The Hedge Druid

Posts Tagged ‘magick’

There have been several occasions where I have evoked the concept of being a Hedge Druid both in defence and defiance to requests from people who are not familiar with the concept. I have used it as a means of retaining an aloof identity online, and in particular I have written about it as a concept that I espouse and adhere to. But what actually is a Hedge Druid, and why is it so important to me?

For me, the term “Hedge Druid” contains the several aspects of my spiritual path that make me feel most at home in this most uninhabited of places. Ii have sometimes talked about what it means to be a druid, and in this treatise I will turn my attentions to the concept of the hedge. Let’s start this exposition by revealing the ways in which I define The Hedge.

The Hedge is the wild borderland, the untamed division between other fields. It is also the boundary between areas of cultivated land – a middle ground that serves a purpose but which has little value to those who seek only to profit from Nature. In terms of natural magickThis is a system of belief that is often defined as being the appropriation and re-use of naturally occurring forces for the purposes of healing, transformation, communication, or a host of other subtle effects. The natural elements of the magick can also be seen by the under-pinning concept that the use of these forces should be co-operative rather than coercive. the hedge can be seen as a metaphor for being at the edge of what is acceptable, known and “real” to most people. The hedge is regarded by many as a barrier, a means of preventing access to somewhere, or a way of keeping something hidden from the casual regard of passers-by.Let’s take a closer look at each of those concepts in turn.

The Wild Edge

The hedgerow is full of life. It is teeming with the movement of Nature, but it is mostly devoid of the sight of humans. So the human that decides to make the hedge a home will have to fit in and make good company with everyone else who’s already  there. Where is “there”? It is a bustling household, a place of unpredictable results, something out of one’s control. That is how it seems to one who observes from the outside. Inside the hedge one has to accustom oneself to the patterns of Nature in order to feel comfortable in that in-between space that seems to have no rationality. Nature’s “tooth and claw” are waiting for the unsuspecting. Wits must be kept alert and live, and yet it is possible to completely switch off when one has gained sufficient trust from the surrounding spirit energies.

Between The Fields

If we take the word “field” to mean an area of research, a topic, then in my research this means that I often inhabit spaces between traditional arguments. The idea of being between the arguments needs explaining. What I mean is, the hedge druid’s position is that which unites, not divides. It is that which builds, not destroys. It is the solution that progresses, not regresses or makes no progress at all.

The hedge position is often mistaken as the position that is a compromise point, but this is so completely NOT the case. That position is frequently stagnant. Yes, in order to arbitrate in a dispute such a compromise position may make the best progress, but the hedge position is more a concept of being the result that is neither the black nor the white of the argument. It is not any colour in between either! It is the no colour and all colours at the same time argument! It is the position that reconciles the extremes by being both their positions and neither at the same moment! It is the paradox point. It is the ariel view of two points on the map, seeing also everything all around and between those points.

In another sense, the field is the flat cultivated land, tamed and unnaturally manicured. The hedge in comparison is between such open spaces. It is dark, secretive and unkempt. Being in the hedge is being in the midst of the wildness that is the “force that through the green fuse flows” as Dylan Thomas put it. Feeling comfortable in that flow involves a couple of mental shifts:

a) The hedge druid must accept that they are a barely significant expression of the whole of Nature, and know their place in the grand scheme. Some call this a sense of perspective, but that’s too human a phrase – when you expand that perspective out to the size of the planet, then that’s the perspective that gives a flavour of the correct sense of scale. With a correct sense of scale comes the humility to form the correct relationships with Nature’s sentient expressions.

b)  The hedge druid needs a sense of purpose, a good motivation. Whether this is an evolved sense of duty or a revelatory new ideal; whether it is a moral fibre, or a desire to do well. It is a non-competitive force that motivates the hedge druid to push through the inevitable frustrations, diversions, difficulties, and oftentimes downright dull or dangerous moments that fill every moment in the hedge between the safe open fields that surround it.

A Cloak of Thorns

One of the finest advantages of being a Hedge Druid is solitude. With solitude come a number of benefits – it is easier to meditate, one can go as deep and as far as one is able to, and there is no-one else spoiling that, or reigning it in. Progress feels rapid under these conditions, and being in the hedge between worlds often gives on a certain self-assurance and confidence through accustomedness. Being acclimatised to the unusual atmosphere of the hedge gives the trainee druid the platform from which to launch into whatever strange activities he should wish to pursue, with confidence and without ridicule. Something much to be values in the stale atmosphere of the “fitting in” folk who inhabit the cultivated fields around like so many crop plants – straight, organised, chemical-fed, regular and regulated.

In the hedge the druid can disappear from the normal world. The rules do not apply. As long as he stays hidden he may follow his path freely and fully. This is why I aspire to be a Hedge Druid.

Gwas Myrddyn.

Section 7. Summary of the Year

In order to organise our thoughts Kal and I came up with some questions the answers to which we hoped might summarise the way that year has gone for us – what were the bits we expected, what exceeded our expectations, and which things arose to meet us on this path that we didn’t anticipate? Here are my answers to this year’s questions.

What did I think I was going to learn?

1. Whether specific periods of the year are more energetic than others, and whether those periods align to the calendrical eight-fold year.
2. How stone circles work in terms of their energy
3. Whether specific geology affects the energetic responses from sites

By the summer of 2009 I had already established to my satisfaction that there was a difference in the strengths of energies at the Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice. I was sure that there was more powerful sun energy (i.e. stronger male energy) at the Summer Solstice. The Spring and Autumn Equinoxes were very similar in strength, and were a balance of male and female earth energies. At the Winter Solstice the male energies were very weak, as was the Sun. The female energies fluctuated only in relation to the strength of the Moon and the input from nearby trees, again weaker in Winter.

Determining any objective means of measurement was difficult, as our own energy levels seemed to be a factor in how well we could dowse or do energy work at a site, however a scale of measurement (strength from 1-10) seemed to work for the purposes of obtaining some data that could be compared between sites. The solstice and equinox dates depended upon the quality of the Sun to determine the amount of additional energy was at the site compared to our visits to them on other dates.

The Celtic Festival dates (Lammas, Beltane, Samhain and Imbolc) in between those times were much harder to figure out. These dates seems to depend upon the position of the Moon for their effects upon ancient sites., rather than the Sun’s effect. I will be posting much more on this soon, complete with a table of the relative energy levels at various sites dowsed this year.

Further theories have emerged concerning the operation of energies at stone circles and other sites too. See the Earth Energies and Ancient Sites Summary posts for details on those.

We have kept a weather-eye on the geology of sites whilst dowsing this year. It started for me in Carnac when I discovered that the stone rows were placed along a shelf of rock quite different from the surrounding geology of the rest of the nearby coastline. We have concurred with the popular dowsing theory that geological faulting is important to the situation of ancient sites, as is often the presence of water, but we do not wholly agree with the necessity of water (or a ‘blind spring’ formation) being present at all ancient neolithic sites. Some major sites such as Stonehenge and The Rollright Stones do have this water formation, however, and we think these popular sites may have led to the popularity of the idea amongst the dowsing fraternity that such a formation is necessary to a strong energy site. We do not find this to be true.

'CARNAC: Des Pierres Pour Les Vivants' by Pierre Mereaux

What’s been the surprise?

1. Crop circles being designed by some intelligence beyond the confines of this planet – expected them to be of human design and manufacture.
2. The energetic and healing potential of running water – Pistyll Rhaeadr and Viktor Schauberger convinced me of this at different ends of the year. At Pistyll Rhaeadr waterfall my wife’s twisted ankle was healed in minutes. Later I read Schauberger’s theories on the properties of water and I understood how this could have come about.
3. A spiritual pilgrimage being worthwhile doing, and not some soulless religious historical trail as I had imagined it to be.

1. Astrology - There is a correlation, a link, between the relative positions of the stars and a human being. My natal chart is stunningly accurate in assessing my personality traits. Kal and I have also discovered that we are energetically linked to particular planets – Kal to Mercury and myself to Venus. We are more energetically ‘loaded’ or ‘charged’, and more energy work is possible, when our respective planets are visible. I have tracked this since the beginning of the year and have each dowsing response confirms this.
2. Elemental beings and cloud sylphs – I see some this year on four separate occasions and each time I was stunned by the effect – this was no mere simulacrum. Seeing faces in the clouds must be the third and conclusive qualifying factor in any signs of madness developing – that much I do appreciate, but nevertheless, they have been present at quite specific times of high energy.

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I have held back from posting this particular account for a number of reasons. There are some visits that Kal and I do whose purpose is not to dowse for information – sometimes that is a secondary approach. Some visits are more personal than others too, and some more sensitive, or even unbelievable. We have begun this year, as you may have noticed, to study some of the more esoteric aspects of earth and cosmic energy, for want of better terms. I have labelled this approach: “druidry” or “energy work”. Kal, of course, has his own labels for it: “meditation” or “spirit work”. People from different backgrounds with different intentions would read this how they may. So be it. I return to my primary purpose for writing this blog: as a source for me to record and recall the amazing spiritual journey I have begun – a path that I call Druidry, and am proud to do so. The Yew Stage of my learning process is all about discovery of what matters, and its tramsformation into useful and purposeful work. If I can get something out of it, so can those who may also read this work.

So, this post is about a trip one evening in late summer (very late summer) to visit The Llangernw Yew. This amazing tree is said to be over 4000 years old, possibly as much as 5000. Think about that for a second – that means that this tree has seen pretty much all of what we would consider to be human recorded history! It is a truly amazing tree. Here’s a picture of the magnificent yew, straight from the Wikipedia page dedicate exclusively to it:-

The Llangernyw Yew

It goes without saying that this tree was growing into maturity well before the advent of our currently waning Piscean religion known as Christianity. The undoubted earlier spiritual history is nowhere mentioned or speculated upon in the text of the little plaques and signs around the churchyard. Well, this is not something that over the last few years brings me much surprise any more. Christians are obsessive about stamping their own impression upon a site to the exclusion of all else in my experience. That is the way of the “one true” religion. At least, in this case, the presence of the new place of worship has ensured the preservation of the much older tree. Here’s an example of the information you can expect:

You see – the ancient monoliths mark the grave site of an early Christian! Now you know.Matter settled.  Before Christ, you say? Pah!

Anyway – polemic aside – we started dowsing for the aura of this magnificent tree. It was some fifty feet from its trunk, and covered the little porch that was the main entrance to the small church. I think it must have been reaching out to touch the letter that David Bellamy had written about the yew and which was posted inside the porch. He’s an unusual character now sadly absent from our TV screens who has actually written a book about yews; or rather, more a conversation with one. How appropriate that turned out to be in retrospect!! He’s also got an interesting explanation of the work of Viktor Schauberger who studies nature’s energies.

Speaking to Yew

Whilst Kal milled around the site I knew what I was here for: I wanted to see what the famous yew had to say for itself. I hd been putting off trying to commune with yew trees because of their reputation. An earlier experience with in Rhosesmor had prepared me somewhat for the type of agenda that comes with yew trees: death, rebirth, transformation. Sometimes you’re in the mood to handle that kind of conversation, and at other times you aren’t. I knew for a fact that Kal was in a delicate state, as this was the first time he’d been on an outing for a while since his mother passed away. I understood he had his own healing work to do, and that the yew tree may not figure in that, so I went alone.

There was none of the usual foreboding as I approached the great tree. Of course I asked permission to enter its expansive canopy, and I showed the utmost respect for it. I asked the dowsing rods for the best location so sit, and they took me to a well-worn low u-shaped branch. I could see I wasn’t the first to spend time here! I dowsed for places to put the five crystals I had brought with me. Looking back I think that was unnecessary, but it helped me relax to be protected from external interference at this new site. I relaxed and blended my senses into the tree, its huge canopy, and the surrounding noises of the village of Llangernyw. I used the remaining sunlight as my focal point as it dappled through the low branches in just the way I liked for these occasions. Soon I was unaware of myself except as a space to think.

I slowly became aware of an urge to communicate, so I let a thought emerge, a thought to make contact with the tree. I have learned patience over the last few years, and let the response come slowly slowly, until an Other voice joined my own in my head. A conversation began, during which I asked to be shown a vision that would help me with my work. The result came slowly, but once it started it was quite powerful. In my vision I was lifted up, as though on the shoulders of the yew, and shown an ariel view of the churchyard. I could see all of the lines of energy flowing from the tree and through the church. The church itself disappeared as though it had never been there, and what remained was just the yew tree and some geometric collection of something on the other side of the church, which I hadn’t yet visited. There was more, but I don’t recall it clearly enough to reliably re-tell, so I won’t go on. It felt like an out of body experience, and the nicest flying experience I can remember, floating lazily and in the gentle cushion of the yew’s energy field.

Of course, the first thing I did, after thanking the yew of course, was to grab my rods and begin to dowse around the tree. I picked up a strong line connecting the yew to the church, but intersecting the church at an odd angle. Like I say, it was as if the line was there before the church, ans I raced around the other side to see what was there. What was there? Only a raised tombstone surrounded by a couple of old standing stones! This, I dowsed, was the terminus point of the 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. going through the church. Now THAT’S a vision, I thought! Where you see things in your mind that turn out to actually be there, although to be honest I didn’t see the stones, only a blurry end point where the energy congregated, but nevertheless, it bowled me over somewhat, and I went off to tell Kal all about it whilst it was fresh in my mind.

The Shaky Hand of Fear?

Kal seemed busy down in the lower graveyard – a long rectangular graveyard packed with headstones and with a rectangular path all around it. I decided to leave him for now, and to take some photographs for the blog. The strange thing is, when I pointed the camera anywhere near the yew tree and check the picture – they were blurred! I couldn’t seem to steady my hand at all. I took, re-took, took again – all blurred. I wondered if my eyes were going funny! I deleted the blurry ones, and became increasingly static and poised as I braced my arm, my hand, breathed out – every trick I knew to get a clear photo. I think I got ONE (the one above) and even that’s not very good. Here’s an example of the blurry photos that I thought were OK on the day:

This is, I have found this is not a one-off happenstance. When I take pictures of some trees, the stronger their aura the more blurred the photograph! I remember taking and deleting loads of pictures to try to get at least a few good ones, then when I got back to inspect the ones I thought were OK – they were almost all blurred. I’m sure this is more a reflection of what a rank amateur I am with a camera than anything else, but I must say it’s another of those odd coincidences, as it seems to happen a great deal with highly energetic places, and especially old trees. It happened to me in the Forest of Dean a few months ago too. Very odd. It’s such a shame too, because I thought I had taken some great shots of the full moon peeking out from beneath the canopy of the tree – all blurred beyond recognition! The ambiance of the churchyard would have been properly conveyed had they been publishable. Ah well, the memory will have to remain locked in my head.

The Moonlight Spotlight

The sun had dipped behind the trees. I went to catch up with Kal and hear his tales, and they were more interesting than mine, even! I was more amazed at his capacity to delve into himself when most people would simply want to be alone and undisturbed, superficial even. Not Kal!

I showed him the hidden side of the church as the moon began to dominate the sky with its light. I followed the dowsing rods around the church asking to be taken to the first 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 ‘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. they could find. They found several, all linked with each other, and at significant “features” in the ground, such as a small bump, a faerie ring of grass, around a standing stone, the raised grave, and between two pillar stones next to the church’s southern wall.

I placed my crystals around the small power centre that the rods had identified as being aligned with my own energies, and faced the moon. By one of those unbelievable coincidences the moonlight formed a spotlight through the trees as two clouds parted at just that moment, and the light shone directly into my face and formed a circle the exact same size as the power centre I had just dowsed. I know – even I could barely believe it. Everything felt right, so I stayed their a while feeling the energies bubble up from the earth and into my inner core, powering me, cleansing me, making me feel light-headed and “spacey”.

When I felt the time was right I moved to the two upright pillars next to the church. I dowsed quickly to determine what this feature was that had attracted my heightened attention. The answer that I eventually hit upon was some kind of energetic barrier, that, if triggered, could take me from one world into another. Sometimes the right questions just pop into your head and the rods respond. Tonight in particular, with the full moon, the rods were swinging strongly and clearly, and my intuition was highly tuned.

I placed crystals around me to enhance the energies and stepped up to the space between the two stone pillars. I could feel the energy pulling me, and I knew I could walk forward and something would happen, but I was afraid of what that was, so I didn’t enter. Sorry. I just felt slightly wary of it, wary enough not to go fully into it. Instead I leaned forwards to see what would happen if only my head passed the stones. As my head moved past them I could feel my thoughts being pulled into the church wall, my attention being thrust through the wall and out to the tree, but again I panicked and pulled back. I wasn’t ready for this yet. Soon, but not now.

 With that I removed the crystals, and went back to the power centre to discharge and cleanse myself. I was sure that something amazing would have happened, but this wasn’t the right time to do it. One day soon I will go back and be ready for it. I’m sure that one day Kal will also tell his side of the story, but again – when he’s ready. This stuff take time to assimilate sometimes before it’s ready to come out or be relived.

Them Skulls and Them Bones

A final note: there were masonic or Templar symbols similar to those I have found at Glamis churchyard (see the Gallery page) carved onto the raised tomb that is surrounded by the standing stones. This only goes to strengthen my feeling that this elite brotherhood knew a lot more about the concepts of nature’s energy, energy lines, position and empowerment than they are currently credited with. Of course, that is pure speculation, as so much is when there are few solid known facts about this shadowy organisation and its past. Certainly, I don’t think the use of that knowledge is much in evidence today:  the organisation seems to be more about money and political power now, than esoteric knowledge. The knowledge is being built back up though, by we erstwhile dowsers and energy workers. A picture, however fragmented and hazy, is beginning to emerge of the veneration of place, the importance of symbols and the alignment of sites that characterise the old Templar, and now masonic buildings. A quick search of the web sites dedicated to understanding the significance of the most obvious of the remainders of esoteric knowledge - the Rosslyn Chapel - will lead you down all sorts of interesting blind alleyways of research. Therein you will find reference to King Solomon and the Temple of Solomon, the Freemasons, the Green Man and paganism, and all sorts of modern mystery and myth. I prefer to go back to the source: these people were venerating Nature, and they worked with sacred number and geometry to fashion places that promote power. The rest is embroidery.

There are some great pictures available from The Modern Antiquarian site concerning this yew and the two standing stones that are hidden behind the church : http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/6996/llangernyw_yew_and_standing_stones.html. No-one seems to know anything about them, but for me the dowsing showed that the stones were in their original position, and that other nearby standing stones, placed there at a much later date, formed an energetic gateway – a portal through to the Otherworld. Certainly enough there to keep the curious person busy, that’s for sure.

Gwas.

Dancing in the moonlight.

A recent visit to Treadwell’s Bookshop in Covent Garden,London allowed me to stock up on some interesting Druid-related books. I only had an hour in there but in that time managed to find some great books, details of which I will add to the Bibliograhy list soon. The books were mostly things that I haven’t seen in other book stores, and that’s probably because Treadwell’s specialises in magickal books of all varieties and ‘denominations’.

I heartily recommend a visit there if you happen to be floating around London with an hour or two to spare. I got the recommendation from Philip Carr-Gomm’s new book “The Book of English Magic” that he wrote with Richard Heygate. It was certainly true that the staff have an excellent knowledge of the subjects and can direct you wherever your fancy dictates.

They also hold lectures there on esoteric subjects regularly, so if you have an evening spare too then you might learn something interesting!

Gwas Myrrdyn.

Finding dark corners.

Kal has fairly comprehensively listed the possible types of energy that we could be dealing with at stone circles and other sites. I wanted to just go through each point and see how I felt about each of the possibilities. Perhaps something will come out as a strong contender, whereas other may be rejected. Let’s see how this pans out!

1. 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. Lines

Having seen some pictures from Japan of the alignments of buildings and gardens that follow the principles of being placed upon Dragon Lines I can relate those formations to the energies we are calling ‘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. leys’.

Such lines are straight. They form geometrical shapes of a relatively large size. They cross terrain to form alignments with other sites. They are affected by the large scale geography of the areas they travel through, but ignore the smaller elements.

The lines extend in a criss-crossing network of straight lines that form energy grids with no discernible pattern, other than that they run through areas of geological upheaval and fault lines. In the most geologically active regions the lines form many crossing points, seeming to particularly prevalent in rock types with large crystalline structures like granite.

VERDICT: I think that Dragon Lines are neutral alignment leys and we dowse these all the time.
I don’t think these energies are the same as the Hartmann or Curry grids, which have a very regular rectangular or square formation.

2. Chakra Energies

I’m not altogether sure that the energy generated by the human body is the same energy as flows through the earth. If it is it means we’d all assuredly feel more connected to the earth than we do most of the time! A compatible energy, for sure. When we visit a sacred site we have the opportunity to set the frequency of our body energy to that of the site, and thereby form a connection with it.

We are also connecting with something else too, I feel, not just the energy formations of a stone circle. I always feel I am connecting with Nature too. Nature herself (i use gender here to denote her primary directive of being a nurturing force) is involved to make the connection.

The state of mind required to make such a connection is very similar to the state of mind I experience when I was meditating with a Chinese lady who was trying to guide M and I through a relaxing session. By the end of her ‘emptying the mind’ and visualisation routine I was flooded with purple. She recognised this as the third eye chakra colour. At that moment I also felt extremely balanced.

I feel that dowsing is the same frame of mind – a balancing of the left and right hemispheres with external direction, or inspiration I would rather say. It’s more of a suggestion than a directive. An idea that you can disguise as your own but which you know did not come from you.

The rainbow colours we dowse at sites, and which are distanced and arranged according to how we are at the time, may correspond to the various chakra points on the human body, and be the interface points for connecting to a site’s energies. We should watch for which points in our bodies respond when we walk over the various bands of coloured energy. Is there a correlation and therefore a response of any kind?

VERDICT: I therefore see that chakra energy is a mapping of the crossing points of the body’s energy paths, and in a state of balance the practitioner is able to generate and mobilise their own internal energies. Additionally various parts of the body that correspond to chakra points may connect with various wavelengths in the spectrum of coloured energies that form the site’s nemeton.

3. Auric Energies

I think what Kal is describing here is the outer edge of a band of energy that forms a kind of protective sphere around a site (including rocks, trees or any other energy source). I refer to this as the nemeton of the object (more can be found about nemetons in other posts. (See ‘Glossolalia: The nemeton described‘).

I think that the auric edge is the edge of the ‘influence’ or boundary of the energetic extent of the object, whether it be a site, a tree or a rock. The aura flows in a particular direction. The bands of coloured energy within it also flow in particular directions, some contrary to each other. We have worked with re-directing the outer edge of the nemeton, but have never been directed to look at the inner coloured bands yet.

VERDICT: I feel that the nemeton is an enclosing spherical force that is composed of bands of coloured energy (light?) that denote the energy’s frequency of vibration. The size, strength and direction of the bands seem related to the relative health of the energies at the site, but we haven’t got any way to assess this yet.

4. Prana, Ki and other variants

This is the same as Chi and Chakra energy described earlier.

5. Reiki

When I went through a Reiki session I was a complete skeptic. Nevertheless the session relaxed me, and again I experienced the purple flush of light in my mind during the session. I therefore connect Reiki with the same state of consciousness as the deep meditation states. Instead of visualising the energies for yourself, however, you are allowing someone else to obtain, channel, and direct the energies from either within themselves, or some external source.

I find this practise to be very similar to the natural magickThis is a system of belief that is often defined as being the appropriation and re-use of naturally occurring forces for the purposes of healing, transformation, communication, or a host of other subtle effects. The natural elements of the magick can also be seen by the under-pinning concept that the use of these forces should be co-operative rather than coercive. that I have been trying to get to grips with. The too is a connection then a drawing of energies from other sources as well as yourself in order to direct them elsewhere through intention and/or visualisation.

VERDICT: Reiki offers a form of altered consciousness for the practitioner that puts them in connection with the same forces a druids connect to, i.e. Nature itself. From that state they can direct, energise or dissipate energies according to the requirement of the treatment. This energy is therefore Natural energy being transmuted into body energy via chakra points. By transmuted I mean slowed down or speeded up to the right frequency to connect with the correct chakra point. Again, a form of attunement of mind and body in order to work with the energies.

6. Reflexology

When I knew nothing at all about healing , energy work or druidry, I had an innate knowledge from I know not where of how to do reflexology. I could just tune into my subject (usually a girlfriend, you’d be amazed how far this can get you!) and sense in their feet where a hot spot or tender area was. I could then “see” up that pathway, through the body, to find where the destination of that pain or tension was. It was then a simple matter to massage that pain away.

I used to play a little game with myself. I’d see if I could guess where the subject would describe the pain and then see how close I was with my guess. I soon gave this game up as I got it every time. I can’t tell you the number of freaky responses I got from people I did this on, usually phrases like, “But how did you know that my left shoulder was aching?”, or “I can feel the tension flooding out of my neck when you rub my toe there.”. I would have taken it further as a study but frankly it made my hands ache rubbing feet for half an hour or so. They just didn’t want it to stop!

I never asked how it worked. I never wanted to know how I knew. Now I do.

VERDICT: I think Reflexologists are simply tuning into the energy paths of the bodies they are working on. These are the same energies described in the section about Chakras above, even if the paths through which the energies travel may map differently between such skills as reflexology, reiki, massage, yoga, acupressure or acupuncture. Differences between mapping energies in such disciplines is cultural and conventional.

7. Homeopathy

The question homeopathy raises about energy is: does water have the capability to store and transmit energy? From the experiments done by Professor Emoto in Japan on the ability of water to react to language and intent it would seem that it does have a storage capacity, or at least transforms its structure to reflect the energy transmitted to it.

We also hear from seasoned dowsers that water is the energy carrier for sacred sites, although we can find no evidence that water courses follow earth energy paths. The shapes of paths are too regular and geometric for them to be simply a reflection of or emission from water courses.

VERDICT: Essenses may incorporate a form of holographic imprint of energy directed at it (whether intentionally or not). As a holographic imprint the amount of “source” material need only be a minute amount in order to transmit the energy pattern of the “host” of the essence.

8. Crystal energies

Like Kal I think there’s a lot to be said for crystals. I placed some quartz crystals on top of the major electrical devices in my house and dowsed a before and after picture of the energy at those places. Before the crystals were placed on them the televisions and a microwave oven dowsed very strongly for an unhealthy energy form. After the crystals were placed on the equipment the reaction to the question of unhealthy energies either diminished drastically or completely.

When Kal placed some crystals atop the stones at Nine Ladies in Derbyshire we got a very strong dowsing reaction around Kal as he sat in the circle. With their help he felt energised to perform some visualisation and healing work – his own flavour of natural magick.

VERDICT: Crystals can focus energies to a point. I also feel that they somehow coalesce the energies of a site to be harnessed for use by the practitioner. It also seems important what kind of stones are used to form stone circles and other sacred sites. The more crystalline, and the larger the crystals, the more powerful is the focusing and empowering effect.

I therefore feel that crystals act as a form of lens through which energies can be harnessed and focused.

9. Earth Electromagnetic Field (EMF)

The EMF, or GMF (Geomagnetic Field) fluctuates in strength. The nemetons (or auric extent) of stone circles fluctuates in synchrony with it. I don’t know enough science to continue with any further comparison of these two energies. I also have no way of measuring the EMF – I simply accept what I’m told about it with an air of dissociated interest. I may never know much about it. So here’s a link to a study of them and if anyone understands it – good for you. Perhaps you could tell me how it fits in. The study at least recognises that variations occur depending upon the time of day.

VERDICT:Fluctuation according to time of day is as close as I get to correlating these two forces.

10. Emotional energies

When working with energies at sacred sites one of the ‘keys’ to allowing this energy to operate has been demonstrated to myself and Kal on many occasions to be the emotions of love and gratitude. Love is the force that, through its generation in the human body and mind, can be unleashed in order to provide the impetus for action or change to occur.

This is, of course, impossible to prove. So, I invite you to try it for yourself. You will find that emotional energies of a specific type have particular effects. Without that emotional involvement you are merely sitting in an arrangement of stones.

Once the work is complete, and before you awaken, we have found it profitable (i.e. no negative side effects occur, like you start being clumsy, or unfortunate things befall you) if you break the connection with an emotion of gratitude for the experience. Call it politeness. Call it irrelevant. I call it the fostering of good relations. This is, after all, a relationship with Nature itself, and the most worthy attainments deserve a nod of appreciation.

I am unsure as to the purpose, but like a child I don’t need to understand the warning to heed the advice. Love and gratitude seem to be the entry requirements and the exit strategy for energy work in stone circles or anywhere else.

VERDICT: The energies of the emotions of love and gratitude are allowing some form of transition to an attuned mental state wherein it becomes possible to visualise and direct energies.

11. Esotoric energies

I think the phrase “esoteric” doesn’t capture the undoubted intelligence innate in these presences. Tribal shamans consider these ‘spirits’ to be ancestors – a term that perhaps does not translate well. Yet the word ‘ancestor’ certainly hints at something beyond our capacity to ordinarily interact with it, possibly because it’s in a different frequency outside our normal range, and something once human, but now possibly only retaining soul or mind without a physical body.

Terence McKenna’s tales of encounters with mushroom intelligence, Carlos Casteneda’s many books about his contact with magical ‘allies’ that are often the genius lociGenius Loci means 'spirit of the place' and refers to the geological/gaian spirit of place. It is transfixed to a place – being an embodiment of the collective intelligence of the place. contained within entheogenic plants, Gordon Wasson’s reportage of shamanic encounters, Mercia Eliade’s work with tribal shamans the world over who, though isolated from each other, report similar experiences in the other dimensions. To coin McKenna these are true hallucinations involving man and nature spirit.

VERDICT: Esoteric techniques to alter states of consciousness demonstrate that other worlds can be glimpsed for short periods of time. In those other worlds or dimensions there are intelligent entities. Some travellers manage to return back through the gateway with immense creative hordes, and tantalising theories and knowledge that they were simply not able to conjure otherwise.

12. Dark matter

Not a topic I would choose to end on. I don’t understand dark matter, and I don’t think it is understandable. In the same way as quantum mechanical theory keeps uncovering ever smaller levels of sub-atomic energy, I think that space is also fractally extensive.

Whilst we spend trillions attempting to extend our vision ever smaller and larger through the sub-atomic to cosmic realms we are taking our collective eye of the ball – the ball of earth upon which we are stood. The dark matter that is said to inhabit “space” also inhabits inner space. It inhabits all spaces. It must. It cannot be a property of one level of a fractal but not the other. Only the shape of a fractal changes – not it’s composition or properties.

VERDICT: Dark matter is all pervasive. It is inevitable that it is a constituent part of the energies we seek to work with, but I don’t see that it is dark matter alone that is being evoked, transmuted or dissipated. I also think that it is not energy itself that is changed, only its form.

So there you have it. Some random musings covering my current thoughts on energy in many of its classified forms. Given that most human classification systems are temporary at best, I suspect there is room for re-classification and revolution in the field of matter (no pun intended).

Gwas

Follow a true path.

Firstly, I need to state that I am no authority on magick. I speak from my limited experience of the practise as I have worked with Nature to extend the capabilities that dowsing has initiated and developed. My knowledge is a gnostic understanding of the intuitive possibilities envisioned during altered states of consciousness.

I often wonder how I moved so quickly and easily from dowsing to involve druidry too. There are a number of similarities which lead naturally on from dowsing into druidry. The following elements are common:-

• connection with an ‘other’ intelligence
• visualisation of purpose
• sense of wonder

Where the extension into druidry comes is with the realisation that energy can be interacted with, not simply observed and plotted. Magick directs the intention of the energy through visualisation and harmonisation of the body and mind’s frequencies. Dowsing, on the other hand, is lead by attunement to Nature’s own energy formations.

Magick is also the realisation that the ‘other’ intelligence can be communicated with, when one adopts a respectful attitude, and can maintain the focused relaxation required to dowse successfully. The ‘other’ soon becomes an amalgam of yourself and this other intelligence as you work together. It can play with you, you can play with it, but too much frivolity results in repercussions such as being sent on wild good chases, or becoming confused or drained.

On whatever level one chooses to recognise this togetherness, it is a bond that rewards, intruigues and challenges your every level of being – intellectual, philosophical, spiritual, physical, every level.

Learning to cope with the possibilities is the mastery of this art, whereas its practise is entirely natural and fluid from the beginning. If one is on the true path.

Gwas.