility I need to take in meetings.  To focus on spirit, go deeper and try to find the common ground.  Made me feel quite tired but I felt quite strongly that it was right.

Before I leave I hope to go once more to the Findhorn Sanctuary.

Broom and blue

Had another lovely day in Findhorn at the conference which included papers and discussions on the kibbutz and Eco villages in Congo Africa.  The latter was particularly uplifting and the work being described like a beacon in a very dark place.

Afterwards I went for a walk by the dunes and smelt this amazing smell that was like coconut oil.  I released it was the broom, which I have found out is the same as gorse.  Where I come from in Norfolk we called it gorse but I think it is called broom in this part of the world.  I also saw a patch of blue sky and given that I have seen it so rarely in these last few days I took a picture of it.

Poster presentation

This is a picture that Bindu took of me doing my poster presentation for the conference on community living.  The posters were all put up in the upper foyer of the Universal Hall and I just had to hang around and talk to anyone who wanted to talk.

In the picture I am talking to a Lithuanian woman.  She told me what it was like to live under communism and how her mother and father daren't tell her what was really going on.  This was in case she inadvertently said the wrong thing and they came to the notice of the authorities.  Her parents were both teachers so were very worried about their jobs.  She also told me about all the queuing they had to do to get basic food and how now all the shops are full of stuff but people aren't necessarily any happier.

She said many people are wanting something more fulfilling and the Eco village network is part of that movement.

Stones of experience

I don't know why I have chosen this picture for today.  I have done a lot and taken quite a lot of pictures as I went around Findhorn park this morning and to Pluscan abbey this afternoon.

This morning I visited the Nature park and the Sanctuary.  I loved the Nature park where they have a very small stone built space where they do a lot of singing.  It is in beautiful surroundings with a lawn, rockery and green roof.  I also had a very powerful experience in the Sanctuary where there is a very intense energy, which feels much more focused and intense than the energy in Matrimandir.

I the afternoon I went with a group to Pluscan abbey where we met the monks, heard them sing None, and then walked around the different parts of the abbey which included a very productive vegetable garden.  It was in a beautiful setting which was quite remote and with such a long history there was a sense of a very ancient energy there.  I loved it and I really enjoyed meeting the monks who were full of life and energy.

This picture of the stones seems to express what I have experienced today although I don't know why.   The picture comes from the Abbey wall so maybe it is the combination of something very ancient which is still there and performing a function.  Something older than human time connecting with now and the things that I am involved with for the future.

Freezing in Findhorn

Have spent a lovely day in Findhorn finding out more about the place, but this afternoon this has meant walking around the place in the very cold rain and getting very wet.  as well as finding out that my coat is not really suitable for being out in the pouring rain.  It's not actually freezing of course, but it feels pretty cold and its rained almost the whole day and been very grey.

Unfortunately every time I have tried to add the rain to this picture the ipad has switched itself off.   I dont know why - maybe the battery is too low or the machine has used too much memory.  After three tries I have given up.  

Maybe this is telling me I have been making too much fuss about being wet.

Summer yellow

This is the picture of the glorious yellow of what I think are broom plants which are all over the place here in Scotland.  It could be gorse but I think that comes out earlier in the year, is a smaller plant and also has thorns.  This is often a large plant and doesn't have thorns and at the moment is covered in very bright yellow flowers.

It seems to be characteristic of Scotland and what I am experiencing.

I am now in Findhorn and finding out more about it.  The place is far more social than Auroville but I also get the feeling it is less stuck, especially economically, and is generally more open to change than Auroville.

where I am staying tonight

Today I traveled up from Manchester to Inverness and this is a picture of the bed I will be sleeping tonight.  The room is minute so I couldn't stand far enough back to get the whole of the bed in the picture.  It will be fine for just one night though.

The journey wasn't too bad but when I came out of Inverness station it took me over an hour to find the place where I am staying.  Google maps didn't label all the streets and Inverness council didn't put signs up on some of the streets so I ended up getting lost.  That meant dragging my case around with me and I hope the wheels can stand up to the pressure. It's not as heavy as when I came from India but it is heavy enough and my shoulders are aching especially as I think they haven't had a chance to get over the journey from India and having to carry the bag up and down all those steps at various underground stations.

I am still waking up very early and wanting to sleep early which suggests I am still on India time.  Seems to have lasted longer than usual this time.

Conversations with Rachael

This is a picture of Rachael who came unexpectedly bouncing in from work full of beans and prune juice.  She was meant to be going out with friends but that didn't work out so we had some time talking together instead.

She has found her passion, which is teaching, and I am SO pleased for her.  At the same time she seems very clear eyed about the challenges she will face trying to be a good and real teacher in the present UK system.  A system which is very politicised and with an education secretary who clearly doesn't know what he is doing.

A long day

I am amazed that I even have a picture for today as its been a very long day travelling from India to the UK. This was something I doodled on the second part of the journey on the flight from Dubai to London.  

I feel that a long flight like this should be a good time to either write or create pictures, but the feeling of being in a limbo during such a long flight isn't usually conducive to me for this kind of activity.  Which is a pity.

Whirled

This picture is of what happened when I went to see a friend last night.  She lives on the other side of Auroville close to the beach and by the time I arrived it was raining very hard.  I got out of the car and felt myself buffeted by wind and rain from all sides.  It was like getting caught in a mini typhoon which made me soaking wet and breathless.  

Yet there was something very joyful and energetic about it and by the time arrived, dripping wet I was feeling very invigorated.  I think the picture shows that despite all the buffeting I was pretty grounded and centred.

As I live further away from the beach I expected that the rain would not have been so intense by the time it reached Buddha Garden.  When I got back, however, I found that wind and rain had found their way into my rather open house, although the bed was dry and nothing was damaged.

I created this picture first thing this morning because the image was so strong.  The rest of the day I have been getting all my stuff together and packing for my trip.  Only a few jobs left, a short sleep and then off I go.

Getting ready to go

Today I have been getting all my stuff ready to go.  I like to put it out on chairs like this a day before I go as it helps me not to forget anything.  The white bags are full of presents for all the children which I have spent this afternoon sorting out.  This year I have decided not to take too many clothes as last year I carted over far too many clothes which I wasn't able to wear because it was too cold.  As I'm going to Scotland where its bound to be cold I've decided to borrow everything I need.  I've also bought myself a proper coat so I should be OK.

I've also been finishing up some administrative work and this evening I am going to meditate with Adar.  A good thing to do just before my journey begins.

Words words words

I feel that all I have been doing for the last twenty four hours is writing.  Today I have written notes for a meeting, drafted letters and endless emails.

In actual fact I haven't just been dealing with words because I have also done quite a lot of artwork for the website which I uploaded last night.  The picture today is of the button I made for the new section on the website about the Green Hands Growing Centre.

Wonderful clearing up job

This morning we all worked together and did a fantastic job in the fruit patch of Le Jardin but unfortunately the picture doesn't really do it justice. With all the mulch and the rather ragged cutting of the green manure bushes - glyricidea - it all looks rather messy.  

There was a lovely feeling as we all worked together and  finished what was a large and important job without anyone feeling too stressed.

Around and round

In preparation for my journey to the UK next Monday I had a lot of jobs to do and people to see and I spent all morning doing it. I went to lots of different far flung places in Auroville in a taxi as I wouldn't have been able to cycle around in the time available.

I had my hair cut and my cards read which showed I am going to be very well looked after on this journey!  I also found out that my teeth will probably stand the journey but that I must continue to attend to them properly.

Beautiful blossom

Today we were working underneath this tree clearing the ground of a mass of tangled bushes.  I looked up and had my breath taken away by this beautiful yellow blossom.  I had been so focused on what I was doing I hadn't noticed!

The type of blossom and the way it hangs down and dances in the wind reminded me of the jacaranda blossom that I saw in Africa.  Except that jacaranda blossom is the most heavenly blue rather than yellow.  

But this was also very lovely.  It reminded me that I must take time to stand and stare and enjoy these beautiful things around me.  Life is more than just rushing around to get all my jobs done.

Wind

This morning there was a period when we had some quite strong gusts of wind.  Didn't bring any rain with it, unfortunately, but it changed the feeling of the atmosphere.  This was the first picture I created, the inspiration for which came from the way the trees all bent with the wind as if they were dancing - although they did not bend as much as in the picture.

The second picture was more about my feelings in the wind.

It felt as if through the wind I was connecting to something much larger than myself.  Something that was everywhere and nowhere at the same time.

My shoes are ready to go

I cleaned my shoes today ready to travel and as the picture shows - they are ready to go.  It was quite a job as I use the shoes for grass cutting because they protect my feet from the stones that get thrown up by the cutting machine.  The shoes get covered in a sort of green clag which has to be scrubbed very hard to get off.  As I scrubbed them I enjoyed thinking about all the things I had done in them, which as well as grass cutting includes splashing through mud and puddles in the monsoon.  At one point, when all my sandals had broken they were the only shoes I had, but they are a bit hot in the hot season despite the ventilation.

Once clean I thought they looked rather nice and they are very comfortable for flying and walking around cities.  I don't think they will be suitable for walking around Scottish bogs though so will have to think what I am going to do about that.  I will probably have to borrow some boots.

My shoes may be ready to go but am I?  I realise that despite wanting very much to see my family and the new grandson it is going to be quite a wrench to leave.

Lovely, lovely rain

Yesterday evening it rained and rained and the soil was really wet this morning.  It was such a relief after all the dryness and problems we are experiencing with the well.

In reality the rain rains for everyone, but in the picture it looks as if it is raining just for me!

It was SO welcome although as often happens this time of year it is now very humid.

Jewelry from the garden

During the last week we have had Ami (aged 4) coming with her parents to work with us.  As she has got more confident about being here she is getting more and more inventive with her playing.  Yesterday she made toy people with cashew fruit and flowers and today she made jewelry with weeds that were being taken out of the bassella bed.  Here she is with Gopinka, one of the Volunteers and I love the way it has captured Ami's concentration on what she is doing.

It was one of those times when I was lucky to catch the moment.  I was doing something else at the time, but seeing what I thought might make a good picture, I was able to drop everything and run to get my camera.  Fortunately they were still involved with the activity when I got back.  There are pictures everywhere and often it is a case of being in the right place at the right time.  

Which probably means I need to carry my camera around with me more....... being in the right place at the right time doesn't happen completely by accident.

Picture impossible

WORDS

I don't have a picture for today and its not just because I have been very busy.  For the last week or so I haven't been doing my creative writing, partly because of the yoga course but partly because I was reviewing what I have written.

Today a lot of new possibilities opened themselves for the writing.  Trying to deal with that I feel as if it is really difficult to connect with the picture part of brain.  Maybe its just a case of wanting to focus on words at this time and not having the energy to focus on a picture as well.

It feels very odd.

Sam again

Looking back on today I am surprised at how much I have done.  This has included talking and deciding about different issues as well as doing practical things like painting the new kitchen window and finishing off a report.  No wonder I feel tired and without the energy to create a picture.  Which is a pity because we now have one internet line back so I can synch it from my iPad to my PC to put in this blog.

This picture of Sam came today.  He is  sitting on the new lawn and I think was watching Emma do something in the garden.  He looks so happy and I am so looking forward to seeing him.

This and that

One of our internet lines has been reconnected but it is very wobbly still.  Rather than draw on my iPad and have all the problems of trying to sych it with my PC, I decided instead to go around with my camera and see what I could see.  

These are solar panels that Pierre has connected up to his electricity system because since he connected up the wind turbine there has been little or no wind!  He is very disappointed after waiting so long for the wind turbine to start working.  I hope he doesn't this can be a permanent place for the panels as the wheel barrow will be needed for tomorrow's work.  At the moment everything to do with the kitchen looks very disjointed, but hopefully eventually everything will come together.

This morning I picked cashews and was amazed at the number that are still on the trees. In other years I have finished picking by the end of May. This is a picture of two unripe ones.  Quite a few of the trees haven't had any cashew at all and I think this is true for a lot of cashew growers, although no one seems to know why.

Thinking about my journey

I seem to have been talking quite a lot today about my journey to the UK and what I am going to do and who I am going to see there.  And into my inbox today came this picture of two people I'm really looking forward to seeing!  

It was taken by Dennis on a family day and I think is really lovely.

Things coming together

Today I have a sense that a lot of things are coming together:

The Food Transformation Centre has been white washed and the mosquito netting should be put up on Monday or Tuesday next week.

AT LAST! The wind turbine has been connected up to an electricity system and battery which will provide power for the dehydrator.  Once the system has been completely set up it will be put inside.

This is the table frame that I painted this afternoon.  The dehydrator will stand on this table in a corner.

While all this was going on there was a lot of activity where the display area for the Green Hands Growing Centre is going to be.  More string and posts were put out and a trench filled in which is always a good sign that something is happening.

In many ways a productive day although this evening there is no internet and no water - someone left a valve on and the tank emptied.  Have to hope that the electricity doesn't go off as well.