Autumn greetings in this most magnificent “indian summer” that we are being blessed with. I hope that you are all getting the chance to enjoy the warmth, clarity and beauty of it all?!

Before any more time elapses, I thought that I had better metaphorically put pen to paper and ask who would like to join us for Samhain celebrations? We will be meeting on Sunday the 31st October. It would be perfect if the weather could be as we are enjoying it now, as we plan to hold our ritual in Coed Elernion, a Woodland Trust owned property in Clynnog Fawr, (really more on the outskirts of Trevor) where we have found some lovely atmospheric locations among the trees. We will be gathering, either at 1.30.pm at our home in Dyffryn Nantlle, or else you can go straight to the entrance to the wood for 2 o’clock. (And don’t forget that the clocks are going back that weekend!)

We will be doing something connected to the/our ancestors. Also some deeply introspective work in darkness and simulated burial. It will be a more profound ritual this year, with the emphasis on healing and connection through the earth and our past. We will probably return to our home in Dyffryn Nantlle for our celebratory meal, bonfire and entertainment as darkness overtakes us and the evening begins.

As always, if anyone would like to contribute an activity or reading during ritual, you are greatly welcome to do so… just let me know roughly what you intend to do some time beforehand so that I can co-ordinate and weave everything into a cohesive whole. Similarly, if anyone would like to bring songs, music, readings, poetry, stories, etc for the evening, please do so!

Please do let me know if you are intending to come, as I need to assemble certain items for the ritual, and I need to know just how many I shall be catering for. Also, if you are coming and wish me to send directions as to exactly where we are meeting, let me know. And of course, please bring some edible contributions for the “feast”!

I will probably be sending out another email and posting more on the website a bit nearer the time with any other specific requirements… I’ll just see how it goes!

In the meantime, enjoy this glorious weather and your harvest!

Blessings of endings and completion to you all!

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.

One of the most primal, intuitive and fundamental shapes that the human psyche acknowledges is the circle, oriented to the natural circles in nature and all life. It is inescapable, infinite and the true perfection of design, setting forth order in our lives, one thing to the next–yet all moving forward together, much like say, our galaxy.

Of all circles in our beautiful world, there is one that is always present, whether the sun rises or sets, the terrain changes, weather patterns shift–but the circle of the horizon is always there, waiting on the edge of our busy days, watching us, encompassing us. Of course, you can waffle on with reasons why the horizon isn’t actually “round” or that it is just our viewpoint from earth, but indeed, this perception is key. From the vantage point of our home, our soil and our skin, we can comfortably observe the horizon, as ancients have always done far back before “history” ever was, as these wise ones studied the skies, and the movements of the sun, stars, planets, and of course, the moon travelling round and round in each his own cycles. Eventually these measurements made against the horizon (astronomy and astrology) came to also represent “time”, as a way to calculate the motion of our own lives as reflected by these movable lights.

Time and Space

Because Time was married to the observation of the horizon, to ancient peoples there was no definite sense of Time and Space as separate modalities. The horizon (Space) gave birth to Time, and these two are intertwined like lovers, impossible to cut apart. In many of these oral cultures, for example, some Native American peoples do not actually have separate words for “Time” and “Space”. Their language does not allow for such a concept. Even the Celtic peoples still based their time on the tides, another natural cycle/”circle”, the Welsh breaking the day up into 8 three-hour periods and the Gaelic peoples having a similar system. Perhaps Time and Space became firmly disparate in our minds when we stopped observing Nature to find out what time it was, and simply observed immaterial numbers, broken into pieces and fragments of a whole. But in “The Spell of the Sensuous”, David Abram puts forth a very convincing argument that the real culprit of our disassociation with the natural world is the written word, which transfers our entire thoughts and senses into some abstract shadow, as elusive as the hours passing on a sundial. In an oral culture though, where sight is converged on natural objects, not man-made objects (books, magazines, television), the senses are inexorably tied to one another, fully alive so to speak, instead of being entirely channeled through one or two senses only.

Now we just double check our digital clocks and assume that Time is a disembodied quantity–or more likely, forget its true relationship with the circle of the horizon.

That Time and Space are not separate modalities is a very ancient way of looking at place and time, a worldview found in nearly every culture at one point or other, ranging from the Aborigines of Australia, Africans, Norse, Celts, Jews, Greeks … and thus, in these cultures there would naturally be three circles or “Three Worlds”–past, present and future. But remember that Time to them was not linear, but circular like the horizon; and as Time cannot be something cut off from Space, you can’t just have “past, present and future” without having the Otherworld Beneath (usually called the Underworld), “Space” or the Middleworld where things take shape, and the Otherworld Beyond. The Druids viewed this triad as the Sky, Earth and Sea, the three most sacred “names” to swear by.

The Three Worlds

1) Let’s start with the Horizon, which corresponds with the Future. This is the element that is pulling us up, a gateway or threshold to what is beyond us by keeping itself from us or with-holding its presence. If you were to run after the horizon all day and all night, it would continue to move the same distance ahead of you. You could not touch it or grasp it, only see it and feel the space between you and it. This is how the Future is, our eyes turned towards it, watching as the cycles of our Lives pass by it, kissing it and diving away from us again, over and over. The Horizon represents the “Otherworld Beyond”, the lands of the gods (Higher Presences, perhaps indeed much like the stars, sun and moon we physically watch above the horizon) or the honoured dead. For the Celts, this was well illustrated with the Islands of the Dead or the various other islands that one must journey on an immrama to find. It was on the horizon or just beyond that the House of Donn, Irish lord of the dead, had his abode. And of course, it is up there where shamanic flight took place, freeing the shaman to not only glide over the world but also to rise into the “Future”, or to even see the circle of the whole. That was one way his divinatory knowledge of the future came.

2. If the Horizon is forever pulling away from us, than the Earth or land beneath our feet is forever pulling away in the opposite direction, removing its presence so that we are continually falling towards it as our feet take steps or jump off a cliff (hopefully not to a sure death!). The Earth is the Past, hiding itself, obscuring itself in compactness, darkness, the place of roots and foundations, layers upon layers contributed by all sorts of “ancestors” be it tiny microbes in the soil to human, animal or plant. We can only see that which is on the outer most layers, what is on top. So it is with our psyches too, just as the “underground” and “subterranean” are also like the subconscious and unconscious. The Past/Land is all about what is inside, as it is the very refusal of access to its depths that creates a solidity that we can walk on. The Earth is the Sun’s home, the place where to the observer, it goes to sleep every night and dies every Winter Solstice. This is the basis of world-wide myths, so important and vital was the concept. The Otherworld Beneath is from which all things come and grow, the “womb-place” and the “tomb” simultaneously. In Celtic mythology, Sidhe-mounds are a good example of the Earth/Past combination. The Faery Hills are physical reminders of the long-dead ancestors who were buried there and their spirits that still live on, seeking to influence us on days when the natural cycles (there they are again!) create a thinness orliminality so they can “poke” through and influence us in our world. The Welsh “Annwfn” or Otherworld actually means “Inner World” or “The World Within”–a clear example of this Earth/Past idea. The Sea was also part of the “Otherworld Beneath”, as many Celtic tales speak of a “Land beneath the waves” and that the souls of the drowned and other such spirits live there, often taking shape as seals or sea-creatures.

3. So if the Horizon is pulling away from us upwards and the Earth is pulling away from us downwards, then what do we have left save the very middle space between, created by their mutual repulsion! It is here in this space that we live, surrounding by Air or atmosphere. To us now, “space” holds the idea of lifeless void–in reality, space is more like invisible depths of eternal motion for it is where Air brings all forth. This space of Air is also the Present, the “place where things emerge”. The Present is about Presence, not “Now”. This is perhaps the most exciting “world” because it is here where everything appears in its vast variety, and the beauties of phenomenon like colour, sound, and light are able to freely travel through the medium of Air unhindered. It is here in the presence of the Present that creativity is riot! Just open your senses and realize the wonders we have numbed ourselves to every day.

Ever-Shifting Presence

Air is a funny thing because it is invisible–yet its very nature of invisibility makes everything else visible. Unlike written word which is recorded down and preserved as long as the materials can survive, it is in the here, in the present that we speak. Speech (a use of breath or “air” to bring forth sound) is a reflection of the creative “dialogue” between heaven and earth, future and past, possible and made possible. It is forever hung between the two, letting us decide which direction we let ourselves be pulled. Air is continually shifting, changing in patterns that that we call “weather”.

Air is not just in the atmosphere though; it is extremely personal and we are dependent on it even more than we are on water. Each breath brings the outer “Space” into the inner “Space” of our bodies, and thus into our minds and dreams, our imaginations and even our beliefs. Awareness comes from this sacred “breath”, this enlivening substance that we exchange with everything else around us. Truly, no man is an island unto himself! If awareness comes from “Air” or wind, and if Wind surrounds us, if awareness is not then exclusively a human possession, it is very easy to see how an animistic mindset is the most natural thing in the world.

This principle of the shifting winds and of the ever-moving Present is important though because it also implies that our spirits are not one fixed identity but a constantly changing awareness that shifts with its breath from the environments, experiences and so forth that is is surrounded by–just as our body is nurtured by the quality of air we breathe! Perhaps this makes the Buddhist idea of “Self” a bit more realistic when viewing awareness in this way.

The shifting winds are called the Four Winds in Navajo (and other similar) beliefs. They arise from the four directions and keep the circle of the Horizon in place, much like four “pegs” strategically placed will keep string in a circle. The Four Winds are origins of movement, perpetually wandering about like the weather. They are the basis of the circle. Even the Irish had the Four Airts, a similar concept.

Outlining the Ritual Circle

Calling the Four Winds then creates and institutes space or place, by re-enacting and re-emphasizing the retreat of the earth and with-holding of the horizon. Song, speech and prayer can affect the “spirits” or winds–the happenings and atmosphere within the world between horizon and earth. This act of speaking forth the circle into being literally, in a physical sense, cannot be emphasized enough as it creates the “ritual”–a vortex where the invisible is nurtured into the visible. It is bringing the past together with the future…. making the sky kiss the face of mother earth.

Thus ritual in its most basic form is NOT about creating a separate space where you can “raise” energy and then release it out into the universe to do your bidding. Instead it is about fully aligning with all the invisible and visible things that are present in the present. It’s about becoming fully present yourself. This is why we can celebrate the “Wheel of the Year”–to bring our focus to the energies, patterns and “winds” or spirits of that particular time in the Sun Cycle. The same can be done with ANY cycle–the moon, a star, a life, or a community.

Ritual is not only about celebrating the cycles, but also it is an opportunity to not only align with the present, but also to align the inner awarnesses with our experience of these cycles, be it the Seasons, a Moon or Menstrual cycle, the Hurting/Healing cycle, and even major life events like Birth, Naming, Initiation, Marriage, Reproduction, Old Wisdom and Death.

For these reasons, a ritual should seek to acknowledge all the different elements that make up the “present”–fleeting though it may be.

1) Earth with her womb, her seeds, her ancestors, her fruits and creatures, ourselves
2) Horizon with his hopes, his journeys, his movements, gods, impulses, his dreams and desires
3) And the present, with the winds and all the other “little winds” that affect us.

When we align ourselves with all of these, we are releasing out into the “atmosphere” over and over the motion of our very lives. In this way, we are creating our own world, our own “presence” and “present”. It is a way to align that which is at our deepest layer, the molten, fluid truth-fire within, with the outer circle of experience and truth.

What Lies At the Heart

But to what purpose is all this “celebrating” and “aligning”? What is the purpose of a circle? Why was it so important to our ancestors–and why has that relevance still not changed?

That is because of what lies at the centre of the circle, surrounded by the winds like a protective hedge, the true peace in the middle of the hurricane–and that is Fire, the transformative life-element by which we know the winds’ presence, for we watch its flames devour the air, and the horizon and the earth (wood) … it takes all of the three worlds into its bosom and gives forth LIFE. So Fire is like the visible manifestation of the winds of awareness, spirit and thought. It feeds on all three and is alone itself, except that without the winds to fan the flames, the fire would die, just as we too would die without breath. Perhaps the most ironic element of Fire or Life is that it destroys first, in order to do any good, and this is no doubt where the huge dualism between “Life and Death” arise–but looking at Life as a flame, Death is merely a part of Life’s nature.

Fire is the centre of a ritual circle. It was the centre of ancient homes, the hearth without which life would be impossible. It was the centre of a community, the bonfire becoming a symbol of social gatherings, a bringing together of all the tribe that might be scattered in different areas.

Fire is our passion, our source of inspiration and continuation, despite everything else. Perhaps this is how we came to the Sun-Cross, a circle with “four” lines merging in the middle at a single point.

The Truth of the Ritual Circle

In the end, this world as we know it is, in nature, an encirclement of protection, protecting Life from one generation to the next. Nature seeks to preserve and continue, and that is part of why things sometimes seem so painful or brutal to us, despite the fact that it is actually a “refining” process the whole way. But we can only find some sort of sense to this and we can only release our own blocks and hindrances, by embracing the world back. Once we have married the horizon with the earth, our future with our past, things aren’t so insane or confusing anymore. But it is only by keeping ourselves palpably alive to the land and spirit scapes we walk that we can fully open our arms wide.

And that, to me is what a true ritual is–completely and whole-heartedly embracing LIFE.

***

Credit to David Abram, from whose book “The Spell of the Sensuous” much of the material on “Time and Space” I was amazed and inspired by. Copyright, 1996, David Abram; published by Random House Publishers.

Mead is perhaps the oldest known alcoholic beverage we know of in Britain, dating back to the Paleolithic and Neolithic eras. It was considered a drink of the gods, and sacred for use in rituals, celebrations, and as offerings to the dead ancestors and the spirits in the otherworlds. Heather mead is perhaps one of the oldest meads that has been discovered in Welsh Neolithic sites, and in one sense, that is not surprising with all the heather we have growing around here! Heather was probably a very sacred plant though to these early “Welsh” people, and when you realise that actually heather has slight psychoactive and psychotropic tendencies, you see its connection to ritual and archaic shamanistic religion. So this recipe is special, specifically for ritual or sacred use. It isn’t particularly mind-altering, but if you want to get even a bit of an effect, don’t wash the flowers! I think the recipe came in part or whole from a book of Dafydd’s on Sacred Beers and Meads, by a fellow who had tried and tested all sorts.

INGREDIENTS

6 lb heather honey
10 cups lightly pressed (unwashed–as washing removes the narcotic powders in the flowers) flowering heather tops
4 gallons water
yeast

DIRECTIONS

Heat water to 170 F and add 6 cups of heather blossoms. Allow to stand over night . In the morning, strain liquid and boil, then remove from heat and add honey. Stir in until dissolved. Allow to cool then add brewer’s yeast (5 grams roughly) and ferment until fermentation slows down noticeably. Then remove 1/2 gallon, add 2 cups of heather flowers and heat to 158 F. Cover and steep for 15 minutes, then return to ferment. When fermentation is complete, bottle and store for up to two years for aging.

Note that heather can be rather astringent so sometimes more sugar (in this case, honey) than less is a good thing! The first batch I made got left too long and it was like eating sloes *yeck* …. the best thing is to use plenty of honey and make sure you bottle it as SOON as it stops bubbling, or else the heather flowers leach bitterness back into the mead.