Setsubun (Bean Throwing) Ceremony

On Saturday 4th 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 4th 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 'Good spirits in, bad spirits out' 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.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/mkbuddhism

Alex Fox

My Neighbour Totoro

Hailed as “a tender and remarkably beautiful show” (Financial Times), My Neighbour Totoro is an enchanting coming-of-age story exploring the magical fantasy world of childhood and the transformative power of imagination, as it follows one extraordinary summer in the lives of sisters Satsuki and Mei.

In 1950s Japan, university professor Tatsuo Kusakabe and his daughters Satsuki and Mei (approximately ten and four years old, respectively) move into an old house close to the hospital where the girls' mother, Yasuko, is recovering from a long-term illness. The house is inhabited by small, dark, dust-like house spirits called susuwafari, that can be seen when moving from bright places to dark ones. The susuwatari leave to find another empty house. Mei discovers two small spirits that lead her into the hollow of a large camphor tree. She befriends a larger spirit, which identifies itself using a series of roars that she interprets as "Totoro". Mei thinks Totoro is the troll from her illustrated book Three Billy Goats Gruff. She falls asleep atop Totoro but when Satsuki finds her, she is on the ground. Despite many attempts, Mei cannot show her family Totoro's tree. Tatsuo comforts her, saying Totoro will reveal himself when he wants to.

https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2023/event/royal-shakespeare-company-my-neighbour-totoro

Alex Fox

Brunch at Lovat Fields Village

These are some photographs of residents and staff from Sunwood house in Camphill Milton Keynes having brunch at Lovat Fields Village.

Lovat Fields Village is an inspirational community, providing independence, social opportunity and an enriching lifestyle for over 55's in Milton Keynes.

Brunch is a meal, sometimes accompanied by alcoholic drinks (typically champagne or a cocktail), taken sometime in the late morning or early afternoon – there is no universally accepted time.

https://www.extracare.org.uk/villages/lovat-fields/

 

Alex Fox

Community Assembly

These are some photographs  of residents and staff having a community assembly at the Chrysalis Theatre in Camphill Milton Keynes. We usually have these assemblies every month in the community so that we can discuss issues and bring up news about events happening in the community.

Alex Fox