August 23rd, 2010 – Tal-y-Fan Mountain, Conwy, North Wales.
In this second post describing my day’s visit to the sites around the Tal-Y-Fan mountain I describe some standing stones that are nearby to each other, and then a visit to a cromlech (or dolmen). After visiting the stone circle of Cerrig Pryfaid I was aware that the rain clouds were coming over the hills behind the stone circle, so i drove back down the track to the junction, parked there, and made preparations for a wet visit to the next few sites, all of which would be new to me.
Ffon-y-Cawr (The Giant’s Staff) and Ffon-y-Y-Cawr (The Giant’s Stick, or Picell Arthur)
I was able to locate these stones thanks to them being listed on a site called Megalithic Walks. I have used this site before to locate local megalithic sites because their directions and walking instructions are both accurate and helpful. What I should have done was to take a closer look at The Megalithic Portal before I went, because there were some more sites in the area, but I was in too much of a rush to spend the time to research the area properly. Still, it leaves me with a good excuse to go back at some point.
As I walked down the track, past two gates, then I noticed the blade-like shape of The Giant’s Staff. I approached it from the southern side and took some photographs. I wouldn’t say that it was too windy to dowse, because I have dowsed in a gale before, but it was discouraging and so I didn’t do much more than confirm the presence of some female energy, and measure and aura around the stone. I was intent on finding the dolmen, and it had just started to rain. For me, the idea of climbing inside a dolmen sounded quite appealing at that point.
As I continued on my way down the track that was rapidly turning into a shallow stream something int he field to my right caught my eye. I stopped to peep over at the sheep and saw that, in amongst them was a directional needle stone – later I found out it was called The Giant’s Stick. It was pointing towards the lakes in the valley below, it seemed to me. I will try to get an exact bearing next time I visit in good weather, but I would say it was pointing roughly North East – towards the sunrise at a significant point in the year, I would suggest.
Maen Y Bardd cromlech (The Poet’s Stone)
The main event loomed into view. It was unmissable, and I was glad that my walking boots had ensured allowing me to reach this point in relative dryness. Now the rainw as coming down much harder and I made towards the cromlech in search of shelter. Any fun investigating it would have to wait. I dived inside as the winds howled and the rain lashed. In my haste I nearly tripped myself up getting in, but recovered and sat down in a heap. To complete stillness inside! It was like someone had put a great lid on a jar of angry bees. A tickle of air squeezed through the tightly-fitted stones at the back, and outside – as though on a television screen – I was horizontal rain passing by like an angry swarm of some biblical plague. Inside, all was dry and welcoming. I sat back and made myself comfortable, which was surprisingly easy despite the confined space. It was lovely. You know that feeling of being inside when all hell is breaking loose outside and rain is battering your window panes, but you’ve got a warm fire going inside and you’re dry? That was how I felt then. Safe, secure, home.
Whatever the intended purpose of these cromlechs, one of their functions is quite clearly practical! If you’re out on those hills and the weather turns on you, there’s no better place to sit it out. It was as though someone had oriented the stones to form the perfect barrier – no wind, no rain penetrated. And yet, I sat looking out of the side of the structure like looking through a huge window at the valley below, wreathed in the mists of rain. I was protected even though the “window” was wide open. Genius design.
The homely feel began to have its effect. I began to zone out and ponder. I didn’t yet know that the structure was called The Poet’s Stones, and yet there I was dreaming about the majesty of the view, the way the lakes lay static and glistening in the valley below, and was creating metaphors for the rain in my mind. I was just thinking that this would be a delightful view on a sunny day when the rain began to ease off. Minutes later the sun broke through a spotlit several patched around. Again my mind went into poetry mode and I stared admiringly at this natural spectacle, taking photographs that I knew would never capture the beauty of those moments, the intense lighting and contrast, the suddenness of the shifts in weather. The atmosphere was highly spiritual.
Back to practical matters. With the rains easing and the sun out I dowsed the cromlech I found that it was energetically clear and neutral. There were no energies present inside, no genius loci, no nature spirits, no elementals, no earth energies – nothing. There was nothing to ask permission from, so I added violet and gold energies to make the site more inviting to anything that may wish to inhabit the space, and asked for green natural lines to be attracted to the site by linking it to the stone circle above. Next time I visit the little hideaway I will check to see whether lines such as those are present or not.
So, there’s still more to see in this area, and of course, just over the other side of Tal-y-Fan are all the sites around Penmaenmawr which deserve more time too. Oh, if only the week was ten days long!
Gwas.
