Our bit is actually a low spot, with drainage from built-up
plantings leading to ditches. For this reason is is unsuited for nursery
planting, and in fact the main meadow had to be cleared and raised, by digging
a pond and using the dredged soil for fill. Other dry areas had been used for
vegetable gardens. By the time I arrived, L. and I became committed to turning
the place into our private park and Pagan ritual and meeting space. At first
that was in context of Wicca, and her coven was privileged to have an outdoor
circle throughout its tenure. In time it became Our Druidry, and we built a
good temple in one corner of the place.
We’ve lit the fire here, developed various other shrines and
hallows around the property, and been elbow-and-knee deep in the place for many
reasons. However we have never done specific work to meet and know the spirit
intelligences of and in the land. I suppose that this is the result of our
evolving theory and understanding. Our experience has continued to lead us
toward a spiritist approach. We are no longer so much concerned with the
‘energies’ of the land, so much as meeting the ‘beings’ that are embodied in
it. As we move into this next phase we intend to use our recent magical models
to gain the knowledge and conversation of the Queen of our local Court.
In this we position ourselves somewhat in a Gaelic mythic
cosmos. I’m unconvinced that Iron Age Pagans had a totally animist view, in
which every plant and stone has an individual spirit. Rather I suspect that
they found the world full of spirits who ‘oversee’ portions of the world, a
spring or glade of trees. It is my opinion that such beings were those called
‘the sidhe-folk’ by later Gaels, along, perhaps, with the souls of such of the
human Dead as were fated to dwell in the land, and certain mighty daemons of
the gods. In the medieval visions of the later ‘fairy faith’ the mightiest of
such local spirits, or the guiding intelligence, was often called the King
and/or Queen, with some preference in the lore for a female ruler.
We intend to take all that none too literally, but still to
be searching for ‘the Court of the Queen’ of our bit of land. The basic outline
of the work, as I conceive it, is thus:
1: Work the Welcome Charm, and seek good omens
2: Light a Claiming Fire on/for the new portion of the land.
In Gaelic lore the way new land was claimed was to light the first fire upon
it.
Those we will do this weekend. The next steps may be delayed by the onrushing festival of festivals in July.
3: Call our Familiars and send them, or have them send a
spirit, as an emissary to seek out the Queen’s Court, and announce us. We will
ask them to return in Three days with news.
4: Consecrate a meeting place or gate physically on this
land as a transition-point for vision-jouneys.
5: Pass the gate into the Threshold vision of this land, and
meet the Familiar on his return. See whether we can get a name of the local
Chief by which to conjure, and other intelligence. This phase might involve
several visions, perhaps including a general convocation of the smaller spirits
of the immediate land.
6: Conjuring the Herald – a rite to call a major local
spirit to act as our ‘herald’ to the Court. This may or may not involve
actually calling the Queen/Chieftain as well – some will depend on the data
gathered from the visions.
7: Work with the Queen – somewhere between conjuring and
devotion… we’ll see.
The latter portions will be highly directed by results in
the earlier portions. We will see.
Here is text for the two charms we'll work as we take possession of the new patch.
1: A Charm for Seeking Welcome
• Prepare an offering
of water from your own home, including a few drops taken from your own home
shrine or consecrated ritual work. Take a divination tool, as well.
• If possible, enter
the area from the west, carefully survey the place, walking once deisil around
it. Look for a spot in which you can be comfortable, and feel in place in the
landscape. Open your Eye of Vision according to your ability, and offer the
water in three pourings, speaking a briocht as your skill allows, or use a
charm such as this:
The world is in me,
and I am in the world
The Spirit in me is
the Spirit in the world.
To you, place of
beauty, place of honor,
To you (name the
place) I bring this offering in peace.
From the Deep in me
to the Deep in you
From my Fire to your
Fire
A gift of honor, a
gift of worship
in hope of your
welcome
That there be peace
between us in all things
Biodh se abhlaidh!
• After you have
poured three times, and spoken the charm, stay for a while with your Eye of
Vision open.
• Take an omen to
determine whether the spirits of the place have accepted you. If the answer is
no then you must depart, and perhaps try another day. If the answer is yes then
you may proceed to other works in that place.
2: A Charm for Lighting a
Claiming Fire
• Coming into the
place of the Hallows, work the Charm of Welcome, seeking a good omen.
• Go to the four
corners of the place, however you have chosen them, and there cut a square of
turf, or soil. Bring that turf to your center, and with one turf or measure of
soil or stone from each corner or quarter make a raised platform upon which a
fire can be laid.
• This is the charm
to be said as each turf is cut.
I take this turf for
the work of the Hearth
That the Sacred Fire
be lit,
That the Old Bargain
be remade,
For the claiming of
this place.
Stand fast and hear
me, wights of this weald,
And I will give to
you good offering.
• Using the turf,
soil and stones, and adding material as desired, a firm raised platform should
be made, either square or round. This might be lined with rocks for stability
or decoration, but the intention is to raise the fire higher, not to contain it
within walls. For a claiming fire this need not be large or permanent, but the
soil can simple be spread and the fire laid.
• Let the fire be
kindled with as many woods as possible from the trees of the land, or the herbs
of the land, or even the flotsam of the land, so long as it is lifted from the
ground, and not taken from any live tree. If the initial kindling can be made with
proper and symbolic woods, according to your understanding, that is best.
• The spark for the
fire should be brought, if possible, from your own hearth. If this is not
possible the fire should be lit by friction, or by the light of the sun with a
burning glass. As the fire is kindled recite this charm:
I kindle this fire
In the presence of the Mighty, Noble and Shining Ones.
In the power of the Dagda, the Ruad Rofessa
In the power of Brigid of the Triple Charms.
Without malice, without envy, without jealousy, without fear,
Without terror of anything under the sun,
And the Spear of the Champion to protect us.
I kindle here upon this ground
A flame of Wisdom, Love and Power
A flame of hospitality and peace
To my foes, to my friends, to my kinsfolk all
To the brave, to the knave, to the thrall
From the lowliest things that liveth
To the names that are highest of all.
• When the fire is
burning well take a small torch, perhaps three tapers bound together, and light
it from the fire. Also take up a cup of meador ale or whiskey or milk, as you
will. Go once deisil around the Fire, stopping at each quarter to make offering,
beginning in the West. Saying:
This land I claim as
hearth-land. Hear me, spirits in the (West) and receive this simple gift in
token of more to come. Let there be peace between us and the (West).
And likewise,
substituting in each of the directions.
When all is done,
conlude with a final blessing, perhaps:
The Blessings of the Holy Ones
Be on me and mine
My blessings on all beings
With peace on thee and thine
The Fire, the Well, the Sacred Tree
Flow and flame and grow in me.
Thus do I seal the love of the land.
