scotland – The Hedge Druid

Merlin and the Spirit of Albion

August 24, 2016August 16, 2016 Chris No Comments

Arthurian, Castles and Forts, Caves and Shelters, Energy grid, Lady of the Lake, Ley Lines, Meditation, Merlin, Taliesin, Wheel of Albion

It’s not often that I bring the information from my meditation group into this space. In fact, this may only be the second time. However, when we are working with the larger energies and several people get exactly the same information, then I think that is more than just personal information – it’s information for … Read More “Merlin and the Spirit of Albion” »

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!

Nether Largie standing stones - Lammas 2015 (4) — Kilmartin Glen portal stones – see how they line up with the hill?

The Vortex of The Fortingall Yew

October 12, 2014October 12, 2014 Chris 2 Comments

Trees

There is a tree that I have been hoping to visit since I first heard of its antiquity – The Fortingall Yew. It’s not every day that I get to visit Scotland, and so while I was “passing through” I made a slight detour in order to seek this tree out. Actually I made one hell of a detour to get to see it, but it was worth it.

Fortingall is a small village lying within a caber’s toss of Loch Tay. The flat valley floor hides a number of beautiful secrets bypassed by the major road nearby, and taking the scenic route was a real feast for the eyes in terms of scenery. Or it would have been if I hadn’t been trying to manoeuvre the motorhome though lanes that were only just wide enough for it. I won’t be doing that again, I can assure you. So when we arrived at Fortingall Church I was pleased to see that there was a hotel with a public bar next door to it.

As we approached the yew through the churchyard we found ourselves being transported back through time. Inlaid into the floor are highlights from history and at the end is the yew tree itself, demonstrating its incredible age (2,000 to 5,000 years old). Now we were within touching distance of the tree, and I was keen to find out what this tree was capable of.

The Hawk and The Robin

October 8, 2014October 8, 2014 Chris 2 Comments

Hedge Druidry

Ben Nevis is a tall mountain. I can report that back from first-hand experience. Yet, despite its arduous and seemingly never-ending path up, there was one incident that made the effort all worthwhile. M and I were on our way up towards the mist and clouds that hung around the upper part of the mountain. On our way we had to zig-zag across the initial slope up from Glen Nevis visitor centre car park. Once you start moving back and forth across the slop, you know you’re in for a steep climb!

We had reached one of the streams which cross the path and before us was a little ramshackle hut hiding underneath a small but aged tree. It may have been hawthorn, I wasn’t paying attention. The reason for my diversion was that as I drew level with the tiny shack a robin appeared on a branch that was in my eye line. I stopped. The robin turned to eye me up side on. I thought to myself “I need to make contact”, so I introduced myself and acknowledged its presence and thanked it for its attention. I offered it some love, joy and respect emotions through my heart chakra. It chirruped at me, but remained on the branch. I looked up the path ahead. M was beginning to realise that I was not right behind her any more and turned to find out why. I directed her attention to the robin, but she wasn’t engaging with me, and she certainly wasn’t about to come back down to look. I said my goodbyes to the bird and then continued up the path to meet M.

It was a beautiful experience, one which I will remember for a while. Rarely do we get the chance to be so engaged with wildlife. I was clearly being invited to pay attention to something : some message or sign that was important at this time – the time of the Autumn Equinox. Something wanted to be with me as I travelled that day.

We reached the top and didn’t stay long. It was freezing and unrewarding being on the summit. The scene cuts now to hours later. We are getting tea ready after our monumental climb, and beginning to relax and settle into the motorhome in the Glen Nevis site at the base of the huge mountain. I have offered to go and fill up the water carrier that we use when we haven’t got a fresh water supply for the motorhome. As I step out of the van a robin appears next on the lawn some mere four or five feet away from where I stand frozen to the spot. Again, this seems to be “for me” alone. We exchange words again, and again I offer my heartfelt energy in exchange for its interest.

Ben Nevis – 4.4k feet of long arduous climb

As we settle in for the evening I begin to muse about the coincidence of the interested robin(s). It’s Merlin in his Winter guise, I wondered?

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Autumn Equinox at Balmoral

September 30, 2014 Chris No Comments

Hedge Druidry, Modern Druidry, Quests, Wheel of the Year

Folks, you have been very patient with me while I am going through some transitions in my life. We used to post as regularly as clockwork. Now we’re posting as a when we can in between the whirlwind that our paths have become. The October Storms have come early for both Kal and I, despite the good weather all around us! Your patience is appreciated – stick with us. We have lots of great tales to tell you as the season changes.

I will start with the story of my transition through the Autumn Equinox. I hope it was eventful, but mostly fruitful for you. For me it was one door closing and another opening. A portal, truly! The Equinox fell during my week long holiday in Scotland. M and I had driven up from Cheshire into the heartland and highlands of The Cairngorms in our motorhome, and had decided to do some “wild camping”, parking at the side of the Old Military Road near to Balmoral Castle – advertising itself as the summer home of The Queen.

Autumn Equinox at Balmoral Forest (7) (Medium) — River Dee near Balmoral

I felt edgy – I knew it was the Equinox the next morning, and I wanted to do something, but was I in the right place? Was this beautiful location a sacred space? I decided to get up early on the Equinox day to find out.

Fertilise the garden

April 29, 2013April 29, 2013 Gwas 1 Comment

Crystals, Natural Magick, Spirits

I first came across the idea of Devas when reading a book that mentioned the work of the Findhorn Community in Scotland. I was intrigued that a group of people would dedicate their whole lives and lifestyles to the idea of working with the spirits of plants and elementals which governed the form of the physical vegetation. I wanted to know more and so I bought William Bloom’s book on the subject, and read anything else I could discover too, including Marko Pogacnik’s book on Deva forms.

This year we have finally transformed our patch of bare clay soil, with its patches of eternal dampness, into a landscaped concept garden that is in its nascent state. Having spent all of the early Spring digging, moving, turning and tilling the soil, adding conditioner and compost to it, finally it was in a state to accept some plants. The process took days, even though the space was only twenty feet by six.

The concept of the garden was typically druidic. M had given me free reign to design as I saw fit. As the pressure mounted to produce a design I turned to the inspiration of Nature and with a blank sheet of paper a form emerged in the symmetrical rounded rectangle: a quadrant of elemental ideals.

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