Engagement
with the sacred space of the garden surrounding the cottage is welcomed:
...by enjoying a tranquil cup of tea in full flower or vibrant bird
song
…through seasonal harvesting of fruits, flowers and vegetables
…by participating in the care of the garden.
Within the Garden careful attention
is given to the space and its plants as active participants in the process
of our enjoyment in the Garden:
Working with the land as it offers
itself…
…where there is rock, let rock be present in its glory
…where the soil is acid, grow plants that thrive in acidic conditions
…where a view exists naturally, create a space to pause and appreciate
it
Honouring the Presence and Participation
of all forms of Life
We live in a very 'thin' place where,
as the Scots would say, "There's not much 'tween us and the Lord".
…We make the choice to welcome and embrace the Presence of all
forms of Life that dwell in this place
…We choose to create a garden that welcomes beings from many realms
- from humans to wild birds, from cats to hedgehogs, and from butterflies
to that which lies just hidden from plain view
"When
you change the way you look at things,
the things you look at change"
-Max Planc, Nobel physicist
"When
you eventually see through the veils
to how things really are,
you will keep saying again and again,
this is certainly not like we thought it was!"
-Mevlana Jalaluddin
Rumi
The Garden is open
to the public by appointment each season from April to December
in association with the National Trust and also benefiting efforts
in Mongolia through Jampa Ling Belfast. Contact 0044 (0)2897 510232
for more information.
Aware
that 'things are not always what they seem' and that much of reality
lay beyond our immediate 'view', The Hermitage Cottage Goarden now
offers the image given by the Sidhe as a means of connecting and
communicating with them. The lawn will remain cut in this pattern
both as a reminder to us of our 'inner allies', and as a response
to them that "yes, we would like to be sensitive to their realm".
