Stikkordarkiv: The old oak tree

Pilgrimage news @en

An historic event!

15th April Anno Domine 2014

The very first Pilgrimage in Balestrand… in modern time. We wanted to try out and test the path. Exciting! Would they become as enchanted as we are? After the first few steps I became at peace; they were with! They saw and took in the wondrous God’s nature… saw that here He had really been strewing out from His generous hand… 

Lage stistones
stumps
birds’ twittering
the frog pond
pine barren
spruce forest
pine needles
dry knolls and crags
the stone steps
the bobbling brooks
The old Road bits
the moss carpet
leaves from years before

 

In the end we all agreed on: It had been The good Pilgrimage!

We are filled with gratitude and admiration to Jørgen, Arthur, Erik, Ingvar and students from Sygna for the good work they have done to find the good trasee, clear and make even the path… we had a strong sensation of their hands’ work; and that this is a deed with brain and heart as well! We are looking foreword to guiding ‘all people’ on this Pilgrimage….

Pilgrimage news @en

Over bridges and through gates

Bridges and gates are some quite special items…

So… now Jørgen and his men will make a  gate in the fence from the ‘outer’ ground to the area closer to the farm…. and a path the will lead the pilgrim to a silent while on the hill … There one can feel the connection with the past… with you oneself … and it is easier to listen to the voice of the soul inside…. Reflection  and meditation … and one might even find out something about the meaning of life….why we are here, just now…… under the honourable old oak…… and if you go into the open trunk, you can even see the sky….

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Over bridges
and through gates
in unknown land
you need men’s courage
and women’s strength
to venture on to
and through
but you have to go
over and through
to reach
the land of tomorrow

Pilgrimage news @en

So much is happening in our small hamlets

The Oak of a thousand years

The big pilgrimage destinations, such as Mekka, Jesusalem, Santiago de Compostela, Cavadonga, Iona….have got much in common concerning the wandering path itself… there are sculptures, crosses or other ‘marks’ at the roadsides. The pilgrimage path from the centre of Balestrand to Kvamsøy has got one item in particular; a natual sculpture: ‘The Målsnes oak’. She is unique, she is among the oldest trees in the whole Norway. 

‘The tree on the top of the mound’ has a special aim about itself. This tree was planted og growing wildly from a seed   b e f o r e   Norway had become one unit, a land with one king! The oak has been witness many a hard worksman… has seten travelling people from foreign countries passing by boats on the fjord. King Sigurd sailed to the battle i Frønningen in 1184 … and maybe he looked on to the young oak tree while praying for his country and its folk….. She has been a vitness to ‘all’ happenings going on here… has seen mark stones being put in to the ground… , children playing on the ground and climbing the branches… Its crown has been given shelter to grassing sheep and many a tired worker have sat down a while resting the back at the solid bole… even though ‘the wind caught the tree top’ and many a gust  has tried to break it… Tusenårseika at Målsnes is standing!

20131027_131837During our work with the project Pilegrimage Balestrand we have been dealing with really good property owners who willingly share some wonderful natur pearls with us all. We experienced it in Kvamsøy, as I have told in an earlier blog. Now we are meeting with the same sharing attitude; they see the value for people in Balestrand as well as our many visitors from abroad. …they have an eye for participating… and to ‘pull’ together, then ‘great deed can be achieved’… in modern language: it is a ‘vin-vin’ situaion….Soon  the pilgrimage path will be ready…. Oh what a day!