Category: Hedge philosophy

2016 Summary of the Year

Posted on By Chris No Comments on 2016 Summary of the Year
2016 Summary of the Year
Hedge philosophy, Yearly Update

In this post I want to bring together some of the themes of the year, and associate key posts with those themes. Together they forms a description of my spiritual year for 2016. THEME 1 – Taliesin: bardic work, light, awen and courage. IMBOLC: Brigid at Derbyshire sites such as Gawton’s Well. I experienced the … Read More “2016 Summary of the Year” »

Illog The Well – P1 Winter 2016

Posted on By Chris No Comments on Illog The Well – P1 Winter 2016
Illog The Well – P1 Winter 2016
Ancient Sites, Healing, Hedge philosophy, Holy Wells and Sacred Springs, Natural Magick, Saints, Trees

For the Winter Solstice I asked my spirit guides where I should go. In a dream I was given the name of a place to look for – “Llansantffraid“. Now, this seemed like a clear message, but Wales has a few options when it comes to places named in that way. The first option was … Read More “Illog The Well – P1 Winter 2016” »

Clear Sky Thinking at Findhorn

Posted on By Chris No Comments on Clear Sky Thinking at Findhorn
Clear Sky Thinking at Findhorn
Elemental, Hedge Druidry, Hedge philosophy, Natural Magick

This is a short post with a simple story. M and I were on holiday in Scotland and we had just had a beautiful stay at a site above the town of Arberlour on the Speyside Whisky Trail. The weather had been incredibly mild and with only the occasional speckles of thin rain the night before. Now the clouds seemed to be gathering as M drove us alongside the River Spey towards our morning destination – The Findhorn Community, situated between Elgin and Nairn.

Findhorn - Autumn Equinox - Sept 14 (4) (Medium)
STOP worrying at Findhorn

We looked around as we drove. The rain was coming down now, harder and thicker with every mile. Having prepared her somewhat for the potential delight of the Findhorn gardens and homes we were a bit dejected at the idea of visiting such beauty on a dull, dismal day.

Findhorn - Autumn Equinox - Sept 14 (9) (Medium)
One of Findhorn’s meditation spaces

“Surely“, M said, “…you could do something about it?“

I wasn’t about to make any promises that I couldn’t keep, but it did occur to me that I could perhaps ask for the assistance of the elemental spirits of the area to co-operate in producing a clear area around Findhorn just for the duration of our visit. It seemed a little selfish, but we wanted dearly for the occasion to be as special as we hoped. Was it possible?

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The Crutch of Orthodoxy

Posted on By Gwas 3 Comments on The Crutch of Orthodoxy
Hedge philosophy

You know a post is serious when there are no pictures! In this post I offer an explanation of how to construct your own theology no less! If you are interested in the foundations of paganism, then read on.

We frequently get requests from people who know we write a blog. They say things like, “..but how did you know to do this, that or the other?“.  These people are looking for guidance, and we are more than happy to offer our experiences up for them to consider. Yet some people want to go further. They say things like: “How do you do this, that or the other?“. These are requests for orthodox teachings. Here are my opinions on the relative merits of oxthodoxy on a seeker’s path.

Following The Rules

Orthodoxy essentially means following the rules, or taking a path that has already been trodden before. Someone whom one considers to have been a person of more spiritual value than yourself has been out into the spiritual world(s) and has come back with a description of the way in which that world operates. They have perhaps described the way it works, the way they perceived it, told you their tales and maybe even offered you the benefit of their experience. They might have come back with warnings – don’t say this to that, don’t do this in there, etc. The value of orthodoxy is generally supposed to be that the new seeker learns from the mistakes and the wrong paths of those who have gone before. Progress should be faster, easier, further, deeper. The devout and orthodox religios seeker should be the most enlightened. How does that fir with your experience of such people?

If this were the case, that strict orthodoxy reaps the best rewards, then after several thousand years of the prevailing orthodox religion wouldn’t we all be enlightened by now? Of course, we have free will, and we are entitled to ignore the prevailing wisdom and teachings. Thus, we are bound to continue to make mistakes, continue to throw impediments on to the path to our spiritual freedom. So claim the guardians of such teachings and the preservers of religious structures.

I have a different opinion to offer.

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Luck and the Subtle Energy Field

Posted on By Gwas 3 Comments on Luck and the Subtle Energy Field
Energy grid, Hedge philosophy, How To, Theory

If you only knew how many theoretical posts we had in the background, waiting for a quiet day…. but most of them never see the spotlight of this blog site. It’s not what we’re about, really – telling you how to do stuff. We’re more about showing you the possibilities through our experiences. Yet, occasionally, a theory post slips through the net, because we do have ideas. Lots of them. So, here’s one about the subject of luck.

Many people regard me as being “lucky”. I seem to sail through life unhindered by the many afflictions and wrangles which most people seem to have in their lives. I certainly regard myself as having a “charmed life”, especially when it comes to dangerous situations.  Luck is one of those concepts like “coincidence”. It is a component of a magickal life. Without luck one is resigned to a life of struggle, strife and repression. With luck comes freedom, inhibition and risk-taking. We can begin to see why luck is a much-valued and much sought-after commodity.

We need to differentiate luck as a commodity, or a by-product of a lifestyle versus perceived luck as a product of intervention. Some people say that we are being “watched over” – maybe we have a guardian angel? Such an entity offers us the chance of intervention when events might turn away from our “natural”course in life. I understand that concept, and in some situations I think that could be a viable interpretation for how we escape some potential accidents.

There is also the luck that people perceive to be involved in windfalls, or the sudden accumulation of wealth and power. Largely, this is a product of placing oneself in the right place at the right time through hard work; or of becoming involved in the chance, no matter how small, of winning something. For example, I might be lucky, but if I never enter the lottery then I’ll never win the prize! Knowing what I do about this form of luck I can say that if it is in your spiritual development to win such things then you will, and when the time is right. Otherwise, it’s just chance. Sheer chance. ‘Luck’ doesn’t come into it.

“Carl Jung viewed luck as synchronicity, which he described as ‘a meaningful coincidence’.” (source: Wikipedia)

I also think there is a more general condition which we would call “luck”. This is the luck which allows one to easily move through life without being affected by restrictions and unwanted human interventions. Often “luck” as a concept is all bundled together as one idea, as though there is only one form of luck. I don’t believe this is so. I think luck comes in different forms, and I know that it is possible to work with at least one form in order to promote a smoother transit through life. Let’s examine this type of luck in more detail.

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Summary 2013 – Lessons Learned Pt2

Posted on By Gwas No Comments on Summary 2013 – Lessons Learned Pt2
Hedge Druidry, Hedge philosophy

In the second half of my second summary post I’m completing the lessons learned for the remainder of the year – that’s August to December. In this post I talk about the stag energies, energetic balance, death energy and some of the natural magickal techniques that I have been shown this year.

August

Stag and the Staff

  • Learned that a staff can become associated with a kind of ‘patron’ energy form
  • My new yew stag-headed staff becomes associated with the Gwyn Ap Nudd/Herne/Cernunnos energy.

Related posts: Initiation of the Yew Staff

Balancing and Tuning at Sacred Sites

  • You can reconfigure your own energy field to match that of a sacred site (especially a stone circle).
  • When the circle is at a balanced point in the year (equinoxes) then you can easily balance your chakras/energy field

Related posts: Mitchell’s Fold balancing

  • Chakras can be tuned through the vowel sounds – caves are excellent places to do this

Absorbing the Gwyn energies

  • The energies of an energy form such as Gwyn Ap Nudd can be absorbed into your own energy field, such that they “walk with you”
  • The purpose of this is to be able to invoke their guiding presents more readily

Related posts: Chun Quoit, Faery Portal, Faery Feast

What the Romans Did For Us

  • On Anglesey I discovered that one of the few remaining traditions that were left virtually intact by the Roman invasion were the arts associated with the knowledge of local plants and their powers.
  • I was asked to continue this tradition when communing with the shade of Iestyn.

Related posts: Lligwy Lore and Song

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Summary 2013 – Lessons Learned Pt1

Posted on By Gwas No Comments on Summary 2013 – Lessons Learned Pt1
Hedge Druidry, Hedge philosophy

In the second of my year-end summary posts I am listing the most important things I have learned this year. I’ve arranged them in chronological order by month as this seems to show the development of the learning in the best way. There’s too much to read in one go, so I’ve split this into two posts. Part 1 is January to June/July. Part 2 will be the back half of the year.

One of my favourite phrases is “Every day is a school day.” It certainly feels like that walking this path of druidry and divination!

January

Spooky!

  • Learned that some pet energies can be grounded through respectful burial involving knowledge of their energetic links to humans (e.g. an owner)
  • Also found a spirit that is classically called an Incubus preying upon the vibrant energies of the three teenage girls in the house. Discovered that they can be ‘ensnared’ using a spiral-carved stone to confuse their pathway, and by changing the energy flows around the house to disrupt its patterns and portals.

Related posts: Exorcising an Incubus, Poltergeist Pet

Tarot Framework

  • Created a four-stage cross tarot layout coinciding with the Celtic festival dates, and drew from the Camelot Oracle to define the path, the champion and the challenges at those special dates. The result was a fantastic way to keep me on track with my progress!

Related posts: Arthurian Overview of 2013, Camelot Oracle

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