glen – The Hedge Druid

Lammas 2015 P8 The Pink Knight and the Black Chamber

October 21, 2015October 6, 2015 Chris No Comments

Kilmartin Museum was excellent. Lots to see and very interesting for us as well, which is not often the case. I particularly like their outdoor exhibit demonstrating the alignment of the nearby megaliths with the sun’s position. A quirky little pedestal which I’m sure many will have overlooked.

Kilmartin Church and Museum - Lammas 2015 (46) — Alignment explanations at Kilmartin Museum

We decided we had enough time to visit the church too, although I’m not sure what to make of my findings! Alongside the church building was a smaller stone building housing an array of carved stones ranging from 1100 to 1717 in date. The third earliest stone (cracked) dowsed as being energetically worthwhile me investigating. So I did.

Kilmartin Church and Museum - Lammas 2015 (50) — Inscribed stones at Kilmartin Church

I held my hand on the stone and soon I was in meditative mind. As my thoughts withdrew a picture began to form. I saw a knight in armour with a broadsword cleaving his enemies. His status was obvious. He was a nobleman, possibly a tribal leader of this area. Then came a series of much gentler images of walks, flowers and then… being with other men!

I asked what we had in common – cautiously. I introduced myself as a druid. This was our link, apparently. He was interested in the Unknown, in the Western Mysteries. He showed me how he had to send others in his retinue to talk to the Druids in his day due to his status. He couldn’t be seen in such company.

With that.. the energy link faded. Either I was “out of fuel” or there wasn’t enough around in this place. We decided that was enough for today and that we needed to head home now. I can’t tell you how much Kal laughed when I told him this tale. I think he stopped giggling at some point past Penrith.

Lammas 2015 P4 The Energy of the Stone Row

October 5, 2015October 8, 2015 Chris No Comments

Ancient Sites, Circles and Stones, Energy, Faery, Telluric, Wheel of the Year

We were moving further back down the glen we had traversed when we arrived this Lammas August morning. Somehow, we had managed to drive right past a huge pair of stone rows, and we laughed at how Nature places these things in our attention just when we’re ready for them. Clearly, this was the right order in which to do things. Not the “nearest first” approach, which would be our “logical” sequence.

From Duncraigaig Cairn we followed the footpath through a channel of wild flowers and ferns until we emerged into an open field. Before us were two obvious stone rows: Ballymeanoch Stone Rows.

What was the best way to approach this abundance of megaliths? We had a stone circle and two stone rows to choose from! I opted for following the dowsing rods to help me decide, and they took me on a circuitous route around to the far side of two standing stones which I took to be an “entrance portal”. I needed to stop at the energetic barrier that I could feel between the stones, and which was acting as a form of gateway.

In the portal I got into a connected state. I felt the presence of faery, and it came to mind to acknowledge Bel and Titania – the king and queen of faery. I felt that this was the opposite side of their “opening” time of Beltane. This was the “closing time“. I wasn’t sure what that phrase meant at this point – it was something to do with acknowledging their movement towards being quiet for the Winter months – a sort of “end of the summer” feeling. Energy waning. A thanking them for the fruits of the summer. All those things were packed into this feeling, which made it so complex that I couldn’t’ express it clearly in words if I were given a whole book’s length to do so.

As we passed each other Kal mentioned that he sensed the presence of Faery here. A coincidence.

Ballymeanoch stone row and circle - Lammas 2015 (6) — Ballymeanoch Portal stones

Lammas 2015 P1 Kilmartin Glen

September 23, 2015September 28, 2015 Chris No Comments

Ancient Sites, Circles and Stones, Glyphs and Wards, Lakes and Rivers, Wheel of the Year

In this blog post I will begin describing our visit to the Scotland for Lammas. I outline a general procedure for approaching megalithic sites, and then go on to discuss my specific findings.

Lammas started with a thorough cleansing. It seems that I feel impelled to have a good long shower before I go out on a sacred day. Maybe this harks back to ancient traditions, but I don’t think it’s something that I consciously started to do, just that I noticed my behaviour over time.

Our destination today was the last place on our “We should really go there” list – Kilmartin Glen in Scotland. By the accounts of other megalith hunters it was a “field day” opportunity to see several sites in close proximity. Finally, we were getting to go, although it was a long drive to get there. It was raining most of the way. As we got past Glasgow the heavens really opened up and began to make us think we were in for a very wet weekend. As usual, Kal was optimistic and assured me that everything would be fine by the time we arrived. Ten miles from the glen I was less certain. Then, literally as we approached the glen the rain stopped. By the time we had parked a few minutes later, the sun was out! All around was a dark swathe of purple rainclouds. Astonishing! Kal beamed his usual broad smile and sported his “I told you so” eyebrow and wide eye combination.

How to approach a megalithic site

Within a minute of surveying our first site we knew that we were going to be fully occupied this weekend. The information boards at the Kilmartin Glen car park were packed with images of standing stones and circles. We drooled. “Nether Largie” – sounded exotic and enticing.

Over the narrow road we walked onto a bridge over a small free-flowing river, stopping to acknowledge the subtle energy barrier which acted like a bouncer – changing the way the spirit of place would interact with the entrants depending on how they approached the site. We knew to wait, ask respectfully for entrance, and then determine the response. We rarely were pushed away. So it was this time – we got the “pull” to say “Come on in!”. As I passed over the river I left my “worldly energies” behind, asking the river to take them with it on its journey. I was now entering a different “world”.

Stage One is cleansing. Done. Stage Two is energising with a new energy. For that I needed my dowsing rods to show me the correct lace to stand. When face with a megalithic site the temptation is to rush to touch it, or move closer to look at it. We knew to use our dowsing rods to find a preparation place.

The preparation place was just to one side – about six feet away from a pair of standing stones which looked like a gateway or doorway. This, I surmised, would be my entrance to the complex of sites and my start point for subtle energy work at these sites. Every door leads to an adventure!

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