Setsubun (Bean Throwing) Ceremony

On Saturday 3^rd February, there was Setsubun, the Bean Throwing Ceremony at the Buddhist Temple in Willen.
Setsubun is the day before the beginning of spring in Japan. The name means ‘seasonal’ division, but usually the term refers to the spring Setsubun, properly called ‘Risshun’ celebrated on February 3^rd as part of the Spring.
There were prayers for about an hour then there was a special ritual to cleanse away all the evil of the last year and drive away disease-bringing evil spirits for the year to come. We performed this ritual by throwing lots of beans into the air in a darkened room (also saying loudly to rid us of any evil spirits) and then picking them up afterwards and putting them into paper bags with some sweets that had also been thrown into the air.

Alex Fox

Candlemas

On Friday 2nd February, residents and staff from Camphill Milton Keynes celebrated Candlemas. Candlemas is a Christian holiday celebrated annually on February 2nd. It celebrates three occasions according to Christian belief: the presentation of the child Jesus; Jesus' first entry into the temple; and it celebrates the Virgin Mary's purification (mainly in Catholic churches).

Alex Fox

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat

On Tuesday 30th January, residents and staff from Camphill Milton Keynes performed Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at the Chrysalis Theatre in Camphill Milton Keynes.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is about a young man who has many dreams, and his eleven brothers are not very pleased with them. Jacob, the father  of all the brothers, loved Joseph the most out of all his sons because he reminded Jacob of his favourite wife, Joseph's mother. Joseph receives a coloured coat, made of many different colours.
Joseph's brothers sell him. That's right: silver coins for Jacob's favourite son. The brothers make up a story to their father, that he was attacked by a goat. After being transferred from owner to owner, Joseph the dream interpreter gets a partnership deal with Pharaoh, the Elvis-style king. His brothers apologized, and became one family yet again.

Alex Fox

Community Assembly

These are some photographs of residents and staff from Camphill Milton Keynes having a Community Assembly at the Chrysalis Theatre in Camphill Milton Keynes on Tuesday 9th January.

Alex Fox