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PO Box 3533
Whichford
Shipston on Stour
Warwickshire
CV36 5YB
England
http://druidnetwork.org
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danielcarpenter@talk21.com
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Lammas2010
quarterly news
Roe Deer II by Emma-Jayne Saanen
Summer
With summer fully (and finally!) here, we are
reminded of the sun's strength and power. The
crops are ripening under golden rays, the wheat
growing tall and the barley yellowing in the long
summer days. What we have sown, what we have
tended so dearly to in the early spring, and
nurtured throughout a tumultuous season of
returning frosts and cold north winds is finally
coming towards a harvest. All very nearly ruined
by late frosts, many crops - both those of the
backyard self-sufficient gardener and that of larger
farming industry is showing signs of fruition.
Apples are greening on the trees, and flowers have
come out in full force, along with the bees and
butterflies, moths and beetles.
As we observe what nature shows us in the
seasons, flora and fauna, so too do we see a
reflection of that in our own lives. At Yule, we
dreamt of what we would achieve in the coming
year, blessing and dreaming over the seeds at
Imbolc, sowing them at the Equinox and, for many
of us, planting the seedlings at Beltane (and
running them back inside every night with frost
warnings!) to grow to fullness in the coming
summer months. With the sun at its full height, the
days so long and the nights so short, we ride the
tide of this high energy, where nothing can stop us
as we carry our dreams and aspirations to fruition.
But now the tide has turned, and if we have
spent ourselves at the time of high summer, we
will have nothing left to give when the real work,
the harvest-time, begins. So we must learn to pace
ourselves, to not over-commit, to nurture ourselves
as much as we are nurturing everyone and
everything around us in this season of sun-inspired
madness.
Here in East Anglia, ever since the North Wind
has stopped, the sun has been out in full force,
scorching the grass and wilting my tomato plants.
The waterbutt has run dry, and everything that I
hope to harvest needs special attention, much as I
do now.
Having just finished a crazy three weeks of
working for an international festival, I feel much
like my tomato plants, wilting in the heat of the
sun, and not as yet bearing fruit (or even flowers).
And so I withdraw, into the shade, into my
spirituality, soaking up the quiet times of evening's
enchantment, in the cool night air where my soul
can expand without withering away in the noon-
day sun. Like the deer in the forest, I retreat to
cooler climes, seeking shelter and shade. I must
Peace One Day
In 2008 we had some really exiting Peace One
Day events happening within the Network. Last
year was quiet. This year the 21st of September
falls in the week, which makes it harder to
organise events. However, if anyone is inspired to
act and would like to list a Peace One Day event
with TDN, please do get in touch - bryn.colvin@
blueyonder.co.uk
We might also be able to explore having related
peace events on the weekends on either side as
well. If anyone has any inspiration they'd like to
contribute to the website, please do get in touch
with that as well. Ideas for ritual and meditation,
ways of promoting peace and so forth all much
appreciated. Thank you.
Bryn Colvin
prepare myself for the work ahead.
And so I urge you, to take a moment and to rest
a while. Do not let all your dreams and work
earlier in the year be in vain. Let nature inspire
you to follow in its cycle. The real work is yet to
come!
Joanna van der Hoeven
http
://dru
idn
etw
ork
.org
quarterly news
2
The Pacific Northwest (USA) continues to be quiet. We need
information on upcoming events of interest as well as poetry,
activities, new groves, etc.
Aigeann
Pacific Northwest
The moon reflects on an amber coat
the sniper, - 'stealth' is her name
She crouches, haunched, perfectly still
Then....snatches yet another unwilling victim,
Unselfishly, 'stealth' gives up her prize,
Chattering, snarling jaws,
Only once more to leave her Lair,
Maybe....this time?
Heat, searing, pain, weak and cold,
nothing but feathers and lead,
'Stealth' is now her Orphans prize!
Stealth
The grass feels so parched upon this dusty cracked clay
My fingers slipping through uncountable golden seedheads
Foxtails, meadow fescues, sedge and rye for the hay
Spiders spinning old tales of summer with silver threads
Softly undulating in the warm wind upon ridge and furrow
Seas sun-sparkling with toadflax, buttercups and oxeyes
Bees in the clover, a pheasant's entrance narrated by a crow
And a woodpecker laughs as the lark reaches for the skies
And I sit, bending stalks, my head sinking into my hands
The hope of my grandmothers, as the breeze lifts my hair
The sweat of my grandfathers as they worked for their lands
Sharing warm bread and cider, their laughter filling the air
As a mouse scampers clear, the scythe slicing through
The hum of the combine harvester grumbling into view
Emma Restall Orr (2010)
A Sonnet for Lammas
This is a poem about a fox, hunting to feed her young - she
takes no more than she needs, yet in the end, becomes food
for her offspring as she gets shot and dies at their feet.
Although a little bit of a sober poem, I wrote this to
reflect the unselfish love of an animal to it's young and to
also reflect how the 'big wheel' turns.
I hope you enjoy it.
Raebeth
Deadline: 21 July 2010
I recently attended a forest gardening course at an
experimental permaculture site called Karuna in Shropshire.
The founders of Karuna are under threat from legal action
that could easily result in the end of the project.
To cut a long story short, and without going into the
background of the legal case, the founders desperately need
Request for legal advice
Morriston Tree, Morriston Park, Swansea by Sea Sparrow
Henrietta Tree, Henrietta Gardens, Bath by Sea Sparrow
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p:/
/dru
idn
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.org
3
reviews
by Ellen Evert Hopman
(Llewellyn, 2010)
This is the sequel to Priestess
of the Forest, a unique Celtic
tale of love and danger. I
loved Priestess of the Forest -
it was well written, full of
nuggets of herbal lore and
wisdom, flowing in and out of
the story that held me
enthralled throughout.
The Druid Isle is an
entirely different kettle of
fish.
Review: The Druid Isle
If you loved Priestess of the Forest, then you will
probably dislike very much its sequel. Hopman leaves the
story behind and instead rams Druidry down your throat -
well, her interpretation, at least. Whereas the prequel
contained wisdoms that pushed and complimented the
storyline, here are lessons that are given in a lectured format,
forgetting that there is a story or even characters involved.
Let me explain.
Characters and storyline take second billing next to
Hopman's insistent teachings on Druidry. We never really get
to know the characters, their feelings, backgrounds, their
thoughts - this is overshadowed completely by their learning
experience of Druidry. The story essentially is of two young
adults, learning Druidry from the sacred Druid Isle. They
don't really interact with their teachers or their lessons - most
of the text in the book is the teacher talking at the student
(and the reader), which, quite frankly, became tiresome after
the initial four pages of it. The teachers talk, the student
does. That is the extent of the characters' interaction -
something which I found very unfulfilling. Hopman is trying
to disguise a lesson plan in the form of a story, but it just
doesn't work - the story is left behind. Shame - it could have
been very good. Either that, or Hopman should have just
written a book on her version of Druidry without trying to
turn it into a fictional romance.
These lessons were made even more annoying by the fact
that they really didn't contain much Druidry in them -
Druidry in the sense that I know it to be, which is a British
religion and philosophy. When I think of Druids, I certainly
One Meditates Through:
- Chantings,
- The Breath,
- And the Feet.
When on a Meditative Retreat:
- Have No TV,
- Remove All Peer Pressures,
- And Enjoy Nature.
One Can Meditate:
- While Working,
- In Water,
- And at Home.
Natural Meditative Chants:
- Sounds of Birds Singing,
- The Babbling of a Brook,
- And the Wind Rustling through the Trees.
Breath Mediation:
- Takes Patience,
- Time,
- And Correct Practise.
One Does Meditation through the Feet:
- When Walking,
- Sitting,
- Or Standing.
Aquatic Meditations:
- Sooths,
- Cleanses,
- And Refreshes.
Meditation Helps To Investigate:
- The Natures of Reality,
- Truth,
- And of Goodness.
Meditation Increases:
- Alertness,
- Awareness,
- And the Ability to Sustain Attention.
TheDruid-3X3
Meditationadvice from legal council with insight into environmental
issues. If anyone can help, either personally or by
recommending someone, please get in touch with me
urgently at m.d.fletcher@blueyonder.co.uk.
For more information see their website at
www.karuna.org.uk. The deadline for writing in support of
Karuna is 21st July. The court case is 1st September. Thank
you!
Mike Fletcher
don't think of characters sitting on clifftops chanting Om and
being given crystals as a reward at the end of each lesson.
Eastern mysticism and New Age fluffiness abounds. The
author tries (unsuccessfully, in my opinion) to validate her
use of chakras and other things in a chapter at the end of the
book entitled 'What is that doing there?'. It didn't answer the
question.
So, the earthiness, the romantic love story and wisdom of
the first book is sincerely lacking in the second. If you loved
Priestess of the Forest, then don't read this book. You will be
sorely disappointed.
Joanna van der Hoeven
PO Box 3533, Whichford, Shipston on Stour, Warwickshire, CV36 5YB, England.
http
://dru
idn
etw
ork
.org
events
4
Bath clouds by Sea Sparrow
July
Sunday 25 July 2010, 12pm Gorsedd of Rhiannon and the White Horse Beltane Rite The White Horse at Uffington. Meet in the main car park at the White Horse around noon and then proceed to the area where the Gorsedd will be held. For those who are unable to manage the walk we'll lay on cars to ferry you to the site. The format will be very much the BDO/TDN style of Gorsedd with Bardic initiation and handfastings offered if required. Contributions welcome for the informal eisteddfod (songs, poems, stories). Information: email Rainbow at htarrant_sun@hotmail.com. Sunday 25 July 2010, 10am to 5.30pm Megalithic Portal Ancient Site Hunt North and East Kent. Part of the Festival of British Archaeology. On the day we will be exploring fascinating and little-known ancient sites in North and East Kent. There will be teams of us exploring the area on the day - full itinerary to be posted nearer the time. If you would like to take part please let Andy B know so we can plan for locations and numbers. Information: www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=2146413846. Wednesday 28 July to Sunday 1 August 2010 Glastonbury Goddess Conference 2010 - �Celebrating the Goddess of Love Glastonbury. Participate in inspiring workshops, listen to fascinating presentations, see beautiful artwork and stalls, performances, music, song, poetry and dance. Information: www.goddessconference.com or via email at goddesconference@ukonline.co.uk. Sturday 31 July 2010, 9.30am to 5.30pm Megalithic Portal Ancient Site Hunt The Brecon Beacons. Part of the Festival of British Archaeology. Use the Megalithic Portal to discover prehistoric sites near you, and visit some wonderful locations near Brecon. Talks, displays and demonstrations throughout the day. We will also be at Brecon Library on the morning of the 31st. Information: www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=2146413847.
Sunday 1 August 2010, noon The Gorsedd of the Bards of Caer Abiri Lughnasadh Gathering Avebury, Wiltshire. Muster at noon beside thecafé before making the God and Goddess walks to the Sun Circle. Feel free to bring your songs and poetry, contributions of bread and mead, but most of all bring your heart. Information: phone Morgan on 01458 835518. Saturday 28 August 2010, 11am to 3pm Growing and Preserving Herbs Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Growing herbs will include the seasonal activities of growing herbs - preparing the ground, sowing seeds, taking root cuttings, moving and dividing plants, potting seedlings, weeding and harvesting what’s appropriate. Information: contact Sarah Head on 0121 707 8269 or email sarah@headology.co.uk. Saturday 28 August 2010 Pooka'S Pageant 2010 Oddfellows Hall, Ipswich, Suffolk. A day to celebrate polytheism through storytelling, poetry, chanting, song and other performing arts. Tickets are £3 in advance, £5 on the door. Information: see www.freewebs.com/pookaspageant for more details. Friday 10 September to Sunday 12 September 2010 Herb Festival Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. There will be talks and demonstrations on all aspects of herbs from medicinal, culinary to craft and arts. If you would like to exhibit something herbal or crafty, please let me know to book a table in the craft tent. Information: contact Sarah Head on 0121 707 8269 or email sarah@headology.co.uk. Sunday 26 September 2010, noon The Gorsedd of the Bards of Caer Abiri Autumn Equinox Gathering Avebury, Wiltshire. Muster at noon beside thecafé before making the God and Goddess walks to the Sun Circle. Feel free to bring your songs and poetry, contributions of bread and mead, but most of all bring your heart. Information: phone Morgan on 01458 835518. Sunday 26 September 2010, 3pm to 6pm Way of Awen Taster Bath. Kevan is a former Bard of Bath and author of The Bardic Handbook, The Book of the Bardic Chair, and The Way of Awen. Come and meet the tutor and fellow participants, find out about the Way of Awen, and try some of the activities before committing to the twelve weeks course. Information: phone Kevan on 01225 334204 or visit www.wayofawen.com.
August
September
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