Westacre Newsletter issue #2

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It’s Summer! I’m amazed. I don’t think the weather has been this hot and sunny for this long in several years. The contrast with last year’s washed out July couldn’t be sharper. I hope you enjoy hot and sunny, and you are revelling in it while it lasts.

While you are all still receiving The Magic of Connection, do tell us if any of the episodes go missing. We’ve had a couple of unexplained disappearances, and of course we’d like you to get the whole course! I do apologise for any teething problems. We’re very new at this and are working to streamline the process.

This 2nd Westacre missive is full of unexpected discoveries. Do let us know what you think of it, and share your ideas about what you would like us to include.

Enjoy!

Hilde

## In this issue

– Project News
– Interview with a Bad Witch
– How you can help
– Stay in touch

## Project News

The Westacre renovation project is an attempt to make our 1930s house as environmentally friendly as we can. This will involve insulating it thoroughly, and getting our heating from renewable sources. You can follow our adventure on our web site (see link at the end of this issue).

Last week, the Westacre renovation project moved into a new phase. We made decisions on the details of the new windows and front door we want. The plan is to restore much of the old part of the house to what it was like originally, including the position of the front door. So we needed to do some exploratory demolition work to find out how much space we have to play with.

In the process, we uncovered a few unexpected things.

Behind the plasterwork, we didn’t find a straight lintel but a brick arch where the front door used to be.

In the ceiling space near the arch, the wiring was, let’s say, a little unorthodox. Alex spent a day working out what was connected to what and bringing it up to scratch.

The ceiling of the current front door porch was made of white asbestos, and had a wasps’ nest hiding behind it. Because we need to work in that area, we unfortunately needed to take lethal measures to make it safe.

We were much happier to discover a nest of small bumble bees in the garden. It is in an area that we have designated to become a coppice woodland, so the bees couldn’t have chosen a better place to build their colony.

The adventures continue.

## Interview with a Bad Witch

One of our favourite pagan blogs is owned by an old friend of ours. She writes a short post every day, covering pagan topics of all kinds. Her posts are variously beautiful and useful, or weird and silly. It also lists pagan events in the London area.

We asked her a few questions.

How long have you been writing the Bad Witch Blog? What inspired you to start it?

My first post was on November 7, 2007. I started writing it for two main reasons.

The first reason was that although I I’d been a feature writer on a local newspaper for six years, I realised that writing for the web was overtaking dead tree publications. I hoped blogging would give me web-writing experience.

The second reason was really behind the subject matter I chose. I wanted to get back to being more involved in paganism. Ever since I’d stopped being an active member of a coven I felt I’d become a lapsed witch – or a bad witch. That was why I picked that title. I wanted to become a better witch.

Doesn’t it get a bit much to have to do a daily post?

Gosh yes, but I find that the discipline of having to write it is good. I sort of think of it as my daily magical practice. Writing as a bad witch stops me being a bad witch.

Are you still enjoying it?

Gosh yes too. I’d have given up ages ago if I didn’t enjoy it – although of course there are times I feel like giving up.

What would you say is your best blog post so far?

That’s tough as I have written quite a few over the years that I’ve enjoyed. My favourite is probably The Ghosts and Grails of Lewes: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/08/ghosts-and-grails-of-lewes.html

The most popular by far is one about double-yolked eggs: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/08/double-yolk-eggs-folklore-and.html

Do you have a regular spiritual practice that sustains your soul?

I think I’ve answered that – writing my blog. Although it isn’t just the writing, it is the research and learning I do that goes into the writing. Blogging is just the discipline that keeps me at it and gives me more of an incentive to keep going. I’d really recommend it to anyone on a pagan path who likes writing.

You are writing a Bad Witch’s blog, but have you ever met a good one?

I’ve met loads of good witches – absolutely loads. What makes a good witch is practice. I think many people are born with the natural ability to be a witch and it is possible to learn a great deal from books but you’ll only get any good a it by regular practice. It also helps to get training from someone who very experienced and a good teacher.

I trained initially with Shan at House of the Goddess and after that spent a year and a day training with a Wiccan coven before I was initiated as a witch, but it took many more years of practising the craft before I felt I was really any good at it. There are still some areas in which I would consider myself a rank amateur!

What does the phrase ‘The Magic of Connection’ mean to you?

We are all connected via the Web of Life. The magic of connection is experiencing it – realising that every human, every animal, every plant, every rock, every bit of our planet and all the planets and stars and galaxies are all connected, always have been and always will be.

With thanks to the Bad Witch for answering our questions. Please go and explore her blog by following some of the links in the interview. If you like it, bookmark it and share it with your friends.

## How you can help

– Tell your friends about the free Magic of Connection course.

– Share our blog posts on social media. Liking them is good, but actually sharing things that you find interesting really helps us find our audience.

– Comment on our blog posts, on the actual web site. Tell us about your own adventures in connected living. This will get conversations started that add value for all of us.

Get your hands dirty:

– Come and visit us at Westacre. Join in with what we are doing. It is an opportunity to learn new skills and to hang out with us in our beautiful garden.
Last weekend, our friend Liz came to stay. She enjoyed making a real difference to the look of our garden by getting stuck into the weeding.

## Stay in touch

Our contact details and our presence on social media can be found here:
http://www.westacre.org.uk/contact

fostertom on EWI

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Excellent advice from fostertom on external wall insulation (EWI):

The ideal is EWI to walls, continuous with similar EPS [expanded polystyrene] on OSB [a kind of plywood] boarded over the top of the rafters, tiles/slates replaced but a bit higher up. The roof OSB is adequately airtight, without any problems with interruption by internal trusses etc. Unfortunately EWI can’t be relied on to be airtight, so either an external rough-render (breatheable) on the brickwork before EWI-ing, or the internal plaster wd be your wall airtight barrier.That (like IWI [internal wall insulation]) is problematic because of joist penetrations and joists so close parallel to wall that you can’t make the internal plaster continuous through the floor thickness. Also needs connecting up with roof OSB (or with over-joist membrane if trying to air-tight at loft floor level).

(from greenbuildingforum.co.uk)

Remember what gives you joy

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Step onto the Pathway of Love, part 3. This morning at 5 am, rumbles of thunder woke me. I lay there, listening to this uncommon sound and the hush of the rain falling, counting the seconds before flashes of lightning lit up the room. I’m glad I woke up. I needed to witness the coming of the [...]

Westacre Newsletter issue #1

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Thank you so much for signing up for The Magic of Connection and the
Westacre Newsletter. We’re really grateful for your support.

These letters will bring you features, interviews and practices that
don’t appear anywhere else. In this issue, we start off with a simple
healing ritual that will help you find your centre in an chaotic world.

You have also received the first part of The Magic of Connection by
now. This 9 part course builds into a meditative ritual practice Twitter
connecting you deeply to the land and to yourself. I have been doing
this meditation daily in her garden for years, and it has been a great
source of healing and comfort in difficult times. Give it a go!

Please also let us know what you think of this e-mail. If you have any
ideas for articles or features, they are also very welcome. You can
contact us at newsletter@westacre.org.uk

Enjoy your first issue,

Hilde

## Coming Home – a ritual

Our busy daily lives often throw us off centre and leave us feeling
frazzled. Just travelling to and from work can be an ordeal. This very
simple ritual will bring you back to the heart of yourself with the help
of the Four Elements.

You need a representation of each element: Earth, Air, Fire and Water
(e.g. stone, feather, flower, shell)

Put the symbols around your circular working space, in the appropriate
direction. Cast a circle if you want to.

Sit in the centre of the circle. Take some breaths and centre yourself.
Stretch your awareness to the edge of your circle.

Walk around the edge of the circle. Sense which element draws you first.
Sit down with the one that speaks to you most loudly.

Become aware of that element in the place where you are working. The
solid Earth beneath you. The Air, always moving, touching your skin. The
Fire of Sun or Moon, of things living and growing. The Water of the
nearest stream, of rain, and of life ebbing and flowing.

Let each element heal you. Let the tensions in your body flow into the
solid Earth. Let your thoughts dissipate in the wind. Allow yourself to
shine with the light that surrounds you. Let your emotions flow freely,
away to the river, to the sea.

When you feel ready, move the symbol of the element from the edge of
your circle to the centre. Pause for a moment and just feel the element
in your body: the solidity of your flesh and bones; the air flowing in
and out with your breath; the fire of your life force warming you; the
waters of your body ebbing and flowing with each heart beat.

When you are strongly centred in that element, let your awareness of it
subside and return to the edge of the circle. Start walking around your
circle again, and go to the next element that speaks to you.

Work your way through the four elements, until all your symbols are at
the centre.

Sit and enjoy this for a while: this is your home, your centre, fully
balanced by the elements.

When you feel ready, gently draw your awareness from the edge of your
circle inward, to a distance that feels comfortable. Close your circle
if you cast one.

How does this ritual make you feel? What has changed? Write about it in
your journal and carry this centred energy out into your world.

## Featured blog posts and links

– EarthLines:

A few months ago, I came across EarthLines Magazine. It is dedicated to
nature writing, publishing articles that speak beautifully of our
connection with the land and its inhabitants. It is published quarterly.

I have subscribed to the electronic version of the magazine, and am
impressed by the beauty of its writing and its images. If you would like
a taster, go and have a look at the EarthLines Review, a web site that
publishes shorter articles in between issues of the magazine. Nature can
become our culture as we learn how to live in harmony with the Earth.

http://earthlinesreview.org

– Four Pathways to Connected Living:

As people who are concerned for the Earth and her inhabitants, we all
need support. We need to know that we are not alone, and that we are
strong enough to face up to the many challenges we face.

There are many things that we can do to conserve our soul as we do the
work to protect the Earth and each other. I have grouped them into four
Pathways that help us deepen our connection and our resilience:

The Pathway of Love helps us draw on the love we feel for our beautiful
home planet for motivation and sustenance. The Pathway of Sorrow allows
us to express difficult feelings that come up as we face many
challenges. The Pathway of Transformation helps us look at ourselves
from a different perspective, finding our true identity as part of the
natural world. And the Pathway of Service guides us to practical action
that is aligned with our soul’s purpose.

I intend to put together a collection of resources for each of these
Pathways. Eventually, there will be links, books and courses; meditative
practices, rituals, and practical suggestions. Read more here:

http://www.westacre.org.uk/spiritual-centre/four-pathways-to-connected-living/

## What you can do to help

Quick and easy:

– Tell your friends about the free Magic of Connection course.

– Share our blog posts on social media. Liking them is good, but
actually sharing things that you find interesting really helps us find
our audience.

– Comment on our blog posts, on the actual web site. Tell us about your
own adventures in connected living. This will get conversations started
that add value for all of us.

Get your hands dirty:

– Come and visit us at Westacre. Join in with what we are doing. It is
an opportunity to learn new skills and to hang out with us in our
beautiful garden.

## Stay in touch

*Our contact details* are here:
http://www.westacre.org.uk/contact

Westacre Newsletter – issue 1

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Hot off the press

Introducing the Westacre Newsletter

Thank you so much for subscribing to The Magic of Connection and the Westacre Newsletter. We’re really grateful for your support.

This newsletter will bring you interesting articles and exclusive offers. You may get
– a meditation from the Westacre Spiritual Centre,
– a ritual to sustain your soul and your land,
– an interview or guest article from another adventurer in connected living,
– an exclusive offer or competition from an affiliated businesses,
– savings on courses and events,
– or any other goodie we think you might like.

The features in this newsletter will come to you, our subscribers, first. They will only appear in the newsletter archive after any offers or competitions have finished.

You have also received the first part of The Magic of Connection by now. This 9 part course builds into a meditative ritual practice connecting you deeply to the land and to yourself. I have been doing this meditation daily in her garden for years, and it has been a great source of healing and comfort in difficult times. Give it a go!

If you have NOT received any installments of The Magic of Connection, have a look in your junk folder. If the course has ended up in your junk, PLEASE LET US KNOW. We’ll try to prevent that.

We hope you enjoy your first issue. Please let us know what you think of it. If you have any ideas for articles or features, they are also very welcome. You can contact us at newsletter@westacre.org.uk

Enjoy your first issue,

Hilde

 

Latest blog posts & links

From the Spiritual centre:

- Four pathways to connected living: an introduction
As people concerned for our planet and its inhabitants, we can get disheartened by the challenges facing us. Here are four Pathways to keeping our souls well fed and strong.

- Weaving my soul back into the web
What the Magic of Connection can do for you in difficult times.

From the Westacre Project:

- External wall insulation vs ground source heat pump
What combination of insulation and heating would work for you?

From the Web:

- The unexpected antidote to procrastination
What we are afraid of and how to get over it.

- Holding a door open for the ancestors
Why they should be the ones driving the car.

Coming home – a ritual

You need a representation of each element: Earth, Air, Fire and Water (e.g. stone, feather, bright colour, shell)

Put the symbols around your circular working space, in the appropriate direction. Cast a circle if you want to.

Sit in the centre of the circle. Take some breaths and centre yourself. Stretch your awareness to the edge of your circle.

Walk around the edge of the circle. Sense which element draws you first. Sit down with the one that speaks to you most loudly.

Become aware of that element in the place where you are working. The solid Earth beneath you. The Air, always moving, touching your skin. The Fire of Sun or Moon, of things living and growing. The Water of the nearest stream, of rain and of life ebbing and flowing.

Let each element heal you. Let the tensions in your body flow into the solid Earth. Let your thoughts dissipate in the wind. Allow yourself to shine with the light that surrounds you. Let your emotions flow freely, away to the river, to the sea.

When you feel ready, move the symbol of the element from the edge of your circle to the centre. Pause for a moment and just feel the element in your body: the solidity of your flesh and bones; the air flowing in and out with your breath; the fire of your life force warming you; the waters of your body ebbing and flowing with each heart beat.

When you are strongly centred in that element, let your awareness of it subside and return to the edge of the circle. Start walking around your circle again, and go to the next element that speaks to you.

Work your way through the four elements, until all your symbols are at the centre.

Sit and enjoy this for a while: this is your home, your centre, fully balanced by the elements.

When you feel ready, gently draw your awareness from the edge of your circle inward, to a distance that feels comfortable. Close your circle if you cast one.

How does this ritual make you feel? What has changed? Write about it in your journal and carry this centred energy out into your world.

What you can do to help

Quick and easy:

- Tell your friends about the free Magic of Connection course.

- Share our blog posts on social media. Liking them is good, but actually sharing things that you find interesting really helps us find our audience.

- Comment on our blog posts, on the actual web site. Tell us about your own adventures in connected living. This will get conversations started that add value for all of us.

Get your hands dirty:

- Come and visit us at Westacre. Join in with what we are doing. It is an opportunity to learn new skills and to hang out with us in our beautiful garden.

Stay in touch

Twitter for in-the-moment updates and relevant links.

Facebook for daily news, photos and blog links.

Our web site for inspiration, project news, and online courses.

Our contact details are here.

How to remove a wasps’ nest

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We’re finally seeing some progress on the Westacre renovation project. This is what has happened in the last week or so:

– Our house has been measured for new windows.
– Alex has started some demolition in the hall and dining room area.
– Some re-wiring was done, because the original was not exactly to spec.
– A sheet of asbestos was found to make up the ceiling in the porch.
- There was a wasps’ nest in the roof space above the asbestos.

A wasps' nest, not unlike the one that was in our porch.

A wasps’ nest, not unlike the one that was in our porch.

Trying to take asbestos down is bad enough without a colony of wasps getting all annoyed at you for threatening their home. And while we would love for all creatures to be able to live and thrive in their own way alongside us, wasps right inside an area where Alex needs to work is just not an option.

Clearly, we had to take drastic measures.

Alex found a couple of great resources on the internet, telling him exactly what to do about the wasps:

WikiHow Get rid of a wasps’ nest: a step by step guide on how to proceed.

And a how-to video:

Some pro tips:
– Wear protective clothing to protect your hands, face and neck.
– Do the procedure in the evening, when all the wasps are in the nest.
– If you have to use a light to see what you are doing, put it somewhere away from you. You don’t want the insects to get attracted by the light from the torch in your hand.

I’m glad, and sad at the same time, to report that the procedure was a success. The porch ceiling was dismantled without any wasp-related misadventures.

Do you know of a better way to remove a wasps’ nest? Something not involving nasty chemicals, perhaps? Please do share your insights below.

Blow your mind with awe and wonder

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Step onto the Pathway of Love, part 2 Slugs are the enemy. They have eaten virtually everything I’ve tried to grow in my veg patch this year: carrots, parsnips, brassicas, beans. All gone. So I’m not particularly impressed with slugs at the moment. But I decided to do a little research. What useful niche do these creatures [...]

Making an ugly house look good

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Let’s not mince words here: Westacre’s house is ugly.

I fear it may well have been quite a smart 1930s house before Alex’s parents got their hands on it. They were the ones who replaced the rounded bay windows with a square bay. They bricked up the original front door. And they decided that the grey Tyrolean render was a good idea.

What do you think?

Westacre as it looks now.

Westacre as it looks now.

We would like to remodel this frontage and make it look better. We are aiming to take the design about 25 years further into the past. We’re going for Edwardian smart.

Of course, you can do things to a house and you’ll only really know what the result looks like when you have spent all the money on brickwork, new windows, a modified roof and insulation. To give ourselves some sort of idea, Alex has spent a few days working on a photoshop pre-visualisation of what we’re aiming for.

As you can see, we will be putting the front door back where it used to be. The house instantly looks more comfortable with itself. We are also going for smaller windows. Not just because we like them better, but also because this is the NW side of the house, that gets all the nasty cold and wet weather. Smaller windows will help us keep it warmer.

An impression of what we're aiming for.

An impression of what we’re aiming for.

If you compare the two pictures, you will also notice that everything looks a little wider. This is because of the 10 cm thick external wall insulation we will be installing. We’ll also have to extend the eaves of the roof a little, to accommodate the insulation panels.

With some nice windows and tiles making a feature out of the pointed gable, we think it looks quite smart. The porch across the front gives it some added romance and will also keep callers dry. I can just imagine myself sitting in a rocking chair out there, watching the sunset.

Come to your senses

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Step onto the Pathway of Love, part 1. The Pathway of Love For all of us world changers, it started with love. Whether we are volunteers for charity, fully paid up activists, or fighting the battle in our vegetable patch, we are all doing it for the love of the Living Earth and her children. Somewhere along the line, [...]

Weaving my soul back into the web

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Idiopathic pancreatitis. It came back and put me in hospital for a few days. The pancreas is an important organ that makes different kinds of hormones and also produces chemicals that help with digestion. Mine doesn’t behave very well. In the past two years, it has become inflamed twice, for unknown reasons (that’s what makes it [...]