http://www.thebookofpeaceandlove.com en-gb thebookofpeaceandlove.com 2012-1-10T00:00:00Z thebookofpeaceandlove.com http://www.thebookofpeaceandlove.com/page6.htm#110119 Many people ask me of the prophecies they half hear and misremember or that they get fed by the press eager to sell stories about the end of the world in 2012. A major cycle in the Mayan calender comes to an end on the 21st of December 2012 the Winter Solstice. BUT and this is the important part a NEW CYCLE starts and it is up to us whether we want to part of this new cycle or not. Can we stand up and take responsibility not just for ourselves and our actions but the actions of those around us our governments our communities Can we embrace change Can we agree that by working together we can make a real difference Looking back over the past year the rising up of multitudes in the Middle East I cant help but feel that we can. Sadly on the 1st of January I find myself flying with a Bahraini. I ask him how he spent his new year and he looks at me sadly. Yesterday the government shot a 15 year old boy dead in my street. He says. Today we buried him. Thousands came to the funeral of the mart... 2012-1-1 21:02:51 http://www.thebookofpeaceandlove.com/page6.htm#110118 This year we are blessed with the presence of the elder Delfin from the Secoya people of Ecuador together with Luke who is his grandson in law interpreter and so much more. We are also blessed with the presence of the founder of Native Spirit Foundation Freddy of the Mapuche people in Chile.After some deliberation we arrive at the idea that it is not going to be possible to charge for any of the activities. This is despite the quite considerable cost of transport flights as well as petrol in the Uk and visa applications the cost of renting the hall and all the other many costs that soon add up. Asking Spirit for direction we are aware that the only way forwards is for us to ask a donation instead so we do this. At the end of the 2 days we add up what has been received and find it more than ample to pay for what was needed. What a joy. Amongst the donations we receive is one from a lady coming from Dartmoor. She has not heard of what we are doing but her spirits have asked her to come a... 2011-10-31 21:01:50 http://www.thebookofpeaceandlove.com/page6.htm#94935 It has been a long time since I have updated this but lots and lots of things have happened over the past few months. We are now starting a film screening in Avebury of indigenous films to raise money for October when a group if indigenous elders from the Americas will come to share time with us in sacred space. The first screening will be on the 18th of June and it would be lovely to see you all there.I am in Washington at the moment during what the Americans call Memorial weekend. On a previous visit I have been in to the Vientnam memorial and I was struck by the fact that there was no mention of the thousands of civilians who lost their lives no mention of the North Vietnamese deaths or the Vietcong deaths. It seems to be a very onesided memorial to a conflict and it saddens me to think that the only lives that are considered worthy to be remembered are those of the American GIs. What a shame that we even have to HAVE such a thing as a memorial day to remember those that died in con... 2011-5-28 14:56:00 http://www.thebookofpeaceandlove.com/page6.htm#79666 A few notes on Samhain visit of indigenous elders to AveburyI greet the elders and we chat briefly before I set off to a druid ceremony run by Morgane with some of them. It is bitterly cold and I am a bit concerned that some of them have no coats and are wearing thin trousers that surely cannot be enough. I am cold even with my coat on and after a while I head back to the house for some blankets I had asked them if they were cold but they kept saying they were fine Gail brought out an armful of blankets and they all dutifully wrapped up and admitted they were a little chilly When the mead was passed round they were delighted that it was alcoholic as they said it would help them with the cold so I began to suspect that they may be being more polite than I had thought and that we needed to make sure they were ok as they would not tell us straight outWe got back to the house and ateconversations I picked uptranslatedwhere does the drinking water from the taps cam... 2010-10-31 23:58:58 http://www.thebookofpeaceandlove.com/page6.htm#77326 2010-10-7 23:33:20 http://www.thebookofpeaceandlove.com/page6.htm#77327 Independence day in Mexico rather than stay in the city I take a bus to Cholula the site of the worlds largest pyramid which is barely discernable now beneath the basilica of the Virgen de los Remedios. Curiously she is depicted on a snake which comes to life and slithers down the pyramid on the solstices a direct connection to Quetzalcoatl.The skies open and in the pouring rain by the healing pyramid of Tepoztlan a young Mexican stops to make music with us. We get wet but inside our souls we are warm.I find myself rattling and calling to the ancient spirits in the company of a Buddhist who in turn chants and rings his bells. There is no single way this seems clear and the clarity shines in the rain.For the grito the shout of freedom we join in packed in the crowds of Cholulas zocalo VIVA MEXICO VIVA ZAPATAEveryone seems to celebrate and there is a genuine feeling of unity. Things may be bad but from where we stand today we can see that things have improved over the last 200 years. My ... 2010-9-15 23:33:21 http://www.thebookofpeaceandlove.com/page6.htm#69841 2010-7-8 11:07:34 http://www.thebookofpeaceandlove.com/page6.htm#69842 I have been away for sometime traveling down to Australia via Bangkok. Bangkok must be one of my favorite places in the world Krung Thep the city of Angels filled with contrasts. This time I went to Wat Traimit the temple of the Golden Buddha. The whole temple has changed beyond recognition a new building stands tall housing the Golden Buddha on the fourth and final floor. It all seems cleaner somehow streamlined. The old temple had a number of slot machines in the entrance with garish Buddhas inside that would read you your fortune for a few baht whilst lighting up with fairground lights. I remember feeling that it was a shame they were there as they made it all seem less magical and mythical but somehow I missed them in the new temple. The Buddha itself is perhaps not the most imposing you can see but it is a beautiful metaphor for us all. Some time ago the old temple was to be renovated and a crane was brought in to move the large cement buddha. When the crane lifted the Buddha to... 2010-7-8 11:07:34 http://www.thebookofpeaceandlove.com/page6.htm#64134 2010-4-29 14:54:21 http://www.thebookofpeaceandlove.com/page6.htm#58798 14th February 2010I have the great fortune of being in Nevada for a few days staying in the Hilton in Las Vegas. Before coming here I manage to convince myself that I will go in to a few casinos and place some bets just for the fun of it but as soon as I arrive I see that this is just a no go area for me. The energy inside the casinos is rank dirty and stilted. So much dashed hope and last chances so many people convinced that they will walk away rich walking away dejected and poor. The lobby lights and the noise of the countless onearmed bandits dazzles me and disorientates. I cannot stay in the city.The people with me seem surprised when i explain that I will be heading out into the desert. Nobody wants to come along so I rent a car and head off alone to the Valley of Fire national park. Its funny but I knew I had to go no matter how many obstacles are placed in my path. Im not comfortable driving alone but there is no question about going so I ask about car rentals in the hotel. Bei... 2010-2-20 11:40:13 http://www.thebookofpeaceandlove.com/page6.htm#57305 In Bangkok the city with so many names it is easy to get lost to slip in between worlds and discover something we did not even know we had lost. The scenic Bangkok Noi reveals hidden wonders at every turn of the canal spectacular temples replete with saffron garbed monks we revel in the sound of their chanting.My favourite name for Bangkok is Krung Thep city of Angels as it always feels to me as if the sense of divine is palpable in parts of it.My pilgrimage here takes me not to any of the major temples but to a street shrine of the Hindu God Ganesh that I have visited for years. It is curious how there are always so many offerings here as well as people praying. It is unlikely that they are Hindus as the Hindu population of Thailand is tiny but from conversations with fellow pilgrims it seems that they too realise that God may come in many shapes and sizes but is ultimately the same. We place an offering of flowers and chocolate at the shrine and light incense sticks as we chant to Ga... 2010-1-30 09:20:59 http://www.thebookofpeaceandlove.com/page6.htm#54450 Its been a while since Ive updated this mainly because I have been floored by the flu. Im much better now and am back on my travels around the world. This time I have had the wonderful opportunity to play guitar in the botanical gardens next to Sydney harbour in Australia. My audience comprised mainly of grey headed flying foxes giant furry bats that congregate in their hundreds in the trees where I stopped to play. I was in the Cadi Jam Ora part of the gardens the exhibit marking the first encounters between the aboriginal people of Australia and the colonizers. The Sydney harbour basin has always been a sacred site to the largely displaced aboriginals and it seemed fitting to sit and play in the small area dedicated to their history and culture. Other than the digeridoos for sale in the gift shops in all likelihood imported from Bali and sold as genuine articles for exhorbitant prices there was little sign of the aboriginal people anywhere else I went. Looking at the botanical gard... 2009-12-13 02:07:11 http://www.thebookofpeaceandlove.com/page6.htm#54449 2009-12-13 02:07:10 http://www.thebookofpeaceandlove.com/page6.htm#50729 I am writing this because on the 26th of October I am due to operate on BA 065 to Nairobi and will of course be visiting Nyumbani Orphanage. I already have 3 suitcases of clothes to take down with me as well as an envelope with some money but was hoping some of you might be willing to contribute to the Nyumbani fund. I guarantee any monies sent through me will go directly to Nyumbani orphanage and am more than willing to provide individual receipts as always should you require them.The latest news from Nyumbani isMore than 400 people currently live in our village over 350 children and 50 grandparents. Solar powered boreholes have been set up making the village self sustainable for water. Crop and animal farming is developing well but there are real challenges to be faced in making this community truly selfsustainable. An extensive building programme has started which not only helps to expand our sustainability project but has also provided 300 local jobs to the surrounding villages he... 2009-10-16 14:46:26 http://www.thebookofpeaceandlove.com/page6.htm#50199 4th of October second public healing performance this time spontaneous. I visit the village of Romainm244tierEnvy Switzerland and its 11th century monastery. This time I am moved to sit and play my guitar. I play sing and find my voice is joined by a chorus of others the voices of my friends who are with me but also interestingly the voices of strangers who happen to come inside. People come up to us afterwards each thanking us for a moving experience. One lady tells us she was moved to tears at one point a man asks us to come to his wedding to provide healing voices of peace and love in the chapel as his marriage takes place. We are all moved by something bigger than us. It is at this point sitting outside the monastery in the sunshine that I realise I need to do this. If this feels like it might be the right thing for you then I would urge you to take up your instruments and be part of a music and healing revolution in your own sacred sites. I look forward to making hea... 2009-10-7 22:56:55