The Sangha House

Andy's 2nd book is ready! - The Tale and the Teaching. Narrative gateways into Buddhist wisdom

It'll be on general sale in bookshops and on Amazon and other online retailers from August 7th.

But we do have some advance copies here in The Sangha House!

Hello everyone.

A far‑right march will pass through our town this weekend, stirring fear and anger in a place that usually feels safe and calm. It’s natural to feel powerless when events like this appear on our doorstep.

But compassion offers another way.

Buddhist practice won’t cancel the protest. It won’t stop people from marching. But when we gather in compassion — sincerely, collectively — we create a field of steadiness that radiates outward.
Hatred may enter the town, but it doesn’t have to settle here.
Fear may rise, but it doesn’t have to take root.

Our Compassion Weekend, This Saturday and Sunday, is an invitation to meet this moment with courage, kindness and community. To hold the town in a different energy. To remind ourselves that compassion is not passive — it’s powerful.

We invite.... no, we encourage.... you to join us. You don't have to sign up for the whole weekend! Once you've registered, we'll reach out and ask you which sessions you would like to come to.

If your heart feels shaken, come and steady it with us.

The Sangha House Compassion Gathering Partnering with The Charter for Compassion, we are throwing open our doors for a free weekend of compassionate activity

For all our followers who many have seen this on the Gazette page, please be assured that the gel polish I use here at the House is fully compliant. Your safety is always my priority, and all the product range has neither TPO nor HEMA, and is also vegan. If you have any concerns, please contact me - I can provide you with the scientific data sheets for your safety, and I also have space for new clients, if you’re concerned in any way.

A House of Quiet Miracles

At the junction of Park Street and Tower Street stands a building many people pass every day without ever knowing its story. Mitre House — now home to The Sangha House — has lived more lives than most Taunton landmarks. It has been a place of devotion, of civic ambition, of quiet service, and now, of community wellbeing.

And as efforts gather pace to secure the building’s future through community ownership, newly rediscovered newspaper clippings have revealed a heritage that feels almost cinematic in its depth and colour.

A House of Quiet Miracles: The Remarkable Heritage of Mitre House and the Community Celebrating Its Future - The Sangha House Wellbeing and health centre offering Yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates, Somatics, Exercise, meditation and qi gong plus one to one therapies.

We are a part of the amazing Lions Trail kicking off today. 48 businesses across Taunton have a 'lion' in there window, representing one of the 48 teams in the world cup.
You job, find them all!
You can get yourself a copy of the Lion Trail from the Taunton Visitor Centre, or follow this link.
https://tauntontown.com/lion-trail/

Which lion are we?

Lion Trail – Summer 2026 – Taunton Town Football Club From Friday 5th June, Taunton town centre will come alive with a pride of 48 Lions prowling in shop windows from the Station to East Reach, from Bath Place to the Independent Quarter

🌿 Exciting News from Sangha House 🌿

For over ten years, Sangha House has been a place where people have come to move, heal, learn, connect and find support.

Now we're looking towards the next chapter.

We've launched a crowdfunding campaign to help us improve and develop our beautiful Somerset home, creating an even better environment for our clients, practitioners, retreat guests and wider community.

This isn't about starting something new. It's about strengthening and securing something that already means so much to so many people.

Every contribution, no matter the size, helps us move closer to our goal. If you'd like to support the future of Sangha House, we'd be incredibly grateful.

You can find out more and contribute here:
🔗 www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/long-live-the-sangha-house

If you're unable to donate, sharing this post would also mean the world to us.

Thank you for being part of our journey. 💚

Love Taunton - Discover Taunton Taunton Chamber of Commerce

Long Live the Sangha House The Sangha House. Help us secure our home, strengthen our mission, and protect Taunton’s wellbeing centre for years to come.

Blessings to our intrepid team of Circle of Friends members, led by for their trip to Glastonbury today!

Beltane, celebrated on the first of May, is one of the four major Celtic festivals, marking the halfway point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. This vibrant festival highlights the themes of fertility, love, and the blossoming of life, making it a significant occasion in Celtic mythology.

The origins of Beltane can be traced back to ancient agricultural practices when communities gathered to celebrate the return of life and warmth after the long winter. The festival is named after the Celtic god Belenus, associated with fire and light.

Fire plays a central role in Beltane celebrations, symbolizing purification and fertility.
Beltane translates to ‘goodly fire’ or ‘fire of Bel’ (a god of the Sun).

It is a fire festival, and so fire was (and still is) very important to this celebration. A large fire would have been lit in the centre of villages, from which all the homes in the village would light their own fire. A wonderful representation of community and connectedness.

The fire represented fertility, cleansing and purification.

Beltane is ruled by the planet Venus; the planet of love and pleasure.
This is what Beltane is all about – feeling as much joy as you can, celebrating life to the full, enjoying all of the things your soul can only enjoy through human experience. This could be tasting delicious foods, walking barefoot through the sand or the grass, listening to your favourite music. Life is in full bloom, so now is a time to reconnect with what it is that makes your heart happy.

Beltane is about bringing to life dreams, ideas, plans; the fertility of your goals; the alchemy of different things coming together to form something beautiful.

Ostara, or the Spring Equinox.
Friday March 20th marks the Spring, or Vernal, Equinox in the Northern hemisphere. It is one of 2 equinoxes of the year, when day and night are equal – the moment in time when the sun stands directly above the equator, and officially marks Winter’s end and the beginning of Spring. The word equinox is derived from Latin and means “equal night”.

Ostara, or Eostre, a liminal time, when we feel the Earth pause, day and night are of equal length and in perfect equilibrium, we can feel the balance of all things – light and dark, masculine and feminine, inner and outer self, Yin and Yang.

Ostara is so named after the Germanic Goddess Ostara / Eostre, who was traditionally honoured in the month of April with festivals celebrating new life, rebirth, fertility and growth. The land is coming back to life after the long dark days of Winter.

It was from Eostre that the Christian celebration of Easter evolved. Also, the naming of the female hormone Eostrogen, essential to women’s fertility, has its roots within the Goddess.

Ostara is a time of balance, a pause of breath, but we know the energy is growing, waxing, the sap is rising, the light and warmth from the sun is stronger. This is a fertile time, and fertility features heavily. Our ancient Ancestors would be emerging from the Winter filled with hope. It is a busy time, and this is reflected in Nature and Mother Earth all around us, the birds, animals and insects are courting, nest building, preparing. If we want to see the rewards later in the year we need to put the work in now. Nature can still be harsh, the winds and weather bleak and destructive. We cannot expect a rich harvest, no matter what that is, whether it is in our gardens, our crops, or more figuratively, in the world we inhabit, our relationships, our goals, careers, lifestyles etc. unless we put the work in, taking responsibility for our lives.

Self-care, self-belief and self-worth are all vital at this time. The time of sitting in the dark and healing has come to an end for this cycle – although we are in a constant cycle of self-discovery and healing, life, death, rebirth, this is now a time for action, the time for rebirth!!! So plant those seeds, literally and figuratively, make lists, plan and prepare. And factor in things that you want to do for you!! What will make your heart sing?

Taunton runners - you absolutely smashed it today! What an incredible turnout for the Taunton Half today, and I hope you're eating Whatever. You. Want for tea tonight. If your feet are protesting this week, why don't you book for my bespoke Sports Pedicure, value £65? I'll help to relieve any ingrowns or damage from your shoes, blackened nail, soreness and muscle pain. Just call us on 01823 428156 to book, and if you bring your finishers' medal, I'll gift you a bottle of my bespoke Runners' Relief Mist to cool and soothe your feet and legs, usual value £8.99. We're in central Taunton, at the County Hall end of Corporation Street. In the meantime, though, please dissolve into a long hot bath, do your post-recovery routine, and get someone to keep the pizza or chips coming - you've totally earned it! (Pic of my busted ATFL from earlier in the year for relatability) Taunton Half Marathon Bethan Turner