The Sun Hive

   I feel so lucky to be part of a group from all over the world who have embarked on a course for the next 8 months in Sacred Beekeeping.  I thought it would be helpful to people who read my blog to occasionally post what I am learning and the revelations that I have regarding further interconnectedness between us and the Golden Goddesses.
     I have this deep love and appreciation for round shapes as to me they represent a sense of community, equality, reincarnation, wholeness, and the Divine Feminine.  As part of our first month's homework we needed to research a different type of hive than a traditional Langstroth (cube) and I was immediately drawn towards this Sun Hive.  I think this would work lovely in a large garden and would additionally be a nice garden architecture/artwork.  These are not high honey yielding hives and therefore would be best for someone who is really looking to provide an organic refuge for the beautiful honeybee.   

The Sun Hive

     The Sun Hive is the creation of German sculptor, Guenther Mancke, who spent many years observing bees in their natural environment.  It is currently becoming popular in the U.K and is also being shared in the US by biodynamic apiculturist, Michael Joshin Thiele of Gaia Bees.  Based on an ingenious combination of skep baskets made of rye straw and wooden support structures, the Sun Hive is intended to be installed at a height of at least 2.5 metres (8 feet) (Mancke, 2014). It has nine, half-moon shaped arched, movable frames and comb is built naturally and can be almost 2 feet deep (Gaia bees, 2014).  It is based on the philosophy of the “Bien”.  The Bien is the nature of the bee.  Already through its outer shape it reveals it’s nature– as if the egg shaped skep would be the outer shell or skin of this living being (Gaia bees, 2014). The inner shape allows the “bien” to unfold its own natural gestalt, in harmony with its instinctual life forces (Gaia bees, 2014).

     What I find fascinating about this hive is its use of natural woven materials and it’s rounded versus square shape found in conventional Langstroth hives.  Ancient forms of beehive, whether conical, spherical or bell shaped took this original shape into account, or at least did nothing to interfere with it, which is why all these forms in some way reflected the secret life of the bee colony, something hidden from our view (Mancke, 2005).  I find that the rounded more organic shape is not only visually pleasing but also mimics the shape of the honeybees comb when left to their own nature.  I also find it interesting that this shape is also seen in humans, in areas of rebirth like the uterus, in which manifestation and creation happens in a magical way akin to the alchemy of the bees. This gentle shape speaks to the Divine Feminine and seems to honor the bee goddess simply through its form and functionality.

References

Mancke, G. (2005) The sun hive. Natural Beekeeping Trust.

Mancke, G. (2014) The sun hive.  Retrieved on February 25, 2014 from www.naturalbeekeepingtrust.org

Gaia Bees (2014) The sun hive.  Retrieved on February 25, 2014 from http://gaiabees.com/alternative-bee-nests/

Book and Wooden Parts for Sun Hive

http://www.naturalbeekeepingtrust.org/sun-hive-product-information

A video showing the inside of an active Sun Hive

http://youtu.be/_mwKKcl7rNU

In the US, book can be purchased here

The English edition of the Sun Hive book is finally available at Gaia Bees.
The book is $24.00, (plus $2.04 tax for CA residents), plus $7.00 shipping/handling within the USA.
To order, please send a check to (and include your email address):
Gaia Bees, 686 Snow Road, Sebastopol, CA 95472, USA