Patrick was in his twenties when he first saw the original works of William Blake in London. He spent a day in the Tate back then in a magical trance, admiring the hugeness of Blake in his small, modest works, mostly book-sized. Blake’s cosmology is infused in Artist as Family‘s, which is in turn infused in Dante’s. Radiance matters. Facing our fears is the path of radiance.

We are energised to be heading to the UK and Ireland in August to connect not just with blood and earth ancestors (especially in Yorkshire, Scotland and County Clare) but cultural ancestors like William and Mary Blake. We are currently organising screenings of The New Peasants with lovely folk throughout Albion and Bridget’s Isles, and mapping out, not so much the route in which we’ll hitchhike, but the main stops without any idea of how we will get there. This is the chance aspect we trust when we travel; stepping into the unknown, stepping up to challenges, facing our fears and being present to what unfolds.

Cricket in the Himalayas. Cricket in Campbells Creek. Hallway cricket. Cricket in London.

Woody is excited to be in London when Middlesex and Yorkshire play at Lords. A pilgrimage of his own, he is looking forward to meeting the gods of his beloved sport, and connect with his sporting ancestors. Cricket is a divine spark that motivates him.

That Meg was conceived in a caravan in Wales, her path was set early as a wayfarer. Travelling is as natural a state for her as radical homemaking. Wayfarer in a neopeasant sense means forager, and when we travel all three of us practice permaculture on the road.

So, our tickets are booked, thanks to the generosity of a dear friend who has loaned us the cash. We are busily saving our coins, making feral jerky, and working out how much dried fruit, nuts and other preserved foods we will be able to fit in our packs. We are delighted our online course sessions are filling up, and the topics resonate. A huge Thank You to all those who have booked, and to those who were able to make a monetary contribution. There are still places available on each session.

A ceremonial approach – guiding men’s, women’s and grief circles, vigils and other community ceremonies (July 2)

Ecological participation – guiding community forest education and wild play groups for children (July 9)

Community sufficiency – living within gift, non-monetary and subsistence economies (July 16)

Joyful resistance – online house and garden tour (the nuts and bolts of our systems) (July 23)

We are getting ready for our annual winter solstice celebration, where we will gather with community around a fire, share story and food, pause, and behold the significance of the dark. Wherever you are in the world, may your solstice be grand.