Current Newsletter
On this page you will always find a copy of our most recent newsletter to our mailing list - if you are interested in joining our mailing list, please use Mailing List or send an email to info@bowdenhouse.co.uk.
Newsletter 7 August 2008
Dear Friends of Bowden,
Time is speeding along and I am finding it hard to believe that summer is well under way. Our planning permission for the seven new homes on the old museum site (now called the Well House) came through in its own sweet timing and things are flowing well towards expansion of our ‘family’ here at Bowden. We have held two highly enjoyable and very well attended open days for potential new members and so far have officially welcomed one new family – Lynda Conrad and her three children. Many more individuals and families are at present in the exploratory process. It is both exciting and daunting given the numbers of people with whom we need to interact at a time when many of us are taking a holiday!
As I write, there is only one (4-bedroomed) house left in the Well House without a name on it. The other available units are 2-bed roomed flats (to be ecologically refurbished), and possibly a cottage.
Have you now missed the opportunity to join us? Not necessarily. We want to sell the properties as soon as we possibly can, with the Well Houses being sold by the end of September, however, we do want the people who hold the missing Bowden jigsaw pieces to join us and we have to get the demographics balanced, so it is more complex than it might seem. We have decided that on our next Action Day - September 13th (as we can’t make Sept 6th) we will place the emphasis on welcoming those who are interested in joining us and will have sharing sessions as well as the usual tour and work together. Please contact Rhiannon on info@bowdenhouse.co.uk if you want to come then.
The Bowden House Craft Area has been a flurry of activity of late with exciting things taking place at The Woodshed, which is transforming into a sculpture studio and community art space, set to launch next month (see below). We have been juggling space, moving compost bins and making way for an interesting outdoor seating area, and at a workshop organised by our resident sculptor, Doug King-Smith with Melissa Milne, over 20 people helped build an impressive looking cob-oven from clay, sand, and straw. We hope to be baking bread and pizzas in the near future! Come and visit during 9 Days of Art, September 6th to 11th. For more info on The Woodshed check www.waterbirdsong.com
There are no public events here in August except the Harp workshop listed below and the CAR BOOT SALE ON AUGUST 31. All of our regular events will continue in September:
BOWDEN CHOIR: Every Thursday 8 – 9.30pm
DANCES OF UNIVERSAL PEACE: Second Tuesday of each month 7.30 – 9.30pm
TAIZE SINGING: Last Sunday of the month, 7.30 – 9.30pm
MEN'S SINGING: Times to be arranged
ACTION DAYS: First Saturday (after September) of the month 10 – 4pm
Also, watch this space for more info on upcoming, and no doubt exciting, autumn Acoustic Haven events.
Hope your inner suns shine whatever the weather,
Carmella and the Bowden ‘Family’
August 16th , 2008
Time: 10:00 -12:00
LEARN TO PLAY THE HARP FOR HEALING
Harp Therapy Lecture, Demonstration and
Basics for Learning to Play the Harp
With Christina Tourin
Please contact for cost and further info: Sandi Spalton
sandisoundings@hotmail.co.uk
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September 3rd and 4th, 2008
KIARA WINDRIDER AND ‘ILAHINOOR’
A rare opportunity to meet international spiritual teacher Kiara Windrider (author of Deeksha – Fire from Heaven), who shares an inspiring vision of the future and a powerful evolutionary energy.
Ilahinoor (which means ‘Divine light’ in Turkish) is a morphogenetic field, which allows us to anchor cosmic light deep in the physical body, activating dormant DNA and awakening us to our highest potential. Once received, it can easily be shared.
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Wednesday, September 3rd
AN INTRODUCTION TO ILAHINOOR
Time: 7pm – 10pm
Cost: £12
Thursday, September 4th
EXPERIENCING AND LEARNING TO TRANSMIT ILAHINOOR
Time: 10am – 5.30pm
Cost: £40
These are separate events. Either or both can be attended.
To find out more, please phone Sarah Godwin on 01626 354083, or see Kiara’s website: www.deekshafire.com
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Friday, September 5th
Time: 6pm to 10pm (ish)
THE WOODSHED LAUNCH AND 9 DAYS OF ART PRIVATE VIEW
This launch evening is by INVITATION ONLY and will involve bringing together people who have helped on the project - workshop leaders, local arts scene / press, at the Woodshed where Doug hopes to have pizza oven on the go, some ambient music, and the private view for the exhibition, including 9 days of Art.
Saturday September 6th – 14th
9 DAYS OF ART
Open to the public 11am till 4pm each day
Come and enjoy visiting resident artists in their studios and an exhibition space set around the beautiful walled garden. There will be a range of arts - sculpture, felt, wax, fine-art, textiles from Bowden House resident artists.
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September 6th & 7th, 2008
FAMILY CONSTELLATION WORK
with Barbara Morgan
See how the knowing field unfolds, allowing old and often well buried secrets and traumas to be remembered and honoured and then allow the order of love to disentangle and heal according to what your soul is ready to allow.
£140 full participants
£70 representatives
Both days obligatory.
Contact Pia for more info: piamartinus@yahoo.co.uk
Couple of places left only.
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Sunday, September 21st, 2008
Time: 9.45 am – 4.30 pm
LIFE AFTER LIFE? EXPLORING THE CONTINUITY OF CONSCIOUSNESS
with Carmella B’Hahn
Another opportunity to experience her most popular workshop.
Are you curious about whether life begins before conception and continues after death? Do you need to know more about this field to help you support clients/friends/family? This workshop aims to educate, explore and inspire, and offers convincing evidence for the existence of the soul beyond death. It is a space to enjoy true stories and to release fears around the transition of death.
Cost: £45 Please bring lunch to share
Contact: Carmella 01803 867005 Carmella@solacealchemy.com www.solacealchemy.com
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Newsletter 24 June 2008
Dear All,
This is to keep you informed of the movements and opportunities here at Bowden; and we foresee a lot of both in the near future as our community changes and expands.
If you, or anyone you know, are interested in finding out more about joining us, then NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT!
Two weeks ago we were finally given positive news by phone about our planning permission to convert the old photographic museum into 7 new homes (now affectionately called the ‘Well House’). We are currently awaiting paper confirmation that will be with us in the next three weeks. On receipt of this document it will be full steam ahead with our move into co-ownership, hopefully by September.
Some of these new houses will be bought by members of the community. The remaining units, plus a variety of other properties, will be available for purchase by accepted new members. Properties will be sold on 999-year leases at market value.
So please tell anyone you think might be interested in this opportunity to live in a community with singing and sustainability at its core. We do ask you to be clear that this invitation is not about fulfilling anyone’s need for accommodation. First and foremost it is about wanting to live in community here with us, and completing our membership process will be essential. We need people to get in touch ASAP to begin to get to know us, our culture, and the Bowden land.
TWO OPEN DAYS FOR INTERESTED PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS will be hosted here on – July 19th and August 2nd.
All attendees will need to have read the website, made contact with us, and booked a place.
www.bowdenhouse.co.uk and email info@bowdenhouse.co.uk.
Below is reminder of what we are looking for. Please feel free to copy it for others.
And before I sign off, don’t forget
THE HEART DANCE AND CONCERT WITH HAVNANT including songs of the spirit for you to join in - 6pm in the Angel Hall this Saturday 28th with a picnic before the concert. See last email for more details.
and
CANDELIT TAIZE SINGING/CHANTING on Sunday 29th at 7.30pm.
Happy belated solstice to you all,
Carmella and the Bowden ‘family’
BOWDEN MEMBERSHIP
(Info for prospective members)
First Steps
1. Check out your resonance with our description:
We are a group of families and individuals aspiring to compassionate and eco-mindful living, some of us balancing our time here with creating livelihoods elsewhere. We are developing conscious and authentic community within a culture of singing, meditating, working, eating, gardening, celebrating and learning together, as well as hosting events for the wider community.
Some things that inspire us:
• Developing our resonance with each other and our surroundings.
• Singing together.
• Authentic communication and respect for individual spirituality.
• Coming together to share our feelings and challenges, and resolve any conflict.
• Living in a beautiful place in touch with the spirit of the land.
• Growing our own fresh fruit and vegetables.
• Celebrating sound, movement, art and skills for sustainable living.
• The alchemy of doing things together.
2. Read all the website info about Bowden www.bowdenhouse.co.uk.
3. Put yourself on the email list for updates of what’s happening at Bowden
(Email your address to info@bowdenhouse.co.uk).
3. Tell us something about yourself, preferably by email info@bowdenhouse.co.uk.
Letters to: Rhiannon Hague, Bowden House, Totnes, Devon TQ9 7PW with S.A.E. if response is required. (We do not have hard copies of Bowden info. to send snail-mail.)
3. Take part in Action Days if possible.
4. Attend other open events at Bowden to get to know us.
5. Find ways to spend time with members and stay with us or nearby for periods of 2 days or more. (For this you will need a ‘buddy’ to connect with. No one can stay without one or become a member.)
If still interested, fill in the detailed questionnaire available from Carmella (carmellaBH@UK2.net).
Community members will then look at your application in our Monday meeting and your buddy will discuss the next steps with you. These will include meeting all members and residents who are available, attending at least one business meeting, a sharing meeting, morning singing, a shared meal, choir and any other regular groups that become key features of the community. In exceptional circumstances, some people may not be in a position to complete this process until they move here. In which case, they need to check out what happens at any events they’ve missed, make sure they feel comfortable with the structure and take part in those events soon after they move here.
We are looking for people who:
Are resonant with our vision
Are focused on community as well as housing
Have the required finances (changes according to accommodation available)
Accept and enjoy that singing/sounding is at the core of this community
Are able to step flexibly between leadership and support roles
Have something to give the community
Take responsibility for any personal support needed
Are willing to take part in resolving conflicts
Are committed to optimising their communication skills
Can prioritise Monday evening members’ meetings
Contribute at least 6 hours a week for working within the community
Choose to participate in community building activities
Accept meal blessings, sharings and attunements
Some members have found ways of creating a livelihood at Bowden House. Others work outside the community. It is each new member’s responsibility to provide for the needs of their family. Whatever is created here, e.g. shared childcare or emotional support is dependent on the goodwill of members, not on any individual’s expectations or needs.
In order to get a sustainable balance of people, we take into account age/gender/adult-child ratio/skills/lifestyle/experience. At this time, we are specifically looking for adults/families who have stamina and available time to put into co-creating community life.
Many of us have noticed that living our dream involves letting our preconceived ideals and agendas crumble and reshape themselves. We consider the art of balancing the needs of the group, the individuals, and the task at hand an essential one for healthy community living.