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A milestone achieved! Recently we engaged Shane Andersen to do some professional photography. Until now all of the images on the website were all our own photographs. We held off getting professional photos until both cabins were ready. This step signifies the completion of a fairly lengthy process. The Earth Cabin and the Soul Cabin are complete. Initial design of the Cabins started somewhere before 2016. Many nights were spent with Shawn & Sandra Palmer of 4th Pig Pty Ltd. If I recall, it took about 3 and a half years. Eventually, we had something that worked and we ran that past an architect, and she came back with our design. Shawn then had to do what he calls "buildify" the design to make it more practical and cost efficient for building. Then it took around two years to build and commission the Earth Cabin which was completed on Valentines Day 2021.  Earth Cabin  Soul Cabin Check out the slide shows for the Earth Cabin and the Soul Cabin on the Earth & Soul Retreat website. Certainly is worth celebrating! 
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 World Labyrinth Day is this Saturday 6th May 2023. Walk as One at 1 for World Peace commences at 1pm. You are welcome to join us to walk the Earth & Soul Labyrinth for World Labyrinth Day 2023. To be part of the Walk as One at 1 for World Peace you are requested to contact us by phone (0417669449) or email (welcome@[email protected]). As the Labyrinth Walk starts at 1pm participants need to arrive by 12:30pm at least, to ensure we are settled and ready to start walking at 1pm. The concept of Walk as One at 1 means that we are part of a rolling wave of walking mediation all around the World for World Peace. In countries all around the world, Labyrinth participants commence walking in their particular time zone at 1pm and the energy builds and goes out to the universe.  Now you can share the Earth & Soul experience with friends. The Soul Cabin is now available for bookings from 20 April 2023 through our website, "Earth & Soul Retreat.com.au". In due course it will be up on the usual channels.  Soul Cabin Like all good things it has taken time and persistence. It has been like running a marathon and the race isn't done until you are across the finish line. The theme of the Soul Cabin is enhanced with a private garden feature, the Angel Wings Labyrinth. A space for personal introspection, perhaps meditation. Being situated alongside the Tree of Life Spiritual Walk also lends itself to the Soul theme.  Your own personal Angel Wings Labyrinth. For the time-being, as an Opening Special, receive a complimentary Cheese Platter when you book both cabins for the same stay at Earth & Soul Retreat and introduce your friends to the Earth & Soul experience.
Goodness, where does a year disappear to? I have a good idea where a lot of our year went, and it doesn't seem like just 6 months ago. The 27th of June, when I had my stroke, seems like years ago. Donna has been extremely busy. Fortunately, while I was in Rehab for 2.5 months, family helped out. Thank you, Ray & Sandra, Michelle, Callie & Steve for all your contribution through the year. On 22 November, mother of the bride duties dominated Donna's attention. Callie & Steve had the most beautiful wedding down on a newly uncovered part of Cannon Creek.  The wedding site at Cannon Creek had to be recovered from flood debris. we now have this wonderful wedding place down behind the Buddas.  Midst all of this, construction of the Soul Cabin has been progressing. The Soul Cabin is the twin of the Earth Cabin with a few decor changes to highlight the theme of the Soul as compared to the Earth.  The walls have a little bit of colour added. White for the Lightness of the Soul, red for the earth.  The Soul Cabin has its own small Labyrinth, the Angel Wings Labyrinth designed by Mark Healy of the Labyrinth Collective. This will have seats and a table and landscaping to be a personal space off to the side of the Soul Cabin.  The fire pit is done, next is the decking.  We expect construction to be complete by the end of January 2023. Hopefully available for bookings from early March 2023. Donna and I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Look forward to catching up in 2023. Regards... Mark & Donna.
 Just a small hiccup. I had a stroke on 27 June, so I have been out of action for a couple of months and as you can imagine this has also taken most of Donna's time. Thank you to Ray & Sandra, Callie & Steve, Michelle and others who stepped in and helped us out. Earth & Soul Retreat has carried on seamlessly. I am home now and learning to get about. I escaped for a 2 hour walk the other day. September/October is too good a time to not be out looking for wildflowers and birds nesting. The Soul Cabin is progressing and should be commissioned in January 2023.  Polished concrete is done, and the bath is ready for the deck.
That's all for now. Talk with you again soon.
regards... Mark & Donna Our builder, Shawn & Sandra Palmer, 4th Pig Pty Ltd is back on site after completing some big projects at Australia Zoo and nearby Maleny. Check out their Photo Gallery at Gallery – 4th Pig Pty Ltd. The Soul Cabin will complete the twin set at Earth & Soul Retreat. We have had a great year with the Earth Cabin. Thank you to all our wonderful guests. Shawn has been preparing the walls for the roof to go on.  The roof panels arrived last week. So this time next week we could see some big changes.   Framing up of the shower, vanity, toilet and the bed nook is underway and the electricians (Solar Blessing) have had a day out roughing in the electrical set up. Donna & I have been working on the landscaping. With the Soul Cabin, we are trying to differentiate from the Earth Cabin, just a little bit. Although the design and layout of the cabins will be the same, it is a different setting with not so much rock. There are some lovely big granite boulders and they will provide a separation between the outdoor bath area and the firepit area.  There is also some colour coming into the walls with the orange/red of the earth and the white clouds of the soul.  In keeping with the Soul theme, the Soul Cabin will have its own labyrinth in the form of the Angel Wings labyrinth. The Angel Wings Labyrinth was designed by Mark Healy, labyrinth designer and creator, of the Labyrinth Collective. Next, we will be adding herbs, lavender, rosemary thyme etc. in the beds between the paths. In time we will add a table & chairs in the centre as a sitting area for Soul Cabin guests.  Take care out there and thank you for being a part of the Earth & Soul Retreat.
regards... Mark & Donna Join with us. Saturday 7 May 2022 World Labyrinth Day Every year the first Saturday in May is World Labyrinth Day.  Earth & Soul Labyrinth The Earth & Soul Labyrinth is registered with the International Labyrinth Society and the Australian Labyrinth Network.   Through these connections, on Saturday 7 May 2022, Earth & Soul will be interacting with Labyrinth walkers world-wide. The event occurs under the banner of "Walk as One at 1". The idea is that at 1pm in our time zone, we start walking the labyrinth with a united intention for good will around the planet. This ensures that people all around the world are walking in a rolling progression through time zones around the world.  In addition, we register with the Legacy Labyrinth Project, participating with the Big Connection.  This is a Labyrinth Research Project which studies the impact of World Labyrinth Day. This is our way of taking action on specific social issues of our time.  If you would like to walk with us at the Earth & Soul Labyrinth World Labyrinth Day Saturday 7 May 2022 Walk as One at 1 We gather at 12:30pm and ensure we are ready to start right at 1pm. Please send us an email ([email protected]) or message us on 0417669449. You are welcome to bring lunch/afternoon tea. The Gazebo beside the Labyrinth is available for shelter and facilities. Drinking water, tea and coffee will be available.  We look forward to sharing World Labyrinth Day with you.
Regards... Mark & Donna During the week I was asked this question and I gave a pretty quick response. Many years ago we named our property Earth & Soul. Donna & I are like chalk & cheese. Donna is the earthy, practical one. I am the airy, song-writing, spiritual one with my head in the clouds. So, naturally, when we came to building cabins, the theme continued. The Earth Cabin is built on the granite rock and closer down to the gorge.  The Earth Cabin The site of the Soul Cabin is softer, with less rock, and is closer to the Tree of Life Spiritual Walk.
There is a view, down through the trees, looking to the gorge.  View the trees towards the Gorge Then I started to think about it. The name Earth & Soul is deeper than just that. Earth & Soul is 300 acres of natural granite belt bushland. Cannon Creek crosses through the property meeting the Broadwater at the bottom boundary. Over the years we have enjoyed the natural beauty.  I think for me that at times it has kept me alive. Over the years we have developed over 18 kilometres of natural walking trails.  As my working life progressed, I found myself looking for more and more spiritual meaning. There has to be more to life than this. The top paddock, up near the gate, was cleared way before our time. Only about 20 acres of the property has ever been cleared. The top paddock, as we called it, about 7 acres of open field, had never fulfilled any farmer's dream.  Aerial view 'Tree of Life Spiritual Walk" For many years I have researched and studied the Tree of Life. A model of life and energy and the cosmos from the Jewish Kabbalah. In my search for meaning I found a new project. I think I may be the first person on the Granite Belt to start putting rocks back in a paddock. The Tree of Life Spiritual Walk became a reality.  Looking down the Middle Pillar of the Tree of Life Spiritual Walk Over the years, the open cleared area, once known only as the Top Paddock, has taken on significant spiritual feeling & meaning. It is now a peaceful place to meander through the paths and to sit and take in the wonders of the universe.  Nevertheless, my search for spiritual meaning persisted. A visit to the Crystal Castle at Mullumbimby introduced me to the Chartres Labyrinth. Eventually I announced to Donna that I might build a labyrinth. I recall a story about Noah's Ark. God called to Noah and said "Noah, build me an ark". Noah replied, "What's an ark?" I think Donna's reaction may have been similar. My spiritual interests in Kabbalah and the Tree of Life extended to tales of the Knights Templar. This band of knights defended the temple in Jerusalem. They became the architects and builders of many Cathedrals. The 11 circuit Rose Labyrinth was designed and laid in the tile floor of the Chartres Cathedral in France. Some consider that it was designed as a pilgrimage for the knights when they could no longer return to the Holy Land. The walking meditation returns to the spiritual centre, from the outside world, and then returns again.  Chartres Cathedral Rose Labyrinth The Earth & Soul Labyrinth  Earth & Soul Labyrinth The Earth & Soul Labyrinth sits in an open glade in the natural environment. The circular pattern is enclosed by a surrounding perimeter of granite rocks. Within the spiritual sanctuary of nature, this is a sanctuary for spiritual meditation.  The Gazebo, Firepit & Earth & Soul Labyrinth The Earth & Soul Labyrinth continues to blossom and develop. We built the Gazebo and the firepit area nearby. Everything seems to work in a functional, interconnected way.  Rammed earth gates at our entrance Then we thought, what are we going to do when we retire? 300 acres of natural beauty, 12 kilometres from town! We built our natural, environmentally designed, rammed earth home on the property in 2009. Our home is the display home for our builder, Shawn & Sandra Palmer (4th Pig Pty Ltd). Visitor's fall in love with the quiet beauty and strength of the rammed earth. Add to this the environmental design, set amidst the natural granite belt features. The best way to describe the peaceful quality of a well made rammed earth building is to invite someone inside. Sit down and feel the natural silence and warmth.  Our Home My natural desire is to then take the visitor for a walk down through Cannon Creek Gorge and to Doro's Hole on the Broadwater.  Cannon Creek running down into the Gorge  Doro's Hole on the Broadwater Our retirement solution was waiting for us. The challenge was to become a business solution. My challenge was to develop the dream organically. This is the natural progression of my spiritual searching. Our dream for the visitor is to offer an escape. A retreat from the real world.  Earth Cabin The Soul Cabin will retain the same design as the Earth Cabin. We have added some colour to the walls. A red line to represent the earth and the natural landscape. A white line to represent the clouds and the spiritual dimension. In the polished concrete floor there will be a fleck of red jasper. The landscaping will be different and will probably include a smaller labyrinth in a garden setting. There will be a tree line barrier between the Soul Cabin and the Tree of Life Spiritual Walk. Seclusion & privacy will be assured.  Things are moving along quite fast.
As our sign on the gate says when you're leaving "Back to the real World." regards... Mark & Donna We are quickly moving from a Stonehenge type set of disconnected structures to a rammed earth building.
 Clouds over the bed nook area.
 There's bit of girl-power happening on site. To be continued...
Since launching the Earth Cabin in May this year, Donna & I have had an amazing experience. We have learned and grown. Now, the building of the second cabin, the Soul Cabin has started.  Our builders are Shawn & Sandra Palmer of 4th Pig Pty Ltd. (the 1st pig made of straw, 2nd of sticks, 3rd of bricks, 4th pig... rammed earth, naturally!) This first 3 weeks of October we have made unavailable so we can make some serious building sounds. It is very exciting! The intention is that all of the rammed earth earth walls will be completed in this period. Donna & I can then focus on landscaping. The big difference with the Soul Cabin is the addition of some colour in the construction of the walls.  We are also introducing some different colour into the polished concrete floor, I see the two colours as representing the Earth & Soul theme, red for the earth and the white for spirituality and the sky. This is the first wall of the Soul Cabin which we completed last Saturday, 9th October 2021.  So far, we have completed two wall sections and two columns.
There is a lot that will be happening this week and next week. After that, Shawn & Sandra have building commitments elsewhere. Construction will continue in the new year. Hopefully we will be ready in time for the Apple & Grape Festival.  See you soon... regards... Mark & Donna  |
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Earth & Soul Retreat
Make contact with the Earth. Nurture your Soul.
Architecturally & Environmentally designed ~ Rammed Earth construction ~ Secluded & Exclusive Bush Retreat Cabins ~ Earth Cabin & Soul Cabin ~ Off-grid standalone solar power ~ Baker's oven for warmth & practicality ~ Fully equipped kitchen ~ King bed ~Outdoor stone bath on the deck ~ Fire Pit ~ BBQ facilities on the deck
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124 Barker Lane, Cannon Creek
Queensland QLD 4380 |
Phone: 0417 669 449
Email: [email protected] |