The theme for today was "The threshold". As I was unable to attend, Carol and Jehanne have kindly sent material to include here.
Neesa began with two readings:
“2011 is an opportunity for us to stabilise what we wish to grow. It is a year to consolidate, to put down strong roots and lay firm foundations. There is a need to clear away our old baggage, old thinking patterns and any areas of our lives that are unsustainable, so that we don’t become stuck there. It is time to plant our feet firmly on the Earth and with clear intentions, begin to plant the seeds of our future.”
Glennie Kindred
“Look to this day for it is life;
The very life of life.
In its brief course lie all the realities and truths of existence –
The joy of growth,
The splendour of action,
The glory of power.
For yesterday is but a memory,
And tomorrow is only a vision,
But today well lived makes every yesterday
A memory of happiness,
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well, therefore, to this day.”
SANSKRIT HYMN
Peter read one of his poems:
New Years Irresolution
I don’t know what I’m building
But the bricks keep falling into place.
I don’t know where I’m going
But road seems to be leading somewhere.
After getting lost and found so many times
I’m starting to trust the geography.
Life is bigger than I thought,
And keeps unfolding in mysterious ways.
I think it’s a hole I’m falling into
And I discover a deeper ground.
I shrink and find myself growing larger.
I step off the edge, and I’m walking on air.
Somehow my mistakes are the right ones,
And my sickness is healing me.
I’m going round in circles.
I don’t remember falling asleep, but I keep discovering myself waking up.
Every time I escape I’m still here.
The world I come back to is always better at first.
With what’s happened and what could happen so huge, the present seems thin.
One year ends and another begins immediately!
Today I stand at the edge of a new year -
I always stand at the edge of a new self.
I’m getting confused:
The known and the unknown take turns deceiving me.
Am I moving in circles or spirals?
Am I laughing or crying?
Is this a new episode in my life or a repeat?
Where will it all end?
And how will I know?
Eve’s activity was based on this reading from T.S. Eliot’s Quartet – Little Gidding:
“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language
And next year’s words await another voice.”
Jehanne sang two songs, "This place" and a song for New Year.
This Place
This place is ancient, a place where the roads meet,
Showing lines in the landscape that were laid down by stars.
The wisdom the earth has been holding in secret
Begins to be known again as the years pass,
Begins to be known again as the years pass.
This place is ancient, a place where the trees grew;
The groves of great yew trees and later of oak,
Where creation was honoured by the old ones, the wise ones
And this place still remembers the words that they spoke,
And this place still remembers the words that they spoke.
This place is ancient : great stones mark the sunrise,
The moonrise and star-rise, the cycles of time,
Where the land holds the key to the wide cosmic dance
And we learn where we came from and how to return,
And we learn where we came from and how to return.
This place is ancient, a place of high power,
With roots that lie deeper than ever were seen;
On the one hand stands love, on the other stands wisdom,
And the gateway to Albion lies in between,
And the gateway to Albion lies in between.
But this place here is new, it is under construction-
Far stronger than stone is the love that we share.
This place is inward. It points to the future.
This place is a temple because we meet here,
This place is a temple because we meet here.
Song lyric © 5th-15th September 2009
Lyrics finished 10th, melody 15th
New Year
The old year shakes his hoary head for his time is nearly through.
We’ll see him swiftly on his way, sing a welcome to the new.
Now the glass is turning; set the boats a-burning,
New songs to be learning, new roads to be treading.
The January wind is come to sweep old lines away.
The new year comes with pen in hand to write another play.
Time’s at a beginning; set the wheels a-spinning,
New kites to be flying. New links to be tying.
.
Now take your loved ones by the hand for this I tell you true:
The gladness of the passing year sheds a glow upon the new;
Down the road together, sun or bitter weather,
New feats to be daring, new ale to be sharing.
Away with all the doubts and fears, for there’s no turning back.
Now set your face towards the sun and your feet upon the track.
Now the glass is turning, set the boats a-burning,
New songs to be learning, new roads to be treading.
© Jehanne Mehta
Last verse added 2nd January 2011
The next Celebration of Life will be on 13th February.
