The Hedge Druid

Posts Tagged ‘pigeon’

I have been seeing, hearing and thinking about the dowsing response in relation to the Earth’s Magnetic Field a lot recently. Having spent many years attuning myself to the feel, the movement and the changes of this energy field, it was with some delight that I began to hear some reports from the scientific field that are confirming what I and many others have felt for a long time – we humans can sense changes in the Earth’s magnetic field. Here is a quote from a recent article:

source: blog.gpscompared.co.uk

Humans may have a sixth sense after all, suggests a new study finding that a protein in the human retina, when placed into fruit flies, has the ability to detect magnetic fields.

The researchers caution that the results suggest this human protein has the capability to work as a magnetosensor; however, whether or not humans use it in that way is not known.

“It poses the question, ‘maybe we should rethink about this sixth sense,’” Steven Reppert, of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, told LiveScience. “It is thought to be very important for how animals migrate. Perhaps this protein is also fulfilling an important function for sensing magnetic fields in humans.” (source: LiveScience)

The article goes on the relate how a test involving the injection of blue-light sensitive cryptochromes into the eyes of fruit flies found that it aided their navigation of a maze whose guidance was achieved in response to the the emmissions from electro-magnetic coils. This takes us a step further in our understanding of the navigational capabilities of our own species, rather than simply those of specific animals such as pigeons. Here is the current Wikipedia definition of cryptochromes, which may now need to be expanded to specifically mention humans:

Cryptochromes (from the Greek κρυπτό χρώμα, hidden colour) are a class of blue light-sensitive flavoproteins found in plants and animals. Cryptochromes are involved in the circadian rhythms of plants and animals, and in the sensing of magnetic fields in a number of species.” (source: Wikipedia)

Ancient Sites and the EMF

I was listening to a talk delivered by Dr.Serena Roney-Dougal who has studied the relationship between the pineal gland and the human response to the EMF. She points out that this gland, located in the centre of the human brain, is “exquisitely sensitive” to changes in intensity, but also to changes in our relationship to the field in space. In other words, we are aware of our location in relation to the magnetic field, and can point to North without requiring any external guidance (once we get beyond puberty and the pineal gland begins to calcify).

She also points out that ancient sacred sites have been designed with two specific function inherent in their design – they either INTENSIFY the EMF (stone circles and standing stones), or they NEGATE the EMF (the layered construction of barrows, caves and dolmens originally had these properties). Of course, many of these sites have been tampered with, denuded or rendered disfunctional these days, but their original function fits these patterns in relation to the Earth’s Magnetic Field.

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Introduction

This year has been the most fascinating year of my life. I have embraced areas of study that I has only ever fantasized about being involved with. I have learned things that I never believed in before, and have travelled further along my spiritual path than I thought I could. I am more aligned with my life purpose through the work I have done this year than I expected to be. I have visited places that I never thought I would see, and am more in touch with earth energies as a result of it.

In the following sections I answer some general questions that I posed to try to encapsulate this progress. Also included is Kal’s interpretation of those same questions – you will find these in the last post in the series. I hope that by the time you finish reading our summary of this year you will see just how far we have travelled in such a short time span. Some people we meet still pour scorn on our relative “youth” in these subjects. Of course they are right, we never know enough, but when you see how much information we are consolidating from so many sources, I think you will see that we are working hard to cover all aspects of subtle energyA form of energy that has so far eluded scientific definition. It is neither electric, magenetic, nor electro-magnetic, so far as our current technical equipment can measure. It does, however, exhibit many of the characteristics of magnetism and electricity in terms of its effects and properties. It may be a form of either or both of those energies that we have not yet identified. research, and our work is fast-paced, thorough, considered and wide-ranging. Compared to many of those we meet, who seem to have a part-time dalliance with these subjects, I’m sure you will agree our work is fast, deep and meaningful, and everything we learn we gain from direct practical experience.

In the light of the amount of information produced this year I have divided the summary of the year into NINE posts, which I will be releasing for the rest of this month up until Christmas. Between Christmas and New Year I hope to reveal the results of the work that we were supposed to have undertaken this year – to find out whether earth energies do respond to specific times of the year. I think we have our answer already, but I’m going to wait for the Yule Winter Solstice to cap that research off.

What have I learned this year?

I learned so much this year that I almost feel as though my life’s education has started again. When I wrote it all out I found that I had accumulated so much information that I have had to divide it up into separate posts. The topics I chose to organise them into are:-

1. 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.
2. Dowsing and Earth Energies
3. Tree, Spirit and Death Energies
4. Astrology and Astronomy
5. Ancient Sites
6. Miscellaneous
7. Highs, lows, surprises and disappointments
8. A list of all the sites we visited this year
9. A summary from Kal’s perspective

Please forgive the inevitable cross-over between these categories – I have tried to place the information into the category that was most pertinent, with the inevitable “other” or “miscellaneous” bucket to catch the overspill.

A big growth topic this year was that 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., as was the Tree,Spirit and Death Energies category. It seems that Kal and I have had many of our preconceptions overturned and have had to eat our words on many occasions as a result of some detailed dowsing work and an open mind in researching those areas. I will start off with 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..

Section 1: 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 following information can loosely be classified as “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 use of nature’s own energy forces and human creative potential to produce new effects and visions. My definition, as you can see, is quite general – I don’t include the usual categories associated with Natural Magic, such as herbology, spell-making, and the like. I started out the year by defining the rules of working in this manner, and the additional information is supplementary to that, and only limited by those rules and the human creative potential, it would seem. The information is on no particular order, other than being grouped here.

1-1. Some rules 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.:

• Intention must be honest, if only to yourself, in order to succeed
• The desired effect cannot be commanded, it must be negotiated, or asked for respectfully
• To contrive a circumstance in order to display an effect will guarantee failure,if not abject humiliation
• Your abilities are limited by your desire to learn, and the depth to which you can form a trusting relationship with Nature
• A degree of humility is required to execute 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., and smugness at a positive outcome will garner no respect.
• Conviction and sincerity make the relationship stronger, and the outcome more defined.
• Leave your intention fuzzy and a fuzzy event will occur which only partially fulfills the intended result.
• Results come when they should be delivered, not when you want them to be. Again, tied to the concept that the forces 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. will not be ordered around.

First stated early February. I have not been able to contradict any of these as the year progressed.

1-2. The historical/mythical figure of Merlin is a significant totem figure for me. He is like a form of spirit guide, but not personally connected to me. I encountered his presence at the ancient site of Dinas Emrys, near to the mountain of Snowdon in Wales – a place traditionally associatesd with Merlin.

1-3. Totem animals: Kal has the crow, I have the dove/pigeon/eagle. Theysometimes indicate significant events, sights or show us direction, and can guide our intuitive responses when we go out to sacred sites.

1-4. A pilgrimage may seem like an old-fashioned concept, something that may only be a religious remainder. Our experience of inadvertantly making such a journey was something quite profound: a spiritual journey through the chakra points, each one awakening at the special places we visited, and each one progressively opening up channels to higher spirituality and connectedness.

1-5. This year saw the emergence of the double helix of energy in my meditations. I now began to connect using two threads – one male and one female. This seemed to echo my progress into the second stage of Druid development – the Yew Stage.

1-6. Following a path with a heart has opened up my life to influences that have enhanced my well-being and desire for life. A path with a heart may be defined as being acts or intentions, decisions or choices that one makes that are instinctively right, and not based upon the usual rational characteristics of what is sensible, beneficial, rewarding, or easy.

1-7. Some sacred sites promote the ability to perform magical acts, such as telepathy. I encountered this particularly at sites that were less “famous”, i.e. less visited, and yet which still maintained a strong energy. The covered alleyway at Créhen in Brittany, in particular, demonstrated to me how easy it was to transmit information to another person whilst there.

1-8. Seeds or fruits containing seeds seem to serve as perfect gifts or things to leave at sacred sites. I felt from the outset that something ought to be given in return for gaining skills, visions or information, but the usual trinkets (ribbons and the like) did not suit me. Instead I have found that, for me, a seed, an apple or a pine cone, or something similar always gets a positive response when dowsed as to whether it is a suitable or fitting gift to leave at a site.

1-9. Sigils, often dowsed as manifestations of a site’s energy signature, can be found and used as means to gain entry into an energetic relationship with a site.

1-10. Cup-marked standing stones within stone circles have been found to be maps which can unlock the power centres within the circle for energy work. This now needs to be tested at a greater number of sites, but for several already this has proved to be accurate.

1-11. Setting up protection before doing any energy work in a new place is essential to self preservation. I now have to thank the unusual small man whom I met in Alderley Edge a couple of years ago – you were right and I was wrong – thanks for your advice!

1-12. Overcoming fear in a forest or other natural space allows you to be as one with the place, and this opens up the range of possible experiences, as animals will not be frightened of you. I now want to discover how being fearful may change one’s energy field.

1-13. I was shown a vision of an ancient magician performing a ritual in which the circle’s energy was activated and he was in charge of the energy. The elements of his work are things I will now have to put into practise myself next year. I have learned that rituals have their place, but that their paraphenalia is not for me.

1-14. Sigils and crop circle formations ought to be meditated upon to act as keys to the entry into the Otherworld. This was the lesson of the Knighton Hill maize circle. I have yet to discover anything from these patterns, however, so can’t confirm this.

1-15. A dream seat can be found at major stone circles used for transformation – this promotes shamanic flying, or out of body experiences of the profoundest kind. The Llangernyw experience definitively proved this to me, as did the Castlerigg stone circle.

The most magickal experience of the year

Glastonbury at Summer Solstice when I felt integrally connected to the whole area’s energies and felt like I was in an increasingly mystical state of mind.

Gwas.

One of the skills that ancient historians attributed to the Vates of the Druid class was the ability to divine the future from a number of unusual sources. One of the sources that doesn’t involve disembowelment and which would therefore be considered to be relatively acceptable to the modern druid is bird augury – acquiring knowledge from the observation of the flight patterns of birds. Some modern druids take this system a little further, reading signs of the future flow of the universeTo join with the flow of the universe is to follow a natural progression in tune with Nature’s own direction of development. Religion has called this concept “following the divine will”, but then has proceeded to make it a law, rather than a useful option for personal and communal progress. from the historical symbolism inherent in the type of bird. A good example of this is a recent OBOD seminar which can be read here.

I have noticed that I am beginning to recognise the interventions of birds, especially when I look to them for direction or advice on how to progress on my path. Whilst reading Jaq D Hawkins‘ book “Spirits of the Air” I came to realise that I could categorise the types of interventions and characterise each, in terms of what it signified or portended for me. Of course, one remembers the times when the event subsequently took place, or the right outcome happened – but then, that’s the trick of birdwatching!

So far I have identified relatively few birds that seem particularly significant to me. The wood pigeon‘s call reminds me of a time when I came across a tramp sleeping in some woods in the grounds of a large stately home. I don’t think I’ll ever forget his look of sad discomfort and the feelings of helplessness and pity on my part. The tramp’s discomfort was a mirror opposite of my own feelings of comfort and security in those woods, or in fact, these days, any woods. For me, then, the wood pigeon’s call signifies COMFORT. It makes me smile when I hear it’s trill. It’s also strangely hypnotic for me. Often I am lulled by the continuous warble, and when I imitate the sound in forests it’s like the forest enjoys the fun of my attempts, and the mood lightens even in the densest depths.

We are almost saturated with media renditions of the common crow. They are prevalent in most sinister contexts, from sound effects to super heroes. For me the crow has come to symbolise KINSHIP. Generally, if a crow makes its presence known when I am scrying for guidance then I know that the thoughts of others are with me, and that I can tap into their wisdom and advice concerning directions in life. They help me make decisions, although the final say is always mine to have. The crow is also significant to Kal. Usually when I see a lone crow land near to me and look at me I know that this is a sign related to Kal.

Song birds as a whole seem to symbolise my family. That’s probably because I haven’t yet trained myself to differentiate their intricate identities. Nevertheless, when I hear their song my thoughts are tuned into my family. The appearance of this type of bird will alert me to imminent family contact.

Finally, there are birds of prey. Seeing one of these is always a special event, but their frequent appearance at moments when I am strongly connected to nature is uncanny. It is far too frequent for me now to think of it as anything less than a handshake, a sure sign, and thus birds of prey signify TRUST. I always feel immensely privileged and trusted when I am granted a meeting with these graceful creatures. Their majesty exudes from them, and they make ideal avatars for nature’s subtle assent. I also feel like I am within their protective circle when they cross my path, and I know they show me that I am on the right path with my actions.

Here’s is a summary of the characteristics I have been able to associate with some birds:-

1. Wood pigeon or Dove – comfort, companionship, direction of flight as indicator of event or place
2. Crow – friendship, group flight direction indicates path of a decision
3. Birds of Prey - magic, druidry, spirit of Merlin, right path, protection, apprenticeship

Gwas.

Watchin da boidies.

July 6^th 2008 : Arbor Low and Birchen Edge, Robin Hood, near Bakewell

Arbor Low

On Sunday I ventured forth with my understanding friend Kal Malik. We made our way into the Derbyshire hills again in the trusty steed Peugeot, rods clanking away in the car’s side pockets, and in the engine as we attempted to negotiate the Cat & Fiddle route across to Buxton, and on towards Ashbourne to get to Arbor Low stone circle.

The sky soured as we got towards Macclesfield and we knew we were in for another damp encounter with the Stonehenge of the North. Sure enough it started to make the wipers work hard as we got nearer. We turned into the small lane and got prepared. Kal, as usual, opted for his trusty knackered trainers and sponge-like suede jacket. I’d remembered to wear proper walking boots this time, and felt like it was a sensible decision.

The rain got worse as we neared the circle, and we gave a knowing look to each other of “let’s make this quick!”. I immediately asked for a female energy detection and walked from the entrance towards the centre stones. I got a cross and walked on. At the smaller ring it stopped responding, so I switched to “detect male” and it crossed again, getting stronger towards the centre.

Then the rods parted again, and I switched to female for the last few feet to the centre stones. Kal was looking puzzled and increasingly soggy. “Do it again.”, he nodded. Same. “Hmmm…I got the opposite.” he remarked.

I decided to try following the energy lines instead of detecting their size and position with the two rods. I had become accustomed to following single paths, rather than tracing areas. I started at the entrance and asked for female. Immediately I found a line close to the left side of the entrance gap. I followed it past the surrounding mound and into the ditch, where it spiralled to a point.

“Kal – I’m getting female in the ditch?”. “Then you’re doing it wrong.” came a bemused response through the veil of raindrops now bucketing down on us. “Hmmm…” mused Kal, “I think I know what it might be….”. He left the thought hanging and wouldn’t elaborate just yet. The rain running off my jacket and hat had formed a confluence in my jeans pockets and I was sinking.

“Abandon ship!” I was thinking furiously, and I proposed we beat a hasty retreat to somewhere warm and well-stocked in the cake department. I knew he’d suggest his favourite café in Bakewell. “TOP” sandwich and a chance to dry off? Done deal.

Birchen Edge

The sun broke through the clouds as we munched into our scran. I figured the next place to try was G—- Edge just ten minutes car drive away on a road out of Bakewell. It was close and new – possibly something and nothing? It seemed to have a lot of stone cairns and a standing stone on it, so it had potential.

We parked next to the Robin Hood pub (feeling good about the coincidence of The Green Man and the energies appearing so often in this trip). Casting around for the path we walked up the road and found a path very quickly leading up the ridge. It was labelled “Birchen Edge” on a green sign. “Though it was something beginning with ‘G’?” I thought to myself and walked on.

On the way up Kal experimented with finding an energy on the path and quickly located one winding its way up the ridge path. He got bored following it and stopped just as we arrived at a fork in the pathways next to a many-trunked birch tree with a large stone at its base. Here the path went on wards and also turned right up the hill quite steeply. I dowsed that the right hand path was the better option, because its energy was linked to the stone’s, and we headed up, forgetting about Kal’s vertigo. Well, I forgot about it – not sure if he did.

I had liked the tree too. A birch – the emblem of the first stage of Druidry. The symbol of renewal, seeing afresh, learning new ways of being, and looking with child-like wonder at the world. What had I read about many-trunked trees being more powerful? That seemed to tie in with the Delamere experience, when my “quest” had ended with a Pine and Birch tree living together at the corner of a junction of paths. That was the day I had recognised the unmistakeable significance of the smoothed beach stone in amongst the ferns on an energy path. I had recognised that it had both purpose and meaning, if only I could let them emerge when they should.

At the top of the ridge the path smoothed out to a gentle uphill amble next to a large expanse of heather to our right. We started to notice the ridge. In amongst all the trees was a fantastic protuberance of rock with a ready-made man-sized sentry position looking out over the whole sweep of the surrounding valleys.

We both stood in it, and I was drawn to the beech tree that framed the view, as it filtered the sunlight just nicely in the mid afternoon. I walked over to it and felt ready to try to talk to it. Kal already had his hand on it and a wistful aloof air. I put my hand on it and relaxed my vision. In this relaxed state I was able to talk to myself without interrupting myself or becoming distracted. I heard thoughts in my voice that was an interesting dialogue between me and myself! It went:

Me: “What should I find here?”

Myself: “Powerful and beautiful energy.”

Me: “Where can I find this energy?”

Myself: “Look for the bird. Follow the bird.”

I came back to my senses with the last thought ringing in my ears. Look for the bird! I told Kal. He said nothing. I could hear birds singing, but as we headed back to the path to investigate more of the unusual rock formations on the ridge I kept hearing a songbird in the trees further back down the path we had climbed up. I didn’t feel ready to go back yet, so we walked on up the path. I was on the lookout for flying birds, but none were around, so I put the thought away for the moment to concentrate on more “real” matters of finding energy lines.

We tracked a line up the hill with the directive “Find the most powerful energy source on this ridge” as we trudged upwards. Soon the sight of three massive fifteen-foot high rocks and an obelisk topped by a ball came into view in the middle distance. The path was heading for them, and we gave each other a look which said “It’ll be them that we’re heading for then.”.

Suddenly we were heading into the heather to our right, following what looked like a rabbit path. Then a swerve left to circle into a spiral around a faerie ring in the midst of the heather. It was unmistakeable in nature – light green moss atop a lush grassy mound, and then the heather all around.

We spotted a large animal-sized stone and dowsed towards it. From there we picked up six more stones in a circle around the faerie ring and stunted heather centre point. Most of the stones were invisible until you stumbled onto them in the heather, or could scrape the moss off a corner in order to identify them. Unmistakeably a circle! But invisible from the path twenty feet away.

We walked back to the path and on to the Nelson’s Monument area where the obelisk and three large stones were. They were all very interesting, marked as they were by roughly-carved slogans – “Defiance”, “Victory” and “Royal Soverin [sic]”. On a stone beneath them was the artist’s initials “G.C.” and “1766”. A good year for patriotism, I believe, if not for spelling.

As we wandered around the stone, Kal into the heather, me around the big stones, I spotted a pigeon on one of the huge stones that formed the ridge next to the monument.

Despite the undoubted updraft from the ridge it was sitting there without shifting, and seemed to be inviting me to join it on the rock in the warm afternoon sun. “Look for the bird. Follow the bird. “ I thought, and began to approach the rock slowly and deliberately. The bird never stirred. I climbed the rock at it lowest point and slid myself up the rock until I was lying on my back in the middle, three feet away from the pigeon. I expected it to flap and fly at any second, but it just watched me, head bobbing and flicking whenever I moved.

I lay there quietly for a minute then ventured a look at the pigeon. I could see it was being blown by the winds, but it hadn’t flown yet. Now it started to move away from the edge and walked in a clockwise fashion on ever-increasing circles and then stopped to look me in the eye. I gulped. It had a crap, then walked to the farthest edge away from the ridge and stopped. Then it came back to the top of the rock, and stood on the ridge again, looking out into the valley. I slowly turned until I was lying flat and could see what it could see.

“What do you see, pigeon?” I asked it out loud. “How do you find your way? How can I find mine?” I chuckled to myself at the ridiculousness of throwing a metaphysical quandary at a humble pigeon. I was really beginning to lose it with this “communingAn interaction with an invisible and natural sentient force that is independently identifiable, even if it cannot be named or classified. The interaction takes place at the level of a subtle amalgamation of the mind of the perceiver such that a dialogue or transference of feelings may occur between the two sentient parties. The interaction that is ‘communing’ is purposefully initiated by the perceiver for the express purpose of learning or simply to transfer feelings in a sympathetic manner.” lark! I sighed, relaxed and gazed out over the landscape. I looked straight ahead – there was a church spire. I looked at the pigeon again – it was looking at the church too, I believed. Then it looked left a bit. I copied it, and my eye was transfixed by the shape of a circle marked out in a field by trees. A grove circle? A druid’s grove tree circle?

I looked back at the bird. The bird had got bored with staring and waiting around, and had wandered off to the back of the stone again, where this time it flew off back down the path we had come up.

I reeled from what had just happened. Had that bird just shown me a site that only I would be particularly interested in? How else would I have found that? Why did I find it today? Why hadn’t that bird flown away as I climbed onto the rock with it? At one point I had been only inches away from it? What the hell was a pigeon doing on that ridge?

Of course – he had tags on – he was just resting and preparing to navigate back home. He was just showing me how he too uses the alignments and energy lines to find his path out and home again. It was a shared interest. Then, I am convinced, he led my eye from the church spire to the Druid’s grove circle. Of course, I could have seen it just by studying the view at any time, but I still felt like I had been meant to be the one who saw it, and that the bird was helping in some way to make that happen. Craziness, I know.

Kal finds his own new circle

Whilst all that had been going on Kal had been tracing a serpent energy through the heather and had found another, larger, circle a short distance behind the three large stones dedicated to Lord Nelson. I verified it’s centre and stones, and then I told Kal about the incident with the bird. “Well, “ he said, “You followed the bird!”. Indeed I had.

As we walked back down the path with the sun starting to noticeably begin to descend, I contemplated this area. It was like Helsby Hill, Stanton Moor, Harthill Moor – all magical places where energy gets compressed and invigorated by the rocky outcrops. There were also some many birch trees I could barely overlook the symbolism which was all around me, and the communion with the birch which started it all off.

As we descended we came back to the large sandstone block at the base of another birch tree – this one the many-trunked Shiva of the birch trees that we started with earlier. I stopped to dowse the connection between the birch and the rock only to find that it was strong, and the tree seemed to supply not only energy to the rock, but also to both paths up the ridge too.

As the slowly setting sun twinkled between the birch branches I felt another magical moment arriving. To awaken it I instinctively started to circle the tree clockwise. On the first attempt I caught my foot clumsily as I stepped over its lowest smallest branch, and I laughed at my own ungainliness. Next time around I stepped over with ease. The third time around I got faster, lightly hopping the low branch like a teenager. On the fourth time around I felt slightly out of control and positively leapt the low branch before stopping myself at the stone and laughing deeply at the build-up of energy I had felt by doing that. It was like the buzz you get off a merry-go-round before you feel too sick.

I started to sense the power of these trees. The birch was answering my questions with the patience of a mother. It was showing me new things, making me feel child-like amusement and wonder, and was promoting simple and honest communications with nature – a deeper appreciation for its powers and ways. I was beginning to see the signs and walk a truer path through the first stage of Druidry.

Looks like we’d made a good choice to take a wrong turn at the bottom of the hill and come up this ridge instead. Funny how these things work out!

Gwas Myrddyn.