Given that the BBC weather forecast had predicted, rain, rain and more rain. Our visit had been completely dry from the moment we stepped out of the car. Today was the second and final day of our visit to Kilmartin in Scotland. In fact it was going to be a third of a day since we were due to set off around 1 pm. Our first stop today was a castle that stands a few miles outside of Kilmartin village, namely Carnasserie Castle.
Again the access to this castle was exemplary. We parked the car (in a car park) and walked a good ways up a sloped path to the front of the castle. The views from it were amazing. I asked the rods whether there was anything to learn or do here and they answered in the affirmative. It was after all a castle and I was (after all) a knight.
The rods took me around the castle to the back and left where you could gain access to the innards. There were steps leading up a tower (I was quite surprised by them) and the rods led me up and up. Right to the top, by passing two opportunities to go out on a landing. At the top the view was incredible and the pictures cannot do them justice.
As I looked around the whole 360 degrees, the wind ruffled my hair and I felt the Genius Loci rise from the place and whisper in my ear…Air. As in the element, I thought. Did I have to learn about the elements here? It seemed so and I took up the rods again. They led me down to the ground floor of the castle and to a huge oval shaped shelf. I read the label on the wall. Fire pit it said. Ah…I thought. The dowsing rods swirled about and led me to a chamber of the courtyard. It had a label on the wall to. Water Spout. I laughed, really, this was how it was going to be played? Why not. Turning again, the rods took me to another chamber, much darker and with a few steps down. It definitely felt like Earth to me.
The four elements touched, I thought I was done, but no, the rods took me back up the steps to the first level and across a landing. In the middle of the landing they stopped and pointed at a notice board. Ah…Heart and Soul…the supposed fifth element? It was five elements that I had been shown here. I wondered why and asked whether I could find out. The rods spun away and led me to the top of the tower again. The genius loci was still there, I could feel its presence. Would it be able to enlighten me? I sat on the ground and opened myself to commune.
At each place on the Knights Tour, you must find the five elements and give your respects. Ah…(are there too many Ah..s in this post?) Brilliant I thought, that gives me something to do on this Knights Tour that I have yet to achieve. I left the tower and its vies and followed the rods out of a castle to a nearby tree (incidentally one that I had told Chris to explore) and performed a grateful ceremony.
Both Chris and I were done with the castle and we left to explore the churchyard in Kilmartin.
