On the 5th I took a bus from London to Amsterdam, after a night of pure fun in epic proportions with Andy, Caroline and Filza at Black Seeds. (We had a picnic and drinks at the Barbican first off. Twas a sell-out show at Shepherds Bush and they were really high energy, and we danced and drank and danced some more, it was an amazing vibe.)
Late on Saturday night I dragged myself into Amstel station and spent a week with Arjuna in Baarn.
Sitting in silence.
Meditating.
Cooking.
Drinking wine.
Walking around the village talking to strangers, ogling bikes and spending time in conversation with the self-titled (and highly intelligent) town bum Laurence. I spent a day in Amsterdam just walking and absorbing and met Arjuna that night for snacks and drinks in a lovely cafe.
The first weekend we made a spontaneous plan to visit a community called Vlierhof on the German / Dutch border, even though our contact there had recently left and there was no work for us at the time. We arrived Saturday evening and by that night I knew I wanted to stay, it just felt so right and familiar and all the pieces fit at once. Arjuna went back to work on Tuesday, and that same day I started in the garden with Jonatan, my scorpion twin I'm sure I knew from a past life somehow.
It flowed from there, I was found a space working in the garden (perfect!) and I help in the kitchen. I live in the yurt with three other lovely humans and two cats and have been here two weeks already.
It's amazing. Each day is like a week in this intense micro-cosmos we inhabit. We share each meal except for Sundays, and argue and laugh and work and hug and teach each other.
There is kindness here, and out of necessity a lack of ego and aggression. Cooking for everyone is a wonderful feeling, and working to grow food for us all is a blessing. Yesterday I saw a tiny shrew! Snuffling about our feet in the tunnelhouse on his sightless quest for food.
Wednesday is sauna night, it was built along with 'the pride of Vlierhof' - our natural pond and mini-beach on which we light a bonfire, steam ourselves in the sauna and run naked into the pond to come alive again.
Each day brings new challenges and new surprises. Dealing with people with such close contact is like years of learning about yourself condensed down into days. It's crucial to be honest with yourself and with those around you.
I feel open and free and part of a big family. I have been singing and dancing and playing music and expressing as much as possible. Some days I wake up soaring and some with the depression back with no warning.
This is a very serious post. It's been a long week! Time for a photo attempt I think. Today I will also finally add some to my facebook account.
2 more days left in my 20s...
Amsterdam city art!
on the way to the kitchen from the yurt
the fire that keeps us toasty warm :)
