Enchanted Earth

01/09/2016

You may stay here as a paying guest and enjoy all the benefits that this beautiful landscape has to offer or you may visit by invitation to attend a residential Masterclass Intensive. Enchanted Earth will be open to visitors in the spring 2017.

27/08/2016

This celebration takes place in my village in late spring. Although this is a catholic country, rural celebrations contain all the elements that a pagan audience would recognize. People from several villages gather and put on beautiful costumes. There is a procession led by a couple and they are followed by musicians, standard bearers and all the villagers. The emblems of rural life are carried including skeins of wool and grapes and wine. The procession makes its way into the old school house (now a rural museum) and finally everyone is assembled in the courtyard where traditional dances take place and finally there is a feast. It is amazing to be immersed in this living tradition of rural communal life.

27/08/2016

These photos were taken on the path between my house and the River Mondego.

26/08/2016

26/08/2016

Enchanted Earth is my home, it is also the place I am opening to my Students, Friends, Family and Guests. The house and encompassing land are truly enchanted with views towards the Mondego River, spectacular sunsets and wildlife. There are woodpeckers, owls, finches, wrens, crows, and hunting birds, incredible butterflies, wild boar and even a family of mongoose.
The house sits in the forest and the river is just a short walk down the hill. This is the place to relax, unwind and recharge your spiritual batteries. There are two ponds teeming with life: beautiful lilies,violet water hyacinths, yellow irises, frogs, and dragon flies both blue and red. The wisteria is moving along the verandah and the passion flowers are spreading ready to be oh so beautiful next spring. There are fig trees, peaches, apples, cherries, plums, lemons and of course grapes. Surprisingly roses and hydrangeas love the climate and thrive here. The site includes the meadow which is yellow and purple with wildflowers in the spring, five terraces which offer amazing views over the landscape,and a strip of shady forest of oak and pine.

The site is blessed with abundant water which rises in the land and naturally collects in what is known as a Water Mine. A stream which flows from one side of the land to the other exiting to the adjoining land from where it eventually merges with the Mondego river.

Thjs is the place to take beautiful photographs, sit at an easel, write, walk, swim, meditate and receive the blessings of the landscape. Visitors stay in a converted barn with all modern facilities a private courtyard with canopied dining area. The local village is a few minutes away and is easily walkable and the town is about a fifteen minute drive. There is a buzzing Sunday market which is the heart of our local social life. I love this place and you will too.