Bealtaine After Samhain
As we approach the end of another year, reflection begins to take form. As many of you know, I do not have a television and rarely tune into the radio, so, perhaps, I find myself with more time and silence to reflect and think.
From the little I have experienced this year from the outside world, it appears that economics has been the driving force behind every problem on this tiny planet.
The mass destruction of our earthly home has been driven by economics… cost of living… better termed the cost of dying, for it is like inheritance tax.
The cost of living is an inheritance tax on the planet, forever diminishing what we inherited and scraping the bones of children as yet unborn.
Fracking the land for gas has been justified by governments and hailed as cheap energy.
Can you tell me the last time your cost of energy fell?
From this little part of Ireland, I have witnessed the rise and rise of energy costs, whether it be gas, oil, coal or renewables…and I look out my kitchen window every day at mountains, covered by wind turbines.
The turbines multiply each year and the cost of electricity spirals out of control.
Why?
Economics…or, a better word, profit.
Nothing for the people who look at these incredible machines every day…nothing!
There is nothing in the present economic model that takes into account the real cost of anything that pays a profit to shareholders.
Take oil for example.
What is the real cost of extracting this energy source from Mother Earth?
The real cost of Nuclear Power is for future children of this Earth to pay for…there is no safe way of dealing with the waste!
Here I stop!
It is not in my nature to be negative.
I cannot write or talk for long about any sense of helplessness we may feel, looking at the mess we have made.
As a woman, I am a pragmatist.
I was reared in poverty, so have an inbuilt ability to look at the possible.
The solutions are many-fold.
The most immediate solution is, quite simply, consume less.
By consuming less, we become active participants in a quiet revolution against the status quo that appears to hold sway.
We are only a valued part of the economic model by being greedy consumers.
We live in a state of scarcity, according to the economic model, for that brings the greatest profit for the economic model. However, as I have said before, we actually live in a world of abundance, if we could just stop and see the possible.
The possibilities inherent in a simple life, where it is highly regarded to switch off lights, bake a loaf of bread, or cake, keep a few hens and grow basic vegetables… Walk more, value good quality clothes, make shoes last by polishing them…all this and more makes you a member of society with power and not simply a faceless consumer.
Consider what it is you want in the year that lies before us.
Visualize the world you want to live in.
Create a picture of a future for children as yet unborn…those we will never see, but can only imagine.
Imagine their world, for you are creating it.
Is that power enough for you?
Oh I love this post Colette, you’ve captured the bare roots of the situation we find ourselves in! Thank you xx
Thanks!
Your words echo my feelings… Political / Environmental / Economic problems have one root cause – man’s selfishness. I love your blog, the natural beauty and wilderness around you. Eager to read more of your posts.
Thanks Iniyaal X
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It gives me comfort to read others are waking up to this reality. I do not know anyone in person who feels the same and it can be quite isolating. This is why I love to read your blogs! Thank you!
We are a growing band!
Thank you for sharing this lovely blog once again. As always living what you believe even in the small matters of recycling a wonderful new years message for all of us late comers to your blog. What are those lovely saplings in the 10th photo from the top? With very light colored bark, Birch? So beautiful! My opinion is that all utilities in all countries should be non profit and considered for the common good. I’ve purchased second hand most of my life. It seems that we have produced far more ‘stuff’ than we truly need in this world (however fair distribution creates poverty vacuums for many) and now instead of dumping it in land fills we should be recycling it. Or forbid having it end up in the oceans where it is even harder to retrieve and clean up and where helpless sea creatures become entrapped. An industry of second hand shop keepers can replace industries that keep churning out new plastic ‘stuff’. And above all live as close to organically created materials as possible. What a world we had before plastics! Just loved Polly’s story of life without electricity over the holiday. In the quiet sanctuary of peace and contentment we find that we are actually happier without many of the modern day conveniences. It forces us to slow down to natures pace. We can’t go back but as we proceed into the future I pray we can find some middle ground where the Earth is regarded first in all that we do.
Beautifully put as always Lynne. The fact is that most people are seeking a simpler life and feel oppressed by an excess of material goods
Blessings X
Reblogged this on Bealtaine Cottage and commented:
We live in a state of scarcity, according to the economic model, for that brings the greatest profit for the economic model.
I don’t often see things totally as you do, but on this occasion … well said!
Simply consume less. I must admit I have a long way to go, but i’m getting there.
Happy New Year.
I hope to get to visit Bealtine cottage this year. I have plans for a food forest in Donegal! …
When I retire … starting September … please God.
Robert
Dublin
A very Happy New year to you Robert and may your planned work on this sacred Earth enrich your spirit, as the planting of trees will enrich the lives of those yet to come! XXX Colette
You are right Billy in saying that the climate of the planet has always been in a state of flux, but I’m afraid there is no doubt among the scientists that global warming is being driven by the activities of mankind. The co2 levels are rising on a parallel line with rising temperatures, and co2 emissions are caused by us, using fossil fuels.
And there you have it! Agreed!
And on that we will have to agree to differ. Science exists in a world of doubt for without it there can be no science.
Just how does any scientist differentiate between man made CO2 and naturally occurring CO2?
Answer is they cannot and anyway C02 is a plant food. If we are to green the world again then the plants need all the help and food they can get.
Science is never settled so when I read people saying there can be no doubt and ‘the science is settled’ I do not see scientists just people who have adopted a dogma.
Believing scientists is bad for health.
Have a watch
“Here on Earth we are facing climate change, great economic uncertainty, and cuts in science funding.” Quote Rupert Sheldrake
Oh, and the link…http://www.sheldrake.org/Articles%26Papers/articles/RS_2009.html
However, if one wants to debate this issue, there are multifarious chat-rooms and forums on the net.
I’m not wanting to debate climate change on here Colette. I have no doubt climates change constantly but it does grate with me how a proven liar like Al Gore took the the very real issues of man made pollution (global and very local) caused by out and out consumerism out of the public eye and effectively buried them.
As I said as long as the end result is someone ends up consuming less or stepping away from the commercial world the reason they do so is irrelevant by comparison.
I’m old enough to recall the ‘settled science of the seventies’ telling anyone who would listen an ice age is just around the corner. I have also seen considerable evidence that the Vikings grew grapes in Greenland so at least once in the past few thousand years the climate of Greenland was much warmer than today.
Thanks for the Sheldrake link.
For the Irish in you, Angie
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There were just gale force winds. No swathes of tress were flattened across the British & Irish isles, there wasn’t widespread damage to property. It is beyond doubt that climate changes as it must have done since it was created or came into being just as it is beyond doubt weather changes.
Are governments fiddling with the weather?
Probably as government people have an insane desire to meddle in and with everything but as the climate change drivers on this planet are more likely to be the sun and water vapour than industrial man or meddling governments BUT the important thing for me is whatever reason or argument is used by someone to bring about a change in the way they live to begin to live as part of the planet and not someone with a claim of dominion over it who can consume ad infinitum is a good reason.
You inspire us all. Sue
Womenlivinglifeafter50.com
Blessings X
Inspiring and wonderful post. There is so much to do and it can be overwhelming but your little piece of beauty is a good reminder that we must all just start, and then go from there. Best wishes for 2014.
A positive way to start the year…Blessings X
Reblogged this on Eremophila's Musings.
You are living my dream and I salute you for it. I am working towards it but it is slow. I know I have to be patient and you give me the inspiration I need. Happy New Year. Lesley
Blessings for 2014 X
Here in West Sussex, we lost our electricity supply, and I thought it would be off all over Christmas. I do have an electric stove which I use as aback up to the wood fired Rayburn. As I cook for at least thirteen people on Boxing day, I would use both stoves. At first, I was a bit concerned as to how I was going to cook everything, but I gradually worked it out with a slight change of menu, and started to look forward to the challenge. By the second evening, I had sorted out the oil lamp to provide lighting, and was really enjoying the quietness that a lack of electricity brings, no TV, radio, hum of the fridge or indeed the lights. I live surrounded by many houses, but only the flickering candles could be seen in the windows. No street lamps, lovely dark skies! I could hear talking, but it was some way off. It reminded me of a book called Change in the Village, by George Sturt. He talked of summer evenings, where talking would carry across the valley. It made me think of just how much we have lost.
On Christmas eve I was happily making mince pies on the kitchen table by the light of the lamp. I had fired up the Rayburn so that the oven was good and hot. I must admit that I was listening to Carols on the wind up radio which doubles as a torch. I had left one light switched on so that I would be aware of the electricity coming back on. All of a sudden the light noisily burst burst into action and the brightness was dazzling, the fridge started it’s usual humming and the magic was gone. I felt cheated.
As always, a beautiful cameo of life, I love reading! It was remarked upon widely in Ireland that the newly installed electricity drove away the fairy folk. Understandable when reading how it was before and how it can be without the tyranny of too many appliances.
Blessings X
You are doing the right thing for the planet and for yourself and others… you are taking life on for yourself with nature as your partner. We are working towards that very thing ourselves. We still hear the news daily but will soon be moving to our country property where we will not have access to internet or cable news. I am eager for that time to get here.
We, as individuals, do what we can and the rest is left to the All Mighty…..
Shannon
East Texas
I have toyed with the possibility of no electric and I have come to the conclusion that a way can be found to continue a good quality of life, even writing this blog!
Blessings X
Thought provoking as always. Glad you got through the hurricane ok….the weather, as predicted by scientists, is getting wild. Your wind break of trees is serving you well..in many ways. The goddess gives back. Wishing you health and happiness in the New Year. Patti
Despite all the Climate Change deniers, weather is becoming extreme. This is tangible and it is caused by change somewhere in the scheme of things, for sure!
Blessings X
reading the last blog about the abundance we all have and our powers being consumers— you are a very wise Woman. I salute you and will take up the challenge.
Blessings X
Well said!
I am just opening my eyes as well to looking beyond sustainability and the need to change our consumptive lifestyles. I wrote my last blog post on it as well if you are interested in the read here: http://elewington1.wordpress.com/2013/12/16/the-degrowth-paradigm/
Blessings X