We’ve been reflecting on the idea of zen (small “z”) (largely because we recently launched zen garden retreats). Our understanding of zen is that it is another interpretation of “The Way”, that is to say “how the universe works”, which relies on a description of the universe. There is also zen behaviour which refers to …
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Tag:nature
Enjoy Life in the Zen Garden
When is a garden not a garden? When it’s a zen garden. So, what is a zen garden? Well, in a broad sense a garden is simply nature that’s been managed by people for amenity. There are many styles like formal, wild, traditional, cultural, physic or therapeutic, landscape, forest and so on. There’s even the …
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How To Do Nothing
by Antonia Butler I would highly recommend this book to anyone – How To Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell. It was recommended to me by someone at Taylor Street Farm while we were weeding last spring, and I finally got to reading it this summer, under unusual circumstances, I would say: …
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Happy 26th Anniversary to astraea! An update on System Change…, and a Quiet January Retreat in the Mediterranean
astraea turns 26 today. Happy birthday! It’s a bittersweet anniversary. astraea’s vision is to show the big picture to understand our place with, and within nature. From this flows everything else – our ability to thrive, liberate our highest potential, and find joy. We saw the growing need for system change, and changed our own …
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More equitable alternative
(Extract from Sharon Ní Chonchúir‘s article We ditched our desk jobs to spend more time in nature — here’s why in the Irish Examiner 6 September. Tom Butler of Ballin Temple, Nurney, Co Carlow: ‘I’ve paid a financial price, but I’m a nature guy.’ Picture: Michael O’Rourke Tom Butler from Ballin Temple in Carlow describes …
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Celebrating 25 Years of Positive Change
“The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence – it is to act with yesterday’s logic.” Peter Drucker’s comment captures the need for system change that defines Astraea. When we stepped out of our old lives and into the unknown in 1999, we had a clear goal: To find balance between people, …
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Feast Upon The Earth Engages Everyone in Choosing Our Future
Summer Inspiration At DLR Lexicon, Dublin The inspirational timescape Feast Upon The Earth has moved from Tullow to Dun Laoghaire’s Lexicon Library for the rest of the summer. The launch talk in July was “very engaging,” said Susan Lynch, senior executive librarian at Lexicon, who welcomed the timescape. “I don’t usually see so much participation …
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DLR Lexicon Welcomes Feast Upon The Earth
Feast Upon The Earth is on the move! DLR Lexicon will host the timescape from 26 July to 31 August 2024. The timescape prompts new perspectives. It situates us in geographical time and shows connections between nature, humans, food, finance, fossil fuels, consumption, pollution and climate change. We see how we have impacted our world, …
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Mary Robinson, Nature and Dandelions
“We are in a crisis!” Mary Robinson’s keynote message was the right way to open her Climate Conference – which she promptly re-named the “Climate and Nature Conference – don’t you agree?” The whole audience agreed enthusiastically. Tom turned to me. “Mary Robinson CAN!” he smiled. A fitting acronym for “climate and nature”! Shortly after, …
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“I Want A Revolution”
A conversation with Brigidine elders about the future, with 15 minutes of mindful movements at the beginning. This special event took place on 1 February 2024 when we enjoyed an open conversation with 3,000 years of life experience. As you will hear, we approached the opportunity with some references, including elements of our recent timescape …
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