Bank Holiday Monday 4th May
The Bleddfa Annual Walk
Led by Mike Buckley
All welcome. A circular walk taking in local villagesand bluebell woods. Please assemble at 9.30am and bring a picnic lunch. The walk will be followed by tea in the Old School Room at the Bleddfa Centre. Non-walkers welcome to join for tea.
(Please book in advance so we know how many to cater for tea)
Cost: Donations
Start from: The Bleddfa Centre grounds

Saturday 9th May 10.30am to 4.30pm (Registration 10am)
Care and the Natural World
A workshop led by Ruth Purtilo and Simon Davison
In an ancient Graeco-Roman myth Cura affectionately fashions a being out of the earth and asks one of the gods to breathe life spirit into it. Cura (care) is then given the task of nurturing this ‘human being’ (from ‘humus’) as long as it breathes. The myth introduces the idea that care is a central feature of being human, that it is both a burden and essential life-sustaining force, and that our relationships of care have deep moral value. Today the natural world from which humans were fashioned is threatened with human destruction. In this workshop we explore basic lessons this narrative and other sources offer us about our essential humanity and the role of care in maintaining it through a caring relationship with the natural world. What exactly are we being asked to hold in care? What are the special burdens and gifts of a caring relationship with nature that we cannot realize in our human to human relationships? What are some practical ideas to take into our daily lives? Each participant should bring a small amount of dirt/earth that represents a personal connection to the place from which it was collected and a small notebook for recording reflections during the day.
Dr Ruth Purtilo is a Professor of Ethics and author of many articles and books on the subject and is a Trustee of the Bleddfa Trust. Simon Davison is the Director of the Bleddfa Centre.
Cost: £30 (concession available - see additional information).
Please bring a packed lunch. Soup, tea and coffee will be provided.
Venue: The Hall Barn

THE BLEDDFA POETRY GROUP
Led by Peter Conradi and Daphne Turner
Georgians and Others
Sunday 17th May 2.30pm to 4.30pm
The second of three spring / summer Sundays on Georgians and Others. Today we look at the work of Thomas Hardy.
Cost: £5 per session
Venue: The Hall Barn

The Bleddfa Trust gratefully acknowledges generous support from the Welsh Academi.

Saturday 23rd May to Friday 3rd July
Spontaneity
An exhibition of paintings by Cecily Sash
Opened by Charles MacCarthy: Saturday 23rd May, 3pm to 5pm. Pictures.
General opening: Sunday 24th May from 2pm to 5pm. Thereafter, every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 2pm to 5pm until Friday 3rd July.
Renowned South African artist / teacher Cecily Sash will be showing a range of new work born of her explorations into spontaneous expression. To be spontaneous is to have both the courage to let go and the wisdom to hold on and to understand the freedom at the heart of restraint. She will expand on these themes in a workshop to be held at Bleddfa on Saturday 4th July. Cecily Sash was born in South Africa and taught Art and Design at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. Her work has been widely shown through exhibitions and in public collections. She has lived and worked in the UK since 1975.
Venue: The Old School Room Gallery

Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st May
9.30am to 5pm both days (Registration at 9.30am Saturday)
Warrior in the World: Shambhala Training Level 3
A workshop with Jude Dawe
The weekend consists of talks, individual meetings with a meditation instructor, group discussions, and periods of sitting meditation practice. The practice of Mindfulness-Awareness meditation enables us to look precisely at our state of mind without trying to alter it and to cultivate openness toward ourselves and our environment. Jude Dawe is a special needs teacher living in Sussex and a long-term student of the founder of Shambhala Training, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
note: This weekend is open only to Level 2 graduates.
Cost: £50 for weekend (concession available - see additional information) Please bring warm, loose clothes and a packed lunch.
Soup, tea and coffee will be provided.
Venue: The Hall Barn