
- first know thyself
- listen
- practice foregiveness
- laugh
https://www.stonewall.org.uk/system/files/lgbt_in_britain_-_trans_report_final.pdf
In the Dalai Lama’s most recent writing, A Call For Revolution published in 2018, he says
“I am calling on you to bring on a cultural revolution of compassion!”
“When I call on you to bring on the Revolution of Compassion, I am calling for the mother of all uprisings to begin.”
Speaking to all humans as Citizens of the Earth, he says,
“The problems facing you, whether to do with climate change, violence in general and terrorism in particular, were not created by God, Buddha or extra-terrestrials. They did not fall from the sky, or rise up from the ground. Humanity is entirely responsible for being at the root of the problems that have caused these crises. Which is good news. Because if we have created these problems, it is logical to believe we have the means to resolve them.”
On March 15th 2019, in 25 countries around the world, an uprising of people from all walks of life began taking non-violent direct action in a bid to save our planet from catastrophe. In London, Waterloo Bridge was turned into a garden, Marble Arch became a campsite and learning centre, Parliament Square an information centre, Oxford Circus a speaker’s platform, Piccadilly Circus a youth centre. Songs from the soul, rhymes of reason, music of love and hope, theatre of passionate pleas were played out through the streets of our capital city.
This rebellion was a culmination of many years of the peaceful work of many individuals and small groups of citizens of this earth, who wish to see her beauty and nature thrive for future generations.
We do not all wish to be rebels, activists or protesters. There are many ways to quietly join with those of like-mind and create change……..
June 2019
May 2019
Being outdoors has huge benefits for children, both physically and mentally, and the growing network of Forest Schools aims to tap into those benefits by educating children in the fresh air. Forest School and nature based learning has now become very established in the UK with more than 12,00 trained leaders.
Forest School offers children and young adults:
The inspiration to be curious, fascinated, interested and inventive.
The freedom to explore different ways of ‘being’, feeling, behaving and interacting.
The opportunity to:
Experience beauty and wonder in the woodland and become ‘lost in the experience’
Gain confidence through learning new skills
Develop imagination and creativity
Meet challenges and learn to handle risk in safety
Feel relief from stress and anxiety
Develop their spirituality through a sense of awe at the natural environment.
Increase their autonomy and independence
Take responsibility for own learning and building self confidence
Forest School: 9 ways children benefit from learning and playing outside
March 2019
In the struggle to oppose hate, and to replace it with fierce love and compassion, it’s necessary ─ though often or usually stressful ─ to remain awake, watchful, hopeful.
One way to remain awake and hopeful is through the arts. Below there are links to six pieces of artistic creativity. All contain music, and all contain elements of drama and theatrical performance.
The countries of origin include France, Germany, Ireland, United Kingdom and United States.
Transformative power
An illustrated talk (about 20 minutes) about the power of music to transform lives, yours, mine, everyone’s – HERE
Light in dark times
A sermon in December 2018 beginning and ending with affirmations of Bono’s song There is a Light, written after the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017 – HERE
Happiness – and watch out !
Animated film (about four minutes) that takes a wry look at doomed searches for well-being, fulfilment and bliss somewhere apart from where we actually live – HERE
Strictly inclusive
TV celebration of inclusive choreography, everyone but everyone special, November 2018 – HERE
Joy in the public square
That famous dream of shared humanity and world community, adopted as the anthem of the European Union – HERE
I didn’t die, says he
‘What they forgot to kill went on to organise’, the unending a luta continua onwards and upwards to justice , and to positive peace – HERE
Hold On
If there is a light
We can’t always see
If there is a world
We can’t always be
If there is a dark
Now we shouldn’t doubt
And there is a light
Don’t let it go out
Hold on, Hold on.
Bono 2017
The size of the THIRD SECTOR globally and its relationship with UK GOVERNMENT –
Wake up each day to the benefits of KINDNESS …which will empower you to offer random acts of kindness to people unknown and known to yourself, as you go about your daily life.
Mac Macartney, international speaker, leader, and founder of the community at Embercombe. We were enormously privileged to have him speak at Festival of the Dark, and moved by how he – a secular speaker reflecting on Darkness – was welcomed in to St James Roman Catholic church by Father John. All Father John needed as reassurance was that it was a positive invocation to live mindfully, with care for our Earth. That then put it in line with Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment; the Pope had asked parish priests and parishes to spread the message of care, and so we were welcomed in. And thus Mac was able to weave his stories of love for the Earth, and our responsibility as spiritual beings to live with care for ourselves, within care for our community, within care for all of our connected environment.