As I am “back” and in the swing of things again, I couldn’t let the Autumn Equinox go by without a sacred sites outing, like the old days.
As I now reside in north Oxfordshire the obvious place to go was The Rollright Stones. Oft visited, and only 40 minutes away from me, yet not a place that appeals to me greatly.
I have often heard people who know about these things describing the Rollrights as a healing place. They are not wrong – I think that is the complex’s primary purpose but I also believe it can be used to gain information. That was my primary goal although, maybe I did need some sort of healing as part of this journey today? We shall see.
The King Stone
From the lay-by my dowsing rods directed me in a familiar direction – to the King Stone. Or more specifically past the caged single menhir and beyond up to a small innocuous rise a few feet away from it. I recognised the spot. This was my initial, my starting, power centre.
I sat admiring the view down into the valley below, watching small tour groups being lectured about history, dates, purpose, and other gubbins that this hedge druid had no need of, but clearly kept visitors entertained.
When I felt ready, as the air spilled, I made an effort to connect. Twin spirals emerged from me creating a protective vortex, acting as a shield to any harmful energies or influences. Handy, and from experience, necessary too. They connected to the sun, moon and back into the earth in a moving cycle which completed in my centre (what I have referred to early on as my “dantian“) and I captured that energy internally.
I then moved on to shedding my worldly energies to leave myself “purified” and ready to work with the stones. Again, when the urge took me I rose and followed the dowsing rods with the instruction “Show me where I need to go first.”
I ambled on a sinewing path down to the King Stone where the rods crossed. Leaning on the spiked iron cage (uncomfortable) I connected to the stone. As I connected I requested permission from the Spirit of Place to work here. This felt granted. My gaze arose to look at the stone and despite its caged energies I could see a pattern of flowing energy around the stone.
I further connected with love and joy energy, and at that point I felt what I can only describe as an “unlocking” of the energies of the site. Was this a complete unlocking, I wondered. Immediately the answer was “No, Stage 1.” Right. Then it was time to move on.
The Whispering Knights
Maintaining my trance-like state (no fixed gaze or focus) I crossed the road. As it’s a busy road I had to come out of trance for a brief moment before resuming it at the other side after dropping in my £2 site visit fee. I may be of much reduced means, but I still pay my way.
I followed the dowsing rods to my next objective. They led me through the woodland path, then in a fairly straight path (weaving gently) all the way around the field down to the lower part of the site where there was a cluster of stones called The Whispering Knights – a former dolmen, by the look of it.
Again these stones are caged, but my dowsing rods stopped me towards the back of the cluster where I could literally just reach to touch the back stone. I went deeper into my trance state and connected to these stones. I asked if I could have a quest to guide me on my path for the next six weeks until Samhain (or beyond, as is often the case).
Instead of a quest I got a response. Another unlocking feeling. This was stage 2, and not the place to receive a quest. Instead, this was the place where my energies, although prepared earlier, could be balanced out to match the energies of the stones here. Fine with me! I waited again until I felt this had been done, confirmed that with the dowsing rods, and offered my love and gratitude for this stage of my work.
Instead of moving off to the next objective straight away I felt I wanted to spend some time just sitting, admiring the view, and listening to the beautiful chorus of birdsong that this dry and calm day seemed to demand. I watched the birds flit about, and the bees moving around gathering the last of their own harvest.
A few moments later the sun appeared through the clouds. That was my signal. Time to move on to what I felt would be the finale.
The Rollright Stones circle
The dowsing rods walked me back up the path, but in this direction my foot placement was very different. On the way down I had been routed almost straight down the middle of the path. On the way back I was taken to the circle via an energetic route at the right-hand edge of the path.
The walk back took me through three distinct and obvious patches of mugwort on the way. The plant of dreamers and healers! This must be the very last flourishes of this shamanic journeying plant as it must be coming to the end of its growth season. Yet I noticed it. I was made to notice it. Interesting.
Once back through the woodland trail I arrived at a power centre twenty or so feet away from circle. Once I had connected to the power centre I felt that the Spirit of Place was not at this spot, but was inside the circle itself. So, I waited until I felt I was ready to enter, then moved.
Inside the circle I am guided by the dowsing rods to a southern entrance point between stones. Again, having been through this sequence several times on visits to this stone circle, this was a familiar entrance. Was the circle trying to make me feel at ease, or was I simply getting very used to the way this place works?
At the energetic boundary by the entrance I ask to be let in if the conditions are right. They are, and I move forward following the rods as they take me on a semi-circular route around the inside edge of the circle to a power centre at the northern side. The spot, I notice, is at about the same place as the heart would be if a human figure were drawn inside the circle (cf. Vitruvian Man). That was an odd thing to think – it’s not something I have noticed before. Yet that is what I “gnow” (see. gnosis).
Four crystals are arranged around the power centre, and I hold the smoky quartz crystal that I love so much in my lap as I sit meditating….
After just moment of stillness and quietude I get a vision of Merlin with the Merlin Staff. He is stood on top of Belas Knap long barrow in Gloucestershire. He stands on its peak. Around him are the four elements at once: lightning, wind, rain and the earth mound below. He connects to all four elements and they empower him greatly. He then projects this power out to all the ancient sites of Albion at once. I see the energy lines extend from him, and somehow I can see all of the sites he is connecting to at once! For a millisecond my rational brain shouts “But that’s impossible!” before I rapidly shut it down. There’s more…Merlin draws on the power of these ancient sites that he has connected to, and it unlocks a new spiritual journey. He has the power to progress now.
…And just as soon as I got into the vision I am drawn out of it again, back out of trance, and back to the humdrum hum of the people milling around the circle, their coming and goings, and the birdsong decorating the air around once more. I am more than satisfied, but I have a slight sense of foreboding about the vision. I know where I need to go, but I wonder if it will entail a dark and stormy evening if I am to match the conditions of the vision. We will see. October, the month of storms, will soon be upon us. The conditions will be right.
As I leave I accidentally pull a spiral necklace out of my bag, which I had forgotten that I had meant to wear today. I put it on. Actually, only now does it feel right to wear it again. It is symbolic of my re-emergence into the wonderful world of druidry. In the distance, as I get into my car, I hear the sound of someone drumming near the King Stone, and it all feels right.
