A Shanty for the Pirates of Dead Island UK

Taken an oath under maritime law?
Heave ho, there’s no need to frown
They’ll make you pull ropes til your fingers are raw
Heave ho, and tie the men down

The HMRC, is UK PLC
Heave ho, they tax the whole town
Their off shore accounts save the whole company
Heave ho, they keep the costs down

Now remain in the dock, and give up your berth
Heave ho, and sign your name, clown
They”ll pick up the salvage to get what you’re worth
Heave ho and bring the slaves down

1666, lost ewer the sea
Heave ho, they burned the town down
They’ve stolen your ship by Admiralty
Heave ho, they said you were drowned

You are legally dead, by Cestui Que Vie
Heave ho, can’t you read MRS BROWN?
They’re safe in their bloodline; the right ancestry
Heave ho, they wear the right gowns

You chose to agree, you ‘orrible lot
Heave ho, can’t find common ground
and by your agreement you got what you got
Heave ho, you gave up your crown.

So, tie the men, bring the men, hold the men down!

Maritime Law – The common Law with the addition of 80,000 made up Acts and Policies that humans were fooled into agreeing to over a long period of time by an elite few. The Cestui Que Vie Trust Act of 1666 was passed during the Great Fire of London. It declared everyone legally dead. The assets were put into a trust and are still held as salvage by the state.

Grave stones have names in capital letters because they are legally dead. You do not own property, you only think you do. Read your title deed carefully, it says that the state reserves all its rights.

Are you dead? Yes, which is why your name is spelt in block capitals on all legal documents.

http://www.napowrimo.net/ Day 4

The White Spring – Glastonbury Beltane Begins

What a long Beltane season it has been. Glastonbury has been alive with vibrancy and energy.

It began with weeks of preparations; Before I can even think about the seasonal altar at The White Spring we gather with an informal group of Glastonbury residents. From Spring Equinox onwards we all begin to weave and craft the town celebrations. In a relatively short time we do manage, by some miracle, to plan and create wonderful community celebration for townsfolk and visitors of all faiths and backgrounds to join in with …. More about that in the next blog.

The run up to Mayday / Beltane can be hectic; there is so much going on …

At the April Dark moon, we had set the seasonal altar and were ready for the week running up to April 1st. However, the weather turned, we had rain, and more rain … floods, high winds! It was beginning to look like some of the Beltane events could easily be a washout.

Each year, Max and I host a Beltane firewalk at the end of April. Firewalking is beautiful in the rain, but not so great in a flood or gale. We had to change our venue at the last minute and fortunately found a field that wasn’t waterlogged.

It is a wonderful and empowering thing to do and it perfectly compliments the work we do at the White Spring. Particularly potent at Beltane, firewalking has become a tradition for us at this time of year. There were 18 firewalkers, including my own son. He has been around a lot of firewalking events, has seen me teach on many occasions, yet at 16 years old this would be his first time participating.

We all gathered around to light the fire. This is no ordinary fire! This fire is lit with a 7 year flame, and built with sacred intent. Whenever I can, I use the Brigid flame that I keep at The White Spring and on my shrine at home to light the firewalks.

The group were fabulous, we had a lot of fun preparing for the walk before all of us, everyone, went outside and walked the coals. After the build up, after feeling the nervous energy in the room when people arrive, after the focused teaching and raising of energy; after all this comes the celebration as people cross the coals; it is liberating, free, reality shifting … a dance begins; a celebration of life and a realisation that amazing things really are possible.

And, it didn’t rain!

I have done this workshop with hundreds of people, but on this night I got to see my son take part! It is incredible to see people walk the coals time and time again, but for me to witness my own son and knowing what it means to him on a deeper level, was something entirely different. I was quite overwhelmed at the end of it all. As elated as I was, I would need to sleep; I had to be up and ready the next morning to open the White Spring for two groups.

The first group arrived to find the wellhouse lit beautifully, and me standing in the central pool! This is an immense thing to do after a night of firewalking, it is like the tempering of the sword. Like when a blacksmith fires up a bit of metal, he hammers it into shape and plunges it into cold water! It is such a powerful sensation to stand in that water after doing something so incredible.

I got out of the pool and dried my feet whilst the group got settled in and set up, then stayed with them as they chanted and sang. I sat by the front door, so as not to intrude, and I listened. It was really good to just sit and be at peace in the place after all the heightened energy of the night before.

The next group we had booked in had been at the firewalk, and instead of the calm and serene feeling from the first group, this group were excitable, energised and still buzzing from the night (even those who had just come to watch their friends!) They all took off their shoes and put their feet in the water – one of them said it was almost as difficult as the firewalk because the water was so very cold. They soon got used to it and were walking all around the place barefoot. Their first time firewalking and their first time at The White Spring. They had an awesome weekend!

Beltane waits for no man, or woman … so onward. After the two groups were gone, it was up to Bushey Coombe at midday to meet the women of Glastonbury to prepare the hole for the Maypole – so I collected some water, a trowel, shovel and most importantly strawberries and chocolate to share. It had been blowing a gale the night before and some of the trees in the lane had come down. It was grey and windy, a bit wet still and the grass was soaked. After shifting a broken tree limb from the road on Wellhouse Lane, I arrived at the end of the lane leading to the coombe. I got the tools and the treats to the site, and two other women arrived. The three of us bailed out the hole from last year, which had filled with water, and dug a little deeper. We decorated the hole with flowers, made our offerings to the land and shared water, treats and love. We said a prayer for all of our sisters, and brothers, and made a wish that all those who are looking for love find their heart’s desire. The rain only just held off, and the wind blew away the cobwebs. There were less women than in previous years, but the job was done.

We thought of the men, who had gone to collect the maypole ready for the celebrations on the 1st. We knew that they had gone to Wearyal Hill to collect it, and they had to carry it through town to the Assembly rooms.The rain did hold off for us, but as soon as we were done, the heavens opened and it poured.

With the maypole planting preparations done, Max and I returned home to get ready for Tuesday’s Beltane Celebrations in town. On the Monday, we needed to build a bower for the May Queen and Summer King, and attend a walkthrough for the ceremony on Bushey Coombe. I didn’t need to be there so I decided to take a bit of time out to walk the land. It is important to connect with the land when you are involved in this kind of work – my time spent communing with the land is very special and it connects me to the forces of nature in a deep way.

I felt quite relaxed about the whole thing, although it was busy, I felt very calm in the midst of seeming chaos. The big day was approaching, and hundreds of people would come to the Springs as part of the celebrations.

On Monday night I went to bed wishing for good weather – and the next morning, we went to make sure the White Spring was ready to light up quickly and recieve lots of visitors. Well, it wasn’t!

More about that in the next blog!

Bright blessings

Lisa

 

 

 

 

The White Spring Diary – Glastonbury 2012 – Unity and Diversity

We have had such a vibrant and busy Beltane season so far that I have only just had a chance to write it all down – and we still have some way to go with our full moon Beltane celebration happening from dusk to dawn tomorrow, Saturday 5th May.

The last couple of weeks have flown by. We have felt such a shift of energy co-inciding with some pokey magical unfolding. I’ll start by telling you about the multi faith gathering organised by the Pilgrim Reception Centre. Glastonbury 2012.

On Saturday 21st April 2012 a momentous event occurred here in Glastonbury. I hadn’t realised the enormity of it until I was walking into the centre of a circle of representatives of over 50 different faiths, paths and ways. All of us gathering together in a spirit of unity.

It was a remarkable undertaking. Everyone had been invited to collect a candle and a small blue bottle from the pilgrim reception centre in town so that they may bring water from wherever they wished in the locality and take a light from the Glastonbury candle away with them.

A Glastonbury candle was lit in the morning and placed on a magnificent flowered bier. It was then carried from place to place, resting at many churches, sacred sites and places of spiritual significance to many townsfolk.

I had opened the White spring for the afternoon and awaited the arrival of the candle at 4pm at the last stopping point of the journey. I had collected the water that I would bring to the ceremony from the healing pool, at the shrine dedicated to ‘Our Lady of Glastonbury’.

At around 3.30 two of our keepers arrived for the ceremony, so Max and I went to prepare the candle. It was too big for most lanterns so Max had to whittle the bottom of it so it would fit into the one we had brought.

A friend came running up the hill to tell us that the candle would arrive soon. It had been carried over Glastonbury Tor by druids and bards of the town.

What a lovely sight it was, from the bottom of Wellhouse Lane as the Druids of Glastonbury appeared carrying the candle and a standard bearing the Awen symbol. They processed to the White spring and placed it inside the building.

Now, I am accustomed to sensing the energy and consciousness of a flame through my work with the fire. I teach firewalking and keep a perpetual flame that has been kept alight for 7 years, so I feel an affinity with fire energy. This flame had been lit that morning, using a Glastonbury candle that has been created and infused with herbs and essences including The Holy Thorn. It was lit with a dedication to unity and diversity; a flame to honour the multi-faceted aspects of Glastonbury. It had journeyed to so many places around the town, carried by representatives of many different faiths and I could feel the significance in this. I had thought it would have been great to have lit it with the Brigid flame, but now I could see that this was a different kind of energy that was building.

After a few minutes in the dark of the cave like structure under the Tor, it was time for us to carry the candle to the gardens of Chalice Well. Two of us were needed to hold the large bier that housed the lantern. We placed it on our shoulders and walked the long way round to the gardens led by Morgana, manager of The Pilgrim Reception centre. I was at the front and could not see the flame. Max was holding the other end, he told me later that his main objective was to stop the bier from swinging side to side and to keep the flame from going out!

As we turned onto Chilkwell Street, Morgana turned and asked me to sing so we sang, ‘there is a fire burning for peace.’

As we entered the garden and saw the people gathered there I really began to feel the power of what was happening here. I felt a rush of energy come up through me as we entered the circle and placed the candle in the centre.

I was a little overwhelmed as I collected my lantern from the keeper who had been holding it for me. I stepped back into the circle. Opening up to the moment, I looked around me and saw so many people with different ways of life gathered around this one flame. Neighbours, friends, people I see regularly, others I have yet to meet, all gathered together.

A few words were said about the flame, about the gardens and about why we were invited to this event. We were asked to step forward and pour the water we had collected into a beautiful crystal glass bowl made for the occasion. To say something of what we represent and then to light our candle with a blessing.

I had thought about what I represented; I am the current custodian of The White Spring and keeper of the perpetual flame held by Brigid, a flame of divine consciousness arising in humanity. I represent … (wow, big statement!) what do I represent? …. Me? The energies of the White spring? Pagan? Wizard? Priestess? Mother? Druid? the divine power expressed from this locality of being? No thing? I could and I do represent all of this and none of it … If that makes sense.

I ended up saying nothing about what I thought I represented, feeling unable to put it in a box or limit it by labelling it. Instead I simply stated where I had brought the water from and then lit my candle with a blessing.

‘A blessing for all the people of Glastonbury and all who pass through this place, living and non-living. May this gathering here today help us all to re-member … Re-member the common unity here in the heart. The heart of the land, the heart of the world. May the heart thrive!’

Everyone stepped forward and one by one poured their water and lit their candle with a unique blessing for Glastonbury. Water was brought from all over the landscape. From hills and springs, from gardens and graveside, from rivers and taps.

It was very moving to see each person come forward in such diverse expressions with a common purpose.

If we can stand in a circle of peace here in Glastonbury, extending our compassion and love to others in our community no matter their background, or their way of belief and faith, then why not across the whole world? Perhaps this is just the seed, maybe other towns and cities will be inspired to do the same, gathering together to celebrate similarities instead of fighting over differences.

As the candle was taken by each person and lit up the whole circle, I was reminded of an analogy that I came across that helped me to make sense of the many different paths to the same source.

There is a lamp so bright that it may overwhelm you, it burns so powerfully. This lamp has a lampshade lest it blind those who look upon it. It is so vastly beyond our comprehension. There are many different shapes to let some of the light through. Some familiar, others not so. We are drawn towards those shapes and impressions of the light that make sense to us. Those shapes give the light a form through which our human understanding can access the awesome light at the centre. There is just the one divine light – the shape, the story and the structure that we give to it is our own unique way of experiencing that divine expression.

One of my teachers told me once that it is fun to hang out where god hangs out … It may seem funny to think of it like that, yet this thinking has led me to special sites of power, and some churches, chapels, ashrams, darshans and to unexpected places and people where I have felt potent expressions of divinity. Here I was again, hanging out where god hangs out; feeling divinity arising, and this time with so many different tones, expressions and flavours.

After everyone had come forward, we were offered a bottle to take some of the mixed waters away with us and another gift. A sweet little box with pieces of the Holy Thorn inside it. This symbolic gift was potent. The Holy Thorn was damaged last year, a devastating event that sent ripples around the world. People of many faiths were united in their feelings of sadness. Paradoxically, this destructive dismemberment has inspired this gathering together of different faiths. An act of violence has manifested a powerful moment of peace and remembrance.

At the end of the ceremony, Natasha of Chalice Well, Morgana and I took the remaining water. Half of it was poured into the flow form pool in the gardens and half was poured into the pool at the White Spring.

I took up the lantern, my small bottle of water and gift from the Holy Thorn home to my altar. I imagined all the other participants doing the same; all going in their own directions; branching out into the community with this feeling of unity.

May we all feel inspired to look for what unites us and allow that to grow in the heart of our communities.

Blessings x

The White Spring – Imbolc 2012 part III – The celebration

Tuesday was spent at The White Spring; setting the space, moving rocks, cleaning candlesticks and removing wax. G, the Founder of the Temple would be having the evening for a private booking so I wanted to place to be clear and ready well in advance before I went home to prepare myself to hold the ceremony.

At home, I went over my words, and devised a way to keep time in my head so I did not have to look at a watch. There would be a period of darkness and I had no other way to keep time. I sang a song over three times. I knew that would be approximately nine minutes altogether.

One of our helpers had their car break down on the evening prior to Imbolc and had to stay at our house so he got to witness the crazy, getting the family up and children ready for the day, morning madness that ensues. After the children left for school we quickly organised our things and left for the White Spring.

When we arrived I found that the seasonal altar had been changed a little, the altar cloth had been pushed back, crushing the swan feathers I had left there. I cleared the altar immediately and reset it, this time without the cloth. Some new snowdrops had turned up, so I assumed that G had left them there and either didn’t like the altar cloth, or did not notice that I had already begun to set the altar. I struggle for a moment with slight annoyance, then let it go. Nevertheless, the altar was reset along with more beautiful fresh snowdrops.

We checked that there were no light sources coming in to the building. All the skylights had been covered, and even the keyhole and cracks under the doors. I set the helpers to lighting candles and went outside to greet some of the early visitors. There were not as many people as in previous years. Though the first person to arrive had come all the way from Australia!

I went inside again to light some incense and found myself visiting each shrine with a song. I went last to the central chamber at the back of The White Spring, turned to face the wall and sang to the spirit of the Spring. When I turned around again, I found that the building had filled up and there was quite a crowd watching me. I suddenly felt a little shy, but managed to not show it whilst I went outside for a moment. I could sense that the visitors were waiting for things to start, so we started right on time.

I was so happy to have Merlin with us to lead the chanting and singing. I knew I could count on him to come in at the right time and get everyone singing along. After welcoming everyone, I talked a little about the White Spring, and said a few words about Imbolc. Then we went into the darkness and silence.

What potency awaits in the quiet dark of the cave. This was my first time leading this ceremony, and although I was aware of the feeling of complete darkness inside the spring, I had not been prepared for the feelings whilst holding that space and being responsible for it.

Blackness, and just the sound of the water rushing through the building, my head was swimming as I sang the songs in my head that lasted 3 minutes each – just to help me keep time. It was silent, though I was sure my heart would beat right out of my chest. My mind wandered. The air seems to stir with pregnant possibility. You know that if you reach out you will touch the person stood next to you, yet you feel totally alone in the darkness. There were around 100 people all stood in the blackness for just long enough. And then I gave the signal by tapping on the door gently. Then three loud knocks from outside.

Opening the door, the light streams in as Young Bridie walks through carrying her lantern. The door closes and the single flame is carried to the centre of the building. ‘The light shines in the darkness .. and the darkness shall not overcome it!’ The light is passed from person to person and all of the candles are lit. Then we sing.

Bridie, Brigida, Sula, Sheena, Anun, Anna, Danu, Dana

This year marked the 7 year anniversary of the lighting of the Brigid flame here in Glastonbury. One of the people who lit the flame in 2005 told us all of its significance. Then we all gathered outside to share inspiration and song.

I introduced G as the founder of the Temple and she talked about Brigid and her inspiration. The red and white waters were mixed and those gathered were splashed with the waters with purifying intent before offering to the land with our wish that the waters flow together forever.

It was cold. The winter had been so mild up until this week, and now it had just turned icy cold. Young Bridie was wrapped up warm and we drummed and danced to keep our feet warm. Max told his seasonal story, a journey if you like, taking us to the otherworld. I offered a guided meditation, to create powerful intent and send it out into the universe along with Brigid’s guiding light.

The Monk’s gate into Chalice Well was opened for us to go into the garden. Yound Bridie led us up to the wellhead of Chalice Well and we left the flame there before going to the fire that had been lit on the lower lawn. R and her mum got a hot chocolate, and after chatting to a few folk, Max and I went back to the Spring. We had a keeper ready to open for the day, so after the procession to Brides Mound had left, we went to have some lunch.

At sunset I went to Bride’s Mound myself, to honour the flame that I keep at the temple and in my home. K, another keeper of the flame had arranged to have a fire puja; a prayer and offering of ourselves in support of that prayer. It was a beautiful gathering. Someone had created a beautiful icon of Brigid which stood in the footprint of the chapel that had been built there so many years ago. We lit candles from the Brigid flame, all around the chapel and honoured the place where the Mary Magdalene altar had been. Then we surrounded the fire to share songs.

At the end I had so many well wishers thanking me for the ceremony at The White Spring and telling me how much it meant to them to come to Glastonbury and feel so welcome at the sacred ceremonies here. I took their praise gracefully and gave it back to the earth.

Later, I left the mound in the darkness filled with the glow of the flame, the warmth of the community that I am a part of, and the knowledge that so many people had found something special on that day. The season of Imbolc, the power of the land, and the Celtic Goddess Brigid was honoured here.

 

 

Seasonal Ritual for Imbolc

Ok! so lets start with the whats and the whys. What is Imbolc? Principally it is one of the key 8 seasonal points of the year. Why should we celebrate it? Well it is more of a rejoicing, as Imbolc marks the end of winter and the start of spring. Thus the life and energy returning to the land around us. As practitioners we are wise to have a deep awareness of what the energy of the world around us is doing, so that we are able to work with it rather than be hindered by it.

Seasonal Celebrations should always be kept simple. After all, you’re not expected to turn the wheel, or even raise the energy to, in this case, melt the snows, but we are encouraged to mark and signify what is happening .

Thus, we need to look at what the Seasonal Correspondences are. I often smile when I read the pages and pages of what stuff has been attributed to what meaning. At the end of the day, we can weave deep meaning into what ever has deep meaning for us. Which is why, with these Seasonal Rites, keeping it simple is so important. So let us focus on what we see.

At this time of year;
Plants that naturally flower. (Ergo the source for oils & herbs) Dutch Crocus, Green Hellebore, Hazel, Snowdrop, Spurge Laurel, Stinking Hellebore, Winter Aconite and Winter Cherry.

Animals key to this time of year: robins, sheep especially lambs, swans, wolves, hibernators just starting to awaken

What is the world doing right now? Waking up! Energy is starting to flow again, heat is pushing up from the ground beneath. The beat to the dance of life has just started to tap her feet, so it is time to feel the music and take to the dance floor, with or without a partner, or risk missing the season.

Be thankful for surviving the winter, but lets not dwell on the past. Now it time to look to the work that needs to be done. So, it is a potent time to bless your seeds for the coming year’s crops and consecrate your tools that you need to plant them. So now our intention is set, let’s start the ritual.

You will need with you;
fire wood
gardens tools to be consecrated
seeds intending to be planted
snowdrops or even snowdrop oil or essence

Find a spot outside; a place directly on the ground that you intend to plant is the most perfect.
Build a small, but to become hot, fire. Don’t light it yet (a few lumps of coal always help raise the heat)
Rub a little snowdrop oil on your hands, neck and feet, or gaze at the snowdrops to attune with it’s essence.
Call to the spirits around you. This can be done by direction and elemental placement, or as you are already outside you can walk in a circle around your fire and call the names of those energies and spirits that you know and wish to have beside you.
e.g. As I walk upon the waking land. I invite all those that have helped me get here (name a few if you wish this includes Gods and Goddess) and I welcome all those who wish to attend with this *shared intention*
( **that bit is keep out the potential trouble makers).

Light the fire and say words along the line of ”as the heat returns to the ground beneath me, let this fire mark the ground with my intent” or with a chant or song of your choice.

Work the fire until it is nice and hot. Through the smoke and heat start to see and dream of what your ground will look like when fully planted. This may take a little time, all dependent on how well you built your fire.

When the fire is blazing, place your metal tools into the flames; and I mean get the metal right into the embers and let them sit there. If they have plastic handles then keep the plastic away from the fire and if your tools are all plastic or you are worried about damage to them, hold them over the heat for as long as you dare.

Once you have heated them all, either at at once or each of them one at a time. Plunge them in to the ground around you forming a circle. The metal of the tools should, if hot enough, let out a nice steamy hiss as the hot metal hits the cold moist soil. This process both consecrates the tools, marks them with your intention and further adds your energy to the ground that you intend to work.

Now, standing in a circle of your newly consecrated tools, lightly move your seeds through the smoke; either still in their packets or on trays. You can say words like ” We bless these seeds with cleansing smoke from the fire of our intention” Once they all have been smoked take a mixed handful of seeds and cast them into the fire. For a moment or two, breath in the smoke that they produce. This is your offering to the spirits for a kind spring.

Then gather up your tools, thank all the spirits that turned up and leave the space with the fire still burning. Allow the spirits of your land some undisturbed time by the fire of your intent. Giving them a chance to work a little of their own magic.

What are your Imbolc wishes and intentions?