Although we had set off at the ungodly hour of 5am in the morning I felt quite refreshed as we set off in the hire car at around 1pm from Brest (Brittany) airport.
After some jiggery-pokery with availability issues we had arranged to meet someone who we knew only from our and her blog (Wiz Art) Oona. Both Gwas and I had high expectations and they were eclipsed when we met with this inspired and fire-filled artisan. Oona had invited an equally gifted friend Caillu whose website can be found here.
We spent many hours back and forth along many avenues of personal experience and deep knowledge. It was a true delight and one that marked this trip for me as significant. In the midst of our meeting we were taken to a beautiful sacred site that was not that far from Oona’s residence.
As I walked up to it I got a deep earth feeling from it and I wondered whether this was to be the place where I would get the Earth Element. I kind of hoped not as we had 3 days here and it would be disappointing to find that the very first sacred site we visited would be the quest completion site.
Fortunately, some playing around with the dowsing rods confirmed that this place was not going to have an Elemental connection. However it was a very deep Earth connected place. Can’t you just feel that Earthiness? I asked for the best place to do some learning, for this place had knowledge to impart.
The rods led me to a break in the stones that could be used as steps and I began to climb (as indicated by the rods). However even before I got half way up a call from Oona stopped me. What was the matter? Oona pointed at a sign prohibiting the climbing of the Cairn.
Now, back in the UK I would have ignored that and carried on climbing. I have a different notion of heritage and believe that sacred sites are not only to be preserved but used too. However here in Brittany I fought down my Guerrilla urges and acquiesced…Interdit! It is a word that we will come across again!
I changed my questioning somewhat. Was there another place where I could learn more about this sacred place? The answer was yes and took me to the seaward side of the site. There I found the place and sat looking out into the ocean. It was mid afternoon and although the sun wasn’t out, it was warm.
Letting my senses drift I allowed any knowledge communing to occur. Almost immediately I got a faint aroma of a previous memory. It was from the Forest of the Wizards in Alderley Edge. The memory was of place therein where one could connect with and hear the Earth song.
This cairn and the spot where I was sitting was also such a place. I felt and heard that song. It pulls you into the earth. It isn’t so much that it grounds you, but rather sucks you gently into the Earth. You can hear the beat of the earth as you are navigated along crystalline avenues into the Earth. I had made such a journey before and so was familiar and unfrightened by the experience.
In fact, afterwards I thought that such an experience would have been worthy of the Earth Element quest. This, however was definitely a place of grounding and in hind sight I feel that it was a kind of preparation place for the whole Beltane adventure.
I returned refreshed from the depths of Gaia and wondered whether this place would offer any more delights. The answer was Yes and I was off again, following the rods (or baguette as they are called in French). The baguettes took me to one of the many little passages (alas most of them are Interdit) that could still be accessed and I noted Gwas climbing out of a birthing hole.
Apparently this cave-ette had something to offer me too. So I clambered into the tight place and manoeuvred into its depths. I knelt in its depths, knowing and feeling my aura being shaped. But then I felt a tug from behind, something was slowly sucking my energy backwards. It wasn’t a good feeling and so I shook it off (which wasn’t a hard thing to do) and clambered out of the hole. As I did so a thought (it being a birthing hole) occurred to me.
Over the years I have learned a lot (insert deprecating laugh) about death and what happens to our energy (Energy Double) when we die. What I have not a clue about is the other end of the spectrum. What, where, how, why is our Energy Double about when it comes to being born? This quest had been off and on my mind to pursue over 2014.
As I exited the chamber I had a thought that this (Beltane) I could enquire and learn about the Energy Double and its creation. I excitedly picked up the rods and asked whether this was an opportune time. The answer was Yes. But alas this Cairn was not the place. Still, it looks like Beltane and Brittany were off to a great start!
Reversal
We returned to Oona’s place and enjoyed more coffee and cake before heading out to our hotel only to be called 15 minutes later by Oona to say that Gwas had left his small bag sans everything behind. So we reversed and collected the bag. Little did we know then that reversing was going to be a major theme of the pilgrimage. Allow me to quote myself…
“Oh ye sacred travellers – how you quoth about being energy aware and yet the simplest hurdles trips you again and again and again”
Kal Malik – exploring the other side
