.png)
♫ Music to dream by .... 'Früling' (minimize new window & listen while you browse) |
January 4th 2013
.... Here's to the future! ..... Aa’ vanlle nu I’ giliath
(Making magic in 2013? The Ogham wood is now Birch - Beith , December 24th - January 20th)
Walking on the common, quite late on New Year's Day I had a word with a few of the wild ponies making their way towards the stream. Just as mortals (so we're told) dream of being magical, so too do the animals. They tell stories of mythical horses from far mountains performing feats of bewildering enchantment for their knights, princesses and seers. Tales of courage, tales of pale ponies with silvery manes plaited with crystals. Tales of gentle unicorns.
 |
 |
 |
The Art of |
Like Swedish artist and illustrator John Bauer, who died all too young in 1918, they dream of the fairy horse. Regal, proud, immortal. As wild ponies, happy in all weathers, they still imagine flying through the moonlight or carrying a princess under the stars.
 |
 |
Better known perhaps for his illustrations of Trolls, John Bauer's work has enchanted and inspired generations. Rackham, Tengren and Froud all acknowledge their debt - and the faery-world never tires of looking at his creations.
The John Bauer Museum, Jönköping, Sweden, re-opens in the Spring of 2013 after extensive renovations. One of Muddypond's goals for the new year will be to visit.
Happy New Year little ponies on the common - thank you for the thoughts - and by the way - you look quite magical to me!
January 8th 2013
.... Twelfth Night - a celebration at Bankside, holly and low tide on the river ....
 |
 |
| The Green Man, in his winter foliage arrives at London's Bankside in Southwark as only a real Londoner can - rowed in a historic boat up the Thames, where he lands near the dank and slippery steps outside the Globe Theatre, to be greeted by an impish Beelzebub - alias The Lord of Misrule. |
Twelfth Night, January 6th, in all its varied manifestations is enjoying a gradual revival in many parts of England. For mortals that is. Although, should we get the chance, faere-folk WILL spy - (anyway, we like the 'Lambs Wool' or hot spiced cider!)
 |
'Trinity Tide' the historic Thames Waterman Cutter arrives from its journey, turning under the Millenium Bridge at Bankside. |
A Very Potted History!
From before the middle ages. the date was auspicious in the winter calendar for most parts of Europe, marking both the end of Yuletide festivities and the eve of Plough Monday, when the rural commumities returned to the fields.
Merrymaking in the cities included Twelfth Cake, dark with dried fruits and iced in white sugar. The night featured dressing up for acting games like charades and the choosing of a King and Queen for the revels - by means of discovering the bean and pea in your slice of the cake, or drawing paper lots.
There might be visiting mummers with their latest dramas. There was gift giving, since in the Christian calendar this night is associated with Epiphany, the arrival of the three kings.. Not to mention the Wassail Bowl, steaming and perfumed with nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon.
Rural Twelfth Night hoped to secure blessings for next years harvests, particulary the apple trees. Again this involved the Wassail drink, some being poured onto the roots of the orchard trees while saucepans clattered and squibs banged as a warning to any malevolent forces lurking nearby.
Twelfth Night or King or Queen Now, now the mirth comes Begin then to choose, |
 |
 |
|
Robert Herrick |
 |
Pictures: ©vcs2013 |
Now here Muddypond spied King Bean and Queen Pea, picked out by their slices of cake and newly crowned - himself carrying a globe artichoke (a reference to the place I suppose - very droll!) as the Orb, and herself with a leek for her Sceptre! Sometimes a whole clove hidden amongst the currants means that a Knave is needed too.
This ceremony has many characters, with a place of honour for The Mayor of Southwark, Councillor Althea Smith.
Since the 19th century, Twelfth Night sprees in Britain have, like faeries, become unfashionable - the Twelfth Cake morphing into a Christmas cake, and the dressing up moved to celebrate New Year's Eve. Luckily country apple-orchard wassailing has never left us. Good on yer Southwark and your organisers and actors 'the Lions part'. Long may you reign!
 |
 |
Festivities end in the courtyard of London's oldest surviving galleried Inn - The George with mulled ale, goodies to buy and a spot of Molly Dancing. |
|
 |
New: You might also like to read about Swedish illustrator Harald Wiberg and his 'Tomten' art. Find it on Muddypond's 'other' blog. Meeting the Tomten. |
 |
January 22nd 2013
..... Illustrator Margaret Tempest in Wintery mood .......
(Making magic? The Ogham wood is now Rowan - Luis, January 21st - February 17th)
Illustration from 'Pinkie Mouse and Christmas Day' written & illustrated by Margaret Tempest. Pub:Colliuns 1946
" It had been snowing for hours.
Hare stood in the garden of the little house at the end of the wood, watching the snowflakes which came softly tumbling down from the grey sky, dropping like white feathers. His paws were outstretched, his head uplifted, his mouth wide open. His fur was sprinkled with snow, so that he looked like a white Hare from the icy North. Every now and then he caught an extra large flake and ate it with relish.
"Whatever are you doing, Hare?" cried Squirrel, who sat close to the fire. "Come in! You'll catch cold."
"I am catching cold, and eating it too," replied Hare happily.'
Extract from Chapter 1 of 'Little Grey Rabbit's Christmas'
by Alison Uttley. Ill: Margaret Tempest. First pub: 1940
' It had been snowing for hours' here too. Faery guardian Dog-Martin put on his best fleecy jumper and took Muddypond out for a walk through the newly iced Hurst Wood to remind the birds that there are still berries to be found. Plenty of pretty red spindles for a start. As we crunched past the Forgotten Chapel, we met a fine snowman with his hair all in a shock!
 |
 |
Fuzzypeg emerges still eating his bread and jam - from 'Little Grey Rabbit's Christmas' ill Margaret Tempest |
'Skaters' a Margaret Tempest vintage postcard by Medici |
Photos taken on Sunday 20th January at Hurst Wood.
Another Margaret Tempest vintage postcard on the left - 'Explorers' published by Medici.
January 29th 2013
...... Faery drops, hope of Spring .......
|
 |
 |
|
January snowdrops last Sunday outside Challock Church. Making ready to bloom in their thousands to welcome guests at the 'Snowdrop Teas' |
February 1st 2013
...... Today is Brigid's Day or you may call it Imbolc ....
 |
Aman Re Brigid a vintage postcard c1928 |
Simple things to do for Bridgid's Day: The first celebration day of the year. This day is traditionally about purification so get out your faery broom and sweep away the winter's accumulated disarray!
Burn a little purification incense for the season - try combining pine with lemon or lemon balm for purity and with dried rowan berries (the Ogham wood which rules this day) and simply throw it in your clean hearth fire. Or you might grind those things with a little frankincense or copal resin to make a herbal incense for smouldering on a tiny charcoal block.
Hang your Brigid's Cross if you made one last night, or catch up today! Make some Star Lemon Biscuits (see recipe and more about Brigid's Day here in Muddypond's diaryblog), bring in some fresh twigs or snowdrops if you are not superstitious!
Burn a candle of white or sunshine yellow. Clean some more or use a summer smudge-stick to waft smoke into every corner - or both! Leave a little milk outside your front door tonight - if no Magics find it, a hedgehog could, and that's much more important at present.
February 19th 2013
..... Another of the spine-tingling Romney Marsh churches - Fairfield .......
(Making magic? The Ogham wood is now Ash - Nion, February 18th - March 17th)
The church of St. Thomas Becket at Fairfield, ice on the dyke in mid-February 2013
Such a lonely place it seemed, and yet it is much loved. A perfect choice of setting for a recent adaptation of David Copperfield. The breathtakingly beautiful little church of St. Thomas Becket has braved the tearing winds and sometime floods of the Romney Marsh for nine hundred years. So many centuries and still it has no road, simply a grassy path across the marshy fields with a rough wooden bridge over the dyke to welcome its visitors.
Pick up the ancient key, heavy iron and longer than my hand and take a deep breath as you push the oak door ajar ...... |
 |
 |
The scent of ancient timbers greets you as you stand and gaze at living history. Although the structure of the building and the bell tower (three working bells) has been carefully restored, and the ancient wattle, daub and plaster walls replaced with brick, the original beams have been saved and the wonderful Georgian interior unchanged. There's a towering three-tier pulpit and high boxed family pews.
Take time to explore and you might find a copy of a poem wiritten half a century ago now, giving us a glimpse of the church, its feelings and its surroundings. It is well worth reading.
|
 |
At the back of the church is a very unusual plain stone font. Its bowl is cut from a single slab of stone and it is heptagonal. Now all you fine mortals will know that the regular seven sided circle will make a faery-star. Muddypond has drawn one for you over the font to show its form more clearly. Seeing it sent a shiver through my wings - perhaps it was meant for changelings! Well, you never know!
A last look back - such an icy February chill in the air that I needed my best winter cloak of shimmering blue for the visit.
We spoke a little, nearly two years ago now, about the church of St. Clements outside Old Romney. You can find that if you scroll down to the entry for March 23rd 2011 here.
|
You might also like to browse The faery art of Jack Frost. Find it on Muddypond's 'other' blog. "Every breath that you breathe'' |
 |
February 26th 2013
...... Like Moles? new on the 'Wolf Moons and Muddypond Green' blog ...
|
You might also like to browse Find it on Muddypond's 'other' blog. 'Little Gentleman in Black Velvet- folklore of Mole...' |
 |
March 5th 2013
..... Thinking about hedgehogs - and the magical animation of Yuri Norstein ...
 |
 |
The delicious artwork by Franchesca Yarbusova. for her husband Yuri Norstein's film 'Hedgehog in the Fog' |
|
Russian animator Yuri Norstein is responsible for some of the best loved animated films ever made. Perhaps the most well known, and certainly the most "awarded", is 'Tale of Tales' - but Muddypond's favourite has to be 'Hedgehog in the Fog'. The beautiful, understated artwork has also been featured in a book, giving Franchesca Yarbusova full credit. And who, looking at it now, would believe that the animation will be forty years old next year?
Perhaps you've never heard of this enchanting short film - possibly it was made long before you were born? Possibly you had forgotten all about it? Or, perhaps it's a favourite of yours too? However that may be - we faere-folks believe it's time to remember.
Such a gentle, sweet in its nicest sense, little story. A bear, a samova, a white horse, an owl in the dark, some raspberry jam and the stars - not much more - except hedgehog of course - dear hedgehog.
Now, I've mentioned this before I know - but - when I was a faery-sprig, and even as a faery-of-a-certain-age, hedgehogs were quite a common sight even in towns. They snuffled over the evening grass into pools of light from the half-curtained windows. In woods they were abundant enough, if rarely seen. Too many of course were seen killed on the country roads, but now, when did you last see a hedgehog, either dead or alive?
In the first ten years of this century - just ten years! the already rapidly dwindling hedgehog population in Britain is thought to have declined by 25% ! Here is a link to the document 'Evidence of a declining hedgehog population' based on surveys up to 2011.
 |
 |
Please - be enchanted by the animation of Yuri Norstein and his wife, artist and illustrator Franchesca Yarbusova.
Then, join the help groups Hedgehog Street , The Britsh Hedgehog Preservation Society BHPS, and / or Tiggywinkles - Wildlife Hospital and see what you can do to help - before it's too late! Diole' le' - thank you.
March 12th 2013
..... Of murals, creatures great and small and artist John Ward .....
Not so very far from Muddypond's wood, standing high up on the Kentish North Downs is the village of Challock. The villagers are proud of their church, even though it was long-ago left isolated among one or two farms over a mile or two down, down, down a winding country lane. Now. it has a service every Sunday and a thriving church community as modern transport makes attendance more possible.
It isn't the stone and flint part 12th century building of St. Cosmos and St. Damian, beautiful though it is, that makes this place so memorable however - it's the remarkable modern murals.
 |
These show scenes from the life of Christ, set in modern day Challock, with the village people and events going on all around.
|
 |
The Prince of Wales admires the year 2000 mural with artist John Ward photographed working in the church. These two images are on show in the church. |
||
If the paintings as a whole are stunning, then the smallest details are even more so ....
 |
 |
A scene depicting the annual summer 'Goose Fair' - under the table, if you search, much loved pets peer out at you. |
|
The Millenium mural was paid for in a large part by donations from the villagers, who in return were painted into the scenes, as were their houses and favourite objects, birds and animals of their choice.
Here's hoping you'll find an opportunity to visit and admire the paintings for yourself - and spend time marvelling at all the tiny details from nature. Although the church is normally kept locked, the ancient key can be made available to you (details in church porch).
 |
 |
| The massive church key has its place in the mural (left) - and here it is for real (right) | |
Faere-folks are fascinated by ancient keys you know, because we have our own ways to unlock doors and chests and drawers, so a key is an anathema to us. Should they be made of iron (and we think mortal creatures add iron delibarately) we have to hold the key in a large leaf, (docks are recommended) for fear of minor burns to our fingers!
You might have to search quite hard for these chaps - and after last week's entry (see below) I couldn't possibly omit the hedgehog.
I discovered her at the last minute, almost down on the stone floor!
St.Cosmos and St.Damian is also well known for its snowdrops - see more on Muddypond's Kentish Snowdrop Page
March 21st 2013
..... Baskets from the hedgerow ...
(Making magic? The Ogham wood is now Alder - Fearn, March 18th - April 14th)
.
Illustration by Rien Portvliet in 'Gnomes' first published 1976
Mortal folks stole the skills of basket-making untold centuries gone-down from magics. Forest dwelling gnomes built sturdy frame-baskets for logs (proof above). Elves and the Faere took adaptations and twirled up containers for everymagicwant. They used light woods and hedgerow twigs such as silvery-grey ash, or shrubby dark hornbeam and bright dogwoods, adding wool, berries, leaves - anything to make them practical and pretty.
 |
 |
Tempting materials conditioned and ready - with a closer look at those I chose for my basket weave. |
|
It's still a woodland craft which it's as well to learn properly, faere folk or not - and last weekend Muddypond was lucky enough to have a place on Alan's 'Hedgerow Basketry' course. (Alan Sage at AJS Rural Ways). I was only able to get on the waiting-list last year so had looked forward to it for a long time.
In the first session we learned when to cut the various twigs, canes and rods - in winter when there is little sap and the leaf buds haven't broken - how long to dry them -roughly six weeks depending on the wood - and to soak - up to two days before use.
By the way - making a basket from Hedgerow Materials is the task for Inquest Levels 135 - 9 of the Stella Fae Exams! I suppose I'll get there one day - there are only 413 Levels after all!
On the right, a tiny corner of Alan's classroom which is housed in an old stable.
 |
 |
 |
New friends concentrating on their chosen baskets. Teacher Alan in the centre picture bends to help with another stage in the process. |
||
This fae did break the 'conditioning' rules by weaving a long strand of fresh ivy leaves through the framework, but ivy lasts for ages especially if you rub glycerine into the stems and leaves. I also plaited a tangled coil of 'Old man's beard' (without seed-heads) and wound this through the sides.
 |
 |
 |
Below is a flash of me, proudly preparing to take my basket back to Hurst Wood for use in the First Day of Spring Solstice. Next week I'll take it down to old Burnt-Sienna Brown (Stella Fae examiner of wondrous years) to find out if it's good enough to pass my Inquest. Fingers crossed.
March 27th 2013
.... Re-introduction of Britain's endangered small mammals ..
..... fine fellows that they are ....
(Making magic? Full Alder or Lenten Moon tonight - time to pick a twist of rust-red Alder wood to make a powerful wand)
When Muddypond was a faery-sprig (sigh: here she goes again!) we were encouraged to think of all animals, but especially small ones, as anthropomorphic. In our minds they kept us company, chatted about this and that, dressed up in coat-tails. scarves or pinnies and set off by themselves for picnics and adventures.
In our books and favourite illustrations they 'messed about in boats' and spent idyllic, long spring and summer days busy or idle as they pleased in the meadows and hedgerows.
And that, to us faere-folk of the woodlands is how they still are ...
 |
 |
 |
A hazel dormouse at Wildwood Trust, and painted by Racey Helps in his 1958 book 'The Tail of Hunky Dory' |
||
Nowadays, this whimsical viewing of the animals is positively discouraged. An agent will reject a book almost out of hand as 'old-fashioned' should it have the audacity to feature a rabbit in a beanie-hat. Having hounded and poisoned much of the natural world to extinction, mortals now believe that creatures should be treated respectfully as they really are. Good attitude change? For conservation? yes, probably - for children's imagination and literature? emphatically no. A little of both would go a long way.
Two wonderful animal books with ecology at the forefront and never a scarf to be seen are of course 'Watership Down' by Richard Adams, and 'Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nymh' by Robert C O'Brien but these were both early 1970's publications with strong messages of their own. Me, I like my animals both ways - dressed up or au naturel.
 |
Dormouse, still fast in winter sleep, in the safe hands of conservation officer Hazel Ryan. |
This week, I was lucky enough to be able to spend a second day at 'The Wildwood Trust' in Kent with chief conservation officer Hazel Ryan, learning about their 'Small mammal captive breeding programme'. Some of the dormice were just preparing for a slightly early wake-up. Here's a snippet from the 'news' page on the Wildwood website
March 13 Wildwood prepares captive bred dormice for release
Wildwood’s dormice prepare to head out to the wild in Wildwood’s latest release programme
Whilst people in the UK are hiding under their duvets to escape the wintry weather, the sleepy dormice at the Wildwood Trust are being woken from their slumber for an important mission to help save their species from extinction.
The tiny creatures, all bred at Wildwood, are part of the Trust’s captive breeding programme designed to repopulate areas of the UK where dormice have become extinct.
The course was made available by the People's Trust for Endangered Species PTES, the Kent branch works closely with Wildwood. As well as their extensive dormouse breeding programme, water-voles, water-shrews and harvest mice are all bred here for re-introduction into the wild.
Below - more of the animals for re-introduction , au naturel and with imagination added ....
 |
 |
|
A water-vole, quite a large fellow compared to the others - 20cm without tail - and in character as Ernest Shephard's Water Rat from The Wind in the Willows. The Wildlife Trust's website tells us 'The Water Vole is Britain's fastest declining wild mammal and has disappeared from many parts of the country where it was once common.' |
|
 |
 |
|
The tiny harvest mouse - barely 5cm, who builds a wee round nest on strong corn stems near harvest time. - here Jill Barklem has imagined the interior in 'Autumn Story' from Brambly Hedge. 'The loss of our field margins, hedgerows and grassland habitats is a threat to this species.' Wildlife Trust. |
|
Although the small mammal breeding areas are not available for public viewing, Wildwood is a wonderful day out for adults and families alike. They show a huge variety of British Wildlife in a setting of the ancient Blean woodlands, including a wolf pack, badgers (you can see them here on the right inside their set), otters, British owls and much, much more. They run an education centre and many of their own courses and events for all age groups.
Not only is it a lovely day out, BUT - Muddypond is delighted to note that the way-marker signs for youngsters feature a BADGER in a COAT ! Yay!
If you'd like to see a few more arty dormouse things
you can find them on Muddypond's 'other' blog.
'Poor old dormice - will it EVER be spring?'
April 12th 2013
..... Refreshing the faery wardrobes at Violet Time ......
 |
 |
| 'Cinderella Tunic' from Etsy shop 'Paulina722' | 'Gypsy wrap skirt' from 'Wildskin' on Etsy |
One glimpse of spring sunshine - and one glimpse is all we've had! - and us fae can't resist rootling about in the woods or ancient quarries to find bits and pieces for a fine new spring outfit. Down in 'Gnark's Quarry' this week there's a long bank, ablaze with darkest violet faery-flowers and scented with etherial violet perfume. Heady stuff!
Here's a choice of pretty, pretty things for you mortal ones - perhaps you need a new ensemble for the First Day of May, which'll be with us before we can sneeze.
 |
 |
 |
 |
'Titania' - handmade faery shoes |
Hand felted neck wear 'Anna Wegg' |
'Green Leaves' hand felted cuffs - 'Artmode' |
UK hand made double faery wings 'Fairylove' |
 |
 |
Beautiful hand felted 'Elven Cape' - |
April 26th 2013
..... The Rossetti painting that wasn't there ....
 |
Red House, mid April - the marriage house of William and Janey Morris |
As part of the much mentioned Stella Fae studies, Muddypond is expected to take 'arty history' to heart, and so she visits places! Faerie tribes have a definite bias towards all things 'Pre-Raphaelitey and Arts & Crafts Movementy' so two houses designed by architect Philip Webb were on the agenda.
Red House in Bexleyheath (now owned by the National Trust) built for William Morris, was the only house he owned outright. He lived there with new wife Janey for just five years - a planned extension for their friends the Edward Burne Jones's (who painted decorative mural panels in the main house) was never built.
Knowing that Dante Gabriel Rossetti had painted a wooden settle as a wedding present for the Morris's and especially for Red House, I went to see ....... one of the panels had long been a favourite ....... a detail on the right reminding me of last night's full 'willow' moon.
 |
 |
Left - 'Dantis Amor' - unfinished panel from the Red House settle - now in the Tate Gallery, London. Right- a composition sketch for the design in Birmingham Museum & Gallery. |
|
The panel 'Dantis Amor' has another name - 'Love that Moves the Moon and Stars' and is based on the story of poet Dante and his unrequited love for Beatrice - she is shown framed by the moon as she ascends after her death at the age of twenty-four. (The angel is not holding a Crystal Singing Bowl, which is a shame, but an unfinished sun-dial!)
But it wasn't there! Whaaaa ..... this fae should have done her homework - the settle was apparently demolished decades ago, and the main panel is now saved in the Tate. Hmmm, I think it might be happier in the home is was painted for - shouldn't that have been its destiny?
 |
 |
 |
Philip Webb birds - glass panels in the entrance corridor windows. |
||
Did enjoy these cheery birds though - and there are more! A quirky touch by the Red House Architect Philip Webb.
He also designed and built Standen in Sussex, a superb house, again now owned by the National Trust, with a huge collection of Morris & Co wallpapers. Muddypond visited last weekend, in bright April sunshine. The Trust has a contract for copies of the very early electric light bulbs that have been lit in Standen since 1894.
 |
 |
 |
|
Standen - an 'Arts & Crafts Style' house by Philip Webb in Sussex. Still retaining its early, original electric lighting.. |
|
If you are interested in the works of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood,
there is a truly awe-inspiring online resource for you to browse from The Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery.
April 30th 2013
...... May Eve - making ready for the Beltane dawn ....
 |
 |
Maying tomorrow, rise with the sun and gather the dew - but oh mortal maids take care if you go to the woods to gather may branches. Be aware, tis a centuries old wooing day for the young, and young hearts should never be ensnared with the first snap of a blossom branch. 'Give a kiss and take a kiss and go home free.'
The Poem - is the final verse of Edith Nesbit's heartfelt warning - 'May Day' - read it all here and take heed!
The Illustration - 'The Maying' Arthur Rackham - from 'The Romance of King Arthur' pub. Mcmillan 1917
May 1st 2013
..... May Day - long before the day-ay-oh ....
'Hal-an-Tow, jolly rumbelow
For we were up - long before the day-ay-oh
To welcome in the Summer
To welcome in the May-ay-oh.'
 |
 |
Greetings to the Dawn, to the East, to the Rising Sun and return of Summer |
|
'The Summer is a-coming in
And Winter's gone away-oh.'
Listen here to Roger Allam's great rendition of 'Hal-n-tow' sung at the Globe Theatre production of Heny 1V pt 1.
The official sunrise was 5.32am, and by four-ish, those who love the old ways were up and about, brewing a first cup of tea, bringing out bells and drums and making their way to meaningful haunts all over the British Isles.
This year Muddypond was delighted to spend early May morning with The Hartley Morris Men at one of the few significant megalithic sites in Kent - Coldrum Longbarrow. The dancers and muscians were spry and ready for the long day ahead of them. Unearthly music piped in first light from behind the cloutie-tree - the dancers danced - fine cake was shared - then a gathering was called at the foot of the barrow mound, a rememberance made and the traditional May Song rivalled the dawn chorus.
 |
The Hartley Morris Men, joined by Muddypond, to sing in the May soon after sunrise. |
There's more about the Coldrum Long Barrow here in my diaryblog - scroll to entry for March 25th 2012
June 4th 2013
..... Stella-Fae study leave! Rain and cloud forest - Costa Rica .... (Part 1)
(Making magic? The Ogham wood will now be Hawthorn - Huath until June 9th)
.
This Earth, One Earth, Our Earth - us Magics must care for the creatures, the enchanted healing plants and trees world over - and no-one takes their eco-enchantment responsibilities more seriously than the government and people of Costa Rica.
Muddypond Green, wood guardian herself, has been so very lucky to spend time being over-awed by the sheer diversity, colour and abundance of the small country divided between the Pacific and Caribbean oceans by a backbone of volcanic mountains.
 |
 |
 |
Torquoise-browed Motmot |
Emerald Toucanet |
Resplendent Quetzal |
 |
Arenal Volcano, last active 2006 from Monteverde Cloud Forest |
From dawn to dusk, birds and bird-song surround you - in gardens, on mountain sides, pineapple fields, banana and coffee plantations to the great forests themselves - all ablaze with rare and dazzling colour.
A wonderfully named 'Respendent Quetzal' posed and flounced on a suspension bridge cable, keeping his eye on his lady and nest-hole in a nearby tree despite having moulted the second of his long, long twin tail feathers.
So many others I could show you - sloths, humming birds, butterflies - another day perhaps!
Stay if you can at the Arenal Volcano Lodge, only a mile from the volcano, way away from everywhere in the midst of cloud forest. It's the site of an old scientific observatory. The picture above is a view from a room balcony - mortals can be up with the dawn to watch the coatis play in the garden below, hear howler monkeys racketing up the day and see the astounding birds.
 |
 |
Green Iguana - a huge presence in the sun |
Emerald Basilisk - prefering shady places by the water |
Massive iguanas, bask in the sun like ancient dragons and scrump left over vegetables - and if you are blessed you may catch a glimpse of the secretive, vivid basilisk lizard sitting atop a fallen river branch, immobile, watching for insects.
Later on, it's the turn of the frogs .... unbelievable ... but true...
 |
 |
 |
Gaudy Leaf Frog |
Blue Jeans frog |
Black & Green Dart Frog |
Dusk comes early at this latitude, time to pause, gaze out over the countryside. Now's the time to indulge in a long glass of fresh pineapple juice (or something!) and reflect for a while on the day's wanderings and wonders.
 |
Arenal lake, seen from the terrace at Arenal Volcano Lodge. |
June 6th 2013
.... Stella-Fae study leave! Rain and cloud forest - Costa Rica .... (Part 2)
 |
Walking on the sands - a Caribbean dawn at Playa Negra |
So many hummingbirds, iridescent and lustrous. Tiny feathered fireballs darting through the day out in the wilds or hovering and skimming around sugary garden feeders. Different species for coast and mountain - each one engrossed and engrossing- shimmering in the sunshine and defying you to look away!
 |
Above - Three toed sloth Right - Agouti |
As one of the most forward 'eco' thinking countries in the world, the Costa Rican Government is pledged to keep its remarkable wildlife heritage. They are turning the clock back, encouraging farmers to return some land to the wild - and rain forest quickly asserts itself. A protected and entire 'Green Corridor' will run across the country, allowing animals freedom to roam and is now over 90% complete.
As home to rare mammals like jaguar and tapir, breeding sea turtles, amazing bird species - not to mention diverse insect and plant life - it has a gift which it is learning to treasure. Many of these wonderful creatures are easy to see - toucans fly overhead, blue morpho butterflies dream through sunlit patches and evening sloths siesta high up after leaves and flowers.
 |
 |
 |
White-throated Capuchin Monkey |
A very curious White-nosed Coati |
Baby Mexican Hairy Porcupine |
 |
Workmen in misty weather on one of the six suspension bridges - Monteverde Cloud Forest - |
June 19th 2013
.... Back to English skies - 10 beguiling things from a few faery awaydays
in West Sussex ........
(Making magic? The Ogham wood will now be Oak - Duir until July 7th and her full moon will be June 23rd)
This is a picture of Bosham, near Chichester, taken at low tide in late evening light - in fact it was almost nine o'clock and still bright as we approach the Summer Solstice. Below, in no particular order are a further 9 magical things that bewitched Muddypond (wood guardian fae) on a little 'explore' of ancient England.
 |
 |
Here is one of the great Watchers - a yew tree from the yew forest of Kingley Vale where the yews have stood for centuries unknown. It is silent, a coolly shadowed and enchanted place and I'll tell more of it soon on my Ogham Yew page.
In contrast, sitting outside Amberley Village Tea Room in bright sunshine. You are surrounded by the pleasant clatter of local pottery cups, bowls and tea pots while indulging in home-made scones and strawberry jam with a big bowl of clotted cream. Of course, it's lucky that the fae population only indulge in the SCENT of the scones, cream etc. but the scent was good !
 |
 |
 |
 |
Top row above, proud coot parents show off their red-headed chicks on a wild pool beside Amberley castle. Muddypond fell in love with this embroidered kneeler in one of the famous medieval churches of this part of the world, this one at Stoughton. She was glad to see her beloved hedgehogs taking such pride of place.
Bottom row - taken at Bosham - a FAERY no less - never seen a straw or reed faery before - she sits, wand in hand, atop a beautiful cottage overlooking the pub and the creek. And another amazement - sea-going swans! Cygnets braving the choppy salt-water by the Emsworth harbour wall.
 |
 |
There was a really varied and up-to-date selection of books to be borrowed or swapped in the busy Bosham community telephone box - nice change-of-use idea now mortals seem plugged into mobiles!
Contrast the utter unchanged simplicity of the tiny, remote St. Michael's church at Up Marden, hidden amongst trees on an ancient track. Simon Jenkins, writing about the church in his book 'England's 1000 Best Churches' said he "could not be immune from the spirits of this place". I know exactly what he means.
Last but by no means least, a walk through the lyrical village of Amberley, the England of old, with its matchless mixture of architecture, tumbling roses and cottage gardens.
 |
|
June 21st 2013
..... My Summer Solstice - keeping it simple ...
Rising early on this, the longest day of the year, I sat on a breakwater and looked eastwards towards the horizon. It was just before 5.00am and not one glimmer of sun pierced the endless, misty, dull-grey of the sky. Finding a perfect little Whitstable oyster shell, I set it down on my scrying mirror with a sprig of heather for Ogham magic and lit my white candle.
The tide was far, far out over the shingle and sand, but I heared the shallow waves pulling and lapping over the pebbles, and no other soul, magic or human could be seen.
 |
 |
| Looking to the east on Seasalter beach, where sunrise was invisible - and a row of forlorn beach huts wait for summer | |
. Soon after the appointed time, 5.25am but with never a glimmer, I climbed up to the headland, where the ruined towers of the saxon church at Reculver face east as if they too were waiting. Sitting on the grass, looking down over the sea I read a poem to the sun. I give you an extract here -
from 'Summer Solstice' by Hilary Llewellyn-Williams.
|
 |
The poem was originally published in 'The Tree Calendar' by Hilary Llewellyn-Williams 1997. Pub: Poetry Wales Press. It was later included in other collections by the author notably 'Hummadruz' Pub: Seren 2001 - poems of the trees, seasons, stones and solstices. Thank you so much to my friend Imogen for bringing them to my attention.
July 3rd 2013
..... Meeting a wood guardian faery of the human-kind and in hotter climes than mine ..... (Costa Rica Pt 3)
 |
Leslie Howle |
Last month, Muddypond wrote a little about her amazing study-leave in Costa Rica. She couldn't leave the subject without introducing you to a real guardian of the Earth. Her name is Leslie, and she spends up to twenty-four hours a day looking after the injured and neglected wild animals and birds in her care.
Leslie Howle and husband Jorge have turned what was simply their home into The Toucan Rescue Ranch. Creatures find their way to her as lost babies from construction sites, as road or electrical cable injuries or as wild creatures abused and imprisoned in tiny cages as part of illegal trading.
It all began with toucans! There was no place for injured toucans in Costa Rica it seemed, and Leslie loves toucans. As her expertise grew and her care became known, the little ranch snowballed and tumbled with sloths, parrots, birds and animals of all varieties.
Although the aim is to rehabilitate the animals back to the wild, many can never go back even after life-saving care. For these, huge and beautiful homes are built. Hopefully after a while a partner will arrive and a breeding programme begun. There are seven pairs of toucans now - and first rare hatchlings are eagerly awaited.
 |
A huge Spectacled Owl and magnificent Barred Hawk listen to the extraordinary sound of friendly Whistling Ducks You really SHOULD hear Whistling Ducks! Click here for a video from The Toucan Rescue Ranch to listen. |
Here are a few of the wonderful animals that Muddypond had the privilege to meet while staying at The Toucan Ranch ...
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
An enchanting little book about one the first of Leslie's sloth babies tells of the adventures of 'Millie, the two-toed sloth' and some of the friends she meets in her new world. All proceeeds go towards the upkeep of the rescued birds and animals.
Visitors to Costa Rica can take a pre-booked tour of the ranch, or stay there in one of just two private 'Bed & Breakfast' cottages - a highly recommended and delightful part of any travels - (within easy travelling distance of San Jose airport).
Leslie is very likely to be mothering a baby sloth or two - in the wild they stay dependant for at least a year. They are magical creatures but, like most babies, very demanding, needing night and day feeding and cuddles! Below is the latest and smallest of her treasures ....
Wishing you many faery blessings Leslie - a truly dedicated Earth Guardian.
Find out more about the work of The Toucan Rescue Ranch, also Tours and B & B here on their website,
and here on Trip Advisor.
July 16th 2013
... Back to the English summer - must be festival time .. the faere folk favour the traditional ... 
No rain though? Now that's very odd! In fact weeks of hot, hot and hotter weather - and that's how it was when Ms. Muddypond here spent some precious days camping and basking in musical sunshine at the 28th Ely Folk Festival.
Glorious music and dance at this folk moot - room to move too - what more could we want! Held partly in the historical little cathedral city with its market place, cloistered greens and river marina, and partly at its own site not far from the centre, for festival stages, food and camping. The festival was an easy-going joy from first to last.
Mother ducks from Ely introduce their ducklings early to the joys of picnics taken in the shade of the huge cathedral.
Here follows a scrapbook with a few favourite memories and a smidgen of the music that this fae enjoyed most from the three day programme of music... music... and more music ......
 |
'Witchmen' - from the 'daarkside', or Kettering in fact - hurl themselves into the fray. |
 |
 |
A peaceful moment for a group learning the art of weaving a catcher of dreams. On Saturday night, John Tams as part of the group 'Home Service' gives a heart-stiring performance of 'Snow Falls' - a song which he wrote for the National Theatre's epic 'War Horse'.
 |
 |
 |
Above, the 'Ouse Washes Molly' group dance outside the cathedral to illustrate a strange and dark tale culminating in a double hanging. Unusual! Scrumptious Scottish singer/songwriter Karine Polwart holds the audience entranced on Friday evening - and an extrememly mischievous hooden horse, apparently named Van Gogh because he lost an ear (since mended) and let out of harness by the Yately Morris Men, fixes me with a rather menacing gaze!
 |
 |
Friday night gave us an incredible set from the matchless harmonica of Steve Lockwood and blues guitarist par excellence Brooks Williams. Wasn't expecting such excitement since this isn't a wood-fae's first choice of musical style - but luckily she recognises pure genius when she hears it !!
On Sunday, the 28th festival reached its zenith with the sheer brain-blowing energy of Seth Lakeman. Now there's one that's welcome to drop into a faery-moot down here in Kent on any moonlit night! Always magic.
|
|
 |
July 24th 2013
.... Badger watching in Essex this week, a sheer delight .... watch over them all ....
Also - NEW at last on the Ogham Tree Pages is the folk lore and magic of the Poplar - Eadha, ruler of Autumn Equinox
Illustration left by Hilda Boswell, Enid Blyton's Third Holiday Book 1948 - right: Muddypond watches as a shy badger snuffles for a worm 
Much beloved as an icon of British woodlands, and cherished since our childhoods or faery-sprig days from chance encounters at dusk and the pages of our story books, badgers are being even now slaughtered in their thousands by order of our Government. Culled. Shot.
As I watched a family on their evening forage, I wondered - how has this been allowed to happen - this idiotic and cruel decision? Shame on us all - is it really what the British people want? It's widely understood that badgers may spread bovine tuberculosis amongst cattle - may! but is this the answer?
Right now - in the midst of the decade when the inhabitants and guardians of our little scrap of world are mourning the loss of their hedgehogs, dormice, sky larks, sparrows, honey bees and countless other species - we allow the needless killing of these innocent creatures, the badgers that we should treasure.
 |
 |
The cubs stay with the parents for many years and are looked after in their own, sociable and boundaried communities. They're not difficult to hunt down and kill - but why exterminate? Vaccinate! Or finish the work on an efficient vaccine for cattle!
I was so very privileged to meet with this large group of wild woodland badgers, individuals above, on a sultry Essex evening, just before sundown. First one stripey snout appeared, them more of the group took courage, routing for worms and grooming each other near their set entrance whilst I watched, marvelled, filmed and photographed. Here's wishing you and generations to come the same opportunity.
Read about the culling and how you can help at the website of The Badger Trust.
August 7th 2013
.... The Kentish Stones - portals to past millenia .....
Kent may not be the first county that drifts into faery minds when thinking about megaliths, chambered tombs or standing stones, but here they dwell, of course they do - if you know where to look. They dwelt here indeed at least a thousand years before Stone Henge woke to its first sunrise.
As with all the ancient stone places, they have the atmosphere of otherworldliness, of betwixt and between, of faerie - portals to ancient ways, silence and wisdom.
 |
Metal rod dowsing. Walking through the central chamber of Chestnuts - Muddypond with a faery friend in mid-August sunshine. |
'The Chestnuts' is the sister site to 'Coldrum', where I have taken you before - (see here and here).
One of the 'Medway Megaliths' - each one the remains of a chambered long-barrow built with massive local sarcen stones, each one facing towards the rising sun, in varying states of repair - Chestnuts stands on private land in the village of Addington. Another longbarrow, fallen, can be clearly seen from the road.
You are welcome to make a visit by appointment, where the dear lady of the land will tell you its history and allow you to share in her decades of delight.
She offers you a chance to try out metal dowsing rods (faeries prefer to use hazel twigs as everybody knows - metal rods react too strongly in faery hands).
Standing at the centre of the old chamber, the rods slowly turned in a full 360° circle.
 |
An 18th century etching of the 'Chestnuts' Addington in Kent. A few stones have been raised and straightened in early 20th century. |
 |
 |
'The Chestnuts'. The huge stone lying flat front-left of first picture is thought to be the fallen capstone. |
|
As the Chestnuts is a chambered tomb, it would once have been roofed with its capstone and smaller stones then covered in a vast mound of soil, highest over the portal stones, lowering in a wedge shape towards the rear. All the Medway megaliths have revealed human remains in earlier excavation, some can be seen in Maidstone Museum.
 |
A faery funeral from one of the masters -Brian Froud or Alan Lee. From "Faeries" first published by Pavilion Books 1995 |
I don't believe the archaeologists have discovered the numerous clues to the faery-remains in the Kentish tombs yet, mainly because the little bodies themselves fade gradually a few hours after death. The grave-goods and reliquarys are there to be found though - just search more carefully - attune yourself and keep very silent!
The wonderful illustration above is the artist's response to a description by William Blake of a time when he saw such a procession - complete with rose-leaf bier and a daisy covering - in his own garden.
 |
Skulls and remains of twenty-two individuals taken from Coldrum during 19th century excavation. (Photo: Kent Archaelogical Society) |
Kent has its very own 'Devil's Stone' legend. Some say he has left the mark of a hoof on the huge sarcen stone but they have never seen it for actually the Devil was wearing very large boots!
He was infurated by the sound of the pealing bells from the tower of 12th century Newington Church and one night, bounded up the stone walls, cut down the bells and threw them into a sack. With his plunder over his shoulder, he leaped down into the lane, but he tripped over the stone, leaving his mark for all to see.
The bells rolled into the stream and since then the water has run clear and fresh, the bells are restored and the stone stands near the church gate.
 |
 |
| Right: Kit's Coty House looking back across the downs. Above: 19th century graffiti and damage made before the Victorian railings were erected for the monument's protection. |
The strangely named Kit's Coty House is the best known of the exposed 'Medway Megaliths', now owned by English Heritage. It has been dated to at least 3,400 BC and stands on the top of a down's headland above Aylesford The stones would once have been covered as they are part of a long barrow burial site.
The giant capstone atop the three uprights towers above three metres in height. Stones marking the length and width of the barrow itself have long since disappeared, and the tall sarcen which stood at the far end, shown in ancient prints as 'The General's Tombstone' was apparently 'blown to bits' in 1867.
For faerie grave-goods, search diligently, very diligently, but leaving no damage behind you to grass, stone, fur or feather - not even a footstep - try to move any that you discover, or even make a photographic record, and they will simply crumble, dissolve then fade away. (Those above are from illustrator Rodney Matthews, who knows that lead-pencil sketching is allowable!)
August 27th 2013
..... National shame! The badger cull begins .......
Chris Packham, influential naturalist and presenter of British television series 'Springwatch' and 'Autumnwatch' voices the feelings of a huge proportion of Britain, as reported in the Telegraph today. Thank you Chris - and so say all of us. Read the whole article here. (photo from facebookphotowallpublic).
August 29th 2013
.... Dartmoor, mystical Britain .....
 |
Kilbury Manor - a fine, fine 'B & B' place to rest faery wings when they have been all night on the moors and under the moonlight. |
This last weekend was spent on Dartmoor - a place of unending magic passed down through millenia and lingering still in every cranny and crevice. The main purpose of my visit being attendance at a thanksgiving festival 'Dusk, Dark and Dawn' - an all night pilgrimage at the heart of the moor.
But first, some of my pictures, with words from Mrs Anna Bray, widow of the rather eccentric Reverend Edward Atkyns Bray, Vicar of Tavistock. Mrs Bray, who was a novelist, corresponded at great length in the 1840's with Robert Southey on her passion - the moors, and the craggy, granite tors.
"On Dartmoor the priests of the Britons appropriated the tors themselves as temples, erected by the hand of nature, and with such majesty that their circles were only memorials of their consecration.
Over the moor, the Druid moved in the region of the vast and the sublime: the rocks, the winter torrent, the distant and expanded ocean. The works of the great god of nature in their simplest and in their most imposing character were all before his view."
 |
 |
A solitary hawthorn - the ogham tree huath. |
A solitary menhir near the roadside |
A striking feature of any Dartmoor journey is its tiny stone built bridges at the bottom of windy, valley lanes, and the most ancient ones of all - the 'Clap' bridges. The pub sign on the right shows the old bridge at Postbridge (see below)
"Amongst the British antiquities of the moor I must not allow myself to forget to mention the rude vestiges of its primitive bridges. ........... the construction of these bridges is exceedingly simple, being nothing more than masses of granite piled horizontally, and thus forming the piers, on a foundation of solid rock, that nature has planted in the midst of the stream.
The piers being thus formed, the bridge is completed by huge slabs of moor stone laid across and supported from pier to pier."
Mrs Bray had plenty to communicate with Southey on the subject of the magical denizens of the moors, from the dangers of getting lost out in the tors and peat bogs, which was known as being 'Pixie-led', to descriptions and encounters with the immortals as told by locals.
" ...... or else the pretty stream lies sparkling in the moonbeam for no hour is so dear to pixie revels as that in which man sleeps and the queen of the night, who loves not his mortal gaze, becomes a watcher. It is under the cold and chaste light of her beams, or amidst the silent shadows of the dark rocks where that light never penetrates, that on the moor, the elfin king of the pixie race holds his high court of sovreignty and council."
 |
 |
 |
|
Moors enchantments - the otherworldly Rowan - Luis, A diminutive chestnut-brown toad explores a forest path, Part of Fernworthy stone circle. |
|
 |
The stone circle - Fernworthy Forest |
Words from 'Legends, Superstitions and Sketches of Devonshire' by Mrs Anna Bray.
pub 1844 A.K.Newman and Company.
September 4th 2013
..... Dartmoor, mystical Britain ..... Dusk and Dark and Dawn ....
Just a few days ago, I, that is Ms Muddypond Green, Wood Guardian Fae, was privileged to spend a whole dusk til dawn night in pilgrimage, song and contemplation under the guidance of Carolyn Hillyer and Nigel Shaw. We gave thanks for the age-old land. Here is a scrap-book reminiscence ....
 |
 |
Nigel Shaw and Carolyn Hillyer with their evocative 'Evensongs & Nightshades'. Folk singers Damh the Bard and Julie Felix. |
|
 |
 |
As darkness fell the fire ceremony began, with circle dancing accompanied by Woodwose, then a night song followed by 'Walking the Land'. A time to discover shrines and pools lit by thousands of candles, walk the new labyrinth and listen to stories in the smokey roundhouse. Below, the peaceful pool of Moonlit Reflectiion.
 |
 |
Later, as the light gained strength, all gathered to hang prayer flags made during the night, and send energies and thanks down into the earth with our handmade arrows, each with a wish wrapped tight around its shaft.
The pilgrimage finished with a sunrise ceremony, a circle of welcome for the light. A buzzard swooping low and spiralling above our heads, wondered at our singing in her usually silent and deserted dawn world and carried our voices to the rose-streaked clouds. A night of faery-magic, man-made by mortals!
 |
Carolyn Hillyer (in black) at the conclusion of the song for first light. |
September 14th 2013
..... North of Ireland cliffs, rocks, sea in the words of W.M.Thackeray .....
'--of those lean solitary crags standing rigid along the shore, where they have been watching the ocean ever since it was made--of those grey towers of Dunluce standing upon a leaden rock and looking as if some old, old princess, of old, old fairy times, were dragon-guarded within--of yon flat stretches of sand where the Scotch and Irish mermaids hold conference-'
On my travels again, discovering the places of wonder and legend. Above, Dunluce Castle stands it's romantic guard as it did in the days when William Makepeace Thackeray wrote his 'Irish Sketchbook' 1845, and in whose footsteps I travel here .....
'The" Antrim coast-road," which we now begin to follow, besides being one of the most noble and gallant works of art that is to be seen in any country, is likewise a route highly picturesque and romantic; the sea spreading wide before the spectator's eyes upon one side of the route, the tall cliffs of limestone rising abruptly above him on the other.'
 |
 |
'The road to the Causeway is bleak, wild, and hilly. The cabins along the road are scarcely better than those of Kerry, the inmates as ragged and more fierce and dark-looking. I never was so pestered by juvenile beggars in the dismal village of Ballintoy .... (two pictures of Ballintoy below)
........ A couple of churches, one with a pair of its pinnacles blown off, stood in the dismal open country, and a gentleman's house here and there: there were no trees about them, but a brown grass round about-hills rising and falling in front, and the sea beyond.
The occasional view of the coast was noble; wild Bengore towering eastwards as we went along; Raghery Island before us, in the steep rocks and caves of which Bruce took shelter when driven from yonder Scottish coast, that one sees stretching blue in the north-east.'
Above - the idyllic little harbour of Ballintoy, which unbeknownst to was the location for 'Lordsport'
during the filmimg of part of 'Game of Thrones'.
See below - Alfie Allen as 'Theon Greyjoy' in the very spot!
Standing just here started me on a passion for the books and amazing film series - a modern legend!
Then on to the place of old legends, of the giant Finn MacCoul and the causeway he built to link Ireland with Scotland
. You can search for seven-sided faery pillars amongst the pentagons and hexagons. Thackeray felt the alchemy of the place on a duller day, and when the visitor had to brave a rowing boat or treck for miles along a daunting cliff-top path.
'It looks like the beginning of the world, somehow: the sea looks older than in other places, the hills and rocks strange, and formed differently from other rocks and hills-as those vast dubious monsters were formed who possessed the earth before man. The hill-tops are shattered into a thousand cragged fantastical shapes; the water comes swelling into scores of little strange creeks, or goes off with a leap, roaring into those mysterious caves yonder, which penetrate who knows how far into our common world? '
 |
 |
William Makepeace Thackeray even wrote of his impressions of the amazing place where we roosted, so very lucky to have our own castle gatehouse - The Barbican at Glenarm. With its own river, castle grounds, spiral stairs, turrets and towers we were spoiled beyond measure and transported into a fairy-tale realm which we did not want to leave.
'There are in the map of Curry's 'Guide-book points indicating castles and abbey ruins in the vicinity of Glenarm;
The abbey only exists in the unromantic shape of a wall; the castle, however, far from being a ruin, is an antique in the most complete order-an old castle repaired so as to look like new, and increased by modern wings, towers, gables, and terraces, so extremely old that the whole forms a grand and imposing-looking baronial edifice, towering above the little town which it seems to protect, and with which it is connected by a bridge and a severe-looking armed tower and gate.'
'The severe gate of the castle was opened by a kind, good-natured old porteress, instead of a rough gallowglass with a battle-axe and yellow shirt (more fitting guardian of so stern a postern), and the old dame insisted upon my making an application to see the grounds of the castle, which request was very kindly granted ......'
Our 'good natured old porteress' , who was not old at all, showed us how to swing open the massive gates with modern technology and where to climb the spiral stairs to the roof terrace looking over Glenarm and out to the sea. The tower itself contained everything that you could wish for to make an atmospheric stay perfect.
To see more of 'The Barbican', or to book a stay, go to the website of The Irish Landmark Trust and view their wonderful holiday properties.
September 20th 2013
.... North of Ireland - dwellings of the ancients ...
One of Muddypond's tasks on the long road to becoming a 'Stella Fae' fully qualified, is to fulfill a promise to discover more about the spiritual places of the forefaes. These meld so often with the megaliths and tombs of ancient mortals that they have become almost impossible to tell apart.
The stone circles of Beaghmore and the court-tomb Tamnyrankin beckoned to me on a very recent Irish exploration (see also below), and briefly - here they are ....
 |
 |
Beaghmore - views of some of the seven stone circles and cairns. |
|
The heart-stirring site of Beaghmore in county Tyrone is out on the wild moors and very remote despite its ease of access and well kept feel. Discovered buried under peat, there are seven circles, some in pairs, with stone rows leading to them and several burial cairns which may be from an earlier date.
Our only companion on a grey, rainy day was an immaculate chiffchaff who watched us intently as we wandered marvelling among the circles, making known to us that he was the watch-bird - a guardian of the sacred place. He drew our attention particularly to the 'Dragon's Teeth' circle.
 |
Beaghmore: The extraordinary circle kown as 'Dragon's Teeth' where hundreds of carefully placed rocks fill the huge space. |
Mortals have no explanation for the ancient placing of the 'Dragon's Teeth', but faery-folk believe that it was a way of counting the buried and cremated ones at each cairn and resting place here on the moor.
 |
 |
|
Beaghmore: Stone rows leading to the circles, and an avian stones-guardian who kept his chiffchaff-eye on us for much of the visit. |
|
In an even more remote spot some miles north of Beaghmore and in County Derry, stand the rare and remarkably well preserved stones and long barrow of the Tamnyrankin Court Tomb. Built in early prehistoric times it is thought to be between 5000 to 6000 years old (many faery-generations indeed!). Silent - we stayed long at this place.
 |
 |
Tamnyrankin: a sketch showing Tamnyrankin as it might have been, with my picture of the well preserved tomb now. |
|
. 
The front wall of a court-tomb was shaped like a horseshoe, with its entrance in the centre, flanked by menhirs graded down in size from the central portal. The 'court' in front is believed (by mortals) to be a small amphitheatre used in gatherings and ceremony. (The Fae of course know this to be true, we used them for moots on clear nights under the full moon - still do!)
Tamnyrankin has two chambers behind its portal stones and towards the back of the 25metre long barrow a stone passage runs straight across, giving access to two smaller chambers. The entrance capstone has fallen and the chamber shelters ferns. Blackberry vines tumble over the barrow with wild flowers and heathers.
 |
 |
October 2nd 2013
... A little learning for the Harvest season ... and 'Crying the Neck'! ...
The fields around Muddypond's wood at the foot of the North Downs of Kent are bare now of the golden corn that waved and rustled only a week or so ago. They are ridged and furrowed, manured and catching breath for a while before the round begins again. 
During September, on the everlasting quest for traditional learning which the fae kind delight in, I went for the first time to The Weald and Downland Museum for two workshops at their Rural Studies centre.
One was all about Corn Dollies, little talismen for harvest thanks and good fortune. On the far left of the drawing above, is the 'Devonshire Neck'. It's one of the best known 'harvest dollies' or harvest amulets found in Britain and once had its own special ritual ... (drawing above taken from 'The Women's Institute Book of Country Crafts' 1979)
 |
Muddypond's first attempt at plaiting a 'Devonshire neck'. |
There is plenty of documentation about the 'Crying the Neck' ceremony, once common on almost every West Country farm. The extract below is from Sir James Fraser's 'Golden Bough' Chapter 47 ....
'An old man, or some one else well acquainted with the ceremonies used on the occasion (when the labourers are reaping the last field of wheat), goes round to the shocks and sheaves, and picks out a little bundle of all the best ears he can find; this bundle he ties up very neat and trim, and plats and arranges the straws very tastefully. This is called 'the neck' of wheat, or wheaten-ears.'
After a jug of ale, which may well have been like this beautiful jug pictured earlier this year at the National Trust's Scotney Castle, the reapers stand in a circle around the one chosen to hold 'the Neck'.
Now the Neck is raised and lowered to the ground three times, a gesture copied by the reapers who touch the soil with their hats.
Stretching to the sky the whole circle calls out slowly and in various harmonies, three times, "The Neck", and then "Waay---en" (we have him). After this comes much maiden chasing and fun and games, topped by a plentiful harvest supper and more ale from that wonderful jug. The Neck itself was hung by the farm hearth for a year and replaced with the next cutting of the corn.
|
 |
| Left: teacher Verna Bailey with nimble fingered pupils Right: Demonstration pieces by Verna |
Amongst the many, many courses, study days and workshops at the Weald and Downland open air museum, I discovered some with the expert on herbal medicines Christina Stapely. The workshop I chose was 'Medicine of the Trees' - a subject of never-ending interest to all Wood Guardian Fae and lovers of the Tree Ogham knowledge.. . .
 |
 |
|
Lecturer and writer Christina Stapely directing the ointment making, with the bees wax, berries and herbs simmered on a traditional wood fire. |
|
This vast purpose built structure is the centre for longer courses in 'Traditional Rural Trades and Crafts' which run all year round.
 |
 |
|
A group of 'Medicine of Trees' participants admire the magnificent Black Walnut tree and examine unusual Sea Buckthorn berries.- also below |
|
October 16th 2013
.... Impressions of Northumberland .... from an enchanted angle ...
Northumberland, mystic land replete with picturesque castles and drenched in history. Above and below, a day or two on the Holy Isle of Lindisfarne, a place Muddypond has long wanted to visit. Mid October, a perfect time for faery-folk to cross the causeway and find the island unusually deserted.
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
Leaving Lindisfarne behind, the little port of Craster beckoned. The smokery of Robson & Sons is said to produce the finest kippers to be had in England. I can well believe that! Sadly no Red Squirrel came out to exchange the time of day, even though Northumberland is a growing stronghold for them.
Now the castle of Alnwick lured us, ancient site of, among other things, a certain flying Ford Anglia, an angry Whomping Willow and a courtyard once full of the wizards of Hogwarts. Oh yes, I should say it has a fair old weight of history on its broad shoulders as well!
 |
|
Faery Guardian Martin enjoyed a race on the evening sands, ears flying, and took on a serious fight with some fine seaweed. Next day, into the hills to find for ourselves some of the rock-markings for which Northumberland is famous. These, and more like them, thought to have been carved circa 6000 year ago, are in a lonely spot at Routing Linn.
I loved this tiny, rare, semi-deserted building, nestled into the corner of a country churchyard. It is a 'Watch House', constructed in the early 19th century to give shelter to a guard, on permanent watch for the famous 'body-snatchers' from just across the Scottish border.
Below, the most picturesque of all, by late afternoon light in a howling wind - the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle.
October 31st 2013
..... Samhain - and gifts from faery-gentlewomen .....
(Making magic? The Ogham wood will now be Reed or Wheat - Ngetal from October 28th until November 24th)
Back from another few windy days and moonless, unforgettable, firelit nights on the Dartmoor hills.
Tors and wild places, dark ponies with rain in their manes. Full, clear-rushing, cold streams amber brown with peat.
Drum beats and ancient, ancient stones - here "The Spinster Rock" at Drewsteington (chieftain tomb, erected by three women before breakfast to show their power!), surrounded by remembrances from the faery-kin with whom I spent an enchanted space of time on the moors.
 |
 |
|
Images for tonight, the Eve of All Hallows, drawn by brilliant Canadian artist Larry MacDougal left 'Pumpkin Dealer' right: 'The Jack' |
|
You may like to see the rowan necklace of 'A Year and a Day', new on my Spells and Charms page.
November 6th 2013
..... A snippet in honour of the bone-fires of November ...
(Making magic? The Ogham wood is now Reed or Wheat - Ngetal from October 28th until November 24th)
 |
I rise in the dawn, and I kneel and blow W B Yeats |
 |
Photos at Smarden Village Bonfire Night Nov 2013
November 7th 2013
..... Siddington Church - a harvest festival of marvels ...
The traditional British harvest thanksgiving was celebrated in October, but I haven't had time 'til now to share my favourite one with you. One which I had wanted to visit for a long while .....
 |
All Saints Church at Siddington, Cheshire |
In historic Cheshire there are a number of the prettiest medieval 'black and white' timber churches, originally built with wattle and daub to infill the great oak beams.
One such is All Saints Church in the village of Siddington.
All Saints rightly boasts "We are particularly well known for the spectacular harvest decorations where over 1000 of Raymond Rush's corn dollies decorate the church along with a rich display of local produce".
What an amazing sight! No wonder the display, hooked onto nails via long poles to save climbing too many ladders, hung from every chandelier, railing and beam, framing windowsills and highlighting the organ balcony is famous.
 |
 |
Mr Rush, whose traditional farmland surrounds the church, has been inricately connected with the life of the All Saints for over sixty years. His farmhouse, corn dolly workshop and pretty garden with its chickens and bevvy of cats is only a few steps away.
A countryman through and through, with unrivalled knowledge of many a traditional skill, Mr Rush continues to make his wonderful corn dollies, displayed annually for hundreds of visitors to admire at harvest time. The clock, with twenty-four straw stars is one of this year's newest ideas!
 |
 |
The Corn Dolly Maker - Mr Raymond Rush , his workshop and one of his seven books of country-lore and traditions 'Countrywise'. |
|
 |
 |
November 10th 2013
.... 'Anthems for Peace' - Michael Morpurgo with Joey ....
 |
 |
|
Yesterday, Remembrance Sunday, I was in London for an unforgettable and emotional evening, 'Anthems for Peace'. Here was Michael Morpurgo reading from his book 'War Horse' with Tim Van Eyken, the 'Songman' from the stage show giving some of John Tams' wonderful music. 'War Horse' set designer Rae Smith drew illustrations for the readings, projected on to a huge screen.
Then, from the darkness came Joey himself, the War Horse, daintily walking towards his audience, pawing a hoof and whinnying us a greeting.
 |
 |
Later, in a perfect second half, a master-class in 'less is more', Michael was joined by the still beautiful Virginia McKenna to read his moving short story 'The Best Christmas Present in the World', memories of Christmas in the trenches. They were accompanied by acapella group 'Voices at the Door' with simple, exquisite carols in English, German and French.
It was a privilege to be there. Thank you all for an evening never to be forgotten.
 |
 |
 |
November 14th 2013 A quick note about faery lanterns ......
|
|
 |
November 20th 2013
.... Once more to the glorious Bonfire Societies of Sussex ......
from 'The Philosophy of Natural Magic' by Henry Cornelius Agrippa
 |
 |
No faerie year can be complete without at least one visit to the 'Fire County' for a good dose of 'visions and imaginations'!
From the end of September to mid December the 40 Bonfire Societies take their turn light up the weekend skies. 
The best known of these is on the coast at Lewes, but if you actually want to visit, view and enjoy in comfort away from the too strong mortal crowds, try one of the many others on offer!
Even the smallest historic villages put on spine-tingling torchlit parades, vast bonfires built to rival the pyramids and pyrotechnics to make you gasp....
On the night of the November Full Moon, it was the turn of the village of Robertsbridge to kindle their magick - pictured above, the Robertsbridge Bonfire Society banner leads the way. A very, very splendid fire-ritual it was too.
 |
 |
 |
 |
“ But the fairy riders, as the air thickens, shout with triumph and urge their coursers onward and downward, till they reach the earth at last in one glorious rush -
and behold, they are changed into stars of burning flame.”
From “Fairies” by Gertrude M. Faulding 1913
December 4th 2013
'In a Pagan Place' ... a faery place indeed ...
(Making magic? Using a wand? The Ogham wood is now Elder - Ruis, from November 25th to December 22nd)
 |
 |
Entrance through the tree arch to the pagan place |
Top of the mossy faery falls |
|
 |
This most beautiful of pagan places is in Northumberland, where I journeyed last month. Rather melancholy in the late Autumn, local legend tells that here, faeries come to spend their last hours, before they fade into the sparkles and glimmers of the waterfall. Their spirits (but not their souls, for faere-folk have no souls) can sometimes be glimpsed when sunlight casts rainbows in the spray.
 |
 |
Pools,.rocks and rills below the fall, while high above a towering oak stands watch, clinging to the rock edge.
|
|
I'm not sure whether or not I fell asleep, possibly I did. Certainly I sat for a long, long while outside the cave on a blanket of brown leaves and star moss. I was listening to the strange booming sound made by the water at the base of the rocks when next I knew I found myself on the wing. Up to the huge oak, through the spray, dancing, soaring and swooping for joy with my Lord of the Greenwood. Should have guessed that he would be found here. Well, it seemed to me that he was ...
Now the faery-falls and pools are one of the many 'off-the-beaten-track' places that I would never, never have found without this little book -
'Northumbria Days Out', by Keith Taylor.
You can order a printed copy, or download it at the link above. An unusual and off-beat gem!
Thank you so much Keith, for your suggestions, they gave me so much pleasure.
December 17th 2013
.... The Elder Moon is full, and Yule fast approaches ....
 |
 |
An odd mix of British wintery weather heralds the advent of the Yule season and we all know how the faere-folk of this little island do love to whisper about the weather! Frost glistens under the full, silver-white mid-December moon, and as the dawn sun rises, the woods and fields are under a pall of eery mist. Now Yule-tide storms are threatened!
I had been to check that the hazel dormice Dormir and Souris were tucked up snuggly in their leaf and root nest. Now, flying over the pines in the early darkness, back to my clearing in the wood, I noticed familar pin-ponts of light through the branches.
Of course ! - nearly Mid-winter Solstice - when villager folks and kind neighbours fill the 'Forgotten Chapel' with candlelight and the scents of pine tree, soft fresh hay, cinnamon and nutmeg. I flew up to the little diamond window pane, its lavender glass broken so many moons ago - and taking care not to be seen, peered down ...
There! Again, the wonderful tree, proud with its hundreds of twinkles and every nook and cranny in the ancient stones lit by a candle flame. Soaring into the vast roof beams, the notes from medieval pipes, shaums, strings and jingles.
 |
 |
December 24th 2013
..... Wishing you and yours a cosy and happy Mid-Winter .....
(Not sure which wand to use at this time, or which wood to include in your herbal incense? The Ogham wood is now Birch - Beith,
from December 24th to January 20th)
Illustration by Curt Nystrom
|
Yuletide stockings by favourite faery artists of a century ago, feature on |
 |