The Hedge Druid

Posts Tagged ‘emma restall-orr’

The time of year has come around again when the seasons are changing from Summer to Autumn. I have to admit, like a father with his children I try not to have favourites when it comes to the times of the year because I strive for a balanced approach, but I do like the winds, the colours, the power and the beauty of the Autumn season. I think I have had some of my most profound experiences and fondest memories in the Autumn months.

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.

I have tried to visit The Golden Grove before, but couldn’t find it on that occasion. This time I had better map, not just a printout from MultiMap. This reference may help you locate the site if you wish to find it yourself, because it’s not signposted in any way – SJ085817. Also, here is a link to a description and location details on The Modern Antiquarian: http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/6123/st_elmos_summer_house.html

The first time that Kal and I tried to find The Golden Grove we were coming from the Dyserth side, but failed – we couldn’t find anything that day and were already tired from having spent the day walking around Dyserth, When I visited on my own this time I came by the village of Gwaenysgor, from the A55 side, and had the time and energy to persevere in locating it, right at the top of a path marked as the ‘Clwydian Way‘ in a field on the left as you begin to see Prestatyn and the ‘fun-filled’ holiday coastline of North Wales.

St Elmohas an association with both sailors (this site overlooks the North Wales coastline) and also with the electrical weather phenomenon (as it is ‘scientifically’ termed) that produces glowing light around ship’s masts and suchlike. As stated in the scientific explanation int he link below, St Elmo’s Fire is in fact plasma. Although if you try to get someone in the scientific community to define what plasma is, you’ll have an interesting discussion! Just remember – it’s a fact.  That’s all you need to know. Because facts are the only form of information worth knowing, right? Here is a link to more information about this if you have never read anything about St.Elmo’s Fire – http://wapedia.mobi/en/St._Elmo’s_fire. Note: it’s also an easy-listening pop song by John Farr that was the title track to a 1980s American film. Neither the film nor the song are as interesting as the ‘plasma’; phenomenon, nor hopefully, as long-lasting in the collective memory.

The Eagle As Signpost

On my way up the hill I took a diversion towards where I felt the Golden Grove should be situated. I could feel it’s presence as I got to a gate at the edge of a field that I suspected was next to the grove. As I stood at the gate contemplating whether to enter the field full of sheep, but seeing the farm buildings so close by, a full-sized eagle emerged from somewhere and began to circle around my head, only tens of feet above me! Rather hopefully I asked it to show me The Golden Grove’s location, and to my surprise (why does it still surprise me?) it then changed course to circle in a figure-of-eight over the very place that I had been observing – the lower end of the woods that were shrouded in mist just on the opposite side of the field. I took this as confirmation of my intuitive response – the Golden Grove was in there somewhere, but quite close to the farm buildings, I felt. This made me nervous – would I dare to approach it from this open and gated direction? Not yet. I headed off back up the hill I had been climbing in search of St.Elmo’s Summer House. At least that had a marked path and I wouldn’t be trespassing.

Hill to climb before reaching St.Elmo's Summer House

Upon reaching the crest of the hill I veered left. I was following a combination of bad map-reading skills and occasional dowsing rod confirmations. As I neared where I felt the site was the field was full of young bulls intent on making a nuisance of themselves, I could tell. I tried to ignore them as marched through them up another small hill.

I located the ancient site at the peak of the field. My dowsing rods had indicated that this was the direction to go in when I checked progress with them (I try not to follow them blindly these days, but rather to use them as confirmation of my intuition – I guess I’m working my way towards trying to do without them!). The rods had again proven to be correct. I would have spent quite a bit longer trying to find the site without their gentle confirmations of direction and distance. Who needs GPS? Ha ha. I do! And considering I have a very good one I really should have used that, but I forgot to bring it with me that day.

St.Elmo’s Summer House

St.Elmo’s Summer House is only discernible by a thirty-or-so feet wide ring depression at the top of the hill. As I reached it I noticed that the young bulls were beginning to assemble and come towards me! I continued to try to ignore them, and began to take some energy readings with my dowsing rods.

The remains of whatever Summer House had been built there was signified by two embedded square concrete slabs, the remainder of some form of structure I suppose. Around these slabs were randomly strewn bricks and rocks. As with the legends of many such structures that man tried to build upon a magical place the structure has had to be taken down. Seems like its presence was not tolerated or had been abandoned for some unknown reason.

There is a history of man-made structures that are built upon supposedly magical or sacred ground having had their construction disrupted, or having to be taken down and rebuilt elsewhere. Here are a few links to articles recounting stories of structures (usually Christian churches) that have had their construction disrupted by, well of course, The Devil if you’re Christian! Older stories say The Faeries did it.

• St Mary’s Church, Ambrosden : http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/england/oxfordshire/legends/st-marys-church-ambrosden.html
• Waldron and Alfriston Churches in Sussex: http://www2.prestel.co.uk/aspen/sussex/devil.html

There are so, so many such tales. The underlying theme seems to be either related to the power of the earth energies at those sites, or that the sites have a reputation for being sacred to pagans, or believed to be the site of a crossing point between this world and The Otherworld of faeries and earth or elemental spirits. It was interesting to actually be stood on such a site, and I can tell you from first-hand experience that there was something about the energy field at this site. It was palpable! That’s all I can say at the moment. I need to visit it again at a crossing point of the year such as a cross-quarter day, at sunset, or in full moonlight- preferably at a combination of those times. Then I feel I may understand more about the forces there.

Angry Young Bulls

By now the young bulls had decided that my dowsing was not appropriate, and began to assemble, then follow me around the ring as I dowsed. The more I dowsed the closer they got until I could feel their breath on my elbow! They eventually forced me to abandon my quest and beat a hasty retreat for the nearest gate as they started to get a strange look in their eyes and become increasingly …well, angered by my presence is the only way to put it. I knew that they didn’t want me there once they saw/felt what I was doing.

The Golden Grove

I beat a hasty retreat to the other side of a nearby gate followed rapidly by a stampeding herd of bulls. I stood the other side of the gate, out of breath and somewhat annoyed at having been ousted before I had managed to absorb the atmosphere of the place, and to finish dowsing for whatever energies were there (and there were some, but they went completely out of my head as I dashed for the gate). I decided to head for the woods to have some lunch and recover from the heat.

A I entered the woods I realised that I must be somewhere near Golden Grove. I tried to orientate myself as I ate, then wandered down the hill in 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 the woodland trees. Suddenly I was on a defined path, edged by stone. Why was this here, in this innocuous wood? As the trees became bigger and more beautiful I realised that I had found a way to The Golden Grove! The defined path showed me that at some time or other this had been a well-trodden path, as someone had gone ot the trouble to make it.

Then, at a junction I stopped. I knew that I had arrived by the girth and height of a ring of trees that sat in a triangular space between three paths.

Standing in what could only be The Grove I could feel the power and presence of these old trees, and looking at them I could see faces and features in their ancient bark patterns.

There was something very anthropomorphic about the way the bark was smooth, and had contours that resembled the marbling of flesh. I thought I could make out faces and features on each and every tree in that small circle. It made me feel that I was in the presence of some very special trees that had a life force that was not only apparent, but insistent on making me aware of their presence and dominion over this area. It was a feeling whose source was intangible but collectively those trees made that feeling very real and clear. It got the the point where I began talking to them, and addressing them ‘face to face’ when doing so!

I wished I could have stayed longer, but the dogs on the very nearby farm were sensing a different presence – me – and were beginning to react as they usually do. I thought about making myself invisible to them, as I had done once before when visiting Llandrillo circle late at night. I didn’t feel as though I had the motivation to maintain such a ‘cloak’ and relax into the presence of the trees in the grove at the same time – the two things felt incompatible.

I decided it was best to leave this time.I couldn’t resist masking my presence to the dogs as I left and very soon I heard the barks subside as I slowly walked away back down the hill to where I had parked. That’s a useful trick to learn, by the way. I learned it from reading Emma Restall-Orr’s books and find it very useful if I am visiting sites close to habitation. I may have left this time, but I am determined to re-visit the site to spend some contemplative time there one day soon.

Gwas.

Guided by eagles – bullied by cows and dogs.

It seems appropriate that, in the week that saw this site’s visitor numbers top the one hundred mark for unique visitors per day, that we should also hit the one hundred posts mark too.

I can only say thank you for choosing to spend your time reading our material. I hope by now that our honest, open, and frank approach to reporting our findings and ideas has been of some use to your own personal quest for enlightenment, and has shed some light on your own Way of Knowledge.

Ironic that this image is from James Randi's site!

My own thanks go out to some of those marvellous pioneers and free-thinkers who have, through their own endeavours, contributed to my enthusiasm, my direction, and my good intentions. It seems scant reward to simply name-check them, but you may see a name that prompts you to explore further, so here is a list of some of those people who have helped me get to this stage on my journey:-

• Emma Restall-Orr – for showing me that druidry can be a living calling, not a dying tradition
• Hamish Miller – for inspiring me to get out into the land and trace the energy paths
• Sig Lonegren – for inextricably tying together dowsing with its spiritual dimension
• Terence McKenna – for revealing a treasure of knowledge without boundaries and being brave enough to tell us
• Dr.Yang, Jwing-Ming – for his explanation of human energy systems and how to use them

Of course there have been many more sources that have helped me understand this ancient tradition of energy knowledge. For all those who have encouraged me in this work, I thank you for your motivation.

Last, but foremost, Kal. We’ve written one hundred posts together, and our friendship and teamwork has never been stronger. Now we can look forward with our usual childish enthusiasm to the wonders that may come our way this year. Thank you for following our path.

Gwas.

East Wales, Sunday 12th October 2008

1. Pistyll Rhaeadr Waterfall

We started our day in bright sunshine, heading south towards the town of Oswestry on the A483, close to the border between England and Wales. Three times previously Kal and I had tried to find a waterfall called Pistyll Rhaeadr. I think our misdirection had come from a mapping web site’s mistake which meant we were looking in totally the wrong area! This time I had prepared – I had cross-checked, double-checked and validated the directions until I could do them in my sleep. This time – we found it. As we approached the view was stunning….

The road to the waterfall was narrow and winding, but that morning we encountered no problems with other traffic. We parked at the base and headed straight to the bottom of the falls. A few other people were knocking about too. I headed off to the far side, across a bridge, and up onto the slope amid the pine trees to get a better place to take photo from. On the little promentary I could only see the waterfall in front of me, and it felt like I was alone with the tumult of water. I stood soaking in the awe-inspiring power of the falls, and feeling the light mist of droplets wash my face. Stood there with my staff it felt wonderful to be alive. I drew in that feeling, deep into myself.

When I glanced over to Kal, he was slithering around on the flat rocks in the river trying also to get a good photo opportunity – splosh! Oops! I caught a sneaky picture of him standing deep in the water and laughed heartily – sorry, Kal! Looks like a damp start to a sunny day!

We hiked to the top of the waterfall (Kal took a little persuading – heights are not his favourite places). We found, on arriving, the most beautiful glades next to the gently rippling and fluming river that suddenly plummeted over the sheer precipice that forms the waterfall. It all had a very druid-like atmosphere and I felt very comfortable there.

2. Take your medicine

I had a headache which had persisted from the previous evening. I couldn’t relax and enjoy the surroundings with this tight head. I looked to the largest tree which stood in the lovely glade. I walked towards the tree by passing between two unusually placed stones. I asked to approach the tree respectfully, then placed my bottle of water in a handy knot-hole in the tree’s trunk. The tree allowed me into it’s enfolding nemeton, and I relaxed, seeking communion.

When connection was established I asked for assistance in getting rid of my headache. The answer came gently: “Take of the waters.” Just that. How quaint! I hadn’t heard that syntactical construct for years..”Take of…”. Lovely. The water had a brown rust tint to it, so I wasn’t keen on drinking it – nevertheless I carefully gathered some in an empty water bottle and sipped a bit. Yikes! Not the nicest I’ve tasted!

Minutes later we had ventured down to the, seemingly, purpose-made rock shelter that overlooked the head of the falls. My headache was still there. Then Kal had his boots off and was paddling in the river! Was he crazy? He invited me in too – no way! However, he persuaded me it was a nice feeling on the smooth pebbles in the shallow section, so I walked in too. It was freezing!!! But lovely. When I got out I realised my headache had gone. I had “taken of the waters” and was cured of my malady. Just coincidence I’m sure.

We dried our feet by lying with our feet in the sun beneath this superlative rock formation, gazing peacefully out over the head of the falls into the quiet valley beyond. “This is a good place to meditate.” Kal stated. Indeed it was.

We gathered our things together, put our boots back on, and I retrieved my staff, which I had placed in a slot between two rocks that was, well, almost custom made for it! See for yourself in this photo:

Before we left I picked out two smooth rocks from the river which appealed to me: one hand-sized and flat, the other the same size but round and with thick marbled veins. Handy for later, I thought to myself. With that, we descended back down the hill to head off to Llandrillo, on the other side of the mountains to Pistyll Rhaeadr.

Llandrillo – Moel-Ty-Uchaf circle

Kal and I have discussed this stage of the visit, and have considered that the whole episode was sublimely balanced, instead of, as we expected, an exultant experiment in energy work. It seems that Nature has a way of keeping the energy work within certain parameters, and with us being so powerfully energised and eager to dowse after visiting the waterfall, well, our positive energies got balanced out by a strong negative influence. The end product was a satisfactory and balanced result, which was more fitting. Let me explain!

1. The Lost Sheep

On the long steep slog up from the outskirts of Llandrillo village towards Moel-Ty-Uchaf we met a farmer blocking the road. He had stopped to rescue a young sheep that had got itself stuck between the wire fence and the short hawthorn hedge on the edge of the field next to the road. On our last visit we remembered coming down from Moel-Ty-Uchaf and finding a lamb in the road which had broken free from its designated field and was eager to return to its mother. On that occasion we helped by herding it back until it found the break in the hedge from which it had squeezed an exit. Now here we were helping again! We noted the coincidence, and forged upwards once the young sheep was safely on its way, thanks mainly to the rugged tugs of the old farmer, for whom this must be a daily occurrence.

As we got within a few minutes of the stone circle I got out my new list of dowsing questions. I had a new category: “Questions to ask on approaching a sacred site“. We will publish this list soon, once we tidy the post up a little. From this set of questions we determined that today was a good day for doing energy work, that we were in the right frame of mind, but that everything was not in order – a malevolent influence or unhealthy energy stream was causing dysfunction at the circle. We decided to wait until we were at the circle before we delved any deeper. This level of dowsing questions seems to be more effective the closer you are to the source of your inquiry. Of course this would be contradicted by quantum theory, in which distance would not need to be considered, but we have found that stronger readings are possible, and answers are clearer the closer you get to the source or object of the query. The circle was undeniably registering some sort of imbalance, and that was enough to spur us on.

We reached the knoll near the circle’s King Stone and parked ourselves in unceremonious exhaustion, to drink in the view over the western range of hills and lush Welsh valleys. Are you sure this is October in Britain? We were sweating like a nun’s…never mind.

After a few minutes of relaxation we grabbed our dowsing rods and started asking our next set of questions concerned with finding the layout and energy types that make up the outline and patterns of the site. We started at the King Stone and asked about its relevance to the site. One glance and Kal saw the face in the rock! Just like the stones at sites such as Lligwy Chamber and Alderley Edge (see previous posts on those sites). Interestingly, the top three holes form the layout of the three key energy points within the circle – the two power centres are the right eye and nose, whilst the left eye is the large female rectangular stone that dominates the northern edge. Their spacing proportions you should check with the map I drew of the energies in our Sacred Sites section. Look for Moel-Ty-Uchaf. Sometimes we find these “maps” on outlying stones – take a look at the outlying stones at Nine Ladies in Derbyshire, for example.

Kal dowsed that its eye sockets were a good place to leave our bottles of water, so we put them there and wandered off to the circle itself. later Kal would grab his water and decide it wasn’t such a good place after all! If you check the diagram you’ll see that he put his bottle where the female stone is – he has more affinity with male energies. My bottle was on the female power centreA place where a person of a particular alignmentAlignment relates to the concept that humans have their own energy fields that are oriented or formed in a specific way such that the person is either suited better to one energy source of another. Some people have their energy fields empowered by the direct subtle energy force of The Sun, whilst others are empowered by the indirect subtle energy of The Moon. Due to the historical associations and symbolisation of The Sun with masculinity and The Moon with femininity we designate these alignments as either being ‘male’ or ‘female’ alignments accordingly. We interchangeable refer to people as being ‘sun-aligned’ or ‘male-aligned’ and similarly with the female alignment. (see ‘AlignmentAlignment relates to the concept that humans have their own energy fields that are oriented or formed in a specific way such that the person is either suited better to one energy source of another. Some people have their energy fields empowered by the direct subtle energy force of The Sun, whilst others are empowered by the indirect subtle energy of The Moon. Due to the historical associations and symbolisation of The Sun with masculinity and The Moon with femininity we designate these alignments as either being ‘male’ or ‘female’ alignments accordingly. We interchangeable refer to people as being ‘sun-aligned’ or ‘male-aligned’ and similarly with the female alignment.’) feels particularly comfortable and empowered. The place is an energetic centre where a particularly beneficial combination and formation of energies is formed into a pattern that is harmonic with the person for whom it can be called a power centre.’s location. I felt no such qualms at leaving the water there. Coincidences, only coincidences.

2. Describing The Circle

As we approached the circle we asked whether there was any particular entrance point – No, came the reaction of the rods. We instinctively wandered around to the northern side and began to ask more questions about the purpose of the site – was it for healing? No, not healing. What about communication? A slight reaction. OK, so not it’s primary purpose. Was it used for spiritual transformation? Yes. Strongly, yes.

We moved into the circle to look for the power centres. Kal found the same one he had last time, and I did the same. Kal’s registered as a male energy centre. Mine was a female centre. Typical! We’ve found this before at other sites too, although we don’t often find two centres in one circle.

We dowsed for any connection between the centres, as we had found at Arbor Low. Indeed there was. A neutral line connected the power centres. Kal dowsed further. We dowsed for aerial and underground lines – yes – they were there too. Also of a neutral type. But there was more to this connection than just its 3D neutral connections – there was a female line that went either side of the central mound that formed the centre of the circle. The lines (neutral and female) could be traced going into either side of the large rectangular stone that stood out in the northern edge of the stone circle. Intriguing, that they seemed to form a circuit weaving underground, along the ground and through the air as they traced paths through the three main elements of the female power centreA place where a person of a particular alignmentAlignment relates to the concept that humans have their own energy fields that are oriented or formed in a specific way such that the person is either suited better to one energy source of another. Some people have their energy fields empowered by the direct subtle energy force of The Sun, whilst others are empowered by the indirect subtle energy of The Moon. Due to the historical associations and symbolisation of The Sun with masculinity and The Moon with femininity we designate these alignments as either being ‘male’ or ‘female’ alignments accordingly. We interchangeable refer to people as being ‘sun-aligned’ or ‘male-aligned’ and similarly with the female alignment. (see ‘AlignmentAlignment relates to the concept that humans have their own energy fields that are oriented or formed in a specific way such that the person is either suited better to one energy source of another. Some people have their energy fields empowered by the direct subtle energy force of The Sun, whilst others are empowered by the indirect subtle energy of The Moon. Due to the historical associations and symbolisation of The Sun with masculinity and The Moon with femininity we designate these alignments as either being ‘male’ or ‘female’ alignments accordingly. We interchangeable refer to people as being ‘sun-aligned’ or ‘male-aligned’ and similarly with the female alignment.’) feels particularly comfortable and empowered. The place is an energetic centre where a particularly beneficial combination and formation of energies is formed into a pattern that is harmonic with the person for whom it can be called a power centre., the male power centreA place where a person of a particular alignmentAlignment relates to the concept that humans have their own energy fields that are oriented or formed in a specific way such that the person is either suited better to one energy source of another. Some people have their energy fields empowered by the direct subtle energy force of The Sun, whilst others are empowered by the indirect subtle energy of The Moon. Due to the historical associations and symbolisation of The Sun with masculinity and The Moon with femininity we designate these alignments as either being ‘male’ or ‘female’ alignments accordingly. We interchangeable refer to people as being ‘sun-aligned’ or ‘male-aligned’ and similarly with the female alignment. (see ‘AlignmentAlignment relates to the concept that humans have their own energy fields that are oriented or formed in a specific way such that the person is either suited better to one energy source of another. Some people have their energy fields empowered by the direct subtle energy force of The Sun, whilst others are empowered by the indirect subtle energy of The Moon. Due to the historical associations and symbolisation of The Sun with masculinity and The Moon with femininity we designate these alignments as either being ‘male’ or ‘female’ alignments accordingly. We interchangeable refer to people as being ‘sun-aligned’ or ‘male-aligned’ and similarly with the female alignment.’) feels particularly comfortable and empowered. The place is an energetic centre where a particularly beneficial combination and formation of energies is formed into a pattern that is harmonic with the person for whom it can be called a power centre. and then the large stone, and back.

Kal then dowsed for radial (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.) leys running through the site and reported back that there were three lines that intersected close to the centre of the circle, running in the two main cardinal directions of North-South and East-West, but also one running NE-SW too. One seemed to be missing….

3. Hairy circles and a male embrace

The circle felt similar to The Nine Ladies circle in Derbyshire, so, like that circle I dowsed each stone for a reaction. Like Gors Fawr in Pembrokeshire too, this circle had a male spiral emanating from every alternate stone, and a female counterpart spiral on the inside. When drawn out it looked like a beard of spirals inside and outside the circle! You can’t get a more endearing image of gender equality than hairy males and females!

Our last ‘topograhical’ question concerned the male lines. The female lines were in the circle itself (again, a regular occurrence now). We dowsed inside and out for male lines and found one coming from each side of the King Stone, curling to an end alongside the northern and southern extremes outside the stones of the circle. It looked like the King Stone was embracing or cupping the circle! Like a game of ‘cup and ball’ (see Blackadder II for that reference: “How about a game of cup and ball and a slap-up tea at Mrs. Miggins’ pie shop?“).

We stepped out of the circle to do some testing of the perimeter. How far did the circle’s nemeton (or auric edge) extend? About ten feet, we found. We checked the direction of flow of the nemeton – anti-clockwise. Was that right? Surely not! We asked if this was having a beneficial effect on the circle’s energy systems – very strongly NOT. OK – but was the effect simply a matter of the time of day, or the time of year? Was it a normal effect that needed no attention? We double and triple checked our findings with variations on the questions. The answers all came back quickly and strongly – ‘Something should be done to correct this‘ – that is the purpose of your visit. Point taken. We can take a hint! This was an effect to consider correcting. However, we still had some more questions.

4. Rainbows and cute reactions

Further to our experiences with rainbow colour reactions at Runcorn Hill we tested for rainbow colours moving in from about twenty feet away. At ten feet we got the nemeton’s edge and it read for the colour ‘red’. Then we did ‘orange’, ‘yellow’, ‘green’, ‘blue’, ‘indigo’ and ‘violet’. We consistently got them in that order, but always at different widths from each other! Again we checked our results. Same. We picked random colours from the list – same results. OK. That tallies with our initial efforts at Runcorn Hill where we got that effect, but then as we agreed on questions to ask our results began to merge together. A lesson there. Today we kept our questions to ourselves!

We were just about to stop dowsing when Kal moved towards the circle and got a funny reading close to the circle’s outer edge – one rod was stiffly pointing straight forward, and the other had swung inwards at a 90 degree right angle. He tried again, Same result! “Hey – come and look at this!” he shouted to me. “What did you ask for?” I said, curiously. “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. for spiritual transformation.” he said. Strange! We never get this odd reaction of one rod doing something different to the other!!! I tried. I got the same! It felt weird though, not like a normal reaction, and this formation wasn’t even in our dictionary! I walked slowly forwards, close to the circle. The left-hand rod continued to swing around, now pointing straight back at me, then stopped moving and went stiff like the right-hand rod. “Hey Kal – it’s turned right around, and what’s with this static solid right hand business?” I asked. We looked at each other blankly. What did this mean? We were very confused. Without any question being asked the rods were determinedly pointing in opposite directions along a North-South axis, through the gap in the southern side of the circle.

We shrugged and decided to peg out one of the female and male spirals with some ribbon Kal had bought, and some plastic pegs I had acquired for the purpose.

5. Transformers – robots in disguise.

We cleared the circle and commenced our energy work. As usual we had no pre-prepared ritual or script – this would all be done intuitively, and with dowsing to direct us. We asked if we should sit on our respective centres – Yes. Should Kal use the transformational power of this circle? No. Should Gwas use a druid connection to reverse energy flow – Yes. My turn to be the focal point, then. OK. I was ready, excited even.

Should we use crystals to focus the energies? – No. Oh! OK. Let’s see what happens. All we know is that we need to reverse the nemeton’s energy direction. Let’s see how it goes! Kal sat on his male centre. I walked around tapping my two stones against the stones with cup-mark depressions in them. Kal meditated. I asked him later if the sound had had any affect? No. Except to form a beat to meditate to. I hadn’t felt anything whilst doing it. I’ll try vibrational sound when I go somewhere a bit quieter.

I took my two stones from the top of Pistyll Rhaeadr waterfall and placed the flat one underneath me, put my staff across my lap, and held the second stone in cupped hands. I meditated to try connecting to the energies of the site. Kal got up and started walking around the circle carrying his rods. I started to quieten my thoughts and relax into the energies of the site so that I could feel them. After a minute I was beginning to make progress, and barely noticed Kal parading around the circle’s outer edge.

6. The adrenal dump of Negatives

Suddenly there was a man’s voice! He quickly approached up the southern slope, and stopped at the southern gap, shouting questions at Kal with a very aggressive rather than inquisitive manner. Asked what the tapping noises were. Kal deflected his questions with innocent, curt, closed answers and carried on walking. I tried to block him out and maintain search for connection, but I could feel the huge amount of negative energy this man had brought with him seeping into the circle as he walked around with Kal, still quizzing him as he walked around, standing very close to him, observing.

“Are you doing a ritual?” – “What are you doing?” – “What was that tapping noise?” – “Did you know this site is protected by English Heritage, you know that?” – “Have you got the permission of the farmer? He looks after this site…..” The questions came regularly and I faltered in my concentration, becoming bound up in thoughts of this intruder into our work. I hadn’t put up a protective shell or circle to protect against this. This is exactly what Emma Restall-Orr warned about, as have many other druid books on these subjects. Oh no!

Kal started to clank together his dowsing rods as though to ward the stranger off! I wasn’t going to be phased by the commotion, though. I pushed out a protective ball of light which described my nemeton, and hardened it against noise and the negative energy. Then I imagined energy flowing through me from the sun, drawing it down into the stone, through my staff, and into the smaller stone I was sitting on. From there is circled around the inner circle, to Kal’s 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 then to the female rectangular stone, back around the inside of the circle underground, and back to me. Then it described the same path but in its opposite form – through the air, along the earth, underground, and back to me. And this flow got stronger and faster as I held the vision.

At first my eyes were following the flow easily, soon the flow was going around this 3D lightbulb formation that the inner energy paths were describing – but now too quickly to follow as a flow, it became the image of a glowing lightbulb. As I realised this the flow broke out to spin around the inside of the circle, sunwise. As this flow too became too quick to follow – forming a complete ring of energy with no gaps – so it moved through the female stone out to the outer edge of the circle’s nemeton.

On the outer edge the energy flowed sunwise, faster and faster as Kal walked around and around, seeming to pull it along with him until it overtook him. The energy became a complete band of light spinning around the circle clockwise inside and out and around the lightbulb formation in a dizzying formation that reminded me of those long-exposure photographs of car lights at night where the lines all merge into a blur of white curved lines.

7. Blissed out but chastened

At that moment I came slowly back to an awakened state. I felt blissful. I saw Kal slowing to stop, and he looked over at me as he came back towards me. We knew we had done something positive, despite the presence of the inquisitive walker. I placed the stone I was holding on top of the stone I had been sitting on and walked towards Kal and the stranger.

Kal stormed past me onto his 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 sat with his eyes closed, in a quite deliberate disconnection from communication with the stranger. Still feeling blissed out, but ensuring that my nemeton was firm and strong (I could almost see it at that point) as I gauged the distance to stand so that the man could feel its outer edge. Kal later told me that he had assisted me in protecting myself by imagining a protective sphere around me as well as himself (a ‘shell’ he calls it). I’m sure the positive vibes helped, because I was able to chat and answer his questions easily, and maintained an air of assuredness and content which seemed to neutralise his pointed questioning. Instead I ended up questioning him! “And so what is your purpose in visiting stone circles?” I asked forthrightly. He swayed a touch and muttered something about “History, and a bit of spirituality.” Indeed. Why not?

8. Manifestly a manifestation

Kal awoke and stated we needed to leave. We gathered up our belongings. Before I left I dowsed to see if there was a manifestation where I had been sitting (marked by Kal in the picture above) – a small four petalled flower had formed, interwoven with four larger petals that reached to touch the circle’s stones. I smiled.

We dowsed the nemeton again to check which direction the energy flowed in. It was now strongly flowing in a sunwise direction – clockwise. I had learned a lesson in protection. I had sounded the stones thinking I was connecting with the circle, or generating positive energies, when actually it seemed to draw towards us an incarnation of negative energy! When it happened I hadn’t protected myself against the effects of this and had to struggle to maintain discipline of mind to ignore his activities and deflect his bad energies. As we were leaving the stranger drifted down the hill awa from the circle. Within moments he had disappeared beneath the slope’s convex horizon.

I will endeavour to remember to invoke this protective sphere myself whenever I need to work again. Emma Restall-Orr says it, several other books about druid magic say it, the diminutive gentleman at Alderley Edge couldn’t contain himself from telling me that I should, and was astonished when I said I didn’t. Even my thick skull can sometimes be porous enough to absorb information. Lesson learned.

Gwas

Cup and ball – Holy Grail

PART ONE: The build-up to facing fear

When intuition calls these days I answer that call – even if the call will entail some difficulties, and my reason can pop up any number of good reasons why I shouldn’t follow “that squirly notion“, as McKenna puts it. Today I became intent and set upon a course of action that would challenge me to the core – I was going to spend some meditative time lost in the thick of a forest in the wee small hours.

Now, not much of a challenge on the face of it, but there are a host of hurdles that will greet you should you choose to do the same: it’s raining heavily outside, it’s getting cold at nights now that autumn is here, I’ve got a million things to read, watch and listen to in front of a warm fire. A host of excuses not to do this. But do it I will. There is something to be learned by doing this – if only that I could pick a better time or place!

The image that came to me was of the passage in Emma Restall-Orr’s book “Living Druidry” (mentioned many times on this blog) where, in an accompanying and illustrative aside, Emma describes her encounter with the trees of a forest in just such an environment: dark, cold and lonely.

In addition to wishing to meet and face down my own fears, I have a motive inspired by dowsing too. On our visits to site we often find enclosures, or the remains of enclosures in the shape of cromlechs or dolmens structures, which were once enclosed. It would appear that transformative experiences, or rites of passage, or simply quietude, was important within the framework of druidical life of ancient cultures in these fair lands.

There must be a reason for seeking such darkness. Is it simply to close off the five senses and their nagging input? Well, meditation in a quiet place can do this without the necessity for total darkness. Is it simply to put the ‘initiate’ through some kind of trial by fear? Perhaps. I am aware that all or none of these ideas will help me tonight. Tonight I expect to go through many emotions and states of mind, and all in the pursuit of a deeper connection with Nature, an experience of her that few people get to feel, a connection that few people seem prepared to make in these times of electronic distraction.

I make no judgement of that. I only state it as a fact known by me, and operated upon accordingly. I’ve rarely been one to do what I’m supposed to, and I’m certain that meditating in a rainstorm within a forest at midnight would rank high among the kinds of activities that no-one I know would sanction or encourage.

So. On my return I will record my experiences, and see whether I have discovered or learned anything about working with Nature, or whether I am simply a wet, cold and foolish wannabe druid.

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I realise that I have used the term ‘nemeton’ without giving it much of a definition. For me the nemeton of something is the energy that it projects. I have found that projection can take many shapes: a complete sphere is common, but also with trails of energy bursting out of that sphere, or perhaps it’s an ellipse shape, or some other organically smooth and bulbous shape.

It is more than shape though. It is an energetic field, a boundary of force or 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 can be tuned into by adjusting and un-focusing the mind, like twisting the eye’s kaleidoscope. In this state of mind the energy can be felt, sensed, or for some, seen in the mind’s eye – that evanescent show-reel that projects misty-lensed images in your own private theatre. When overlaid on normal sight this can appear like a waking daydream, but carries an immense sense of being real.

I first encountered the word in one of Emma Restall-Orr’s books. She described it like this:-

“…it is often possible to sense the edge with fingertips or hands, feeling a slight pressure, a change in temperature or light in the air. Simply by using our mind, pure intention and openness, a blend of imagination and sensitive vision we can trace the edge, not forgetting the area to either side and behind us.” (‘Living Druidry‘, Emma Restall-Orr, Piatkus, 2004)

Emma goes on to reveal more qualities of this field’s edge, and makes it sound like the classic description I used to read as a curious boy about people’s auras. They have colour, display weaknesses, and can be interacted with opening an emotional connection, or sympathetic vibration.

I now use this term to describe these fields as I have found them around trees, and standing stones. They have different extents depending upon their purpose. Trees seem to develop a nemeton roughly spherical and in line with their size and shape, perhaps only extending a few feet beyond that. Larger trees have nemetons that can be sensed some fifty feet or more away. This is the majestic feeling we have when we walk down a long avenue of large trees – we feel their nemetons if we adopt an appreciative air. It is uplifting, certainly. Rejuvenating to our flagging soul.

Standing stones and stone circles have such a field too. Stone circles are again spherical and usually tied in size to the size of the circle of stones. Standing stones have nemetons that are usually proportionate to the power of the energies at the site, and to the size of the stones. The Bryn Gwyn stones of Anglesey, for example, emit a strong and easily detected nemeton from each of the huge stones. The edges of these elliptical nemetons can be felt without using dowsing rods. You can feel their character just by standing near to the stone for a minute in silence.

When you stop feeling the object’s presence, or attraction, then that’s the edge of it’s nemeton. Emma R-O asks that we treat this edge with respect, as we are invading something’s ‘space’, and we know how upset we get when someone comes too close, and ‘invades our space’! I guess she’s right, but often we can’t help being in something’s space – that’s the way parks and roads are made! It becomes especially important to adopt a good attitude, however, when we switch to attempting to interact with these energetic fields. Then I feel it is right to ask permission to do so.

Recent dowsing has shown me that the nemeton of a stone circle is composed of three concentric circles, and that those circles flow in two directions: the male energy flows anti-clockwise and the female flows clockwise. When the male energies are in the ascendancy (e.g. the sun is shining) then the nemeton flows anti-clockwise, but if the moon’s influence is stronger (the sun has gone down, the moon is full or close) then the flow will go clockwise.

Whichever way it is flowing in a stone circle the energy always enters the circle to spiral around inside into a single point, which is usually what we term 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.”, but which mainstream dowsing likes to call a “blind spring” – a point where two underground streams of water cross.

The Nemeton vs. The Aura

There is a lot of cross-over between the concepts of the nemeton and the aura of a living thing, not least that they literally overlay each other. Recently we spent some time dowsing these two fields and determined that they were categorically distinct energy fields. They may have many points in common – for example, they occupy most of the same space, and they can both be controlled in terms of their extent and their properties, yet they have differences too, some of which we are only just understanding.

One of the major differences is in the nature of the energy. In the nemeton field the energy dowsed as a different frequency to that of the aura. The aura is composed of rainbow colours that map onto the human chakra points, but the nemeton is not split into bands of different frequencies, but is instead a whole field of a single energy type.

The purpose of the nemeton is something we are only beginning to get to grips with. What we have found so far is that it seems to be related to inter-connectedness. It seems to be the field that defines the region or sphere of influence that a living entity generates. This field of inter-connectedness can be opened or closed (softened or firmed up) to permit or block a connection with other nemeton fields (of which there are many inter-lacing fields from all living entities). When a connection is made then emotion, meaning and intent can be shared between co-operative entities, such as between a human and a tree. The overlapping of the respective nemeton fields provides the connection between the two, and permits the transport of “vibes”, intuitive thought patterns and imagery.

So, I hope that’s piqued your interest in the idea of a nemeton. I am learning that becoming sensitive to these fields is immensely rewarding and fulfilling, and I hope to learn more so that I can work with them more efficiently. I would dearly like it to become second nature! Oh dear, “pun hell”!

Gwas

Find your nemeton