Nestled deep in the mountainous forests of Asheville, NC, where autumn has just begun to display her fiery colors, Asheville's Mountain Light Sanctuary awaits guests. The Enchanted Living Forest School fast approaches: on October 9-11, the movers and shakers of the fairy realm will gather in the Sanctuary to celebrate this learning experience and to enlighten students on the beauties and intricacies of said realm. Headed by John Springer of Enchanted Walkabout fame (essentially group walks in which he reveals to you fairy activity in the natural world) students can look forward to learning to more deeply appreciate nature and to spot spirits, all the while bonding with fellow believers and mother earth herself. Read our interview John Springer below to learn more about the details of ELF School.

The ELF (Enchanted Living Forest) School for October 9, 10 & 11, has been designed by the Faerie Realm, the ELF School Committee, and myself to provide an opportunity to see and feel the world through a new set of eyes and heart. In 2000, I was directed by the Faerie Realm to awaken more humans to their role as Stewards of the Earth, while as Director of the Enchanted Children's Garden. It was during this time period I started conducting Faerie Realm Playshops and Enchanted Walkabouts using my education, knowledge, and wisdom of the natural world. My education includes a BS in Landscape Architecture with minors in Forestry & Art with a Master's in Environmental Education and a youth award from the Boy Scouts, called the William T. Hornaday Award for Distinguished Service to Conservation awarded in 1964. The Realm trusted me and knew I was already connected to the natural world. So the ELF School is an extension of all this background, the talents and wisdom of others coming together for the purposes of teaching and celebration of the earth/terra. This ELF School is being held at the Mtn Light Sanctuary, NE of Asheville, NC (East of Weaverville).

The ELF School covers twelve programs in two and a half days with five instructors, starting Friday mid afternoon to Sunday late afternoon.

• The first on Friday at 3:00 pm will be the Making of a Heart Spiral, which was first during our Fairy And Earth (FAE) School. During the program two years ago, people were receiving their Elfen, Angel, or Fairy names, as well as releasing deep heart energies while walking the spiral. We will leave the spiral in place during the entire ELF School.
• Then Linda Varos, the Organizer of the Western PA Fairy Festival will be conducting a program entitled, What Color Are Your Wings? She will be doing this late Friday & Sunday afternoons at 4:30 pm, plus we will fluff everyone's wings, whether angel, fairy, bird, butterfly, dragonfly or dragon.
• The Official Opening of the ELF School is at 10:00 am on Sat. morning followed by Garden & Forest Teachings while conducting an Enchanted Walkabout. Both mornings, we will be conducting different Enchanted Walkabouts followed by programs from:
• David Swing of Avalon Grove about Journey with the Fairies.
• Kate Levensohn SAT, ATP sharing Living an Enchanted Life.
• William Parris will be offering Photographing Orbs and other mysteries of the realms. William's program is taking place late Saturday afternoon at 4:30 pm.
• We will be treated with Michael Lightweaver sharing stories of the Elves of the Sanctuary and Channeling with Pan during our after dinner program, for those staying in the Elfhaven Lodge.

Throughout the ELF School we will be having discussions and sharings. We have encouraged everyone to bring cameras and their photos to share. The ELF School will have a closing ceremony by 6:00 pm on Sunday, October 11. For a complete schedule and information about the ELF School, lodging and tuition, contact John Springer.

Anyone who has ever walked with us during our Enchanted Walkabouts or has attended any of our schools or gatherings, forever see and feel the world through a new set of eyes and heart. You will truly experience and learn more about the enchantment of our worlds through the insightfulness of our teachers and the guidance from the members of the realm. This is not a festival, an event, a show, however this is a school for the purposes of learning how to be of this world rather than just walking upon it. You will learn how to communicate and feel the energies of everything around you, including the trees, flowers, the water, the wind, the rocks. You will realize the Faerie Realm is not your imagination and once your heart light enfolds you the communications with all realms becomes possible through the heart. You will forever see & feel the world differently after this ELF (Enchanted Living Forest) School weekend.

Actually the ELF School was originally planned to be in the Washington DC area working with two of our graduates of our Enchanted Walkabout Facilitator Training held last February in Saint Augustine. These two graduates just could not decide on what dates, venue locations, times and costs for our ELF School and yet they wanted it to come to their area. GUS (God, Goddess, Guides, Guardians Up Stairs) said to move it to North Carolina, since time was closing to properly promote this school. So I called my friend Michael Lightweaver at the Mountain Light Sanctuary where we held our FAE School two years ago. I did not expect the sanctuary to be available, so I asked Michael for recommendations for other retreat sites in his area. Then Michael asked me what dates I had in mind for the ELF School, then he informed me it was the only weekend open for September, October or November. I knew that this was my weekend for our ELF School, plus it has several Fairy Days with 10/09/09, 10/10/09 & 10/11/09, all with double digit dates and days and a Columbus Day Weekend.

Needless to say the Faerie Realm was quite excited and an ELF School Committee quickly formed, I am the only human on the committee. Plus it is a half way point for those coming from PA & FL. William Parris had called me several months ago asking me when I was coming back to NC. GUS informed me I was not to do this school alone and to ask for help in teaching. Within three hours, I had three teachers contact me from three states wanting to teach at the ELF School. I am still amazed by how everything came together to make this school happen.

An Enchanted Walkabout is an adventure into the world of enchanted, nature and the faerie realm. We will put between trees to feel their energies flowing through you; you will learn to communicate with the flowers to release more fragrance; you will see faces in the trees, as well as dragons, fairy doors, Merlin's eyes, fairy thrones, enchanted trees, gnomes, fairy castles, offering trees, spinning leaves, enchanted zones, wisdom tree, fairy honoring places plus much more during our walks. You will be able to hear and communicate with the trees/the ent people; you will hear their voices and learn their names. When you see a leaf waving at you, please wave back. The fae are trying to get your attention and to wake you up and to take back your role as a Steward of the Earth. Every Enchanted Walkabout is different, however all start with a Heart Connection. It our Heart Light the many realms of creation will know us and our intentions. Come and join us and truly see and feel the world through a new set of eyes and heart.

The fairies are very frustrated with the human realm, because so many people have abused and used the earth and its resources without any gratitude, honor, or praise. They have lost their trust in us, because so many refuse to believe in their existence and their role in working with us. It was in 2000 the Fae asked many people from around the world to awaken more of the humans to their existence as demonstrated by the increase of fairies, gnomes, unicorns, orbs, trolls, elves and other members of the realm in movies, tv commericals, books, fairs, festivals, shows & people waking up others. It is amazing how many experts of the fairies have emerged in the past ten years. The best resource is what you find in your heart, not out of a book, especially from the past. We must stop dwelling in the past with the fae and start recognizing the present and the now. They are offering everyone a new way of connecting, seeing and feeling their role upon this earth/terra/gaia. We must create the new fairy tales of today, not a repeat of yesterday. The realm is waiting for us to stop thinking they are imaginary and to realize they are here to work with us for the highest and best for this planet and to start honoring and acknowledging everything. To show and be thankful for the air we breathe, the falling rain, to water we drink, the soil, the trees, the bugs, the flowers and all creations of God, GUS and Spirit.

We must stop denying their existence and being afraid of them when they do show themselves. There are too many fears existing on this planet, once we shift to the energy of love and connect through the heart everything comes alive. The Faerie Realm has been waiting for us to return back to the heart & love.

The ELF (Enchanted Living Forest) School truly will provide an opportunity for each participant to know that the World of Enchantment does exist all around us outside and within ourselves. We have less than twenty people registered for this weekend. Each day provides excellent programming and the tuition will vary each day; Fri/$22; Sat/$66; Sun/$44. Anyone registering before October 8, the ELF School Tuition is $110 for the entire weekend. We encourage those for out of the area to stay in the Elfhaven Lodge or on the grounds of the Mtn Light Sanctuary. If we can get a minimum of 10 people to stay overnight, everyone will pay $35/person/night, bring your own bedding. Right now we only have seven people staying any nights. Check out our website for additional info about our fee schedule, links, and connections. Go to Enchanted Walkabouts or email or call me.

Official Website
http://www.enchantedwalkabouts.com

Photo Gallery
http://s110.photobucket.com/albums/n114/enchantedwalk

Lodging
http://www.mtnlightsanctuary.com