Welcome to www.nativebritishspirituality.co.uk  - Spring 2012 issue

The purpose of this website is to provide a focus of re-connection with these islands – so that we make the land well, and the land makes us well. Our intention is to share our lived experiences of these islands, their cycles and seasons, the elements, sacred places, spirits of place, and native flora & fauna, defining ‘spirituality’ as ‘connection with Spirit’, or ‘alignment with Nature’.

This website uses the word ‘British’ in its old sense, before the destruction of the British by Rome, with its culture of death and asceticism, which has led to alienation from, and destruction of Nature. By working with the geography, elements, and native flora & fauna of these islands we hope to restore the reverence for Nature which once we all shared. We will also use the old title of ‘The Prettanic Isles’, and the term ‘these islands’ which is used by the Irish and British governments when jointly drawing up documents.

What do we know about these islands? We know that Devon was once a desert; that Scotland was linked to North America; and that between 14,000 – 10,000BCE as the ice melted, the rising sea separated Ireland from mainland Europe, also creating the Isle of Man.

We also know that women were held in high regard, as Roman writers reported that British prisoners prostrated themselves before the Empress rather than the Emperor. This high regard was still in evidence in the 10th century when women took precedence to men in the Christian church. The Prettanic Isles were anciently known as ‘The Land of Women’. With this in mind this website will promote equality and respect.

We know little of the native peoples – the Brythons, Picts, Gaels, and Scoti - and much about invaders. However, for the purposes of this website the term ‘native’ will refer to people of all racial backgrounds who identify themselves with these islands, as well as those who were born here.

We would welcome contributions from the people of these islands (from any path or none) about their insights, alignments, spiritual experiences and practical information, which relate to these islands in the context defined here. In short, any contribution which enriches our appreciation and connection to our native Isles, so that we make the land well, and the land makes us well.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We will print a link to a contributor’s website to acknowledge their own belief system. We would also appreciate a one sentence byline that describes what they are engaged in.

DISCLAIMER
www.nativebritishspirituality.co.uk does not take responsibility for views expressed by artists or writers in their work in this website, or for readers’ use of information contained herein. 

Bylines

	Sheila Broun Editor is a visionary artist, working  directly with the land, trees and elements.
	Rachel Loise  celebrates the Wheel of the Year in the woods, valleys & moors of the Pennines.
	Jill Smith, is an artist, writer, and one-time ceremonial performance artist.
	Caroline Way

FROM THE EDITOR

Welcome to the Summer issue, for as the Padstow Day Song says, 'with the merry ring, adieu the merry spring, for summer is acome unto day'. Suddenly there is a burst of rapid growth in plants, and everything is in blossom, creating beauty all around us. Summer stretches ahead with the promise of abundant growth, and easier living.