valley – The Hedge Druid

Summer 2015 – P6 – Three Winds

August 5, 2015July 31, 2015 Chris No Comments

Ancient Sites, Crossing The Hedge, Elements earth-water-fire-air, Hills and Mounds, Holy Wells and Sacred Springs, Quests, Sylphs, Wheel of the Year

After spending a delightful lunchtime in the company of our Irish hosts Regina and David, we set off again heading for a site which we had visited before – Knockbrach – a hill which we knew had a ‘fort’ on top. David, however, wanted to show us some other structures on the hill that we might not have known about. How exciting! What were these structures? Regina drove us to the foot of the hill and we tumbled out into the summer sunshine, yet clothed against the cool wind.

Drawn to one side

As we walked up, chatting and enjoying the spray of summer flowers creating fan patterns as they flowed in chorus with the breeze, there was an increasing sense of increasing our senses. Everything was being heightened as we climbed. Their “yellowness” was commented on, considering my experience at Fourknocks mound.

Knockbrach - June 15 (2) — Beautiful yellow wild flowers at Knockbrach Hill

Half way up we stopped. Regina had sensed something and was taking an interest in a climb of bushes on the hillside to our left. We noted it, and said that we would return once the “main event” was over.

At the top of the hill David guided us off the main path which led towards the tall radio mast, and instead we veered left into another field. Here, he said, were some ancient mounds that might be interesting.

Cailleach Gives Birth – Summer 14 P6

August 9, 2014August 8, 2014 Gwas No Comments

Ancient Sites, Faery, God or Goddess, Natural Magick, Spirits, Wheel of the Year

Dromagorteen stone circle, Kerry, Ireland

Dammit! I’ve missed a post and now they’re slightly out of order. This is the sixth post of my Ireland summer solstice story. Sorry that I have posted it after the seventh! I don’t know how I missed it because this is a really important post, full of magical happenings and some astonishing recovered knowledge.

We are the first to park in the wide car park at the Bonane Heritage Park site. We head for the information hut nearby to buy tickets. As I buy the tickets the old man behind the counter says, in a thick Irish accent, that it is a shame we ave missed the solstice sunrise at the circle. The conditions were perfect today, he says. I make a note to check when I’m up there whether that was the most energetic time to be in the circle. First, we have to get there!

There are a few common features of stone circles – they are usually in a beautiful setting, and they are usually near the top of a hill. Such was the case of the Dromagorteen circle, which is perched half way up the mountains which lie directly East of the circle. The setting affords an incredibly encompassing view across the Sheehy Valley. Of course, it was a hot and humid summer day, and so the climb was slow, steady and exhausting, but this was all rewarded by the beauty of the site and its views. Beauty seems a strong factor in the placement of stone circles, I feel.

Dromagorteen stone circle - June 14 (2) (Medium) — Kal rests after a long hot climb to Dromagorteen stone circle

Although attracted by the circle I was firstly drawn strongly to an area which had an information sign in front of it. The area was described as a “cooking pit” (Fulachta Fiadh) – presumably based on some archaeological findings in that area.

“Other theories suggest that the sites may have been used for bathing, the washing and dyeing of cloth, and leather working. Supporters of these theories point to the fact that no remains of foodstuffs have been found at the fulacht fiadh sites.” (source: Wikipedia)

I felt that it had a slightly different purpose than cooking meat, however, unless that was a metaphor. As I walk into the circle of small stones with its raised earthwork I feel like this is a place to meditate in, to prepare. I feel it is like a sweat lodge. As I sit in the cooking pit I feel like I’m actually in a cooking pot! The sun is nearly directly overhead and the day is already hot. I get sensations of overwhelming heat and dizziness beyond the direct physical sensations of the heat of the sun.

Dromagorteen stone circle (7) (Medium) — The remains of the cooking pit at Dromagorteen

Spring 2014 – The Borrowdale Yews

March 29, 2014March 26, 2014 Gwas No Comments

Herbalism, Trees, Wheel of the Year

As we crawled at a few miles per hour towards the dead end that is Seathwaite in the Borrowdale valley we kept our spirits up and our frustration levels down by focusing on the end point – a set of three yew trees which I knew to be of ancient origin. They were among the oldest trees in the country, and I wanted to see them on this special “gateway” day, because the yew tree was such an important part of the start of my ritual year. Kal was excited too. Over the years he’s grown to like visiting these ancient trees, and now he was curious to see what these old specimens might have to offer.

The rain got worse. The tractor pulling a trailer was going our way – all the way to the end of the road! We parked at the ample parking area – no other visitors today – then got kitted out with waterproof gear. Luckily for Kal I had a new waterproof coat that I wanted to test out. He got to wear that and it was excellent. The rain was now horizontal and coming in waves of deep powerful droplets which soaked anything they touched. I asked Kal one last time if he wanted to brave these elements – the water angel’s expression of herself in full glory. Amazingly, he said he did, so we headed off on the well-signed path across the fledgling River Derwent – a river which I knew well from my childhood.

The Fraternal Four – Now Three

The yews were easily spotted despite the terrible conditions and the proclivity to keep our heads down. They stood majestically and apart from other trees of lesser standing. As we approached up the incline we saw the information sign which gave us a timeline for their existence. On a sunny day this might have been fun to read. We moved on. Facts and figures were irrelevant to our meeting.

We visited each of the remaining three yew trees in turn. Each had their own character, and each revealed something which could be immediately tested at the next tree. My meditation was a series of incredibly profound experiences, and so informative. Read on to find out what these ancient yews told me.

Startling revelations

June 16, 2012 kal No Comments

Crystals, Edge Wizardry, Healing, How To, Trees

I want to begin this tale with two notes: Be mindful of what you wished for when you were a child. Be wary of a mother’s prayer. Rootish It all began with a summer’s day trip to the forest of Alderley Edge and to be honest where better a place? Since this has been the site … Read More “Startling revelations” »

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