Mediterranean evergreen wreath for the Winter solstice (+ video)
The point of my evergreen wreath was to create something beautiful by using only local seasonal plant materials from the Rhodian landscape and to celebrate Winter solstice.
All posts tagged: Greek island
Walnut on Rhodes
Connecting to nature – traditional ways of using walnut on the island of the Sun.
We need holy places
In July we need plants, plants, plants, trees, bushes, healing shadows. Thank the Greek Gods, in Rhodes we are still nurtured by huge beautiful trees and shrubs. They do not only provide shade on the hottest summer days – this is their visible gift. They also provide a sense of calmness and greater/different perspectives for the human psyche. Trees create resonant spaces that can effect our consciousness. Why do you think it is a much different experience to sit under an old tree than under a parasol? It is neither an accident that traditional Greek circle dances (which are community rituals) are danced under enormous old trees – you can find them by each little church and community square (platia). Through a natural landscape and plants the world speaks to us. That’s what makes a place a holy space. It speaks to us. And because ancient Greeks heard and understood this language, they named the certain entities inhabited in nature: they were different kinds of Nymphs, the protectors of trees, waters, plants, mountains, caves, bees, …
The season of ‘The Lover’ – a gateway of homecoming
The season of ‘The Lover’ – from the first days of May until Summer solstice – This time of the year is the season of joy, sensuality, Eros, connection, when our Mother Earth, Gaia so generously offers us her beauty and gifts – like no other time within the year. She is catalyzing our connection with the realms of divinities through our body sensations that we can reach by: tasting the sweetness of the first fruits, smelling the mesmerizing oils of the blooming herbs, by admiring the beauty of the untouched flowering landscape and our gardens, by wearing less clothes so we can feel more breeze and sunshine on our skin, letting the light into our soul through our naked body, and also nurturing our skin and whole being by bathing in the sea, the river, or the lake, any wild water. Earth, water, fire, air – all of these elements are accessible for us for healing and generating joy during this season. It seems that also the elements are making love with each other. …
Framing the first Anemone of Rhodes
Anemone, the word is a Greek one meaning: ‘daughter of the wind’. Its flowers open when the wind blows and they start to bloom with the arrival of the first spring winds – on Rhodes around February. In mythology they are considered as Aphrodite’s tears when she is mourning her love, Adonis.This type we have on Rhodes is called ‘anemone coronaia’ because of the flower’s crown-like middle part which is almost black. Other names for her are ‘Lilies-of-the-field’ and ‘Poppy anemone’. The anemone below in the frame was collected close to Stegna beach, Rhodes island. This type of anemone is native to the Mediterranean region, specifically Greece, Syria, Israel, France, Italy. Growing at woodlands and meadows and attract pollinators. The different colors they have on Rhodes are so vivid, and they transform the bold meadows into a fairy tale scene every year for a short while when blooming. As a companion I selected a ‘pistacia lentiscus’ leaf to her on the above picture (13*18 cm), which is an aromatic evergreen shrub with strong scent …
The first blooming Narcissus tazetta of the season ’22
Plants are great teachers – you probably heard this before. And indeed they are. For many reasons. On the first place they are teachers of humbleness. They can’t communicate with words, they don’t shout at you, they don’t wave their arms, therefore you have to be humble, silent, aware, sensitive enough in order to get the wisdom and the messages of the plants. Interestingly ancient Greeks were humble enough to be aware of the silent messages of plants. The vegetation has a major symbolic role in ancient Greek myths. Plants are connected to certain archetypes or realms or attributes of human nature. Ancient Greeks’ intellect was a so called transcendent intellect, so they were able to see beyond the material nature with their intuitive vision. They had a mythical worldview which is above linguistic communication. Much more, much different than that. These myths are crystallized forms of truth. Getting the deep messages of myths and plants both require a non-linear, beyond-material, humble vision of the world (and ourselves in it). We can train ourselves for …
The sacred plant of the Rain God: the Mexican marigold
Few weeks ago I received a strange dried flower bouquet from a local farmer here on Rhodes island. I consider him as a local shaman although he would never accept this title. He is the person who was teaching me the most about plants and the divine cosmic design. So he gave me these strange yellow flowers amongst dozens of others, and did not say anything about them. Back home I found its name at least: Mexican marigold or Tagetes Lucida. But I didn’t really look up for more info. Now I am reading a book about archaic images, symbols of water, moon, feminine, underworld. It describes a God of the Aztecs: Tlaloc. He was the rain deity, the ruler of the mysterious water-underworld: Tlalocan (Greeks called it Hades) where the great ancestors, the wisdomholders lived. The rain is the blessing of the otherworld, and ancestors. It is the nourishing source which maintains life on Earth. The Great Ancestors send love to Earth in the form of rain. Rain and water was the primordial element …
“Every drop counts” – visiting the olive grove of the Purefarm family //Rhodes island
I’ve been leaded by Ariadne’s thread into various places on the Greek islands in the past six years while I was searching for the raw essence and characteristics of this magical region on Earth. Rare times these meetings and experiences truly bonded me with nature, and showed me the way towards my ‘egoless self’ too (even that this way is a long one). They showed me the possible ways towards peace, harmony and simplicity. Things I was always craving for – oftentimes in the wrong environment. During my visit on the olive groves of the Chalanta family I became richer with this mentioned rare experience. It was a beautiful, sunny March day on the island of Helios. Maria, the – young, beautiful and extremely kind – only daughter of the family picked me up in the busy and noisy Rhodes town. After a twenty minutes drive we were in the tiny, peaceful Psinthos (Ψινθος) village – one of the 42 villages of Rhodes. From sea-level we drove up to an altitude of 300 meters to …
Halki island: a journey into a different time and space
Six thousand words about this tiny magic island are touching only the surface. I give you an insight through my eyes, through the hospitality of my local hosts and through the honest memories of a local woman of the island. Tales from the past and the present. For the ones who want to discover deeply, for the real travellers a teaser of Halki island is written here below.
Weekly HELLO from Rhodes – 08/04/19
Hello, welcome to the weekly magazine of a Hungarian woman, who moved to a Greek island in 2017 and writing her book there through an intensive research and interviews with locals. The purpose is giving you an insight about the daily life of this island as a foreigner, and also about the book-writing process. Week 15th / 1st April – 7th April (and all the weeks before…) Oh yes, I just couldn’t keep my promise about posting weekly. I should have known myself better. And also this island. Because on Rhodes you cannot make plans ever… We say it very often here with the other foreigners. Somehow our experience is this: everything is just a maybe and nothing is for sure here. There is always a problem to solve, there is always an unexpected thing coming to you, so you learn to be really flexible. Back in Hungary I have been to Budapest in the meanwhile just for 5 days in February, which was an amazing trip. Visiting my country after 15 transformative months …
15 places to drink coffee in Rhodes town
Well, life without coffee… I’ll let you finish this sentence by your own. But I need one good cappuccino every morning (or whenever I want to use my brain). I love the taste and smell of coffee (I am more addicted than an expert), and a café as a space can function in many different ways for me. A café can give space to: read your daily newspaper, drink your espresso just before running to work (at least in my homecity Budapest, or in a busy capital), to have a date (or a secret date), to meet the girls, to meet business partners, to read a good book, to study, or to work on a project, or just to be inspired by the world goes by around you… or in some lucky situations visiting artistic events or exhibitions. Many ideas, innovations, relationships, love, new thoughts could be born in the space of a coffee shop. I usually sit in cafés to write, and during my first months here in Rhodes town primarily I was searching …
Why you should spend the winter on a Greek island
Winter is a really good period for travelers, who are deeply interested in the local culture of Rhodes, a perfect occasion to observe the authentic everyday life of the community of the island. This period is also for the travelers who adore nature, silence, who prefer to visit a Unesco site, and ancient, byzantine remains without the crowds of people. For people who are looking for an alternative peaceful, relaxing holiday. Because Rhodes is such a big, fertile, diverse, interesting island with too many gifts of Nature all around the year cycle.
Spirit of Kalymnos
In September 2015 it was time for me to sail to the famous island of the spongedivers. I spent 6 days there which is not a long time, but enough to fall in love with the island.
Asklipio – the village of “street art” and beautiful kids :)
The “street art” of Asklipio is a really good example that how easy it is to decorate our life with the most simple things.
A winter weekend with nature lovers in Monolithos village
Last week for me was about Monolithos – the tiny mountain village on the South-West of Rhodes island. On Wednesday I was collecting mushrooms there in the forest with Manolis and Despoina – the owners of Old Monolithos Taverna. Perfect time to enjoy the silence of the beautiful calm nature and also to have an amazing meal of wild mushrooms with a mushroom expert. 😉 After that trip I didn’t have to wait for so long to return to the lovely village, as I heard that a seminar would be held on that weekend by Γιάννης Ελενίτσας (Giannis Elenitsas) agronomist – botanist about the theory and the practice of making 100% natural beeswax cream with oil extract from local herbs. I had no doubts about going there as I am really into herbs, nature and any knowledge about the island and its natural treasures. To top this the seminar was free of charge located in Thomas Hotel with amazing panoramic view of the sea and nature. On Saturday fortunatelly I had the chance to join in the …
Görög fesztivál Nikia-ban – Nisyros szigetén
Kicsivel több, mint két hete hagytam el Nisyros szigetét, de még mindig nagyon hiányzik. A legmaradnadóbb élményem itt egy tradicionális fesztivál volt (görögül: panigiri) egy Nikia faluhoz közeli sziklába vájt templom mellett, ahol a helyi emberek összegyűltek, hogy együtt töltsenek egy éjszakát zenével, tánccal, isteni ételekkel (melyeket ingyen szolgáltak fel mindenkinek) egy hatalmas fa alatt. Mindezt nagyon spontán módon teszik, mindössze hagyják, hogy az öröm átjárja szabadon testüket és lelküket. Sok videót készítettem akkor este, de a mai pénteken ezt az egyet szeretném megosztani veletek, hogy megmutassam mennyire egyszerű örömöt találni az életben – és persze azt is, hogy a görögök élen járnak ennek a gyakorlásában. Nézzétek, ahogyan ezek az idős férfiak felszabadítják magukat a táncon és zenén keresztül. Meg persze a jó görög boron keresztül. Agios Ioannis Theologos templom, Nikia, 2017 Szeptember 25.:
Panigiri in Nikia – Nisyros island
I left Nisyros island more than two weeks ago, but I am still missing this island very much. The most beautiful experience was the traditional festival (panigiri) outside of Nikia village at Agios Ioannis Theologos Monastery, where the local people gathered for one crazy night with dance and very very good food under a huge tree to celebrate LIFE in a so simple way. Just letting the joy circulating through their body and spirit. I made a lots of videos, but I share this particular one with you right now to show you how easy to have fun in life – and of course to show you that Greek people are practicing this so naturally. Look at these men and I guarantee that you will feel much better, you will feel the joy while they are liberating themselves through dance and music. THIS IS THE MINIMUM LEVEL OF CRAZYNESS THAT WE NEED FOR LIFE. TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT THE PLAYFUL CHILD INSIDE OF US! Otherwise we are lost… Agios Ioannis Theologos Monastery, Nikia, 25. September …
Experiencing powers – inside and outside
Well… I am here in the amazing Dodekanisos, Greece for more than a month. I came here exactly on the day of a New Moon, and I really feel that I started a new cycle in my life – just like our beautiful Moon. It happened accidently, but finally I realized how much my life is connected to nature here. To different aspects of nature. First of all I experienced growth. The beautiful island of Rhodes helped me to open myself and all my senses again to experience the beauty, the love, and a lot more kind of energies around me. It happens all the time when I come here, but this time it was stronger than ever… Rhodes helped me to rediscover some inner power deep inside of me. It is beautiful to reconnect your spirit, to meet new qualities inside yourself, to discover yourself after a long term of being kind of lost and powerless… It is amazing to discover new spaces inside of yourself and also to realize that the world outside feels …
Green Eco House – hidden paradise for nature lovers on a Greek island
The healing environment of the Green House that Petros and his parents founded gives you the perfect possibility to change gears and return to your natural rhythm. Because we are part of the nature, but sometimes we need to remind ourselves…
The spirit of Kalymnos – photobook
I have been deeply inspired to visit a small island on the Aegean sea called Kalymnos by a man called Giannis. I have met Giannis in 2014 first in Rhodes island where he is running an exceptional ‘ouzeri’ with his wife Litsa. With their food they try to represent the kitchen of Kalymnos – the island where Giannis was born – and with their filoxenia (Greek word for Greek hospitality) they try to treat the guests like family members. The character of Giannis is the extra spices of the place and captured me so much with his love for music and life. So I went to Kalymnos to discover the roots of this ouzeri and visit the homeland of Giannis. Kalymnos was love at first sight for me and in 2016 I made a photobook about my first visit to the island. The book contains my favourite moments and photos taken by me and includes some knowledge about the island. I recommend it to Everyone of You with love! Click on the picture below to reach …
Ilios art 