Ben Wood /|\✝️🔶️💚☮️
@cosmichope.bsky.social
Husband, Quaker, theologian, teacher, Hedge Druid. Woodbrooke Programme Coordinator for Applied Theology and Biblical Studies. @greenparty.org.uk. Lover of dogs, Liberal Socialism, Dutch beer, old musty books, and slow autumn afternoons.
Pinned
'Once the basic needs of food and shelter are met, man’s greatest satisfactions are to be found in love, trust and friendship, in beauty, art and music and in learning, none of which are served by the mythology of growth for its own sake' (The Environment: A Liberal Party Report, 1972) 🔶️
Trump did not get international backing for the attack on Venezuela. The US has kidnapped a head of government. The answer you were looking for Prime Minister is: "Yes, this is a clear violation of International Law". Its like the infamous LBC Israel interview all over again.
UK’s Starmer dodges question on whether he condemns Trump’s actions in Venezuela
YouTube video by Middle East Eye
youtube.com
January 6, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Trump did not get international backing for the attack on Venezuela. The US has kidnapped a head of government. The answer you were looking for Prime Minister is: "Yes, this is a clear violation of International Law". Its like the infamous LBC Israel interview all over again.
Ah yes, reminds me of being back from University between 2004-7. Nothing changes much except the names. 😀😭
Leaving You Liberal Bubble Over Christmas
YouTube video by Ali Woods
youtube.com
January 6, 2026 at 4:24 PM
Ah yes, reminds me of being back from University between 2004-7. Nothing changes much except the names. 😀😭
Nationalise them.
People working from home are partly to blame for water outages that culminated in residents in Tunbridge Wells being without water for more than a week, the boss of South East Water has claimed ⬇️
Rise of WFH exacerbated Kent water shortage, says supplier’s boss
David Hinton, the chief executive of South East Water, also rated his firm’s handling of the crisis last month at between six and eight out of ten
www.thetimes.com
January 6, 2026 at 4:13 PM
Nationalise them.
After a bit of back & forth & some last minute offers, I now have a provisional #Theology & #Bible couse/session list for April-October 2006. Keep an eye on @woodbrooke.bsky.social for updates Friends. ♥️
January 6, 2026 at 2:58 PM
After a bit of back & forth & some last minute offers, I now have a provisional #Theology & #Bible couse/session list for April-October 2006. Keep an eye on @woodbrooke.bsky.social for updates Friends. ♥️
Reposted by Ben Wood /|\✝️🔶️💚☮️
T.S. Eliot, 'Journey of the Magi,' published by Faber and Faber in 1927 in their series of Ariel Poems. Cover art by E. McKnight Kauffer.
January 6, 2026 at 2:23 PM
T.S. Eliot, 'Journey of the Magi,' published by Faber and Faber in 1927 in their series of Ariel Poems. Cover art by E. McKnight Kauffer.
'The absence of God is the most marvellous testimony of
perfect love, and that is why pure necessity, necessity
which is manifestly different from good, is so beautiful' (Simone Weil, "The Notebooks", p. 103).
perfect love, and that is why pure necessity, necessity
which is manifestly different from good, is so beautiful' (Simone Weil, "The Notebooks", p. 103).
January 6, 2026 at 12:53 PM
'The absence of God is the most marvellous testimony of
perfect love, and that is why pure necessity, necessity
which is manifestly different from good, is so beautiful' (Simone Weil, "The Notebooks", p. 103).
perfect love, and that is why pure necessity, necessity
which is manifestly different from good, is so beautiful' (Simone Weil, "The Notebooks", p. 103).
Reposted by Ben Wood /|\✝️🔶️💚☮️
Syd Barrett was born #OTD in 1946. Pink Floyd’s first studio album, ‘The Piper at the Gates of Dawn’ (1967), was named after the chapter in Kenneth Grahame’s ‘The Wind in the Willows.’ According to manager Andrew King, Syd Barrett had a vision of Pan, who showed him the secrets of the universe.
January 6, 2026 at 12:15 PM
Syd Barrett was born #OTD in 1946. Pink Floyd’s first studio album, ‘The Piper at the Gates of Dawn’ (1967), was named after the chapter in Kenneth Grahame’s ‘The Wind in the Willows.’ According to manager Andrew King, Syd Barrett had a vision of Pan, who showed him the secrets of the universe.
Reposted by Ben Wood /|\✝️🔶️💚☮️
"Your past #incarnations are like layers of silt in sedimentary rock, they colour & structure the whole, they can be read in entirety or separately to get #wisdom from them. It's important to know how they add both #strength & #weakness to your #personality and individual #abilities."
#spiritual
#spiritual
January 5, 2026 at 3:55 PM
"Your past #incarnations are like layers of silt in sedimentary rock, they colour & structure the whole, they can be read in entirety or separately to get #wisdom from them. It's important to know how they add both #strength & #weakness to your #personality and individual #abilities."
#spiritual
#spiritual
'Every time that a man has, with a pure heart, called upon Osiris, Dionysus, Krsna, Buddha, the Tao, etc; the Son of God has answered him...[The] Holy Spirit has acted upon his soul, not by inciting him to abandon his...tradition, but by bestowing upon him light' (Simone Weil, "Letter to a Priest")
January 5, 2026 at 2:31 PM
'Every time that a man has, with a pure heart, called upon Osiris, Dionysus, Krsna, Buddha, the Tao, etc; the Son of God has answered him...[The] Holy Spirit has acted upon his soul, not by inciting him to abandon his...tradition, but by bestowing upon him light' (Simone Weil, "Letter to a Priest")
Reposted by Ben Wood /|\✝️🔶️💚☮️
Owned by the community and run for the community - that should be the future for pubs everywhere.
We visited the UK's first community-run pub with Labour MP @alistrathern.bsky.social 🍻
We visited the UK's first community-run pub with Labour MP @alistrathern.bsky.social 🍻
January 5, 2026 at 11:08 AM
Owned by the community and run for the community - that should be the future for pubs everywhere.
We visited the UK's first community-run pub with Labour MP @alistrathern.bsky.social 🍻
We visited the UK's first community-run pub with Labour MP @alistrathern.bsky.social 🍻
Reposted by Ben Wood /|\✝️🔶️💚☮️
It was a bit slippery in parts going up Glastonbury Tor today at sunrise. Once up there though it was such a beautiful morning. The view through the archway of St Michael's tower shortly before the sun rose.
January 5, 2026 at 9:11 AM
It was a bit slippery in parts going up Glastonbury Tor today at sunrise. Once up there though it was such a beautiful morning. The view through the archway of St Michael's tower shortly before the sun rose.
Reposted by Ben Wood /|\✝️🔶️💚☮️
🖼️ original oil painting by Ukrainian artist Alisa Onipchenko-Cherniakovska.
January 4, 2026 at 9:54 AM
🖼️ original oil painting by Ukrainian artist Alisa Onipchenko-Cherniakovska.
Reposted by Ben Wood /|\✝️🔶️💚☮️
Tree roots stabilize soil, preventing erosion & landslides. Without them, heavy rains wash away topsoil, causing floods & disasters. Deforestation leads to soil degradation—up to 48% loss of soil carbon when forests turn to cropland. Short-term gain, long-term catastrophe. 🏞️💔 #StopDeforestation
January 3, 2026 at 4:10 AM
Tree roots stabilize soil, preventing erosion & landslides. Without them, heavy rains wash away topsoil, causing floods & disasters. Deforestation leads to soil degradation—up to 48% loss of soil carbon when forests turn to cropland. Short-term gain, long-term catastrophe. 🏞️💔 #StopDeforestation
Reposted by Ben Wood /|\✝️🔶️💚☮️
In Quaker spirituality, holiness and perfection are regarded as divine characteristics which can be revealed in the lives of faithful people.
The Quaker Faith: Friends of Love and Truth, p.155.
The Quaker Faith: Friends of Love and Truth, p.155.
January 4, 2026 at 8:47 AM
In Quaker spirituality, holiness and perfection are regarded as divine characteristics which can be revealed in the lives of faithful people.
The Quaker Faith: Friends of Love and Truth, p.155.
The Quaker Faith: Friends of Love and Truth, p.155.
'A man who conquers himself is greater than another who conquers a thousand times a thousand men on battlefields. Be victorious over yourself and not over others. When you attain victory over yourself, not even gods can turn it into defeat' (Dhammapada). ☸️
January 4, 2026 at 8:33 AM
'A man who conquers himself is greater than another who conquers a thousand times a thousand men on battlefields. Be victorious over yourself and not over others. When you attain victory over yourself, not even gods can turn it into defeat' (Dhammapada). ☸️
'If for company you cannot find a wise and prudent friend who leads a good life, then, like a king who leaves behind a conquered kingdom, or like a lone elephant in the elephant forest, you should go your way alone' (Dhammapada).
January 4, 2026 at 8:21 AM
'If for company you cannot find a wise and prudent friend who leads a good life, then, like a king who leaves behind a conquered kingdom, or like a lone elephant in the elephant forest, you should go your way alone' (Dhammapada).
Reposted by Ben Wood /|\✝️🔶️💚☮️
Reposted by Ben Wood /|\✝️🔶️💚☮️
Today is the #Blueskyartshow #newyear theme 🎆 so today I will share a special shot of the Northern Lights in Iceland 🙏🏻 I was totally alone here to watch this epic show and I was in tears sharing in the joy with myself and this experience of a lifetime. I hope for more moments like this 🥲
January 3, 2026 at 6:11 PM
Today is the #Blueskyartshow #newyear theme 🎆 so today I will share a special shot of the Northern Lights in Iceland 🙏🏻 I was totally alone here to watch this epic show and I was in tears sharing in the joy with myself and this experience of a lifetime. I hope for more moments like this 🥲
Reposted by Ben Wood /|\✝️🔶️💚☮️
OTD 1892: JRR Tolkien
Beyond even the marvellous writing and epic tales, Tolkien’s main fascination was to give his invented languages homes – which is why so many characters are known by multiple names.
So hail his queen of heaven…
[I love Tolkien’s work but it’s not going to stop this punchline]
Beyond even the marvellous writing and epic tales, Tolkien’s main fascination was to give his invented languages homes – which is why so many characters are known by multiple names.
So hail his queen of heaven…
[I love Tolkien’s work but it’s not going to stop this punchline]
January 3, 2026 at 3:22 PM
OTD 1892: JRR Tolkien
Beyond even the marvellous writing and epic tales, Tolkien’s main fascination was to give his invented languages homes – which is why so many characters are known by multiple names.
So hail his queen of heaven…
[I love Tolkien’s work but it’s not going to stop this punchline]
Beyond even the marvellous writing and epic tales, Tolkien’s main fascination was to give his invented languages homes – which is why so many characters are known by multiple names.
So hail his queen of heaven…
[I love Tolkien’s work but it’s not going to stop this punchline]
Reposted by Ben Wood /|\✝️🔶️💚☮️
Winter Garden
French artist
Géraldine Theurot
French artist
Géraldine Theurot
January 2, 2026 at 1:12 PM
Winter Garden
French artist
Géraldine Theurot
French artist
Géraldine Theurot
Reposted by Ben Wood /|\✝️🔶️💚☮️
Today is J.R.R. Tolkien's birthday!
Born in 1892, Tolkien paved the way for modern fantasy literature and his creativity continues to inspire the minds of many to this day. ✨
📸 | Tolkien, Bournemouth, July 1965
Oxford, Bodleian Libraries, MS. Tolkien photogr. 7, fol. 75r
(c) Tolkien Trust, 2015
Born in 1892, Tolkien paved the way for modern fantasy literature and his creativity continues to inspire the minds of many to this day. ✨
📸 | Tolkien, Bournemouth, July 1965
Oxford, Bodleian Libraries, MS. Tolkien photogr. 7, fol. 75r
(c) Tolkien Trust, 2015
January 3, 2026 at 3:51 PM
Today is J.R.R. Tolkien's birthday!
Born in 1892, Tolkien paved the way for modern fantasy literature and his creativity continues to inspire the minds of many to this day. ✨
📸 | Tolkien, Bournemouth, July 1965
Oxford, Bodleian Libraries, MS. Tolkien photogr. 7, fol. 75r
(c) Tolkien Trust, 2015
Born in 1892, Tolkien paved the way for modern fantasy literature and his creativity continues to inspire the minds of many to this day. ✨
📸 | Tolkien, Bournemouth, July 1965
Oxford, Bodleian Libraries, MS. Tolkien photogr. 7, fol. 75r
(c) Tolkien Trust, 2015
Reposted by Ben Wood /|\✝️🔶️💚☮️
Happy birthday JRR Tolkien! On this day, January 3 of 1892, the author of The Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit was born!
I am so thankful for his lifelong devotion to storytelling and world-building, and I am inspired everyday to pursue beauty, goodness, and truth because of him.
I am so thankful for his lifelong devotion to storytelling and world-building, and I am inspired everyday to pursue beauty, goodness, and truth because of him.
January 3, 2026 at 6:03 AM
Happy birthday JRR Tolkien! On this day, January 3 of 1892, the author of The Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit was born!
I am so thankful for his lifelong devotion to storytelling and world-building, and I am inspired everyday to pursue beauty, goodness, and truth because of him.
I am so thankful for his lifelong devotion to storytelling and world-building, and I am inspired everyday to pursue beauty, goodness, and truth because of him.
1/2 I'm very much enjoying this book. I'm sceptical about the more cultural/historical portions of the book. Hickel makes too many vast generalisations about Western anti-nature (blending diverse religions, epochs, & philosophies under the label of dualism). He tends to romanticise animist cultures.
January 3, 2026 at 12:44 PM
1/2 I'm very much enjoying this book. I'm sceptical about the more cultural/historical portions of the book. Hickel makes too many vast generalisations about Western anti-nature (blending diverse religions, epochs, & philosophies under the label of dualism). He tends to romanticise animist cultures.
A timeline cleanser for you 🧡
Agatha’s Blue Staffy Puppies vs The Broom 😂🐶
YouTube video by Izy the Staffy
youtube.com
January 2, 2026 at 10:13 PM
A timeline cleanser for you 🧡