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Wales

dailyconnectionwithnature nature Outdoors Wales

On technology and stuff

June 26, 2021

I felt thoroughly sick riding past this yesterday. Listening to that machine chew through all this life just so we can devour more stuff. It forced me to think about a couple of things – firstly the technology that allows our massive consumption as a species. I’m not saying we shouldn’t use wood-based products, that is part of the cycle of life, but what really struck me is how much wood ends up in recycling or landfill when what we…

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family Wales

A celebration of life

May 28, 2021

We didn’t want to wear black for dad’s service today – it felt too somber, too sad when a celebration of his life is what we had planned.  We had a non-religious gathering and a wonderful celebrant who took great care to share dad’s life and triumphs.  We played songs by Fleetwood Mac and the Welsh Male Voice Choir, as well as Imagine by John Lennon. My sister Faye spoke with great heart about dad’s ability to be ‘the rising…

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family Wales

The cycle of family continues

May 26, 2021

The cycle of family continues – people pass on and we miss them, mourn them, celebrate every beautiful thing they taught us. Then we turn around and the next generation are shining bright beside us. On Friday we will celebrate my father’s life as the family gathers to say goodbye, and today was the first time we hugged our new granddaughter, Hilda since she was born five months ago. Taking grandson Arthur for a spin on the bike we bought…

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Cymru Europe politics Wales

In need of a rant

April 22, 2021

The Senedd elections are next month and I’ve never felt so disillusioned with the entire political process. Democracy feels like fake news. Voting these days feels very much focussed on divisions instead of a beautiful cocreated future of inclusivity. Emerging from Covid, many of us are thinking about how we can actively create the world we want to live in instead of accepting what we’ve been given, but how does that translate in real life?Did you know that British nationals…

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dailyconnectionwithnature nature Outdoors slowlivingactivism vanlife Wales

Wisdoms from the river and the trees

April 5, 2021

Yesterday we hiked to the source of the Severn River. We stood at the small swampy bog that is the origins of this vast and tumbling body of water that becomes so large the Severn Bridge was constructed so that we might cross.  A reminder that the humblest beginnings can grow into the most unexpected forces of nature.  Later I spoke with the trees there, who do not think of humans as friends, and I apologised for the mess we’ve…

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creating poetry travel Wales

In praise of our Celtic rainforests

March 27, 2021

Being back in our homeland of Cymru this winter offered a beautiful opportunity to reconnect with the land and trees here. This weekend travel restrictions ease and we get to explore farther afield once more. Here’s a poem from the Hanes poetry pamphlet in celebration of that. Also for my lovely friend @anjetvanlinge ? #rainforest #celticrainforest #idreamwithtrees #poetlife #slowlivingactivism text reads: rainforestSnowdonia’s Celtic rain forest in Cwm Mynach (Monk’s Valley) has around 200 days of rain each year. rainfall tearsblister…

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dailyconnectionwithnature feature nature Outdoors slowlivingactivism Wales

Bridging the gap

March 21, 2021

Yesterday I felt the spring equinox in my body. This doesn’t always happen, but more so as these days in the van roll through me. I’m trying to shape without shaping, push-then-release, open my heart to my Self.I’ve spent this past time telling my body that I love her, that she is special to me, that I’m sorry for all the times I treated her like an emotional dumping ground.Yesterday that disconnect ended – there was no ‘me’ talking to…

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creating nature Outdoors vanhounds Wales

snow reels

January 30, 2021

I’ve been really enjoying the Reels function on Instagram recently. Here’s a couple of short clips made of snow-fun-times, soundtracked by Kate Bush’s 50 Words for Snow as I have that on loop every winter until spring. You can find more on my Instagram Reels. View this post on Instagram A post shared by OUTSIDER [Sophie McKeand] (@sophiemckeand_outsider) View this post on Instagram A post shared by OUTSIDER [Sophie McKeand] (@sophiemckeand_outsider) View this post on Instagram A post shared by…

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Cymraeg Cymru nature Wales

Teachings from the Giant

December 17, 2020

Cadair Idris – Idris is a Cymraeg giant and this is his chair. Legend has it if you spend a night on this mountain you return mad or a poet (is there a difference?). I went to the mountain today and he asked, ‘What do you want?’‘I don’t want anything’ I replied.And I’ve felt proud that I’ve spent years cultivating this ‘not wanting’, growing an ability to step outside of the maelstrom of ‘want’ that we can all get sucked…

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dailyconnectionwithnature feature nature poetry Wales water

Naked bodies aren’t offensive (but sexualising them can be…)

November 14, 2020

My body is a prayer to the waterNaked, I return to herThe rain is charismatic in her offeringsI bathe in the full potential of Self.? @andyrgarside ? In celebration of my body who got me through over 44 years of life in style (most of the time), and giving praise to the waters that birthed me (but not for too long as the Cymraeg waters are cold in November).…

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