Reconnect #58

The good living and community magazine for Exeter, Plymouth and across South Devon DEC/JAN 19 ISSUE 58

produce ❋ energy ❋ land ❋ homes ❋ community ❋ wellbeing ❋ arts

have a green christmas

Pleas e tak e one

FREE !

Reduce, reuse, recycle and go local

sustainable weddings Our guide to green nuptials

A climate emergency Top priorities in the new year

healing & wellbeing More mindfulness in South Devon

Celebrating local community life with inspiration, and information for the season - powered by the people!

Visit us online at www.reconnectonline.co.uk

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Upfront IT'SWHAT WE'REABOUT

Broughttoyou by...

INTHISISSUE...

7

CALLING TREE LOVERS Connect to nature

EDITOR Scott Williams

DISABILITY APPEAL

Access awareness

GOING OUT EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Karen Williams

WELLBEING EDITOR Kate Philbin

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Two months of happenings

ORGANIC GARDENING14 Joa’s money-saving tips

FUEL BILL WOES? 17 Energy advice clinics

NOURISHING FOOD

Key to a healthy diet COUNSELLOR WRITER Leigh Smith

A natural wedding page 21

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LIVING MADE SIMPLE 20 Having a conscious life

ECO WEDDINGS

21

Sustainable nuptials!

GREEN CHRISTMAS 24 Our festive guide

PARLOUR GAMES

A festival of play

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WELCOME... to this issue of Reconnect, - and we wish you all a joyous and happy Christmas/Solstice/New Year.

I don’t have to remind you (but I will) that when you’re doing your festive shopping visit local, independent stores and stalls (it’s a crucial time for our local economy). If you can’t think of ‘stuff’ to buy someone, how about buying someone an experience? Some wonderful practitioners and therapists can be found in our wellbeing pages and classifieds.

I think it’s good to see that the message of less excess and less waste is getting more and more into the public consciousness every year.

For most Christmas is a holiday, a time to unwind, nurture our wellbeing, to experience the nature on our doorstep, and to spend quality time with the family. Our issue is full of suggestions to help you to enjoy this festive period, plus for those planning a sustainable wedding we even have a few ideas for you.

Our Feb/Mar issue is our festival preview, to be a part of it, get in touch now.

Scott x Season’s greetings to you all.

COVERSTORY...

The good living and community magazine for Exeter, Plymouth and across South Devon DEC/JAN 19 ISSUE 58

produce ❋ energy ❋ land ❋ homes ❋ community ❋ wellbeing ❋ arts

JOIN THE REBELLION 27

have a green christmas

Please take one

FREE !

Reduce, reuse, recycle and go local

Climate breakdown

WELLBEING PAGES

sustainable weddings

28

Our guide to green nuptuals

Staying well in winter

EMOTIONAL HEALTH 30

GARDENING EXPERT Joa Grower

WEBSITE EDITORS www.doetsdesign.com

TECHNICAL AIDE Zelah Williams

STAY IN TOUCH...

EDITORIAL: 01392 346342 ADVERTISING: 01392 346342 SCOTT’S MOBILE: 07751 214656 EMAIL US: editor@reconnectonline.co.uk or adverts@reconnectonline.co.uk SEND US STUFF BY POST: 18 Millin Way, Dawlish Warren EX7 0EP FOLLOW US AND READ US ONLINE: www.reconnectonline.co.uk facebook.com/reconnectmagazine twitter.com/reconnectmag www.reconnectonline.co.uk

Top priorities in the new year

Christmas ‘cheers’ Tree planting - page 7

FOOD WRITER Jane Hutton

A climate emergency

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FEB/MAR issue out end of January - next deadline January 4 THESMALL PRINT...

PUBLISHED BY Reconnect Magazine, 18 Millin Way, Dawlish Warren EX7 0EP PRINTED BY William Pollard & Co Ltd, Exeter www.pollardsprint.co.uk WEBSITE Visit our website at www.reconnectonline.co.uk.

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ECO ETHOS Reconnect is written, designed, printed and distributed locally, using materials from sustainable sources. It is printed using vegetablebased inks and the paper used has been carbon balanced with an area of land preserved in perpetuity with the World Land Trust (WLT) - an international conservation charity that protects the world’s most biologically significant and threatened habitats acre by acre. To learn more about them see www.worldlandtrust.org and carbonbalancedpaper.com.

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Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

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news&views Pet service

DOGS, cats, hamsters, gerbils and lots of other creatures - even some very well behaved hens are welcome at St. Mary’s Church in Totnes for their 12th annual Annual Pet Service on December 9 organised with Animals in Distress.

Festive theatre

PAVILIONS Teignmouth will host Lily and the Snow Bear on December 15-16.

A funny, heartwarming tale of friendship with puppets, enchanting music and a magical snowy setting for children aged 3+.

Plastic surgery

PLYMOUTH’s strategic ‘green’ network, Environment Plymouth will host Plastic Free Plymouth Waterfront’s Plastic Surgery workshop on how local businesses can go plastic free at Devonport Guildhall on December 13 and 18. See tinyurl.com/ydh7a4rd

Psychic fair

TORQUAY seafront is hosting a free Psychic and Wellbeing Fair on January 12 from 1pm till 6pm

Winter show

The Decidedly Different Winter Wedding Show takes place at Exeter Castle on January 12 and 13.

Festive market

PAIGNTON’S Christmas Market at South Devon College is on December 12.

Blues roots

Mark Harrison will plays Browns, in Dartmouth on December 5 in support of his new album The Panoramic View.

Accessibility matters Local disability charity Living Options have won a National Lottery Award to deliver Heritage Ability - a small project making big strides in the accessibility movement. The project, which beat over 700 other projects, will be working with 20 heritage and countryside sites across the South West including Cockington Country Park.

Working with Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust (TCCT) to open up Cockington for disabled and deaf people they plan to deliver many accessible solutions including an all-terrain mobility scooter, a British Sign Language video tour and an accessible guide.

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Eco flowers

A puffin island adventure QUIRK Theatre bring adventure to Exeter Phoenix this Christmas with an all-new show full of adventure, intrigue and their own hilarious sense of the ridiculous! Marking their sixteenth festive co-production, Puffin Island is an inventive live theatre experience inspired by Devon’s very own Lundy Island puffins. Families are invited to embark on an adventurous journey to Puffin Island to join the island’s residents and famous puffins for the annual Puffin Day celebrations.

Speaking about the partnership, Exeter Phoenix’s director Patrick Cunningham said: “It just wouldn’t feel like Christmas in Exeter without Quirk Theatre, so we are delighted to be welcoming the team back for

what is sure to be another brilliant show for all the family.

Puffin Island is sure to continue Quirk’s wonderful tradition of igniting young imaginations across Devon at Christmas time, and Exeter Phoenix is proud to be a part of that tradition.”

With inventive staging, lively songs and plenty of fun opportunities for the audience to get involved in the action, Quirk Theatre offer an innovative alternative to the traditional pantomime.

Performances take place between December 16 and 28.

There will be a BSL interpreted performance on December 20.

See www.exeterphoenix.org.uk/ events/puffin-island/ for more details.

VANESSA Collins from The Flower Mill Cornwall contacted us a little too late to appear in the Wedding Special pages.

The Flower Mill provide seasonal flowers for all occasions, as nature intended, including natural wedding flowers in Cornwall and Devon. An eco choice. providing “flowers that have been grown not flown.” See www. theflowermillcornwall.co.uk

Reclaim the night

WOMEN from Devon are planning another large gathering against sexual violence on the streets this winter. Reclaim the Night Exeter will take place on December 1. Starting at 7pm from St Sidwell’s ending around 8.30pm in Bedford Square. The Reclaim the Night events are designed to promote public awareness about the levels of violence and harassment experienced by women and girls on our streets.

Adoptive families

Turning joyful song into money!

T

HERE are two events happening in South Devon this Christmas to raise funds for local causes. So if you love to raise your voice in song, or just want to listen and let it wash over you, read on.

Glorious Chorus, acclaimed Devon performance choir, is presenting it’s annual Christmas Extravaganza at Ashburton Arts Centre on Saturday evening December 15. All profits from this event will go to the Totnes Homeless DropIn Centre and the Ashburton Bank Youth Project. Glorious Chorus is guaranteed to deliver a top-drawer performance and this year they are supported by local singersongwriters Kindred Spirit. All information about this can be found at www. gloriouschorus.co.uk.

If you want to join in the singing, join Helen

Yeomans in her annual Dartington Charity Carol Sing on Friday evening December 21 to raise funds for the Totnes shelter.

Each year more and more people have come out to join this happy throng as they walk through the village singing favourite carols. Look out for news on where and when they’ll be on the night. If you want to join Helen’s mini pop-up choir for the event and can read music, contact her at helen@ gloriouschorus.co.uk or tel 01803 862028.

A wassailing we will go WHEN all the festive and New Year celebrations have ended, and things are feeling a little flat towards the end of January, then how about an evening of ceremony and merriment at the Sandford, Stoke Gabriel, Whimple, or Dartington Wassails?

These hugely popular annual events happen in January each year and are based around the traditional cider apple blessing celebration with noisy flaming procession to orchards, toast in trees, shooting of shotguns and shouting wassail to ward off evil spirits, drinking cider, and singing traditional songs. All to bring forth a bountiful apple harvest. Wassails usually take place on the weekends around Old Twelvey Night (January 17).

The wassails start at dusk with the preparation of a special drink made in a wassail bowl. This seems to vary from place to place with anything from beer, warm cider or a sort of egg nog all being used.

An introduction to permaculture

NORTH Devon Permaculture are running an introduction to permaculture course in Devon in March.

The social enterprise is teaching the basic theory of permaculture and how it can be used for resilient and regenerative practices for garden, work and for wellbeing. Courses can be booked at northdevonpermaculture.com/events/coursesandworkshops. For every 6 full paying places, we offer 1 free place to those on low income or unemployed. can be a great way to learn more about trees, get hands-on experience, improve health and well-being, and meet new like-minded people.

Advertising: 01392 346342

FAMILIES for Children Trust, the specialist adoption agency and charitable trust based in the South West, place vulnerable children from all over the UK with new adoptive families in Devon.

They have a real shortage of adopters coming forward and a growing number of children waiting for adoptive families. Their upcoming information sessions where people can learn about becoming an adopter in South Devon are held in their offices in Buckfastleigh on December 5 and February 6 from 10am until noon.

Just fooling

D

O you long for more play in your life? To be infused with life force and energy? Then why not learn to play at the Introduction to Fool Expression Workshop on January 19-20 at Hittisleigh Mid Devon. £110 (£95 conc.) More info contact Christie Animas 07980371335 or contact@ christieanimas.com

NEWS&views Present maker

PLEASE contact us if you have a story to share with Reconnect readers. Email editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

KINGSBRIDGE’S Harbour House is hosting Present Maker - a Christmas-themed exhibition of art and craft by members of the South Hams Arts Forum, with jewellery, woodturning, pewter, mosaics, handmade books, printmaking, painting and drawing until December 9.

Wellbeing fund

INDIVIDUALS and community groups applying to the Totnes Wellbeing Fund, your application must be in by 6pm December 21.

Robin Hood

ROBIN Hood and his Merry Men, including Little John, Will Scarlett and Friar Tuck, all come to Exeter’s The Barnfield Theatre, from December 20 to January 5.

Solstice dance

TOTNES Civic Hall will host the Winter Solstice Cacao Ceremony and Ecstatic Dance Ritual with Rising - Dancing Tantra on December 21.

Al Dunn

Le Navet Bete return to Plymouth with another festive cracker, their quirky take on Aladdin, at The Barbican Theatre from December 12 to January 6.

Torbay artizan showcase Late shopping

Christmas at Hannahs

HANNAHS at Seale-Hayne offers lots of treats and festive activities leading up to Christmas.

They are holding an exhibition of handmade seasonal gifts ranging from cards and stocking fillers to paintings and pottery until December 21 in the Cornish Room. On December 6 St Agnes Fountain will be in concert and St Catherine’s School Choir be singing Christmas songs in the Quad on December 12. Saltram Rotary’s Santa Fun Run takes place on December 9.

Hannahs popular Murder Mystery Evenings will take on a Christmas theme on December 8 and 14. Guests are encouraged to wear fancy dress as they enjoy a festive dinner while the story unfolds around them.

Quantum Theatre will be performing A Christmas Carol on December 15, and on December 16 Squircle Arts will be running Christmas decoration and card making workshops and there will be Christmas storytelling by the fire with ‘Mr and Mrs Sparkle’ from Moonstone Theatre.

The Christmas Tree-cycling collection scheme returns – collecting Christmas trees for a fiver from Ivybridge (PL21) on January 5, Newton Abbot (TQ12 plus Ashburton, Bovey Tracey and Chudleigh) on January 6 and Plymouth (PL3, PL5, PL6 and PL7) on January 7 – sign up

by January 2 at www.discoverhannahs.org/ treecollection.

www.reconnectonline.co.uk

TORQUAY is hosting its fifth and final large scale showcase of visual arts this year The Artizan Winter Open. Julie Brandon, owner of Artizan Gallery said: “The Artizan Winter Open will conclude a year that has been a real turning point for Torbay and we hope that this strong position will be maintained in the year ahead.”

The Artizan Winter Open will run until December 24 at Unit 5 on the lower level of Fleet Walk and will include submissions from their Geopark Ambassador Artists.

Home for the homeless

PEOPLE sleeping rough over the winter nights in Exeter can now come inside thanks to the creation of the new night shelter. The 26-bed shelter (we first brought news of the plan back in issue 56) has now been provided by the City Council and is run by local charity Julian House. Renamed The Junction, the former Spice Island restaurant in Magdalen Street will provide overnight sleeping accommodation for homeless people between November and the end of March. Beyond April, it is hoped that the building will be used as a community facility for the homeless, providing educational courses, arts and crafts and other meaningful activities.

Late night shopping is on Thursdays in both Exeter and Plymouth.

Exeter hosts their Christmas Market at Cathedral Green, and Plymouth Christmas Market is in Armada Way. Both run until December 16. Exeter also has Christmas Street Markets in Castle Street and Fore Street. Plymouth’s Royal William Yard has three Good Food and Craft Markets on December 2, 9, and 16.

Totnes Night Market runs from 3.30pm-9.30pm on December 4, 11 and 18. Sidmouth Shopping Evening and Christmas Fayre happens on December 7 from 5-8pm.

The Shops at Dartington Christmas Fair takes place on December 1516. Shaldon’s Clipper Christmas Artisan Market is on December 4.

Bovey Tracey and Kingsbridge both celebrate Christmas (separately) on December 1 and Harbertonford’s Craft and Art Fair is the following day.

Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

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TCCT Education Manager, Chris Batson (right) with Green Heart Appeal First Prize Winner, Kathryn.

news&views Illuminated gardens

Coleton Aglow returns with the illuminated gardens of Coleton Fishacre. The National Trust illuminated house and gardens have a 1929 Christmas-themed event with plenty of interactive activities for the kids. Illuminated until December 31. Booking is essential.

Draw alive

NEW technology at Torquay’s Living Coasts means you can colour in a sea creature and then see it come to life. The coastal conservation charity has installed an electronic wall where drawings are turned into animations.

First acts

SOUTH Devon’s Chagstock Festival have announced From The Jam as their first headline act. Also confirmed are Mad Dog Mcrea, Holy Moly & the Crackers, New Crisis, and Jodie & The Motleys.

Beyond borders

Beyond Borders Totnes and South Devon Refugee Support Network will hold their fourth annual gathering and gifts collection on December 8 at Totnes Civic Hall, tickets £5.

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Occombe Festival seeks winner LOCAL Torbay resident, Kathryn was delighted to learn of her big prize win recently in the Cockington Green Heart Appeal Annual Raffle. Lucky Kathryn, of Paignton, scooped the top prize in the annual draw.

Kathryn said: “I was really shocked and thrilled on hearing this fantastic news.

I bought the ticket whilst at this summer’s Occombe Festival. How brilliant that we came for a party and a few drinks and have ended up winning £1,000!”

The raffle was drawn at Occombe Farm Cafe and Damian Offer, Chief Executive of Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust, said: “We are delighted for Kathryn and would like to thank her and indeed all those who bought a raffle ticket and supported the Green Heart Appeal.

This project is restoring

key heritage assets in Cockington for the benefit of the local community and visitors. We have so far successfully restored the derelict Linhay, Gamekeeper’s Cottage, desilted the ponds and are currently restoring the landscaping around The Lakes. Our annual Green Heart Raffle helps raise much needed funds towards the overall £1.66M cost of the restoration scheme and we could not achieve this without such generous support.”

Whilst the Trust have successfully notified the first and second prize winners they have been unable to contact the third prize recipient. They would really like to hear from them, so if you have raffle ticket number 08462, please do get in touch because you have won £50!

Advertising: 01392 346342 adverts@reconnectonline.co.uk

Rocket logs and timber framers

H

ILLYFIELD are celebrating getting 40% support towards their Forestry barn building project.

Doug King-Smith is now working with Tom Hilliard, who is engaging some excellent timber framers who will offer some workshops for those with some experience.

Dates yet to be set.

These include Simon Dale, featured on Grand Designs for his stunning timber frame home at Lammas ecovillage in Pembrokeshire (beingsomewhere.net), who plans to run a weekend workshop in Roundwood timber framing, and renowned timber-framer Henry Russel, who plans to hold some workshops in traditional framing and other

techniques whilst building the other two barns.

Nik Sheppard from Native Timber Design is leading the design of the caravans, which will provide accommodation for people helping manage the woods at Hillyfield and were granted permission by DNPA at appeal.

If anyone wants to join the team in the woods in the delivery of these projects then groundworks and timber framing is about to start. Get in touch with Doug at The Hillyfield.

Doug is currently selling his Rocket Logs that make perfect unusual gifts. Priced at just £25 each or five for £100, plus the cost of the courier to anywhere in the UK. Find out more and order them at www.rocketlog.co.uk

www.reconnectonline.co.uk

NEWS&views Nurture a chemical free fruit or nut tree

ELLA Sparks works for Schumacher College in the garden team managing the forest garden areas, perennials and trees. Part of her role has been to develop a tree nursery to propagate heritage fruit and nut trees. This has been partly for educational benefits for students and to experiment with ecological approaches to nursery work. Ella has loads of healthy trees she’s trying to sell, horticultural programs and gardens at the college. Find out more at www.themothertree.co.uk

Holistic fair

Exploring our solar system

The hit science stage show, The Story of the Solar System, lands at the Exeter Phoenix theatre on January 27.

Presented by astronomer Will Gater, the show tells the story of how our planetary neighbourhood came to be and how the planets were transformed from wandering points of light to familiar worlds – worlds that we’ve now examined up-close with robotic rovers and orbiting spacecraft.

The show combines live on-stage demos, bringing to life some of the science of the Solar System, with storytelling and breath-taking astronomical imagery alongside a small flotilla of spacecraft models.

WHY not help give your New Year resolutions a boost and come along to Holistic Exeter - a new mind, body and spirit fair taking place at the Exeter Corn Exchange on January 27 from 10am-3pm.

It promises to be a vibrant experience to chase away the winter blues. For further details, visit www.holisticexeter. co.uk. For those interested in exhibiting at the event, contact the organiser on holisticexeter@ gmail.com.

Calling all tree lovers!

the new artworks gallery

IF YOU want to connect with nature whilst helping a South Devon charity, then join Sharpham to restore and care for the trees on their beautiful Estate.

Their Tree Care Day takes place on Sunday February 10, from 10am to 3.30pm and is free.

You’ll join their team of volunteers who lovingly look after the grounds, and experience the beautiful Sharpham Estate at first hand.

The Trust has been working to preserve that landscape, whilst ensuring that future planting works not only for our eyes and hearts, but for birdlife, insects and other animals.

The day will be led by Sharpham Gardener Bryony Middleton with support from Trust staff and volunteers. Bryony will end the day by demonstrating some tree care techniques.

You can expect a range of tasks: some heavy and some lighter. Participants should bring gloves, boots and suitable clothing.

Sharpham will supply a tasty soup round the campfire with spiced apple juice (sourced from Sharpham’s orchards) to keep volunteers warm and refreshed and as a thank-you for giving your time.

Participants interested in getting involved can just turn up on the day, without booking. The day is not suitable for very young children. Before you set out, check their social media for announcements if the weather is terrible.

The way will be signposted on the day. The grounds incorporate a range of terrains – get in touch if you’ve got mobility issues.

For more information, with directions on how to get to Sharpham, see their website www.sharphamtrust.org Each week, a team of volunteers works on the Sharpham Estate, helping to conserve the grounds on the banks of the River Dart. Volunteering at Sharpham can be a great way to learn more about trees, get hands-on experience, improve health and well-being, and meet new like-minded people.

Find out more about volunteering at The Sharpham Trust throughout the year by emailing Lucy on volunteer@sharphamtrust.org or call 01803 731802.

Sad news

We were greatly saddened to hear that chef Bruno Milford-Dummett, from Sampsons Farm in Newton Abbot and Dawlish Warren’s Forest Fungi, had passed away. He was a lovely, warm and friendly family man that had produced wonderful meals and suppers from kitchens across Devon over the years, and advised on menus and inspired many to become chefs themselves. He will terribly missed.

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10 Station Road South Brent TQ10 9BE Tuesday-Saturday 10 - 5 Wednesday 10 – 1 PAINTINGS PRINTS POTS JEWELLERY GIFTS CARDS

Evolution, Exeter’s Holistic and Ethnic Shop has now moved to 96 Fore St (same side at the top of the hill opposite St Olave’s Church) Come and see our incredible and Extended range of products including Books, Crystals, Cards, Candles, Clothes etc.

Tel: 01392 410759 Mobile: 07773282861 Email: info@evolution-exeter.co.uk Website: www.evolution-exeter.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/evolutionexeter

Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

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news&views Handmade Arts ASHBURTON Makers Market Christmas Craft Fair opens it’s doors again for stress free Christmas shopping at St Andrews Church Hall. The annual sale of unusual and high quality locally handmade arts and crafts, alongside a cafe selling nourishing lunches, tea and coffee and delicious cakes, takes place on December 2 from 10am until 4.30pm.

Novel explores Devon’s future

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ESTERMORROW is the latest book by Exmouth author Noel Harrower, and his latest attempt to make the world a better place. The futuristic novel set in East Devon concerns families living in transition clusters in the second half of this century. Climate change and rising sea levels have devastated some seaside towns.

Noel hopes his book will move readers to start thinking about ways out of the dilemma the world is now in. “It is absolutely vital that we change the climate of current thinking. I know that there is enough love, inspiration and creative awareness in this world to prevent this from happening, but it needs to be mobilised quickly!”

The story links ideas from the Transition Town movement to those of inter-faith explorers and offers hope for tomorrow. The novel is available in Kindle, Standard and Colour on Amazon. Find out more at www.noelharrower.uk

Festive fayre

NEWTON Abbot Racecourse host their Christmas Fayre on Saturday December 8 from 10am until 4pm and it’s free entry.

Seasonal concert The Torbay Gilbert & Sullivan Society offer a joyful mix of Festive entertainment at Torquay’s Livermead House Hotel, with ‘A Festive Christmas’ on December 16. Tickets £11 including tea & Mince pies from 01803 323801 (hidaish@tiscali.co.uk)

Exeter’s Filmmakers Lab aims to support up and coming local film makers IN THE last issue of Reconnect we reported on the launch of The Filmmakers Lab, a new initiative aimed at supporting up-and-coming local film makers through a monthly programme of workshops, talks, screenings and masterclasses held at the Phoenix Arts Centre in Exeter.

Since then the Lab has held several successful meetings with evenings devoted to financing a film project, how to pitch and package a script and a Q and A session with director Dean Puckett. One of the group responsible for setting up the Filmmakers Lab is actor, producer and Reconnect regular advertiser

8

Jeff Sleeman who has recently teamed up with writer/ director Steve Moles to shoot a short surreal comedy film in the Exeter area.

Said Jeff: “One of the things we are aiming to do with the Filmmakers Lab is to demonstrate what a great place the South West is as a film location and to encourage commercial film companies to shoot films in the area using local actors and production crew. For this particular film we needed a variety of diverse and visually interesting settings and we found everything we needed – including a long sandy beach, an urban

street scene, a ‘foreboding castle’ and a bleak marshy wasteland – all within a 10 mile radius of the city.

For anyone making films on a restricted budget the availability of a wide range of locations within such a small area is a real bonus and can result in significant savings in time and transport costs.”

The film (which is as yet untitled) will be released early in 2019 and submitted to film festivals in the UK and abroad.

For more information on the Filmmakers Lab visit www. filmmakerslab.co.uk

Advertising: 01392 346342 adverts@reconnectonline.co.uk

Director Steve Moles, director of photography Michael Gimenez and Jeff Sleeman.

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NEWS&views The Reconnect herb walk

south westerlies...

TORBAY herbalist Dawn Ireland of Green Wyse explains a little about medicinal uses of common seeds or herbs, taking us on a winter forage in the kitchen this issue.

MAGAZINE editors have to work several months ahead of the real calendar. Maybe that’s why Scott chose to feature green weddings over green Christmas trees this year.

One of life’s great celebrations

Y

OU may have noticed I’ve made a bit of a departure from the usual subject matter of Reconnect this issue, with the introduction of a few pages on weddings.

Regular readers will be aware that the seed of this new direction lies with my daughter, Zelah, whose own nuptials take place next year.

I was surprised how consumerist weddings have become and assumed there was a wealth of green businesses out there in this area providing soon to be married couples with what they need for their big day.

I have to admit that I contacted those I could find and offered them a chance to connect within this issue. In my head I imagined alternative celebrants providing an interesting piece on the ritual of handfasting, or perhaps a wedding caterer who espoused the virtues of vegan wedding fair, but not many replied to my offer.

Obviously, I do realise that the greenest way to have a wedding is to DIY as much of it as possible and have friends or relatives provide everything from the cake, to the band, to the venue and the flowers.

But, for some that’s not possible.

Perhaps that shows that there’s an untapped gap in the market for ethical low impact wedding services in an industry that’s often all too commercial these days.

Maybe we will do more on this in a future issue (same time next year?) and if you do know of people offering green sustainable wedding services ask them to get in touch.

Happily I did get a few responses and I’m grateful to those who do feature who are here to provide the rings, the dress, the venue and the photography.

I was always resolute I’d never get married; my parents divorced and it was a messy conclusion, with both parties and myself and my sister finding it a difficult thing to process.

However, after nine years together we were blessed with the birth of our daughter and, once she went to school, my partner Karen lived with the fact that she was pulled up on her daughter’s surname not matching her own when a new member of staff was there when she collected Zelah from school. We had decided to put my name on the birth certificate.

As Zelah got older, the idea of her being a big part of our wedding grew on me, and so we planned a wedding when she was seven, and she nearly burst with excitement as the day approached.

Once the day arrived, I did wonder why we hadn’t done it sooner. It seemed to me at the time it was just one of those rare, special family

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get togethers – in jovial celebration rather than a funeral. Unfortunately my mother died before she got to see us tie the knot, but my father was there to join us on our big day before he too passed.

A few weeks ago I attended another rare family get together, where offshoots of the family tree were in rare attendance to celebrate Karen’s uncle and aunt’s golden wedding. Also there was their granddaughter who had been about five or so at our wedding. I was touched and surprised that she remembered the day and a host of child minded details about it, now fifteen years later. She told me it was one of her earliest memories.

Her saying that triggered a memory in me of going to a wedding when I was around the same age in the Pacific, held in the garden of a small woodenfloored, basic, airy white-painted house. I remember my first sight of adults doing ‘proper’ dancing and armfuls of flowers and a big feast cooked in the earth and wrapped in banana leaves. It was an event that had totally slipped my mind, and also probably one of my primal memories.

I still remember my own wedding vividly, and the others I’ve been invited to. Reflecting on all this retrospection caused me to ask why these events are so cherished.

The answer? Because these rituals are part of our community, and our souls do all love a bit of tradition!

Which makes a great segue to another tradition; that of celebrating the solstice. Something, in this issue, I’ve actually featured less this year. No, that doesn’t mean I’m turning into Scrooge (this being self employed is unlikely to ever provide me his kind of wealth).

Don’t think that means you all don’t get the annual reminder to please buy local, and not just at this time of year but all year around. Perhaps treat your friends, loved ones, colleagues (!) to the products and services we have been highlighting in these very pages.

Talking of which, I really do want to thank each and every one of them, as well as the community groups, voluntary organisations, ethical businesses, food producers, art and craft makers, and anyone else who has contributed something in the last year to these pages.

Give yourselves an extra mince pie for helping to create our sustainable, creative, caring and holistic community. Your contribution is very much appreciated by us all. All of us at Reconnect would also like to wish everyone in our community a very merry Christmas and our best wishes for a prosperous new year.

Scott

A

T THIS time of year there are few outdoor herbs, and foragers can struggle to find plants; even if you do find medicinal plants, they are quite likely to be of poor quality and few and far between.

What we can do is take a cosy forage in our kitchen cupboards, or the local shop, to find well preserved medicinal remedies.

Cinnamon is a delicious spice used in all sorts of foods, but did you know it can also efficiently improve digestive function and blood glucose control? As little as half a teaspoon a couple of times daily taken in food, or a couple of cups of cinnamon tea taken just before or after food, slows down the absorption of sugars as they are broken down in the digestive system and has been shown to decrease insulin resistance.

Studies in 2009 with human volunteers taking cinnamon in rice pudding conclude that low density cholesterol levels are reduced as well. Might be one to consider over the seasonal goodies and treats.

If you are diabetic or on medication, small amounts in food will not have a negative effect, but it’s wise to monitor this by testing your blood glucose levels if you have unstable diabetes.

Nutmeg is another pudding spice traditionally use to flavour apple

Cinnamon and nutmeg pies and included in mulled wine. A little known benefit is the effect of calming, yet uplifting and promoting restful sleep.

Half a teaspoon of the ground spice is the optimum dose for an average adult to achieve this effect. Be warned more than a level teaspoon (5g) can have negative effects such as increasing anxiety and causing palpitations. As with all medicinal plants, the correct dosage is vital.

The type of insomnia which allows you to fall asleep initially, then wake an hour or two later without being able to drop off again shows the most benefit. Ideally take your half teaspoon in a warm drink or in food within an hour or two of bedtime. l Find out more about herbalism and Dawn at www.torbay-herbalist.co.uk

The benefits of blogging with wellbeing editor Kate Philbin BLOGGING can be hugely beneficial for your business.

But when you’re busy it can also be a bind.

Reconnect’s Wellbeing Editor, Kate Philbin is also a professional blogger and copywriter. These are her top tips for novice bloggers.

People use their blogs in all sorts of ways – to share knowledge and information, to promote themselves or their business, to provide content to share on social media or to raise awareness of an issue.

If you want people to read your blogs it’s best to avoid being over salesy. Personally, I find it an annoying turnoff when I’m reading something that seems to have only one aim – to get me to part with my money. So, tip number one is give your reader something that they will value, whether it is a piece of information, a useful link

or a personal insight.

My second tip is to keep it short and focused. People lead busy hectic lives and they don’t have time to wade through tons of information. Get to the point quickly and be clear about what you are trying to say.

Use the right language for your reader. If you are writing a healthcare blog for patients, you’ll need to use different language than if you were writing the same blog for GPs. If your reader thinks your blog isn’t aimed at them, they’ll stop reading.

And, finally be consistent. If you say you are going to blog monthly, or weekly, do it. If you really can’t find the time, it can be a good investment to pay a professional blogger to write for you but make sure you brief them well so you get what you want. l For more information contact Kate on kate@katephilbin.com or visit: www.cafecopywriter.com

Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

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NEWS&views An appeal to all advertisers

S

YLVIA Rose contacted us with a valid complaint. The lack of provision within these pages for events within our pages to declare if they would welcome people with physical disabilities. Are there stairs to climb, standing or walking to be done, cushions on the floor instead of comfortable chairs? Sylvia could phone and ask every event we feature, but imagine how many phone calls she has to make before finding one that’s suitable. She told us: “Phoning around isn’t just tiring, it’s dispiriting. It can make you feel difficult, different, stigmatised, unwanted.”

So, she has a request: “I wonder whether you could encourage your advertisers to think about including access details? I know space in an ad is limited, and it looks clumsy, etc etc, but it would be worth it for them in terms of goodwill and a disability-friendly profile.”

There are many people with disabilities, impairments, chronic illness, or even the everyday wear and tear of aging that live in Reconnectland. “Many of these people love nature, are committed to their own personal development, need healing, and would love to come to some of the inspiring events promised by each juicy edition of Reconnect? But could they?”

Sadly it’s not always obvious if they offer disability friendly services. “You can spend a long time phoning around every healing session only to find out that it’s up several steep flights of stairs, which

would undo for you any healing you might receive at the top.”

It’s no-one’s fault that many buildings in our area aren’t very accessible. In Elizabethan times they didn’t worry much about wheelchair access. Sylvia appeals: “If you’re organising an event where there’s a choice, please choose a venue that as many people as possible could physically access. If you’re working outside, does it need to be a half hour walk into the woods, or could you do it just as well 20 metres from the car park? And if your event is, by blissful coincidence, suitable for people with disabilities, say so loud and clear. Make it a proud and prominent feature of your advert.

What you lose in cluttered ad space you will more than gain from goodwill. Design events that don’t involve standing or walking - and then say so.”

This isn’t just a question of us being nice people. “How many services featured in your magazine realise that they have an obligation under the Equalities Act 2010 (whether being paid or not) to consider the needs of people with disabilities, and although it rarely happens, you could be sued for not making reasonable adjustments if asked.”

But it’s more than that. It’s what sort of community are we trying to build? One that only the fit and healthy can access?

MAKE A BIGGER IMPACT WITH YOUR DESIGN & PRINT ...WITH YOUR LOCAL PRINTER!

Positive messages from the underpass

S

TREET artist Paul Woolley recently contacted Exeter City Council and asked them if it would be possible to repaint over some of the original art work that was in the subway as it had fallen into disrepair.

Paul explained: “I thought it would be good to paint something with a positive message and hopefully be of benefit to the local community.

“Using my holiday leave from work, I volunteered over two weeks and enlisted a few friends along the way to help with the project. The support

THE OLD WAY

Make your organisation stand out!

It all starts with vision…

Make your brand recognisable, eye catching and distinct from your competitors.

Get ready to ruffle some feathers! @pollardsprint

The ideas Paul has painted are certainly close to Reconnect’s heart, and we hope he gets the opportunity to produce more murals across the city.

5 journeys in Devon 2 weeks in the Kalahari

April-December 2019 GUEST CONTRIBUTORS

Charlie Loram

Jon Young

Jessie W-B

Linda Lemieux

Exploring Indigeny Hunter-gatherer life-ways Tracking and bird language Food procurement Ancient crafts Learn from the San Bushmen

Get in touch to see how Pollards can make your design and print stand out! pollardsprint.co.uk | DouglasM@pollardsprint.co.uk | 01392 445 333

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Emily Fawcett

“Everybody really loved what we were doing and said what difference it has made to the subway.

It seems we have managed to achieve something positive for community and hope it continues to do so.”

A yearlong journey towards re-wilding our ancestral blueprint

HOSTS

Robin Bowman

from people young and old and of different nationalities passing-by has been immense and certainly very positive.

Advertising: 01392 346342 adverts@reconnectonline.co.uk

www.theoldway.info

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Goingout

dec 2018/jan 2019

OUR BIGGUIDETO BIG LOCAL EVENTS ART EXHIBITIONS CURIOSITY SHOP: LOOKING WITH OLDER EYES Until Dec 9 RAMM, Exeter.

How to get YOUR events into Going Out...

WELCOME to Reconnect’s out of this world Going Out pages...

We connect all the hot stuff from across the region, categorised for easy access.

We have an EVEN MORE comprehensive online version at www.hubcast.co.uk/reconnect - also available via our busy website at www.reconnectonline.co.uk.

To get YOUR event listed online (and when possible, have it listed here in the mag too), simply register at ReconnectHub and enter the info free of charge.

To advertise here or online, email adverts@reconnectonline.co.uk or call 01392 346342.

MAKE 2018 Until Jan 6 Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Bovey Tracey.

ARTIZAN WINTER OPEN Until Dec 24 Artizan, Torquay.

PRESENT MAKER Until Dec 9 Harbour House, Kingsbridge.

FREQUENCIES Dec 1 -14 The Arts Institute, Plymouth.

THE BOY AND HIS HORSE Jan 13 Jellyfish Arts Hub, Buckfastleigh.

WITH SOUTH DEVON CHOIR Dec 1 Central Church, Torquay.

CRAGGY CLIFFS & SUNNY COVES Dec 11-16 Harbour House, Kingsbridge.

HANSEL AND GRETEL Jan 20 Jellyfish Arts Hub, Buckfastleigh.

BIG NOISE CHORUS ROCKS IN CHRISTMAS Dec 7 Upton Vale Church, Torquay.

CAROLINE BARKER IS ARTIST IN RESIDENCE Jan 22-28 Harbour House, Kingsbridge.

CHILDREN/FAMILY ALADDIN

Dec 8- Jan 1 Corn Exchange, Exeter.

ISABELLA’S STORY BICYCLE Dec 9 Jellyfish Arts Hub, Buckfastleigh.

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK Dec 9 Barnfield Theatre, Exeter.

LILY AND THE SNOW BEAR Dec 15-16 Pavilions, Teignmouth.

WOLF! Dec 16 Jellyfish Arts Hub, Buckfastleigh.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND Jan 23-26 Pavilions, Teignmouth.

ASTRONOMY ADVENTURES Jan 27 Jellyfish Arts Hub, Buckfastleigh.

THE LITTLE MERMAID: THE PANTO Jan 30-Feb 3 Barnfield Theatre, Exeter.

DARTMOUTH PLAYERS’ ALADDIN Dec 28-31 The Flavel, Dartmouth.

ALADDIN Dec 28-Jan 5 Pavilions, Teignmouth.

HANSEL AND GRETEL Dec 22-30 Northcott Theatre, Exeter.

CHOIRS

ROBIN HOOD Dec 20-Jan 5 Barnfield Theatre, Exeter.

SING EXETER

CHRISTMAS CREATIVE KIDS Dec 22 Little Acorn Furniture, Cheriton Bishop.

SING PLYMOUTH Every Thursday, Pomphlett Methodist Centre, Plymouth.

Every Tuesday, Palace Gate Centre, Exeter.

TALES FROM THE PALACE OF STORIES Dec 23 Jellyfish Arts Hub, Buckfastleigh.

EXWICK COMMUNITY SINGERS Until Dec 17 Parish Hall, Exwick.

THE WOMAN WHOSE NOSE WAS A SAUSAGE Jan 6 Jellyfish Arts Hub, Buckfastleigh.

RED ROCK’S CHRISTMAS CRACKER Dec 1 Pavilions, Teignmouth.

CALM AFTER CHAOS

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NO FEATU W FREE RING O ENTR NLINE I E MOR S AND E IN EXPO -MAG SURE

THE LOST SOUND FOLK CHOIR AND STORMY WEATHER Dec 8 United Reform church, Teignmouth.

SHALDON SINGERS CHRISMAS CONCERT Dec 8 St Peters Church, Shaldon.

UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH CHORAL SOCIETY Dec 8 The Arts Institute, Plymouth.

CAROLS IN THE CATHEDRAL WITH EXETER PHILHARMONIC CHOIR Dec 11-12 Cathedral, Exeter.

BIG NOISE CHORUS ROCK IN CHRISTMAS Dec 15 Southernhay URC Church, Exeter.

A LITTLE CHRISTMAS MUSIC WITH SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS CHOIR Dec 15 Harewood House, Plympton.

P IS FOR PROJECTS ALL OVER THE MOOR Dec 6 Devon Rural Archive, Modbury.

SIMPLY STOOLS GREENWOOD WORKING Dec 8-9 Little Acorn Furniture, Cheriton Bishop.

EXPRESSIVE ARTS COURSE Dec 11-Feb 12 Emma Capper - Creative Journeys, Totnes.

FOLK CHOIR AND STORMY WEATHER Dec 22 Arts Centre, Ashburton..

QUARTET WITH ANNA TILBROOK Jan 20 The Courtenay Centre, Newton Abbot.

DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY ART MAKING AT THE MUSEUM Dec 19 RAMM, Exeter.

CLASSICAL MUSIC

LORD BYRON POETRY AND MUSIC WITH ‘ELEGANCE’ Jan 25 Lupton House, Brixham.

GREEN WOOD WORKING COURSE Dec 8-10 Little Acorn Furniture, Cheriton Bishop.

AN ENGLISH CHRISTMAS

Dec 1 Exeter Bach Society, Exeter.

A BAROQUE CHRISTMAS Dec 2 DB, Totnes.

UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH ORCHESTRA CHRISTMAS Dec 6 The Arts Institute, Plymouth.

MUSIC FOR ADVENT WITH WEST DEVON CHORALE Dec 8 R C Cathedral, Plymouth.

DARTMOUTH ORCHESTRA CHRISTMAS CONCERT Dec 10 The Flavel, Dartmouth.

VIOLIN & PIANO DUO ‘ELEGANCE’ CHRISTMAS RECITAL Dec 14 Lupton House, Brixham.

MUSIC IN THE CASTLE - MESSIAH Dec 14 , Powderham, Exeter.

JOY TO THE WORLD WITH BRITANNIA CHORAL SOCIETY Dec 15 St Saviour’s Church, Dartmouth.

CHRISTMAS CONCERT WITH DUO ‘ELEGANCE’ Dec 15 St Michaels, Teignmouth.

EXWICK COMMUNITY SINGERS CHRISTMAS CONCERT Dec 17 Parish Hall, Exwick.

THE LOST SOUND

FLAUTI D’ECHO: AWAKE THOU WINTRY EARTH Jan 18 United Free Church, Totnes.

FITZWILLIAM STRING

COMEDY

DARREN WALSH Dec 5 Barbican Theatre, Plymouth.

NICK PAGE Dec 6 Lemon Grove, Exeter.

CHRISTMAS COMEDY CLUB Dec 14 Pavilions, Teignmouth.

JETHRO Dec 20 The Watermark, Ivybridge.

EXETER COMEDY CLUB Jan 11 Corn Exchange, Exeter.

GEOFF NORCOTT Jan 24 Phoenix, Exeter..

COURSES,CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS

DRY STONE WALLING Dec 1 Devon Rural Skills Trust, Ipplepen.

BALLROOM DANCE LESSONS FOR BEGINNERS Dec 3 Plymstock School, Plymstock.

BALLROOM DANCE LESSONS FOR BEGINNERS Dec 4 Community College, Kingsbridge.

MAKE YOUR OWN SHAVING HORSE Dec 9 to 10 Little Acorn Furniture, Cheriton Bishop.

CHRISTMAS HEDGEROW WORKSHOP Dec 11-12 Lewtrenchard Manor, Lewdown.

HEDGE-LAYING Jan 5 Devon Rural Skills Trust, Ivybridge.

WOODLAND MANAGEMENT & CHARCOAL MAKING Jan 26 Devon Rural Skills Trust, Bovey Tracey.

FESTIVE EVENTS COLETON AGLOW Until Dec 31 Coleton Fishacre, Brixham.

CHRISTMAS CRACKERS Until Jan 1 Babbacombe Theatre, Torquay.

ASHBURTON MAKERS’ MARKET Dec 1 St Andrews, Ashburton.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS Dec 2 Pavilions, Teignmouth.

Turn over the page for more GoingOut listings

Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

11

GOING OUT FESTIVE EVENTS HARBERTONFORD’S CHRISTMAS CRAFT AND ART FAIR Dec 2 Harbertonford, Totnes.

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL Dec 1-2, 8-9, 15-24 Morwellham Quay, Tavistock.

A MAGICAL CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL Dec 1-2 Kitley House Hotel, Yealmpton.

SANTA’S GROTTO AT HOUSE OF MARBLES Dec 1-2, 8-9, 1516, 20-23 House of Marbles, Bovey Tracey.

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK Dec 3-Jan 6 Northcott Theatre, Exeter.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL Dec 5 Pavilions, Teignmouth.

CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL Dec 5-9 St Andrew’s Church, Newton Abbot.

ECO GIFT WRAPPING Dec 6 Sancho’s, Exeter.

Holistic Exeter MIND BODY SPIRIT

Mind Body Sprit Fair Exeter Corn Exchange Sunday 27th January 2019 10am-3pm FREE ADMISSION

Exeter's new mind, body and spirit fair is the perfect event to give you a vibrant start to the year ahead! There will be plenty of support for your new year intentions for your health, wellbeing and spiritual growth - right in the heart of Exeter town centre.

Make the most of 2019 and beyond!

THE SNOWMAN: EXETER CHILDREN’S ORCHESTRA AND FILM SHOWING

NEWTON ABBOT ORCHESTRA CHRISTMAS CONCERT

CELEBRATE EARTH CYCLES -WINTER SOLSTICE 2018

Dec 9 Pavilions, Teignmouth.

Dec 21 Jane Jones Crystal Therapy, Marldon.

A CHRISTMAS NIGHT AT THE OPERA Dec 9 Northcott Theatre, Exeter.

A CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS IN WORDS & MUSIC Dec 10 The Little Theatre, Torquay.

CHRISTMAS MEMORIES Dec 12 Pavilions, Teignmouth.

LANTERN PARADE & CHRISTMAS STREET FAYRE Dec 12 from Bearnes Primary School, Newton Abbot.

DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS Dec 13 RAMM, Exeter.

THE STEAMPUNK YULE BALL Dec 15 Phoenix, Exeter.

CHRISTMAS DISCO & SOUL EXPLOSION Dec 15 Corn Exchange, Exeter.

NEAR TA THEATRE – CHRISTMAS. TIME.

Dec 8 Belmont Chapel, Exeter.

Dec 15 The Beehive, Honiton

NEWTON ABBOT CHRISTMAS FAYRE

SEASON’S GREETINGS

Dec 8 Racecourse, Newton Abbot.

Dec 17-22 The Little Theatre, Torquay.

FESTIVE & LOVELY SHOW

MAYORS CAROL SERVICE & CHRISTMAS STREET FAYRE

Dec 9 Imperial Hotel, Torquay.

Dec 19 Town Centre, Newton Abbot.

TWIXT CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR CEILIDH Dec 27 South Brent.

ROH ENCORE: NUTCRACKER 2018 Dec 28 Pavilions, Teignmouth.

ENCORE - ANDRE RIEU’S 2019 NEW YEAR’S CONCERT Jan 9, 12 Pavilions, Teignmouth.

FESTIVALS THE CREAM WEEKENDER Dec 7-9 Butlins Resort, Minehead GIANTS OF ROCK Jan 25-28 Butlins Resort, Minehead.

MUSIC GIGS THE DAVE HANKIN BIG BAND Dec 1, The Flavel, Dartmouth THE LEYLINES Dec 1, Phoenix, Exeter THE INFERNAL SEA Dec 1, The Hub, Plymouth SOUND OF THE SIRENS Dec 1, Kingskerswell Church THE DRAT PACK Dec 2 The Royal British Legion Club, Plymouth.

Get YOUR event out there with Reconnect’s Going Out pages

Come along to gain free advice, experience taster appointments and meet a range of therapists, practitioners and readers to support you.

TO ADVERTISE your event on our diary website, Reconnecthub, simply visit www.hubcast.co.uk/reconnect and register - then you can enter your own events whenever you want.

To book a stand or for any other enquiries, contact Anne via Facebook or email.

AND many of them will appear in the next (February/March) issue of Reconnect magazine.

FIND OUT MORE holisticexeter@gmail.com

Holistic Exeter

AND they will be viewed through other HUBCAST websites (across the SW).

www.holisticexeter.co.uk

AND it’s all FREE! (There are some online advertisements available too and it’s first come, first served - so call Scott now on 01392 346342)

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Advertising: 01392 346342 adverts@reconnectonline.co.uk

www.reconnectonline.co.uk

GOING OUT BAD MANNERS Dec 3, Phoenix, Exeter THEA GILMORE Dec 4, Phoenix, Exeter ELLES BAILEY Dec 4, Kingskerswell Church VON HERTZEN BROTHERS Dec 5, The Hub, Plymouth JULIEN MARGA QUARTET Dec 5 Fougou Jazz, Brixham.

BRIDGE JAZZ CLUB Dec 5 Phoenix, Exeter.

LEVELLERS Dec 7, Great Hall, Exeter.

ENTER SHIKARI Dec 7, Lemon Grove, Exeter.

POP-UP BOWIE Dec 7 Barnfield Theatre, Exeter.

GLORIOUS CHORUS Dec 8, Kingskerswell Church CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS WITH NICK THE FISH Dec 8 Oyster Shack, Bigbury.

NEIL SANDS CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

THE 1975 Jan 21, Westpoint, Exeter

Dec 13 The Watermark, Ivybridge.

CHRIS SMITHER Jan 23, Phoenix, Exeter

LEGEND (A TRIBUTE TO BOB MARLEY)

BLOOD CEREMONY Jan 25, The Hub, Plymouth

Dec 14 Totnes Civic Hall.

TAX THE HEAT

Dec 15, Cavern, Exeter KEVIN GRENFELL’S JAZZ GIANTS Dec 16 The Royal British Legion Club, Plymouth.

MAD DOG MCREA Dec 19 The Watermark, Ivybridge.

TOBIAS BEN JACOB, JESS MCALLISTER & BEN MORGANBROWN Dec 21, Kingskerswell Church CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS WITH BEN GUITAR CARR Dec 21 Oyster Shack, Bigbury.

ALEXANDER O’NEAL Dec 21, Lemon Grove, Exeter.

GUILTY PLEASURES Dec 31, Barrel House, Totnes NICK THE FISH

ALABAMA 3 Dec 8, Phoenix, Exeter

Jan 4 Oyster Shack, Bigbury.

MARTIN HARLEY Dec 8, Barrel House, Totnes

RUDNICK-CANTER QUINTET

THE DYLAN PROJECT Dec 8, Barbican Theatre, Plymouth THE RUSHES Dec 8, Phoenix, Exeter JADE BIRD Dec 9, Cavern, Exeter

JAMIE R HAWKINS & PHIL COOPER Dec 9, Phoenix, Exeter MADNESS Dec 10 Pavilions, Plymouth

PETER KNIGHT & JOHN SPIERS Dec 11, Kingskerswell Church SETH LAKEMAN Dec 13, Barrel House, Totnes (HED)PE Dec 13, The Hub, Plymouth

Jan 6 The Globe, Chagford.

PETE CANTER Jan 9 Bridge Jazz Club, Exeter.

EDGELARKS Jan 10, Phoenix, Exeter DAMIAN WILSON & ADAM WAKEMAN Jan 13, The Flavel, Dartmouth RUNNING: A YOUTH FOLK ENSEMBLE Jan 18, Phoenix, Exeter HOLY GOOF Jan 18, Lemon Grove, Exeter.

PATRICK MONAHAN Jan 19, Kingskerswell Church FROM THE JAM Jan 20, Phoenix, Exeter

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RSVP Jan 25, Village Hall, Oakford CANCER BATS Jan 27, The Hub, Plymouth BETH ROWLEY Jan 28, Kingskerswell Church BEN OTTEWELL Jan 29, Kingskerswell Church WILLE & THE BANDITS Jan 30, Phoenix, Exeter GANGSTAGRASS Jan 31, Phoenix, Exeter

OPERA ROH ENCORE: THE QUEEN OF SPADES Jan 28 Pavilions, Teignmouth.

THEATRE

POLYESTER Dec 7-8 Phoenix, Exeter.

POLYESTER Dec 10 and 12 Theatre Royal, Plymouth.

FIGURE OF SPEECH MULTIMEDIA – THESEUS AND THE MINOTAUR Dec 16 Village Hall, Stockland ANGEL HEART THEATRE – THE BOY WHO CRIED WOLF Jan 5 Village Hall, Rattery NOBODY’S PERFECT Jan 14-19 The Little Theatre, Torquay.

NT LIVE: THE TRAGEDY OF KING RICHARD II Jan 15 Pavilions, Teignmouth.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S MACBETH Jan 18-19 Brixham Theatre, Brixham.

NT LIVE: I’M NOT RUNNING Jan 31 Pavilions, Teignmouth.

Devon Guild Devon Reconnect ad 071118.qxp 07/11/2018 3:39 pm Page 1

Devon Guild of Craftsmen Contemporary Crafts for Christmas.

Work for sale by designermakers from across the UK

17 November – 6 January

VEGAN EXETER VEGAN MARKET VEGANUARY SPECIAL! Jan 19 Corn Exchange, Exeter.

Rachel Brown

MY BABY Dec 2, Phoenix, Exeter

Christmas Celebration Day Saturday 1 December 10am - 4pm Join us for a day of FREE Christmas festivities with mulled wine and food tastings

The Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Riverside Mill, Bovey Tracey, Devon TQ13 9AF Free Admission 01626 832223 www.crafts.org.uk

Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

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ORGANICGARDENING

JUST at that time when most things seem to be about spending money, our gardening expert JOA GROWER offers all you vegetable growers her best money-saving ideas for 2018.

Propagating money-saving tips THERE are few things more frustrating than needlessly giving away your money. Here are a few of my money saving suggestions for you to try out in your vegetable garden, and make quite a saving throughout the coming year.

Old compost bags

Great for shovelling horse manure into, tiding the garden, collecting leaves to make leaf mould and when split open and weighted down with bricks or stones makes a great weed suppressant.

Remove in 12 months time to find beautiful weed free soil.

Stinging nettles

Soak fresh young stinging nettles in a barrel of water, leave for 10-14 days, strain and water tomatoes, spuds, courgettes and beans - well almost anything really. (The same goes for Comfrey leaves). Oh I ought to just add that you may want to keep your barrel of liquid feed as far away from the house as possible. Cos it sure does stink!

Old feather pillows

They used to recommended that you plant a large dead bird in the ground and then plant your Rhubarb crown on top. Over the years this has become more civilised and an old pillow will do the same trick of slowly releasing nutrients into the soil.

Horse manure

Most stables are only too pleased to get rid of the stuff. The older the better, but if it is really fresh, stack it for 9-12 months. It will be worth the wait as it will have turned it a fantastic soil conditioner.

Wood ash

This can be used in two ways.

Firstly as a deterrent for slugs and snails. Sprinkle a good helping around young plants such as courgettes and squashes. Secondly, wood ash is a rich source of potash which, when applied to fruit bushes, will help them ripen and it protects plants from some diseases.

The onion patch will also benefit from it. Sprinkle on the surface and rake in.

Garlic

Crush a couple of cloves in water and spray the liquid to kill aphids.

Washing up liquid

It’s not quite as good as traditional soft soap but a very good substitute. Make a mix about three times as strong as you would for doing the dishes and spray bug infested plants. When you’ve finished with the bottle you can cut it into 15mm wide strips and make plant labels out of it.

Food trays and pots The plastic punnets that mushrooms come in make fab seed trays, but don’t forget as they are smaller than proper seed trays you won’t need to sow the whole packet of seeds. Yogurt pots also make lovely little plant pots. Please remember to make holes in all reused containers for drainage holes.

Plastic bottles

By removing the lid and cutting the base off a 2lt or 5lt water bottle you can make a perfect mini cloche for individual seedlings.

Brilliant for keeping your baby plants safe from late frosts.

Bean poles and pea sticks

Winter is a great time to cut hazel sticks from hedge rows. Long straight ones for climbing French beans or Runner beans and short branchy ones for supporting Peas and Mangetouts. Always get permission from the land owner before you start hacking away at someone else’s hedges!

Save your own seed

With some vegetable plants this can be fairly easy. The first thing to check is that the parent plant you are collecting from is not a F1 hybrid as the seeds from this will not come true. Most seed packets or seedling plant packs will say whether they are or not. The easiest seeds to collect are probably beans and peas. Leave some pods on the plants towards the end of your harvest and allow them to dry and go yellow. Once this has happened, pick them and allow them to carry on drying on a window sill or greenhouse bench. When completely dry, store in an envelope until sowing time next year.

Wooden pallets

So many things can be made from these. Probably the most useful one is a compost bin. Four pallets of similar size can either be nailed, screwed or even tied together to create a good sized bin. I have also seen and made myself in the past a very comfy garden bench out of them.

I hope you have enjoyed reading some of my suggestions for things you can do in the vegetable garden for free (or at least for very little money). l Just a reminder that Growers Organics nursery (next to Ben’s Farm Shop in Yealmpton) will reopen mid February 2019 and we shall also be back in the Totnes market square on Fridays from mid February.

Happy Growing!

Reconnect’s Organic Gardening column is written by Joa Grower of Growers Organics. Meet her at Totnes market on Fridays and Saturdays.

Visit www.growersorganics.com, or call 01752 881180.

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Dreaming of a Green Christmas?

GREENLIFE in Totnes stock a large range of organic and ethically sourced foods, and many eco living products and sustainable gift ideas, so if you are dreaming of a Green Christmas they are well worth a visit.

Greenlife is located at the top of the town on the market square and is a great place to find vegetarian, vegan, gluten free and organic versions of traditional Christmas foods alongside many luxury foods, and a very large selection of organic, raw, dairy free and sugar free chocolates and Christmas novelty chocolates.

“Our selection of gift lines has expanded on last year too” said buyer Matt Sermon. “And we have added some organic liqueurs, organic port and a trendy new award winning organic gin called Fatty’s to our shelves.”

Gift ideas include bamboo socks, scented candles, aromatherapy oils and eco products such as reusable

Astor statue PLYMOUTH campaigners are hoping to raise a statue to Nancy Astor, the first female MP in Britain.

The Lady Astor Statue committee are hoping for backing to raise funds to build the first statue to her and unveil it on The Hoe in Plymouth, 100 years to the day since her victory was announced on the steps of Plymouth’s Guildhall on November 28 1919.

The campaign is backed by the Prime Minister and female MPs from both the House of Lords and the House of Commons across all political parties. If enough money is raised in the initial stages of the Crowdfunding campaign then a design competition will be launched. l To find out more visit www. ladyastorstatue100. co.uk

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water bottles, food containers, bamboo coffee cups and other lines made from sustainable materials such as bamboo and coconut.

Greenlife also offer Christmas hampers which are available in a luxury organic and a ‘free from’ version, priced at £65. Greenlife online can also send your hamper for a minimal postage cost of just £7.50. The hampers make an ideal Christmas raffle prize for any ethical business or club, or a generous Christmas present. Details of the hamper contents can be found online at www.greenlife.co.uk l Greenlife is open from 9am – 6.00pm Monday to Friday and 9.00am – 5.30pm on Saturday.

They will also be open until 9pm on Tuesdays throughout December as part of the Totnes Late Night Shopping event.

Ross and Verbena

Help in the garden

R

OSS Adams, aka Abundant Gardens, is offering his gardening skills and creative enthusiasm to develop and/or maintain your Totnes gardens to ensure you’re getting the best from them. He explained: “Winter is a great time of the year to make structural changes to your garden; moving or planting of trees and shrubs, putting in raised beds and compost bays ready for the year ahead and pruning apple and pear trees.”

It’s also the perfect time of year to use willow to make a beautiful living structure. Ross added: “Willow is an incredible tree because it can be cut and then put into the ground and it will grow. This can be done at any time of the year, however winter is best as the wet conditions help willow to establish.

“Due to its flexible nature it can be woven into any number of shapes and turned into domes, arches, screens, tunnels and fedges (a hedge crossed with a fence). It grows fast, is quick to establish and comes in different colours, so the limit really is your imagination.

Living willow structures add a really lovely feature to the garden and kids love them as well.”

Ross also wants readers to spare a thought for the wild ones this winter and: “leave some areas of your garden so that they have a place to be too.

Dead flower heads are ideal and they look great when they get frosty.”

If you would like to discuss any of these or other plans you may have for your garden, then get in touch with Ross on 07811608359 or visit www. abundantgardens.uk

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Amelia’s Devon vegan diary

SHE’S down with a bug, so we’ve tried our best to do a half decent job with what’s on in the region over this period; it’s not a patch on Amelia’s. We wish her a full recovery, and hopefully she’ll be back for the next issue.

You may well be halfway through your Vegan advent calendar by the time you read this, but there are a few festive special events on. For Totnesians the newly relocated International Macrobiotic School host A Vegan Christmas on December 1, and Plymouth’s Tasty Parteas host a pop up afternoon tea at Torpoint Council Chambers on December 2. Teignmouth’s PerryLicious Coffee and Cake Rooms will be holding their Tofu and Tinsel Christmas dinner on December 13.

For those visiting Exeter’s Christmas Market on Cathedral Green BUN will be offering their fresh, vegan and vegetarian street food until December 16.

Okeside Cottage Cakes will have a stall loaded with luxury fruit packed boozy vegan Christmas cakes at Okehampton Saturday Market.

Ivybridge’s The Clay Factory will host a vegan mincemeat and mince pie making workshop on December 9 (booking in advance). Plymouth’s No Whey Tacos have a cruelty free market at The Old Clipper Pub on Union Street on December 16.

The first Exeter Vegan Market of 2019 takes place on January 19 running from 10am until 2.30pm at Exeter Corn Exchange (EX1 1BW). Expect a showcase of the best ethically minded local artisans, traders & makers. Bristol’s South West Vegan Festival is also on the same day!

The dates for the next All Day Vegan Elevensies are December 29 and January 26. Drop in to Tavy Lodge (Plymouth PL4 7DJ) any time between 11 & 5 for vegan food, stalls, talks, and entertainment. Money raised helps The Naturally Vegan Plot, who are currently trying to raise enough funds to buy land and help their dreams of veganic permaculture come to fruition.

CBD news

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By Therapia’s Jonathan Abery

NLESS you live under a rock, you can hardly have failed to hear about CBD Oil — it is the word on everyone’s lips today. Hardly a year ago CBD (cannabidiol) was virtually unknown now it is a household name and has gone mainstream. So much so that everybody wants to sell it and as a result it is on sale everywhere. It has become a billion-dollar industry in America and even Coca-Cola is developing a CBD drink. But how can you be sure you are getting the real thing?

At the moment it is legal to sell in the UK and anybody can start selling a ‘CBD’ product that could be nothing more than coloured water!

This wild-west situation will continue as long as people suffering from a variety of ailments look for alternative remedies … thus becoming the prey of unscrupulous operators and snake-oil sales men (less than 30% of CBD products tested contained the amount of CBD stated on the label). Therefore, when sourcing CBD products, it is important that you buy from a reputable supplier who can show that the product has been tested, the CBD content is shown as a percentage, the total amount of CBD in milligrams per bottle, and a best-before date. Therapia’s medicinal cannabis products meet all these criteria.

But the really great thing about CBD is that the human body is prepared for it, the nervous system is bristling with cannabinoid receptors, and that it needs it to for the body’s own endocannabinoid system to maintain homoeostasis and keep the body on an even keel. Whilst we can’t claim any medicinal benefits (there has been scant medical research), there is preliminary evidence that it can be used to treat a range of conditions from neuro-degenerative diseases and autoimmune system problems by calming anxiety, lifting mood, and fighting pain.

What is known is that ºincorporating CBD products into your daily routine can have significant benefits for your

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physical and mental health.

According to a World Health Organisation report published earlier this year, it was determined that CBD has “been demonstrated as an effective treatment for epilepsy” in adults and children and that there is “evidence” that CBD could be useful in treating Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, psychosis, Parkinson’s disease, and other serious conditions.

The report went on to say that whilst CBD itself is safe and found to be helpful for many users, they warn that not all cannabis extracts are created equally, purely, or with the same methods of extraction.

Therapia’s MediHemp Complete CBD Oil is produced in Austria from hand-picked, EU-certified organic hemp using the latest techniques so that the active ingredients of the plant remain in the end product as much as possible for better bio-availability.

During production, use is made of a critical CO2 technique with which the hemp flowers are extracted. Because there is no preparation with heat, the favourable cannabinoids are retained in the end extract and it contains many other healthy and essential ingredients, such as: Hemp protein, Carotene, Vitamin B, Vitamin E, Minerals, Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. MediHemp has the waxes removed from the extract and this gives it a lighter colour and a more pleasing taste than other CBD oils on the market. Prices start at £15 for 10ml of 2.5% (250 drops/250mg CBD); £28 for 10ml 5% (the optimum strength with 500mg CBD) and £64 for 30ml 5%. 10% POA. We also stock CBD capsules, hemp tea, hemp honey and hemp seed oil.

Therapia is a Torquay-based company producing medicinal cannabis products since 2001 including the ever-popular ‘Joint Cream’ which provides pain relief for arthritis sufferers. Therapia, Fleet Walk Shopping Centre (next to TKMaxx) Torquay TQ2 5EN, open 10.30 to 4.30 daily. Info/Mail Order 0800 0747 319 / 07817 454390 www.therapiaonline.com. Member Cannabis Trades Association UK.

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Transition homes update TRANSITION Homes Community Land Trustee Ruth has more news from the small charity run by volunteers and their £6 million, 70% affordable housing scheme.

More Grant Success!

We have had more good news to the tune of £300,000 from the Community Housing Fund infrastructure bid to Homes England. This will pay for the road to the new homes and the new access from the A385. We are thrilled that Homes England and SHDC are working together to support Clay Park.

New planning application Some of you may have noticed that we have recently started mentioning ‘31’ units at Clay Park rather than the 27 in our original planning application (2927/15/ FUL). This is due to advice from our partner organisations Young Devon and United Response that self-contained studios/flats are better for meeting the needs of the young people and adults with learning disabilities than shared houses. Discussions with SHDC have been positive but we need to submit a new planning application to change the two

Celebrating women’s voices

O

VER in the USA a record number, more than 100 women, were voted into the House of Representatives.

It’s just another indicator of a global raising of the voice of the feminine.

We are living in incredible times, when a new wave is surging, washing over and through the old paradigm. No area of life is left untouched. Rising within this wave is the voice of the feminine, that which has been quieted, shut down and ignored is now awakening.

Rumblings from the Earth mother’s belly herself, calling us to stand up and speak from our hearts. This rise of the feminine can be seen through the numerous and inspiring projects emerging all over this beautiful planet. Isabella Lazlo, part of the wonderful team at AEVA Magazine said: “Women are rising, remembering our sacred innate connection to the Earth, reclaiming our shared voice and power as we gather in circles, round fires, in fields, woods, village halls and sitting rooms.

“Together we are an undeniable force, a power as ancient as the

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former single houses to studios/ flats. There will be no increase in the number of houses, number of residents or parking requirements.

Watch this space as we will share the consultation when it’s live on the SHDC website so that you can comment.

Under the boardwalk We’ve been spending some of our money from our Postcode Local Trust grant to improve the footpath entrance to the site from the field backing on to Barracks Hill. After feedback about the boggy conditions last winter we have engaged Red Earth Landscaping to create a new boardwalk, replacing the existing short one and extending it to avoid the boggy bit. Please take care over the next couple of weeks if you are walking through as there may be people working, holes, materials, trip hazards, etc in this area. The public footpath entrance from the A385 will also be improved as part of the build contract.

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Earth herself, together there is nothing our hearts will not achieve. Together we are changing and challenging the face of Politics, Law, Education, Community, Family life and Celebration.

Helping to bring the connected heart back into our world. Girls and Women across cultures rising up, speaking out and calling for change.

Each voice is an inspiration and a support to our own. We believe in each other, help each other with that next step and through each woman’s unique story is reflected the true power and beauty of woman.

“At ‘AEVA’ we are gathering women’s voices from this diverse and global movement, creating a magazine that offers a more reliable and accurate reflection of who we are as women than most mainstream magazines offer women at this time. What if a magazine could mirror not only your struggles and longings but, your true power, beauty and worth? It is our hope at ‘AEVA’ that we may be creating just such a magazine. l Find out more at www. aevamagazine.co.uk

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news & views Are you finding it hard to heat your home?

IF YOU are suffering from fuel bill worries, there are drop-in energy advice clinics taking place across Reconnectland.

Helping you get the most from your garden

living willow structures scything fruit trees organic growing edible planting com posting raised beds wildlife areas

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XETER Community Energy (ECOE) is helping people across Exeter, Mid and East Devon, Teignbridge and Torbay cut their energy bills and stay warm in winter with its Healthy Homes for Wellbeing project.

Since November 2017 Healthy Homes has been providing free energy advice at events and drop-in energy advice clinics and Local Energy Advice Partnership (LEAP) home visits. The free LEAP visit provides a home energy survey, conducted by fully trained Home Energy Advisers.

Andy Extance, a voluntary director of ECOE, said: “Our tailored package covers energy saving tips and installation of free, easy measures like low-energy LED light bulbs and draught proofing. Help with bills, switching and discounts, grants for insulation and heating, referring on for benefit, debt advice and safety checks is also covered.

Eligibility for the home visits is deliberately wide, including low income, long term health issues, disabilities, benefits, and recent bereavement.”

Help is also available with the costs of upgrading your home’s insulation or replacing old and inefficient heating. John added: “Our advisors can connect you to government

Energy Company Obligation funding to improve home energy efficiency and Emergency Central Heating Offer funds when boilers are broken or beyond economical repair.”

Drop-in energy advice clinics take place across Exeter, and in Crediton, Tiverton and Cullompton.

Energy Advice Clinic dates and more information can be found at www.ecoe.org.uk/healthy-homeswellbeing/ Drop in for free impartial advice, and bring energy and water bills to see how much money you could save. To book your free LEAP home energy visit call ECOE on 01395 276734 or 07731 540215, or email info@ecoe.org.uk.

Furthermore, ECOE is now developing new photovoltaic energy projects on the roofs of community buildings and providing cheap energy for their occupants. It also offers grants for local fuel poverty, clean energy and energy efficiency projects until the end of January.

Contact ECOE if you’re interested on the details above.

07811608359 www.abu ndantgardens.uk

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Jellyfish Festival of Puppetry and Storytelling JELLYFISH Community Arts Hub in Buckfastleigh will be transformed into a cosy and inviting storygrotto to host seven heart-warming performances throughout December and January.

Storytelling will be provided by Katy Cawkwell, Clive Pig, Sara Hurley and Leo Sofer; Puppetry from Angel Heart Theatre, Clockwork Moth and Dartmoor Skies.

Sunday December 9 at 5pm Isabella’s Story Bicycle present: How to be brave?

Running time: 45 mins.

Suitable for ages 4+ Sunday December 6 at 5pm Angel Heart Theatre present: Wolf!

A delightful re-imagining of Aesop’s Fable Running time: 40m.

Suitable for ages 3+ Sunday December 23 at 5pm Leo and Sundara Sofer present: Tales from the Palace of Stories Running time: 40m Suitable for ages 4+ Sunday January 6 at 5pm Clive Pig presents: The Woman Whose Nose Was A Sausage Running time: 45m.

Suitable for ages 4+

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The Boy Who Cried Wolf

Sunday January 13 at 5pm Katy Cawkwell presents: The Boy and His Horse Running time: 45m Suitable for ages 7+ Sunday January 20 at 5pm + 7pm Clockwork Moth present: Hansel and Gretel, A Shadow Play for Adults and Children Running time: 35m. Look “behind the scenes” after the show!

Suitable for ages 4+ Sunday January 27 at 5pm Dartmoor Skies present: Astronomy Adventures Running time: 45m. Weatherdependent stargazing to follow.

Suitable for ages 3+ l Visit www.jellyfishartshub.co.uk to book online.

Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

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LOCAL PRODUCE Shop local SHOPPING locally is not just better for the environment, its also better for the local economy.

L

OCAL crafts from local makers and artists are ideally suited as gifts. Christmas has become a frenzy of over-consumption, and none of us want to add to the mountain of plastic which will be bought and discarded within weeks. Most of us like to give and receive gifts that are made with care and that will give lasting pleasure.

Making your own gifts is of course wonderfully rewarding, but if you do not have the time or the skill, then why not consider items that are handmade locally.

Rather than spending your cash online or in big high street stores, why not check out what’s on offer in a nearby town or village where you don’t normally shop.

Living in Teignmouth we’re fans of the artisan quarter, and Totnes is obviously a big draw, you could pop into Ashburton or along the A38 there’s South Brent. Over this period try and find a local artisan quarter to shop in, and you cannot fail to enjoy your shopping experience.

There you’ll find Artworks, which opened early 2005 and is run by Penny Wainwright and potter Jane Wellens . They explained: “Why in South Brent, we were asked – you would get a lot more customers if you were in Totnes. Well, South Brent is where we live, and South Brent is a great little place – it has an energy that is channelled into all sorts of creative things – there are a number of artists and makers, and a strong ethos of ‘small is beautiful’.

Artworks is an outlet for the work of over 100 artists and craftspeople

– all relatively local, and all passionate about what they do.

“It is a bit of a conundrum to be a shopkeeper and maker when you are opposed to excessive consumerism. But the love of beautifully crafted things, and the joy of making, whether throwing a bowl from a lump of clay or carving a spoon from a piece of wood, is a peculiarly human passion – and, having recently seen some 4,000 year old mugs from Crete which look remarkably similar to the pots we make and use today, we can only conclude that a love of beauty, and a lust for lovely tactile things, is hardwired into us.“ Artworks has paintings and artists’ prints, ceramics and jewellery – things made from glass, metal, wood, paper and textiles – and an array of unusual books and greetings cards. “We have been here for almost fourteen years – when we opened we thought we’d give it a year, maybe two. Now it is part of what makes South Brent special – and, along with two antique shops, a great little deli, a flower shop, small café and a few other food shops and two hairdressers – oh, and a hardware store - we are holding our own.

And, amazingly, there are two less empty shops than last year, which is a cause for celebration.”

So, if you want to find something unusual, which supports the local economy and which will hopefully give lasting pleasure, then a visit to Artworks, and South Brent, is definitely worth making.

Birthing children’s book characters

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OVER star Katz Cowley has recently and very suddenly become more recognised in the UK and beyond for her work as a children’s book Illustrator after a viral clip of a Scottish grandmother reading Katz Cowley’s first book ‘The Wonky Donkey’, became an internet sensation.

Katz now lives in Totnes, having illustrated most of her 7 books in New Zealand and Australia where she lived for many years. She talked to Reconnect about the process of birthing children’s book characters.

“Initially, I research and sketch the anatomy of the creature I’m illustrating, incorporating the ‘feeling’ I get of their personality from reading the story. I see myself like a midwife, birthing characters onto the page. Once I feel the character has landed, I talk to them and welcome them as they start to emerge.

I begin to marry the images with the words.

Often I consider the backstory that may never appear in the book, and even bring through, and may name, characters that aren’t mentioned in the text.

“Many of my illustrations have hidden personal meanings – a partner’s initials, the name of a cousin who died etc. Finally, I embark on the nerve-wracking and exciting process of producing the artwork for the final illustrations.

I meet my characters on a soul level. It’s a magical process.”

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Naturally nourishing Environmentally sustainable growing

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ROTHERS Charles and Bruce Reed grow fish and vegetables together in an integrated method called Aquaponics at their farm in a disused quarry on the edge of Newton Abbot. The pair started out wanting a system that was easy to build, easy to maintain, commercially and environmentally sustainable while giving themselves more time for making the delicious produce they sell in their shop.

Bruce explained: “We have tried to simplify Aquaponics as much as possible. Put very simply Aquaponics is much like a pond in which fish in the water eat food and excrete waste products.

These are broken down by friendly bacteria and then absorbed by plants as their food.”

In an Aquaponic system the fresh water fish are kept in tanks. The water from these fish tanks is pumped up to, and filtered through, inert media grow-beds (fired clay balls or styrofoam floating rafts) containing the bacteria and plant crops. This process naturally cleans the water which then returns to the fish tanks to complete the cycle.

In an Aquaponic system the use of artificial or organic pesticides, herbicides or antibiotics is not safe because the first two would kill the

fish and the antibiotics would kill the bacteria needed to mineralise the fish waste, this would in turn kill the fish due to the fish waste building to toxic levels.

Pest control, therefore, must be carried out using traps, physical barriers and native biological pest control (such as using lacewing larvae to control aphids). This, combined with solar panels providing power and rainwater harvesting, means that Old Quarry Farm really is an environmentally sustainable project.

Bruce added: “The lack of artificial chemicals combined with all the water and nutrients the plants need means that we can produce some truly amazing herbs, salad crops and other veg. From flavoursome lettuce and heirloom tomatoes to fresh and succulent lemongrass and highly scented basil.

“Some of our crops are sold raw in our shop or through our veg box scheme. Other crops are processed in small batches in our kitchen to make delicious jams, sauces and chutneys.”

Old Quarry Farm is behind Romany Jones Café, in Newton Abbot, the brothers invite our readers to come and sample some of their produce.. l Find out more at www.facebook. com/oldquarryfarm

Grow mushrooms at home with Grocycle

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OUTH Devon’s gourmet mushroom project founded by Adam Sayner and Eric Jong relocated in January 2018, when the pair moved their mushroom farm that pioneered growing gourmet Oyster mushrooms on coffee waste from Exeter city centre and rebuilt it at their base on the Dartington estate.

Telling us all about the move Eric Jong said: “It’s been great to have everything in one place again. It’s made it so much easier for outdoor mushroom growing and filming videos for our online course community.”

The Social Enterprise have a mix of activities happening at their farm.

Each week they send growing columns to The Pig Hotels in Honiton, Bath and Brockenhurst for their kitchen gardeners to grow.

Readers are probably most familiar with their grow-at-home kits that bring fresh mushrooms into our kitchens. They make thousands

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OUR resident foodie, JANE HUTTON, offers some simple tips to making healthy choices with a positive impact.

Real food is the key to a healthy diet AS WE move into the end of 2018, and our thoughts turn to 2019, one of the themes we see every December, everywhere we look, is the ‘new year, new you’ chestnut! Shouldn’t looking after our health be taken as read?

Ideally, of course it should, but with the pace of modern life, it can end up last on the list until ill health comes knocking.

Real food It doesn’t have to be this way.

There are some simple ways to ensure you have more energy, better mood, and all round vibrant health. Not surprisingly, food is the foundation of it all. Real food is key - if it doesn’t exist in nature, or come directly from the earth, tree, bush, field or stem, don’t eat it. Eat breakfast and regularly throughout the day. Lastly, make sure every meal contains protein and healthy fat as well as carbs.

You can do this by making easy swaps, like guacamole instead of mayonnaise; prioritising eggs, healthier cheeses, and meats like chicken or salmon over bread, chocolate, pasta, with a plate at least half veg.

It’s amazing how quickly we develop better eating habits when we think about what to eat while we’re planning our week ahead.

Build a collection of recipes that can be batch-cooked and save time, and get the kids involved to make it a family creative life skills

time. Having a stash of healthy snacks to prevent blood sugar crashes and bad choices helps too, though that doesn’t mean that cake and chocolate are off the menu.

Healthy choices certainly don’t mean deprivation. There’s room in a consistently fresh, broad and varied eating regime for holidays, birthdays, and blow outs, as well as desserts and treats. Making cakes, desserts and treats that contribute nutrients as well as being delicious and indulgent is as easy as swapping ingredients for ones with health benefits, and, as ever, comes down to gathering a collection of recipes. This month I’ve given you not just one, but two, glorious yet healthy desserts for your winter comfort food collection. Cook, eat, enjoy!

If you do nothing else for your health in 2019, make an effort to try at least one of the health resolutions here. Each one is ‘one small change’, and whether on their own or together, they can have a huge positive impact on your mood, energy and wellbeing. Rest well, eat well, and treat your body as a holistic being with physical, mental and emotional needs. Wishing you happiness and health through the festive season and beyond into 2019!

Gluten free cherry crumble of the GroCycle Mushroom Kits, which are bought as gifts (a perfect Christmas present) and enjoyed by people growing their own mushrooms at home.

The team also teach an online course on Low Tech Mushroom Growing. There are now more than 400 members from 48 countries in the community. Adam Sayner added: “We love teaching people what we’ve learnt and it’s really inspiring to see all these people setting up their own small scale mushroom farms around the world.”

This November Grocycle launched a starter course on How To Grow Mushrooms at Home. It is all now online and available to buy as a Christmas gift too. l Their Gourmet Mushroom Grow Kits & Online Course can be bought from their website https:// shop.grocycle.com

900g cherries 2 tbsp light muscovado sugar 2 tbsp brandy (optional) knob of butter 100g light muscovado sugar 100g cold butter, cubed 50g gluten free oats 50g unsalted nuts 100g rice flour a pinch of salt

Combine the cherries, sugar, brandy and butter in an ovenproof dish.

To make the crumble, simply chuck the dry ingredients into a processor and pulse to chop the nuts and oats up a bit. Pulse or rub the butter into this mixture until it resembles breadcrumbs. Scatter the crumble over the fruit and bake at 180 for 35-40 minutes.

Chocolate pudding Melt 150g coconut oil or butter in a saucepan. Set aside. Add 8 tbsp of cacao powder, 2 pinches of sea salt, 6 tbsp of maple syrup, 2 tsps of vanilla extract and 1 tsp of bicarb. Stir together until smooth. Whisk 6 medium eggs, then slowly whisk in the chocolate mixture. Top with fruit, sprinkle with a little sea salt and bake at 180 until it reaches your gooey requirements!

Naturally Nourishing is written by nutritionist and “confirmed foodie” Jane Hutton. Visit her new website, www. functional-foodie.com, and sign up for programmes, recipes and advice.

Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

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Living: made simple WELCOME to the first of a new series of columns for Reconnect - Living: made simple, with a familiar face - Martin Foster.

IF you’re a regular Reconnect reader, you’ll have come across a range of my rantings and ramblings over the years: originally under the title ‘Living on Less’ during my time as editor; and then, since I sold the business to Scott two years back, under the more general monika of ‘More Follows’.

The subject matter of my columns has meandered issue to issue, ranging from the trivial to the profound (I’ll leave you to decide which end of the spectrum I frequented most), but running through much of it has been one theme: the ideas behind, and practicalities of, living a simpler, less material, but more fulfilling life.

For me, the practical side of things have come to the fore since leaving Reconnect. My wife Jenn and I had already simplified our lives quite dramatically, downsizing from a big farmhouse, when we had five kids living at home, to a small house just big enough for us two. After selling the Reconnect business, our minds were clear to reimagine the way we wanted to live - and less than a year later, we found ourselves in a small (5Mx7M) wooden cabin on a smallholding, completely off-grid with solar power, woodburning stove and compost loo.

Our consumption (and, consequently, our expenditure) is now super-low: energy bills kept to a minimum; food shops supplemented by homegrown fruit and veg and home-produced meat; almost everything we use and wear bought secondhand - or, if bought new, sourced carefully to ensure it really lasts.

So that, very briefly, is where we are. But why write about it?

Well, for a number of reasons: because it’s what I know (I’ve walked the walk in my muddy boots); because I believe it matters (we can’t continue to live at our current rate of consumption); and, most importantly of all, because people seem to want to know more (and to contribute to the conversation themselves).

Yes, I’m aware the last paragraph raises far more questions than it answers – and that’s why I want to explore the subject in more detail over the coming months.

And while I’m coming over all existential, there are a couple of other things I’d like to say up-front.

Call them disclaimers if you like.

1 This is about simple living.

That’s simple - not easy. Just deciding you want to make some big changes in your life is not easy. Making them is even tougher. And living with them can be pretty testing at times too (just like every other way of living). If it’s right for you, though, I promise you the whole process will be endlessly rewarding and at times quite blissful. And that brings me to point 2…

2 I really don’t mean to come on all self-righteous about this stuff. It’s tricky, though, because when you care passionately about something, it’s all too easy to get a bit preachy. I truly do not

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mean to be judgemental about anyone else’s life – I’ve considered long and hard how I want to live and I’ve made changes accordingly.

Obviously, it’s not for everyone although I hope there’s something there everyone will at least find interesting. I would ask one simple question: do you live your life consciously? If you are content with your lot, satisfied that your choices have created the life you truly want to live, move right along, there’s nothing to see here.

If, however, you sense you’re missing out on an elusive something; if you’re looking for a more fundamental contentment you can’t find in materialism and consumption; if you’re concerned that some aspects of your lifestyle might be impacting negatively on your family, community or wider world; read on…

Still with us? You are sincerely welcome. And you are not alone. Feedback to my ‘Living on less’ columns, and conversations I’ve had with people from all walks of life, have provided me with anecdotal evidence of an underlying dissatisfaction with the consumerist ‘do-a-crap-job-to-buycrap-to-stop-feeling-crap’ way of life. But if you need more concrete (or at least virtually concrete) evidence, let your search engine of choice guide you through the many thousands of words already written on the subject. Try searching: ‘simple living’, ‘conscious living’, ‘intentional living’, or ‘decluttering’.

So, given there’s so much out there already, why does anyone need any more?

Well, I’ve read many of those words throughout my own journey of analysis, decisions and change, and I found they simply didn’t speak to me. What they said made good sense, but somehow it didn’t inspire. And my (all too many) years of experience as an editor suggested there was a more accessible, effective and enjoyable way to tell the story. If you stay with me over the coming issues, I guess you’ll be the judge of that.

As I reach the end of this first introductory column, I come ironically to the crucial part – I want to hear from you…

I’m planning a Facebook page and blog soon, both of which will invite feedback and input, but ever the traditionalist (oh, all right, old git), I’ve started with print, which is notoriously one-way. Still, I do want to hear from you. Love the idea, or hate it?. What aspects of simpler living would you like me to explore? And, most important of all, tell me your experiences. I want to pass on tips, warnings, advice and anything else relevant – so do, please, get in touch.

Until I’ve created the aforementioned other options, please email me at martinfoster4242@gmail.com.

Supporting musical talent

GOOD news has reached us that the Patchwork Studios team have successfully re-enforced Maker Heights’ long legacy of inspiring, supporting and celebrating musical talent. With regular Youth Music Labs firmly in session, community events for everyone and a sell-out first Patchwork Live event, the hard work is definitely paying off! Keep an eye out for announcements of regular local events such as poetry evenings, open mic nights, cinema club and more on their facebook page and www.patchwork-studios.com.

Awenek Studio at Maker Heights is rapidly becoming the new home for creativeness on the Rame Peninsula! Enticing seasoned arts and crafters, alongside those finding confidence to try something new for the first time, this wonderfully nurturing and inclusive hub is going from strength to strength. The open day at the end of August was a huge success. Over 50 visitors attended aged 3-70+! The art competition, acoustic music and cakes for fundraising were a treat for all.

Thank you to the special souls who helped out on the day and to everyone who dropped in.

Awenek Studio has been open for a year now and has been gratefully funded by Big Lottery, Mendennick Solar Fund and Cornwall Partnership Fund. Improvements have been made to the Nissen Hut throughout the year whilst it has continued to provide art, craft and wellbeing activities for the community and its visitors. Check out the facebook page to see what’s happening or contact awenekstudio@gmail.com for more details.

Turkey trouble LOCAL Plymouth based small community theatre group ACT are offering traditional pantomime fun for all the family.

Janet Robson from the group said: “Our aim is to bring the theatre to as many people as possible, we feel that going to the theatre whether to see a pantomime or any sort of show is often not possible for a lot of families because of the cost of the tickets, our feelings are that everyone should be able to experience the fun and feel good factor that generates from a production, especially a pantomime. With this in mind our ticket prices are never higher than £5 for adults and £3 for kids.”

This year’s pantomime is Turkey Trouble, happening on December 15 at 2pm and 6pm at the William Sutton Hall, in St Budeaux.

Call 07493288461 or 07965860830.

Sound therapy instruments

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RE you looking for a special Christmas present for a musician … or even for someone practising meditation, yoga, or sound therapy?

Devon Harp Centre’s shop at 90 High Street, Totnes has an exciting new range of steel tongue drums, specially handcrafted in a Devon forge near Totnes.

Beautiful to look at, and very relaxing to play, a tongue drum is a circular steel pan with 8 different notes around it. Anyone can play it, and it sounds lovely immediately, even if you think you don’t have a musical bone in your body.

John Caley from the centre said: “Robust and very portable, the easy and beautiful sounds these amazing instruments create makes them perfect for sound therapy working with clients of all kinds.”

They are also great for taking to festivals, playing with other musicians, or just relaxing … winding down, and many younger musicians use them for recording and busking on the streets. And a price tag of under £200 too!

Tunings include Pentatonic, Celtic Minor, Major, Japanese Akebono scale, in 440Hz or 432 Hz. You can even create your own tuning if you can wait 4 weeks for your instrument to be made.

John added: “Another really useful sound therapy tool is the amazing Reverie Harp. So many people have spent an entire lifetime wishing they had learned to play an instrument - just place one of these gorgeous instruments

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into the hands of your client and watch their face light up as they strum and make harmonious soundscapes - instantly!

“Co-created by an Australian doctor and a harp maker from Minnesota 12 years ago, the Reverie Harp will transform the way you work with clients.”

You can find lots of other lovely and interesting instruments over at Devon Harp Centre - hand-tuned kalimbas, lyres, cymbalas - tuned to pentatonic, Indian, African, Balinese and other scales - priced from just £8.50 upwards - perfect for an unusual Christmas present. l For more information on designs and tunings … take a look at www.DevonHarpCentre. co.uk or ring them on 01803 865271.

Devon steel tongue drum

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WEddINGs The Woodland presents....

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HE Woodland Presents celebrated their second year as a community interest company in October.

This band of nemophilists (tree lovers) set up The Glade, situated in woodlands on the western edge of the Dartington Estate.

The unique tree covered haven provides a comfortable year-round location for gathering, teaching, learning and being. The space is available for booking and is home to woodland-based courses, workshops, and events as part of their mission to revive British Woodland Culture for the 21st

Century by connecting people with trees and timber in new and meaningful ways.

The focus point is an insulated, all- weather structure, The Nest, made from local timber and renewable materials designed by the Workshop Collaborative. It’s 7m in diameter, and has space to seat around 40 - 50 people inside including usable floor space. It is insulated, has a wood burner and part of it comes off (to make a stage/performance space).

The Glade also has various spaces including The Canopy (seating

about 120); a pop up bar and tree table which makes a perfect seating, chatting and nibbles spot; the Fire Circle with a mix of wooden stumps and tree benches with a parachute covering; and a compost loo.

They also offer an ever growing supply of equipment to hire for events, these include a marquee (11m star tent), parachute canopies, storage space, outdoor projector kit (for slides and home films), speakers and lighting, off grid electricity, catering equipment, trestle tables, a BBQ, and more.

For more information see thewoodland.co or email info@ thewoodland.co

WELCOME... To the wedding section and Reconnect’s first sustainable wedding special.

Hopefully this section will grow over the coming years, as we are thinking of making this a regular event. Do let us know what you think, we really hope you like the idea as much as we do.

The reason for the sound of wedding bells suddenly appearing in the festive issue is that our technical aide is getting married. She told us that this time of year is considered by many brides to be a good time to be planning a wedding.

We want to promote the idea that, whether it’s a hand fasting, civil ceremony, or church affair you want to have, you can plan it with ethics and your environmental footprint at the top of your wedding planning list. We also thought it was a perfect fit with our green living ethos, and who doesn’t enjoy a celebration of love?

The good news is that making your nuptials a more eco-friendly occasion can also have a huge impact on saving the money in your budget. We found a few local companies to tell you more....

Handmade ethical wedding and engagement jewellery from Devon

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T’S been one year since Yumé Jewellery launched The Parlour, a range of ethical wedding and engagement jewellery, working as a complimentary offer to the mainline collections. The beauty of The Parlour is that it doesn’t compete with traditional wedding jewellery on the market. Instead, each piece is carefully handmade using traditional tools and techniques, and the materials are ethically sourced using 100% recycled metals and Fairtrade gemstones and diamonds. Yumé Martin’s signature style draws on organic form, texture and intricate design that makes her jewellery so distinctive and unique.

The Parlour offers six carefully curated collections inspired by wildlife, animals and rustic Japanese design, each representing love, strength and togetherness.

One of the stars of the range is the Hedgerow collection, sourcing inspiration locally from Devon hedgerows that are rich with wild English shrubs, ferns and pretty flowers. Designs reference pretty buttercups and primrose posies, intertwining stems of the ivy plant, and the vibrant petals of wild violet.

The modern yet approachable appeal of The Parlour is that it features designs that can be layered together, making it the perfect style for both engagement and

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weddings rings, while stackable designs such as the Trinket rings can also be added throughout your life, personalised with your child or loved one’s birthstones, or other designs meaningful to you.

If the client wishes to have a one-off piece, Yumé specialises in bespoke jewellery commissions, creating rings that aim tell the personal stories of each client. The Parlour is housed in a cosy and collaborative space at the back of the boutique located in Ashburton, Devon. There is also a dedicated area for private wedding ring making workshops for couples who wish to be hands-on in the crafting of their wedding bands.

To kick off The Parlour’s second year, the brand will be launching a few new pieces, in addition to running a very special competition where a couple could win a private one day wedding ring making workshop worth £300! Follow Yumé Jewellery on social media for announcements and further information. l Yumé Jewellery, 26a North Street, Ashburton, Devon, TQ13 7QD, United Kingdom Telephone: +44 (0) 1364 388435 Email: hello@yumejewellery.com Website: www.yumejewellery.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/ yumejewellery

Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

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WEddINGs

Stairway to ....married heaven

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ETTING married at Sharpham House on their famous staircase must make for a magical ceremony that all the guests will never forget.

Many couples have their fairytale ceremony on their famous feature: a spectacular, oval staircase, rising three floors to a glorious domed ceiling.

On a few limited occasions each year, the Sharpham Trust welcomes couples to use Sharpham House and its wonderful gardens exclusively for their weddings.

Katie Tokus, Marketing & Communications Officer explained: “You have the choice of five historic rooms within this Grade 1-listed Georgian Palladian villa in which to hold your ceremony and/or reception. Each of the five ceremony rooms is licensed to seat up to 60 guests.”

The octagonal Entrance Lobby and the famed elliptical staircase with the domed ceiling can be combined to seat 120 guests.

“Before & after the ceremony, you and guests can stay in this elegant (but comfortable) Georgian mansion on the banks of the River Dart, near Totnes.

“Your reception and drinks can be taken in the

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Capability Brown-landscaped setting of lawns and gardens with breathtaking views of the River Dart making a fabulous and memorable backdrop for your wedding and your photographs.

“You may choose to hire a marquee or a tipi to put on our lawns.”

Couples seeking to tie the knot can select from Sharpham’s list of trusted catering partners, offering the very best in locally-sourced food and drink.

Katie added: “We’re the home of Sharpham Wine and Cheese, and these make ideal additions to your reception. Also, the incredible and littleknown romantic hideaway The Bathing House is part of the Sharpham Estate and makes a perfect honeymoon destination.”

Interested couples should contact Denise Scribbins on housemanager@sharphamtrust.org or 01803 732842 to book a viewing of Sharpham House.

Visit www.sharphamtrust.org/weddings to find out more about their wedding packages and the Bathing House.

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WEddINGs Capturing those moments

DEVON wedding photographer EMMA STONER has a portfolio brimming with happy couples at sustainable weddings. Here she imparts some tips for having a nature-inspired event...

“An eco friendly ethos has always been at the heart of what I do. I previously worked as a picture editor & photographer at Greenpeace so I know how important it is to look after our planet. My work is nature-inspired and I offer my couples eco-friendly album options. I also collaborate with lots of amazing sustainable suppliers for styled wedding shoots to promote green weddings. Lots of my weddings are laid back, outdoor, back to earth affairs so I work with some stunning outdoor venues all over the South West. My couples always inspire me too with their creative vision and hands on approach. I photograph lots of DIY weddings where everyone gets involved - making bunting, wedding decor, food, cake and even growing their own flowers.

Most recently one of my brides - Natalie - made her entire wedding dress by hand with no previous experience!

When planning your wedding, there are so many things

you can do to reduce impact on the environment, from biodegradable confetti to charity favours and organic food. The best weddings always have an element of DIY and this adds a real personal touch to the wedding as well as being a fun creative process. Why not have a crafty hen or stag do and paint seashells with everyone’s names for your table places or sow some bunting together from old recycled fabric? By purchasing a second hand wedding dress you will not only benefit the environment but will make considerable savings to go towards your honeymoon.

And to anyone thinking about getting married outside – go for it! Outdoor weddings are always magical, even in the rain. Just make sure you get some pretty brollies for the photos and always have your wellies to hand!” l For further information email: missestoner@gmail.com Tel: 07554934750 or visit: www. emmastonerweddings.com

Organic dress perfection

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ISTER Organics is a collection of dresses made to order in beautiful organic and sustainable fabrics. Based in Dartmouth, Natalie Estlick designs and makes wedding dresses, casual bridal separates, dresses for civil ceremonies and parties from her small home/studio. Natalie said: “Working with organic cotton, hemp and silk mixes, organic silks and English cotton lace, my dresses are perfect for outdoor, casual weddings and relaxed ceremonies.”

Sister Organics also make made to measure and bespoke dresses in sustainable fabrics. “Everything is made to order, so if you would like your dress a little longer/shorter, bigger/smaller or in one of the different fabrics in the collection it’s all possible.”

Natalie started Sister Organics in 2013, when her first daughter was very young. “It was a way to use my skills to create an income that I could fit around family life (and I absolutely love designing and making dresses!).”

Having graduated from the London College of Fashion and worked in the fashion industry for a good few years,

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working for eco fashion label Ciel and Traid Remade among others, starting out alone seemed a natural thing to do. “I chose the name Sister Organics as I think female relationships are very important to all women; we are all sisters, daughters, mothers. I believe that when women work together and support each other, we create a more considerate world.

“For me, organic clothing is choosing not to poison the earth, water and eco-systems with hazardous chemicals and plastics. It is also about justice and being fair to the people far away who grow cotton, make the cloth and our clothes.” l If you have any questions or would like to know more, please get in touch... email sisterorganics@ hotmail.co.uk and visit www. sisterorganics.co.uk

Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

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festive spirit I’m dreaming of a green Christmas MAKE sure you enjoy a more sustainable, enjoyable and meaningful festive season with our seasonal tips and ideas.

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OST of us celebrate the festive season to some degree, whether we see it as a religious, pagan or greatexcuse-to-party festival, and for all of us it’s a time of celebration and giving and fun, but before partying do try to make your Christmas a little greener.

Chagford based Devon Recycling and Reuse Charity, Proper Job, are on a mission to make Devon folk make more sustainable choices.

The charity has been hosting their own sustainable Christmas event in London’s Regent Street. Throughout the evening of sustainable wreath making using waste rags to create recycled decorations, Proper Job’s Alison Sallis and Kate Webber discussed the shocking impact Christmas has on the environment and the way that they could reduce waste this festive season.

The charity educates the community though events and workshops and also offers quality second hand resources such as clothing, books, reclamation, furniture and more.

The charity also provides recycling facilities for hard to recycle items such as pens and plastic wrapping.

“Each year Christmas in Britain sees an increase of 30% more waste, including 125,000 tonnes of plastic packaging, 227,000 miles of wrapping paper and 230,000 tonnes of food. We are on a mission to help people reduce this, which will have a positive impact on the environment we live in” Alison Sallis told us.

This Christmas Proper Job are challenging you to reduce the waste you and your family create, urging you to make more sustainable choices this festive season. Tips such as purchasing second hand presents and making homemade gifts and recycled decorations, switching to recyclable paper for wrapping, or even better reusing something such as newspaper or fabric, all are an easy way to make a positive change.

When wrapping, use minimal tape or even string so it’s easier to reuse this year’s paper. You could use waste paper – old maps, calendars, posters, etc but do avoid glossy foils and metallic wrapping paper

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because they are difficult to recycle. If you must use wrapping paper make sure yours is responsibly sourced by looking for the FSC label.

We realise no matter how many decorations and presents you intend to make, your life is very likely to include some Christmas shopping over the next couple of weeks. By now you know that there’s good shopping and there’s bad shopping - and the very best of all is LOCAL shopping, and we all know that independent shops on High Streets across the country are closing at an alarming rate. Use real shops to save your High Street.

Money spent in local, independent stores and markets stays in the local economy for everyone’s benefit.

And money spent on local products and services helps to encourage and support small, independent businesses and the work of local makers, which can be found in shops and markets across the area.

Locally made gifts are likely to be more expensive than mileageheavy imported goods, but because they’re made carefully with ‘real’ materials, they’ll last for years.

Include a leaflet or card when you wrap it so the recipient knows what they’re getting. And don’t only think new. Shopping in flea markets and antique and vintage clothing shops is great fun and guarantees unusual gift finds – and it’s recycling. Visit independent foodie stores and farmers’ markets that are stuffed with all manner of indulgent treasures all made by local producers using local ingredients.

If you can’t think of a ‘thing’ to buy someone, how about getting them an experience? Most of the practitioners and therapists in Reconnect will happily provide gift vouchers – how good would be to be given a free massage session?

Local galleries, theatres and other venues will also be happy to sell vouchers.

Now you may be thinking you want a new Christmas jumper or even a new outfit but remember the nonorganic cotton industry is a huge source of global environmental

pollution, using almost 16% of all insecticides produced globally.

This has led to the fashion industry becoming one of the most polluting industries on the planet, second only to oil. Organic textiles are grown without the use of harmful pesticides or GMOs; promoting a healthier farm and environment.

If you’ve got Christmas decorations or an artificial tree you used last year, keep with them – the greenest option is definitely not to buy anything. Scott has decorations older than his daughter!

If you do have to get a new tree, research and carbon calculations show a re-plantable tree is best.

Even a tree without roots is a good option because it will have absorbed as much carbon dioxide while growing as it will emit when burnt or left to decompose.

Source your tree from a small-scale organic sustainable grower, or make sure your Christmas tree has Forest Steward Council ® (FSC®) certification. Don’t buy a new artificial tree! They are made (using lots of energy) from petro-chemicals and other toxic materials, and then shipped half way around the world.

Decorations can be sought at charity shops, recycling centres and boot sales, and not just the manufactured ones, old sparkly diamante jewellery and shiny objects can be utilised to add a little quirkiness to your tree. Tree and room decorations can be created using popcorn, dough, cinnamon sticks, bows, gingerbread, holly, seasonal berries, ivy and evergreen branches. Make a festive wreath or mobile with found things on a walk in woods or the beach, or from the traditional holly, mistletoe, fir tree sprigs and pine cones.

If you’re buying new Christmas lights, go for LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights which use up to 95% less energy than traditional bulbs.

And turn off tree and outdoor lights at bedtime to save energy.

There’s one choice you can definitely make over the festive season - deciding what goes on your plates. With 30% of an individual’s carbon footprint made up of their food choices, food is the single most important, everyday way for people to reduce their own environmental impact.

Choosing the most climate-friendly food choices means supporting sustainable agriculture and buying organic, local and seasonal food.

We are blessed with a wonderful range of local and organic food in south Devon. For a comprehensive list of local producers, restaurants/ cafes, shops and markets visit Devon Food & Drink www. foodanddrinkdevon.co.uk.

Definitely consider dropping the turkey this Christmas. Last Christmas saw the UK consuming approximately 10 million turkeys, and of these, 90% are reared intensively, living for just 105 days most of that in windowless, crowded, barren sheds. If you want to have turkey be sure that yours has been fed a healthy diet, had access to the outdoors and is not from a factory farm, and

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it’s organic. The Soil Association can provide supplier lists www. soilassociation.org Turkey is a relative newcomer to the Yuletide table - it was a luxury right up until the 1950’s when they became more widely available. So why not go uber traditional and feast on organic wild game this Christmas it’s also healthy, versatile and full of flavour, yet it is still relatively underused in British menus.

When it comes to the all-important Christmas cheese, choose organic and put animal welfare first. No dairy cows enjoy higher welfare standards than organic cows.

Finally please spare a thought for those less fortunate, please consider donating to your local food banks and help someone else enjoy a Christmas meal. If you pass one of Devon’s many homeless this Christmas, spare them your time, wish them a merry Christmas and please do spare them some change.

Maybe even spoil them with a small gift, and watch their face light up.

Also, spare a thought for those who dread this time of year, and struggle to deal with feelings of isolation and future uncertainty.

The festive period provides us with an ideal opportunity to talk to, visit or engage with the people around us. Face-to-face communication has been shown to improve our mental and physical wellbeing.

If you are apart from your family then volunteering for a charity or local community organisation can provide that same human contact, as well as help provide essential support and encouragement for others in need. l Visit www.recycledevon.org for details of Christmas waste services offered by your local council.

The Proper Job team host workshops in and around Chagford, to inspire the community to take on more sustainable choices. Workshops include electrical, clothing and furniture repairs, plus training sessions and skill sharing workshops. They offer these to promote the benefits of reusing, recycling and all aspects of waste generation, waste management and waste recycling see www.proper-job.org

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Visit us at www.reconnectonline.co.uk Teaching at Studio-45 in Dartington

Life as a hunter-fisher-gatherer

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N eight-month “rewilding” adventure in Devon saw an intrepid group of wilderness lovers stalking wildebeest with the Bushmen deep in the Kalahari desert, foraging oysters by canoe on a Devon estuary, watching a cheetah stalk and hunt a Springbok, and feasting on lobsters and seaweed whilst crafting baskets at the coast.

The Old Way is a year-long program that explores what it means to experience life and the land as hunter-fisher-gatherers.

Between April and November, a small tribe travelled on six journeys across the seasons and the vastly different habitats of Devon and the Kalahari desert. They were led by Robin Bowman and Emily Fawcett, and supported by a team including Bruce Parry and Martin Shaw.

Robin said: “In spring we made pack baskets and harvested a fallow deer from the land, honouring it and giving thanks. We travelled by canoe down the estuary, gathering shellfish, learning bird language, fishing and tanning hides; and learnt to fish at the coast. As Autumn equinox approached we wandered across Dartmoor in the footsteps of our ancestors, wild camping, making wildfire and reading the bird language, weather patterns and tracks.”

As the weather turned colder, the group set off on a two-week adventure to Namibia, journeying with the oldest tribal hunter-gatherers on Earth, the Ju/hoansi San Bushmen. They tracked elephant and leopard and bow-hunted antelope alongside the Bushmen.

The Old Way sponsors The San Master Tracker Program in Namibia and is helping to preserve the San Bushman’s culture. Next year Jon Young, renowned tracker, storyteller and founder of the Art of Mentoring and the Wilderness Awareness school will be joining the group. l For more information visit: www.theoldway.info

UCY Phillips is one of Studio-45’s five teachers. She told us about teaching at the membership based pottery studio in Dartington Estate where they teach ceramic based workshops, ranging from intensive weekend throwing sessions to understanding glazes.

Lucy said: “The main point we’re trying to get across at Studio-45 is that we’re not here to create product but our soul focus is on the process and the making itself. The vast majority of things made and created at Studio 45 during classes are not kept and fired but simply recycled back into the clay bucket. We are here to facilitate space and creativity without expectation of outcome - letting go features a lot in our teaching practice.”

Finding the essence of the season

Studio-45’s Lucy Phillips

CASPAR WALSH author, poet, film maker, journalist and Mindful Man muses on religion, spirituality and the message of the season.

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HINTOISM. Paganism.

Buddhism. What these religious and spiritual practices have in common for me is nature; my connection to it, how I define who I am, stay true to what I believe; how I live on this earth and what helps me to connect.

As a kid I struggled with religious education. It wasn’t an enlightening series of lessons about world religion but a deadening indoctrination into a single religion. It took me a long old while to realise that religion at its root (most), is a quest for love, peace and compassion.

The difference between religion and spirituality? Religion is a set of teachings, each one presenting something different or unique.

Spirituality is the exploration of our true self, our true nature. For me this is through the natural world which, when I remember, I’m never separate from. It’s a journey that helps me nurture my core values and beliefs and gain a deeper understanding of life. Spirituality can exist without religion, but religion cannot exist without spirituality. My spirituality is found in the hills, rivers, forests and oceans. Always has, ever since I could remember. Always will.

Like many, I struggle with the religion of Christmas. Its obsession with possessions makes me recoil as we move imperceptibly past the winter

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Studio-45 offer 10 week long classes which range from beginners to advanced. Students are encouraged to explore their own projects and become familiar with the processes involved.

With a generous range of glazes, slips, and several clay bodies which are suitable for throwing and hand building, students are able to fulfil their unique ideas and approach to making.

“We encourage a sense of curiosity, practise and playfulness through individual attention and a project has class structure. A large part of ceramics is to focus on the process, and students often get joyfully lost within this.

“The classes become a reflective time for experimentation and fun, where they learn as they go, and the tactile nature of clay offers a therapeutic and calming break from the demands of everyday life.

“In my class, the students come from a range of different backgrounds and are of mixed ages. I have enjoyed getting to know them individually and watch how their curiosity with clay creates a cohesive and motivated environment.” l For more information on workshops and courses have a look at www. studio45.uk.com

With love from Tigley Tump

solstice into the full tilt heat seeking light of December. Sure, I get the need for light, connection, rest, and celebration. As the frenzy of spending cranks up, I often find myself identifying too closely with one of Dickens’ more memorable characters.

I chose to redefine this time of year and how I spend it, over two decades ago.

On December 25 last year I took my body board into the rough, grey white sea at Bantham. Not a human soul in the water, save me. This is a place where I re-set and find my ground. I opened my heart to what was going around me, in water and on land. I walked back into the world able to ride and welcome multiple emotions, grief, joy, anger, fear, as well as the heightened emotions of others and ultimately the difficulty around the separation from my blood family; having moved into spirit or another part of the country.

With the memory of the sea on my skin, I was able to connect to the essence of the season, to the return of light… that’s my religion. I’ll be doing the same this year. l You can purchase signed dedicated copies of Caspar’s book The Mindful Man from: www. wordsfromtheearth.co.uk

+ Delicious, high-welfare meat: traditional, slow-grown, rare-breed pork and lamb + Keeping chickens? We have pure-bred birds of all shapes, sizes and colours - call now for full details and friendly advice + Visit our farmgate stall (see Facebook) Email jennfoster58@googlemail.com or call 07976 504918

Tigley Tump is... an off-grid, chemical-free smallholding just outside Totnes, run by family and friends Visit www.tigleytump.co.uk and Facebook/tigleytump

FESTIVALS ISSUE! THE NEXT (FEB/MAR) ISSUE OF RECONNECT IS A FESTIVALS GUIDE SPECIAL! Our annual guide to the best festivals across the South West is back - and it’ll be bigger and better than ever!

Email editor@reconnectonline.co.uk to be in it!

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rewilding Christmas – making it a festival of play IF you think about it Christmas has always been synonymous with indoor play, from board games or parlour games with family, to jokes and toys inside the crackers, to many of those wrapped presents under the tree. We asked Earth Wrights’ INEZ APONTE to tell us all about indoor games.

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T EARTH Wrights we love getting outdoors and playing in the fresh air, but even if the weather forces you indoors there is never an excuse not to play! So this year, after the last of the Christmas pudding has been scraped from the bowl and before you get cosy in front of the fire/ radiator/x-box why not have some fun playing silly games?

The Victorians loved parlour games. In Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, when Scrooge goes to ‘visit’ his nephew Fred with the ghost of Christmas present, Fred’s guests are playing parlour games which we still play today such as Blind Man’s Bluff and Twenty Questions. Here are some old and new games for you to try.

The Minister’s Cat This game actually features in the 1970 film adaptation of Dickens’ novel and is a fun game for all ages.

Sit in a circle and start a clapping rhythm – two claps on the thighs and two hand claps, so thigh – thigh – clap – clap. To this rhythm each person takes it in turn to say ‘The minister’s Cat is a … Cat, adding an adjective in the space starting with the letter ‘a’. So ‘The minister’s cat is an awful cat’, the next person ‘The minister’s cat is an attractive cat’ and so on until someone misses their turn, as it gets more and more difficult to think of new adjectives. Once a person is out you move on to the next letter of the alphabet. ‘The minister’s cat is a brilliant cat’. When (if!) you make it to x you can use words starting with ‘ex’. Variations include each

person doing the next letter of the alphabet or the next person having to find an adjective that starts with the last letter of the previous one. So ‘The minister’s cat is an abominable cat’ and then ‘The minister’s cat is an excellent cat’ That’s advanced level parlour gaming.

Reverend Crawley’s Game Nobody seems to know who Reverend Crawley was and what he was doing inventing games, but this is a good one to work off some Christmas dinner. Works best with 8 – 10 people.

Stand shoulder to shoulder in a circle, put your hands in the middle in a big bunch and grab any hand. Once everyone is attached you will find yourself in a knot and without letting go of the hand you are holding you have to untangle the knot. Fun, silly, energetic. Might make you regret skipping yoga class.

Category Snap Remember playing snap as a child? Well, this is the turbo charged variant.

Each person picks a category of objects, for example flowers or food or movies. A pack of cards is dealt. (If you have a large group use two decks. Don’t worry if some people have more cards than others) Moving clockwise each person, holding the cards face down, reveals their next card. When two people have the same card they have to shout out an item from the other person’s category and the first person to shout wins. So if my category is ‘forms of transport’ and the other person’s ‘politicians’ I have to say ‘Thatcher’ before they say ‘car’ in order to win the two cards. The person with the most cards at the end is the winner. Once an item has been used it cannot be repeated by another player.

Good for upwards of 5 people. The more people the harder and more frantic it gets. Expect to be clutching your head by the end of it.

One minute mayhem My family’s favourite. You will think it’s impossible, and it is, until you play it.

This game requires two teams of between 3 and 6 people. On small scraps of paper each person writes the name of a famous character, dead or alive, fiction or non fiction. Write one name on each piece of paper aiming to write about 6-10 each (depending on how long you want to play) All names go into a hat.

The game is played in several rounds. At each round one of the team gets up, pulls a name from the hat and has one minute to try and make the rest of their team guess who it is. Once the name is guessed they can pick another name, trying to get as many guesses in one minute. When their minute is over their score is noted and the bag goes to the other team. Each person gets a go until all the names have been guessed. That is the end of the round. After each round the names all go back in the hat.

The first round you can use words to describe the person without saying their name.

The second round you can only use mime, no words.

The final round you can only use your facial expression to communicate the name on the paper. It helps if members of the other team cover your body with a sheet so only your face is showing.

Yes, absurd but hilarious. And you’ll be hooked before you know it.

How will you #BigGardenBirdWatch with the RSPB this January?

OUR wildlife expert MORWENNA ALLDIS from RSPB asks readers to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the world’s largest wildlife survey, by joining thousands of people across the UK on January 2628 to spend just one hour counting the birds in your local patch.

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HANK you to everyone who has taken part in our Big Garden Birdwatch over the last 40 years.

Your surveys have helped us create a detailed picture of how our UK garden wildlife is doing, and how we can help those species that are most in need.

Since the survey began in 1979, you have volunteered a whopping eightmillion hours to watch your feathered friends and you’ve counted more than 130 million birds. Your records are vital to our work and alerted to us to a 57% drop in the number of house sparrow. Thankfully, through targeting our conservation and by you giving more nature a home in your gardens, in the last decade their rate of decline has slowed and they have actually increased by 17%.

For this special 40th anniversary weekend we want to celebrate you and discover how you do your Big Garden Birdwatch. Do you take part from the

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comfort of your armchair looking out of the living room window? Perhaps you layer up and head to your local park or nearest greenspace? Maybe you make a weekend of it, inviting friends and family over for tea (or a tipple) and some bird shaped biscuits?

Wherever you do your Big Garden Birdwatch, and whether this year will be your first time or your fortieth time – we’d love to hear from you.

Share your stories and photos on Facebook/RSPBSW, Twitter @ RSPBSouthWest, or email me on: Morwenna.alldis@rspb.org.uk – you may find yourself a star of their social media pages!

Taking part in this year’s survey couldn’t be simpler. l Grab your free Big Garden Birdwatch pack: text BIRD to 70030 or visit: www. rspb.org.uk/birdwatch l Pick a one-hour slot across the Big Garden Birdwatch weekend (26-28 January) to count. l Choose your counting spot – your own garden, nearest greenspace, local park.

Advertising: 01392 346342 adverts@reconnectonline.co.uk

Image by Grahame Madge and below Rahul Thanki (rspb-images.com) l Only count the birds that land in your location, not those flying over and record the highest number of each bird species you see at any one time, not the total you see in the hour. l Submit your results online or via post l And have fun – savour that hour out of your weekend to reconnect and help your local wildlife.

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£41.85 climate

To stop fracking join the Byrebellion Dr. Larch Maxey

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OLLOWING the imprisonment, then release of the Frack Free Four (two of whom, Rich and Justin, are from Totnes and Torquay), the commencement then of earthquakes from fracking and threat of FastTrack Fracking, there’s growing desire to ban fracking in England like Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Eire, France, Germany and others. More than 20 Conservative MPs oppose the Government’s Fast Track Fracking plans, saying they’re too antidemocratic. Renewables get cheaper daily, already provide 30% of our power and create six times more jobs than fracking.

And then there’s climate change.

Fracking’s dirtier than coal and climate change requires we stop burning fossil fuels as a matter of national emergency. The IPCC (Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change) reports that climate change is urgent, that we have the technology and science to respond, all we lack is the political will. Climate change poses a 5% risk of human extinction. We’re already in the 6th Great Extinction, having killed 60% of vertebrates since 1970. Unless we change soon humans could join the thousands of species driven to extinction!

How do we generate the political will? Extinction Rebellion – ordinary people taking peaceful direct action which research shows is the most effective method of social change, think Gandhi and Martin Luther King. The Extinction Rebellion was launched in Parliament Square on October 31, with MPs, MEPS and over 1,000 people joining journalist George Monbiot (pictured) in a Declaration of Rebellion demanding the Government: 1) declare a climate emergency and educate the public about it; 2) Go zero Carbon by 2025; 3) Appoint a Citizens Assembly of ordinary people to oversee the programme.

Extinction Rebellion needs you, whether you’re an artist, healer or lawyer, whatever you love to do you can do it in the Extinction Rebellion.

With over 3,000 people willing to get arrested and 300 ready to go to prison, if the Frack Free Four changed the national conversation about Fracking, Extinction Rebellion will not only change the conversation about climate breakdown, it could be our best chance of stopping both fracking and runaway climate change.

Contact Extinction Rebellion SW at www.facebook.com/XRSWE

“IT’S Important. It is love”, wrote Poppy, 8 years old, at the end of a Totnes Life Cairn community meeting held last month to design a memorial for the honouring of Extinct Species taking place on the Sharpham Estate, an event initiated by Azul Valérie Thomé, founder of SOULand.

Azul explained the feelings that day: “Most of us had read the IPCC report adding weight to the Message of Water and most recently Extinction Rebellion and Rising Up all rippling in each one of us as we sat. We shared our deep longing to be engaged in the profoundly bewildering times of our collapsing and transmuting world.”

Azul wonders how we can attempt to make meaning of the published numbers of extinct species - between 100-150 species a day. “Every 24 hours animals, invertebrates, fungi and plants will never court, sing, nest, seed, dance their life bringing rituals again. They are not dead. Death being food for the birthing of new life. No, they are extinct! ... can we ponder on the difference in our own heart and the impact on our soul?”

As a designer of eARTh rituals including Grief Composting Circles, Azul knows that we cannot and must not meet this stage of awakening alone. “We are increasingly noticing that we need to gather in circles and community groups to meet the enormity of the consequences of our

long term disconnection to the inter connectedness with all of Life. Rising up an immense grief un-skilled and feared in many of us. We seem to be totally astonished by the depth of our love for our Earth.”

Azul felt Poppy’s declaration of Love as a beacon alchemised the space and the meeting, bringing some sanity.

Doing the Council of all Beings with a classroom in London some years ago, Azul remembers each child chose an other than human being to speak for and from. Animals, rivers, mountains, tiger, worms and bees entered the classroom among others. The children made masks to personify each of the sentient beings. They then spoke from that place sat in council with a talking stick. “I then understood that children know what is going on here on Earth at this time. I feel that children deeply need and deserve beautiful, strong and lovingly held spaces where they can bring their voices to the adults and to each other about what is going on in our world.

“Thank you my dear Poppy for bringing your beautiful self and your lion heart to the meeting of the memorial for extinct species - a life Cairn which will be created by our community on December 1. Join us! It is important and yes it is love!”

More details at www.souland.org/ life-cairn-in-totnes.html and on the Facebook event Page: Life Cairn in Totnes.

Book a series of ads this size and it will cost you just £41.85 a month - including free editorial. Regular advertiser Marc Blausten can vouch for the success of advertising. He said, “The advert and articles are generating enquires and bookings. So I’m very pleased with it .” You too could find customers through an advert in these pages, call Scott on 01392 346342.

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Totnes memorial for extinct species

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wellbeing email: wellbeing@reconnectonline.co.uk

WELLBEING

THE natural health and personal development PAGES Inside wellbeing...

Finding Active Hope

Seasonal emotional health

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Living in harmony 31 Barefoot mindfulness in Morocco 33 Blood testing 35 The gift of sound 37 Coping with grief and loss 38

Retreat and rest Turning inwards to recuperate

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The classified adverts

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And there’s lots more to read inside

A retreat on offer for all young people

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POPULAR annual retreat for young people returns to Gaia House. Open to anyone from 16-25, this tailored silent meditation retreat offers the chance to step outside life’s busy routines and learn how meditation can support calmness, kindness and focus to support an interesting, happy and fulfilled life. It runs from February 15-17 2019.

Jake Dartington who will be leading it said: “We will explore our potential to bring wise and compassionate responses to each moment in our lives. Through sitting and walking meditation, we will learn ways to work with the obstacles and habits that appear to obscure wisdom and compassion.

We will look at what it means to wisely respond to difficulties in our meditation practice, our everyday lives, and to wider social issues. Our exploration will be supported by meditation instructions, dharma talks and meetings with the teachers.”

Meredith, who attended the young person retreat two years running

said: “ The balance of teaching with self-exploration and reflection is perfect, and is appropriate whether you are new to meditation or experienced.”

Gaia House is a registered charity committed to enhancing wellbeing through meditation. It offers silent retreats in it centre near Newton Abbot. The meditation instruction and teachings offered are drawn from a variety of Buddhist traditions and we welcome people of any ethnicity, cultural heritage and religious background, socioeconomic group, ability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

To benefit from meditation, all that is needed is an interest in inner exploration and development.

If you find the price too high for you, you are welcome to apply for financial assistance, contact reception to find out more. l The Young Persons’ Retreat runs this year from February 15-17.

Find out more at www.gaiahouse. co.uk or call 01626 333613.

Kate Philbin

The home of natural wellbeing WELLBEING is the home of natural health and personal development in South Devon - the perfect place to find your perfect therapy, retreat or workshop.

And if you work in natural health, it’s the perfect place to get your message out there.

A 1/8-page advertisement, like those below, can be yours for just £41.85 a month. A 1/4-page is only £66.60 a month.

And you can tell the story behind what you offer in our free editorial - with help from our Wellbeing editor, Kate Philbin.

Our designers will even put the artwork together for you at very affordable prices.

The Wellbeing deadline for the next (Feb/March) issue is January 4 so get in touch today and let’s get the ball rolling.

Call Scott on 01392 346342 or email editor@ reconnectonline. co.uk

The Cafe Copywriter Offering you specialist help with:

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Content creation, writing advice, training and workshops for businesses and individuals.

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WELLBEING New practitioners at Nautilus

Leading the way in somatic sexology

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T is a time of hellos and goodbyes at The Nautilus Rooms in Totnes.

The centre says a sad goodbye to Anna Karthauser, a massage therapist who has been with them from the very beginning but who is moving on in her practice. They wish her well.

Joining them is Sarah Lauren who is in the process of setting up her practice as a Nutritional Therapist. See the website for details or call Sarah on 07786 626947.

Fenn Elevera is another new face.

As a healer, author, intuitive and self-love teacher, Fenn’s practice is called Home Coming. She will be there to listen and guide the process of becoming awake to ourselves, with regular weekly meetings.

Fenn said: “We will dive into a conversation of consciousness. It will be your own conversation. I will only be there to guide it.”

Spaces are currently free of charge.

Email: fenn@the-beautiful-practice.com or text 079 3131 9823 to reserve your place. Or visit the website: www.the-beautiful-practice.com The centre is also pleased to welcome Mike Fraser, Reiki Master Practitioner.

Mike spent time in the sacred area of Mount Shasta City, taking part in transformative sweat lodges and healing circles and a ceremony at Panther Meadow. He said: “I developed connection on a spiritual level with the mountain and the surrounding area and have retained that connection, which I believe assists with the healing I give.”

Mike can be contacted by calling 07535 060936. Or visit www. shastareikiinsouthdevon.co.uk

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LEADING edge international training in somatic sexology” is The Sea School of Embodiment’s Kian De La Cour’s motto and it is living up to its vision with a packed year ahead in 2019 for both the public and practitioners.

In addition, 2019 brings a further series of Sandplay and Creative Arts training and events. Email Ruth Baker at: ruthbaker1@gmail.com for more information.

Ruth Baker from The Nautilus Centre said: “This time of year is a good time to reflect, look at what no longer serves us and set new intentions.

Having support in this process can help illuminate dark corners, which might otherwise be difficult to access.

“Our primary business is mind-based therapies. We have a fantastic team of professionals from a range of backgrounds: psychologists, psychotherapists, counsellors, coaches, family therapists, mediators and mentors. Practitioners can work across all age ranges and clients can be seen individually, in couples, or in family groups.

“If you or your loved ones are looking for support in life or simply to expand your sense of self and self-knowledge, this is a great place to start. Each therapist belongs to a professional body, is insured and experienced.” l For more information visit: nautilusrooms.uk

Katie Sarra of The Sea School said: “There is a revolution in neuroscience happening that is providing empirical support for the importance of embodied work and we are excited about the year ahead.”

The Introductory Certificate in Embodied Counselling with Deej Juventin connects embodied practice with psychotherapeutic theory, language and practice. It runs over nine weeks, beginning in February, and gives practitioners effective embodied skills and experience in conducting embodied counselling sessions.

The Consensual Touch™ Wheel of Consent training also takes place in February, with a choice of two or four days of embodied experience using Betty Martin’s Wheel of Consent.

April sees the launch of Foundations of Somatic Sex Education - a five-day professional development training to help practitioners work somatically without touching clients. This is presented by Uma Furman and Deej Juventin of the Australian Institute of Somatic Sexology.

Also in April, Katie Sarra and other practitioners will run a five-day Trauma Awareness course, sharing the latest neurobiology research to inform safe practice for professionals in the field of sexuality. It is aimed at sexological bodyworkers and tantric practitioners and will be held in Bristol.

In June, the sixth Certificate in Sexological Bodywork UK & Ireland training in somatic sex education begins led by Kian and Katie. This six-month professional training involves detailed self-practices, online study, working with others, and a two-week Embodiment Intensive in Sea School’s training centre, with supervised practice.

In June, Celeste Hirschman and Danielle Harel from San Francisco will present The Somatica Method - Working with Couples on Sexual and Emotional Intimacy. This is open to couples for self-exploration and to practitioners who want to enrich the couples work they already offer or to add couples work to their practice. You do not need to attend as a couple.

Kian and Katie who run The Sea School are committed to supporting informed choice. l For more information about the centre and its events programme visit: www.seaschoolofembodiment.com

Yin Yoga

Gentle Passive Meditative

@Chapel House Studios, Mondays - 6.30pm, @Chapel House Studios, Wednesdays - 10.45am

♦

yoga with Natalie

Vinyasa Yoga

Dynamic Active Flow

@ The Civic Hall, Tuesdays - 9.30am @ Chapel House Studios, Thursdays - 6.30pm

♦

Massage Clinic

@ Chapel House Studios, Wednesdays and Fridays

♦

NEW BEGINNINGS 2019

@ Chapel House Studios Totnes 07516 720 246 natalie@loveyogatree.co.uk www.loveyogatree.co.uk

qp www.reconnectonline.co.uk

Love Yoga Tree Online! Download Yoga classes, guided meditations, workshop sequences from www.loveyogatree.co.uk

♦

Yoga Winter Workshops

Yin Deep (Detox for the whole body) Saturday 26 January, 3-6pm Yin Deep (Happy Hips) Saturday 23 February, 3-6pm

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Juliette Medder

EMOTIONAL HEALTH WELCOME back to our exploration into all things emotional. In this edition our Emotional Health columnist Leigh Smith invites us take control of our drinking this Christmas and New Year.

Christmas ‘cheers’ WITH the festive season it can be so tempting to reach for a glass of the strong stuff, to help us cope with the demands of the season and to join in with the celebrations. Alcohol is a huge part of our society and culture and plays a big part in how we socialise. This time of year can be a real challenge on our emotional health, with all of the added financial, family, social and work demands on us it’s no surprise we need to find the ‘off switch’ at times. Up and down the country we will be treated to festive markets selling mulled wine and delicious spiced ciders, tempting us to reduce our stress, join the fun, and spend more than we can actually afford. This is the time of year when alcohol consumption is at its highest, and socialising and partying are the expected norms.

So what’s wrong with a little tipple at Christmas time? Surely that can’t be so bad? And I know that I will be treating myself to a festive bottle of Baileys this year.

Alcohol in moderation isn’t a concern, not if we manage our alcohol consumption in a healthy way, and the drink is not masking an issue which warrants more serious attention.

There are many reasons for an increase in our drinking during this time of year, and some which we might not be conscious of.

We may be using alcohol as a mood enhancer, a strategy for managing difficult life situations.

We may be drinking more to ‘get in the spirit’ and join in with the fun, not wanting to be a ‘Bah Humbug’. Some of these reasons for drinking may be masking underlying emotional health issues, like low self esteem, depression, anxiety, loneliness or social insecurities, and in these cases alcohol may be an unhealthy sticking plaster which masks a deep lying emotional health issue. So what might seem like a good solution to a challenging event, could be negatively effecting our brain’s ability to stay emotionally healthy.

Make mine a brain cocktail Our brains are intricate organs and rely on a measured cocktail of chemicals and neurotransmitters. When we drink alcohol we alter this balance, which can then have adverse affects and consequences on the way we think, our mood, and our behaviour.

Using drink to improve our mood or mask depression can cause a decline in our emotional health and worsen existing mental health conditions. Consuming alcohol on a regular basis changes the

chemical make up of our brain and can decrease the level of serotonin, a chemical which helps to regulate mood. Alcohol can ‘numb’ our emotions, making us more able to cope with our strong emotions by depressing our central nervous system, which might be helpful in the short term but creates further issues down the line. We can get caught up in a catch 22 situation, using alcohol to cope with difficult mental health issues, and then needing more when the situation is worsened.

And it’s not just depression which is negatively affected by alcohol, people who suffer from anxiety issues may think that a pint or three will help them to relax, but actually this can make the anxiety worse. Drinking can create tunnel vision, we can miss out on the whole story and hone in on the one thing which could be potentially threatening, ignoring all the other information surrounding it, and badly misreading a situation. For example, misinterpreting the glance in your direction from a stranger, leading to heightened anxiety and angry outbursts. The more we drink to manage our anxiety the more the brain struggles to regulate our mood, and this can lead to aggression, anxiety and depression, making us prone to violent outbursts and vulnerability.

I look forward to enjoying a drink over Christmas, and know that it’s quite likely that (in the company of my bestie) I will probably, like a lot of us, have a bit too much at some point. All good messy fun, but let’s not miss a great chance to support our emotional health by allowing a bit of reflection into our behaviour. A good question to ask is: “could I manage this social situation without a drink?” If the honest answer is no, then perhaps we are leaning on drink to support us a bit too much and it could be time to support our needs and be curious about what might be going unaddressed in our emotional health. Perhaps your biggest Christmas gift this year could be to give yourself the chance to exercise some choice over your life, and choose healthy strategies.

There is help out there for people affected by alcohol: Drinkaware is an independent charity working to reduce alcohol misuse and harm in the UK. There are AA groups up and down the country, and Al Anon can support you if you have family or friends who are struggling with alcohol 0800 0086811. Alateen supports children between12- 17yrs old who have a friend or family struggling with alcohol 02075 932070.

Wishing you all a very merry and emotionally healthy Christmas and New Year.

Leigh Smith is director of studies, course designer and tutor at Heartwood Centre for Counselling and Psychotherapy Training.

Visit www.heartwoodcounselling.org or call 01803 865464.

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Surrendering to the big quiet

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HRISTMAS would be better if it came every other year, or every five years… or maybe even only once a lifetime, says Bell Bartlett, psychic tarot reader.

“At this time of year it is so easy to be enmeshed in the doing of it all,” she said. “So rest and renewal can become relegated to post-celebration collapse! Personally I’d be happy if Christmas came around less than once a year.”

It doesn’t have to be like this, though, if we just listen and respond to the natural rhythm of things “What I love about this time of year is the opportunity to go deep into the accumulating darkness and the longer nights, relinquishing my grip on doing and more doing, and surrendering to the big quiet. As nature sends her energy down, we too, may rest, regather, review and renew.

“We can take the opportunity to imagine we sit, as our ancestors have done, around a fire, shadows on the wall, allowing conversation to drift into quietness and movement into stillness. Then from that place of stillness and silence we connect with our deepest knowing, sensing our real priorities.

Blowing gently on embers of dreams as yet unformed and guiding carefully the flames of dreams already alight. Allowing the unknown to seed in our dreams that which may bring us most joy.

“So, whether we are wrapping or unwrapping presents, being in presence, or both, my dreams are for the deep nourishment of the loving earth to strengthen my spirit for the new year.. Whatever you wish to receive this winter time, however you celebrate and whoever you are with, I wish you loving experiences.”

Bell is a professional psychic reader with nearly 40 years’ experience. If any of your dreams feel out of reach then a reading could be the ideal present to yourself.

Contact Bell on 07796 900509 or visit: www.conscious-tarot.co.uk

New style Thrivecraft Academy launches

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IFTEEN years after the foundation of Thrivecraft in Totnes, a new style Thrivecraft Academy has been launched by creator, Maggie Kay. The new style academy is backed by an online learning platform and a team of trained Thrivecraft Coaches who will help mentor the next generation of students. It has also undergone a brand redesign and Maggie says she is “delighted” with the new incarnation.

Maggie said: “Thrivecraft was founded in 2003, specialising in utilising meditation and spiritual wisdom to create authentic, graceful and sustainable leaps forward in life, love and business. In fact, former Reconnect editor, Martin Foster, helped me teach some of the early workshops and is an accredited Thrivecraft Meditation Teacher.”

Having been a psychology graduate in Glasgow, then an ordained Buddhist and ethical business woman in London, Maggie moved to Totnes in 2001. Here she met her soulmate Patrick, resigned her ordination, and co-founded Thrivecraft (though Patrick now takes a back seat). Her book, Diving for Pearls, tells this engaging spiritual adventure and love story, with teachings and tips

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on meditation, inner wisdom and finding true love.

In 2013, Maggie was inspired to begin training and accrediting Thrivecraft Coaches and Meditation Teachers and formed the Thrivecraft Academy. Dozens of people are now qualified, most of whom combine Thrivecraft with other modalities to create their own unique offering. Thrivecraft gives an overarching framework to bring skills and expertise together and define that uniqueness.

Now living in Patrick’s homeland near Saltash in Cornwall, Maggie dedicates herself to training, mentoring and teaching ‘business alchemy’ to her growing Thrivecraft clan, including running a new graduate mentoring programme.

To coincide with the academy relaunch, Maggie has now opened applications for her one-year accredited Thrivecraft Coach and three-month Meditation Teacher training programmes. l For more information see www. thrivecraft.com or www. maggiekaywisdom.com. To apply for a Discovery Session with Maggie, contact her at maggie@maggiekaywisdom. com or 07905 628905.

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WELLBEING Learn to bring it home

Real food, Real life,

Real health

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NTHROPOSOPHICAL research has found that people living in harmony with the earth’s rhythm have an acute sense of their own wholeness and how to support this in themselves and each other.

Healthy, earth-based cultures share certain qualities and activities and this knowledge gave rise to the 8 Shields model, which is all about enhancing our sense of connection.

The model is based on the natural cycles of the seasons, the day, the life stages of a human, and other important cycles.

Bringing It Home is a year-long 8 Shields-inspired program run by Rebecca Card and Peter Cow on Dartmoor. At its heart is the idea of a sense of “village”, by which they mean not just the physical place where people live in close proximity but more fundamentally the sense of belonging and connection.

Rebecca said: “There is a more connected, healthier way of being in this world that most of us are not aware of, yet most of us yearn for. This way of living can be supported by coming together on the land, by sitting together at the hearth, by sharing stories, creating cultural agreements that help

create safety and by exploring what it is to be human, in the most authentic ways possible.

“We can experience this in nature and we can also experience this within the folds of the village, through embodied practices, through mentoring, playing, singing, being heard, being in ceremony, having our gifts celebrated, through greetings customs, through rites of passage ceremonies and through practicing gratitude.”

She explained that Bringing It Home is about integrating these connective practices so that participants learn to “bring it home” to themselves first and foremost as the path towards bringing it home to their wider community. “It’s about doing the inner tracking so that we can become intact leaders. It’s about tracking the rhythms in nature and finding that deeply in ourselves and it’s about finding who we are in relationship to others and how that supports healthy, regenerative communities,” she said.

The next Bringing It Home programme starts in April 2019 and continues until January 2020. l For more information visit: www. bringingithome.life. Details about the 8 Shields Model can be found at: http://8shields.org

Classes Targeted advice Books Eating plans Free resources Online courses Healthy recipe blog 1-2-1, online, phone/Skype ME, gut disorders, mental health nutrition, cancer recovery & weight management.

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Jane Hutton The Functional Foodie

T: 07841 344934

Local musician seeks spirited singers

UNITAS Multiplex means unityin-diversity. It is the name of a new work for choir, soloists and orchestra by local musician and composer, Steve Banks.

Steve is now looking for singers to join a choir that will perform it, as well as philanthropic support to help finance the world premiere.

Steve said: “Unitas Multiplex is one way of summing up the Integral approach, which is a new understanding of human consciousness and spirituality that has been developed primarily by American mystical philosopher, Ken Wilber, since the 1970s.

Wilber has been described as the first ‘world philosopher’, because the Integral model integrates the ancient spiritual wisdom of the east with the modern developmental psychology and scientific understanding of the west.

“The oratorio expresses the unity-in-diversity of the human race, of the earth, and of the cosmos” explains Steve. “Also the ‘non-dual’ understanding of spiritual experience: that the deepest experience of self is both utterly transcendent and utterly immanent. The piece intends to draw the listener into here-andnow meditative experiences of

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profound freedom and fullness.”

Steve points out that each wave of new understanding in history has new art forms associated with it. For example, Freud and the unconscious led to Surrealism, and post-modernism included the Cubists and Abstract Expressionists in painting, and Serialism in music.

He said: “The Integral movement has spread across the world, and an exciting new wave of Integral art is just beginning.”

Steve gave a presentation on Unitas Multiplex at the Integral European Conference in May this year, the foremost gathering of Integral practitioners and thought-leaders in the world. He has worked with the Integral model as part of his Buddhist meditation practice for over 20 years and leads Integral workshops and retreats.

He is looking for soprano, alto, tenor and bass singers who can read music, and have some experience of choral singing. You can find out more about the piece, listen to mp3s of several movements (recordings with actual singers will be available from February 2019), and look at the vocal scores at www.stevebanks.info. l For more information contact Steve at steve@stevebanks.info.

Andy Thompson, Clin. Hom, Dip. B.F.D. ‘Helping you to heal yourself’

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WELLBEING Weekend Retreat for Young People Open to 16-25 year olds

15 - 17 February 2019

Kate does… Yoga with Natalie

Your wellbeing editor Kate tries out a treatment or event or activity each issue to give you a bit more of an insight into what it’s like to take part.

This issue Kate tries Yoga with Natalie (see advert on page 29) taking a Vinyasa Yoga class at the Chapel House Studios in Totnes.

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ARELY have I so wished I was an accomplished practitioner instead of a bumbling novice than when I attended Natalie Austin’s Vinyasa Yoga class at the Chapel House Studios in Totnes.

Also called Power yoga, Vinyasa is a dynamic, active style of yoga that is designed to build strength and stamina, increase fitness and improve posture and circulation.

Natalie has been doing yoga for 20 years and began teaching it eight years ago. She is a warm, friendly and inspiring teacher. The thing that really struck me about Vinyasa Yoga is how beautiful it is when done well (probably slightly less beautiful the way I did it but I have to applaud myself for trying). When you see the classic photo at sunrise of a yoga practitioner holding a powerful pose with legs and arms outstretched, I suspect that is a form of Vinyasa.

What I loved about Natalie’s class was the fact that there was such a broad mix of ages. I would hazard a guess that there were people in their 60s and 70s in the class, alongside younger people. Natalie urged us to listen to our bodies at all times and only take them as far as they wanted to go. She thoughtfully brought round blocks and even a hair tie for me at various points during the session.

At times I felt my whole body shaking with the effort of holding a pose. But afterwards, despite the usual protests from muscles that were unaccustomed to being used in that way, I felt my body tingling and somehow more alive than it had been at the start.

Natalie had also invited me to attend a Yin Yoga session as she said this would provide “a complete contrast”. It certainly did that.

These classes take place by candlelight and the pace is slow and deliberate with a focus on stretching, balancing and realignment. Each pose is held for up to five minutes which can feel a bit daunting. But what it does is allow your mind and body to relax and soften into the pose.

As someone who experiences tightness in the hips and glutes, often linked to stress, several of the poses in this class I found fantastic including one that bizarrely was called The Pigeon.

Natalie’s charming mix of accomplished teaching, mellifluous Scottish accent and genuine warmth makes for a fantastic yoga class. I loved it and so did my glutes. l For more information contact: natalie@loveyogatree.co.uk, call 07516 720246 or visit website www.loveyogatree.co.uk

What makes a great practitioner?

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TO BE with someone, to offer a potential for change, to really listen without judgement, with our hands or our being, can have a profound transformative effect.

Presence is at the core of being a practitioner. It translates into every aspect of the therapeutic encounter and is one of the key tenets of Zero Balancing.

Practitioner and teacher Richard Walters said: “When we take presence to the centre of our being as practitioners, handling at the bone level, then the effects can be remarkable.”

Richard explained: “We know in conversation when a friend is listening or not, and the same goes for our presence as a practitioner. If we are fully grounded and present in our body, using our weight to do the work, for example, then the client can let go to a much deeper level, and we as practitioners use much less effort.”

Richard believes that presence is also very much about the inner state we cultivate, and this can have far reaching effects on a

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client’s experience.

Meditation is a great way to cultivate presence, as we bring a deeper stillness to the session.

Doing our own inner work takes it to the next level, gradually helping us to step away from the urge to “make someone better”.

“The paradox is, the less we try to fix someone and instead really pay attention, the more likely they are to find a way, from within themselves, to let go of the trauma that is blocking them.

This inner release is more likely to be sustained over time than any intervention by the practitioner. “ Zero Balancing is a gentle yet powerful system of touch developed by Fritz Frederick Smith MD, a doctor of osteopathy, acupuncture and medicine.

Richard is teaching his next Zero Balancing four-day workshop from March 14 in East Devon. l For more information contact Richard Walters on 07811845862, richardwalters@ onetel.net or visit www. richardwalters.org/workshops

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WELLBEING NATURE WISDOM

Embodying the Mystery

Nature~based Soul Initiation & Cultural Healing Practices

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OU may have come across the term Body Radar, but what does it mean? It is an expression used in some connection practices to describe a way of allowing the body to lead us where it wants to go, and not where our minds and usual strategies normally take us. It is a way of being that involves body awareness and for Rebecca Card, who runs one-to-one and group Eco-therapy sessions on Dartmoor, it deepens our level of connection to what is around us in a profound and enlightening way.

“When we are in these bodybased states something happens to our experience of ourselves in relationship to Other and indeed, the other-than-human realm that allows us to drop into a different, and deeper level of connection.

This way of being can support us to experience something bigger than us at play, something that is trying to get our attention, trying to have its way with us. I often refer to this something as the Mystery.

“The real gifts, the significant encounters that carry deeper meaning, will always be found when our usual conditioning gets out of the way. Sometimes being in a body-led experience offers us an other-than-human way of moving.

We might suddenly realize we’re moving through the woods like a fox, or poised at the water’s

Vision Quests ~ Transitional Rites & Soul Initiation Ceremonies Medicine Walks ~ Way of Council ~ Grief Tending Embodiment Practices ~ One-to-one & group work on Dartmoor

edge like a heron. And what more powerful way to communicate with the natural world?”

Rebecca believes that this is an important conversation to be having at a time when most of the world has lost its sense of connection to nature.

“Becoming more embodied and less mind-led is a radical and much-needed act of re-membering our place in the family of things,” she said. “How would it be to follow your body’s will, rather than that of your strategic mind, and see how the Mystery wants to play with you? What surprises, what bewildering, enchanting messages might it offer while out in the natural world? What important messages are waiting for you from a place below and beyond the brain? The answers might be waiting for you out in the wild.” l For more information visit: http://naturewisdom.life or email: rebecca@naturewisdom.life

Rebecca@naturewisdom.life • 07960 520128 • www.naturewisdom.life www.facebook.com/NatureWisdom.life/

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Barefoot Mindfulness will be running retreats in Morocco

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OULD this be a match made in Heaven? Barefoot Mindfulness has teamed up with Bessaha holidays to create mindfulness retreats in Southern Morocco.

The retreats are hosted by Julie Jeffs of Barefoot Mindfulness at Rhiad Zanbag in the traditional village of Biougra. They offer a mix of mindfulness and Moroccan culture in stunning surroundings Julie said: “The Rhiad provides the ideal setting to immerse yourself in one of our mindfulness courses while Sarah and Soufian welcome you into their home and provide a truly authentic Moroccan experience on a full board basis.”

The retreat includes: a visit to the local Moroccan market; a trip to Paradise Valley and Taroudant, which is one of the few remaining cities in Southern Morocco that is untouched by tourism; a visit to the local beach and a trip to the mountains.

All these trips are included in the

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cost however if you prefer just to stay at the Rhiad relaxing, reading, playing board games, meditating or simply sitting outside in the sunshine that’s fine too.

Julie said: “The idea is to offer you a taste of Moroccan life, including a visit to the local market, which could be described as an assault on your senses - the colours and aroma of the produce are stunning. However, there’s no pressure to attend if you don’t wish to.”

All of the food served at the Rhiad is either home-grown or sourced from within a three-mile radius and is freshly cooked each day. Sarah and Soufian believe in working with local producers to ensure fresh produce and to support their community.

The retreat runs from May 18 to 25. It costs £550 for seven nights full-board including airport transfers, daily room service and excursions.

Flights are not included. l For more information visit www. barefootmindfulness.co.uk Or call Julie Jeffs 07966 003872

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WELLBEING Astrology with Emma Astroyogini Totnes astrologer Emma Astroyogini tunes our readers into the seasonal cycles of the sun and moon.

O

Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) (Stimulates the immune system to function optimally)

The Bowen Technique Arcturus Clinic, Totnes Home Visits AMANDA MORRIS

For an appointment please call 07931 505 312

CLT – MLDUK – CertECBS – BTPA

amanda@amandamorris.co.uk www.amandamorris.co.uk

NCE upon a time, riding on horseback on your great journey, you glimpsed a sunny valley where you could rest and settle. A long time passed and you became frustrated by with the small safety of your daily life. One day the stirring sound of the conch call comes from some temple, high above in the mountains. Leaping onto your horse again, you resume the Path, remembering that you have a mission, a purpose, a destiny. Excited and ignited, as Sagittarius, you feel the motion of your powerful horse beneath you. The path rises higher. Below you see great plains and in the distance, the sea. The horizon seems to glow with light. You eat nothing and speak out loud no more. Your warm, glad heart is your nourishment.

The Capricorn part of yourself is waiting up above, silent and still, watching from a cave near the snow-capped mountain peak. The crystalline snow glistens in the starlight and you climb into the tiny temple cave within the rock, your hermitage. You watch the Moon sailing past and several sunrises.

Nights lengthen, days shorten. You make your prayers before a marble statue. There comes the sound of congregations chanting far below.

The Holy Names rise up from a thousand cathedrals and stone

Emma by the sea circles laid out in sacred geometry across the land. On your knees you make a solemn vow to fulfill your Dharmic tasks.

Close by there is a swell of thrumming sound and the figure of a man rises in the air above you. He lifts the silver urn of Aquarius, and pours out its liquid living light down over your crow, a baptism in spirit to cleanse the soul. The stains of the mistakes you made, the regrets and the pains of the past are washed away and you feel again your tender love for humanity and for this exquisite planet. Cleansed, clear, the time is near. You can rest, but then you must return to society, to take your role in the global awakening, the role you were born for. l Activate Your Destiny courses with Emma at www.astroyoga.co.uk or call 07530 540514.

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WELLBEING

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DVERSITY and chaos come to us all at times, whether it’s business problems, personal issues or unwelcome changes in our situation. Things go wrong, they change. But how we react will dictate whether it’s a problem or a challenge. Gritting our teeth and moving into survival mode can get us through, but will leave us depleted, not having learnt much and never wanting to repeat the experience.

Life coach Matthew Rochford has five tips for steadying the ship and navigating adversity.

1: Get Some Perspective: Our own thinking is limited and at times unhelpful. In fact, many of our thoughts are based on stories we tell ourselves - stories that are fundamentally untrue. No wonder we feel confused sometimes. Talk to someone you can trust - a mentor, friend or colleague. A coach can also help. Find someone who can magnify your wisdom and help you see beyond your problems.

2: Ask Yourself - Where is The Problem Really Coming From? By separating out how we are feeling about events from the events themselves, we can identify what is causing us difficulty or discomfort and let go. It can help to see our feelings like temporary weather in our mind, something that will pass and then we can gain clarity again.

Image: Joff Alexander-Frye, Grow Exeter

How to steady the ship

Matthew Rochford 3: Clarity and Insight Are Available To You At Any Time: The deeper nature of our mind is clarity. And when we allow it, our wisdom is there for us. Our emotions can cloud our judgement, but the essential clarity of our mind is always there. You can enhance this greatly by meditating for a few minutes every day.

4: Get Out of Your Own Way: When we see beyond our superficial thoughts and stop identifying so strongly with our feelings we can return to equilibrium. Getting out of our own way allows confidence to return and we feel more able to meet challenges.

5: Look After Yourself: Ensure you relax in the evenings, eat nutritious food and don’t put off that trip to the gym, meditation session or yoga class. l Want to ask Matthew a question? Call 07717 172 691.

Leading-Edge, International Trainings in Somatic Sexology February 18 – April 21:

17 June 2019 – 25 Jan 2020:

Introductory Certifcate in Embodied Counselling

Certifcate in Sexological Bodywork /Somatic Sex Education

with Deej Juventin, CSB An introduction to somatic psychology and bodymind therapy for practitioners to practice efective embodied skills and conduct embodied counselling sessions.

21-22 & 23-24 February: Consensual Touch™ Trainings with Katie Sarra & Kian de la Cour Immerse yourself in 2 or 4 days of embodied experience with Betty Martin's Wheel of Consent.

April 13 – 17: Foundations of Somatic Sex Education with Uma Furman & Deej Juventin A 5-day professional development training for helping practitioners work somatically without touching clients, while supporting them towards more vibrant and full sex lives.

with Kian de la Cour & Katie Sarra This 6-month professional training involves detailed self-practices, online study, working with others, a 2 week Embodiment Intensive and 4 months of supervised practice.

This is the sixth UK training in this amazing and comprehensive modality.

27 June – 1 July: The Somatica Method - Working with Couples on Sexual and Emotional Intimacy Danielle Harel & Celeste Hirschman This training ofers the foundation you need to add couples work to your practice or enrich the couple's work you already ofer. You will come away with the skills and confdence you need to navigate the unique challenges of working with couples.

www.SeaSchoolofEmbodiment.com

Blood testing – a phlebotomy service

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LOOD tests are used to check for a whole range of conditions and deficiencies but a “normal” result does not necessarily mean you are functioning at optimum levels, warns Dr Stephen Hopwood from the Arcturus Clinic in Totnes.

He began his training as an NHS Phlebotomist (someone who takes blood) and has completed two Phlebotomist certificates. Arcturus is now offering comprehensive blood testing. Dr Hopwood explained why: “Having a broad spectrum blood analysis allows us not only to see if important physiological markers are inside or outside of the normal ranges, but also to determine whereabouts in the range you are sitting. NHS doctors are not encouraged to treat people if they sit within a normal range but the parameters can be quite broad.

According to Kent Holtorf MD, consultant endocrinologist, a lab will take 95% of test results received and say they are normal. It is only the highest and lowest 2.5% of a value that is considered abnormal.

So, if you are the lowest 5% or 10%, you are still considered to be normal. But this doesn’t mean you are optimal. It’s like saying you got a D minus – OK great, but it doesn’t work like that. More optimal levels mean you are going to feel better.

As well as doing the right tests, looking at the right parameters and offering the right treatment, I believe it is important to be optimal in the range, not just normal.”

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Arcturus examines some of the major blood markers commonly tested by GPs and a few more besides that are not normally available unless you pay privately. This includes checking T4 and T3, as well as the TSH and Vitamin D3 levels. B12, Iron and Folic Acid as well as a full cholesterol profile are also checked, along with a Full Blood Count, liver and kidney function.

The results are categorised with a stated normal range and the bloods are reviewed by a medical doctor at the THRIVA blood test laboratory who will flag up any serious results and communicate directly with Dr Hopwood at the clinic.

Normally the results are discussed at the clinic with Dr Hopwood who may make recommendations to support you in being as well as you can.

These might include natural nonprescription vitamins, minerals, herbs and nutritional supplements.

Dietary, lifestyle and Acupuncture treatments may also be offered as an integrated treatment approach.

Further blood tests have recently been added to the list, including male and female hormone profiles which looks at hormones like DHEA. Repeat blood tests can be an excellent way of checking that natural optimisation is working.

The blood test package costs £88.50.

A blood draw alone costs £20 GBP. l For more information contact Dr Stephen Hopwood at the Arcturus Clinic telephone 01803 868282 or visit www.arcturusclinic.co.uk.

Resolve Your Trauma: Unwind Your Body Claim Your Power: Open Your Sexuality Receive A Pleasure Based Sex Education Express Your Boundaries: Live In Consent

Sessions~ Retreats~ Workshops

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WELLBEING Introducing……The Space Man!

T

Well-Being Wisdom & Wealth Coach

Coaching for Women 07971 416630 / www.theseedcoach.com coach@katherynehope.plus.com

HEY call him The Space Man but Jason Burns has his feet very firmly planted on the ground.

He is a social care professional and humanistic counsellor with fifteen years experience working with families, children in care, young people, people who are homeless or unemployed, and people who struggle with drug dependency, mental health issues, or disability.

His new business, Space Works, is about helping people to make space in their increasingly cluttered lives. Combining organising, decluttering, counselling and ritual, the process is cathartic and transformative. It also attempts to find solutions to the very modern problem of what we buy, why we buy it, how we can reduce landfill, and how we can redefine our relationship with stuff.

Jason said: “It is my belief that clearing stuff and developing a new relationship with one’s possessions is, in itself, a wellbeing process. Some possessions have remained unseen for years, others will have been collected for reasons that made sense at the time, yet the reasoning may now be ready for gentle enquiry, and a shift in perception. Trust is essential in this process, as is a compassionate and a non-judgemental approach.

My training as a counsellor equips me well for this.”

Jason explains that specific moments of transition in a person’s life can instigate the need to clear stuff. As an example, he said: “There is a Swedish term, Death Clearing, which refers to how a person can do a considerate service to their loved ones by not leaving them with unnecessary paperwork, furniture, clothes, magazines, hobby paraphernalia, garden tools and the like, by clearing it out as they approach the end of their life – morbid maybe, pragmatic and helpful, definitely!”

Jason’s compassionate, energetic, focused, fun approach has helped many people over the past year to generate increased space in their life.

“Space, literally, works!” said Jason, “So, if you recognise that you need support to create the physical and mental space to thrive in your life please get in touch and I’d be happy to help.” l Contact Jason on 07886 353504 or visit: www.spaceworks.co.uk

Build and bloom Teignmouth Counselling Counselling that makes a difference

www.teignmouthcounsellinG.co.uk teignmouthcounselling@gmail.com 0746 923 4295

Four days of Advanced Therapist Training in East Devon 14th ~ 17th March 2019 For your clients: • • • •

Create clear energetic boundaries.

Learn to handle and balance skeletal energy.

New approaches to physical conditions.

Provide clients with the opportunity to release old trauma.

• Take your clients into a deep still place.

For you:

• Feel embodied and energised in your work.

• Receive in depth energy bodywork.

• Become centered in your Self as you work.

For full details call Richard Walters 07811845862 Read more at richardwalters.org/workshops

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OUR higher self is constantly calling you to be your best and truest self because then you are fulfilled and have an innate sense of your purpose, says women’s empowerment coach, Katheryn Eliane Hope.

“Your higher self always has access to the answers for everything you ask and knows how to get there. To discover the answers, tune into the frequency of what it is you desire and then ask: “What is my part in this?” and wait for the response.”

She explains that the response may come in many ways: through words, feelings, inspiration, images, or guidance to read a book or to meet a person who can help. It can even come through a message you see on the back of a vehicle!

“Just last week I followed two vans, one with a huge butterfly (my symbol) on it and the other displaying the words “Build and Bloom” – exactly what I am called to do,” laughs Katheryn.

She tells clients that our mind has a powerful energy made up of all the thoughts and belief patterns we have accrued over our many years.

It takes daily commitment and consistency to change old thoughts to new ones that serve us and build the life we want.

“Sometimes we need support to do that and that is why I have

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created my one-to-one coaching programs to help women become who they are truly meant to be using personally tailored energy techniques, meditation, law of attraction, empowered action and on-going support.

“If you know there is more than you have settled for and feel you are being called to something more, book a complimentary Discovery call with me.”

One client wrote: “I have come to know and love myself once again.

It’s been such a dynamic experience that so needed to happen if I was ever going to find my way back to my own unique path.”

For more information contact Katheryn at: coach@katherynehope. plus.com

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WELLBEING Heal the hidden hijackers

Sally’s giving the gift of sound

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O you feel hijacked by past experiences? Asks Carmella B’Hahn, who works with TRE (Tension and Trauma Release) and is a Grief/Transitions Guide.

She says these “hijackers” can be physical, mental, emotional or all three.

“Do some hurts feel elusive and prone to sabotaging your forward movement?” Carmella is convinced that imprints that are held in the body need to be released by the body.

Her personal healing process has been a long one, and it was a relatively recent discovery that helped her, finally, to shift old trauma. “I’ve done much inner work on the trauma I experienced in my mother’s womb plus the death of my five-year-old and two subsequent miscarriages,” says Carmella. “Mainly, I succeeded and thrived, feeling particularly strong in spirit, yet I still suffered on-going physical ailments in my womb area where these traumatic imprints appeared to be lodged. I lost hope of healing after decades of unsatisfactory and costly therapies. When I found TRE and allowed the tremors and shakes that are induced by this healing modality to have their way in my body, hope was restored… immediately!”

She describes how her body intelligence took over, focussing

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exclusively on her womb, squeezing and shaking the tissues from the inside until she felt a physical release. “My job was to trust and let it happen.”

Since practicing TRE she says: “I inhabit my body more fully and there’s much less hijacking of my peace. Various body parts that felt separate, now feel joined up by the tremors to make a more harmonious whole. I feel more healthy and relaxed... oh, and I sleep better.” l For more information about TRE individual or trio sessions, grief/ transition counselling, Heartfelt Communication Coaching or Carmella’s three books visit: www.heartofrelating.com, email carmella@heartofrelating.com or call 01803 867005.

She offers a special deal on all 1.5 hour trial sessions.

movement and movement ONGS have had a profound effect on creates change.” gong and sound Sally offers intuitive practitioner Sally Free’s gong baths where she life. She recalls being “feels” into how her in awe of the powerful sound instruments should effect they had on her, be played; specific both physically and gong baths where the emotionally, the first time gongs and bowls are she heard them. played to achieve a “Various aches and pains particular outcome such in my body improved, and as unblocking creativity; Sally Free this improvement continues and chakra gong baths the more gonging I do. where they are played in a Almost immediately I knew that this specific order and alongside other was a path I was going to take,” instruments like chimes, singing she said. “As usual in life a lot of bowls and tuning forks. synchronistic events then followed Gong bath sessions last about an very rapidly and I found myself in hour and a half. Sally said: “Clients gong practitioner training within a report feeling tension flow away, week.” allowing greater wellbeing, both More recently, Sally trained as a physical and mental, and a lasting singing bowl practitioner and now sense of peacefulness and balance.” uses Tibetan/Himalayan bowls on Sally offers sessions for individuals and off the body, along with crystal or small groups and runs regular singing bowls. Relaxing and listening sessions in Brixham at Lupton to her Himalayan or Tibetan gongs, House, Torquay at the Ozone Spa crystal singing bowls, Koshis and and at the Changes Now Studio in other wonderful instruments, the Dawlish. She also works from home harmonious sounds ease the mind at Wishes, Kitlake Farm in Exeter, and nourish the body deeply, clearing and can arrange sessions for larger and cleansing. groups at another venue.

“Sounds and the effects of the Following she successful workshop vibrations on and through the recently combined with Les Elms they body are focusing and meditative will be putting new dates on again and have brought me immense in the new year. calm in my mind and a sense of peace within my body. I love to give the gift of sound to others for enjoyment and any healing benefits that it can bring. The sound creates

l For more information visit www. soundsforthesoul.co.uk or contact Sally at sally@soundsforthesoul.co.uk or call her on 07719770660.

Rachel Bolton, MPchm MACS, ITEC Animal Healer

w w w. to u c h t h e s p i r i t . c o . u k For all your dog’s physical ailments and emotional concerns.

With over twenty years experience, Rachel works remotely with the aid of a photograph and the sessions include a telephone consultation for more advice and support for you and your dog.

Tel: 01364 653 788 Mob: 07957 597 618 rachel.bolton@touchthespirit.co.uk www.reconnectonline.co.uk www.reconnectonline.co.uk Discover_Dogs_18_21_Touch_The_Spirit_V3.indd

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Editorial: 01392 01392 346342 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk editor@reconnectonline.co.uk 37 Editorial: 37 08/10/2018 16:53

Catherine Hale

WELLBEING SHAKE

YOURSELF

BETTER with TRE ◆ TRE reaches parts that talking cannot reach ◆ Releases chronic patterns, calms anxiety and ◆ Allows your body intelligence to lead the healing.

Individual sessions & ‘Tremor Trios’ @ Bowden House, Totnes with Grief Guide and author Carmella B’Hahn www.HeartofRelating.com ◆ Carmella@HeartofRelating.com

01803 867005

Take a deep BREATH...

Learn how to use your breath to overcome stress and re-energise your body. Improve your health and help clear emotional blockages. Workshops and 1:1 sessions available.

Check the website for details of upcoming workshops.

Transformational Breathing Les Elms • les@breathsouthwest.com www.breathsouthwest.com

07828 566553

Unique opportunity in South Devon...

Fundamentals Of Homeopathy Introductory course for anyone curious about the practice/ theory of homeopathy and the fascinating study of some of the 3,500 substances we use as remedies. Complete in itself, but has potential/credits to lead on to second year of practitioner training with The Contemporary College of Homeopathy which is accredited by the Society of Homeopaths.

Five weekends in Totnes, Devon in 2019: January (tba), February 9/10, March 9/10, April 6/7, May 11/12. Tutors highly experienced homeopaths and teachers. Cost: £1,000 For further details contact: Jacki Becker RS Hom T: 01803 864587 | M: 07792059867 E: jacki.becker@virgin.net | www.conhom.com

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Meeting the feminine within

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OWER is a strong word. It is often associated with money, status, material possessions, having authority over others, and having political influence.

Sexological body-worker, trauma practitioner and empowerment coach, Catherine Hale, believes that power has mostly been associated with the masculine throughout history and held in place by patriarchal systems. She said: “These systems are failing us, leaving space for a new paradigm to rise.”

“Part of my work is supporting this paradigm shift, a shift from topdown, mind-based control into the territory of the body; the realm of emotions and sensations. We could describe this territory as having the qualities of the feminine. By this I mean an energetic force that is present in everyone, rather than anything to do with gender.”

“This force is the power of nature, it’s your wild instinctive self, where your sexuality and creative force bubble up through your body and activate your heart into opening fully. Over the years, this has been controlled, suppressed and rejected.”

Catherine explained that a journey to reclaim one’s power entails meeting the feminine within, which we’ve been told is deeply flawed or inconsequential.

“We come up against the casual comments diminishing the archetypes of the feminine – calling us bitch or witch for speaking our truth. In my approach, as a somatic sex coach, I support people to begin reclaiming their power through the doorway marked sexuality.

I believe that no other aspect of our feminine self has been more demonised, shamed and is more feared than our alive sexuality.”

To awaken our sexuality, we need to know what we want. Catherine observes that many of us don’t know what we want sexually, let alone how to ask for it.

“When we don’t know what we want, we go along with what we are willing to do, which means being touched, being sexual and being penetrated when it doesn’t feel right for us. Our bodies are left

abandoned to endure, severed at the neck we check out of the experience thinking about anything other than what the body is feeling. Training ourselves to devalue our bodies, we lose touch with the wealth of somatic information arising from our densely nerve-filled bodies, we miss out on the signals asking for something to be different.”

“However, when we stop and take stock of how sex really is for us, many hide in shame and try to bypass the pain of body disconnection. We may decide that sex is just too painful to be worthy of exploration, which is understandable, but this divides us from our power. Those who are courageous, who are willing not to buy into this story of division any longer, who are truly sick and tired of feeling disempowered, are the ones who make the changes and find their way back to what is rightfully theirs, their power and their pleasure. This is a power absent of degradation of any gender, and a power that holds the earth in upmost respect.”

Catherine warns this is not a journey for the faint-hearted.

“When the voice inside you can no longer bear how you feel, when it is screaming for you to change, then listen, and trust it with everything you have. This is your feminine calling you back home, back to your body, back to the joys of feeling through your senses. Listen really carefully for these words are the breadcrumbs along the trail leading you back to yourself to the greatest love you have ever known.”

Catherine offers embodied sessions on power reclamation using our experiences of sexuality as the doorway. For more information email catherine@tantricawakening.org or visit www.tantricawakening.org

Coping with grief and loss

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LL of us will be touched by grief and loss at some point in our lives. For some people that moment comes sooner than others.

Tom Woolner lost his wife, Kate, to secondary breast cancer when he was just 48. That was in January 2017. Since that time, Tom, a former Occupational Therapist who specialised in mental health, brain injury and vocational rehabilitation, has devoted his time to his two daughters and to finding a way forward in a vastly altered reality.

Tom has written a book about his experiences of coping with grief that is being sold in aid of Rowcroft, which supported Kate in the last few months of her life.

His book, Let’s Talk About Grief and Loss, is an honest, personal and insightful exploration of the complexities of losing a loved one. Purchase a copy in any Rowcroft shop or online at: https://www.griefandloss.me/catalog/1

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WELLBEING Treat yourself to a happier you

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EW year, new you is a theme that runs through the start of the year but what would it mean to be a “new you”?

CranioSacral Therapist Felicity Anne Clark suggests that resolving that feeling of being slightly below par and starting to feel good again might be a great start. CranioSacral Therapy Vouchers could be the ideal gift for family and friends – currently on promotional offer at £30, just quote the current advert for your £10 reduction.

She said: “Few body structures have more influence over your health and wellbeing than your central nervous system. The CranioSacral System, which consists of the bones, soft tissues and fluid that surround and nurture the Felicity Clarke brain and spinal cord, maintains the environment in which the central nervous system functions and flourishes. CranioSacral Therapy is used to identify and treat imbalances in this delicate system, which is vital for maintaining health within these structures and the efficiency of the whole body.

“CranioSacral Therapy is a hands-on holistic therapy that uses gentle touch to create dynamic improvements in your life; it is suitable for all ages. The light touch techniques facilitate the release of tensions deep within the body to relieve pain and dysfunction, improving the whole-body health and performance, allowing it to relax and self-correct.

“It can be used to help you feel good, or for a wide variety of conditions including: headaches; aches and pains; musculoskeletal problems including backache; ‘frozen shoulder’; sciatic and other nerve issues; anxiety and panic attacks; depression; post-traumatic stress disorder; gynaecological issues; fibromyalgia; chronic fatigue and many other issues. It is also ideal for people with low energy. CranioSacral Therapy has the potential for powerful restoration of physical health and emotional wellbeing that happens when the body is efficiently working to its optimum capacity, free of restrictions.” l Treatments cost £40 for an adult for an hour or £30 for a child for half an hour. Felicity offers free consultations. For more information call 07878 259650 or email felicityanneclark28@gmail.com

Gong, Himalayan and Crystal Bowl Practitioner based in Devon Sessions for groups and individuals.

Bathe in timeless sound waves and rest in deep, nourishing relaxation.

Gong baths, Bowl and sound meditations for groups and individuals

Sound creates movement, Movement creates change

Sally Free • 07719 770660

www.soundsforthesoul.co.uk ● sally@soundsforthesoul.co.uk Find us on facebook

How holistic therapy works

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HAT is holistic therapy and how does it differ from conventional therapeutic approaches like CBT? Teignmouth Counselling is a holistic therapy practice. Aimee Pagliari, who works there as a holistic therapy practitioner, has worked in mental health for many years but now specialises in this particular treatment method. She explained why: “While traditional methods like CBT tend to focus on a particular subject or issue and deal with that in isolation, holistic therapy does not do that. During a therapy sessions I look at everything from your past, present and future; and then we consider you as a person - your mind, body and even your soul. Each therapy session is as unique as the client I am with.

Sessions are uniquely thought-out for the client so no two are alike. And the results people can achieve are life-changing.”

Aimee offers a free initial session during which she is able to explain to people more about what it is like to have this type of therapy.

It also gives them an opportunity to ask questions, to see how they feel about working with her and to experience for themselves how holistic therapy works.

All clients receive free e-mail and telephone support. Aimee explained that she believes in going

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Aimee Pagliari above and beyond to ensure that clients get the most out of every session, as well as in between sessions.

In addition to holistic therapy, Teignmouth Counselling offers hypnotherapy, meditation and yoga. And, if being given homework reminds you of being back at school, take heart; Aimee does not believe in sending her clients home with worksheets. In fact, she says this can be counterproductive to reaching goals in therapy.

For more information or to book a free consultation contact Aimee at: www.teignmouthcounselling.co.uk or email teignmouthcounselling@ gmail.com or call 0746 923 4295.

Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

39

WELLBEING GENTLE YEARS YOGA© Ceremonies have a common heart GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS AVAILABLE

You are NEVER too old, too unfit or too stiff to start yoga!

YOGA adapts to you in this class with use of chairs, props and modified practices.

Practising yoga helps to maintain mobility, strength and balance wherever you are starting from.

GUINEVERE WEARNE

I have been practising yoga since 1986 and teaching since 2003.

Contact me for information:

01803 732296 | 07514 546097 guinevere-w@hotmail.com

New year - new you, resolve that general feeling of ‘being a bit under par’ and feel good again.

Give loved ones, friends and family a new year that that will have them feel terrific with £10 vouchers available with CranioSacral Therapy, a hands-on holistic therapy, where touch is gentle, suitable for all ages, working with the central nervous system to assist in improving the efficiency of the whole body so that systems can relax.

Felicity Anne Clark CranioSacral Therapist Member of the Cranio Sacral Society Upledger UK www.upledger.co.uk East Cornwall and Plymouth M: 07878 259650 E: felicityanneclark28@gmail.com

Treatment to make you feel good or for a wide variety of conditions: low energy; headaches; aches and pains; musculoskeletal problems including backache; ‘frozen shoulder’; sciatic and other nerve issues; anxiety and panic attacks; depression; posttraumatic stress disorder; gynaecological issues; fibromyalgia; chronic fatigue and many other issues.

Cost of Treatment is £40 for an adult for an hour; £30 for a child for half an hour. Please don’t hesitate to call to discuss treatments or book a free consultation.

Teignmouth Doula Every birth is special. Whether is takes place at the hospital or at home, each is beautiful and deserving of celebration. No matter how you birth your baby, everyone can benefit from having a doula present at the moment of delivery. Contact me to learn more about my service, and how I can help you bring your own child into this beautiful world.

www . teignmouthdoula . com Email: teignmouthdoula@gmail.com Tel: 0738 765 7428

Seeking Spirited Singers Local composer Steve Banks is looking for choral singers to perform “Unitas Multiplex”, a ground-breaking oratorio he has written for choir, soloists, and orchestra.

He is also looking for philanthropic support to help finance the world premiere of the piece.

More info, mp3’s, vocal scores at

www.stevebanks.info 40

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E HAVE done several thousand funerals over the past 18 years, and about four weddings.

As undertakers we aren’t an obvious choice to be married by, and it’s not something we do as a novelty; we don’t dress up as if it’s Halloween to marry Goth couples. It’s something we do with people we have a connection with, friends, someone whose relative we have buried.

Weddings are notoriously stressful.

It’s a tougher crowd. One of the great things about working around death is the lack of bullshit, and as we all know weddings can get utterly out of hand when it comes to runaway stress, unrealistic expectations and sheer escalation of nonsense.

Of course the weddings and naming ceremonies we’ve been involved with haven’t been like this, the brides have all been delightful, the babies behaved, no fights or inappropriate best man speeches.

So far.

But ceremony, be it a ritual of remembrance around a fire, a funeral or a wedding, all have something in common at their heart.

A good ceremony thrives on opening up a space. Firstly, everyone has to be brought into that space, brought to attention. Focus is everything to maintain the fragile emotional ecosystem you are trying to create.

This is the responsibility of whoever is holding it. If a couple of uncles are chatting and giggling in the back that is our fault, not theirs, for not grabbing their attention and holding it.

And a good way to bring in the living is to bring in the dead, by which I mean name the people who should be there, who can’t be there, whose absence is a dart of pain on a happy day.

We draw them up a chair, or pour a glass of wine. This is not intended to bring everyone down on what

The Green Funeral Company’s Claire and Rupert Callender have decades of ritual experience. This issue Ru reveals the secrets of a good ceremony. should be the happiest of days, but to remind everyone that the brightest sun always casts a shadow, there is always a sharpness hidden in the sweet. And it also shows that this endeavour of marriage is serious, as serious as the mystery of death.

And bringing everyone into the room is half the job done. Then, the role becomes about quietly disappearing into the moment.

Good ceremony seeks out the gaps in the everyday story of life, forcing apart the mundane to see the glorious structure that holds it up.

Strangely, it is more about letting go of things rather than taking control, listening to hear the voice of the unheard. This is why it is so easy to mess up a ceremony, make it too busy or too hectoring. Impose too much obvious structure and the whole thing becomes draped in pomp.

The words need to replace the speaker, an incredibly difficult thing in practice, to disappear behind your carefully crafted meaning, to let the idea and the emotion stand alone, bigger even than the couple joining their lives together. Bigger than us all.

And fade to black.

Retreat and rest

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T may only be in pausing that we realise how much we have contracted into our lives and all we may be sacrificing when we just keep going.

Caroline Lang has been offering yoga and meditation retreats in quiet and wild places for around 28 years. She believes that when we settle and rest we can start to ‘To be quiet, even wordless in a expand again, to make room for good place is a gift’ Wendell Berry ourselves and others.

Caroline said: “In patience and slowing down there is potential and possibility, insights naturally arise and we may experience a fresh response to some of life’s questions. I love to witness all the ways in which people transform in response to even a few days of meeting themselves with more dignity and kindness because there is time and space.

“On retreat we can put aside the tasks and intentions of everyday living, creating space for a new kind of aliveness to flow through. Freed from expectations, our own and those of others, our nervous system can come to rest. Retreats allow us to renew our sensitivity to both inner and outer life.” l For more information visit www.carolinelangyoga.com

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WELLBEING Understanding chakras - The Solar Plexus

THERE are seven primary chakras in the Human Energy Field. Marc Blausten, founder of The School of Energy Healing in the UK, introduces the Solar Plexus Chakra in this series of articles…

E exchange energy with others and the world around us through our chakras. In addition, each one feeds vitality into particular body parts and organs, as well as holding different psychological themes.

For many reasons a chakra’s ability to function can become compromised, causing an imbalance in the energy field. This can result in physical and psychological symptoms and disease.

The Solar Plexus Chakra feeds energy to the organs of digestion - the stomach, intestines, liver, gall bladder and pancreas.

The ability to ‘digest’ our emotions, as well as our food, is part of this function. When we are able to digest our life experiences, then the energy becomes assimilated into our being and we grow. However, if emotions aren’t processed, this can result in deposits of emotional energy in the body and organs,

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which may become stagnant and toxic. In turn, this lays the ground for digestive disorders such as nutritional deficiencies, leaky gut and auto-immune disorders, IBS, gallstones and diabetes.

Nurturing is a central theme of the solar plexus chakra. While in the womb a baby is totally dependant on being nurtured through the umbilical cord. This dependency is meant to gradually decrease as we grow up, until we are independent and able to look after ourselves as adults. This ability then further develops until we can hold the responsibility of caring for others, as well as our own children.

However, when we have experienced incomplete or inappropriate care, it is common to develop imbalances which interfere with the healthy flow of vital energy through the solar plexus chakra and energy field This chakra becomes under-active when we give our personal power away. This usually results from a history of being dominated as a child, and receiving approval for being passive and doing as we were told. Conversely, it can become overactive when the unconscious strategy is to be ‘on top’ of others. This may lead to controlling, dominating, egotistical or critical behaviour.

The spiritual lesson presented by this chakra is to be responsible for our own wellbeing, while being open and receptive to the care of others. l For more information visit: www. healingandhomeopathy.com.

A traditional time to rest and recuperate

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to embrace this IGHT now we Yin energy which are deep into is restful and the second gentle, nurturing half of the Celtic and intuitive. Yin Wheel of the encourages you Year. Traditionally, to allow yourself winter was a time to rest, not to push when people yourself and to be retreated from open to receive. the world to rest It may not be and recuperate. practical to do Modern life does this for the whole not really allow us of the winter, but to do this anymore we can take some with the fast pace Natalie Austin time out of our busy of our daily routines, schedules to retreat and slow but yoga teacher Natalie Austin down.” believes it is important for us to listen to the energy of the season.

To support people to do this, Natalie is holding two yoga Natalie said: “The cold winter workshops - Yin Deep (Detox for months are influenced by the the Whole Body) on Saturday feminine Yin energy. This energy 26 January 3-6pm and Yin encourages us to turn inwards, to Deep (Happy Hips and Happy observe our inner world without Liver) on Saturday 23 February judgement; to embrace the 3-6pm. Both are at Chapel House darkness of life around us and Studios. within us; to release and let go of patterns that no longer serve us; l Booking is essential. For more and most importantly, to become information contact: natalie@ mindful of self-compassion and loveyogatree.co.uk, call 07516 serious nurturing.

720246 or visit website www. loveyogatree.co.uk “In our busy lives it’s important

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Editorial: 01392 01392 346342 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk editor@reconnectonline.co.uk Editorial:

41 41

BUSINESS FORMER Reconnect editor Martin Foster can help you find the right words to get your business message out there - websites, videos, leaflets, press releases and more! Years of wellbeing/creative sector experience.

A no-nonsense, affordable way to grow your business. Email martinfoster4242@ gmail.com or call/text 07837 003962.

COUNSELLING

IF you’re reading this, you probably want to know that whatever is going on for you now, you don’t have to do it alone. As a Humanistic Integrative Counsellor I work creatively and sensitively alongside you with a warm, unstuffy and present approach.

Vonny Prout MBACP 01626 249676 www. accantocounselling.com between Totnes and Newton EXPERIENCED Integrative Counsellor individuals and couples. Trained in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) Totnes and Exeter.

Ingrid Koehler MBACP 07932-734387 www. ingridkoehler.co.uk

HMBACP Accredited Integrative Counsellor, offering Counselling, Supervision & Food Coaching (Plant based V & VG). Central Totnes and Exeter. www. tracygrovescounselling. com, 07599882741.

classifiedads - HAVE A BROWSE THROUGH THE RECONNECT SMALL ADS crystals

CREATIVE counsellor.

Heartful, Supportive Counselling. Creative Exercises with Art, Sandplay etc. Adults, Couples and Young People. Ruth Jenni MBACP. 07974097787 www.oakflower.co.uk - Dartington, Newton Abbot and on Skype

HOLISTIC counsellor specialising in trauma/abuse, and for those feelings/ emotions difficult to put into words working with art, sand and outside amongst nature. Annie, www. natureswaycounselling. co.uk, 07760 439760.

HUMANISTIC Counsellor, Gestalt, Person-Centred, CBT. Become more of who you have the potential to be. Utilising creative techniques including sandplay and experiments. Newton Abbot. Jason, 07886 353504 / www.spaceworks.co.uk

Scaravelli Yoga And Deep Rest Meditation

With Caroline Lang at The Yoga House, Harberton, near Totnes Classes, one-to-one, days, retreats that are profoundly nourishing and transformative.

http://www.carolinelangyoga.com 01803 865252

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FOR READERS... an at-a-glance guide to services and products - plus diary dates.

FOR ADVERTISERS... an affordable way to get your message across.

Boxes are £55 and £98 and the lineage ads cost just 90p a word, with a minimum of 20 words.

THE DEADLINE... for the February/March issue is January 4. Call Scott on 01392 346342 or email adverts@reconnectonline.co.uk.

meditation JANE Jones ICGT Grad.

A variety of authentic Crystal & Earth Cycle Workshops. For more details see www. crystalearthwoman. co.uk 07791939208

Kinesiology

CREATIVE Kinesiology taps into your body’s inherent/soul wisdom.

It can help release what you need to move towards your potential.

Introductory session £25 For appointment or more information contact Karen 01803-863930 or karenevansck@ hotmail.co.uk

movement

MOVEMENT Medicine open classes with Ailsa Lucas. Dance for awareness, healing, freedom, power, resources and transformation. Monthly Saturday mornings.

Dartington / Plymouth. movementmedicine association.org, ailsa. clare.lucas@gmail.com, 07999 486059

WANTED BACK issues of Rosicrucian Magazine.

Postage refunded.

D. Palmer, 19 Home Meadow, Totnes.

TQ9 5XY

MEDITATION evening class Journeys to the Spirit. Alternate Tuesdays evenings from 22nd January. £50 for 6 evenings in Exeter. Richard Walters 07811 845 862 richardwalters.org/ meditation

Free consultation. Call: 07837486388 Email: universaltreecare@ outlook.com and https:// universaltreecare. wordpress.com

shiatsu

PSYCHOTHERAPY

DAVID OXLEY MA: Fully qualified Accredited BACP counsellor and psychotherapist.

Psychosynthesis and Core Process. Working with Relationship, Depth, Integrity and Soul. Central Exeter, Totnes and Plymouth. www. davidoxleycounselling. co.uk, 07876051093.

REFLEXOLOGY

workshops KATE Coombs DipShi MRSS TRANSFORMATIONAL SHIATSU Offers support for your nervous system to relax, ease for your aches and pains and welcome for the deepest level of your being.

Ashburton and Exeter www.katecoombs. co.uk 07928731246

TREE CARE TOMMY Hutchinson BSc (Hons) Forestry, ND Arboriculture, NPTC Qualified. Sensitive, professional tree care.

DRAMATHERAPY Taster session Sat 19th Jan 10 am-12.30 Totnes ONLY £10.

Kick start the New Year in this playful and life affirming experiential workshop Contact Rachel 01803 473079/ rachel.perry59@ googlemail.com/www. dramatherapy.org.uk

WORKSHOPS & MEETINGS FRACK FREE TOTNES movement medicine Meetings are held at the Seven Stars The Plains Totnes at 7pm on last Sunday of the month.

fooling workshops A VERY relaxing FOOT therapy. REFLEX points on feet for all body systems. Cleanse, balance, release inner energetic tension. £30 hour treatment (£5 discount first treatment), 07522344291, nicolasuzanne@hotmail. co.uk based Totnes Natural Health Centre.

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Introduction to Fool Expression Workshop on January 19-20.

Hittisleigh Mid Devon. £110 (£95 conc.) More info contact Christie Animas 07980371335 or contact@ christieanimas.com

classes Oils & Nutrition Master Class Series on Dec 9 Simply Soulful Yoga, Kingsbridge.

Open Class Plymouth on Dec 1 with Ailsa Lucas.

Open Class Dartington Dec 15 with Ailsa Lucas.

Open Class Plymouth Jan 12 with Ailsa Lucas.

Open Class Dartington Jan 19 with Ailsa Lucas. (see details left)

yoga Festive Yoga & Mince Pies Dec 18 Simply Soulful Yoga, Kingsbridge.

Nidra Workshop Exeter on Dec 8 with Julie Bladon.

Yule Tide Stretch & Yoga Dec 29 Simply Soulful Yoga, Kingsbridge.

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T HE NAUTILUS R OOMS

Fabulously located in the centre of Totnes yet tucked away in a quiet alley with easy access to parking.

The Nautilus Rooms specialises in mind-based therapies beautifully supported by carefully selected massage therapists and those who specialise in mind/body treatments.

Our therapists are carefully chosen for their range of experience, qualifications and simply the quality of who they are. Everyone is insured and belongs to a professional body.

Therapists are trained in a range of modalities including: Byron Katie, CBT, Core Process, Couples Work, EMDR, EFT,

Family Therapy, Gestalt, Integrative, Mindfulness, Psychodynamic, Psychosynthesis, Sandplay and other creative therapies.

Short and long-term coaching, counselling and psychotherapy for all age groups, children, individuals, couples and families. Groupwork, workshops, supervision, counselling and mentoring.

Check our website for details of each therapist and their approach and for details of groups and workshops.

www.nautilusrooms.uk

Association of Integrative Sandplay Therapists Courses Foundation in Integrative Sandplay Therapy (2 day course): 19th and 20th January 2019 27th and 28th April 2019 9th and 10th November 2019 Diploma in Integrative Sandplay Therapy (4 3-day weekends): 1st, 2nd, 3rd February 2019 22nd, 23rd, 24th March 2019 3rd, 4th, 5th May 2019 21st, 22nd, 23rd June 2019 Advanced Diploma in Integrative Sandplay Therapy to follow on from Diploma course

Continuing Professional Development Courses: Introduction to Integrative Therapeutic Art 2-day course Introduction to the Enneagram 3-day course The Lady and the Unicorn Symbols of the Souls Journey 2-day course Introduction to Alchemy: The work of Edward Edinger 3-day course Return of the Goddess 4-day course for those who have completed the Diploma in Integrative Sandplay Therapies.

The Meaning of the Shell: Symbolism, Hand Images and Sand Sculpture in Sandplay 3-day course for those who have completed the Diploma in Integrative Sandplay Therapies.

Foundation in Therapeutic Art: Please enquire for 2019 dates For more information email: ruthbaker1@gmail.com

The Nautilus Rooms • 35a Fore Street • Totnes • TQ9 5HN www.nautilusrooms.uk • nautiluscentre@gmail.com Call Ruth on 07736 334454 or Peter on 07826 414404