Monday 23 December 2013

12 Days of Yule

Yule recognises the death of the Sun's cycle, the shortest day of the year.  In the Anglo Saxon calendar Yule is a period in the calendar, undefined as far as we know.  However, my Gewessi interpretation is this...

At the sunset of the day before Yule wreaths are hung on peoples doors to mark its passing.  This death releases the chaos of the Wild Hunt to take reckless souls with him.  This year's Yule's eve was calm, the one before the Wild Hunt stormed their way over the land.  Down here in Sussex I believe it's led by Freyr, 'The Lord', also known as Ing or Scyld.  This year it is proving to be a long and very wild hunt.  The Xmas street decorations are thrumming, everything static is shaking with the wind.  The rain beat relentlessly against the glass making one and all grateful for a warm  home and hearth, that the wailing sounds of the emergency services are for others and not them. 

24th December it is ModrasNacht, Mother's night or Xmas Eve to the Christians.  Time to honour Frij or Frigga with good food, mulled cider or wine and final preparations for the rebirth of the Solar King, the Bright One whose death we celebrated 3 days earlier.  She is his mother and it is right to honour her.

Then there is the Xmas, x being the rune gebo that is the rune of giving, the exchange of gifts and friendship, with the traditional feast that accompanies such exchanges.  Just like the feast in Beowulf where gifts are given in exchange for loyalty, to Gewessi folk this feast is just as important as for the Xtians who appropriated it around the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine.  After 3 days it is noticeable that the days are not getting shorter, the circle has turned, the sun is reborn.

The time in between Xmas and the Gewessi 12th night, New Years Eve, is the chaotic dream time.  To plan the year ahead, dreaming of success in the goals and tasks that the individual chooses.  This is an important time, it should not just be spent feasting, socialising or just watching TV / gaming / indulging (although these downtime activities also have value).  Dreaming realisable goals takes creative time for that 1% inspiration then a lot of planning for the 99% perspiration.

For me, this year, replacing the battered old shed at the end of our garden with an outdoor room for gaming, training and crafting with occasional spare room use is the goal.  Designing and building it myself, with help from my teenage sons is the dream.  Finances dictate that to deliver my goal I must realise my dream.  This is the root of need, or necessity, the energy driving us on. 

Finally the Gewessi 12th night, New Years Eve, arrives and with it the celebration where people can finish the night with a traditional
Toast, Boast and an Oath.
The toast is traditional or personal, the boast is to recognise the goals you achieved in the year past and the boast is for the goals you will aim for in the next year.

So use this Yule dream time, when the last year's work is done and next year's work is not begun to let the Awen, the Wod, the furious inspiration flow and I wish
A blessed Yule to all.

Friday 20 December 2013

Yule's Eve

A bit of fun for the time of year...

'Twas the Yuletide Night

'Twas the Yuletide night, with a moon so bright,
and all round the house 'twas quiet and light.
When suddenly loud a shout rent the air
and Bridget came running pulling her hair!
She'd gone to the fire and noticed it's plight
the few bits of wood had gave her a fright.
"Oh what shall I do and what shall I say
when everyone's here for the feast today?
My fire can't go out, the hearth can't be cold
on Yule day of all days, wood won't be sold.
My woodpile is wet, all else is snowy
where will I find logs to warm this wee bothy?"

"The Holly has been gathered, the Ivy too
I'd got drum and bass, even a kazoo
but no fire at home, no fire at hearth!"
Brid wailed, bemoaned her heat dearth.
The women at pace, ran down the stairs
pulling on warm gowns, caught up on affairs.
The men they were slower, grumpier too
and added their voices to the hullabaloo.
One voice was deeper, Tor was its keeper -
he'd fallen for Bridget's beautiful bleepers -
but she only saw his effing great beard
not the passion with which his heart seared.

"I'll find you a log not water bogged
if under the mistletoe I will be snogged -
if I can find fire; a smooch I desire!"
"If you can find fire a gift I shall give,
equal in value, each year whilst I live!"
Tor took up his hammer of steel
donned wool jacket; against cold a shield,
fastened green belt around his stout belly.
Scoffing quickly some black elves in jelly,
Driving-Tor tried to quietly grab chariot -
but thundering wheels create a racket!

And then he went to find his Goats
alas, alack! The goats were sick.
To Donner and Blitzen, he gave them oats,
good Reindeer help - in harness - click.
Then up, away did chariot fly
to hurtle loudly through the sky
Now Tor, despite what people say,
is wise enough, in matter grey
that hangs between his hairy ears.
He's thick enough not to have fears
and to his goal - Eternal flame -
and that Bridget forever tame.

Tor called out "Donner", he called out "Blitzen"
"take me to Bala, Cerridwen's kitchen."
Over cumulus clouds, snow filled surprise
they saw celebrations some humble, some wise,
others colourful with candles and cake,
mince pies, mulled wine and paper chains to make.
Finally flying, Donner and Blitzen
dropped Tor, down chimney, in the Sow's kitchen.
Cerridwen, unhappy, drew in sharp breath
ready to curse Tor "A cowardly death,
with a pox on his name and unmanly shame!"
Tor quickly said "Sorry! I take the blame."

Flattering wisely, Tor could play the game,
he went into detail of why he came.
Cerridwen matchmaker - that feminine art -
turning pure virgin into wedded tart.
Thinking of Bridget, Tor was a good catch,
whose nature and temper Bride would well match
so the Winter hag told all to young stag,
the quest for his Bride? Oh yes! He would snag.
With a joyous cry did chariot leap
head to the North Pole his promise to keep.
Caer Arianrhod he thundered to goal
with a special gift; his snowiest foal.

Once there, this present he took care to hide;
"First get on the Silvery dam's good side."
This was the white Sow's timely advice
knowing her sister's most fortunate vice
was her collection of Stallions, White.
Tor's aim was simple, his foal for Fire bright.
"Everburning Logs from Caer Arianrhod
her magical stack of seasoned Yew
burns so much better than peat boggy sod,
the fire it gives lasts long, heats well and smells true."
Tor marched boldly to door, ringing her bell,
shouts "Merry Yuletide I hope you are well?"

Arianrhod said "Well? I wish you to Hel!
Jolly or merry I wish not to be
when hammering men come ringing my bell."
"I come from yon well with a gift for thee!"
"What? Breeds Well? A gift for me?"
Once she had said that Tor knew he'd her tree!
The silvery yearling ate sweets from light hand,
safe within gloved hand, soon to be Brides fann'd
flame upon fireplace, her bed a shared space
did hurry Tor, Donner and Blitzen apace.
Did Bride know what plot was afoot
when Tor hurried in all covered in soot?

This tale does not tell, what magical spell
made these adventures end so well,
under the mistletoe our two did kiss
and nine months later they called it Gewis!
In honour of this on each Yule night
there's a fire that burns long and bright
and everyone's heart has a lift
from giving their friends a great gift.

Friday 13 December 2013

Street Sunset

Turquoise and ivory
Bands stream across the Yule sky
Aesir's gift of joy
Simple beauty,  teasels chime
A note before Night rides up high.

Tuesday 12 November 2013

Blowing smoke up the Black Dog

Sometimes when the Black Dog comes a stalking, which is often as the year dims and Skadi aka Sceadu stalks the land. Skadi rules the shadow part of the year and for those prone to a dark, low, depressive mood 'the black dog' sometimes it's difficult to get a positive perspective. How do you redress the balance when the black dog is lurking in your mind?

I think that sometimes a balancing positivity by feeding the ego with praise, blowing smoke up your arse, for the good parts of your character and life can do much to alleviate the darkness. Some charismatic people have the ability and sometimes life just throws you a bone! I was directed to the Via Institute of Character as part of my work's 'Team Resilience' training and these were the results...

Character Strength # 1 - Judgment

Thinking things through and examining them from all sides are important aspects of who you are. You do not jump to conclusions, and you rely only on solid evidence to make your decisions. You are able to change your mind.

Character Strength # 2 - Bravery

You are a courageous person who does not shrink from threat, challenge, difficulty, or pain. You speak up for what is right even if there is opposition. You act on your convictions.

Character Strength # 3 - Fairness

Treating all people fairly is one of your abiding principles. You do not let your personal feelings bias your decisions about other people. You give everyone a chance.

Character Strength # 4 - Perseverance

You work hard to finish what you start. No matter the project, you "get it out the door" in timely fashion. You do not get distracted when you work, and you take satisfaction in completing tasks.

Character Strength # 5 - Honesty

You are an honest person, not only by speaking the truth but by living your life in a genuine and authentic way. You are down to earth and without pretense; you are a "real" person.

These were a little bit of smoke that helped alleviate a difficult day. My Black Dog might be more of a mild Patterdale Terrier compared to others who have a great Rottweiler stalking them, but it seems that blowin' a little smoke up its backside will make it go away, for a while anyway.

Friday 1 November 2013

Dragons

Hmmm Dragons have been raising their heads quite a lot recently. What I know from Welsh and Germanic lore - within the Welsh the red and white dragons represent the energies of the peoples of Britain; Red for the Welsh and White for the English. The energies are intertwined and in conflict. This shows in many ways but none more so than in rugby when the English (wearing white) clash with the Welsh (wearing red) annually at the 6 Nations. This wikipedia entry sums up the history and myths: Welsh Dragon. However, this conflict is also very creative. The English have a stereotype of reserved, steady determination whilst the Welsh have a stereotype of creative, artistic brilliance that can be erratic. This seems to be a primal tension and the red, white and black colours have been traced back to the Neolithic of having spiritual and cthonic importance. Red Ochre having been used to colour the bones during burial . Archaeology About says this The site of Paviland Cave in the UK, dated to about 23,500 years ago, had a burial so soaked in red ochre he was called the "Red Lady". White can be seen as having symbolic importance in the various white carvings into the hillsides of Southern England and black was one of the first colours used in cave paintings. In later times a White Dragon has become associated with Wessex and the modern flag has a White Wyvern on it. Thus the red and white Dragons are for creative inspiration and the discipline of work that underpins it; 'Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration' as Thomas Edison said.

The Germanic Dragon, Draka or Drake is a chthonic (under world) energy usually invoked to protect buried kings and their treasure. In this respect it represents a very negative energy usually related to greed and taking from the earth what is not yours. I tend to think of this as a Black Dragon. Fafnir from the Volsungasaga / Niebelungleid is the most well known I suspect that my local Dragon legend in St Leonards Forest is this type. This would be the dragon that appears in Tolkien references for Middle Earth, it is often in depicted as a Gold coloured dragon. In many tales the gold colour comes from it's having absorbed the golden hoard that it protects into it's skin.
The chthonic black mud that lay at the bottom of the hammerponds inside the forest reminds me of this dragon. The land round here used to be very boggy and marshy - it was reputedly deep enough to swallow a horse and cart without trace. The forest itself is home to many Adders, the only British venomous snake, which is a grey-green with a black zig-zag marking downs it's spine. It is the only place in Sussex that I've seen one and maybe the root of the Dragon legend for that part of the ancient Anderida forest.

The Green Dragon only appears in one myth for Mordiford. But in Britain the symbolism is very prevalent so this is my personal opinion based upon my knowledge of folklore and customs. It appears in many pub signs and within Morris men folk dances. It represents the energy of the land. It is represented on the pub sign because of the association with hops used to make British beer aka Real Ale. The hop plant grows very energetically and fast, the hop self seeds energetically but is a perennial and so dies down every autumn. This represents the natural life force or Nwyvre that rises in the spring and declines in Autumn. It is interesting that the one myth has a version where an outlaw slays it by hiding in a barrel of cider (in that part of the world cider is as important as ale). This would suggest it is related to controlling the forces of nature and harvesting them.
The final dragon energy to consider is that which the Yogics call Kundalini energy. This is your internal Nwyvre that typically travels up your spine. With my OBOD Ovate work this energy is a green energy, appropriate for Druidry, and is the energy that Christian mythology controls with St. George who is usually depicted as slaying a Green Dragon. So the Black and Green dragons represent the static underworld and the vibrant ever changing power of life.

I also find the history of the Dragon (in Western culture) interesting - it appears to have entered the North Western European tradition via the Sarmatian cavalry conscripted into Marcus Aurelius' Roman Army in the 2nd Century A.D. They had a whistling serpent standard that was eventually adopted by the Roman cavalry. These Sarmatian's may have heavily influenced the Arthurian legends when they were stationed in Britain. These articles may be of interest :
Hungarian Quarterly
King_Arthur Sarmatian hypothesis
The Dragon has a strong hold on the human psyche, it's prevalent within our culture. The meme of Dragon energy seems to be a way of articulating a transrational relationship between humans and the world. So when it is said "Dragon's don't exist" I guess it means a physical creature, however, as a Meme or collective unconscious energy they certainly do exist. Physically in the past, as a cavalry standard, they would have existed - the screaming sound of the Draco standard as several thousand heavily armoured cavalrymen charged would have been a frightful thing and would have long stayed in the memory of those who experienced it.
To sum up the four dragons in the Gewessi worldview would be red in the West, White in the East, Black up North and Green down South. Finally perhaps we should consider the risks associated with chasing the dragon....

Thursday 31 October 2013

Samhain

This e'en of Sow-in is golden,
I cut through crisp crystal skin,
access the fruit within.
The flesh, sweet Autumnal
at this final festival.

Monday 28 October 2013

Guldize part 1

The full moon and autumnal equinox was fast approaching and with it the chance for a night in a North Yorkshire forest. Fortunately there was no 'Slaughtered Lamb' pub or rumours of werewolves, just a couple of Sussex southerners going feral for the night. Of course, feral is a very subjective term but in our case probably incorrect. It was my first time glamping...
Glamping (glamorous camping) is a growing global phenomenon that combines camping with the luxury and amenities of a home. Glamping is camping in style and comfort.
It was actually in a Camping Pod (http://stoneclosecampsite.co.uk/pods/) at the wonderfully named High Rigg Farm in the middle of Dalby Forest. Guldize, the Druids call it Alban Elfen, or the Autumnal Equinox is normally heralded by storms blowing through from the South West. This one was no exception, it hit during the drive up the M1 from the South to the North with gusto providing a sketchy journey on the motorway. We kept our nerve, ate on the way and finally arrived in North Yorkshire, anxiously scanning the roads to see how much rain they'd had. Bumping along the dirt track to our pod it was all pretty grey, looking to be drouk and we unpacked the car fully expecting our plans for a couple of hours skedaddle on the Mountain Bikes to be ruined.
Then the suns bright face gleamed from the gloaming clouds, the grey mantle broke and flew from her face. We beamed and wriggled into our cycle kit.

As ever, the first sections of a MTB trail centre are a shock to the riding body. Compounded by a 5 hour hammer up the motorway and a-roads from the south. Our stereotypical belief that it must be cold and grim ooop north took a body blow by the end of the first section. We were hot, hot and sticky but the trails were good! Technically challenging riding that encourages you to push your body and skills to the limit. The sections are a blur of attempting to achieve 'flow', that little bit of Awen, Odr or Wod, the furious inspiration where man, machine, time and motion become a singularity. It is a beautiful thing when it occurs and brings a heady rush of internal alchemy; adrenal-endorphins. After the first half hour of sweat and struggle brief flashes of MTB Wod appeared - pushing down on the rear suspension to use the decompression to ping you out of the apex of a berm, an unconscious flick of the hips to slide the back tyre around a corner without the need to brake...
the aim is maximum speed, minimum braking and an even(powered) masterful effort to speed along this man made off road roller coaster.
After an hour and half we took one of the escape routes back to the Forest Road, a nice fire road blast downhill. The forest spat us out on the dark tarmac...

And now we were lost..., in the forest..., with the sun sinking, winking through the trees. Which way does the road go? We started riding in a direction, a 50-50 chance of being the right direction. We saw people..., people on bikes..., people who'd pulled up at our camp site just before we left :) Not wishing to become the feral southerners living wild in the woods we asked for directions. They too were lost, but knew where they'd come from and pointed us in that direction! We promised to send out a search party if they didn't come back. We rode up past the Adderstone, a wonderful large stone outcrop and found the trail that took us straight back to the safety of our Pod.

The Pod had a heater and we set up for our glamorous night. Comfortably sat in chairs under the eaves of the pod with plenty of tea, beer and followed by a Chow Mein supper cooked on the Coleman one-fuel stove. Marvellous! A little bit of music, some cheesy comestibles with a few snifters of cold vodka and a lot of chat. Drafts of drizzle would flow over, causing a slight tightening of the collar, pulling down of the cap and a snuggling into the jumper but not enough to diminish the vigour of being warm & cozy outside. Eventually the clouds went and the the full moon drenched the high rigg with light; a majestic moon, sailing above the cloud kites surfing the wind above us.

After a reasonable sleep, certainly better than any in a tent and on a par with many a hotel, we fuelled ourselves for a decent days riding. It would be easy to say more of the same except each section of trail is different up there in the forest. What was the same was how the forest enveloped us so that in seconds we'd lost our direction, sense of time and space and thus ourselves. Lost in biking... if the Summerlands do exist then Dalby is not far off being the Mountain Biking Summerlands. Brief views over the moorland during fire road traverses would then plunge us into flat out technical red and black runs, all the time not sure what gear to pedal in or what technical challenge would be round the next bend. With whoops and shouts our visceral selves had escaped into the woods on a glorious golden indian summer morning. Just as the intensity and effort were tiring us, it was the last section of swoopy berms and roller coaster humps dropping us back to the cafe. For lunch and a return hammering down the M1.

To some it may seem a lot of driving for a little biking, a ratio of 2:1, but to the MTB'er the intensity of a trail centre compacts 5 times the trail into a short section. To a deep ecology Druid it may seem a lot of petrol and indeed it is but there is a perspective to it; we're not flying to the Alps, or Moab or the North Shore and life is also for living. If we could get the same experience locally we probably would. To the Gewessi what did I learn about the land. I learnt something strange - I'd not been to Yorkshire much before and as I arrived there was a feeling, quickly quashed by my rational mind of excitement. The sort of excitement I only usually get at a homecoming, when I can see the South Downs of Sussex or the curve of St. Mounts Bay in Cornwall. My mum's family come from that part of Yorkshire, my friend has a Yorkshire surname and the spirit of Yorkshire welcomed us like long lost sons. The sun shone when we needed it to, the weather was warm and welcoming and the forest was fantastic. Guldize is the time of harvest, reaping what you have sown. This MTB trip was reaping the fitness we'd gleaned over a summer of riding and making the effort, knowing that this journey was the fruit of our biking labour. The Gold Days are also a time to hoard good memories that can be pored over whilst hunkered down in the dark days of winter. They are the seed of next summer's fuel to ride more, ride hard and to grow old ungraciously fighting for fitness so that next Guldize we can accumulate more good MTB memories.

Wednesday 16 October 2013

Guldize part 2

Harvest Home

The garden has had the hedges trimmed, the lawn mown again now that we're properly in autumn and it's time to review and give thanks to the Landalfar for the Harvest, which is what Guldize is all about. After a cold, slow spring things turned out all right really and here's my review of the year. Was it all worthwhile? In financial, physical and spiritual terms...

  • Sweet Peas - have been disappointing this year, the cold weather early then the dry warm weather seems to have just held them back
  • Beefsteak Tomatoes - were slow to ripen and have finally all ripened now in mid-Oct. They've been a revelation in making tomato sauce. They cook down perfectly including the thin skin into a wonderful pasta sauce. I've had at least 5 pound of Tomatoes
  • Potatoes Charlotte - first earlies have been good a nice crop of new potatoes
  • Larkspur - the seeds came up, were a bit slow growing on and then we went on holiday and the Hedgehogs uprooted most of them. A plant survived, grew well and was even attempting a flower when a slug ate the whole thing in a night!
  • Chard - have grown well and provided quite a few meals mmmm
  • Leeks - are growing well and hopefully will provide a decent crop in a couple of months
  • Lettuce - were good they all grew well, despite our holiday in July, providing a month of filling in our lunchtime sarnies
  • Cherry Tomato - these grew late and have ripened late like the Beefsteaks. In flavour a bit disappointing. My neighbour gave me a taste of her Tomaberries which I think I will grow next year
  • Courgette - have, as ever, been a great crop when we started getting fed up of them I let them grow into Marrows. Stuffed Marrow, in various forms, has been another cooking revelation
  • French or Climbing Bean Cobra - a disappointing crop but I think going on holiday for the first 2 weeks in July meant I had to plant them out earlier than I'd liked as spring was so late. They did taste nice though
  • Runner Bean White Lady - also a disappointing crop, ditto to the Climbing Beans, but they are a good Runner Bean for flavour and mostly stringless
  • Sunflower - the ones planted out grew slower but produced more flowerheads. The ones in pots were a bit disappointing but that was location based
  • California Poppy - no seeds germinated
  • Nasturtium - have grown well in the front garden but they are better in the hanging baskets, so next year
  • Marigold - did their job well, plenty of colour in the veg patch and slug food saving the other plants
  • Cerinthe - self seeded in the gravel, but I must get more seed this winter
  • Apple of Peru or Shoo-Fly plant - still flowering and looking great. The speed of growth when it starts is quite astonishing. Gave plenty of seedlings away and more than enough for the garden
  • Purple Sprouting Broccoli - after weeks of diligently getting the Cabbage White Butterfly eggs of the plants I went away for a few days and came back to fat caterpillars. The plants are a good size though and should recover (I hope) to provide a decent crop next April
  • Pumpkin Jack of All Trades - 4 good sized pumpkins are almost a nice ripe Orange colour. Perfect timing I hope for Samhuin
We've had a good summer and a great late summer fortunately which has meant that the Tomatoes and Pumpkins have ripened.So financially I think the crops have paid for themselves as well as the flowers seeds, so a big tick there with the Squashes and Beefsteak tomatoes being the stars. Physically I think this is the max I can cope with in time terms with all the the other things to do with the family. Spiritually it's good year on year to see the changes and influences the weather and natural world have, it deepens my knowledge and connection to this land. The summer has shown that I am just a caretaker for the land and my success should be measured in nature.

The garden's natural world has had the Hedgehogs, bless 'em, who do move things around. They are very cute and seeing them regularly over midsummer has been a highlight of the year. Then there have been the birds nesting - Robins, Wrens and Blackbirds are in the garden now the cats are too old to hunt. The Wren fledglings were a delight and as ever the Slow Worms and Frogs hopefully keep the slugs down. The Evening Primrose and Honeysuckle have kept the Moths well fed. Next I will be getting the garden ready for winter, tidying up all the herbs, clearing the greenhouse out and putting the pots inside to over-winter. Then I will be ready for Samhuin and the dark half of the year.

Tuesday 1 October 2013

The Grove

In a meditatory mind
A dappled dolmen diem
Is formed where forest forms.

A glade bereft of shade
With flowers;
Digitalis towers
Flow o'er Bracken rills
And petal strewn hills.
Cynareae tribes
Inner vision imbibes
Helping the heart
Banishing boggart.
Golden light streams over brows
As green energy grows
Life affirming tranquility.

Filling brain, hurst and coombe,
With imaginary
Potentiality.

Friday 27 September 2013

Gewessi Gothi

Thoughts upon what it is to be a Gewessi Gothi (with help from an Explorer)

Druidry - A Western Mystery School

As a Druid I consider myself an autonomous natural philosopher-mystic, aka a Gewessi Gothi, who discovers it all for himself. But at other times I am ritually proclaiming the power of (possibly imaginary) gods or spirits as a well indoctrinated pagan. I am flexible, and lazy, and sometimes it is handy to follow religious procedure or ritual, and sometimes it is not (and this is more a paradox than a contradiction).
Mysticism means that spiritual awareness comes from direct experience and not from what others (or books) tell you what to believe.
Wikipedia says this about it: "Mysticism can be distinguished from ordinary religious belief by its emphasis on the direct personal experience of unique states of consciousness, particularly those of a transcendentally blissful character"

Logos - A Natural Philosophy

Natural Philosopher means a person who regulates his or her life, actions, judgements, utterances, etc., by the light of their direct experience, learnt knowledge and reflections upon the world around them.
Wikipedia says this about it: "Major branches of natural philosophy include astronomy and cosmology, the study of nature on the grand scale; etiology, the study of (intrinsic and sometimes extrinsic) causes; the study of chance, probability and randomness; the study of elements; the study of the infinite and the unlimited (virtual or actual); the study of matter; mechanics, the study of translation of motion and change; the study of nature or the various sources of actions; the study of natural qualities; the study of physical quantities; the study of relations between physical entities; and the philosophy of space and time. (Adler, 1993)" Mortimer J Adler - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortimer_J._Adler

Heathenry - a Gothi

As a Gewessi I consider my relationship to the Gods, Alfs and Ancestors of this land to be a personal one. There is no need for anyone else to administer sacred rituals or rites to communicate with the Gods or spirits of this land. Each Gewessi is his or her own priest and therefore 'owns' their relationship with their deities or spiritual energies.
Additionally, as a parent & householder, in the modern world I'm a chieftain of this nuclear family. With the progress of individualism within our society an adult householder is responsible for their household's legal and financial contribution to society as a whole.
Within Heathenry, or the Norse/Germanic lore, a priest is a spiritual leader of his group, tribe or supporters. However, this approach of delegating spiritual responsibility has (in the past) shown to be flawed as it gives away an individuals spiritual power to a priest. That priest then 'owns' and has the sole power in relationship to a God or Goddess. This can be a source of great corruption; 'power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely'. It is where the spirituality of the relationship with the divine energies moves into a human political world of social control. This is, in my opinion, the source of the corruption. The human conflict for social power.
In my personal approach no Gewessi should ever give away, to another, their relationship with the divine. You are your Gothi and your personal Gods, Goddesses and land spirits are your Guru's.
Wikipedia says this about it: "A goði or gothi (plural goðar) is the Old Norse term for a priest and chieftain. Gyðja signifies a priestess.... The goðar are depicted in the Sagas as the religious and political leaders of their district or goðorð. In Iceland, prior to Christianization, religious temples or hofs were privately owned and maintained by a hofgoði or temple priest."

The Gewessi are goðar.

Monday 9 September 2013

Socks the Lap Ninja

who passed suddenly yesterday, she'd hidden her illness well so the vet said. Born in a chair in my wife's old flat, my wife has been both midwife and undertaker.
The Lap Ninja
We weren't expecting or ready for her leaving,
expecting her mother would be preceding.
Let the sky weep for Socks is dead.

She was a scatty lively bundle of bouncing energy;
our evening greeter
our lap ninja
our morning friend
now in turn we mourn our friend.

I prayed to my gods to take her home
her spirit to the Summer land
her body to the mother land
and the sky wept for Socks was dead.

Thor came rumbling over head
a double Rainbow flowing gold
took her spirit, one not bold,
then Frigga took her into bed
and holds her to her breast
in her eternal rest
and we all wept for Socks is dead.

Tuesday 20 August 2013

Lughnasadh

This festival was in ancient times marked by rural fairs and athletic contests to celebrate the start of the harvest season. In respect of this, I left work early on a hot & humid afternoon and let the Awen take me. At first it took me out into St. Leonards forest and past the Hammerponds (or etang des forges as the French call them), which as ever, are remarkable in their beauty. From there I dropped to the source of the River Ouse. To the pagan mind springs and the sources of rivers are special liminal places where water is born from earth and meets the sky.
But the Awen took me past the source and onto the early reaches, back to my Bardic journey and a new awakening of the ancient Anderida (pron: an-Derida) forest; the Church Covert Woodland on your Doorstep project from the Woodland Trust.
A decade ago when the wood was but 5 years old I would sit there and meditate on the way back from work. It was a regular event, about weekly for the year that I lived in the High Weald. At 5 the wood was like my children at the time, small and low, more overgrown meadow than wood. There was some wildlife but it didn't feel like a wood, more an untended garden than a wild, natural space.
Upon my return at Lughnasadh what a change had overcome it. These trees were 15 years old and it feels like an adolescent wood now, butterflies congregate on the paths and firebreaks in the wood. There's a feeling of energy and wildness in the land, an anticipation that the Green Man has the upper hand and this human visitor is just another animal interloper. Spires of purple thistle congregate at the edges of the thickening trunks and the trees are recognisable as oak, ash, hawthorn and hazel. The space had an aural duopoly; to the east it was all human, mechanical from road engineering and the sound of the A23 road. To the west it was silent, peaceful with wind nestling through trees and the hum of insect activity. I supped upon these sounds in meditation of the fruition of this wooded space and then moved on.
Moving on I retraced my steps to the source of the Ouse; Slaugham (pron: Slaff'am) Pond and onto the thrill of the winter worn minor roads of the Sussex Weald that needs reactive nerves and bunny hops with fast twitches to keep my black racing hound of a bike, at high velocity, gyroscopic-ally upright. I came back aching and alive, with the drudgery of a dank basement corporate office left well behind.
Finally, I blotted to celebrate the festival with a chocolate milk shake and cleansed myself in the shower. All in all a sunny time as befits the festival.

Friday 9 August 2013

Litha Journey :To the Sacred Ancient Land

Midsummer's morning started with an opening ritual to mark the high point of the year.  Then the nerves kicked in; a long ride always has its risks of failure through lack of preparation, accident or bad luck.  Mind you I've often felt that bad luck in these situations is the land Alf's, or trail gods, way of causing growth which can be spiritual, emotional or mental.
Preparation discovered that my big long day pack had rotted over the damp winter, after cursing an alternative to my 3 litre water bladder was implemented.  I'd use the 1.5 litre bladder and make use of the water points that occur regularly on the South Downs Way (SDW). 
I headed out  and my original plan was to sneak some footpaths to my childhood village and cross the Adur there.  Although the Summer growth has been late one look at the back footpath indicated that the land alf's would inflict much pain via stinging nettles and brambles so I stuck to the proper route.  This was gloriously vindicated once I crossed the Adur and two Goldfinches led the way procession like, by fence hopping either side, up the rise to King's Barn Lane.

Then to the white road and the top ridge of the SDW which led neatly to my first meditatory pause at Cissbury via the first off road adrenalin infusing speed descent and endorphin raising climb up the eastern side of the ancient hill fort.  The meditation brought forward the theme of this soul ride; the ancestor's relationship to the sacred landscape. 
As I stood and looked at the panorama of the landscape with their eyes I noticed the dip to the Northwest in the folds of the Downland, the area of Samhuin and realm of the ancestors.  It was also a direct line to my furthest sacred point of this ride.  A spiritually significant flush infused me and this energy drove North in the clear line of sight to their sky temple at Chanctonbury Ring.  From Cissbury, Albion's 2nd largest hill fort, the wide and still well used dirt track leads to the ancient Temple site.  For centuries now it has been a well known grove of trees providing a navigational reference point to the people of the mid-Sussex Weald just as the Temple must have done for our Bronze and Iron Age ancestors.

Upon reaching the Ring the mizzle threatened by the brooding slate clouds arrived.  Just as I was wondering if, as a friend who follows a more eclectic 'heeby-jeeby' path asserts, the energy here is foreboding or, as I feel, welcoming an ancient Beech presented herself to me.  This was a tree, one of the few who had survived the great storm of '87 now hollowed with rot and the gnawings of insects.  Just like Yggdrasil suffers the gnawing of the creatures around it.  Her hollow hid my trunk from the Southwesterly wind and cold damp air to sip some water, snack on trail treats and perform my second meditation.  The initial thought was upon time and how now, 25 years later, the holes in the glorious grove have almost healed with the growth of the saplings planted to replace the trees lost in that storm.  This led to how this Grove has been constantly in my sight for the 46 years I've lived and how she led me to understand the silliness of human racial perceptions; this old Besom wise tree held me and saw past genetics...
So she asked me about  the air that I'd breathed, the food that I had eaten and the water that I'd drunk.
Where are these things from she asked?  Sussex, mostly, I answered. 
So what are you made from she asked? Sussex, mostly, I answered.
How often does your human body replace it's cells?  Regularly I answered, over a period of years.
How many years have you been in Sussex she asked?
All my life, mostly.
So why do you worry that you're not from Sussex?   Because I was not born here and my parents and grandparents and their grandparents were not born here I replied.
But you are made of Sussex she answered firmly. 
Thank you I replied.  So there's the answer to any 'folkish' folk!  It's not race or creed or any of our human petty tribal differences that decide where you are from but the air, fluids and food that make you.
To the Gewessi this means eating and drinking local organic foods.  Our ancestors knew this and between the Romans and the Abrahamic religions our culture has forgotten but the Gods of our land have not.

Onwards and it was time to slip down the gap to the land of the Ancestors after the land of the Alfs at Cissbury and the land of the Gods at Chanctonbury.  Two more adrenalin fuelled descents with a dragging climb inbetween to Sullington Warren.  Upon reaching this bowl of Barrows I can understand that our ancestors were both spiritual and practical.  The sandy soil here is both easy to dig and would be better for preserving their dead plus I would prefer to be buried in dry comfortable loamy sand over the claggy, wet oppressive clay that is the rest of the Weald.  That this, and I'm moving into conjectural territory here, is Northwest of the primary social and defensive structure in the area would seem to have been fortuitously provided by the Gods to the ancient people.  Looking at the pictures the size and number of the Barrows suggest a lot of people over a number of years.  Excavation has indicated that pagan Saxons reused Iron Age barrows which suggests a continuity of belief between the Sussex 'Celts' and the Sussex 'Saxons'.
Views around the Warren at the Barrows :

The 22 mile return home left me able to contemplate and review the meditation. which led to further questions and future investigations around my conjecture.
Were Cissbury, Chanctonbury & Sullington the focal point of the Sussex people?
When could this have happened, just Bronze Age, just the Iron Age or as a continuum?
What other large barrow complexes are there in Sussex?
How far would those people want to travel to bury their dead?
What other temples are there and how do they relate to the landscape and thus the people?
Gewessi is a neo pagan path and this sacred Midsummer's ride has taught me there is still much to do to understand what Mediterranean and Levantine  cultural veneers have overwritten.
Those Finches were a very good omen of the Gold that is out in them there hills.

Wednesday 24 July 2013

Meditation

Ancient monument;
The land elf firmament.
Rising coolly through Delling's doors
Into famed fortress of Sunna's daze;
Spirit land immanent.

Thursday 18 July 2013

Bretagne

Swift squadrons over
A green gently rolling land.
Home to Lancelot, Brocéliande,
My heart is all a quimper
At the rock of Fae.

Monday 24 June 2013

Consideration of the Gewessi 9 Values

The Gewessi path has it's 9 values which is drawn from a mix of the Germanic and Celtic worldviews. Having read the Heathen Nine Noble Virtues in several formats the Gewessi discussion found it's emphasis is too individual and grim (Odinists please excuse the pun) - industriousness, self reliance, perseverance & discipline - without the flair and concern for truth that is in the Celtic writings. Industriousness and perseverance was viewed as an outcome of creativity and discipline whilst self reliance is integral to bravery & honour - all of the Heathen and Celtic texts suggest that it is inhospitable to become an unnecessary burden to others. The Gewessi path structurally reviews this, attempting to include our Celtic and Germanic heritage into an organised world view.

The foundation of Gewessi Truth:

Personal - Land - Be true to yourself

  • 1. Bravery (courage) - seek excellence in all endeavours, be self reliant, evil acts can only hold sway whilst good people let it. Carpe Diem "Sieze the day." It is brave to be true to yourself and to believe in your dreams. When I was younger, and my body recovered better, the quote "if you don't crash you're not trying hard enough" was applicable to my biking and dinghy sailing. It's about the bravery to push the limits and to get better at what you are passionate about. "You won’t learn to swim on the kitchen floor."
  • 2. Creativity - Every time you wish or want, you plant a seed, that seed is the source of growth. Overcoming problems requires creativity and an inquisitive mind to question the world around you and to make changes. "Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way." Edward de Bono
  • 3. Discipline - Faith is the basis of discipline, nature is the basis of faith, Nature is a manifestation of Spirit. "He who lives without discipline dies without honour." This is more around self-discipline than the disciplining of others. The ability to overcome the monkey mind, good meditation and mindfulness comes from the disciplined and repetitive practice of the art. Eventually the disciplines of practice become positive life patterns.

External - Water - Be true to others

  • 4. Honesty - Mean what you say. Say what you mean. Know yourself. "Honesty is the best policy." Of course being overtly honest can be just rude, but in this context the honesty is about understanding when holding back is the more compassionate option. In reality it's about presenting an honest face to the outside world so that others can trust your words and actions. That your words and actions are aligned, you do what you say you will do.
  • 5. Honour - Have principles and hold them for your Gods, your Tribe and your Land. "It is more difficult to maintain honour than to become prosperous." On various forums I have seen people argue that the misuse of honour, things like so called 'honour killings' which are anything but honourable in truth, mean that this should never be associated with paganism. I disagree and believe that just because some misuse the concept does not mean that it's irrelevant. Honour is central to pagan thought "personal integrity; allegiance to moral principles" as the dictionary puts it.
  • 6. Hospitality - Respect yourself, others and their rights. "When there is true hospitality, not many words are needed." In the laws of Hywel Dda it was not theft to steal food if a person had asked at 3 households and been refused food. It was the duty of every householder to show hospitality to a guest. This is demonstrated throughout Njall's Saga where often a sworn enemy has to be hosted and given the correct hospitality. It would be dishonourable to do otherwise.

Social - Sky - Be true to life

  • 7. Justice - Seek always the path of 'right'; it's usually on the left - the path of most resistance. "Favour and gifts disturb justice." This is one of the trickiest concepts to work with. The Irish texts provide the greatest insight to the concept of justice in the Audacht Morainn The Fergus Kelly translation uses justice rather than truth - "Let him raise justice, it will raise him".
  • 8. Knowledge - with knowledge comes responsibility. When you make a choice, you change the future. "A little knowledge is dangerous. Drink deep, or taste not the pure waters." I think this is key the Druidic philosophy, Draoicht, as described by Searles O'Dubhain is one where learning is constant. One does not just become a Druid, it takes long years of practice and research. The same is shown in the Icelandic saga with Egil Skallamgrimsson and the example of Snorri Sturlusson, poet farmer, historian, law-giver and warrior.
  • 9. Loyalty - Never betray a trust. Trust that you'll not be betrayed. "The road to a friends house is never long." The rune Gebo is fundamental to loyalty the x shape is about the exchange of gifts, the handshake of truth and trust. Betrayal is the murky side of loyalty and who can trust such a person? Where is their truth and honour? It is one of the pillars behind the sacred bonds between people that form a group, tuatha or society as a whole.

Underneath this there are concepts, seen in both Celtic and Germanic cultures, about the law of the tribe, that the individual need counts less than that of the clan or tribe - this is the enclosure or Gard (which is where we get the word garden) that protects the individual from the chaos of the outside world.
These 9 steps are the path around this safe garden. If an individual steps outside the law there is no protection at all. In modern parlance they have lost their human rights, in old Anglo-Saxon they have become a wer-wulf, a human wolf, who could be killed without retribution. Theirs was a more brutal time and a modern Gewessi reviews the advances around justice and law which need to be taken into account. There is a Norse proverb "with laws shall man build land", meaning that law makes society thus members of society have to believe that the law will be upheld. Without that legal truth then society starts to crumble and the Fimbul Wolf will bring the long, cold winter to mankind.

Thursday 20 June 2013

Behind the veil

Part of the Druidic journey, whilst a magical one, seems to be about looking behind the illusory curtain of our society, understanding the glamour of our society. The media bombards us daily with tales of woe, the inhumanity of humanity to the world in addition to the chaff of mindless celebrity fluff. First, Second and Third world problems never seem to get better whilst all the time those at the top of society engage in frivolous lives of waste. Nature programmes seem to be either a snuff-fest of predators killing their prey or a lamentation of how the human super predator is destroying each and every ecosystem.
For a person following an earth based spirituality and attempting to live an ecosophical life it can lead to a complete disillusionment with all people and all societies. A depressive view of a futile future where it seems the planet is pre-destined for a man made extinction event.

Disillusion a freeing or a being freed from illusion or conviction; disenchantment. synonyms - disabuse, disenthrall, undeceive, disappoint.

It's interesting that most of the dictionary references are positive around being freed from illusion, abuse or slavery (as in enthrall) or deception. Becoming disillusioned with the glamour of a marketing and media driven society is almost a necessary step in spiritual evolution. My own process of disillusionment led to further illusions of despair for humanity and fears for the planet. It fuelled a crisis where all I wanted to do was walk away from modern life and live in a self sufficient hermit state.

The wiser influences in my life, i.e. my wife and the high mountains, brought a sense of perspective to the whole process...

Mother Erde / Earth / Natura / Gaia / Ardvi Sura I suspect is more than capable of looking after herself and will survive, whether humans will survive or not is part of her grand experiment. In many ways people are just following natural instincts to better their lives and breed the next generation in much the way that other animals have cycles of overpopulation. If we fail, and geologically humanity is still a mere ripple in evolutionary time, then she, Mother Earth, will just go back to the drawing board to evolve another sentient species. On the other hand we may overcome our dystopian pettiness, selfishness and all the other destructive behaviours to build some sort of environmentally friendly utopia in which humanity flourishes in harmony with nature. All of this is some unknown future.

Meanwhile, in the here and now, we need to maintain our positivity and avoid despair. We can be individuals who try to live ecosophically whilst still being part of mainstream society. Leading by example in a creative way to keep the best of this modern world whilst minimising our impact on our environment. If we show the way and influence just a few people to live in greater harmony with the land then a positive impact has been made. We become the stones in the pond whose spiritual ripples can help light the way towards a brighter future.

Thursday 6 June 2013

Summer Time

And Sunna is beaming down upon us.  The summer is marked, here in the land of the south Saxons, by the Swifts.  When their screaming scythe swooshes through the sky I know that Summer is here.  Unlike the Martins and Swallows the Swifts only stay for summer - the 'proper' summer that starts at Beltaine, has midsummer at Litha and ends at Lughnasadh.

The Swifts, like the summer, were late this year; I only first heard them about 2 weeks ago now.  Here's hoping they'll stay late :)

Tuesday 28 May 2013

The Trail

Bright Beltane, rushing green
Lady blooms; concertina'd
Cloth vying to be seen.
Kaleidoscopic retina'd
I absorb the scene.

Beltane Thunderbarrow

The Beltane week has been an interesting one, typical of this time where I am too busy doing to be blogging.  The Sunday before the weather was right to light the bonfire.  A winter of  decay purified in the fires of the great God.  It was so good to clear out that part of the garden.  It has not only physically uncluttered the garden but has also cleared me emotionally to feel optimistic that it will be a good year for growing. The garden is growing greatly, the weeds forcing themselves into all spaces available.

Then we travelled to see Die Zauberflotte at the Royal Opera House.  With it's air of mysticism, references to freemasonry, which was also a root of meso-druidry, the balance between superstition and rationalism all gathered to be relevant at Beltane to this Gewessi man.

The week of ceremony culminated with a longish loop to Thunderbarrow.  The first proper warm ride on dry trails for at least a year.  I could feel Thunor's wife, Sif the golden haired, during the ride in the warmth and pollen on the air.  Here's a view from the Thunderbarrow which is not a tomb to Thunor but the remnants of a Romano-British homestead. The landscape as ever is magical viewed from the barrow; to the east the hill fort at Devils Dyke is visible, southwards the views drop down across the sea with it's yachts and racing dinghies are white dots on an azure cloth, to the west the grove on the top of Chanctonbury can be seen, northwards the Monarchs Way winds upwards to the South Downs Way and the Fulking Escarpment. The history of the interaction between people and the land is tangible below my feet, around and above me.

It was a warm contrast to Eostre, my bare arms and legs soaking up Vit D, as I rolled along to the sound of Chiff-Chaffs with their eponymous song, smiling people walking and enjoying the outside.  The view from the mound was clear with a bright promise and the Nywvre flowed bringing me home humming like a natural pylon.

Monday 29 April 2013

Eostre's Blush

Hagalaz hands loose land;
Eostre courts her husband
with petticoat Fritillaries
Celandine, Anemones.
A rushing springtime flush.

Tuesday 23 April 2013

Spring Plans

Spring Plans

The Celandine and Wood Anemone's are out across the woodland and it's finally time to lose my winter beard. The big shave happened this morning so the warm part of the year has hopefully arrived. I started growing it a couple of weeks before Samhain and usually it's shaved by Eostre - so it's been a long time with the beard to match the length of this winter!
After a beautiful sunny and warm weekend there are many aching bodies, not least mine. The ice and snow kept riding to a minimum and now the summer bikes, road and mountain, are in full use. It's great to go to bed physically tired and really needing the sleep.

Now it's time to start physically getting fit and ready for my big gework ride - travelling the ancient landscape from home westwards to Chanctonbury Ring and the sky temple there,
then south via trails I've not ridden for a year to Cissbury Ring to honour the land Alfs
and finally a drop to Sullington Warren and honouring the Ancestors
It's tempting to think that this was the Iron Age Celtic spiritual landscape. Where Cissbury was the hill fort used to defend the tribe in times of troubles, the second largest in England built around 250 BCE in the Middle Iron Age. Chanklebury, a Sussex dialect term for Chanctonybury, is highly likely to be the temple associated with the people who lived in Cissbury but Sullington Warren with it's 9 Round Barrows forming a barrow cemetery. These are likely to be much earlier than the hill-forts, formed in the Bronze Age, at the same time as other Barrows at Cissbury. However, I found the place to have an energy that Chanklebury and Cissbury do not. As with all these big gework rides preparation and timing are the key. I'm hoping to be able to ride it at Litha.

Second Seed

The garden has had the hedges trimmed, the lawn mown and the second set of seeds (Cherry Tomato, Courgette, Sunflower, California Poppy, Nasturtium, Marigold, Cerinthe & Apple of Peru or Shoo-Fly plant) have been sown; so now it's finger's crossed for them to take. The first seeds have been planted on - Sweet Peas, Beefsteak Tomatoes, Larkspur, Chard, Leeks & Lettuce. It's good to start getting the garden into shape and to be enjoying sitting outside. It seems like an age since last I was able to. Indeed some reports say it's not been this warm at the weekend since September!

Wednesday 10 April 2013

Viewpoints on the Gods

The Gods don't cross water.


Neil Gaiman's American Gods provides a fantasy writer's perspective in that the people bring their Gods to the land they live on, it is a dance of culture & the environment. Personally I can't definitely answer the question, it relates to the Gods so who can say for certain!
From my own English perspective where the Gods have crossed from the continent to this archipelago my Gewessi view is that the landscape influences them as much as as it influences the people who live on it. I don't think the Saxon Ingwe is quite the same as the Danish Ingvi - perhaps the difference is like people. I am not quite the same person in work as I am in the pub.... The Thunor that I hear riding his chariot along the South Downs Way is not quite the same as the Thor who fights the Jotuns in Norway or Iceland.  The environment shapes us & our gods.
Whilst people may travel to all corners of the globe the spirits of the land do not
I state this on the Gewessi Path page it means that whilst Gods may travel the Land Alfs do not. During Blot I honour the Gods, the land Alfs and the Ancestors. Above I say that the Gods are also influenced by the landscape and that the people bring their gods with them as part of their culture but, like people, a new environment subtly changes them so that after several generations of integration and relationships with the landscape and it's land alfs they are something different and new. The Alfs do not travel and stay within the environment as they are an integral part of the land.

If I'm adopted I don't actually know my cultural heritage 

Yes you do, if you wish; it's your adoptive heritage - fostering and adoption are clearly mentioned in the Northern Tribes lore from the Irish books, the Welsh Mabinoigen and on into the Icelandic Sagas.  The gods are not genetically but culturally interested. The Icelanders are an interesting mix of mostly Nordic males with mostly British & Irish females (some willing but perhaps the majority less so).  These two cultures merged to create a unique cultural literary flowering based around a single set of gods.  This has influenced the whole modern fantasy genre.  Also DNA testing will make it possible to trace your ancestors route to where you are now. This would form part of the perennial psychological debate around nature (i.e. genetics) or nurture (i.e. adoptive parents). There is a balance to the two. Sometime nature overcomes nurture and sometimes the other way round.
The aim, in my opinion, of this path is to identify the positive and discard, or at least recognise and mitigate, the negative patterns & influences.  The Druidic philosophy suggests that your spirituality should enhance your life and the life of those around you. The Gewessi path says that you should use the 9 values as a set of values with which to improve your living environment.

Friday 5 April 2013

Wolstonbury walk 1

From the belly of the earth mother

Wolstonbury walk 2

To the east of the Hawthorn trees

Eostre affirmation

Eostre ceremony
Walking Wolstonbury
Spirit's energy low.
Easterly hard flint blow;
Earth rebirth with quartz energy.

Vernal Equinox
Normally my Gewessi reaffirmation to the land occurs at the mid way of a bike ride.  This winter has been wet and snowy and this year, with a slight head cold and more miserable weather, my enthusiasm for riding had taken a battering.  I had intended to travel to Chanctonbury Ring, a sky temple probably dedicated to the Thunder god of this land, between my cold and the weather it was not going to happen.  I now reverted to tradition and decided to perform it on Wolstonbury hill, as I have done since starting on this Gewessi path a decade ago.  Mountain biking was out of the question though as the hill becomes a claggy mud fest partly due to the 3 riding schools that nestle around it's base.  So a walk it was after dropping my son at the station (off to meet up with his girlfriend, his first girlfriend... Oh the worry!).

A new path, climbing up hill, into farm mud, over stiles, spotting the path's route.  Funny I know the Bridleways between the Arun and the Ouse so well I rarely need to use these skills anymore, a footpath provides a new perspective, I ignore side tracks and keep to the path.  Thinking about this cold, biting wind and how it's catching the cold in my right ear which is aching, painfully.  A stone catches my eye and I stoop to pick it up.  It's a flint, typical here.  It's razor sharp down one edge and angular, hard all over.  Like the Easterly wind...

The Flint Wind
The stone had been trying to tell me something, I realised a few hundred metres later as I crested the brow of the hill.  Although the view was interesting, providing a new perspective on a familiar place, I didn't want to follow this path to it's end; I was on naked rambler way.  The memory of the day this path was named raised a chuckle though I think my friend is still trying to erase the image from his retinas.  Retracing my steps I followed a sheep track North.  All the time the flint wind was harrying me, biting at exposed flesh.  Finding where I wanted to be I jumped a barbed wire fence, feeling schoolboy naughty about not sticking to the public path, then headed toward the top of the hill and the Hawthorn trees.

Reaffirmation
I know these two Hawthorn's well having communed with them many times over the years.  The trees form a wind break, their protection obviously popular with the Welsh Black Cattle used to keep the Downland grazed by the tufts of black hair hanging from the thorns.  The dew pond to the East has been renovated and I take some moments to cast the circle, honour the Gods, Land Alfs, Ancestors and re-affirm my connection to this land and this Gewessi path.  The flint wind ensures the moment is short.  Normally I would offer some water to the trees as a gift but this year the Downs are over blessed with it so I can only offer my thanks.  Shivering I meander off the top and into the ancient landscape.  No one knows why our Neolithic ancestors carved this huge shelf into the top of the North West side of the  hill; for flint, as a stockade, for ritual or some other unknown reason.  I like the mystery that is contained within the space, it has fascinated me all my life.  I continue on the paths, letting whim, land magic or the transrational guide me.  In the womb of the site I find a path, one I'd not walked since my kids were very little.  This path is like a birth canal, a hidden culvert into the open landscape from this, the belly of the earth mother.  I follow it and the Awen flows, my affirmation accepted and I feel reborn.

Reborn
Soon it is back to the mundane slip, slide and spatter through the clag fest that are the trails round Wolstonbury.  Walking boots caked in the chalk-clay dough that weighs on your feet and strengthens your legs.  The tread's grip is negated leading to many a slip, slide and waahey which builds core strength, it's a fully body workout.  Holding onto trees, avoiding treacherous thorns (rose, bramble, black and hawth) and squelching through the deeper mud baths I return to my starting point at Pyecombe with a smile and my spirit a little warmer inside from the land magic. Waes hael from and to the land, in the giving and the receiving.
Pics to follow

Friday 29 March 2013

Q&A on my Gods & Gewessi

You say you honour the land Alfar - what about Disir and wights?
The wights I would include under the ancestors, as would the Disir (if you take Disir to be female ancestral gaurdians).   However, I also call upon the Disir when casting the circle for Druidic ritual & meditation.  During a Blot toast it is to the Gods/ess', the land Alfar and the ancestors.

Now you got to tell me who is Loca ??  
Loca is how I call Loki.  I don't think the name is attested in any Anglo-Saxon (A-S) writings historically but I and other A-S heathens have used this name.  Loca would mean the "one who closes" which seems rather apt.  With Frig and Ingwine-Frey these are the Gods/ess I primarily honour and work with.

I wonder if there are good sources of information about how do that. How do adapt rituals, concepts, symbols from a Celtic culture to a Saxon/Norse/Germanic culture.
A good point and I don't think it exists (although this blog is my perspective).  It's why the Gewessi path discussion first started on the alt.religion.pagan.uk forum many years ago.
During the Bardic work, certainly early on, I felt very conflicted wondering which path to take.   Discussion around the Gewessi meme/idea and knowing from my tutor that Coifi in OBOD, before passing to the Summerlands, had been walking a similar path.  I still hadn't fully resolved the issue by the end of the Bardic work.  
So I think each person has been carving their own path - now I'm coming to the end of the OBOD Ovate work I've realised that part of the reason it's taken so long is because much of my work has been doing precisely that.  Understanding this syncretism of OBOD and Heathen work in the rituals, concepts and symbols of the land where I live.
In fact there are 3 strands that  I use;   OBOD Druidic philosophy with Heathen religion and western scientific logic (aka Logos).

Tuesday 19 March 2013

Thermal

Thermals set fascia creaking,
Grim grey lines have stopped leaking.
There's a skylark ahead;
Bright burbling, gambolling
Grace filled high over stead.

Monday 18 March 2013

Mapping the Celtic and Germanic worldview

The OBOD philosophy (which may be my misunderstanding) is that it aims towards integration and understanding of the 3 worlds or circles:

Annwn: the Underworld.  In the Germanic worldview this should be Helheim but I would include the outer original worlds of ice and fire; Niflheim and Muspelheim.  These are all primal worlds outside the normal bounds of time and space.  This can be seen because all 3 worlds are/will be unaffected by Ragnarök.  Post Ragnarök this energy is used to re-create the other worlds anew.    Niflheim is the wold of absolute zero, no-thing and no energy.  Helheim is a human world, unlike the Biblical hell it is not a place of punishment, but an underworld for the non-famous dead (i.e. those not granted an after-life in other halls such as Valhalla).  Finally Muspelheim is where energy is raw and primal; a nuclear heat that has the potential to create or destroy all.  Sometimes Annwn is regarded as the world of the past.

Abred: This world. The world of mortals.  Jotunheim the home of the Jotun or forces of nature those aspect of Earth that (in those days) were not understood.   Nowadays we could say that these are the hidden natural forces that we have only recently started to understand; the jet-stream, the gulf stream and things like the El Niño/La Niña  cycle.   Midgard which is the earth that us humans experience and live in.  Finally there is Svartalfheim or the Dwarf home, these are the creators of the majority of artifacts for the Gods; Frea's Brisingamen, Freo's boat Skidbladnir, Woden's spear and Thor's hammer.  The dwarves or dark elves come from under the ground, a chthonic world.  This cycle is often viewed as the world of the 'here and now'.

Gwynvyd: The world beyond. A place of perfection.  In Heathen lore this maps to Vanaheim, Asgard and Alfheim.  "The aesir have power, the álfar have skill, and vanir knowledge".  These higher realms of the natural world, Vanaheim with the Vanir as deities of Nature.  This can relate to science as all science is an exploration or understanding of the natural world.   The human spiritual realm is the home of the Aesir, deities of the Northern tribes and where the heroic dead live their after-life.   Finally there is Alfheim for those of the light elves or elves as we would call them.   This cycle is viewed as the idealised world of the future.

Within this worldview there is no separation of the physical and the divine, the Abrahamic duopoly of the exoteric public or mundane world with the esoteric private or spiritual world does not figure into it.   Man is an equal part of nature.  The divine is within the physical.   Each of the 3 circles contains the abstract intellectual (trans-rational), real world physical (rational) and spiritual (supra-rational) elements.

There is no starker differentiation than around sex,  within Christianity it is the carnal knowledge that causes original sin where Adam and Eve become aware of nakedness, it is predicated that wild natural energy (femininity?) must be controlled by authoritarian energy (masculinity?).   Within the Gewessi (and the wider pagan world) the only duopoly is of the masculine and feminine energy, the Lord and Lady of the Greenwood.  To become whole the two energies need to be balanced.   Thus it is possible for sex to be a spiritual act, the great rite, which creates new life but only when both are in equal harmony.

The circle of Annwn indicates that these are the primal raw materials that form the basis of the higher circles.  The circle of Abred suggests there can be a spiritual joy in understanding and allowing our earthy animal nature out as it can bring us closer to nature in it's wider context.  The description of the cycle of Gwynvyd also suggests that the greatest acts need a balance of power, skill and knowledge. 

An alternate, atheistic view can be seen here : http://caerabred.wikispaces.com/The+Three+Circles+of+Abred

Thursday 14 February 2013

A modern creation myth

In the beginning there was just ice and fire, the realms of Niflheim and Musspelheim, with a big yawning gap in the middle.
When the two realms met there was the original big bang.  So that the gap now had elements that formed Ymir the original male energy and Auðumbla the primeval cow, known as the Milky Way & thus the galaxy and early stars.   The cow is the primeval female energy.
Auðumbla licked the Rime, the primeval stardust or frost (as in space it's very, very cold),freeing the primeval giant; our solar system.  Ymir fed from the cow's milk.
From Ymir came the giants & giantesses born from his armpits - the natural forces of physics embodied in the sun, moon and planets as well as the realms currently unknown to us (perhaps described in the string theory of quantum mechanics).  From rubbing his legs together the regular beat of time is created.
Buri/Ymir dies and his body forms our solar system's present cosmos. It all evolves from there under the influence of Growth (Woden/Odin/Othinn) Order (Hana/Hoenir/Vili) and Decay (Lodhur/Loki/Ve) or g-o-d in the monotheistic view of the world.
We then kick into the Celtic creation theory or the Oran Mór or the great song or great sea - Oran meaning great and Mor meaning sea or song.
http://www.druidcircle.org/library/index.php?title=Celtic_Creation
The gods and giants then met for the first Thing at the Well of Urðr at the foot of Yggdrasil, the World Tree.  Together they started to sing the greatest of choral works; the Oran Mór.  This is the song of the spark of life that creates the world we know and all the flora and fauna along with it.  First they hum harmonies of the small things, the bacterium, algae and lichen.  Underlying it is a wild, chaotic primal rhythm.  Then as Midgard settles the music shifts to melodies of the plants and the early creatures.  Gradually the melodies combine into a symphony of the first age, the age of dinosaurs. 
The Gods then argue with the Giants and create the first people from the forests where the river meets the woods.  The Norse people are cut from the Ash and the Elm.  The Celts are cut from the Oak and Apple, all the other peoples are made from their trees.  Time and the song flows into complex fugues and a much more human history - the dominant symphony at this moment in time.

Wednesday 13 February 2013

Icing the Holly King

Snow has arrived to ruin dreams of a mild winter that builds bike strength, reminding me that my plans for a turbo training shed are unfulfilled.  My perennial Heart of Darkness paranoia strikes; "when I am not on the bike I know that I'm just getting weaker."  This is where the analogy dies, there is no Charlie in the jungle waiting for me.  Nor am I a dedicated racer or have a big event planned.
So why do I worry?  Two answers:
1 - because it's my nature to and core to my self view is that I am a cyclist.  As a cyclist I want to be a good cyclist.
2 - it's part of my balance against the unhealthy parts of my life to keep fit.
Aahhh yes the third part - I hate the pain of getting fit & love the fluidity of my masterful stroke when the fitness is there.
Ice depresses me, like some Viking trapped in his hall.  I then wallow in my dirty habits; smoking, drinking and fatty foods.  The guilt is exacerbated by the feeling that as my age lengthens so my overall fitness declines.  The cold freezes my ability to act, more so as I get older. 
What has this negativity got to do with Gewessi?
Acceptance of the natural cycles, is the thing.  Do the things you don't do when you can train.  Write things, work on the inner work of Druidry, read.
Chill out and (big, slow, exhale) relax, be confident you will regain that fitness.
Enjoy a day spent snuggling on the sofa watching films; Lord of the Rings back to back anyone? :)
Also beasting myself on the sleeting roads just gives me colds now, which usully means more time off the bike on sunny days.  So (I give myself a stiff talking to) m'boy do what your ancestors did.  Keep warm, keep healthy and wait for brighter days.  Build the hunger for the pain of training too.  The Oak King is coming, in his season I will be worrying about how to fit training & gardening around family & work.
Then the tiredness will kick in & I will dream of snow days and snuggling!
So enjoy the here and now and do those winter things.  Each activity in it's season and each season has it's place.

Monday 28 January 2013

Spirits of the Land

On the latest OBOD PodCast  Kristoffer Hughes suggests that  honouring the British gods is essential to an animistic view of the world.  The myths and legends of this land tell us who to honour where.  It clarified something that I'd been doing but had been worried about - that when in Wales I honour Welsh gods.
But Kristoffer, in his inimitable engaging style, says that not only is this ok but is the right thing to do if you follow a path that honours the spirits of the land.
In Sussex, the land of the South Saxons, I work with the Anglo-Saxon spirits that I know and love.   In Wales I find out the local legends and honour those spirits when I am in that landscape, after all, it's only good manners to thank the hosts of the landscape you're in.  It does not mean you're untrue to your patron Gods but it's a Pagan thing to do this acknowledging other Gods and traditions whilst you are in their time and space.

Walking the land is essential to understand the spirits of the land and so in Wales knowledge of the local myths and legends is essential if you're travelling there.
Discovering new paths on the landscape is, for me, an essential Gewessi practice but also ties in with my Mountain Biking; I must write up the story of Afan Argoed, Gwynn ap Nudd and me.   Travelling the land invokes the Spirit of the Land who is the/a/one of the Goddess'.

The 3 Cauldrons are essential  to the practice of the Northern Tribes, as they belong to the Goddess' of the Land, and consist of :
Inspiration that nourishes and invigorates,   
Transformation that sustains our  energy, 
Examination or Testing that casts scorn upon our well laid plans.

The Cauldron of Inspiration is the knowledge seeking to find the myths & legends of the land.  The Cauldron of Transformation is invoked by physically going out and walking the land, it is the enquiry into the landscape.  Finally the landscape responds and often with a challenge; the Cauldron of Examination.  A great rainstorm, a heavy headwind or scorching heat have all been challenges the landscape has thrown me.  Often it means an initial attempt to travel to a particular place will fail.   I will return with my tail-between-my-legs, humbled by the landscape.
The benefits come when returning, wiser and more determined.  The spirits of the land then reward your efforts.

Thursday 24 January 2013

Haiku: Winter

Holly King's last bite?
Clean white melts to slushy grey,
lethargic leaves, warm bed.

Tuesday 15 January 2013

Sacred Space & Techno-Shamanism

Many years ago during my raving days, which as a lifestyle choice has it's own risks both physical and mental, I was drawn to Techno-shamanism. Whilst it's spirituality was, possibly, tainted by it's chemically induced methods it did teach me a lot about sacred space. At a rave, whether in a nightclub or in a field, you use your dance as a kind of ritual to create your own personal sacred space.

In a similar way you can use the ritual of calling the quarters to create your own sacred space. I don't have a sacred space in the house; it is wherever I am performing sacred work. The sacred space is created by my ritual; whether it be the Druidic spiral of calling the quarters or the Hearthen blot by blessing the feasting horn. It is a space both physically, in space and time, and transrationally within me.

Just in case anyone is interested here's a bit more about Techno-Shamanism ============================== ================================== Goals of Techno-shamanism:

1. Create and maintain sacred space.
2. Create alternate awareness.
3. Translate music into energy and movement (dance the energy).
4. Understand the nature of attention and focus to be able to transform energy into awareness.
5. Invoke friendly spirits, guides and other dimensions to guide your journey.
6. Transcend yourself by experiencing a state of ecstasy and bliss.
7. Connect and commune with other people and dance the group mind.
8. Allow yourself to feel the unity of the tribe.
9. Dissolve fear and experience the power of transcendence.
10. Find meaning, purpose and humour in your life.
11. Apply these processes and experiences to your everyday life.

Who am I?
Why am I here?
Where am I going?
=========== =================================
http://ashejournal.com/index.php?id=277

Wednesday 9 January 2013

Weard-gework


Weard-gework; just what do I mean? It's my Gewessi view of the discipline of action; working wyrd. I was listening to an old OBOD Druidcast (number 46 I think) where the lady talking mentioned that only those who have a daily focus to their spiritual practice seem to reap the deep spiritual gnosis and she prefers their company

This daily practice concept is one that is common to all work that brings long term benefit. On Velominati, a road cycling fan site that I'm over-fond of, it's called La Vie Velominati; the life as a road cyclist. http://www.velominati.com/
In Yoga it's called Karma Yoga and is thus an ancient spiritual practice - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karma_yoga

Much of my pagan work is done inside, the British weather is not always conducive to outside work, but the true Weard-gework is outside and involves physical effort. Perhaps it's the combination of adrenalin and endorphins with the patterns of nature that, for me, brings benefit to my spirit.

An example occurred this weekend – a combination of a virus, the weather being very wet and Yuletime festive commitments meant I'd not been on my bike much. I'd been 2 weeks without MTBing. Which, in my head, is a long time and doubts start to gnaw at my soul, much like Nidhogg gnaws the roots of Yggdrasil. Am I still a biker? Am I getting too old? How much will it hurt to get back into the rhythm? Is my chest well enough to ride? The belittling nagging madness that is sometimes my negative-mind chatter.
I pumped up the tyre (I must replace that slow leaky inner-tube) and got on my winter soul bike. Three gears with the fourth gear option of shank's pony; walking. I headed out into the grey dreariness and past Blackstone. My body was complaining, legs aching in the way they do when they've been unused for a while. Then hit the off-road and the first muddy bog. As my foot sunk into the sodden clay the laughter bubbled up. Frige is my mud-goddess and in the winter we play whilst waterproof socks keep me dry. Skipping, or attempting to skip, over each mudhole in the trail I practice the mount and dismount of the bike and I don't care that I'm no cyclo-crosser. I'm outside and the tree lined trail is marvellous. I feel the energy poised in the leaf tips for the spring explosion. The Oak King is born and the birds are singing.

As I approach the hills a gap in the grey clouds appears and a hint of blue sky! My hope for sunshine on the top of the Downs briefly takes wing. Then there's the climb ahead of me. The Edge of the World is the path up. Certainly not rideable, even in the best of conditions, for a mortal like myself. I grab the bike and start the push& trudge up the steep, claggy wall upwards. I'm settling into the rhythmic pain of climbing, a familiar pain as calves and back ache. Near the top I feel an energy pulling me and my spirit soars – two trees lovingly entwined. An Elder and a Hawthorn I'd never noticed the two of them before. I spent a moment with them and moved up into the fog.
My hope of sunshine had been dashed but the fog enfolded me like a chilly blanket. I know this land so well 50 yards visibility is more than enough. I leap-frogged some women runners over the next couple of rises until just before the final climb they asked me how to get back to Portslade. I discussed where they expected to get back and divined the route for them. Riding up to Devils Dyke and down to Saddlescombe I then play gate opening leap-frog with another MTB'er. Discovering that he lived near to me but was going to take the road as he didn't know another route. My turn as navigator or trail-seer had come again. I took him over the next hill and pointed him home.
The nidhogg of mind silenced in the land-boon of spirit.  True weard-gework.

Saturday 5 January 2013

Yule

Burning spear of sun's  waning,
A final show at cycles end.
A beautiful sunburst
Supernova marks year's end
Lances through leaf lost Hurst.

Friday 4 January 2013

Psyche shielding

I use the visualisation for psychic protection and to draw emotional strength from it. It's not a particularly special visualisation; a classic Arthurian based one.

You are kneeling in front of an altar, it is dark & stormy outside but there is a single candle lit upon the altar (in my youth the altar was in a typical church but now the church is roofless and romantically ruined). It sits within a green wood grove, verdigris with moss, where ferns are growing out of the stones walls and multi-coloured lichen cover the stones. The storm is outside the grove. You are wearing full plate stainless steel armour, that is polished until it gleams like silver. You are holding the sacred sword, Excalibur, point down in front of the altar. A knights shield is upon your back polished to become a perfect mirror. Stare at the flickering light of the candle which reflects spears of light from the sword and armour. On a long and deep in-breath draw the light from the candle into yourself. On a slow out-breath let the light fill you until it overflows into your armour, sword and shield. You have become the light and within you is the power of the pure paladin - nothing can break this defense. The light gleaming from your armaments holds back the dark. You are safe.

I then bring my consciousness back. As I've been using to for a long time it's ingrained & I can complete the visualisation in a single breath cycle. I normally touch wood to ground myself and bring a little luck