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Nov 21
in India and Bhutan in Penny

Mongar Festival…. Oh My Goodness what a festival!!

Our drive to Mongar was spectacular. The landscape was varied and we woke to one of those exquisite blue sky days after a cold blustery dry storm front the previous evening.

Our guide said he had often driven this road and rarely had he seen so far and it be so clear. We were fortunate to see the highest mountain in Bhutan Gangkhar Puensum and the Eastern Himalayas which was absolutely breathtaking. We also had many high passes which once again were graced with prayer flags which we contributed and I said my prayers to be carried with the wind.

_MG_4043 _MG_4139 Bhutan-6530

 

About midnight I heard drumming; singing and this long rhythmical horn. Something was happening in the cold clear night air. It was a little strange. I looked out of the window and strips of coloured lights draped the buildings and flashed discordantly with the ritual sounds of monks chanting and bowls singing.

I stayed up most of the night wondering what it could be… and who would be up all night (other than myself listening) … making such ceremonial  sounds. It all became apparent the following day when we participated in the local Mongar festival… which for me was an absolute highlight of my drive through Bhutan. 

We all wore our ‘festival best’… I wore my ‘full silk Kira’ and Chimmi lent me one of her beautiful gold bracelets. I felt ready to celebrate the festival our group of intrepid car rally-ists with the people of Mongar.

It is difficult to describe in words and even images what the festival was like. In the morning prior to a beautiful lunch, it was like watching the dancers tell traditional stories. They were amazing..especially the male dancers who were spectacular. After lunch was when the festival really ‘sung’. 

It was like Liz and I were participating in a ritual. The dance was the most sacred of their dances; Bardo dance… (the Day of the Judgement). I honestly can’t explain how moving it was; listening to the music; watching the dancers move with such grace, passion and respect. It was a profound day for me. 

Julie Stephenson festival-3 Julie Stephenson festival-4 Julie Stephenson festival-5 Julie Stephenson festival-6 Julie Stephenson festival-7 Julie Stephenson festival-8 Julie Stephenson festival-9 Julie Stephenson festival-10 Julie Stephenson festival-11 Julie Stephenson festival-12 Julie Stephenson festival-13 Julie Stephenson festival-14 Julie Stephenson festival-15 Julie Stephenson festival-16 Julie Stephenson festival-17 Julie Stephenson festival-18 Julie Stephenson festival-19 Julie Stephenson festival-20 Julie Stephenson festival-21 Julie Stephenson festival-22 Julie Stephenson festival-23 Julie Stephenson festival-24 Julie Stephenson festival-52 Julie Stephenson festival-51 Julie Stephenson festival-50 Julie Stephenson festival-49 Julie Stephenson festival-48 Julie Stephenson festival-47 Julie Stephenson festival-46 Julie Stephenson festival-45 Julie Stephenson festival-44 Julie Stephenson festival-43 Julie Stephenson festival-42 Julie Stephenson festival-41 Julie Stephenson festival-40

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About the Author: Julie
I am a Journeywoman. I live my life as an explorer. An adventurer. An Observer. An Artist. There is no differentiation between how I live my life and the art that is an expression of it. It is through my experience adventuring the unknown, that I learn more about myself. My aim through this connection is to live where my expression is fully in alignment with the essence of who I am. “In the field of Fine-Art Photography, Julie stands apart from others with the way she sees the world and expresses her connection within it. Julie Stephenson’s photographs are sublime. Her work is an expression of her deep connection; and a gift to the world.”

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skeinydipping

I looked down and saw my hands. Hands which have t I looked down and saw my hands. Hands which have touched; have loved; have created; have worked; have nurtured. My hands.   

I looked down and saw on my wrist and fingers items from around the world which have so many stories; items which have all been created from the heart and made by the hands of others. 

I looked down and saw beautiful yarn. Yarn which has been handled carefully through shearing, dyeing, skeining, balling; and now being knit in my beautiful hands. 

My hands are one of my gifts. This year I’ve really missed the touch of another with my hands, to feel the heart of another through my fingertips; but so grateful and love my hands which touch and feel; work and play!

What do you see when you look at your hands?

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Knitting a fabulous  #slipstravaganzamkal by @westknits .
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#gratitudeattitude #westknitsarethebestknits #westknitsmkal2020 #knittersofinstagram #knittersoftheworld #knittersofaustralia #indiedyedyarn #handmadewithlove #handmade #handmadejewellery #fromtheheart #createeveryday #livetotravel #healing #healinghands #creativehands
My life is wonderful… and I have so many stories My life is wonderful… and I have so many stories. I’ve had adventures on all continents. Slept being rocked by the sea; felt the ice on my skin in both polar regions, and felt the silence of the deserts. I’ve walked stone steps in monasteries at altitudes where each step I’ve taken consciously and mindfully; focussing on treasuring every molecule of oxygen in the rarefied atmosphere. 

COVID has paused those adventures, but I draw upon my experiences as I navigate adventuring my days in a different way, on our ‘home range’. 

I recall my steps in Tibet as I walk through our bushland. I am mindful and conscious of my surroundings. I listen. I feel. I feel happy here. I am content.

My new stories may not hold the same experiences of connection with others; and may not be of extreme challenges or crazy things  (which I am rather prone to doing! 🙂 ) but they are not less wondrous… as I smell the warm eucalyptus waft from under my feet. 

I weave my stories, and this story is of my personal journey on my daily walk through our bushland. 
You can see some of my other woven stories on my website - link in profile. 

How do you express your life’s stories?
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#weaversofinstagram #indiedyedyarn #indiedyed #rigidheddleloomweaving #ashford #inspiredbynature #contentcreator #emotionalbalance #homedeco #handcrafted #makersmovement #creativelifehappylife #wellbeing #travellerlife #journeywoman #weavingaustralia
“....The Assookinakii cowl was created for those “....The Assookinakii cowl was created for those times in your life when you need a meditative and healing knit. Assookinakii (ass-s-oo-kin-uh-k-EE) means ‘healer’ in the Blackfeet language, thank you to Cut Woods School in Browning, MT for the tradish language support”. –  Candice from @thefarmersdaughterfibers 

Knitting this beautiful cowl by Candice from @thefarmersdaughterfibers for @sistersunitedmt ; WAS healing. 

As my hands gently formed the repetitive stitches I reflected on the word ‘Assookinakii ‘ - healer. I am a healer. I don’t understand it. It’s something unseen. Something within me which has been recognised by Ngangkari and ‘clever men’ here in Australia; and shaman and healers around the world as we travel. This recognition always has caught me by surprise; as I seem to walk a line between two worlds. 

As the stitches slipped from one needle to another and the beautiful colours of @spincycle_yarns revealed themselves; in the pauses between the stitches I heard a voice whispering to continue to seek connection with the natural world and listen deeply. 

What has been healing for you this year?
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#healingjourney #meditationpractice #dyedinthewool #assookinakii_cowl #knittersofinstagram #knittingaddict #livinglifetothefullest #happydays #shaman #healer #healersofinstagram #listentoyourheart #indiedyedyarn #handmadewithlove #knittersgonnaknit #knittersoftheworld
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2017 All photographs created by and property of Julie Stephenson.