As many of you know, I am in the final stages of completing my first manuscript and so have been busy since early December in preparing this book for the printers in Dublin…no tax-dodging Amazon corporation for me!
That’s not how I roll!
As I began this final incubation, I was reluctant to venture into the world of news, website or indeed have my attention diverted.
However, I may have reluctantly refrained from communication, but lots of you have remained in contact via email…please excuse the brief, if any, replies I have provided, but then you know how busy I have been.
The communications have come mainly from the U.S. and have been most concerning to read!
Fear appears to be the main thread linking what you have written to me.
Fear of the government; fear of the future; fear for the environment; fear for healthcare…housing…jobs…I could go on, but I think you get the drift.
I am not interested in politicians, nor do I have any respect for them or what they peddle, so there is no need for me to use the T word more than in the title of this blog, nor do I want a comment list oozing the “T” word…no thank you!
Suffice to say that the world of man is in turmoil and has been for a very long time! 
Have you not noticed the endless war on a noun?
Hatred and fear have been stacked against us all for a very long time!
I googled the word “Fear” and it came up with 547 million results!
verb
-
1.
be afraid of (someone or something) as likely to be dangerous, painful, or harmful.
“I hated him but didn’t fear him any more”
synonyms:
be afraid of, be fearful of, be scared of, be apprehensive of, dread, live in fear of, go in terror of, be terrified of, be terrified by, cower before, tremble before, cringe from, shrink from, flinch from;
For as long as power-seeking individuals have existed, their energy has fed of fear, each one of them a version of Nosferatu, be them less or more acceptable! 
We must, each of us, decide how we come to terms, if any, with a most disagreeable and at times, painful system that appears to control our lives. Fear and loathing changes little.
“I don’t think that anything happens by coincidence… No one is here by accident… Everyone who crosses our path has a message for us. Otherwise they would have taken another path, or left earlier or later. The fact that these people are here means that they are here for some reason”…”
― James Redfield
The wisdom in what James Redfield had to say, translates to me in this way:That there are some people whose worst actions can propel us towards our best…and some leaders who unite more than what they divide…in very strange and surprising ways!
Some of the greatest movements for change have emerged out of dark and menacing times!
Thank you for this beautiful blog, forwarded to me by a friend. Such lovely photos which gave me joy, and your thoughtful and inspiring words. I am so glad to have found this oasis of sanity in what seems to be an increasingly mad world. Can one visit you?
Thank you Daphne and am happy you have found Bealtaine Cottage. I hope to host a series of workshop days this year, with maximum of 6 people on the day. These will centre around various skills and interests pertaining to Bealtaine Cottage. Keep an eye out for the blog which will detail these. Each one will includes lunch, teas/cake etc. Blessings to you. Colette X
I wanted to add my voice to the comments and say thank you to you Colette for going forward as the inspiring example you are. As things get worse in the u.s. we must stand united to go forward in peace, love and with hope. Gaia is waiting for those who will care and cherish her, with her we will find solace and calm and from there go into the world refreshed by all that she gives……
Keep centred on what’s important! 🙂
I believe that our leaders often accomplish what should be minded by them even though we may not be able to see that at the moment they come on the scene. I live here surrounded by my gardens and woodlands, trying not to worry about what may or may not develop in the world. That’s just the way I roll.
It’s the best way to live!
Thank you for your inspirational words. I always buy my books ( prefer the real thing as apposed to e books!) from a local book shop. I put out a tweet urging others to try to do the same thing…which has been retweeted a few times!
I agree with this. If you have the money – and a local bookshop!!! – it is good to make a point of supporting your bookshop. I don’t have either, so e-books, when the price is low, are a real blessing. They transform my world. Just like the Internet! Life is very diverse. People live in all sorts of different situations.
I am fine with that too and you’re right, it’s all about choices. I might add that it has taken me three long years to save up this money…4,000 Euros!
I so agree with what you have written… and also feel that the world is in an exciting stage of turmoil where the people are rising to have their say.. Brexit, Trump supporters (Called The deplorables by Hilary Clinton). And though many fear the T, what has come before has not been good either… so I see this as a time when good is rising to the top as people at last want to define who they really are, and what they really stand for… and my constant prayer is that :” only love prevails”.
It is time for people to reset their moral compasses. At times like these we are better able to define who we are and what we stand for.
I found your blog through the repost of a friend, it is wonderful. Thank you for the beautiful photos and good luck with your book. I am going to use your recycled tire idea this spring for my rhubarb transplants, why did I not think of this? Cheers from Alaska; deb
Make sure you power wash the insides to remove pollution build up. I also line the inside of the tyres with any material I have to hand.
The garden is looking so wonderful Colette, Spring is in the air. I try not to listen to the news as is saddens me so much. I often sit and think to myself ‘ what are they doing to our beautiful earth. ” I can’t wait to see the book , so exciting , I hope you are all well. Blessings xxxx
Thanks Melanie! The world is beautiful, stay grounded!
Fear wants us to forget. Every war every assault isolates us from life and from our humanity. To remember who we are with joy and courage is the greatest thing we can do now.
Well said!
When I feel the fear that’s in the air at the moment, I remember the little saying, “keep the faith” and keep repeating it to myself so that I stay centred-well as much as I can anyway!! Lol. Bealtaine Cottage is a wonderful place of calm and peace. Thank you Colette for making it so 🙂
Mother Earth is Divine…to recognise her as such means that we too are a part of that incredible mystery.
Thank you, Colette for your beautiful photos, Bealtaine Cottage photos always fill me with a sense of peace. My hope is that this new administration will shake up all the parties to realize that they need to change their party lines to reach the people. I have been urging my friends to research permaculture, and to read Toby Hemenway’s Gaia’s Garden and to start to use the permaculture ethics of Care for the Earth, Care for the people, and Share the surplus/Fair share to create the peace and change in their lives and their community. I truly believe that if each us lives our lives to those ethics we will find and grow peace for ourselves and our communities, and hopefully the world. Blessed be, dear Colette.
The way forward will be focused on community and local innovation and support. And yes, Permaculture offers a plan!
Thank you for this lovely blog. Let us not feed the fear monster. My favorite line in Labyrinth and I feel the main message of the entire movie was toward the end – when the girl said ‘you have no power over me’ and she was freed. Love is the only true power obtainable.
So true…people are awakening to their own power!
First….. your photos were like a breath of fresh, crisp, hyacinth scented spring air 🙂 Second…. woohoo! your rhubarb looks fantastic! I’m hoping to establish a bed this year and last…. thank
you for all you do for Mother Earth <3
Reblogged this on Reiki Dawn and commented:
Sharing. Thank you Collette. All the best on your book
Thank you for the Redfield quote and your own comments. This is something I believe most strongly. Thank you also for the lovely photos, so refreshing to the spirit.
While I don’t necessarily agree with amazon’s tax minimisation ploys or some of their corporate vendettas, I can’t deny that they provide a very valuable service and that my life would be very much poorer without the seamless access they provide to e-books. Their willingness to put their necks on the line in being the first to join in support of State-initiated litigation challenging Trump’s trumped up travel ban also makes me prepared to forgive a great deal.
I appreciate your thoughts on Amazon. My choice is always to try to use my spending power in a meaningful way.
Thoughtful writing, a small pool of peace amongst all the manic displays of rage and hate. Thanks and blessings from Carole Anne.
Blessings X
My husband said something recently very similar to Cathy’s comment…something along the lines of….the best and perhaps only things we can do is to take care of one another..be kind and thoughtful, be patient..cherish your nearest and dearest and make the most of time spent with them.
A candle always shines brightest in the darkness.
Blessings to you Colette.
Indeed, blessings to all.
Julie xx
Your husband is a wise man, bless him!
Thanks Collette. Man cannot control nature. Earth us a synonym for heart and vice versa.
And realising that empowers us Earth-Carers!
I think it’s a time we have to go through before we can see where we need to go. Like lancing a boil. The only thing us ‘little people ‘ can do is resist cruelty and unfairness, and look out for each other.
Well said!
Yes! Thank you both.