Summer Solstice, spread the culture.

[bernadette]

In Divination, unmarried Welsh Women tied a small key to each wrist before going to bed and folding their hands prayer like recited the 16th and 17th verses of the first Chapter of the book of Ruth. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Ruth

Dream would ensue of their future husband. In the morning if the keys had not fell off they would not marry within a year. Wonder how many Welsh Ladies paractice that today.

Worth a mention from June Folklore is St. Non's Day which occurred on 25th June.

St. Non was from Altarnun in Cornwall and a Well dedicated to him is by the 14th Century Church.

Lore has it that if you were a Lunatic you were brought there for a cure in a process known as bowsenning.

Basically you were flung into the well and plunged in and out for a while before attending Mass. If that did'nt sort it then the process was repeated.

Wonder what the success rate was there?

Trow

Fascinating! There is also the old one about peeling an apple and throwing the peel over your shoulder when it lands it should show the initial of your future husband. As for plunging a poor devil into the water that sounds like a variation on the theme for testing a witch.

I was just thinking as bernadette might have joined fairly recently and as she seems to like mention of the old ways that it might be in order to link to one of the best threads I recall here and full of lore - Trow's 'The Supernatural' thread http://www.politicalworld.org/showthread.php?t=5184

It is a fair old thread bernadette and covers mention of many things from superstitions around the country to particular Irish, Welsh, Scots and Anglo Saxon lore. It meanders along touching on everything from the Sidhe, the Black Dog, to forts, to the Drui, to the study of the cultural mirror of the stars and even brings in George Lucas, Star Wars and the Long Room at Trinity.

It bubbles across many things like the sacred spring at Delphi runs across the stones

It would be a pity if you missed that thread for the want of a link to it as I think it is something you might enjoy.

Thank you Captain Con

I will the thread from post to post, and with great interest and pleasure.

[Trow]

Trow

Fascinating! There is also the old one about peeling an apple and throwing the peel over your shoulder when it lands it should show the initial of your future husband. As for plunging a poor devil into the water that sounds like a variation on the theme for testing a witch..

Yes it does sound like a variation for witch trial. Lunacy, disease and the likes were also thought to be associated with curse and the little folks and other supernatural entities.

Here we have the church using similar ''cures'' associated with water such as sacred/holy wells. Were depression/disease/ disorder associated with the brain are concerned Psychiatrists to this day still proscribe baths, hot and cold.

And in some incidents were patients claim supernatural slants to their woes Jesus can also be proscribed. The doctor would encourage going to church. In one case i studied concerning a schizophrenic man who claimed to actually be Jesus, the son of God the Doctor proscribed a meeting with another ill man claiming the same.

Wonder how many lunatics the church actually drowned rather than cured down the years?

[bernadette]

Yes it does sound like a variation for witch trial. Lunacy, disease and the likes were also thought to be associated with curse and the little folks and other supernatural entities.

Here we have the church using similar ''cures'' associated with water such as sacred/holy wells. Were depression/disease/ disorder associated with the brain are concerned Psychiatrists to this day still proscribe baths, hot and cold.

And in some incidents were patients claim supernatural slants to their woes Jesus can also be proscribed. The doctor would encourage going to church. In one case i studied concerning a schizophrenic man who claimed to actually be Jesus, the son of God the Doctor proscribed a meeting with another ill man claiming the same.

Wonder how many lunatics the church actually drowned rather than cured down the years?

For a long time the mentally ill were considered to be victims of demonic possession. The RCC built its reputation in part on their belief in exorcism although they are rather shy about that aspect now.

Forms of what would now be considered torture were the norm. Its an example of absolute power. You had people with little or no life experience not only claiming a most respected place in the community but the right to judge behaviour and health of that community. Its extraordinary really but its power lasted a very long time.

[Trow]

Yes Bernadette many apparent mental disorders and diseases can be the work of underworld entities. Curable without violence and preventable with wisdom.

What colour does the Hawthorn bloom at the ring fort? White is good.

[bernadette]

Yes Bernadette many apparent mental disorders and diseases can be the work of underworld entities. Curable without violence and preventable with wisdom.

What colour does the Hawthorn bloom at the ring fort? White is good.

The most serious mental disorders are caused by chemical imbalance or perhaps there is a genetic link, I bloody hope not!

The Hawthorn is white. All of it. I have toyed with the idea of planting something else, not in the ring in the garden, but I've not got around to it yet and perhaps I won't. I'm thinking berries laurel or holly or both.

[Trow]

The most serious mental disorders are caused by chemical imbalance or perhaps there is a genetic link, I bloody hope not!

The Hawthorn is white. All of it. I have toyed with the idea of planting something else, not in the ring in the garden, but I've not got around to it yet and perhaps I won't. I'm thinking berries laurel or holly or both.

That ''chemical imbalance'' associated with mental disorders can be triggered with contact to some of the plants i am about to introduce you to. Toxic levels can even kill and on the road to that death an lsd like trip.

At the same time the same plants have protective magical values to mankind. Aside the ''hocus pocus'' as declared by non believers one such plant, the ''Fox Glove'' provides ''the chemical'' used in the treatment of heart disease today.
The leading one in fact.
Beauty with an edge, always remember that.

As you have the view most of us don't have can you tell how you view the Sun. That is can you describe how the Sun travels through the ring? Do you see the Sun rise from behind it? Does it Set behind it?

All your suggested plants would have been very well known to those who built that ring fort and i particularly like the idea of Holly. Can i suggest also Hazel?

I warned you not to attempt ''Evoking'' Best i also tell you how so that you'll at least select the right wood.
Their amongst the ''craft'' of the day no greater compliment can you give to those ancients than lighting fire in the ''old way''

That means beginning the fire by rubbing the Hazel together, no cheating, It is the sweet smell our ancients would have filled the air with when consulting with their ancestors.

[bernadette]

That ''chemical imbalance'' associated with mental disorders can be triggered with contact to some of the plants i am about to introduce you to. Toxic levels can even kill and on the road to that death an lsd like trip.

At the same time the same plants have protective magical values to mankind. Aside the ''hocus pocus'' as declared by non believers one such plant, the ''Fox Glove'' provides ''the chemical'' used in the treatment of heart disease today.
The leading one in fact.
Beauty with an edge, always remember that.

As you have the view most of us don't have can you tell how you view the Sun. That is can you describe how the Sun travels through the ring? Do you see the Sun rise from behind it? Does it Set behind it?

All your suggested plants would have been very well known to those who built that ring fort and i particularly like the idea of Holly. Can i suggest also Hazel?

I warned you not to attempt ''Evoking'' Best i also tell you how so that you'll at least select the right wood.
Their amongst the ''craft'' of the day no greater compliment can you give to those ancients than lighting fire in the ''old way''

That means beginning the fire by rubbing the Hazel together, no cheating, It is the sweet smell our ancients would have filled the air with when consulting with their ancestors.

The time of day, position of the planets etc is very important for casting but the circles I create so far have been for new moons and the seasons and always in side. I started when I was working so all practice was at night, for the time being I will stay inside, the only reason a fear of falling outside at night alone.

The most powerful drugs are still the natural ones.

I think it would take hours to light a fire in the old way and since I'm cautious I would need something to hold the fire, mind with the summer we've had so far there's unlikely to be any risk except of drowning.

I'm reluctant to ask for anything when I cast. If we believe then that is reason enough to give thanks, to ask for something is imo to imply there is a price to belief.

I think it would have been someones very important if juvenile job to make sure the fire stayed lit! For me burning turf and some kinds of wood evokes the sight and smells of the old ways.

I burn incense, oils and of course candles they add to the ambience and please me. I don't enjoy chanting but sometimes I play whichever music feels right at the time.

I don't believe in covens they may, obviously do, suit some but I think of them as unnecessary and more Wica than witchcraft.

Hazel, Holly and Laurel sounds good I may decide to plant all three.

The good thing about the way the Craft has evolved is that it allows each to choose believe in their own way, there are some rituals I wouldn't miss, Halloween being one of them but people can choose how to worship.

[Trow]

All good Bernadette.

You asked about time travel and seeing. Well once you've accomplished the time travel the first thing you will smell is a Hazel wood fire. You're not likely to accomplish that at your ring fort unless there was a tripple God or Goddess there.

In his/her grove were they would have spent much of their lives they would be performing the ritual and watching over the place constantly. That means if you were ever to accomplish the journey he/she already sees you there as on their end and view of you is to their future.

The driving force of energy associated with that ability, to see and travel forward and back and to co exist is generated by the presence of Sirius. You need to be aligned slightly off true North in Ireland to achieve it and centred to one of Earth's meridians.

Only tripple gods and goddesses had the ability to do this, it would not have been revealed to others in the tribe. Only within the radius of the circle/dome/grove can you both exist.

Aside Sirius at Summer Solstice and it's much talked about shining, the star still has an affect precisely 6 months later when it is out of view.
Travelling forward and back in time revolves around this cycle and the precision key for knowing which way to enter the grove, when and where is secret knowledge but i'm going to share part of it with you.

When entering the grove at Summer Solstice you must come in from the East. The scent of Hazel fire is based were the Drui will be to your South, He/ she will view you to the North, you will be centred. To your immediate West will be a branch. of an infused knowledgeable tree. All that within a small diameter.

To activate, rather maintain a grove/circle like that you need an area that won't change were plant and trees and layout stay the same for millennia.

I've never knowingly taken anything from the grove. Felled a tree once but made up for that. I came across a Talisman in the form of a book made of copper and gold written in Ogham. I've held her horn made of the same and sat in her house with her bones. It's was enlightening yes and trembling frightening and overwhelming all at once to enter her grove and find her there one day.

She watched my progress down the years and knows me well even though she lives in a time before i was born. Hard one to believe is'nt it?

Your practice, indoors or out are not unlike the Celtic/Drui in some ways. I don't chop off heads but the Woman i know does.

Do you have a ritual for beginning/opening the circle and one for closing when you practise?. The grove i know is active constantly?

[bernadette]

All good Bernadette.

You asked about time travel and seeing. Well once you've accomplished the time travel the first thing you will smell is a Hazel wood fire. You're not likely to accomplish that at your ring fort unless there was a tripple God or Goddess there.

In his/her grove were they would have spent much of their lives they would be performing the ritual and watching over the place constantly. That means if you were ever to accomplish the journey he/she already sees you there as on their end and view of you is to their future.

The driving force of energy associated with that ability, to see and travel forward and back and to co exist is generated by the presence of Sirius. You need to be aligned slightly off true North in Ireland to achieve it and centred to one of Earth's meridians.

Only tripple gods and goddesses had the ability to do this, it would not have been revealed to others in the tribe. Only within the radius of the circle/dome/grove can you both exist.

Aside Sirius at Summer Solstice and it's much talked about shining, the star still has an affect precisely 6 months later when it is out of view.
Travelling forward and back in time revolves around this cycle and the precision key for knowing which way to enter the grove, when and where is secret knowledge but i'm going to share part of it with you.

When entering the grove at Summer Solstice you must come in from the East. The scent of Hazel fire is based were the Drui will be to your South, He/ she will view you to the North, you will be centred. To your immediate West will be a branch. of an infused knowledgeable tree. All that within a small diameter.

To activate, rather maintain a grove/circle like that you need an area that won't change were plant and trees and layout stay the same for millennia.

I've never knowingly taken anything from the grove. Felled a tree once but made up for that. I came across a Talisman in the form of a book made of copper and gold written in Ogham. I've held her horn made of the same and sat in her house with her bones. It's was enlightening yes and trembling frightening and overwhelming all at once to enter her grove and find her there one day.

She watched my progress down the years and knows me well even though she lives in a time before i was born. Hard one to believe is'nt it?

Your practice, indoors or out are not unlike the Celtic/Drui in some ways. I don't chop off heads but the Woman i know does.

Do you have a ritual for beginning/opening the circle and one for closing when you practise?. The grove i know is active constantly?

With me and however many others read this!

I feel as though I've been taking a test! I do have a preparation ritual. Clean the room, the altar and me thoroughly, prepare the 'ingredients' which will vary according to the time of year phase of the moon and so on including the purpose of the circle. Create the circle, you can use chalk or make one physically using a natural material like cotton or silk. Make sure dogs and cats are in another room, Its not that they are unwelcome or a hindrance but they must not enter the circle its not for them. I say or recite whichever opening I have prepared be that a poem or rhyme I have written or, more likely, a favourite poem from elsewhere.

There is a smaller ritual for closing the circle.

I don't seek time travel I have enough problems for the day that's in it!

I love the idea of all the natural woods and flowers, all altars have flowers but I'm thinking for the next one I might add some branches from the trees in the garden, not from the fort.

Blessings Trow

[Trow]

With me and however many others read this!

I feel as though I've been taking a test! I do have a preparation ritual. Clean the room, the altar and me thoroughly, prepare the 'ingredients' which will vary according to the time of year phase of the moon and so on including the purpose of the circle. Create the circle, you can use chalk or make one physically using a natural material like cotton or silk. Make sure dogs and cats are in another room, Its not that they are unwelcome or a hindrance but they must not enter the circle its not for them. I say or recite whichever opening I have prepared be that a poem or rhyme I have written or, more likely, a favourite poem from elsewhere.

There is a smaller ritual for closing the circle.

I don't seek time travel I have enough problems for the day that's in it!

I love the idea of all the natural woods and flowers, all altars have flowers but I'm thinking for the next one I might add some branches from the trees in the garden, not from the fort.

Blessings Trow

I did'nt seek the knowledge of time travel, sort of came about it one day. It's what you might intend to do with knowledge of the future and the ability to travel that makes it the forbidden fruit.

It's also very dangerous as your head could end up on the domed roof of the Drui's house millenia before you are born. That's if you use their portals. Fancy being a living God for a day?

Sure i can't tempt you to come see, i can pack it all in to a day trip.

Do you use coloured cloth in any of your ritual and no i'm not testing you, not anymore, Just curious to see if i can spot anymore similarities in practice.

[bernadette]

I did'nt seek the knowledge of time travel, sort of came about it one day. It's what you might intend to do with knowledge of the future and the ability to travel that makes it the forbidden fruit.

It's also very dangerous as your head could end up on the domed roof of the Drui's house millenia before you are born. That's if you use their portals. Fancy being a living God for a day?

Sure i can't tempt you to come see, i can pack it all in to a day trip.

Do you use coloured cloth in any of your ritual and no i'm not testing you, not anymore, Just curious to see if i can spot anymore similarities in practice.

Mostly I prefer white but sometimes I use a cloth I embroidered, sometimes different colours, colours chosen to match the oils and my mood. Mood is important! Its very important to keep the cloths separate from other uses or to use new every time which can be expensive and in the case of embroidery time consuming.

I think I have to decline the invitation to time travel although if I master astral projection I may just catch up with you on your travels.

[Trow]

Mostly I prefer white but sometimes I use a cloth I embroidered, sometimes different colours, colours chosen to match the oils and my mood. Mood is important! Its very important to keep the cloths separate from other uses or to use new every time which can be expensive and in the case of embroidery time consuming.

I think I have to decline the invitation to time travel although if I master astral projection I may just catch up with you on your travels.

White and bright multicolour were/are the colour of Drui robes. I know what you mean about mood setting.

When you speak of mastering astral projection.....that was'nt you trying to pick me up and fly me away the other night was it?

[bernadette]

White and bright multicolour were/are the colour of Drui robes. I know what you mean about mood setting.

When you speak of mastering astral projection.....that was'nt you trying to pick me up and fly me away the other night was it?

Almost certainly not, though some of my neighbours are complaining about a bat...said to have invaded their various spaces recently I'm sure I couldn't say where its from or whence it goes...

Actually all the meditation and concentration necessary for the more advanced is really, really hard work! Its essential to clear the mind they say. Well! Thats a non starter. The only completely clear minds I can think of belong to the deceased! Even concentrating on one thing is hard. Right now I'm replying to you, listening to the radio, telling one of the cats bugger off and thinking what to wear to go to town later, bloody rain.

The other thing of course is the long arm of coincidence. I'm thinking what a coincidence... Again.

having said that I do believe its possible to 'see more', without drugs, but I also believe those who can do it don't know how they can. Lifes a learning curve right enough.

[Trow]

Almost certainly not, though some of my neighbours are complaining about a bat...said to have invaded their various spaces recently I'm sure I couldn't say where its from or whence it goes...

Actually all the meditation and concentration necessary for the more advanced is really, really hard work! Its essential to clear the mind they say. Well! Thats a non starter. The only completely clear minds I can think of belong to the deceased! Even concentrating on one thing is hard. Right now I'm replying to you, listening to the radio, telling one of the cats bugger off and thinking what to wear to go to town later, bloody rain.

The other thing of course is the long arm of coincidence. I'm thinking what a coincidence... Again.

having said that I do believe its possible to 'see more', without drugs, but I also believe those who can do it don't know how they can. Lifes a learning curve right enough.

It was the calling Bernadette. [that feeling of being picked up and carried through the air] woke me out of my sleep in the early hours] It's because i hav'nt gone to the grove this Solstice as yet, but there's time.

You're right about those who can see don't know how. Well for many of them that is. I found my answers in that ''long arm of coincidence'' when i noticed it occurred at the same times each year. Began to research and found some answers in Celtic lore.
The ability can come on to people also.

sitting by the fire is one of my tools, i slip into a trance like state and the visions come, no drug required. I can project by the fire also and go were i like, usually back to the grove to see how things are.

In some craft this can be done using a frame, like a picture frame which is similar to the sheep's shoulder blades used by the ancients. That book will detail more than i can.

I don't use many tools of the trade, i can do it without anything which brings us back to the long arm of coincidence as i discovered the ability comes onto me during Quarter days.

It's burdensome at times because of the often tragic events foretold. I just blurt it out too.

I was standing with two comrades in Prison one day and suddenly said, one amongst is will lose a brother as a back seat passenger after a visit. ''Who?'' came the question from my two comrades, i named the person.

Two years later.......tragic.

In the same seeing session i foretold of an English football team winning the premiership and going on to win the Euro cup. [Not Man Utd]

The season ended, it came to pass that they won the league. Then came the Euros. I predicted that they would be 3-nil down at half time and come back to win on penalties. It happened and all foretold over a year in advance.

One of my comrades placed a bet and won two grand.

Happy shopping Bernadette. Stay Well.

[bernadette]

It was the calling Bernadette. [that feeling of being picked up and carried through the air] woke me out of my sleep in the early hours] It's because i hav'nt gone to the grove this Solstice as yet, but there's time.

You're right about those who can see don't know how. Well for many of them that is. I found my answers in that ''long arm of coincidence'' when i noticed it occurred at the same times each year. Began to research and found some answers in Celtic lore.
The ability can come on to people also.

sitting by the fire is one of my tools, i slip into a trance like state and the visions come, no drug required. I can project by the fire also and go were i like, usually back to the grove to see how things are.

In some craft this can be done using a frame, like a picture frame which is similar to the sheep's shoulder blades used by the ancients. That book will detail more than i can.

I don't use many tools of the trade, i can do it without anything which brings us back to the long arm of coincidence as i discovered the ability comes onto me during Quarter days.

It's burdensome at times because of the often tragic events foretold. I just blurt it out too.

I was standing with two comrades in Prison one day and suddenly said, one amongst is will lose a brother as a back seat passenger after a visit. ''Who?'' came the question from my two comrades, i named the person.

Two years later.......tragic.

In the same seeing session i foretold of an English football team winning the premiership and going on to win the Euro cup. [Not Man Utd]

The season ended, it came to pass that they won the league. Then came the Euros. I predicted that they would be 3-nil down at half time and come back to win on penalties. It happened and all foretold over a year in advance.

One of my comrades placed a bet and won two grand.

Happy shopping Bernadette. Stay Well.

Thank you Trow

I don't believe in tools of the trade. I think that for the last several centuries 'tools of the trade' would have been enough to sentence the owner to a slow and tortuous death. I believe in the cleansing, in oils, candles and fire of course. All other tools are everyday things its enough that I know what they're for.

I think the ability to 'see' is something we all have. Its latent mostly gone but sometimes something sparks it to life and then if we choose we can use it again.

Projection is something more advanced. I find walking allows my mind to drift...

Blessings