Oct 282013
 

Trees at Sunset  © Freefoto.comBy Tom Shepherd.

Time makes account of all of us, but does not care to tally
There is no pause for games of man, nor by its nature dally.
It does not love, nor care, nor hate, nor listen to our noise
No ears to hear our cries or tears, no greed to bribe with toys.

With measured tread we live our lives by second, minute, hour
Each sweeping hand a gentle cut, a unique mortal scour.
We cry for more, there’s none to have, but time’s song does not end
Each moment filled with hope, with fear, with enemy, with friend.

What little we can see is shown through unclear, blinkered view
The past is clouded with the murky haar of false or true.
Of things to come no certainty save optimistic cries
Yet time accounts for you and I and ever, ever flies.

Live for each day or plan for futures yet to come about
Be happy as the day is long or paralysed with doubt.
Each moment lived is ever in the here, the now, the new
So to each other now’s the time to say that I love you.

© Tom Shepherd, 23 Oct 2013

Image Credits
Sun Halo ( thumbnail ) © Duncan Harley
Sun through Trees © Freefoto.com

Sep 062013
 
The Dalai Llama In Inverness.

The Dalai Lama In Inverness.

By Duncan Harley.

It has been just over a year since the Dalai Lama visited Edinburgh, Dundee and Inverness.

The good folk of Dundee welcomed him with open arms and presented Tibet’s spiritual leader with a meditation stool and some very loud applause.

Some children from the city’s deaf school sang a song to him and several Dundee politicians refused to meet him. Seemingly, the Chinese Consul General to Scotland had met council leaders from all three cities scheduled for the tour.

The issue was raised during First Minister’s Questions in the Scottish Parliament, where opposition parties claimed China had put pressure on the SNP government over the visit.

First Minister Alex Salmond had visited China in December 2011 to strengthen trade, arts and cultural links following the arrival of two giant pandas at Edinburgh Zoo. One of the pandas may now be pregnant.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon warned parties not to politicise what was a ‘pastoral’ visit, saying that no UK government ministers were meeting the Dalai Lama during his trip.

A UK government source later pointed out that both Prime Minister David Cameron and his deputy, Nick Clegg, met the Dalai Lama in May.

Ms Sturgeon – standing in for Mr Salmond, who had been on a US trade visit – said, ‘There has been no discussion or contact whatsoever between the Scottish government and Dundee City Council about the visit of the Dalai Lama.’

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie claimed Mr Salmond had displayed an ‘ambiguous attitude’ to the issue of China’s human rights record.

He urged Ms Sturgeon to condemn practices in the country, which he said included the detention of 500000 people without trial, and forcing women to have abortions.

The Dalai Lama, one of the world’s most revered leaders, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 and was awarded the £1.1m Templeton Prize at St Paul’s Cathedral in 2012 for his engagement with science and people beyond his religious traditions.

He has lived in exile in Dharamsala in northern India since 1959.

He’s an awfully nice man. The folk of Inverness, Embra and Dundee agree.

When he came to Inverness he was shown the usual tourist places. When asked about local politics he said, ‘I like my cats but hate what they do’.

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Sep 212012
 

Is it really possible to  walk on fire? If so, is it the supernatural at work, mind over matter or the power of physics? Aberdeen Voice’s Nicola McNally asked Be Free about their forthcoming Firewalk event.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the sun is rising later now, and nightfall comes sooner. The time of Autumn equinox is here.

In traditional sky lore, the Harvest Moon is the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox. In 2012, for us in the Northern Hemisphere, the autumnal equinox comes on September 22.

That makes the September 29-30 full moon the Harvest Moon.

Be Free’s
next motivational/personal empowerment event will be a timely Fire Walk at Haddo House on 29th September 1pm-5pm.

Firewalking participants will be guided by international motivation coach, Graeme Pyper, and given the opportunity to fire walk this equinox in the beautiful setting of Haddo House.

Graeme Pyper has worked in the field of Human Potential Coaching for over two decades. Having started in sports excellence, he can now be seen bringing his experience to an international audience. Graeme is the founder of Be Free, and he is supported by the Be Free Team when delivering his bespoke training.

Graeme is a lively character who has been known on occasion to dip his toe into the stand- up comedy circuit, which he explains is the counter balance to working as a practitioner / trainer in such areas as hypnosis, NLP, Corporate Stress Management, Social Work, Cognitive Restructuring, Restorative Justice, Conflict Resolution and BSL.

Graeme spent many years studying the cognitive arts, spending time with teachers from many cultures. He has a remarkable way of bringing his teachings to life and making them real for the individual situations of each audience member.  Among the empowerment tools Graeme uses are fire walking and glass walking. In 2008 he set a new world record for the longest fire walk at Archaelink, Oyne.

Through the years Graeme has been asked by various bodies, including The Scottish Government and local authorities to have input on positive behavioural change programmes. Graeme was instrumental in developing a youth justice service from concept through to delivery which was recommended for an award at The Howard League in 2012. The service was shortlisted out of two thousand nominations.

Be Free’s Firewalk events are ever popular. Participants may complete their walk for their own charitable causes and personal empowerment reasons. Anyone considering trying their first firewalk is encouraged to get in touch.

You can join Be Free at this September event by contacting the team for further information:

Contact                 Graeme Pyper
Mobile   07971927765
Email     graeme.pyper@btopenworld.com
Be Free can also be contacted on facebook. 

Where?
Haddo House
Methlick
AB41 7EQ
Phone: 0844 493 2179
Email: haddo@nts.org.uk

Disabled Facilities: Lift to first floor. Disabled parking to side of house
Car Parking: Parking available in public car park

Jun 222012
 

Summer Solstice – a standing still of the sun on the longest day. In that magical moment of stillness, before the sun starts its journey back towards the Winter Solstice, the possibilities presented by the Universe are unlimited.  This Summer Solstice 2012, Aberdeen Voice’s Nicola McNally and Rob Scott  joined Be Free at Haddo House to celebrate with a Firewalk ceremony.

Gathering before dusk, the Be Free team – Graeme Pyper and Clare Rochford, with their ‘3 stripes’ Fire-keepers Dougie Bogie and Arron Pyper – made all their preparations for the event.
Working away to the sounds of shamanic drums on an eclectic soundtrack in Haddo’s grounds on this longest day of the year, the fire was soon glowing as wood smoke and laughter filled the air.

Graeme explained:

“The path for the Firewalk is aligned with the setting Solstice sun, to the West of Haddo House.  The new path is prepared over the existing Firewalk path here.   Each piece of wood is set in place by hand by the Fire-keeper as a mark of respect to those walking the fire.  Silver birch wood, symbolising new beginnings, is used to line the path.”

Once the preliminary work was done to set up the fire path and participants had placed their personal offerings into the flames to burn, the Firewalkers were led into Haddo House to assemble for the workshop part of the evening with Graeme.

As Be Free’s founder, Graeme Pyper has an ardent interest in Extreme Human Potential and the relationship between mind and body.  He has experience in a wide range of ancient Eastern techniques which have been virtually unknown in the Western world and he combines these Eastern techniques with Western psychological approaches.

As a workshop leader, Graeme is inspiring and relaxed and uses his sense of humour to good effect.  The group of firewalkers at Haddo were inspired to share their wishes and motivations for completing their Firewalk.

There was a mixture of men and women – Aberdonians, Australians, Americans – some experienced and some new to Firewalking.  One returning Firewalker, the beautiful and brave Dee, was aiming to complete the walk; she had started Chemotherapy treatment that very day and her determination to succeed was obvious.

Another group member, Emma, was walking to commemorate the 5th anniversary of her grandfather’s death and she carried his wristwatch.

  One by one, to the sounds of wild applause and respect from the others, they walked barefoot through the fire.

Others in the group were walking for charitable causes and personal reasons.

The emotion and motivation of the firewalkers was so strong, encouraged by Graeme to approach their Firewalk with courage and excitement.

As the sun set, Fire-keepers Dougie and Arron had the Firewalk path all prepared and the group were led out into the dark night towards the glowing embers of the candlelit path west of the main House.  They assembled in a circle.  One by one, to the sounds of wild applause and respect from the others, they walked barefoot through the fire.

Singly, in pairs, or in groups they went across the burning path and were met with a huge hug from Graeme waiting at the other side as they completed their spiritual or personal quest.

The Summer Solstice has had spiritual significance for thousands of years as humans have been amazed by the great power of the sun.  On this year’s Summer Solstice, June 21st at 00:09, this Firewalk provided a celebration which continued with music and stories around the fire until the sun reappeared on the horizon at Haddo House.

Clare Rochford of Be Free told Aberdeen Voice:

“Be Free’s mission is to take people beyond what they thought possible and free them from what inhibits them.”

In their closing ceremony this Solstice, where the participants earned their stripes, this mission statement seemed like the perfect description of what we all experienced that night – yes, the two Aberdeen Voice team members walked across the Solstice Fire for AV that night!

To find out more about Be Free’s Firewalking events, contact Graeme Pyper on 07971 927765 or email Graeme.pyper@btopenworld.com

solstice-firewalk-1

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