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 5 Mar 2008 @ 09:38
This title surely describes the writer. There are childhood memories of being surrounded by the pristine natural woodlands of glistening dried grasses and strange leafed trees, a type of deciduous savanna in a high veld. This area is still an untouched wilderness. There was a notion of being mesmerised by the beauty of such visions and the accompanying cacophony of songbirds, insect and distant primeval animal sounds. Supposedly such an experience must form the basis for all other life style judgements for it would seem to be so in this case.
There are friends too, whom it is known, nurture a similar formative years' experience. Perhaps not on open display as the full Western type living is desported, but underneath to their innermost self, these notions formed the very heartbeats of their life, the bush. For a small child, up to the age of 6 or 7 say, to already be aware of a mentality equal to a meditation, is both a gift and no small achievement. It suggests their outward life is secondary and not primary to their existence. Having given themselves over to a large notion of goodness such as exists in the pristine wilderness and bush is to keep an essential separation from the vast simple materialistic world. Those items of consumption will be used with respect and not abused to excessive usage being as they are not paramount to their existence. One could say there is much more SPACE in this realm unbounded by hard linear borders and base sheer utilitarian endless cycles.
There is a piece recently found in a current reading subject on how one african tribal people greeted the visiting white assistant district commissioner after his 2 day trek on foot through the Bush. It is transposed here and comes down from a previous pre-war heritage of thorough Victorian Missionary school and education standards put to the very africans there. This suggests that they did receive education from an early time and it indicates the consideration imparted by the teachers. And also that it did not hinder the Village Life culture of the people but actually enhanced it for them, creating a firm reference basis for themselves prior to taking the next vital step in their development process. More >
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 20 Aug 2007 @ 15:23
Dawn workout on Mount Khgale overlooking the Kalahari
Taking the Lobatse road south of the capital, take a right turn at the local school painted turquoise blue and follow the track towards the mountain until reaching an open space in the bush and scrub overlooking a dried river bed.
Follow the path to the north of the Satellite tracking station, towards the south of the mountain. When almost reaching the central part of the southern massif, watch out for path turning right towards the foothill of the mountain. This slowly climbs steeper and steeper. When almost at uppermost plateau level, there is an open outcropping of piled boulders forming a cool ledge with foliage overhangs and a small cave (see Poem Jungle in the City) with an Eastern view point over the dam and hills on the other side. After resting, continue towards the summit and cross the open flat rock surface with its small pools of clear water. This could be one ideal spot for a yoga work out, or continue on to the actual geological summit to view the North facing Kalahari desert aspect for a suitable peaceful spot, remembering in the Southern hemisphere the Sun, is in the North, and the sunrise on the righthand side. More >
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 20 Aug 2007 @ 13:46
The major battles or warfare in my own current life are against the three major proclivities of the environment and their impact on Mind/Body system. Throughout the course of the year the types of battle vary precisely with the seasons. In the Autumn the battle is to reduce movement, but this is the very energy which manifests at this time and in its own natural balanced way is an essential component to the wheel of nature. In daily contemplation of how to climb the next rung on the ladder of health, for maybe a week or so the weather will remain similar. During this time the precise effects of whatever foodstuffs and healing spices and herbs used for tasty flavouring and appetite increasers will be minutely observed and make them seen and KNOWN. And impact on the entire endeavour in all its aspects.
The next battle is the Battle of the Earth characteristics thrown upon the body and mind. When all is cold and dry, and earth clumps seek moisture to warm the seeds of all growth for the coming year. Lack of will power, succumbing to cold wishing for heat, natural light foods to balance heavy earth, lots of heart glow and love, until finally reaching Eastertide. More >
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 14 Jul 2005 @ 15:51
While London gets to grips with the atrocities of last week against innocent travellers, and now the news of the attackers communities in traditional slumbering neighbourhoods, the following letter was received from Zimbabwe to describe the latest crackdowns on its media. Obviously there was no connection between the two, but there appears to be no organisation able to transmit news from Zimbabwe at the moment. Twenty years ago while resident in neighbouring Botswana, a plan I conceived to aid this stricken country was to put an arcaded yoga/ meditation/ fountain platform on the summit of one of the hills of giant boulders characteristic of the domain so that users could turn North/East facing this country, to offer aid in some tangible way. The idea included visitors removing their footwear to walk bare foot up the mountain path through the pristine wilderness vegetation and refresh and relax on the summit arena in meditative pose. Baboons, monkeys, eagles, vultures and such gradually approach any such visit inquisitively sometimes creating their own commotions to divert attention. Perhaps now I can invite anyone who cares to spare a few seconds thought for the Zimbabweans having their houses smashed, and those wondering if theirs is next, to visit this Hilltop yoga/meditation/fountain platform on the summit of Kgale (pronounced carly) for a little virtual yoga. More >
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