Tutorials

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Crystal Castle

High in the Bryron hinterland not far from Mullimbimby is a beautiful space called Crystal Castle. My big girl was very keen to visit there again in these holidays, last time we went she was about four years old.

There were quite a few new things to see this time ~
The Labyrinth; an archetypal symbol found in spiritual traditions, forms a mysterious winding path on the way to the centre. Unlike a maze, which is a puzzle designed to be solved; there is only one way in to the centre of a labyrinth and only one way out. It takes about 20 minutes to walk the quiet path, plenty of time for reflective thought or self enquiry.

The fountain of peace; Crafted in Germany this fountain began its life in Bahia in northern Brazil where the rose quartz was found. The quartz was roughly cut there before being shipped to Germany and shaped to a perfect 310kg sphere. The granite base is from the Moggai river in Switzerland; it was carved to exactly match the sphere. Two holes were drilled in exact positions to allow the water to lift and turn the ball - it rotates 0.3mm above the base of the rock. The mystic lore of rose quartz is love and compassion and is is literally everywhere in the castle grounds.

This fossil is probably a million years old but I don't remember seeing it last time!

Amethest geodes are everywhere too - some twice as tall as your average adult and weighing thousands of kilograms. This amethest began its life about 10 million years ago as a bubble in lava flow; the intense pressure and heat produced the crystal ~ it is believed that tiny amounts of iron give amethest its colour.
The mystic lore of amethest is peace. protection and intuition.














The Budda walk is more densly rich with tropical foilage this time and of course this was the first time my wee girl had made the walk....
I remember last time we visited my beloved sat on one of the large central rose quartz 'seats' in the spiral while my then wee big girl buzzed around him collecting 'crystals' for him to look at....must try to find that picture.

Ganesh is the remover of obstacles. The Hindu religion belives that honouring Ganesh before new ventures and in life changes ensures easier transitions and success. He is also revered as the god of education, literature, knowledge, wisdom and wealth.













Lakshmi is the Hindu goddess of  fortune, prosperity, wisdom and fertility.She is also the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm. She is always shown with a lotus, rooted in the mud but blossoming above the water. The lotus represents purity and spiritual perfection.











Nandi, the white bull, represents joy attained through celebration but also through strength and restraint. He is the vehicle of Shiva, one of the Hindu gods.

We spent hours wandering through the gardens then had a divine lunch on the deck looking out over the valley before having a peak at all the things for sale and listening to the crystal singing bowls before wandering along the rainforest walk and home again.
Tomorrow I will pick the macadamina winner - at this stage your odds are very good! might have to send you all a little something. ~

5 comments:

anna said...

These are amazing pictures! I love the small pilgrim on the Buddha walk especially :)

m. bloom said...

The labyrinth is so beautiful, and I also loved the photo of your wee pilgrim on the Buddha walk...

I wish I could sign up for your macadamia give-away, but I'm afraid that shipping agricultural products overseas might not be allowed (esp. to California where agriculture is a large source of income to the state, we are sensitive to the risk of introducing any type of insect from afar -- Not to say that your macadamias might be infested, but I think you know what I intend to say! It's just that international inspectors might frown upon such things...) Also the cost of shipping might be prohibitive. Still, I hope you'll count me in if you think it's possible... (I LOVE macadamias!!! they're my favorites)

W-S Wanderings said...

Oh WOW! That sphere. Those geodes. The labyrinth. I can't even put together a coherent sentence. So incredible.

Blessings and light....

Bianca said...

We love crystal castle too:) Any time we get visitors from interstate I take them for a drive down there. Its quite possibly one of the most beutiful places in the northern rivers. So many crystals, such HUGE crystals! Its hard not be be in love with the place.

HA! Last time we were there, there was a family with little children, and the kids were running along the paths laughing and just having fun. Their mother was runng after them in a bother screaming at them that they were supposed to be being peacefull. It still has my husband and I in hysterics every time we think of it.

xB

Kirsten said...

Gosh, I didn't realise we have something so beautiful so close!

We are heading to Lennox Heads camping next week, so will definitely go here for a visit.