Natural world
« Previous EntriesTu B’Shevat - New Year of the Trees
Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008
Last night at sunset the Jewish New Year of the Trees began, one of the four Jewish new years. It ends today at nightfall.
The date originated as a kind of fiscal convenience, counting the birthday of trees for tithing purposes, and only really gained religious significance in the 1600s.
On this day, Jews will eat fruit […]
Christmas Eve
Monday, December 24th, 2007
Photograph by Epirot
The child Stella lived at Weekaborough Farm in Devon in the early 19th century, her beloved companion the dog Hodge. One Christmas Eve, she fell asleep in the stable, dreamed and then woke:
She was back in the stable again … Outside in the yard the cock was still crowing. It must be […]
The incense of winter
Friday, November 9th, 2007Yesterday afternoon there was a fierce rainstorm. Within minutes, the sky blackened, sheets of rain pelted down and trees thrashed in the sudden wind.
I was at Turvey Abbey, and later in the afternoon, after the storm had quietened and true dark had fallen, I went over from the guest house to the chapel for Vespers.
As […]
Leaping determination
Wednesday, October 31st, 2007I’m a little spooked right now.
In her comment to my post on my fishy dream yesterday, Lucy talked about the symbol of the salmon and gave a beautiful quote including “The salmon offers us a way to face truth without shutting down”.
I have an occasional spiritual practice which no doubt my conservative Christian friends would […]
Sunday Collection - Blog Action Day
Sunday, October 21st, 2007Last Monday I posted on the environment as part of the first Blog Action Day.
It’s been amazing to see the sheer variety of environmental topics people have written about, and today I’ve collected together all the posts from bloggers who took part that I read regularly or semi-regularly. Some are the big ‘A-list’ blogs, some […]
Blog Action day: In praise of trees
Monday, October 15th, 2007So Blog Action Day has finally arrived.
I’m one of 15,000 bloggers worldwide raising our voices to speak about climate crisis and the environment. Between us, we will reach over 12 million readers.
I’ve chosen to speak about trees today, for all sorts of reasons: their beauty, their strength, their place in myth and legend, the sheer […]
September Collection - Autumn
Sunday, September 23rd, 2007Today is the autumn equinox: the hours of light and of darkness are equal. I’m told that at the two equinoxes, if you stand an egg on its narrow end it will balance, just as the earth hangs on a point of balance between life and death. (Although darkness can be comforting, and death is […]
View from an attic window
Sunday, September 16th, 2007Daybreak
Midday
Sunset
Praise the Lord from the heavens
praise him in the heights.
Psalm 148
Photographs taken by me at Turvey Abbey guesthouse, September 2007.