Dale Hermitage in Hermit’s Wood.

Well, what a year. Or rather what a slow year. To be more accurate it has been a spurts and sputters kind of year as fas as sacred journeys go. We had a fabulous trip out to Delphi in Greece that seemed to be the promise of something special. But then the weather back home in the UK has been abysmal and has interrupted sojourns as well as giving of the distinct feeling of…now is not the time. Finally though, Beltane festival day arrived and Gwas and I had planned to spend the day visiting some new sacred sites.

In the previous (Beltane -1) post I mentioned how we had a strange synchronicity to begin our journey. After that episode we started on the longer trek (1.5 hours) to a place that Gwas had determined to be significant for his part of today’s quest, a Hermitage. We arrived in good time to the general location and stopped at the side of a field to get our bearings.

Examining maps and iPhones we agreed that we needed to travel a few miles further along the road before we arrived at a suitable place to begin our explorations. However a nice surprise was that when we got there we realised that we had been wrong and that our original stopping place had been the place we should have stopped. Which was perfect!

As we set off on the slight climb through a lovely wooded area the sun was shining like a mid summers day. I can tell you that this was a blessing of unbelievable proportions considering the weather we had had of late. So with the sun keeping us company we were of good heart and pleasant cheer as we made our way to the easily accessible hermits home.

Within about 15 minutes we arrived at the hermitage, which was a small cave in the side of a hill. Although to be honest, the front of it looked a bit like the front of a small house…judge for yourself.

As is our usual modus operandi Gwas and I separated off to prepare and commune. I grabbed the rods and asked whether I needed to prepare in anyway. The answer was yes and I was led off to the other side of the hill and up the slope to a place where I had a beautiful vantage over the village below and with the sun shining on my face (sun boy!).

I spent a few minutes basking, energizing and cleansing (again?) in the sun until I felt ready to utilise the energies of the hermitage. The rods agreed. I returned back to the hermitage and used the rods to determine how to approach this site. The rods pointed me to a place just outside the structure. What was this? Another preparation? It was certainly an odd pattern I walked. It began by bouncing off the window on the left, then the one on the right and then pointing inwards almost, but not quite near the entrance. As I mused on this odd pattern I drew it on the ground in front of the structure.

Moments later I felt I was ready to proceed and dowsed for the right way into the cave. The rods took me inside and faced me outward by one of the windows. When I looked out I saw that the diagram I had drawn was right before me, pointing right at me. No surprise there then. As I stood, looking out at the sun kissed vista I let my senses drift.

You know, I am occasionally accosted by certain individuals as to how quickly information comes when communing. “It’s not my fault” is my normal response. It just does. So, as in other cases, this was no exception. As I left myself open to the spirit of the place, a voice boomed into my consciousness.

“Why are you here?”

What? My immediate conclusion was that this was a question regarding my current geography i.e. Why have you come to this place? I was about to respond with my purpose of the day when I got a follow up…

“Why are you alive? Why do you exist?”

Oh…Ah…I see. Was this metaphysical question going to be the next question? I broke of my connection to ask the rods i.e. my intuition? And they confirmed that this was indeed the second of my nine questions. What am I supposed to do with such a broad and deep question? At the time of writing, I don’t know.

I was done. After this amount of time doing these sacred quests one gets to know the “you’re done” feeling. So it was time to do a gratefulness ceremony which involved several incense sticks and some good vibrations.

Well done, was the thought I left that hermitage with. It was a nice site which delivered more than expected. Beltane was proving to be an exceptional day.

Kal Malik 2 out of 9!

Chad’s Well in Romiley vale

When writing up these quests we tend to go for the salient and relevant points. However we have so often find that innocuous little details play significant parts and so, more for ourselves than anything else we add those bits here – just in case. Here is one such entry.

Gwas wanted to visit a well to begin with and I tended to agree with the idea so he picked me up around 9am and we were off. The well he had in mind was local to where I live and so having put the address (Vale Road) into the satnav and finding an overview of the map that seemed to fit what the map for the place looked like we headed off.

As we got close to our destination I noted with some surprise that we were in the area that my sister lived. What an odd thing. Some more minutes later we actually turned into the road that my sister lived on. Now I was really surprised. Why had we been taken to a site that was quite literally neighbouring my sisters home?

Parking up right next to a wooded area around the back of my sisters home we were out amongst the trees searching for Chad’s Well. Nothing! After many minutes wandering around we deduced that we were not in the right location. Even though the satnav map of this area seemed to match the map we had printed out of the wells location.

Further investigation revealed that there was another Vale road some five miles from our current location. What! That looked like a more likely candidate and so we were off again. This time we had it right and as we parked the car, the sun came streaming out and warmed the air and our being.

A short walk through some lovely houses led us to the easily accessible well. As you can see from the picture it was a place that had a lovely feeling to it. Relaxing in the sun against the wall of the well gave the feeling that this was definitely a place of cleansing and preparation. I dowsed for a place and facing direction to do this and ended up in the middle of the road facing the sun. Of course it was.

I spent some minutes in this pose letting the energies within myself balance out and be replenished. It was a lovely feeling. Particularly because this was the first bit of decent sun that we have had in a long while.

Some time later, after gifting the Genius Loci of the Well with some incense and thanks, we were ready to begin our purpose filled quest. For me this was to seek another question in the nine that I had been tasked with at Delphi.

All in all a good and interesting start. The interesting part being, why had we (I) been taken to my sisters home first? Was there a reason? Just to allay your inquisitiveness an answer wasn’t forth coming on this day…perhaps in time to come?

Kal Malik puzzled.

Energy Artefact

An Energy Artefact then is an unusual item that is giving off an energetic signature or spiral of energy. For instance, a plant, though it gives of energy spirals, isn’t an artefact. Gwas’s staff also isn’t one. A stone, that is part of a sacred site isn’t one either. But the image of a loved one might be, a bracelet or necklace might be too. On one occasion I was staying in a motel in Michigan, USA and found that the room had an amazingly bad energy resonance. I had dowsed for wat could help me in cleasing the room and the rods took me to my baggage and eventually to a postcard with the image of Lakshmi on it. Here is a link to that nightmare room experience. Since that time I have come across many other Energy Artefacts such as the photograph of a ladies mother, hanging on a wall and on another occasion on a small table. These were rather good energy producing artefacts. I have encountered a few bad ones too. Stories for another day.

My point in beginning this conversation is that Energy Artefacts don’t have to be sacred stones in some distant vale. They can and do exist in the most ordinary of places. I’ll continue on this conversation after I’ve spent some time learning more about object de energetic.

Kal Malik – exploring the unknown

Seat of the Energetic Double

I can’t think of a time when I have said no to a visit to Dinas Bran. It is such a connective and experience giving site, how can one say no? So when Gwas suggested an evening visit to the Dinas Bran, I said YES instantly. I met up with Gwas around 7pm on a cool early spring evening. We were at the bottom of the small mount that Dinas Bran sits upon. Night had fallen and the stars were shining crisp and bright. It was going to be an amazing night. We had decided to take an alternate route to the top and it proved easier than our usual path.

As we got closer to the top we were hit by a blast of cold wind that reminded us that we were still only on the edge of winter. Freezing wind demanded we leave the hill rapidly however we were robust enough in our resolve to stay until our collective work was complete. As always, we separated at the top and went about our own quest. Mine was simple. Could I gain one of the nine questions that I was seeking this year. But before that could be done I was drawn to the place where my Energy Double liked to connect with. It was a window overlooking a valley and at this time of clear night was filled with stars and just above hung the Great Bear. I sat in the cold harsh place looking out at the Bear and pondered the adventures that I had had at Dinas Bran.

The Great Bear Symbol

I would have loved to stay seated in that window on eternity for much longer, however the wind blasting through it was excruciating and only some few minutes could be had with that beautiful vantage. Then I was off, dowsing in the dark for a place to commune with Genius Loci aka Bran. It wasn’t long before I found a suitable place and thankfully behind an overhang which protected me from the wind. I had a question in mind…

• Can I find one of the nine questions (from the Dragons Soul book) here?

Almost immediately I got an overwhelming sense of Yes. Wow! That was indeed promising and surprising. This early on in the quest and a Question was forthcoming. Alas I was not that lucky. With some eagerness I took up the rods and looked for a place that would have a suitable resonance to seek this question. Bump! I smacked right into a wall. Ouch! I tried again and bumped into another wall. Confused, I asked whether this was the time to seek the question? I got a no. Did I need to prepare in some fashion? Yes. Ah. Could I do that here? No. Oh. I was disappointed to say the least. Such a promising start.

Tintagel Waterfall

I stood with my back against the wall, looking up at the stars. I recalled for a moment that the wall behind me had been the place where my Quartz Citrine had vanished from almost a year ago. What an exciting experience that was. My gaze was drawn to the star-scape and the Great Bear. Gwas’s notions of alignment with stars and star energy effects came to mind. Was I currently in alignment with any stars? The rods reckoned yes. I was in alignment with the Great Bear. I’ve not really worked in this area much but am willing to try something different so, I visualised the connection between me and the myth that surrounds that star pattern. Immediately, Tintagel came to mind.

Tintagel, a castle that I had visited often during my stay in Devon a couple of years ago. Was the Genius Loci suggesting that that was a place where a Question would be forthcoming? Yes. So it seems that I have to go there before I can garner knowledge from Dinas. Well that is going to have to wait a while. It’s only a 7 hour drive to Tintagel after all. Sigh.

These quests are indeed demanding. But I do confess they are equally rewarding.

With that knowledge gained I was happy to retire to a pub for a drink and some much needed warmth.

Kal Malik walking the spiral once again

Nine Stones Spring Equinox

It was the day before the Spring equinox and I was wondering whether to go out somewhere way before work or just after? I had got in early today and so was heading home around 4pm when I felt a tug. As you know, I often felt that sacred days are rather fuzzy in their calendar and change depending on the individual. It seems that this equinox was no exception and I felt the that today, the day before the official equinox was more aligned for me. So without any hesitation I got home changed into some more suitable and warmer attire and headed out. Rationality took hold of me and I thought to head for the Wizards Wood. It was close by and had been the site of many adventures. However my intuition wasn’t going to let me go that easily and instead tugged me in the direction of Derbyshire and one of my favourite sites, the nine ladies.

An hour and half later I drove right past the turn off for the nine ladies. The decision had been made almost at the fork in the road. Right at that instant I opted for (or perhaps intuition guided me to)  Nine Stones Close sacred site.

A few minutes later I had parked the car and was heading up the field and by the side of Robin Hoods Stride and down into the fields beyond. Fortunately there was a hard frost on the ground and so the usual mud had frozen. It was bitterly cold but the Sun was some thirty minutes to the horizon. I got to the four stones and greeted the Oak tree first. Then I took out my rods and asked whether there was anything I can do for the site. An odd question because my usual one would have been “Is there any work for me to do here?” By work I meant personal work. But this time I had asked whether I could do anything for the site. The answer was no. So I asked my usual question and then was directed to a spot so that I could face the setting sun. I sat down on the cold hard ground, lit some incense and communed.

An overwhelming feeling of sadness came so suddenly upon me that I shivered from deep within. There were no images or thoughts that could explain the feeling. Just sadness. A feeling of time passed, of things finished, of leaving and of ending. The feelings continued to rise and rise until I could feel tears rolling down my frozen cheek. Of goodbyes, of farewells, Of things not done and things done. Of fulfilment and regret. It wasn’t a turmoil of feelings rather it was a train of thought or perhaps a chain of thought. The sadness was heart breaking. Then it started to resonate within me and brought to the fore memories of the partings I have had in my life. My mum, my wife, friends, homes, places and people. Experiences lived and now gone.

A rational thought interrupted the flow for a moment, “What is happening?” then I was caught up again in the emotional journey. In absolute seriousness I wondered if I was going to die, right there, in a field, with incense in my hands. Not a bad way to go I suppose. Then I felt something warm in the cold. It was like a warm embrace that chased away the melancholy leaving a freshness that was as sharp as the cold. I knew that it was the spirit of the place instantly. The sacred sites Genius Loci. It held m in this warm, fresh embrace until the sadness feelings faded. Then in one moment of inspiration it came to me. A question.

• Who have you known?

Clear as crystal, the question lay in my mind. Simple. I was stunned. I hadn’t come expecting a question, indeed for once, questions hadn’t even been on my mind. I was so stunned by its appearance that I stood up in shock. The whole commune had ended, not in a slow return to normality, but a fall onto a hard and yet soft surface. Who have you known? Was this a question that had its answer sealed in a Dragons Soul Book? The rods proclaimed a firm yes.

I had been at Nine Stones Close for only about 30 minutes and yet it seemed that my equinox visit was concluded. The sky was crimson now that the sun had vanished and a few days old sliver of the moon was visible. I didn’t notice the walk back to the car having been consumed by the question. Was it who I had known or Who the dragon had known? What was I to do with this question?

It was like a Zen Koan that refused to be cracked. The return journey (sans a wrong turn) was spent pondering what this meant. I need to speak to Gwas I thought as I pulled into my street. This, as Sherlock Holmes might say, is a three pipe problem.

Kal Malik and an Amazing life

Athena

Gymnasium

As you approach the small town of Delphi you first come across the ruins of the Temple of Apollo amongst other ruins. But even before you get to those, if you stop and look down into the valley on your left you will notice some magnificent ruins which are signposted as “The Gymnasium”. After we had returned from the failed attempt to visit the Corycian Cave we looked upon the ‘gymnasium’ and tried to find a way down to it. Following the path along the road side for a while proved fruitless. It seemed that that area was fenced off. We did not feel the need to don Guerilla techniques and made our way instead to the main ruins and the Temple of Apollo.

A few hours later our work there was done and we turned our attention once again to the sign marked gymnasium. We attempted a couple of routes in but where foiled at every turn. Giving up we opted for a trip to the museum and then some food. Fed, rested and with a few hours of daylight still with us (see Temporal anomalies in Part 5) we decided to make another attempt at the Corycian cave. What madness! As we set off in the car we drove along the road that was adjacent to the Gymnasium. Quite a bit further than we had walked we passed an entrance to the way into the valley. Oh my word! We stopped the car and back tracked to the entrance. Had our desire to go to the cave been prompted by some inner knowledge of the entrance to the gymnasium? The dowsing rods said Yes, but I wasn’t convinced. Anyway, we had a way down and that’s what mattered.

As we got half-way down to these, as yet, unexplored ruins we saw a sign denoting The Temple of Athena. Really!?! Where had the sign been at the top? With more enthusiasm than a mere ‘Gymnasium’ would have elicited we followed the rods down a winding female energy line, almost step to step behind each other.

Perception is almost everything

A feeling that crossed my mind when exploring the Temple of Athena was sadness. I felt that she had been forgotten and indeed, the comparison of visitors to the temple of Apollo and hers was representative of this neglect. It has been speculated that the power of the Gods and indeed perhaps there very existence is relative to the belief that we humans hold in them. It is difficult to imagine belief having such power. My understanding differs slightly in that I think that there is a dimensional separation between us and such beings. This separation is what belief or lack thereof impinges on. So in my humble opinion it isn’t that they have ceased to exist, it is that the bridge between us has narrowed.

Athena

I felt sad, and it is sad. Athena know for umpteen qualities is also the companion of heroes. Often seen as a warrior goddess she much preferred the route of wisdom than the sword. Whilst visiting her temple I wondered whether I was feeling sad because there were no visitors here or because of an empathic connection with the goddess. Did she feel sad that she had been neglected? I mused on the topic whilst sitting amongst the remains of her court. Perhaps she was sad because of the state of the country, once the greatest in the world? Maybe both. I would have attempted some dowsing to ascertain answers however I have learned (from my experience with Poseidon) that ancient gods are almost un-connectable.

I do wonder though, perhaps what Greece needs today is some of those Athenian heroes?

Kal Malik

Temple of Athena

Genesis

My journey to visit with the Oracle of Delphi was an adventure and half and I feel worthy of a kind of epilogue post. Although the visit to Delphi was at the end of eight months of waiting, preparation and expectation. It is the genesis of a new quest. It began with a Dragon spirit in the Faery land of Ireland and a gift of awesome promise and potential. The adventures are related herein. With the magnitude of the experience at Delphi I thought it worth a post on some thoughts I’ve had.

Overwhelm

Upon collating and then writing the post on riddles, the knowledge that flooded out of the Dragons Soul Book once its gate had been opened. The immediate feeling was overwhelm. What was I to do with all this knowledge? How could I handle its enormity and implications. The quest became much more complicated. It started with nine questions. Here is the gist…

A dragon had given me its life story (called a Dragons Soul Book). This book contained nine separations of the dragons life. A separation seems to be a lifetime of a dragon although I wont bet my shirt on it. In any case, during each separation the dragon resolved a question to an answer. Thus the book that I hold (in my chest by the way) has nine answers in it. What they are is a mystery to me at the moment. The quest that I am on is to uncover the questions that the dragon resolved. I believe that once the questions are discovered the answer (from the book) will be revealed. The experience at Delphi revealed that all the questions needed to be discovered by the end of the Serpent year. Why the involvement of the Chinese calendar is beyond me. Perhaps it coincides with another date (Imbolc) and hence its use. Maybe some Astrological significance? Nevertheless the information dump (I shudder at using the word download) was and still is daunting. In itself the quest I am on is simple. Discover the nine questions that the dragon asked throughout its nine separations.

Why?

A question that hasn’t been addressed and indeed hasn’t even come to mind is why? Why seek these nine questions (and answers)? Of what value is it? It is interesting that Gwas, only the other day, proposed a monumental question. What is the purpose of these quests and experiences that we are involved in? This seems completely applicable to my current quest. Of what purpose? Of course it is interesting and feels deeply meaningful to be involved in it. However, is that the only reason? Sufficient though it seems. I just wanted to capture that thought here so that it can be mused on later.

Temple of Apollo

Mixamotosis

Another thought that comes to mind is the mixed nature of things. Why Delphi? Why Pan? Why year of the Snake? Why Ireland? Why sacred sites in the UK? Individually I have no issues. But the fact that the quest began in Ireland and was continued in Greece and I suspect concluded in the UK (although I am having my doubts as to that). Perhaps this is to be a global quest? It is certainly worth pointing a finger at.

Specific

Let’s get specific here. Above I mentioned overwhelm and I meant it. Discovering nine questions is reasonable enough, however that turned into some matrix of 3 x 3 (see the post on Delphi and riddles). Which was reflected by clues or codes to the questions. For example:

• 3 are for the mind, body and energy
• 3 are for the past present and transcendent

What does that mean? Is one of the questions about mind? Or are three about the mind, three about the body and three about energy? I guess these will be answered as the discovery process continues. Again, I wanted to point it out here so we have a record of my concerns.

Temporal confusion

Another phenomena that is worth mentioning is that of time. We landed in Athens at 7pm on Friday evening. Rather than looking at the time, let’s go with the feeling of time. It felt like a good 3/4 hour drive through occasional rain to our destination Delphi. The next day we set off at 8am in the morning for the Corycian cave. Having failed to reach that place we had returned and spent what felt like several hours at the Temple of Apollo and the surrounding ruins. When we had concluded our work at the site we both believed it to be around 3/4 pm in the afternoon. Given that belief we made our way some half a mile back to the town of Delphi for nutritional reasons. Sitting there in the cafe we noted that the clock said 1pm. What? We were truly shocked? How could it be one? Confusion abound and we triple queried our time pieces. Yes, it was indeed only 1pm. How we had managed to do our work in such a short space (but the illusion of hours) of time was inexplicable.

Another temporal confusion was our return journey. We set off at 8pm from Delphi and were in the suburbs of Athens by 10. Two hours! It was about an hour into our return journey that we realised that we were a lot closer to Athens than what we should have been. Even with a pit-stop!

Definitely a couple of X-Files candidates.

Conclusion – for the moment

I feel that the trip to Delphi was 101% productive and successful. The knowledge and experience gained was vital to the continuation of the Soul Book quest. What this will mean and where it will go is to be determined by the future (as I guess is everything). Even with the above questions not answered I would quest. It provides an amazing meaning to my life and makes it filled with adventure.

Kal Malik – Thoughtful

I had been led up a spiral path at Delphi and over the last few months (perhaps a year) a spiral of life too. Here at what seems a pivotal point I had been dropped by my Energy Double a fair few hundred years into the past and down into the ground. I was in cave with four beings. Three cowled and hidden from me but with a palpable presence. The fourth was a shining being, the Oracle herself. I had just asked my questions…

• question

and was awaiting an answer. The Oracle drew herself straight and answered.

• “The key is here. The key is now. The key is in the next spiral. The key to the Dragons Soul is here”

What? I was puzzled. I had expected riddles, that was the norm for her answers but this wasn’t a riddle and yet the answer was confusing. I umm’d and err’d and pondered whether clarification could be asked for.

• “You have the key. The book is open”

She said with finality.

The book is open. The words filled my mind. I had been so focused on finding the key that I had no expectation of the book being opened. So soon. What no quest to open it? The Oracle had half turned as if to say that our meeting had concluded when I hastened to thank her. She looked over her shoulder right into my eye…

Have you ever had a Darshan? I’ve been lucky enough to have a few in my life. The most amazing was with Mother Meera in a fabulous monastery in Manchester UK. Anyway, Darshan, Sight of the Spirit as it’s sometimes defined was what it felt like when she looked sideways at me. It is said that one cannot hold such a vision for long as it would burn you away. Certainly felt like something burning when she looked at me.

Our consciousness is weird. Sometimes a vision can be conjured before us and we can only grasp it if we have something to relate it to. Do you know what I mean. When we see, we search for context. What is this? What does it look like? What does it remind me of? Our brain/mind is looking for relatedness. If it can’t find it, it will go for the next best thing.

Have you seen the film Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark? Near the end of the film, they are on an Island and some Nazi bozos have pried the Ark open. This Angelic light shoots out of it and spreads across the island. Killing those that see it? Remember? Well that is the image that came to mind when the Oracles eyes pierced my veil. Only it was the book within me that had had its cover blasted off.

Dragons Soul Book

Light wasn’t shooting out of it. Instead images were. Like a contents page but instead of just visual, it was a full sense-sational phenomena. Images were combined with other sensory input. Including emotional. The first to shoot out was a grid of 3 by 3 points of light. It was saying to me that although it was 9 answers that are buried in the book. The answers for a grid of 3 by 3. So that answers come in groups of 3.

• 3 are for the mind, body and energy
• 3 are for the past present and transcendent

Further revelations were to be had…

• 3 will be found in places
• 3 in the past and
• 3 in dreams

That ended the spinning 3d cube of dots. Then appeared more images…

• One will be found in life
• One in death
• One in love

I had enough time to think, “this is a bit Harry Potter’ish” when further ‘chapters’ sprung into view…

• One in fire, faith and mystery
• One in joy, faith and sadness

As if this wasn’t enough more images shot out at me…

• Quest for the broken wand, the silent word and the eighth power

And last but not least I’m sure…

• Beware the Gods of Power, the Three Spells and The Lie.

Neo in the Matrix

With that last blast the information transfer had completed and the book slammed shut. I had had my introduction. I was reeling from the shock of experiential overload. Staggering backwards into the depths of the cave for a moment I managed to get a grip and looked up only to see that the Oracle had vanished. The three watchers were still in attendance as I wondered how I was to return to my home time and place. I tried to sing the song of my Energy Double but nothing was forthcoming. The watchers remained silent and I knew they would not aid me. Indeed I felt their un-approachability viscerally.

Of course you may have guessed it. I had forgotten to create an anchor point when I had departed the here and now. Obviously I knew my body wasn’t there in the past. But it’s not where your body is but where your mind and soul (for want of a better word) is. I was getting scared. Which is the worst thing you can do in such a situation. Fear contracts the minds ability to seek solutions. Deep breaths I thought and laughed at the thought,

• “Is that air that you think you’re breathing?” Morpheus asked Neo in the Matrix. Not to mention the more applicable quote, “If you die here, your body dies there”.

Rather worrying I thought. Then another thought entered my mind. As I had been walking through the ruins (above) I had come across an Olive on the ground. It had caught my attention at the time as the rods had made a beeline for it. Half unconsciously I had picked it up and pocketed it. Would that serve as an adequate anchor? I focused my mind on the small marble sized squishy lump that was in my pocket hundreds of years in the future and who knows how many metres above ground. It was real. it was in my pocket. I could feel it. I could reach into my pocket and touch it. I was back!

The sun was warm on my body as I lay there on the ledge by the side of the path. Other tourists walked past as if I was invisible to them. Perhaps I was. My mind was reeling from the return and from the knowledge I had gained. I had to write it down fast so that I didn’t lose it. Minutes later I was done. Both with the notes and with Delphi.

Kal Malik – with the answers

Entrance to the Temple of Apollo

I had been led across the length and breadth of the ruins at Delphi. Although the middle of February, the days weather had been perfectly magical (in every sense). It had been about two hours since we had arrived at the ruins and finally I was at the place of commune. Offerings had been given, Sacred journey had been traversed. Yes, I felt ready as I lay upon a ledge overlooking a place that had been confirmed to be, for me at that time, the Navel of the Earth.

Journey to the Centre of the Earth

From previous experiences and commune I knew that I was to go into the past and meet with the Oracle of Delphi in the time when she existed and not commune with her in my time. Quite an odd notion considering that her vocation was to look through time. I also knew that I had to connect with my Energy Double too since it had the power to traverse the time stream. What I didn’t know was how.

In the world of sacred journeys the “how” of things rarely matters. It is more like what you find in the film, Field of Dreams – Build it and they will come. With that notion in mind I lay on the ledge atop the ruins of Delphi (the Navel) and silently said to myself and the Universe. “I am ready”.

It began with the song, so familiar now. The unique music that I heard was the connecting song that gives me the understanding that my Energy Double, has recognised my call and is on its way. Although I have changed my perspective on this a little as experience has refined the understandings, still it’s a good enough description for the moment. The song grew clearer and turned into a feeling. In my mind was the intention to go back to a time when I could ask the Oracle of Delphi my burning question.

Something amazing happened that I’d never experienced before. As you may know, we have two streams of energy that flow within us. One from the crown to earth and the other vice-versa. Well, at this point of transfer three things happened. I viscerally felt energy rip from my crown to my heart and from my earth to my heart too. Just as both these energies sparked to that central point my Energy Double hit my body at the heart too. Coming in a vertical path, it slammed into my heart centre (remember that the heart is at the centre of the breast not over the physical heart location) and took my consciousness deep into the earth and I felt into the past too. All this happened in a flash. Catapulted into the depths of the earth and time. Within moments I found myself in a cavern. It was dark and yet I could sense its presence.

Place of Questions

With the swiftness with which it came my Energy Doubles presence vanished and I was alone. In hindsight I think that I should have been scared but my distinct recollection and my notes from that experience tell me that I wasn’t. Odd.

Alone and yet not alone, I thought. That darned double of mine. Could have stuck around. I looked (sensed) around and felt nothing but the feeling of the cavern. Which added to mine (and Gwas’s) notion that caves are used for there aura shaping facility. After minutes (it seemed) of waiting I felt other presences in the space. I thought that I would be in audience of the Oracle, but no. Three beings appeared some distance from me. They were in shapeless robes and though my first impression was that they were people, perhaps the servers of the Oracle, that feeling vanished as soon as it came. These were something else. I felt them watching me. Even as I felt them. Weird.

Being a person that gabs a lot, I was pretty quiet. I had the feeling that I was waiting (for the Oracle). My wait wasn’t long. A few moments after the three appeared another figure appeared. As I write this post, my minds eye has gone back to peruse that (deep breath) feeling that I got when she appeared. As I try and find words to describe it, another experience comes to mind…

A few years ago, when that haven for book lovers BORDERS bookshop was still in existence, I recall walking its aisles one evening. When, out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of a bright light within one of the alcoves. I turned to look in, thinking it was just a reflection from a spotlight, when I saw a woman who was literally aglow. I was stunned. It wasn’t a beauty thing. She shone from an inner light. I was so dumbstruck that I found myself walking up to her and telling her, “you are glowing”. I think she smiled at me and said, “I know” and that was it. Occasionally when that memory surfaces I berate myself that I should have said more, but honestly, I don’t think I could have. The will to ask or communicate had been removed from me (which is interesting isn’t it…”these are not the droids you are looking for”).

When the Oracle appeared, that was exactly the feeling I got. She wasn’t a beauty by my standards. Not like the way Caileach (swoon) appears in my communes. The oracle did have an awe inspiring presence. I almost knelt before her, but caught myself in time. Respect sure, but not subservience.

“You are one who has come furthest to see me.” She said in a voice that felt like a tingle down my spine. But what really took me was that she was speaking English. I mean, well, she was supposed to be Greek right? Perhaps the TARDIS translation circuits were doing over time?

I nodded, “Yes”. I presumed that she was talking about the time-travel as opposed the geographical distance.

“What is your question?”

I noted the singular, for I had a few and had hoped to ask at least some of them. Still travellers can’t be choosers sometimes. So I asked,

• “Where can I find the Key to the Dragons Soul Book that lies within me?”

See how I made that specific? That comes from years of Dungeons and Dragons experience and having Wish spells going awry. The answer and experience that followed was revelatory and surprising.

Kal Malik in the past.

Journey

What a journey! The rods were truly on form today as I was led from beautiful vantage point to awesome site view. As I left Gwas behind and on his own personal quests, I was joined by a dog who scampered occasionally behind me and often in-front. The dog seemed aware of where the rods would take me or so it seemed. So much so that after a few minutes I wondered as to whether I was being guided by the dog. Well, not the dog, but a spirit inhabiting the dog.

I took a moment from following the path and asked a few questions…was the dog possessed of a spirit? Yes. Was this spirit guiding me? Yes. I pondered as to what or who the spirit was. Being in the majestic place, there were many possibilities. I began with the obvious. Was it Apollo? No, Was it Athena? No, What about the spirit of the place? No. A thought came to me, Was it Pan? This got a resounding Yes. Curious. Why Pan? I thought as I laughed at the dogs antics and continued my Pan guided, rods led tour.

The tour that I was led upon was truly beyond expression. Mere words cannot describe those few hours. I was describing it to a friend a few days ago and I recalled that “I have never felt so guided”. It’s true too. The rods took me to every vantage point. They would take me to a spot and twirl. I would stop, look around, have my sense of awe about the place increase and then off to the next spot (power centre). As time passed I felt that I was coming closer to the place of commune. The sun was just perfect, not too hot as to get clammy. Honestly, it was perfect.

I was outside of the main ruins and the dog led me through (or was randomly leaping around and I believed he led me through) some external ruins. I was following the rods, which seemed to be following the dog. At one point I was about to jump onto a waist level wall but the dog put its paw on the ledge and the rocks wobbled. “Saved by Pan” I thought as I took another route. My journey continued. Some parts of the ruins were roped of. It wasn’t a big barrier to cross and I wasn’t averse to some guerilla dowsing and crossing these boundaries however a ‘message’ from Pan came through as I was about to cross a roped area.

• Have respect for the current caretakers.

I was surprised by the message but wasn’t going to go against the local Gods. Strangely though, the rods often took me on a convoluted path that brought me to places beyond the rope without directly crossing it. Another delightful surprise. About an hour or two so into our visit I crossed Gwas’s path just below the Temple. He was on his way up and asked if I was on the same route. I had no idea but presumed so, my path was pure intuition. Where ever it took me was acceptable.

Temple

Offerings at Delphi

There is what looks like the front of the temple of Apollo and as I had looked on Gwas heading that way I presumed that eventually I would be heading that way too. That was not my fate though. Going around the sides and back of the temple stones I was led a-leaping across the large temple stones from the back zigzag to the front (and another rope). I saw Gwas within an enclave in silent commune and thought that perhaps that would be my final destination. The rods seemed respectful of Gwas’s quest and took me of to explore some nooks and crannies whilst he finished up. Rather synchronistically they did an about turn just around the time Gwas left the alcove and I was heading straight for the vacant space. Was this going to be the place I would meet the Oracle?

Offerings

The rods took me into the alcove and to my surprise did a gentle spiral and led me back out again and along a path to the side. What was going on? This was the Temple. It looked liked the right place. I even felt like it should be the right place and yet there I was being led away. I was taken some 30 metres away from the alcove and up onto a raised platform. The rods spiralled and I halted to take a look and to rest. I had a feeling that I had to do something here. Perhaps this was a place to prepare and ground? The rods replied, No. After a moment the notion of lighting some incense hit me and the rods agreed, so I lit three sticks and placed them upon the raised platform. As I finished up Gwas passed by and spotted me upon the platform.

“Very appropriate,” he said.

What do you mean I asked and he pointed to a sign that I could not see. What does it say I asked. “Don’t you know?” No, I replied. He called up to me that this was the place of offerings. I was stunned. I made my way back down from the platform to look at the sign that he had been pointing at.

• Offering of Crateros

What a confirmation of direction! I beamed over at Gwas. Life is fabulous. Onwards.

Place of Commune

Navel of the World

Following the rods, I continued my journey up past the Temple of Apollo (still can’t believe that that wasn’t the place). I didn’t know how much of the path was left. But I trusted the rods. This was such a awe inspiring day and as I said, such a led path, I had no fears. Complete certainty. I was approaching a truly magnificent (amongst magnificent) vantage point when the rods stopped and clicked together. I sighed. Arrival. The place was perfect. The rods had pointed me over to the little two foot high wall that marked the edge of the path and beyond was a shallow indentation. A message again entered into my mind.

• The centre point

I confirmed it with the rods. For me, at that time and place, this was the navel of the Earth. The shining upon me. I lay down on the wall and was transported.

Kal Malik