A Sense of Place 2008

The Stories of our 2008 workshop series

See poster for these events or scroll down for details.

June:
Nan’s Rock Shop and Healing Centre, Wilmot, NS
(near Middleton, Annapolis Valley)

Annapolis ValleyHost: Carol Layton, administrator, spiritual practitioner of the healing arts

Theme: Sacred Stewardship

Program: Our group journeyed to the spirit of the land and asked for guidance to assist Carol in her work. Carol gave us a tour of the facility, including therapy rooms and shop where crystals are for sale. We also saw the animals that are kept on site to bring pleasure to the child in all of us. We visited the community fire pit in the woods and went down to a small riverside after lunch.

Carol led a visualization that helped assist us to connect with the Crystal Beings. Each person had a crystal to work with in order to practice forming a relationship with that ally. One of the participants spent time with Carol’s husband, Tom, to find out what it was like to do the outdoor work at their place and she later shared this in the circle.

Carol received a lot of positive feedback about her vision and efforts, and said that it was good to hear from the perspective that for visitors, the glass is at least half full. Individuals in the group expressed an ongoing interest in practicing more ways to connect to their own places when they got home.

Path through woods near Mahone Bay CentreJuly
Public Parks and Green Spaces
Sat. July 12, 10-4

Place: Mahone Bay Green Spaces, Mahone Bay, South Shore

Host: Pam Birdsall, potter, dowser, environmental activist, politician

Theme: Practice in Public Places

Program: Our group met in the parking lot at Mahone Bay Centre and we went into the beautiful woods of Mahone Bay behind the soccer field. We were greeted by the trees that are the guardians of the forest. We experienced their large presence and spirit. Our shared practices assisted us in communicating with this amazing site.

Pam led us in a dowsing session.

As a group, we made an energetic reweaving of history; this technique transforms the story of our ancestors’ past, that included struggle, exploitation, and sadness, into one of hope for the future. We found our ancestors’ strengths in us by remembering that our inner Light joins us to them.

Under the canopy and protection of this “natural cathedral” in the Mahone Bay woods participants made individual commitments to the creation of a sustainable society that has enough shared green spaces for the public to enjoy as a community.

Directly “off the beaten path” are the treasures of Mahone Bay.

Annapolis ValleyAugust:
Whispering Hill, Nictaux Falls, Nova Scotia
Sat. Aug.9, 10-4

Host and Facilitator: Brenda, caregiver

Theme: Clearing Land

This workshop involved learning the specific skill of clearing land of unwanted energies and to put into place practices that attract beneficial energies for the land and the beings.

Some of our work involved renewing energy at the medicine wheel and at an old, dry well. The group spent the day outdoors around gardens, woods, and on the power spots of Whispering Hill.

Each person learned to appreciate how this medicine could be applied in his/her own situation, for example on inherited land, newly acquired property, or rental properties.

Meeting at Oceanstone, near Peggy's CoveSeptember:
Oceanstone Institute, Indian Harbour, NS (near Peggy's Cove)

Host: Carole MacInnis, Owner/operator

Theme: The Art of Invisibility

Our day began in the Great Hall with practices in connecting with the spirit of the land at Oceanstone. We addressed Carole’s powerful intention to bring more spiritual practices to the land and were shown how that intention is supported by the land itself. The numbers of people now attracted to come and to share in this way are growing.

Participants were encouraged to spend solo time merging with the elements and the beings of the place and to surrender to Oneness with all things. Amazing gifts came from that sharing.

Carole invited us to come to the community fire to participate in a traditional ritual that she had been given. In the traditions of our ancestors, she would have been the keeper of the Sacred Fire of Wisdom. Carole embodies this role at Oceanstone in a contemporary way. Her authenticity permeated our experience. Participants experienced the spirit of place by dancing, drumming and sharing stories of losing one’s ego long enough to be invisible!

Poster for the above events

Changes:

Two participants who engaged in Sense of Place workshops all summer made changes in their home and environment as a result of taking the whole body of courses. The changes they made as a result of their summer’s commitment are listed below:

10 THINGS TO MAKE MY HOME MORE ECOLOGICALLY SOUND

  1. FIX BACK DOOR
  2. INSULTATE BASEMENT WALLS
  3. REPLACE LEAKING TOILETS
  4. REPLACE CRUMBLING SEWER LINES
  5. REMOVE ALL NON-ESSENTIAL ELECTRICAL DRAINS Unplug dust buster, replace cordless phone with wall plug model, put computer in a power bar and turn it off when not in use.
  6. REWIRE BASEMENT SO THAT WE CAN SWITCH LIGHTS OFF FROM UPSTAIRS
  7. SMALLER, ENERGY EFFICIENT FREEZER
  8. REPLACE TWO 1950’S WINDOWS WITH NEW ENERGY EFFICIENT WINDOWS
  9. REPLACE OLD WOODSTOVE WITH NEW WOODSTOVE
  10. PUT A BLIND IN THE SKYLIGHT

Upcoming Sense of Place workshops