Autumn 2010 Blog Update

Wow 2010 I'm still blown away we have reached the end of another decade in Gregorian Time!! And it wont be long either before this year is up and we are again facing another one abundant with the great mystery that it holds in store ready to unfold once again. Well it has been jam packed so far for me this year and I have noticed the energy has really increased to a new level, there has been just so much developing in my life that processing it all has been a challenge but I think I am starting to catch up. A short trip and camp out with my guest Todd to The Boarder Rangers NP recently helped with that, and I was blessed to swim in a very secluded swimming hole bellow a waterfall in the very pristine and sacred brindle creek which really gave me a huge chi-injection, and to follow that up, a trip to Wollumbin (Mt warning) - The most Sacred Mountain in Bundjulung Country. This helped me remember nature can never be surpassed as a teacher and to bring us back into a state of balance and oneness, I must get out there more often.

After an awesome trip to NZ in November and December where I visited my two beautiful children Faith Manawanui and Manaaki Madison as well as a lengthy trip of both islands covering 6,000 Km in a small wagon I bought over there, I returned from the enchanting experience inspired and refreshed and teased by the taste of another land with rich and powerful earth energies. The highlights were spending time with my kids visiting and swimming in healing bubbling volcanic lakes and creeks, and going on a guided caving expedition at Waitomo Caves in the North Island which my son has been wishing for for a long time. Other highlights were visiting the Kauri Forrest's in the north where I visited the largest Kauri Tree in existence, Tahne Mahuta, which is considered to be around 3,000 years old. I played her a song with my flute and a friend videoed it so I will add that to my YouTube channel when I can get to a high speed connection. NZ certainly is an amazing place and I highly recommend a visit there. Soon after returning I was back to my usual rounds at the summer festivals here meeting great people and passing on the flutes to their carriers to bring more joy to our world. Bellow are pics from the trip.

During the draft of this post I started writing about my Trip to NZ in November/December but I have now transfered that text to a new post and will publish it when it is complete. I am excited to share with you what was great journey and I have some great pics also.

The last few months have found me Teaching My first apprentice Todd Chaplin from NZ, who came to learn the fundamentals of crafting NAF's as well as serious work producing flutes ready for the festival and expo season that will begin shortly. I have found sometimes there's more to learn in being a teacher than in any other role and this connection with Todd was certainly no exception. Todd really surprised me from the start and having only experienced a bit of woodworking is school I didn't imagine a beginner at this craft to be just so confident and productive as Todd was, this allowed him to get more out of the opportunity and in his 2 months probably grasped more than I did in some areas in 2 years when I was teaching myself. Todd's personal flutes he made while here were amazing and each having a beautiful spirit and energy as is indicative for his passion for flutes and his spiritual path. It certainly was a blessing having Todd join me in the world of making flutes as well as a valued personal friend, yoga teacher and just someone to laugh and joke with, the place is now very quiet without him and his bright personality and I look forward to catching up with him in the future. My kitchen misses him too, lol.

So it's funny how things go as within a week of Todd leaving for his 3 month journey of the states where he intends amongst many other things visiting and possibly apprenticing under one of my teachers Guillermo Martinez in California, I was contacted by Angus a young man of great spirit also who is super passionate to learn the craft. This and so many other things that have come about this year shows how the journey is evolving and I am being shown by spirit again the value I have in sharing what it is that I have created and been privileged to be taught by others. This has always been a part of my focus since I started this flute journey to share and connect with people, just as was the intention with the flute circle also. So I have agreed to take Angus on and look forward to sharing a few sneezes with him in the workshop while we craft the flutes of tomorrow.

I think I am entering a new phase of my life and this year feels like it has the potential for manifesting the goals and dreams that I have worked on for so long, so it's definitely not a time to get distracted. I plan to travel next year in South America, a land which calls me deeply and strongly even more so since I visited Peru in 2006 for 2 weeks which was a tease. I may visit a currendero (shaman) in the Amazon who offered me to be his apprentice or I may just do what I do when I go overseas and just go where the journey takes me with little planning, I'll just be sure not to miss my plane this time (shaking head with grin). So this year will be extra solid with flute making to get ahead enough with flute stock and funds to realise this dream, that's possible another reason I havn't planned any circles till the end of the year, but it would be more accurate to say that there's not been time to really think about circles yet alone plan them so far this year.

So more than ever I am being called to focus my energy on my greatest passion which is making flutes. Every day I find a new inspiration that I feel deepens this passion and that alone excites me. I have now been making Native American Style Flutes professionally for over 5 years and I don't plan to ever stop, but I am aware that many other possibilities and potentials exist so I am trying to keep open to allowing those gifts to unfold, it is interesting and exciting as much as it is mysterious.

I started writing a little about Flute making but got carried away and so that will be made into a new blog post to be posted later.

I will be heading up to the Meleny Wood Expo in the first weekend of May, Sydney MBS Festival in mid May and Brisbane MBS June, also at The Dreaming Festival at Woodford in early June which is my favorite festival. If you are heading to any of these festivals come by and chat and lets play a song for each other too maybe, all my flutes love to be played and enjoyed.

On the flute circle front, at the moment I am not able to put a lot of time or energy into organising one until later in the year, when I think as previously mentioned another weekend circle at Belbunya like the last gathering would be great or something similar. Possibly a fun day somewhere else also maybe in the hills around NNSW, maybe a camp out at Forrest Tops in the Border Rangers, who knows. Even the possibility of a gathering at your place if you interested in being a host.

One thing I am very excited to mention is that there is finally a circle beginning in Brisbane which I'll send details of in a separate email, the circle has been talked about for a while now and with the customers of mine and others I have met around Australia there has never been so much interest for a flute circle anywhere as in Brisbane. Fiona and Churaig are the visionaries behind creating this new circle and have asked me to extend a welcome to you. I wouldn't be missing a good flute circle so I'll be there as a participant and to share the great experience as well as sell tickets for the charity raffle which I should mention more about.

I have decided to continue the 2009-10 Charity Raffle longer than was planned, with the donated prizes now totaling nearly $3,000 from flutes, to drums, massages and giant ameturine crystals etc. and only about $250 raised, it has shown that the current way of running this raffle has been a bit disorganised which I take responsibility for and it really needs us all to support it so the energy of the donations is hopefully equalled. I think to do this will be easily possible if a few people will sell tickets if anyone has any ideas. The raffle will definitely be drawn at the end of year flute circle regardless of what has been raised. In the next week I'll update the list. If you want more info about the prizes and buying tickets see hyperlink above or if you want to donate something please email me..

Lindy Morning Star contacted me recently to say she will return to NSW later this year as her second Grandchild is on the way and she intends a trip up the coast to run workshops and suggested we run another joint workshop like the one last year in the Boarder Rangers NP, some of you who couldn't come last year mentioned you'd be keen if it happened again and there's a good possibility it will which is exciting.

Lastly in the links section on the upper left column, is now a link to One Garden Flower Essences made by Christiana and Graeme Rose Bates which I use personally and highly recommend, I support their work and honour the love and integrity that goes into it what they do, I am very honoured also to share them as good friends.

I recommend visiting any of the links here that you may feel interested in. Also I want to link blogs with you and if you want to add my web or blog link or me to add your link, no worries just contact me in the email link at the top of page, I love networking and sharing. Isn't that what it's all about !

Well that's all for now and I'll keep you posted as usual when a circle is being planed or just when something happens on this great journey which I have been blessed with.

Wishing you all great blessings and happiness on your journeys where ever they may take you

Matt