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I live on small, heavily forested Pender Island, a 2-1/2 hour ferry ride from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. We have no apartment buildings, no streetlights or stop lights, so our light pollution is zero. The changing moon is brightly visible on the ocean and in our night sky. I am a moon watcher and long-distance hiker so imagine my pleasure to meet kindred spirits. Not sure if I can put my hat in the ring for a giveaway from so far away but here’s hoping!

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That sounds blissful, Joy. And you absolutely can put your name in the hat – I'll post the books to wherever they find their new home. Thanks for sharing!

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Great interview and always good to hear from Rob! This reminds me that in Sri Lanka each full moon is a public holiday, and I thought this was a wonderful idea. I’d love to do a moonwalk with my Mum, as she loves the moon and stars and lives in rural Finland so there is no light pollution, and I’ve seen absolutely huge moons in the summer there. Otherwise, I think it would be interesting to do a walk with Tristan Gooley, the natural navigator, and learn about navigating using the moon, which could come in handy. And maybe a witch, to know more about the magical aspect of the moon. And a biodynamic farmer to understand about the moon’s impact on growing. There are so many aspects to the moon which make it so fascinating! (And Rob of course to hear more about his book!)

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Thanks for sharing, Olivia. I had no idea that Sri Lankans celebrated the full moon that way. And I didn't know about Tristan Gooley either, so I've learned two new things. Thank you :-)

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Dec 12, 2023·edited Dec 12, 2023

Sarah

Having trouble posting my comment.

https://1drv.ms/w/s!AtYD4NhZ3Z1_qGQxzAUp3Az2k5bj

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I'm sorry about that, Paul. I can see your comment here on the post, so it looks like it worked. Can you tell me what happened? I'm not sure how Substack set up comments, but I can look into it to see what I can do to help.

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Dec 13, 2023Liked by Sarah Farley

Sarah and Rob

Really enjoyed this post and the conversation between two fellow ex Falmouthonians.

The moon images are fascinating and walking through magical nature grounded on our earth seems a unique way of engaging with such a powerful force.

I wrote a book about walking across Spain 10 years ago. Through such an adventure I was able to see the influence of , what Federico Garcia Lorca termed "Duende",on the culture of such a diverse country.

Duende can be seen as a spirit or life-force that is represented in Spanish life and culture. Lorca talked of those moon-frozen heads that Zurburan painted, the yellows of butter and lightening in the work of El Greco and the electricity that flowed from the ground up into the extended form of the flamenco dancer.

Lorca, through his own writing in his Romancero Gitano, echoed the gypsy´s voice of his beloved Andalucia and personified the totemic symbols of his childhood, in particular the awesome power of the moon and the respect in which it was held.

All this washed over me as 20 year old student in Granada though I would walk up to the Plaza San Nicolas on clear dark evenings and look out over the black waters of the Darro glinting below as the moon hovered over the Alhambra opposite.

I tried to find Laurie Lee before and Lorca is long gone so if I were to wander along the dusty olive-lined byways of the Granadino countryside bathed in the light of the moon, I might ask Lucy, again a fellow Falmouth graduate , to walk with me. She is a young free spirit used to roaming the lands of old Cornwall and England in the company of fairies and mythological creatures and connecting with Robert Macfarlane¨s Old Ways.

Lorca on the moon from his work ¨Bodas de Sangre¨

Ay Luna sola¡ Luna de los verdes hojas¡ Llena de jazmines de sangre¡

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HI Paul, that's absolutely lovely. Thanks for sharing with us. I've haven't been to the places in Spain that you talk about but you paint a wonderful picture. Beautiful words from Lorca, too. Thanks again!

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