Lotus Heart Sanctuary

22/01/2025

Remembering Lynn's beloved teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, who was the main inspiration for Lynn setting up Lotus Heart Sanctuary 🪷 🙏🐾

"It was Thay’s vegan advocacy that made me go vegan from veggie and that made me vow to do more for all sentient beings - he inspired me to engage with social justice and speak out on compassion for all beings, that ultimately became the ground for Lotus Heart Sanctuary" - Lynn

11/10/1926 - 22/01/2022 🙏✨✨🪷
No coming, no going

16/01/2025

Such a beautiful painting by artist Jackie Morris reminding us that “we are all children of the Universe, just living in different bodies” 🙏🐾❤️

12/01/2025

Useful information about feeding swans 🦢

Feeding the Swans

It’s that time of year where natural food sources are scarce and the colder weather sets in so the swans look to people for food more than ever, especially where flocks congregate.

We have had a few calls asking us what to feed them….so thought the points below would be helpful…

🦢 Bread isn’t bad! We know it isn’t the most nutritious (the same as a McDonald’s isn’t the best for us) but it is better than nothing. Swans have been fed bread for many many years without problems and it doesn’t cause Angel Wing. Just please don’t use mouldy bread and always feed in the water!

🦢 Other options can include mixed corn/bird seed, sweetcorn, peas, floating pellets, cooked rice and porridge oats.

🦢Please ensure frozen peas/sweetcorn are defrosted before feeding.

🦢 Some food sinks so if the water is deep then consider options like bread or the floating pellets so the swans are able to get the food.

🦢 ALWAYS FEED IN THE WATER….firstly they need the water to help the food pass down their long neck but more importantly feeding out of the water leaves them vulnerable, especially to dog attacks. It may also encourage them to come out of the water in search of food and this can be dangerous if there are roads/car parks nearby.

Sadly many of the swans we are being called out to are underweight….a typical adult sized swan should weigh between 8kg - 12kg (some heavier) however we have picked up 3 cygnets just this week, all weighing around 4.5kg! Also we know Avian Flu hasn’t gone away and keeping them fed and healthy will mean they stand a better chance should the situation worsen…so anything you can spare to feed the swans this winter will make a difference.

Thank You 💙

01/01/2025

Happy New Year to you all!! ❤ May 2025 be all that you hope it to be, but, most of all...may kindness and compassion be at the heart of how you live your life 🙏 If you're not already Vegan, may your heart and soul awaken to the unnecessary abject suffering we inflict on trillions of sentient animals of land, sea and air. Please Reject Speciesism, Live kindly and respectfully to ALL sentient beings on Mother Earth and always treat them as we ourselves would wish to be treated 🙏🐾❤

Watch ↙️
➡️Earthlings (www.nationearth.com)
➡️Speciesism The Movie (www.speciesismthemovie.com)
➡️Cowspiracy (Netflix)
➡️Dominion (Netflix)

Help & Support ↙️
➡️www.goveganworld.com
➡️www.vegankit.com
➡️www.challenge22.com
➡️www.howdoigovegan.com

28/12/2024

...for everyone who needs to hear this 🙏💞

26/12/2024

This time of year can be extremely difficult for so many people. To any of our U.K. followers who find themselves struggling, here are a list of useful numbers you may wish to reach out to.
Sending love to all who are suffering 🙏♥️

25/12/2024

"Wishing peace, love, equality, and harmony to all who share this earth with us! 💚🎄❤️" Suzanne Gonzalez

24/12/2024

“We must fight against the spirit of unconscious cruelty with which we treat the animals. Animals suffer as much as we do. True humanity does not allow us to impose such sufferings on them. It is our duty to make the whole world recognize it. Until we extend our circle of compassion to all living things, humanity will not find peace.”
― Albert Schweitzer

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

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.