In Britain this year there has been an exception to this general rule concerning the presence of male energy. Male ‘subtle’ energy has in fact been available, albeit in a very weakened form. This has been due to the amount of sustained sunlight that we have been receiving. You can feel it in the land – the birds are singing, the buds are appearing, there have even been flowers blooming in January – normally a time when most delicate biological entities retreat into themselves and rest. An unusual year indeed. At this exact moment the frost and cold has returned to bite, yet the sun continues to shine. It is a most unusual beginning.

The heat and height of the Summer

The unusual start makes it difficult to contemplate how the year might work itself out. Are we going to see the seasons having “unseasonal” weather? Are they going to be unrecognisable from our traditional weather patterns? What will this mean for the strength and prevalence of the Earth’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. forces, and for the living biological energy of its inhabitants? My feeling is that we are going to see a real peak in Sun energy this year. This may require some balancing out by those of us who work well with Moon energy (female), as we feed a calming influence into the land through selected node points on the energy grid. Let’s not get all hot-headed and hysterical just because the Olympics are coming to town in the height of Summer! It’s just a game, an amusement, a distraction.

As with all previous years that I have followed my spiritual path I returned to the Llangernyw Yew Tree for inspiration. CommuningAn interaction with an invisible and natural sentient force that is independently identifiable, even if it cannot be named or classified. The interaction takes place at the level of a subtle amalgamation of the mind of the perceiver such that a dialogue or transference of feelings may occur between the two sentient parties. The interaction that is ‘communing’ is purposefully initiated by the perceiver for the express purpose of learning or simply to transfer feelings in a sympathetic manner. with this tree seems to set the spark on the year’s tinder and soon a flame of encouraging light emerges from the kindling provided by this ancient life force nestled deep in the heart of a small village in North Wales. I will talk about the visit in more detail soon, but the outcome was one word: “Renown“. I will be spending the year seeking out sources to increase my personal power. Renown is a subject that I will return to and explain more fully in subsequent posts. No doubt I have much more to learn about it as the year goes on.

Now let’s talk about specific preparations that I am making for Imbolc, and that you could make too.

Preparations for Imbolc

What can the roving druid do for Imbolc? Is it best to follow the traditional methods, or to be more ‘modern’ about the whole process? Sometimes I feel that people are searching this site for a list of instructions. Other times I feel the right message to deliver is my own message, and to hope that it resonates with you all. I don’t do traditional. I have read many rituals, poems, myths, stories – ancient and modern. I have read accounts, histories and reconstructions from guiding spirits coming through sensitive mediums. All of this information I have absorbed, and I should be in a good position to reveal to everyone reading this blog how they should conduct themselves for Imbolc. But I won’t. Rather, the message is simply for you to make your own preparations. Find your own guides. Go search them out in Nature. Let yourself be guided by those who take a direct interest in your spiritual path.

This year I am hoping to attend a ceremony dedicated to Brigid at a local megalithic site. I have bought candles for a ceremony of light. I haven’t been to such an event before, but this opportunity just fell right and everything about it seemed to be correct. I knew instantly that it was the right thing to do this year. I am reserving judgment at this time, and then I will report back once it’s finished. Kal is hoping that we can encompass some other sites in the area too that day. Let’s hope so, because we always have an interesting time at Imbolc. it seems to be a real kick-start to the year for us both.

Well, those are my preparations for Imbolc, but what should you be doing? Here are some suggestions I have for you based on my experience of the energies and entities available at this time of year:-

1. Find a sacred site that is already dedicated to or associated with “Brigid”. The site may contain the name “Brigid”, “Bride”, “Brid” or any of the other variations of her name. Connecting to or being bathed in the energies of Brigid offers a feeling of nurturing, of well-being, and the metaphorical “light” associated with her can offer revelations as to where you may progress to in the coming year. Here’s a link to some information about Brigid.
2. Concentrate on the symbolism of light. The first chinks of the light returning to the mornings and evenings as Spring approaches is part of the thanks that we are offering in our energetic exchanges with Nature. The nature of this light, and its connection to our inner light (our ‘divine spark’, if you will) is an important symbol of the energetic links being forged at this festival period.
3. Make an offering or sacrifice that symbolises your dedication to progress through embracing light. From example, this year I have bought a lot of candles that I intend to offer to anyone else present at a Brigid site that I attend. In addition to the physical donation I anticipate allowing some of my own inner light to flow through the connection with the Brigid entity and to donate that part of my spirit to the site.

In your preparations I would also refer you to a chart that Kal recently drew up that listed the various proportions of how people’s energies contribute to sacred events. Maybe a good time to review that and decide on how you might want to being things into 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. for Imbolc?

Have a bright and cheery day, whatever you do!

Gwas.

Generally, what type of year it has been? Dis-jointed, slower than last year’s breakneck speed, measured, with lots of deep synchronicities. When I come to review the year I realise that I still made lots of progress on the various tasks that I was lead to perform in order to progress along my path of Druidry.

Below are the main topics that I have picked out from this year’s blog posts. I have tried to keep the explanations to a minimum, so have included links back to the original postings if you want the detail for each of the topics. What I thought was a quiet year has actually turned out to be incredibly packed and busy. The topics are in no order whatsoever, which kind of fits with the way that the year’s learning has come about – seemingly haphazard, but all threading into and through itself like some kind of cat’s cradle whose overall pattern will only be known when the final moves have played out.

26 topics I have been involved in this year:-

a) Healing – Most of the year has been spent developing healing skills, whether that was using remote energies, balancing the chakras, healing with the hands, or with crystals. I have realised that I am more attuned to healing places than people currently, but that is changing. The healing energies can be attuned to different colours for particular effects. To work with these energies I need to understand which “colour” is missing from a site and then call upon the energies of the local living entities to gather together to create this missing colour and thus heal the site. [related posts: My Five Healing Rays, Healing Rays Explained]

Also, in conjunction with my friend Mike, we created a new healing centre at The Bridestones in Cheshire. [related posts: A New Healing Centre]

Chakra colours, energy frequencies and healing may be linked

b) Re-discovering the bard - Discovered great new music (and that I like the new forms of folk music) at The Green Man Festival, and saw Roy Harper in concert in London. This year music has really connected with my heart and stirred great emotions. I have written more poetry this year than in other years too. [related posts: Green Man Festival, Roy Harper]

c) Astrological links to Venus, Orion’s Belt and Sirius affirmed at almost every site. Also Scorpius, astrological links to Arthur and the Great Bear constellation. The constellations of Serpens, Corvus and Perseus have been especially meaningful to me this year, guiding me along a very meaningful path from one end of 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. to another. [related posts: Serpent at Castlerigg, Arthurian Archetypes of Corvus, The Berth and Death of Scorpius, The Three Stars of Fertility, Absorbing Orion at Lud's Church]

d) Viewing figures - The blog started the year at 100,000 views, and by now that figure has risen to over 216,000. We have seen a 66% increase in readership this year! [related posts: 100,000 views this year]

e) Moving into the Druid stage – This year has seen me begin to get the knowledge I have gained out into the world to share with others. I have done presentations and courses, and taken a more overt local political stance on issues such as the selling off of the local woodlands and by clearing up litter. [related posts: Small Circle and Big Revelation, Understanding Megalithic Sites presentation]

f) Book writing – Possibly the one dismal failure of the year! I cannot seem to dedicate sufficient time and energy towards writing a book. I still feel I don’t know enough yet to make the book as good as I would want it to be.

g) Orbs - The debate seems to be that either ’orbs’ might be entities, or they’re reflections of airborne debris that are reflecting via the camera’s flash (‘lens flare’). This year I have been excited about seeing them at significant place, but I know that they are only produced when the camera’s flash is on, thus making them a definite product of artificial light reflection. I now wonder whether the flash is required in order to make the orbs register on the lens. I am still intrigued that I am ‘called’ to take a photo of certain places, and that the orbs appear only in those specific places. [related posts: Just can't dismiss them, Winter Solstice celebrations at Nine Ladies]

Light at the end of the tunnel for trapped shades

h) Spirit release at churches. In conjunction with my friend Mike we have worked together to discover and release spirit entities whose presence has been adversely affecting the locations that they have inhabited. With every experience we have got more experience, and we feel more confident about our work. [related posts: Spirit Release en masse, Buried Alive, The Sorrowful Widow]

i) Ancestor energiesA term I have used to describe the subtle energy imprints left at a particular place of power (a power centre, perhaps) by our ancestors - those family connections from whom we are descended and have a genetic link to. – Beginning this year at Vale Crucis Abbey in Llangollen I have found a link to my ancestors’ energies. Later in the year I was told by the spirit of my grandfather that it would be beneficial for me to discover and recover those energies. This seems a very shamanic process, and it intrigues me. [related posts: The Healing Helper, A Grandfather's Message]

j) Chakras and sonics – finding the five chakras that are meaningful and useful for me, and how to activate them using vocal sounds [related posts: Vowels and Chakras]

k) Experimenting with magnetism and its effects on 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.. Discovered that magnetism strongly affects the direction and quality 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.. This implies that electro-magnetic emissions from various sources would also affect 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., and thus perhaps go towards explaining why sacred sites are adversely affected by overhead power cables and phone masts. [related posts: Bolton Abbey]

l) The importance of the double helix form - From Castlerigg stone circle and the Serpens constellation to Arthur’s Grave in Pembrokeshire the double helix formation has been prevalent this year. For me it symbolises the union of the red and white (female and male) subtle energies. Of course, the formation is also to be found in the structure of human DNA. I found that I was in some way affecting my own DNA using subtle energies when I was at a particular sacred site when a specific star’s energy was available in the sky. [related posts: Arthur's Gave and the DNA Chamber, From Berth to Death]

m) Tracing the great North-South 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. from Arbor Low to Christchurch. This was part of my work to discover whether the energy leys that Kal and I had dowsed at Arbor Low were real, and if so how far they travelled. I found that there was a strong case for an energy formation travelling in a straight line due North-South from Arbor Low and terminating at Christchurch in Dorset. On a similar tack I traced 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. through Paris which linked several key monuments. [related posts: The Strange Attractor, A Spring Ritual at West Kennet, Encounters with an Earth Spirit, The Leys of Central Paris]

n) Dealing with ghosts, shades, psychic attacks and dark energies. This year has seen a move from relative skepticism to near conviction about the existence of sentient invisible entities. I have had dealings with remnant human energies and non-human entities whose energy forms I can only dream of. These entities have manifested themselves in my consciousness as thoughts distinct from anything I recognise as my own, but more tellingly they have manifested as physically-felt symptoms such as visible movements, light forms, feelings of pressure and movement, and even as far as nausea or cranial tension in their presence. These can always be explained away as something else using complex and tenuous explanations, but the simplest explanation is that such entities exist. [related posts: Bamburgh Castle ghost, Vampire Shades, Ghosts,Shades and Spirits, Hexham and the Psychic Attack]

Psychic attacks cause sleep disruption

o) Re-Connecting with my elementals - this year saw very little interaction with the Elementals, yet it was important for me to “check in” with them, and reconnect in order to maintain the relationship I had established with these Nature Spirit forces. This involved me choosing the right crystals to work with them as well (e.g. work at Ennerdale Water and at The Rollrights) [related posts: Juggling with Water Spirits, Receiving the Elements at The Rollrights]

p) The blooming flower. During the Spring Equinox in Cumbria I was given the image of the flower unfurling. At the time I took this to mean that I needed to work on obtaining the ability to grow plants better, but it was subsequently pointed out to me that it could signify my own blossoming spiritual progress. I think the latter explanation turned out to be the correct one. [related posts: Water Spirit of the River Esk]

q) The Hawk of May – this year I met with and gained the assistance of two new spirit forms. One appears in the form of a hawk and appears whenever I am on the correct path to spiritual progress. The other is a Celtic healer who is guiding me through the process of learning healing of the landscape and now the healing of people too. The discovery of The Hawk in the Landscape – a landscape figure that became a reality for me when I traced it over a map of Cheshire was one of the more interesting finds of the year, especially as I had dismissed the Glastonbury Zodiac landscape figures as having no use for me. I have now had to re-evaluate the concept and realised that the landscape figures are only meaningful to the person who makes them appear, and who quests to find them. [related posts: Remote Dreaming at Lud's Church, Meeting the Hawk of May, Cheshire Hawk Landscape Figure, Hunting the Hawk of May, The Yew Tree Speaks, Connection With The Hawk]

r) Arthur – instead of Merlin (so last year!). What are the differences between these archetypes? Merlin is a symbol of taking on magickal power. Arthur is a symbol of taking on responsibility and leadership skills. This year I have been primarily involved in taking responsibility for my work, and in turning my work outwards to face the public instead of working within myself. [related posts: Arthur's Seat, Berth to Death, The Samson Stone, Arthur's Stone, Camelot, The Tor and the Healing Thorn, The DNA Chamber, Arthurian Archetypes]

s) Animal totems for this year – Hawk, fox, seagull and badger. Each has been a guide along my path this year, showing me the way at various times. [related posts: Connection With The Hawk, Meeting the Hawk of May, The Lost Mound, Lammas 2011 on Anglesey]

t) Learning psychometry – the art of psychically interacting with the energy within objects to obtain information from them. [related posts: Druid Divination, Psychometry and Deviceless Dowsing]

u) Understanding the way that standing stones work with ley lines to split them out into male and female energy forms. The male is then directed towards a particular site that requires male energy such as a hill, fort, or some other male feature. [related posts: Clulow Cross, Anglesey Autumn Equinox, Samson Stone, Lammas on Anglesey]

v) Caves and hobgoblins – Finding that a cave shapes the aura and condense the information held within the aura such that it is more easily absorbed and retained. I also found that there are deep earth energy spirits in some caves that can be appeased by feeding them! [related posts: Closure at Thor's Cave, The Park Wood Hobgoblin, Hobs Thirst Cave]

w) Green Man Festival and its links with The Rose Line from Edinburgh. This needs further investigation to definitively prove its existence energetically. There are clear historical links, but I want to find out to what degree 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. line is still active today. The festival is right on the line, and I intend to go back to the festival next year to dowse the line’s influence in the festival, or vice versa. [related posts: Arthur's Seat and The Rose Line, Green Man Festival]

Green Man on Rose Line

x) Creating wards and glyphs in Alderley Edge. I will find out soon how successful my protection work has been for the tree that I worked with. [related posts: Parc Le Breos, Creating a Ward]

y) Apports as a means of teaching the energy student a lesson in focusing on their work! I was taught a lesson when my wedding ring went missing twice and ended back up in the same coat pocket. A definite lesson in paying spirit forms attention! [related posts: The Apporting Ring]

z) The Elemental Masters of Tinkinswood – Finding their presence at a sacred site was interesting enough, but dowsing how they worked together taught me a valuable lesson about the way that sacred sites may have been used in ancient times. [related posts: Elemental Masters at Tinkinswood]

Summary

Looking back, even though the year has felt dis-jointed and slower than usual, I have actually done an amazing amount of work and have progressed far further than I had imagined. Looking forward to next year now with renewed vigour! I have had several messages from different sources who are all anticipating that my work with healing sites and people will be called into use in 2012. Of course, if that happens, then I will be blogging it all for you to read.

Thank you all for spending your precious time with us this year. We look forward to another intriguing year of learning, living and loving.

Gwas.

You are then left with a decision – do I believe the power of this place, or do I have to go test it our for myself? I have to test it, of course! Progress must take its course during the year’s treadmill. Places of power should be visited. The dilemma – who by? Yet the Land can have lessons for everyone, surely. Good or bad. Clever or stupid. If I tell of the place, then I advertise its wonder, and more people probably come. There are some wells near where I live that birthed and died through the advertisement of their miraculous energies, effects and efficacies. However, I will mention the place’s name. What people do with it will reap its own rewards.

Clulow Cross - A truly illuminating place

In a previous post about the nearby Bullstones I had supposed that this had been the magickal stone that Mike’s tales had been centred upon. I was wrong. The description of the surroundings had matched my previous finding exactly, so when Mike and friends had allowed us to follow them up into the Derbyshire moorland and hills I thought I knew exactly where we were going. As we parked and got out of our respective cars the other group appeared to be heading in the wrong direction, until I realised that it was me who had made the mistake. Clulow Cross was down in the field on the Congleton side of Hammerton Knowl, not standing on the other side of the Knowl’s ridge between Wincle and Wilboarclough. This was the pillar remainder of an actual stone cross, not just a place name to locate a hidden monolithic treasure. And hidden it is. Nestled in a clump of middle-aged beech trees, the cross itself is hard to spot until you are within striking distance with an acorn.

An Aside About Access

I have probably pussy-footed and tap-danced around this subject for many years on this blog. Let me state this right out now as an opinion, and then I will attempt to back it up.

I have a right to walk the land. My right. My land. I will walk it. I will be respectful, courteous, kind and gentle as I do so. But I will walk it. It is my, our, everyone’s land.

Anyone who believes they own land needs to consider this perspective – the land has been there before humans as a species were even invented. Once we were invented we were given intellect to allow the development of the concept of custodianship. We are all of us guardians of our own lands, the lands with which we identify in our hearts.

Yes, others may choose to abuse their rights, and those that choose to be discourteous and un-cooperative with the custodians will always exist, but they are a manageable minority who will cause ill-will in whatever environment they find themselves. They are a test of everybody’s patience, and are not exclusive preserve of the irate farmer, or the country estate employee, or the quarry worker, or the member of this and that Trust.

Those who consider themselves to be “land owners” will have to live with their own arrogance on a daily basis. You ought only to encounter it occasionally as you walk these lands. We have a right to roam. We always have. We always will.

So, now that you understand my position and haven’t yet stopped reading in outrage and humph-pah, well, you should read on to find out what magick awaits the pagan who claims the right to roam.

I’m not issuing a challenge here. I pick my times to cross definite boundaries, and I do so with care. When I trespass I do so with a certain delicacy. I aim to pass without disturbance, to leave everything a little more balanced in my gentle wake. As we hopped over the dry-stone wall that formed the constant barrier around the field to Clulow Cross‘s odd mound of beech trees I was entering into the unknown again with a right motley crew of psychics, mediums, sensitive and intuitive people. A heady blend of energy bodies fizzed and crackled around our light-hearted shenanigans trying to negotiate the wall, the muck and the grass. They never show this bit in films – unless they had been made by Lee Evans [who?].

Safely heading towards the small hill on the downward leg of the journey we got to within twenty feet or so of the perimeter of the change in gradient when I pulled up quickly, standing bolt upright as though I had bumped into an invisible door. I rocked slowly forwards so that my head moved into the field of energy to test how it felt. Warm, tingly, effervescent, and…happy, excited? I heard one friend yelp in unexpected excitement at encountering the same “wall of wonder” – like walking into a shower curtain of laughter. We looked across at each other and smiled and laughed, standing with our arms outstretched as though bathing in the sun-warmed Mediterranean waters that it felt like.

We shared adjectives trying to capture the shared feeling that bubbled up past us like an upward shower. In contrast to the clear and crisp end-of-October breeze this was an obviously noticeable difference. Yet we could still feel the cold wind blowing against us – it was just that it didn’t feel cold any more, and we shivered in a warm way if that makes sense? How odd! Our wide eyes shared the experiences between all of us who hadn’t been here before. Three of us swam in the hill’s aura for several moments, hardly wanting to push on up the hill in case the feeling stopped. The two who had been before stopped to acknowledge the moment, like remembering your first downhill bike ride. We all sobered up and moved on towards the summit of the small beech carpeted mound. Leaves danced around us, squadrons of fairy forms spinning and falling, dancing with the same joy we felt.

Clulow's mysterious mound

The Garner Connection

I have often talked of Alderley Edge – that great forest in Cheshire with its precarious sandstone cliffs and a reputation for being the haunt of magickal practitioners. Of course, it has an Arthurian myth attached to it as well, as all good Druidical places need some air of timelessness in human form. That, however, was not the first story associated with Alderley Edge in my mind. For me, the first story I had heard of this enchanted forest was in the book “The Weirdstone of Brisingamen“, a young person’s book of magical fantasy and witchcraft. Only now do I realise that Clulow Cross was also featured in the book. I didn’t remember that bit. Now I was here at the second of the three of Cheshire’s mystical landmarks that Garner uses as his backdrop to the book.

Clulow Cross [megalithic] is also called Cleulow Cross. Appears as the final destination in Garner’s book:

“Although renamed Clulow the cross is the scene of the climax of the excellent children’s book  “The Weirdstone of Brisingamen” written by Cheshire author Alan Garner, you need to read the book to understand the importance of the locality.” (source: Cleulow.com)

Truly, standing on the hill, I understood why this was the climax of any story. The drama of the place, the feeling, the bubbling energies, the wind-swept choir of branches rustling, the sun speckling through the canopies of rusted leaves, the sweep down the slope of the valley side of the hill. Standing on the summit next to the pillar that once help a quartered cross I felt in touch with something quite powerful, something ancient yet close, and most of all, something welcoming.

Another web site has a more prosaic but accurate description of the cross’ heritage:

” An Anglo-Saxon high cross on a mound raised from a spur overlooking the valley of the Shell Brook. A large base and shaft with the remains of a small wheelhead cross on the top. The cross is of late Anglo-Saxon, Mercian round shaft, type and is one of a group of round shafts in this region, markers defining the early medieval estate and parish of Prestbury.” (source: Pastscape)

I have the liberty of this blog in which to describe it as The Velveteen Green Post of Pagan Promise . Just because I can.

The Bridge Between Land and Sky

The green-covered majesty of Clulow Cross

As I reached the top I looked at Mike.. This was the scene of his earth energy conversion. The moment he had realised that he would be working with earth energies thereafter. It was the scene of a dramatic conversion –   a taking on of powers and responsibilities. He was back.

At first the pillar had been hard to see amongst the beech trunks of equal size and colour. It was only differentiated from distance by its unnatural straightness and its stand. It looked like a stunted tree until quite close up. I began to dowse:-

1. What is the strongest place on this hill? The rods began to move from my position some ten feet away from the pillar and walked me around from tree to tree in s spiral around the hill, slowly moving up to the top. At the top the path went from the last tree to the pillar itself. The pillar was on the strongest energy centre.

2. Where was my best place to be? Right next to the pillar, slightly facing the long downhill slope.

3. Was there a ritual path to take a person up to 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. in the most energetic way? Yes, it began just out of the line of sight of the lower slopes, just behind the peak of the hill, and then moved in a slow S-shape up to the pillar.

I was standing on the base of the pillar, holding on to it. I could feel its bubbling energy field as clear as if it were a red-hot poker, but without the unpleasant barbecuing effects on the hands. Still my hands were hot as though it was the height of Summer instead of being in the depths of Autumn. I began to get some psychic impressions of the pillar itself.

It was a symbol of a bridge between Land and Sky. The Rainbow Bridge. The energy was passing both ways. I could feel the double-helix of the effervescent 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. flowing in inverse spirals through and around each other in a double vortex of exchanging forces. I was in the centre of those effects and I was surrendering my energy body to its effects with abandon. Others were doing the same. I felt presences all around, and they weren’t just the people I was visiting with. There was a gathering on the lower slopes, and someone was standing alone at the pillar, looking down upon the assembly, and dispensing words that would bring those folk to a communal understanding of their world. This was no lecture, rather he was informing, dispensing, giving.

The sun fleckled through the trees and the disguised headless cross pillar became a cold stone presence to my touch again. The almost invisible overlay dissolved to re-focus on the present movement of the branches and bring the real people back into coloured sharp focus. I was back. Others around me were going through the same process so we compared notes and came up with a startling consensus of images: a robed leader, a gathering, a congregation, a druid, a preacher, the long slope down, hands aloft, the faery folk gathering to listen to the Horned Stag speak in the full of the sun. The images were all drawn from overlapping mythologies, but they were all the same features. A commanding lone figure and a gathering of folk below.

Sunlight through beeches at Clulow Cross

I had known from the moment I had crossed the threshold, stepped into the aura of this site, that this was a Druid Grove. I just knew. Something deep inside me knew what this was. What it had been. What its significance for the future was – to be an active grove again. I would have to come back. I knew this now. Have to. Reluctantly we decided to head back to the road above. I could feel the gaze of a thousand attentive tiny spirits that watched us leave that day. Oh, what a place! I was in awe.

Mike and the others smiled at me. They knew it had touched me in a deep and lasting way. Not a thunderbolt of energy perhaps, but a stirring of an ancient heartfelt connection, certainly.

Gwas.

Lligwy chamber

Our first destination was Lligwy Chamber which is to be found at the edge of the collection of sites just west of the town of Moelfre that comprise an ancient church, hut circle settlement and the chamber itself. We arrived in the late morning sunshine and the site seemed to be sparkling and playing with the available light. The capstone shone with a radiant limestone glare as we studied its flat form from the source of the energies that surround it, namely the two small outlier stones just outside of the main iron fence.

One of Wales' largest capstones - Lligwy chamber

As is usual I didn’t tell Mike anything about the place or what Kal and I had found here on previous occasions, but very quickly Mike picked up that the stones we were standing at had strong energies connected to the main site. Maybe not too difficult to work out, but as he walked their path I confirmed with the dowsing rods that he was walking the line 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 connected the stones to a circuit that surrounded the main site.

Mike’s next statement was another familiar one – there are some pools of strong energy at each of the corners, he said. I confirmed that there were four spirals to be found at the corners. We stopped analysing the site now, and began to talk about how it might be used. I told Mike about how Kal and I had worked out that walking around the site generated a meditative energy that could be used by the person inside the chamber to travel in spirit. We both went into the chamber whilst the other person walked around the exterior in a sun-wise direction, and we both reported having a “sinking” feeling of being drawn into the floor of the chamber as a result. Perhaps walking in the other direction might send your spirit off into the atmosphere? Something to be tested at a subsequent visit perhaps?

Both of us emerged from the experience completely “spaced out” after only lying in there for a few minutes. I could imagine that if the process was done by more people walking around and humming or singing and it was done for longer then the person inside could be drawn so deeply out of themselves that they would achieve a sort of “spirit flight” that is discussed by so many scholars of a shaman’s techniques.

Inside Lligwy chamber

When I emerged I felt grounded by sitting inside, but Mike who had been walking around felt energised. When I was walking around I too felt highly energised by the experience, but also felt that I was able to get into a rhythm with the walking where I too could lose myself in the physical process. I would definitely recommend you have a go at doing this yourself. This site in particular seems to be excellently attuned to this process. Let us know what you felt when doing it – we’d love to hear your results!

Equinoctial Offerings

The main reason why I had chosen this particular site to start off the Autumn Equinox was that I felt that its special capstone, pitted as it is with weather-worn puddles of fresh rainwater, would be the perfect place for me to place the several offerings I had brought with me to celebrate the end of the Summer harvest. Each offering was hand-picked as the finest specimens from my garden this year, and I wanted to offer this fine crop of fruits and flowers to Nature to thank her for the excellent harvest we have been enjoying all Summer long.

That morning I had picked a juicy tomato, the last courgette flower, a flower from our honeysuckle bush, and a wild strawberry. I climbed the roof of the chamber and chose to place the offerings in the symbolic gaping “mouth” of the face in the rock. Even though the wind was getting very strong at this point the water held the offerings in place, and they floated and swirled around as though alive with the very essence that had produced them in the first place, and now this life force was being allowed to seep back into the elements of Nature once more, with my blessings and thanks to travel with them to oblivion.

Offerings from my garden made at Lligwy chamber

We now set course towards the next site further along the northern coast of Ynys Mon – the small village of Llanfechell, where I knew that a trio of sleek stones awaited our discovery.

Llanfechell stones

The village of Llanfechell was in the midst of roadworks, but luckily we were able to park at the top of the hill just before getting snarled up in the chaos of a village having its arterial road ruined, sorry, “re-surfaced”. As we parked and I got my staff out of the car I felt slightly out-of-place amongst the residents of the sleepy village on the outskirts of civilisation. I must have struck a strange note as my white staff paced the tarmac to reach the path into the valley below the village.

The Llanfechell stones

Red for hot, blue for cold

As we walked down the slope towards the stones that sat on the top of the opposite hill Mike mentioned that my staff seemed to be giving off two streams of colour radiance – one red and one blue. I presumed that one emerged from one fork and the other from the second, but I didn’t ask for details. Five minutes later we were approaching the trio of standing stones, and Mike had another energy observation to make. He said that the stones themselves were coloured too – one of them was giving off a red energy and the other one was blue! I paused for a moment to contemplate what this might mean, but other than the idea that my staff might resonate with this site I didn’t know what to make of that information at that time.

We moved around the stones touching them, feeling for their energy, and getting familiar with the feel of the place. In my eyes the site was in two parts – there were the “portal stones” at what I would call the “entrance”, and then there was the neutral focal stone at the “back”. In the picture above my staff is placed along the line of energy that is coming between the portal stones and is going into the focal stone. The portal stones are acting like guides through which 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. (composed of male and female alternating energy lines) is being channelled towards the single stone at the rear of the formation.

Mike had been touching the stones for several minutes moving between them all and weighing up how they felt. Now he reported back his findings – one stone was hot and the other cold, he said. He invited me to touch the two portal stones, and he was right! One stone was definitely warm – it had warm patches. The other stone had a really cold line all down its ‘spine’. I checked to see if it was simply due to the coverage of moss, or lichen. No – the stones were cold underneath the lichen too, so it wasn’t due to coverage. What about the position of the stones in relation to the sun? Well, the sun was almost directly overhead at this time of day, so no one face of the stones was getting more sunlight than any other side at this point, and the warm patches occurred on all sides of the stone, whereas the other stone was cold in patches on all sides too. Most odd!

The third stone – the neutral central aligned stone – was neither warm nor cold. It was a much more even temperature all over. I asked Mike which stone he felt was “red” – the ‘hot’ one of course, and the cold one had the blue radiance. Well, if ever the symbolism of hot and cold meant anything it was evident to me now. The other third stone had no radiance of energy at all. Mike described it as a “functional” stone, whereas the two portal stones through which a 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. could be dowsed, these stones were radiating energy AND had physical characteristics to match the colour frequencies too.

Staff and stone

As I looked at my staff I could almost see the energies of 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. flowing through it. I concentrated on the staff and thought of using its balanced energies to bring balance to the site itself. My dowsing earlier had revealed to me that there was 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. coming between the two portal stones, flowing to the central neutral stone at the back, and this was the line along which I had lain my staff.

At first Mike was not able to stand in the path of 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.. I had placed my ash staff along the length of the energy path, touching the central focal stone. Initially I had felt the staff was channelling the energy through it, but after several minutes of it being in that position Mike mentioned that he felt that the energy flow had changed. I went to feel the staff – it felt warm, like a perfect mixture of hot and cold. Mike was still touching the two portal stones but now he asked me to check another finding – were there now warm AND cold patches on both stones, whereas previously the stones had been distinctly either hot or cold? I felt the patches he was finding – yes, here was a warm one next to a cold patch, and the same on the other stone too. Were they exchanging pockets of energy between them? What was happening here? The two types of energy seemed to be mingling the longer we stayed. Or maybe it was the action of the staff – had it brought balance to the site’s energies, being the catalyst for an exchange of energy frequencies between the stones? It was difficult to say what had happened, except that something had changed from our first findings.

Aligning my staff at Llanfechell's central neutral stone

As I picked up my now warm staff I felt it tingle to my touch. The charge, the surge 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. went into my forearm and made me shiver slightly. Oh yes! This staff was definitely full of something wonderful. I wondered when I might be called upon to release this stored energy – today, soon, at an important moment? Having obtained the elemental energies of the four masters from my visit to Tinkinswood Chamber recently I was curious to know how my staff might play a part in forthcoming activities. Perhaps I would find out soon?

Gwas.

Traditionally casting a circle has been seen as a method of creating a sacred protected space within which power can be contained. It serves the dual purpose of excluding energies from outside of the circle that the magician may not wish to allow to enter the space in which he or she is working. A magic circle is different in some ways from just putting up protection around oneself in that it has the additional benefit of being “geometrically efficient” – in other words, because it is a circle, any energy released within it is contained and not diminished. I would go further and say that the practitioner should be considering the use of a sphere, rather than a circle, and containing the energy in a three-dimensional (and perhaps more) space. This bubble provides a perfect containment for subtle or magickal energies, thus increasing the efficiency of the work within the ‘circle’ and reducing energy loss or dissipation. Magickal circles offer protection without energetic interruption, they create a “sacred space” within whose bounds you can ‘clear’ the space to be free of undue or unintended influence, and thereafter protect it from re-admittance to those other energies, effectively creating a sealed hermetic space within, sanitised for your work.

Natural magickThis is a system of belief that is often defined as being the appropriation and re-use of naturally occurring forces for the purposes of healing, transformation, communication, or a host of other subtle effects. The natural elements of the magick can also be seen by the under-pinning concept that the use of these forces should be co-operative rather than coercive. practitioners in particular should consider the use of such devices as magick circles because there are more unpredictable forces in the wilds of Nature than in the sanitised structures of modern man, and creating a safe space within which to work is more of a necessity than a nicety. Introductions over let’s go on to talk about how casting a circle is actually done.

Some preliminaries

I’m not one to go around telling people what to do, and it’s not often on this blog that I write a “how to” (other than our How To page, of course!). So this must rank up there on the scale of importance, right? What I’m presenting here is a method that I’ve found useful, and some recommendations for other druids concerning how to approach a site before casting a circle. You can go and do whatever you want to. Ignore or heed my words as you wish. Right – my preliminaries over, how should one approach a sacred site or other space within which one intends to create a circle in Nature?

I begin by asking for permission from the Spirit of the Place. Not all places have such a presiding spirit form, but many do. If you’re working at a sacred site it’s best to assume (unless you’re a dowser or psychic and can test this for yourself) that there is one about. If you start working with Nature’s energies and there wasn’t a spirit around before you started, there soon will be! I would recommend you entreat the Spirit of Place to ask if you might be allowed to create such a workspace is what is effectively its home, or at least a domain over which it feels protective. That’s just sensible. Oh, and by the way, if you get an answer – in your head, as a feeling, or as a sign – heed it. If you’re not welcome, then you go ahead at double the risk, wouldn’t you say?

Asking the Spirit of Place for permission before creating the sacred space for yourself is the only respectful thing to do at a place that you have never worked before. The space may not be yours to own. You may only be borrowing the space, and therefore it is only gracious and respectful to ask permission to create your own space within some other entity’s energy field. Very rarely will you be working outside of such a field, especially if you work at sacred places or ancient sites such as stone circles or barrows. It makes sense to at least build the element of respect into your ritual out of common courtesy, and with the desire to succeed (with as much assistance as you can obtain freely).

Implements and Tools

The only implement I use to cast a circle

Some people use tools or implements to demarcate their magick circles. I don’t – I use my imagination and intent. If you wish to make your circle more permanent by marking it, then I would recommend that you choose something that is soluble, such as salt. Choose something that you can easily clear up, or which will naturally get removed by the rain or wind. No hedge druid would sensibly make a mark that could be discovered later by someone, even an animal. The point is to arrive, do your work and the leave as though you were never there (apart from your energetic imprint upon the land). Finding a suitable substance is difficult, so it’s best not to bother with anything at all. You really don’t need any assistance with making a circle.

Occasionally, I have been known to draw a light trace of a circle with my staff’s blunt end. I only do this if I know that I can remove it afterwards, though, and recently I have begun not to make any mark at all. It’s quicker, safer and requires less clean-up.

A Method of Casting a Circle

1. My new method of casting a circle is to draw a ‘male’ (or ‘sun’) line clockwise (sunwise) around me, and then a ‘female’ (or ‘moon’) line anti-clockwise (widdershins) around me. For an idea of what I mean by a sun or moon line, a male or female line, then please refer to the glossary page, or to previous posts. Most of you by now will know what I’m talking about, hopefully.

A note about superstition and magick

If you haven’t read the description of these terms on Wikipedia, then I would encourage you to do so. Reading the definition of these directional terms made me laugh. To see how the “tradition” developed that turning in one particular direction was beneficial but turning in the other was counter-productive, even harmful, is ludicrous. To me, this kind of mentality – an out-of-balance mentality – seems to have arisen in response to occult practise, and we can see how the promotion of such superstitious ideas has in fact negated the effective engagement with magickal practise. If I believed that I was actually un-doing something by engaging with one particular energy form, whether that be male, female or neutral energy, then I would be severely limiting the magickal possibilities by that exclusion. In fact, in many cases, magickal acts would simply not be possible without the interaction of two or more energy forms. In this way, superstition can be seen as a means of destroying magickal potential.

2. Use a finger to trace the line. This brings focus to the edge of the space – a clear and intense definition to it which seems to help with the aspect of protecting the space, if only to clarify the exact dimensions to yourself. I don’t think it is by any means necessary to do this, but it is a helpful action if it does not draw too much unwanted attention to your work.

3. The width of the circle is determined by the space available, or even the space that you have been ‘allowed’, either by Nature of by the Spirit of Place, or simply because of the geography of the space that you are inhabiting. I have cast circles in cramped recesses in caves, in whole fields, in tiny holes only big enough to fit within, and in buildings whose walls have defined the boundaries. Really, you only need to be limited by the space you need to work. Why cast a huge circle if you don’t need one? Wasteful energy, I say.

4. Clear the space within. and then seal the edges to only allow in beneficial or invited influences. It is funny how we can ask for such a complicated entry procedure to be enforced for us and not have to state the many possible rules that we might attribute to such a conditional statement, yet it seems to work. The intention to protect the space and the simple act of asking for only beneficial energies to be allowed admittance is enough for whatever is guarding that space thereafter to be able to do its work on our behalf. Which brings me back again to having a good working relationship with the Spirit of Place. You see how important that becomes at this point? Co-operation, not coercion.

Why I only cast a circle outdoors

The reason that I only cast a circle outdoor is because the vast majority of my magickal work is done outdoors. Indoors, at home, I have protected my space already in many different ways that obviate the need to cast a circle. Outdoors I can employ the forces of Nature directly. Yes, I realise that the forces of Nature operate simultaneously everywhere, but calling the wind with the wind in your face provides me with a stronger bond and requires less imaginative effort, leaving me free to concentrate on the matter at hand. I understand that people use proxy objects to represent such forces -incense for fire, a feather as a symbol of the wind, and such like. I prefer the actual elements themselves because I am dealing directly with the spiritual forces inherent in those elements when I work.

If you can smell, see, touch the things you’re invoking that’s more immediate, and it involves the Spirit of the Place. If you take a token object or a representative object home with you then you’re one step away from the “spirit” of the thing you’re invoking, and literally out of contact with the spirit. For me it’s all about energy fields. If you want to extend your energy field from your home to wherever you want to work then that’s an extension, and therefore (I would argue) a dilution. If your energy field interacts directly with the energy field of a spirit of place then this is much more powerful because it’s a combination, not an extension.

We can connect to anything regardless of time and space, but we have to realise that we are reducing the inputs to the situation if we do that. Now, in some cases this might be desirable (when we have a single known task to perform) but if we are trying to gather information I think it is counter-productive, or limiting at best.

Termination or Dissolution

The final act of the magickal druid circle is its removal. Having created a field of energy, a force field if you will, and of your will, then comes the time to remove such an energetic imprint. Some aspects of your work will have become part of the fabric of the land through your work and by your work – and that is as it should be and you need not attempt to remove the very presence of yourself from it. Instead, the dissolution of a circle is merely the retraction, obliteration, or un-doing of its forces either by contracting the energy to a single point, or by pushing it out so far that it becomes absorbed by all that it passed over and through.

I dissolve a circle by asking Nature to reclaim the energies and neutralise the space. I ask the forces of Nature who may require the energy I have produced to absorb the energy and thus re-balance the energetic fields as they see fit. For those to whom it would be non-beneficial I ask that the energy pass on further until it has all been absorbed and diluted to nothingness.There is a Druid principle that I live by of leaving a space in the same condition as it was found (unless we have improved it, of course!). The concept of balance and non-interference. I always employ this when I can to keep the forces balanced and harmonised if the work was solely for me.

Finally I thank the Spirit of Place for allowing me to do this work in their presence, and I pay my respects in whatever way seems fit at the time. Sometimes this is nothing more than a courteous nod, but sometimes it can be the making of an artifact woven from natural materials that I leave as a crafted gift in a hidden place, usually on 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..

That, my friends, is how I have re-discovered the art of using the druid circle to work with Nature and her spirit forces out in the wonderful richness of the fields, mountains and forests in the land where I belong. Take what you need – discard that which has no value for you.

Gwas.

It will be on the site for November, and then I will place it into the Articles page on this site for posterity. I hope it provokes some thought and discussion. Please let me know what you think of the contents.

Gwas.

The afternoon was ours and the day was glorious. It was the kind of day at the end of the summer that you know if you don’t make the most of it you will sorely regret it because there won’t be many more like this for many a month now as Autumn and Winter take turns to ravish the landscape, denuding the shrubbery and instilling a greyness to the sky. This day’s sky was a painting in a light blue palette. It was with this backdrop that I cajoled Kal to come out on a dowsing mission. As it turned out, it would only be later that I realised the full and startling importance of this casual visit. It would be a moment that resonated with me in the most profouond way, evoking a deep memory from over thirty years ago, and confirming that my path was true to me.

iI had cloaked the intended destination in an air of secrecy, so it wasn’t until we had reached Stockport (damn that SatNav for insisting it was the fastest route) that Kal ventured to suggest we were going somewhere in Derbyshire. Indeed we were. I had found a stone circle with impeccable credentials – near a known path, not too far to walk to, fairly intact – and to us it was completely new and exciting. It was called Froggatt Edge stone circle just beyond the town of Bakewell.

Froggatt Edge stone circle

We parked at the Chequers Inn (top pun, top pub) which was on a small road going out of the village. Two hundred yards back down the hill a path crossed the road going both down and up the Edge. We headed upwards, through the delightfully deciduous canopy of old trees, up a well-trodden path mottled with mosses and tree roots. After passing a gate in a wall the path got rockier, and soon we could see people above us. As we emerged out of the woods we realised that we were at the base of the Edge’s cliff face. As far as the eye could see in either direction were clutches of climbers, spandexed and sporting fluorescent ropes, all either looking upwards, or fiddling with clasps and bags. I have never seen so many climbers in one place. We asked for directions from a friendly-looking bunch, then made our way right, following the path up to the top of the cliffs. The climb was easy, unlike the band of brave souls who were challenging themselves to get up the hard way.

When we emerged at the top it was time to catch our breath, and admire the views.

View along Froggatt Edge

The Stone Throne

If I were a king, then this is where I would have my throne, atop Froggatt Edge. The views are fantastic when the weather’s good. As we wandered along the edge, stopping to look at the unusual rock formations, wind-blasted and weather-worn, we came across a very unusual set of rocks. Kal immediately pounced upon them and seated himself comfortably on the top – it was a perfect seat, he claimed, so I too went up to try it. He wasn’t wrong. The views were even better from that vantage point, and the seat was genuinely comfortable. Both of us could have stayed there all day. Clearly a strong 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. with good energies.

Kal indicating that perfection can be achieved with the addition of a pint of beer

The sun was going ‘under the yardarm’ as the sailing fratenity say, and so I pushed us onwards to our destination – the stone circle. Within moments of walking past the Throne we saw the circle itself, its one prominent stone enticing us into its bracken lair. Now the fun could begin.

Froggatt Edge stone circle is one of the most easily accessed circles that we have visited. Its setting is beautiful, nestled within a blanket of ferns, and with the occasional birch tree dotted around to add a touch of silver beauty to the scene. We approached the circle by the firts path we cam eot, and I felt drawn to walk around its perimeter in a female way – widdershins – anti-clockwise. This gave me the chance to assess how many stones were still there, and how much of the circle seemed to have been altered or destroyed. Despite looking quite incomplete, when I tested the circle’s strength it registered as a 9 on a scale of 10. Very much alive then!

The site was predominantly femalein terms of the energies (Kal complained that it wouldn’t have been that way if he’d got to the circle first, but instead I did, which is an unusual statement – clealry he thinks that one’s presence can alter the ‘temprament’ or 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 the energies at sacred sites).

The ley cross and the quarries

One of the first things we did was to find out if any ley lines passed through the circle. We found two, both in cardinal directions – a North-South line and an East-West line. Well, that covers all the carinal points, really! We found 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 centr eof the circle formed by the conjunction of the two ley lines. This is the classic ‘vortex’ of spiralling energies that many dowsers report from other circles. For us, it has little interest. Kal was more interested in finding his particular 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., and I went on to find mine. The dowsing rods led me round the circle to spin around at the stone upon which I had first laid my backpack. Funny that – we are both now quite accomplished at feeling instinctively where these ‘good’ places are.

Our next set of questions concerned the status of the circle. Was it in good health? It was, but there was a problem with the ley lines. There were some bad energies coming into the circle from the western 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.. Further questioning determined that in this heavily quarried area the source was most definitely a quarry. This is not in the least bit unusual for Derbyshire. Generally the county has a lovely welcoming feel, but many of its powerful and beautiful places have been adversely affected by quarrying work. Of course the quarries have been hugely successful economically, so few people are in a position to argue that it is a ‘bad thing’ to have half the landscape excavated. Nevertheless, the occurrance of problems (also found at Nine Ladies) is so frequent that we didn’t have to go far down a list of suspects before we reached this one. Actually, it was top of the list, but of course we did check other things too, including sorcery. But it turned out to be just quarrying. But hey – who cares about bad energies – you can’t even see them, right, so who cares? Me.

Eyam quarries causing bad energies along the Earth Grid

Healing the Earth Grid

Kal was only too pleased to find out that he was unable to participate in the healing process. In fact, not only should he not participate, he needed to back right away until he was outside the circle itself, for his own safety! At the time, we thought this was very strange. Usually one or the other of us can participate in some way, often to add energies in, or helpw ith energy flows, or put up protection. Today, this all had to be my work. Now I understand why, but at the time it was just ‘one of those things’.

I sat on my 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. and lit some incense. Two sticks, one either side (becoming a familiar pattern). I tuned into the circle and tuned everything else out. I did my usual routine to connect to the elements, to the sun, the moon and the earth. Once connected I asked any spirit entities present to assist me with my work in healing the circle, and I felt something rush to join me. I had protection and a circle already defined so I didn’t feel threatened by this additional spirit, and I didn’t enquire as to what it was. If it wanted to be there then so be it.

As I concentrated on the western 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. I began to move my hands to describe a circle. I realised I was conjuring a circle of energy, and I drew more from my own energy centres to fill the circle. Soon I had a thick ‘plate’ of energy which was blocking the bad energy that was trying to come in along the western 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.. I made the ‘plate’ of energy porous to good and beneficial energies, but a filter for any bad energy frequencies that were upsetting the natural balance of the site. Then I engaged the nearby birch tree in the process too, asking it to take on the role of maintaining the energy plate until such time as it was no longer required. Reluctantly (or perhaps just slowly – it’s a tree, who can tell?) the birch tree began to link its own energies into the process.

I dis-engaged myself and then dowsed the circle’s energies to see what had happened. The influx of bad energies had been completely blocked. More than that, the birch tree had a figure-of-eight infinity symbol that was circling around between two stones on the north-western edge of the circle. I noted the infinity symbol form and hoped that correlated to the tree keeping the filtration process going. I gave thanks to the tree, and thanked Kal too for doing whatever he had did as he stood beneath the tree. I had felt a helping hand as my senses swept across the tree area, and Kal confirmed that was his input.

Now for the weird bit….

EYAM QUARRIES FLASH-BACK

As a child of about eight or nine I visited Eyam on one of the most memorable school trips. We had a great time filming a video where people dressed up as witches and we got to write our own short story and produce the video ourselves. I remember two things from that trip – I had wanted to be the witch, but of course the popular kids got the plum jobs. I also distinctly remember a very strange incident where we were walking back from a long country walk. As I walked past a quarry entrance I had a strange feeling – I felt that the quarry was bad, and that it was harming the countryside. I also felt that one day, I would be back here to help heal this effect. At the time, that all felt like the oddest thing possible and was immediately dismissed because it didn’t make sense.

When researching this post all I knew was that a quarry somewhere west of the circlewas the source of the bad energies.When I traced the line on a map I was interested to find that the Eyam querries were there, lots of them, and then suddenly this memory came flooding back very very strongly!

As a schoolboy we leanred all about Eyam’s history, and in particular about its Black Death plague history and witch connections.

Miscellaneous data

There were many other things we leanred about the circle while we were there. We found that there was a Genius LociGenius 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. there – a passing spirit that had decided to stay there for a while. Like many others that Kal has dowsed he found that it was disappeared around 1100 years ago, then then re-appeared 400 years later. He has a theory about that, but information keeps adding to this theory all the while, so I’ll let him describe his theory when he’s ready. he also thought the spirit took the form of a 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..

There were no colour lines to dowse in the circle, which was a shame. Some people had put some money into the hollow of the tall standing stone that we dowsed as being a male stone. Those were not the only offerings, but they made Kal do his whole “pretend to steal them” routine, which made me smile.

The entrance fee is extortionate

At many other sites I have come across things tied to trees. This seems to be coming back into fashion at all these sites (if it ever went out). Unusually, there were bits of string tied to the birch tree at this circle. I must admit I haven’t seen that particular offering before. I wondered if they were intended to hang leprechauns, but they’d escaped. Only I was amused at that thought.

Is that my snot rag tied up there?

Finally, we checked the astrological alignments. The circle was aligned to many forces, including Saturn, Venus, both the Sun and the Moon, and importantly, to Sirius – the Dog Star that has begun to play such an important role in the dedications of these circles and other sites. Why, we don’t yet know, yet here was another site that we found aligned to that particular star.

I mention, in conclusion, that we found similar energetic disturbances at Nine Ladies stone circle too. I’m not sure whether we ever documented that because it seemed to be less relevant than other findings. Now it begins to take on an importance as we find out how to heal and balance sacred sites when the need arises.

After we made our way back down from the Edge, through the beautiful wooded slope, we stopped at an oak tree that kept catching my attention. Kal went to stand in a shaft of sunlight that illuminated a particularly beautiful mossy spot, and I went to stand next to the great old oak itself. We spent a few quiet moments there, absorbing the delightful energies of sun and tree, then got back onto the road. Our mood now had changed from excited to elated. We stopped off at the Chequers Inn for a drink, then headed off to Barbrook where the promise of more circles awaited us.

Gwas.

Froggatt Edge stone circle is one of the most easily accessed circles that we have visited. Its setting is beautiful, nestled within a blanket of ferns, and with the occasional birch tree dotted around to add a touch of silver beauty to the scene. We approached the circle by the firts path we cam eot, and I felt drawn to walk around its perimeter in a female way – widdershins – anti-clockwise. This gave me the chance to assess how many stones were still there, and how much of the circle seemed to have been altered or destroyed. Despite looking quite incomplete, when I tested the circle’s strength it registered as a 9 on a scale of 10. Very much alive then!

The site was predominantly femalein terms of the energies (Kal complained that it wouldn’t have been that way if he’d got to the circle first, but instead I did, which is an unusual statement – clealry he thinks that one’s presence can alter the ‘temprament’ or 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 the energies at sacred sites).

The ley cross and the quarries

One of the first things we did was to find out if any ley lines passed through the circle. We found two, both in cardinal directions – a North-South line and an East-West line. Well, that covers all the carinal points, really! We found 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 centr eof the circle formed by the conjunction of the two ley lines. This is the classic ‘vortex’ of spiralling energies that many dowsers report from other circles. For us, it has little interest. Kal was more interested in finding his particular 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., and I went on to find mine. The dowsing rods led me round the circle to spin around at the stone upon which I had first laid my backpack. Funny that – we are both now quite accomplished at feeling instinctively where these ‘good’ places are.

Our next set of questions concerned the status of the circle. Was it in good health? It was, but there was a problem with the ley lines. There were some bad energies coming into the circle from the western 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.. Further questioning determined that in this heavily quarried area the source was most definitely a quarry. This is not in the least bit unusual for Derbyshire. Generally the county has a lovely welcoming feel, but many of its powerful and beautiful places have been adversely affected by quarrying work. Of course the quarries have been hugely successful economically, so few people are in a position to argue that it is a ‘bad thing’ to have half the landscape excavated. Nevertheless, the occurrance of problems (also found at Nine Ladies) is so frequent that we didn’t have to go far down a list of suspects before we reached this one. Actually, it was top of the list, but of course we did check other things too, including sorcery. But it turned out to be just quarrying. But hey – who cares about bad energies – you can’t even see them, right, so who cares? Me.

Eyam quarries causing bad energies along the Earth Grid

Healing the Earth Grid

Kal was only too pleased to find out that he was unable to participate in the healing process. In fact, not only should he not participate, he needed to back right away until he was outside the circle itself, for his own safety! At the time, we thought this was very strange. Usually one or the other of us can participate in some way, often to add energies in, or helpw ith energy flows, or put up protection. Today, this all had to be my work. Now I understand why, but at the time it was just ‘one of those things’.

I sat on my 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. and lit some incense. Two sticks, one either side (becoming a familiar pattern). I tuned into the circle and tuned everything else out. I did my usual routine to connect to the elements, to the sun, the moon and the earth. Once connected I asked any spirit entities present to assist me with my work in healing the circle, and I felt something rush to join me. I had protection and a circle already defined so I didn’t feel threatened by this additional spirit, and I didn’t enquire as to what it was. If it wanted to be there then so be it.

As I concentrated on the western 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. I began to move my hands to describe a circle. I realised I was conjuring a circle of energy, and I drew more from my own energy centres to fill the circle. Soon I had a thick ‘plate’ of energy which was blocking the bad energy that was trying to come in along the western 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.. I made the ‘plate’ of energy porous to good and beneficial energies, but a filter for any bad energy frequencies that were upsetting the natural balance of the site. Then I engaged the nearby birch tree in the process too, asking it to take on the role of maintaining the energy plate until such time as it was no longer required. Reluctantly (or perhaps just slowly – it’s a tree, who can tell?) the birch tree began to link its own energies into the process.

I dis-engaged myself and then dowsed the circle’s energies to see what had happened. The influx of bad energies had been completely blocked. More than that, the birch tree had a figure-of-eight infinity symbol that was circling around between two stones on the north-western edge of the circle. I noted the infinity symbol form and hoped that correlated to the tree keeping the filtration process going. I gave thanks to the tree, and thanked Kal too for doing whatever he had did as he stood beneath the tree. I had felt a helping hand as my senses swept across the tree area, and Kal confirmed that was his input.

Now for the weird bit….

EYAM QUARRIES FLASH-BACK

As a child of about eight or nine I visited Eyam on one of the most memorable school trips. We had a great time filming a video where people dressed up as witches and we got to write our own short story and produce the video ourselves. I remember two things from that trip – I had wanted to be the witch, but of course the popular kids got the plum jobs. I also distinctly remember a very strange incident where we were walking back from a long country walk. As I walked past a quarry entrance I had a strange feeling – I felt that the quarry was bad, and that it was harming the countryside. I also felt that one day, I would be back here to help heal this effect. At the time, that all felt like the oddest thing possible and was immediately dismissed because it didn’t make sense.

When researching this post all I knew was that a quarry somewhere west of the circlewas the source of the bad energies.When I traced the line on a map I was interested to find that the Eyam querries were there, lots of them, and then suddenly this memory came flooding back very very strongly!

As a schoolboy we leanred all about Eyam’s history, and in particular about its Black Death plague history and witch connections.

Miscellaneous data

There were many other things we leanred about the circle while we were there. We found that there was a Genius LociGenius 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. there – a passing spirit that had decided to stay there for a while. Like many others that Kal has dowsed he found that it was disappeared around 1100 years ago, then then re-appeared 400 years later. He has a theory about that, but information keeps adding to this theory all the while, so I’ll let him describe his theory when he’s ready. he also thought the spirit took the form of a 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..

There were no colour lines to dowse in the circle, which was a shame. Some people had put some money into the hollow of the tall standing stone that we dowsed as being a male stone. Those were not the only offerings, but they made Kal do his whole “pretend to steal them” routine, which made me smile.

The entrance fee is extortionate

At many other sites I have come across things tied to trees. This seems to be coming back into fashion at all these sites (if it ever went out). Unusually, there were bits of string tied to the birch tree at this circle. I must admit I haven’t seen that particular offering before. I wondered if they were intended to hang leprechauns, but they’d escaped. Only I was amused at that thought.

Is that my snot rag tied up there?

Finally, we checked the astrological alignments. The circle was aligned to many forces, including Saturn, Venus, both the Sun and the Moon, and importantly, to Sirius – the Dog Star that has begun to play such an important role in the dedications of these circles and other sites. Why, we don’t yet know, yet here was another site that we found aligned to that particular star.

I mention, in conclusion, that we found similar energetic disturbances at Nine Ladies stone circle too. I’m not sure whether we ever documented that because it seemed to be less relevant than other findings. Now it begins to take on an importance as we find out how to heal and balance sacred sites when the need arises.

After we made our way back down from the Edge, through the beautiful wooded slope, we stopped at an oak tree that kept catching my attention. Kal went to stand in a shaft of sunlight that illuminated a particularly beautiful mossy spot, and I went to stand next to the great old oak itself. We spent a few quiet moments there, absorbing the delightful energies of sun and tree, then got back onto the road. Our mood now had changed from excited to elated. We stopped off at the Chequers Inn for a drink, then headed off to Barbrook where the promise of more circles awaited us.

Gwas.

In this post I want to report some of the ways in which other druids mark this time of the year, the associations they make, the rituals they do, but most importantly I want to report on how I have found that I can mark this passing from one season to the next. It was something that I learned very recently, the smallest merest thing, but it was so profound that I think it will probably become my way of noting this change every year from now on. Before I come to that, though, here are some ideas on what Autumn Equinox means.

Autumn in Cheshire

What is Autumn Equinox?

These lovely people from all sorts of different areas of the druid craft have got their own ideas about what makes Autumn special. Here are some of the ideas I collected from a quick search on the subject:

“The turning point in this Lughnasadh season of the harvest, the autumn equinox is again a time when the day and night are of equal length. Occurring at some point between 20 – 23 September, it is known commonly by the Welsh/Brythonic Alban Elfed, pronounced elved, meaning ‘light of autumn’. Celebrating the end of the grain harvest, it is the festival of Harvest Home.” (Excerpt from Ritual by Emma Restall Orr)

“There is a distinct relationship between the Autumn Equinox and Michaelmas, the feast of the Archangel Michael. This Archangel is the sword or spear wielding 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. slayer and his day is held on the 29th of September each year, this is one week after the Sidereal Equinox actually occurs. The new religion of the Catholic Church absorbed the existing traditions and their symbols. Archangel Michael replaced the Pagan God of Wotan in upper Europe, the temples of Wotan were on hilltops and there are churches on many of these hilltops today. There is a major earth 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. across northern France, southern England and the southwest of Ireland that is known today as the Michael and Mary Line and in Ireland off the coast of Kerry is the island hilltop temple called Skellig Michael or the Rock of Michael. 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. being pinned by the spear / sword is the Earth Energy currents. “ (source: Celtic Druid’s School)

“To honour the dead, it was also traditional at Mabon to place apples on burial cairns, as symbolism of rebirth and thanks. This also symbolizes the wish for the living to one day be reunited with their loved ones. Mabon is also known as the Feast of Avalon, deriving from the meaning of Avalon being, ‘the land of the apples’. (source: New Age)

(all my epmhasis)

Welcome in the Autumn

A single brown oak leaf

I have some suggestions as to what hedge druids might do in relation to the Autumn Equinox. The idea was given to me, quite literally dropped in my lap, so to speak, when I was meditating in Alderley Edge forest recently. I had in mind the question about what I should do to mark the changeover of seasons at Autumn. As I sat there a brown oak leaf fell onto the back of my hand and balanced there. No other leaf fell during the whole of my visit, but this one did. It was a sign. I interpreted the sign like this: to celebrate autumn, enact autumnal processes. I took the leaf with me and later stood on a cliff and dropped the leaf off it, expecting it to float serenely down to the floor. Actually, it floated some ten feet or more then landed on another oak leaf, just as it had done on my own hand an hour earlier. Again, I felt this was significant.

So, you want to celebrate autumn? Do something autumnal- drop leaves like a tree would, make cider from fallen apples, pick brambles and other fruits that only come to fruition at this time of year – I’m sure there are many things in your area that can only be done at this time of year. Find one. Do something with it in the name of welcoming in the new season. From my example you can see how simple that can be – I dropped a leaf. That’s it! Whilst doing it, though, I welcomed in the new season.

Looking back in anger

I am certainly better prepared for Autumn Equinox this year than I was last year. Last year I was angry to have been called away by work to have to be away from home and down in the south of England. However, it turned out alright. I drove for a couple of hours to reach Silbury Hill and, again angry at having to sneak around the hill because it is officially sealed off from the public, I did a little meditation on the top and was blown away by its powerful effects. No wonder it’s sealed off! Looking back at my summary of the year on the blog I noticed that I had reported being at Uffington for the 19th/20th August. True, but clearly that wasn’t the Autumn Equinox! How odd. Little mistakes. I do aim to rectify anything I find that’s reported incorrectly, and it’s why I like to write things up as quickly as possible to avoid such problems.

The lovely mix of brown and green shades relfect on water

Looking forward in hope

For me, this year, the Autumn Equinox also means a change of “task”. You may remember that every eighth part of the year so far I have been assigned some directive or tasks to perform which will guide me further along my spiritual path. Some have been onerous, some physically challenging, some embarrassing, some were things I never anticipated ever doing. All have been hugely beneficial to me, and I thank whoever is directing this course of study, because I have come on faster this year than all previous years combined having this structure to work within.

In the next few weeks I will be able to reveal my next task or direction, and I am looking forward to that. Bring on the Autumn!

Gwas.

In the final post of our Cornwall visit I have reserved the best tale until last. Tintagel was supposed to be simply a passing visit to an historic site, but as usual mystical things began to happen once the dowsing rods had pointed the way.

Tintagel is renowned as a site associated with the legend of King Arthur, although signs dotted around the castle grounds do readily admit that there is little actual evidence for either the existence of Arthur himself, or his relationship with the castle. Yet, this has not stopped the small town of Tintagel from attaching the Arthur and Merlin names to almost every shop, pub, hotel and entertainment venue in sight. I made a reluctant Kal take my picture next to a life-sized plastic Merlin. Oh, the shame on both sides!

The rain that had been tumbling all day had slightly relented, but louring skies heralded more soon. Yet, our enthusiasm was not dampened. I, in particular, was quite excited about the prospect of testing Tintagel Castle for the presence of Arthur and Merlin – whether that be an historical remnant or simply the hint of association. We avoided the Land Rover offering an expensive ride down the steep hill to the castle, and we joyously let our legs find their own speed down the hill, noticing a sign to a church on the way down. We paid our dues and then the rain came down, just as we were about to make the precarious crossing of the wooden bridge between the mainland and the steep cliff-lined island that formed the formidable fortifications of the castle.

As the seas crashed below us and the rain lashed our already damp clothing we climbed the steep slippery steps to stand with the stunning sight of huge caves, high headland and strange islets as we stood looking out over the edge of Cornwall. We stood on a promontory looking at Merlin’s Cave when the thought struck me – was there anything I could do to find out whether this stuff about Merlin and Arthur was actually true? Was there anything I could do – I was supposed to be a dowser! Of course there was something I could do!

The Spirit of Merlin and the 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). of Arthur

I got my dowsing rods at the ready and began to consider what I was going to ask about, but as soon as the mental images of Arthurian characters began to formulate itself into a question there was a nearby flurry of feathers and flaps as a hawk swooped across our vision only feet away to land in the small outcrop of rock just above us. I hate to say it, because in the next few posts this is going to get repeated quite often and is likely to become a little boringly repetitive, but I have come to see the appearance of a hawk as a sign of Merlin, ever since an encounter at Dinas Emrys one evening when I was pursuing an encounter with the spirit of Merlin.

After getting over that ‘sign’ I began the dowsing proper. I began by framing the context of the questions. I would be asking about the concepts of “Merlin” and “Arthur” and until I asked specifically I was not distinguishing between the physically real and the mythological concept of either of those figures. Here are some of the questions I asked:-

• Had Merlin been born at this site? NO
• Had Merlin lived at Tintagel? NO
• Had Merlin visited this place? YES. Interesting.
• Had Arthur been born at this site? NO. Not much information being revealed so far!
• Had Arthur lived at Tintagel? YES. Oh!
• Had Arthur been buried on this site? NO.

Time to move on to the question of whether these characters were real or mythological.

• Was Arthur a real king of England? YES.
• Was Arthur a myth? YES. What?
• Was Arthur both a mythological character AND a real person? YES. Confusing!
• Was Merlin a real magician? NO.
• Was Merlin a myth? YES. But…earlier the dowsing had said that he had visited….
• Did Merlin visit Arthur at Tintagel in some magical way, rather than a physical way? YES.

OK, that was both a little clearer and a little muddier at the same time. I wanted to see now whether there was anything remaining at the site of either of those people (or ideas).

• Was there any of Merlin’s energy remaining at Tintagel? NO.
• Was there any of the Spirit of Arthur’s energy at this site? YES.
• Was there anything of the mortal remains of Arthur at this site? YES. Oh, now that was interesting!
• What was it of Arthur that remained? His bones? NO. His 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.? YES.

So, a real person who had either been named Arthur, or who had adopted the title, had ruled here at Tintagel, and now there was the remains of his energy somewhere on this island. That was quote exciting, so I set about trying to find it with the dowsing rods, letting them lead me to where this ‘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).; might be. I didn’t know yet what I was going to ask when I got there, but the hint was on!

Arthur’s Viewpoint

In one of the last scenes from the excellent film “Excalibur” there is a poignant moment where Arthur is laid to rest in his final moments with a view out over the ocean, high up on a cliff-top. Now that I have visited Tintagel that scene makes much more sense to me – of course if Arthur had died anywhere close to Tintagel then that would be where he would want to spend his final moments. Who wouldn’t?

View of The Sisters islands from Tintagel

My dowsing rods led me to a place on the island where they indicated that the 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)., the 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 the remnants of his spirit, could be found. I am not going to say where that was. I wish to respect his peace. If you want to find this place then feel free to make the effort to locate it for yourself. Perhaps he will have moved by the time you get there. Perhaps he is in different places for different people. Whichever is the case, it was a special place. I felt that straight away and soon I stopped dowsing questions about who or what this was, and I sat looking out at the view. I asked if it would be appropriate for me to ask for information spiritually, and got a positive response, so I began to tune in. Soon I was deep into a conversation inside my head with whatever this spirit was.

Conversations with Arthur

Of course, I was curious. If this was Arthur then there were some things I wanted to know. I put myself into the perspective, the viewpoint, of the 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). and let it show me what it wanted. Arthur locked my vision onto the land around, making me follow its contours as it moved towards the sea. A voice came softly, “To know me, know that I am The Land.” I understood.  What of the relationship with Merlin, I asked? “Lines of electricity flashed like the after-images of a lightening strike as veins of light flowed through the land in front of me. The soft assured voice that sounded like my own echoed in my mind again, “To know Merlin, know that he is the life-blood of the land.” Now I knew the relationship: body and blood, life and land.

Feeling more confident about interacting with this voice now, I began to ask questions. Would it be possible for me to send this connection from Tintagel back to 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. at my house, creating an energetic bridge that I could open whenever I wished? As soon as I asked the question the response came, “Yes“. I began the process of pushing the energy from this point to my home, and it rocketed there! Once it landed something unusual happened. The image emerged of a 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.’s tail cork-screwing itself into my 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. with amazing strength. I followed the bridge back to where I was to see the image of a 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.’s head, teeth buried into the headland where I sat. It was the most powerful image and feeling and it took me by surprise.

As I recovered from that, I ventured a further and final request. Could I dare to call upon this link that I had made in order to communicate with the spirit of Merlin? I felt an air of gravity ensue…clearly this was a request that had a lot of weight attached. A response formulated itself. “Yes, you can, but in return you must offer to undertake a task.” I suspected that something like this might happen, but I was ready for it. I was energetically strong here, and the place felt comfortable. I was protected within my shell, and no communication this far had given me any cause for concern. I asked what I might be called upon to do. “To connect to Merlin you must be as he was – the life force of the land. You must re-vivify the sacred energy grid of this land.” This was it. This was the quest I had always been looking for in my heart of hearts since I began the druidic path. This was my purpose, my destiny, my ambition. All those feelings over-swept me, and I agreed to a lifetime pact with Arthur and Merlin. I would take this on, and in doing so, I would be guided by the spirit of Merlin, and know something of his powers.

Notice the phrasing was: “...you must be as he was” – past tense. It seems as though the spirit of Merlin is no longer coursing through the veins of this land, these islands. Something is awry with the energetic grid. The presumption is, also, that once there was actually an energetic grid covering the islands. My presumption is that this was a series of sacred sites, linked by pilgrimage, visitation, habitation or veneration.

The Death of Arthur and Merlin

I began to think about the ‘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).’ that I was dealing with. This was the energetic remains of a human named ‘Arthur’, whether that be a title or a name, I didn’t know. Still being in touch with this spirit energy, and this being a rare occasion, I took the opportunity to ask another question. “Why is your 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). here?”, I asked. I began to feel surges of emotion, a complex brew of feelings, but within them was discernible the feeling of homecoming, of this being a special place during his lifetime, a place of power that he may have commanded from, a place with a special view. A special view? Well, it was certainly dramatic, but why special? My gaze was sent out over the headland, across the sea, to rest on the first island I saw – “My mortal body lies here.” came a second thought-voice.

My knowledge of Cornish geography isn’t great – I’ve only been there twice before – but in my head the phrase appeared “The Blessed Isle“. What did this mean? Was there an island called The Blessed Isle near here? What was The Blessed Isle? Was it like Avalon? Wasn’t Arthur supposed to have been transported to the Summerlands or the Isle of Avalon, commonly believed to be Glastonbury in Somerset? Was The Blessed Isle associated with Arthur? Had I read that somewhere? How did I know this information? A hundred questions whirled in a tornado of rational incomprehension, but inside it was a stillness of gnostic knowledge. Something had been apprehended, and now I had to work on understanding it.

I disengaged from Arthur, thanking his remainder for its communion. I had a quest that made sense to me on a grand scale now – far grander than I could envisage at that moment. I resolved that, when I returned home, I would begin to learn more about Arthur, and to begin the quest, both of which I have begun to do. In the next section I will deal with some of the academic elements of Tintagel and Arthur, and will propose some new interpretations of existing material in an attempt to throw some more light on the myth and the man that was King Arthur, and of course, on his druid tutor Merlin.

Gwas.

I only had a passing interest in the work of Mr.Bonewits. I heard a lot of things said in praise of his early work to promote the concepts of magic. I heard even more praise for his work on promoting modern druidry via his organisation the Ar nDraiocht Fein, or “A Druid Fellowship” (ADF).

My reason for wishing to recognise his contribution is my appreciation for the work he did in his book that I read recently, called “Real Energy“. I have also just ordered his earlier work “Real Magic” which is considered by many as a seminal work on the subject.

“Real Energy” is one of those books that you wish you had read when you had first encountered the subject of energy. It takes many of the philosophical and scientific questions that underpin those questions which we all have regarding difficult concepts such as “energy”, and it goes through each one in turn explaining how it fits into the larger picture. Often, Isaac and Phaedra bring in their own personal experiences to substantiate certain arguments too. 

I found the book to be one of the best summaries that I have read of the concepts of energy, magic and the forces that underpin them, and it is a book that I heartily recommend to anyone who intends to begin working with energy in any of its subtler forms.

I wish all those who knew him or were influenced by him my condolences as I am sure they will miss his presence.

Gwas.