Trees – The Hedge Druid

Illog The Well – P1 Winter 2016

December 28, 2016December 30, 2016 Chris No Comments

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” »

Surrey 4 – The Matron and The Ancient Yew

December 13, 2016 Chris No Comments

Churches and Temples, Holy Wells and Sacred Springs, Trees

On a bright clear morning I made my way south and west of the M25 ring road around London, and down into the heart of Surrey’s scenic surroundings. I saw signs for Bognor Regis and Worthing and realised that I was closer to the South Downs National Park then I had imagined. Yet it felt like the very … Read More “Surrey 4 – The Matron and The Ancient Yew” »

Yew Breathing and New Learning

October 11, 2016 Chris No Comments

Trees

It has been a while since I have visited the wisdom keeper that is the Llangernyw Yew tree. I was feeling that I should, even though I felt oddly out of kilter with the place. Maybe this was an opportunity to recover myself, to recover my attachment to the tree, and to remember the good … Read More “Yew Breathing and New Learning” »

Crosses for the Bride

February 2, 2016February 2, 2016 Chris No Comments

Belief Systems, Power Objects, Ritual, Saints, Trees

In preparation for Imbolc I wanted to construct something similar to what I had seen at other sacred sites related to the goddess Brigid – a wooden cross. I decided to make two crosses – one for me and one for my friend Julia, who would be accompanying me for my Imbolc outing. My concept was … Read More “Crosses for the Bride” »

Lammas 2015 P3 Dunchraigaig Cairn and the Ash Tree

October 1, 2015October 8, 2015 Chris No Comments

Ancient Sites, Dolmens and Chambers, Energy healing, Energy work, Ents and Dryads, Protection, Trees, Wheel of the Year, World Tree

The wonderful thing about the Kilmartin Glen area is the density of megalithic sites, and the way the local authority has presented and preserved these important places. Dunchraigaig Cairn [link] is a prime example of this. We flew past it on the way in, but now we were heading back along the road we came in on so that we could access the site. Sometimes we “choose” the order of events, sometimes the order is imposed upon on by “chance”.

We parked in the small purpose-built car park and negotiated the surprisingly busy A816 road close to the Dunchraigaig Bed and Breakfast building. Once across we seemed to be in a serene space, surrounded by tall old trees of differing varieties which ringed the main attraction – a low-lying mound of rocks which capped two near-hidden cubby-hole entrances to the cairn .

Approaching Old Trees

The obviously striking spruce trees didn’t draw as much attention as the solitary old ash tree. The ash tree drew my attention and made me go towards it, where I placed all my things and sat down ready to rest. No rest for this druid! The moment I sat down I felt that the tree was trying to communicate. So be it!

I decided I needed a “proper approach” to the tree, and so I dowsed for a way in. The way was provided, and as I approached the rods stopped me. I looked down to discover tow mostly-buried stones forming a portal entrance way. I recognised the feature, connected to the presence of the tree, and then waited to see if my introduction would be accepted. It was, and now I could sit down and got into a meditative state at the base of this fine ash tree.

Song of the Plains Wind

August 13, 2015August 7, 2015 Chris No Comments

Forests and Woods, Hedge Druidry, Quests, Trees

I was at Alderley Edge in the Wizard’s Wood. Kal was with me – it had been his idea (I think). The heat of the evening air was regulated by a smooth cooling breeze that was sufficient to lift your hair and cool the brow. The trees were playing a melody of different rustling noises in tempo with the wind’s movement. It was a perfect evening for me to try to discover The Song of the Plains Wind.

This would be the first of my three wind songs that I was being asked to learn. When I looked back through my quests for the year i realised that this has been one of the first instructions I had received this year, but of course, as this was now the height of summer I had forgotten about such distant memories. Yet the advice had returned to me, and I recognised that the air spirit that was my guide this year would be the perfect companion to learn such songs with.

Between Light and Shade

I often sit at the balance point between light and shade, I notice. This has only come to my foregrounded attention in recent weeks, but I noticed it this evening as I was directed to go an sit in one of the many caves which can be found in this amazing forest. This would be my preparation point – far enough into the cave to be at the point between light and dark. Such is my nature and my predilection. I recognise it and I flow with it.

Alderley Edge - July 15 (1) — A cave offering a balance between light and darkness

As my mind settles into a state of balance too, and thoughts flatten and siphon away I feel the movement of the celestial objects around me. The Sun, The Moon and The Earth are all orbiting around my centre. They feel very strong and large. I feel their attraction, the pull of their movement, and yet my centre is sufficiently rooted and centred to be able to hold its integrity. I feel ready for whatever is to come, and so I say my thanks to the spirits of the dark depths of earth, and I take my leave to re-join Kal, who is loitering with a dancing readiness to depart, to be drawn deeper into the woodland along energetic pathways.

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Sun and Moon Glyphs for the Merlin Staff

July 15, 2015June 30, 2015 Chris No Comments

Ancient Sites, Circles and Stones, Glyphs and Wards, Merlin, Modern Druidry, Quests, World Tree

The Moel-Ty-Uchaf stone circle high above the village of Llandrillo in North Wales is one of the toughest tests of determination and stamina. It takes around 40 minutes of relentless climbing up a very steep gradient to reach it. Yet, when a circle calls – we heed it! In this story I found that patience is rewarded, and that glyphs can unlock energetic forces at a site.

The agenda for this sunny Saturday outing was simple – two sites – Llandrillo and Dinas Emrys. Surely we’d be home for mid-afternoon? Ha! The Universe had other plans. In our way we had a panoply of tardiness-generating obstacles:-

roadworks on every major highway between us and the sites
weekend wanderers doing 30mph on major trunk roads
caravans and farm traffic using the main roads

It was an object lesson in giving in to the inevitable slowness. A journey that I had previously clocked at 25 minutes on my motorcycle took us 1 hour 45 minutes today. So far this year we are both learning that Patience is the watchword.

However, there was the promise of obtaining some vital information: I needed to find out the four glyphs that were the Essence of The Merlin Staff. They needed to be discovered before the Summer Solstice, and then I would have to get them carved onto the staff at some point this year.

The way up was hard. It always is. Yet we were in good spirits. We only needed to stop a couple of times to re-gain our breath and then we were approaching the circle in good spirits. Unusually, we both recovered from the climb almost instantly. It was a remarkable, so we remarked upon it. Now for the work to begin!

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