We had taken the small road from the centre of Llangollen out past the Plas Newydd Museum, and heading towards the village of Pontfadog. As the crest of the hill appeared and the road became a T-junction the stone could be seen in the field to the right-hand side of the hill road, nestled and almost hidden by a line of hardy and gnarled trees about two miles out of Llangollen itself.

Quickly! Careg Y Big is falling over!

Once you hop into the field (by gate or by low dry stone wall) it is a short skip to the stone itself. As you arrive you notice that the line of trees forms a sort of avenue along which some ancient trackway may once have been dug into the landscape. It’s almost a small cursus feature, and if it had been a corpse road or similar then it would have been quite wide, I feel. Enough for a thronging procession to carry several biers side by side!

The stone itself struck me immediately, not only for its unusual angle, but for its composition. I had seen this type of agglomerate before – like round pebbles in cement – at Harold’s Stones in Monmouthshire. How interesting that Harold’s Stones were of a similar composition and similar slant too! Coincidence or design carried across several counties distance?

I next turned my attention to trying to find out which astrological body this stone might have been erected to point to – Sun, Moon? Neither – the dowsing revealed that it was a particular star/constellation of stars. By dowsing the date on which the star that this stone is aligned to would be in 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 stone this year we got the date April 9th at 10:00am. I set the Starwalk app to this time and date and then placed it on the stone to show me which stars would be in view along the stone’s axis and angle. The result was: Neptune was passing through the Aquarius constellation.

Careg Y Big stone's astral alignment on April 9th 2012

Astral alignments explained

Now that I had determined the specific astrological connection - Neptune passing through the Aquarius constellation – what is the relevance of such a conjunction to this stone? Why was it set to align to this conjunction? I could find only some general information relating to the thirteen year cycle of Neptune, which is apparently moving into Pisces currently. However, the information may be relevant so let’s look at it. I show my ignorance of astrology here by deferring to other commentators! According to one astrologer:

“Neptune represents the broader economic currents. Therefore Neptune in Aquarius represents times of economic reform or revolution. Since the “spirit of the times”, the “zeitgeist”, is represented by Neptune as well, the economic changes spring out of a new spirit, a new vibration. There was a scientific and artistic revolution during the last Neptune in Aquarius period — and there was a corresponding economic revolution  ….

Based on past periods, Neptune in Aquarius will be a time of religious freedom and reform. Likely, the old faiths, whether faith in science or religious faith, will undergo dramatic change … The underlying spirit of Neptune in Aquarius is a need to break out of the ordinary, to breakthrough to new spiritual states, to change life, to go for something larger than yourself.”

(source: GuidingStar.com)

The economic bit seems rather accurate at the moment! There is also an 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. to the Pegasus constellation. What might this mean?

 ”Pegasus is the hippocampus of your brain. The place of memory.” (source: HiddenMeanings.com)

“Symbol of wisdom and especially of fame from the Middle Ages until the Renaissance…..Personification of the water, solar myth, or shaman mount, Carl Jung and his followers have seen in Pegasus a profound symbolic esoteric in relation to the spiritual energy that allows to access to the realm of the gods on Mount Olympus.” (source: Wikipedia)

“Pegasus is the white horse that caused the fountain of the Muses to activate on Mount Helicon. Consider meditation and the spiral energy called Kundalini or the coiled serpent which rises up from the base of the spine to the Pineal Gland of the brain. ” (source: CrystalLinks.com)

Also rather interesting! Like a reminder or a signpost the standing stone may be there as a reminder that stones are linked to the stars. Maybe the stone itself contains memories that a sympathetic intuitive mind could access? maybe it was planted and aligned as a means of connecting the Earth with the stars? Maybe it is an access point through meditation to connect to the constellation’s energies and move the mind into a higher dimension? Maybe it enervates the chakras when meditated upon in April 2012? Will I get the chance to re-visit the stone at that time? “All this coming up soon in the continuing adventures of…The Hedge Druid“.

I also find the interpretation of Pegasus being associated with fame as notable considering that my over-arching quest for the year is to claim the power of “renown”. I will discuss this term and this quest in more depth in subsequent specific posts.

Standing stone disguised as tree trunk - Careg Y Big, Llangollen

Finding this 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. and its significance to a specific conjunction of stone and star begs the question about why some standing stones point at particular stars? This is an area that I hope to investigate further when the weather warms up a bit. Standing in the raw Winter winds that whipped across the hilltop field that day I was less than inclined to dowse for an hour to try to make inroads into such a complex question. That will have to wait for another day.

Gwas.

As I neared the site a thought struck me – I didn’t have a purpose to go with! I racked my brains – then I remembered my liaison with a water spirit in Cumbria and how I had made a connection with this element quite strongly. I felt like I had not made the same connection with the other three elements yet. Perhaps this site was the place to do that? It was a sunny day (fire), the stones were buried in the earth, and there was a slight breeze (air)….I would have to see whether it would work when I arrived.

View of the Rollright Circle

I was practically alone in the circle except for the occasional visiting party of one, two or three people, but as is usually the case they only stayed for the merest time. I barely had long enough to register most of the people who visited, so brief was their stay! I would love to survey people about why they visit these places and then do nothing when they get there!

Ritual for three elements

When I started druidry I wasn’t “into” ritual. I didn’t see that it was necessary, but I was being too narrow-minded. What isn’t necessary is a prescriptive ritual. You know the type of thing – in “The Heathen’s Book if Rituals”, page 24, it says that if you want to summon a fire elemental you will need a red candle, to face south, hold a crystal of Tiger’s Eye in your left hand, then say the words, “O Element of Fire, come to me in my hour of need….” blah blah. Whose ritual is that? Is it YOURS? Certainly not. It’s somebody else’s. So I follow a path whereby the ritual is completely impromptu. If I have certain things with me at the time then I might use them, such as candles, incense or crystals. Even my staff can be involved. But none of these things are necessary, and so I could just as easily face in a particular direction and simply imagine a connection with some elemental force and that will work just as well. In our world it can take a strong mind to ignore the “teachings” of other spellworkers and vote for your own method because we are so often seeking to know the “right ” thing to do. The right thing to do is do what feels right!

Now to discuss the ritual part of the visit.

1. Cleansing

Firstly I cleansed myself of all the worldly energies that I may have brought with me to the circle. I felt for the position of and then stood in a power centreA place where a person of a particular 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. (see ‘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.’) feels particularly comfortable and empowered. The place is an energetic centre where a particularly beneficial combination and formation of energies is formed into a pattern that is harmonic with the person for whom it can be called a power centre. just outside the aura of the circle’s stones, and it felt like the right place because I could feel me surrounding energies being drawn into the earth and dispersed elsewhere. Note: I didn’t deplete my inner energies – just my outer ones. Also note, no dowsing rods required to find the power centreA place where a person of a particular 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. (see ‘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.’) feels particularly comfortable and empowered. The place is an energetic centre where a particularly beneficial combination and formation of energies is formed into a pattern that is harmonic with the person for whom it can be called a power centre. this day. Progress!

2. Introducing

I was then invited to enter by “my” entrance to the south-east. Invited in the sense that I introduce myself to the circle,. stated my intentions, and then waited for a response. Politeness and respect usually works well in these co-operative mystical arts. I then walked around intuiting the path through the stones and touching most of the stones as I brushes past them until I felt I should stop. The place I felt I should stop at was “my” stone in the eastern edge, opposite the tree with all the clooties. I had stopped here on previous visits too. That’s how I came to call it “my” stone today. Once may be random, twice may be a coincidence, but every time becomes something special, so now this is now the spot for me.

My place in the Rollright Circle

3. Setting

Next I created the right setting for myself. Three incense sticks would be required today (this has recently been upgraded from the usual two due to a third strand of energy being introduced into my connection meditation (I imagine three strands of energy – a male, a female and a neutral strand. The male and female intertwine around the neutral). It was also coincidental that this matches one stick for each of the elements that I wanted to work with, but I didn’t feel that was particularly relevant today.

I then took out the three elemental crystals that I wanted to use to act as a connection to the elements. Rose quartz for Air, Green Aventurine for Earth and Black Tourmaline for Fire. These are just the crystals that I find work for me.

4. Calling

I held all of the crystals in my “giving” hand. There is a concept that we each have a giving and a receiving hand. Supposedly you can feel this if you hold your hands six inches apart from each other and feel for which way the energy is flowing. It will be flowing from your giving hand to your receiving hand. With the crystals in my giving hand I connected to the circle, to the sun, moon and earth, and then opened up my chakras using the sonic method I had learned recently.

When all my energy was ready I began to give it out through the crystals into the earth. I let my energy tentacles go deep into the earth in search of a familiar earth spirit that I had worked with before. Moments later as I called its name repeatedly I felt it surge into the green crystal, and then I swapped that crystal into my receiving hand. The crystal was incredibly warm! I repeated this process for the other two elements, sending my energy tendrils out to touch each of the elements in turn and calling for my elemental connection.

When I called for the earth element I was very aware of the smell and feel of the earth beneath me. I was sitting with my back to one of the stones in the circle, so I was closer than normal to the earth, but still I could really smell the scent of the grass and earth below me for a fleeting moment as the element re-joined with me. When I called upon the air element the still air whipped up into a swift and strong breeze for a few seconds before dying away to stillness again. Coincidence? Some things are, some aren’t. When I called upon the fire element the sun was behind a large cloud. Seconds later it has broken through to shine strongly upon me. As soon as the element was back with me the sun faded behind a cloud again. Another coincidence. This magickal work is full of coincidences.

The southern entrance for sun people

5. Leaving

Soon I had a hand full of really hot crystals and a satisfied grin on my face. They were back with me, and I could start working with them again this year. I thanked the spirit of the circle for facilitating the meeting and went to stand in my inner circle power centreA place where a person of a particular 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. (see ‘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.’) feels particularly comfortable and empowered. The place is an energetic centre where a particularly beneficial combination and formation of energies is formed into a pattern that is harmonic with the person for whom it can be called a power centre. in order to be re-energised for the day ahead. Again, no rods were needed to guide me to this – I went intuitively.

As I walked out of the circle the air went colder. Much colder. I walked out from the southern entrance (the sun entrance) and disconnected myself form the circle with a sweep of my hand. This was all it took now – a nonchalant well-practised sweep that woudl cut my energetic ties. The sun was no longer visible and I felt energised, but in a strange way bereft. I think I would have liked to stay within the circle’s magickal field a while longer, but time was pressing and I wanted to do some dowsing work.

Finding the Belinus Line

As I left the circle of stones it occurred to me that Gary Biltcliffe had mentioned in his lecture on the Belinus Line that it travelled through the Rollrights area. Well, if so I ought to be able to pick it up and see where it went exactly, thereby verifying the information for myself. I got my dowsing rods out and asked whether there was a line known as the Belinus Line flowing close to where I was. This is a complex question, but luckily the rods sorted it out for me by responding with a positive, so I changed the question to be, “Please take me to the boundary edge of this line”. Within a minute I was wandering through the gate and across the road towards the field that housed The Knight’s Stone – so-called because of its resemblance to a knight piece in a game of chess, I suppose.

As I walked into the field I saw the stone with its iron cage and sighed a little. Such a shame that its aura is bound by this iron prison. I followed the female part of the Belinus Line up the right hand side of the path leading to the stone and it veered off away from the path as it approached the stone to then be pulled right into it from the hedge side (south?). I then re-traced my steps back to the entrance gate at the road and followed the male line, which was more aligned to the path than the female line. As it approached the stone the male line moved into line so that it went through the stone according to the narrowest angle (approximately East-West). The stone was a crossing point for the lines.

From the stone the lines went out to the small mound which is just beyond the Knight Stone, and then they swerved off into the corner of the field and away over the hedges and fields beyond.

Energy ley runs along the alignment of the thinnest angle

The movements and placements of these energy lines were exactly as Gary Biltcliffe said they were. If this was the Belinus Line then he had his findings spot on. At that moment I felt the cold of the sun being behind a cloud and shivered. I checked the time. I had just enough time to grab some lunch and make it to London. Still, it had been a worthwhile visit. I had proven to myself that the 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. comes through this site (I had found these lines before, but now I knew they were part of a much longer line). I had also meditated quite nicely, been energised, and had regained my contact with the elemental forces that I would then be able to call upon throughout the year. All in all a good morning’s work!

Gwas.

Kirksanton stone circles - bird's eye view

We dowsed that these stones in this highly-disrupted set of circles no longer had any energetic qualities to them, and were disappointed. We both noticed that there were more stones in the distance, some few hundred yards further on from the outer rim of this circle. I dowsed to see if they had energy in them and found that they did. Kal had already felt the pull of these stones and was already jogging over to them as I dowsed this answer.

The Second Circle

As I got to the second circle I could already see that this megalithic sites was ALSO a double circle. This was highly unusual – two stone circles side by side with each other was strange enough (The Hurlers in Cornwall is three side-by-side) but the idea that they were also both double circles was right out there on the ‘unusuality’ scale! I began to take an interest in the central stones of this second circle, and from a close examination in good light I could see that there were some interesting cup-marks.

The cup-marks int he stone suddenly hit me like a bolt of inspiration. Three circular marks at an angle and in a row, and then a fourth circular mark further down the line and off to the left….seemed very familiar to me. I knew this 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. to be one of the alignments I study most – Orion’s Belt pointing to Sirius! Unmistakeably, that was what I was seeing. So, did this site have a particular link to either Orion or Sirius? I dowsed that it linked to Orion’s Belt, and that the first circle we had visited was the circle that was linked to Sirius. Interesting to me as I had once found that I energise my crystals best by orienting a formation towards Sirius, so it had particular significance for me.

Meanwhile Kal had pottered off with his rods towards a nearby small peak and was meandering along its dies towards the top. He was obviously on to something and was intent on following it to completion, so I began to approach him as he reached the summit. As I moved he called down to me with some advice, “Follow the energy trail from this circle to the top of this hill!” he instructed. Sounded like fun. I did so and found that the trail went through all of the largest of the outlying stones at the western rim of the inner and outer circle, and then continued to navigate through all of the stones that were arrayed along the path up to the summit of the nearby hill. I realised I was following the same path that I had seen Kal walking a few minutes earlier. As I reached him he commented, “See how it follows the stones all the way up?” I did see – but what did it mean? Kal continued to dowse for answers. I, however, turned my attention to something I had just noticed about the spot I had arrived at on the summit.

Kirksanton cup-marked stones showing astrological connections

Standing on the summit I found that the spot I had arrived at was a power centreA place where a person of a particular 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. (see ‘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.’) feels particularly comfortable and empowered. The place is an energetic centre where a particularly beneficial combination and formation of energies is formed into a pattern that is harmonic with the person for whom it can be called a power centre.. Not only could I distinguish it visually, but it also felt like one and dowsed as being one too. I was standing in a female power centreA place where a person of a particular 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. (see ‘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.’) feels particularly comfortable and empowered. The place is an energetic centre where a particularly beneficial combination and formation of energies is formed into a pattern that is harmonic with the person for whom it can be called a power centre.. I dowsed to see whether it linked to anything else. It did. There were three female power centres all in a line – a slanted line that looked very similar to the slanted line of cup marks on the stone below….it couldn’t be, could it? I dowsed to see whether these power centres had any link to the cup marks. They did. Did the power centres have any link to celestial energyThis is a term that I use to collectively describe any energetic influences that reach us from celestial sources. As with its companion term ‘Telluric EnergyA general term encompassing all forms of earth-bound or earth-generated energy. This is in differentiation to forms of celestial energy. Telluric energy can be both subtle energy and what we may call “gross” energy – in other words, energy that can be measured by current scientific instrumentation and which is electro-magnetic in nature.’ the energies of the celestial sphere are many and varied, ranging from cosmic rays (which can be scientifically measured), the sun’s various energy frequencies, the reflected energies of the Sun which arrive via the Moon, and those of the stars and planets within and beyond our solar system.? They did. Were they linked to Orion’s Belt stars? They were! And the energy from the power centres flowed down to the circles below. In the case of these Orion star power centres the energy was quite strong (6/10).

If that was true, I ventured, then where was the Sirius star power centreA place where a person of a particular 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. (see ‘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.’) feels particularly comfortable and empowered. The place is an energetic centre where a particularly beneficial combination and formation of energies is formed into a pattern that is harmonic with the person for whom it can be called a power centre. that should link to the first circle we had found? I asked the rods to lead me to one, if one existed. They moved off to the other slight peak on this ridge that was some fifty feet away from the Orion’s Belt power centres. As the rods swirled around on the very tip of the peak I was amazed at how there seemed to be a link between these two hill peaks and the sites below. The Sirius power centreA place where a person of a particular 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. (see ‘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.’) feels particularly comfortable and empowered. The place is an energetic centre where a particularly beneficial combination and formation of energies is formed into a pattern that is harmonic with the person for whom it can be called a power centre. was quite weak and the energy that flowed down to the site below only registered as the bottom of the scale (1/10). This was not really the kind of thing that Kal or I had looked for in the past, but here was a clear and definite connection between a hilltop and the local stone circles below them. Interesting discovery.

Kirksanton circles connected to the nearby hilltop

A Starry Quest Update

I did a meditation at the Orion’s Belt power centres to find out more about the new quest I had learned of at the River Esk earlier in the day. Then I had learned that I would be involved in learning how to change my energy field to promote the growth of plants. The central star of Orion’s Belt seemed to be connected to this quest. The energy imprint of this star are part of a three-star formula that I need to know the sequence of. What I learned was that each star’s energy would be required to change me somehow, and that I would need to visit a sacred site associated with that star in order to modify my energy field and thus acquire this new ability to promote the growth of plants. Sounded like a challenge, especially of those sites were quite far apart! How would I find them, I wondered? That would be for another day – the sun was beginning to set and we still had one site to visit yet – The Giant’s Grave standing stones on the coast below us. We ran down the hill, energised and excited despite our long day.

The Giant’s Grave standing stones [Portal] [Map]

The standing stones known as The Giant’s Grave were in a muddy field (theme of the day) but were easily accessible, despite being close to a railway crossing. The sun was positioned just perfectly at the level where the photographs became rather dramatic. We both stood there snapping away and drinking in the beauty of the sun and the stones in this setting, quite literally a setting.

I began to inspect the stones and quickly came across some more cup marks on one of the stones. What were these marks. Do I really need to tell you that they were three slanted circular marks in a line…..no, I didn’t need to tell you that, you had already guessed. So, straight away I knew I what I was dealing with. One of the stones was linked to Orion’s Belt. What about the other – did it have a single cup mark? It was harder to spot, but yes it did have a perfect circular depression in it. Definitely one stone linked to Orion, the other to Sirius. The dowsing only confirmed what I already knew by now.

The Giant's Grave at Kirksanton

This cup-mark discovery led to me being able to connect the stones directly with the stone circles above on the hill (although if you look from the stones to the hill, the taller left-hand stone is linked to Orion, and the smaller right-hand stone is linked to Sirius, which is exactly the opposite of the configuration on the hill above, where the bigger circle on the left-hand side is linked to Sirius, and the smaller circle on the right is linked to Orion.

The Sirius and Orion stones are connected to the stone circles above

A helpful local walking his dog had a good chat with us about the surrounding neolithic sites, telling us about the complex of hollows that were probably houses near to the Kirsanton circle complex, which were marked as something nondescript on the OS map. It seemed like this whole series of megalithic stones was a massive complex of astrologically-linked sacred structures and a whole complex of houses supporting something to do with the importance of these alignments and energies.

From my own research in Cornwall I knew that Sirius’ energies were frequently linked to fertility energy – her blue emanations seem to provide energy that knowledgeable humans can turn to their advantage by promoting the growth of crops, possibly through the use of these double-circles that had been constructed on this coastal hillside of Kirksanton. Let’s call it a step forward in my working theory. Now I had to factor in Orion’s stars too. What were they useful for? As yet I don’t know, but I will keep investigating.

Gwas.

The stone, which I later learnd was called St Buryan’s Stone was strongly aligned to male energies. Which is why I felt such an attraction to it. Although you see Louisa hugging the stone this was more for picture effect than an attraction as she was soon off across the fields to St Buryan’s amazingly shaped and female aligned stone.

I stayed at the Sun aligned stone because I felt that some kind of gift was being offered. As I pondered and dowsed around the stone I intuited that it wasn’t a gift but an exchange. What did I have to give? I dowsed through my bags contents and came up with a egg shaped crystal that Gwas had brought for me from Canada. Did I have to use that? Yes. O but it was a gift.

Still, needs must so I placed it a location where the rods suggested and then looked for a place to do a visualisation. The rods took me in one of the straightest lines about 100 metres away from the stone. Even as I reached the point I felt that something wasn’t right. This was too far. Without doing the visualisation I slowly walked back and an idea came to me. I didn’t have to leave the stone there I had to leave it for a certain amount of time. How long? The time it took me to follow the rods 100 metres away and walk back. Was I right? The rods flew together in confirmation. Curious!

As I bent to pick up the stone the hitherto unnoticed crack in the stone came to my attention. That was the reason as to why I had placed it there and done the intention work. What of the reciprocal change? I had received it. But couldn’t get a handle on what that was.

After I completed my work here I went over to the Moon aligned twin of the stone in the adjacent field. As I approached I noted that my work had been carried out when the sun had aligned the two stones. Coincidence?

I was definitely not in tune with my Moon side this day, perhaps because it was a full moon? Could be. Anyway I spent just a few minutes making sure:

• It was moon aligned
• It was the twin of the other
• It was significant that the healing had been done when the sun aligned the two
• And that Louisa was definitely in her element with it.

Tempus was a fugiting and the Merry Maidens was waiting, little did I know that my Knights Quest was going to be furthered by the discovery of another Key.

Kal Malik

6. Bolton Abbey. [Bing map]

Bolton Abbey is an evocative place for me. It is probably the first place that I remember visiting as a child. I remember that my mother really wanted to go for some reason. I remember a tall long hallway with a lovely grass surface and the early Spring sunshine shining through the glassless ruined windows. I also remember it being cool and windy. So, it was with some delight that I found that this place was easily reachable as we ventured around the various megalithic sites in the area. I also knew that it was the kind of place that would be ideally suited to us doing some experimental dowsing, and I had lined up a lot of questions to work through.

How Bolton Priory used to look

We managed to find the exact hall that I remembered and did our dowsing work there, even though the area was timidly fenced off. I wasn’t going to be put off from that – I had questions that needed answers and memories to evoke! We wil shortly be releasing several Druid Diary MP3s of the long recording that we took while driving back to Cheshire that day – these recordings go over many of the results recorded below and put them in context. Watch out for those soon.

A summary of the results would be that we worked with magnets on male, female and neutral energies finding that magnets affect earth energies, but there is a cost. We also found that the site was now aligned with Deneb in Cygnus constellation, drawing upon blue/green/yellow spectrum of energies to promote fertility. Within those hallowed walls we got out a long set of questions to ask about various topics.

The questions we dowsed at Bolton Priory were these:-

COLOUR DOWSING

1. Is the colour of subtle energyA form of energy that has so far eluded scientific definition. It is neither electric, magenetic, nor electro-magnetic, so far as our current technical equipment can measure. It does, however, exhibit many of the characteristics of magnetism and electricity in terms of its effects and properties. It may be a form of either or both of those energies that we have not yet identified. related to its resonant frequency? YES (Kal pointed out that this was a logical not a mystical question)
2. Is the colour of subtle energyA form of energy that has so far eluded scientific definition. It is neither electric, magenetic, nor electro-magnetic, so far as our current technical equipment can measure. It does, however, exhibit many of the characteristics of magnetism and electricity in terms of its effects and properties. It may be a form of either or both of those energies that we have not yet identified. a form of light? YES (Again, Kal was unimpressed by the question, but I pointed out that I was re-affirming what we knew)
3. Are there any colours of subtle energyA form of energy that has so far eluded scientific definition. It is neither electric, magenetic, nor electro-magnetic, so far as our current technical equipment can measure. It does, however, exhibit many of the characteristics of magnetism and electricity in terms of its effects and properties. It may be a form of either or both of those energies that we have not yet identified. that have only one consistent effect upon a human? YES, Black (the absence of colour or light frequency) is always detrimental to the human being because the body tries to get to a sympathetic vibration, which in the case of black is the frequency of DECAY.
4. Does the effect of a coloured energy lineThe direction energy takes when moving. It may be straight or curved, in several dimensions and be composed of one or more different types of energies, i.e. negative, positive or neutral. Energy lines can be found at standing stones and ancient sites but are a general feature in all energy fields. depend on the human who interacts with it? YES. Some people can take action to mitigate the harmful effects of black energy, whilst others can exclude or include particular frequencies through intent.
5. Can a human affect the colour of subtle energyA form of energy that has so far eluded scientific definition. It is neither electric, magenetic, nor electro-magnetic, so far as our current technical equipment can measure. It does, however, exhibit many of the characteristics of magnetism and electricity in terms of its effects and properties. It may be a form of either or both of those energies that we have not yet identified.? YES, by intending an effect humans can create a particular sympathetic frequency and thus affect the frequency of energy, changing its colouration.

STAR AND SITES

1. Is this site aligned to a star that is visible now? YES.
2. What is the original star that this site was built to align to, or be affected by? NO - the star that is affecting the priory has changed since it was built.
3. What is the current star that this site was built to align to, or be affected by? The star DENEB in the constellation of CYGNUS, The Swan or Northern Cross.
4. Which elements of the site are affected by this star’s energy? A power centreA place where a person of a particular 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. (see ‘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.’) feels particularly comfortable and empowered. The place is an energetic centre where a particularly beneficial combination and formation of energies is formed into a pattern that is harmonic with the person for whom it can be called a power centre. in the central hall in the ruined section.
5. At what time of year was the site built to be most effective? Beltane, 1st May
6. At what time of year was the site now most effective? Summer Solstice, 21st June. This fits with the fact that Cygnus is part of the Summer Triangle of constellations that dominate the summer skies in the Northern Hemisphere.
7. Is there a cup-marked stone at this site that shows the original star to which the site is aligned? There was originally, but it has since been removed from the site.
8. Which colour frequency does the star’s energy operate in at this site? The range is blue, through green to yellow. Primarily green energy.
9. What is the purpose of the star’s energy at this site? To enhance the fertility of plants, humans and the land.

The star Deneb in the Cygnus constellation

One might consider that it would be quite unusual for a Christian Priory to be utilising the energies of the green spectrum to promote fertility. This is especially true of its originally most active time, Beltane – a pagan fertility festival. I think this indicates that the site has a far older history, and that when the site was sanctified by the original priests (if we might call them that) then it was for its powerful fertility-enhancing qualities that the site was either chosen or created. We may never know which came first. Interesting, then, that I found this book that said that the Vale of Skipton in which the priory was built is one of the most fertile in England! Chicken meet egg – egg meet chicken! He also says:-

(Source: "The English Counties Delineated" by Thomas Moule)

MAGNETIC EFFECTS

1. Can this energetic line be affected by a magnet? YES. Neutral, male and female energy is affected by magnets.
2. Does the energy lineThe direction energy takes when moving. It may be straight or curved, in several dimensions and be composed of one or more different types of energies, i.e. negative, positive or neutral. Energy lines can be found at standing stones and ancient sites but are a general feature in all energy fields. have a polarity? The 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. has both a North and South polarity.
3. Is the male / female energy aligned with a particular magnetic pole? Male is attracted to the North Pole and female energy to the South Pole.

I need to explain what we did with the magnetic experiments. I had brought two very strong magnets with me, but they were oblong shaped and I didn’t know which end or side was which polarity, really.

UberOrbs

The Neutral Test

To test the neutral energy effects we identified the neutral 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. running through the ruined hall (which coincided with the remains of a wall, or at least was marked by some bricks abutting the main wall). We had dowsed how wide the 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. was – about one Megalithic Yard, or just short of three feet wide. Interestingly, when we dowsed how HIGH the line was, it also measured exactly one Megalithic Yard.

Of course, according to modern science and the International System of Units (SI) the Megalithic Yard is “pseudo metrology”, but actually I think it is just an ancient system and it has far more justification than the current system, which was adopted purely for its simplicity. The ancient system is based upon the measurement of the Earth itself – what could be more natural than that? Take a look in the “Books” section on this site for books by Alexander Thom, Tom Flowers and Robin Heath on this subject, not to mention John Michell. You will then come to see how the inch, foot, yard (and the Imperial System that then emerged from these measurements) in general has been denigrated but I for one was never taught where this system came from, so that’s why it always seemed strange. I was indoctrinated with the SI system at school but its measurements make no sense in relation to the Earth, its megalithic sites or its energies. This we have proved for ourselves, and it is Imperial measurements that you will hear us talk about on this site.

Knowing the width of the neutral 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. I then asked the dowsing rods to show me a place where I could best demonstrate the effects of a magnet upon this line. The rods took me to the middle of the line and about six inches outside of one of the edges. I placed the magnet and we began to dowse the effect. The effect was immediate – the line now bulged on the one side where the magnet had been placed, and the edge of the line now passed through the magnet. The line had been attracted to the magnet! We repeated the exercise on the other side with the same results.

Wooden gate marks neutral energy ley - Rods in foreground mark power centre

When we dowsed it, it seemed to us that the neutral energy lineThe direction energy takes when moving. It may be straight or curved, in several dimensions and be composed of one or more different types of energies, i.e. negative, positive or neutral. Energy lines can be found at standing stones and ancient sites but are a general feature in all energy fields. had a north and south polarity running in opposite directions and that the magnet’s appropriate pole had attracted the north pole of one side of the line, and the south pole of the other.

The Male Test

For the male energy test Kal located a male line that went from a male power centreA place where a person of a particular 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. (see ‘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.’) feels particularly comfortable and empowered. The place is an energetic centre where a particularly beneficial combination and formation of energies is formed into a pattern that is harmonic with the person for whom it can be called a power centre. in the middle of the priory’s ruined hall. The line travelled out to the hall’s northern wall and then wavered along the edge of the wall until it went out through the blocked up arch, a northern exit, on the slightly raised area of the hall where the large east window used to be.

Again I asked the dowsing rods to regulate the test. I placed a magnet where the rods indicated, which was on the raised area, about ten feet beyond the exit point for the male line through the priory’s northern wall.

Kal dowsed the line he had just traced once more. This time the male line swerved out of the hall much sooner than before. The male line was now further away from the point where the magnet was. The magnet had therefore repulsed the male line, pushing it backwards.

We later worked out that Male energy is attracted to the North magnetic pole, and repuled by the South pole.

The east window and raised platform

The Female Test

Kal used his dowsing rods to find a female power centreA place where a person of a particular 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. (see ‘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.’) feels particularly comfortable and empowered. The place is an energetic centre where a particularly beneficial combination and formation of energies is formed into a pattern that is harmonic with the person for whom it can be called a power centre. (a vortex or spiral) which was situated on the raised eastern end of the hall. The form of the female energy emerging from this centre was an anti-clockwise spiral that took three turns outwards (we stopped dowsing it at that point, but it seemed ‘hemmed in’ by the walls).

Again I asked my dowsing rods to show me a suitable place to affect the female spiral and I was taken up onto the raised platform near the east window, except I was in the opposite corner to the female power centreA place where a person of a particular 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. (see ‘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.’) feels particularly comfortable and empowered. The place is an energetic centre where a particularly beneficial combination and formation of energies is formed into a pattern that is harmonic with the person for whom it can be called a power centre.. I placed the magnet on the floor and this time I dowsed the spiral fromt he female centre.

Instead of walking round several times in a circle I was straight away pushed out to the edges of the wall. As soon as I was in open ground the female line headed in a shallow arc towards the magnet, where the line ended.

The magnet had pulled the female energy lineThe direction energy takes when moving. It may be straight or curved, in several dimensions and be composed of one or more different types of energies, i.e. negative, positive or neutral. Energy lines can be found at standing stones and ancient sites but are a general feature in all energy fields. in an extreme way, deforming the female spiral into a shallow arcing line. Later we dowsed that the female energy was attracted to the Southern magnetic pole of the magnet, and generally to the South Pole region of the planet. Of course, it is also repulsed by the North Pole, as you would expect by now.

Additional Information

One final note about the use of magnets on earth energies – it’s a bad idea! According to our dowsing the use of magnets for more than 20 minutes will permanently deform the form and elasticity of the earth energy. The result of deformation is that energy does not flow in a natural form, and being unnatural it turns into the harmful 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. variety over time. Suddenly for us this has massive implications for all those products around your home that use magnetism to operate – telephones, microwave ovens, stereo systems, computer and their monitors,  CRT TVs, I suppose there are quite a few. Not very beneficial to your house energies, as Kal will tell you from his vast house dowsing experience.

In addition I asked whether there were any energetic ‘drains’ or ‘sinks’ at this priory – there weren’t. On the way out I walked past some gravestone and couldn’t help but ask about the presence of shades. None there. We wondered why, until we turned the corner to find a series of stone plaques that marked the deposit sites for cremated remains. Ah…was there a link between cremation and the destruction of an energetic shroudAs coined by Kal after reading the definitions of C.W.Leadbeater – the early 20th Century mystic. Leadbeater considered that man, when he died, could become stuck in a “ShadeA shade is the energy body of a human being that has become transfixed at a geographical location. The shade retains many of the qualities of the human that it was attached to (memories, character traits, a level of sentience, movement between places known in life).” – an energetic shell that would retain many of the characteristics of the human in his physical life. It is frequently taken to be what is termed a ‘ghost’ but although it has a certain amount of sentience, it would seem to be limited in terms of its ability to move from the space within which it has anchored itself. It must be stated – it is NOT the person who has died – it is a remainder copy that contains the memories and characteristics of the original energetic fields of the human, but now has no physical organism to work with. or shadeA shade is the energy body of a human being that has become transfixed at a geographical location. The shade retains many of the qualities of the human that it was attached to (memories, character traits, a level of sentience, movement between places known in life).? Something we will have to answer soon.

As we walked back I speculated about the return of the male energy. It was not yet Imbolc truly (which is Tuesday 1st February) so why were there some weak male energies here? We dowsed and found that the male energy had been drawn back up to the surface of the earth by the gravitational pull of the full moon on the 19th January. Obviously, to celebrate the return of the male energies on the 1st February is a safe date because no matter how much the full moon date moves throughout January, by 1st February they can be guaranteed to have returned. Ingenious timing for a festival!

So, as part of my “Make Magick Manifest” Manifesto for this time of the year, I present the questions I went through to determine how to use these crystals to set up protection for myself once I had discovered and verified that these specific crystals could be used for that purpose. Maybe they will help you find out how to best set up such protection for yourself. Remember – all these steps are specific to me. You may have to adapt the particulars to your own circumstances, e.g. different crystals, different formation, different alignments, etc. Nevertheless, there are some interesting general points that emerged that I think will prove useful to everyone involved in energetic work and who are considering the concept of protection from unwanted interference in that work.

1. Is it necessary for me to use crystals to protect myself from energetic interference during work?
NO. They help to focus and increase the focus, to make it easier to work.

2. How many crystals provide sufficient protection in all possible interference circumstances?
Five.

3. Which type of crystals (that I own) are best suited to this task FOR ME?
Fire Agate x 2, Black Tourmaline x 2, Pillar of Quartz x 1.

4. Which positions should the crystals be located?
Kite shape – agates and quartz pointing at the star Sirius, tourmalines on either flank to them. NOTE: I am investigating why Sirius is important to this 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 crystals. According to the dowsing rods it is an essential component!

5. Will this formation allow the entry of energies that I expressly give permission to? YES

6. Can I create this same level of protection with will power alone? YES.

7. Once I have intended a protection shell, do I need to mentally maintain it? NO

8. Will trying to maintain a thought of it deplete my energy reserves? YES

9. How long can I currently maintain a mental block against the strongest forms of unbidden energy interference?
One month.

Pillar of quartz

10. Will quartz boost the power / strength / increase the time for the shield?
Crystals generally will improve the performance of the protective energy field, but quartz specifically would increase duration of the field and the types of energies that I could deflect or protect against.

11. Can I simply dismiss the shield mentally in order to remove traces of its creation?
If crystals are used then wash the crystals, otherwise simply imagine that the field is gone.

12. Can particular trees offer the same protection?
All trees can offer protection. The shape of a tree’s leaf creates the shape of the protection field around you. Imagine the leaf shape to link to tree’s inherent protection capabilities. This can occur even if the tree has no leaves because what you are connecting to is the tree’s innate conception of its leaf shape. NOTE: this is such an interesting discovery that I am going to come back to this at some point in another post.

13. What about stone circles / barrows / other man-made structures?
No man-made structures can offer this psychic protection by their structure or qualities. Note: I found this answer very surprising, and will be testing it out whenever I visit any man-made sites in the near future.

14. Do I need to set up energetic protection around my nemeton? YES

15. Can this protection be made to last a lifetime?
Yes, but you can’t do it alone. The energy of a more powerful being would be required to co-operate with that.

That was as far as I felt I needed to go at this time to understand how to set up a protection against unwanted energetic influences. If nothing else that should give you some idea of the possible, the practical and the perplexing! The most important finding, I felt, was that this could all be done mentally, and that no external paraphernalia is actually required to make this happen. However, crystals can enhance the effects and make it easier to set up, even though they have to be aligned to a specific place (in my case Sirius!). Time for some more investigation!

Gwas.

So, in the last parts I told you how I sloughed off the energetic attachment of a trickster spirit, got a surprise at a crop circle, then took two trips up the Tor trying to totally tune my tantra. That’s not strictly accurate, but it was the only synonym I could find that was alliterative! I was in the process of working on my heart chakra – the chakra os assimilation, integration, love, emotion and…well, here’s what one site says:

“According to contemporary buddhist teacher Tarthang Tulku, the heart chakra is very important for the feeling of existential fulfillment” (source: Sensagent Dictionary)

‘Existential fulfillment’, huh? Well, I’m pretty fulfilled in that respect, being a trainee druid. So, the day before I had watched the sun set on the horizon from The Tor and this morning I set out with Kal to see where I would end up. There were no plans except a starting point – them’s the rules. Our starting point this day would be the “entrance portals” that are the Gog and Magog trees (now sadly, only one remains).

Guardians of The Entrance: Gog and Magog

No time was wasted this morning – we knew, after last year’s visit, exactly how to get to the trees. It was early (i.e. before tour buses arrived) so all was quiet, even on the campsite next to the ancient oaks. Kal hovered around outside while I clambered into the nettle-strewn glade that forms a triangular cordon around the trees. I was taken aback at how much the first tree (Gog apparently) had paled and depreciated in the last year since she had been burned on the inside by some ardent “worshipper” and his zealous candle. I’m sure there were vestiges of life last year. This year he was totally barren and crumbling fast. It was quite dis-heartening to see.

The legendary and dead Gog Oak tree

Luckily, although I felt the waves of trauma and sadness coming from his partner Magog, she was in decent health. In her hollow I placed the two things I possessed that had a healing energy: a special slice of rose-coloured crystal that I had been given as a gift specifically to use for heart chakra work, and my ash staff. How the giver of this crystal had known I was going to do such work is beyond me, but that’s another story. Alongside the crystal I put my staff in the bole too. I placed my hands on the gnarled bark of the tree and, after the waves of anguish had ebbed away I put some loving energy into the tree. She was clearly pining (or is it “oaking”?), and it seemed like the only thing I could do that wasn’t a selfish act. I wasn’t here to take this time – I was here to give.

Three is a magic number

Oh yes it is. Good things come in trees {sic} so having passed between the trees as a starting point to my morning’s processional way I rejoined Kal and we headed up the slope towards the ever-present Tor in the distance. This would be the third time in two days we would climb the Tor, and each time the energies, the feelings and the results were different. Today was no exception.

The climb up the Tor was straightforward, although again, I felt the need to do it in bare feet. Again, we went up the quick way, up the steepest slope at the ‘back’ of the Tor. Once on top Kal went off doing his stuff, dowsing and meditating for his own ends. I dowsed to find the best place for me to work with my heart chakra energies, and to commune with the Spirit of the Tor to know what I should do for the next part of the year’s cycle. This was my intention this morning – no messing about! Straight to the ‘heart’ of the matter!

It was only a matter of a few minutes before things began to happen. I had stilled myself, then sent my attention deep into the Tor and outwards up into the skies above, creating a channel between the two. I felt a deep rumbling from within the depths of the Tor! It was only slight, but it was palpable. Something was stirring! Was it within me, or within the earth? What was it that was awakening? Through my deep connection I felt the urge to stand and move to the doorway of St.Michael’s Tower – the building on the Tor’s summit. I was standing now in the Michael and Mary Line, the Great DragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. Line, the strongest 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. int he country that runs across this land’s southern width from one end to the other. My eyes glazed, and suddenly I saw a vision…

The DragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. Hill Vision

…The archway of the building framed Wearyall Hill in the town below. As my attention was placed upon it I saw that it was the shape of a sleeping dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t.. I could make out a head curled in, folded wings on its flanks, and a tail snaking out and around the back of the hill. As I watched, an overlay, a transparent copy of the dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. woke and looked up at me. With a snort it unfolded its wings, stretched and then looked at me again as if waiting for an instruction. I wondered what to do…then I realised. It wanted to fly but had forgotten how, after such a long sleep. I sent back the instruction to it in my mind – “Fly!” I said, “Fly!”. The dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. vision lifted its neck, looked upwards, and then beat its huge wings until it raised itself off the ground.

Cultural images abound - e.g. Smaug

Once airborne it circled quickly around Wearyall Hill, still visible in front of me, and spiralled upwards and towards me. As the great red dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. flew over my head it disappeared. So authentic was this vision that I knew to be a vision, that for a moment I blinked in case it flew into me….then it was gone. There was no dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. now. Wearyall Hill was just a hill.

View of Wearyall 'Dragon' Hill through the tower

I understood, in a way that only true gnosis can reveal, what it was I needed to do for the next eighth part of the year. I needed to “wake the dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t.” – whatever that turned out to mean. I had to wake it, then teach it how to fly, because it had been sleeping for so long it had forgotten. Straight away I was getting linkages coming through from my reading and learning: red dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. -> serpent -> male earth energy -> serpent fire -> kundalini -> ‘raising the serpent fire’ -> a hill -> flying -> shamanic flying -> raising consciousness…. the connections kept coming. It would take me a few weeks to contemplate what this might mean exactly for me, but the direction was clear and more powerful than ever before.

I thought that was the most revelatory thing that could have happened to me that day and I was content to know my direction, but the best was yet to come. We descended the hill and headed for the quiet contemplation space that is the Chalice Well Gardens. That was where the pilgrimage was truly fulfilled!

Gwas.

The original Celtic New Year begins on the night of the Full Moon closest to October 31st and November 1st. This year that will be Monday 2nd November. It is the time when the Summer was overcome by the Winter – often played out as the Solar Hero being overcome by a Dark Knight (see Mummer Plays).

This time sees the beginning of the Dark Half of the Year – a festival honouring the dead, and importantly forming a link between the energies of those who have been before us, and those of us here now. Samhain is a gateway between the worlds of the Otherworld and the Middle Earth, and becomes passable by the denizens of either world – the “veil becomes thin” as some describe it. It is therefore an opportunity to commune or communicate with forces in a much stronger and clearer way that at other times.

There is lots of miscellaneous information about various customs relating to this time of year, old and new, to be found here.

Playing with Fire

Samhain is a Celtic fire festival, so inevitably one should look for a sacred site or grove that will enable you to have a fire without causing a disturbance, if you plan to celebrate it in style. Leave the fireworks for the sham that is “Guy Fawkes Night” though!

This being a fire festival means an opportunity to obtain the co-operation of a fire spirit if you do not already have such a relationship. This will promote change in your life and ways, so you need to know if this is what you want, or make adequate protection against inadvertant change being wrought through your life by a rampant fire spirit!

Samhain is a time of feasting on the profits of the year – whether that be literal feasting on food, or consuming the fruits of our labours and learnings over the profitable summer months. It is a time to gather in the rewards of your experiences, reflect upon them, and begin the process of working them into your life over the Winter months to come, ready for the next Spring.

Energetically we see the male earth energies, and those living energies produced by the trees, begin to retreat back into the earth, their influence waning. The celebration of the rising female energy influence is encapsulated in the celebration’s coincidence with the full moon.

You’re My Venus

Astrologically, Venus is appearing in the mornings. Jupiter and Mars are also in attendance over Samhain. Other major planets such as Mercury and Saturn have significantly disappeared from the northern hemisphere just before Samhain.

I’m looking forward to visiting a sacred site that is out of the way, and which is associated with Venus and the sacred number five. Last year none of that would have made any sense – this year I have learned that such specifics will mean that I am at a site that is energetically at its peak, and full of magical possibilities for me.

Enjoy your Samhain celebrations, whatever you do!

Gwas Myrddyn.

Hedge Druid.