Recent and new

Courses at summer 2010 Connecting to our Environment - relating to the spirit world in  Finnish tradition Course dates: 10-11 July 2010, near Bear's Day. At Nevala farm, Heraniemi, North-Carelia, Finland. There are many things that our Ancestors did when faced with hardships, whether these were sickness or other problems.  The most common ways in the Finnish tradition is to invoke power, call the 'Spirit under the Spruce', to sing the origin of Fire story to heal burns or the story of Iron's birth to heal knife wounds.  The idea behind this practice is to form a connection with the source of the trauma and thereby to control it so that the cause can be removed and healing can take place. The usual technique used by sages, rune singers was a verbally induced ecstasy.   They invoked a trance-like state in themselves and from that state, commanded, asked, pleaded and called for things to happen. Each different place carries its own energy, some places have denser, stronger energy than others such as the sacred groves, Seita stones, sacrificial stone tables and rock formations which resemble faces. What our Ancestors did in these power places and why will form the weekend's focus in both a theoretical and practical basis. Initially we will work through exercises to calm the mind and develop a connection to our true selves.  Without this connection to the self, there's not much chance to connect to anything else since fragmentation makes observation and experience more difficult and incomplete. The course will be based from the idyllic setting of an old farm yard - Nevalantila, Heraniemi, Koli.  The cost is 190 Euros per person and includes accommodation, food and the course.  Attendees will need to bring suitable, outdoor hiking equipment because we will be walking outdoors come rain or shine. The weekend program will be guided by  Jussi Taipale (Environmental Planner, Wilderness Guide, Yoga  Instructor and Massage Therapist) and the accommodation and restaurant  facilities will be organised by Ulla Miettinen. (certain concept are hard to explain in english or old songs to translate, so teaching takes place mainly finnish and are translated english, when possible and needed) Information about the place: Ulla 044 2973713; umiettinen@hotmail.com; www.nevalantila.fi Information about the program: Jussi 050 5340996, jussi.taipale@mesiainen.com; www.mesiainen.com