Demeter (Δημήτηρ, Δαμάτηρ) is the earth mother. She is the goddess of cultivation, food and harvest. One of her minor roles is as the goddess of poppies and some years there are many poppies in her domain at La Ville.
Demeter's domain at La Ville au
Read more…Eirene, (Εἰρήνη) also spelt Irene, is the goddess of peace. She presides over the land immediately in front (on the west side) of the house, including the old and new gardens, the east meadow and, beyond the trees to the north, the Champ de la Ville
Read more…The thirty acres or so of land at La Ville au Roi is divided into segments dedicated to specific goddesses.
By walking the land one can pass from the domain of one goddess to another. By spending time in one of other domain one can meditate upon and
Read more…I am very much looking forward to the ITZI conference next year.&nb...
This is a print from a linoleum block printed on a monoprint background. This was inspired by my time last year at the old abbey at Drongen
I currently have a big digging job on. The ground level on the east side of the building is higher than the inside floor level. I would like to instal at least one door on that side of the building. This necessitates digging away quite a few cubic me
Read more…During the summer we introduced a number of water saving systems. These included small items like catching water from the washroom sink to installing a 1000 litre tank to catch run-off from the big barn roof. When we have a hot day and need to water
Read more…Transcript by Helen evanfé
In the sutras we read the story of Kisagotami. Kisagotami comes to the Buddha, "Please heal my child," she begs. Clearly in the mind of Kisagotami the child is sick, but not dead. The Buddha, however, can see that the child
Read more…The pandemic came to Europe about 20 months ago, to China, somewhat earlier. Two whole years have now passed since the pandemic began.
At the beginning, there was a strict lockdown in many countries but also a sense that this will soon be over. That
Read more…I have just returned to Eleusis in France after two weeks away. The firsr week was in Hamberg, Germany and the second in Den Haag in Netherlands. While I was in Germany I led a workshop on the theme of the book The Feeling Buddha which is essentiall
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One of the things that we observe here at La Ville au Roi (Eleusis) is the therapeutic effect of people simply having space. Modern people experience life as rather crowded. They feel under pres
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In a dream I saw four mountains
with a valley in between.
In the valley lay a lake
of crystal water, deep and clean.
Somewhere hidden on this fell
there lived a hermit rarely seen
who mingling with the mist and cloud
left no trace where he had be
Read more…In this morning's on-line Dharma Ocean Class we read the first third of the Contemplation Sutra and discussed the imagery and embedded teachings. The sutra's vivid imagery and drama stays with one.
It was also gratifying to hear members report how
Read more…SUMMER DAY
In the evening calm, white on blue, rippled cloud,
as sand is corrugated by the churning of sea water,
or the ladder makes its shadow on the white-washed wall.
The birds are flying homeward, the sun is going down,
the cat is sitting soberl
These days, here at Eleusis, we are passing some time enjoying the garden and writing poetry, eating meals outside and chanting sutras into the evening. Yesterday, in the afternoon, we visited the Parc Floral at Vernais, a fine garden open to the p
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