The Hedge Druid

Posts Tagged ‘scotland’

This is the second part of what is now a three-part report of some of the megalithic or other sites that may be of interest to earth energy students, or students of the arcane and esoteric – all of which are accessible in a day’s drive around the area near Dundee in Perthshire, Scotland. In this post I describe my visit to Monzie Circle near Gilmerton village in Perthshire.

Monzie circle

David Cowan has some interesting things to say on his web site about the stone circle near Monzie Castle. On his web site he discusses the idea that some ley lines may be considered the same as the ancient concept of “spirit lines” – lines of energy connected with people’s graves. He gives us this information about his discoveries around Monzie circle:-

“The knowledge that spirit lines wander around is puzzling, as we have become accustomed to thinking of spirits as following straight “spirit paths”.

Perhaps when the energy leys were working properly they were used to channel the spirits safely down a line which could be avoided by the living, as, especially in Ireland, it is still good policy to avoid these “faery paths”.

One such faery path near here begins at a ten-stone circle at Monzie Castle, outside Crieff, again on a fault line. The 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. in this case travels south, down a 1 1/2-mile long “spoke” road, (ghost road), and terminates at an old burial-ground situated on an obvious volcanic dyke (the river Earn tumbles over here just twenty yards away). Not only is the burial-ground on the dyke, but the powerful and landed Drummonds built their Castle several miles to the west on that same dyke. ”

David R.Cowan – from the Leyman web site.

I really wish I’d re-read that before I went. My visit was in search of more than dead spirit energy, though. I was prepped to ask some questions that were not strictly energy-based, but we’ll come to that!

This photo below isn’t as good as the one on Cowan’s Leyman website, but it does show the link distance between the circle and its’ King Stone outlier, which is barely visible between the tall trees as a dot on the near horizon.

As I walked around inside the circle I noticed that the north side of the circle (shown above) had slightly wider spaces between the stones. It indicated to me, as with other circles, that this was an exit point for the energy flows from the circle. It was diametrically opposite from the entrance I had found between two more tightly-spaced stones.

This cup-marked stone lay just six feet away from the main circle. The cup marks themselves are quite pronounced and beautifully adorned with concentric rings. If I knew the area better I’d know if it was a map of the energetic points in the landscape. As it was, I found that some female earth energy flowed down from the hillside that was next to the circle (pictured below). The hill is part of the long Knock of Crieff, an unusual-looking hill with some standing stones on the Crieff side.

There is a tale about this crag facing the stone circle, which is called Kate McNieven’s Crag, and Visit Scotland’s web site tell  us:-

“A well known local tale tells the story of Kate McNieven who suffered a cruel end in an attempt to prove whether she was a witch. Reputedly, she was rolled off a crag in a barrel lined with spikes. To this day, the crag, situated on the Knock of Crieff, bears her name.”

From Visit Scotland

The stone below was an outlier, being some half a mile away from the main circle. This stone emitted a male energy, and was drawing that down from the sun, as well as being placed over a neutral earth energy source.

Acting as a King Stone for this circle, I thought it was a considerable way away to still have a link, but it did (possibly the furthest outlier I’ve found yet – being situated in two fields away, about quarter of a mile distant from the main circle). I dowsed the energetic link between this stone and the main circle and found a strong male line, but following it was difficult due to barbed wire fences, so I can’t confirm a continuous link.

A Starter for Ten

During my visit I asked a series of prepared questions, some sensible, some ludicrous, just to test what the responses would be, and perhaps to reveal some surprises. Here is my question list, and then I’ll show you the responses:-

Q1. Was this site created…

1. …before the time of the Celtic Druids?
2. …by the Shining Ones?
3. …according to principles established by The Shining Ones?

Q2. Was the purpose of the sites….

1. …to generate subtle energies?
2. …to collect and store such energies?
3. …to disperse such energies into the land?

Q3. Where does the energy at the site…

1. …come in?
2. …leave?
3. …get generated?

Q4. Were there any burials at the site, and if so, did such burials imprint the person’s energies into the site?

Q5. Is this site part of a larger energy system?

Q6. Was this larger system created to…

1. …generate energy?
2. …act as protection?
3. …harness the energy for some other use?

Of course there was always room in those questions for the response “none of the above”. I just wish there was room on the political ballot papers for such a response too, but that’s a separate matter. Now, please adjust your seatbelt and your credulity monitors in readiness for the answers…

Here are the results for Monzie Circle:-

Q1. Who created it?

• created before the Druids by local farmers
• built according to principles brought to them by The Shining Ones!

Q2. What is its purpose?

• To generate energy and disperse it out into the land
• I verified this by dowsing a hand-spread pattern in the field on the eastern edge of the circle

Q3. Where does energy come in and go out?

• Comes into the circle from the cup-marked stone just outside it
• The cup-marked stone gets its energy from earth energy flowing down from the Knock of Crieff hillside – like a witch in a barrel, this esoteric energy rolls down the crag to meet its termination point!
• The energy enters the circle in a gap between two stones on the south side where the stones are more tightly spaced
• The energy flows out of the north side where the stones are slightly wider apart
• Two streams of energy flow out – a male line goes to the outlying King Stone, and a female line goes into the field as a hand-spread shaped patch of energy (just like at Kermario, Carnac).

Q4. Is there anyone buried in this circle?

• Someone is buried there who was of local renown (sorry – didn’t ask ‘male or female’, which seems particularly annoying now that I have found the story about the witch and the nearby crag. Damn!)
• Their death energy is still faintly present, although very weak now
• This burial is sited at the western edge of the circle, just inside it between two of the circle’s stones

Q5. Is this site part of a larger system? Yes.

Q6. What was the purpose of the larger system?

• Fertility for the land and human prosperity
• Partly for protection (from something as yet unknown)

Conclusion

As a first stab at trying some pretty strange questions I got some pretty strange answers. Take them or leave them – but don’t believe them (isn’t that from an ABC song?). Please go out and try for yourself. Then YOU will know what I’m talking about, or you’ll be able to totally dismiss it all as crack-pottery. Your choice. I’m just reporting what happened on the day. I totally accept there are many factors involved in the answers, but I’m still going to ask difficult questions otherwise it all stands still and no progress is made. At the moment it’s true enough for me to work with.

The Shining Ones didn’t build these local megalithic structures, but they were built on their principles!? I was going to have to go away and have a think about who these Shining Ones may have been. As it happens, a few weeks after this visit, I got the chance to ask a bit more about it, but that will be another post!

Gwas.

Following in the footsteps of giants.

Now I know why the Cuillin Mountains are so-named, for ‘cooling’ they were. M and I woke on Saturday morning on the Isle of Skye to the sight of snow all around. A thin layer that rapidly receded in the March morning sunlight until only the sharp incisor teeth of the Cuillins themselves remained white. A perfect postcard picture that I failed to photograph, but which will remain etched on my mind forever.

The hour or so’s ferry journey from Skye to Harris (Uig to Tarbert) gave us chance to meet my colleague and his delightful wife. The pair were alternately animated and informative, which instantly made us feel at ease and entertained in equal measure. We left them watching eagles soar over the North Harris mountains whilst we headed towards Callenish, or Callenais as it is named in Gaelic. I will use ‘Callenish’ to describe the site, and ‘Calanais’ or ‘Callenais’ to evoke its spirit.

The day was delightfully clear and sunny, but freezing cold still. The more I dowsed the nicer it got, however. Dowsing with gloves on in a freezing strong wind tests your motivation, but rewards you with confidence when the rods smoothly swing to perfect geometric patterns against the blustery wind!

I was intruiged by a border of differently-coloured grass that surrounded the site. I dowsed it and found 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. all around the stones where peat had been cut in a path around the stones. 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., you may recall, is one that we have found to be a mixture of female and male energy combined. Was this energy forming to the shape of the border, or had someone cut the correct shape because they knew where the 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. should flow?

I walked the whole perimeter using my left rod to track male energy, and my right rod to trace the line of the female energy. The two streams danced in and out of each other, sometimes in perfect synchrony, sometimes they drifted wider apart or their amplitude ranged in or out until my arms became a chinese puzzle. It felt good to track their dance and I walzted along with them until they decided to part much wider than I could stretch. They did that just as two standing stones that acted as a gateway loomed in front of me. The boggy peat turf path went through the middle of them, but the two streams veered off – the male anti-clockwise around the eastern stone, and the female line spiralled clockwise around the other.

Rejoining the path I continued dowsing to pick up the energy lineThe direction energy takes when moving. It may be straight or curved, in several dimensions and be composed of one or more different types of energies, i.e. negative, positive or neutral. Energy lines can be found at standing stones and ancient sites but are a general feature in all energy fields. that I felt probably re-joined from the stones (but didn’t actually dowse). Sure enough within a second of walking past the stone sentries I had got a fix on the two energies again. As I followed the path around the site the female line diverted off again towards the inside. The line went around a dis-coloured patch of grass in a square shape. Even more odd!

I started asking more questions:

• Was the female line attracted to something? YES
• Was there something buried beneath this patch of grass? YES
• Was it something human? YES
• Was there any trace of death energy at this spot? YES
• Was this a human burial site (ok, obviously it was, but I wanted confirmation). YES.
• Was the burial recent? NO
• OK. How old? Less than 1000 years? NO. More than 2000? YES. More than 3000? YES. More than 4000? NO. I eventually got it narrowed to between 3750-4000 years old.
• Was this a male burial? YES.
• Was it a person of renown? YES.
• Was it a King? YES.

At this point I didn’t know where else to take it without straying into even more dodgy territory. Speculative or divinitory dowsing can be fun, but both Kal and I have decided to try to keep its use to an absolute minimum as we search for corroborative answers. We only use it when necessary. This wasn’t necessary, so I stopped.

The ‘proper’ entrance seemed to be from the gate in the north end, along the longest avenue. It was a strange avenue though, almost in two parts, and some sixty or so paces long. It wasn’t, however, the path with the greatest energy. That award went to the 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. that flowed from the Visitor’s Centre side entrance, and which then wove gently and directly along the site’s half-remaining avenue of stones to the south. This trail ended at another King’s grave that was positioned at the southern circle’s edge.

Marking the second King's Grave

The idea that these people of renown were still radiating set me thinking. Were they still spoken of? Were these kings buried here still exerting an influence over this site in some way? Were people keeping their memory alight in the collective consciousness of our time, some 4000 years since their demise? How else could they be still radiating death energies? I was confused about the nature of these death energies now. One had a strong male line going either into our out of it – the other was causing a female line to join with a neutral pool of energy elsewhere on the site. Was there a combination or consistency to these energies that I was missing or mis-reading? Or do the energies reflect the abiding personalities and gender traits of the person, rather than their biological sex?

I decided to see if there was a female line anywhere near to this strong male line leading to the king’s grave closest to the outer stone ring. I found a female line flowing in and around the male line, veering off to each side to form spirals that re-emerge to cross over the avenue and back again until they flow in a heart shape through the main 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..

Everything kept leading me back, drawing me towards this flat stone 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. that overlooked the unusual stone boxes int he centre of the site. This centre is a white 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. – there are no black centres or lines anywhere on the site, that I could find. It was all positive. I felt that the outer 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. had been created as a protection mechanism by someone who knew what they were doing! Just a feeling.

I wanted to do some energy work now. I was ready. The windswept haunting beauty of the site was making me feel alive and attuned, and there was no-one else around. I saluted the four elements – a range of mountains forming a headland, the sun on my back,  the fine drizzle, and the wind blowing the clouds northward. Crystals were placed on the main 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., and I stood over them, looking west.

I asked that the spirit of Callenais form a bridge between this stone circle and the apple tree in my garden. I also directed it to travel to Kal’s front room to make a similar bridge to these energies. Then I cleared the spot. I now concentrated on mingling with the spirit of these stones. I then sent this spirit to my house to see what form it would take.

On the way out we visited the Visitor Centre to view the local artist’s paintings, see the statue of a Celtic shaman, and buy an official guide book. I wanted to check some dates that I had dowsed with those of the archaeologists. I flipped the pages – date of the building of the site? 5000 years ago. Check! Radiocarbon dating of the burial material found, guess where, right where I had located the heart shaped energy formation and the second King’s burial site – dated 1750 BC. 3750 years ago. Check! Maybe there’s something to this archeological dowsing, eh? I felt quietly pleased about the accuracy of the dowsing, and even more sure about the grave locations and the dowsing of the death energies.

We shoot forward now to Monday evening, and our return home after a very long days’ travel down stunning highland roads and endless motorways. When I got back I dowsed for any energy around the tree. I got the Venus symbol. The horns were on one side, the tail on the other. The eye was the trunk itself.  I also dowsed inside the house in my usual energy-sending place. I found something completely unexpected!

At first I couldn’t trace it because it seemed very intricate and went back on itself. I wasn’t going slowly enough! I found the centre of the formation. Then I asked to be lead out of the formation along an energy path. It lead me around in what I thought was a sort of fat horn shape – sort of like my Venus symbol, yeah? No. I asked if this was correct. The rods said that what I had found was accurate. I continued. Same again – a fat rounded horn shape that wasn’t the Venus horns. I started afresh. Simply follow the line. I walked around in a path that formed what can only be described as a Celtic labyrinth pattern.

I asked some questions:-

1. Was it from Calanais? YES.
2. Had I helped to create it? YES.
3. Was it composed of any detrimental energy? NO
4. Did it have any spectral colours? NO.
5. What was the gender of any energies that comprised it? FEMALE and MALE. 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. emergy.
6. Was the pattern going to be around long? Hmmmm. Was it maintained by my thoughts of Calanais? YES.
7. Can it be used to strengthen the energies of the house? YES.
8. Is it a pattern that should be walked? YES.
9. Is it a labyrinth, as a dowser would understand that term? YES.
10. Is it possible to learn something from this formation? YES.
11. Is it here to stroke cats? NO. Just checking!

Now I have a riddle piled on top of an enigma. Time to get thinking.

My next installment will be a post about the visits to Callenish II and III – two more great stone circles in the vicinity of Callenish I. Also up soon is the Truiseil Stone megalith, and other curiosities of the Isle of Lewis.

Gwas.

Following in the footsteps of Time Team.