Weekend
Well, I was not feeling well before the weekend as mentioned. I was really worried that it might affect my weekend away. It did a little but not enough to put a complete dampener on things.
The weekend was brilliant. We arrived on Friday, set up camp, found out where the toilets were (holes in the ground!!) and got cooking. The opening ceremony was simple and we all had to say what we wanted to take away from the camp. I spontaneously said "understanding". At the start of each meeting or workshop, a conch was blown. My friends and I decided to go to the chanting in a new Teepee lodge. There was a fire, which really got me coughing, and Oak (the man leading the chanting) dressed in not very much at all! He, and two others, beat drums and we chanted for a good hour before I decided that a trip to the food area might be a good idea. The fire really set me off. One of the "girls" and I went off for a delicious hot chocolate and a chat.
Saturday was brilliant. Not too hot and no rain for the most part. How best to describe everything? I woke early - 6am - and just chilled. As the other participants started waking up there were fires being lit, drums being beaten and music being played (instruments not radio. One of the "girls" and I decided to have a full blown breakfast in the food tent whilst the others just nibbled. All the food was veggie, including the sausage. It was probably one of the best breakfasts I have ever had. We then wandered back to the tents. The next meeting was at 10:00. The meeting just outlined the various workshops and treatments that were available.
A quick run down of some of the things available:
In the treatment tent
Back massages
Indian Head massage
Shiatsu
Tarot reading
Runes
Hot stone massage
Astrology
Reflexology
Workshops
Powersticks
Past life regression
Meditation - various
Discussion groups
Chanting
Singing
Circle dancing
Gong therapy (don't ask!!!)
Water world
Hot tub
Sauna
Hot, hot showers
All these powered by woodburning stoves.
There were also little shops selling clothes, bangles, fleeces (I bought a beautiful Jacob sheep fleece), rugs etc.
Saturday night was a real challenge...The rain started with a slight drizzle and before we knew where we were, there was a full blown gale and torrential rain. I lay in my tent at 2am wondering if the guy ropes would hold or not. As it happened the young boys who put the tents up did a brilliant job and not only did the tent not blow away but the rain did not creep in anywhere at all.
I came away with the most wonderful feeling of having arrived. Did I get "understanding"? Yes but not in the way I thought I would. I now understand the dynamics of the group I went with and why the people react the way they do.
I had hoped to be able to go to the "Big Green" but unfortunately my son's return from camp clashes with this. We might do a day trip to the "Healing Fields" and I would like to go to a camp in August. We will have to see.
The weekend was brilliant. We arrived on Friday, set up camp, found out where the toilets were (holes in the ground!!) and got cooking. The opening ceremony was simple and we all had to say what we wanted to take away from the camp. I spontaneously said "understanding". At the start of each meeting or workshop, a conch was blown. My friends and I decided to go to the chanting in a new Teepee lodge. There was a fire, which really got me coughing, and Oak (the man leading the chanting) dressed in not very much at all! He, and two others, beat drums and we chanted for a good hour before I decided that a trip to the food area might be a good idea. The fire really set me off. One of the "girls" and I went off for a delicious hot chocolate and a chat.
Saturday was brilliant. Not too hot and no rain for the most part. How best to describe everything? I woke early - 6am - and just chilled. As the other participants started waking up there were fires being lit, drums being beaten and music being played (instruments not radio. One of the "girls" and I decided to have a full blown breakfast in the food tent whilst the others just nibbled. All the food was veggie, including the sausage. It was probably one of the best breakfasts I have ever had. We then wandered back to the tents. The next meeting was at 10:00. The meeting just outlined the various workshops and treatments that were available.
A quick run down of some of the things available:
In the treatment tent
Back massages
Indian Head massage
Shiatsu
Tarot reading
Runes
Hot stone massage
Astrology
Reflexology
Workshops
Powersticks
Past life regression
Meditation - various
Discussion groups
Chanting
Singing
Circle dancing
Gong therapy (don't ask!!!)
Water world
Hot tub
Sauna
Hot, hot showers
All these powered by woodburning stoves.
There were also little shops selling clothes, bangles, fleeces (I bought a beautiful Jacob sheep fleece), rugs etc.
Saturday night was a real challenge...The rain started with a slight drizzle and before we knew where we were, there was a full blown gale and torrential rain. I lay in my tent at 2am wondering if the guy ropes would hold or not. As it happened the young boys who put the tents up did a brilliant job and not only did the tent not blow away but the rain did not creep in anywhere at all.
I came away with the most wonderful feeling of having arrived. Did I get "understanding"? Yes but not in the way I thought I would. I now understand the dynamics of the group I went with and why the people react the way they do.
I had hoped to be able to go to the "Big Green" but unfortunately my son's return from camp clashes with this. We might do a day trip to the "Healing Fields" and I would like to go to a camp in August. We will have to see.