The Hedge Druid

Posts Tagged ‘rath’

The Hill of Tara – Thursday 27th May

It was late in the evening when we decided to grab a ‘travelling tea’ and head on up to the hilly complex of sites known as The Hill of Tara [info], the legendary site that was famous throughout Ireland as the seat of ancient Irish kings. We found it despite the SatNav trying its best to deceive us, as it had many times earlier in the day.
On approaching the visitor centre (how nice to see a disused church being put to good use) we spotted a huddled group of people (“loons” Kal called them) some dressed in traditional garb of cloak and sporting staffs, standing huddled on a grey gravelled spot next to a May Tree and at the top of the hill. We ignored them for fear of a conversation we might not enjoy, and instead contented ourselves initially with a recce of the graveyard that surrounded the now-closed visitor centre.

Official plan of Tara

In the graveyard Kal spotted 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. aligned to himself (“I bet it’s in the middle of those trees”, he stated and then proved it) and I found one close by that was a definite circle in the grass. This done we headed for the “good stuff” in the main complex.
Kal was first to reach all the parts of the site adjacent to the graveyard. I was him atop the Mound of the Hostages, then he was bounding over to the twin standing stones (including the so-called Stone of Destiny) and then on to an earthwork next to it. Here he paused a while before coming back.

Entrance to the Mound of the Hostages

Whilst he did all that I was up on the MOTH watching the spectacular sunset as the sun’s rays played with the low-lying lands before me. I marvelled at just how many hilltops could be seen in all directions from this place. I felt the surge of energy coming up from the mound and noticed that I was standing in the smaller sized bare earth patch on the top of the mound. It was smaller than the other patch that was offset from the centre. About the same ratio as the sun to the moon, I mused

Inside the mound

Guiding Lights and Earth Elements

I asked the dowsing rods to take me to a place where I could interact with a guiding spirit who might help me through a pilgrimage type quest. I was set upon visiting sites over the weekend that would promote my consciousness levels through the attunement of my chakras. I was asking for a guiding spirit to lead me safely through that in this land where I had no concept of what I might find. The rods obliged by taking me to the nearby celtic cross. Not something that I had expected, so that was interesting, and not something I had expected to be interested in. I stood there for a few moments and felt a presence surround me as I stared wistfully into the oncoming sunset’s purple and pink light. This was a presence I had felt before – and I knew its name. This was my helpful teacher/guide of previous adventures, and with that re-assurance I moved on to other tasks, knowing we would meet again soon.

Tara's undecorated Celtic cross

I knew what I wanted to do now. At this place, a place of earthly treasures, of earth and stone, this was a place where I should try to fulfill the final part of my own Celtic cross – the fourth element in my crossed circle: the earth element. So far I had been successful in Cumbria at retrieving the assistance of three other elemental forces: water, fire and air. Here was an opportunity to re-acquaint myself with the earth element.

I did some work to recall this particular elemental. At the conclusion of the work I felt a tingle through my feet- and then I felt the power of the earth rising up through my legs. I felt like I should now unite all these forces again, so I called each of the other elements to mind. The appropriate element flared up inside me, and then around me. When I mentioned the name of the wind it blew. When I called the fire, the sun burst through the clouds to glint in my eye. When I called on water I smelled the dampness rising from the grass. When I called for earth my feet felt riveted to the earth and I felt an upsurge of earth energies beneath me.

Sun setting over Tara

This place is special. I felt absolutely empowered by it. So much so that I went off dowsing to find the most empowering place for me. It was at a low-lying earth work near to the church and next to the MOTH. I stood on that spot and felt replenished, filled, revitalised. And happy.

The Chakra Map

I wonder if the features of Tara’s hill could be considered to be a map of the chakras? I only postulate this after returning back to England and seeing an old plan of the site. I present this possibility as an aside, and as something that someone might like to investigate if I don’t get back there soon. Here’s the concept:

The only correlation is that there are seven “raths” identifable on the site, which are areas of embanked earth in a circular form.

The Crow and The Crone

I bounded back to find Kal who was, as expected, in the churchyard. He looked….disturbed. I told him how amazing it all was, and he trumped it. He told me he had been sitting next to the remains of a stone wall when a crow landed a few feet in front of him cawing at him. Kal has an affinity with crows – they are his totem bird – but this was different. When he asked it what it wanted it responded by telling him its name – it cawed at him “Cay-leach, cay-leech”. Clearly the bird had been speaking to him because he said that it offered to be his teacher, and to teach him about the ways of the dead, of dead spirits and their energies This is something he has been denying himself for several months now, even though he had been given the name “Spirit Walker“ by the yew at Llangernyw. He saw in a split-second vision as the bird flew up to join a noisy cluster of other crows that it was an old woman that had become a crow.

In the graveyard at Tara

He told me this and I asked if he had accepted the offer. He said he hadn’t decided yet, but had dismissed the crow for now while he checked it out. As I drove us back to the hotel we discussed what the potential spelling of the word “Cay-leech” might be. I suggested it might contain “Cai” as the first part, then perhaps “leach” as the second, because it sounded vaguely Gaelic in form. Kal Googled the name “caileach” on my phone. It came back with this: “Did you mean “Cailleach?” – he clicked the link – “Cailleach is the name given to the crone form of the Triple Goddess of pagan lore. She is primarily associated with death.”

Kal had seemingly come into contact with an archetype of the triple goddess of pagan lore herself, and the crone had offered to teach him all about death and death energies at a church yard at Tara – the Hill of the Kings. That was how it seemed to us at that moment. He was in a quandary as to whether to accept or not. I told him we would go back in a few days and he could decide then whether to accept the offer.

Little did we know that other events would make that decision easier for him over the next few days, and we would encounter more of Ireland’s legendary spirits in the process. The whole trip had just taken the most bizarre turn!

Gwas

Castleruddery Embanked Stone Circle – Thursday 27th May

Ruddy hell – it’s Castleruddery! Now that we had the Active10 GPS unit loaded with the correct level of detailed map information finding Castleruddery [map] was not a problem. In fact, again, it turned out to be not far from the main N81 road and the Piper’s Stones that we had just visited – a short jaunt up a small hill. The day was warming up now – the gaps between the clouds were widening like a flock of tired geese unable to keep their tight formation, and this allowed us to bathe in sunlight for long and lingering moments. I thanked my wife aloud for the GPS unit which saved us so much time once we worked it out. A “godsend” really, and if you’re thinking of travelling a similar path to ours in Ireland then you have two choices: either stick to the main signposted sites, or buy a really good map or GPS system! One could waste a lot of time in search of errant sites on high level maps.

Stunning setting for a small circle

We read the information sign briefly before approaching the site. Apparently Castleruddery is quite a rare kind of site – one which has an embanked earthwork ridge surrounding the stones. Despite being close to a number of working quarries whose earth-shuddering roar and rumbling can be heard constantly in the background, the site itself is very picturesque and especially beautiful in May due to the five hawthorn trees being in bloom. I was very struck by it. However, you may notice in the photos that AGAIN there are pylons going right over this site. I thought the Irish cared about their history? Please, people, don’t place electricity pylons over your sacred sites – it’s like putting a toilet over your water supply!

As I approached it, instinctively walking around to the right-hand side in order to enter what I felt to be the ‘correct’ entrance for a moon-aligned person such as myself, a strange feeling came over me. I felt like I owned the site! I was ‘boss’ here. I was in control of what happened. It was MY site in a strange and long-forgotten genealogy that I could neither reason or fathom. Nevertheless I was instantly comfortable and at ease, striding into the site and looking around to assess the situation (whatever that might have been). This was an unusual feeling considering that I am usually humbled and in awe of such places.

Usual helpful info about Castleruddery

As usual, one of the first things that Kal did was to determine whether there was any energy work required at the site, and whether it should be done by himself or by me. Predictably it was me. We determined that the overhead pylons that ran over one edge of the site had weakened the circle’s energies substantially. It felt to me like the trees that ringed the site were asleep, numbed into a torpor by the continuous drip of the crackling electricity passing through one edge.

How to Heal Electrical Interference

A rather pompous little title to this section, but that is in effect what I managed to do with the following actions. You may be able to do something similar at other sites where you determine such interference from electricity pylons is interfering with the normal function of the site. Up to you. I chose three large rose quartz crystals to assist me with the task of blocking and re-directing the subtle field created by the passing electricity lines. I placed them in a triangle shape at the affected side of the circle and then sat under one of the May Trees that dowsed as being a useful 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. for this work, and to which I was in a compatible 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.. There were five May Trees all around the embankment, and a stunted old ash tree too.

A helpful May Tree at Castleruddery stone circle

As I sat under the tree, gently dropping into a trance-like state of mind, my staff was yearning to be elsewhere. I could feel it mentally tugging at me to be somewhere else. Cheek! Did I feel slighted? No, of course not. There must be some purpose for it to be elsewhere, so I looked around gently waiting for my head to “feel” the right place for the staff to be. My head stopped turning at the stunted old ash tree on the embanked ring of the circle. I stood up and took the staff to the tree where, to my surprise, I found a hole where a branch used to be that perfectly fitted my ash staff! I placed it there and returned to my centre under the May Tree.

When I sat back down under the tree I felt much ‘better’…er..how can I describe it? I felt empowered again, ‘in charge’, and I used this feeling to good purpose. I began to imagine the movement of energies around the site in an anti-clockwise direction. I felt like there was a circulation of energy going clockwise, in the male direction, but that the female direction was ‘dormant’. I pushed the energy around using my own impetus, and once it was happily circling away under its own momentum (!) I began to enlist the help of the ring of trees to perpetuate the movement for me. As the energy flowed through and past them I felt the trees getting involved and taking over from my own movement of the imaginary circling energy field.

With my staff now propped up inside the ash tree, and the two setting up a circuit of drawing in and feeding out healing energies (for that is what my staff has been filled with whenever I get the chance to re-charge it), I began to draw a stream of healing energy from the ash tree and to add this positive stream into the circling energies being sustained now by the May trees. In my mind the healing stream was a different colour – 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. – glowing and differentiated from the mundane circulatory energy forms. As the healing stream reached the first rose quartz crystal’s location I envisaged it flowing to the crystal, and then linking the three triangularly-positioned crystals, like blood coursing across a pointed arrow’s head. The crystals seemed to respond to the idea, and glowed in my mind, re-enforcing the shape and the path down which the healing white energy was now directed. Then the energy re-joined the main flow.

The final touch was to imagine the white flow picking up and transporting the electrical energy from the pylons, and then directing it down the point of the arrowhead, to let the energy flow out into the field beyond, dissipating into the earth rather than accumulating across the stone circle. I finalised the flow’s momentum in both directions, ensuring that both male and female flows made use of the ash tree’s white healing energy to transport the negative electrical field and let it flow away harmlessly into the environs. Moments later I was on my feet and had no need to dowse as to the effectiveness of this task – it was so, I knew. That confidence again at this circle – where did this come from, and why at this place in particular? Perhaps the trees, I wondered as I went off to see what Kal had been doing.

Castleruddery's healing ash tree

Kal had been lazing around in the late afternoon sun, thinking about this and that, doing a little bit of dowsing, and some stuff that he will talk about in his own good time.Little did I know as we walked back to the car and hopped over the stile that I had left something precious behind. Oh yes, I had indeed left my beautiful ash staff propped up against the old ash tree within the circle, and it would be the next day before Kal asked where it was, causing me to practically have a heart attack when I realised! How could I forget it? How could I not realise it was missing? Well, stranger things were to happen than that once we went to retrieve it, but that’s all to come.

For now we headed up past Dublin to reach the area around The Boyne Valley where our hotel was located – the delightful Annesbrook Hotel near Duleek. Our only thoughts now were of getting settled in and wondering what we might do next. As it happened, we couldn’t resist one of the special places nearby once we arrived. No stopping us, I can tell you!

Gwas.