spirit of place – Page 2 – The Hedge Druid

Samhain at the Summit – Part 2 of 2

November 21, 2014 Chris No Comments

Ancient Sites, Dragons, Pilgrimage, Spirit of Place

In this final part of the story of my ascent of Kilimanjaro we pick up the story as I am standing looking at the most beautiful sunrise that I have ever witnessed, The deep clear colours are something that I can’t do justice to in words or in the photos that we all took. You … Read More “Samhain at the Summit – Part 2 of 2” »

The Pact with Cailleach – Summer 14 P9

August 20, 2014 Gwas No Comments

Hedge Druidry

Shronebirrane stone circle, Kerry, Ireland

To find this circle you need to follow the brown signs inland from the R571 Beara peninsula coast road after passing through Lauragh village. More information can be found at the Isle of Albion site.

After wending our way along a single track road that snaked along a valley floor for what seemed like an eternity we end up at a small car park next to a long farmhouse. We are surrounded by beautiful and tall hills, yet the valley is wide enough for us to catch the remainder of the solstice day’s rays.

Parking at the floor of the valley for Shonebrane circle — Parking at the floor of the valley for Shronebirrane circle

As we pass the farmhouse we are met by the owner who charges us a nominal fee to enter the site in what is effectively their back garden. Their sheep wander around the circle leaving small black deposits.

I begin my investigations outside of the circle, whilst Kal heads straight inside, as he often does. I dowse firstly for the Spirit of Place for the site and find that the circle has one. Good. I ask to be shown where the spirit is, and I am taken all around the outside of the circle, threading in and out of some of the stones. That’s unusual, but vaguely familiar! I’m sure I found the same energy form at Cerrig Pryfaid near Conwy years ago. After my third perambulation I am back on the same track again, so it would appear that the spirit forms three discernible circles of energy around the stones.

When I ask to connect with the spirit I am taken by the dowsing rods to stand at one of the stones which lie to one side of the circle. Here I can connect with the spirit, and I learn that she is born of the surrounding mountains and that she has been at this circle for thousands of years.

The helpful sign is ten feet away from the circle!

A Choice of Quests at Uragh – Summer 14 P8

August 13, 2014 Gwas 1 Comment

Ancient Sites, Quests, Wheel of the Year

Uragh stone circle, Kerry, Ireland

The solstice day is picking up in terms of weather. The sun comes out as we pick out way slowly down the narrow track which we hope ends at the picturesque stone circle of Uragh. We park when we can drive no further, and walk to a small rise between two lakes, and suddenly the view becomes amazing in all directions.

Uragh stone circle - June 14 (5) — View of one lake from Uragh circle

As Kal went straight into the circle I walked to the top of the rise to give myself an overview of the area. There was a large recumbent stone on top of the small hill, and this became my base from which to observe. I could see other people milling about in the area admiring the views and visiting the circle. I would wait until the place felt calmer before I descended.

When the coast was clear I came down to visit the circle. I waltzed around it seeing if I could sense the right place to approach it. There was a ritual creation on the grass a few feet away from an opening in the rib-like structure of the smaller set of standing stones. This was the entrance point that I felt was right for me. Clearly, it was right for someone else too, and they had got there before me. I approached the oval of stones, a shape typical of this region, and introduced myself to the site, hoping to catch the attention of the Spirit of Place.

I noticed that my black wings (see previous posts) once again gave me an unhindered access and an immediate welcome to the site. That is so refreshing! It was like having a calling card, or a free pass. I felt the Spirit of Place react to this and to my druid name. It would also seem that my family name has some resonance in these parts too, although not the same power as when I am farther north in this island. As I settled to lie down (the obvious thing to do in the slight depression) I felt comfortable, and the sun shone through breaks in the clouds to light the scene.

The Spirit of Place introduced himself as Igneorl. It sounded like it was based on the word “igneous” – a classification of rock. Now it was time to get to work.

The Blackthorn Portal – Summer 14 P5

July 30, 2014January 8, 2015 Gwas No Comments

Ancient Sites, Hedge Druidry, Spirit of Place, Tarot, Visions, Wheel of the Year

Kenmare – County Kerry, Ireland – 21st June 2014

We roll into town with clear instructions – the stone circle is just on the edge of the town, down Market Street. That’s true but for some reason we decide that the street designated as “market” must be the one with all the shops on it. Well, that was foolish! A long walk out and back means that we start the day off grumbling about how to put a sign up to name your streets in small Irish towns. We haven’t wasted much time, and soon we find the pristine, manicured stone circle at the end of a well-kept hedge-lined path. It feels like we’re walking on to a bowling green!

Bowlers on the Green

The circle is composed of beautiful stones – not too tall, but equally spaced, regularly sited, and overall the circle is impressive. The stone monument is enclosed on all sides by shrubbery, and on one side by tall trees. Other singular trees make themselves known too – a blackthorn and a hawthorn stand in solitary silence on the left-hand side, as though waiting to be noticed by the interested observer. I notice them. I’m interested.

Kenmare stone circle - June 14 (6) (Medium) — Kenmare stone circle bowling green

There are a few others who have ventured out to the circle this special Summer Solstice morning – a young lady sitting at the far side, and an older lady who is wandering around watching what everyone else is up to. Tourist? Interested party? We find out later that she’s interested in all things “heritage” and is from the United States. Well, the odds were in favour of that, really!

Having dowsed to see if there is anything to do here – luckily getting a positive response – I ask to be taken to the starting point. I am taken on a huge inwardly-winding deosil spiral that takes me from weaving betweent eh outer stones to a point on top of the plat stone in the centre. I guess I have to sit here? I sit facing the solstice sun and just allow me aura to be cleansed of the modern world’s detritus. As this is Ireland and we’re in a small town it only takes a few seconds to be cleared and ready for the next stage of the adventure.

9 Beltane 2014 – Return to the Giants Tomb

June 4, 2014May 27, 2014 Gwas No Comments

Ancient Sites, Dowsing, Natural Magick, Spirit of Place, Wheel of the Year

After a couple of unremarkable sites on the Locmaraquier peninsula, we were heading towards our final destination for this Brittany outing – Broceliande Forest. Broceliande has a reputation for being an ancient forest with strong claims to an Arthurian tradition. Certainly this is how the French Tourist Agency are marketing the space. For me, when I visited the forest in 2011 I found it enchanting. At the time I had an encounter with a leprechaun-type spirit which left me sure that there was a playful set of spirits in the woods there, but also that convinced me that the forest was truly a magickal place, regardless of its Arthurian connections.

Le Tombeau Des Geants

Somehow, through a miracle of unintended navigation, we find the car park at the southerly side of the forest – the perfect point to begin to explore because all the sacred sites were close by. For once, it was me who didn’t have the right clothing – I hadn’t taken my walking boots on this trip, but the ground was boggy and water-logged due to the torrential downpours overnight. How times have changed and the tables turned!

Tombeau des Geants - Broceliande Forest - Brittany 2014 (2) (Large) — Water-logged paths and ditches at Broceliande Forest

I had been to the Tombeau Des Geants (The Tomb of the Giants) before so I knew the way. We were able to quickly locate it again and after a few muddy paths the site appears complete with information sign, also steeped in fresh rainwater puddles.

Tombeau des Geants - Broceliande Forest - Brittany 2014 (4) (Large) — Can you read the sign? No, neither could we!

On my first visit I had encouraged a Spirit of Place to come back to the site. Of course, now I am here again, would such a spirit be here by now, several years later?

The Last of Those Who Know

March 15, 2014March 16, 2014 Gwas 1 Comment

Hedge Druidry

I have been using my pen name of Gwas Myrddyn since I started this blog in the middle of 2008. It has adopted a personality all of its own now, and it feels like a well-worn leather glove which slips comfortably over me, shielding me with its anonymity. However, last year I was guided to move further out from its penumbra and allow more of the light to fall upon me – I had to become more involved as myself, to begin to dissolve some of the artificial barriers that I had put up between my self and my adopted personality. I did so reluctantly, but in small ways I have begun to emerge from the shadow of this name.

What I wasn’t expecting was that on a seemingly innocuous visit to a sacred site that I would discover just how meaningless my druid name had become now! Let me explain how I lost one name and found another.

The evening featured unpleasant weather. It was still too cool to be refreshing rain, and too windy to ignore it. All the way through Buxton and Bakewell Kal and I chatted enthusiastically whilst trying to ignore the elements around us. Kal assured me that everything would be okay, and that he wouldn’t need any weather-defying clothing. The rain got worse, but then as we came up the Harthill Moor road to a pot-holed lay-by the rain faded out like a ghost at dawn. Kal smirked as I changed into my waterproof leggings.

As we approached the outcrop known as Robin Hood’s Stride I took the footpath right. This leads past a very interesting set of rock formations – a couple of shallow caves hidden within the trees atop a steep slope. We ventured into the woodland and wondered what we were doing here. We should have been heading for the stone circle nearby, but something “pulled” me towards this place. I was about to get my dowsing rods out to find the location when I spotted something…

Kal called it the face of a grumpy goblin, but I saw something more familiar –a hawk entity. It was the Spirit of Place for this area, and I decided to find out why it had called me here as I was passing. I touched the stone and settled into a quick routine of connection. Soon we were locked in empathic communion, and our thoughts were rendered into a conversation.

I introduced myself. When I said my druid name ‘Gwas Myrddyn’, the Hawk spirit refuted it! I was a bit astonished – I hadn’t been expecting that. I asked the spirit whether he could tell me what my new name was, but he couldn’t do that. It wasn’t his place to reveal that information, was the response I felt and interpreted into words. The Hawk told me that I would find my new name at Nine Stones Close – the stone circle nearby.

Cornwall Winter 7 – Tintagel and the Lively Mix

January 24, 2014January 23, 2014 Gwas 2 Comments

Ancient Sites, Arthurian, Spirit of Place

After visiting Perran Round near Newquay I made my way further along the northern coast of Cornwall. I was running from the rain clouds which were closing in behind me. However, I was beaten, and when I arrived at Tintagel the rain had set in for the day. One of the reasons I had chosen Tintagel – apart from its stunning views – was that I knew I could shelter in the caves below the castle, providing that the sea would let me. I togged up and traipsed down the hill – not another visitor in view.

The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Druid

Tintagel is a lonely place to visit on a cold winter’s afternoon in the rain. As a Hedge Druid working alone is a frequent occurrence, and sometimes I am asked whether I really like it like that. Honestly? Well, yes actually. I am truly free in such situations, and work to my own timescales. Very rarely do I feel atone with all those elements and spirits swirling around me all the time and in every place I visit. I do appreciate being out with Kal or occasionally Psychic Mike, but really my heart is in league with land, sea and sky – these are the three faces of my mistress.

It’s in such circumstances, when the weather begins to impose itself, tugging at your clothing and ruffling your hair that one appreciates the impressive isolation that the cut-off headland exudes. How impassable and impregnable it seems when the sea is crashing around its base, spraying it in spume!

Tintagel shore in Winter (4) — The craggy face of Tintagel

I made my way down to the shoreline. The sea was only just beyond the line of the caves, and so I knew that I had limited time before the caves would become cut off by the tide. I spent a good fifteen minutes, however, savouring the atmosphere of the wind, the waves and the light drizzle on my face. It felt quite dangerous to wait this long, as though I was dicing with Nature. Not exactly taunting Her, but allowing ourselves to come into a dangerous liaison. As the waves swelled and unfurled just out of reach of the cave mouth I turned my attention to making a meaningful contact.

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