End of Empire and Climate Chaos

Posted January 25, 2016

Filed under Climate, climate change, Collapse, Uncategorized

The greatest concern of our times is happening on a daily basis and affecting every one of us.

Weather volatility is real and happening and the Ostriches in power appear impotent against the great forces of Nature.

The gabbling media assault our senses with celebrity highs and lows, sport and highly edited titbits of what is happening internationally…all the while keeping away from any real conversation about the chaos that is the weather all around us and those dreaded words: Climate Change.

However it is not Climate Change any more…the media have completely missed out on that conversation!

It has evolved rapidly into Climate Chaos!

I would like to offer words of comfort and reassurance, but that’s not possible, for I live in the real world and events are happening too fast for me to be able to offer predictions that will reassure!

Last night I slept with both windows open in my bedroom, bathed in warmth from the wind that blew all night from the south.

The wind chimes on the veranda played ceaselessly…something that has never happened before.

I use all my senses to try to build a picture of what the media refuses to inform me about.

The big news is that the Jet Stream is out of control!

Imagine a Spinning Top, rotating smoothly at first…well that is how the Jet Stream SHOULD be!

Now picture the same Spinning Top as it slows, rotating wildly…that is what is happening to the Jet Stream and causing the wild fluctuations in weather across the globe.

All the information about this is out there on the internet…make Google your friend and inform yourself…that’s if you can bear it!

Autumn in permaculture at bealtainecottage.com 012

Bealtaine Cottage entrance to the fairy dell woodland

Mist and trees in the permaculture gardens at Bealtaine Cottage

I have gone past the need to research, for I witness the changes, log them, keep a record of temperatures and rainfall patterns…and have done so for all the time I have worked on the Bealtaine project.

So, what is the point in telling you this bad news?

I have nothing to gain.

In fact, there is a strong possibility that I will lose subscribers.

The old adage of “shoot the messenger”pertains to what I have written here…so be it!

So, let me tell you about the people I hope to reach with this news…

People who care for the future.

Those who have awakened to what it means to live a compassionate life.

Especially those who are unafraid of change and to implement change in their own lives.

If there is a Universal Consciousness…give it the name Goddess, God, Divine, Mother Earth…whatever you know it by…then that consciousness must surely want us to care as deeply for our planet as we care for ourselves.

Adapting is the way forward and should be at the top of all political agendas and policies.

Here in Ireland we are headed into a general election.

Farmers appear to be ill-informed in relation to Climate Change and as they hold much power in the outcome of elections, there will not be much informed debate on the doorstep!

Meat production is now at an all-time high in Ireland and there are few, if any, politicians who are prepared to risk the fury of farmers in regards to changing that!

The relationship between meat production, consumption and climate change is there for all to Google and Youtube.

The complacency regarding our habitat and climate change disturbs me.

I shall be quizzing each and every politician who knocks on my door…but as for intelligent, informed answers, well, I won’t be holding my breath!

Feel free to share this post…

And…I had to add this wonderful interview with Jane Goodall…

The Final Days

Posted September 12, 2014

Filed under Collapse, fears, Final Days, society

There was no intention to write today.

The fine days of an Indian Summer are bestowing harmony and peace to this little part of Ireland, but…

an email arrived from a subscriber who articulated apprehension and fear, so a response is necessary.

I don’t usually respond to emails, for there are many each day and I simply do not have the time, as you can understand.

However, this fear, presented to me from someone who is quite depressed by all that’s happening around the world, needs to be addressed once and for all!

These, are the final days of Empire…though not in any biblical sense!

I am not about to be hounded into fear by any religious patriarchy.

What we are now experiencing will get worse…this has been proven historically!

The end of the Roman Empire was short and the prelude brutal!

Aqilegia under Fuchsia

Bread and circuses were the order of the day to keep people entertained and unquestioning.

Willow in the Bog Garden

Much the same is happening now, with the cult of celebrity, an overdosing of sport, cheap factory food and endless, mindless TV reality shows.

Our world is in the throes of bitter retreat, but it is merely the world created by man.

The real world is that of Mother Nature.

Now is the time to go to her, help her and find peace within her.

The final days of Empire are always chaotic…our own lives must be lived as best as possible…with kindness, care, compassion and as much joy as one can invoke!

For my part, I care not a fig for the end of this madness and brutality…things, as they say, can only get better…and they will…

View from the Edge of the World

Posted July 24, 2014

Filed under Buddha, Cottage, Country Living, Culture, Current Affairs, Garden, Ireland, Life, Permaculture, Uncategorized

As the Roman Empire came apart at the seams, the safest place to be was on the very edges of that dying empire.

I have recently been reading the books, by Robert Harris, detailing the life of the great thinker, orator and statesman, Cicero.

It is uncanny how many parallels with modern day life can be drawn from the novels, ‘Imperium’ and ‘Lustrum’…(the third in the trilogy is yet to be published).

Of all the cumulative reasons why the Roman Empire came apart, endless wars, an over reliance on slave labour and corruption in government appear to be at the forefront.

As I read chapter on chapter, I couldn’t help but draw parallels with the state of our world today…and viewed with horror an emerging pattern of decline and fall.

The template of decline and fall remains the same regardless of time.

Wealthy Romans drank water transported through lead pipes into their villas.

The water contained up to 100 times more lead that that from spring wells.

Lead poisoning leads to erratic behaviour, mental decline etc., much of which could be viewed in the conduct of the ruling elite during the final days.

Much the same appears to be happening now, even to the point of corrupt and debased behaviour within the ranks of the ruling elite.

I never cease to be both amazed and appalled at the continuing scandals.

We appear to be not so much governed, as presided over by people we would otherwise be embarrassed to call our friends…integrity and compassion being somewhat lacking!

When Rome fell, the world entered the “Dark Ages”.

The Dark Ages lasted several hundred years, but birthed a new Age of Enlightenment.

The light of civilization was carried back into mainland Europe, from, of all places, Ireland.

The edge of empire for me is a mindset, a refusal to be drawn into the madness.

A resoluteness to live with integrity.

A desire to continue to cultivate and practice compassion, even when our leaders applaud war and attempt to vindicate suffering and destruction.

In these days of crumbling empire, (for this mayhem cannot last much longer!), it is not such a bad place to be…the edge of empire.

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