We usually have this done by December. As you can tell, Judy is late and here we are in March. Nevertheless, our desire to connect is in no way diminished by her tardiness. We want you to know that we think of you at the start of each new year and wish to maintain the tradition of sharing news about our last 12 months…. (alright, in this case its14 months!)

So many seem to be saying that this year already feels better than the last. Don’t we say that every year? Does it mean that life is steadily on the up or is the comment more about how ghastly last year was and that this one simply has to be better? Who knows: but here’s holding for an excellent phase that brings gold and dross (there’s always going to be a spot of dross) for each of us and a World Cup event that does us proud.

Here’s what we have to share about our more current doings…

60TH VISION QUEST
Earlier this month we facilitated our 60th vision quest. The gifts from 18 years of doing this work have been many. One delightful consequence has been that we have spent a total of 360 days and nights living at our basecamp under the stars, the sun and the moon. Sixty felt like quite an important landmark, so we celebrated it with a procession of the land, giving thanks, giving water and song, carrying sage and the old stick that has held the threshold circle centre for all of those 60 quests.

FIRE ON THE LAND
Ten days later, the stick and all our vision quest and building equipment had turned to ash….. burnt in a bush fire that swept across part of the Groot Winterhoek mountains, razing our storage shed as it went. The cob house suffered 2 cracked  windows, some burnt pipes, gutters and external jutting-out roof beams. We are thankful the damage was not worse and we will have to do some repairs soon.

WHAT VALERIE IS UP TO:

Solar Hot Water:
Valerie, Hilary and the team that make up Renaissance Solar are moving along at quite a lick. The company opened its doors in December and following news of Eskom’s price hikes and a stand at the Natural and Organic Expo at the CT Convention Centre in February, they are somewhat rushed off their feet to turn a multitude of requests for quotes into installations. They are cooking……..

Cleaning up our waterways:
For those who have not heard about Valerie’s clean water project….. here is the abbreviated version of an amazing endeavor.
She is on a mission to clean up the drastically/radically/chronically/seriously polluted waterways of our beloved city. Focusing on the Ottery Canal/Little Lotus River that runs from Airport Industria through 13 communities and out to sea at Strandfontein, she is engaging with The City of Cape Town to clean up what is in essence almost raw sewerage running in our storm-water systems. Contact her if you want to see an 8  1/2 minute video she made of her and Mthunzi Funa kayaking this waterway!! And if you want to help with the project, put your hand up.

WHAT JUDY’S BEEN UP TO:

The Book:
In the last year Judy has continued to focus on ritual and rites of passage processes. The book on the rites of passage story with daughters is being written bit by bit…..and on advice, she is now creating the “workbook” as an addition to the stories, which should help readers and interested mothers, godmothers, aunts or cousins in the creation of a similar journey for a lucky girl in their lives.

Ritual and Rites of Passage:
She has been privileged to work with young women from struggling communities, hungry to understand some of the puzzling elements of life’s stages and to celebrate their womanhood. This has been deeply fulfilling for her and she learns and learns from the amazing young women she encounters.

Vision Quest in Gauteng:
Judy loved co-facilitating with Kevin Rudham of Circles of Stone, a Quest out of wild and glorious country in Mpumalanga near Middleburg. The power of storms, the leopard spoor that they found each morning on the edge of their base-camp and the marvelous people who ventured into the hills, all made for an exciting and profound 11 days.

We wish you well – “let the beauty of what you love be what you do”  Rumi
and remember to have fun too.

Love,
Judy and Valerie

Some dates to remember:

2010
August 16  22    Vision Quest Facilitation Training
September 11 + 12  and 18 + 19   Coming of Age  - Cape Town
November 18 -28  Vision Quest

2011
Jan 27 - Feb   Vision Quest
March 17 - 27   Vision Quest

PS. We have had some requests to run a Building the Sacred Vessel of Relationship workshop in Gauteng this year. Anyone else interested?  It’s for couples. See programme overview for more...