NATURE’S GIFTS

I often went alone. Sometimes, lost in amazement, I went deep into the woods, and I imagined that I was Mowgli, the character of Rudyard Kipling, the child raised by the wolves, so I took off almost all the clothes for the climb. If I climbed to a sufficient height, the branches grew thinner to the point that, if the wind blew, the world would lean down and then up. It was scary and it was wonderful to surrender to the power of the wind. My senses were filled with the sensation of falling, of climbing, of swinging; Around me the leaves split like fingers and the wind came in sighs and hoarse whispers. The wind also brought scents, and the tree itself certainly released its perfumes faster when the gusts blew. Finally, there was only the wind that moved between all things. Now, when the days of climbing trees have long passed, I often think of the lasting value of those first days of sweet laziness. I have come to appreciate the wide view offered by the tops of those trees. Nature calmed me, focused and at the same time excited my senses. Last Child in the Woods. Richard Louv

2020-01-13T12:56:47+00:00January 13th, 2020|

LIBRARY: CONNECTION WITH LIFE

We present a selection of texts that inspire the team of Sa Llavor and share in the weekly meetings as part of their pedagogical path. Fragment extracted from the book “A new Earth” by Eckhart Tolle. Seeing beauty in a flower could awaken humans, however briefly, to the beauty that is an essential part of their own innermost being, their true nature. The first recognition of beauty was one of the most significant events in the evolution of human consciousness. The feelings of joy and love are intrinsically connected to that recognition. Without our fully realizing it, flowers would become for us an expression in form of that which is most high, most sacred, and ultimately formless within ourselves. Flowers, more fleeting, more ethereal, and more delicate than the plants out of which they emerged, would become like messengers from another realm, like a bridge between the world of physical forms and the formless. They not only had a scent that was delicate and pleasing to humans, but also brought a fragrance from the realm of spirit. Using the word "enlightenment" in a wider sense than the conventionally accepted one, we could look upon flowers as the enlightenment of plants. Any life-form in any realm—mineral, vegetable, animal, or human—can be said to undergo "enlightenment." It is, however, an extremely rare occurrence since it is more than an evolutionary progression: It also implies a discontinuity in its development, a leap to an entirely different level of Being and, most importantly, a lessening of materiality. What could be heavier and more impenetrable than a rock, the densest of all forms? And yet some rocks undergo a change in their molecular structure, turn into crystals, and so become transparent to the light. Some carbons, under inconceivable heat and pressure, turn into diamonds, and some heavy minerals into other precious stones. Most crawling reptilians, the most earthbound of all creatures, have remained unchanged for millions of years. Some, however, grew feathers and wings and turned into birds, thus defying the force of gravity that had held them for so long. They didn't become better at crawling or walking, but transcended crawling and walking entirely. Since time immemorial, flowers, crystals, precious stones, and birds have held special significance for the human spirit. Like all life-forms, they are, of course, temporary manifestations of the underlying one Life, one Consciousness.

2020-01-13T12:52:29+00:00January 13th, 2020|

EMBRACE THE SOLSTICE

During these dates, the animal kingdom and the nature that surrounds us begin the time of hibernation. Exhausted bodies seek heat, darkness and silence. The trees lose their leaves. The forests remain silent. It is a time to descend and rest, to assimilate, from calm and stillness, everything that has happened during this year that ends. But what happens around us? Lights, noise, traffic, consumption ... It seems that they want to drag us to the opposite place to which the body asks us. Let us then embrace the sense of solstice. Let's get carried away by this natural tendency that pushes us to go inward, as all creatures do. The cold is only bitter if we are far from the heat of our homes. If we follow the smooth and calm path towards our inner feelings we will see how winter, in fact, is kind since it allows us to enter the darkness of ourselves, listening, accepting and loving. Winter eliminates distractions, noise and presents the perfect time to rest and retire. Then it will restart all over again with the new year, and as a seed planted in the depths of the earth, we will rise with renewed energies once again to run, laugh and dance under the sunlight. Enjoy winter and happy advent to everyone.

2019-12-15T15:58:58+00:00December 13th, 2019|

LAST DAY OF THE FIRST QUARTER

On Friday, December 20th, the first quarter ends and Christmas holidays begin. To celebrate it we have prepared a brief Christmas show. This is the schedule: 8:30 am Entrance of students 10'45h Opening of doors for families 11'00h Artistic performance of the students of Sa Llavor for families 12'00h Students collection and delivery of work.

2019-12-15T16:01:14+00:00December 13th, 2019|

LIBRARY: FREEEDOM III

We present a selection of texts that inspire the team of Sa Llavor and share in the weekly meetings as part of their pedagogical path. JOSEPH BEUYS, "Every man an artist." Conversations in Documenta V (1972). Compiled by Clara Bodenmann-Ritter. Over a hundred days, Joseph Beuys spoke and discussed "social plastic", an expanded concept of art that would lead us to a new model of society and the world, in whose center is the creative human being, the art and creativity as the only revolutionary forces. ... Question: So what you do is a direct political action? Answers Joseph Beuys: No, for me it is an artistic action. Because that artistic concept is designed to make the self-determination demanded by democracy be seen as the possibility. There are many people who say "yes, well, but the human being cannot determine himself, he has no internal freedom." So what we want to discuss is a science of freedom. We want to start more and more of self-determination, of human freedom as a creative starting point, that is, artistic. So it is a cultural issue first of all. And also, a matter of education and parenting in general, right?. So we do not start from the means of production, but from the freedom of the human being as a creative creature that determines itself, and there we find the primary means of production that acts in history and creates the future. To that extent, it is a complement of Marxism, a necessary complement. Q: It is the principle of humanism. JB: Yes, I would say of a libertarian humanism. And in saying that, that concept of freedom naturally refers to the free individual. And in that case it is not necessary to use the word humanism at all, because that is basically the human question: the human being who determines himself as a free individual, and shapes the next phase of history. P: Yes, I would say... JB: Precisely creativity in self-determination; and that means that I have to take responsibility now. I have to participate, cooperate. I can no longer live selfishly just for myself. Q: But there are many people who don't want that. JB: Sure. But on the other hand it is important to make humans try as it is because they know, as if we were saying, that they really take the taste to live as human beings when they do not think selfishly, but live, why not say it? Christianly , that is, nothing for me, all for others. And that is much more exciting than taking drugs, isn't it? Let them prove the experiences that living like this provides.

2019-12-13T11:57:11+00:00December 13th, 2019|

ARÁNZAZU PLAZA INTERVIEW

"Nature is a medecine" Aránzazu Plaza is a counselor and therapist specialized in learning, integration and behavior difficulties, trained in INPP to address Neuromotor Immaturity, formed in Waldorf Pedagogy, Waldorf Support Pedagogy and Waldorf Emergency and Trauma Pedagogy, formed in Pedagogy Pickler, University Specialist in Systemic Family Therapy, Social Educator, Anthropologist, trained in humanist therapies, Enneagram and Gestalt, trainer of trainers, she is currently part of the teaching team of the Waldorf Support Pedagogy training in Spain and the Madre de Día training team of the Waldorf house in Alicante, and is also a pedagogical advisor for several schools linked to the Waldorf pedagogy. This course has begun its collaboration with the Fundació Sa Llavor. Question: When did your interest in pedagogy start? Aránzazu: Since I went to school. I loved attending classes. In summer I was one of those who wanted to go back to school. Did you receive a Waldorf education? No. I studied EGB in the 70s and the curriculum was quite nice with childhood. In the sense that we did many things with our hands: we wove, we built electronic circuits, we drew, we painted and in the playground we played with dirt, sticks, stones, water, mud ... Now most of the playgrounds or parks are covered in cement. And your social vein? When did it arise? In sixth grade I moved to a religious school. There I decided that I wanted to be a missionary. Either I played to teach or I played to help someone. What were your favourite subjects? Mathematics and philosophy. I was determined to be a teacher of one of that two subjects. Then, in COU, I went to see a school counselor, who actually disoriented me. How are you going to get to teach with your qualifications? You are going to be an engineer. But I didn't want to be an engineer, I wanted to teach. You had a strong vocation... Yes, but he told me, if you study engineering you can teach math, physics, drawing ... So I got into telecommunications engineering. But then I went through the eighteen-years old crisis... And what happened? I always volunteered, and at that time I was volunteering teaching how to read and to write to gypsy men who wanted to get a driving license... I loved it. So I left engineering and began to study social work, but always with a vocation in education. How did you discover Waldorf pedagogy? One day a friend told me: you have to train in Waldorf pedagogy, because you are already a Waldorf pedagogue and you don't know it. And that is what I did. I studied Waldorf pedagogy for teachers. The classroom experience was fine but I really wanted to make accessible Waldorf pedagogy to girls and boys with difficulties. Then I did the Waldorf Support Training and there I found myself as a fish in water. And you discovered the INPP (Institute of Neuro-Physiological Psychology) ... One of my Waldorf support pedagogy teachers was

2019-12-16T14:44:47+00:00December 13th, 2019|

THE AUTUMN CELEBRATION 2019

The Autumn Celebration is a festivity that connects us with the current time and makes us more aware of the progressive change of the seasonal rhythm. Days are shorter, the night lengthens, the light and heat of the summer slowly disappear and we have to look for them inside us. The lanterns we make during this days at school symbolize the inner light that guides us, that illuminates the path and gives warmth to our hearts, inviting us to a silent retreat and introspection.

2019-11-11T09:41:43+00:00November 11th, 2019|

OPEN DOORS DAY

On Saturday, November 30th we celebrate the Open doors day at the Sa Llavor Foundation from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It will be a day to share with the family and to open the doors of our home to the entire community. There will be workshops for all ages, storytelling, craft market, books and pedagogical material sale, exhibitions of works made by students, vegetarian and organic food, music, school guided tours for new families and many more surprises. Schedule of activities: 11'00 a.m. Doors opening 11'15 a.m. Musical opening 11:30 a.m. Guided tour / Family workshops 1'15 p.m. Storytelling 1'30 p.m. Organic and vegetarian restaurant service 3'15 p.m. Musical closing 3'30 p.m. Closing

2019-11-27T07:41:49+00:00November 11th, 2019|

LIBRARY: FREEDOM II

We present a selection of texts that inspire the team of Sa Llavor and share in the weekly meetings as part of their pedagogical path.   Tale extracted from the “Spiritual Compass” book by Satish Kumar. There was a fisherman lying on the beach, dozing in the sun. The catch of the day was over and, after lunch, it was time to rest. A merchant saw him lying languidly and asked him: "How come you don't work today?" “I have already finished my work. This morning I went out with my little boat, caught some fish, sold some and cooked others and ate them; Now it's time to rest, nap time”, said the fisherman. "But you could still catch some more fish, right?", asked the merchant. "And why would I do it?", asked the fisherman surprised. "This way you would earn more money and you could buy a larger motor boat, which could load larger nets and catch more fish”, the merchant replied. "For what?”, asked the fisherman. "Well, that way you could have a fleet of ships, create a company, and when it succeeds, sell it and earn a lot of money," said the merchant. "And then what?" Asked the fisherman, without understanding anything. "Then you could retire and be all day lying on the beach, without worries," the merchant insisted. “But it is precisely what I am doing now! The future does not worry me. I am happy, very happy, what I have satisfies me. I feel lucky with the sea, with sunlight and with a lot of time to enjoy life. Why should I try so hard? ” The merchant, who at first did not know what to say, soon walked away smiling.   Fragment of the book “Verdolatry. Nature teaches us to be human ”by Santiago Beruete. “We still have to learn the art of living in a world oversaturated with information. And we must also learn the even more difficult art of preparing the next generations to live in such a world. ” Zygmunt Bauman. Pedagogy is a branch of gardening, so educating is another meaning of the word cultivate. We are all plants and gardeners. We cultivate each other. The true meaning of teaching is "sowing the spirits," as Plato states by Socrates in the Fedro dialogue. The teacher's words are seeds, but they will only germinate if they fall on fertile soil. The same raises the crucial question of how to prepare the ground. Gardening and education are humble professions. Those who sow the earth and those who cultivate the spirit have something in common: the sweat of their brow will not bear fruit until after a while. Teaching is like planting: you are never sure if the effort will bear fruit, if the seed you spread will sprout, but that emotion brings into play the best of the human being: hope, trust, patience, perseverance, tenacity and, of course, humility. Nothing worthwhile is achieved in life without these qualities. It goes without saying

2019-11-11T09:39:30+00:00November 11th, 2019|

AIKIDO. LEARN FROM THE MOUNTAINS

“Contemplate the workings of this world, listen to the words of the wise, take all that is good as your own. With this as your base, open your own door to truth. Do not overlook the truth that is right before you. Study how water flows in a valley stream, smoothly and freely between the rocks. Also learn from holy books and wise people. Everything—even mountains, rivers, plants, and trees—should be your teacher”. The Art of Peace Morihei Ueshiba The word Aikido is formed by three ideograms, Ai (harmony), Ki (energy), Do (path). It is a martial art that is oriented to the integral development of the human being and shows us the way to resolve conflicts looking for a non-aggressive solution. Thus, his goal is not to defeat an opponent in a fight but to redirect the conflict by harnessing the energy of the other's attack to a neutral point where no one is injured. That is why it has been called the Art of Peace. A peace that also refers to the state in which the Aikido practitioner should be. Only from calm can you find the positive solution to a conflict, be it of any kind: physical, psychological or emotional. Thus, in the Art of Peace, you learn to work the conflict. Conflict is part of life and we will meet it on many levels. The natural or instinctive tendency in these situations is the fight or flight. Aikido makes us a new proposal: harmony. Flow with the opponent, flow with the energy of the attack and balance this energy. In order to achieve this the most difficult thing is not all that must be learned: technique, repetition, internalization ... but what must be abandoned: the ego, the power, the intention to win. To get to this point you have to do a very powerful internal work, seeking your own inner peace. Filling in what is empty and emptying what is full. In Aikido, conflict is not confrontation, it is only the other side of calm. Join and build. Creates. In the Art of Peace, conflict serves to know oneself and, from here, to learn to respect and protect others and everything around us.

2023-02-07T18:34:31+00:00October 8th, 2019|
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