Crickhollow Newsletter

Join us August 23 - 25 for Let It All Out singing weekend!

Reiki and Tea

I have just returned from the most extraordinary retreat at Hollyhock on Cortes Island B.C. entitled Healing Family and Ancestors: Ritual and Resonant Family Constellations lead by Jill Purce. I am now brimming with ideas about how to incorporate what I learned into my reiki practice here at Crickhollow.

While the family constellations aspect was powerful and transformative, the part that is most relevant to my work was experiencing what Jill Purce referred to as the field. In the field I witnessed ancestors long passed show themselves in helpful ways and archetypes become clear. I also learned that it is possible to witness the field while staying present and grounded. Jill’s husband, Rupert Sheldrake, has written at length about this topic and I can’t wait to dive in and learn more.

This is the humble beginning of my Altar to my Ancestors.

One of the goals I had for this trip was to explore Cortes Island and bring back some of its magic to our community here. I am grateful that Angelica had some time to drive me around and show me some sights. This all too brief drive and my time at Hollyhock showed me that something that makes a place magical are that stories are told about it. It’s the stories that drew me to Cortes. It was also the stories that drew me to Findhorn in 2019. Creation stories in particular. The creation story of Findhorn involves a family living in a small caravan and growing vegetables on windswept sand with the help of spirit. Hollyhock was started with the help of a fortune telling at the Vancouver Folk Festival.

What is the creation story of our community? For me it involves moving to a remote place where we knew nobody and within a couple of months meeting likeminded instant friends as they moved in up and down the road. It is the story of observing what it is to grow nourishing food, to be an activist, an artist, maker, musician. And now as the story unfolds, we move into healing modalities and more intentional community building.

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By being part of the Ancestors retreat and experiencing being in the field and then stepping back out into our familiar world I have gained new tools for my practice. I have learned how using questions, observation and being fully present can help me work with clients on a deeper level.

Are you interested in exploring your spiritual life?

Do you work hard and need some time set aside for deep relaxation?

Are you in the process of charting where to go next in your life?

I would love to work with you! Sessions are $60, to book email rosemary@crickhollow.ca or call/text 519-369-0058.

Learn more on my website crickhollow.ca

What’s Happening on the Farm

We are currently looking after three kune kune pigs for some friends of ours. They are super friendly and love scratches so come on over for a visit! They are pictured here munching away on tall rudbeckia which is getting a bit invasive. Seeing the satisfaction that the pigs have while eating it is a great motivator to get weeding.

Events at Crickhollow

Concert Review

A big thank you to everyone who came out for our concert! Thank you Heather Saumer for providing such an enchanting evening. Thanks to Doug Tielli for terrific trombone playing, Colin Couch for providing the deep resonance of the Tuba, and Charles Spearing for trumpet, guitar and conversations with Siri. Thank you to Ahren for helping with parking, Luna for working the snack table and Katie for welcoming our guests.

Heather created an inviting space for reflection by placing mirrors around the barn. Guests added to the effect by picking Queen Anne’s Lace flowers and placing them in vases around the mirrors. In the first set we heard some covers including a Bjork piece that sounded beautiful with the trombone, tuba and trumpet. Playing the synth, Heather introduced us to new pieces that she had written. I think my favourite moment of the evening was watching Heather conduct the brass players as she sang and played synth.

Charles Spearin played the second act. He strummed his guitar while playing a conversation he had with Siri on a rainy night that became more and more existential.

Heather concluded the evening with poetry and visual piece using an overhead projector. I found the poetry and lyrics of the evening moving and I include some here.

Excerpt from the overhead walking piece by Heather Saumer:

My walk is a dance

I walk to find out what my rhythm is and

feel its counterpoint with that of a stranger's

I walk hoping I might overhear someone saying I love you

So I can say I did something today

I walk with the hope that my heartache will leak out my feet

so I can make a choice

to stay curious, stay engaged

to take a step toward the unknown

I walk to remember

I walk to forget

I walk as my human ancestors walked on this same but changing landscape

I walk to get away

I walk so I don't run

so I can stop and smell a flower

to fall in love again

Upcoming Movie Night at Crickhollow

Members of the community, Leslie, Stone and Marcelina would like to invite you to a screening of the film Yintah which follows Wet'suwet'en leaders as they defend their land against pipelines and government repression.

$10 or pay what you can (further donations welcome - we will cover our costs and donate any additional funds raised to the Wet'suwet'en nation).

Snacks and drinks will be provided.

August 9 at 7pm (film will start promptly at 7, feel free to arrive 6:30 onwards, grab a snack and get settled).

Discussion to follow.

Hope you can join us.

Let It All Out Singing Weekend

Please join me and my co-host Heather Thoma for a weekend of singing! Join in for a session or for the whole weekend. We have some spare beds and unlimited camping space. Everyone is welcome!

Here is an outline for the weekend keeping in mind that spontaneity and co-creation are most welcome. Exact times are to be determined.

Friday August 23rd

Sound explorations in relation to the land

Campfire with good old fashioned silly campfire songs!

Saturday August 24th

Morning

Vocal warm ups and overtone chanting

Afternoon

Labyrinth walk and more sound explorations

Evening

Folk song circle and drumming

Sunday August 25th

Morning

Sacred music

This is a weekend where we are all the resource people. We can all contribute by bringing a song, a beat, and something to eat. Meals for the weekend will be communal cooking style. Donations of all kinds welcome! If you are interested in attending please email rosemary@crickhollow.ca.

Women’s Healing Circle

Staring Tuesday August 20th I will host a women’s healing circle each Tuesday evening from 7 - 9. The circles will take place in the beautiful setting of the reiki cottage where we have massage tables and all kinds of gems and musical instruments to include in our treatments. All women with reiki one training or training in other modalities (massage therapy, sound, cranial sacral etc) are welcome.

We will start with singing and sharing and then take turns providing treatments for each other. We will then have a short closing. Doesn’t this just sound like so much fun?! If you would like to join in, email rosemary@crickhollow.ca.

By donation.

Thank you for reading this newsletter and I do hope you join us for these wondrous events!