A Place to be Real Together

Blog

by Tony Jaques
Saturday 13th August 2022

Dancing at Tamarisk Farm while the sun sets and the moon rises during Othona WDorset's Circle Dance event. Wow.

Click on the link below to see the video!

 

Thank you to Raffi for the tune!

https://youtu.be/HiQALBWEjj4

by Tony Jaques
Saturday 23rd July 2022

Apprentice Mouser!

Our jobshare caterers Eleanor and Tom and their toddler Teddy have an addition to the family. The ginger boy-kitten is called Link (after a character in the Legend of Zelda video game).

The Farley family live in the ground floor flat under Robin and me. Our own cat Otto, an eminent 15 years of age... Read More

by Tony Jaques
Tuesday 5th July 2022

We made a great start on a circle of stone seats with a firepit/table in the middle. This was a project each morning for people aged 18-36. They were a great little team. (Kathryn and Tony helped too - let's not comment on their ages!)

As a Community Experience week this had plenty of time for chilling too. On the beach, round the woodland firebowl or playing mega-Qwirkle.

We began three days late because of Covid, but look: we've completed the first section of the stone circle. The concrete base was laid down the week before by Pete Baird, Dave Marsh and Andrew Gough.

Loads more photos HERE 

Next... Read More

by Tony Jaques
Monday 18th April 2022

Writing on Good Friday may I offer you new programme events, generous new discounts, new faces on our team?

Hoping we can tempt you

At long last Othona has a programme of new events into the autumn bookable on our website. (Others for autumn and winter will follow soon.)

In May alone we have bluebell-time relaxation, short stories, a new retreat leader, zany digital art, and 'the good life'. 

You'll find more new facilitators and innovative events - not to mention more photos - than any previous year. We hope you'll browse through the full programme and discover something irresistible.

By the way, there is a filter function at the top of... Read More

by Tony Jaques
Saturday 15th January 2022

Othona's first full-on 'conference by Zoom ' was a real feast. Experience, passion and invigorating ideas about how we can respond to the greatest issue of our time: climate change and the degradation of the planet.

We had a raft of different speakers, some of whom were at COP26 last November. All the way from hands-on farmers to a protesting climate activist, to an international campaigner for inter-faith cooperation on the environment. There was a storyteller too and an expert on rewilding and bringing back the beavers! People who know their stuff and walk their talk.

Now you can catch up with them all on Youtube!

https://youtu.be/WQhEZdxwIpU  ... Read More

by Tony Jaques
Sunday 24th October 2021

Othona West Dorset events for November to March are now on our website and open for booking.

There will be some extra events added later for January, February and March, but already we have quite a selection. Festivals, working weeks, prayer, creative writing, yoga, spiritual dance...

There are two sessions that'll suit really practical can-do folk who fancy a bit of decluttering.

We're keeping our ultra-flexible cancellation terms for anyone who has to drop out because of Covid. (If you cancel for other reasons, however, we've now gone back to our usual T&Cs.)

And thanks to the Association for Promoting Retreats (which we belong to) on most events we can offer 50% bursaries to NHS staff and to carers! 

... Read More

by Tony Jaques
Wednesday 29th September 2021

We are still enjoying some early autumn sun here in Dorset. I wanted to bring you a video'd walk, a vivid experience of earth and moon, and news of a leadership opportunity at Othona's Bradwell centre.

Who Will Fill Tim's Shoes?

Tim Fox, my opposite number at Othona's centre in Essex, will be stepping down around Easter 2022. He'll be much missed, and as you'll appreciate the Community has an important recruitment task ahead.

If you would like to learn more about this role - for yourself or someone else - visit our 'Othona at Large' page.

Come Walk With Me (No 18)

Two weeks ago I enjoyed a sunny afternoon in Thorncombe Wood and Puddletown... Read More

by Robin Shaw
Monday 30th August 2021

We had a beautiful summer of family-focused events. Themes included 'Rewilding', 'Astronomy', Cook & Craft' and music making with the wonderful Jo Eden. There was beach foraging, campfire cooking, yoga, meditation, visualisation, arts, crafts, music, games and story-telling, night sky gazing with lots of free time to rest, recharge and reconnect. All this in Othona’s inclusive community ethos. It was a lovely time together. Thanks all. See you again soon...!

Thank you to Lou Heatley for the lovely photo of some of the fab kids who joined us.

by Tony Jaques
Sunday 1st August 2021

Dorset Magazine in July carried a feature article (by yours truly) about the history of our site, the remarkable woman who bought it 100 years ago and the community she established here before Othona.

Here's the article about Adela Curtis and her community. There are some fine historical and contemporary pictures too.

Back in July, Othona hosted a wonderful weekend of talks and presentations called 'Adela Curtis Centenary Celebrations', inspired by the research of our very own Core member, Liz Howlett. Liz shared fascinating material from her researches into Adela and other members... Read More

by Tony Jaques
Monday 31st May 2021

Do come and visit us during the Dorset Art Weeks exhibition. Learn more about the artists and the art on our DAW2021 page here on our website. Even if you can't come, do tell others about it!

The exhibition is open every day from now to Sunday 6th June, from 11.00 to 5.00 daily. With refreshments in the mornings (11.00 - 12.30) and afternoons (2.30 - 4.30).

And here s a link to a quick 5 min video tour of our art exhibition and beautiful 'refreshments hub'!