A Celtic Sacred Journey

By Helen Madsen Whitaker

Bronwar and Caitlin, the main initiates in the story, find themselves experiencing the ancient, spiritual wisdom of many cultures as they physically, spiritually, and emotionally travel to sacred sites that have existed from time immemorial upon the Earth. Through this journey, they explore what spiritual concepts mean to the growth of humanity and to themselves as individuals.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press
• Release date: Aug 24, 2018
• ISBN: 9781982210359

Helen Madsen Whitaker

Helen Madsen Whitaker, is the author of several published poems, essays and this book. She pursued her love of words by obtaining a B.A. in English Literature. She has always been fascinated by how words in a story form transport the reader to another experience of life and help that same reader journey into an inner-self exploration as well. A life-long nature lover, she makes her home among the mountains of Utah.

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Copyright © 2018 Helen Madsen Whitaker.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-9822-1034-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9822-1035-9 (e)

Balboa Press rev. date: 08/23/2018

Contents

Acknowledgement

Introduction

Part One: Glastonbury

The Samhain Celebration

As Above, So Below

Chakra System

Sound And Sacred Sound

Sacred Geometry

Inside The Hill

The Nine Dimensions

Akashic Records Within The Halls Of Avalon

Labyrinths And Zodiac Wheels

Visions And Sacred Objects

Part Two: Avebury

The Journey To Avebury

Platonic Solids

Bronwar’s First Vision Of Atlantis

Symbolism Of The Avenues, Ring, And Sanctuary Of Avebury

The Vision Of The Spirals

Introduction To The Merkaba

The Feminine And Masculine Circles In The Ring

The Vesica Piscis

The Enclosure

The Avebury Ceremony

Part Three: Stonehenge

On The Way To Stonehenge

The Journey To Stonehenge

The Objects Of Lifetimes Vision

The Merkaba

Alchemy And Squaring The Circle

Gnosis

The Consciousness Cycle Of The Earth

Ceremony At Stonehenge

The Hathors, Pleiadians, And Sirians

Part Four: Return To Glastonbury

Cador’s Village

Carmela’s And Bronwar’s Lives

Mid-Winter Ceremony At Glastonbury

Glastonbury Druid Council

Part Five: Newgrange

The Journey To Ireland

Vision Of Repairs To The Mound

Newgrange Mound In A New Light

Druid’s Eggs And Symbols

Work On Newgrange Mound

Bronwar’s And Falon’s Akashic Journey

Part Six: Blacksod

The Journey To Blacksod

Sacred Circle And Medicine Wheel

Arrival At Blacksod

Whale And Dolphin Beings At Blacksod

A Chance For Healing

The Big Decision

Multi-Dimensional Lives

Gratitude Or Struggle

The Ceremony At Blacksod

Return To The Village

Part Seven: Return To Newgrange

The Return Journey To Newgrange

Reunited With The Family

Interconnection And Unity Within The Mound

The Beltane Celebration

Bronwar And Falon Inside The Mound

Understanding The Darkness

Parting Ceremony In Newgrange Mound

Goodbye To Newgrange And The Past

Part Eight: Glastonbury Revisited

To Glastonbury For The Wedding

Journey Into The Halls Of Avalon

New Home

The Wedding At Glastonbury

The Portal

The Next Phase Of The Journey

Endnotes

Bibliography

Acknowledgement

I wish to thank the people who helped bring this book to life and to the page for others to experience this journey as well.

I am deeply grateful to my mother, Janice Madsen, who has always encouraged my spiritual explorations and has shown me how to find value in each experience in life. She also reminded me often that I must share with others what is given to me to share. That is how this book made it to the publishers.

I am also grateful for my friend, Natalie Paulsen, who used her artistic talent to illustrate the sacred sites in the book, and who produced the wonderful cover art. She also has been a great encourager in my camp.

I am grateful to countless others in my life who have influenced me to keep up the search for spiritual Truth. We all travel this world together!

I am also grateful to the wonderful people at Balboa Press who reached out to me to help me bring this book to others, and have guided me through the publishing process.

Introduction

Welcome to all who read this story. I greet you as magnificent co-creators in this fabulous game of life where all are winners. Contrary to outer appearances, every single one of us is growing and progressing on our eternal spiritual journey. I have had many experiences that have taught me this universal truth, and I am forever grateful for the lessons. Enjoy this journey with me as I try to present to you in story form some of the magnificent mysteries of life I have learned to appreciate and to embrace. I invite you to put yourself in the place of any of the characters in this story or to put yourself in the place of a character you create to participate with mine. Your imagination is unlimited so enjoy playing with it.

Because information on how the Celts lived, what their beliefs were, and the names they used to describe concepts have been mostly lost to history, I have chosen to use my imagination and my own heart center to tell me what their lives, beliefs, and knowledge may have been. I have used modern terms for concepts which will make it easier for the modern reader to research them further. In addition, I have used names to describe the concepts that are older than time itself. So many inspired and dedicated writers have come before me who have sparked my curiosity, fed my ever-searching heart and mind, and taught me what I needed to know in order to live my life from a higher spiritual perspective. In the process, they have helped me in developing this story and the characters who show much of the learning process I have undergone (albeit in a different way and a different time.) I will be eternally grateful to these bright lights among humanity and have included information on many of their own writings for further exploration. As I am still in the process of remembering what my spirit already knows, and I have followed inspiration as it comes to me, I provide the list as a starting point for you to begin your own inspired journey through the wonderful spiritual knowledge that is available to us as beloved creations on this planet.

Any inaccuracies found in this story are mine and should not be attributed to any of the writings I have turned to as a jumping off point. Every person comes from source material with his or her own perspective, which again is why I encourage you as a reader to do your own research and engage in your own process of learning and remembering. I have barely scratched the surface of the concepts discussed in this story, and there are so many more that I didn’t feel inspired to bring into the narrative. Do yourself a favor and investigate further any that you are curious about.

Relax your mind and let your heart guide you as you join the characters in their journey. Let your inner self free and stay open to any possibilities. All life is interconnected, and in joy we are created and meant to live in order to gain experience. I salute you as part of the Oneness of creation. Thank you for being a part of the journey within the story and for sharing it with me.

Namaste,

Helen

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Pronunciation guide to names

Caitlin – (Kitelin)

Bronwar – (Bronwaur)

Samhain – (Sow-en)

Gilla – (Geeya)

PART ONE

GLASTONBURY

The Samhain Celebration

The air filled with starlight and wonder had a crispness to it that made the people welcome the warmth of the fires and the activity all around them. They were participating in one of the most important festivals of the year – Samhain. The dancers whirled and leaped with the flames from the enormous fires as the flames joined the twinkling lights in the sky. The weather had been unusually calm and the air so clear the last few days as if wanting to add its own magic to the festivities of this night. The flashing of the brightly costumed dancers, the shooting flames from the fires, and the twinkling brightness of the stars overhead seemed to be a perfect mirroring of the ascent up the World Tree, a symbol so deeply ingrained in and soul-filling to the people. The roots were the people firmly anchored in the Earth and all that she could provide for them. The trunk gave them a sturdy place to make their climb up to the heavens, physically and spiritually. The branches gave them further explorations into the cosmos and all the life-giving knowledge this ascent brought to them. This festival was a part of the celebration of life as it marked the beginning of a whole new cycle, the awakening of the seed below ground in its quest for emerging life on the surface. In the dark silence after this night’s excitement would come the whispering of new beginnings to the people.

There were many booths piled high with wares and items produced from the abundant summer season that had just passed. Caitlin was carefully examining the brightly colored fabrics, imagining what she could create with each piece. A squeal of delight escaped her lips as she held up an exceptional piece of emerald green cloth. After she paid for it, she ran excitedly through the crowd looking for her dear cousin. Bronwar was actually Caitlin’s aunt but the two were only five years apart in age and because of the great affinity with each other they referred to themselves as cousins. Of the two, Bronwar was the most serious and practical one, but she delighted in Caitlin’s exuberance and her ability to make her dear cousin laugh under almost any circumstance. This evening Bronwar was extremely light-hearted, and joyfully she reached out to grab Caitlin as she hurtled into the group of people Bronwar was talking to.

Caitlin excitedly held out her purchase for all to see, Look at this exquisite cloth! It is so fine that the fairies could have spun the thread! Look how the emerald shimmers as it spins as if by magic! Bronwar and her companions were caught up in Caitlin’s delight and laughed heartily with her. Oh Bronwar, this will make the most wonderful dance costume for you. When you twirl, all eyes will be on you!

Bronwar ran an appreciative finger over the cloth, This piece IS fine and should be worn by the finest and best dancer. Cador, the most boisterous one of the group, teasingly exclaimed, Then we must find her. Perhaps she has been spirited away by the fairy folk. Bronwar quickly kissed Cador on the cheek and said, The fairy folk have made you blind for she stands in front of you holding her prize. Caitlin blushed as the group laughed joyfully.

Full dark began to descend on the crowd, signaling the move to the large central bonfire. The celebration of thanks for the fruitful growing season and the shift into the season of reflection became the main focus now. The Druid priests and priestesses stepped up to the fire and began their prayers of thanksgiving and for protection through the coming winter months. When the Druids were finished, the people began to step forward to throw their written, individual supplications into the flames. The fire took on a certain sense of magic as the ashes from the prayers danced on the air and hurried on their journey to the heavens.

Now the dancers moved back into the light and began to perform movements of life beginnings and endings and the inevitable rejuvenation of life once again. People in the crowd drew in closer to feel the heat from the fire, the dance, and each other. They understood they needed each other to survive and thrive. They needed each other to connect back to their Creator and to feel The Creator’s love by extending it to one another. They understood The Creator was who animated and gave life to each person, who gave them a purpose for living, and who gave them the inner stirrings to love and care for each other and for all of nature and life. The plants, animals, minerals, rocks, and everything below, on, and above the Earth was a gift that the people were responsible for because the people understood that all that exists is one. All comes from The Creator and is an individual expression of the one Creator.

This was the basic idea of this Celtic people and was the code they were taught to live by. As with all humans, some thought of this concept as merely an ideal and impractical to live by. Others thought the idea to be foolish and ridiculous because it didn’t allow for any one person to rise up above another. There were those who used the idea as a mental whipping post to compare themselves against regularly. Then there were the ones who lived the idea because it resonated with something deep inside them. The idea was a part of who they were and to live any other way would be like death to them.

Bronwar and Caitlin lived this idea from the deep parts within them. It was this mutual understanding that brought them so close in all aspects of their lives. It was their bond. Both of them had been drawn to the spiritual side of life since they were young. Bronwar was the youngest child, born many years after her oldest brother who was Caitlin’s father. Bronwar was serious by nature and would ponder the mysteries of life for long stretches of time. She frustrated her older siblings when one of them had to go find her in one of her communion spots. As a five-year-old she traveled with her parents to greet Caitlin after she had come into the world. Bronwar recognized the deep part within the baby Caitlin and would hold her for hours telling her what she had learned about the mysteries from her five-year-old understanding. Throughout the years, the girls spent much time together, and it became clear to everyone around them that these girls shared an unusual bond.

Caitlin, the less serious and more exuberant one, would usually pull the girls back into enjoying the worldly affairs going on around them. She loved The Creator but wanted to make sure she and Bronwar had time to enjoy what The Creator had given them. She treated animals and people with a tenderness that was so genuine that it often drew comments about how sweet Caitlin was or how childish (from those who didn’t understand her depth.) Most people she came in contact with responded positively to the genuineness they felt in her even when she appeared to be a little scattered as she flitted from one person or activity to the next. She had the ability to bring out the playfulness in others, especially Bronwar. Her older cousins expected her to be more serious and responsible and often treated her as if she were a disappointment to the family. Bronwar understood how Caitlin took care of her responsibilities but she added her own flair in accomplishing them.

Even though in temperament the girls were different, they were similar in most other ways. Both were tall with a slender build and possessed a flair of gracefulness to their movements. Caitlin had the natural grace and balance of a dancer, and Bronwar moved with the surety of a girl who knows her place in the world as a beloved creation of The Creator. The girls could share clothes and often did, although Caitlin at seventeen already had more womanly curvature than Bronwar did. They were endowed with the quick wit and intellectual capacity that their family line was known for. Other girls were often jealous of their thick, fast-growing hair. Bronwar’s was naturally wavy and dark brown with tiny red highlights that glistened in light. Caitlin’s hair was medium brown and straight but with such a bounce to it that she could easily make it do what she demanded of it. Their skin was fair while Caitlin’s was more even in tone. The best feature each shared was the smile that came from the deep place within. This inner strength the girls possessed came from their spiritual inclination toward life.

The clan they belonged to had a history of maintaining the sacred knowledge of the ancients. Not everyone chose the path of the spiritual seeker. And even fewer chose the more intense training of the initiate. Bronwar and Caitlin with their natural longing to know The Creator and to help the people through understanding this sacred knowledge had chosen to dedicate themselves as initiates of The Way (as this ancient training was referred to.) Throughout time the people’s understanding of The Way had grown and changed. As is the case with any religion or belief system, there were those who did not stay with the original intent of this knowledge, so there were many perversions and different spiritual beliefs among the Celtic people. The idea of the one Creator and all creation being interconnected was not common among the Celtic clans and tribes. While most held a reverence for nature they worshipped several different gods who held some aspect of nature among their attributes. And while most clans held some notion of people being connected to nature, they also viewed this world as a harsh punishment and behaved in very selfish ways as a result.

The Way contained knowledge from the time of the first ancestors, as it was taught – a time when the people had been in direct contact with The Creator. The ancestors developed rituals to help the people experience The Creator in their own individual ways. The basis of the knowledge was that The Creator is love. This love became a part of each creation and as The Creator is eternal so are all of Its creations. Although death seems to occur, the creation is energy that merely changes to another form and joins a different level of energy in the eternal realms of creation. Life is the chance for The Creator to experience Itself, so this world of duality – light and dark, male and female, choices that sustain life and those that do not – was brought into existence. Each creation learns what it is by experiencing what it is not. There are consequences for decisions as all universal laws must be obeyed, but there is no limit on how many different decisions can be made, thus no eternal punishment. People have power over their own lives and while they cannot control others they can make choices in their own lives. The eternal nature of the person takes the knowledge he or she has learned from the experiences in this life and carries it forward through eternity and as a result, the individual and The Creator have experienced themselves.

Bronwar and Caitlin found more joy and handled the adversities of life in a calm way because of the inner strength this understanding of The Way brought to them. They were fortunate to belong to a clan that encouraged and supported this point of view. In order to maintain the teachings of The Way and to bring support to more people, individual clans made up of many generations of related people joined together to form the larger tribe. The sister clans were able to move greater distances from each other but still maintain the physical and spiritual support of their related clans. Many festivals and activities were held throughout the year so those who could travel from the sister clans could come together as the tribe and maintain and renew generational bonds with each other. For the Samhain festival, Bronwar, Caitlin, and others of their clan had traveled from Eastern Ireland to this place in Southern England to celebrate with other members of their tribe. Some of the clan would go back to their homes before the first snow fell, but others like Bronwar and Caitlin would stay with family members here in England throughout the winter season. There were many reasons for this arrangement. It allowed for a better chance to get to know people in different clans, especially those who were more spread out, and served to increase the chance of finding a mate which also provided for more diversity within a clan. People often married outside of the tribe as well, but for those who wanted to preserve The Way, another practice became common. They looked for a mate who was most compatible with their understanding of living The Way. The easiest way to do this was to marry someone within the tribe.

As more generations were born, more clans were added to the tribe. Every fifty years or so, or as needed, the tribe would hold a meeting and divide the main tribe into sister tribes in order to make the numbers within a tribe more manageable and to allow the clans to move further away from the main tribe. The practice of dividing the tribe also meant that The Way became more diluted as well. For those who devoted their lives to living the original intent and knowledge of the ancestors, it was important to find a mate who also wished to live his or her life in this manner.

At twenty two, Bronwar was considered to be slightly older than the prime marrying age. She had not found a man who wanted to live The Way with the devotion she held for it. Neither had she found a corresponding spirit who made her inner self soar. She was quite happy with her life and didn’t worry that she might not marry. Caitlin, at seventeen, was in her prime for marrying and had already made betrothal promises with Cador. This was one of the reasons the girls would be staying here with his clan this winter. Bronwar and Caitlin would be helping with wedding arrangements while giving Cador and Caitlin time to spend with each other to determine if they truly loved one another. There was another purpose in staying in England this winter. The girls had promised each other they would spend time at some of the tribe’s most sacred spiritual sites before Caitlin was married in the early summer next year. Bronwar and Caitlin wanted to have this spiritual trip and the memories to maintain their bond after Caitlin married and the girls were living away from each other. The sacred sites would reinforce The Way with each girl and remind them of their purpose in life.

The girls would be accompanied on their journey by some Druid priests and priestesses. The particular group they traveled with taught The Way. There were Druids who practiced the more pagan aspects of nature worship and all the attendant myths and stories of gods. The Way Druids maintained the original teaching of the one Creator, but they knew that contact with the otherworldly beings, such as the fairies the common people believed in or the more advanced beings from the perspective of the Druids, helped them to understand the deeper mysteries of the knowledge they sought to preserve.

Because of this practice of maintaining contact with the nature elements and otherworldly beings, Bronwar and Caitlin had no trouble participating in the more worldly aspects of the Samhain celebration. They took part in the tradition of extinguishing home fires on this night while waiting for the Druids to light the new fire to carry the people symbolically through the coming year. The New Year Fire was lighted at sacred sites throughout the Celtic region. Because the seeds of the new year were planted at this time in the ground to appear the next growing season, and many animals had become pregnant with their offspring for the upcoming birthing season, the New Year Fire was a symbol of new beginnings to come. Samhain also was a time when the spirit world was said to be more accessible. Spirits could return to the world of the living while the living could travel to the realm of the spirits. At this time, that took place outside of the ordinary accounting of time, fairy mounds or sidhs (shees) would open throughout the land and allow interaction between the worlds of ordinary reality and otherworldly realms. Contacting the other dimensions of life was very much in keeping with the practice of The Way. Fairy contact was often seen as a way to connect to the inner Earth and all of nature that flourished on her surface. Since people are a part of nature, the fairies could give additional understanding to Earth connection, such as following the natural rhythms, reading the signs of an early spring or winter, preparing for an impending disaster, and feeling the oneness of creation. Nature could be viewed as a friend instead of being an enemy.

Many other activities took place at this time of celebration. Storytelling about heroes and recounting of past adventures was a favorite among the people. There were games, such as fidchell, a type of Celtic chess, and ball games. The booths with the wares of the season were gladly welcomed as they allowed for commerce among the tribe members and often invited bouts of friendly rivalry. Of course the great feast was a highlight of the occasion. Wonderful food from the summer season and the delicacies of the autumn were prepared for all to enjoy.

The Samhain festival was a wonderful opening to the ceremonies the girls would participate in as they traveled to the sacred sites. They had already journeyed roughly one hundred sea miles from their home in Newgrange, Ireland to meet with the tribe here near Glastonbury, England. The festival was held on the high, dry plain where the fires could be seen for miles around. In a few days, the girls would travel with their group to Glastonbury to begin their experience of the sacred sites.

Caitlin was flushed with excitement as she tried to take in the revelry in the actions going on around her. It was all so overwhelming to the senses, but she soaked up as much of it as she could. She knew that a more sobering experience was ahead of her. Caitlin was always so amazed at the calmness Bronwar seemed to maintain. It was apparent that the older girl was enjoying herself and participating in much of the celebration. She just wasn’t as jittery and full of the fairy spirit as people would describe Caitlin as being. Bronwar managed to be engaged with the people around her but still present a quality of observance. In fact, Bronwar had admitted to Caitlin that she often felt like an observer, that there was a part of herself that watched her body going about in life but it was strangely detached and calm as if it had lived a human experience before and was curious but confident that this life experience would end well. This attitude was part of the mysteries Bronwar had studied. She came to recognize it as the part of herself that was still attached to The Creator – the spirit part of herself.

Bronwar hoped to make deeper connections with this part, this spirit, as she participated in the upcoming rituals. She understood that rituals were important because they served as tangible remembrances of the most intangible aspects of life – matters of the spiritual realms. And it was in those realms where the true interest and desires of her heart existed. Worldly involvement was necessary for through those experiences one was able to learn and grow in spiritual ways. But it was equally important to maintain a spiritual perspective on all worldly matters. A balance in all things was the motto Bronwar had developed for herself over the years.

She noticed Caitlin watching her with the look that told Bronwar she had been too much of an observer the past few minutes. Caitlin was letting her know it was time to join the world again. Bronwar grabbed ahold of Caitlin’s hand and pulled her toward the circle of dancers, Let’s join the dancers and welcome the fairy folk to our celebration!

Caitlin’s face lit up in a huge smile as she handed the emerald cloth to Cador and gleefully shouted to her cousin, Perhaps a fairy prince will see you dance and whisk you away from this mundane existence to join him where your true heart can rejoice!

Bronwar graciously replied, But then dear cousin, I would no longer be here for you to watch out for me and that would not suit either one of us!

The girls laughingly joined the dancers. After many times circling the fire with the others, they naturally pulled off to the side and began to craft one of their pair dances that they performed in their clan. This dance had a unique Irish flair to it and the English members of the tribe began to gravitate toward the girls. Bronwar and Caitlin brought out movements that started from the deep places within them. Their love for each other and all of creation was apparent from their intricate steps to the deep emotion on their faces. When they had finished their creation, they were overwhelmed by the applause and the shouted compliments. Cador brought them tall mugs of water and assured Caitlin her prize was safe with his mother. He knew how important that cloth was to her and what a beautiful costume would be created from it for he was very appreciative of Caitlin’s talents. He kissed Bronwar’s hand as he asked for permission to take Caitlin with him. Bronwar smiled for she knew Cador was only being polite since Caitlin made her own decisions and it was clear that she wished to go spend some time with him. Bronwar pushed the two along and walked to where some of the priests and priestesses were gathered. The rest were mingling among the people.

In general, the Druids were divided into three main types. The Bards (Bairds) were the lyric poets who maintained the identity of the clan and tribe by memorizing long lists of genealogy and the deeds of the people. They sang poetic songs of heroic deeds, of historical events, and of identifying traits of the Celtic people. Their training was lengthy as they were required to develop intense memorization abilities. The Ovates (Filidh) were poet-seers who acted as diviners, councilors, composers, and healers. They too underwent lengthy training in order to learn well each of the skills they were required to have. The Druid Priests and Priestesses (Drui and Ban-Drui) were the highest in rank as their duties were not only religious but were also political. They were natural and moral philosophers, theologians, interpreters of nature, diviners, magicians, doctors, judges and mediators, educators, and knowledgeable teachers of wisdom. They oversaw the annual festivals and handled legal matters, such as boundary disputes and divisions of estates. They were also the judges in more serious matters such as criminal offenses. They acted as ambassadors when traveling and enacted treaties and trade agreements with other tribes and clans. A priest or priestess could spend as much as twenty years in training before being able to carry out his or her full duties.¹

Because of the intense and lengthy training of the Druid classes, they were highly respected among the many tribes and clans. To maintain this respect they were swift to act against their members who did not maintain the high standards morally or in any other way. Above all, the Druids were considered to be the Keepers of Wisdom and as their knowledge was mostly disseminated orally rather than in written form, they worked very hard to make sure there were plenty of Druids-in-training from the younger generations.

Bronwar was always welcome among them for she had a natural Druid sensibility about her as well as the intellect and wisdom to be of much help to her people. Her love of The Way also reassured those who taught its principles that she would carry the message well into the future. Her compassion and tenderness for all living things made the people comfortable around her, and it was well known that she welcomed their companionship no matter what she was doing. They became aware of her need for moments of solitude and were not offended when she seemed to drift away. This solitude was the source of her connection to the deep inner self that was so much a part of who she was.

Caitlin was also welcome among the Druids although she tended to spend much of her time with the Bards and the Ovates. She had a natural gift for the healing arts and loved to get caught up in the stories that the Bards presented to the people. Her openness also made those she was with comfortable. People often sought her out. The two girls were joyfully accepted as Druids-in-training.

The next few days flew by quickly as Bronwar and Caitlin said goodbye to their clan members who would be returning home, helped the members of Cador’s clan with daily responsibilities, and prepared themselves for the trip to Glastonbury. The group had chosen to visit this unique sacred site first as there was training the girls would need there in order to understand what would occur at the sites in Avebury and Stonehenge. They would be witnessing the power of the Winter Solstice sun as it spread its light through the Stonehenge structure. The summer solstice and equinoxes produced amazing results too, as well as other astronomical events, for Stonehenge had been created as a sacred observatory, among its other purposes, by the ancients. The maxim, As Above, so Below was extremely important for humans to understand and by bringing the power of heaven to Earth by the physical manifestation of light on sacred earthly structures, the ability to communicate with The Creator was enhanced.

There was just over a month and a half before this solstice event at Stonehenge occurred so they would receive training at Glastonbury and Avebury first. These two sites were equally important to Stonehenge in their own ways. It was a well-known fact that intense Earth energy resided in the ground under all three of these sites. Even those not trained in mystical ways could feel the energy in these places as it seemed to send currents of strength and tingling sensations through the human body. When a map was drawn that showed the location of these three sites, it could be seen that they formed a triangle which was considered to be one of the divine shapes. There were all kinds of reasons these three sacred sites were linked together and Bronwar and Caitlin would be learning what some of those reasons were. As they set out for Glastonbury, Bronwar reflected on the geography of the place.

Glastonbury had been known by many names throughout time. Ynys Witrin or Island of Glass was one of them. Another name was Caer Wydyr or Fort of Glass. Since this was low-lying land, water surrounded the high places and gave this area the appearance of being an island. The frequent mist also gave it an otherworldly feel and made Glastonbury easily recognized as a sacred place. The highest point was called the Tor (hill or rocky peak.) From here, vessels could be seen coming into the deepest part of the channel. Some smaller hills also filled this enchanted place. Wearyall Hill was the closest to the coast and was a good observation and defense post. Chalice Hill was closest to the Tor. A chalice or cup-shaped vessel had been a symbol associated with the female aspect as had been taught by the ancients in The Way. This hill contained a natural spring that emptied into a chalice-shaped well. The waters that ran into this well were orange-red in color and were said to have healing powers. Windmill Hill stood to the north of the others and caught many air currents from the sea. This wind power was harnessed to provide some of the energy needs of the Druids who lived here and maintained a school for initiates of The Way.

There was a special secret place inside the hills that only the Druids and initiates knew how to access. The mystery surrounding it caused people to make up stories about it. Over time it became known as Avalon (Afallach.) It was in this secret place that the girls would eventually receive further instruction. They needed to have the understanding that would allow them to access the Halls of Avalon. Only those who knew the sound frequencies and sacred postures could open the doors to these halls. Bronwar and Caitlin had been trained in the art of moving sound frequencies through their bodies, and they had learned many of the postures through a form of yoga practice. But they had not combined them to move material objects yet. As with all things in this world, there was a dualistic nature to the Halls of Avalon and the doors that protected it. They existed as actual physical things, at the same time existing in the non-physical spiritual realms. Their appearance was different depending on whether they were accessed through physical vision or spiritual vision.

Once inside the Halls, the girls would be taught how to see them with spiritual eyes while still being in their physical bodies. This technique was critical for them to understand because that is what made the difference in how the sacred sites were perceived. When only viewed with physical vision, the stone circles were merely an interesting configuration of massive stones, the mounds and other monuments were merely natural or ordinary structures, the Halls were only storage and meeting rooms as common as any such rooms anywhere. Spiritual vision allowed the participant to perceive the massive stones, structures, and Halls in their true form with their true purpose revealed.

When the group of Druids and the girls arrived at Glastonbury, it was mid-afternoon. After unpacking, the girls were introduced to other newly-arrived initiates, and they as a group were shown around the sacred site. They climbed to the top of the Tor to see the view and remained in silence for several minutes as they began to tune into the frequencies of this place. They could feel the tingling sensation and currents of energy running through their bodies. Glastonbury was whispering her calm love to their hearts, prompting them to open wide the access to their inner knowing. She began to open their minds to receive the knowledge they would learn within her space. Bronwar and Caitlin hugged each other as they allowed the feelings to sweep through them.

A Druid priest began to explain to them the meaning of the labyrinth-like path they had walked on to get to the top of the Tor. Labyrinths exist all over the world. They are a way to experience sacred geometry and to recall divine pathways within our bodies. As a person lets go of worldly cares, and the body and mind are engaged in the pattern, profound spiritual experiences often occur. By walking this labyrinth, one could accomplish a deep attunement with the Tor’s earthly and heavenly energies. The ancients had incorporated labyrinths in many of the sacred sites because they understood the ability of labyrinths to help raise human consciousness. The priest assured the initiates that they would have the chance to walk the Tor path again with this labyrinth energy in mind.

Now a Druid priestess stepped forward and in a reverent tone began to tell the initiates where they would be going next. She relayed the history of the Chalice Well and its ancient connections to feminine power. In case some of the initiates had not remembered the principle that each person, whether male or female, embodied both the feminine and masculine powers, she reminded the men that they needed to search out the feminine aspects of themselves in order to receive the full impact of the well’s power. The women were encouraged to bring their hurt female feelings to the surface to be cleansed and purged and to acknowledge the masculine energies within themselves. Integration of the male and female energies was necessary in order to open the consciousness more and receive what the well had for each of them. The main purpose of each sacred site was to enlarge human consciousness individually and collectively so that communication with The Creator was enhanced. It was only in recognizing our connection to each other and to The Creator that peace and harmony could be created in this world.

As the group descended the Tor, they walked in silence to Chalice Hill and on to the well. The initiates already had much to think about and wondered what they would learn from the well. A group of priests and priestesses came forward in front of the well and stood in a formation. The women formed a V and the men interlaced themselves with the women in an inverted V. The initiates were instructed to stand on the raised ledges around the well so they could see the formation by looking down on it. The pattern was a symbol that some of the initiates had seen before. This symbol was called the Blade and the Chalice. The blade was the masculine symbol represented by the inverted V that pierced the sides of the feminine symbol of the V as it moved into the same space of the feminine. The initiates stood by the well and began to notice the obvious V shape that seemed to be a natural pattern formed by the way the earth and rocks had come to settle around the spring of water.

The initiates allowed themselves to feel the energy as they were told Glastonbury had a masculine energy line and a feminine energy line running through it. The path up the Tor traced part of those lines. The female energy ran through this well and was particularly strong here. It was important for all people to remember and honor the female part of themselves. The ancients had often engaged in Goddess worship as they recognized this feminine energy as the creative aspect of The Creator. Masculine energy was powerful in the world because it is what drives the survival and conquering aspects of human life. The nurturing feminine energy was needed to balance the masculine, and as the two blended together, humans came closer to being like The Creator. Thus, it was critical for the initiates to learn to balance the male and female energies, and that was one of the main purposes of Glastonbury. This skill of balancing the energies was necessary before a person could travel to the other sacred sites and see them with spiritual vision. And developing spiritual vision was to be the purpose of the initiates’ remaining time here. When they could successfully reach the correct sound frequencies combined with the correct sacred posture and pass through the door to the Halls of Avalon, they would have their final lesson on combining the energies and would be ready to travel on to the next sacred site.

Bronwar could see how carefully this trip had been planned for the initiates. As with any form of learning, certain steps had to be taken in a certain sequence. This was the only way to reach true understanding. She was grateful she was a spiritual seeker for this kind of knowledge coupled with spiritual wisdom helped one to see what life was for and made it easier to handle the inevitable disappointments and hardships of human life. Bronwar knew the people needed strong leaders who could teach and guide them in The Way. The mysteries might never be fully realized by the majority of the people, but it was enough that the leaders understood them and could help the people see that the basic grasp of the mysteries helped them to live happier, more fulfilled lives.

Caitlin looked at Bronwar with her face full of gratitude. The older girl had supported and given direction to the younger girl’s natural spiritual leanings. As a result, Caitlin was here learning the things of life that really mattered. She knew that her life would have a deeper richness, and she would be able to fill her roles more honestly and compassionately by using what she was now learning.

The initiates moved up to the well and took a drink of the water. Although the liquid was cold, Bronwar felt a surge of warmth flood her body. She looked to the nearest priestess who responded to the question on Bronwar’s face, Most of you have probably experienced the sensation of cold water in your mouth but as it moves through your body you feel a strange warmth spreading into your limbs and organs. She paused to watch the reactions around her.

Caitlin wrapped her arms around herself and said, I feel the warmth mostly in my heart. Does that mean something?

The priestess smiled at her and continued, The warm sensation is the healing effects of the water. The female energy is very healing and is particularly strong in this location so the water is imbued with healing qualities. Most people feel physical healing as a result of drinking this water. What Caitlin and probably many of you are feeling is a deeper healing. The heart center focuses the healing powers on a spiritual level. Have you all learned about the body/mind/spirit connection? The initiates nodded that they had. Then you know that the body manifests what the mind believes. Take an ordinary cold, for example. Your mind perceives that you are having stress and often it has accumulated over time. Your mind signals the body that it is stressed and the body creates cold symptoms. A person often does not recognize the stress until the cold symptoms appear. Had the mind turned to the spirit to ask for a healthy way to deal with the stress, the body would have been spared. When a person recognizes that the solution to any problem is to be found with the spirit, health - whether physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual – is greatly improved.

Caitlin nodded in agreement. She found the mind/body/spirit connection to be a potent tool in helping her with her healing arts. She would ask the one coming to her for help about his or her thoughts surrounding the ailment. Often it was a misguided or inaccurate thought process that over time had manifested itself in the person’s body. Only by going to the deep spiritual roots of the misperception could a solution be found. There were those who refused to engage their spirits for one reason or another, so they would rely only on medicinal remedies and would soon be back complaining about the same problem sometime later. The spiritual solution wasn’t an instant cure. A person spent a lifetime building up misperceptions, so the spiritual understanding of those misperceptions and learning how to replace them could be a process as well. Caitlin found the more people worked with finding spiritual solutions, the faster they would come when needed. The person had to be a vessel willing to receive the waters of healing knowledge.

After some quiet moments of reflection, the group made their way back to the main building. It was time for them to help with the preparations for the evening meal. Some of the initiates were sent to collect the wood from the outdoor stores and to start the cooking fires and the fire in the dining hall. Others were busy helping prepare the food. When the meal was finished they would gather for a few minutes to hear about what they would be doing in the next few days, and then they would go to their beds. After a long day of travel and excitement they were all looking forward to the rest.

Bronwar and Caitlin put their arms around each other as they went to their beds. They were tired but energized at the same time. Bronwar wondered how long Caitlin would stay awake chattering because she usually took the longest to unwind from the activity of the day. Bronwar often fell asleep quickly as she slipped into dreams that helped her work through what she had learned. She knew Caitlin would not be mad at her for nodding off in the middle of Caitlin’s commentary on the day. This was a pattern the girls were used to and Caitlin always managed to say what she needed to say when Bronwar was awake. Each girl fell asleep with images of labyrinths, earth energy lines, healing waters, and other equally fascinating ideas in their heads.

When breakfast was finished the next morning and everything was put away, a small group of priests and priestesses took the initiates to a room where they could be given the instructions for the day. They needed to have background information on a few ideas and then over the next few days they would be taught alchemical processes that would allow them to enter the spirit realms. It was important to know how common ideas about the sacred sites originated from the true spiritual nature. For instance, Avalon (known as Affalach in an ancient dialect) meant apple place and it was well known that the best apple trees grew here in Glastonbury today. The apple was known as a fruit of enchantment, and because these apples grew here in the mystical place of Avalon, these were particularly enchanted. Long ago stories had been told about how the enchanted apples helped to open the entrance on top of the Tor that led to the underworld. The truth was that apples are a symbol of the divine and that the fruit and the trees they come from represent wisdom, guidance, and knowledge. Thus the apple tree was often viewed as a physical representation of the World Tree. Anyone trained in spiritual matters knew that wisdom, guidance, and knowledge were critical in opening up consciousness and moving further up the symbolic World Tree.

The underworld entrance on top of the Tor did exist, but it wasn’t just an entrance to the underworld and fairy lands that were talked about in the myths. This opening allowed those who were properly trained to access the power of the earth energy that ran through the male and female energy lines here. They were commonly known as ley lines and these lines were yet another way to open up consciousness. Everything people learn in life should be moving them toward higher consciousness which allows them to feel the Oneness with The Creator. As individuals in separate bodies people think they are separate from the Divine Source, but in truth they have never left it and it has never left them.

Bronwar’s heart filled with a warm feeling as every part of her mind and spirit acknowledged to her the truth of what she was hearing. She could not deny the knowing that came over her. She looked at Caitlin and could tell she was having a similar experience. As their lessons progressed throughout the day, the initiates were encouraged to ask questions and get clarification on anything they were uncertain about. None of them were beginners in this whole process of initiation into The Way, but each had had different experiences and was more proficient or deficient in certain areas than the others, so it was a true opportunity to learn and grow from each other. Another valuable concept from this teaching is that no one person is more important than another. All people have equal value in the eyes of The Creator and each person has a unique gift to contribute to the enlightenment of all. Peace and cooperation are much more effective than chaos and war. Violence never solves anything; it only creates more violence. As followers of The Way, the initiates would be called upon to guide people in humility and peace even in the face of the most horrible violence. They could not react to life but must show how to step forward in peaceful truth.

There was much for everyone to contemplate on that evening, and Bronwar looked forward to the further instructions she would receive in the following days. She knew Caitlin was happy that they had been promised to have a day or two to just wander about Glastonbury on their own. They would need to give their minds a rest. Great moments of enlightenment often came in quiet moments of rest.

As Above, So Below

The next day’s session started early as there was much background information the initiate had to be exposed to before they could begin their training with sound. What the priests and priestesses wanted them to know was that all the sacred sites around the world were linked in a pattern that was contained in the principle, As Above, so Below. This simple phrase was the shorthand message that explained why the ancients from many continents had built the monuments and why they had placed them where they had. It was very rare for Druids to reduce anything to writing because they did not want The Way exposed to anymore degradation and outright falsifying of its doctrines any more than it already was through oral interpretation. But the As Above, so Below principle was so crucial for the initiates to understand that they were handed a written copy to study and memorize. Its message was so cryptic that if the paper fell into less than honest hands, not much harm could be done.

The initiates were told that the first place this principle seems to have surfaced in any cohesive way was in Egypt many millennia ago. Tradition taught that an exceptionally talented scribe who was in contact with the Divine inscribed this principle on a sheet of green crystal. This original work had been protected and still existed, but no one seemed to know where. It had become known as The Emerald Tablet. It read: Truly, without deceit, certain, and most veritable. That which is Below corresponds to that which is Above, and that which is Above corresponds to that which is Below to accomplish the miracles of the One Thing. And just as all things come from this One Thing through the meditation of the One Mind, so do all created things originate from this One Thing through Transformation. Its father is the Sun; its mother the Moon. The Wind carries it in its belly. Its nurse is the Earth. It is the origin of all, the consecration of the Universe. Its inherent Strength is perfected, If it is turned into Earth. Separate the Earth from Heaven, the Subtle from the Gross, gently and with great ingenuity. It rises from Earth to Heaven and descends again to Earth, thereby combining within it the powers of both the Above and the Below. Thus will you obtain the Glory of the whole Universe. All Obscurity will be clear to you. This is the greatest Force of all powers because it overcomes every Subtle thing and penetrates every Solid thing. In this way was the Universe created. From this will come many wondrous Applications, because this is the pattern. Therefore am I called Thrice Greatest Thoth, having all three parts of the wisdom of the Whole Universe. Herein have I completely explained the Operation of the Sun.² The initiates would come to understand this principle more as they experienced it at the sacred sites. Maps were then given that showed how many sites, when lined up on a map, mirrored what was seen in the Heavens. Constellations and planets and other heavenly bodies were represented in the structures on Earth. Each structure fulfilled its unique purpose in the grander scheme just as each person fulfilled his or her own unique purpose in the same Divine Plan.

Chakra System

Another concept the initiates needed to understand was the movement of energy in the body through the chakra system. This movement of energy went hand-in-hand with the sound techniques and body postures they would be learning. The initiates knew about chakras because that is one of the early teachings of The Way. Energy movement in a body allowed a person to see how he or she had power and responsibility for his or her life. It was part of realizing that people are co-creators with the Divine Source because they have been given the ability to create and to use energy.

In the basic seven chakra system, the chakras are lined up on the body in a straight line from the lowest point of the torso to the top of the head. The first chakra is called the root or base and it is located near the base of the spine. It contains the survival energy. The second is the navel or sacral chakra located just below the navel, and it embodies the sexual energy. The solar plexus or area just above the navel and below the chest is the third chakra. It contains the energy that focuses on power or control. The fourth is the heart chakra located in the center of the chest. It embodies the energy of love. The fifth is located in the throat and is known as the throat chakra. It contains the energy of speech and sound vibration. The sixth is the brow or third eye chakra and is located in the center of the forehead. It is the center of higher vision energy. The seventh or crown chakra is located at the top of the head and opens to allow the cosmic energy into the body.

This seven form chakra system is usually divided into the three lower and the four upper energies. The first three chakras that deal with survival, sex, and power are where many people in this world get stuck. Their motivational energies take on the negative aspects of these three centers. Most people cycle in and out of these three chakras their entire lives. When they have moments of genuine compassion or push up into higher energies such as unconditional love, they have entered the heart chakra. Unfortunately, the person who doesn’t cultivate this higher feeling will slip back into the lower three chakras and not be able to maintain the higher energy. The upper four chakras contain higher vibratory energy. When a person begins to stay more and more in the heart there is a sense of being in the presence of one’s own Creator. Indeed, this is the energy that begins to wake up the spiritual part that allows a person to start desiring a relationship with The Creator. The throat contains the vibration for communication and the third eye brings in the spiritual vision to deepen the communication. The crown completes the energy conduction and when open, allows the energy of the heavens and The Creator to join with the energy circuit of the person – the creation of The Creator blending energy with The Creator in the process of co-creating. When there are energy blocks in a person’s body, they can be removed by discovering what chakra the person cannot open to allow the flow. When all seven chakras are open a palpable flow of positive energy is maintained which allows a person to create in a positive way.

Caitlin was aware of the value of understanding