This is the second and final part of two posts retrieved from Summer Solstice 2017. I have recovered and re-written them as it demonstrates one of the last site visits I did in that year before the blog went down and my life changed a few years later.
I was, at the time, attempting to visit ancient sites which had links with the Welsh stories of old, as recounted in the Mabinogion, but I had stumbled across that connection whilst using a map dowsing method of choosing a compass bearing, then a distance to find a suitable location.
I had just visited Llech-Y-Doll burial chamber (see part 1), although that was an intuitive visit and not related to the Mabinogion. However, that would soon change. My next target that solstice day was Dinas Dinlle, an Iron Age coastal hillfort featured in the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogion (Math mab Mathonwy). My reasoning was that “Dinas Dinlle” translated as “the fort of Lleu” (din meaning fort, and lle short for Lleu). Seemed like a good place to start a search for a Lleu Llaw Gyffes (“Lugh of the Silver Hand”) connection. Lugh is a Celtic god of light, and this chimed with the sun being at its height this solstice day.
According to legend, the warrior and magician Lleu Llaw Gyffes was brought up at Dinas Dinlle by his uncle, the magician Gwydion fab Dôn, until he grew to warrior maturity. In addition, the fort sits near the coast overlooking Caer Aranrhod (associated with Lleu’s mother, Arianrhod) thus linking several mythical sites.
Standing stone in Llandwrog
I began with a preparation at a standing stone in the vicinity of the village of Llandwrog. Sadly, I didn’t record its exact whereabouts and a decade later I can’t recall where it was, but it was in a tantalising location which I noted as being “a secret grove of ash, oak, sycamore and hawthorn, lime and chestnut trees”. As I approached the stone I saw two hares in the field in which the stone stood. They ran across my path, which I took to be a sign. I did my energy preparations, connecting to the stone, and suddenly I got a massive influx of energy. The energy had a signature of being “sun” or “solstice” energy. In previous years Kal and I had drawn down such energy and stored it inside of us as a bulwark against the impending darkness of the British winter. I did this here, not utilising the energy now, but storing it for later.
With a smile and a perky skip I left this paradisiacal grove and headed off to the nearby hillfort site.
Dinas Dinlle
I like a good “dinas”! This seaside hillfort is very accessible and now has commanding views of the coastline, beaches and distant Llyn Peninsula. At one time it would have been an imposing place, but all that remains now is a tiered hill at risk of crumbling into the sea.
As I arrived, dowsing rods in hand, a crow welcomed me, inviting me to take a seat in the fort. I sat in what I determined to be a preparation place on the side of the entrance slope. I did my usual introductions, using my full magickal name, and setting up protection. Then, connecting with the site I asked for permission to work here. After a moment I felt this was granted, but something was amiss. I reached around in my intuition to determine what was wrong. I felt that the obvious way up to the top of the fort was barred to me! Which way should I go then? I was forced to go up the steep way. Typical! Making me work for any reward, as usual.
I walked the harder path and heard the crow calling from the top. I kept my head down, and it was lucky that I did so, because as I followed the dowsing rods they walked me right over a single black crow feather. Of course, I picked it up. This may be useful later.
I reached the top and admired the views. The sea was stunning, the sun was shining, the drive had been tiring. What if I just sat here a while and had a little sleep….? Before I could even think of what to do next I was asleep. Asleep and dreaming of Lugh.
In the dream I was driving with Lugh beside me. As we sped along we saw an accident in front of us which I just missed by luck, or was I spared? Lugh felt like a guardian presence beside me. Yet it was disturbing – was this some kind of premonition, or a message?
I awoke from my reverie more tired and unsettled then replenished. What had happened to the solstice energy that I had collected at the standing stone in Llandwrog? Had I given the energy away somehow at Dinas Dinlle? Had the fort robbed me of the secret store?
Whatever the situation I did a small ceremony to celebrate the Summer Solstice and light, especially for Lugh. I left the crow feather in the hillfort’s summit as a gift.
I decided that the nearby beach looked too inviting for me to waste such an opportunity, and I took a stroll along it, hoping the sea air would perk me up. As I wandered an indle course, the most beautiful white stone presented itself. Really? Am I back to being a stone mover again? I picked it up.
Caer Engan
The final place on my list of sites to visit was perhaps the most spiritually significant. Caer Engan is listed on this site as a possible location of the legendary ‘Caer Dathyl‘. Caer Dathyl is the seat of power for Math of Mathonwy. The place is linked spiritually to my Caer Caradog story from the Spring Equinox by this excerpt from the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogion:
“…and Teregud son of Iaen and Sulien son of Iaen and Bradwen son of Iaen and Moren son of Iaen and Siawn son of Iaen and Caradog son of Iaen – men of Caer Tathyl were they, Arthur’s kindred on his father’s side.”
“Caer Tathyl is usually identified with the Caer Dathyl which is represented as an important royal centre in the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi.”
As I walked up to Caer Engan hillfort the beautiful path was spoiled only by the line of electricity pylons. I set up a temporary shield to swathe the buzzing energy in, and to keep that interference from my own energy aura.
As I settled atop the hillfort I found a power centre using my dowsing rods, and settled in to do some connection. I felt as though I had my energy back now – maybe it had been the sea air, or the white stone I had collected? In any case, soon I was aware of a spirit around me. It was the Spirit of Place for this site, and the spirit appeared in the form of an energetic serpent.
As I linked with this spirit, other more familiar spirits emerged too – my spirit guide Swyre and another spirit who I recognised as “Engan“, the faery that I had invited to be guardian of Llech-Y-Doll chamber earlier that day. As I had worked with Faery Folk before I knew to needed to set up some protection around me before I began to ask questions.
As was my usual line of questioning, especially at significant times of the year such as this solstice, I asked what is my task for the next part of the year? The response was unequivocal: “Purify your soul!“. Did that come from Engan? Yes. Hmmm, then I would take it with a pinch of salt. Yet maybe that was his way of thanking me for inviting him to Llech-Y-Doll?
I felt there was more to do here. Recently I had taken to connecting “high up” sites with other surrounding places of energy, particularly spiritual energy. So it was that I set about linking the surrounding hills to this site so that they formed an energy grid.
I felt accomplished, but also disappointed. I had set about visiting sites related to the Mabinogion, and that had been achieved. Yet, there had been no specific connection to any energy related to that mythological set of tales. Maybe I should have specifically called something in? Yet, I also did not have a clear intention about what I wanted to achieve. Perhaps that was why I got the message to “purify my soul” – like some kind of knight’s quest that Kal would have gone on. Ha – he would have known what to do with such a request, and he would have acted upon it too. Gone to the ends of the lands to meet such a request. Where was I going? What was I doing visiting such places without him and without an idea of where I was going spiritually?
The summer of 2017 was still proving difficult.
