Category Archives: Ecology & Environment

Apr 30 2013

Majority of Europe votes to ban Bee-harming pesticide

Giant Bee display at Eden Project . Photo (c) Vathani Navasothy. 2013

Giant Bee display at Eden Project . Photo (c) Vathani Navasothy. 2013

Got this update from Greenpeace.. Very good news for the Bees.. and glad to see most of Europe being sensible. But shame our own UK rep didn’t shift.  Here’s the good news from James Sadri at Greenpeace that came in an e-mail to me..  (am a supporter!)

-Mani Navasothy

———————————————

“….the majority of Europe voted to ban bee pesticides!

It’s the world’s first continent-wide ban on these chemicals and it’s a moment our movement can be proud of.

Someone who has nothing to be proud of is the UK environment minister Owen Paterson, who not only voted against the ban, but lobbied on behalf of chemical giants Syngenta and Bayer to try and stop it going through. Paterson in a private letter even promised Syngenta that his “efforts would intensify” in the run-up to the vote [1].

Well, Mr Paterson, you lost. The bees won.

We know the current UK government has a disastrous track record on protecting our world – from climate change to bees. That’s why so much of our work on this campaign has focused on mainland Europe, where we managed to shift big countries like Germany who yesterday gave the ban their critical backing. That’s what a global network allows us to do.

Although we’ve been working in Europe against these bee-killing chemicals for years, here are a few of the things we’ve done in the past two weeks:

  • Campaigning on the ground in 12 key countries
  • Massive banner dropped on Syngenta’s HQ in Basel, Switzerland on 17th April
  • Turning the Austrian ministry of agriculture into a giant honeycomb on 18th April
  • Protest with hives outside Syngenta’s annual general meeting in Switzerland on 23rd April
  • Giant banner on roof of Bayer’s annual general meeting in Cologne, Germany on 26th April
  • ‘Funeral for the queen bee’ at a Bayer factory in the Netherlands on 26th April
  • Joint ‘March of the Beekeepers’ with other campaigning organisations in Parliament square in the UK on 26th April

Although we failed to shift our UK representative Owen Paterson to support the ban, our movement still managed to shift the critical players across Europe and get the ban we all want.

And therein lies our strength. Like the bees who roam from field to field oblivious of the fences that divide their flowers, we’ll go wherever we need to in order to protect our environment and the world we live in.

Yesterday we showed the real strength of our global movement and achieved a remarkable success. We need more of these. ..”

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Apr 26 2013

You are invited: Outdoor Maypole dance & Beltane festivities (27April’13)

Outdoor_Beltane_Celebrations_in_London_27April2013_Trent_Park

Outdoor_Beltane_Celebrations_in_London_27April2013_Trent_Park

Dear Pagans, Magicians, Witches and friends..   Here’s an informal outdoor Beltane event that my friends & I are putting together in north London.. (the idea came to us at last week’s Earth Day picnic event…where we had an advanced May Pole dancing).

 
Outdoor  Maypole & Festive Event:
Saturday 27th April 2013
1pm onwards
Trent Park
 
All welcome to an Outdoor BELTANE Celebration & Picnic in London.  Bring your family & friends.. (even the non-pagans!)
This is just a fun filled Social event.  Maypole dancing, drumming & picnic.  No experience needed. Just turn up and join in.  There is no ritual..  just festive fun..  !
 
Wear your Flower crowns, Ivy crowns and any other festive crowns (diamonds if you have them !)
Bring drums & small musical instruments…
Bring food & drinks..  your own picnic..   some ground sheet to sit on..
..and above all, bring a smile..and the natural spirit of Beltane fun  (and frolics) :-)
 
At Trent Park, North London (5 min walk from tube: Cockfosters  on the Piccadily line). 
Enter Trent Park via `Cockfoster Road’ entrance (on Cockfoster Road). Once inside the park, go past a small pond (on your right) and then – turn right in that area. We’ll be there.  Here#s the Map link: http://goo.gl/maps/LA9R7
Details & embedded Map at website www.PaganFrontiersOfLondon.com

 

Apr 20 2013

Gaian Times Magazine #7 – Out now!

Gaian Times e-Magazine #7 …fresh off the Press…so to speak!  :-)

Gaian Times Magazine 7-cover- April2013

Gaian Times Magazine 7-cover- April2013

 

In this Magazine

  • Editorial & Contactl & Cover
  • The Fool’s Journey
  • Paganism in the 25th Century
  • Comet ISON – Hammer of the Gods?
  • Earth Day Events in London (Family picnic & Earth Walk)
  • Ruby Summer – then and now
  • My Elemental animals
  • Elephantom Origins: Birth of a cartoon Hero
  • Socially mean in a Social media obsessed world..
  • Margaret Thatcher & Princess Diana: 2 women and their rites of Passages
  • Day of the Witch?
  • Science vs Magic
  • Become a Lord or Lady of Scotland (and save some land)
  • Earth Healing rituals & Activities
  • Does the Earth need saving?
  • Sanctuary of the Goddess
  • Aphrodite’s birth place (Photo-journal)
  • Go wild about Wildflower Gardening
  • 7 transforming waves to change the world in 4 years.. (astrology feature)
  • A snowy Spring Equinox in London..
  • As the Blue Bells played.. (poem)
  • Major Festivals & esoteric events in London (Events listing)
  • Eco-Campaigns & Gallery
  • Book reviews & Promotions

Contributors to this issue:

Beth Murray, Vathani Navasothy, Wendy stokes, Rose Dixon, , Mani Navasothy.

To access the eMagazine,

you’ll have to become a (FREE) Subscribed member. It’s easy, just visit Gaian Times website and enter your name and a reliable e-mail, where we send the link to the latest magazine :-)

Editor’s Letter:

There’s just 1 day to go before the annual International Earth Day’.. and we have pulled together a variety of useful features to mark this event. And we are organising one or two of our own Gaian Times Earth Day Events – a Family picnic with focus on activities for young children, and then a meditative walk in Richmond park (the following day) – anyone wanting quiet time to tune into the energies of the Earth.

So how do you think of Earth day, and mark it? Those serious about caring for our Earth and Environment will tell you.. every day should be Earth Day. But on Earth Day, we can make a big song and dance about it and promote Earth & Eco-Awareness to the others who don’t think so much about the Earth.

To me personally, at least now, the focus for Earth Day shifts …more towards the Earth i self. I believe in the Gaia deity of the Earth, and I do what I can through out the year – so for Earth Day nowadays, I think of it as `my mother Earth’s Birthday’! We don’t quite know when it was formed all those billions of years ago, but it does us and Earth well to give her a birthday and celebrate it.

On to the other contents of this magazine then-

Few weeks ago, Margaret Thatcher – first female Prime Minister of UK (3 decades ago now) passed away, and her funeral was a few days ago. There has been much supportive and highly aggressive reactions to her death – from people. My own feelings have been that anyone who is dead now deserves their peace and to be left alone. The protestors have had almost 2 decades to make their feelings known (while she was alive) so now seems a rather distasteful time to start organising street parties in London to mark her death.

Rose Dixon has written a wonderful analytical feature article comparing the intense rites of Passages that both Margaret Thatcher and Princess Diana have gone through in their living years.

I finally get to address my concerns and thoughts about the Future of Paganism (nature worshiping religions) in `Paganism in the 25th Century’ part 1).

Vathani looks into the ant-social behaviour of people that is on the increase in our London public trains and buses – and asks how this can be in a world that is becoming more focused on `Social Media’ and `connecting and sharing’ with one another (almost 1 Billion people out of the 8 Billion of world population is on one Social Media site!)

This year, we are publishing 3 Gaian Times magazines.. simply because all our workloads in other writing and publishing projects are getting rather too much.

But we will be focusing more on the various Gaian Times Enterprises & Social Initiatives! You can read about these in our main pages (www.GaianTimes.com) Free websites for start-up pagan entrepreneurs, ePublishing, some Fundraising, and even a new initiative about sharing the wisdom of Elderly People are all going to get much mote focus..

As for reading.. you now have to subscribe to get full access to the Magazine. Well, it gives you – amongst other things- a real sense of exclusivity. And for us, it makes it easier to start making better connections with our loyal readers…and give more !

So enjoy reading Issue #7, and we’ll see each other in our various events or social media platforms..www.GaianTimes.com

-Mani Navasothy

 

Apr 18 2013

Earth Day Family Event in South London (Sunday 21st April’13)

Earth Day Picnic 2013 -sm

Families are very much Gaia’s sacred womb ..so what better way than to celebrate the EARTH DAY 2013 with wonderful love units, play, enchantments, magic, merry making, and divine connections to our Mother Earth her self on this day!

What You Can Look forward to on this FREE Day of Fun :

* Small Earthy Ritual (Pagan style!)
* Communing with the Earth (Seed Magic)
* Magical Crafting (Hands on – we’ll provide the materials)
* Story Telling
* Face Painting (optional)
* Singing, Dancing & light drumming -please bring an instrument or 2!
* Merry making over games & fun
* Sharing of food & wine over the picnic
* Lets not forget the Maypole Dancing !!! ……After all Beltane is only around the corner :-)

Young people, Children and adults are encouraged to dress up in any Earthy Costumes, Fairies  Witches, Bees, Flowers, Warlock, or Animals of our planet.

Please dress warmly and in many layers. Bring waterproofs for you and your young ones! Communal food sharing may not suit everyone, especially with those needing special diets.. so please bring what you & your loved ones can eat safely.

Facilities

  • Toilets & changing facilities : 2 mins;
  • Playgound for Children,
  • Food & Drinks can be purchased from the Cafe in the park,
  • Ground sheets – ideal to sit on. (we’ll have a large sheet. Please bring your own as back-up)
  • Bring old bread – to feed the ducks, swans in the lake if you wish
  • Family Boating – if weather permits

Trains: Hackbridge – Zone 4. Trains run every 14mins in to London Victoria & Thames Link services. Buses : 127, 151 , 410, 407. For more detailed travel or facilities info click below : https://www.sutton.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=3869

Looking forward to celebrating with you ! Young or old… all are welcome for this Earth Day Extrgavanza ! With bright blessings

~Vathani & Gaian Times Team

 

Note:  This is a post from my sister, promoted here.. And I’ll be there of course at this family event..  I think I am organising the Maypole & ribbbons! :-)  - Mani

 

Links

Earth Day meditative walk (Richmond park)

Rituals & Affirmations YOU can do for Earth Day

Remembering Earth Days past 

 

 

Apr 11 2013

Ganapathy in the Garden (eco-spiritual sculpture)

Ganapathy in the Garden - taking shape (c)ManiN

Ganapathy in the Garden – taking shape (c)ManiN

A spiritual offering to you all..   first look at this Willow twig/branch sculpture I have been making from all the pruned pieces…since September 2012.. It is Ganapathy (Ganesh) the elephant-headed Hindu God of course. :-)

It started with some difficult issues with neighbours..and I had to do a drastic prunning/ cutting of branches of my much loved Willow tree. But I promised that every piece will be used for a good reason..and this is one of them :-)  (The other is a small one-person meditation hut by the tree, with branches covering parts of the sides (picture another time).

So I guess you could call it Eco-art.

Last week I created `tusks’ and repaired the wear & tear of the previous winter months..  and more work needed..  But now..there is another danger..  those birds are hunting for twigs…to make their nests :-)

But hey, am sure Lord Ganesh won’t mind..  and neither do I :-)

Love n Light to you all.

`Om Ganapathy Namaha’

-Mani Navasothy

Apr 1 2013
Video

Video: This land is all (Earth Day feature)

This is a song that people were singing on the steps of London’s St.Paul’s Cathedral, back in November 20111, during the `Occupy London’ activities. Hundreds of people were singing this and it really touched my heart my partner’s.

I recorded the song, and later added a sequence of natural photos I had collected to it.. to tell a story… Look carefully to the sequence of photos and you’ll get it… What begins well goes wrong.. but the Earth regenerates..and the video imagery ends on a positive note.

-Mani

Watch more eco-spiritual videos at my You tube Channel Gaian2012

Apr 1 2013

Earth Day 2013 in London: Come walk with us in Richmond Park

Earth Day 2013 - Silent walk in Richmond park

Earth Day 2013 – Silent walk in Richmond park

On Monday 22nd April’13 – Earth Day – some of my friends from magical groups and I are going for a simple walk in one of London’s well-preserved woodlands  – Richmond Park in South West London. It has lakes, small ponds, some streams, all sorts of trees..and of course lots of Deer.

Purpose: Our aim is to have a mindful silent walk through a nice natural woodland. During the walk, we all make a point of not talking and disturbing each others’ thoughts. Some people may be in a meditative state, as they walk. During the walk, each person may wish to attune themselves to the energies of the woods, and to Earth itself..  It is about observing and being part of nature, without interfering with it too much.

Meeting point & Time:  We are meeting at `Richmond Gate’ at 1pm. Just get through the gate, and look to the immediate left..  We’ll gather in that area.  After initial meeting & greeting, and a quick talk-through (there are toilets nearby too) – we will set off on a 30min- 45min silent walk.

If you don’t know how to get to `Richmond Gate’ – you can meet some of us at Richmond rain station (served by Trains & tubes) between 12.15pm to 12.30pm.   We will stand by the coffee shop.  We’ll gather anyone new, and step outside the station to take a bus to Richmond park. The bus journey takes about 15 minutes.. but we may need to wait for it.  Only one bus goes past Richmond Gate (ask for the `American University’ stop..  then walk forward and turn left..).

Because of other meeting up at Richmond gate at 1pm, we can not wait longer than 12.30pm by the station. Please be on time. In the past, we’ve waited for people, but that has only upset the people who turned up on time and had to waste time waiting.

Activity:   Once a quick explanation of what we are going to do is done, we’ll simply get walking. I will lead everyone through a particular path.. to a nice fairly quiet location..  (this is a `real’ Path-Walking). Once in that spot, we can sit in silence for a further few minutes – and break silence. We will then have a small social picnic – (bring your own picnic, packed lunch, flask of coffee etc – for your self, and if you really are okay..something to share. But not essential).

We’ll then have a more talkative walk back to the exit.

I can not really restrain this free-flowing event with an end-time restriction. I would say allow about 2 hours at least ..and may be more if you wish to socialise with others.

Hope to see you there..

-Mani Navasothy

 

Apr 1 2013

Earth Healing Ritual, Activities & Affirmations (Earth Day 2013 feature)

Earth Day 2013 - Ideas and activities you can do.

Earth Day 2013 – Ideas and activities you can do.

Earth Day is on 22nd April.. every year. It is declared by the United Nations, and celebrated by everyone on our planet – everyone who is aware of it, that is. Many Eco-groups and Organisations focus several of their ecology & environment related campaigns, and so do magical and spiritual people who consider the Earth to be a living entity (Gaia). Here is some background and lots of eco-spiritual activities you can do.

Gaian Collective explained

The Earth is our home in space. Thousands believe it is a living entity, built up of not just the physical bodies of millions of humans, animals, plans and other inanimate objects (rocks, rivers, mountains). It is believed that all the minds of the living creatures on planet Earth are connected, and give rise to `Gaia’ the living Collective consciousness-being who is self-regulating. It is akin to our bodies, where each cell is living and has a function, but collectively gives rise to a single human or animal being. We each one of us think each one of us is a `I’ or `me’ – but within us are billions of living cells.. (and all the symbiotic and parasitic creatures that live inside our bodies).

So, by each of us becoming consciously aware that we are part of a larger collective, and tying to reconnect to that Collective, we are in fact strengthening that Gaia Collective – spiritually an magically. And if Gaia is strong and well, that can only benefit the whole world..

 What can you do on Earth day? Some simple ideas and suggestions:

Go for a walk in the wild, a park or woods – to be reconnected to Earth – on a conscious, physical or magical level. You don’t need to make it grand or specific – just go for a nice long walk, without any usual distractions such as internet, ipods, phone calls, personal every day problems ( we all have them!)  Yes, they are products of human intellect and genius, and so in a round about way, `natural’ – but purpose of this exercise is to de-clutter our conscious mind and reach a sort of meditative state.

Hold a celebration or picnic - with family or friends. Gather other like-minded eco-aware people and mark the day. We all celebrate or mark (or remember) our birthdays in some way of form.. This is Gaia’s special day (not exactly birthday but closest special day). So celebrate it as such.  Yes, why not have a cake and cut it in honour of Gaia / Earth?

Earth `Heart beat’ Meditation – group or personal:   A more spiritual approach is to actually do an Earth meditation (on your own, or as part of a group).  It does not have to be a big complicated activity. Just 5 minutes will do (but 20-30 minutes is ideal). All you do is sit in a pleasant natural place if possible (woodlands, by a garden tree, by a small pond, river, stream, cave etc). Sit by a natural place, be comfortable, close your eyes – and let go of every day thoughts. Then try to visualise the Earth in space.. a planet, full of billions of life forms within it.  Think of each one of those creatures having a heart, and heart beat. Try to `hear’ that heart beat. Different animals have different rates of heart beats – but for this meditative purpose, it is okay to visualise all the heat-beats being slowly becoming synchronised..  and the Earth beating as one heart!

Healing work:  One magical activity that some may consider doing is Earth Healing. For this, it is perhaps good to be in  very calm and peaceful state of mind. Keep a rose quartz or other green crystals with you (in your hands or pockets). Then think of love and peace, an send that energy to the Earth.. into the ground. You can also visualise green light coming from your heart – pure and sincere of well-intentions- and pour that unconditionally to the Earth.  One meditative way is to visualise the Earth in space..  and pour your light and bath the whole of the Earth with it..!

Eco-activities: Think of real tangible ways you may b able to help protect, preserve and nurture the ecologies and environment of the World.   Some suggestions are – raising awareness by writing  & blogging (as I am doing), getting your fiends together and doing some litter-picking and tidying p a natural spot (like a local river side or woodland), creating a group or charity and doing eco-work, raising money / funds and donating it to other eco-organisations that do good genuine work.

Affirmations- Oaths, vows and personal Declarations: This one is for those who feel very spiritually inclined. Get to a natural place – and do some meditative work, as suggested, or a ceremony. Then lay your hands on a living Tree or the ground itself, and make your promises, affirmations or eco-related vows to the Earth it self. Think of this as important as a marriage vow that people make (and try to keep), or the equivalent of formal declarations and oaths people make when they take on a position in community (like MP’s, Solicitors, Police, etc. It is akin to swearing a real loyalty and allegiance to the Earth…and should be taken as magically binding).

Sharing: After Earth day, remember to share what you have done, by writing about it, sharing any related photos, poetry and other thoughts – with people, internet social groups & forums etc. That way, the positive regard ad energy spreads…and can add to the next year’s Earth Day!

Feel free to share this post..  more people are aware and do these, the better for Gaia. 

-Mani Navasothy

Links

Watch a video: This land is all (song for the Earth)

Read about Earth Hour ceremony

Visit Gaian Times Eco-spiritual magazine

Attend an Earth-Walk in London

 

Mar 31 2013

Hanging Earth – (and does it need `saving’?)

Hanging Earth - A sculpture in the ceiling of at Sutton Shopping centre (c) ManiN13

Hanging Earth – A sculpture in the ceiling of at Sutton Shopping centre (c) ManiN13

Does the Earth need saving?  The short answer – don’t be shocked  – No!

Long answer – the Earth has existed for many millions of years…and in that time, many forms of life have evolved on Earth. And also in that time, the Earth has seen thousands of minor and hundreds of major catastrophes.. from Earth quakes, meteor strikes, Volcano eruptions, Ice ages, heat waves that have lasted thousands of years… birth of new life forms .and the mass extinction of many species…like the Dinosaurs.

The Earth has always survived.. over time..   and we are talking here about geological time..in terms of thousands and millions of years. Animals and species have come and gone.. But none have taken active control and started to seriously affect the environment on mass scale over short term…like man has been doing in just under a few hundred years!

So what we humans are trying to save..when we talk about `saving the planet’  is not saving the Earth..  as it was..  but saving it as it is…for our sake…so we can keep on using and enjoying it.

Yes, we humans have tampered with the Ecology and environment so much …that it’s like we have set our own homes on fire..and anyone living nearby..and any other creatures around are all at risk and bound to go up in smoke.  But houses burn down..   objects turn to ashes..  ashes become soil.. and seeds take root..and new life evolves once more.

Let us be very clear..  the Earth does not need us.  It does not need certain percentages of Oxygen and Nitrogen and other gases..It does not need to have certain temperatures …or certain levels of oceans or polar ice etc.  It can take care of it self..  and it will reach new balance of all those things   in time.. even after what we call environmental catastrophes (a new balance that is most certainly going to be uncomfortable to humans!)

So..what we are trying to save..so selfishly..is a particular state and configuration of Earth’s system..  that is so good for us humans.

That said, since it is us humans who fouled it all, it is us humans who are absolutely and totally honour-bound..to halt further destruction of the Earth’s current environmental systems.. and even to try and reverse the harm we have done..!  Am not sure we’ll get it all done…but each one of us should try….!

We owe ours lives to the Earth..  Let’s stop messing about, and give it all we’ve got!  I made that oath over 15 years ago, and it still stands…

-Mani Navasothy

ps. Earth Day is on 22nd April..  every year!

Links

Gaian Times eco-spiritual Magazine

 

Mar 27 2013

Elephantom Eco-Hero finally arrives! (Free eBook Offer..)

Who is Elephantom?   What does he do?Am sure you’ve met this cartoon hero before, in our online Magazine `Gaian Times’ ..back in June 2011.

Well, now, here is a story book all about Elephantom…the Eco-Hero. …a book that both adults & children can enjoy!  (some parental guidance may be required!)

Elephantom Origins- panels from the NEW eBook for parents & children

Elephantom Origins- panels from the NEW eBook for parents & children

`Elephantom Origins: Birth of an Eco-Hero’   is a 33 paged eBook -  fully illustrated with 25 panels.

It charts the origins of how Elephantom came to be… in a far away Indian Village, where Priests spend their time in worship, and local wildlife Elephants) just mind their own lives… until danger comes in the form of Poachers.

You’ll get glimpses of Hindu spirituality, read the myths of Elephant-Headed God Ganesh.. and even get to read a little background about my childhood meetings with a Temple Elephant ! (well, it’s a story but much comes from my experiences!)

Visit  the Elephantom website    (www.Elephantom.co.uk) and do a quick opt-in with your e-mail…and follow instructions …to download your FREE  e-copy of this Book.

This is a special Promotional Offer!  Expires on Saturday 30th March’13.

I’ll be very interested to know what you thought of this book..  :-)

Best Wishes

-Mani Navasothy

Elephantom Origins - Kindle cover (c)Mani Navasothy 2013

Elephantom Origins – Kindle cover (c)Mani Navasothy 2013