The Hedge Druid

Kal and I have decided that we will tailor our visits to sacred sites to take advantage of the effects of the Earth’s Magnetic Field (EMF) and the site’s specific construction. For example, we may predominantly look to visit stone circles at times when the moon is full, or barrows when the moon is new. For this reason we chose to go to two of our favourite circles in Derbyshire at a time just past the full moon in July.

The Impossible Sun

All the way from Cheshire to Derbyshire was gloomy and damp. Rain was either pending or descending, and as we came over the Buxton road (A537) we hit the mist and the sheets of driving rain that I had anticipated all morning. We were bound to get wet on our travels this day, I thought. There was not one bright area in the whole sky, only dull slate-grey sheets of rain, drizzle, mist or combinations of the three. Of course, this weather report did not dampen Kal’s spirits. As I ribbed him about “inappropriate clothing” and a southern temperament he seemed to be developing, he reminded me that his confidence in his ability to call upon the Sun was born of his special relationship with the powers of Nature that he had developed since he had found his solar calling. I scoffed, despite having been shown to be wrong on previous occasions. This time there was simply NO WAY there could possibly be anything but rain for our stone circle visit. The rain continued to fall as we neared Bakewell, and continued still as we made our way up to Nine Stones Close. This time, there would not be any need for an apology – the roles would be reversed!

As we stepped out of the car the rain halted. Ah yes, I thought, but only to continue any moment! I got my wet weather gear on – waterproof trousers, coat, hat in my bag, boots. Even the sheep that we passed as we climbed besides Robin Hood’s Stride rocks seemed surprised to see anyone out on a day like this. We trudged through wet grass in the fields and made our way to the stones. As we approached I conceded to Kal that there was a tiny spot of lighter grey above us, but still maintained that this was nothing like a ray of sunshine. Could he deliver, I taunted? Seconds later the sun broke through an invisible gap in the clouds and shone right in my face…

Kal calls the Sun to Nine Stones Close

Kal nearly jumped twenty feet into the air shouting, “See! Unbeliever! Told you I could make the sun shine! You should listen to a Sun Boy!” I was shame-faced again. How had he done this? All around was leaden grey cloud, and right above us the tiniest sliver of an opening through which the sun shone on us. It was like some kind of West End spotlight that was highlighting Kal’s bizarre hop-skippety dancing as he jigged about in glee at his “win”. I promised yet again to post my shame in full view for all to see. Never ever again will I doubt his sun-calling talents. I think I said that last time, but this time I mean it. He’s never ever been beaten in four years! Even my impoverished brain can judge that this is statistically improbable.

Making friends with a healing ally

Now for the nitty-gritty, the meat and two veg of this story. With the clouds all around threatening rain there was no time to revel int he momentary sunshine. I had work to do. I got out my elemental crystal set and began to dowse as to where I should put the various crystals that I had associated with the four elements. There are five crystals in the set – the fifth element is representative of me, or my teaching guide. In this instance the fifth element was represented by a huge rose quartz crystal I had bought in France for the purpose of attracting a healing ally. You see – all things become linked on this quest, whether you realise it at the time or not!

The dowsing rods led me to one of the stones as the ideal place to put my first crystal. Then I was led to each of the other stones (not in any order) until I had one crystal left and one stone. Surely, this crystal would go at the base of this last stone in the circle? No. It would be placed at a spot in a gap representative of one of the missing stones! The final stone would be where I was asked to stand to enact the ritual – I would stand at the stone that was the only one with a series of cup-marks on it.

I say “ritual”, but it’s nothing like you’d see in a Catholic Church! My ritual involved simply being in the right place with the crystal around me, and then imagining the coming together of the four elements at a crossroads in my mind (as per RJ Stewart’s pivotal visualisation for working with the faery realm). I called upon the presence of my current guides (Stewart recommends a spirit guide and an animal totem). Then I requested that any spirit entity who was sympathetic to my wishes to work with a healing ally should come to me via the power of this rose quartz crystal whose energy they could use to make contact with me initially. That was the extent of my ritual – now I would just wait to see what happened….

The special working stone at Nine Stones Close

…about half a minute later I felt something “thud” into the crystal. It was the most odd feeling – like a quiet thump! The crystal bobbed slightly in my hands and I felt that something had happened. I came out of my meditative state and stood up. I placed the crystal on the ground and dowsed it – had there been an change in the crystal’s energy? YES. Had I made contact with a healing ally? STRONG YES. This was exciting! That was all I needed to know for now.

Yet again the Nine Stones Close circle had been a perfect space for meeting allies. It is a perfect place to work as a threshold between worlds – a place where human and non-human can interact together.  Since then I have found out more about this ally – a name, how to call it, and how we can work together. I’m looking forward to an opportunity to begin working with it’s healing properties, particularly performing earth healing. The arrival of this ally has reconciled in me one thing: If I am to be a healer, then it is earth healing that I will mainly do. I feel this to be true, and now I must put this into practise in a major way, not in the minor haphazard way that I have done so far. It is time to begin a major project of earth healing.

Gwas.

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