This solstice I did some preparation for the forthcoming journey by drawing some tarot cards to guide me because when I had dowsed as to what activities I might be doing at Glastonbury the only answer that had come back was that I must learn to follow my own intuition, and that I must not take my dowsing rods! You can imagine how much this filled me with a sense of wariness, because I use dowsing rods for almost all quests and journeys involving energy or decision-making. Oddly, even though they were my primary information sources, the one thing the dowsing rods insisted on was that they would not be involved in this solstice quest! Well, that information has been coming to me from many sources recently too, so I took the hint and left all of my rods at home.

Saturday 18th June
I did a tarot card reading before I got to Glastonbury using the new WildWood Tarot cards that I had recently purchased. Like all the tarot decks that I seem to respond to this reading proved incredibly portentous, very personal, and contained mainly important face cards, rather than innocuous suit cards.

The WIldWood Tarot set

The draw would be five cards. Three cards to give me enough information to work out a starting point for my quest, and then a card to tell me which obstacles I would face on the quest, and a card to inspire me with a reward if the obstacle was overcome. I drew the cards with the intention of the card in mind, and then revealed and interpreted each one in turn.

• 3 cards to identify the start point:

1. Queen of Stones – The Bear – “Often linked to Arthurian legend, the bear remains a symbol of power and protection of the land.” If the King Bear is Arthur, then the Queen Bear is Guinivere. The constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor – fixed stars in the cycle around the Pole.
2. The Ancestor – could relate to burial sites, meeting ancient archetypes. The Pathfinder. Elen of the Roads/Ways. Ley lineThe term used by many British dowsers to describe an energy leyA straight line of neutral energy linking two or more sacred sites or other energetic centres. This is often confused with Alfred Watkins’ concept of the Ley Line. Strictly speaking a ley line does not necessarily mean a neutral energy line, only a sight alignmentAlignment relates to the concept that humans have their own energy fields that are oriented or formed in a specific way such that the person is either suited better to one energy source of another. Some people have their energy fields empowered by the direct subtle energy force of The Sun, whilst others are empowered by the indirect subtle energy of The Moon. Due to the historical associations and symbolisation of The Sun with masculinity and The Moon with femininity we designate these alignments as either being ‘male’ or ‘female’ alignments accordingly. We interchangeable refer to people as being ‘sun-aligned’ or ‘male-aligned’ and similarly with the female alignment. between notable places, whereas an energy ley is like a radial spoke in a wheel, with energy flowing outwards across the land in a straight line. It has sometimes been found that the energy ley can be diverted from its strict straight path by changes in the landscape or strong attractors that pull it away from its original course. Energy leys may have inter-twining streams of male and female energies weaving along them, as though the energy ley is an attractor, a pathway or a conduit for the male and female energies.. It is easily confused with ley and therefore its use is not recommended by dowsers. and ancient places of power.
3. King of Arrows – the Kingfisher – The Fisher King. The guardian of the Grail. Associated with Bran the Blessed – the Celtic god of regeneration – whom I meet regularly at Dinas Bran. Links the health of the land to the health of the king. Gwalchmai and Gawain associated with this image. Impulsiveness.

• 1 card to identify the obstacle:

Eight of Vessels – Rebirth, learn from past mistakes, take positive action, don’t fear to ask.

• 1 card to identify the reward:

The Journey – Renewals, a new birth, a new quest, death to the old modes and concepts.

Monday 20th June

I arrived in Glastonbury with mixed weather – dark clouds all around and threatening a downpour. I got into my accommodation and picked up my piece of paper which contained the hastily scribbled notes about which tarot cards I had picked. The best place to find a decision is at the bottom of a glass of locally-brewed real ale, so I headed off to a local hostelry with the intention of seeking inspiration. Luckily, Kal had ventured into town for the evening so we strode into the King William pub and began to get inspired. As I quizzed him about possible interpretations of the tarot cards I kept noticing that the pub was bedecked with Arthurian paraphernalia - a genealogy of Arthurian personae and a map of the country’s best Arthurian sites were situated right in the corner where we sat and chatted. I looked around the pub – no other walls had such decorations! Our first coincidence.

We interpreted the reading as meaning that I should start my quest at a place where an ancestor was buried, where ley lines run, and linked to Arthur and Guinivere. I knew this place to be the burial site of Arthur & Guinivere at Glastonbury Abbey. I happened to be staying at a Bed & Breakfast called Magdelene House. I had picked the accommodation because it had been the only one in the town that had a room close to the solstice because I booked quite close to the midsummer date. When I arrived I found that Magdelene House is the closest accommodation you can get to Glastonbury Abbey short of camping in the abbey grounds! The second coincidence of the journey so far. The signs were good.

Tuesday 21st June

1. Glastonbury Abbey

“Glabbey”, as I call it, is the remains of several incarnations of devotional structures, each more impressive than the last. The original wattle and daub church has long since gone, replaced by a small church which was then added to and reconstructed as an abbey of some size considering the relative size of the town around it. The importance given to Glastonbury is now a distant memory, but in its day it was a major spiritual centre, and has now revived some of this importance in a Pagan guise that has superceded the Christian prominence.

My interest here was sharply focused – I wouldn’t be here to wander about – I had work to do. I aimed to meditate at the grave site of Arthur and Guinivere. Before I did that I needed to prepare and cleanse – important steps before beginning any spiritual endeavour, I have come to realise. I visited a huge red beech tree (‘copper beech’ as it is colloquially known) and there I secreted myself in the tree’s hollowed trunk and began to rid myself of my worldy energies. That done, I walked towards the abbey until I picked up a ley lineThe term used by many British dowsers to describe an energy leyA straight line of neutral energy linking two or more sacred sites or other energetic centres. This is often confused with Alfred Watkins’ concept of the Ley Line. Strictly speaking a ley line does not necessarily mean a neutral energy line, only a sight alignmentAlignment relates to the concept that humans have their own energy fields that are oriented or formed in a specific way such that the person is either suited better to one energy source of another. Some people have their energy fields empowered by the direct subtle energy force of The Sun, whilst others are empowered by the indirect subtle energy of The Moon. Due to the historical associations and symbolisation of The Sun with masculinity and The Moon with femininity we designate these alignments as either being ‘male’ or ‘female’ alignments accordingly. We interchangeable refer to people as being ‘sun-aligned’ or ‘male-aligned’ and similarly with the female alignment. between notable places, whereas an energy ley is like a radial spoke in a wheel, with energy flowing outwards across the land in a straight line. It has sometimes been found that the energy ley can be diverted from its strict straight path by changes in the landscape or strong attractors that pull it away from its original course. Energy leys may have inter-twining streams of male and female energies weaving along them, as though the energy ley is an attractor, a pathway or a conduit for the male and female energies.. It is easily confused with ley and therefore its use is not recommended by dowsers. that feeds into the ruin, and then flows down the main central axis. I wove about from side to side and then was taken around the end of the abbey (where there is an underground section on display), past the remains of St Dunstan’s small church, and into a spiral at the place where the remains of Arthur and Guinivere were supposedly interred.

The supposed grave site of Arthur and Guinivere

At the grave actual site of Arthur and Guinivere (which I dowsed to be six feet away from the signpost) I did a deep meditation. As I let my mind drift into the earth two figures appeared before me in my mind – a man and a woman who joined hands. There was real love in their eyes as they looked at each other. I didn’t need to guess who it might be. They spoke to me about each other in one simple phrase each.

The man said of the lady that she had “the power of beauty“. The lady in turn said that the man who she was with had “the beauty of power“.

This was something that the saw reflected in each other. Alone they did not possess these qualities. I took this to mean that they had to be a couple, a combination of male and female energies, in order for power and beauty to combine in that way and emerge from the union, one aspect reflected in the other.

With this information I returned to consciousness and looked around me. Where should I go next, I wondered? Where was the next link in the chain? How could I find out without my dowsing rods? I exited the abbey and then felt for a ‘pull’ in one direction or another. Left – away from the centre of town. I walked away thinking of the phrase – ‘the power of beauty/the beauty of power’ – and keeping focused on where I felt I should go next. I walked through the Morrisons supermarket car park just in time to see a wonderfully decorated camper van pull up in front of me. It was obviously going to Glastonbury Festival. I chatted with the owner as he got out of it and he let me take some photographs, then I wandered onwards. There before me was Wearyall Hill. It seems I was due to go there next.

2. Wearyall Hill

I knew that I would not see the usual familiar sight of the thorn’s branches as I reached the ridge on Wearyall Hill. I knew they had been cut down this year by some ill-intentioned people, for some inexplicable reason. The Thorn is considered by the mainstream press and Christian pilgrims as one of their holy sites, but it is just as special to a druid – it is an ancient and powerful tree whose welfare is just as much my concern and any religious person’s. I would venture to suggest that actually I am more interested in the physical tree than in what it symbolises. My reasons for visiting were simply to offer some protection and healing to the tree.

The Glastonbury Thorn - now under better protection?

I set up protection around the Holy Thorn Tree using my protection crystal set. I lit two incense sticks during the ceremony, and then cleared everything up. I gave the tree some healing too, to help the young shoots survive, and implored it to grow strong and healthy, by imagining that the earth was providing the growth energy it needed. I fed my plant growth energy into the tree too – the first time I had used this new energy form since I had gained it a few weeks earlier.

As I walked away I followed the ridge of the hill until I could see the Tor and Chalice Hill. I knew that I needed to reach Chalice Hill, even though it was raining, and the sensible option would be to head for town. I also knew that I needed to get to Chalice Hill with my incense sticks still lit! This spurred me on to climb the hill in the heat and humidity. Don’t ask me why this was important, but I just felt that it was. Wherever the sticks stopped burning would be my next stop. I walked with a focus and purpose through the trickling rain.

3. Chalice Hill

The walk up Chalice Hill is steep but short. In the summer heat and humidity I expected it to completely wipe me out, but my recent fitness work meant that I was only slightly out of breath, even if I was leaking water like a sieve. As I reached the summit a strange but welcoming sight awaited me…a red and white clothed tree trunk!

The red and white streams combined in one symbol

I stood admiring the view over glastonbury and listening to the strum of a guitar player in the dell at the side of the hill. The sun came out so I went over to take a look at the pole. I saw that a tree trunk, twenty feet high, had been planted in a hole and then wrapped in ribbons of many colours. The mixture of red and white ribbons made me think of the red and white streams of water that flow under the Tor. I knew that my next task would be to mix the waters of the two springs. I didn’t need any further hints – it was obvious to me that this would provide the union of the red and white, and that it would be useful for some purpose that I might discover later. So, I headed off following my intuition as to how to get there. Within minutes I had arrived there by the most direct route.

4. White Spring and Chalice Well Spring
The cavernous dark interior of the White Spring is charmingly lit by tea light candles, and harbours a heady mixture of incense and associated aromas. Of course the spring was open on the Solstice, and there were casual visitors and dedicated troopers of the pagan cause doing their devotions or simply admiring the atmosphere. I followed my intuition and ended up at one of the points where the spring falls into a terraced pool at a convenient height. I lit some incense inside adding to the already beautiful smell, then collected some water from the spring, half filling the empty Chalice Well bottle I had brought for a reason that I only now understood. I took the water into the amazing twig cave that forms one of the altars to the goddess of the waters. There I had the water blessed. Again I knew not why.

As I emerged out of the darkness into the light my eyes grew accustomed to the scene and suddenly I saw a spring on the other side of the road that I had never noticed before. It was the Chalice Well spring – the Red Spring – on the opposite side of the road to the White Spring. I filled the other half of my bottle. Now I had a mixture of both types of waters – a union of the red and white streams, both literally and symbolically. I felt that now I should use this “potion” for some end, and my mind turned to where I could visit next that might inspire such a union. Why not at the very site where Arthur consolidated his power – Camelot? I would go to Camelot, I decided.

That is my next part of this year’s Solstice story.

Gwas.

To walk up Cadair Idris was the culmination of the set of tasks that I had been guided to follow in order to fulfil this particular stage of the year, from Summer Solstice to Lammas. The vision I had received was that I needed to “wake the dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t.“. Cryptic indeed, but after a series of further exploratory encounters I had worked out that this would be done on Cadair Idris, and that I could call upon the spirit of Mab – the faerie queen – should I need assistance to do this. Well, all of these things would be fulfilled but not in the way I expected them to occur, as I will now relate.

The walk was surely one of the most beautiful walks I have ever done, from start to finish. The Breath of the DragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. – a light swirling mist – occasionally veiled the mountain, rolling along its slopes and through its valleys as though the dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. was waking to the ringing of my footsteps on its stone-scaled back.

Idyllic start to the walk up Cadair Idris

For anyone who may have been as confused as I was about the name of this mountain – “Cadair” is the Welsh spelling, whilst “Cader” is the anglicised version. I will stick with “Cadair” as I am trying to learn Welsh, albeit very slowly.

The Welcome Sign with its suggested trails

Cadair Idris is a strange mountain: there is a well-defined path to the top of the mountain, yet relatively poorly defined paths to descend again. I wish I had taken more notice of this when I started out, but I assumed that such a well-visited mountain would have well-defined paths. That was to be my undoing later in the day! However, in the morning M and I ascended in a state of bliss marvelling at the abundance of beautiful trees, ferns and mosses that made each turn a photo opportunity.

An old hoary tree wrapped in a coat of moss

If it wasn’t a beautiful old tree turning our heads it was a waterfall….

A hundred beautiful photos await you at Cadair Idris

Climbing on the back of the dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t.

Throughout the day I could see that parts of the mountain resembled the parts of a dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t.’s anatomy. We started out climbing up the steep trail that formed the lower half of the dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t.’s tail, as though the dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. had slung its tail over the edge of the stone upon which it was resting, and the lower end of the tail hung down into the valley, enticing climbers to climb it, like some kind of a lure.

The Dragon's Breath

The analogy of the mountain as a sleeping dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. was constantly present in my mind as I climbed. The initial steep climb to the ridge was its tail. The high ridges were its back. The peak was it’s head. The flat ridge was its mouth, from which its breath seemed to emerge.

Once you broke onto the plateau that formed the bed of the dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. itself it was a matter of following the tail around to the left where the sleeping form of the dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. could be seen in full, curling around the lake Lyn Cau – it’s mouth spewing mist breath along the valley in deep rhythmic pulses, whilst the ridges of its back reared up at the far end of the valley in a challenge to your determination.

After a couple of hours of hard slog we were walking the spine of the dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. – the ridge above Lyn Cau called Craig Cwm Amarch. The mist was all around us now because we were so high, and we only caught glimpses of the wonderful views below us. Not far now until the summit, and hopefully a rest, some food and some energy work.

Walking the back of the Cadair dragon

The Short-Lived Summit

On the top of Cadair Idris, also known as Penygadair, there is a trigonometry point and a welcome egg-shaped enclosure that provides shelter from the inevitable cold winds and the breath of the dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t.. We sheltered briefly, long enough to eat, regain our strength, and for me to confirm that this was the best place to do some energy work. I began to get into the dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. pose but my legs were too weak to hold the bent-kneed position for long enough and comfortably enough for me to meditate! Oh no! What now? I resorted to my backup plan. I called upon Mab to offer me the guidance that was our recent deal. I asked her to show me another way to wake the dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. other than meditating on this summit.

We left only just re-energised and expecting the long slow downhill trek to be much easier than the way up. Certainly things were about to happen, but things that made me take my eye off the ball. I was chief navigator and M was relying ion me to know where we were going. I felt that I would simply follow the obvious path and it would lead us down, and besides my eyes had begun to alight onto some strangely shaped rocks that were appearing everywhere I looked – tooth-shaped rocks….hmmm.

View from a dragon's ridge

I walked along the flat ridge in the mist scanning all around the area for these tooth-shaped rocks. These were dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t.’s teeth, I felt. The teeth of the Cadair Idris dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t., here on the head of the dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t.. They pulled me towards them. I picked one up and felt a tingle. An inner distant voice (Mab?) told em that I should stab the tooth firmly into the ground to unleash the spirit of the dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. – to stir and wake the dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t.. Aha! I planted one into the shallow soil and felt this to be the first of many. Now I was on a mission…the path trundled on and we followed another party of walkers through the mist….just needed to keep them in sight and we would soon be down…

A typical dragon's tooth that kept appearing in front of me

I found tooth-shaped rocks at oddly equal distances. Every five minutes apart they were. I was only interested in feeling for how many I should plant in order to fulfil the work – one, two, three, four, five, six. They were found, carried and spiked at perfect intervals. And then the group in front disappeared into the mist! We decided to follow the path onwards, up the slight slope and then get our bearings at the summit of Mynedd Moel.

The path seemed to dwindle, then drop alarmingly down the other side of the hill, We followed. At the bottom the path got even narrower and only seemed to head out across the rest of the long ridge into the far distance. We checked the map – there was no path down on this side of the ridge! What? I saw a path at the end of the long ridge heading down into the valley below. Perhaps we should follow that? At least it was a path. I wanted to head down the mountain following a stream, but the idea was vetoed. What is the stream became a waterfall? Hmm…we took the long path. An hour later we were faced with an impossibly steep path that seemed to plummet over the edge of the mountain side! Oh no! Where now? Now we were tired too. We needed a way down. We walked back to the nearer end of the ridge where the stream began its descent. No option now – we HAD to follow the stream and take a chance, or it would be the Mountain Rescue helicopter, OR an impossibly tiring trek back up onto the summit again to re-trace our steps from several hours ago. No deal. We were going down!

View southwest from half way down Cadair Idris

Dame Fortune was on our side. The stream led to a wall and the wall led us to the path we should have been on in the first place if only I had been paying attention. As soon as we regained the path, the seventh tooth appeared and I planted it immediately, almost in thanks at having been saved from the perils of the dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t.’s mouth.

On getting home I dowsed to see whether I had woken the dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. by planting the ‘teeth’ – task achieved for this eighth-part of the Wheel of the Year. The toughest assignment physically that I have had to do yet. I will never take my safety on mountains lightly again. I had been taught a lesson, but still granted a reward for my sincere efforts. Thanks to Mab and to the powers of intuition.

Gwas.

That time is nearly up, and as I promised myself I have managed to schedule a walk up Cadair Idris – Wales’ second highest mountain after Snowdon. I’m also walking up Snowdon soon, too, in aid of the Love Hope Strength cancer charity. I’ll spare you the JustGiving page, because I’m not asking for your money – I’m just spilling my thoughts into the electronic void that is this blog. I just mention it because it’s Snowdon – a favourite mountain of mine.

Inj this post I want to discuss two concepts that have emerged recently – the dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. breath and the dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. pose. Also, I want to look at the various aspects of the idea of “waking the dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t.”. As soon as I started looking into “waking the dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t.” here are some news, events, concepts and ideas that emerged:-

1. “Waking the dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t.“: Proposed giant sculpture.

A new sculpture to mark the pride of Wales could be built by October 2011 at Chirk in North Wales.

Proposed new giant in Wales

Chirk is the town that is in between two other sites that I like to visit – the old oak trees around Pontfadog village, and Dinas Bran, the sublime mound that overlooks the town of Llangollen. Turns out that in between these two oft-visited druidical sites they plan on plonking a huge 200ft statue to rival the Angel of the North and the gigantic White Horse planned for the South of England. It wasn’t surprised that it was a dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t., so much as surprised that it was entitled “Waking the DragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t.”. Seemed quite auspicious.

Link: The Daily Mail (yikes!)

2. Raising Kundalini : The Serpent Fire

Something mentioned in hushed tones by C.W.Leadbeater in his various books, especially The Chakras. In that book Leadbeater cautions against this dangerous action being undertaken without the supervision of a guru - the action of raising the serpent fire energy from its sleeping position coiled at the base of the spine like a serpent, and rising through each of the chakras in turn.

I must admit I don’t see the necessity of going through this process. Kal and I have discussed what it means to be “enlightened” and have decided that if it means walking around in a bliss state then it’s not for us.  If it means having a perception of the whole universe in a moment, then we’ll pass on that too. The small steps we have taken to balance and enhance our own chakra points as a means to creating a faster and more efficient interface with the various sentient forces at work in the world we inhabit, then that’s enough for us.

3. DragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. Mounds – Wearyall Hill and Cadair Idris

Wearyall Hill in Glastonbury was the focal point of my vision during the Summer Solstice, a vision of a dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. waking from sleep. After it had awoken I needed to direct the dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. to unfold its wings and fly again after a long slumber. This was the trigger for me to begin to try to understand how this image translated into my life for the next few weeks. Only the next day after the vision I was already somehow certain that Cadair Idris mountain was important and more local to my task.

Cadair Idris mountain translates as something like “The Chair of Idris”. No-one seems to know who Idris was – a Saxon poet, a giant (or both), or something else. Perhaps I get the idea of Cadair Idris from the works of Susan Cooper or from Ivor The Engine, but I associate Idris with a dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t..

Other associations with dragons related to Cadair Idris can be found in Celtic lore:

Dragons and winged serpents were also reported around Lleyn and Penmaenmawr in Gwynedd, the ravines of the Berwyn Mountains, Cadair Idris, the wilds of Cardigan (Dyfed), Radnor Forest (Powys), the Brecon Beacons, the marches of Carmarthen and Worm’s Head, Gower. (source: Celtic Encyclopeadie)

4. Associations with King Arthur

There may be some link between The Pendragon – Arthur – and Cadaer Idris. In an essay published online August Hunt explains:

Triad 52 of the Trioedd Ynys Prydein concerns itself with the “Three Exalted Prisoners of the Island of Britain”. After listing the three prisoners, the Triad continues as follows:

“And one [prisoner], who was more exalted than the three of them, was three nights in prison in Caer Oeth and Anoeth, and three nights imprisoned by Gwen Pendragon, and three night in an enchanted prison under the stone of Echymeint [Llech Echemeint]. This exalted prisoner was Arthur.”

…The word anoeth is used in the STANZAS OF THE GRAVES, where it is said of Arthur that his final resting place in this world is a “wonder” (“anoeth bid bet y Arthur”). As an adjective, anoeth means “difficult” or “wonderful”. The Caer Oeth and Anoeth placename is also mentioned in the Mabinogion tale CULHWCH AND OLWEN, where it is one of the castles Arthur boasts of gaining entrance to. Once again, in the STANZAS OF THE GRAVES, we are told that the burial ground of the host of Caer Oeth and Anoeth can be found in Gwanas, a mountain tract located near Cadair Idris in Ceredigion.

A fuller explanation of some of the more obscure references to archaic Welsh literature and its meaning in this context is given here: http://www.maryjones.us/jce/oethanoeth.html

5. The DragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t.’s Back

Looking at an ariel view of the mountain of Cadair Idris I am reminded of the very shape that I saw in the vision of Wearyall Hill. See if you can see what I mean:

The sleeping beast

6. The DragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. Breath and DragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. Pose

One evening I ventured to my new favourite haunt – my nemeton – to further my quest. Once I was firmly ensconced the rain began to come down in buckets. I slowly let myself attune to the atmosphere…the thud of the water, the smell of the leaf-laden earth, and then CRACK – THUMP!! A huge branch from a tree only a few feet away dropped to the floor and landed with a loud bump which startled me, making my blood pump in alarm! I laughed…and then relaxed into the atmosphere again. Clearly, I needed to be both entranced and alert at the same time. A little reminder perhaps?

I began an impromptu ritual of being cleansed in the rain,  adopting a strange pose in response to the feel of the water. I began to think about my task at hand:  waking the dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t.. My body began to react to the stream of cold water and my breath began to be forced out. Two thoughts came to mind – this was the physical answer to my question “How do I wake the dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t.?”, and that the breathing was “the dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t.’s breath“. With this realisation I knew what I needed to do on Cadair Idris. As well as remembering that I could call upon Mab to assist.

The incident with the falling branch reminded me of this quote from the film ‘Excalibur’ (another Arthur/Merlin/DragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. link):

Merlin: What are you afraid of?
Arthur: I don’t know!
Merlin: Shall I tell you what’s out there?
Arthur: Yes, please!
Merlin: The DragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t.! A beast of such power that if you were to see it whole and all complete in a single glance it would burn you to cinders!
Arthur: Where is this DragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t.?
Merlin: It is everywhere! It is everything! Its scales glisten in the bark of trees, its roar is heard in the wind and its forked tongue strikes like… like…
[a bolt of lightning strikes nearly at their feet]
Merlin: Oh, like lightning! Yes, that’s it!

I reminded myself that, although I was in my nemeton, it was not my space – I was just a privileged visitor to Nature’s space.

How to adopt the DragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. Pose

Legs shoulder width apart and relaxed. Knees slightly bent, as if for skiing. Hands out in front, with palms upwards at stomach height, and cupped as though waiting to collect something in them. Very similar to the position adopted now by Rugby players when they take a kick, but not as exaggerated as that, more relaxed.

I recreated the DragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. Pose today. As soon as I was in the correct position my face flushed and I got a tingle along my spine! I began to feel light-headed, the way I do before some kind of revelation happens. I felt the sweet familiar tingle all over that accompanies me getting totally in tune with Nature. It was very startling how a simple posture could recreate all this! I knew then that this posture was important to me.

What a poser!

I now need to understand more about the dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t.’s breath – is it qigong? (e.g. this site) Or something else? I remember a line from the film ‘Excalibur’ in which Merlin mentions the DragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t.’s Breath as being a writhing mist or vapour called forth by the Charm of Making. Perhaps I should revisit that charm and consider learning it. Might it be useful to call that upon Cadair Idris whilst adopting my DragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. Pose? Some things will only be revealed during the next week. I’ll report back after my walk up the mountain.

Gwas.

So, in the last parts I told you how I sloughed off the energetic attachment of a trickster spirit, got a surprise at a crop circle, then took two trips up the Tor trying to totally tune my tantra. That’s not strictly accurate, but it was the only synonym I could find that was alliterative! I was in the process of working on my heart chakra – the chakra os assimilation, integration, love, emotion and…well, here’s what one site says:

“According to contemporary buddhist teacher Tarthang Tulku, the heart chakra is very important for the feeling of existential fulfillment” (source: Sensagent Dictionary)

‘Existential fulfillment’, huh? Well, I’m pretty fulfilled in that respect, being a trainee druid. So, the day before I had watched the sun set on the horizon from The Tor and this morning I set out with Kal to see where I would end up. There were no plans except a starting point – them’s the rules. Our starting point this day would be the “entrance portals” that are the Gog and Magog trees (now sadly, only one remains).

Guardians of The Entrance: Gog and Magog

No time was wasted this morning – we knew, after last year’s visit, exactly how to get to the trees. It was early (i.e. before tour buses arrived) so all was quiet, even on the campsite next to the ancient oaks. Kal hovered around outside while I clambered into the nettle-strewn glade that forms a triangular cordon around the trees. I was taken aback at how much the first tree (Gog apparently) had paled and depreciated in the last year since she had been burned on the inside by some ardent “worshipper” and his zealous candle. I’m sure there were vestiges of life last year. This year he was totally barren and crumbling fast. It was quite dis-heartening to see.

The legendary and dead Gog Oak tree

Luckily, although I felt the waves of trauma and sadness coming from his partner Magog, she was in decent health. In her hollow I placed the two things I possessed that had a healing energy: a special slice of rose-coloured crystal that I had been given as a gift specifically to use for heart chakra work, and my ash staff. How the giver of this crystal had known I was going to do such work is beyond me, but that’s another story. Alongside the crystal I put my staff in the bole too. I placed my hands on the gnarled bark of the tree and, after the waves of anguish had ebbed away I put some loving energy into the tree. She was clearly pining (or is it “oaking”?), and it seemed like the only thing I could do that wasn’t a selfish act. I wasn’t here to take this time – I was here to give.

Three is a magic number

Oh yes it is. Good things come in trees {sic} so having passed between the trees as a starting point to my morning’s processional way I rejoined Kal and we headed up the slope towards the ever-present Tor in the distance. This would be the third time in two days we would climb the Tor, and each time the energies, the feelings and the results were different. Today was no exception.

The climb up the Tor was straightforward, although again, I felt the need to do it in bare feet. Again, we went up the quick way, up the steepest slope at the ‘back’ of the Tor. Once on top Kal went off doing his stuff, dowsing and meditating for his own ends. I dowsed to find the best place for me to work with my heart chakra energies, and to commune with the Spirit of the Tor to know what I should do for the next part of the year’s cycle. This was my intention this morning – no messing about! Straight to the ‘heart’ of the matter!

It was only a matter of a few minutes before things began to happen. I had stilled myself, then sent my attention deep into the Tor and outwards up into the skies above, creating a channel between the two. I felt a deep rumbling from within the depths of the Tor! It was only slight, but it was palpable. Something was stirring! Was it within me, or within the earth? What was it that was awakening? Through my deep connection I felt the urge to stand and move to the doorway of St.Michael’s Tower – the building on the Tor’s summit. I was standing now in the Michael and Mary Line, the Great DragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. Line, the strongest ley lineThe term used by many British dowsers to describe an energy leyA straight line of neutral energy linking two or more sacred sites or other energetic centres. This is often confused with Alfred Watkins’ concept of the Ley Line. Strictly speaking a ley line does not necessarily mean a neutral energy line, only a sight alignmentAlignment relates to the concept that humans have their own energy fields that are oriented or formed in a specific way such that the person is either suited better to one energy source of another. Some people have their energy fields empowered by the direct subtle energy force of The Sun, whilst others are empowered by the indirect subtle energy of The Moon. Due to the historical associations and symbolisation of The Sun with masculinity and The Moon with femininity we designate these alignments as either being ‘male’ or ‘female’ alignments accordingly. We interchangeable refer to people as being ‘sun-aligned’ or ‘male-aligned’ and similarly with the female alignment. between notable places, whereas an energy ley is like a radial spoke in a wheel, with energy flowing outwards across the land in a straight line. It has sometimes been found that the energy ley can be diverted from its strict straight path by changes in the landscape or strong attractors that pull it away from its original course. Energy leys may have inter-twining streams of male and female energies weaving along them, as though the energy ley is an attractor, a pathway or a conduit for the male and female energies.. It is easily confused with ley and therefore its use is not recommended by dowsers. int he country that runs across this land’s southern width from one end to the other. My eyes glazed, and suddenly I saw a vision…

The DragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. Hill Vision

…The archway of the building framed Wearyall Hill in the town below. As my attention was placed upon it I saw that it was the shape of a sleeping dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t.. I could make out a head curled in, folded wings on its flanks, and a tail snaking out and around the back of the hill. As I watched, an overlay, a transparent copy of the dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. woke and looked up at me. With a snort it unfolded its wings, stretched and then looked at me again as if waiting for an instruction. I wondered what to do…then I realised. It wanted to fly but had forgotten how, after such a long sleep. I sent back the instruction to it in my mind – “Fly!” I said, “Fly!”. The dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. vision lifted its neck, looked upwards, and then beat its huge wings until it raised itself off the ground.

Cultural images abound - e.g. Smaug

Once airborne it circled quickly around Wearyall Hill, still visible in front of me, and spiralled upwards and towards me. As the great red dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. flew over my head it disappeared. So authentic was this vision that I knew to be a vision, that for a moment I blinked in case it flew into me….then it was gone. There was no dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. now. Wearyall Hill was just a hill.

View of Wearyall 'Dragon' Hill through the tower

I understood, in a way that only true gnosis can reveal, what it was I needed to do for the next eighth part of the year. I needed to “wake the dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t.” – whatever that turned out to mean. I had to wake it, then teach it how to fly, because it had been sleeping for so long it had forgotten. Straight away I was getting linkages coming through from my reading and learning: red dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. -> serpent -> male earth energy -> serpent fire -> kundalini -> ‘raising the serpent fire’ -> a hill -> flying -> shamanic flying -> raising consciousness…. the connections kept coming. It would take me a few weeks to contemplate what this might mean exactly for me, but the direction was clear and more powerful than ever before.

I thought that was the most revelatory thing that could have happened to me that day and I was content to know my direction, but the best was yet to come. We descended the hill and headed for the quiet contemplation space that is the Chalice Well Gardens. That was where the pilgrimage was truly fulfilled!

Gwas.

At the start of the year I faithfully followed the proposed dates that aligned with the current Gregorian calendar. As the year progressed beyond Summer Solstice I came to feel that the dates that were marked as celebration dates bore little relation to the times when earth energies were specifically active. The Gregorian dates for the Pagan Festivals in particular felt wrong, and were egergetically unremarkable. I started to align my visits with other criteria. My reasoning was that, for Equinox and Solstice days - celebrations of the sun – then the exact day as stated originally was accurate. For the pagan festival dates I took the nearest full moon date to be the correct day to try to do some dowsing. Often, this didn’t quite work out because I had already booked the Gregorian dates off work and so was often only free to dowse at sacred sites on those dates.

Here were the dates that I had written down as being the days to test for subtle energetic potential:-  

• Imbolc – 1 Feb (First Quarter moon)
• Spring Equinox – Thu Mar 20 5:48 GMT
• Beltane – 1 May (almost First Quarter moon)
• Summer Solstice – Sun Jun 21 0:59 BST
• Lammas – 1 Aug (six days from Full Moon)
• Autumn Equinox – Mon Sep 22 16:44 BST
• Samhain – 1 Nov (Full Moon)
• Winter Solstice – Sun Dec 21 12:04 GMT

You will notice that I have used the original Gregorian dates rather than those that I shifted eleven days prior to these trying to account for the calendar shift in the Middle Ages. Here were my original propositions and thoughts as a reminder of what I was trying to do:

We’re going to have to dowse on those days as we go through the year and see what happens. When does it feel right, and when are the energies particularly active? … I would hope that the male energies would be more active on the days of solar worship such as Summer Solstice, or the Equinoxes. If we get sun in Britain on those dates then we have a chance to test this theory out by visiting some of the sites we went to over this Winter period, when the energies seemed distinctly quiet and weak, with no evidence of male energy activity at all. On active solar days we would expect to find the qualities associated with maleness – protection, transformation through initiation, and the manipulation of energy.

The festival dates when the moon is very present coincide with the lunar festivals of the cross-quarter days (Beltane and Samhain) this year. That’s lucky for us and we can report on the status of the female earth energies at sites on those dates. We expect that the traditionally female aspects will be in evidence on those dates, that is fertility powers, sanctuary and healing.

We hope to be able to answer whether the times of year of the festivals correlate to a particular quality of the powers of the moon or sun at that time. The White Virgin (the first stage of the goddess) is linked to Spring. Are fertility powers stronger at Beltane and Spring Equinox? May Day was always seen as a fertility festival. Imbolc is associated with Brigid and healing. Are the healing energy frequencies strongest at this time?

Not all dates were able to be tested due to circumstances or time restrictions, but where they could then I have recorded the results. My conclusions will be compared with my expectations as recorded at the beginning of the year.

I am very unhappy with the quality of the results for this experiment. There were notable times when we didn’t take any measurement of the relative strengths of the energies and this has made the results quite inconclusive. Therefore, I will endeavour to be more rigorous this year and to try to capture the information more reliably and objectively. Therefore, please consider these results as an “indication” of what might be the case.

I also believe that there are some factors that have come to light this year that affect the results, i.e. the position of various planets at that point in the year, the position of the sun and moon, how clear the skies were, and to take into account the strengths of male and female energies separately, as well as differentiating between earth and radiant energy strengths.

Therefore, all in all, I feel the results from 2009 are of purely subjective value. However, I am including what data I did gather so that I can compare this year’s information with it to see if anything at all does begin to form a pattern.

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IMBOLC – February 1st

Actual visit date(s): February 1st & 2nd

Moon Phase: Almost First Quarter

Location: Dyserth village

Sites visited: St.Bridget’s Church, Castle Dyserth (quarry where we made a stone circle), Graig Fawr hill, Dyserth Waterfall, Gop Hill

Dowsing results: A significant change in the strength of the male energies from 1st to 2nd February. As there was significant cloud cover I could not attribute this increase to the appearance of the sun.

Activities: Only dowsing. Nothing relating to energy specifically.

Post Link: Dyeserth 3

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SPRING EQUINOX - March 20th

Actual visit date: March 20th

Location: Bryn Celli Ddu, Anglesey

Sites visited: Bryn Celli Ddu, Penmaenmawr stone circle

Dowsing results: The energy “felt” balanced. We were not inclined to dowse much at all. What dowsing was done turned up a perfect balance between male and female energy strengths. Was this purely suggestive, or was it real?

Activities: Attuning ourselves on top of an ancient mound, healing a stone circle with positive balancing energies.

Post Link: A Balance of Light & Dark

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BELTANE – May 1st

Actual visit date: May 1st

Moon Phase: Almost First Quarter

Location: Helsby, Cheshire.

Sites visited: Helsby Hill, Woodhouses Hill and a modern man-made mound.

Dowsing results: Again, we failed to measure the relative strengths of the energies. Energy was successfully sent from one site to the next, however.

Activities: Lighting incense and manifesting energies from hilltop to hilltop.

Post Link: Firing Manifestations

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SUMMER SOLTICE – June 21st

Actual visit date: Jone 20th and 21st

Location: Glastonbury, Somerset,

Sites visited: Barrowbridge Mump, Wearyall Hill, White Spring, Glastonbury Tor, Gog and Magog trees

Dowsing results: Very strong male energies, overwhelming the female energy (which wasn’t weak either). Strongest male energy of the year.

Activities: Meditating at various sites, being intuitively led to them, and instinctively having our chakras opened at those places to receive an influx of positive inspirational energies.

Post Link: The Opening of the Chakras

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LAMMAS - August 1st

Rejuvenated forest clearing

Actual visit date: August 1st

Moon Phase: 5 days from Full Moon

Location: The Sandstone Trail, Cheshire.

Sites visited: Beeston Castle, Peckforton Castle, Utkinton, Delamere Forest, Frodsham.

Dowsing results: Finding healing white energy spirals (composed of female tree and earth energy).

Activities: Drawing energy from the land (energising), healing,

Post Link: Llamas and Lammas

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AUTUMN EQUINOX – August 22nd

Actual visit date: August 19th and 20th

Location: Wiltshire and Oxfordshire

Sites visited: Alton Barnes White Horse, Wayland’s Smithy, Uffington White Horse

Dowsing results: Unusually strong male and female energies that were well balanced. The sun was glorious for these two days, and I felt completely relaxed, to the point where I was “spaced out” by being at sites – this “good feeling” was due to the “white” energy of the balanced and combined male and female energies, I believe.

Activities: Using sigils, following intuition, a pilgrimage of ancient sites, balancing chakra energies, transformation process.

Post Link: Trail of the White DragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t.

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SAMHAIN – November 1st

Actual visit date: November 2nd

Moon Phase: Full Moon

Location: Wiltshire.

Sites visited: Silbury Hill, West Kennet Long Barrow.

Dowsing results: Stronger response than first visit I made some months earlier. The energy was male energy atop this mound. It was so strong it made me dizzy! I felt highly charged with 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., and I could draw upon both male and female forms. Dowsing response was incredibly strong under the full moon.

Activities: Meditating, shamanic flying, empowerment of energy fields.

Post Link: None.

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WINTER SOLSTICE – December 21st

Actual visit date: 21st December

Location: Anglesey

Sites visited: Bryn Celli Ddu, Bryngwyn Stones, The Soar Stone, Lligwy Chamber

Dowsing results: Stronger female energies surrounding Bryn Celli Ddu; minimal male energy coming only from the stones. Male energy at Soar Stone restricted to close to the stone. Weak in nature. Male energy at Lligwy was confined to power centres, whilst female energy was again enclosing the central stones, as though protecting them? Our normal alignments (m/f) were reversed for this day – Kal went for female energy whilst I sought out male energy.

Activities: transformation, shamanic flying, empowerment, balancing of chakras.

Post Link: Anglesey Winter Solstice

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CONCLUSIONS

There are hints within this set of information that various factors such as the time of year, and the position of the sun and moon, all affect the strengths of the subtle energies at sacred sites and elsewhere. However, the poor quality and consistency of the information I gathered does not allow me to make any clear statement to that effect. Therefore, this year I will try to take more accurate, consistent and objective records of this data, including the new factors that I believe may be relevant including the influence of planets, and whether the sun or moon are visible when the dowsing takes place.

Watch for this post next year to see if I can get anything that might be approaching a conclusion!

Gwas

Gwas.

On June 20th and 21st Kal and I went down to Glastonbury to begin a spiritual pilgrimage. That wasn’t our intention initially, but very quickly that’s what it turned out to be! We had no set agenda, other than a starting point that I had identified after reading Mary Caine’s book about the Glastonbury Zodiac in which she had revealed that the Girt Dog of Langport may have been the first place that initiates to the ancient druidic colleges and mystery schools landed by boat on the Isle of Avalon, the only high ground in the flooded Somerset Levels. This first contact was at Burrow Mump at Burrowbridge. So that was where we started too. From that point onwards I was hoping for some guidance from elsewhere as to the path I should take.

Little did I know quite how successful that approach would be! What follows is an account of how we were lead through the Isle of Avalon, each site opening at least one of my chakras, to profound effect. Follow me now as I show you the trail and the experiences I had – truly a solstice to remember.

Stage 1: Burrow Mump – Throat Chakra

We started the morning looking for the nose that formed the Girt Dog of Langport. Having read Mary Caine’s book about the Glastonbury Zodiac I was interested that she considered it to be the entrance way for the initiate into the Isle of Avalon and the Mystery School transformation process. Not that I was going to subject myself to some sort of masonic ritual! I believe the tradition to be far older than that, and to have been a spiritual initiation of the kind that is symbolically referenced in ancient Welsh bardic texts. Certainly, now that I am recounting this story I feel as though it is the transformation that you seek for yourself that you find, and nothing to do with arcane and involved rituals. Just time, patience, endeavour and a willingness to try.

I was not convinced as to the existence of all 12 of the zodiac signs in the Glastonbury landscape (13 including the dog) despite Mary Caine’s well-argued case. I felt that some of the signs were older – especially the incongruous Girt Dog, which equates to the dog Dormarth – the companion of Gwyn ap Nudd. I am starting to formulate the idea that there may have been only five original shapes – the original fixed zodiac signs and the dog, but that’s an argument that I will spell out in another post. The Girt Dog fitted with the Gwyn ap Nudd tales, but was out of place with the zodiac signs, many of whose shapes I feel were a bit ‘forced to fit’. Nevertheless I felt there as something in the Dog, and that it would form a good starting point, as I hadn’t visited it before on previous visits. We bought an Explorer Map of the area and located it.

The Church of St.Michael

We followed dowsing rods to locate the most energetic paths for ourselves to the top. As usual, Kal’s solar path weaved a little but was almost direct, whereas my lunar-oriented path wandered around ascending at intervals and circling around each of the trees on the slope’s southern side. Then we arrived at the ruins of the St.Michael’s Church on the top of the Mump. If you’ve been reading our posts on this site for a while you’ll know the significance of St.Michael – the archangel of Christianity who pins the dragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. energy, or Dark forces, under his sword of Light. However, another way of seeing it, as I saw it that day, was that the Archetype of Light was dominating the natural balance of energies. There ought to be a constant battle between Light and Dark, as is the flow of the forces in Nature. To dominate and subdue the dark forces throws the human world into a state of imbalance. This is how I felt standing in St.Michael’s Church on Burrow Mump – the earth and radiant energy forces were being subjugated by the design and designation of the church. The design channelled the energies, whilst the designation ensured that generations of believers would imbue the site with their dedicatory energies, maintaining the imbalance in the name of the Light (the Sun, the Male force).

Is not Christianity just such a religion? Does it not promote The Light and seek to eradicate The Dark, vilifying it as “evil” and un-holy? Has it not tried to associate all the worst aspects of humanity with the forces of darkness, of night and of magic? The result has been 2000 years of what Terence McKenna would call “the dominator culture“, promoting masculine ideals, favouring male energies, denigrating and subjugating the feminine. Only now is the tide slowly turning in the last hundred years as we slowly transfer 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. to the new Aquarian age from the Piscean. For the established Christian Church trying to maintain masculine sun energy exclusively in the face of this turning tide will bring about the dissolution of these established institutions – unless they can change.

Dowsing The Mump
The St.Michael church was of course aligned East-West. It could hardly fail to be so. Having read Ross Nichol’s article about the layout of churches in the selected collection of his works called “In The Grove of the Druids” I knew that this ancient Sun alignmentAlignment relates to the concept that humans have their own energy fields that are oriented or formed in a specific way such that the person is either suited better to one energy source of another. Some people have their energy fields empowered by the direct subtle energy force of The Sun, whilst others are empowered by the indirect subtle energy of The Moon. Due to the historical associations and symbolisation of The Sun with masculinity and The Moon with femininity we designate these alignments as either being ‘male’ or ‘female’ alignments accordingly. We interchangeable refer to people as being ‘sun-aligned’ or ‘male-aligned’ and similarly with the female alignment. was important, as was the structure of the church, which also conformed to the divine proportions and layout of almost all early Christian churches. It also happens to be on the St.Michael ley lineThe term used by many British dowsers to describe an energy leyA straight line of neutral energy linking two or more sacred sites or other energetic centres. This is often confused with Alfred Watkins’ concept of the Ley Line. Strictly speaking a ley line does not necessarily mean a neutral energy line, only a sight alignmentAlignment relates to the concept that humans have their own energy fields that are oriented or formed in a specific way such that the person is either suited better to one energy source of another. Some people have their energy fields empowered by the direct subtle energy force of The Sun, whilst others are empowered by the indirect subtle energy of The Moon. Due to the historical associations and symbolisation of The Sun with masculinity and The Moon with femininity we designate these alignments as either being ‘male’ or ‘female’ alignments accordingly. We interchangeable refer to people as being ‘sun-aligned’ or ‘male-aligned’ and similarly with the female alignment. between notable places, whereas an energy ley is like a radial spoke in a wheel, with energy flowing outwards across the land in a straight line. It has sometimes been found that the energy ley can be diverted from its strict straight path by changes in the landscape or strong attractors that pull it away from its original course. Energy leys may have inter-twining streams of male and female energies weaving along them, as though the energy ley is an attractor, a pathway or a conduit for the male and female energies.. It is easily confused with ley and therefore its use is not recommended by dowsers. that the late John Michell re-discovered, and which was popularised further by Hamish Miller and Paul Broadhurst.

We set about discovering the ley lines and earth energy formations of the site. We immediately identified a strong and powerful ley lineThe term used by many British dowsers to describe an energy leyA straight line of neutral energy linking two or more sacred sites or other energetic centres. This is often confused with Alfred Watkins’ concept of the Ley Line. Strictly speaking a ley line does not necessarily mean a neutral energy line, only a sight alignmentAlignment relates to the concept that humans have their own energy fields that are oriented or formed in a specific way such that the person is either suited better to one energy source of another. Some people have their energy fields empowered by the direct subtle energy force of The Sun, whilst others are empowered by the indirect subtle energy of The Moon. Due to the historical associations and symbolisation of The Sun with masculinity and The Moon with femininity we designate these alignments as either being ‘male’ or ‘female’ alignments accordingly. We interchangeable refer to people as being ‘sun-aligned’ or ‘male-aligned’ and similarly with the female alignment. between notable places, whereas an energy ley is like a radial spoke in a wheel, with energy flowing outwards across the land in a straight line. It has sometimes been found that the energy ley can be diverted from its strict straight path by changes in the landscape or strong attractors that pull it away from its original course. Energy leys may have inter-twining streams of male and female energies weaving along them, as though the energy ley is an attractor, a pathway or a conduit for the male and female energies.. It is easily confused with ley and therefore its use is not recommended by dowsers. consisting of neutral, male and female energy lines. It travelled all the way through the large empty windows set into each end of the ruined church. We quickly found our respective power centres – on opposite sides of the church’s North-South walls. Mine was to the south, and consisted of female and neutral energies, whilst Kal’s was directly opposite on the northern side and registered for male and female energies. I took the picture below whilst standing in my power centreA place where a person of a particular alignmentAlignment relates to the concept that humans have their own energy fields that are oriented or formed in a specific way such that the person is either suited better to one energy source of another. Some people have their energy fields empowered by the direct subtle energy force of The Sun, whilst others are empowered by the indirect subtle energy of The Moon. Due to the historical associations and symbolisation of The Sun with masculinity and The Moon with femininity we designate these alignments as either being ‘male’ or ‘female’ alignments accordingly. We interchangeable refer to people as being ‘sun-aligned’ or ‘male-aligned’ and similarly with the female alignment. (see ‘AlignmentAlignment relates to the concept that humans have their own energy fields that are oriented or formed in a specific way such that the person is either suited better to one energy source of another. Some people have their energy fields empowered by the direct subtle energy force of The Sun, whilst others are empowered by the indirect subtle energy of The Moon. Due to the historical associations and symbolisation of The Sun with masculinity and The Moon with femininity we designate these alignments as either being ‘male’ or ‘female’ alignments accordingly. We interchangeable refer to people as being ‘sun-aligned’ or ‘male-aligned’ and similarly with the female alignment.’) feels particularly comfortable and empowered. The place is an energetic centre where a particularly beneficial combination and formation of energies is formed into a pattern that is harmonic with the person for whom it can be called a power centre., and Kal’s was just through the arch on the opposite side.

There was also 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. slap bang in the centre of the church. This was very interesting indeed – we learned something new here. The three types of energies coming into the church along the East-West axis was hitting a female earth energy point in the centre of the church. As it did so it split into two rays that were channelled by the church’s walls outwards in North and South directions, effectively forming….a cross! To the south this extended through my power centreA place where a person of a particular alignmentAlignment relates to the concept that humans have their own energy fields that are oriented or formed in a specific way such that the person is either suited better to one energy source of another. Some people have their energy fields empowered by the direct subtle energy force of The Sun, whilst others are empowered by the indirect subtle energy of The Moon. Due to the historical associations and symbolisation of The Sun with masculinity and The Moon with femininity we designate these alignments as either being ‘male’ or ‘female’ alignments accordingly. We interchangeable refer to people as being ‘sun-aligned’ or ‘male-aligned’ and similarly with the female alignment. (see ‘AlignmentAlignment relates to the concept that humans have their own energy fields that are oriented or formed in a specific way such that the person is either suited better to one energy source of another. Some people have their energy fields empowered by the direct subtle energy force of The Sun, whilst others are empowered by the indirect subtle energy of The Moon. Due to the historical associations and symbolisation of The Sun with masculinity and The Moon with femininity we designate these alignments as either being ‘male’ or ‘female’ alignments accordingly. We interchangeable refer to people as being ‘sun-aligned’ or ‘male-aligned’ and similarly with the female alignment.’) feels particularly comfortable and empowered. The place is an energetic centre where a particularly beneficial combination and formation of energies is formed into a pattern that is harmonic with the person for whom it can be called a power centre. as a female and neutral line. On Kal’s side (north) the line was refracted as a male and female line. What we don’t know is how the power centres at those points affected the constitution of those lines, but perhaps we can leave that for someone else to determine until we get back there another day?

As Kal will no doubt relate he was wearing a bracelet of blue stones. An unusual thing for him to do, as I had never seen him wear it before. Turns out I needed it. I dowsed for which of my chakra points this Burrow Mump energy centre would affect and got a response for the colour blue – the throat chakra. I didn’t have any context for what that might mean, but Kal decided to offer me his blue bracelet. He felt it may help my meditation, so I took it.

I used the L-rods to find the point at which I should meditate (something we are getting accustomed to doing now). A point was detected about ten feet away from the central crossing point. If you consider that the church’s design is an elongated cross resembling a human being with outstretched arms (see Ross Nichols’ essay on church design and human proportion) then this point would have equated to …you know what’s coming, right? The throat of course. I only realised this once I came to write this post. My higher self is obviously a lot more intelligent than my normal self.

From that spot I could see a visible earth 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. flowing across the landscape to the south-east. It was like a line I had seen before when I ascended from Llandrillo stone circle late one night. A softly-glowing overlay on reality. Quite beautiful and mesmerising. I saw it snake across the Levels towards a hill in the distance. It curled around the hill and out of view but I felt that this hill was the next place to visit. At this point I knew not why – Burrow Mump was our starting point but there was, as yet, no sense of any journey or purpose to our weekend visit. Oh, how that was about to change!

When we checked the map to determine where the line went (based on my description) it was pointing at Wearyall Hill (instinctively I knew which hill it was even though I’m not familiar enough yet with Glastonbury’s local geography)! Kal had been meditating on his 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 had seen a new 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. forming at a spot that my imaginary line crossed, at the south-east corner of Burrow Mump. Kal located it with his rods, and shortly afterwards I did the same. However, the moment we had both recognised what it was, it disappeared! We decided to head for Wearyall Hill and see what we could find. Again – no agenda – no preconceptions. Just following our lines and intuitions.

Stage 2: Wearyall Hill – Sacral Chakra

The legendary Joseph of Arimathea Thorn was on this hill. If you are a devout Christian then you may wish to look away now. We found it was not anything to do with Joseph of Arimathea. This was pure legend, probably inspired by the fledgling Christian presence trying to gain a foothold in the sacred domain of Avalon, but as Mary Caine points out quite astutely the huge Roman road The Fosse Way passes very close by to Glastonbury and the Romans were less than tolerant of the Christian community. She makes the point that Romans were highly unlikely to let Christians begin to settle or make religious shrines so close to their major thoroughfare, especially as there was an edict from the Emperor to hunt them down and eradicate this new religious group!

The Thorn was surrounded by an iron cage which was containing its energies. We have come across iron cages recently at the Penbedw stone circle and at The Hoarstones in Shropshire. They contain and constrain earth energies, reducing their energetic potential and dulling their aura. The thorn’s aura was only a few feet wide, but when we dowsed for what it would be if the cage was not there it extended out to some fifteen feet.

At the North end of the hill, in the quieter part not often visited, I found 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. in the middle of some nettles (nice). A less than perfect spot, but this was the place that I needed to be to make my next connection, I felt. Kal had lent me some of his crystals (another intuitive decision) and I held them but didn’t feel as though they served any purpose. See Kal’s post for more details on this aspect.

During this process I saw a double helix of energy flowing from my sacral chakra on either side and up through my solar plexus, through my heart, my throat, and ending at my temples. As I experienced this double-helix flowing through me I asked for direction to the next site and a thread emerged from my abdomen and swirled off towards the Tor, curling around to land at Chalice Well. Again, I knew where the place was because I could “see” it, like someone showing me a photograph. The destination was clear, even though I had never visited the place before.

Before we left the hill we also found a ley lineThe term used by many British dowsers to describe an energy leyA straight line of neutral energy linking two or more sacred sites or other energetic centres. This is often confused with Alfred Watkins’ concept of the Ley Line. Strictly speaking a ley line does not necessarily mean a neutral energy line, only a sight alignmentAlignment relates to the concept that humans have their own energy fields that are oriented or formed in a specific way such that the person is either suited better to one energy source of another. Some people have their energy fields empowered by the direct subtle energy force of The Sun, whilst others are empowered by the indirect subtle energy of The Moon. Due to the historical associations and symbolisation of The Sun with masculinity and The Moon with femininity we designate these alignments as either being ‘male’ or ‘female’ alignments accordingly. We interchangeable refer to people as being ‘sun-aligned’ or ‘male-aligned’ and similarly with the female alignment. between notable places, whereas an energy ley is like a radial spoke in a wheel, with energy flowing outwards across the land in a straight line. It has sometimes been found that the energy ley can be diverted from its strict straight path by changes in the landscape or strong attractors that pull it away from its original course. Energy leys may have inter-twining streams of male and female energies weaving along them, as though the energy ley is an attractor, a pathway or a conduit for the male and female energies.. It is easily confused with ley and therefore its use is not recommended by dowsers. linking The Thorn to a small church at the bottom end of Glastonbury town. We decided to visit this church next, as it was lunch time and we wanted to get to the Blue Note Cafe for a decent vegetarian meal before they closed.

St Benedict’s Church

From Wearyall Hill we walked down to Glastonbury town passing by a small grove of oaks and sycamores near to the supermarket. We were in search of the small church that we had dowsed to be in the path of a ley lineThe term used by many British dowsers to describe an energy leyA straight line of neutral energy linking two or more sacred sites or other energetic centres. This is often confused with Alfred Watkins’ concept of the Ley Line. Strictly speaking a ley line does not necessarily mean a neutral energy line, only a sight alignmentAlignment relates to the concept that humans have their own energy fields that are oriented or formed in a specific way such that the person is either suited better to one energy source of another. Some people have their energy fields empowered by the direct subtle energy force of The Sun, whilst others are empowered by the indirect subtle energy of The Moon. Due to the historical associations and symbolisation of The Sun with masculinity and The Moon with femininity we designate these alignments as either being ‘male’ or ‘female’ alignments accordingly. We interchangeable refer to people as being ‘sun-aligned’ or ‘male-aligned’ and similarly with the female alignment. between notable places, whereas an energy ley is like a radial spoke in a wheel, with energy flowing outwards across the land in a straight line. It has sometimes been found that the energy ley can be diverted from its strict straight path by changes in the landscape or strong attractors that pull it away from its original course. Energy leys may have inter-twining streams of male and female energies weaving along them, as though the energy ley is an attractor, a pathway or a conduit for the male and female energies.. It is easily confused with ley and therefore its use is not recommended by dowsers. that emanated (or passed through – we didn’t determine which) the Holy Thorn. We found the small church of St.Benedict’s at the confluence of two roads where stood a pub called “The King Arthur”. Well, I suppose that’s highly likely for a town like Glastonbury – steeped in Celtic and Arthurian mythology. As we dowsed to find the exact crossing point we found that the line passed through a large pre-fabricated structure called “The Goddess Temple” before going into the church:

On the other side of the church the ley lineThe term used by many British dowsers to describe an energy leyA straight line of neutral energy linking two or more sacred sites or other energetic centres. This is often confused with Alfred Watkins’ concept of the Ley Line. Strictly speaking a ley line does not necessarily mean a neutral energy line, only a sight alignmentAlignment relates to the concept that humans have their own energy fields that are oriented or formed in a specific way such that the person is either suited better to one energy source of another. Some people have their energy fields empowered by the direct subtle energy force of The Sun, whilst others are empowered by the indirect subtle energy of The Moon. Due to the historical associations and symbolisation of The Sun with masculinity and The Moon with femininity we designate these alignments as either being ‘male’ or ‘female’ alignments accordingly. We interchangeable refer to people as being ‘sun-aligned’ or ‘male-aligned’ and similarly with the female alignment. between notable places, whereas an energy ley is like a radial spoke in a wheel, with energy flowing outwards across the land in a straight line. It has sometimes been found that the energy ley can be diverted from its strict straight path by changes in the landscape or strong attractors that pull it away from its original course. Energy leys may have inter-twining streams of male and female energies weaving along them, as though the energy ley is an attractor, a pathway or a conduit for the male and female energies.. It is easily confused with ley and therefore its use is not recommended by dowsers. didn’t seem to go on through row of houses or appear out the back of them. We wondered whether it terminated inside the church? Hard for us to find out because of course this Christian place of worship was closed. Aren’t they all these days? Afraid of their ‘treasures’ being stolen, I suppose.

According to the church website:

“The church was originally dedicated to St. Benignus or St. Bennings and retained this until the middle of the 17th century. Bishop Benignus was a great friend and disciple of St. Patrick and became his successor.“

According to some histories St.Patrick and his two disciples gave the order to clear the trees from Glastonbury Tor and re-built the small shrine on the top for Christian purposes. Whenever it actually happened, such a conversion did eventually occur, and today the Tor is clear of “obstruction” to the pilgrim’s path.

Stages 3 and 4: Chalice Well – Root and Heart Chakras

There’s something inherently cleansing and calming about Chalice Well Gardens. It could be the “no mobile phones” notice (which is, sadly, flagrantly flouted by people desperate to communicate about highly urgent and important issues), or it could be the occasional sound of trickling water, or the collection of well spaced and beautifully appointed trees and flowers. Whatever their magical combination it is the perfect place for contemplation, and so we sat in a small courtyard and dowsed quietly for a while before going off to meditate at The Well and the gardens above it.

This felt like a cleansing and connecting phase. When I stood in a small shrine near to the main well I felt my heart chakra open up and soothing emotions flowed in and through and out of me. I also felt the water pulling any non-balanced energy out of me and flushing it away in the water. Two chakras were being worked on at once here, and soon I was cleansed, grounded and balanced in a most delightful way. The double-helix energies were flowing into the ground and being drawn back in afresh through my open heart chakra. None of this have I experience before. It was truly amazing.

We meditated again under some trees at the top of the Chalice gardens and felt very balanced and connected to the land.

Kal then went to sit under the Holy Thorn tree, although he had no idea that this was a famous tree, or even what variety it was. Whilst he did that I measured his aura – it was expanding continually and ended up being thirty feet wide!

I understood that all the meditations performed this day had involved twin energies. I felt this was connected to me progressing to the second stage of druidic development: the Yew stage. Up to this point I had ignored yew trees, being quite wary of their supposedly awesome and frightening power, and the fact that they were connected to death. Now I no longer felt that trepidation, and actively went to sit between two large yew trees. I meditated between two yew trees – deciding that it was time to overcome my fears if I was really at another level of development. I felt comfortable, and was told by the trees that their purpose was to teach me, and that I should not be scared.

They told me that I had indeed moved on to the next stage of development, and that this would entail an understanding of death, rebirth, transformation, and overcoming fear – that this would involve great personal inner strength to be found, and would take several years to achieve.

Satisfied with this I asked for the next connection point on my pilgrim trail and out of my heart chakra a line moved around the base of the Tor (now clearly visible only hundred of feet away) where it seemed to stop on the southern side near to the bottom of the path. In my mind’s eye I saw the path split both ways around the Tor whilst the main path continued up. This was the point I needed to go to next, although I didn’t know what I would find there that could be considered an energy point!

Stage 5: The DragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t.’s Egg on Glastonbury Tor – Solar Plexus Chakra

As Kal vaulted up the Tor I knew that I was not to follow – yet. We had reached a point where the paths around the Tor became flat and defined and the main path snaked into the upper distance. I was following the rods to identify the exact place I needed to be at. They stopped at the second round stone up the main path: one of the so-called DragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t.’s Egg or Omphalos stones!

I sat astride the second stone along the path and watched people ascending and descending. A girl with a hula hoop walked past and I made a comment on how unusual that was. She smiled knowingly – now I know why (see Kals’ post).

In the gaps I did some dowsing of the energies, finding the 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 its nemeton.
I found a rose petal pattern that wound around the stone in four concentric lines. Each spiral was increasingly shaped into the pattern of a trefoil – a three-leaf shape.
I asked for it to reveal the energy formation that was its genius lociGenius Loci means 'spirit of the place' and refers to the geological/gaian spirit of place. It is transfixed to a place – being an embodiment of the collective intelligence of the place., the spirit of this stone. I then dowsed the pattern to find it was a spider shape – three fat legs on each side of the stone, coming back close to the stone at its head and tail ends.

I meditated again, gazing at the Somerset Levels and felt a tug at my centre – my solar plexus. A spiralling coil of entwined male and female energies that flew out of my solar plexus and snaked far into the landscape, touching all the places I had visited on my pilgrimage so far. I knew that this chakra centre was the source of my energies. It was my connection point or interface with nature, and the place where I generated and collected energy. All this I just suddenly knew – no train of thought was necessary.

I followed the trail back towards me from the distant Burrow Mump and observed where it flowed after the DragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t.’s Egg upon which I was now perched. It swept around the Tor’s southern edge and off into the eastern fields. I couldn’t work out where it terminated, but I knew it was a site somewhere over the eastern side, in the fields beyond the Tor. I would have to do some more reading about what might be on that side.

 Stanton Drew stone circle

After checking into the fabulous Bear Inn at Street we were at a loose end. The sun was still shining and we hadn’t done much dowsing that day. So we decided to head for the nearest stone circle we could find: Stanton Drew. On the way we picked up a stranded biker called Steve and gave him a lift much further down the road. We chatted about stone circles and bikes for a bit, and he was very grateful to be closer to his eventual destination of Bristol.

I was excited at the prospect of visiting this circle as I had heard it mentioned many times in books as an example of a double circle. When we arrived in the fading light the stone circle looked disorganised – stones seemingly at random. There were cows and cow pats everywhere, and also quite a few people milling around considering it was 9 o’clock at night!

Here’s a backgrounder from English Heritage:

“There are three stone circles at Stanton Drew: the Great Circle being one of the largest in the country. The other two, to the south-west and north-east respectively are smaller. Both the great Circle and the north-east circle were approached from the north-east by short `avenues’ of standing stones. Most of the stones have fallen, although a few still remain upright. In the garden of the village pub is a group of three large stones called The Cove, and to the north, across the river Chew, is the site of a standing stone called Hautville’s Quoit.

Their proximity to each other, and alignments between some of them, indicate that these sites are related as a single complex, and it is a fair assumption that Stanton Drew was once a place of primary significance during the later Stone Age.” (English Heritage)

Stanton Drew

Kal didn’t do much dowsing and didn’t like it much. He went around the outside of the larger circle and counted 27 stones (most missing). Notice in the diagram above that English Heritage suggest 26 original stones. Personally, I’d trust the dowsing!

We strode to the far end where a smaller and more complete circle existed. Kal climbed a male King Stone that had been re-sited inside the circle. He had found another one earlier and climbed and jumped off that too. He didn’t like the rest of the circle or any of the other circles either. I, on the other hand, was quite content to be there. It felt good – I was getting good vibes from the site. When I dowsed the gender of the stones themselves they almost invariably (King Stones being the exception) returned a female response. This was a giant female energy site – no wonder Kal felt uncomfortable – he’s male-aligned.

We got talking with a chap and the girl he was with and they quizzed us about dowsing, then had a go themselves with great success. Later they would be seen running naked around the smaller circle while we ignored them and continued dowsing.

Or did we take a video. I can’t remember

I asked for the genius lociGenius Loci means 'spirit of the place' and refers to the geological/gaian spirit of place. It is transfixed to a place – being an embodiment of the collective intelligence of the place. of Stanton Drew to reveal its shape, dowsed for a good position for this, and then dowsed a beautiful paisley pattern teardrop shape containing seven female spirals that wrapped around a female 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.. I got the idea this site was female!! In the diagram below the black spot is the 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. (a particularly energetic place, sometimes a crossing point for a geological fault and water – often called a ‘blind spring’ or ‘aquastat’). You can see a number of spirals curling first one way then the other to join up again forming a continuous circuit of female earth energy.

Kal had been walking around counting stones, doing his own investigations, so I called him over to help me put pegs in so that I could draw out the shape I had just dowsed. Kal was disturbed – he had got obsessed with one particular stone that was heavily cup-marked and seemed to have a lichen face that was discernible if you unfocused your eyes, like a Rorschach Test for the visually impaired (see post ‘Rorschach Mind’). He thought it was draining energy and kept trying to convince me that it was a bad idea to be standing anywhere inside its influence, which he had determined was the whole site. I dowsed for my state of health and as to whether this stone was draining me, because we had found stones like that at places like Nine Ladies and Arbor Low in Derbyshire.

I didn’t get negative or malign responses though. Yes it was draining me, but when I willed it – I was draining it too. Together the stone and I were cycling energies between us in a circular arc shape.

This fun over, we departed. Kal had become quite argumentative in the presence of this stone, and insistent that I was in peril from it. Later that evening we argued forcibly about our findings at Stanton Drew. The next day Kal apologised for being so “off” and was certain it was due to the stone’s influence. It was certainly out of character.

That same evening at the hotel he had an incredible experience with a dream and an encounter with an apple tree, but that’s for him to tell you about in his own good time. Let’s just say that he’s entered into the world of tree learning proper, now! And that was the end of Saturday.

Sunday was Solstice, and I was keen to see the two final sights that would complete the spiritual journey that I was beginning to map out for myself. Now I had a mission! But where next? What was on the eastern side of the Tor? I recalled an image I had seen whilst researching Glastonbury of a stylised map of the area (which I now can’t find) and the Gog and Magog ancient oak trees were on that side somewhere. Surely that was the next destination? A quick dowse verified this. Good – now we had a destination for the next bit of chakra work.

Glastonbury Abbey

First thing Sunday morning we visited The Abbey - almost the first there as they opened - and had the run of the place for a short while. We dowsed the Michael/Mary Line and The Great DragonDragons are spirit or energetic beings that reside in sacred sites and have a particular location in them and also move throughout the day (and or season). They also leave the sacred site on occasion, which again differentiates them from Genius Loci which don’t. Line that connects to it. I found its crossing point to be not at the High Altar as I have read in some books, but at King Edgar’s Chapel just beyond the altar.

In the abbey the Male/Sun energy was dominant – an ’11′ on the dowsing scale that only goes to ’10′. A cheeky Spinal Tap reference that I immediately understood, and which made me laugh heartily, attracting unwelcome attention. It was at it’s zenith today, and at this time close to noon. It couldn’t be any stronger. The strong male line had pushed the female line to one side of the abbey’s ruins where it zig-zagged its way, a form I haven’t seen before. I suspect it was being constrained and trapped by the power of the male energy and was thus a little more “excited” than usual.

I found a female 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. in King Edgar’s which made me relax. I dowsed for a suitable place to meditate and was directed to the base of a big yew tree in the corner of the abbey’s grounds not far from where I was. A yew tree again, huh? No escaping it on this trip!

I didn’t hesitate after my Chalice Well experience and soon I was meditating peacefully and deeply until I heard a counselling voice saying “Don’t neglect the Father. Though he may be far from you, you should embrace him.”
I knew exactly what this meant on many levels, and was stunned by its shocking truth – my father in Australia had been absent from my thoughts of late, but also I knew this to refer to the energies too because I had been neglecting male/sun energy in favour of exclusively female/moon energy recently.

Today of all days – the Summer Solstice – when the sun is at its peak this was a gentle reminder that there are three streams of energy: male, female and neutral. I should not neglect the power of any of these and should cultivate a use for all three, with the idea of achieving harmony through balancing their flows – my biorhythms essentially. Ha ha, I know – another flaky pseudo-science! Any tool that helps you understand yourself is useful providing it doesn’t enslave you, wouldn’t you say?

I vowed to change that imbalance straight away, so I sent an e-mail from my phone to my dad with a picture of me beneath the yew tree saying “Happy Father’s Day” (for it was conveniently that very day). Then I walked the full length of the abbey’s male stream revelling in the way it made my spine tingle with delight at it enervating force.
As I walked to the Abbey entrance a white dove landed a few feet in front of me on the path. I stopped and watched it, knowing it to be a sign that I was on the right path. Perhaps also a sign that my next encounter would involve “white”? I swear the next encounter was not planned!

The White Spring

As we travelled up the Tor that Sunday afternoon for our final encounters we came across the White Spring – a place where a natural spring has been channelled into flowing paths through a dark building, lit only by candles and natural light. The name of the spring did not escape my notice : white was indeed the next point on my ‘pilgrim’ trail.

Inside the building there was a wicker-work lattice in a teardrop dome shape, within which had been placed scented candles and flowers at one end, forming a kind of shrine or meditation place.

It was incredibly relaxing and all the heat was truly removed from any heated debate from the previous evening. We both emerged refreshed and ready for the day after only minutes near those waters.

Stage 6: The Gog and Magog Trees – Crown Chakra

Asked a Tor Bus guide where these famous old oak trees were. We were directed down a land that descended down the other side of the Tor that we had come up from! Oh no! A steep climb down after a steep climb up and on a baking hot day too. We followed the driver’s vague instructions until we thought we’d gone too far. It was past midday and we wondered whether we should be up the Tor by now. We asked the rods where the oak tress known as Gog and Magog might be and both got directed into a field. Luckily Kal found a stile at the bottom of the field labelled “Gypsy Lane” and we saw two trees in the field – one very large oak and a slightly smaller one – surely Gog and Magog?

Kal went to the smaller ‘Magog’ tree and I stayed with the larger ‘Gog’. Gog was supposed to be the male, and Magog the female. We had swapped alignments, which was probably a good thing after the Abbey revelation.
I communed with the tree and saw my body’s energies emerging from a hole in the top of my head – the crown chakra. This energy spread upwards like a circular fountain until it wrapped itself around me. Next it pulsed out a second time and wrapped itself over and under the surrounding land until it returned to me through my spine.
The third time it went right through the centre of my spine like an electric shiver until the fountain from the top of my head encompassed the whole world and then returned up through my spine again, this time almost blowing my mind with its powerful force. I felt that another chakra had opened.

I was therefore quite startled to find out that we had got the wrong trees! We were walking back up the hill towards the Tor again when a guy farther down the lane called to us. He introduced himself as Steve (another Steve!) and seemed like a really nice guy. He was looking for some people camped near to a farm, but we hadn’t a clue where he meant. After some to-ing and fro-ing involving other people directing us we found Steve’s camp site – right next to the supposedly REAL Gog and Magog oak trees.

The Real Gog and Magog Trees

Kal didn’t want to hop over the fence to see the trees up close. He seemed to be wandering off in mind and body at that time. I wanted to get close to these very old trees, however. I sat on Gog’s knee first (‘don’t neglect the father’) and felt his wisdom even in his declining years. Earlier I had found a red ribbon and so now seemed like an appropriate time to tie it to his trunk. Then I found a gap in Magog’s bark big enough to place my head in, which I did. In merely seconds I had an image of her wrapping her arms around me and cradling me in her bosom. I can’t tell you how much I wanted to stay there – possibly forever!

Meanwhile Kal is having an out-of-body experience that lasts until we get down from the Tor much later. In this experience he hears a woman who is sitting on the nearby hillside say to him “Come and sit here.”. I know nothing of this and started dowsing for the best path up the hill. I follow the male line which zig-zags like the female energy at the abbey in long strokes up the hillside towards the Tor.

Part way up I stopped for some reason. Kal then stops and sits whilst I do some dowsing about nothing! I stop dowsing and feel the urge to collect flowers! Yes, you read that right – some flowers, wild flowers. As a sort of gift. My thinking was that I had had such a fantastic experience that I should offer some form of gift, no matter how meagre, as long as my intention was good. My intention was to thank Nature for such an interesting year, and a particularly enlightening weekend – all natural highs and revelations. It seemed in keeping with the festival mood of the town that was preparing itself for Glastonbury Festival the next weekend.

Kal lets me collect a posy of wild flowers and then tells me that the place I stopped was exactly the place the woman had been sitting at when he “heard” her call him up the hill. At the time I had my face in a tree surrounded by a high hawthorn hedge, so I didn’t even see this woman, but I had seen some people begin to climb up, so I knew he wasn’t hallucinating. Frankly, by now, little green Martians could have been dancing all around us and I would have been quite accepting of it – my mind was slipping into a beautiful space where I was getting increasingly “blissed out” and random!

Stage 7: Glastonbury Tor – Third-Eye Chakra

Our final ascent goes awry. I’m too busy making a posy to navigate and we have to clamber over a high gate to reach the entrance to the Tor. We begin our ascent vowing to go wherever the feeling takes us – deviceless dowsing up the hillside without using the rods. A gamble, a challenge, and yet it felt right. We arrive within minutes of each other. I have been lead all around the North and East sides of the slope. The eastern slop is bathed in midday sunlight and very strong. The path is difficult but strangely beautiful. Not exhausting, just enough of an effort to feel worthy. The sun is beaming and so are we. The ascent up the Tor’s terraced sides has opened the final chakra – the third-eye chakra. Everything feels like I’m seeing it in a dream.

We were walking the Glastonbury Labyrinth, only doing the parts of the enlightenment path that we needed to complete our pilgrimage – even though we were completely unaware of where such a path might be – all we went on was “go with the energy flow”. I walked a circle around the Tor clockwise and then laid my collected flower bunch where the rods indicated I should. I stood up and was eye to eye with a word carved into the St Michael’s Church stonework: “Druids”.

At that moment something happened. I walked in a daze to the church entrance where Kal and I listened to some lads doing throat-singing and playing a balalaika and bhodran. That set me off a vibration in me that triggered my third-eye chakra to slowly unfurl its petals like some kind of lotus flower.
For the next few hours as we wandered around the town I felt like I was in a state of bliss with a paper-thin hat’s brim extending from my lower forehead.

Conclusion

I believe that this trip has shown me the veracity and capacity of the chakras within the human body. I had witnessed each of the seven open in turn as I attuned to several sites around Glastonbury in that special Solstice period, guided only by intuition and nature herself revealing thoughts, pictures, visions and lines in the landscape for me to follow. I had been energised, corrected, cleansed, purified, instructed, balanced and opened-up – not necessarily in that order, but the overall effect has been to make me convinced of the existence and usefulness of chakras to the process of attunement with Nature. There is something quite wonderful and special about the Isle of Avalon and its landscape of energies. This much is inescapable.

Gwas.

Opening up one by one.

We will, of course, be up to all sorts, and we’ll report back when we return. Until then – enjoy the high point of the year so far!

Gwas.

Following The Sun