The Hedge Druid

Posts Tagged ‘menhir’

On a recent holiday to Brittany I was able to visit some new amazingly tall menhirs, standing stones, and some ones that I had visited before. As ever I was impressed by their sheer size, and I briefly had the chance to try to extract some more information about the stones and their properties. In this post I will discuss some of those properties, and how I think they may be generally applicable to standing stones.

Before I go on to my theories, however, I want to hark back to one of the pioneering ideas concerning standing stones. As you may know, we at the Hedge Druid Blog do not stand on ceremony and are more than willing to fly in the face of any established theory providing we have our own evidence to back such statements up. Just preparing the ground a little, you might say. Now, Mr Tom Graves is the exprt on the matter of standing stones, and his theories are expressed in his book “Needles of Stone” (download the book in HTML format here).

“Return to that stone circle that we saw before, glowing and pulsing with points and lines and zones of coloured light. As you watch, the battered and timeworn stones seem to dislimn, becoming smoother, finer, sharper: needles of stone set in the body of the earth, to match the needles of bone the ancient Chinese set in the body of man. Stone or bone, the needles controlled, and still control, the flow of energy through each body.

But stand back – you stand too close to see. Rise up into the air, higher, higher, like a hawk: the stone circle recedes to a glowing dot in a landscape that rolls away into the distance below you, a patchwork quilt of light. Around the circle the glowing lines spread out to connect every cell of that body: you see a fine filigree of threads just below the surface, weaving their way outward from the centre that glows; you see harsh beams of light connecting centre to centre across the country in straight lines. These centres are dotted along every line, but here and there you can see major intersections of the straight lines and the filigree, like focal points in a vast multi-layered cobweb. In some ways the whole scene is reminiscent of a micrograph of nerve cells and their ganglia, but on a much larger and brightly-coloured scale: in a sense, that is what the centres are, for in a sense what we see here is the circulation and nervous system of the body of the earth.

The focal points, the node-points in this matrix of energies, are the equivalent of acupuncture-points on a landscape scale. And set into these points are ‘needles’ not just of stone, but of all the five elements: a lone Scots Pine on a One-Tree Hill for wood, a sacred well for water, a barrow-mound for earth, and an ancient beacon for fire. For metal, a modern steel microwave mast, or the postbox that replaced the mark-stone on a lonely crossroad. The pattern of the past repeats itself in the present.” (Ch.5 ‘Needles of Stone’ -  Tom Graves)

“Dislimn” – that’s a great word, isn’t it? The WordPress spell-checker threw a wobbly at that one! It means to efface, or to cause to become indistinct. Such a poetic and infrequently used word, but so gorgeously succinct. You’ve got to hand it to the man – he can write beautiful phrases, and he sweeps you away with his ideas.

So, the idea he is expressing is that standing stones are just one aspect of the many megalithic or natural features that form the energetic body of the land. He is stating that they serve a purpose in pinning, locating, diverting or alleviating the subtle energetic forces within the landscape just as a practitioner of Chinese systems of medicine would do with their methods.

Next I will discuss my own theories on the way in which these tall stones work.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tuesday 12th May - Lampouy, Brittany

Another unexpected opportunity to do some dowsing, thanks to the wonderful “Megaliths of Brittany” guidebook from Aubrey Burl. We were supposed to be heading our to Rennes to have a look around the town, but because of the variable weather, and a lack of enthusiasm, we actually changed our minds half way there! So, out with the guide book – which sites may be nearby? Oh – the Lampouy Alignments, which, according to Burl, are “”second only to Carnac in importance“. Supposedly a collection of standing stones in four sets that were aligned to a main tall standing stone. Well, an opportunity not to be missed, even if the dowsing time may be limited due to an impatient passenger!

We veered off the N12 towards the Lampouy alignments and eventually found them. It seems as though, in Brittany, if you are heading in one direction you get good signage – but if you’re approaching from any other direction then there are no signs at all, or they are facing the wrong direction!

The first thing you see as you arrive is The Pierre Longue stone. I didn’t have a lot of time here. After ten days of menhir-hunting I was testing my spouse’s patience to the very limits – “what about our holiday” was the constant refrain. This WAS a holiday for me! Anyway, I was going to be quick. Too quick it turns out. I should have read Burl’s account properly before I started because I missed the southern-most stone, or “white stone”. Next time.

Anyway, to make the most of time I hurried along to the Pierre Longue stone which stood alone in a field of newly-sprouted crops.

The stone did not seem to have the 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 going through it that the sign indicated may be present (linking Mont St.Michel to Carnac), but instead I found a male line going out towards the set of aligned stones that were the most intact, the largest, and in the most beautiful setting.

As Burl explains there are four sets of aligned stones on the south side that look like four longboats rowing towards the Pierre Longue. This male line from the Pierre Longue stone was coming out of the rough dark patch of the stone that was facing south-east, and is facing us in the picture above. The picture below shows the direction.

Next stop was the alignments themselves. I rushed down to the first 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. row. The four 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. rows were in various states of repair. Some were covered almost completely by grass and bushes, others seemed to be quite derelict in the shape and position of the stones, and whether they were standing or recumbent. As I moved from one to the next the situation improved. I wondered at the possible reasons for four sets of aligned stones – was this too a form of energy generator, like I have theorised Carnac to be, or did they form some sort of channel, ensuring that energy lines that crossed the country were funnelled through this point?

At the first set of aligned stones I dowsed for the types of energy. It had a male and female energy stream (white streamA flow of positive energised and healing subtle energy. The white streams usually emanate from a source of good energy such as a holy well, a sacred site, a power centre or a place of worship of good intent. We have found that white stream energy consists primarily of male and female energy combined in a balanced and harmonious blend, such that the two streams “play” with each other, warping and wefting in a dance that invigorates and enlivens everything that comes into contact with it. If a human stands in such a stream then they will feel positive, happy and energised, warm even.). There was no 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 here either. They “felt” good (I was beginning to tune into the energy patterns by now, and beginning to imagine I could feel their qualities – whether beneficial or detrimental). There was nothing I wanted (or had time) to do other than get a feel for them, check their 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., dowse for what types of energy were within them (or they were on top of) and trace a quick pattern around them following the male or female energy lines. The energy between the stone linked them together, but somewhat randomly (sometimes a stone would be missed out by a female line, whereas the male lines were more consistent). I moved on to the next 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. eagerly.

The second 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. was even more derelict than the first, and was quite difficult to spot as most of the stones were small and hidden beneath grass or ferns. I spotted them edging a groove in the ground that snaked away into the far fields beyond the farmhouse half a mile or so away. Energetically there was nothing interesting to note. On to the next, with the hope that it was more intact.

The third 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. was hidden in a row of trees and had stones that diminished in size as they went northwards. In the picture below the view of looking south towards the larger stones. Most of the stones had been felled, but they nestled conveniently between the line of trees and seemed to form a counterpoint rhythm to the line that the trees had grown on.

Testing for a ley lineThe term used by many British dowsers to describe an energy leyA straight line of neutral energy linking two or more sacred sites or other energetic centres. This is often confused with Alfred Watkins’ concept of the Ley Line. Strictly speaking a ley line does not necessarily mean a neutral energy line, only a sight alignmentAlignment relates to the concept that humans have their own energy fields that are oriented or formed in a specific way such that the person is either suited better to one energy source of another. Some people have their energy fields empowered by the direct subtle energy force of The Sun, whilst others are empowered by the indirect subtle energy of The Moon. Due to the historical associations and symbolisation of The Sun with masculinity and The Moon with femininity we designate these alignments as either being ‘male’ or ‘female’ alignments accordingly. We interchangeable refer to people as being ‘sun-aligned’ or ‘male-aligned’ and similarly with the female alignment. between notable places, whereas an energy ley is like a radial spoke in a wheel, with energy flowing outwards across the land in a straight line. It has sometimes been found that the energy ley can be diverted from its strict straight path by changes in the landscape or strong attractors that pull it away from its original course. Energy leys may have inter-twining streams of male and female energies weaving along them, as though the energy ley is an attractor, a pathway or a conduit for the male and female energies.. It is easily confused with ley and therefore its use is not recommended by dowsers. (a neutral 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.) running through it I again found nothing. The tourist information sign seemed to hint that there was a line somewhere around, though. Was I just not finding it? Was I being too quick and not thorough enough? I asked the rods the kind of question that makes Kal wince, “Is there a 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 lineThe term used by many British dowsers to describe an energy leyA straight line of neutral energy linking two or more sacred sites or other energetic centres. This is often confused with Alfred Watkins’ concept of the Ley Line. Strictly speaking a ley line does not necessarily mean a neutral energy line, only a sight alignmentAlignment relates to the concept that humans have their own energy fields that are oriented or formed in a specific way such that the person is either suited better to one energy source of another. Some people have their energy fields empowered by the direct subtle energy force of The Sun, whilst others are empowered by the indirect subtle energy of The Moon. Due to the historical associations and symbolisation of The Sun with masculinity and The Moon with femininity we designate these alignments as either being ‘male’ or ‘female’ alignments accordingly. We interchangeable refer to people as being ‘sun-aligned’ or ‘male-aligned’ and similarly with the female alignment. between notable places, whereas an energy ley is like a radial spoke in a wheel, with energy flowing outwards across the land in a straight line. It has sometimes been found that the energy ley can be diverted from its strict straight path by changes in the landscape or strong attractors that pull it away from its original course. Energy leys may have inter-twining streams of male and female energies weaving along them, as though the energy ley is an attractor, a pathway or a conduit for the male and female energies.. It is easily confused with ley and therefore its use is not recommended by dowsers. running through the Lampouy site somewhere?“. YES. Right, it was here, I just had to find it. Next obvious question for the rods, “Please lead me to the nearest place where I can find a 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.” – hoping that there weren’t loads of them, as I was short of time! It took me further to the east, along a trail that seemed to be heading towards the furthest set of 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. stones.

The fourth 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. was the most interesting. It had the largest stones and had the 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 I had been searching for. Apparently this 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. links Mont St Michel in the north-east with Carnac to the south-west of Brittany. You can just about see the line drawn in this photo:

I dowsed around as usual and found some very strong lines running around, into and through the large stones in this 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. set. Soon I put the rods down and just wandered in and around the stones.

The 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. seemed to draw me from the southern end to the northern end, weaving around each stone, following what I felt to be the female line. Trying to feel the energies again I did indeed feel the “motorway” of the neutral ley running through this section, and I felt the sinewing power of the male and female lines as they inter-wove around the 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.. It was quite thrilling, and emotionally charged. I felt a frisson of energy and was smiling, even in the face of the light drizzle that had started.

Time to get back to the car. As I was about to take my hiking boots off I spotted a stone that had been lying in the back of my car from a previous site visit months ago. For some reason I couldn’t stop looking at it. I decided it wanted to remain here, and that the Pierre Longue stone was a suitable new home, but I also had another idea for it rather than just leaving it – I would make an energetic bridge between this leyline and 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. back home! After placing the stone and doing some energy work I dowsed the stone – yes, it recognised a link with my house. Good. Done. Time to go and get on with our holiday!

Gwas.

Leaving a marker.

This is the final part of the blog posts about the three main Carnac sites I visited in May of 2009. I didn’t feel inclined to dowse inside the fenced off field of stones, as I had already gathered the information I needed from the other fields, so M and I concentrated on visiting the satellite sites around the field of alignments.

Kerlescan

We drove to the last field of stone alignments. It had been a long walk already in the strong Breton sunshine and we didn’t want to end the day completely exhausted before driving back to the northern coast again. We drove past the Ménec stones again, the two pairs of entrance stones, the Kermario stones and tower, and now we were into new territory as the road wound through the beautiful woods that line the road. It reminded us of Delamere Forest close to home, but with megalithic surprises and stunning vistas of flowing stone rows round every corner.

We parked in a little car park that held only eight cars and bagged the last space. Seems as though this section was quite popular with dog walkers. Certainly there were plenty of hounds bounding around as we began the walk past a horse stable and down the only path through the woods, following the occasional wooden sign pointing to The Quadrangle and Giant’s Stone. Sounded exciting, and for once I hadn’t done my homework in terms of knowing what was coming up, or where to find it, “C’est loin au Géant?” I asked a group of people coming in the other direction after ten minutes walk down the path. “Oui – c’est sept kilometres!” one of them joked with a grin before telling us that it was really only a short distance further to the two sites. Good job it wasn’t far – we were tiring quickly after spending the whole day walking and dowsing.

Manio III

We emerged into a clearing with a quadrangle made of thin slabs of stone. Within sight of that was a huge menhir, nineteen feet tall. This looked interesting. First thing’s first – the quadrangle.

A long rectangle of upright slabs of stone that enclosed a space that must have been a special space. The slabs were between a foot and three feet tall. A habitation perhaps? A religious building? A sacred space, I wondered? I dowsed for the location of a power centreA place where a person of a particular alignmentAlignment relates to the concept that humans have their own energy fields that are oriented or formed in a specific way such that the person is either suited better to one energy source of another. Some people have their energy fields empowered by the direct subtle energy force of The Sun, whilst others are empowered by the indirect subtle energy of The Moon. Due to the historical associations and symbolisation of The Sun with masculinity and The Moon with femininity we designate these alignments as either being ‘male’ or ‘female’ alignments accordingly. We interchangeable refer to people as being ‘sun-aligned’ or ‘male-aligned’ and similarly with the female alignment. (see ‘AlignmentAlignment relates to the concept that humans have their own energy fields that are oriented or formed in a specific way such that the person is either suited better to one energy source of another. Some people have their energy fields empowered by the direct subtle energy force of The Sun, whilst others are empowered by the indirect subtle energy of The Moon. Due to the historical associations and symbolisation of The Sun with masculinity and The Moon with femininity we designate these alignments as either being ‘male’ or ‘female’ alignments accordingly. We interchangeable refer to people as being ‘sun-aligned’ or ‘male-aligned’ and similarly with the female alignment.’) feels particularly comfortable and empowered. The place is an energetic centre where a particularly beneficial combination and formation of energies is formed into a pattern that is harmonic with the person for whom it can be called a power centre. of energy. Nothing. OK, what about a female line? Nothing. A male line? Nothing. Any energy at all here? Nothing. It was barren! Completely empty of any energy. OK, maybe something had happened to clear it. I later read in the book “Standing Stones: Stonehenge, Carnac and the World of Megaliths” published by Thames & Hudson that the site had once been covered by a mound of earth – a tumulus. The book stated that the quadrangle had been the site of many burials. Did it have any energy in it? NO. Nothing at all, I re-queried? NO. Time to move on.

Giant’s Stone

There was a stunning view of the megalith called The Giant’s Stone from the Quadrangle. An overgrown path through the trees framed it perfectly, and it was too tempting. I hurried on towards it eager to see whether this stone was still energised or not. I wasn’t alone. The stone seemed to be drawing people to it, yet no-one was lingering at the quadrangle for long. A boy was walking along the tops of the slabs, but quickly got bored with that and headed for the Giant’s Stone. It seemed to draw people towards it.

I approached the Giant with my copper rods and began asking questions in the midst of the constant stream of visiting groups. I stood alongside it and decided to dowse outwards from the stone for the nemeton, instead of my usual approach method. Why hadn’t I thought of doing it this way before? It was such an obvious way to do it. The rods showed a barrier response some thirty-odd feet away. Quite impressive! It was consistent on both sides in terns of its size.

The stone itself tested for having inherent female energy. It was drawing up energy from the earth – female energy. In addition it was drawing down female moon energy. I was intrigued by the stone and how much people who were visiting it wanted to touch it and stay around it for ages. I waited for my next opportunity in between the people posing by the Giant. I wondered if there was any energetic formation in evidence here. Did the stone make any particular pattern with these female earth and moon energies? The rods crossed in confirmation that there was something there. Off I went, starting from a small indentation on the stone’s western edge. A line moved around in an arc. Several minutes later I had found a most fascinating shape – it was a labyrinthine pattern similar to the labyrinth that I had identified as the spirit of the Callenish complex. I was both amazed and delighted at the pattern – a beautiful flowing path that ended in a small terminus spiral near the centre.

Exit point for the energy spiral

Kercado Tumulus

We returned to the car and then continued down the road past the Kerlescan field of stone alignments. No stopping this time, but just viewing their incredible expanse. I spotted another site to visit on the map : Kercado Tumulus. Sounded interesting, so off we went, turning down the entrance way to what appeared to be a stately home of some kind. In the car park for the site we saw a sign advertising the Indian Restaurant located somewhere within the confines of the manor house. What an unusual place to have an Indian Restaurant! It was like finding a Pizza Hut on top of the Cliffs of Dover.

Well, can I add anything to that? Only that M bumped her head going into the entrance and had to retire yelping to the standing stone that was twenty feet in front of the opening, where she curled up in pain! I came back out to comfort her, but there’s nothing you can do apart from check there are no fractures….not conducive to continuing dowsing, so I hurried off a few pictures and we left shortly afterwards.

If you visit Kercado please make sure you keep low down for several feet when you enter. It’s solid rock and not very forgiving!

All around the site on the shaded side are small standing stones that must have once ringed the tumulus. I had not yet experienced a tumulus that had been preserved close to what I can merely guess may be its original format. Other tumuli seem to have mainly lost their encasing circles and now stand alone. Perhaps I just haven’t seen enough of them, but Kercado was nice to visit – a pleasant site in a lovely setting.

Conclusion

This had been a long day, but so worthwhile. There had been so many correlations between this set of expansive sites and other sites I have dowsed previously. If you have any interest at all in the natural wonders that we have been left with by our ancestors, then Carnac is one of those places that inspire a wonder that refreshes the soul. For me, it gave me a jolt of inspiration and motivation to continue working harder to uncover the way in which these energy centres could be used today. So many sites have been lost to use through wanton destruction, ignorance and neglect that we should visit what we have left while we still have them.

I have been stunned by the number of people visiting ancient sites whilst Kal and I have been working there – some are almost continuously visited in all weathers. That much is heartening – but surely the time must come when we need to evaluate their significance as they are so much more than simply curiosities. I think people feel that at a deep and almost subconscious level. We need to bring that feeling out into a more conscious light by showing how they can be used to benefit the lands in which they stand.

Gwas Myrddyn.

Brittany, Thursday 7th May
This is the fourth post in my Brittany dowsing series, and for a brief moment I will be back-tracking. On the same day as we went to Mont St.Michel we had a small diversion to Dol De Bretagne, a town just off the main route along the Cotes D’Armour coast between St.Brieuc and St.Malo. In this town, reputed to be the source of the Stuart royal dynasty, we found the Dol De Bretagne menhir, or the Champ Dolent stone.

The Champ Dolent Stone

It would have been rude to pass up such an obvious invitation to dowse some stones before the main event. The fairly large-scale road map we had showed a menhir located in the town of Dol De Bretagne called ‘Le Champ Dolent’ meaning the Field of Sorrows, supposedly. Well, on arriving at the stone the clouds parted and the sun began to smile down on us. Whilst we were at the roadside site (with picnic tables) that surrounded the stone there was a constant stream of visitors. People are still fascinated by these menhirs and ancient sites. I wonder what it makes them think about? I think about the energies there.

Creation Myths made cartoon

As you approach the well-maintained path to the gigantic menhir there is some information on a sign. The cartoons depicted the various ‘creation myths’ that accounted for its presence of the stone, and a tale warning of disaster if it was allowed to wear down to nothing! We see that God dropped the stone to separate two warring armies, and also that Satan, in a jealous fit, threw the giant stone at an Abbey that had been built nearby, but missed. Always amusing how these stories are quite similar all around the megalithic zones along the west coasts of Europe.

The Dowsing Bit

What a stone, though! As I poised the rods I took a moment to take it all in. I didn’t even see the picnic tables dotted around the small avenue of trees and grass that cushioned the narrow path to the menhir. I was captivated by its size. This stone was at least thirty feet high and six feet thick. It was slightly squared and tapered to a beautifully crafted peak. Again, it seemed to be made of the local pink or light salmon-coloured granite. It had very few marks on it either. A few lines and battles scars, but mainly perfectly smooth and sculpted – ‘dressed’ as they say.

I started dowsing at the small ‘King Stone’ that was close to the site’s entrance. This stone was about a foot and a half wide by two or three feet long and just an inviting height to want to sit on. I asked if it had any energy of its own? NO. Was there any energy around it? YES, a female spiral. I dowsed that it came to a spiral on the stone. If this wasn’t the stone’s own energy then I wondered if this stone was just transforming some energy source? I asked if the energy was coming up from the earth into the stone? NO. From the sun (which was now shining merrily)? NO. Going well! From the moon? YES. Fitted with the female spiral. Was this a transformer stone? YES. Like Nine Ladies and many others. A stone that transforms the moon’s radiant reflected energies in some way.

I looked for a link to the big menhir some fifty feet away. Was there any energetic link between the two, I asked the rods? YES. I followed the female spiral out of the Queen Stone as it wound its way from tree to tree, side to side up the avenue of ten feet tall tree that lines the route between the two stones. It ended up going around and close to the menhir before pulling the rods into the left-hand side. Good. A connection made.

The connection between the two stones prompted me to think about the consequences of that link. Which stone was feeding which with this female energy? I checked the direction of flow. From the large menhir to the small stone. But then where? I dowsed to find where the energy went after it reached the Queen Stone and was taken in a circle, across the road on which we had parked, into the field opposite (luckily they don’t go for hedges much in France) and back to the smaller stone again. It was a twenty feet wide circle of a feminine energy field emitted from the Queen Stone. Interesting. I wondered what effect that had on anything, after all – it’s fine to find these fields but what are their effects? I didn’t yet know, either here or anywhere else yet. I turned my attention back to the menhir again.

After my recent experience with the St Uzec stone I was keen to see what the nemeton of this stone was like. I walked all the way back to the small road we had come in on, close to the outlying Queen Stone. I dowsed up the path to the menhir but only travelled some five feet before the rods gave a barrier sign! That was massive – the biggest nemeton field I have ever dowsed, for definite. HUGE! The picture above shows the extent of it. I dowsed all the way along the nemeton’s edge and found it to be not quite as large on the other side where it went through a ploughed field (only twenty-five feet or so). Nevertheless, it encompassed almost all of the path leading up to itself on the side where people would approach it, I checked for male lines – none. Neutral lines? None. This was an exclusively female + moon energy site.

I now felt like doing a little energy work. I asked to find the best place to stand to be in tune with the stone and to feel re-charged, Well, I was on holiday! The rods led me to the left-hand side of the stone again. I tried not to stand in the small dog turd at that spot. We find this kind of thing often at power centres. Animals like to defalcate there for some reason. Not always but too often to have gone unnoticed as a coincidence. I stood near to the stone at that side, touching its huge side and relaxed. Soon I felt a dual drawing-out motion at my feet and a filling-in from above, like being showered in very smooth and light water.

I picked up the rods again, Please show me the most energetic path to walk, I prompted. The rods moved around the back of the stone to pass over the small un-energetic stone that lay at the base of the menhir (another handy chair for tired tourists) and then down through three female spiral power centres until finally curling back around the Queen Stone, inviting you to sit on it and muse awhile, which I duly did. This site felt great. Not at all like the St Uzec stone. Both M and I felt completely at home here, happy to linger for ages. Many people came by, had their sandwiches gazing at the stone, then left only to be followed by yet another person “just stopping off”. It was nice to see that other people agreed with this feeling. It was nice to be around such a beautiful and energetic monument to an ancient people’s harmony with nature,

I asked M to follow me as I wound my way down this energetic trail of three power spirals, and she felt the stone’s intense buzz as she neared it. She had a low grade headache that morning (probably from squinting in the bright sunlight) but by the time she had walked the trail this had disappeared. Coincidence, I’m sure, but this is not the first time that has happened. Psychological and auto-suggestive it may be, but it works every time.

The powerful and impressive Dol De Bretagne menhir is certainly worth a visit if you’re in that area. But I guarantee you won’t be the only one there!

Gwas.

Following everyone else, it seems!

We had left Callanish II in a slightly confused state of mind. Callanish III had been lovely, Callanish II the complete opposite. We picked ourselves up and headed for the recommended Carloway Broch – a partially reconstructed shelter that we expected would be like a small stone shelter big enough to possibly fit us both in. Our sense of scale was about to be flabbergasted.

Dun Carloway Broch looked like a small pillar-box hat on a bald man’s head as we approached it from the landward side. The winds had decided to have a contest to see which of the Four Winds could rip our faces off, but still we approached the round stone tower.  As we neared the small entrance portal we were literally stopped in our tracks by the screams of the winds. I crouched and entered. Complete silence! I was startled, my mind thinking that perhaps I had made the wind up or something. I bobbed my head back out for a second only to get an ear-lashing blast that made my hat shift nervously and made my eyes squint. Back in again – pure silence. Amazing!

Both inside now we marvelled at the architecture – half exposed circular staircases that spiralled upwards between two layers of stone. Cavity walls! Around the base were three small square openings. This looked like dowsing territory, so I whipped them out (sounds like a Frankie Howard gag).

I started with one of the square openings. A female line came out and spiralled four or five times into the very centre of the broch. Good start.  Female lines came out of and went into each of the holes, one of them leading out of the entrance door. I dowsed for a male line in the doorway. Yes, there was one which spiralled loosely into the broch and then joined to a mound of irregular stone on the floor inside the broch. This stone had not been cleared or chipped away to make the floor even like the other parts – and it had two parallel lines etched into it. The male line came into the stone and then followed the line and width of these scores in the rock.

Lines on stone in broch show male 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. location and direction.

I went back to the entrance again. A male and a female line here on either side of the entry. Wat about the middle? I dowsed across to find a neutral line there and followed in straight to the back wall – completely straight. I turned around to see where this line through the doorway pointed…

At a nipple, by the look of it! I got out my compass and checked the 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.. I was facing due North. It struck me that this all fitted into some kind of design principle and aligned with something that I couldn’t determine at this scale. I would check to see if it was connected directly with something further south or north one day soon. I went to sit on the unusual rock, which had a white streamA flow of positive energised and healing subtle energy. The white streams usually emanate from a source of good energy such as a holy well, a sacred site, a power centre or a place of worship of good intent. We have found that white stream energy consists primarily of male and female energy combined in a balanced and harmonious blend, such that the two streams “play” with each other, warping and wefting in a dance that invigorates and enlivens everything that comes into contact with it. If a human stands in such a stream then they will feel positive, happy and energised, warm even. 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 it. We both did. We smiled.

As we sat there, me stratching my head at the fact that the energies seemed to map themselves along the lines scored in the rock, who should make an appearance? The lone mad cyclist. He looked wild-eyed and inquisitive and we chatted briefly about the splendour of the construction, and his foolhardy choice of a day to be cycling. We retreated to the car to let him absorb the same atmosphere of stillness that we had just enjoyed, sheltering from the elements.

Having heard, however, that Sunday was not a day to be without provisions on an island this far from a corner shop we had sandwiches, and were now seeking out a good place to eat them before continuing our site visits. Dalmore beach (Dail mor) looked promising, so we determined to head for that. We parked up to watch the white horses on the waves tumbling backwards in the high winds then crashing in orchestral union across the expanse of the bay. The birds had grounded themselves and hung around on the beach looking pensive and shifty, out of their element.

M and I spent some time drawing spirals, shapes and names into the pristine expanse of sand, then headed back to the car with a buzzing feeling in our heads and hearts.

We stopped briefly at Na Gearrannan Village – a vision of how people once lived. It was a restored and rebuilt village of thatched longhouses called blackhouses. We spent far too long in the toilets examining the way these buildings were constructed, but luckily we were the only visitors for the duration. Not a tourist day today!

Our last stop that day was the Truiseil Stone – a huge menhir, twenty or so feet high. I dowsed it eagerly finding that the stone was strongly male (not a great surprise). I wondered if it had a wide-ranging energy field, as it was so high. I retreated down the small aimless path to a good distance and began dowsing for its edge. About thirty feet away I got a barrier response and looked down to spot a stone embedded in the path at that point. It extended to the same length on both sides.

There were male lines sinewing fairly directly into the stone along the centre line of the path. Female lines wavering around to touch each edge of the path (skirting along edge of a dip in the path on one side). There was a feeling of immense power when walking into the nemeton field. I asked the rods to find the strongest and most beneficial place for me to stand. I walked around the stone’s base until I stopped at the flat side (facing camera in picture below). Here I felt warm, bubbling with subtle gentle rising energy which felt like an internal bubble bath. I hung around for a while enjoying the experience. Where was the wind? I could see its effects in the grass of the fields around me but couldn’t really hear much of it, and could barely feel it blowing, yet I knew it was still very strong all around me. Strange.

Showing extent of nemeton, from pillar to outlier – 30+ feet.

We had enjoyed a full weekend of interesting, amazing sites and sights. The highland lochs, the pass of Glen Coe, the Argyll & Bute forests, the mountains of Skye and Harris, the Coullins in perfect white shroud, Callanish stone circles aplenty, lone standing stones, ancient stone towers of superb construction, a huge menhir, eagles and deer, bays and beaches. It really had been a treat for the senses and the soul.

Gwas.

Following the northern lights and sights.