dinnertime soon
Emily is talking to Karl on the couches. Zak just walked in to use the internet access. There's a few people taking a look at the community newspaper, the rainbow bridge. Oren is playing with the kids toys. The kitchen crew is working on preparing dinner, 20 more minutes to go. The homecare angels just finished up here, the place looks beautiful and welcoming of everyone to dinner.
People will keep trickling in, and at around 6 the food will come out. Then we'll all join hands around it to bless the food. I eat here twice a day. If you asked me where to go in northern scotland for a good meal, I'd give you directions to the community center at Findhorn. The food is prepared with love. The company couldn't be better. The atmosphere is created with attention to detail, and it shows. It can be interactive if you'd like, and you can help out with Kitchen Party afterwards. You can wash the pots, or maybe cleaning tables is more your thing.
I am very excited for dinner, 17 minutes to go now.
feedback session
This afternoon was spent in the yurt, all 17 of us. the 11 students, the teachers of each module, david and stacy our program co-focalizers, and Diane, the college director. Just to have this opportunity was amazing. Emily and I were holding the discussion, we were asked to facilitate it, the learning never ends, we're still being given experiences that will be a way to practice our learnings. Being able to reflect on the semester was really helpful for me. I loved trying to discover what is it that works with education for me, and what doesn't work.
This opportunity is such a blessing. To have a group of educators, very devoted to improving the program, I couldn't ask for a better system of ecuation. I love the connection we have to the people who are making this program what it is. We get to have a say in things, and they value that feedback.
Wow, what would the world look like if we were able to talk about what worked for us and what didn't, and that feedback was valued.
thanksgiving day
This is a list, including many things, excluding even more. Its got some things on it though, thanksgiving was yesterday.
the first time away from family for some,
a closeness to the ones we are with, a family to be with.
water, red wine, white wine, boxes, bags, freedom beer, hard cider
brussel sprouts, bannana bread, turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, roenberry jam, spinich leaves, walnuts, blue cheese, green beans, mashed potatoes, candied yams, tofu loaf,
hats, purple dresses, face paint, corderoy vests, feathers
singing, dancing, speeches, conversation, cheers,
we are thankful. collaboration, gathering, closeness, sharing, laughing,
then then then
tree climbing, running, jumping, howling, singing, 96% full moon, the quiet garden, the dunes,
bailefunk, candles, raybans, photos, jokes
giving thanks, celebrating abundance, contentment.
two acres of consciousness a permaculture poem
Where do I begin? I was reading a book today, about planning cities.
Then a trip to the sky ensued,
thursday on the battlefield I remembered,
the catholics facing the protestants.
What do you need from me.
community support.
I was in the graveyard the first time it snowed.
In a country, sacred to some
not to me
after not doing the dishes for a week it makes you want to move out,
but then here comes emily to the rescue, saving our kitchen and our hopes.
As the classes come to their close
we funnel and channel our energy more and more.
closing circles, minimizing friction
a three thousand sterling bottle of whiskey,
when that was made it was valued in shillings
funny how time flies
just let it flow dont constrain to one sentence or thouhgt or page.
scones or scanes were going to make them
lodgepole scotts pine usnea
we adventure through them all until we are back at the begining.
a little more for our viewers,
who are our shamans in this day in age,
who can we trust?
is water really the most precious resource?
is co creation even more precious?
theres bigger things happening in the fire festivle this weekend?
how come we dont have more anthems to the sun?
lettuce grows stronger,
our ties grow longer
my heart sails closer
my legs shoot like a pulsar
i eat the cans on the table
you make me use the label
dont stop
yes and
transcend and include
im a sicamore
as he grins
playin with his hair
standing on the wind swept crest (crust of a pizza)
corn growing with avacado
honey grown popcorn
boom or pluck or smash pow shift flow no gro maxamize
observe your land for one year before you do anything
in the middle of our eigth week here at findhorn
Sure has been a while since the last entry, life has been crazy here with the program, so much excitement, one thing after the next, and now realizing it's week eight of our experience. wow, time flies.
lately we've spent time, working with the youth program here doing a permaculture project around their building. we did some work restoring an old strawberry patch, put up a huge hammock, two swings from old ropes from the beach, a bench from an old door, and plywood 'graffiti boards' for the youth to have a place to express themselves. we've still got an all night party coming up that is in the planning stages, and a day of games with the younger group. you can check out the blog for it that emma set up at www.fcspermacultureproject.blogspot.com
that was two fridays ago. that night a few of us went to the jam again that i mentioned in an earlier blog, in an attempt to stay up the whole night. after the jam we went up to one of the highest hills in the area to check out the stars, and see a few shooting ones. then back home, we had about 2 hours to stay awake, eat some food, pack, and prepare for our long trip to erraid leaving at 5 am. it was great to walk down to catch the bus with a headlamp on, and the stars shining overhead, the night still being cold, and the park asleep. we headed out on such a beautiful 6 hour bus ride, taking two ferries, driving alot on single track roads. i didn�t see a bit of it, but slept on the floor of the back of the bus for the ride. we got to erraid and were met by a boat to take across to the island paradise.
then was our week long retreat on the island of erraid. built on originally to house lighthouse keepers and their families, there are a few stone buildings in one long line, a few other sheds made of stone, barns, a sanctuary, gardens, and then a lot of land left for the sheep and cows to graze, and the peat moss and heather to grow wild.
the week on erraid was awesome. we got to spend time working with the community of 8 people who live there. Everyone had a different experience, as there are so many different roles in such a small community. People got to do work in the gardens digging potatoes, with the herbs, chopping wood, making candles in the candle studio, cooking, digging a drainage ditch for the rain, and a lot of other cooperative work in the community. we stayed in the stone building, enjoying the comfort of a wood stove, a bathtub full of brown water from the resevoir up the hill, fresh bread, home made jam, and the company of eachother and new people.
now back at the park, there is a new sense of time. we've got projects now formulated, research questions posed, and a lot of energy going behind everything. it very exciting. the park kitchen is closed for a few days, so we are getting to cook together, which is a welcomed change. more decision making about what to eat, and its great to enjoy meals together in our bungalows. friday morning we are having breakfast all together, cooked by david our program director and stacy, the coordinator. tomorrow we're headed off to a near by farm, to sample some cheese in part, and to see their operation, and spend time talking about food production for our sustainable design class.
how you can tell a lot about a person by the type of fence they put up
Yesterday during lunch break I was invited by my friend Storm to go on an adventure. I finished my food, and got rid of my plate, I wanted to go play. We ran out of the park, through secret short-cuts, and over to his house to get his line for crabbing and his toy kayak. Then we started running down the road towards town, throwing blackberries at each other, balancing on the curb, and began talking about fences. I told him about a deer I had heard about that got caught on the top of a fence at home. He was really sad about this deer, and then started telling me about his own fence when he builds one. He said that he'll put it low enough so that the deer could hop over without hurting themselves, and that once it was up, he'd need to dig a hole underneath anyways to let the rabbits come through and an opening for foxes. Then a little further down the road, as we walked by a split rail fence where it opened for the driveway, he said that he could tell that the people there were nice people, by the looks of their fence. I loved it, hearing all of this from the perspective of a 6 year old. He was so sure about the need for co-existing with nature, and putting up fences that will allow the animals through.
we're on holiday
we're on holiday
This was our first long weekend of the program. Friday night, while riding in a converted bus (his third home as he calls it) owned by our friend Nicky, to a music jam in an old stone stables, Nicky said that we're on holiday here, so do as much as you can, and see as much as you can. We've been doing exactly that. Just throwing yourself fully into what is going on, and being here, it�s a great place to be. You're always here. Never there. When you get there, the there will become your here. And let me tell you, its a great place, here.
So, the many heres that I am talking about. . . that music jam on Friday night seems long ago with so much in between now and then. It was great though, tons of people making music all together, some people who we knew from the community, some new faces all singing and playing instruments together in this stable converted to a music studio. Outside people were all around a fire, and the moon! It was like mid-day with all that light. We ended up with a ride home from some friends from the park, because, it always seems to work out, everything around here, with certain awareness you can see so much just working out. The people around here talk about it being manifestation. With good intentions, the things you need will come to you, if it is all for right reasons.
Saturday we all had intentions of getting away from the park again to go to Cowdor castle for a "Slow Foods" fair. The opposite of fast food is the way to go. It was great to see these people so excited about what they were doing, making cheeses, jams, beer, biscuits, wheat-grass, all a lot of fun for them to be sharing with people a little bit of the abundance that they have, and all of us being there enjoying it. A few of us wanted to get there on bikes, so Josh was riding on his trusty 'black shadow', Emma rode on David's bike, and I was riding proudly the 'Esquire'. Esquire is a beautiful bike, Josh is guessing that it could be 50 years old, and you feel like you�re riding it like a proper bloke, sit upright, and take the wind in the face. The ride was 18.8 miles one way, and after a great ride there, we had a little while to be a part of the fair while it went on, not for long though. Then it was back in the saddle with Josh and now Alexa riding on David's bike. Riding a bike feels so good after not having been on one in a while, then Alexa mentioned how great it was for her, she hasn't been on one since something like third grade. This was the ride to be back at it, up and down lots of rolling hills, fields all around, narrow roads that make people really slow down to pass you, and the promise of dinner and a bath at the end. Esquire was put to the test, and by the end, a pebble of just the right size had to be sitting in the drop-out to hold the rear axel in place. We had a great ride, and ended up coming around the corner onto the peninsula we're on with an amazing sunset to look at.
Dinner was waiting at home with friends who made us plates so we didn't miss out. We had the most perfect meal to fill up after a long day, salad, rice and bean chili, and garlic bread. Then we headed over to the earth-lodge to have a fire. The earth-lodge is a spot for fires, dug into the ground and the walls inside are stones placed against the hole in the earth. The roof is made of logs that hold each other�s weight up and a hole in the center to let the smoke out. It was a great spot to get together, play some music, and talk.
Today was a hike with Trees for Life. They are an organization here, which is dedicated to re-foresting the Caledonian forests. They are now only 1% of their original size due to logging. We headed to Glenn Affric. The landscape was amazing. The mountains were covered in green and reds, all low bush cover, and scattered all through the valley were Scot's pines, some older ones, and all over were new plantings, the next generation of the Caledonian Forest. We walked a loop up and around the loch, got some refreshing Scottish rain, had some lunch in an old stone woodshed, and had a lot of fun together and with other people from the community here.
This coming week of classes looks great. We're doing a morning on non-violent communication tomorrow, and then work in the afternoon. Later in the week we have two mornings in our sustainable design class, one on energy and one on waste, and ending off the week preparing for our sweat-lodge this coming weekend. Time seems to be flying by at an amazing speed. It�s a wonderful journey.
my classroom is a yurt
(This post is by Emma Dines.)
As my friend Lisa has taught me, (through reading her blog and being her friend) it is important to every once and a while sit back, take stock, and recognize what is going on in your life - i.e. where you are, what you're doing and what it all means. Lisa lived in NYC for 2 co-op terms, and her "taking stock" phrase while she was there was "T.I.N.Y" - short for "This Is New York". When she would come upon something awesome in New York, that could only happen in New York, she would step back and say it to herself, just to get a little perspective on things, and to remember to appreciate it.
Being here in Scotland, studying in an eco-village is certainly something huge and amazing and a catch phrase like Lisa's is certainly a useful one. So I have created one for myself, which I will illuminate a bit further here. To remind myself of the uniqueness of this experience, my "taking stock" phrase will be: "my classroom is a yurt".
Though MCIAY lacks the acronymal adeptness that TINY displays, I think it is still a pretty cool catch phrase considering that MY CLASSROOM IS A YURT. For those who do not know what a yurt is, I will direct you to the wikipedia page on yurts here. For brevity's sake, I will include the short definition also.
Short Definition: A Yurt is a portable, felt-covered, wood lattice-framed dwelling structure used by nomads in the steppes of Central Asia.
When we first got here, and David and Mie showed us the yurt, I think we were all pretty excited. It has a wood stove inside, a sweet circular sky light, and a carpet. The best thing about it: it's all ours. The yurt is our classroom, our workshop space, and our hangout space. No other group uses it - it's just for us!
The yurt is especially sweet because it's in a prime location - right next to the CC (the community centre) where we eat our lunch and dinner. At tea time (to be blogged about later) we stroll down a lovely stone mosaiced path to get our oat cakes and jam!
It's definitely a different learning experience to have class in a yurt. Usually we have the chairs in a circle at the beginning of class, and evolve into a combination of lying down, stretching and floor sitting by the end. Our teachers are all cool with us moving around and sitting or lying down in whatever configurations we like. It's sort of like being at camp, except that we are technically in school. Basically....it rocks!
So as I go about my day, I am going to try and remember to say this to myself, for a bit of perspective and to solidify my awe and gratitude for being able to be here and study and experience all that this community has to offer. MY CLASSROOM IS A YURT! Life is amazing.
A day of sustainability through creative expression
Today we had our sustainability through creative expression class for the day. We spent the morning working with the five rhythms that Gabrielle Roth explains in her book "Maps to Ecstasy". Moving felt so good. We were dancing in the universal hall here for the morning. Using our whole bodies to move through the five rhythms of flowing, staccato, chaos, lyrical and stillness. Deborah, our instructor for that class, described it as a wave, building up and up to a peak and crashing and then moving gracefully to stillness, a complete cycle. It felt good to be moving for a long period of time, to feel my body become physically exhausted for once.
This afternoon was spend in the yurt talking about our understandings of the book, and our feelings about what we read. The way we presented what we learned was by sitting in pairs, telling our partner what we had to say, and then listening to them. When we were back as a group, our partner explained what we had talked about and what they got of what you said. It was a really cool way to have a presentation, an exercise in listening as well as presenting ideas to the group.
Tomorrow is our first collaborative learning session. The idea is that one person will hold the time with the group, share something with the group about their own personal lives tied to sustainability, and then lead a converstion about what we are doing in our classes this week. I'm excited to hear what other people have to share, and also looking forward to sharing something with the group in this way.
work work work
(This post by Emma Dines)
I am used to working. I got my first part time job at the age of 14, and spent two years after high school working full time (one year volunteer-working, and the other year getting paid-working). I don’t mind working, in fact, I kinda like it. I like being productive, taking responsibility, gettin’ ‘er done. In group projects in school, I was always the kid who did the work. (More on that later) Anyway, that being said, it’s always been important to me to work hard. I feel really intense guilt when I slack; I can’t do it!
So what a surprise when I began my work department shift at Cluny Gardens last week, and encountered the work philosophy here which is “Work is Love in Action”. I thought it was pretty self explanatory; you know, have good intentions in mind as you work, see it as a service to the community. I never thought about it having anything to do with the pace or the amount of work we would do. Not that they don’t do work here; they do. Dishes have to get washed, food has to get made, laundry has to be done. But it’s different. There’s a totally different view of work. And it’s taking some getting used to.
My first day at Cluny Gardens I arrived, garden gloves on, ready to roll. It was a three hour shift; I was expecting to get assigned a job, like “shovel this for 3 hours”. So what a shock when we were invited to sit around a table, talk about how we were feeling, and say what kind of flower or animal we liked. I mean, I know we do that here, but I did not expect to do it before a work shift. Then we tuned in (of course) which consists of holding hands in a circle and becoming present. Aiight. That’s cool. Let’s get ready to roll.
But it still wasn’t time to work. First Jacques the gardener wanted to give us a tour of the garden. Ok. I figure, lets do a tour and then get to work! An hour and a half later, after examining every garden bed, hearing stories about every statue and sign, its time for a tea break. We have tea. And toast. For twenty minutes. Then we come back and…finally! I get a job. Weeding a heart shaped garden bed. I scrape moss off rocks and snip yellowing leaves off the hostas. They tell us to be back for 4:45. All in all, I work for about an hour. I come back, feeling a bit unsatisfied, since I wasn’t able to finish the hosta bed. But I oil my tools, stand in a circle with the group, and tune out.
A few days later, our group participates in a “group project” maintenance project, starting at 9AM and lasting until lunch. I am expecting to be digging holes for a few hours, but once again, we get there, tune in, talk about our favorite ice cream, and then mosey over to the job site. An hour later, we break for tea. At tea break I am talking to a dude on the maintenance crew who is on LESP – Living Education Service Program. And I’m voicing my surprise at the pace of work. And that’s when the penny drops for me. That’s when I get it. There is an entirely different definition of ‘work’ here. Work isn’t just “getting ‘er done”. It’s living. Work is a process that includes people, interactions, and stories. It’s the physical activity that happens, and it’s the talk and laughter around it. It’s love. Work is love in action.
Thinking about it, I realize the attachments that surround my work ethic. I realize that I define myself around my work ethic. I feel unsatisfied when I’m not being efficient. So much of how I feel about myself is caught up in productivity – how much I am getting done, in how much time, and how much of that is measurable and obvious to other people. I realize that often I work hard because it says something about me to others. It’s a performance – it’s an attachment.
Friday night I have a KP shift (that’s Kitchen Party for those unfamiliar with Findhorn acronyms). And that’s when I try to really tune in and figure out what this “work is love in action” philosophy is all about. I listen to the KP focalizer Harula talk during the tune in– that we are cleaning the kitchen with our bodies and minds, and preparing it lovingly for others. We are like the keepers of a temple – we are preparing the kitchen and dining room for the community, so that they may go about their day without having to worry about it. So I wipe down the tables with this in mind. And I am so happy. I am so happy to clean the tables, thinking of the ease it will bring to people who will use the space. There is some attachment left over; I am still quick to ask “what else can I do?” to prove that I am a hard worker. But there is a shift in me. I am working to work, I am working to live, I am working to love. And that brings a satisfaction much deeper than approval from others. “Work is love in action”. Word.
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dinnertime soon
Emily is talking to Karl on the couches. Zak just walked in to use the internet access. There's a few people taking a look at the community newspaper, the rainbow bridge. Oren is playing with the kids toys. The kitchen crew is working on preparing dinner, 20 more minutes to go. The homecare angels just finished up here, the place looks beautiful and welcoming of everyone to dinner.
People will keep trickling in, and at around 6 the food will come out. Then we'll all join hands around it to bless the food. I eat here twice a day. If you asked me where to go in northern scotland for a good meal, I'd give you directions to the community center at Findhorn. The food is prepared with love. The company couldn't be better. The atmosphere is created with attention to detail, and it shows. It can be interactive if you'd like, and you can help out with Kitchen Party afterwards. You can wash the pots, or maybe cleaning tables is more your thing.
I am very excited for dinner, 17 minutes to go now.
feedback session
This afternoon was spent in the yurt, all 17 of us. the 11 students, the teachers of each module, david and stacy our program co-focalizers, and Diane, the college director. Just to have this opportunity was amazing. Emily and I were holding the discussion, we were asked to facilitate it, the learning never ends, we're still being given experiences that will be a way to practice our learnings. Being able to reflect on the semester was really helpful for me. I loved trying to discover what is it that works with education for me, and what doesn't work.
This opportunity is such a blessing. To have a group of educators, very devoted to improving the program, I couldn't ask for a better system of ecuation. I love the connection we have to the people who are making this program what it is. We get to have a say in things, and they value that feedback.
Wow, what would the world look like if we were able to talk about what worked for us and what didn't, and that feedback was valued.
thanksgiving day
This is a list, including many things, excluding even more. Its got some things on it though, thanksgiving was yesterday.
the first time away from family for some,
a closeness to the ones we are with, a family to be with.
water, red wine, white wine, boxes, bags, freedom beer, hard cider
brussel sprouts, bannana bread, turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, roenberry jam, spinich leaves, walnuts, blue cheese, green beans, mashed potatoes, candied yams, tofu loaf,
hats, purple dresses, face paint, corderoy vests, feathers
singing, dancing, speeches, conversation, cheers,
we are thankful. collaboration, gathering, closeness, sharing, laughing,
then then then
tree climbing, running, jumping, howling, singing, 96% full moon, the quiet garden, the dunes,
bailefunk, candles, raybans, photos, jokes
giving thanks, celebrating abundance, contentment.
two acres of consciousness a permaculture poem
Where do I begin? I was reading a book today, about planning cities.
Then a trip to the sky ensued,
thursday on the battlefield I remembered,
the catholics facing the protestants.
What do you need from me.
community support.
I was in the graveyard the first time it snowed.
In a country, sacred to some
not to me
after not doing the dishes for a week it makes you want to move out,
but then here comes emily to the rescue, saving our kitchen and our hopes.
As the classes come to their close
we funnel and channel our energy more and more.
closing circles, minimizing friction
a three thousand sterling bottle of whiskey,
when that was made it was valued in shillings
funny how time flies
just let it flow dont constrain to one sentence or thouhgt or page.
scones or scanes were going to make them
lodgepole scotts pine usnea
we adventure through them all until we are back at the begining.
a little more for our viewers,
who are our shamans in this day in age,
who can we trust?
is water really the most precious resource?
is co creation even more precious?
theres bigger things happening in the fire festivle this weekend?
how come we dont have more anthems to the sun?
lettuce grows stronger,
our ties grow longer
my heart sails closer
my legs shoot like a pulsar
i eat the cans on the table
you make me use the label
dont stop
yes and
transcend and include
im a sicamore
as he grins
playin with his hair
standing on the wind swept crest (crust of a pizza)
corn growing with avacado
honey grown popcorn
boom or pluck or smash pow shift flow no gro maxamize
observe your land for one year before you do anything
in the middle of our eigth week here at findhorn
Sure has been a while since the last entry, life has been crazy here with the program, so much excitement, one thing after the next, and now realizing it's week eight of our experience. wow, time flies.
lately we've spent time, working with the youth program here doing a permaculture project around their building. we did some work restoring an old strawberry patch, put up a huge hammock, two swings from old ropes from the beach, a bench from an old door, and plywood 'graffiti boards' for the youth to have a place to express themselves. we've still got an all night party coming up that is in the planning stages, and a day of games with the younger group. you can check out the blog for it that emma set up at www.fcspermacultureproject.blogspot.com
that was two fridays ago. that night a few of us went to the jam again that i mentioned in an earlier blog, in an attempt to stay up the whole night. after the jam we went up to one of the highest hills in the area to check out the stars, and see a few shooting ones. then back home, we had about 2 hours to stay awake, eat some food, pack, and prepare for our long trip to erraid leaving at 5 am. it was great to walk down to catch the bus with a headlamp on, and the stars shining overhead, the night still being cold, and the park asleep. we headed out on such a beautiful 6 hour bus ride, taking two ferries, driving alot on single track roads. i didn�t see a bit of it, but slept on the floor of the back of the bus for the ride. we got to erraid and were met by a boat to take across to the island paradise.
then was our week long retreat on the island of erraid. built on originally to house lighthouse keepers and their families, there are a few stone buildings in one long line, a few other sheds made of stone, barns, a sanctuary, gardens, and then a lot of land left for the sheep and cows to graze, and the peat moss and heather to grow wild.
the week on erraid was awesome. we got to spend time working with the community of 8 people who live there. Everyone had a different experience, as there are so many different roles in such a small community. People got to do work in the gardens digging potatoes, with the herbs, chopping wood, making candles in the candle studio, cooking, digging a drainage ditch for the rain, and a lot of other cooperative work in the community. we stayed in the stone building, enjoying the comfort of a wood stove, a bathtub full of brown water from the resevoir up the hill, fresh bread, home made jam, and the company of eachother and new people.
now back at the park, there is a new sense of time. we've got projects now formulated, research questions posed, and a lot of energy going behind everything. it very exciting. the park kitchen is closed for a few days, so we are getting to cook together, which is a welcomed change. more decision making about what to eat, and its great to enjoy meals together in our bungalows. friday morning we are having breakfast all together, cooked by david our program director and stacy, the coordinator. tomorrow we're headed off to a near by farm, to sample some cheese in part, and to see their operation, and spend time talking about food production for our sustainable design class.
how you can tell a lot about a person by the type of fence they put up
Yesterday during lunch break I was invited by my friend Storm to go on an adventure. I finished my food, and got rid of my plate, I wanted to go play. We ran out of the park, through secret short-cuts, and over to his house to get his line for crabbing and his toy kayak. Then we started running down the road towards town, throwing blackberries at each other, balancing on the curb, and began talking about fences. I told him about a deer I had heard about that got caught on the top of a fence at home. He was really sad about this deer, and then started telling me about his own fence when he builds one. He said that he'll put it low enough so that the deer could hop over without hurting themselves, and that once it was up, he'd need to dig a hole underneath anyways to let the rabbits come through and an opening for foxes. Then a little further down the road, as we walked by a split rail fence where it opened for the driveway, he said that he could tell that the people there were nice people, by the looks of their fence. I loved it, hearing all of this from the perspective of a 6 year old. He was so sure about the need for co-existing with nature, and putting up fences that will allow the animals through.
we're on holiday
we're on holiday
This was our first long weekend of the program. Friday night, while riding in a converted bus (his third home as he calls it) owned by our friend Nicky, to a music jam in an old stone stables, Nicky said that we're on holiday here, so do as much as you can, and see as much as you can. We've been doing exactly that. Just throwing yourself fully into what is going on, and being here, it�s a great place to be. You're always here. Never there. When you get there, the there will become your here. And let me tell you, its a great place, here.
So, the many heres that I am talking about. . . that music jam on Friday night seems long ago with so much in between now and then. It was great though, tons of people making music all together, some people who we knew from the community, some new faces all singing and playing instruments together in this stable converted to a music studio. Outside people were all around a fire, and the moon! It was like mid-day with all that light. We ended up with a ride home from some friends from the park, because, it always seems to work out, everything around here, with certain awareness you can see so much just working out. The people around here talk about it being manifestation. With good intentions, the things you need will come to you, if it is all for right reasons.
Saturday we all had intentions of getting away from the park again to go to Cowdor castle for a "Slow Foods" fair. The opposite of fast food is the way to go. It was great to see these people so excited about what they were doing, making cheeses, jams, beer, biscuits, wheat-grass, all a lot of fun for them to be sharing with people a little bit of the abundance that they have, and all of us being there enjoying it. A few of us wanted to get there on bikes, so Josh was riding on his trusty 'black shadow', Emma rode on David's bike, and I was riding proudly the 'Esquire'. Esquire is a beautiful bike, Josh is guessing that it could be 50 years old, and you feel like you�re riding it like a proper bloke, sit upright, and take the wind in the face. The ride was 18.8 miles one way, and after a great ride there, we had a little while to be a part of the fair while it went on, not for long though. Then it was back in the saddle with Josh and now Alexa riding on David's bike. Riding a bike feels so good after not having been on one in a while, then Alexa mentioned how great it was for her, she hasn't been on one since something like third grade. This was the ride to be back at it, up and down lots of rolling hills, fields all around, narrow roads that make people really slow down to pass you, and the promise of dinner and a bath at the end. Esquire was put to the test, and by the end, a pebble of just the right size had to be sitting in the drop-out to hold the rear axel in place. We had a great ride, and ended up coming around the corner onto the peninsula we're on with an amazing sunset to look at.
Dinner was waiting at home with friends who made us plates so we didn't miss out. We had the most perfect meal to fill up after a long day, salad, rice and bean chili, and garlic bread. Then we headed over to the earth-lodge to have a fire. The earth-lodge is a spot for fires, dug into the ground and the walls inside are stones placed against the hole in the earth. The roof is made of logs that hold each other�s weight up and a hole in the center to let the smoke out. It was a great spot to get together, play some music, and talk.
Today was a hike with Trees for Life. They are an organization here, which is dedicated to re-foresting the Caledonian forests. They are now only 1% of their original size due to logging. We headed to Glenn Affric. The landscape was amazing. The mountains were covered in green and reds, all low bush cover, and scattered all through the valley were Scot's pines, some older ones, and all over were new plantings, the next generation of the Caledonian Forest. We walked a loop up and around the loch, got some refreshing Scottish rain, had some lunch in an old stone woodshed, and had a lot of fun together and with other people from the community here.
This coming week of classes looks great. We're doing a morning on non-violent communication tomorrow, and then work in the afternoon. Later in the week we have two mornings in our sustainable design class, one on energy and one on waste, and ending off the week preparing for our sweat-lodge this coming weekend. Time seems to be flying by at an amazing speed. It�s a wonderful journey.
my classroom is a yurt
(This post is by Emma Dines.)
As my friend Lisa has taught me, (through reading her blog and being her friend) it is important to every once and a while sit back, take stock, and recognize what is going on in your life - i.e. where you are, what you're doing and what it all means. Lisa lived in NYC for 2 co-op terms, and her "taking stock" phrase while she was there was "T.I.N.Y" - short for "This Is New York". When she would come upon something awesome in New York, that could only happen in New York, she would step back and say it to herself, just to get a little perspective on things, and to remember to appreciate it.
Being here in Scotland, studying in an eco-village is certainly something huge and amazing and a catch phrase like Lisa's is certainly a useful one. So I have created one for myself, which I will illuminate a bit further here. To remind myself of the uniqueness of this experience, my "taking stock" phrase will be: "my classroom is a yurt".
Though MCIAY lacks the acronymal adeptness that TINY displays, I think it is still a pretty cool catch phrase considering that MY CLASSROOM IS A YURT. For those who do not know what a yurt is, I will direct you to the wikipedia page on yurts here. For brevity's sake, I will include the short definition also.
Short Definition: A Yurt is a portable, felt-covered, wood lattice-framed dwelling structure used by nomads in the steppes of Central Asia.
When we first got here, and David and Mie showed us the yurt, I think we were all pretty excited. It has a wood stove inside, a sweet circular sky light, and a carpet. The best thing about it: it's all ours. The yurt is our classroom, our workshop space, and our hangout space. No other group uses it - it's just for us!
The yurt is especially sweet because it's in a prime location - right next to the CC (the community centre) where we eat our lunch and dinner. At tea time (to be blogged about later) we stroll down a lovely stone mosaiced path to get our oat cakes and jam!
It's definitely a different learning experience to have class in a yurt. Usually we have the chairs in a circle at the beginning of class, and evolve into a combination of lying down, stretching and floor sitting by the end. Our teachers are all cool with us moving around and sitting or lying down in whatever configurations we like. It's sort of like being at camp, except that we are technically in school. Basically....it rocks!
So as I go about my day, I am going to try and remember to say this to myself, for a bit of perspective and to solidify my awe and gratitude for being able to be here and study and experience all that this community has to offer. MY CLASSROOM IS A YURT! Life is amazing.
A day of sustainability through creative expression
Today we had our sustainability through creative expression class for the day. We spent the morning working with the five rhythms that Gabrielle Roth explains in her book "Maps to Ecstasy". Moving felt so good. We were dancing in the universal hall here for the morning. Using our whole bodies to move through the five rhythms of flowing, staccato, chaos, lyrical and stillness. Deborah, our instructor for that class, described it as a wave, building up and up to a peak and crashing and then moving gracefully to stillness, a complete cycle. It felt good to be moving for a long period of time, to feel my body become physically exhausted for once.
This afternoon was spend in the yurt talking about our understandings of the book, and our feelings about what we read. The way we presented what we learned was by sitting in pairs, telling our partner what we had to say, and then listening to them. When we were back as a group, our partner explained what we had talked about and what they got of what you said. It was a really cool way to have a presentation, an exercise in listening as well as presenting ideas to the group.
Tomorrow is our first collaborative learning session. The idea is that one person will hold the time with the group, share something with the group about their own personal lives tied to sustainability, and then lead a converstion about what we are doing in our classes this week. I'm excited to hear what other people have to share, and also looking forward to sharing something with the group in this way.
work work work
(This post by Emma Dines)
I am used to working. I got my first part time job at the age of 14, and spent two years after high school working full time (one year volunteer-working, and the other year getting paid-working). I don’t mind working, in fact, I kinda like it. I like being productive, taking responsibility, gettin’ ‘er done. In group projects in school, I was always the kid who did the work. (More on that later) Anyway, that being said, it’s always been important to me to work hard. I feel really intense guilt when I slack; I can’t do it!
So what a surprise when I began my work department shift at Cluny Gardens last week, and encountered the work philosophy here which is “Work is Love in Action”. I thought it was pretty self explanatory; you know, have good intentions in mind as you work, see it as a service to the community. I never thought about it having anything to do with the pace or the amount of work we would do. Not that they don’t do work here; they do. Dishes have to get washed, food has to get made, laundry has to be done. But it’s different. There’s a totally different view of work. And it’s taking some getting used to.
My first day at Cluny Gardens I arrived, garden gloves on, ready to roll. It was a three hour shift; I was expecting to get assigned a job, like “shovel this for 3 hours”. So what a shock when we were invited to sit around a table, talk about how we were feeling, and say what kind of flower or animal we liked. I mean, I know we do that here, but I did not expect to do it before a work shift. Then we tuned in (of course) which consists of holding hands in a circle and becoming present. Aiight. That’s cool. Let’s get ready to roll.
But it still wasn’t time to work. First Jacques the gardener wanted to give us a tour of the garden. Ok. I figure, lets do a tour and then get to work! An hour and a half later, after examining every garden bed, hearing stories about every statue and sign, its time for a tea break. We have tea. And toast. For twenty minutes. Then we come back and…finally! I get a job. Weeding a heart shaped garden bed. I scrape moss off rocks and snip yellowing leaves off the hostas. They tell us to be back for 4:45. All in all, I work for about an hour. I come back, feeling a bit unsatisfied, since I wasn’t able to finish the hosta bed. But I oil my tools, stand in a circle with the group, and tune out.
A few days later, our group participates in a “group project” maintenance project, starting at 9AM and lasting until lunch. I am expecting to be digging holes for a few hours, but once again, we get there, tune in, talk about our favorite ice cream, and then mosey over to the job site. An hour later, we break for tea. At tea break I am talking to a dude on the maintenance crew who is on LESP – Living Education Service Program. And I’m voicing my surprise at the pace of work. And that’s when the penny drops for me. That’s when I get it. There is an entirely different definition of ‘work’ here. Work isn’t just “getting ‘er done”. It’s living. Work is a process that includes people, interactions, and stories. It’s the physical activity that happens, and it’s the talk and laughter around it. It’s love. Work is love in action.
Thinking about it, I realize the attachments that surround my work ethic. I realize that I define myself around my work ethic. I feel unsatisfied when I’m not being efficient. So much of how I feel about myself is caught up in productivity – how much I am getting done, in how much time, and how much of that is measurable and obvious to other people. I realize that often I work hard because it says something about me to others. It’s a performance – it’s an attachment.
Friday night I have a KP shift (that’s Kitchen Party for those unfamiliar with Findhorn acronyms). And that’s when I try to really tune in and figure out what this “work is love in action” philosophy is all about. I listen to the KP focalizer Harula talk during the tune in– that we are cleaning the kitchen with our bodies and minds, and preparing it lovingly for others. We are like the keepers of a temple – we are preparing the kitchen and dining room for the community, so that they may go about their day without having to worry about it. So I wipe down the tables with this in mind. And I am so happy. I am so happy to clean the tables, thinking of the ease it will bring to people who will use the space. There is some attachment left over; I am still quick to ask “what else can I do?” to prove that I am a hard worker. But there is a shift in me. I am working to work, I am working to live, I am working to love. And that brings a satisfaction much deeper than approval from others. “Work is love in action”. Word.
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