The Ardantane Blog

Reconnecting with Nature

2008-05-02T15:42:00.000-06:00

Reconnecting with Nature

Spring is a wonderful time to start reconnecting with the natural world, particularly if you have spent a lot of time inside during the winter. And Ardantane is a fabulous place to do this!

Reconnecting is an experience of community, healing, and Home. How do you experience Nature? Through thought, television, or through a direct sensory relationship? Nature moves us beyond the verbal and rational into a place very much like ritual. Now since this is something I could go on and on about, I'll move past my own mental exercises and get right to the sensory experience.

Go outside to your yard, a park, or a wilderness area. Wander slowly around the area, following your natural attractions from place to place. Give thanks at each place you stop and fully feel your appreciation for whatever attracted you. Allow yourself to name the things that you can, if you wish. Continue doing this until you realize that your mental chatter has stopped. Compare how you feel at this point with how you felt when you first arrived. What has changed?

Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Ask this area who it is beyond the labels. Open your eyes and see this place without labeling. Gaze at each thing that attracts your attention and feel what it is like to be in relationship with this thing. Don't label the feeling or imagine it, simply feel how you feel in connection to this object. Continue this with various objects until you feel very relaxed and connected.

Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Ask yourself who you are beyond the labels. Experience anything that comes up without judgment. Open your eyes and see the reflection of yourself in the world around you. What do you see? How does that relate to who you are? What does it teach you? Spend some time being with this experience. Thank the area before leaving.

Blessed Journeys,
Kristin Madden

Dean, Ardantane's School of Shamanic Studies

Come out for "Sun and Moon" or Blessed Beavers on May 10

2008-05-02T11:22:00.000-06:00

Saturday, May 10 is going to be a lovely day at Ardantane. You all should come on up--either to enjoy the class "Rhythms of the Sun and Moon" (see class description elsewhere on the site), or to help build the campus with the Blessed Beavers. "Sun and Moon" is a GREAT class for those who are Pagan but still don't quite get the lunar and solar orbits and patterns and positions. Starweaver, trained as an astronomer, is the perfect teacher for this one-day class.

The Beavers will be continuing construction on the Dome--we need a High Team, as well as general helpers--and doing some general carpentry on Kitschwitch, which will be a storage building for awhile and a mini-cabin for one or two overnighters, eventually.

And some of us will be building a rock wall along the back of the Oasis. Peanuts fans: it is named "Rerun" to go with the other walls, "Lucy," "Linus," and "Van Pelt." Carrying rocks seems to be a tradition at Ardantane.

Other projects also. Free lunch and beverages, wonderful spring weather, friendly Pagans, fun, accomplishment, $40 in Beaver Bucks... wow, mark it on your calendar now. That or "Rhythms of the Sun and Moon"-- Momma Amber, the Head Beagle of Ardantane, wants to see you here at one or the other.

Blessed be, Amber

"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it." -- Goethe

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Ardantane Auction at SWEFA Beltane

2008-04-29T17:10:00.000-06:00

Hi Folks,
Just wanted to let everyone know that the fundraiser auction at SWEFA Beltane went well. Between the auction and a bit of merchanting, Ardantane made $1143 (the total once one more check gets mailed in).

We sold a giant painting of nymphs and faun, mead, ritualwear, jewelry, Pagan books, and ritual tools.... and a large stuffed moose, a Chinese Checkers set, a "flash-and-clash" Captain Jack pirate sword, chocolate honey, a garden Witch, a plush ringtail, and other oddments. Almost nothing left over.

Huge thanks to all who helped: Azrael and Skylar as cashiers, Brian and Kim as "Vannas," and Michelle C. as relief auctioneer. They made it run very smoothly indeed.

--Amber K, Head Beagle of Ardantane

"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it." -- Goethe

Welcome to the new Ardantane website

2008-04-26T00:07:00.001-06:00

Welcome to the new website.

There are many new features in addition to the new look:

There is a new contact page - note that several of our email addresses have changed. Your comments on blog news and features are welcome, and you do not need to register to leave them. There is now a full catalog available both here at the website, and available as pdf document files for printing. A full online tour of Ardantane is here, so you can see the beautiful campus. You can also subscribe to the Ardantane Herald, our email newsletter, and other specialized discussion groups directly from this website.

Enjoy!
- The Ardantane Webspirit