gnome – The Hedge Druid

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.

Thors Cave - Jan 15 (32) — Entrance to Thor’s Cave seen from the Manifold Valley

Five Wells and an affirmation

December 6, 2014January 2, 2015 kal No Comments

Ancient Sites

It’s nice to be out in Derbyshire again. It has to be my favourite place to visit. Today we were going to visit a place we have only been on occasion but often passed by. Five Wells. The last time I visited here had resulted in a Sun and Moon aligned day. The effects on … Read More “Five Wells and an affirmation” »

A Meeting of Minds

October 16, 2014 Chris 2 Comments

Angels, Elemental, Healing, Hedge Druidry, Natural Magick

Due to the nature of the way I work these days I am now coming across people who share my outlook on life. One such person is Debra Delgyn, an holistic therapist and shaman from Manchester. We had met weeks ago at a networking event and almost without having much of a conversation we just knew we would have a lot in common. Bless her, Debra made the effort to get us together for an afternoon, and so I decided to show her some one of the formative places that I had used when beginning my druidic training – Frodsham Hill.

I have no idea why I chose this particular part of the hill – it was a cliff covered in green moss and lichen which shone with an eerie fluorescence against its red sandstone background. I think the site must have drawn my attention too many times as I have passed it. I have worked at many places all around this cliff face, but never spent any time actually at that spot. Yet, here I was with an experienced shaman, and striding with confidence up the hill to reveal its presence. Luckily for me, presence is exactly what we found.

I used my dowsing rods to determine the best spots for us both to sit at. For Debra it was a moss-covered rock, and for me it was beside a small oak tree who corkscrew shape showed me that it was a place of strong subtle energy forces. I wasn’t the only one to notice that, and that pleased me as it confirmed that I was working with someone on my wavelength.

The Net of Light

I watched fascinated as Debra began to unpack some of the paraphernalia from her “crane bag”. I didn’t recognise much of what she laid out – I’m such a novice in these respects.

After we had settled in we talked about the spot. I asked her if she felt the force of the subtle energy flow coming off the cliff. For me it was so palpable that it threatened to push me off the path and roll me down the hillside! She agreed that it could be felt. A good start.

We chatted briefly and she asked me about the view beyond the near trees. I told her that it was the Weaver Estuary, and that it was surrounded by chemical factories. Then I mentioned The Marshes – an area of polluted land which had taken the brunt of the chemical waste from the estuary over the years.

We then talked about the presence of rock (or ‘gnomic’) beings in the rock face behind us, and how we could perhaps interact with these forces, and ask them if they could help us to send out healing into the polluted lands below us. Debra talked of a “Net of Light” which could be used to perform healing of the land. I understood the concept, because of course I have been healing the land for years. Vocabulary aside, we knew what we meant to do, however we would choose to do it.

Cornwall Winter 2 – Circle, Wring and Bed

January 14, 2014January 19, 2014 Gwas 2 Comments

Ancient Sites, Dowsing, Elemental, Energy cleansing, Spirit of Place

I had seen the sights around St.Cleer and was now heading firther into the moorland in search of one of the best stone circles in the country – or should I say the best three! The Hurlers. I had never seen them without them being shrouded in mist. Today…. it was likely to be the same! Still, it would add to the atmosphere.

From there I planned to walk across the moor to The Cheesewring on Stowe’s Hill, and then to a few sites beyond that which were marked on the map.

Top tip: Don’t trust that there will be a site just because it’s listed on the OS Map! Especially in this area!

Anyway, several false leads aside, I did get to see a few interesting places, and had a great experience sleeping in Arthur’s Bed (sometimes the jokes write themselves).

1. The Hurlers

Wraiths of mist whirled around the curving lines of standing stones which formed the three consecutive circles of The Hurlers. Only two “full ” circles are still obvious. The first circle, which has most of its stones missing, is strangely the one which I am most drawn to, and where most of my work at this site gets done.

The Hurlers - Cornwall — The Hurlers – momentarily without mist

So it was today too. When I asked whether there was any work for me to do here I was taken to the large remaining tall stone in the first circle. The dowsing rods crossed just to one side of it, and I stepped back in order to enquire further about what the work would involve. It seems that some dark energy (i.e. energy which is not beneficial to people visiting the site, or natural to its configuration) had been deposited next to the stone. I could clear it, so I would.

The Hurlers - Cornwall (2) — Marking a dark energy spot at The Hurlers stone circle

I marked the spot with a pencil so that I could focus on it (well, there was a pencil lying next to the stone – it was like picking up litter). I looked around for inspiration as to how I could clear the energy. A gust of wind slapped me in the face to remind me that air energy is perfect for this kind of work. I set about calling upon my favourite air elemental to assist with removing the useless energy form. She whizzed past in a flash and I caught the tail end of her passing as another gust of wind. Gone! A quick dowse confirmed the reinstatement of equilibrium between the energetic forces in the circle. “Balance in all things“. I might have that tattooed on my forehead.

The Relationship of Lightning

October 8, 2013October 15, 2013 Gwas 1 Comment

Ancient Sites, Arthurian, Celestial, Elemental, Quests, Spirit Guides

This is the second of my tales about my return to Dyserth Castle in the dark. In this story, having cleared and calmed the fire pit of its chaotic energy signature, I find out some information about how to call lightning and from a source that I wasn’t expecting. I am introduced to the idea that Earth can mix with Fire to produce an interesting effect.

The Lightning Difference

I asked the dowsing rods to lead me to somewhere that I could learn about my ‘Call Lightning’ quest. Was there any such place here? YES. Then lead on! The rods swung to point behind me, and then moved in almost a straight line deeper into the high semi-circular cliff of the castle’s perch.

With it being dark, I needed to look up. Besides, I was wondering where the rods were taking me so directly. I was walking towards the cliff, and as I stopped to assess my position I saw in front of me a huge face in the cliff. It was at least sixty feet high. I wondered if the face would actually be visible in daylight – it kind of needed the relief of the rock without shadow and without any other visual distractions in order for it to appear as clearly as it was to me that night. This was what I was here to see. I just knew it. This was an Earth Spirit. The spirit of this place.

RockFace — The kind of thing I saw that night

I checked my protection, paid my respects to the entity, and then stilled myself in order to see if I could get into the right state of mind to connect to it. Minutes later I was in the right place, mentally, and felt like I could communicate. I asked about the lightning quest, of course, “How can I call lightning?” I enquired hopefully. My rational mind was fighting the impulse to think that I was directing the question to the wrong form of elemental – surely an air spirit would know this, not an earth spirit?

Dyserth Waterfall – How to call a Water Spirit

September 16, 2013 Gwas No Comments

Crystals, Dowsing, Elemental, Hedge Druidry, How To, Natural Magick

Following our Lunasa outings, and then the trip to Mitchell’s Fold, we were laden with quests and questions. Frankly, I had enough spinning around in my head at this stage and didn’t need any more. So, when Kal suggested going out again before he went away I was sure I wanted to go , but equally sure I wasn’t going to be taking on any more spiritual work. No more information relating to the quest, please!

It was a lovely evening to visit a place that was far far back in the memory – Dyserth. Kal had dowsed that this was the best place for him to visit, and that he needed to visit the waterfall and castle. Good enough for me – I could do with a cooling down from the waterfall. Its ionizing properties may be the relaxing and soothing balm I needed.

Water way to go

For some reason I needed to bring a specific crystal. Only one. It was hidden on one of my taller shelves on its own. It was so hidden that I thought that the dowsing rods had made a mistake because I couldn’t see it at first. When I fumbled around my fingers felt its smooth small form and I picked a cloudy powder blue crystal off the shelf. Apparently I would need this, so I pocketed it before we set off.

The evening was delightful – sunny, warm, dry. We are having a brilliant summer this year. Even she short journey from the car into the area below the waterfall made us hot. The waterfall was rather refreshing in the late summer heat, and we basked in its light spray for a while before getting to work.

Dyserth Waterfall - August 2013 (6) — Approach to Dyserth Waterfall in summer

I washed the pale powder blue crystal in the wild waters of the reachable part of the waterfall. Should I offer it now? Apparently not, the dowsing rods said. It was pocketed for a later time. I went onwards to look at the waterfall’s full height and think about jumping into the seemingly deep pool. Kal asked how deep the pool was – apparently it had the same effect on both of us that hot evening!

Dyserth Waterfall - August 2013 (4) — The glory of Dyserth Waterfall in flow

Being brave in Thor’s Cave

June 10, 2013December 5, 2013 Gwas 2 Comments

Ancient Sites, Elemental, Energy work, Hedge Druidry

Whenever I mention a sacred site to visit I can see the cogs going round in Kal’s mind… “Will there be climbing involved?” Well, in this instance yes. As we made our way through the Manifold Valley path towards the conjunction of three hills I could hear a familiar tone evolving in his phrases. So this cave…. is it…high up? Yes, it’s high up. And the way is steep. And the path precipitous. But the views are amazing and the climb is worth it for the reward of experiencing the cave’s vast space and acoustic properties.

On this particular visit I had chosen to try to find the easier way up. The walk was longer, but I knew that coming down from the top of the hill from the village of Grindon was not only a muddy experience but a buttock-clenching one too, at times. I hoped to spare Kal the worst for this former vertigo sufferer. Was it appreciated? It didn’t sound like it! Did I offer him soothing platitudes to ease his worries?

Hell no! 😉

Approaching Thors Cave in Staffordshire.

The cave is monstrously impressive! The height, the altitude, the view, the difficulty to get in…. it’s such an effort which is rewarded by the timbre of the acoustics even standing at the entrance. Having been here before I remembered that somewhere deep inside there was what our ancestors used to refer to as a “goblin” inside – an earth spirit. I hoped to meet him again, but that wasn’t the reason I was here.

My main reason for visiting the cave was to test whether I could create my “Perfect Shield” – an energetic construction for protection. The Shield was purely theoretical at this point, and which I needed to have practised before I came to use it “in anger”, as it were, when I needed it. I think the shield is linked with the Shield of Faith that I obtained as a gift from Faery too. Why I would need such protection wasn’t clear yet, but something somewhere knew and had guided me to learn how to create it. I had the image of how it could be done, now I needed the space and time to make it work.

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