Chris

Imbolc 2015 P3 – Arthurs Flower

February 16, 2015 Chris No Comments

Ancient Sites, Arthurian, Energy grid, Hedge Druidry, Landscape Zodiac, Spirit of Place, Wheel of the Year

Having spent a lovely half hour at the church dedicated to Michael at the foot of the ridge known as Bwrdd Arthur (or “Arthur’s Table”) it was now time to find a way up onto the ridge. One of my objectives for this Imbolc was to connect more of the sites that I had identified as having a reference to Arthur, and which were part of a landscape zodiac that I was forming across Northern Wales and England.

At a junction in the road near to a signpost we found the entrance to the ridge and followed the steepest path up on to the crest of the ridge. Kal soon found a comfortable spot in a shaft of sunlight, and I used my dowsing rods to locate one too. The sun at its peak now, and as warm as it was going to get!

Bwrdd Arthur - Anglesey - Imbolc 2015 (8) — Arthur’s Table on a sunny Imbolc day

Adorning the Table

It was close to lunch time but not time for us to eat yet. I had work to do. Bathed in sunshine I began a process of protection (new site – good practise), meditation, then connection with the spirit of the place. I felt that the spirit was keen to work with me, and so I began to mentally cross the country linking this site by an energy bridge to all the other Arthur-related sites I had visited so far on this quest.

Imbolc 2015 P2 – Death Eating with St Michael

February 11, 2015January 26, 2016 Chris 2 Comments

Hedge Druidry

After Arthur’s Well (or close to it) we were heading out to Anglesey. I set the satellite navigation in order to get me back to some major roads that I recognised. On the way in that morning I had wanted to visit near to Llandeiniolen but we had searched in vain for it so I had given up in frustration. We had gone to visit Arthur’s Well anyway. Now, on the way back out – where did we arrive? At the damned church of course!! And I use the word ‘damned’ with intent, because no sooner had we stopped to admire the huge ancient yew trees than I got a dread feeling.

Yews at St.Michael’s

The old church at Llanddeiniolen seems to have changed its name, perhaps to disguise itself? Perhaps it is seeking to prevent visitors from finding its ancient yew trees? I have a fix on it now, though. The church is moments away from the nearby B4366 on a small back road heading to Waun. It used to be called “St Deiniol’s” but now seems to be calling itself “St.Michael’s”. It would turn out that the new name was highly appropriate to the work I was about to do.

We had been here before and so we knew there were some ancient yew trees, huge and hollowing. I had a feeling that there was some other reason I was being ‘directed’ to visit here, though. Intuition is a wonderful sense, but it doesn’t always deliver the information like a map. Sometimes the information is more like a painting.

Imbolc 2015 P1 – The Robin at Arthurs Well

February 9, 2015January 26, 2016 Chris No Comments

Ancient Sites, Arthurian, Hedge Druidry, Wheel of the Year

Imbolc began this year for me while I was meditating in the middle of Delamere Forest at midnight. Having felt the combined feminine forces of The Maid (Brigid) and The Crone (Morrigan) then I knew that my ventures the next day would now be filled with beautiful connections.

Kal and I had planned a full day out in Anglesey. Early on February 1st we made our way down the A55 coast road. Before crossing the “threshold” of the Menai Straits there was one place I wanted to visit. I was keen to visit a well dedicated to Arthur which was supposedly positioned close to the village of Deiniolen in the foothills of the Snowdonia mountain range.

Anglesey - Imbolc 2015 (1) — Deiniolen is not far from Snowdon and its surrounding mountains

Arthur’s Well Hidden

Although I had an Ordnance Survey map of the place where the well was supposedly located, and there was no foliage to obscure the hunt, still the discovery of the well eluded us initially. Even the path to get to the area near to the well was difficult! It was full of obstacles and at one point we were bounding from the crest of one murky drainage channel to another as we tried to avoid being scratched by dead spruce branches. The density and darkness of the forest seemed to go on forever! Finally, we were through it, though, and into a clearing – a crossroads of paths. Hmm.. cross roads.

Arthurs Well - Anglesey - Imbolc 2015 (3) — Crossroad after a dark passage near Arthur’s Well

Bride and Crone at Imbolc

February 5, 2015January 26, 2016 Chris No Comments

God or Goddess, Hedge Druidry, Meditation, Wheel of the Year

Only the fool-hardy and those friends with frost would venture forth into the darkness of Delamere Forest at midnight. Illuminated only by a filling Milk Moon and a fogging headlamp I met with John Kirby – experienced meditator and esoteric inspiration. This was his idea, and I had seen no reason not to accompany him on his wild adventure into the blackness. I was nearly put off by other people’s reservations: it would be cold, I didn’t know where I was going exactly, it was very windy, the world might end any moment. None of this seemed to matter. Curiosity and the opportunity to meditate outdoors this close to Imbolc was sufficient motivation to drive me onwards.

It was almost a full moon and there was sufficient light to make our way from the station car park, past the visitor centre, and out into the forest proper. John had identified a place where there were some specific trees that he wanted to encounter again. Luckily, he knew how to get there even in the dark, and within ten minutes we had found the place.

There was one clearly visible and identifiable “male” tree. it stood along, a ‘lonesome pine’, immensely proud and conical. It looked like the kind of Christmas Tree that ought to adorn a special square in London. I chatted with John about the concept of the “King Stone” at a stone circle, and how the outlier would often be the male standing stone whose energy would be fed into the female stone circle. I likened the imagery to the sperm and ovum concept.

For me, Imbolc sees the return of the male earth energy so tonight it seemed appropriate to attempt to “fertilise” the female ring of trees nearby with the male energy of this lone tree. We set up camp in a clutch of fir trees whose central space was both soft and welcoming, sheltered yet not smothering. A fire pit was dug by hand, wet logs used as a container, and then a small immediate flame established to ward off the worst of the Winter’s warmth-sapping strength.

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Cerrig Arthur and The Seven Sleepers

February 3, 2015February 17, 2015 Chris No Comments

Ancient Sites, Hedge Druidry, Landscape Zodiac, Spirit of Place

The road up to Cerrig Arthur stone circle is narrow and steep. It climbs sharply out of the town of Barmouth, winding at precarious angles until it settles into a straight line ascent above the seaside town. From houses through woods then out into open fields the road lifts you clear of the roar of the sea and replaces this with the howl of the wind across the valley which perches itself above the Afon Mawddach river mouth miles below.

We parked at the entrance to a farm called “Sylfaen” – a reference to the sylvan woods, perhaps, or maybe to the presence of sylphs? Either way Kal noted it as an auspicious sign. This visit would be the third Arthur-related site this year so far, and it was only the middle of January.

Ystum Cegid Isaf stone circle (6) — The view of the mouth of the river at Barmouth

We had maps. We had the right clothes. We set off in the right direction. We couldn’t find the circle though! We had to triangulate from mountain tops and buildings to try to work out the position of the stone circle. My tip, if you’re visiting, is this – go through the first gateway up the hill to the left of the farm and then follow the dry stone wall over a couple of crests until you see it. The circle is nestled between two dips, and is very difficult to spot until you’re almost on top of it. We were half way down the valley before we realised we’d gone too far!

When we found it, though, the sun came out and provided us with the kind of photo opportunity that can’t be resisted. We spent a good five minutes just taking pictures before we actually got down to doing some work.

Ystum Cegid Isaf stone circle (21) — Cerrig Arthur stone circle above Barmouth

Arthurs Table and the Landscape Zodiac

February 1, 2015January 23, 2015 Chris No Comments

Hedge Druidry

I originally named this post “The Second Arthur Site 2015” because it forms a part of what I now realise will be a series of posts that aim to describe a journey throughout the year. This journey will encompass many ancient sites related to King Arthur, and the signature of the site will be that I will be aligned to The Great Bear constellation and the powers of The North (both literally and symbolically).

It was with this Arthurian signature on the year in mind that I chose to go and visit two sites in West Wales that were related to Arthur, if not in name then in association at least. On the off-chance I called Kal to see if he was up and available for an outing, Seems I disturbed some necessary sleep, yet still he wanted to come along. Off we go again!

Ystum Cegid Isaf

Our first site was a superb example of a table-like dolmen structure that the Welsh regions do best. The name, if you put it into Google translate, comes back as “Lower hemlock gesture“. Hilarious, even though it may be too literal a translation, such as these tools often provide. Last year it was henbane, and now this year starts with hemlock! Coincidence, or Providence?

Cerrig Arthur dolmen - Jan 15 (15) — Another welsh dolmen related to Arthur

A small road takes you to a lay-by near to a recycling centre just outside of the village of Garndolbenmaen on the A487 road between Caernarvon and Porthmadog towns. If you park close to the footbridge then you get the chance to cross the Afon Dwyfor river either by the new or old bridges. We opted for the old one, and it was fun on a windy day.

Don't look down - it's a fast flowing river! — Don’t look down – it’s a fast flowing river!

Rooted In The Earth

January 31, 2015January 21, 2015 Chris No Comments

Ancient Sites, Energy cleansing, Energy grid, Hedge Druidry, Spirit of Place, Telluric

Thor’s Cave is one of those special places that leaps to mind when someone you haven’t been on an outing with leaves it up to you to make the decision about where to go. If the criteria is “impressive”, “great views” or “dry” then Thor’s Cave fits the bill. On a dull and drizzly January day I drove with the shaman Debra Delglyn, her Buddhist brother “V.P.” and the inspirational meditator John Kirby to Staffordshire. What else is there to do on a Tuesday?

We parked in the village of Wetton which is situated above The Manifold Valley, at the northernmost end of Staffordshire, bordering on Derbyshire, and not far from the town of Leek. Even though I’d been here twice before I had a bit of trouble locating the starting point in the valley below, so we ended up walking down the ravine from the village instead. At this time of year it was very muddy at the bottom, and then we had to climb back up an only slightly better path. On the way up we passed two other groups of visitors, which came as a bug surprise considering the time of year and the weather. Only fools would be out at this time, I thought.

Thors Cave - Jan 15 (21) — Let’s play “spot the cave”!

On the way to the cave I was talking to V.P. about how the year was shaping up to be related to King Arthur. We discussed how this character from our history was an inspiration, and how Arthur was a symbol of leadership, courage and strength. I mentioned many times that I was following Arthur in the sense that I was following his constellation “The Great Bear“. Following, yet here I was leading this group to the cave. My leadership skills were off to a good start!

At the cave entrance we waited for permission to be granted to enter the site. Everyone was very respectful of my hanging around despite the cold. Once I had the feeling that everything was in accord, then we climbed up the slippery slanted entrance rock. Inside we had the place to ourselves.

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