Hello world!
So this is a blog (looking around in obvious wonder and confusion). I, uh, I thought I’d left something here…like 13 years worth of stuff…with frequent reference to another 20-odd years of stuff. Hmmm. Well, I’m sure someone will be along soon with all that…surely…
(oh, maybe it’s all in EarthSea Website http://earthsea.ca/index.html). Yeah!
Not to be dismayed! EarthSea is alive and well here @ Serenity on Zwicker Lake. We still assist with sweatlodges, drum journeys, and Celtic Celebrations. Instruction in Celtic lore and Celtic Shamanism too!
Nancy has been busy with shamanic soul retrievals and counseling; Celtic marriage; Mandala Dance Teacher’s Training @ Serenity; Mandala Movement @ Camp Mockingee in November 2011; and is already deep into Travellersjoy.ca planning for a spring 2012 pilgrimage to Ireland and a Mandala Training in the UK as well.
David has been continuing to develop Twylights art lamps and has 5 Christmas craft shows lined up for 2011, including Exhibition Park, Acadia and Gothic Little Christmas @ The Forum in Hfx. David is also heading up the effort to transform the former Blockhouse Elementary school and grounds into a Sustainability Transition Training Centre. South Shore Social Ventures Coop has been formred for that purpose. We shoul know if it’s a go by the end of October 2011. Visit www.theblockhouseschool.org
Twylights (have a look at www.ravenstar.ca) are starting to show up in a number of homes and had great exposure during the Halifax Nocturne Festival in 2010, as well as several major craft shows, including the Wolfville Acadia Christmas Show and the Gothic Little Christmas Show in Hfx. The show response to Twylights has been jaw-droppingly over the top. Oban and Nancy have been helping out with the shows and new iterations and designs are rolling off the kitchen table on a daily (or nightly!) basis. Many folks came out to the lake house before Christmas to pick out a Twylight and they are coming still, almost a year later! The article in East Coast Living and the interview on CBC Radio both helped a lot. A couple were even purchased for a summer Stephen King movie shoot in Halifax!! Hope they didn’t end up on the proverbial “cutting-room floor”.
We have offered two Celtic Shamanism 101 classes here at Serenity-5 three hour weekly sessions, with participants coming from as far away as Sydney, Cape Breton and Yarmouth. The ancestors and Faery Folk are very happy! In December 2011/Jan 2011 we will offer Celtic Shamanism 102 and take it deeper and make it even more participatory.
It has been very gratifying to observe EarthSea inspiration at work in the world as former apprentices, Ecovillage members, associates and clients continue to expand the work in a multitude of ways.
Nancy’s vision for Shamanic Convergence was taken up by the Shamanic Grandmothers Council of Nova Scotia in 2009 as well as Nova Quest Medicine Drum Society in 2010, and the Grandmothers again at Dorje Denma Ling in Sept 2011, to bring Shamanic teachers and practitioners together with other interested participants in profound weekends of deep sharing. Please see www.shamanicconvergence.org for more history and information.
In October, 2010 we hosted old friends Ian Martin and his charming son Alex. Ian is chief agronomist & plant curator at the Eden Project <www.edenproject.com/> in Cornwall, UK. We first met in Botswana, Africa in 1986 (Alex was 2!). Ian continues to be greatly concerned about poverty and the difficulty in envisioning any viable solutions. His comment on global warming was most sobering: “What makes you think we have fifty years left as a civilized people to deal with its (global warming) effects?” This comment in part inspired the Sustainability Transition concept for Blockhouse. If the project is approved Ian has generously offered his plant propagation expertise during his annual “vacation” each year to help move the permaculture aspect of the project along.
We were blessed before and after this year’s Shamanic Convergence by a study/visit by Emma Elen and her delightful boy-child, Osian. Back in Wales, Emma’s partner, James, used their absence to begin construction of an off-grid tiny round house of straw-bales. Emma & Osian slept in Nancy’s tiny caravan overlooking the Lake and became a joyous part of our daily lives for the better part of a month. A time to be long remembered, savoured and cherished.
Currently Brenda Marita, Allison Bishop & Kim Walterhouse are deepening their understanding of the Mandala Movement Training developed and mentored by Nancy. This is the first Mandala Teacher Training, very exciting for all concerned. Some of the sessions are being held in the The Little Red Schoolhouse Community Centre right next door here in Upper Vaughan. David is chief cook and bottle-asher for this training. Kim is particularly interested in developing the training for children. Nancy may also be offering the Mandala Teacher Training in the UK next spring.
We are still enjoying our increasingly brief dips in the lake as the trees have just reached this year’s peak of colourful perfection. Sometimes the serene beauty here at Serenity is enough to make a grown man cry!
We hope you, dear reader, enjoy the rolling seasons and come back soon.
all our relations and blessed be,
David Cameron/Nancy Sherwood
Posted: October 27th, 2010 under Uncategorized.