Thanks Will, a lovely video. Am also reading Gail Simmon’s book and between you the Way has been brought to life. Well done. A formidable challenge completed safely and with obvious joy.
A beautiful, relaxing, contemplative video. A father, his young daughter and their dog in a pristine place. Wonderful background music as well. Thank You for this.
Bravo, both of you! Joan's story is still an important one. The day might not be too far off when those of us who are deemed a bit peculiar could face this era's equivalent of being 'dealt with'. But let's hope for better things. A very pretty and thought-provoking duet. Thank you.
That was very moving and beautiful imagine if old oak forests were widespread again, they are nature's cathedrals. May I ask what the mesmerising music was, it evoked the almost meloncholy beauty of the magestic old oak.
If that's what a well-meaning hippy can do with a candle, just imagine what an evil-minded one might be capable of! No shade to hippies in general, of course.
This is fantastic Will!! Very glad to be shown the way with your excellent video making skills & inspiring words. I'll look forward to walking this path in the summer. (Loved how you made the intervals the distance in miles between each one!)
It's nice to see the Conduit Head getting some publicity. It certainly is tucked out of sight and, many might say, harm's way. As to it being holy? Other than being constructed by monks, I have my doubts. I'm no expert, but I would have said that it was probably the most practical place from which to tap fresh, running water for the Franciscan monastery in the town. II cannot recall it being associated with any Saints. Not, unless you really want to stretch a point, even the footballing ones. I've no idea how involved with the pilgrims heading for Canterbury the monetary was. It was established in the 13th century, immediately north of God's House, which had been set up to deal with those following Henry II's penitential route to Canterbury soon after Thomas Becket's murder in 1170. Incidentally, accessing Coldwell via the Rollsbrook Greenway (I've never heard it called Polygon Wood) fairly recently the most conspicuous rubbish I sighted was spent fire extinguishers.
Thanks for your comment! I’m of the opinion that pre-taps, safe clean water was known as a ‘holy’ resource, not necessarily due to saintly associations (which are typically dedications rather than historical links), but because water has always been humanity’s go-to holy place. Ever since we were a nomadic species, for all 2 million years, these locations were sought-after and pilgrimaged to, because without such places, where health-giving clean water arises as a gift, no human life or culture would thrive for long. The word ‘holy’ arises from the same etymological root as ‘healthy’ and ‘wholesome’, and I tend to use the word in this way. Religious affiliations are attached afterward, but the water sources have been known to be holy forever. I appreciate this is not a widely accepted historical viewpoint - those nomadic humans of a million years ago didn’t leave written evidence, and modern history seems to translate that as evidence of something not happening. But this is an erroneous assumption, imo. A lack of evidence is not evidence of a lack. Anyway, thank you again for your detailed comment, it is very welcome, and I’m glad to hear news from a well-informed local person! I do wish the council would make something more of Southampton’s flowing heritage! There are so many examples of restored beautiful wells (holy or otherwise - though we could make it holy today if we chose, it doesn’t need to be an ancient designation!). It feels like Soton is missing the opportunity with this well. Pretty much every other one in the city is buried now. Anyroad, good day to you!
@@WillWalking Thank you for responding. Your reasoning for reckoning Colwell Spring holy makes good etymological sense. And, after all, all you need for holy water is H2O and a bloke in holy orders. I was thinking more in terms of your actual St Mary manifesting herself in front of illiterate peasant girls. You noted that Southampton doesn't make enough of its "flowing heritage". True. It was after all a thriving spa resort. I am now wondering if the chalybeate well can be retapped for profit? You'll probably know the story of Houndwell. Sited on what is now Houndwell Park its water was believed efficacious for the eyes. It was destroyed during the construction of a stretch of canal in close proximity. There's no reclaiming that. Meanwhile: The Itchen and Test estuaries are too polluted by untreated effluent to swim in safely. All the very best for your further travels and accounts.
We were taught it while walking between Kent and Cornwall. The story is in print: Singing for our Supper - W. R. Parsons. (Amazon) if you care for a light read…?
Real special moments there captured on camera. The tree was spectacular but the energy out for a walk with family and Dog is everything. Big Oak Tree Fan here!
If modern builders and architects had the wit to emboss faces and carvings of dogs and owls and flowers on their awful concrete blocks, no-one would be complaining about the ugliness of their architecture. And it would be SO SIMPLE to do. Symbolism has been an integral part of building for thousands of years. Only very recently has it been abandoned in the name of ... what ... "authenticity"? "Natural shapes"?
Stuff like this which is real, and has history, is so much more important now that virtually anything can be created with ai. And ai can look good in some ways but there's still something not quite right about it. It does lack soul somehow, and I don't think I'm just imagining it out of feeling threatened by 'the machines'. I just prefer the mysteriously, soulfully real.
