Sunday, 5th February, was a chilly grey day, but dry and free from snow, so that we could all make the journey safely to Christine and Merfyn’s in the Crafnant Valley. Eight humans and four dogs made up the gathering.

We began fairly promptly at 11.am. with a general meeting and discussion in Christine’s cozy back room. Dates were discussed and decided on for the rituals for the rest of this year (see list at the end of this piece) and we took some time examining the full complexity of opening and closing ritual, as recommended by Emma Restall Orr in her book “Ritual”. We decided to try it and then discuss our thoughts and observations at the next Study Group meeting. Everyone was given a task or part to contribute and those who wished had time before lunch to quietly gather their thoughts and even write something down on paper in preparation. As I particularly like to move about the land during a ritual, or even go inside for a part of it (as we did this day), I was unsure how to cast a circle of sacred space and maintain it while also maintaining our mobility. I am indebted to Gwdihw, who suggested that we cast a circle, which remains open on the site where it is cast, but which also travels with us as we move about the land, and then is returned to for closure.  We also talked about ways in which we can change and improve our commitment and approach to our grove gatherings, encouraging everyone to take more joint responsibility; and how to integrate enquirers and newcomers so that they do not disturb the deeper work that we look forward to sharing in the future.

Ruth supplied a delicious hot soup, and fortified with this and various hot breads and flapjack, we finally sallied forth out onto the land.

First we went to Christine’s Tree and spent a few quiet moments there, communing with the spirits of the place, before moving a little further down the slope to one of the fresh water springs on Christine’s property. Here we formally opened the ritual, finding our feet, calling to the Spirits of Place with our intentions for the ritual, then Calling for Peace, before defining the sacred space we were to use and consecrating it with incense (which represents three of the four elements; earth, fire and air) and water; walking with both around the outside of the circle, then blessing all those gathered within the circle, and finally circling the very center. The Spirits of the Four Elements and Directions were then called, and finally the Ancestors of the land, Blood and Spiritual Heritage were asked to be present with us also.

The central part of the ritual focused on water and fire, having an abundance of the first at this time of the year (albeit in mostly frozen form!) and seriously needing the comfort of the other to survive the weathers exigencies! We drew water from the spring, cupping our hands and scooping up the sparkling liquid to symbolically cleanse ourselves. Then Merfyn lit the bonfire that he had so careful and thoughtfully prepared and we cast our old, worn out past upon it and watched the voracious flames consume it. We shared the warmed spiced milk, representative of the first ewes milk of spring and the nurturing of the mother, and Christine’s poppy seed cake (indicative of the seeds lying waiting beneath the surface for the warmth of spring to release them into new growth). Then we mindfully returned indoors to light our own candles, representing the new things that we are bringing forth from the dark resting time of winter. Some of us had written poems especially for this ritual to celebrate the time of year and we read them now, in the warmth and intimacy of the candle light and firelight. We also focused on the word “Hearth”, which is sacred to Ffraid/Brigit, and listed all the qualities that are “contained” within the word, using each component letter as the first letter of each quality.

Later, as the light was beginning to fade, we returned outdoors to the same spot by the spring, to formally close the ritual, grounding ourselves first, and giving thanks for a touching and unique experience.

Everyone had excelled themselves with the edible contributions for tea and we all ate and talked into the evening.

I am sad to have to report though that, only the day after the ritual, Christine’s great dane, Bascumb, suffered from a heart attack and passed away. He has been an integral part of so many of our rituals… we will all miss him. I am only glad that he was able to join us one last time in ritual so close to his going. Our thoughts and love go out to Christine who will miss him so very much.

Decorating Bower:

Everyone present to jointly decorate bower of branches with wild flowers, grasses and ribbons etc. to reflect the time of year and the natural/agricultural activities related to it.

Arriving:

Everyone to join hands in a circle, close their eyes and truly “arrive” by breathing deeply, feeling the earth beneath their feet, becoming aware of the wind on their faces and all that they can hear around them.

Greetings to the Land:

This was the first ritual to be undertaken on our newly acquired field, and I definitely did not have to ask the spirits of the place if we were welcome here! Each time I set foot upon this land, such joy pours through me – this land is eager to share with all life forms the magnificent mystery and experience that is Life itself. So I did not call on its spirits to be present; they were already there with enthusiasm and humour. Rather, I asked them to enfold us in their loving energies, and help to guide the movements of our hands and feet, and the intricate workings of our hearts and minds.

Calling the Quarters:

Asking for the spirits, elements and energies of the East, South, West and North to be present to support and guide us. (One person standing in the appropriate direction describes the element and invites the spirits and energies particular to it.)

Calling Peace in the Quarters:

One person walks to each Direction and calls for peace there, ending with a call for peace all around the world.

Tribal Gatherings:

Lammas was and still is the traditional time for people to come together – tribes, communities, families – to pool their energies and efforts in gathering in the precious abundance that Nature – Mother Earth – has generously provided as another growing season begins to come to full fruition and reach its end. Great effort and energy was and is still needed to successfully achieve this.

When the grain and early fruit crops were safely gathered against the barren times of winter, there was much to celebrate – the threat of hunger and starvation had been pushed back; security and continuity of life had been assured for another year.At the height of fresh abundance, there was much feasting and celebrating. Also, because everyone had gathered together, this was the time for grievances to be heard, disputes to be settled, contracts to be made or renewed and marriages to take place.

The Role of “Parent”:

August is the month of the Grain Mother, when our attention is turned to the gifts and nurturing provided by Mother Earth. Where would we be without the free abundance of the Earth? – of this loving natural mother who provides so regularly, unstintingly and generously? At this time, ask yourself how does the natural harvest of the Earth affect you personally? Take a few moments to reflect on this. Perhaps you cannot think of many ways that it directly affects you…. then think again!

This is a good time to focus generally on the role of Mother and the role of our own mothers in our lives, especially when we were little children., which has been vital in helping to form and produce the adult people that we are today. Maybe we have become who we are in direct opposition to our mothers. Or perhaps we did not have a mother. Or maybe we found another adult female ( relative or friend) who fulfilled the role of mother for us instead.

Just take a few moments to reflect on the people who have mothered you in your life; and what affects (for good or ill) this has had on you. Try to always access your life possitively, even if you have never regarded some areas of it in such a light before.

In your turn, how do you help to “mother” and nurture the young and needy around you? What are your mothering qualities of giving love and care? Remember that this is not just a question for the ladies amongst us – both men and women have a feminine side – so these questions apply to the men too!

But as always there must be balance and Mother earth could not pour forth her living bounty if it were not for the masculine energies of Father Sun, beating heat and light down upon the earth and all growing living things. Earth and Sun, Mother and Father, always the two must come together with their particular mix of energies and components to produce the miracle of birth and fruition. So we should also honour the concept of Father at this time too, without whom the Grain Mother would never begin to grow and ripen.

Again think of your relationship with your own father. What has he meant to you in your life? No matter how close or distant, shadowy or pro-active he may have been,try to see his role for what it has been and what it still is, and give genuine thanks to him for it.

In turn how do you fulfil a “fathering”role in your life? How do you stand up for justice? How do you protect and care for those less able and provide a better life for those around you? We all have a masculine side to us – how do you play out the role of father to those around you?

Let us take a few minutes to quietly give thanks for the “mother” and “father” influences in our lives, both in the widest sense as well as specifically to you as individuals.

Personal Harvest:

Could we now spend a little time reflecting on our own personal harvests?

What have you harvested this year? Perhaps you are a gardener or craft worker and have a literal harvest to be thankful for? But we will all have striven for something since the seed planting times of Gwyl Ffraid and the Spring Equinox back in February and March. What have you achieved personally this spring and summer? What new activity or path have you started along? What progress have you made? Maybe it is deeply inner spiritual work that you are involved with at this time? Perhaps it is working at a relationship with a partner, family member or friend?

Think deeply, take your time, and as you do so take it in turn to mindfully and reverently place a symbol or representation of your harvest within or around the edges of the bower…. and give your own personal thanks. If you wish to share what your harvest is with everyone else, you are welcome to do so, but do not feel pressured that you have to.

With these thoughts of achievement and thanks deeply in your mind, take some scissors and go out into the undergrowth and cut some grasses, rushes, flowers, whatever you want. As you go through the motions of this simple “harvest” give thanks for what you are metaphorically harvesting. Bring you “harvest” back to the grove and form/bind it into a certain shape (circle/wreath, cross, ankh, etc.) and decorate with flowers as you wish. At the end of the day, take it home with you and let it act as a reminder of what you have achieved and be thankful for it.

Awen:

All gather round and intone “Awen” that we may be inspired to use our harvest well.

Giving of Bread and Fruit Juice:

I had baked a harvest loaf in the shape of a sheaf of wheat/corn. We all shared this, passing it from one to the other around the circle and bidding each other blessings that we may never hunger, not forgetting to also scatter and give back a portion to the land itself.

We then repeated the same actions and blessings, but this time sharing the juice.

As we all sat on the grass reflecting on the proceedings so far, two of our members had a poem to recite and a story to recount… thought provoking but very entertaining!

Sacrifice:

It is good to remember that there is also always a measure of sacrifice to whatever we achieve in life. The grain plants must be sacrificed and die to provide our harvest and food for the next year.

In our personal lives, our parents almost certainly sacrificed time and energy and their finances to give us a good start in life. If we choose to persue one activity, we will probably have to sacrifice something else in our lives to give us the time and space to do so. There is always something that we must give up, loose or otherwise forgo in the persuit of our own progress or betterment.

This affects us all…. all the time.

Remember, whatever happens to one of us, for good or ill, happens to all of us, for we are all connected by the Spirit, the Divine, that of God within us.

SO what will you decide to “sacrifice” today for the greater good of yourself or your community?

And along with this thought is another question; at this annual time of settling business and making agreements, what can you do…. now, starting today…. to help bring an end to a dispute, disagreement, misunderstanding or argument? It might be with a member of your family, a neighbour or friend, or even a colleague at work. What can you do to extend the hand of harmony, friendship, peace and love?

Removing Barriers:

In some areas, Lammas was the time of year for the removal of fences and the throwing open to common pasturage of lands which had previously been enclosed while crops were grown on them.

By our very nature, by being born into human form, we live a life which is created by endless forme and series of barriers. Our spirit is encapsulated within the barrier of our flesh and skin; we rquire shelter from the elements and each other which causes us to build many barriers of walls and borders. We are extremely vulnerable in our human incarnations so errect emotional and spiritual barriers built from fear, ignorance, insecurity and mistrust. Even in removing barriers, such as we are attempting to do on this land by cutting back the undergrowth, we actually succeed in creating more – perhaps on the edge of open spaces and further away from ourselves, but they are there all the same, as in the edges of our newly cut paths and ritual spaces.

But Spirit has no barriers and to begin our journey back towards Spirit and to bring human existence into more harmonious balance with Spirit, we must learn how to begin to remove some of these barriers, especially the barriers that we have created in our minds.

What physical barrier can you remove from your life?

What mental thought pattern/attitude can you decide to dissolve today?

In your own lives, what fences…. what “barriers” can you remove? What is stopping you from performing some action, completing some task? What division have your erected between yourself and other people? How have you blinded yourself to a situation and “fenced it off”?

Think of something now and resolve to do it!

Tree Planting:

We all helped to plant two new trees around the edge of the grove site…. a small oak in the south and a holly in the north. We hope to eventually plant eight specimen trees around the clearing to represent the eight festivals of the natural year.

Closing:

We all helped to thank the elements and directions…. and the spirits of the place…. and so drew the formal celebrations to a close.

It only remained for us to share the food which everyone had contributed to…. to feast, celebrate our friendship and good fortune…. and return home extremely happy!

This Beltaine saw 30 people descending on Nebo. We arrived at Lunch time, and started the day’s activities by making a labyrinth – each of us had brought a kilo of cooked rise. After our creation took shape, we walked the labyrinth, accompanied by some very enthusiastic drumming – with the aim of tying a ribbon onto a pole in the middle. Then being lead out by the next person coming into the labyrinth – a lovely act of balance, and a very powerful thing!

Beltaine Labyrinth

After this the group was divided into men and women, each group with a set of tasks to perform to lead into the main ritual.

The main part of the ritual consisted of us coming back from our separate preparations and starting the main part of the ritual. The quarters were opened and Caryl lead us into the spirit of the day. The pattern being that men were on the outer ring of the circle, the ladies on the inner ring. The men then went outside of this circle to perform their feats of masculine prowess and general noisiness. Upon returning the the circle, the ladies suddenly burst into angelic waves of singing and turned round and presented the menfolk with flowers – that was unexpected for us guys, and completely de-fused the outpouring of masculine action and stomping that had gone before! Then one of the other activities was that we each came forward to the May King and May Queen (who each had their parts of the ritual to read also) and be presented with a pebble from a basket – presented by the May King to the ladies and the May Queen to the menfolk. This was followed by more readings and the circle being closed.

We then went inside to dry out and enjoy a lovely feast that everyone had contributed to.

Then Caryl lead us through a mummer’s play for the time of beltaine with some very colourful characters indeed; the winter dragon, pan, jack the green, st george -a very diverse collection. All acted out with masterful drama and superb props… despite hardly being able to move as we were all crammed into Caryl’s kitchen at this point!

After this came a little more food, and a little wine also. Singing and generally having a good time. Then as dusk approached, we went outside to light the Beltaine fires that the men had built previously. Those who felt adventurous jumped over the fires of course! More singing followed and then the evening started to wind down with people chatting, discussing and generally coming together as a community after a great celebration – a magic way to end a lovely day!

Beltaine Fires

Happy Beltaine to all/Calan Mai Hapus i Bawb!!!

Videos of some of the day’s events are available here: http://druidicdawn.org/node/1971 – membership of Druidic Dawn is required as these aren’t really public.

We gathered for noon and opened the ritual at Christine’s Tree. It was still sunny then! As I stood leaning against the craggy bark, it came to me that the tree is always there for us… doesn’t matter when we come, or how we are feeling, it stands firm, offering us shelter, protection, wood and essence, wisdom and strength. I came away in awe and admiration…. praying that I can grow to be more like the tree… steadfast, dependable…. always there for my friends…. indeed, for anyone who wants/needs me. It was a remarkably humbling experience.

Christine had made some absolutely delicious vegetable soup for lunch, and while we ate, we discussed the various ideas that we had all brought to contribute to the ritual. It never ceases to amaze me that people find such an infinate variety of ways to express and celebrate the same topic or theme. And this Equinox was certaily no exception! Rather than try to orchestrate a “ritual”, we decided to write down all the various activities on pieces of paper, put them all together in a bowl, and select one at a time. Because it was by now so very wet, and because most of the activities could not have been performed in the rain, even if we had been willing to do so, we stayed inside. Christine and Merfyn are in the process of transforming their large “back room” into a very comfortable living space, with lots of room for all manner of ritual activities, and, perhaps best of all, a large wood-burning stove that throws off a glorious amount of heat!!!

Our activities were numerous and varied, starting with egg painting and decorating… some to keep and take home…. others of the hard-boiled variety to “roll” outside later. Alison led us in some dancing, working through the life-cycle of a seed, from plant to flowering, seed-forming and back to “death” and rebirth as another plant… and Merfyn’s “bee” was possitively hysterical!!!  (This was relatively simple but remarkably profound!)  We also brought the whole idea of “balance” into our lives as Holger encouraged us to each attempt to find our balance on a small seasaw, reflecting the equinoxs’ focus of balance between equal light and darkness (and a lot of other things besides, if one thinks about it!) Christine led us all in some mirror gazing, which was deeply and surprisingly revealing as we keenly observed our own faces and the hidden secrets deep within our own eyes…. incredibly moving! Holger helped us to re-enact the old welsh custom of the maid servant returning her wax candle to her mistress and being given a wooden replica in it’s place. This portrays the time when the household could rise and go to bed by daylight, without the need for lighting a candle, etc.. Dafydd brought the wherewithall to plant seeds (in this case, Earthwalker sunflowers)  Merfyn did actually write “wine and cake” twice on the papers that went into the bowl, but he was foiled as they were the last two papers to be drawn out anyway! Ah! ha! But we did enjoy Carraway Seed Cake and Gorse Wine before playing a game around the fire (which Merfyn introduced us to) and which involved a lot of winking!

Later, we walked back to Christine’s Tree. ( Having a wild episode of rolling our decorated boiled eggs down one of Christine’s very steep slopes on the way! This tradition in Christianity symbolises the rolling away of the stone from the mouth of Christs’ tomb after His death at Easter, but actually belongs to much older beliefs and represents the turning wheel of the year) In the gently pattering rain and the failing light, we all closed the ritual together, and returned through the dripping shadows to the warm and inviting cottage where we thoroughly enjoyed an excellent feast of food!

It was a hugely enjoyable day for all of us, and the whole concept of bringing activities and democratically sharing the execution and organisation of the whole day worked really well! It is certainly an approach that I shall repeat in the future!

The Grove has decided on our two charities for this year: Freshfields and Coed Cymru. We will be collecting donations for them at every ritual event. This ritual we collected £4.50! Gill also asked everyone how their spiritual gardens were getting on.

We then briefly discussed Calan Mai before heading outside to start the ritual proceedings. There were bells and windchimes hanging in the trees, so all day there were lovely tinkling sounds as the wind blew through. Gareth started us off with some wonderful Chi Qong exercises, balancing and moving our energy about and bringing us all together. Then Alison taught us a little bit of Mongolian chanting/throat-singing using vowels and the chakras, and when we all came together it sounded pretty good!!!

Finally, standing in a circle, Jenn gave everyone ribbons of pink, purple and red to wear on their wrists. These not only looked good and brought the energies together again but also felt very festive as people danced, the ribbons swayed and blew too! It was great too that everyone wore reds, purple and pinks! Then Jenn took may water and a little hawthorn branch and blessed the space between us with the water and blessed each of us as we then began the task of unwinding the May Pole! It was a bit tricky at first, but then as people got used to it, it got better! At each of the four quarters, while the May Pole was being unwound, one of the grove members would stop and greet the directions before continuing with the May Pole. It worked very well and was lovely as Ros played her harmonica. There was an air of simple joys and old times that seemed to (for me) fill the little spot.

Finally, it was time to find out who would be the May King and Queen. Drawing lots, Caryl was chosen as the May Queen and Holger found himself the May/Hawthorn King!!! Gareth drew his lot and found out that he was the Blackthorn King! So we divided up into teams of 7 people … and in traditional style, we had the Battle of Hawthorn versus Blackthorn. The Hawthorn side was armed with birch branches and fern leaves–for they represented the resilient powers of Summer. The Hawthorn King of course had a beautiful Hawthorn staff. The Blackthorn side was given lots of old grass, dead thistles and branches, etc to fight with for they were the powers of Winter. The Blackthorn King was given a blackthorn branch (with thorns still on it!) and a shield covered in cotton wool (snow) and dead grasses, rushes, etc to represent Winter. Then at Jenn’s signal, the two sides went at it for an epic battle!!! Grass, leaves and branches went flying everywhere as general scuffing and one-on-one fighting broke out. The Hawthorn and Blackthorn Kings struggled in the midst of it, taking to the ground to wrestle it out. But the poor Blackthorn King was outdone this time and the forces of Summer and the Whitethorn/Hawthorn triumped! Holger was crowned the May King and he and his May Queen led everyone down for a celebratory feasting lunch!

For lunch we had delicious tomato soup (thank you Gill) with oat cakes (thank you Lynne), oaty breads, a beautiful and absolutely amazing flower salad (thank you Ros and Eileen). Gill also provided dark chocolate covered flapjacks which went down a treat.

After sating our hunger (for as Eleri said, it’s hungry work!) … we headed outside to sit in the warm (verging on hot) sunshine to digest our foods and listen to our budding bard, Holger recount the tale of Taliesin. This was not the oft-told story of how Gwion Bach became Taliesin, but the rarer account of Taliesin being found by Elfin and in turn him rescuing him from the haughty hands of Maelgwyn Gwynedd. Holger did a WONDERFUL job with his bells and singing bringing the story to life … as well as bringing others into it by having them read little bits of it at the appropriate times. This was a good story too! Of course, it was appropriate because Taliesin was found by Elfin on May Eve.

Then after that, we got on our feet for Caryl, who led us in a hoot of a mummer’s play. Well scripted, we were all involved and given parts, from birds, a brook, Mother Earth, St George and the Dragon, Robin Hood and Maid Marion, trees, Pan, Jack-in-the-Green, and the May King and Queen. With such a cast of fun characters, you can just imagine what antics we got up to, courtesy of Caryl’s rhymed directions! haha!

After this, we settled down to have the Ritual Cake (a yummy yummy parkin thank you Elaine) and Ritual Drink (lemon balm brewed with honey, thank you Gill) to refresh ourselves before proceeding with the more thoughtful, meditative part of the afternoon.

Lynne then led us in a tree meditation where we found a tree in our minds that spoke to us and she brought us close to it, observing it and experiencing it. When we came back then, she handed out paper and provided colouring pens/pencils/crayons and she had us all draw the tree we saw! What a wonderful idea! And the trees everyone came up with, from the most basic to the most detailed were truly astounding and insightful into each other and the group.

Jenn then led a longer part, first about the power of Blessing, reading bits from John O’Donohue’s book “Benedictus” before handing out paper again. Everyone then wrote their own blessing and going round to each person, looked one another in the eyes and shared their blessings. This was also meaningful and felt like an opening of the heart to the rest of the group.

Then we settled down as she introduced the Buddhist idea of Metta or Lovingkindness before leading us in a Metta meditation where we first blessed ourselves and then gradually worked through parents, partners, loved ones, friends, teachers, coworkers, energies and spirits around us, animals and living things, world leaders and workers, enemies and those who are perpetuating hurt, all the way to the earth herself, the solar system, the universe! This was a very grounding and healing meditation.

Then Jenn briefly discussed with us John O’Donohue’s idea of the Anam Cara or Soul Friend before leading a short discussion on soul friendship. She also pointed out that if anyone in the group felt drawn to other people in the grove, to approach them and perhaps try to have a sort of anam cara relationship, sharing and discussing spiritual things together. This idea was received by some and others didn’t feel drawn towards it.

Finally, folks were starting to get a bit antsy so we headed back up to the May Pole and circle to light our Beltaine Fire. Each person had one or two pieces of wood and after offering something to the grove (either song, poem, or wise thought) placed their wood on the fire. We had some really beautiful Welsh songs thanks to Gareth and Elaine, Holger, and Eleri … and Keith sang us an old Quaker favourite! There were a few poems read too, all evocative and beautiful.

Then we began to wind up the May Pole, weaving in and out and at the same time farewelling the directions. The mood this time was more festive and celebratory and everyone did a very good job! Ros played her harmonica again with Jenn clanging on little bellydancing cymbals and running round setting all the bells and windchimes to ring out! Keith had worn his Morris dancing leg bells and they sounded wonderful as everyone danced around the May Pole!

We then each took a running leap over the Beltaine fire with another blessing of May water before Jenn went round and gave out ‘sweet blessings‘ with honey over the third eye or lips or nose, etc.

To then release the energy of the day and ground again, Gareth led us in a couple simple Chi Qong exercises before with shouts, we headed down to Alison’s house for a huge spread of food! Wow!

Everyone brought plenty of food for our Feast which was perfect and we had all sorts of things to choose from and each dish was delicious. We had fun talking, eating and getting to know one another better before it finally came time to start packing up and leaving.

The day finally came to an end but it was certainly a good ritual day and it was so because of all the good people we had with us, despite a number of our beloved grove members missing because of previous engagements/arrangements.

A big thank you to everyone who came and contributed and especially a thank you to our new people (there were 4 new faces) as well as a happy welcome. We hope that you’ll join us again some time!

So my blessing for you all: May this Summer be sweet and kind to you!

The Vernal Equinox in 2009, I think, brought us all much closer together in both mind and spirit. There seemed to be an overpowering sensation of peace, positivity and general pleasure for each person who attended.

This Ritual Day was also particularly refreshing because Sioned led and coordinated the entire day, a feat in itself! And very well she did too! Sioned struck the perfect balance because she allowed enough freedom so the day could unfold as it wanted to, but at the same time, there was enough direction and structure so that the day was also able to flow seamlessly.

We met at Eileen and Ros’ house, which we have been at a couple times before, but each time we all remark again and again on the lovely atmosphere and the beauty of their home. It was an uplifting place and full of Spring and light! Although we were a bit disappointed by the weather, (we’ve had nearly a week of perfect sunshine and warmth, and today has been the first day to turn out grey, foggy and cold), the mist and fog continued to descend down on us from the sea and the mountainsides.

One of the themes for the day was yellow or golden colours. Almost everyone managed to wear at least one item of yellow or gold, and also almost all the food that people brought was yellow or gold! The colour theme was a good idea of Sioned’s and it really perpetuated the harmonious feelings of the day.

People who attended today were Sioned, Sandy, Alison, Jean Lynch, Gareth and Elaine, Eileen and Ros, Gillian and Holger, Dafydd and Jenn, and much to all our delight, Gwyn brought with him his wife Lynn. We hope that she will return again too!

Warming Up

Before things got started, everyone who had brought things placed items that depicted to them this Spring and the Equinox–on a little table as our Altar. There was an abundance of the colour yellow and there were gorgeous spring flowers, mostly daffodils, lots of hare and chicken themes, various Easter eggs, candles and incense, and whatever struck people as embodying balance and renewal.

So the day started with everyone gathering in the sitting room with their teas and hot drinks, as Sioned welcomed us, made apologies for those of you who couldn’t make it, and also she outlined the day for us and briefly talked about the Spring Equinox and what this time of year means to her.

This led into an excellent contemplative meditation which Sioned did with us, using the breath as our focal point, as we allowed our thoughts to consider the past six months through the winter, and also the next six months now through the summer. This exercise did well at the beginning of the day because it focused our minds on NOW, exactly where we are and who we are.

The Ritual

Then in silence, we went out into Eileen and Ros’ beautiful, beautiful garden where all the plants were just starting to bud or poke their heads through the soil, and the grass was beginning to tinge green.

Sioned opened the circle and Holger did the Call for Peace before the directions. Alison welcomed the East and Air, Gareth welcomed the South and Fire and Sun, and Sioned welcomed the West/Water and the North/Earth. Then Jenn greeted the Land, Sea and Sky, before Gillian called the Ancestors of place and blood … and Gwyn recited the Druid’s Prayer in Welsh, which felt so appropriate. We each then personally and silently called to whatever deities or spirits we privately love and work with. We each then went round and said what Spring meant to us, which was insightful as our expressions and feelings often mirrored, complimented or elucidated on one another’s. Also, instead of chanting the Awen like we usually do, we gave three great shouts of joy for Spring!!! YIIIPPPEEEE!!!!! hahaha! Then we had a really lovely fruit cordial courtesy of Sioned’s husband–this was a delicious golden yellow. With the “wine”, we had the “cake” as per usual–but this wasn’t just any cake, but a Venetian Easter Cake (although more of a bread) diligently made by Jenn over a period of 11 hours on the day before! Although it was a huge loaf full of spices, rum and candied orange peeling–the cake quickly disappeared and must have been well-received because everyone kept having seconds and thirds (and in a couple cases, fourths and fifths!–ehem, Dafydd).

Lunch

By this time we were all feeling rather ravenous so we went inside for a homemade soup from Sioned and a yummy seedy bread from Sandy. This time was spent happily chatting away about various things.

Bardic Session

Once we were all satisfied and our bellies full, hot drinks in hand, we made our way back to the sitting room where we’d started out. There we spent a good part of the early afternoon singing songs about Spring and listening/reading Spring-themed poetry. Gillian started us off with a true hymn to Spring that she had written herself and she taught us all the tune. Alison also had brought a song from her childhood about Spring,which was hauntingly beautiful and bittersweet. Gareth sang for us an old traditional in Welsh which kept us laughing and reminded us of the cyclical nature of life, and Sioned also had a Welsh song to the tune of Kum-bah-yah, about Spring. Holger wrote a really upbeat song about “Robin Goch” to the tune of “Robin Hood”–it worked well! Ros shared with us one of her own poems that expressed the feelings of “waking up” and joining into the deeper nature of Life, in Spring. Alison shared some of her poetry which is always good, and these also had us laughing! Lynn shared with us an RS Thomas poem about the Blackbird, and Gwyn read 3 of his poems in true bardic style, about the Earth, the Equinox and also about the Hare. Jenn shared a poem in Welsh/English about the Daffodil. (If I’ve forgotten to mention anyone else’s contributions, please forgive me! There was so many I can’t really remember it all!)

Hare Workshop

After the readings and singing, we all stretched and woke ourselves up before settling down to for Jenn’s “workshop” on the Hare. She read an article she’d written about Hares, various facts and how these tie into mythological and symbolic signficance, especially the Hare as a symbol of the Spring Equinox. Then following this, she led everyone in a guided visualization first involving the five senses before befriending a hare and receiving an actual “egg” of potential from the Easter hare (Jenn had blown hen and duck eggs).

Discussions and Business

After this everyone needed a bit of stirring up so we had more hot drinks while we began the Seed/Plant Swap that Gillian had instigated back at Imbolc with planting our spiritual gardens.

Then we gathered again to discuss business like Charities. Should Cylch Bloduwedd support a charity, and if so–which one? for how long or how often? and other various questions. It was suggested by Jenn that we adopt one charity a year and that at the end of the year, we can decide if we want to keep that charity or support another one. Some people voiced a liking of this idea. But if you have any other ideas, we will be voicing our opinions and voting/choosing at the Beltaine ritual next. You will find the list of charities on our “Links” page, by the way.

Another thing that was agreed was that every full member of the Grove will be sent a list of everyone else’s emails, or in some cases, where permitted, addresses and phone numbers. This is to aid ease of communication and community between Grove Members! If you for any reason don’t want your email address sharing, just ask and it will be removed from the “list”. We also agreed though that this information must be guarded carefully so that members are not infringed upon–if there is someone new to the group, we must agree to give them our personal details, and it is not automatic.

Following on from the Midsummer ritual that Gareth and Elaine had done, it had been suggested by various Members that we have a kind of “guide book” of information for Cylch Blodeuwedd. Gillian and Jenn have now worked hard to produce something like this in its elementary form (to be added to and evolved over time) which includes guidelines for Ritual Days (very useful if you are leading a Ritual Day yourself) and what will be expected of you when you attend our rituals, as well as a section of FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) about the Grove, which would be useful to give to other people who aren’t familiar with what we do or who are interested in coming to one of our events. There is also a section on the Wheel of the Year and each of the Festivals with customs, associations, etc to give people a bit of inspiration when planning personal and group rituals, ritual days, altars, etc.

Sioned and Jenn also announced that there is now a Cylch Blodeuwedd group on Facebook for those of us who have a Facebook account. It is by invite only and kept private, so if you’d like to join, please let Jenn know.

We also arranged the next ritual (for Beltaine), which will be at Alison’s house (of course), the date yet to be confirmed. Jenn has a number of ideas for the day on the theme of ‘anam cara’ or soul friends. If you have any ideas or contributions along those lines or that you think are appropriate for Beltaine, let Jenn know.

Closing Ritual

After all this work we’d all worked up an appetite!!! But we went outside first to close the ritual, this time in reverse of the way how we’d opened it. Nature had a surprise for us though outside. By the time we got out into the early evening dusk, the clouds and mist had all cleared. We could see Tre’r Ceiri on its mountaintop and a brilliant sunset streaked across the sky setting over the western sea. Everyone felt that the day had embodied the very nature of the Equinox .. as a doorway between Winter (the cold, grey morning) and Spring (the mild, glorious evening).

Feasting and Farewells

Once we’d paid our respects, there was a happy rush indoors to set out the laden table with a huge feast of golden and yellow foods. Everything was particularly delicious this time, although the men were rather disappointed because Wales last to Ireland in the rugby match for the Triple Crown. Fair play to Ireland though who haven’t won in a very long time–and at least we can be grateful it was a Celtic country that won the title!

Delicious food after delicious food came out and we each had a very full plate. Conversation was as varied as the people present. Finally before people started going, a few more seeds/plants were exchanged. Gill had brought her “Druid” see potatoes, and Dafydd had brought St John’s Wort and Comfrey.  Alison had also brought seed potatoes and some various other vegetable seeds. Eileen, Ros and Jenn all had various flower seeds that they were offering … and I’m not sure if anyone brought anything else? Sioned also had some alfalfa seeds–yummy in salads those.

Eileen also kindly gave any of us who wanted some goose eggs from their geese.

By the time everyone was packing up to go, the general mood was a happy although tired one, and I think we are each looking forward to the next Ritual Day when we can all meet again.

Thank Yous

A particular thank you then to Sioned for being so brave to take on the whole Ritual Day, and also a big thank you and hug to Eileen and Ros for opening their home to us and being such gracious and generous hostesses.

Thank you to everyone who was present today. Without your particular personal energies, the day would have not been like it was and it was a very GOOD day, the kind of goodness that I think is rare to find in groups of people. We’re very lucky–and I wonder, do we know it?

Thanks to Nigel for the video- a Druidic Dawn production

This year, our celebration for Gwyl Ffraid was invigorating, inspirational and joyful! We all met at Trigonos in the Nantlle Valley. The mountains were moodily veiled in cloud and a bitter wind swept keenly down from the frozen heights of Snowdon. Before we ventured out, we fortified ourselves with hot beverages and donned many warm layers of clothing. As the saying goes; it was a “lazy wind”… didn’t bother to go around you but cut clean through you like a knife! Twentythree of us intrepid souls sallied out to meet the onslaught of the elements and we marched off down to the edge of the lake, (Llyn Nantlle Uchaf), to gather round and officially begin our ritual day of celebration

Asking the elements to be with us was not hard… the element of air was all but blowing us away!.. and seeking the witness and strength of the ancestors of the valley, and of our own personal tribes and genetic lines was simple and very moving. I think that each one of us felt a particular connection to time and place as the wheel of the year rolled from winter into very early spring.

Back inside the warm and comfortable Meeting Room, we continued by calling “peace in the quarters”, especially needed at this time, I think, and then progressed on to the group reading of a dramatic poem: “Hymn to Sant Ffraid” by Ruth Bidgood. It covers all the main aspects of Ffraid/Brigid: her centre of Hearth, (and consequently “home”), her healing and her inspiration of bards and poets; her midwifery skills of birthing spring from winter and bringing all the young animals forth… all the shoots and flowers of the months and seasons to come. The whole grove joined in and read various parts in turn. This helped to bring the sentiments alive and it was remarkably powerful.

Next, a welcome break and lunch! Delicious soup made by Alison, (two steaming pans; carrot, butternut squash and ginger, etc., and leek and potato!), and bread; loaves homemade by Jenn and Dafydd, and a most unusual plaited loaf which Carol had made using three different colours of dough to represent the Maiden, Mother and Crone.

In the afternoon, we began by talking about the significance of the hearth as an icon, the importance and relevance of food, (apart from the obvious!) and of what exactly “home” means to us all.

We looked at the concept of darkness, without which we could not have light; that comforting, nurturing “safe” place… the darkness of the womb of all creation… and we took a little time to step back into it and see what we could find there… what came to us unbidden. Some shared really interesting experiences and it was obvious that when we closed our eyes and shut out the light, there was a great deal of worth to be found, just waiting for us, if only we care to feel, listen and wait. Instead of “looking” all the time.

I Suggested we use this particular time to plant the seeds of self-knowledge, and I asked everyone to think what qualities they would like to develop within themselves. We made lists – not too long, or else, like new year’s resolutions, they become impossible to sensibly stick to, and do anything about. Many seemed to find it quite difficult to begin, but once done, the floodgates opened! My own list changed dramatically as I took note of my own words and changed “action” to “stillness” and “strength” to “listening”.

I then suggested that everyone plan a “spiritual garden” – choose plants (flower, herbs, vegetables, shrubs, whatever) to represent each quality that they wished to nurture and grow within themselves, and this spring, go home and purchase the seeds and literally plant it. It can be a special bed within one’s garden, or a large container, or a series of pots on a windowsill. Whatever! The main thing is to bring into reality what one seeks to be – to see it grow and prosper – and hopefully, simultaneously, grow and prosper within one’s self. And if a plant withers or dies, then that quality obviously needs extra attention, and one must redouble one’s efforts!

This was not just a mental excerscise. I really did, and do want everybody to go home, buy seeds, and plant a garden! And I shall be checking up as the year progresses, to see how each one is getting on!

I also suggested that after everyone has brought their seeds – and in view of the large numbers of seed that one often gets in packets – that at the Spring Equinox we could bring the surplus seeds that we don’t need and have a general seed-swap.

Caryl got us off to a marvellous start by gifting everyone a little blue satin bag (colour representative of water) of woad seeds. Lovely plants these, with frothy abundance of little yellow flowers on strong stems, two to three feet tall in May and June. Just what every Celt, young or old should have.

Later, we made paper snowflakes with Christine, each cutting our own individually amazing patterns, just like I did many years ago as a child at school. They still fascinate and enchant me. Christine said that they were to represent the last snows of winter… Somebody should have informed the weather, judging by the huge countrywide fall that we have all experienced today! We are to signal the definite end of winter at the Spring Equinox by burning them.

The cloud of morning had soon dissipated, and by Noon the sun had flooded the valley, smiling indulgently on mountain slopes, woods and water alike. Unfortunately, by the time we came to go outside again to close the ritual the sun was just setting and the world was turning grey and icy cold again. Once more, we plodded down the field to the lakeside, to bid farewell to the boisterous elements and the ancestors of land, tribe, and blood.

By now we were all very ready to eat, and from generous contributions made by everyone, we assembled a veritable feast, which we all heartily enjoyed!

Later, there was storytelling from Ruth, more stories, singing, and music from Eric, and beautiful poetry from Gwyn – fitting end to a day dedicated to … Among many other things… Inspiration and the bardic arts!

Anyone who would like to add their thoughts, impressions or  observations and memories of our time together (at Gwyl Ffraid) are warmly invited to comment using the form below.