Friday 28 October 2011

HALLOWEEN HARVEST AND HAPPY HARMONY

 I am lucky enough to be able to volunteer 1 day a week at an amazing gardening project which supports individuals who are going through mental health illness, which affects 1 in 4 of us.

Projects like these, which are sadly few and far between, are incredibly valuable.  Life is stripped back to basics and people can discover a sense of respect and wonder for nature, and experience something different from their normal lives which can be lonely, frustrating and challenging.
 Gardening allows us to truly reconnect with nature and projects such as this one, offers valualble opportunities to learn and grow and increase knowledge, understanding and experience of the natural environment.
Our environment gives us a world that has a past and present reality and provides opportunities to exercise and socialise. This project enables people, who may not have these opportunities in their day to day lives, to be a part of something wonderful which can only serve to build self belief,a sense of purpose and the realisation that we are part of something much bigger. This knowledge can help to put our problems into perspective.
 Being outdoors improves our psychological and physical health whether we are active or passive in our pursuit of enjoying the natural world. Garden colours and scents stimulate the brain.
This project allows people to relax and enjoy the outdoors while giving them the chance to work on the land, get back to nature and find out how food is produced.
There is something wonderful about going out in the morning, doing a hard days work and then actually seeing the results of our labour.
That's a real reward that money can't buy and extremely confidence boosting.
These are the pumpkins which have now been harvested all ready to be made into nutritios pumpkin soup to feed all the gardeners of the project thoughout the colder months!
Parsnips have also been harvested, some so big, that it was only possible to dig half of them out!
We also started to dig some of the celeriac last week and leeks and carrots are still being harvested.
What better than parsnip or pumkin soup with roasted celeriac, all home made and home grown.
This is about getting back to basics and working on the land with the seasons.
By giving ourselves the chance to form a relationship with the natural world, we can learn to recognise that our landscape has it's own life and it's own spirit. If we respect the natural world we can live in harmony with it and we can live off it. Our ancestors lived off the land and by the seasons, and each season presented them with new challenges, but they listened to the land and the land gave them what they needed because they were in tune with nature, they were part of it. Going back to basics means reconnecting with nature, growing our own food and protecting mother earth for us and our children. It means becoming self-sustainable and self-sufficient. We can't do any of that if we don't feel part of our natural environment, so go out, be creative, FEEL GROUNDED: - explore, plant, pick, taste, oberve, listen, take photos and indulge in the wonder that surrounds us, the wonder that is OUR world.
























When Rob and I exchanged our rings during our Joyfest ceremony, these were the words that my brother spoke:

"These rings, a token of your love for one another, will serve as a reminder that all in life is a cycle, all comes to pass and passes away and comes to pass again.

May the elements bless these rings. Air for hopes and dreams; Fire for the spark of love; Water for harmony and healing; and Earth for strengh.

The circle is the symbol of the sun, the earth and the universe. It is a symbol of wholeness and peace. In the form of a ring, may it stand for you as a symbol of your love for each other, looking inwards and outwards, an embrace that binds without imprisoning, a support that reassures without restricting.

By the exchange of these tokens of your love for one another, so are your lives interlaced. What one experiences, so shall the other; as honesty and love build, so will your bond strenghen and grow.

The circle is a perfect figure, without beginning, without end, with no area of weakness. It is a symbol of the Circle of Life, of death and rebirth. This shall serve as a physical reminder of your vow, and that all things begin and end and begin again. These rings shall serve to remind you that life goes on, that these moments passs. When you are engulfed in anger or in sadness, look to your hand and remember that the wheel turns forever onward, and it is love that turns the wheel.

The symbolism of the circular rings was explained by the great native American leader, Black Elk, who said:

"Everything the power of the worlds does is done in a circle. The sky is round, and I have heard that the earth is round like a ball and so are the stars. The wind in its greatest power whirls. Birds make their nests in circles..............The sun comes forth and goes down again in a circle. Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing and always coming back again to where they were. The life of a man or woman is a circle from childhood to adulthood, and so is everything where power moves."

To me, these words sum up our connection with Mother Earth. We are part of her, part of nature, part of the ever changing cycle of life.

WE MUST STOP DAMAGING HER, STOP PLUNDERING HER RESOURCES AND HURTING HER INHABITANTS. WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR WORLD, GIVE HER TIME TO HEAL AND THEN NURTURE HER SO SHE AND US CAN LIVE AND WORK IN HARMONY.

MOTHER EARTH IS OUR LIFE FORCE, WITHOUT HER AND ALL HER GIFTS TO US, WE WILL PERISH.

I AM ON A JOURNEY TO BECOME SELF RELIANT AND TO LEAD A SUSTAINABLE LIFE.
I HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO BUT THIS IS MY ASPIRATION AND THIS BLOG IS HERE TO RECORD THAT JOURNEY IN ALL IT'S FORMS.

KEEP READING, GO GARDEN, TAKE A RAMBLE, JUST TAKE INSPIRATION FROM WHAT YOU READ AND FEEL!

THANKYOU!

Friday 21 October 2011

CONSUMER BLITZ

 I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT HOW I HAVE  CHANGED AS I HAVE TRAVELLED ON THIS JOURNEY CALLED LIFE.
MY LIFE IS RICHER AND MORE DIVERSE NOW THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN.
LIFE IS INTERESTING AND EXCITING AND HAS BECOME MORE SO AS I HAVE GOT OLDER.

IT WASN'T ALWAYS SO, BUT WITH PERSISTANCE, VISION, HOPE, AN INNER STRENGH AND THE LOVE THAT I  GIVE AND RECEIVE, I NOW LEAD A CREATIVE, FULFILLING AND ENRICHING LIFE.

I HAVE MORE TIME BECAUSE MY CHILDREN ARE OLDER AND MORE SELF RELIANT, AND I NO LONGER HAVE TO WORK FULL TIME.

HAVING THIS TIME HAS CERTAINLY MADE FOR A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE AND GIVEN ME THE OPPORTUNITIES TO BE MORE CREATIVE IN HOW I LIVE.

WHEN I LOOK BACK, I REMEMBER HAVING A VERY HECTIC AND TIRING SCHEDULE.

I LIVED MY LIFE ROUND THE CLOCK, HAVING TO BE AT WORK AT A CERTAIN TIME, LEAVING IN TIME TO PICK THE KIDS UP AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES WITH BALANCING WORK AND FAMILY.

I NEVER GAVE MYSELF A CHANCE TO "ENJOY THE MOMENT" (as highlighted in my previous post as being an extremely important part of finding enjoyment in life)

HOW COULD I? I HAD PLACED ALL THESE EXPECTATIONS AND COMMITMENTS  ON MYSELF. WE HAD BOUGHT THE HOUSE TO SATISFY OUR OBSESSION WITH OWNING A PROPERTY SO NOW WE HAD TO PAY FOR IT WITH THE SOUL CRUSHING, ROBOTIC TEDIUM OF THE DAILY GRIND.

THIS GAVE ME NO ROOM TO THINK ABOUT AN ALTERNATIVE WAY OF LIVING. BUT MAYBE I DIDN'T REALLY WANT ONE BACK THEN. I WASN'T PARTICUARLY RADICAL OR PROGRESSIVE IN MY THINKING AND I WAS YOUNG, EASILY INFLUENCED, NAIVE AND MATERIALISTIC AS I BUILT A HOME WITH THE HELP OF CONSUMERISM AND EXPECTATION FROM SOCIETY THAT THAT WAS HOW IT SHOULD BE:

GO TO WORK, MAKE MONEY, SPEND MONEY, BUY A HOUSE, BUY A CAR, GO ON FOREIGN HOLIDAYS, GET INTO DEBT, WORK MORE TO PAY THAT DEBT OFF!

I CAN SEE NOW THAT I WAS BEING EXPLOITED BY THIS MODERN CAPATALIST SOCIETY BUT I FELL FOR IT AND DID SO UNTIL VERY RECENTLY.

I AM NOW IN RECOVERY. STOPPING MY CONFORMIST AND CONSUMERIST LED LIFESTYLE WAS EASY. MAINTAINING IT TAKES DISCIPLINE, A CHANGE OF DESIRE AND FINDING REWARD IN OTHER SOURCES.

I AM FINDING THAT I LEAD A MORE SPONTANEOUS, EXCITING AND CREATIVE LIFE. I AM SPIRITUALLY RICHER AND SELF - RELIANT.

"OUR NATURAL DESIRE IS TO LIVE WELL AND ENJOY LIFE IS CO-OPTED BY THE CONSUMER SYSTEM AND TURNED INTO SOMETHING MATERIALLY BASED AND ENSLAVING. IT SEEMS OBVIOUS THAT IF WE COULD JUST EXTINGUISH CONSUMER DESIRES AND STOP SHOPPING, WE WOULD GET A LOT CLOSER TO EVERY DAY LIBERTY, SIMPLY BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO DO SO MUCH WORK. THIS IS NOT THAT ONE CAN'T ENJOY LUXURIES, IT'S JUST THAT WE SHOULDN'T TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY AS A KIND OF GOAL IN LIFE.
THE KEY IS NOT TO RENOUNCE ALL PLEASURE BUT TO BE A MASTER OF THEM"

(taken from "How to be Free", of course!!!)

IN THIS CONSUMER DRIVEN SOCIETY, WE ARE LED TO BELIEVE THAT "THINGS" WILL SOMEHOW ENHANCE OUR LIVES. SO WE BUY THESE THINGS WHICH DON'T LIVE UP TO EXPECTATION, THEY DISAPPOINT AND DON'T MAKE OUR LIVES BETTER AS WE WERE LED TO BELIEVE.

BUT DO WE ABANDON THESE "THINGS"? NO, WE SIMPLY BUY THE NEW AND IMPROVED "THING".

I'M COMPLETELY GUILTY OF THIS BEHAVIOUR. LOOK AT THE PREVIOUS POST ON MY NEW MOBILE.

THE MESSAGE TOM HODGKINSON MAINTAINS THROUGHOUT HIS BOOK IS THAT CAPATILISM WORKS THROUGH A CONSTANT STREAM OF DISAPPOINTMENTS WHICH ENCOURAGE THE SPENDING OF MORE AND MORE MONEY.

WE AREN'T HAPPY WITH JUST THE SIMPLE THINGS IN LIFE; SOMEWHERE TO LIVE; FOOD TO EAT;  SMALL LUXURIES SUCH AS GOOD WINE AND CHOCOLATE; A GOOD DVD OR BOOK AND FRIENDS AND/OR FAMILY.

THIS IS WHAT'S IMPORTANT.

"THINGS" ARE MERELY DECORATION, DISTRACTION, OSTENTATION AND VANITY.

THE UNMATERIALISTIC LIFESTYLE CAN BE ACHIEVED ON ANY INCOME.

WHAT I HAVE FOUND IS THAT MY DESIRE FOR "STUFF" HASN'T MAGICALLY STOPPED. THAT WOULD BE TOO EASY!

BUT I DON'T ALLOW MYSELF TO BECOME CONSUMED BY MY "NEED" FOR IT BECAUSE I DON'T "NEED" IT AT ALL AND I CAN RATIONLISE THAT WITH MYSELF NOW. I DO ACKNOWLEDGE IT, BUT I DON'T ALLOW MYSELF TO GIVE IT MUCH THOUGHT. I DISTRACT MYSELF WITH  DOING SOMETHING BETTER THAN SHOPPING. I SPEND TIME WITH MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS, I READ A GOOD BOOK, I GO FOR A WALK, I MAKE A NICE DINNER AND FIND THAT THE REWARD I GET FROM LEADING THIS MORE LAID BACK, ENJOYABLE AND FREE WAY OF LIFE FAR EXCEEDS ANY BENEFIT FROM CONTINUING A CONSUMER DRIVEN LIFE STYLE.

IF WE ALL CONSUME LESS, LAUGH MORE AND STOP STRIVING FOR THE NEXT BIG THING, I'M CERTAIN WE WOULD EXIST IN A HAPPIER WORLD.


DOMESTIC BLITZ (Joke............or is it?!!)!
AM
7 - Get up, shower and dress.
7.15 - Get children up
7.20 - Let dog out in the garden
7.30 - Make breakfast
7.35 -Let dog back in
7.45 - Make children's lunches
8 - Get children washed, dressed and hair combed
8.20- Husband leaves for work
8.30 - Take children to school
8.31 - Return to house for packed lunches
8.32 -  Set off again for school
8.45 - Drop children off
9 - School phones
9.15 - Return to school with swimming kit
9.30 - Return home, Wash up, Clean kitchen
10 - Put washing machine on
10.30 -Vacuum and polish. Make Beds
11 - Empty dishwasher
12 noon - Go to supermarket for weekly shop
PM
2 - Put shopping away
2.30 - Prepare soup and sandwich for lunch
2.31 - Hang washing on line
2.35 - Starting to rain - bring Washing back in
2.36 - Rain stops, Re-hang washing on line
2.40 - sit down (for 1st time) to eat lunch
2.41 - Torrential downpour. Bring in washing
2.42 - Dog eats sandwich
2.50 - Pour cold soup away.No time for another sandwich
3 - Collect children
3.30 - Arrive Home
3.35 - Return to school
3.40 - Collect forgotten school bag
3.45 - Arrive home
4 - Make snacks
4.15 - Give dog his dinner
4.30 - Dog not touched dinner. Let dog out
4.45 - Let dog back in
5 - Re-Spin sodden washing
5.30 - Eat apple
5.45 - Supervise homework while ironing
6.15 - Finish ironing. Put clothes away
6.30 - Empty tumble dryer
6.45 - Husband calls. Will be home 7.30
7 - Start dinner
7.10 - Tell children to pick up toys and homework from lounge floor
7.30 - Turn TV off. Sit down (for 2nd time) with children to eat. Put husband's dinner in oven
7.31 - Burning smell from kitchen. Run and remove husband's dinner from oven. Scrape off black bits.
7.32 - Dog jumps up at table and eats my dinner
7.35 - Start to pick up children's toys, homework and books from floor.
7.36 - Phone rings, Take message re football team
7.40 - Children finish eating. Send upstairs to wash and get ready for bed
7.45 - Start to tidy up lounge
7.46 - Hear screams from children fighting upstairs
7.47 - Stub toe on toy left on floor
7.48 - Run upstairs to separate children
7.49 - Remove toothpaste from youngest child's ear
7.53 - Load dishwasher
7.55 - Fold school uniforms. Pour 2 glasses of wine
7.56 - Drink both glasses
7.59 - Put dog's dinner (untouched) in bin
8 - Husband arrives home and says
"Have you seen the state of the lounge?
 WHAT ON EARTH HAVE YOU BEEN DOING ALL DAY?"

Anyone relate to this?.........................!!!!!!