“Up in the cloud, a rainy first week”
Few things color the Flying Cloud experience the way that rain does. In fact, it’s almost like being at a different camp; the soggy socks, the smoky fires. Friends coming down from silent meeting all dressed in rain gear, almost incognito under raincoat hoods and masks.
But the rain brings a certain spirit with it. For all the comfort it takes away from us, it also pushes us to slow down. When it starts pouring and an activity gets rained out, the group often moves to the Roundhouse, our beautiful timber-framed gathering area. But once they’re there, under cover, what could be more entrancing than watching the sudden downpour? So they decide to gather some mint and make hot tea instead.
For the last week or so, this has been the Flying Cloud experience – building our day around the weather, and keeping warm and dry as best we can. We’re not complaining. Instead, we’re making mint tea. We’re learning the lesson that we can’t always be in control, and that living close to the land means learning to be flexible.
This past week we also held Friendship Fire, a powerful evening where each Flying Clouder speaks out an intention for their summer. Here’s what some of us had to say:
“I want to bring to Flying Cloud a growth mindset”
“I want to leave behind my phone and social media”
“I want to spend less time worrying about what people think about me”
“I want to take home new skills and abilities”
Speaking of which, here’s a taste of our last week’s activities:
Candlemaking – Scented with mint!
Friction fire (bow drill) – Learning to make a fire by “rubbing two sticks together”
Coal-burned bowls – Letting fire do the work
Building rock cairns
Storytelling in the roundhouse
That’s all for now. Keep your fingers crossed for a little more sun!
Elliott