Nature
Contents
1. The Zen in the Buzz
2.Nature's Orgonite
3.Sacred Fire and Making Char cloth
1. The Zen in the Buzz
2.Nature's Orgonite
3.Sacred Fire and Making Char cloth
1. The Zen in the Buzz
At our midday Lughnasa Ceremony this year we acknowledged and thanked the universe for our first harvest. I gave thanks to the universe for my harvest here at Druidschool. 4 years ago we moved onto a derelict farm. The task that lay ahead of us was exciting and daunting. It’s still not over and I reckon or hope that it never will be over that it will always be growing. This year we really saw a culmination of the hard work we and volunteers have put into the land and space here. This progress has allowed me to take on some new residents, 8 chickens, 1 kitten, 5,000 and counting bees. It is the experience with the bees that I would like to share with you here.
I decided about a year ago that I wanted to host some bees here, note that I didn’t say keep bees here-there’s a difference. The majority of people keep bees for honey. The honey is the bees’ winter food store, bees are very precise creatures and they develop their hive in accordance to their population and the weather. They know how much honey they need to produce to feed the colony. The majority of bee keepers manage their colonies with harvest of honey as the end goal. Bee keepers who rob the winter food store of the bee have to feed their bees processed man made refined sugar in a syrup. Bees are on the decline for reasons including over use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. They are also being farmed in unsustainable ways by bee farmers. These bee farmers keep large amounts of hives and hire them out to monoculture farms. The bees can be travelling in their hives on trucks from farm to farm for season after season. Having researched how bad sugar is for the human body I would suggest that people who feed sugar to their bees are part of this vicious cycle of bee destruction.
Now I know beekeepers will vehemently defend this and who am I anyway to talk about bees I’ve only had the bees here for a month or so.
I’ve invited the bees on the land here for no other reason than to bee here. The benefits of having bees are huge; they significantly increase the fertility of a region through their pollinating abilities. Let me tell you the story of getting the bees.
When we moved here first there was an old ash tree at the end of its life and threatening to fall on the house. We cut it down and found that it was hollow inside. We put it to one side and thought about the various different uses we could put it to. I decided to learn more about bees so myself and Con went to a workshop on top bar bee hives-a housing system that allows the bees to build their own comb and works on an understanding of as little interference as possible. As part of the slide show and talk the facilitator showed us a series of bee hives from around the world. One hive was made from a hollowed out tree trunk, well that got Con thinking.
A group of the participants decided to get together in a community space and work at building some hives. Con started looking at that hollow ash tree with new purpose and vision; he began to create a beautiful work of art and a deluxe space for the bees to live.
I contacted some bee breeders and put my name down for a nucleus-a queen bee and approx 5000 workers. I had heard stories of having to wait a few years before bees would be available, but the breeders got onto me fairly quickly and told me they had a nucleus for me. We set off early one morning to drive to collect them. We arrived and there they were all packaged in a sturdy cardboard box. I could hear the hum and buzz and see them through the mesh on the front of the box. more pics here on the facebook page.
I started to get very nervous, had I thought this through fully, was I mad? I was about to pick up the box and travel for an hour with it between my feet and then open it! I suddenly felt I needed to buy all the safety equipment possible, so I went then to the breeders shop and bought a good quality suit and hood and a pair of gloves with very long arm covers. The drive home was fine, every so often I put my hand to the box and could feel the buzz.
When we got home I let the box sit for a little while before moving it to its final destination. I had a coffee and some food and tried to steady my nerves. After a short while I got all my gear on, and reluctantly posed for a photo, if you see the photo of me on our facebook page look at my face, totally serious! I just wanted to get the bees out of the carboard box and transfer them successfully. But I was awhile off that yet.
First I had to carry the box down the field and set it on a stand near the hive. I then opened a little slot in the front of the box with a sharp knife. This allowed the bees freedom from the box and saved me, a total beginner from having 5000 aggitated bees fly at me. So under instruction from the breeders I waited an hour. I couldn’t relax enough to go off and do something else so I got myself a seat and sat close to the box and the hive and just watched and waited. I became conscious of my fear and anxiety. I can’t put in words how scared I felt.
I watched from the witness mode of my being and tried to process what was going on. I had all the kit on, the likely hood of actually dying was very slim, but that wasn’t the source of fear. I’m still unsure of where it came from.
I sat there watching the bees flying in and out. I tried to stop the fear, to think my way around it, then I gave up and let go and watched the bees. I could see them flying in and out and around the box. I could also hear the buzz and this is what I focused on. I was entranced by the buzz, it really is an amazing sound. Suddenly a total calm surrounded me. I felt completely at ease and happy. I also felt a stronger and brighter presence than my own. It was reassuring and confident and it gave the message that all was ok and it was time to move the bees. I felt like I had connected with the collective consciousness of the bees. In the centre of all that buzz is complete calm. I think of it as the calm that comes with intent of purpose, knowing what your doing and why your doing it.
I stood up. Took out a small but very sharp knife and cut the top flaps of the box open. Bees flew up and around me the buzz was a constant yet it was a calm and beautiful experience. I slowly moved my hands and used a tool to gently break through the propolis the bees had used to glue the frames inside the transport box together. As my hands approached the top bars of the frames the bees moved out of the way and I lifted each frame up and transferred them into the hive slowly. I had no fear whatsoever. I was totally in the moment with the bees, a deep but very awake meditative state. I got the frames in and closed up the hive. I walked away, looked back and saw the remaining bees from the box flying into the hive.
Once away from the hive enclosure I got a rush of feelings through me, it felt like I was on a high but also in shock. I didn’t know what to do next, and I will admit I went to the liquor cabinet in the house and helped myself to a large one!
I check on the bees regularly without opening the hive, they are busy in the good weather, you can see their little legs heavy with pollen as they fly back from their harvest. I hope they settle in and are prepared for the winter, so far all is well.
I feel totally blessed and awe inspired having them here. I really feel that I connected with them, the noise they make changes but the closer you are to the hive and if you quieten your mind you can hear the collective buzz of real hard work and in that complete buzziness there is a beautiful calm and peace that is open for us to connect with. If you're not in a position to host some bees, you can still help in the greater scheme of things, plant some flowers beneficial to bees,look at your consumption of honey with a new understanding. Bees are on the decline, we need bees now for pollination and to keep the greater cycles of nature turning. Do something for the bees. Bee a true Lightworker.
Niamh Connor, Druí Fasach, Lughnasa 2012
I started to get very nervous, had I thought this through fully, was I mad? I was about to pick up the box and travel for an hour with it between my feet and then open it! I suddenly felt I needed to buy all the safety equipment possible, so I went then to the breeders shop and bought a good quality suit and hood and a pair of gloves with very long arm covers. The drive home was fine, every so often I put my hand to the box and could feel the buzz.
When we got home I let the box sit for a little while before moving it to its final destination. I had a coffee and some food and tried to steady my nerves. After a short while I got all my gear on, and reluctantly posed for a photo, if you see the photo of me on our facebook page look at my face, totally serious! I just wanted to get the bees out of the carboard box and transfer them successfully. But I was awhile off that yet.
First I had to carry the box down the field and set it on a stand near the hive. I then opened a little slot in the front of the box with a sharp knife. This allowed the bees freedom from the box and saved me, a total beginner from having 5000 aggitated bees fly at me. So under instruction from the breeders I waited an hour. I couldn’t relax enough to go off and do something else so I got myself a seat and sat close to the box and the hive and just watched and waited. I became conscious of my fear and anxiety. I can’t put in words how scared I felt.
I watched from the witness mode of my being and tried to process what was going on. I had all the kit on, the likely hood of actually dying was very slim, but that wasn’t the source of fear. I’m still unsure of where it came from.
I sat there watching the bees flying in and out. I tried to stop the fear, to think my way around it, then I gave up and let go and watched the bees. I could see them flying in and out and around the box. I could also hear the buzz and this is what I focused on. I was entranced by the buzz, it really is an amazing sound. Suddenly a total calm surrounded me. I felt completely at ease and happy. I also felt a stronger and brighter presence than my own. It was reassuring and confident and it gave the message that all was ok and it was time to move the bees. I felt like I had connected with the collective consciousness of the bees. In the centre of all that buzz is complete calm. I think of it as the calm that comes with intent of purpose, knowing what your doing and why your doing it.
I stood up. Took out a small but very sharp knife and cut the top flaps of the box open. Bees flew up and around me the buzz was a constant yet it was a calm and beautiful experience. I slowly moved my hands and used a tool to gently break through the propolis the bees had used to glue the frames inside the transport box together. As my hands approached the top bars of the frames the bees moved out of the way and I lifted each frame up and transferred them into the hive slowly. I had no fear whatsoever. I was totally in the moment with the bees, a deep but very awake meditative state. I got the frames in and closed up the hive. I walked away, looked back and saw the remaining bees from the box flying into the hive.
Once away from the hive enclosure I got a rush of feelings through me, it felt like I was on a high but also in shock. I didn’t know what to do next, and I will admit I went to the liquor cabinet in the house and helped myself to a large one!
I check on the bees regularly without opening the hive, they are busy in the good weather, you can see their little legs heavy with pollen as they fly back from their harvest. I hope they settle in and are prepared for the winter, so far all is well.
I feel totally blessed and awe inspired having them here. I really feel that I connected with them, the noise they make changes but the closer you are to the hive and if you quieten your mind you can hear the collective buzz of real hard work and in that complete buzziness there is a beautiful calm and peace that is open for us to connect with. If you're not in a position to host some bees, you can still help in the greater scheme of things, plant some flowers beneficial to bees,look at your consumption of honey with a new understanding. Bees are on the decline, we need bees now for pollination and to keep the greater cycles of nature turning. Do something for the bees. Bee a true Lightworker.
Niamh Connor, Druí Fasach, Lughnasa 2012
2.Nature's Orgonite
Mother Earth generates the primary life force that allows us humans to live here. We need living water and air with the correct % of oxygen and living food to grow and develop but we could never make ‘life as we know it’ happen without this primary life force. Many people have begun to rediscover this hidden energy and are making synthetic tools and jewelry using some of the principles presented to us by Dr Wilhelm Reich. But there are serious problems with what they are doing…
The universal life force has many names - animal magnetism, od, odic force, élan vital, prana, chi, astral fluid, bions, re and Imbass in our tradition. Dr Wilhelm Reich (whose understanding is a vital part of the online homestudy course) rediscovered this energy and called it Orgone and Deadly Orgone Radiation aka DOR. There is a very good reason why Wilhelm saw 2 types of this life force and why he called one of them ‘deadly’ and in the following essay I’ll explain my understanding of some of these reasons.
The principle Wilhelm used was alternating layers of materials with different densities or vibratory frequencies to accumulate more of this Orgone where and when he desired. Too much Orgone causes problems he called DOR that we can understand as overload. Orgone generated by a toxic mix of materials can seriously harm or even kill people and is also called DOR.
Mother Earth generates the primary life force that allows us humans to live here. We need living water and air with the correct % of oxygen and living food to grow and develop but we could never make ‘life as we know it’ happen without this primary life force. Many people have begun to rediscover this hidden energy and are making synthetic tools and jewelry using some of the principles presented to us by Dr Wilhelm Reich. But there are serious problems with what they are doing…
The universal life force has many names - animal magnetism, od, odic force, élan vital, prana, chi, astral fluid, bions, re and Imbass in our tradition. Dr Wilhelm Reich (whose understanding is a vital part of the online homestudy course) rediscovered this energy and called it Orgone and Deadly Orgone Radiation aka DOR. There is a very good reason why Wilhelm saw 2 types of this life force and why he called one of them ‘deadly’ and in the following essay I’ll explain my understanding of some of these reasons.
The principle Wilhelm used was alternating layers of materials with different densities or vibratory frequencies to accumulate more of this Orgone where and when he desired. Too much Orgone causes problems he called DOR that we can understand as overload. Orgone generated by a toxic mix of materials can seriously harm or even kill people and is also called DOR.
Image above from http://www.waterjournal.org/volume-3/demeo - Schematic cross-section of an orgone accumulator, showing its layered construction. The interior layer is ferromagnetic sheet metal, the organic-insulating layers are of high-dielectric materials.
I’m writing this as a man who has studied this area for 30 years. I’ve made and used an Orgone blanket to help a couple conceive – this simple device had a set of rules and a limited life but it worked. I made a very simple device for pre-germination seed enhancing – this showed many successes and also presented many problems too! I’ve been working in the Light for most of my adult life – I teach the skill of divining subtle energy, how to find concentration nodes, what to do with damaged lines or nodes, activated damaged chakras, fixed sleep problems, I’ve helped release trapped spirits and memories and at ceremony I guide people to generate and share a big ball of this Light letting it go where it is needed. I teach awareness through the courses at Druidschool that enables Druí Daltaí (student druids) to see, feel, generate and share this Imbass based on principles used by our Ancestors many thousands of years ago. I reckon I’ve a fairly good idea of what works well and what causes problems and how to try to find the harmonic balance with Imbass.
Science pretends ‘it’ does not exist – that is because 99% of science is profit driven and the primary life force is not able to be cut up or scientifically analyzed so therefore it is ignored. Many modern discoveries by individuals of the wide range of applications for this Orgone have been commercialized in small home-based industries.
This manufactured mix is called Orgonite. These mixes are often cast into a disk / pendant for personal use or a round cone or pyramid for ‘space’ use. Guidelines on the internet often say that resin to metal mix should be around 50/50 with stones/crystals added. In an essay called “Growing Nonsense About Wilhelm Reich and Orgone Energy on Global Internet.” Dr DeMayo says –
The current craze about "orgonite", "orgone generators" and "chembusters" has done a tremendous damage to the research legacy of the late Dr. Wilhelm Reich, who discovered a new cosmic force in nature and called it the orgone energy.
And.
By contrast, the "orgonite" and "generator" gadgets are feeble imitators. Maybe if one has absolutely zero knowledge or prior experience on the subject, the very weak orgone radiation from the metallic components of an orgonite-generator gadget might introduce someone to the subjective aspects of the radiation, and give them some limited subjective sensations. But one can feel the life-energy radiation even more strongly as it radiates off a plain old plastic bag filled with steel wool pads, as found in any hardware store. Allow such a bag of steel wool to gently rest on your open palms and the radiant field is nearly always present and sensible. The orgone life-energy is everywhere, and interacts with all kinds of materials, but only Reich's original orgone accumulator or orgone blanket with their layered construction makes optimal use of this discovery.
from http://www.orgonelab.org/orgonenonsense.htm
I encourage my readers to read the full article in the link above to get a sense of the frustration being felt because of foolishness through lack of knowledge and experience. Many Orgonite devices are very toxic but regardless of this they seem to sell quite well. There are people making Orgonite devices all over the world. They are priced to sell and made attractive to the eye but they cause problems for the users. A secondary problem is that users do not want to admit that there are problems because of the pride of having such a ‘cool bit of kit'.
I had a Druí Dalta here as a volunteer who was wearing an Orgonite Pendant. This Dalta was suffering symptoms of a named disease and of poisoning but was very reluctant to take the ‘thing’ off. It was hanging over the heart area. I taught this Dalta the skills of basic divining and showed the harmful effect of the pendant to a harmonic energy field. She still would not get rid of it. The reluctance was based in part to the notion that there’s something else causing the problems and partly in the horror of having to abandon such a ‘cool piece of kit’. The other challenge was the unspoken notion that the wearer of such a device would be more aware than others who did not wear them… I told her the story of the emperor’s new suit made out of hard to get ‘commercial bluff’… Still no letting go. She began to take mineral supplements and a range of pills and drops from a local health food shop but because the Orgonite Pendant was still over the heart - the disease and poisoning symptoms persisted.
The reluctant Dalta went to a specialist with an advanced machine called Scio that could identify the source of health problems and re-tune the body to self heal. The specialist was a lady friend of ours and a Druí Dalta as well and even though she did not hear my opinion she had no hesitation to say – ‘get rid of that thing’. Eventually the Orgonite Pendant was recognized for what it was – shiny eye candy with ‘super powers’ encoded that cause suffering in the wearer. I recommended that it be scratched and returned to the maker with a note of displeasure – I don’t know what happened but I tried to make it clear that dumping was not an option.
Now I knew that this Orgonite Pendant was toxic the moment it was shown to me. I quickly guessed its price and ingredients and gauged the owners pride of ownership and the wearer’s notion that she had more ‘suss’ on things than I did because of this incredible device. This is called arrogance and is often a reaction to ‘daddy issues’ which came up for healing later on.
Why was the Orgonite Pendant causing sickness? Because it was made using tiny bits of aluminum and a very toxic 2 pack resin to hold the mix with its tiny semi-precious gemstones together. Both the aluminum and resin are cheap and both are toxic to humans. This toxicity result is quick when ingested but invisible and progressive when worn with pride. The toxic materials vibrate in a way that does not support life harmony. I don’t use any powered measuring machine or device with flashing lights to demonstrate this – I simply divine the disruptive effect and on occasion I’ll teach the ‘victim’ to divine so he or she can challenge their purchasing motivation with a reality check. Don’t buy any energy tools that have toxic ingredients in them because they are toxic tools – tell the salesperson I said it!
There is a natural ‘orgonite’ made by planet Earth. But first; an example of how Nature binds toxic things. Poppy seed heads used complete when dried in a pillow case will support a relaxed sleep. Processed and refined or put another way - without its 22 balancing alkaloids it becomes heroin hell. Bauxite is how nature binds aluminum – it looks like a hard rock covered in sand with other small bit / types of rock but when processed it becomes the deadly toxin aluminum. But aluminum is cheap to make and this makes it very available.
Quartzite is nature’s Orgonite. Pieces of Quartz embedded in a sand mix on a beach, dried and hardened and then after millions of years and tectonic plate shifts it sits in hills and mountains. Ireland’s holy mountain known as the Reek or Croagh Patrick or as we call it – Sliabh Crom is composed of Quartzite with Gold seams…
I’m writing this as a man who has studied this area for 30 years. I’ve made and used an Orgone blanket to help a couple conceive – this simple device had a set of rules and a limited life but it worked. I made a very simple device for pre-germination seed enhancing – this showed many successes and also presented many problems too! I’ve been working in the Light for most of my adult life – I teach the skill of divining subtle energy, how to find concentration nodes, what to do with damaged lines or nodes, activated damaged chakras, fixed sleep problems, I’ve helped release trapped spirits and memories and at ceremony I guide people to generate and share a big ball of this Light letting it go where it is needed. I teach awareness through the courses at Druidschool that enables Druí Daltaí (student druids) to see, feel, generate and share this Imbass based on principles used by our Ancestors many thousands of years ago. I reckon I’ve a fairly good idea of what works well and what causes problems and how to try to find the harmonic balance with Imbass.
Science pretends ‘it’ does not exist – that is because 99% of science is profit driven and the primary life force is not able to be cut up or scientifically analyzed so therefore it is ignored. Many modern discoveries by individuals of the wide range of applications for this Orgone have been commercialized in small home-based industries.
This manufactured mix is called Orgonite. These mixes are often cast into a disk / pendant for personal use or a round cone or pyramid for ‘space’ use. Guidelines on the internet often say that resin to metal mix should be around 50/50 with stones/crystals added. In an essay called “Growing Nonsense About Wilhelm Reich and Orgone Energy on Global Internet.” Dr DeMayo says –
The current craze about "orgonite", "orgone generators" and "chembusters" has done a tremendous damage to the research legacy of the late Dr. Wilhelm Reich, who discovered a new cosmic force in nature and called it the orgone energy.
And.
By contrast, the "orgonite" and "generator" gadgets are feeble imitators. Maybe if one has absolutely zero knowledge or prior experience on the subject, the very weak orgone radiation from the metallic components of an orgonite-generator gadget might introduce someone to the subjective aspects of the radiation, and give them some limited subjective sensations. But one can feel the life-energy radiation even more strongly as it radiates off a plain old plastic bag filled with steel wool pads, as found in any hardware store. Allow such a bag of steel wool to gently rest on your open palms and the radiant field is nearly always present and sensible. The orgone life-energy is everywhere, and interacts with all kinds of materials, but only Reich's original orgone accumulator or orgone blanket with their layered construction makes optimal use of this discovery.
from http://www.orgonelab.org/orgonenonsense.htm
I encourage my readers to read the full article in the link above to get a sense of the frustration being felt because of foolishness through lack of knowledge and experience. Many Orgonite devices are very toxic but regardless of this they seem to sell quite well. There are people making Orgonite devices all over the world. They are priced to sell and made attractive to the eye but they cause problems for the users. A secondary problem is that users do not want to admit that there are problems because of the pride of having such a ‘cool bit of kit'.
I had a Druí Dalta here as a volunteer who was wearing an Orgonite Pendant. This Dalta was suffering symptoms of a named disease and of poisoning but was very reluctant to take the ‘thing’ off. It was hanging over the heart area. I taught this Dalta the skills of basic divining and showed the harmful effect of the pendant to a harmonic energy field. She still would not get rid of it. The reluctance was based in part to the notion that there’s something else causing the problems and partly in the horror of having to abandon such a ‘cool piece of kit’. The other challenge was the unspoken notion that the wearer of such a device would be more aware than others who did not wear them… I told her the story of the emperor’s new suit made out of hard to get ‘commercial bluff’… Still no letting go. She began to take mineral supplements and a range of pills and drops from a local health food shop but because the Orgonite Pendant was still over the heart - the disease and poisoning symptoms persisted.
The reluctant Dalta went to a specialist with an advanced machine called Scio that could identify the source of health problems and re-tune the body to self heal. The specialist was a lady friend of ours and a Druí Dalta as well and even though she did not hear my opinion she had no hesitation to say – ‘get rid of that thing’. Eventually the Orgonite Pendant was recognized for what it was – shiny eye candy with ‘super powers’ encoded that cause suffering in the wearer. I recommended that it be scratched and returned to the maker with a note of displeasure – I don’t know what happened but I tried to make it clear that dumping was not an option.
Now I knew that this Orgonite Pendant was toxic the moment it was shown to me. I quickly guessed its price and ingredients and gauged the owners pride of ownership and the wearer’s notion that she had more ‘suss’ on things than I did because of this incredible device. This is called arrogance and is often a reaction to ‘daddy issues’ which came up for healing later on.
Why was the Orgonite Pendant causing sickness? Because it was made using tiny bits of aluminum and a very toxic 2 pack resin to hold the mix with its tiny semi-precious gemstones together. Both the aluminum and resin are cheap and both are toxic to humans. This toxicity result is quick when ingested but invisible and progressive when worn with pride. The toxic materials vibrate in a way that does not support life harmony. I don’t use any powered measuring machine or device with flashing lights to demonstrate this – I simply divine the disruptive effect and on occasion I’ll teach the ‘victim’ to divine so he or she can challenge their purchasing motivation with a reality check. Don’t buy any energy tools that have toxic ingredients in them because they are toxic tools – tell the salesperson I said it!
There is a natural ‘orgonite’ made by planet Earth. But first; an example of how Nature binds toxic things. Poppy seed heads used complete when dried in a pillow case will support a relaxed sleep. Processed and refined or put another way - without its 22 balancing alkaloids it becomes heroin hell. Bauxite is how nature binds aluminum – it looks like a hard rock covered in sand with other small bit / types of rock but when processed it becomes the deadly toxin aluminum. But aluminum is cheap to make and this makes it very available.
Quartzite is nature’s Orgonite. Pieces of Quartz embedded in a sand mix on a beach, dried and hardened and then after millions of years and tectonic plate shifts it sits in hills and mountains. Ireland’s holy mountain known as the Reek or Croagh Patrick or as we call it – Sliabh Crom is composed of Quartzite with Gold seams…
One foot under the top soil on our farm its all Quartzite rocks in a clay – untouched and natural just as the Gods made it millions of years ago. Now the pieces of Quartz and Quartzite we have on our farm were not exploded by gunpowder nor were they machine cut or polished to give the ‘eye candy effect’. The Quartz pieces bought in sacred stores are often exploded out of the earth and child slave labour is used for cheap gathering. These stones are then cut with diamond tipped high speed saws and then polished to a nice shine. Such stones are damaged and if worn can damage the energy field of the wearer too.
But some Quartz stones were hand polished - one semi-sphere piece of Quartz is found underneath the Irish Ardagh Chalice.
But some Quartz stones were hand polished - one semi-sphere piece of Quartz is found underneath the Irish Ardagh Chalice.
Underneath the Ardagh chalice you can see a beautiful round semi-sphere of Quartz. This chalice dates to the early medieval period in Ireland and the focus stone was definitely hand polished. This piece would not be damaged like the stones blown up by explosives. Now you can see the two layers of gold and silver and the Quartz activator that together energises what ever is in the chalice. By energise I mean add more life force.
Brú na Boinne layering
Brú na Boinne layering
Brú na Boinne (Newgrange) has the main mound constructed of alternating layers of clay and shale and shells and earth etc. It was designed to self clean and no rain ever entered the inner chamber or 66 foot long tunnel. There is Quartz inside and outside in the modern fanciful re-construction. See albums on our fb page for lots of pics on the commercial rebuild of the temple.
Have a good look at this idea of alternating layers of non – toxic materials by studying Dr Wilhelm Reich’s work. Our online homestudy course introduces the understandings of this great man to our Daltaí. Be aware at the same time that if you wear 3 layers of synthetic clothing you are generating DOR that you may know of as static. Wear only natural cloth if you can get it and what ever you do – don’t buy toxic eye candy or an emperor’s new suit made of ‘commercial bluff’…
Ard Druí Con Connor, Imbolg 2013
Have a good look at this idea of alternating layers of non – toxic materials by studying Dr Wilhelm Reich’s work. Our online homestudy course introduces the understandings of this great man to our Daltaí. Be aware at the same time that if you wear 3 layers of synthetic clothing you are generating DOR that you may know of as static. Wear only natural cloth if you can get it and what ever you do – don’t buy toxic eye candy or an emperor’s new suit made of ‘commercial bluff’…
Ard Druí Con Connor, Imbolg 2013
3. Sacred Fire and Making Char Cloth
I first got to know Fire during Samhain 2003 this is when The Dark Moon Grove decided to rekindle the ancient Fire lighting ceremony on Tlachtga. This meant lighting a Fire from a brand new spark, no matches, no petrochemicals, transferring that spark to tinder and kindling and starting a Fire in a Fire box. It was to be the first of 3 sacred Fires in an 8 hour ritual ceremonial journey. The new year’s Fire Spirit needed to be carried from Tlachtga, to Tara, light another Fire there and then on to Sliabh na Caillaigh for the final Fire and ceremony of the night, then transported home to light our own home Fire.
Our grove also decided that it should be a woman to birth the spark; this huge responsibility was offered to me.
I first got to know Fire during Samhain 2003 this is when The Dark Moon Grove decided to rekindle the ancient Fire lighting ceremony on Tlachtga. This meant lighting a Fire from a brand new spark, no matches, no petrochemicals, transferring that spark to tinder and kindling and starting a Fire in a Fire box. It was to be the first of 3 sacred Fires in an 8 hour ritual ceremonial journey. The new year’s Fire Spirit needed to be carried from Tlachtga, to Tara, light another Fire there and then on to Sliabh na Caillaigh for the final Fire and ceremony of the night, then transported home to light our own home Fire.
Our grove also decided that it should be a woman to birth the spark; this huge responsibility was offered to me.
My experience in Fire lighting came from the girl guides; camp Fires and cooking competitions. This was different though; it was to be a ritual Fire, full of symbolic significance. The stories say that the first Fire of the Celtic New Year lit on Tlachtga would pertain to the year ahead. I didn’t let the pressure get to me (much!), it was a learning experience so I treated it as such.
It has taken me years, now Imbolg 2013 to get to know Fire. I still feel like a novice. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that each Fire is completely different, you can know the basics of Fire lighting but there are so many different factors that can affect the whole process that it is simply impossible to just do the same thing over and over. A sacred Fire has to be lit with consciousness and respect.
Since it is Imbolg and Brigid is so closely linked with the symbol of Fire I want share some of my understandings of why we use Fire in ceremony and also some of the practicalities that need to be looked at.
To light a Fire from a spark is a wonder-full and rewarding experience. You have to hold your focus completely on that new Fire Spirit. Holding you focus means everything, you need to hold yourself in the proper physical position, with a mind to the wind, have your hair tied up, clothes tucked in (always safety first) your thoughts need to be calm and centered on creation. Before you even get to this point though you have done a huge amount of preparation in organizing the tinder, kindling and main fuel as well as the means of creating and transporting the spark.
In order to get to know Fire I’ve done lots of experiments just for myself. I have the luxury and good fortune of having an indoor and outdoor permanent Fire place. So I can do things like light a Fire on Saturday morning and see if I can sustain it throughout the day. I’ve lit a Fire at night and seen if I can rekindle it in the morning. I’ve cooked on Fires, I’ve found this the most difficult as you have to change your habits around cooking, turning up the heat on a pot takes time and concentration, baking bread…well that’s a whole other experience and essay all of its own. I’ve also just sat and watched a Fire, a very rewarding and enriching experience. To light a Sacred Fire you must get to know how Fire works, what helps it grow and how it interacts with its environment.
The ancient Greeks considered Fire one of the major elements in the universe, alongside water, earth and air. But Fire is really something completely different. Earth, water and air are all forms of matter -- they are made up of millions and millions of atoms collected together. Fire isn't matter at all. It's a visible, tangible side effect of matter changing form. This is why it is such a powerful symbol of transformation. During our ceremonies the Fire is in the centre, it is the agreed centre of our universe during our ceremonial journey together, it is our focus for transformation. When we call in teachers, guides, light and healing energy to our circle we offer it to the Fire in the centre. When we wish to let go of something we offer it to the Fire in the centre for transmutation.
Fire has many of the characteristics of a living thing but it does not directly reproduce itself, it consumes oxygen moisture and carbon transforming them into light, heat and the residual ash. Nature constantly creates a new Fire and these Fires may have but a brief life as they consume everything within their reach. This is why I enjoy being part of creating a new spark and watching the dance of a new Fire spirit created for ceremony.
Lighting a Sacred Fire
Safety first. We always work with the idea of personal responsibility. If you are the person to light the fire you are completely responsible for it. If you have a fire with a group of people that you are unfamiliar with you need to set some basic rules of respect for the fire. I normally ask people not to touch or feed the fire without consulting with me first, that way if they want to feed the fire I can supervise and or help.
There are lots of practical things to consider. It is best never to light a fire on the ground, always have it in a container, this way it does not damage the ground underneath it. It also means you can somewhat control the size of the fire.
It has taken me years, now Imbolg 2013 to get to know Fire. I still feel like a novice. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that each Fire is completely different, you can know the basics of Fire lighting but there are so many different factors that can affect the whole process that it is simply impossible to just do the same thing over and over. A sacred Fire has to be lit with consciousness and respect.
Since it is Imbolg and Brigid is so closely linked with the symbol of Fire I want share some of my understandings of why we use Fire in ceremony and also some of the practicalities that need to be looked at.
To light a Fire from a spark is a wonder-full and rewarding experience. You have to hold your focus completely on that new Fire Spirit. Holding you focus means everything, you need to hold yourself in the proper physical position, with a mind to the wind, have your hair tied up, clothes tucked in (always safety first) your thoughts need to be calm and centered on creation. Before you even get to this point though you have done a huge amount of preparation in organizing the tinder, kindling and main fuel as well as the means of creating and transporting the spark.
In order to get to know Fire I’ve done lots of experiments just for myself. I have the luxury and good fortune of having an indoor and outdoor permanent Fire place. So I can do things like light a Fire on Saturday morning and see if I can sustain it throughout the day. I’ve lit a Fire at night and seen if I can rekindle it in the morning. I’ve cooked on Fires, I’ve found this the most difficult as you have to change your habits around cooking, turning up the heat on a pot takes time and concentration, baking bread…well that’s a whole other experience and essay all of its own. I’ve also just sat and watched a Fire, a very rewarding and enriching experience. To light a Sacred Fire you must get to know how Fire works, what helps it grow and how it interacts with its environment.
The ancient Greeks considered Fire one of the major elements in the universe, alongside water, earth and air. But Fire is really something completely different. Earth, water and air are all forms of matter -- they are made up of millions and millions of atoms collected together. Fire isn't matter at all. It's a visible, tangible side effect of matter changing form. This is why it is such a powerful symbol of transformation. During our ceremonies the Fire is in the centre, it is the agreed centre of our universe during our ceremonial journey together, it is our focus for transformation. When we call in teachers, guides, light and healing energy to our circle we offer it to the Fire in the centre. When we wish to let go of something we offer it to the Fire in the centre for transmutation.
Fire has many of the characteristics of a living thing but it does not directly reproduce itself, it consumes oxygen moisture and carbon transforming them into light, heat and the residual ash. Nature constantly creates a new Fire and these Fires may have but a brief life as they consume everything within their reach. This is why I enjoy being part of creating a new spark and watching the dance of a new Fire spirit created for ceremony.
Lighting a Sacred Fire
Safety first. We always work with the idea of personal responsibility. If you are the person to light the fire you are completely responsible for it. If you have a fire with a group of people that you are unfamiliar with you need to set some basic rules of respect for the fire. I normally ask people not to touch or feed the fire without consulting with me first, that way if they want to feed the fire I can supervise and or help.
There are lots of practical things to consider. It is best never to light a fire on the ground, always have it in a container, this way it does not damage the ground underneath it. It also means you can somewhat control the size of the fire.
You really don’t need a big fire what you do need is a sacred fire, one lit with the highest intent dedicated to being the centre of your ceremony. If you use treated wood and or petrochemicals to start the fire, in my mind it’s not as sacred as it could be. You ultimately want it to be as natural as possible with as much respect for nature as possible; this includes respect for your lungs, burning anything based on petrochemicals gives off unbeneficial fumes for you and the environment. You will need to organize tools and safety equipment, perhaps some leather gloves for handling the firebox. Think ahead, what will you do when the ceremony is over and your fire is still burning?
When the weather permits, we light our fires in the most natural way possible. I use charred cloth to catch a spark from a flint and steel, I then transfer this to a very dry ball of grass. I blow gently, smoke appears and the grass ignites into a very impressive ball of fire, here’s a classic picture of Ard Druí Red John:
When the weather permits, we light our fires in the most natural way possible. I use charred cloth to catch a spark from a flint and steel, I then transfer this to a very dry ball of grass. I blow gently, smoke appears and the grass ignites into a very impressive ball of fire, here’s a classic picture of Ard Druí Red John:
In the fire box I have very dry small twigs or sometimes I feather sticks. This is a crucial moment, you need to transfer and feed the new spirit very attentively. It is easy to quench the fire at this point. I’ve done it when I’m not concentrating properly usually worrying about the fire not starting! You have to feed the fire and maybe coax it along with some air. Con has made a handy blow pipe out of copper for this.
Once the flames are self sustaining you can add larger sticks. The next step is to wait for the fire to reach maturity; we consider this the right point to start ceremony. This is when the fire has consumed some large sticks and has a central hot core / heart. This is the point where all the physics of bringing a fire alive have happened the temperature is up and the fire needs to be watched and fed every so often. That’s how I light a sacred fire. I encourage you to get practical and try it out. Imbolg is the perfect time to light a sacred fire in honour of Brigid.
Sacred Fire, part 2
In the first part of this essay I mentioned that I use char cloth to catch a spark from my flint and steel. I will show you how I make char cloth. First you need to get a fire going outside. You will be burning cloth inside a tin can, you will be producing flammable gases so please go outside and find a safe place to light a fire.
Enough char cloth to start a fire
Sacred Fire, part 2
In the first part of this essay I mentioned that I use char cloth to catch a spark from my flint and steel. I will show you how I make char cloth. First you need to get a fire going outside. You will be burning cloth inside a tin can, you will be producing flammable gases so please go outside and find a safe place to light a fire.
Enough char cloth to start a fire
I use a steel and flint to make the spark that I catch on the char cloth.
I use only natural wood such as the branches that fall off trees and never painted or treated wood for my fires to make char cloth and for sacred fires for ceremony.
While the fire is getting nice and hot you can prepare everything else.
While the fire is getting nice and hot you can prepare everything else.
You will need a tin can with a lid. A washed out tin can with a jam jar lid works fine for me. Pierce a hole in the top of the lid to allow the gasses to escape.
Next you’ll need some cloth; I’ve found the reusable cotton shopping bags very good. We have a store called Aldi that has cotton shopping bags and I use a quarter of one of these. I cut it into strips.
The sections of cloth do not shrink when they are charred, so cut many pieces like the one shown above.
Go get yourself a long handled implement for handling the hot tin. Have this ready before you start.
And loosely fill the tin can to about 3/4 full - do not press the bits of cloth down tightly because you want air gaps so the process can happen.
And loosely fill the tin can to about 3/4 full - do not press the bits of cloth down tightly because you want air gaps so the process can happen.
Then place your tin can filled with cloth with the lid on beside your fire.
The next bit you have to learn with practice. It’s about timing. Your fire needs to be hot, but you don’t need to put the tin can in the middle of the fire, the edge will do fine, you might need to move a few embers around it so the temperature inside can build up.
The next bit you have to learn with practice. It’s about timing. Your fire needs to be hot, but you don’t need to put the tin can in the middle of the fire, the edge will do fine, you might need to move a few embers around it so the temperature inside can build up.
When done right it will only take a few minutes. During this time you might see some smoke rising up out of the hole, often but not always this smoke will ignite. Soon after this your cloth will be sufficiently charred.
Voila…char cloth
Store this somewhere dry until you need it.
This charred cloth will take a spark. I place a piece on top of a piece of flint and strike the flint with the striker. The spark lands on the cloth. You will know it has taken the spark when you see a little red glow. At this point it looks tiny and incapable of starting a fire but trust me it is extremely hot. You can handle the cloth at this point-the bit that’s not glowing red hot, and transfer it into your ball of dried grass. You can hold the ball of grass in your hand or you can prepare a holder from splitting the top of a green stick with a knife, prising it open and wedging the ball of grass in it (do this at the preparation stage). Make a little nest for the piece of cloth, sit the cloth onto it and blow a little until you see the glowing red part increase in size and temperature! Gently fold the grass in on top of the char cloth and blow a steady gently stream of air.
This is the scary part, you will see lots of smoke and will want to transfer it into your bed of kindling, if you do this at the smoking stage your fire may not take as easily and there will be lots of huffing and puffing to get it going. Keep going till it bursts into flames and then transfer. Please be very alert at this stage, if the wind is blowing and you have your face up close to a flaming ball of grass guess what happens? This is where respect for fire comes in, if you don’t approach this will healthy fear and respect you will learn the lesson the hot way.
That’s how I’ve made char cloth and it has worked time and time again in lighting fires for me. So go outside prepare your equipment and happy fire lighting!
Ard Druí Niamh Connor, Imbolg 2013
Store this somewhere dry until you need it.
This charred cloth will take a spark. I place a piece on top of a piece of flint and strike the flint with the striker. The spark lands on the cloth. You will know it has taken the spark when you see a little red glow. At this point it looks tiny and incapable of starting a fire but trust me it is extremely hot. You can handle the cloth at this point-the bit that’s not glowing red hot, and transfer it into your ball of dried grass. You can hold the ball of grass in your hand or you can prepare a holder from splitting the top of a green stick with a knife, prising it open and wedging the ball of grass in it (do this at the preparation stage). Make a little nest for the piece of cloth, sit the cloth onto it and blow a little until you see the glowing red part increase in size and temperature! Gently fold the grass in on top of the char cloth and blow a steady gently stream of air.
This is the scary part, you will see lots of smoke and will want to transfer it into your bed of kindling, if you do this at the smoking stage your fire may not take as easily and there will be lots of huffing and puffing to get it going. Keep going till it bursts into flames and then transfer. Please be very alert at this stage, if the wind is blowing and you have your face up close to a flaming ball of grass guess what happens? This is where respect for fire comes in, if you don’t approach this will healthy fear and respect you will learn the lesson the hot way.
That’s how I’ve made char cloth and it has worked time and time again in lighting fires for me. So go outside prepare your equipment and happy fire lighting!
Ard Druí Niamh Connor, Imbolg 2013