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Tag: summer solstice

The Portal Prison

Posted on September 16, 2014September 16, 2014 By Chris No Comments on The Portal Prison
The Portal Prison
Crossing The Hedge, Death Eating, Healing, Hedge Druidry, Quests, Trees, Visions

This tale occurs just before my quest to “Kill Gwas” – something which I have almost fulfilled. I was invited to go to the Llangernyw Yew in the middle of August. Kal needed some urgent answers about his future direction, and I am always looking to go out and meet ancient yew trees. We always seem to get work to do when communing with the ancient yew, and it is usually related to death energy or learning about The Underworld. No exception today.

On arrival I asked to be taken to a place where I could learn something. I was taken to a quiet spot underneath one of the smaller yew trees, and there I felt I needed to cleanse. To get rid of the worldly energies that I brought with me. In the last month I have realised that much of our work is a process of cleansing, energising and synergising (integrating the new energy to transform). I now call this process “Reconstellation” (see Reconstellation.com)

The Brain Trust

After cleansing I was taken to a power centre which was in front of a specific gravestone. As I stood in the flow of its energy I began to connect to the nearby mighty yew tree. Once in communication I was able to ask the question:

“Why am being shown this grave stone?”

I was at the grave of a lady called Gwyneth Parry I found that I will be able to heal the disease that she died of. I felt the spirit of  The Green Man come though to me, as he had done before in this graveyard. I asked to be given information about what this grave meant to me. A few seconds later the phrase “brain tumour” came to mind. I have no idea if this is correct, because I can’t validate that yet. However, what I could validate was whether I was able to energetically affect brain tumours. The astonishing result of that enquiry is … yes, I am told I can. Now I need to give that a go and see if it’s true in practise, rather than in theory. I am looking to contact some cancer charities to see if energetic healing is on their radar at all.

I asked if there was anything else I needed to consider, and The Otter card from the Wildwood Tarot came to mind. It had been the forgotten aspect of my tarot draw for the Ireland Summer Solstice trip. Now I was being invited to consider these aspects:

“Contemplating things with a considerate heart.  Learning trust.  Serving with love. Refusing to listen. Living only in the imagination.” (source: Wildblog!)

Page of Vessels - Otter Wildwood Tarot
Otter – Page of Vessels

I think I understand. I would need to be single-minded about the move I was about to make – the leap of faith as I launched my new business alone. I needed to trust, to be considerate of others in this process, and to refuse to listen to the doubters who might scoff at the idea that I could make a living doing this “new age nonsense”, as many would no doubt think of it.

But the best was yet to come. That was the easy stuff! Now came something altogether more testing!

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The Cauldron of Cailleach – Summer 14 P10

Posted on August 27, 2014August 29, 2014 By Gwas 2 Comments on The Cauldron of Cailleach – Summer 14 P10
The Cauldron of Cailleach – Summer 14 P10
Ancient Sites, Dowsing, Visions

Ardgroom stone circle, Kerry, Ireland

Somehow, in our travels up and down the coast road of the Breara Peninsula, we had missed the sign. The sign was small and so was the lane along which we had to travel. The day was coming close to an end, and the sun was beginning to drag the shadows into longer shapes. Heading now towards Ardgroom circle we found that the land ended in a car park suitable for three or four cars. There was one parked there already, and we slotted in next to it. The signs to the circle pointed towards some marsh reeds, showing us that at any other time of the year we would be walking through a marshland, but luckily at the height of summer the ground was rutted but hard.

Ardgroom Outward stone circle - June 14 (1)
A stone circle in the lee of the Black Dragon Hills.

As we approached the circle we could see that it was dominated by a group of people, most of whom were standing with their backs to a tall stone. One woman was sitting at the edge of the circle in the middle of the company. She seemed to be directing a ritual, so Kal and I moved off to one side of the site so as not to disturb them while they worked.

Kal wandered down to the circle, dowsing as he went, prowling around the outer edges. I kept my distance, taking photographs of the circle from various angles to pass the time while we waited to see if the group would finish their work any time soon. They looked bedded in for the day, and so I dowsed for a suitable place to work outside the circle instead. I was taken to a small hillock where there were several fairy rings in the grass. This seemed a good vantage point to do my own work from while I wanted to see what would happen inside the circle. I did a connection and soon I was feeling the flow of energy from the hills behind me, and the sweeping power of a ‘dark’ lady whom I was becoming familiar with on this trip.

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A Choice of Quests at Uragh – Summer 14 P8

Posted on August 13, 2014 By Gwas 1 Comment on A Choice of Quests at Uragh – Summer 14 P8
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.

Read More “A Choice of Quests at Uragh – Summer 14 P8” »

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The Blackthorn Portal – Summer 14 P5

Posted on July 30, 2014January 8, 2015 By Gwas No Comments on The Blackthorn Portal – Summer 14 P5
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.

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The Hare and The Black Dragon – Summer 14 P2

Posted on July 19, 2014July 18, 2014 By Gwas No Comments on The Hare and The Black Dragon – Summer 14 P2
Dragons, Glyphs and Wards, God or Goddess, Protection, Spirit of Place, Wheel of the Year

A funny thing happened on the way to the Ring of Kerry…. so begins a new twist on an old joke. In this case the Universe was playing with us a little bit. We are on the plane over to Ireland and it suddenly occurs to me that Kal should consider finding out which spirits are around him this weekend. I’ve never said that to him before, but on this occasion the impetus to say it causes me to interrupt him listening to music on his iPod. He nods with a kind of “if you say so” look on his face, then tells me that he is currently listening to”There may be an angel” by The Eurythmics at that precise moment . This will be the first sign that something synchronous is happening between us on this day – Friday 20th June – the eve of the solstice.

Eightercua stone row

Once we have found our lodging – the delightful and highly recommended Two Mile Lodge situated two miles out of the town of Kenmare – then we’re straight out to visit a bunch of sites. We don’t hang about when there’s work to be done! I had decided to do the sites situated around the Ring of Kerry first, as they were fewer in number and clustered relatively close together. Therefore, our first destination was Eightercua stone row near to the village of Waterville. 

The road to get there was ‘interesting’. The hire car strained under the up, then down, left then right, round hairpin bends, over blind dips, huge holes in the road, and our occasional screeches to a halt as we realised we were going the wrong way. As the sun began to descend we suddenly caught sight of the Atlantic Ocean as we descended towards Waterville and saw the stone row on a small hill near to a house, just off the N70 “main road” (known as the Ring of Kerry road). [TIP: If you reach the golf club on your left then you’ve just passed it!]

View from Eightercua stone row
View from Eightercua stone row

Read More “The Hare and The Black Dragon – Summer 14 P2” »

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Tarot for the Solstice – Summer 14 P1

Posted on July 16, 2014 By Gwas No Comments on Tarot for the Solstice – Summer 14 P1
Tarot, Wheel of the Year

We’re a bit late with all of our Summer Solstice posts due to major problems with the blog. Apologies for the delays, the unavailability at times and the general faffing about with what had been a very stable setup. We are slowly returning to normality, and beyond. There are some great new things coming very soon which I will personally be launching for you in the late summer. Before that, we’ve got a series of Summer Solstice posts which we hope will fascinate and amuse you.

Our destination for Summer Solstice was The Ring of Kerry in Ireland. Before we left I did a tarot reading to try to determine some of the aspects of the trip. Now, doing such a draw is always a bit of a chicken-and-egg scenario. In other words – does the reading make the events happen, or do the events happen in accordance with the reading? We can never really know objectively, but subjectively the tarot readings are inspirational, aspirational and often sensational. This was one such reading.

The Questions for Summer

1 What are the characteristics of my energy going in to Ireland?

  1. Nine of Bows (Respect)
  2. Ten of Bows (Responsibility)
  3. Knight of Vessels (Eel)
Tarot draw for Summer Solstice 214 (3) (Medium)
Three cards to describe my energy going into the Summer Solstice

Notice that the Respect card features an Otherworldly face. Whenever I have encountered energy forms from the Otherworld I have been guided to treat them with great respect.

I also noticed that the Responsibility card showed a person climbing a mountain weighed down with stuff. Previous outings suggested that I would be climbing mountains on our expedition, but this was South West Ireland we were heading to – wouldn’t that be flat?

The Eel card had come up on my last summer solstice draw! Back then it had shown me the way to finding The Eel Sword. Would this be a reference to ancestors? I was certainyl back in my ancestral homeland, so that was promising. We will see.

Read More “Tarot for the Solstice – Summer 14 P1” »

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Solstice 2013 – Tintagel and Merlin’s Cave

Posted on July 30, 2013July 30, 2013 By Gwas No Comments on Solstice 2013 – Tintagel and Merlin’s Cave
Ancient Sites, Arthurian, Dowsing, Glyphs and Wards, Wheel of the Year

This is my penultimate Summer Solstice post. I have one more – a real counterpoint to this story – which will teach me another strong lesson, but we’ll come to that in time. For now, we have arrived at Tintagel – home of all things Arthurian, especially the gift shops – and we have just scoured the town for some incense. We found some at Tintagel’s only new age shop, where the owners were very helpful and a delight to talk to. In a good mood we set off for Tintagel Castle where I hoped my tide times were correct and I would be able to enter Merlin’s Cave for the first time.

I only had one thing on my mind and that was to visit the cave that a lady named Zoe had talked about. Kal had met her at Glastonbury Abbey and had introduced me to her. She simply said to me that I should pass on my thanks to Merlin when I met him. There was a distinguishable twinkle in her eye as she said it, though, which stuck in my mind. That  seemed so long ago now but the memory was still strong, and I had taken the directive as a personal quest. I would indeed deliver her thanks now I was here.

Tintagel's steep cliffs
Tintagel’s steep cliffs

Maybe I can’t read or something but when we got to the shoreline and looked out to the base of Tintagel Castle the tide was in. I would have to wait until it turned before I could reach the caves. Kal showed me a secret ledge upon which we dozed and watched the waves, lulled by the rhythm. I picked up two stones – a flat one and a small quartz-veined pebble which I pulled out from a patch of grass. How I had known it was there I can’t say!

To sit on that wild perch listening to the lap of the waves, and to watch bird life wheeling around in a constant careering carousel like some kind of baby’s mobile spinning us to sleep….

Read More “Solstice 2013 – Tintagel and Merlin’s Cave” »

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