The Hedge Druid

Anglesey, 1st February 2010   

In the concluding part of our journey around Anglesey’s south-western corner for Imbolc we visited some of the sites that we had passed many times in our travels, but had never actually visited. We re-visited one site though – one of the Ty Mawr stones – in order to rectify a problem. The conclusion to the journey was at a cromlech (or dolmen) called Bodowyr, which was beautifully located, but sadly hemmed in by iron fencing again.   

Castell Bryn-gwyn (White or Blessed Hill)   

Castell Bryngwyn turns out not to be a castle at all, but a sacred space (or “religious sanctuary” as the information sign calls it) that was apparently later fortified by the Romans. It is named Blessed Hill or White Hill, but given that is was a sacred space I would plump for the interpretation ‘blessed’. Especially given our findings as to the way it has been used before it became fortified by that war-like race The Romans.   

Sacred castle without ramparts

The earthwork that remains is a two-thirds circle that has three visible entry points. In order from the entry gate they dowsed as being the Moon Entrance (the widest and clearest), the Sun Entrance ( a hollow depression) and a Star Entrance. The Star entrance was the most intriguing. I spent a bit of time working this one out and come to the conclusion that the entrance was aligned with the planet Venus when it appeared in the western sky. The most energetic time, therefore, is when Venus is in the western skies and the Moon is full. Some star energy and a sun alignmentAlignment relates to the concept that humans have their own energy fields that are oriented or formed in a specific way such that the person is either suited better to one energy source of another. Some people have their energy fields empowered by the direct subtle energy force of The Sun, whilst others are empowered by the indirect subtle energy of The Moon. Due to the historical associations and symbolisation of The Sun with masculinity and The Moon with femininity we designate these alignments as either being ‘male’ or ‘female’ alignments accordingly. We interchangeable refer to people as being ‘sun-aligned’ or ‘male-aligned’ and similarly with the female alignment., possibly a solstice or equinox sunrise or sunset, are also part of the energy imprint of this place. However, its primary purpose seems oriented towards the lunar occasions – the full moons.   

A wide open space

We went looking for the most energetic place within this earth-worked arena. I say this ironically, because Kal was lounging on the ridge at the time throwing suggestions out whenever the mood took him. I dowsed to the most energetic place – it was a double-humped spot, like two grassy faerie rings together. I had seen something similar but much larger and more rounded at Carnac in Brittany. Kal shouted over: “Is it an altar?“. I used to dowsing rods to check this theory: yes, it was. A strong reaction to that idea. The altar was towards the rear of the site, slightly off-centre.   

In the picture below you can see that I have marked the Venus/star entrance by sighting it through the fork in my staff. The solar depression that acts as a Sun Entrance is off to the left of the Venus Entrance. It was our usual game of “20 questions” that got us to that conclusion – we don’t just pluck this stuff out of thin air. Once it had been discovered I contemplated it a moment and realised that the alignmentAlignment relates to the concept that humans have their own energy fields that are oriented or formed in a specific way such that the person is either suited better to one energy source of another. Some people have their energy fields empowered by the direct subtle energy force of The Sun, whilst others are empowered by the indirect subtle energy of The Moon. Due to the historical associations and symbolisation of The Sun with masculinity and The Moon with femininity we designate these alignments as either being ‘male’ or ‘female’ alignments accordingly. We interchangeable refer to people as being ‘sun-aligned’ or ‘male-aligned’ and similarly with the female alignment. of the Venus Entrance is strikingly similar to that of the Bryn Celli Ddu mound that is only a mile or so further east of this site. Bryn Celli Ddu had also been associated with Venus for me when I dowsed it last year. The Venus Entrance dowsed as being a “White StreamA flow of positive energised and healing subtle energy. The white streams usually emanate from a source of good energy such as a holy well, a sacred site, a power centre or a place of worship of good intent. We have found that white stream energy consists primarily of male and female energy combined in a balanced and harmonious blend, such that the two streams “play” with each other, warping and wefting in a dance that invigorates and enlivens everything that comes into contact with it. If a human stands in such a stream then they will feel positive, happy and energised, warm even.” – a combination of female and male energies (a tree stump providing the female earth energy and Venus providing the male energy, oddly – surely Venus is associated with femininity?). Whatever – it was very positive and it was lovely to stand in the entrance for several minutes.   

Venus is around in February evenings and stays visible in the western evening skies until mid October this year. This means that the Moon and Venus will be apparent from February until October, and this site will be most active at full moons in those months.   

The Venus Entrance looking westward

Kal began to dowse for the signature of the site’s guardian spirit – the genius lociGenius Loci means 'spirit of the place' and refers to the geological/gaian spirit of place. It is transfixed to a place – being an embodiment of the collective intelligence of the place. of the place. He reported back to me that he had found a pattern of spirals and wanted me to check it. I wished he hadn’t told me the pattern, but he hadn’t given me the details so I went to see what I could find. I found three spirals in a kind of triskelion form, similar to the symbol of the three-legged Isle of Man symbol. Kal confirmed every position and turn I had taken – he got the same. We don’t always get the same – there were notable exceptions last year and before that, but on this occasion it was an exact match. Here is the symbol we dowsed:

Ty Mawr 2 – standing stone   

As we drove past Caer Leb, opting to miss this place because it had proved to be so energetically dull the last time we visited, Kal noticed a black dog running towards the car from out of the drive of a roadside house. Luckily the owner gained control of it before it leapt at us, but it made our hearts race. Almost around the next corner there was another black dog, this time larger, and sitting square in the middle of the road! It didn’t want to move! We encouraged it to do so by edging closer to it in the car, and eventually it decided this was  battle it couldn’t win and moved aside. Kal, by now, was muttering about “ominous omens” and suggested we turn back. I continued, dismissing his doom-saying, until we were swooped across the bonnet by a low-flying large black crow. OK – whats going on? I agreed that we were being warned,but argued with Kal that a warning should make us more aware, not turn away and flee. He begrudgingly agreed, because I was driving.   

We parked down a lane close to the Big House (Ty Mawr) and ventured into the field containing the stone we had visited once before, and which I knew to be labelled “Ty Mawr 2″ on the Megalithic Portal. As we walked towards it  mentioned to Kal that I felt like I was walking through treacle! Despite my fitness, and the slope’s gentle incline, I felt like I was wading through knee-high water. Kal felt the same, in fact he felt “bad vibes”. Indeed. We were walking against the flow of a pretty bad negative energy stream – a black streamA flow of subtle energy emerging from a source. The source is usually imbued with some negative qualities, for example, it may be a source of geopathic stress where geology is under pressure, or toxic gases are emitted. Alternatively, the source may be imbued with negative emotions such as anger, fear or hatred left there by the intent of a human being. The result is a toxic dispersal of flows of “black” energy. These flows can cause disruption to everything in their path, such as accident blackspots if they cross roads, or polluted streams if they contact water., as we called it.   

I dowsed for what we should do about this, and the rods indicated that Kal could resolve the problem. Wow – a chance for me to sit back for a change! I tried to find a neutral space where the flow of negative energy would not affect me, and managed to find one if I stood on the other side of a narrow animal track that ran next to the hawthorn hedge that bordered the field, but I had to stand past the standing stone, above the flow of the negative energy.   

Kal began to dowse, then move and add some stones in order to re-shape the energy formation to be more positive.  He complained of getting a headache and I knew what he was feeling because even just walking up the field had made my head tight. The stone can be found here: link. But I wouldn’t bother with it if I were you – it’s trouble, and I’m sure we found the same negative stream of energy the last time we visited it. Something is polluting the flow that this Ty Mawr stone is linked to, and whatever it is – it’s not nice. Apparently there’s a sister stone over the far end of the field but we’ve never felt inclined to visit it. One day we might, when our heads clear.   

Always the head of a black streamA flow of subtle energy emerging from a source. The source is usually imbued with some negative qualities, for example, it may be a source of geopathic stress where geology is under pressure, or toxic gases are emitted. Alternatively, the source may be imbued with negative emotions such as anger, fear or hatred left there by the intent of a human being. The result is a toxic dispersal of flows of “black” energy. These flows can cause disruption to everything in their path, such as accident blackspots if they cross roads, or polluted streams if they contact water.

  Bodowyr cromlech  

Kal’s already mentioned the encounter with the lambs and sheep when we approached Bodowyr cromlech. It was quite amusing to see him become the shepherd and lift one of the lambs out of its iron pen. It did protest quite a lot at being man-handled! Well, they shouldn’t have an iron fence around sacred sites – it doesn’t do the energies any good at all. All we can hope for is that it rots away in due course and when the local government organisations or the National Trust come to replace the fence they do so with a little more thought and use a wooden fence instead, or better still, no fence at all – just a huge fine for anyone who attempts to move any of the stones and local inspectors to enforce it. We both know they’ll choose another iron fence.  

Despite the iron fence, and the finding that this had caused the Spirit of Place to relinquish its guardianship over the site, the guardian’s sigil was still present. We dowsed for it and discovered a shape they we had never seen before. It would also appear that there was someone buried at this site at one time.  

 We dowsed for the qualities and characteristics of the site:

• The energy of the site dowsed as a strength of seven. It had also been at a seven the previous week. There was therefore no change simply because it was Imbolc.
• Kal asked for the astrological alignmentAlignment relates to the concept that humans have their own energy fields that are oriented or formed in a specific way such that the person is either suited better to one energy source of another. Some people have their energy fields empowered by the direct subtle energy force of The Sun, whilst others are empowered by the indirect subtle energy of The Moon. Due to the historical associations and symbolisation of The Sun with masculinity and The Moon with femininity we designate these alignments as either being ‘male’ or ‘female’ alignments accordingly. We interchangeable refer to people as being ‘sun-aligned’ or ‘male-aligned’ and similarly with the female alignment.: with the Stars and the planet Pluto! Did the ancients even know about Pluto? How strange!
• There was a neutral ley lineThe term used by many British dowsers to describe an energy leyA straight line of neutral energy linking two or more sacred sites or other energetic centres. This is often confused with Alfred Watkins’ concept of the Ley Line. Strictly speaking a ley line does not necessarily mean a neutral energy line, only a sight alignmentAlignment relates to the concept that humans have their own energy fields that are oriented or formed in a specific way such that the person is either suited better to one energy source of another. Some people have their energy fields empowered by the direct subtle energy force of The Sun, whilst others are empowered by the indirect subtle energy of The Moon. Due to the historical associations and symbolisation of The Sun with masculinity and The Moon with femininity we designate these alignments as either being ‘male’ or ‘female’ alignments accordingly. We interchangeable refer to people as being ‘sun-aligned’ or ‘male-aligned’ and similarly with the female alignment. between notable places, whereas an energy ley is like a radial spoke in a wheel, with energy flowing outwards across the land in a straight line. It has sometimes been found that the energy ley can be diverted from its strict straight path by changes in the landscape or strong attractors that pull it away from its original course. Energy leys may have inter-twining streams of male and female energies weaving along them, as though the energy ley is an attractor, a pathway or a conduit for the male and female energies.. It is easily confused with ley and therefore its use is not recommended by dowsers. running through the site, in a NE/SW direction. This corresponded with the entrance and exit paths for me through the site. For Kal it was more the sun line from East to West.
• There were NO power centres here. Perhaps the Spirit of Place once looked after the upkeep of such things, I wondered? I would find out why soon enough.

 The astrological symbol represents Capricorn and is most energetically strong at the Winter Solstice on the 25th/26th December. This site is thus associated with the rebirth of the Sun, it’s re-awakening. And such a re-awakening was about to happen to me! 

Small square of five fire energy

Our next intention was to answer questions about the process of re-awakening. Did this site need to be awoken? Yes. Were we capable of doing that? Yes. Was today a suitable day for such a process? Yes. Would the process involve crystals? No. Would it involve candles? Yes. Damn – there was no way the candles would stay lit in the strong breeze that fluttered through the gaps in the stones. Could we substitute incense for candles? Yes, but less of a strong dowsing response indicating that it would be less effective. Fair enough! We’d just have to try harder! 

We dowsed for the number of sticks to light – five. The five incense sticks were a mirror of the first ritual we had done at Ty Newydd that morning - this would not be the only correspondence between the two processes. Kal dowsed for their position and we placed and lit four sticks inside the chamber in a rough square, and the fifth just outside where the sun would enter.  Same as Ty Newydd, we noted. 

I spoke of humans acting as the central connection between the energies of the land and sky. I said that we must be present at certain periods during the year and have the intention to awaken the energies in order for the sites to function as they were designed. We were the ones that could re-awaken the energies. We could act as the conduit for earth and radiant energies and thus re-enliven the site, even in the absence of guardian spirit. Our homage in this way would awaken the site to its potential for the year. Without such a ritual the site would lie dormant, and people would visit in slumber to the possibilities the site represented.

This sounded like a very strange polemic, and I broke myself off from it when my rational brain began to intervene to ask where this information was coming from. The connection broke and I tore myself away and returned to here-and-now awareness again. I shook my head to clear it. I wonder whether I had said that?  

Inside the cromlech

Thereby we see that the day went full circle – from the Ty Newydd cromlech being an act of re-awakening the earth energies in the land via the power of The Moon, all the way to the Bodowyr cromlech being the site associated with the re-awakening of the site’s subtle energies by The Sun. At the start of the day I had learned how to physically re-awaken a site, and at the other I had spoken of the role of humans in the importance of doing so at certain times of the year. I seemed like it all made sense, and I felt that this day had taught me more than many other days last year, but then this year we were going to visit sites with a purpose. What a difference!  

Gwas.