On Sunday (August 18th), marine historian Paul Barnett led a group of us on a walk along the river Severn to visit The Purton Hulks - boats deliberately beached in the early twentieth century in order to form a defense against erosion of the riverbank, and in so doing to protect the Gloucester-Sharpness canal which runs alongside the river at this point.

It was a lovely sunny evening and Paul was an interesting and enthusiastic tour guide, full of stories about the place and its conservation. The hulks looked atmospheric as they loomed out of the grass, or were almost completely submerged by it. Definitely to be recommended as a tour. As Kris pointed out, it was an appropriate time to be visiting a watery graveyard, with Saturn being in Scorpio and part of a grand trine in water signs!

After the walk most of the group drove a couple of miles to The Lammastide Inn at Brookend, where we enjoyed a tasty, good value meal and conversation. We caught a glimpse of Venus before she set in the west, and a hazy Saturn higher in the sky later in the evening.

On August 4th a group of us enjoyed an unscheduled boat ride up the beautiful Wye Valley, with shamanic healer Maxine Smillie, pictured below in pink. Unscheduled because it was pouring with rain, so a walk along muddy pathways suddenly seemed less appealing! On the boat we heard about the history of the river and the buildings along it from the ship's captain, whilst at the end of the journey we were allowed to stay on the boat for a while whilst we performed a simple shamanic ritual under  Maxine's guidance.

Maxine persuaded the Rose Tree Tea Room to stay open for lunch (they were going to close because of the inclement weather in the morning), during which Maxine recounted the deeper history of the place and its fascinating association with healing down the ages.

After lunch the weather cleared and we had an enjoyable walk by the riverside, under the shelter of the trees to the wire footbridge bridge near The Biblins. Maxine shared stories and insights about healing and we practiced walking mindfully in the landscape. All in all, an enjoyable and interesting day, despite the vagaries of the weather.

More pictures from the field trip, including walking the earth with intent …