the raven

I thought you might like to know that I am co-running a workshop at the Gaia3 Convention on 22 April.

The workshop:
“Spirit in the City”
Exploring and making relationship with the spirits of place in our urban environment.
Workshop run by Jacqui Woodward-Smith and me.

The convention
Gaia3: Earth, Environment and Kinship
Sunday, 22 April 2007, 11.30 am – 7 pm
University of London Union (ULU), Malet Street, London
(Tube: Warren Street and Goodge Street)
The day will include ceremony, talks, workshops and performances, and you can spend your money at the craft stalls.
Tickets for the whole day by advace booking (before 13 April): £8, £7 concessions and PF members
On the door: £9.50, £8.50 concessions and PF
For booking information go to the PF London web site

I hope to see you there!

Blessings of fresh green growth,
Hilde

Yesterday Hilde and I jouneyed out of 21st Century London, travelling east on a very noisy Tube train, and then on a less noisy bus, to walk past the guardian oak tree into Hainault Forest and the timelessness of nature. The green of the new leaves was almost dazzling. Those two well-known woodsmen, Trui and Greg, awaited us as we came out into the clearing that is now Camelot Car Park, Greg with his trusty steed laden with equipment for survival, most importantly his mum’s fruit cake and tea.

He took us to a truly lovely spot where a fallen beech tree (still growing) provided a comfortable moss covered bench. There we discussed the rudiments of survival in the wilderness and he showed us how to gather tinder and light a fire. The forest floor was very dry so needless to say the flame was instantly doused with copious water. Believe me, if civilisation breaks down, Greg is the man you want to be with.

He led us in meditation inviting our Celtic ancestors into our groves to remind us of what we had forgotten we knew. Then we had tea and cake. And if you want to snare a female Druid of the species Hildensis you place one small square jaffa cake in front of the friendliest looking tree and wait quietly for this shy creature to approach you and ask for more.

Thank you Greg for an enjoyable and interesting afternoon.