Core Team Biographies

Ratnadevi (Luise Holtbernd Phd)

Together with Larry, Ratnadevi is one of the founder members of bodhi. She is an ordained Buddhist and has been teaching Yoga and Meditation for over 20 years, both in ongoing classes in Glasgow and on retreats. She has a special interest in MBCT (mindfulness based cognitive therapy), using mindfulness for dealing with stress, pain and depression. She is also a trained musician, a visual artist, a deviser of contemporary rituals and an ecologist. Her work is motivated by a desire to contribute to the re-emergence of a way of life that honours the inter-connectedness of all life.

Ratnadevi also has her own website.

Larry Butler

Larry Butler was born in Illinois and has been living in Glasgow since 1981. His day job is teaching tai-chi in healthcare settings, and he leads a life-story group at the Maggie Cancer Care Centre. His passion is poetry & dance.

Diarmid Baillie

Diarmid Baillie works as a psychotherapist and massage therapist in and around Glasgow. He deeply values experiences of interconnection that are offered by natural ecosystems, by human relationships and by the cultivation of mindful awareness. Diarmid finds inspiration, hope and a lot of joy in practising and studying the Hakomi method and from the vision and application of Permaculture. With the aid of these practises he hopes to live happily, have fun, and plant a few seeds for the true blossoming of our human potential in partnership with nature.

Andy Marnie

Andy has worked for 20 years in the field of energy efficient buildings and sustainability. He currently works for a local authority as their Energy Manager developing and implementing carbon reduction and fuel poverty strategies for the area. He has a lot of experience in managing large budgets and so has happily taken on the task of treasurer for Bodhi. His spare time is mainly spent with his young family and hopes his next house move will be into the eco-village!

Eva Schonveld

Eva Schonveld is currently spending most of her time living, playing, squabbling and thinking of fun things to do with her 3 home-educated children. In the past she has worked as a community artist and an art therapist. She is just beginning to work again as a cranio-sacral therapist and illustrator, beginning with a book for children which is going v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y! She is co-organising a family day as part of Faslane 369, and is part of a local group (google: PEDAL) who are getting an Energy Descent Plan together for their area. She is totally appalled that we appear to be chucking our planet down the drain, and wants to do anything she can to stop that happening!!

Justin Kenrick

Justin Kenrick has been delighted to resume anti-nuclear activism alongside academic colleages (www.faslane365.org), to have spent a good part of 2006 living with Eva and the boys in a yurt on Eigg, to work as an anthropologist with indigenous peoples in Central Africa (www.forestpeoples.org) and to be working with students on their fieldwork projects as part of the academic/activist MSc in Global Movements, Social Justice and Sustainability. He finds the way people are persuaded to become part of the alienating practices and structures of global capitalism a real pain in the neck, and so is delighted to be part of a network envisaging pathways to a sustainable future.

Jude Lally

To pay the bills Jude works as a Librarian in a local authority Environmental Protection Service. While studying for a masters degree her main research is in the many interpretations of spirituality in modern Scottish crafts. A photographer, poet and visual artist she works with recycled and natural materials exploring the interconnectedness of all things.

Kate Shaw

Originally from Oban, Kate Shaw spent 9 years in Glasgow and Edinburgh, before embarking on two years travelling and working in New Zealand, Australia and India. Whilst abroad, Kate spent over 7 month’s wwoofing (willing workers on organic farms) including two months at two separate ecovillages. Having learnt much about organics, permaculture, and the rewards and challenges of living in community, she arrived home last year inspired to get involved with alternative communities in Scotland. Kate is currently studying for an MSc in Human Ecology with Strathclyde university/Centre for Human Ecology.