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	<title>The Hedge Druid &#187; cheddar gorge</title>
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		<title>Wells Cathedral</title>
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		<pubDate>Sun, 06 Feb 2011 15:42:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>kal</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Dowsing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Modern Druidry]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cheddar gorge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[churches]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[energetic double]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[energetic shrouds]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[peace]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[st andrews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[st cuthberts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[st leonards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wells Cathedral]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.hedgedruid.com/?p=9152</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It was a dry-ish Saturday morning when I got up and had the desire to go and seek adventure. However as Gwas pointed out, &#8220;What purpose?&#8221; and to be quite frank I couldn&#8217;t find one. So instead I high-tailed it to Costa coffee shop and relaxed with a book and cake. However upon my return [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It was a dry-ish Saturday morning when I got up and had the desire to go and seek adventure. However as Gwas pointed out, &#8220;What purpose?&#8221; and to be quite frank I couldn&#8217;t find one. So instead I high-tailed it to Costa coffee shop and relaxed with a book and cake.</p>
<p>However upon my return to my lodgings I still felt the urge to be &#8220;out-there&#8221; and so I decided to take the car for a drive. It sits unused all week and so it&#8217;s good for it to be taken for a reasonable drive during the weekends.</p>
<p>Just to get me moving I plugged in Avebury into the sat-nav and was off. Between where I am staying and the M5 motorway is one singular link(ing) road of around 40 miles. It is a tiresome road I have to say and I don&#8217;t relish driving it, but since its the only way out-o-here I was on it in moments.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Hitch Hiker and the philosophical lesson</strong></span></p>
<p>I got to about 5 miles on the link road when I spotted an out-stretched thumb. I drove past it without a thought and within moments reconsidered. I wasn&#8217;t going anywhere in particular I reasoned, lets see if this hitcher has some fantastic place to be going to? So I flipped the car around and was off to pick him up.</p>
<p>As he got into the car I said to him, &#8220;mate, its your lucky day, wherever you want to go, I&#8217;m your man!&#8221; At that moment, I was ready to go anywhere petrol would take me. Sadly the universe missed a trick and the fella only wanted a short journey of some 30 miles up the road.</p>
<p>Martyn by name, he was a kindly soul who without encouragement dispensed his wisdom and views of life, love, peace and balance. Promising to be in touch he vanished out of my life some 30 minutes after appearing in it.</p>
<p>I continued on along my journey to no-where at roughly 60 miles an hour.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Cheddar Gorge and reuniting with my energetic double.</strong></span></p>
<p><a href="http://www.hedgedruid.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/cheddar_gorge.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-9301" title="cheddar_gorge" src="http://www.hedgedruid.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/cheddar_gorge-300x203.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="203" /></a>The M5 gave me many options, Glastonbury, Stonehenge (which was closed the last time I visited before xmas. Or more city oriented places such as Bristol. This latter (1 more hours drive) took my fancy and I continued along the straight and rather repetitive motorway.</p>
<p>At one point some 30 or so minute later I spotted a sign for Cheddar Gorge and Caves. With virtually no thought at all my car steered itself of the road and went off in search of this Gorge. Even as I wondered at why I had decided to come of in this direction a thought struck me&#8230;</p>
<p>It was time to re-merge with my energy double! Wow really? Back in Alderley Edge, 2 weeks ago, when I had released it, I had said that it would need to return in 3 weeks. But it seems that this prognosis was going to be out by a week. But who was I to argue? So with that purpose in mind I wound my way towards Cheddar Gorge.</p>
<p>Parking my car by the very apt sign, FREE PARKING ~ Rocks can fall at any time. I put some protection around it, You never know, right? and followed my rods as they led me on a winding and muddy path up the side of the gorge.</p>
<p>As you know me and heights dont mix and luckily the rods knew this too and after a climb of some 40 feet in height they twirled. I asked whether this was a suitable place to call my ED? No.</p>
<p>What? I looked around for some indication as to why this spot had been picked out. On the ground was a golf ball sized piece of quartz. I asked the rods whether this was why they stopped and would I be needing this, yes and yes.</p>
<p>Odd though, because I had only asked to be shown the best place to call my ED. I carried on along the path which was now getting quite high and narrow! The rods stopped again and this time I felt that it was the &#8216;right&#8217; place. I was mistaken and again found another piece of quartz on the ground.</p>
<p>The third stop, now well up the cliff, almost near the top was to be the place. According to the indication of the rods I placed the two crystals one on either side of me, slightly above my head. I remembered this time to use a rock as a point of deflection and mentally sent out &#8216;my&#8217; song. It took just a few moments for the soft whoosh to push me back and I knew I was again housing my ED.</p>
<p>I rather wish it was a more spectacular experience, but alas I report un-embellished.<br />
I asked the rods, whether I was done and after a bit of intuitive honing in I understood that I had to cleanse the two crystals of my personal energy, which I did with intention and washing in a cold stream.</p>
<p>The path down the slope was quite a tricky affair and with no trees to energetically bind myself to I nearly took a slip a couple of times. The caves that had been advertised on my journey to the gorge were closed for some reason and so I was off, in no particular direction.</p>
<p><span id="more-9152"></span></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>St Andrews Church the place of no Energetic Shrouds</strong></span></p>
<p>It seems that one of the things that I am going to have to get used to with this ED is the occasional <em>nudge</em>to do something. For instance as I was driving away from the Gorge I felt a nudge to turn off the main road and head down a little side street. Since I had no plans of my own I followed this nudging a couple of streets more and ended up at church.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.hedgedruid.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/standrews.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-9302" title="standrews" src="http://www.hedgedruid.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/standrews.jpg" alt="" width="248" height="186" /></a>The church was dedicated to St Andrews and though it looked nice it didn&#8217;t seem to have any other features of interest. I jumped the fence (why are the houses of God closed?) and wandered around the church. The back had the obligatory graveyard and I traversed its length.</p>
<blockquote><p>Note to self: Why do churches have graveyards? For example, Mosques, Synagogues and Gurdwaras don&#8217;t.</p></blockquote>
<p>With an &#8216;odd&#8217; feeling I curiously dowsed to find any energetic shrouds and was surprised to find a lack of them. Double and triple checking confirmed this finding. I looked around for the usual Yew tree and found one. Walking over with greetings I asked whether this yew was responsible for the <em>grounding</em> of the energies? No.</p>
<p>Surprised again, I asked to be taken to what was and the rods pulled me around the side of the church to a little walled of garden that contained cremated graves. It was a lovely little niche with many flowers on the little square pavings. I asked whether it was because of the people and there obvious care for this garden that had grounded the shades?No.</p>
<p>I wasn&#8217;t surprised at this answer because previous experience told me that peoples attention encouraged energy. My intuitive brain finally got to the question, &#8220;Is it because they were cremated?&#8221; Yes.</p>
<p>I don&#8217;t know how these cremated graves helped to ground the buried ones. There is more to learn here I&#8217;m sure. But I have to say a fantastic addition to our knowledge on such matters.</p>
<p>I left St Andrews and was off again.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>St Leonards Church an Ancient Monument</strong></span></p>
<p><a href="http://www.hedgedruid.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/240px-Rodney_Stoke_church.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-9303" title="240px-Rodney_Stoke_church" src="http://www.hedgedruid.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/240px-Rodney_Stoke_church.jpg" alt="" width="240" height="160" /></a>As I drove away I saw a sign for Wells. Now as you know wells have a deep connection with all things sacred and so I wondered if the Wells in the name had anything to do with wells in the ground (contrary to popular opinion, I love not knowing stuff. It makes the synchronicities more surprising.)</p>
<p>About half way between the Gorge and Wells I was led off down another side road and eventually came to a broken down sign&#8230;&#8221;Ancient Monument&#8221; Ok, let&#8217;s go and look at that.</p>
<p>It was another church, this time dedicated to St Leonard. I couldn&#8217;t find anything interesting in the grounds and was about to give up when I asked the rods, &#8220;Take me to something interesting?&#8221; The rods span and took me to the door of the Church. Obviously to something inside.</p>
<p>With a sigh I tried the door and found it to be open! Seems like my prayer about churches being open was answered. <em>Fast service!</em></p>
<p>Without a by-your-leave I walked in and upon finding it empty, began to dowse. Quite curiously like Manchester Monastery, I found a power center at the top (altar) left of the church hall and then an <span class="domtooltips">energy line<span class="domtooltips_tooltip" style="display: none">The 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.</span></span> that laced around the pillars in and out back down the hall.</p>
<p>I would have done some more work but it was getting late (winters sheesh!) and I wanted to get to Wells.</p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Strawberries</span></strong></p>
<p>I was getting closer to Wells when I was stopped again! Please give me a break already! This time by a roadside fruit stall&#8230;nothing else&#8230;just a fruit stall all on its own. Weird. I went in and bought some strawberries. Amusingly I asked the lady-owner whether there was anything interesting about her shop, no. Oh well! Onwards!</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Wells, A peaceful town</strong></span></p>
<p><a href="http://www.hedgedruid.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/wells1.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-9304" title="wells1" src="http://www.hedgedruid.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/wells1-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>I got to Wells about 2:30 ish in the afternoon and I have to say i&#8217;m impressed. Glastonbury (which is just a stones throw away) is a cool place, but I&#8217;m going to punt for Wells.</p>
<p>It was a busy Saturn&#8217;s Day afternoon but the town (city should I say) just had a feeling to it. Now that I can reflect on it more. I would call it <em>peace</em>. It reminded me of the most peaceful populated place I&#8217;ve been in my life, which was Medina in Saudi Arabia. Although Wells wasn&#8217;t a match for that place. I&#8217;m sure it would grow on me if (when) I visit a few more times.</p>
<p>I wandered around the shops and side streets literally soaking in the <em>feeling</em>. Then it was off to the Cathedral.</p>
<p>The cathedral (massive as it is) isn&#8217;t well signposted and in the streets (where you can&#8217;t see it) I was lost. But I saw a spire and headed towards it and ended up at St Cuthbert&#8217;s, which has been mistaken for the cathedral by others too.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>St Cuthberts Church in Wells a forgotten <span class="domtooltips">power centre<span class="domtooltips_tooltip" style="display: none">A place where a person of a particular <span class="domtooltips">alignment<span class="domtooltips_tooltip" style="display: none">Alignment 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.</span></span> (see ‘<span class="domtooltips">Alignment<span class="domtooltips_tooltip" style="display: none">Alignment 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.</span></span>’) 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.</span></span></strong></span></p>
<p>Again, it seems that something on high had answered my call and the door to St Cuthbert&#8217;s was open. No hesitation, I wandered in and took in the spirit of the place. It had a really nice feeling about it and because it was empty I was able to do some quick dowsing. Here again I found a power center on the left of the altar (some five feet away) which meandered down the left side of the church.</p>
<p>My appreciation for Wells grew as I saw a rack of post cards for sale with no attendant other than little slips (to put payment in) and a box to post them in. I like it when people put there trust in the world. I purchased two cards, just because they had this set up.</p>
<blockquote><p>See? It works.</p></blockquote>
<p>The constant chiming of the cathedral bells reminded me of my onward journey and I was off wandering through the &#8211; lovely &#8211; town (oops city) towards the cathedral.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Wells Cathedral</strong></span></p>
<p><a href="http://www.hedgedruid.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/photo_thewells.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-9259" title="photo_thewells" src="http://www.hedgedruid.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/photo_thewells.jpg" alt="" width="255" height="255" /></a>On the side of the cathedral are some wonderful gardens, unfortunately I was too late to get in to see these (an excellent reason to return). I mention them because within these lie the wells from which the city gains its name. After making sure that the garden was truly secured against entry (I dont mind fracturing a &#8216;no-admittance&#8217; law occasionally) I entered the inviting cathedral.</p>
<p>Again my first impression was given by the &#8216;optional&#8217; payment option. Rather than having gates and bars to stop people, they simply had the occasion &#8220;please donate&#8221; an entry fee. The fee requested was £5.50 which again I was happy to give, just because it was an option rather than a requirement.</p>
<p>I wandered through the various halls and ante-chambers within the building admiring the architecture and taking in some of the history&#8230;</p>
<blockquote><p>Two excavations in the nineteenth century and a much more extensive archaeological investigation from 1978 &#8211; 1980 revealed exciting proof of religious buildings stretching far back into the past and confirming the existence of the great Anglo-Saxon minster church of St. Andrew. (<a href="http://www.wellscathedral.org.uk/history/archaelogy/thewells.shtml">source</a>)</p></blockquote>
<p>Curious synchronicity there, if you noticed? St Andrew?</p>
<p>I am sure there is a lot more to say about Wells cathedral and since I will definitely be visiting this place again, I will leave more discussion for that time. Let me just report some dowsing that I was fortunate enough to be able to do.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>The Chapter House &#8211; The Octagonal Room</strong></span></p>
<p>The Chapter House, as the picture tells is up a slightly winding stair and as I climbed it I could feel that something special was up ahead. This <a href="http://www.360cities.net/image/chapter-house-wells-cathedral#356.98,-34.93,70.0">link </a>lets you pan around the Chapter House much better than any pictures.</p>
<p>As I said, fortune was with me because the octagonal room was deserted when I entered and so it was out with the rods to see what energies where in this room. Now if you go to the above link and rotate it so that you have your back to the door and are looking at the central pillar. The energies are thus.</p>
<ul>
<li>A male power center between the pillar and the left wall and between the pillar and right. Both of these have a <span class="domtooltips">energy line<span class="domtooltips_tooltip" style="display: none">The 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.</span></span> flowing to each other.</li>
<li>There is another male power center that is right next to the pillar on the right as your looking at it. This has a <span class="domtooltips">energy line<span class="domtooltips_tooltip" style="display: none">The 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.</span></span> that flows from around the pillar and then, curiously, to the plaque on the wall, with the motif on it, can you see it? Just behind the pillar.</li>
</ul>
<p>The third remarkable find was a <span class="domtooltips">ley line<span class="domtooltips_tooltip" style="display: none">The term used by many British dowsers to describe an <span class="domtooltips">energy ley<span class="domtooltips_tooltip" style="display: none">A 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 <span class="domtooltips">alignment<span class="domtooltips_tooltip" style="display: none">Alignment 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.</span></span> 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.</span></span>. It is easily confused with ley and therefore its use is not recommended by dowsers.</span></span> that passed through all three power centers and flowed with energy from right to left as your looking at it.</p>
<p>I got about this far before people wandered in and I was hastily putting my rods away. But later on I wondered&#8230;</p>
<blockquote><p>We were upstairs, I don&#8217;t know how many feet above the ground and yet I had found a <span class="domtooltips">ley line<span class="domtooltips_tooltip" style="display: none">The term used by many British dowsers to describe an <span class="domtooltips">energy ley<span class="domtooltips_tooltip" style="display: none">A 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 <span class="domtooltips">alignment<span class="domtooltips_tooltip" style="display: none">Alignment 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.</span></span> 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.</span></span>. It is easily confused with ley and therefore its use is not recommended by dowsers.</span></span> going through the Chapter House? Curious.</p></blockquote>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Lost car</span></strong></p>
<p>Tempus, as they say was fugit&#8217;ing and so I was off for my car when I realised that in my haste to get out and about in Wells I had forgotten to pay attention as to where I parked. It didn&#8217;t worry me overly, how many car parks can there be? But my brain kicked in and told me to use my rods. So with quick little directional dowses (it was a crowded shopping town) I found the car-park almost straight away. I love dowsing!</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Another hitch-hiker &#8211; opportunity lost</strong></span></p>
<p>Dusk was settling in as I made my way out of Wells and in the darkening sky I could see Glastonbury Tor tempting me to visit. I resisted with great difficulty and went on my way.</p>
<p>About an hour after I left Wells I spotted another hitch-hiker going my way. I passed him and my intuition/ED nudged me to stop. In the few seconds that I thought about this I was getting further along the road. Then finding a place, I stopped and mused over returning to pick up the hitcher. But my rational brain was going, &#8220;its late&#8221;, &#8220;you&#8217;ve had your fun for today&#8221;, and all sorts of other excuses. Sadly I fell to there rationality and continued on home, with a slight feeling of regret in my mind.</p>
<p>When I got back I asked the rods, should I have picked up the hitcher? Yes. Did I miss a trick? Yes. A big one? Yes. Can I ask questions about what it would have been? Ambivalent i.e. No</p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Strawberries &#8211; the synchronicity</span></strong></p>
<p>I returned to my lodgings about 7 in the evening and walked in on my landlady and a friend having a chat. I sat with them a while and at some point one of them mentioned that she fancied some strawberries. I had forgotten all about them and had left them in the car. A few minutes later I presented them to her. Magic in the making</p>
<p>Kal Malik wanderer</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>References</strong></span></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheddar_Gorge">Cheddar Gorge</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_St_Andrew,_Cheddar">Church of St Andrew</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_St_Leonard,_Rodney_Stoke">Church of St Leonard</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_St_Cuthbert,_Wells">Church of St Cuthbert</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.wellscathedral.org.uk/">Wells Cathedral</a></li>
</ul>
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		<title>Priddy Barrows: a meeting with Mab</title>
		<link>http://www.hedgedruid.com/2010/07/priddy-barrows-a-meeting-with-mab/</link>
		<comments>http://www.hedgedruid.com/2010/07/priddy-barrows-a-meeting-with-mab/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 09 Jul 2010 11:13:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gwas</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Ancient site visit reports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dowsing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Energy work]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Modern Druidry]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blackadder]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cadair idris]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cheddar gorge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[corpse road]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ebbar gorge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hecate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[long barrow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mab]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[meave]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[miranda richardson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[priddy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[queen mab]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[queenie]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[waking the dragon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[west mendip way]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.hedgedruid.com/?p=6634</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Sunday 20th June, 2010 Travelling back from Glastonbury we decided to investigate the area around the village of Priddy near the Cheddar Gorge. On the map Priddy has a smattering of mounds clustered around the village. This sounded inviting, and we entered along a long straight road. As we travelled along it we turned to [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Sunday 20th June, 2010</strong></p>
<p>Travelling back from Glastonbury we decided to investigate the area around the village of Priddy near the Cheddar Gorge. On the map Priddy has a smattering of mounds clustered around the village. This sounded inviting, and we entered along a long straight road. As we travelled along it we turned to each other and gave a knowing look &#8211; this was clearly a &#8220;corpse road&#8221; &#8211; a long straight road along which, it is reckoned, the spirits of the dead move, and which was reserved for processions of the dead. Of course it could have easily marked a <span class="domtooltips">ley line<span class="domtooltips_tooltip" style="display: none">The term used by many British dowsers to describe an <span class="domtooltips">energy ley<span class="domtooltips_tooltip" style="display: none">A 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 <span class="domtooltips">alignment<span class="domtooltips_tooltip" style="display: none">Alignment 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.</span></span> 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.</span></span>. It is easily confused with ley and therefore its use is not recommended by dowsers.</span></span>. We didn&#8217;t dowse as we drove. Maybe next time? Who do you think we are &#8211; Miller &amp; Broadhurst?</p>
<p><strong>Priddy Barrow</strong></p>
<p>Using SatNav (and boy did we need it) we located the field within which the Priddy Long Barrow and accompanying barrows were supposed to be. Nothing. The field was empty. We wandered to the top of the slope that should have been the remains of the Long Barrow. It was completely clear. Obviously, nothing to see here! We re-dowsed &#8211; was there an energetic structure nearby &#8211; a barrow with any remaining energy in it? There was. We wandered into the dip in the field and found a spot. <strong>Only with the dowsing rods could we confirm the location of the site</strong>. Yet another instance where the rods have found things that are completely hidden to the naked eye. The remains of a barrow&#8217;s stone structure were tiny piles of stones hidden completely by thistles, nettles and grass clumps. Not much to work with, but it was registering some energy.</p>
<p>Within moments of arriving both Kal and I had each found a <span class="domtooltips">power centre<span class="domtooltips_tooltip" style="display: none">A place where a person of a particular <span class="domtooltips">alignment<span class="domtooltips_tooltip" style="display: none">Alignment 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.</span></span> (see ‘<span class="domtooltips">Alignment<span class="domtooltips_tooltip" style="display: none">Alignment 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.</span></span>’) 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.</span></span> to use. Having my recent experiences in Glastonbury to work on, I dowsed around to see whether there was any <span class="domtooltips">genius loci<span class="domtooltips_tooltip" style="display: none">Genius Loci means 'spirit of the place' and refers to the geological/gaian spirit of place. It is transfixed to a place – being an embodiment of the collective intelligence of the place.</span></span> at this site that could help with that work &#8211; to solve the riddle of  &#8221;waking the <span class="domtooltips">dragon<span class="domtooltips_tooltip" style="display: none">Dragons 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.</span></span>&#8221;.</p>
<div id="attachment_6711" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 624px"><a href="http://www.hedgedruid.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Priddy-Long-Barrow-June-2010-1_forblog.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-6711" title="Priddy Long Barrow - June 2010 (1)_forblog" src="http://www.hedgedruid.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Priddy-Long-Barrow-June-2010-1_forblog-1024x767.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="460" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Spot the barrow at Priddy</p></div>
<p>It&#8217;s a funny thing about the gnostic knowledge process, &#8220;gnowing&#8221; as I have referred to it on earlier posts. What you have to do is to be in the right kind of place (i.e. a place with earth or radiant energy) and then you can let your mind de-tune from the surroundings and instead tune into the land and whoever or whatever is around. Tale, for example, the <span class="domtooltips">genius loci<span class="domtooltips_tooltip" style="display: none">Genius Loci means 'spirit of the place' and refers to the geological/gaian spirit of place. It is transfixed to a place – being an embodiment of the collective intelligence of the place.</span></span>. There is some definite sentience to the entities that guard a special place. If you tune into this correctly then you can effectively form a conduit connection between your own mind and that of this sentient energy, and knowledge can be transferred.</p>
<blockquote><p>GNOWING: The tricky thing, as a modern person living in the modern world, is that such a process has been not only ridiculed to the point of being outlawed, but there is a whole host of modern psychological garbage getting in the way that makes you think (for a brief second) that you are making this up. Then, some piece of information is &#8216;downloaded&#8217; into your mind &#8211; a picture, a feeling or a thought &#8211; and you know that this was not from you. Because it takes you by surprise, and it could be information that you have no prior experience of whatsoever.</p></blockquote>
<p><strong>Merlin and Mab</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.hedgedruid.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/QueenMab.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-6757" style="margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 15px;" title="QueenMab" src="http://www.hedgedruid.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/QueenMab.jpg" alt="" width="304" height="344" /></a>There was indeed a presence within the site. I got the feeling that it was a presence that didn&#8217;t live there specifically, but that had been attracted to our activities at the site and was coming to meet us there. Just a feeling. I sat on the <span class="domtooltips">power centre<span class="domtooltips_tooltip" style="display: none">A place where a person of a particular <span class="domtooltips">alignment<span class="domtooltips_tooltip" style="display: none">Alignment 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.</span></span> (see ‘<span class="domtooltips">Alignment<span class="domtooltips_tooltip" style="display: none">Alignment 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.</span></span>’) 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.</span></span> and tried to connect to the <span class="domtooltips">genius loci<span class="domtooltips_tooltip" style="display: none">Genius Loci means 'spirit of the place' and refers to the geological/gaian spirit of place. It is transfixed to a place – being an embodiment of the collective intelligence of the place.</span></span> &#8211; kind of announcing myself and seeing what images or thoughts came to mind. Only one &#8211; a welcome from <strong>Mab</strong>. Who the heck&#8230;.Queen Mab? Images of <a href="http://www.miranda-richardson.com/index.html" target="_blank">Miranda Richardson</a> in the juvenile TV series &#8216;Merlin&#8217; flickered through my rational mind but I knew this was me searching through my internal reference library, but only finding a facile equivalent in an attempt to appear helpful. I tried to switch this &#8216;facility&#8217; off and carried on the communication.</p>
<p>I introduced myself, very politely considering this might be an entity who was &#8216;higher up the pecking order&#8217; than I was used to. My politeness and quiet introductions paid off. She seemed quite friendly and I was being encouraged to communicate. In fact, it seemed like there was something that she wanted. As I was a &#8220;servant of Merlin&#8221; she wanted me to call upon his male energies so that she could utilise them. Should I do this? Did I know how to do this? I was feeling a bit dubious about this &#8211; could this so-called Mab be trusted? I stood up and picked up the dowsing rods to ask. &#8220;Is this <span class="domtooltips">genius loci<span class="domtooltips_tooltip" style="display: none">Genius Loci means 'spirit of the place' and refers to the geological/gaian spirit of place. It is transfixed to a place – being an embodiment of the collective intelligence of the place.</span></span> really called Mab?&#8221; &#8211; YES. &#8220;Does this Mab mean me any harm?&#8221; &#8211; NO. &#8220;Do I need to protect myself from this spirit?&#8221; &#8211; NO. Well, I felt I had to ask. Lessons learned, and all that.</p>
<p>In my mind I heard a far-off voice. I don&#8217;t know how to describe the concept &#8211; it&#8217;s like a visual overlay that you know is not there but which you can see, except this is a voice &#8211; <strong>an aural overlay</strong>. It&#8217;s a vocal overlay that you know is not IN your mind, but you mind is the space within which the echo of this voice is heard. Sometimes you will hear the voice as a variant of your own internal voice, and believe me, that&#8217;s even more confusing and prone to doubt! That&#8217;s about as close as I can get withthat description.</p>
<p>Anyway, Mab asked me to <strong>transfer some male &#8216;Merlin&#8217; powers to her</strong>. She felt that, because I was Merlin&#8217;s servant, that I was a suitable person to ask this of. Why she needed this energy, I don&#8217;t know. What she would do with it? Same. Dunno. Why she couldn&#8217;t obtain these energies herself? Likewise. However, I did this, and in return she offered to help me with achieving my next stage&#8217;s aim. I stated my case. &#8220;<em>I believe I have to got to Cadair Idris to wake the <span class="domtooltips">dragon<span class="domtooltips_tooltip" style="display: none">Dragons 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.</span></span>. When I am there, will you help me to do this?</em>&#8220;. She responded that when I was ready, <strong>at the top of that mountain, I could call her for assistance</strong> then. Well, that seemed like a fair exchange and I thanked her for her offer.  I was left wondering whether this had been a two-way exchange, or not? Only time would tell exactly how and when my half of the bargain would be fulfilled.</p>
<p><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/Queen_Maeve.jpg"></a></p>
<blockquote>
<div class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 243px"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/Queen_Maeve.jpg"><img class="    " style="margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 15px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/Queen_Maeve.jpg" alt="" width="233" height="307" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Queen Maeve</p></div>
<p>Here is some information about the tradition of Mab:</p>
<p>&#8220;Although Queen Mab has no direct references in Arthurian Legend, she is still a Queen of the Fae and worth investigation.</p>
<p>In the Celtic tradition, Queen Mab was also known as Queen Maeve. &#8220;Maeve&#8221; means <strong>mead </strong>and it was said that Mab gave this blood red wine to all of her consorts. Mead wine represented menstrual blood which was considered &#8220;the wine of women&#8217;s wisdom&#8221;. In Warwickshire, the word &#8220;Mabled&#8221; came to mean &#8220;led astray by the faeries or elves&#8221;. In Cymric (the Welsh language) Mab was defined as meaning &#8220;small child&#8221;. Additionally, Mab meant &#8220;Drunk Woman&#8221; and &#8220;Queen Wolf&#8221;.</p>
<p>Mythologically, Mab was the Queen of Connact; the warrior queen of the Ulster Cycle. She was the combined mother/warrior aspect of the Triple Goddess. The Pagan festival of Mabon was celebrated in her honor each year at the Autumnal Equinox. During the festival, those wishing to be King were not endorsed unless Mab invited them to drink of her mead wine. This ensured that the male king would be well versed in feminism and women&#8217;s mysteries.&#8221; (source: <a href="http://members.fortunecity.com/rowansterling/mab.html" target="_blank">Rowan Sterling</a>)</p></blockquote>
<p><strong> </strong>I think, reading between the confused lines of history and mythology, that this &#8220;Mab&#8221; entity was the same energy that I was meeting the day before in the Chalice Well gardens. I had the same reaction to it, and an inherent level of trust (even though I did quickly check with the dowsing). Once the dowsing gave me the nod that all was well I complied with her wishes immediately and completely. Strange. <strong>Was I hoping to get something out of this? I think I was</strong>. I think I was already on the quest for the waking of the <span class="domtooltips">dragon<span class="domtooltips_tooltip" style="display: none">Dragons 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.</span></span>, and was involving myself in some extra-anthropoidal intelligence to try to gather some clues and set myself off in the right direction. I&#8217;m sure psychologists would have a lot to say about this &#8211; &#8220;archetypes&#8221;, &#8220;wish fulfilment&#8221;, &#8220;the anima&#8221; &#8211; it&#8217;s all there if you label it conventionally!</p>
<p>From one strange encounter to another strange event. Let me tell you next time about the finding of the Caerleon <span class="domtooltips">ley line<span class="domtooltips_tooltip" style="display: none">The term used by many British dowsers to describe an <span class="domtooltips">energy ley<span class="domtooltips_tooltip" style="display: none">A 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 <span class="domtooltips">alignment<span class="domtooltips_tooltip" style="display: none">Alignment 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.</span></span> 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.</span></span>. It is easily confused with ley and therefore its use is not recommended by dowsers.</span></span> and what it did to my compass!</p>
<p>Gwas.</p>
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