The Hedge Druid

Posts Tagged ‘cross-quarter day’

After spending a significant amount of time last year trying to determine the most energetic points of the year we think we have worked out what those are now. It was interesting to try to link those to the 8-fold year of the pagan calendar, for there was undoubtedly some remnant of knowledge retained in one or two of the festivals, but the majority of the dates of the 8-fold year are simply calendrical, and bear little relation to the quality of the planet’s subtle energies. The exceptions were Imbolc, Summer Solstice, Samhain and Winter Solstice. Most of the cross-quarter days were simply a marker point in the calendar, useful to human society but no indication of energetic quality.

How does this relate to the ancient sacred sites we have visited? Almost without exception the sites contained a positional system of measurement that indicated which energies they were engineered to take advantage of, utilise or enhance. Only recently have we begun to piece together the combination of factors that contributes to the bigger 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. picture, involving factors such as:-  

• the site’s 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 Moon
• the site’s 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 Sun
• the site’s 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 specific planets
• the type of rock used in the construction
• the size of the stones, the site and the number of stones used
• the underlying geology and water systems of the site
• the living energy of nearby trees
• the time of day
• the time of year

As you can see there’s a lot to take account of, and producing a scientific analysis of a site’s 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. systems is an absurd venture – it’s much more about intuitive feel backed up by some dowsing to confirm suspicions or to disprove suggestions, all performed against a background of the unfolding inevitability of the year and the astral bodies that surround us.

Imbolc ushered in by Bride

So, this is how we are approaching the first major venture of this year: Imbolc – February 1st. It falls on a Monday this year, and happens to coincide with a full moon. How fortunate! The dowsing should be strong for the female energies, and we should begin to see the return of the male energies if the sun is out around midday. The day is dedicated to Bridget/Brige/Bride – the threefold goddess of magic, craft and fertility – a winning combination in my book! Therefore we intend to take account of this in the ritualistic elements of our energy work that day.

LAST YEAR:

We visited St Bridget’s Church in Dyserth village. This was the start of a small pilgrimage (although we weren’t calling it that back then) that took us all around the area, from the village, the waterfall, to Gop Hill, Dyserth castle, and then up to the Golden Grove (which we failed to find). Later in the year I revisited that site and found both St.Elmo’s Summer House and The Golden Grove and was overwhelmed by cows and totem animal signs.

View from Gop Hill at Imbolc

Link to posts: Imbolc – The Return of the Male Energies, Dyserth 1, Dyserth 2, Golden Grove & St.Elmo’s Summer House

THIS YEAR:

We will be heading out to Anglesey, to follow the Bridget trail of sites in the south-western quarter of the island. I will tell you more about how this came to be our itinerary, and what actually happened in a few weeks time.

ENERGIES:

This year Kal and I have planned out the times when we will be able to make the best use of the anticipated male and female energy high points of the year. When are they? Well, if you haven’t been following all our conclusions so far let us give you two golden rules that should allow you to work them out for yourself:

The male energies (radiant and earth) are at their strongest when The Sun is at its strongest – growing in strength over the year until reaching a peak at the Summer Solstice.

Then the radiant energy begins to fade. The strength of any specific day is dependent upon the amount of sun visible on that day, and is strongest around midday. Therefore, the ultimate peak would be midday of the Summer Solstice on a sunny day.

The female energies (reflected and earth) are at their strongest when The Moon is at its fullest and closest. Therefore, in the next year, this will actually be at the end of the year on the Winter Solstice.

If you want to find out which other days are important to those who revel in the female energy flow then I recommend you purchase the Findhorn book “In Tune With The Moon 2010“, which is a calendar that indicates not only the days of a full moon but also indicate whether the moon is at apogee or perigee, or somewhere in between (i.e. how near it is to Earth, and therefore how big it appears). You also have to take account of the fact that clouds may obscure the view, although this only diminishes the effect, it doesn’t nullify it.

Imbolc in a nutshell

RITUALS:

This year we have determined to go out on these special days with an intention. At Imbolc we will definitely make this the first of such ventures, and although I do not want to plan it too much, I think it is safe to say that there will be some incense burned, some candles lit, possibly some milk left as an offering if we are requested to do so along the way, and perhaps we will have a thought or two about the three aspects of the triple goddess as we work with the energies of the sites we visit on that day. Nothing is ever certain, but this year it is more deliberate than last year, as we have been encouraged to be so. One thing is for sure – we will both have a definite outcome that we will be working to achieve with the magical energies available to us on February 1st.

Gwas Myrddyn – Servant of Merlin.

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Link: Useful Pagan Calendar dates for 2010

At Lammas (or Lughnasadh) I was with a group of friends who had collectively decided that we will walk the Sandstone Trail thorough Cheshire in September. In order to get some meaningful practise in we were doing the 17 mile stretch from Beeston Castle to Frodsham, where a pint of alcoholic ginger beer over ice awaited us. What more incentive could be required?

I was particularly aware that this weekend was one of the special dates in the Druid calendar, and so was looking forward to being out in nature, walking the countryside, and was looking to take any possible chance to have a long old commune with anything that I was passing.

When I had walked this section previously I had seen a group of llamas (or alpacas, couldn’t tell you which was which) that usually grazed behind the tea rooms atop the village of Utkinton, but sadly the field was empty. Nevertheless, I took the chance to pass my regards to various species along the way: all types of trees, some rabbits, several colourful butterflies (cabbage-whites are particularly plentiful right now), and many more.

I was really in a fantastic mood, reciprocated by the whole of nature as I passed over her body as it languished in the day’s sunshine after having been washed by rain for every day in the past fortnight. How coincidental?! For me, this WAS celebrating Lammas. Making crude corn dolls, picking up stones in my path and energising them, and speaking to all the animals and large trees as I walked past. Luckily I was mostly up front or at the back so my madness was not particularly remarked upon!

Towards the end of the walk several of the less fit members of the group were really feeling the heat and the distance. Blisters were forming, old injuries were flaring up, and people were generally getting very tired. I, on the other hand, had been drawing energy from the landscape as and when I needed it, but now here was a chance to help the others too.

To do that, I located energising spirals that helped my friends to recover their energies. Yes, they looked at me strangely. Yes, they probably think I’m crazy. Yes, I could have kept my mouth shut. But instead I got my rods out and dowsed for the location of any energy spirals or power centres that could provide beneficial healing energies for them. I looked for and found two quite soon after asking.

The first spiral was one that I recognised that I had discovered many months ago when M and I were walking through Delamere Forest together. It was a small spiral at the base of a tree, where lush moss grew. Then it had healed her of her painful ankle, and on this occasion it served the same purpose, healing several people of aches and pains. Mostly unbelievers, it should be pointed out! All who tired it said they felt much better very quickly. I argued it away by saying that it must only be psychosomatic, psychological or they were just trying to appease me by being kind. But actually, one lad who was ready for giving up at that stage suddenly was bouncing around like a spring lamb! He was utterly bamboozled by the experience.

The second spiral was found, again, under the boughs of a tree at a spot where the grass was tough and different from the surrounding area. This time I had asked to find a spot where the people who stood on it could be re-energised. Two people tried it and came away refreshed after only two minutes of exposure to it. They then finished the walk, although I suspect they’re not so relaxed today!

So, next time you’re out with your dowsing rods and wish to find and benefit from the healing properties of any nearby trees, then you should ask the rods to locate a place suitable for whatever your healing needs are. In a suitable environment such as a country walk I can say that they are easy to locate, and seem to be in plentiful supply!

Gwas.

Finding the healing power of trees.