The Isle of Iona

Dear ones,
I have just had a very satisfying meal here at the Columba hotel on Iona. The hotel is named after St. Columba, a monk who founded the Iona monastery in the 6th c.----called one of the 12 disciples of Ireland, so named because he constituted one of 12, who after studying under St. Finian, came to Scotland to missionize the Picts.

This hotel is dedicated to Fair and Organic Trade, as are a growing number of Scottish farmers and businesses. The food was fabulous----a salad with greens from their own garden, and a carrot/sunflower seed soup! All overlooking some of the ruins of the island and the moody skies and rowdy seas of this part of the world. I think I have begun to suffer in earnest from SAD (seasonal affective disorder)after almost 20 days running of no sunshine. (o.k.,o.k. there were at least 1 1/2 days of sun---gasp!) How I long for the dry, blissfully warm and brilliant skies of New Mexico.

I have just completed a week of off the grid living with the wonderful community at Camas Center----a seemingly remote array of buildings overlooking a small cove. There is a mile hike in with a wheelbarrow to carry whatever you can't take on your back. The track is muddy and often full of sheep and cows moving from one pasture to another. We picked some fine blackberries (brambles, they are called here) for a pie one night, along this trail to Camas.

The group at Camas was an amazing one, with young people from Uruguay, Canada, New Zealand, Sweden, Scotland and England. All of them incredibly hospitable and inclusive and willing to share of themselves and their space. This international group is involved in keeping this centre alive and running day after day, from April to October----which is abounding with groups of children and youth most all of the summer. They come to learn about living in community and to become more acquainted with the earth. The kids do games and community activities and get to kayak and rappell and garden, as well as dive into the daily responsibilities of chores.
Here's some youtube click ons, to give you an idea of Camas entertainment!

YouTube - Good Form Peter! Do Sheep Swim?: "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSAZ1t7UcbY"


The final evening of our week Reading the Big Book of Creation, we sat out under the night sky, where the sea lapped the shore and built a huge bonfire which kept us toasty warm well into the night as we sang all manner of international songs. It was rich.

It was an intense week and I had a day where I had a wee 'meltdown' due to the endless days of activity and constant community time. I hadn't had much time to reflect and find some solitude (I know you busy parents are saying ----'hello?')so I felt a bit backlogged in terms of my feelings and thoughts. So much had ocurred both inside and outside myself in these 3 weeks on the road. But, the oceans and the cheery birds and the ever blooming flowers are kind and gracious. After sitting in the garden for awhile, I was able to return to some sort of inner balance, and remember that God's mercies are new everyday, thankfully.

I do love the Scottish people. Their accents, their kindness. Their sturdiness and down to earth acceptance of all the elements around them. I'd go nuts without more sunshine and warmth, but they seem to accept it all with aplomb.
I've gotten used to scottish oatcakes, oat porridge and oat everything.

And now onto a week with John Bell on the Isle of Iona. Here's a prayer as I part ways until my next internet window of opportunity...

Blessèd sister, holy mother, spirit of the fountain, spirit of the garden,
Suffer us not to mock ourselves with falsehood
Teach us to care and not to care
Teach us to sit still
Even among these rocks,
Our peace in His will
And even among these rocks
Sister, mother
And spirit of the river, spirit of the sea,
Suffer me not to be separated

And let my cry come unto Thee.
ash Wednesday - t.s. eliot - 1927

With love,
Anita

Scotland-----Highlands to the Outer Hebrides

Hi all,

I finally found a free internet service in the public library of Nairn, up in the Highlands of Scotland----a lovely beachside town near Findhorn.


So sad that Kenneth needs to fly out in one day, so we have tomorrow to visit one of the outer islands of the Hebrides together----Skye Island,. This is supposed to be very beautiful with 'plunging cliffs, and sparkling beaches and peaks reaching to the blue skies'. They reportedly also have great shopping. Unfortunately, each day has been rainy and grey in Ireland and Scotland. But, we continue to take pictures nevertheless, and enjoy the warmth of the homes and the people who invite us into their B&B's. I am soaking in the moisture, since there will not be much of it back in New Mexico!


When I return, I will be eager to put together my presentation on communities whose spirituality is based in a deep sense of creation ----seeking to live in harmony with the earth and one another. Some very exciting things to report...from my times in Ireland, now Findhorn and next week the Iona communities.
Tomorrow I embark on the final leg of my journey. First, The Island of Mull, the village of Camas, an off the grid community which is a satellite of Iona. Here I will need to hike in an hour from the road. We will be reflecting on The Big Book of Creation-----and exploring it daily through hiking, kayaking and abseiling (otherwise known as rappelling in the states). The final week will be Iona. Well known to the Scots as a very sacred island. Both of these spiritual communities are trying to live more simply and prayerfully with one another. I look forward to the quietness. We'll see how long til I go stir crazy!


Well, time to move on to Skye Island. I have been driving so far in Scotland and it has been rigorous, but I've gone slow and we've stayed safe, thanks be to God. Some of these roundabouts are made to drive the motorist to insanity, but I'm getting the hang of it. just when i get the hang of it, we are going to go and put Kenneth on the plan to drive so he can take the car back to Glasgow by the end of the week. he'll get a taste of driving. YIKES! Then I'll be off the grid and off the road. Hallelujah!

Blessings of Peace to all,
love,
Anita

Highlands and Islands of Scotland

Hello friends and family,
Well, it's almost 10 days into my trip and I've only managed to squeeze out this one blog...traveling keeps one very busy, between and betwixt driving here and there and finding accomodations and food. Internet cafes is the next challenge, especially in these tiny towns. Unfortunately there is no way to download pictures from my digital on these public computers, according to our host. Sorry, you won't see my cheerful mug on a windblown misty highland with the horned shaggy cows surrounding me...

Ireland was quite exhilarating. Rain everyday, but the people's hearths and hearts were very warm. They welcomed my friend and I with open arms and lots of information forthcoming about the best sites to see, places to eat and routes to take. This was a good thing because we hit a sturdy stone sheep wall the very first day. The car was towed, we returned straightaway to Dublin and picked up another car. No one was hurt, since we were only traveling about 30 mph ----on the wrong side of the road, of course.
We hadn't had our morning brew yet----black coffee or strong tea, that is. So, I guess the brain cells weren't hooked up.


Next few days were taken up with St Brigid, the goddess who was later subsumed into a real Irish woman, Brigid, who was Abbess of the Kildare church. She became sainted by the Celtic Christians as someone who loved the poor, animals, the earth and was known for hospitality and healing. We went to her well, drank some pure water, visited the ancient cathedral and saw a little garden dedicated to her----and met some real live Brigidine sisters. Lovely people.

Last stop in Ireland was St. Gobnait's sacred well, burial place and pilgrimage site. Whew. She was a keeper of bees, also known for healing----so bee inscriptions were abounding on her pilgrimage statue.

Of course, everywhere we went, there were celtic crosses, the circle meaning the circle of creation, endless regeneration of life.

Ah well, time to go....you can await breathlessly the photos that will be forthcoming for these travels.
Scotland is more of a kick back with Kenneth----less pilgrimage, more sightseeing. But we will be visiting Findhorn, a spiritual off the grid, community in the Scottish Highlands after we hike the Glen Affric tomorrow, a fantastic, wild (for Scotland) part. Hope to take in the Orkney islands instead of the Lewis Isles by the end of the week, before I head off to my final two weeks on Iona and Mull.

Love the pubs---best food in town, and the home of guinness. Lively conversation, and some great music on a few nights!

Love to all,
Anita