What a special time it was last week. A few of us were invited by Maria to stay overnight at the Retreat centre on Monday night so we could get up early to see the sunrise on the Summer solstice.
A huge burning red globe rose out of a small band of mist in a distant “v” of the mountains with an orange glow forming above it.
We walked up the mountains to a mysterious standing stone that has a carved spiral on it facing to the rising sun.
There is a small circle of stones at its side, perfect for sitting on to meditate. These have only recently been discovered after last summers fires cleared away the undergrowth and exposed them. The standing stone can be seen for miles in all directions and we wondered if it had
an ancient purpose and whether the sun would coincide with the spiral on
the summer solstice.
We meditated on the stones surrounded by wild aquilegia (purple) and wild clematis, (white) The sun was behind the peaks; we were just going back down at 8.30 when the sun started to come over the peak directly in front and in the moment that it rose over the mountain it struck the spiral directly. Fanciful imagination? Certainly these
stones are unheard of in Andalucia but not in the north of Spain and Britain. It was an impressive coincidence.
Covering 45,663ha in the southeastern corner of Spain. Cabo de Gata, Níjar is Andalucia’s largest coastal protected area, a wild and isolated landscape with some of Europe’s most original geological features.
The eponymous mountain range is Spain’s largest volcanic rock formation with sharp peaks and crags in ochre-hues. It falls steeply to the sea creating jagged 100m-high cliffs, which are riven by gullies leading to hidden coves with white sandy beaches, some of the most beautiful in Andalucia. Offshore are numerous tiny rocky islands and, underwater, extensive coral reefs teeming with marine life.
High temperatures (an annual average of 18 degrees) and the lowest rainfall in the Iberian peninsula (200mm annually on average) has created a large semi-desert area, with characteristic shrubby vegetation and dwarf fan palms. But the park also encompasses an outstanding variety of habitats, from coastal dunes, beaches, steep cliffs, saltpans, a substantial marine zone of 12,200ha, saltmarshes, inland arid steppe and dry river beds. Designated a Unesco Biosphere reserve in 1997, the park shelters an extraordinary wealth of wildlife, including many rare and endemic plants and endangered fauna.
Phoenicians, Romans and Arabs were all attracted by the area’s rich mineral deposits like agate, jasper and, most importantly, gold, which was extracted from the mines of Rodalquilar. Other inhabitants were Berber pirates, who sought refuge in this remote corner of Andalucia, but the dozen lookout towers dotted along the coast are evidence of attempts to repel them.
Back at the Retreat Centre 6 of us completed 108 Salutes to the Sun while listening to the Gayatri Mantra and contemplating individual peace, family and friends, work and the community and World Peace. Some felt rejuvenated some felt more flexible and some felt tired but all agreed it was very worthwhile. Money raised will go to a local, independently run Down’s Syndrome facility. Well done everyone! Thank you to Maria and Adolfo who provided us with delicious home made cake and drinks.
On Saturday a group of Spanish women from Almeria city came together at El Nacimiento (The Source)to celebrate the full moon. We also walked up to thestanding stone and stone circle which draws you to it to meditate next to.
There were some rituals with ribbons, perfume, songs, candles, incense, laughter and wonder. To complete a memorable week Luis Paniagua, a local musician, came to give a special concert to the Centre guests and the Women’s Circle. He played the lyre, a copy of an ancient instrument from biblical times made from a tortoise shell, impala horns and gut strings. We all sat in complete silence for the whole performance, the only sounds outside the music and singing were the small down to earth noises of a small baby and a young boy turning his book. It was a meditation. Luis can be heard on Youtube.
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What a special time it was last week. A few of us were invited by Maria to stay overnight at the Retreat centre on Monday night so we could get up early to see the sunrise on the Summer solstice.
We walked up the mountains to a mysterious standing stone that has a carved spiral on it facing to the rising sun.
