The Hedge Druid

Posts Tagged ‘energy spirals’

I haven’t had a reason to go to Pendle Hill until recently. For some reason I picked up a second-hand book on it from a charity shop and it triggered memories of when I used to live nearby. I was only a small boy then, and had no means to get to the hill on my own, and was never taken there, either by my parents or by the school I attended. However, now felt like the right time to go – just before it got hectic near to Samhain at the end of October.

I was, of course, attracted by several aspects of the hill: its legendary association with witches (or pagans, as they probably were), and by the potential for what energies could be found on top. Did the hill have any neutral 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. ley connecting it with other adjacent hills? I wanted to find out. In the back of my mind was also the idea that there might be some energetic formations left there by other energy workers, and I was keen to find out.

Leg of Toad

We parked in the village of Barley, being momentarily bamboozled by the maps depicting Barley Green, which appeared to actually be a small patch of grass to the side of the main village road, rather than a separate village. The large car park and facilities at barley suggested that this was a popular starting point for Pendle Hill walkers.

We took a path towards the hill that followed a tiny road alongside United Utilities water works buildings, and then it rose up towards the side of Pendle Hill, alongside the two reservoirs called Lower and Upper Ogden. We were following a path called the Pendle Hill Circular Walk (roughly). On the way up between the Ogden Reservoirs was a patch of rough grass and bushes where we came across two toads bathing in patches of morning sunlight. When this happened a second time it was significant enough for me to stop and take a picture – toads are, after all, a traditional accompaniment to a witch’s brew, are they not? It seemed fitting.

Toad in't hole

Unbeknownst to M and I the plateau at the Upper Ogen Reservoir was to be about half way up our climb. Pendle Hill isn’t massive compared to somehwre like Snowdon, but it was taxing enough for us to take a short break as we regained our breath and admired the sunlight dancing across the water. I couldn’t stand gazing too long or I began to drift into a trance – not appropriate at this particular moment, but I noted the place for another time, maybe.

Sunlight on Upper Ogden reservoir

As we rose up through the “clough” with Pendle Hill on our right we had to navigate various boggy stretches, even though the weather had been noticably dry for the past few weeks. A warning to others who come this way – expect deep dark peat paths with impassible sections, especially if it has been raining recently! However, soon we headed up the hill again, away from these dark dangers.

On the way up mist began to descend, veiling the surrounding hills in a cloak of obscurity that added to the forebidding atmosphere of approaching the hill from this side. We passed a lone rowan tree still carrying the last of its red berries, now looking limp and ready to fall. The tree looked hoary and ancient, and I stood for moments wondering at how many other people had admired its lone plight over the years. It was the last tree we would see until we returned back into the valley on the other side.

The hill's last lone rowan

As if in scant compensation we began to come across small cairns of limestone pieces glinting brightly in the occasional sunlight that was penetrating the mist and cloud cover. As I have explained in previous posts these “sunny moments” seemed to coincide with significant points on the path, such as passing a cairn just when I needed direction, or when a particularly spectacular view presented itself. I was beginning to understand this “luck” now, and smiled in appreciation of the synchronicity as it happened each time. Most of the time was spent trudging uphill in mist or dullness with little to see around: such was the long path we had chosen.

Once up onto the ridge top of Pendle Hill the mist began to clear and the views all around came into focus. We had sight of the trigonometry point on the top and were heading for that. I was looking forward to getting my dowsing rods out and having a look around with them. M was looking fordward to a sit down and a snack!

Spirals of stone

A quick look around the top of the hill revealed a trigonometry point surrounded by a mosaic of bricks laid into a spiral pattern. I guessed that this interesting pattern might in some way reflect the energies on the hill, laid out by some observant artisans. How wrong I was!

Before I started my dowsing routine M settled down in the small cleft that overlooked the fantastic Lancashire countryside. It was a stunning view, despite still being slightly misty, with a view over Nelson and Colne. The way down looked much steeper than the way we had come up, however.

Despite the winds that were inevitably sweeping across the top of the hill my trusty thicker copper dowsing rods seemed stable enough to get some solid readings, so I began to approach the trig.point from about fifteen feet away. I figured that, with the ‘standing stone’ made by the trig point there might be some male energy, so I asked to find a male line first. As I reached the edge of the brick spiral I got a reading for a boundary. I followed this male flow around in an anti-clockwise direction, which surprised me a bit. Anti-clockwise? Male energy usually went clockwise in my experience. The line circled the centre three times before following the same path again. If there was male energy around the trig.point, but was there any in the centre next to the stone itself? Nothing. There was no energy there at all.

What about female energy? I worked my way outwards, on the basis that there was nothing in the centre, and I knew where the male energy was. I passed the male circle and was soon led to a female spiral a few feet outside the male spiral. I wondered if this female spiral which also went in an anti-clockwise direction was connected to anything else. One spiral seemed unlikely. I asked the rods to show me any link with any other female energy formation. I was led around to another female spiral equidistant from the centre as the first spiral. Then on to another. And another. Six spirals in total, all forming a hexagon around the centre.

So, there was a hexagon of female spirals around a male ring of energy that was flowing in the same direction. How unusual – a completely unexpected formation on the top of Pendle Hill. That was all I had time for – M was waiting patiently to get down the hill, so we scoffed our snacks whilst admiring the view from the top one more time, then packed to head down the intensely steep slope, which offered the most fantastic vista all the way down.

Heading back to Barley village we followed a well travelled path through some delightful groves of trees with a stream babbling alongside us as we marched down through the foothills, eventually ending up at the other end of the village from where we had started the walk. Circular indeed!

Before we left we decided to sample the hospitality of the fine Pendle Inn. A nice gentleman on the top of the hill had recommended it to us as we sat and chatted, and he wasn;t wrong – the food and ale were top class, and the welcome was warm and genuine. If you’re round that way I’d highly recommend it. Check out the pub sign too – they don’t miss any opportunity to advertise their occult connections around these parts!

A thoroughly lovely and challenging walk, with some intriguing dowsing results. I wonder why the male energy was enclosed by a hexagonal arrangement of female spirals, and whether these female influences were forcing the male energy to run contrary to its usual direction? Some questions still to be answered, so I’ll have to go back at another time of year to see if that formation remains the same.

Gwas.

If you stand a bit further back when you read this post, say about ten feet away, then the scanned-in pictures in this post take on a whole new perspective. It wasn’t intentional, but when I spotted it I thought I’d leave it like that. Might get you into an unusual conversation with those around you. Don’t worry if you don’t see what I mean – it just means you’re pure of thought

Here’s another topic for your unusual conversation: the function and purpose of an ancient site, specifically West Kennet Long Barrow.  It’s purpose and function may be totally unique to me – I don’t know - so if you have any dowsing or druidry knowledge then perhaps you could verify how much of the following information holds true for you?

Before I decode the purpose, however, let me say a few words about the majestic oak tree at the edge of the ploughed crop field upon which the Long Barrow stands.

This well-balanced oak was awash with dangling trinkets – ribbons, hair bands, bells, even a loveheart perched in the heart of the tree’s canopy. This tree was well adorned. I made a mental note to look for something suitable to add later. Atop the next hill was a curiously geometric sloping mound that was drawing me up the path between the close-cropped fields.

As I approached the top of the hill the entrance to the barrow took me by surprise. Its entrance stones were massive – like huge lower teeth clamping the mound to the land in a pit-bull jaw lock.

I deposited my bag just outside the nemeton energy field of the mound, which for some reason I could visually and energetically distinguish without needing the rods to know it was there, however I still checked. Not quite that confident yet, but getting there. If I was to cross this barrier then I should do so with a little awareness and a bit of an introduction. I got the rods out and asked to locate the entrance to the site. It was a short way back down the approach path, at a fork in the ways where another path crossed. The width of the energy gateway was a few inches wider than the chalk path that streaked across the mouth of the mound.

I asked to go to the ‘most energetic and suitable place for me to sit’. That usually produced good results, and I was led up a small path that snaked up the right front face of the mound, winding past two concrete slabs, to circle around in a spiral just beyond them, before the narrow paths down each side joined. It was slightly warmer on that spot than elsewhere, so I took the chance to sit down and admire the view around from this vantage point. I could see the remains of a crop circle, the greener shoots still swirled in circular counterpoint patterns.

I appreciated the silence as the wind brushed the grass atop this long and wide burial site. I felt like there must have been many a shaman, warrior or nobleman who wished to be buried here, in sight of Silbury Hill, in a mound composed of his or her ancestors. Yet I felt there was much more that was still alive and always had been within this earthen sculpture. This place felt like it still had purpose, and I felt like this was a good day to try to find that purpose out.

I picked up the rods again and asked to be shown the way into the mound. By now there were other tourists milling about, some more intrepid than others, some merely passing through on their way across this unusual landscape. Before I got lost in wondering about their reasons for visiting I dowsed my way down the other side of the mounds steep front slope. A young couple looked on at my activities like they were witnessing their grandmother lead away her imaginary friend. But I was in a zone outside of that space and time, and the rods moved lithely in my hands, tracing a curving flow through the stones that formed a neat mini labyrinth at the entrance. It was only up close that you realised there WAS an entrance. From further away it looked invisible.

I stopped in the sun-trap of a tiny courtyard that formed outside the entrance to the inner sanctum. Glancing up I could see some cup marks and holes int eh very tall middle entrance stone. It almost looked like a face, which made me giggle. HIS house, obviously. I asked quietly for permission to enter and felt no resistance, and so ducked inside into the darkness.

Inside the chamber

There were four neatly sectioned off chambers, two on each side. The entrance to each were curiously individual though. The fifth and largest chamber was facing me twenty feet away at the end of the inner chamber. Soft daylight permeated two glass bricks in the concrete slabs above providing an ambient light which one’s eyes quickly adjusted to. No torch required today. In amongst the other people dipping in and out, admiring the acoustics or the snugness of the four smaller chambers, I found a place for my bag near the entrance and began to dowse. Question after question emerged, and each time I worked rapidly towards finding the purpose of each of the five chambers. I first found the order in which they should be visited (marked as numbers aside each chamber on the diagram below).

Then I drew from everything I had read, and all my experiences of effects within other sacred sites like Bryn Celli Ddu, and I pieced together a sense of the purpose and method of each chamber, finally arriving at a complete vision of how a person could undergo a spiritual transformation by passing through each chamber in turn. Please consider that these steps may be for me alone, yet I felt they had a more general significance, so you might be able to confirm whether that is what you find there too.

This is how I noted the function of the various areas, and the approximate time in minutes that one should remain in there to make the function work for you:

1. For cleansing energies – like stone circle grounding stone – 7 minutes
2. For knowing and stating one’s purpose – having clear intention – 1 minute
3. For contacting the guardian spirit of the place, and for obtaining permission to undergo the transformation – 7 minutes
4. For charging up energies in readiness for the rebirth process or revelation – 1 minute
5. For transformation. A rebirth chamber, possibly using sound to achieve transformation through acoustic resonance – 1 minute

That last bit’s totally made up, but it was just a sense I got from feeling the reverberation from the walls to any sound. Even the thumping of people walking overhead was percussive and primal in that final domed chamber. The whole process could be done in less than twenty minutes if everything went according to plan. Was this too wacky, unfounded, plain made up? Only one way to find out – I’d better have a go!

Behold the orbs

Before I come to that, a word about ORBS.  When I was taking pictures of each of the chambers, for some reason I couldn’t fathom I took two pictures of chamber number four – the energy charging chamber. It had a feather and a small rock at the back of it, which interested me. Seemed like someone had placed a totem object there. Anyway – I took two photos of that – one right after the other, seconds apart. Not realising anything was on there I showed them to M and she pointed out the strange white blob on the second picture. Oh yeah! Then when I loaded up the pictures onto the computer I could see one in the fifth chamber picture too. Again, I had taken two photos of that chamber – one with a flash and one without. Both the pictures that showed an orb had used a flash. Well, there you go then – it was a reflection of a dust particle, that’s all. Well, maybe. The first orb appeared right on top of the totem feather. The second orb in the fifth chamber was hovering over 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. that I dowsed in there. Slap bang on it – not one inch to the left or right, up or down, just on it. An interesting coincidence, a peculiar trick of the light. These are not the first pictures that Kal and I have taken that include such balls of light. It’s all very interesting given that balls of light are associated with the formation of crop circles. I also noticed that chambers four and five were the two chambers I didn’t feel ready to use yet, until I knew the right things to do in there, and these were the ones in which I photographed an anomalous ball of light.

Here’s the orb in the fourth chamber: notice the feather next to a pale stone at the back of the chamber in the first photo, and how an orb appears above the feather in the second picture. No other strange light phenomenon is evident. No other particles of dust.

The pictures were taken seconds apart, and with the same lighting conditions and camera settings. In the fifth chamber I would capture something similar, again without me realising until I got home that anything else was in the picture in the centre at the bottom of the frame. The glinting ‘eyes’ are pairs of tea light candles decoratively arranged to make an amusing and potentially startling statement:

Some theories have emerged regarding this phenomenon, the most plausible explanation of which is that the flash is picking up specks of dust and reflecting them back into the overall picture, making them seem larger than they are. Very plausible explanation. What I want you to consider, though, is two things. Firstly – why is there only one speck of dust being picked up? Secondly, why do these orbs happen to appear exactly where the centre of the spiralling energy was dowsed? I don’t know what they are, but they keep appearing. Time for a new camera?

Let’s ‘Ave A Go

I retreated to 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. on top of the mound to mull over my re-discovery. If this sequence was real, and the chambers did what I thought they might, then there was only one way I could prove that – by experience. I would have to go through the process. I had a spare twenty minutes. I wasn’t afraid to die! I wanted to double check first. Had I got the right path for me today to go through the chambers? I dowsed my trail: chamber 1, then 2, then as I entered the third chamber I started an inward spiral into 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 middle. NO! What was this? Stuck at the third chamber? Not enough energy? Wrong day or time? No – something to do with the purpose of the third chamber….I knew I wouldn’t be able to tune into the spirit of the place at this time. It was either the wrong time, or I wasn’t ready. Either way, it wasn’t going to happen today.

Disappointed, but still elated at my findings, I packed to go. I said my farewells and vowed to return when I was ready for the experience. On the way out I couldn’t help but glance up to see the laughing face of the tall stone guardian that mocked with a wide grin. Well, one day soon I’d learn that lesson and would be back to undergo the transformation process. Then I would know whether I was in any way right about how this site worked. I chose my paths carefully as I left, leaving no trace of having been there, except a marker saying “I’ll be back“.

As I strode down the hill between the ploughed and cut fields I enjoyed the sight and fragrance of the wayside wild flowers. Seeing one plant’s tendrils wrapped around another I excused myself, explained myself, and plucked them. These two would form a perfect parting gift to the old oak tree to show my gratitude. I wove a cross-shaped dolly from the flowers and tied it to the tree. This action seemed to rouse the cattle int he field and they began to hasten towards me, following me through the nearby open gateway into the next field. I remembered an old wives saying about cows and rain, and checked the sky – sure enought eh clouds were forming not many miles away. Briefly chatting to a nice Polish man about ancient civilisations, I made my way back to SIlbury Hill and then headed off home in the trusty Peugeot. For some reason I had called it a day at that!

Gwas

Finding a level.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gwas.

Finding the healing power of trees.

Alderley Edge, Cheshire : 20th August, 2008

THE BENT TREE

We looked like a scene from Wacky Races as we pulled into the Wizard’s Car Park next to the pub (where you HAVE to buy a meal, it’s rumoured) in the late afternoon. We were the only ‘bangers’ on the lot, but we cared not a jot, as we paid for our stay, realised the car park closed at 6, and went on our way, back to the previous lay-by – feeling foolish. A good start.

First on the agenda was The Bent Tree. Now, there are many bent trees in Alderley’s Edge, but this one was alone in a clearing, with conveniently placed logs for sitting on, and is close to where we parked. I was intending a slow start to wind down after work. I let Kal do the dowsing, as we reached the tree which bends over from rooted-and-ripped end to lopped-and-lodged end. I climbed to the top to sit and gaze into the middle distance for a while.

The Bent Tree with usless ornament

Whilst I was away wih the faeries, Kal found what I would term a new phenomenon for us! He followed some male lines that I had seen on my last visit – around and up the length of the tree trunk – loose spirals appearing occasionally. “In a patch of mud!” he complained about one which was just underneath me. “Yeah – the patch with the crushed mushrooms” I replied. Sadly these were not edible mushrooms and were of the wrong type of toxicity. He then switched to female spirals. He found one quickly, but then continued around the tree – in, out and around other trees in the area. I almost summoned up the motivation to watch him, but was feeling good relaxing so I carried on, half noticing him as he moved beneath me. Then he spiralled again, round and round, then out and away to another earth hump or tree stump. I started to notice him again when he disappeared completely into the near distance, crunching his way through the carpet of leaves off the main path. He stopped somewhere out of sight, then wandered back.

“3 spirals, then 5, then 7, and guess what – 9 for the last one.” he beamed confidently. I had to try for myself. “Where did you start?” I asked. “At this tree stump, near the bent tree.”, he pointed at a moss-encrusted low stump that he had meditated a while on before starting to dowse. “And what did you ask for?” I need to know. “For the most energetic line.” he explained.

I poised my rods, relaxed and asked for the same – the most energetic line. Follow that. Off I walked, tracing a similar route to Kal. I hadn’t really noticed where Kal had been dowsing or turning around, so I was doing this without “playback”. I found a spiral and instead of trying to locate its centre as a terminus point, I let it spin me around three times, then the rods swung the other way to that which had drawn me in, and I followed a curve which bent between two tall and straight elm trees. This was interesting! I had latched onto a line I had found last time, but this time I was intent on following it all the way, not just to the first or second spiral – I wanted to see where this finally ended!

The next spiral was on the path behind the Bent Tree – five times around that and away again back towards the bent tree, to curve back across the path, and just after the crossing to spiral seven times. Then swinging back out of the spiral it gently curved around some large beech trees to spiral nine times, then go into a young sycamore tree. I stood amazed – the sycamore was sprouting small to medium sized branches out of what seemed like every available space on the trunk. I mean, in comparison with the surrounding trees it was “hairy”!! And the set of spirals led straight to it. It seemed to be drawing the energy from the energies around The Bent Tree, a natural wonder, to promote its own vigorous growth. Most of this tree’s neighbours were tall and must have grown quickly to compete for light. This 40ft sycamore was just going to seem like a crazy lone bush in comparison, but here it was “branching out”. Such is its nature, I suppose.

We had fun reversing the dowse back from the tree, Kal re-tracing his initial dowse in, and the pair of us colliding at one of the spirals as we reached it together the start twirling around in front of a passing bemused family with dogs. Fun and games. But we confirmed each other’s findings, even though the position of some of the spirals changed for each of us on the return journey, and on Kal’s second attempt. This energy was alive and moving around. Somehow that still surprised us to learn that, and we felt something new had happened, and we had added to our store of knowledge. It was a natural progression from making patterns manifest when considered side-by-side. We had simply observed its movement now, instead of simply dowsing static patterns. It seemed to indicate a very real “aliveness” to this forest, which pushes you on to trying new ideas, and we like coming to this place.

THE FATHER OF THE FOREST (“FotF”)

We walked on, me asking Kal to find the folly stone circle because I was still being lazy, and while sitting ont he tree I had got myself into a really relaxed state of mind, and was enjoying just strolling through the forest with my staff thumping on the leaf mould and dirt paths. He took up the challenge and I followed him, occasionally taking the easier route as the rods took him up hill and down dale and around large expanses of rock canyons. As we walked we chatted about how it felt dowsing around the forest, its effects on us, whether we had been to this particular part before, and we trudged and strode around.

Then we arrived at FotF – the beech tree with the enormous boughs – “Not half”!. For me it was like greeting an old friend, but for Kal, my oldest friend, he was obviously impressed by the size – the sheer breadth – of this tree. We absorbed the ambience for a while, Kal occasionally closing his eyes and placing his hand on various parts of the tree. I simply smiled inside and out and waited patiently. Then we set off on our quest to find the folly stone circle again.

Seen him before

After a while Kal was beginning to doubt whether he was anywhere close to it, and asked me whether I knew if we were close as I’d been there before. “But I always come upon it by dowsing!” I had to respond. I didn’t think I could find my way there by sight or memory! This place is a maze, you know! I asked if I could try something cheeky. He cautiously agreed, as a good friend would. I said nothing else and scanned the forest with my mind looking for a reaction similar to that of the dowsing feeling when a rod ‘pulls’ your attention in a particular direction, like passing close to the opposite pole of a weak magnet. I got such a response, and simply followed its general direction, which coincided with a path.

I followed unquestioningly, and when I came to a part of the path where I felt it veered away from the direction first indicated, I stopped a re-scanned to feel the right way – literally with my hand raised in front of me, slowly rotating and trying to sense that tug. Invariably, I felt it, and hurriedly walked on before logic overwhelmed the response. “Is it anywhere close?” Kal asked after ten minutes of this caper, and I put on a cheery smile and stated “It’s close. Just around here, I think. If I’m wrong you can kick my arse for bringing you all the way round here for no reason.” I said it like I was sure I was right. I wasn’t. I didn’t remember this path, or this part of it. What if I was wrong? How humili…there was that bit of my brain again – the bit that kept trying to solve ALL the problems. How greedy! And it can be a bit demoralising too, so I closed it down again, and opened up the other bit of my brain that maybe could help. I scanned again – it was close! How could I know that? Shhhh….trust.

Ten steps later, a carbon copy of the last time I was dowsing here with M and that unusual small gentleman who accompanied us, the circle hoved into view. “It’s just there.” I stated, quelling a rush of pride so that it sounded more matter-of-fact than jubilant. Wow. Another new concept to learn – ‘deviceless dowsing’. It had worked. The build up to this had been me thinking I could see the energy lines when in a ‘druid connection state’ recently. Then the slow infusion of the feeling of dowsing that had been building with the amount of dowsing I have been doing recently. Practise was bringing rewards, as too was this forest giving gifts to me through its ambience of good feeling. This is a fertile place for learning.

THE FOLLY CIRCLE

Again I took a back seat for a while to see whether Kal’s paths around the circle would look anything like the ones I got the last two times.

After heading off on a journey down to the FotF tree . “Look how close we were just before!” he exclaimed. He was right – we were less than a hundred feet from the big beech tree, and we had walked in a circle to get here. We chuckled at that. Kal then found a line going around the circle, into it, and spiralling neatly round to a point at one side of the stones. Previous posts will show you this point – it’s the same point of the sun energy spiral I recently dowsed, and when I recreated that it’s centre was the same, but it’s entry point before it spiralled was different. I then showed Kal the earth energy spiral that overlapped the sun line and wondered about the concept of interference patterns between the two.

My two spirals were connected to pne of the two pine trees overlooking the site of the stones on the small rise before them. Kal suggested that I should see if there was anything coming from the other pine, so I did. It thrust forth a line that cut into the circle, then looped around its outer edge to return to the tree. A companion line looped round the other portion of the circle’s outer edge to return to the tree as well. So, one pine tree put a protective field around the circle using two lines to do that, and the other pine tree filled the centre space with two lines of energy that spiralled together within the stone perimeter. Were these trees working together to react in particular ways to the circle’s geometry? Were these lines the energy receptors of the trees that captured and conducted the energy of visitors, people and animals moving through them, perhaps to draw that energy, and then transmit it through to the small trees that they seemed to be supporting? Something to think about.

SHORT THEORY SECTION

Kal and I have been discussing the idea of leaving trails of energy in a kind of wake. As people’s energies are transmitted to the forests in this way, they may feed that energy into the other trees around them. The more people appreciate a site, whether it be natural or man-made, the site may be designed to absorb and re-transmit some of that energy. At sites where trees are found there is always a link between the trees and the shape of the energies at the site. Where stone circles or megaliths have been positioned where there are no trees, still these places are capable of manipulating geological energies – earth energies. Such sites tend to exhibit a great number of male and female patterns – an interplay between the sun and the earth, aligned by moon alignments with moon-powered energies resulting from the combination of the sun and earth spirals.

BACK TO THE CIRCLE

Back in the circle Kal quickly finds 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. I knew of, and meditates for a short while. Charging himself up? He seems to get inspiration, and finally making use of his new backpack he pulls out a container of quartz crystals which he places, one by one, on top of each stone, so that they all have one.

He then returns 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. and drifts away again. I watched him quietly, then went off in search of a rock to give him some peace. You know the drill – you need a rock to try something out and so you head to somewhere you’d expect to find one, like under a tree! Hoping for some communication, as I passed the big beech tree I muttered as request to find a hand sized stone to use for manifesting some energy. And you know that ten seconds later I came across just such a rock lying beneath the beech tree’s huge out-stretched arms. However, like the joker he is, he first led me past a pile of large rocks that might have caused an injury if I’d tried to haul them into the circle! Very amusing. I saw the joke, smiled, and suddenly there was a suitable rock right there amid the beech nut floor. A sandstone, washed clean by rain, and hand sized.

Round and round the circle, like a teddy bear

I returned to see that Kal had finished and he let me place my rock on 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.. I made a connection by lowering my conscious barriers to it, and then placed energy into the rock until the flow slowed. Then I picked up my rods and began to see if any new energies had appeared. A petal. And another, joining to the first with that celtic spirograph-like sweep into the next petal, and back across 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. to another, then around again – soon I had the picture of a flower changing shape as I dowsed, just like what had happened last week at Helsby Hill where I had to abandon my attempts to draw it because it changed as I drew and dowsed along. Then it had fazed me, now it excited me – more ‘mobile’ energy patterns and lines! Responding to my increasing awareness of them? I posed that as a question but I felt I knew the answer.

One more confirmation of something established last time I’d been here – No energies in the rocks. I asked Kal to see what he found, then watched to see him shaking his head – “Nothing there!”. Strange, huh? Not an energised stone circle as we had come to know and love them, but a place where energies could be harboured, perhaps invigorated by the forced geometry?

We mused about the way that trees might be using the circle to generate growth energies, with donation or intention from the FOTF connection. What I imagined, as we stood looking at the circle in relation to the surrounding trees, we the way in which the FOTF tree was supplying some of its vast energies along an 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. that seemed to almost feed or support the newly growing small trees. To each side, connected by a looping 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., were small rowan and birch. Stringy but growing tall they were flourishing in the late summer warmth and wetness combination, and were also getting good light. Reason enough to thrive, you would think, but I imagined the root systems of the many other surrounding trees are stiff competition for newbies. Nature was giving a helping hand by lending energies from one that could afford it. Protection, stimulation, or feeding – we couldn’t decide.

TO THE BATCAVE

I dowsed next for best place to meditate, and I end up at a place where Kal sat when he last came! I hadn’t been to that spot before – in fact I hadn’t even seen it as it was hidden at the side of the open scar that leads to the quarry below. I wondered a moment about how I could have got to the same place when I had been leading the way. I had even seen a better-looking place with a nicer, less obscured view. I nearly mentioned itm, when Kal told me the story about how he had wanted to sit at the nicer spot when he was here last, but there were people on it so he sat where I ended up, six feet away from the nicer spot with a pine tree about two feet in front of us obscuring the view over Cheshire! We sat on 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. and meditated on events so far. Now I think about it I should have looked to see whether there was anything aligned with that spot while I was there. You win some…

Tasty specimens of treehood

What I did do was to try a meditation of pushing my senses out into the forest but rain spots made me awaken from that quite quickly, so I played with stopping and starting the rain, with uncanny success. When I couldn’t hold my intention any more I felt the rain falling harder in a few seconds. We arose and moved to the little cave behind our spot, dowsing in the shelter of the trees for lines going in or out of the cave.

After a short while Kal was heading off down the Edge. Meanwhile at the Batcave I had found a male and female spiral, the male loosely wound around a tree on the right hand side, and the female tightly wound just above the cave’s entrance to the left. In the middle was a strong neutral line which connected directly with the spot I had found as the Energy Centre of choice for meditation. In the cave I could see three hollows – one on the right, one on the left, and one straight in the middle. Each on was the start/end point of the lines. How coincidental!

The Batcave - shhhh!

Instead of male/female/neutral i decided to try Greer’s theory on male energies being “sun” energy – things I already associated. I confirmed this by dowsing for “sun” energy and found the male spiral line again. Then I asked for “earth” energies, instead of female. Again, the correspondence. Something in me understood the concept and could translate that to the dowsing experience. Finally, i asked for “moon” energies – the combination of the sun and earth energies. This was the strong linking energy which powered the Energy Centre. Aha! An “aha” moment. I pondered this for a moment, then went off to find out what Kal was up to.

I followed his direction down the edge’s slippy sandstone to find a small cave nearby – big enough to fit into. Kal called me – he’d found one ten times bigger! We explored it with a head torch and as it opened out into a space with some headroom we paused to watch our hot breath condensing in the dank coolness of the dim rock hollow. I scraped the picture of the moon, sun and a tree onto a grime-covered rock half way (?) in before it got too cold to want to continue or linger too long.

Who spilt talc?

I stated that I wanted to find the Wizard’s Well deviceless! Such arrogance! But you couldn’t stop me now I had my new toy to play with. Oh dear – pride cometh before a fall. In a post-modern sensibility the author prepares you for the ‘reversal of furtune’ moment, where the hero’s ‘tragic flaw’ spoils the party for everyone.

After half hour in wrong direction going into darkest most ruined and muddy area of forest I conceded that I had tricked myself and the forest was having a good laugh at me. It just won’t let me find the Wizard’s Well!! “Perhaps it’s because you’re not a wizard?” quipped Kal. Funny. I had to laugh, as the last of the good light fell behind the hills. We tried to escape the oppressive closing in of the holly trees by climbing straight up the side of the path towards the light – and freedom, surely? We were thwarted at every turn by prickly soldiers barring our path, tempting us with glimpses of the barbed wire fence to a field at the top of the ridge – a potential short-cut in the light, we hoped. Kal slid his way back to the muddy path back up Hare Hill, and I walked diagonally down to meet him, severely embarrassed at having got us into this, quite literal, scrape.

Two eyes, nose, mouth!

We walked back in the direction of the car now, and as we passed stone troughs or rocks Kal would chide me about the increasingly folorn exploit of trying to find the Wizard’s Well. Again the forest had thwarted me because I couldn’t control my pride when I learned a new skill. When would I learn this harsh lesson about smugness and pride, I wondered?

By now I was less certain and cock-sure than I had been earlier. We passed a waterfall too, and some puzzled cows watched us skate around and over thick muddy fields, hills and stiles to get back to the main part of the forest. Our walk back through the forest in a black and white film noir, and I revelled in seeing the forest in this twilight. The dark silhouettes danced an ever-changing shadow puppet theatre as we walked along the good un-muddy paths which we hoped would lead us to the car.

I needed to dowse again to restore some ‘faith’. Like falling from a horse, I got back up. I dowsed for the car, and even though it was almost dark I got us close before my confidence fell prey to my rational mind’s hostile takeover and merger, which saw me standing rigid at a crossroads looking unsure about what I felt. Kal took over and easily confirmed the direction, and got us the remaining few hundred yards to familiar ground and on to the parking bay. The light had just gone completely as we drove away, with me happy, chastened, and more respectful of the ways of the forest.

The holes in the title of this blog refer not only to the wondrous holes dotted around The Edge, but to the holes which still exist in knowledge of these subjects. We are, however, also invigorated by such experiences as this evening’s visit to Alderley Edge, and propelled towards further exploration and learning.

Gwas

Follow your true path.