Depth over Distance - Ben Howard
Depth over distance every time my dear,
And this tree of our may grow tall in the woods,
But its the roots that will bind us here,
to the ground.
Depth over distance was all I asked of you,
and I maybe foolish to fall as I do,
still theres strength in the blindness you feel,
if your coming too.
If your coming too.
Oh hold on,
wait until that lone sun,
breaks from the arms of the lord.
Yeah, hold on,
though we maybe too young,
to know this ride we are on.
Depth over distance was all I asked of you,
Though everybody round heres acting like a stone,
still theres things I do darling I go blind for you,
If you let go sometimes,
let it go sometimes,
let it go,
Just let it go sometimes,
So hold on,
wait until that lone sun,
breaks from the arms of the lord.
Oh, hold on,
though we maybe too young,
to know this ride we are on.
Oh, hold on,
though we maybe to young,
to know this ride we are on.
Oh, depth over distance every time my dear,
and I maybe foolish to fall as I do,
still theres strength in the blindness you feel,
if your coming too.
Oh, If your coming too.
So hold on,
wait until that lone sun,
breaks from the arms of the lord.
And, hold on,
though we maybe too young,
to know this ride we are on.
to know this ride,
to know this ride we are on.
As I begin to write seagull cries pierce the air that is full of the deep and relentless echo of ocean meeting rock. From the cliff ledge I am perched a fishing boat that is making its way out towards the horizon, filled for miles only with grey shades of Atlantic waves, appears about the size of my finger nail as it bobs along in the swell. Hundreds of birds - fulmers, gulls, kittywakes and swallows - glide on the thermal up drafts rising up the cliff faces that plunge vertically from the tamely sloping green fields where cows are lazily chewing cud down jagged rock hundreds of feet to the wild Atlantic below.
We are at the cliffs of Moher, Co. Clare and tomorrow will be day 21 of our journey.
An epic conversation between land and water that has been taking place continually over millennia is unfolding before us. As we sit scattered on our different perches, all three of us are mesmerised by witnessing the Earth breathing below. It is a conversation that we humans all to easily forget admits the flashing lights and rapid haze of thoughts and stimulation we surround ourselves so easily with. Yet one we are so easily reminded of and awed by simply by making our way outside and to places we can experience how in extricably woven into this conversation we are. The haze falls away so quickly in these places. As the song says, we are ‘coming too’ with a remembering deep within about our small beautiful part in the story of this planet. A story that is unfolding right now - the waves here have not stop crashing, nor the birds soaring just because I am writing or you are reading. This is life.
‘Depth over distance’ - this has been theme over the past 14 days.
On leaving Richards back in Skibbereen some two weeks ago, Martin, Konsi, Manik and myself hitchhiked our way to Glengariff, a beautiful small village surrounded by ancient oak woods nestled in the south east corner of the Beara peninsula. As we made our way up through the valley to begin the Beara way - the walking trail that would guide our route for the next week - the landscape and ecosystems we where moving though transformed with each step. As the path wound upward and westward, rolling pasture morphed into woodland in full spring green, and as we climbed still higher through the tree line mountains rose around us on all sides and a rugged landscape of rock, rough grass and sheep enveloped us so fully that the hedgerows and lush pasture of the first week felt like a distant memory.
This wilderness came laden full of beauty and challenge. In exchange for majestic views and awe inspiring landscapes that couldn’t help but stir our souls and studies, steep sodden paths caused still adjusting legs hauling heavy packs to creak and groan, and racing wind and rain would strip the warmth in a moment from tired bodies pausing to long.
So hold on,
wait until that lone sun,
breaks from the arms of the lord’
During those first few days on Beara, no one could a written a more apt line as we braved the elements and each other. And then, over two days and fleetingly at first, the clouds broke and that lone sun streamed over hills stretching out west in front of us. This shift in weather mirrored the development in our group and the form which was to hold us - poetic in many ways, as the word Beara translates as holder. As bodies tired and the weather challenged our predesigned patterns and expectations for walking and studying/learning/reflection time, natural tensions began to rise about how best to use our time as a group. Where we covering a enough distance on land or in books? Is this journey more about walking, studying or learning? What is the learning we are opening ourselves to? What do you do when the weather and wet ground messes with your well intentioned plans? How do we communicate what we need and balance that with what others needs? How do we open and close our days? Who cooks? Who plans the route? How do we decided where to camp? We knew all of these tensions were perfectly natural and healthily growing pains that stemmed from the process of what we had each imagined before we arrived crashing into the reality of what is - the group, the land, the weather. Though expected, its never easy or comfortable to go though the storming process - especially when you are tired, aching and cold and the only meeting space you have for 4 big lads that shields you from the wind or midges (pesky little mini mosquitos that have become affectionately know as ‘wee b*****ds!!’) is a two man tent you have to cram into. But this is just what we did, in circle with honest words and open hearts the 4 of us began to share about why we where here, what was important to us, what we needed and what we where noticing about the broader reality we had found ourselves in.
Depth over distance was all I asked of you,
Though everybody round heres acting like a stone,
still theres things I do darling I go blind for you,
If you let go sometimes,
let it go sometimes,
let it go,
Just let it go sometimes,
It was clear from the conversation in the tent that depth over distance was indeed what we each had made our way here to this windswept coast to sink into. So, having already let go of some physical weight we had realised we didn't need back in Skibbereen, it was clear it was now the turn of some of the inner baggage we where each carrying to be discarded. With that clarity now present and individual needs spoken, we began to discern the inner baggage we needed to letting go of and to play with co-creating a new prototype form for our days that could nurture the growth of the common centre we had found.
So hold on,
wait until that lone sun,
breaks from the arms of the lord.
With the 3 days of radiant sun now browning our faces, we strode to the end of Beara with a new form to guide our days:
6:30 Wake up with Manik singing, pack & morning practices.
7:30 Breakfast & route briefing
8:15 Begin Walking
10:45ish Break
The rest of the morning includes possible study time or walking time depending on the nature of the weather, place and physical need in the group
12:00ish Lunch
13:15ish Walk again to camp the spot
Making camp for the day can fall anywhere between 14:30 & 17:00 depending on how far we choose to walk, wether we studied in the morning and how nice the camp spot is etc.
After making camp, time is open for study / reflection / rest / conversation / chores / games etc.
19:00ish Evening meal
Before bed: Group singing and check out if weather permits
Oh, hold on,
though we maybe to young,
to know this ride we are on.
As the base form of our days grew into a shape that could hold enough collective order in the natural chaos that arises from simply walking each day through the world, the space concerns about this structure had previously been occupying our minds began to clear, giving space for more expansive wonderings about this ride we are on. Here are just a few brief reflections that have arisen over that time.
Walkabout…
“You are on walkabout! Thank you for what you are doing!” These were the words that hit me like arrow that were spoken by a beautiful storyteller from the USA we meet at the hostel at the Dzogchen Meditation centre at the end of Beara. Walkabout refers to a rite of passage during which male Australian Aborigines would undergo a journey during adolescence and live in the wilderness for a period as long as six months. The resonance this triggered in me is that in a western culture so often dislocated from place and yet where its so easy to travel far a field there is something powerful in taking time to let yourself be outside for an extended period of time in the landscapes that makes up your home. There is something profoundly familiar for me in the weather, the colour of the rock, the way the light catches the sea, the smell of the wind on the cliffs, the flora and fauna, and the humour of the people - it is the island on which I grew up, yet I am engaging with it in at a level of intimacy I never have before. I don’t know yet fully how this is impacting me but I know it is. In another way this goes for the other 3 boys as well - they are all from this latitude and find many connections - differences too - all the time amidst the landscape and rhythms of the day. The power of this journey is that we what we are doing is some how incredibly normal. Incredibly simple. All we did was fill are backpacks, find and question and walk out the door. There is such a normalness to all of this, it is not profound all the time, though those moments do come and go. But, we are not superhumans - just humans. Anybody could be doing this. You could be doing this. We are just walking, talking, pausing, playing, sleeping, eating, and learning. We still get happy, grumpy, hungry, tired, silly, bored, excited, quite, and loud. We have moments of centredness and moments of disconnect. Moments of clarity and moments of doubt. Days when its easy, days when its hard. Yet there is an aliveness that can feel more palpable from living in rhythm and relationship with the nature that sits all around us all the time if we just take a moment to turn the noise down and be with it a moment long enough to feel it. We are of it. This is what is clear so far from our simple walkabout. We invite you to take a walkabout this week, alone or with another, but with no headphones or other such distraction. Let us know how it goes. :)
Bearded bodies…
As we rounded the westerly point on Beara, not only had our group dynamic transformed, so too had our bodies. The pasty white boys who had set out from Kinsale were now brown (you really can get a tan in Ireland! You just need to be outside ALL the time!!) and bearded. Claves beginning to harden from the hills and packs no longer feeling so heavy on our hips. Its amazing to witness your body adapt. This is a slow process but 3 weeks in now it is amazing how different we feel and look from when we began - as we look back at photos it is like watching the learning and impact of the journey being physically etched through our bodies and down into are beings. Hopefully the learning holds longer than the tan!
Three forks in one road…
On reaching Kenmare at the base of the Beara peninsula we found the group at cross roads that again drew out the theme of depth over distance. Martin (from the USA), who had been carrying an old ankle in injury from the beginning found out that his UK student visa would be cancelled if he didn't return to the UK until the end of his student term at Emerson college. The combination of ankle pain and visa pressure vied with the wish to follow the heartfelt desire to push on with the walk. The dilemma was clear and helped another level of clarity be found about what Classroom Alive: Ireland is really all about - it is not about the distance to cover but the depth and intention you step into the process with. Holding this thread Martin decided the wisest action at this stages was to take the fork that would lead him back to England for a few weeks to rest his ankle and sort out the visa issues. We celebrated his courage to make this choice. He is still walking with us, just on a different path and we look forward to welcoming him back when our paths converge once more. Konsi to was carrying a strain on his achillies tendon and with the prospect of the MacGillikuddy’s Reek mountains ahead as we crossed the Kerry peninsula he made the decision to hitch hike solo around the ring of Kerry. So on Sunday last week the group that had been 4 for 2 weeks took 3 different paths as we continued our collective journey - Martin east to England, Konsi west around the ring of Kerry, and Manik and I north over the mountains. The time solo and in a pair has been fruitful for each of us and now Konsi, Manik and I are back together again as we walk north once more through the Burren, Co. Clare to Galway. What became so clear to us over the past week is that following the need and learning that arises in the moment, even when thats a really hard choice you didn't expect to have to make, is a core part of making this journey called Classroom Alive: Ireland - it is one road, even when we are on different paths.
To close we want to send out a little gratitude to all the people who have so generously supported us in so many different ways these past weeks - All the people who offered us lifts, water, meals, directions, advice on places to camp, scones at closing time - we are forever grateful. Special thanks also goes to Seth, Rene, Shane, Aideen and family, Maira, Tracy and the folks at the Dzogchen retreat - we humbled by your support.
We look forward over the coming 2 weeks to having the rest of the crew join us - Marie, Manuel, Laura, David, Charlotte, and Connor. We know many riches will come as our growing family takes shape.
We may well be to young to fully know this ride we are on…but for now its been pretty incredible.
The waves still have not stopped crashing, nor the birds soaring.
Go well, be well,
The Classroom Alive Crew - Zand, Manik, Konsi and Martin.
More Updates:
Stay tuned for more news about open weekends, photos, movies and other updates at:
www.facebook.com/classroomaliveireland
Support Us:
Should you feel inspired, you can find ways to support our journey at:
http://classroomaliveireland.weebly.com/support-us.html
Listen to Depth Over Distance by Ben Howard
We are at the cliffs of Moher, Co. Clare and tomorrow will be day 21 of our journey.
An epic conversation between land and water that has been taking place continually over millennia is unfolding before us. As we sit scattered on our different perches, all three of us are mesmerised by witnessing the Earth breathing below. It is a conversation that we humans all to easily forget admits the flashing lights and rapid haze of thoughts and stimulation we surround ourselves so easily with. Yet one we are so easily reminded of and awed by simply by making our way outside and to places we can experience how in extricably woven into this conversation we are. The haze falls away so quickly in these places. As the song says, we are ‘coming too’ with a remembering deep within about our small beautiful part in the story of this planet. A story that is unfolding right now - the waves here have not stop crashing, nor the birds soaring just because I am writing or you are reading. This is life.
‘Depth over distance’ - this has been theme over the past 14 days.
On leaving Richards back in Skibbereen some two weeks ago, Martin, Konsi, Manik and myself hitchhiked our way to Glengariff, a beautiful small village surrounded by ancient oak woods nestled in the south east corner of the Beara peninsula. As we made our way up through the valley to begin the Beara way - the walking trail that would guide our route for the next week - the landscape and ecosystems we where moving though transformed with each step. As the path wound upward and westward, rolling pasture morphed into woodland in full spring green, and as we climbed still higher through the tree line mountains rose around us on all sides and a rugged landscape of rock, rough grass and sheep enveloped us so fully that the hedgerows and lush pasture of the first week felt like a distant memory.
This wilderness came laden full of beauty and challenge. In exchange for majestic views and awe inspiring landscapes that couldn’t help but stir our souls and studies, steep sodden paths caused still adjusting legs hauling heavy packs to creak and groan, and racing wind and rain would strip the warmth in a moment from tired bodies pausing to long.
So hold on,
wait until that lone sun,
breaks from the arms of the lord’
During those first few days on Beara, no one could a written a more apt line as we braved the elements and each other. And then, over two days and fleetingly at first, the clouds broke and that lone sun streamed over hills stretching out west in front of us. This shift in weather mirrored the development in our group and the form which was to hold us - poetic in many ways, as the word Beara translates as holder. As bodies tired and the weather challenged our predesigned patterns and expectations for walking and studying/learning/reflection time, natural tensions began to rise about how best to use our time as a group. Where we covering a enough distance on land or in books? Is this journey more about walking, studying or learning? What is the learning we are opening ourselves to? What do you do when the weather and wet ground messes with your well intentioned plans? How do we communicate what we need and balance that with what others needs? How do we open and close our days? Who cooks? Who plans the route? How do we decided where to camp? We knew all of these tensions were perfectly natural and healthily growing pains that stemmed from the process of what we had each imagined before we arrived crashing into the reality of what is - the group, the land, the weather. Though expected, its never easy or comfortable to go though the storming process - especially when you are tired, aching and cold and the only meeting space you have for 4 big lads that shields you from the wind or midges (pesky little mini mosquitos that have become affectionately know as ‘wee b*****ds!!’) is a two man tent you have to cram into. But this is just what we did, in circle with honest words and open hearts the 4 of us began to share about why we where here, what was important to us, what we needed and what we where noticing about the broader reality we had found ourselves in.
Depth over distance was all I asked of you,
Though everybody round heres acting like a stone,
still theres things I do darling I go blind for you,
If you let go sometimes,
let it go sometimes,
let it go,
Just let it go sometimes,
It was clear from the conversation in the tent that depth over distance was indeed what we each had made our way here to this windswept coast to sink into. So, having already let go of some physical weight we had realised we didn't need back in Skibbereen, it was clear it was now the turn of some of the inner baggage we where each carrying to be discarded. With that clarity now present and individual needs spoken, we began to discern the inner baggage we needed to letting go of and to play with co-creating a new prototype form for our days that could nurture the growth of the common centre we had found.
So hold on,
wait until that lone sun,
breaks from the arms of the lord.
With the 3 days of radiant sun now browning our faces, we strode to the end of Beara with a new form to guide our days:
6:30 Wake up with Manik singing, pack & morning practices.
7:30 Breakfast & route briefing
8:15 Begin Walking
10:45ish Break
The rest of the morning includes possible study time or walking time depending on the nature of the weather, place and physical need in the group
12:00ish Lunch
13:15ish Walk again to camp the spot
Making camp for the day can fall anywhere between 14:30 & 17:00 depending on how far we choose to walk, wether we studied in the morning and how nice the camp spot is etc.
After making camp, time is open for study / reflection / rest / conversation / chores / games etc.
19:00ish Evening meal
Before bed: Group singing and check out if weather permits
Oh, hold on,
though we maybe to young,
to know this ride we are on.
As the base form of our days grew into a shape that could hold enough collective order in the natural chaos that arises from simply walking each day through the world, the space concerns about this structure had previously been occupying our minds began to clear, giving space for more expansive wonderings about this ride we are on. Here are just a few brief reflections that have arisen over that time.
Walkabout…
“You are on walkabout! Thank you for what you are doing!” These were the words that hit me like arrow that were spoken by a beautiful storyteller from the USA we meet at the hostel at the Dzogchen Meditation centre at the end of Beara. Walkabout refers to a rite of passage during which male Australian Aborigines would undergo a journey during adolescence and live in the wilderness for a period as long as six months. The resonance this triggered in me is that in a western culture so often dislocated from place and yet where its so easy to travel far a field there is something powerful in taking time to let yourself be outside for an extended period of time in the landscapes that makes up your home. There is something profoundly familiar for me in the weather, the colour of the rock, the way the light catches the sea, the smell of the wind on the cliffs, the flora and fauna, and the humour of the people - it is the island on which I grew up, yet I am engaging with it in at a level of intimacy I never have before. I don’t know yet fully how this is impacting me but I know it is. In another way this goes for the other 3 boys as well - they are all from this latitude and find many connections - differences too - all the time amidst the landscape and rhythms of the day. The power of this journey is that we what we are doing is some how incredibly normal. Incredibly simple. All we did was fill are backpacks, find and question and walk out the door. There is such a normalness to all of this, it is not profound all the time, though those moments do come and go. But, we are not superhumans - just humans. Anybody could be doing this. You could be doing this. We are just walking, talking, pausing, playing, sleeping, eating, and learning. We still get happy, grumpy, hungry, tired, silly, bored, excited, quite, and loud. We have moments of centredness and moments of disconnect. Moments of clarity and moments of doubt. Days when its easy, days when its hard. Yet there is an aliveness that can feel more palpable from living in rhythm and relationship with the nature that sits all around us all the time if we just take a moment to turn the noise down and be with it a moment long enough to feel it. We are of it. This is what is clear so far from our simple walkabout. We invite you to take a walkabout this week, alone or with another, but with no headphones or other such distraction. Let us know how it goes. :)
Bearded bodies…
As we rounded the westerly point on Beara, not only had our group dynamic transformed, so too had our bodies. The pasty white boys who had set out from Kinsale were now brown (you really can get a tan in Ireland! You just need to be outside ALL the time!!) and bearded. Claves beginning to harden from the hills and packs no longer feeling so heavy on our hips. Its amazing to witness your body adapt. This is a slow process but 3 weeks in now it is amazing how different we feel and look from when we began - as we look back at photos it is like watching the learning and impact of the journey being physically etched through our bodies and down into are beings. Hopefully the learning holds longer than the tan!
Three forks in one road…
On reaching Kenmare at the base of the Beara peninsula we found the group at cross roads that again drew out the theme of depth over distance. Martin (from the USA), who had been carrying an old ankle in injury from the beginning found out that his UK student visa would be cancelled if he didn't return to the UK until the end of his student term at Emerson college. The combination of ankle pain and visa pressure vied with the wish to follow the heartfelt desire to push on with the walk. The dilemma was clear and helped another level of clarity be found about what Classroom Alive: Ireland is really all about - it is not about the distance to cover but the depth and intention you step into the process with. Holding this thread Martin decided the wisest action at this stages was to take the fork that would lead him back to England for a few weeks to rest his ankle and sort out the visa issues. We celebrated his courage to make this choice. He is still walking with us, just on a different path and we look forward to welcoming him back when our paths converge once more. Konsi to was carrying a strain on his achillies tendon and with the prospect of the MacGillikuddy’s Reek mountains ahead as we crossed the Kerry peninsula he made the decision to hitch hike solo around the ring of Kerry. So on Sunday last week the group that had been 4 for 2 weeks took 3 different paths as we continued our collective journey - Martin east to England, Konsi west around the ring of Kerry, and Manik and I north over the mountains. The time solo and in a pair has been fruitful for each of us and now Konsi, Manik and I are back together again as we walk north once more through the Burren, Co. Clare to Galway. What became so clear to us over the past week is that following the need and learning that arises in the moment, even when thats a really hard choice you didn't expect to have to make, is a core part of making this journey called Classroom Alive: Ireland - it is one road, even when we are on different paths.
To close we want to send out a little gratitude to all the people who have so generously supported us in so many different ways these past weeks - All the people who offered us lifts, water, meals, directions, advice on places to camp, scones at closing time - we are forever grateful. Special thanks also goes to Seth, Rene, Shane, Aideen and family, Maira, Tracy and the folks at the Dzogchen retreat - we humbled by your support.
We look forward over the coming 2 weeks to having the rest of the crew join us - Marie, Manuel, Laura, David, Charlotte, and Connor. We know many riches will come as our growing family takes shape.
We may well be to young to fully know this ride we are on…but for now its been pretty incredible.
The waves still have not stopped crashing, nor the birds soaring.
Go well, be well,
The Classroom Alive Crew - Zand, Manik, Konsi and Martin.
More Updates:
Stay tuned for more news about open weekends, photos, movies and other updates at:
www.facebook.com/classroomaliveireland
Support Us:
Should you feel inspired, you can find ways to support our journey at:
http://classroomaliveireland.weebly.com/support-us.html
Listen to Depth Over Distance by Ben Howard