The Hedge Druid

Posts Tagged ‘omens’

In this final part of our two-day trip to Iona I will tell you a quick story about an incident that was indeed quite incidental to the rest of the pilgrimage. Pilgrimage? Is that what I’m calling this now? I supose it was, really. I was visiting the land formerly walked by druids, and which was once studded with megalithic sites and groves. Anyway, in this post I will tell you about a small piece of spirit release work that I did in passing, as it were.

St Columba’s Hotel

Kal and I had been speaking with an American couple over drinks and cakes at the St.Columba Hotel. They were due to go for dinner at 7:30pm, and we had kept them talking since about 3pm! It was a most gentle-tempered and highly educated conversation considering our relative viewpoints. Chuck was a preacher from the Christian tradition, and his wife Connie was equally well-versed in such teachings. Kal and I, on the other hand, were doing our best to generalise our opinions and thoughts such that we didn’t offend the couple with any hint of paganism, yet I’m sure they guessed with the un-subtle hints that I gave during the course of the discussions. I can’t help myself sometimes. At one point I mentioned something about a knight in reference to Kal and he shot dark daggers at me across the table. I giggled. The couple were very liberal, anyway, well-spoken and delightful company too.

I had agreed to use the one phone box on the island to call my wife at 6:30, because mobile reception was so poor on the island (I had once called her from the top of Dun I because Kal noticed a signal!). So at 6:15 I made my excuses and left, heading out into the wind and gloom that covered the island at this time of the evening. It would be dark soon, but I would be back in the hotel by then, I thought. I made my call and reassured M that I wouldn’t miss the morning ferry. Apparently I have ‘a habit of doing that’ (which means that ONCE I missed one, therefore I can never be trusted to catch any more ferries ever again).

The village was deserted and the light was fading as I began to walk back up the hill on the only road, the one which would take me back to the hotel and relative warmth (and beer – don’t forget the beer!). It was twilight – the space between day and night, and gap between two worlds. I wondered if I should take the route through the Nunnery which would also take me past St.Ronan’s Chapel? Something suggested I should, so I turned into the grounds and switched on my ‘etheric radar’ to see if there was anything mooching around at this time of the evening.

The Iona Nunnery in daylight

As I walked along the path I felt a little tug on my ‘scanner’. Something was about twenty feet away to my left, somewhere at the back end of the Nunnery. Of course, I went to see what it was.

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RJ Stewart - scares the pimples off toads

Every now and again I come across and idea that I can really tune into. One such idea is espoused by author R.J.Stewart in his book “The Well of Light – From Faery Healing to Earth Healing“. Something tells me from Mr.Stewart’s demeanour that spending time with that man might be a scary experience, and he looks a bit mad. But then, look at some of the ideas that I now go along with – several years ago I would have said the same of myself!

The idea that got me excited was his concept of the Seven Aptitudes required to work with the Faery entities which could provide a gateway into developing skills such as healing. So, what is “faery healing” and what are these “seven aptitudes” he espouses? Well, let’s examine his concept of faery healing.

Stewart says that faery healing is a healing process that involves energy-working involving the co-operation of energetic beings who we have traditionally called “faery folk”. He spends some chapters explaining that there are different types of faery folk, and that they present themselves to us in different ways. He goes on to label the smaller kinds as one sort, and the hive or larger, more complex entities as something else – yet stressing that they are all size and quantity differentiations of the same thing – an intelligent spirit form that is all around us if only we bothered to pay attention to it.

Without getting any further into the healing aspects – which I will cover once I have read, absorbed, and worked through the book – I wanted to bring out the “aptitudes” that he mentions as being the seven aspects through which you might encounter the faery realm, and through which you can work with it.

He states that we all have these aptitudes within us, but that they are often latent unless accidentally triggered or brought out through working on them, or naturally develop as part of some spiritual work we may be involved in.

The seven aptitudes he lists as being:-

1. Working with Water
2. Working with Stones
3. Working with Allies and Co-Walkers
4. Working with Plants and Herbs
5. Working with Living Creatures
6. Working with Touch (palms of the hands or fingertips)
7. Working with Signatures (patterns in the landscape)

Let me do a little translation and explanation of these aptitudes based upon the work that Kal and I do, and you may begin to see that we work with almost every aspect of these aptitudes, although we clearly favour one or two more than others.

Working with water is the energising of water with subtle energy. Kal especially has done a lot of work with this and it is now a part of his daily routine to energise water. For me, water is in balance with the other elements that I work with, but I favour Air above the other forms. I have a particular affinity with Air and its spirits, and I leave Water work to those who feel this affinity. I can find water with my dowsing rods, but I don’t make that a regular feature of my work because I live in Britain where water is an abundant resource.

Working with stones is defined as working with standing stones, stone circles, stones that have an energy signature, or ones that we pick up and use. Into this category I would also add crystals. Well, this is almost 90% of what Kal and I work with at any given sacred site! We are forever picking stones up, using crystals, and working at sacred sites. This would be one of our foremost aptitudes, I would say, but the rods say otherwise! The dowsing rods indicated to me that this was an aptitude I had, but not a strong one! Well, I live and learn.

Working with Allies and Co-Walkers. For me this translates as working with faery entities and “ascended” human forms. I define it as all of the “Underworld” and “Otherworld” work that we do in communion with spirit forces, and I include death energy forms in this too. In recent years this has gained a certain degree of prominence in our work, as I’m sure you have discovered by reading this blog! When I dowsed whether this was a strong aptitude for me I got a very strong response. News to me!

Working with plants and herbs is not something we do particularly. We tend to limit this work to our interactions with teaching trees. I have a couple of books on herb lore and tree lore, which I intend to read up on at some point, but this is not our major focus. Stewart emphasises that this aptitude is not related to the substance of plants, but to their spirit forces. There are other people for whom working with plant spirits is very important. I am not one of those people at the moment, but I respect their work.

Working with living creatures is something that we have begun to recognise in our work with birds and totem animals. Reading the signs of bird behaviour is something that I attach to almost every task now, and my totem is the hawk, but this is not exclusive. Recently a badger guided me to return to a task at a particular and more appropriate time, for example. I would again say this is not our primary focus, but we do recognise its increasing significance in our work.

Healing from the palm chakras being developed

Working with touch is something that I wrote about recently in two ways. The first was when I discussed druid divination techniques that involved “deviceless dowsing” or feeling for energy through the medium of touch – through the hands. Also I have recently posted about my experiences about being guided on my current healing task by being shown that my palms chakras are the way that I should take in and give out healing energy forces. This is going to assume much greater significance over the next six months, I’m sure. Also, remember how I was shown an image of being able to work with plants through touch this Spring? I would classify this as an aptitude that I am getting increasingly involved with. Add to that Kal’s Reiki master level training and I think we have this one covered!

As far as the dowsing rods were concerned this was another area that responded positively and very strongly. Possibly the strongest response of all, indicating that for me this healing path is something I am going to have to let emerge, as it seems to be a talent I have been keeping hidden for too long.; Interestingly, this was what my psychic friend Mike had said to me many months ago but I had put it to one side at the time.

Working with signatures in the land is the final aptitude that Stewart discusses. Stewart defines a signature as being a pattern of behaviour in the landscape, in Nature, that delivers a message to the natural magician. For example, Kal and I often talk of seeing “signs” or “omens” in our surroundings – the appearance or sound of birds, clouds, wind, an animal crossing your path. The patterns in the landscape can take any form and they are always only available and meaningful to you personally – they mean nothing to anyone else. They are specific to place and time, and to your frame of mind.

I would like to add another aspect to this particular aptitude. Kal and I think of these energy signatures as being “sigils”, or subtle energy in geometric forms. A quick search on the site will reveal many posts in which we describe and utilise these energy signatures in our work. These were particularly important when we started with the dowsing aspects of our work, but now that we have moved on into other areas these sigils are less important for us. Nevertheless, I do not diminish their significance, only the use for us at this time.

R.J.Stewart, in a bid not to alienate his audience, states that we ought to have at least one of these aptitudes, and that will suffice. I think we can say that Kal and I have developed most of these aptitudes by following our spiritual paths without prejudice or undue preference. Obviously some have developed more than others, and some may never develop much further than us trying them out and seeing where they take us at that time, especially as we begin to concentrate on those aptitudes that we gain the most from, or which give the most to others.

Going with the flow of the universe has been a challenging but incredibly rewarding learning course for us. We welcome developing all seven aptitudes, and can’t wait to see how they lead us through this healing phase of our work. I think this is an interesting framework to keep an eye on whilst we develop, and see whether each area has something to offer our healing capabilities as they mature.

Gwas.

More information:

• R.J.Stewart’s DreamPower web site
• His book publishing site
• Stewart’s books on Amazon

A few months ago I was returning from work on a lovely sunny afternoon when a bright shining light caught my attention. Hold on, it wasn’t anything mysterious. It was the sun sparkling of the face of a distant church. I was surprised by the sight and felt a calling to it. As is rarely the case these days, I ignored this intuitive call and continued on my way home.

Since that time I have occasionally had a twinge to go and look for this hidden church but have resisted the urge with remarkable rationality. Recent circumstances have suggested to me to move away from my current residence and look for a new place to stay. Although my current residence was found through very synchronistic means and one of those rare occasions when your higher self intervenes directly in your affairs. We are co-creators and it is about time to make another shift.

I was perusing the rent-a-room site looking for a place when my eye was caught by an advert. I read the description, it was perfect. I sent an email off straight away and considered my position. My main criteria had been broadband internet access, which my current landlord for various reasons was averse to installing. However, I had an issue. The room had a minimum stay of 3 months and my contract was/is due to finish in one month. An interesting conundrum.

The following evening I went to view the property and found to my surprise that it was adjacent to the above mentioned church. As I was walking up the slight hill, I recognised the building immediately and since I had some spare time. I decided to wander through it and feel the energies. It has a remarkable feel to it and I thought that it would be great to be living by it and explore the energies at my leisure.

As a follower of signs I knew almost at once that this was the place for me. Signs are signs! I visited with the delightful residents of the house and we got on famously. I have to say though that they had had much interest in their place and even though I offered to take the place immediately they asked to reflect on it.

For about 5 minutes I wondered whether this was a path I should be following. Nah! Of course it was. I knew that I would be offered the room. And even as I walked past the old sign, the church of St Mary, I knew that my work contract would be extended by the required three months.

I am not into predictions but I am into future confidence and I am confident that both of these truths will come to pass. Let’s see if they do!

Kal Malik

Addendum: In complete disregard of what might be I have just returned from paying the first months rent on a place that I might not even need.

Addendum 2: A week later my boss called me into his office. You have your extension he said, we’d like to keep you on for 14 weeks. I was bemused, because my intent was for 12 weeks. I apologised to him and said that I could only accept 12 weeks. He looked surprised. After all contractors were supposed to be happy with “more” time not less. I, however stuck to my guns and said that I could only work until 14 Oct. He went off and consulted with higher authorities and returned with the same 14 weeks. Again I apologised and said that  could only do 12. But on impulse I suggested we look at the calendar. We did so and found that I was mistake. It was 13 weeks that took me to the 14th. So we were still a week short of the required time. My manager went off a second time.

It was at this point that a friend called me up and asked whether I was free for the weekend. I replied no, and his comment was, “Why, are you working the weekend or something?” What a revelation! I approached my manager and gave him some middle ground. I would work the extra 5 days over the weekend (at the same cost as a weekday) to make the 14 weeks.

Kal Malik ~ Knight Errant

This Saturday I had many tasks planned and as Friday evening approached I had lined all my ducks in a row ready for the weekend. However after Saturday mornings Costa coffee. I changed my mind and decided a good hike into the south was definitely required. Even as I returned back to my lodgings I felt I shouldn’t go out today. But I fought it and a quick look through megalithic had me opting for a 2 1/2 drive to the Merry Maidens and a nearby Fogou.

I got into my car and was off southwards within moments. Alas my intuition proved correct and within 8 miles of my starting point I had a rear tyre blow-out not only that but I was in the middle of no-wheres ville. Struggling a little I managed to pull into a farm yard lane and got out to change the tyre. my efforts on getting the nuts off was not up to the task I’m afraid and I eventually resorted to calling out an emergency service (which now that I’m wandering the country, i am a fully paid up member of).

As I waited the 2 hours that they said they would take I pondered my lack of following my intuition. Since I was in the middle of fields and a little wood, I decided to hike on over and do some communing with trees. Dowsing rods in hand I sat myself against a lovely beech tree and opened my senses. I was curious, was there anything to learn from this situation?

Now, between you and me, I’m not a believer in the we’re here to learn lessons idea about life, however within life I believe we can and do have lessons.

So I pondered the annoyance of having to wait for the emergency services and my lack of strength in removing the tyre. Of course I realised that if I’d take more of an interest in the gym (although I do quite a bit of running) then this wouldn’t have been an issue. I felt the nudgeof intuition whilst thinking about this and from the depths of communing a message was delivered from the brash young beech tree.

A knight has to have strength of arm

Wow! Seriously? No, it was just a flight of imagination I was sure. I got up from my hardseat, it was a mere 20 minutes from when I had called the tow truck only another hour and forty minutes to go. But even as signs and omens were clustering my thoughts I looked back to my trusty car and there coming up the road was the tow truck. As I ran to my car, the rods pure coincidence were ringing in my ears. But hey who was I to argue?

I thanked the chap who had my tyre changed in two minutes and he said that I was lucky that he had been so close by. Indeed. He did however make a curious passing remark, “how unlikely is it to have two blow outs on the same day?”  Hmmm I decided to not take another risk (see what signs do to you?) and headed off to find a garage to buy a tyre. The truck man had given two addresses and in minutes I was at the first, “sorry we don’t have your tyre” Okaayy.

I popped the second into my Sat Nav and a few minutes later it was saying you have reached your destination…No garage! Anywhere! So I trundled back to my lodgings and checked up on a place on ‘t Internet, found a nearby Kwik-fit and toodled off to find that one. Again I drove around the streets where it was supposed to be, nothing, nada, zip!

What in the name of holies was going on? I returned home and pondered whether this was coincidence or meaningful. Being unable to decide I asked the rods. Which returned meaningful 100%. I asked whether the bit of musing I had done by the beech was just that, some day dreaming? No. What? You mean that was a Key? Yes.

But, but why? I asked whether I had the puncture to give me the opportunity to discover the second key? No. Did I need to have a puncture? No. Would I have got this message anyway? Yes, but by another means and at a later date. Was there a time by which I was to have strength of arm? Yes. I counted months…1…2…3…4…

4 months and 3 weeks was the eventual answer. I couldn’t determine how much strength of arms I would need though.

I wondered why I had had these mishaps this day, was there any energetic reason? Yes, it was Leprechaun energy! Damn, Where and when had I picked it up. Apparently whilst I was at a pub the night before. Interesting…

I will do another post later on regarding my findings about Leprechaun energy and how to get an influence of it.

So, it seems that I have direction for my 2nd key to Knighthoods Door.

Kal Malik seeking strength of arm by mid June apparently!

Although I am a very spontaneous person. I also know the value of setting up expectations. So here are some expectations for 2011:

• Abbeys and Cathedrals

As you know new religions replace old ones often by taking over the old ones places of worship and ceremony. So it wouldn’t be surprising to find sacred energies at such places. Couple to this the notion that energy and thought are closely tied then such places would have any energies there enhanced. Well lets find out. So in 2011, I (we) hope to visit some newer (from the perspective of Megalithic sites) locations and divine there energetic states and value.

• House Dowsing and Energy Transformations

Ok, I have experimented with this over the last couple of years and have had a lot of success. Specifically I will be hoping to explore energies in homes and how to transform them to make the places energies more in line with the wishes of those who live there. Whether this be for healing, creativity, prosperity, etc. Gwas, I believe maybe looking at a similar type of thing but from the perspective of spirit/shade/death (we have to get our naming conventions sorted) energies. My area of investigation/work will be more in line with what is called Feng Shui (using intuition and dowsing rather than the – various – laws of Feng Shui).

• Signs and Synchronicities

This is a difficult one really, because it is not so much doing anything but reading them. Although (at the moment) I don’t believe that there are any hard and fast rules to this, I do want to see if I can get really good at reading omens and determining what they are and why they exist? For example, are they here to show us our destined path? Or to help us avoid certain dangers? I have been interested in Synchronicity for many years through my Paranormal investigation/studies so I know there are any number of reasons (which I will explore later in the year) as to why of these.

• Energy therapies

Having had my own complementary therapies practice for a few years I know the value of such. Over the past year or two I have done the odd experiment with dowsing and therapies. However I would like to do a lot more with them. The healing modalities I am speaking of are of course, Reiki, Bach Flowers, Homeopathy, Blessing Water, Water Crystals. No promises with this one, but it should be fun to explore.

• Wand making

This has been left, sadly, by the wayside. However I really want to see if I can make some progress with this this year. It is a task that really caught my imagination when I was presented with it at Alderley Edge (The Wizards Forest) at the beginning of 2010. Being given the name of Wand Maker was also a good indicator (and sign?)

• Tarot

In the background of the last four years or so I have been studying Tarot and it’s uses. Although on several occasions I have been shown that future prediction is a non-sense-ical endeavour. Using the Tarot for getting a perspective on situations is brilliant and since it is a bit of an arm chair activity you can play with it anytime. So expect more of this to be cropping up. And that is just on the Edge Wizardry front. The other fronts of my life are going to be spectacular this coming year too!

Kal Malik – Co-Creating the Future