Lotus Heart Sanctuary

21/12/2024

Winter Solstice Blessings 🌞❄️

Gaia’s Winter Rest’ by

In the Northern Hemisphere since our summer solstice in June the days have gradually drawn shorter & nights longer; but today the Winter Solstice sees that reversed; it marks the longest night of the year, when the sun appears at its most southerly position, directly overhead at the faraway Tropic of Capricorn, and marks the point where daylight once again starts to gain ground on darkness with every passing day as our days start to get a little longer - thus with the Winter Solstice we are welcoming the light. 💛🌞🧡❄️
This is the reverse in the Southern Hemisphere.
The Summer and Winter Solstices are astronomical events as they mark the movement of Father Sun and bring change to the duration of our days and nights.

“Solstice” derives from the Latin word 'solstitium', meaning “Sun stands still”.
Earth tilting on its rotational axis, is the very reason we experience our “seasons” here on Earth.

Christmas is the highlight of December for most people, but from the earliest human times it has been common for cultures around the world to honour & celebrate the winter solstice which marks the lighter days to come; celebrations include gatherings, rituals, feasts, festivals & holidays. In fact many traditions now associated with Christmas actually have their origins in the 12 day pagan holiday of “Yule” which centred round the solstice - traditions such as the very Christmas trees & wreaths we are now so eager to dress our homes with.

The winter solstice is a time to stop, go inward and reflect on the year which is preparing to pass us by. It’s a time to prepare for the new year coming, set new intentions and sow seeds of change. It’s a powerful time to connect with your inner child & your higher self wvuch can be fine by entering the astral realm. It’s a time to let go of whatever no longer serves us, and to think about change & rebirth.
In modern society many of us tend to be oblivious to the universal, lunar & celestial events that occur throughout every year. They’re important times to us as humans and we should not be ignoring them, instead revolving our lives around them. - words of the beautiful Lynn Jolly who loved this time of year 🙏✨🪷

18/12/2024

Brrrr, it's cold outside...please don't forget to feed the birds and a shallow bowl of fresh water too ❤ Xx

07/12/2024

''Christmas is coming and thousands of lambs who should still be breastfeeding have already been separated from their mothers, in the next few days they will be sent to the slaughterhouse.'

While humans are browsing the tinselled mortuary aisles for bargains, this tragic innocent is paying the real price for nonveganism.

We can be the reason for this heartbreak or we can be vegan. There is no third choice.

Image by Filmingforliberation is of a lamb awaiting slaughter, defeated and miserable, resting their head on a rock.''

'Christmas is coming and thousands of lambs who should still be breastfeeding have already been separated from their mothers, in the next few days they will be sent to the slaughterhouse.'

While humans are browsing the tinselled mortuary aisles for bargains, this tragic innocent is paying the real price for nonveganism.

We can be the reason for this heartbreak or we can be vegan. There is no third choice.

Image by Filmingforliberation is of a lamb awaiting slaughter, defeated and miserable, resting their head on a rock.

06/12/2024

Seasons Insanity.
Artwork by Jo V Fredericks

"'Peace on earth’, ‘Goodwill to all’, ‘Joys of the season’.

Online and TV advertising for the festive season is in full swing – has been for weeks. Some of us start preparations early, some wait until later. Many will consider they have nothing to celebrate this year and will choose not to participate.

But animal rights advocates have a good reason to highlight the season now. As I write, our victims are queuing in the slaughterhouses to meet the ‘festive’ shopping demands of nonvegans. The death trucks can scarcely meet the demand as they shuttle their terrified cargo into hell.

Our victims are dying in fear and agony, whimpering and sobbing, desperately fighting for for their lives, because contrary to the myths we cling to, they are as aware as we are and they do not want to die.

So this festive season, let us consider the monstrous injustice of the bloodbath that our consumer demands are causing while we are busy deluding ourselves with phrases like 'Peace on earth’, ‘Goodwill to all’ and ‘Joys of the season’. Because for as long as we are demanding ruined lives and broken bodies for our plates, our cupboards and our wardrobes, the words are quite simply offensive and untrue.

To make words of peace, goodwill and joy actually mean something real, be vegan." - There's an Elephant in the Room

Artwork by Jo V Fredericks

04/12/2024

Please remember our bird friends as they need all the help they can get at this time of year. As well as food, a shallow bowl of water is also very much appreciated. 🙏🐦❤️

17/11/2024

As most of you will be aware, Lotus Heart Sanctuary went up for sale last year. One of the lots sold near the start of the year, but one lot still remains. This lot includes the original croft house, the 4 Camping Pods, the cow shed plus over 70 acres of land. You can see the listing from Galbraiths in the link below.
If anyone is interested in this stunning croft located on the beautiful Isle of Skye, or knows anyone who may be, please feel free to contact the page or Galbraiths directly. I truly hope we find someone who can use the land to do something wonderful. - Luke

**NEW PRICE** An exceptional and versatile rural property in a beautiful and easily accessible location. A decrofted house and registered owner occupied croft with agricultural and amenity land, and four glamping pods.

12/11/2024

Today marks two years since we lost my mum, Lynn. Each day since is difficult in its own way, but each year, certain dates provoke more thought and feelings, and today is most certainly one of those days. As most of you know, the selfless work she did for others was really quite remarkable, and I think she was an inspiration to many, not just me. Not a day goes by when I don't think of her and all she did for me.
We can take some comfort knowing that, this year, she was reunited with her mum/my nanna and, of course, her little braveheart and 'spirit animal', Nipper. ❤️

Luke

10/11/2024

💜💜💜

On remembrance day, we don’t just remember our brave service men and women, but also the hundreds of thousands of horses, dogs, donkeys, mules, pigeons and more that lost their lives in battles they’ll never be able to comprehend.

These animals have given so much. Not just on the battlefield but also as comfort and support for our soldiers at their most difficult times.

Lest We Forget. 💜

09/11/2024

Once someone knows the truth they can ignore it but they cannot “unknow” it! 🌱🌱

05/11/2024

We are almost in 2025 - why are fireworks still legal?

Some people defend fireworks by saying we should use manmade distractions like lights, radio, tv, people, calming spray, dens etc for animals in our homes (and of course we should always do anything we can to help the animals blessed enough to be safe in our homes), however this is in no way any solution to fireworks. What about the animals who live outside our homes? They have absolutely no chance of receiving those man made distractions like putting on a tv or radio or spraying a calming spray over themselves.

Fireworks can cause many people stress too and can trigger PTSD.
Fireworks are no longer only confined to one night of the year, they are used at many events & occasions - basically whenever people choose to use them, they do.

Also we are in the midst of a climate crisis and fireworks cause extensive air pollution in a short amount of time, leaving metal particles, dangerous toxins, harmful chemicals and smoke in the air for hours and days. Some of the toxins never fully decompose or disintegrate, but rather hang around in the environment, poisoning all they come into contact with.

Saying animals/people are harmed/killed in a variety of ways is totally irrelevant to the points made here; such a theory suggests that just because people/animals can be harmed/killed by accidents and natural occurrences we should turn a blind eye to man made causes of harm & death? 🧐

These points only scratch the surface as to the issues caused by fireworks.
The enjoyment of kids and adults is is no way more important than any of the above. There’s a much much bigger picture here than the enjoyment of humans!
Learning to refrain from doing things that cause stress and harm to other beings is a beautiful way to water our seed of compassion within.
Be selfless - be fair - be compassionate - be kind.

01/11/2024

Happy World Vegan Day 2024 🌱💚

Photos: Simon Holding

20/10/2024

The power and beauty of hugs...the universal language of friendship and love 🫂🐾❤️

12/10/2024

No other words required 🐾🌱🙏

www.goveganworld.com

09/10/2024

"If non-vegans did not create a market for animal products, farmers and slaughterhouse workers would not engage in the violent work of exploiting and killing them. If you regard their work as objectionable, you know what to do." - Go Vegan World

https://goveganworld.com/download-your-free-vegan-guide/

30/09/2024

"And it dawned on me that here were literally thousands of animals I didn't eat. . . . . . dogs or cats, bears or bats, tigers or turtles, horses or hamsters, rosellas or rats.

Nor did I drink the milk of goats, yaks or donkeys, giraffes, or cats.

I decided to go only five animals more. . . . I simply added cows, sheep, pigs, chickens and fish to the list.

It was a breeze.

I didn't crave lamb any more than I craved lion; I didn't miss beef any more than I missed bandicoot. I didn't miss chicken any more than I missed chimpanzee. I didn't miss pork any more than I missed porcupine.

I replaced dead animals with an astounding variety of colorful, delicious and healthy plant foods."

Philip Wollen

29/09/2024

"Once we acknowledge that other animals can feel and experience their subjective worlds (sentience) the next rational step is to stop using them as if they were inanimate resources instead of the feeling beings they are. It never ceases to amaze that so many people call instead for improved methods of treating them. This merely perpetuates the status quo that other animals are objects for human use and that it is acceptable to exploit and kill them. If we truly accepted the fact that they are sentient, we would no longer breed them into a life where they are used and killed for us." - Go Vegan World

Once we acknowledge that other animals can feel and experience their subjective worlds (sentience) the next rational step is to stop using them as if they were inanimate resources instead of the feeling beings they are. It never ceases to amaze that so many people call instead for improved methods of treating them. This merely perpetuates the status quo that other animals are objects for human use and that it is acceptable to exploit and kill them. If we truly accepted the fact that they are sentient, we would no longer breed them into a life where they are used and killed for us.

25/09/2024

“Animals have done us no harm and they have no power of resistance. There is something so dreadful in tormenting those who have never harmed us, who cannot defend themselves, who are utterly in our power” - John Henry Newman

15/09/2024

A precious memory from August 2021 of a "Happy family enjoying the Skye sunshine" 🐄🐑🐄🐑🐄🐑🌞✨
Lotus Heart Sanctuary
Isle of Skye Scotland 💙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
💙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🏕🏕 🐄🐑
Prince, Tara and the Lotus Clan now enjoy life at the wonderful Hillside Animal Sanctuary. If you wish to donate to their care, you can do so at www.hillside.org.uk