The pictures below document the extent and type of the Hatch Farm Development, the planning permission for and controversy surrounding which having been examined in the following previous posts; "#HatchFarm #Heathland: West End Village, Eastleigh Borough Council, #GreenfieldSites #NatureReserves": https://www.arafel.co.uk/2018/02/hatchfarm-heathland-west-end-village.html & "Greenfield Site Development in Britain: #GovtPolicy #MilitaryInvolvement #TheCampaignfortheProtectionofRuralEngland" : https://www.arafel.co.uk/2018/02/greenfield-site-development-in-britain.html
The housing development has turned the beautiful, picturesque village of West End in to just another dormitory. It defeats me how those already living in the other smaller but more prestigious new estates thought they were benefiting by allowing Hatch Farm's development to go ahead, there is now nowhere for their lucky kids to go trail biking, kite, radio-controlled/glider aircraft or drone flying and nowhere for the green-wellies to walk their hounds either neither is there now any prospect for the previously pristine heathland to become an educational resource as a nature reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest. The thing is if one is (deliberately), never taught to value the works of nature one only (as Joni Mitchell sang), misses them once they are gone.
The crime has been compounded by the total disrespect shown to the legacy of West End Village born (international), arboriculturist and conservationist Richard St.Barbe Baker (also see; "Barrows, Hatch End (West End) and an SSSI (for St. Barbe Baker)": https://www.arafel.co.uk/2019/11/barrows-hatch-end-west-end-and-north.htmln
).
Interestingly if one examines the nature of the housing that characterises the development one is left with the feeling that the lives of the members of the "community" that now inhabits it may not (to paraphr. Professor J.Clarkson); "have worked out quite as well as they had planned", this would seem to be a function of the economic philosophy that drove the project; the younger apparatchiks must be rewarded and encouraged but care must be taken not to let too much "trickle down" that would affect the profit margins!
West End
The picture above is of the now refurbished and reappointed Moorgreen Community Hospital (a former workhouse), in West End Village, go to: http://www.workhouses.org.uk/SouthStoneham/
Converted to residential use "without benefit of clergy" (as the saying goes and whilst eschewing any sectarian notions), and a shiny new sculpture "sealed" its fate!
Quote; "Health services, which include services for the elderly and adults
with learning disabilities and mental health needs, would move under one
new building on pasture land in the east called the Donkey Field.
There is considerable precedent for this type of "displacement activity" in and around Southampton, even the city's status as a spa town has been forgotten, quote; " Southampton became a spa town in 1740,[39] thanks to the discovery of a spring of chalybeate water.[39] The area was laid out as Spa gardens[39] and earned royal patronage.[39] That further encouraged fashionable society to Southampton[39] and aided its prosperity and development." Go to: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Southampton .
Both the Victoria Park Military Hospital (the largest military hospital in the world -ever-, built in 1863 and used during the Boer War, WW1 and WW2), and Tatchbury House (used for a hospital and recuperation centre for merchant mariners wounded during the Second World War), have been demolished, the former after a fire in the sixties, the latter during recent decades. Southampton and the surrounding area have been and are currently a major centre in the south for the treatment of mental health conditions.
What has been discovered recently is that both (the area around), Totton (incl. Tatchbury Mount), and the Solent are both of major importance and have histories that date back to the Mesolithic era (documents I have read date the construction of Tatchbury Mount to the Iron Age but I believe that it is very possible that insufficient research/excavation has been done on the site and that future explorations may well find that the mount dates back to at least the Bronze Age -excavations and finds in the area would also seem to bear this out-, quote; "
England's oldest bridge
In 1998 another bridge was found nearby in Testwood Lake, which was the earliest complete bridge in England.
In 1998, two years after the excavation at Meadow Lake, more timbers
were found, this time during work on a lagoon. The lagoon was a
temporary structure excavated and then filled with water before its
removal a year later as part of the construction of Testwood Lake.
Buried deep in the gravels of the lagoon, two parallel rows of
timbers were found, similar to those found at Meadow Lake. There were
two rows of upright stakes, set about 1.5 metres (almost five feet)
apart, running for about 22 metres (72 feet).
The timbers crossed an old river course, showing that they were from a
bridge. The bridge was about 26 metres (85 feet) long and between 1.5
metres and 2 metres wide (5 feet to 6.5 feet). It would have stood for
about 100 years.
A radiocarbon test on the timbers dated them to around 1,500BC, the
oldest definitely established bridge in England. (Slightly older timbers
found jutting into the Thames at Vauxhall might have been a jetty).
There were 143 timbers driven into the river bed, the largest being a
quarter of a metre in diameter (10 inches) and three metres tall (ten
feet). None of the stakes were complete – the tops had been exposed and
had weathered away. Also found were parts of 15 planks which formed the
top of the bridge.
The wood used was mainly oak, with some alder and ash, and a little
hazel and willow. People had used bronze tools to fashion the wood,
using sophisticated carpentry techniques to create pegs, notches, bevels
and mortice holes.
The Boat
Part of a boat dating again to the Middle Bronze Age, (c1,500BC)
was found at Meadow Lake. The part found was a curved piece of wood
called a cleat, which was used to help fasten crossbeams to the hull of
the boat." Go to: https://www.wessexarch.co.uk/our-work/testwood-lakes
Quote; "Marine archaeologists have published stunning images of what they
think is an 8000-year-old shipyard located just off the coast of
England. They have just found a large number of timber boards that may
have once been a platform on the seafloor. Researchers believe that the
submerged structure may provide new insights into Stone Age technology
and society.
The find was made by divers from the Maritime Archaeology Trust. They
made the discovery at the “submerged Mesolithic landscape at Bouldnor
Cliff, [which] lies on the edge of the drowned palaeo-valley and is now
11m underwater” according to the Maritime Archaeology Trust . This location is now located half a mile (1km) east of Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight." Go to: https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/oldest-shipyard-0012465
Quote; "The discoveries, after analysing a mile-long stretch of seabed, are
of "international importance" the trust says, because it sheds new light
on how people lived in the Mesolithic period.
"One area they were
doing boat building, nearby they were on riverbanks and sand bars
collecting reeds or doing a bit of fishing or elsewhere they would be
hunting game," said director Garry Momber.
"Effectively you have
all these activities happening which have strong parallels with the
modern high street, but they've all just been a bit consolidated."
"We
have found a pit with burnt flints, and evidence they were working
wood, using technology that was 2,000 years ahead of its time."
Work
to get the seabed to give up its secrets though, has required the
removal of sediment that has protected the settlement for thousands of
years - and this removal has given the tides the opportunity to erode
that evidence away." Go to: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-17046338
Quote; "Remarkable new archaeological discoveries are likely to completely rewrite a key part of British prehistory.
Scientific tests suggest that a major aspect of the Neolithic
agricultural revolution may have reached Britain 2000 years earlier than
previously thought.
The research - carried out by scientists at the universities of
Bradford, Birmingham and Warwick - reveal that wheat, probably already
ground into flour, was being used at a Mesolithic Stone Age site in
around 6000 BC.
The discovery - just published in the academic journal, Science
- is likely to be viewed with some degree of consternation by many
archaeologists because it completely changes accepted views of what
happened in Britain (and indeed most of western Europe) in pre-Neolithic
times.
Quote; "Below the bridges at Meadow Lake archaeologists found a bronze rapier
buried in mud. The rapier is 32 cm long (13 inches) long. No trace of
its handle, which would have been made of wood, horn or bone, was
identified.
This may have been because the rapier was accidentally dropped into
the water, but it is more likely it was thrown into the water as part of
a religious ritual. We know that people in the Bronze Age showed their
veneration for water by putting important objects, often weapons, into
it." Also see: https://www.wessexarch.co.uk/our-work/testwood-lakes ), and as I know from my own explorations of the ancient sites in the New Forest there are plenty of examples of Mesolithic and early Neolithic ritual and communal activity in the area.
Quote; "Police launched a manhunt for ‘mad scientist’ Daniel
Rosenthal, 58, who was jailed for life after dismembering his mother’s
body with a hacksaw in 1981.
He
was accused of hacking his father to death in France and dumped his
body near Paris before returning to the family home in Hampshire to kill
his mother.
There was a full-scale alert after police revealed
Rosenthal, who is a paranoid schizophrenic, fled from his hospital on
the fringe of Hampshire’s New Forest.
He had been allowed to go for an ‘unsupervised walk’ around hospital grounds.
Police warned the public not to approach the ‘dangerous’ patient and to contact police immediately by dialling 999 if he was spotted. After
20 hours 30 minutes on the loose, Rosenthal was finally found around
seven miles away in Southampton, Hants, at 11am today.
Rosenthal, who wears glasses and walks with a hunch, is a patient at Tatchbury Mount Hospital in Totton, Hants." Go to: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/daniel-rosenthal-how-one-britains-2153069
Holbury
The large brick-built structure is the old Waterside Sports and Social Club (WSSC), building, quote; "Fears have been raised that a community building which has lain empty for nearly three years could be lost to redevelopment.
The former home of the now defunct Waterside Sports and Social Club in Holbury was raised at a meeting of New Forest District Council when assurances were sought over its future.
The site includes a theatre and social club, plus football, cricket,
tennis and bowls facilities. It is owned by ExxonMobil subsidiary Esso,
which runs Fawley oil refinery on the other side of the A326 Long Lane.
Although the sports pitches are still used, the building itself
(pictured) was closed after the club went bust in late 2016. Holbury
Community Sports Association was formed to help keep activity alive in
the area, under licence from Esso." Go to: https://www.advertiserandtimes.co.uk/waterside-club-building
My friend's father was a member of the WSSC whilst he was working for ESSO as a hazardous (mostly aviation), fuels tanker-driver, shortly after retiring he contracted cancer and died, consequently he never got to enjoy his pension (drivers of hazardous materials/fuels are supposedly adequately financially rewarded for the risks they take but one wonders how managed they really are), now his son lives directly under Fawley's stacks (not to mention those of the nearby Marchwood municipal waste incinerator -also see; "The False Philosophy that Underpins the Oil Industry" #Incineration, go to: https://twitter.com/i/events/937997845344473088 -).
New Forest
All the (large), pictures were taken with Olympus automatic film cameras (the most recent being purchased for 50p at a charity shop in West End Village). the smaller pictures (below), were all taken using a tiny digital camera (unfortunately now lost), I got as a free-gift with something else. I will perhaps purchase a better digital camera this year, however, at the moment I like the simplicity of using the Olympus preferring to only slowly orientate myself in the direction of mastering more "push-button" technology and its programming.
A
very good and old friend of mine (wife of the minister emeritus of
the Edmund Kell Unitarian Church in Southampton the Reverend John
Knopf RIP), actually met the "Man of the Trees" Richard
St.Barbe Baker many years ago when he was planting trees on
Southampton common..
St.Barbe
was born in the little Hampshire village of "West End" some
of whose land was bought by Southampton City Council in the 1950s to
build the council estate on which I live called "Harefield".
Quote;
"Richard
St.Barbe Baker, OBE was born on the 9th October 1889 in West End. He
was a forestry adviser and silviculturist and Founder of the Men
of the Trees
in 1922. This organisation is now known as the International Tree
Foundation. He became Assistant Conservator of Forests in
Kenya and Nigeria in the 1920's and was concerned for the rapidly
decreasing fertility of the land. He believed it was necessary to
plant more trees to combat the shifting methods of agriculture and he
initiated the idea of voluntary tree planting by native tribesmen. He
founded the society, The Men of the Trees, in Kenya in 1922.
For the remainder of his life Barbe Baker travelled extensively
around the world, lecturing and writing to convey his message about
the importance of trees. Through his determination and energy he
influenced the protection of the giant redwoods in California, the
replanting of large areas in northern Africa and stimulated a new
world-wide direction for forest conservation. In 1978
Richard St.Barbe Baker received an OBE for his work. He planted his
last tree in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada on 5th June 1982 in a
ceremony celebrating World Environment Day, and died four days later
in his ninety-third year." Go to:
https://www.westendlhs.co.uk/home/richard-st-barbe-baker/
The
area (actually part of Eastleigh Borough and not Southampton, in-fact
you will pass a sign saying; "Welcome to Eastleigh" before
reaching the turning that is the northern entrance to the estate on
which I live), has almost an embarrassment of riches, some of these
being Napoleonic, Armada Era, Iron Age and Bronze Age, one barrow to be found
right in the middle of a modern housing estate..
A recommended walk is in the "Telegraph Woods" where there is an Iron Age fort and was a Napoleonic era beacon...
On the other side of the city to the west is a SSSI whose exact location I will not divulge because it was stuffed with amanita muscaria this year (unusual as this has not been the case for nearly a decade), ..
If you look carefully an inch or so above this caption you can just see one of the two pheasants I nearly walked into!
So as discussed in the previous post the British have a problem (illiterate savages that we are -see below-), for all references to the goddess; "Arianrhod ("arian" = silver, "rhod" = wheel, therefore; "Goddess of the Silver Wheel" -the cycles of the moon-), were suppressed and wherever manifest destroyed by the Romans (and after its assimilation by their state the rest of the Brythonic religion as-well, although references to her consort, "Kernunnos" or, "Herne" -which is the Saxon version of his name and being also referenced in Saxon culture one of the reasons why familiarity with; "the horned one" persists in these isles-, remained), for it was, "Arianrhod" who in a very real sense defined Brythonic astrology (the, "star of the goddess" being said to be Capella, her constellation now known by its, "Mediterranean" name, "Auriga"), and, "ruled over" (quite literally), Brythonic culture.
In the Mediterranean/Middle Eastern ephemeredise (astrological systems), Auriga is known as, "The Charioteer" whereas in Brythonic culture Arianrhod is, "the weaver" or, "spider goddess" who spins the web that controls all the cosmic forces affecting man (both within and without), however, in the Norse religion Odin rides on Sleipnir (his eight legged horse -the, "eight legs" also being those of the spider who, "rules" over the eight sabbats, both solar and lunar see prev. post-), having lost an eye to the Norns ("The Fates"), in the Well of Mimmir in order to receive the FUTHARK that is his navigational aid to the; "Nine Realms" (nine; "working moons"? Also see prev.), which speaks to the later so-called; "Celtic/Norse Fusion" of the Norse-Gaels in Britain.
Auriga rises before Orion, "The Hunter" who may represent either, "Ogmios" or Kernunnos himself ("Ogmios" is the, "child of eloquence" whose utterance is the, "sacred sound" of, "Om" or, "The Pranava" that is the, "Logos"), but knowledge of which-is-which and who-is-who is one of the understandings which has, unfortunately, been lost (at least as far as this author is aware), as Kernnunos is avowedly an, "earth deity" one may speculate that it is the offspring of the goddess not her consort that appears in the stars, however, as the, "reborn child" (who is also, "The Green Man" -whose parallels with Ogmios are obvious because both have, "bindings", which proceed from their mouths, in the case of Ogmios the, "chains of eloquence" which bind man to his will and in the case of the Green Man foliage that also binds man to the will of nature-), does not manifest until after the return of the light and matures during the spring this may be arguable, certainly though, "Arianrhod" is thought to, "correspond (and be manifest as), with" the Hawthorn tree that is central to the, "May Day" Beltayne celebrations*.
All of this does, of course, speak to an oral tradition, precisely that tradition that has been lost. What remains of ancient, "Ogham" (the, "manifest utterances of Ogmios"), in stone is fragmentary at best and much if not all of that which would have been carved in wood has simply rotted away. The Egyptian culture was blessed with papyrus and a climate in which writings could be preserved, the Northern European cultures were not so, "fortunate", however, to denigrate Brythonic culture for an apparent lack of literacy is to severely miss the point (and such a mistake also characterises our subsequent post Roman imperial dealings with indigenous cultures all over the world), for there is much that remains in their racial-memory which marks the British out as a singular and (if you'll excuse the tongue-in-cheeky reference), "weird" people.
So what to do? We can't, "un-rot" the past (although there may be one or two documents lurking in the Vatican archives which might well be of some use), so how on earth (quite literally), do we go about reconstructing a Brythonic ephemeris? Well there's no substitute for hard work folks and one method that suggests itself immediately is to visit all those, "unfashionable" sacred sites (esp. the circles and henges), and make as many observations as possible, this might, however, take a good while for as we know these sites (and as discussed in the previous post sites like them throughout the world), were/are, "predictive texts" and it may, therefore, take many years to unravel their secrets, nevertheless, I see no alternative but to undertake this work as a serious endeavour. We should form a group of enthusiasts who are committed to rediscovering our ancient heritage**.
Arbor Low henge.
*The plot thickens, quote; "Much of the folkloreattached to it seems to come from
the fact that the tree is smothered in long branches of early, white
blossom around the time of Beltane – the First of May.
If this seems early and the blossom is not ready – remember that
the British calendar was changed and went forward 12 / 13 days in 1752 –
trees have long memories and so work to the ancient dates!" Go to: http://www.ecoenchantments.co.uk/myogham_hawthornpage.html
Another error made by modern archaeologists is to constantly laud each new discovery concerning the use and, "meaning" of Britain's ancient sites as if each piece of the jig-saw were the last-hurrah regarding such and trumps all the other previously held notions concerning nature and usage, such hubris bespeaks a very blinkered conception; the sites were (and still are in some circles), held to be sacred precisely because they embodied a coming together (literally a, "fusion"), of the forces of creation where, "earth energies" could (with the aid of the enlightened heart and mind), harmonise with the energies of the cosmos to the benefit of all. That such sites should concern themselves with both birth and death is not, therefore, surprising for; "it is by death that life is known", and that such sites should also be places of healing also flows from this notion for it is surely fear of death that most disorders the human spirit. Modern man loves to compartmentalise his existence (which explains the mess we have gotten ourselves into), but to our ancient forebears life and death were all part of the whole and humanity was not separate from its environment, if we are to re-establish this connection in these islands we must commit to a rediscovery of their ancient lore for as discussed in the previous post all our, "groovy" biodynamic permacultures will simply fail to function if we don't understand the mechanics which make the engines of sustainability, "tick".
"Geo" - "Metry" = "Earth/(ground)" - "Measurement" The Pythagorean
Brotherhood were, it seems, taught their "spacial-math" by the (for want
of a better description), "Brythonic Hyperboreans", .. #AntikytheraMechanism
Quote; "The cycles of the moon have influenced gardeners from diverse
cultures over many centuries. While science may not fully understand why
planting by the moon works, anecdotal evidence suggests that it does. Permaculture co-originator David Holmgren’s writes
“good design depends on a free and harmonious
relationship to nature and people, in which careful observation and
thoughtful interaction provide the design inspiration, repertoire and
patterns.”
Observing the cycles of the moon and the way that it affects both
people and plants can help to determine when to plant in order to
improve our health and yield from our garden activities."..
"There are a number of methods of moon planting, some are complex
taking into account far off constellations – something that I find
difficult to comprehend*. There is an approach that I’ve found I can get
my head around. Linking the ebb and flow of the sap in tune with the
rhythms of the moon. In a waxing moon, when light increases towards a
full moon, sap flow is drawn up. This is the most suitable time for
sowing and transplanting flowering annuals, biennials, grains and
melons. Basically any short lived plant that we want to harvest its
leaves, seed, flowers or fruits. It’s also a good time for applying liquid fertilisers, pruning and
grafting as increased sap flow produces new growth more quickly."..
.."With a waning moon, when the light is decreasing as
the moon changes from a full to a new moon, the sap flow is drawn down.
This focusses the energy towards the roots, which is more suited to
root crops and perennials, plants that live longer than two years.
It’s also a good time for applying solid fertilisers, pruning dormant
plants and harvesting, as there is less likelihood of rotting. This general pattern can be divided further into the quarterly moon cycles. The new moon phase (from new moon to first quarter)
is most suited to sowing or transplanting leafy annuals, where we value
or eat the leaves or stem. Plants like lettuce, spinach, cabbage and
celery. The first quarter phase is most suited to fruiting
annuals (not fruit trees) where we value or eat the fruit or seed
bearing part of the plant. Like tomatoes, pumpkins, broccoli and beans. The full moon phase (from full moon to the third
quarter) is most suited to sowing or planting out root crops as well as
decorative or fruiting perennials. Like apples, potatoes asparagus and
rhubarb. It’s also a good time for taking cuttings and dividing plants. The last quarter phase is a time to avoid planting
and focus on improving the soil, by weeding, mulching, making compost
and manure teas as well as digging or ploughing. The one caveat for this method is that 12 hours before and after the
transition time from one phase to the next is when sowing, planting and
pruning is best avoided. Use this time instead to improve your soil. This method of moon planting is illustrated with daily icons and moon phase times in the 2015 Permaculture Calendar, permacultureprinciples.com " Go to: https://permaculturenews.org/2015/01/26/moon-planting-guide/
*An attitude that has proved a considerable obstacle to a full and proper understanding of what I prefer to call, "Brythonic Astrology" and one that does no credit to any who display it (who are, unfortunately, "legion"), quote; "Our islands were colonised by a Roman state the legacy of whose empire
building is still with us today, our hallowed academic institutions
continually turn out graduates who loudly proclaim the greatness of the
classical world (especially and unfortunately Rome), and deride
the former culture of our islands even to the extent of describing our
magnificent forebears as living in, quote; "wooden-huts" (whilst this may be partially true such is a deliberate
attempt to denigrate Brythonic culture and to represent our ancestors as
"square-wheel-making" imbeciles for there are many achievements of the
ancient Britons which mark them out as remarkable innovators who left us
with a legacy that the technocratic culture of today still has little
appreciation for nor any grasp of its true global significance -and let
us not forget that we had forests the like of which the classical world
did not-)" Go
to: http://www.arafel.co.uk/2018/09/a-council-of-britons-peoplesvote-brexit.html
The Uffington, "Dragon"? In either the; "Beth-Luis-Nion" or (depending on who your read and/or -what might be best described as-, one's, "philosophical bent"), "Beth-Luis-Fearn", "thirteen-sign" lunar tree calendars, use of which is I believe rightly ascribed to the; Mesolithic, Neolithic, bronze and iron-age cultures of these isles, there are four, "solar sabbats"; the Winter Solstice, the Spring Equinox, the Summer Solstice and the Autumn Equinox and four, "lunar sabbats"; "Imbolc" the, "early spring quickening", "Beltayne" the, "consummation of high-spring", "Lammas" the, "harvest moon" celebration and "Samhain" the, "end of year" preparation for the time of darkness that precedes the, "return of the light" at the Winter Solstice. A calendar based on thirteen moons a year leaves nine, what are known as, "working moons". Resolution between the variant solar and lunar cycles was achieved by some clever mathematics (not all of which is extant neither do I claim to fully understand all of that which is), facilitated by the, "geo-metry" (earth - measurement), of various sacred sites (specifically in the case of the resolution of the two cycles the; "Rollright Stones" in Oxfordshire).
A breakdown of the method of resolving the solar and lunar cycles can be found in a book by James Vogh (aka, John Sladek RIP), called; "The Thirteenth Sign", currently out of print but still available as a second hand original, go to: https://biblio.co.uk/9780246109316, this book is oft dismissed as a hoax, however, it is no such thing, John Sladek was a good friend of radical science fiction writer Michael Moorcock and the work neatly dovetails into the thirteen sign, "tree lore" detailed by other writers such as Robert Graves, quote;
"Systems (or more accurately interpretations), differ, I still
recommend James Vogh's (aka. John Sladek R.I.P), book, "The Thirteenth
Sign" (even though out of print), for a useful introduction not only to
the tree calendar but also the resolution achieved between the lunar and
solar years by The, "Ancient" Bri(e)tons.
"Imbolc" the first of this years lunar sabbats falls, "late" this year
at twelve midnight (23.54 hrs), on St.Valentines' day (the full moon
-should a full moon occur before twelve noon it is celebrated on the
preceding night as the "witches'" day is said to fall between twelve
noon and twelve noon-). The, "Beth-Luis-Nion" calendar referred to above
does not celebrate the new year until after, "the return of the light"
even though the, "old year" ends at Samhain, the intervening period being
a time of reflection (and possibly also fasting), in The, "Brythonic"
Faith as they awaited the return of the life giving forces of the Sun.
Other festivals such as, "Beltayne" were celebrations of fertility for the Britons, one reason being that one would attempt to ensure that one
did not conceive a child who would be, "born into the dark", during the
harvest or at any other time which would make their birthing, post-natal
and infant care inconvenient, difficult or dangerous, for this reason
many Britons were (and still are), born during the middle of February
(I am myself), possibly as an, "Ash" (although as the lunar months
fluctuate so do the periods over which the trees hold dominion).
Imbolc being the first of the four lunar sabbats is a celebration of
Brygid (or "bride"), "The Maiden" who with, "The Mother" and, "The Crone"
make up the three living aspects of, "The Triple Goddess", "Arianrhod" ("Arian" = silver "Rhod" = wheel hence; "Goddess
of The Silver Wheel" -the cycle of the moon-, in both ancient and
modern, "Bri(e)ton"), whose consort is Kernunnos ("The Horned One" who is;
"lord of the trees")." Go to: http://www.arafel.co.uk/2014/02/beth-luis-fearn-brethonic-tree-calendar.html
One will see from the post
quoted that each tree is ascribed attributes, or,
"vibrations", which characterise both it and the influence that cosmic forces such as; the sun. moon, planets and constellations et.al. have at certain times of the year. It must be
remembered that concentration on astrology developed as the
agricultural revolution of mankind progressed, being without the,
so-called, "aid" of chemicals and machines cultures across the planet concentrated on finding ways to bring their
agricultural activities into greater and greater harmony with the
natural world, both discovering heuristically and by the experimental application
of theory based on observation that by identifying the times when
certain energies were favourable to; germination, propagation,
transplantation, breeding and harvesting et.al one could maximise
yields, minimise disease and pests and ensure the biodiversity
that is the engine of sustainability.
Nb. It is instructive to note
that when hubris based on the success of utilising (some of), the methodologies
suggested reached its zenith (and the original notion of, "harmonic
relationship" had been lost -the culture concerned having become static and not continued with the undoubtedly hard work of exploring their, "dynamic environmental relationship"-), the,
"conglomerations of peoples", known as, "civilisations"*,
which profited from such activities all suffered catastrophic
declines or, "falls" (which manifested themselves in a
number of ways but which all had their roots in a, "rot within" that exemplified the corruption of the societies and cultures
concerned), and new societies took their place.
When, "ancient"** peoples
realised that their relationship with their environment was never static
but that; "all is impermanence" they knew that they had to find
some way to both manifest that understanding and of charting the course of their own destiny, throughout the world this
resulted in the construction (harmonic to the particular vernacular),
of, "sacred" sites whose alignments and architecture
allowed for both repeated observation and the prediction of
astronomical events the knowledge of which was essential for
successful interaction with a, "dynamic" environment. This knowledge can, as stated above, become, "lost" though and as with all human evolution the societies and cultures concerned were invariably forced to take two-steps-back as part of the learning process of our species.
Quote;
"Nicholas Culpeper's Complete Herbal
lists the rulership of plants and planets. He picked and dried the
herbs himself, choosing the right astrological moment to do so. Culpeper
suggested that plants are best gathered during the planetary hour
associated with the plant. Yes, even hours are ruled by planets. For
instance, a Mercury plant like Lavender is best gathered during the hour of the day ruled by Mercury. The aim was to pluck the herb/plant at its greatest potency***.
The first anaesthetics were herbs of course, such as Opium and Hemp - narcotics that come under the rulership of Neptune, a planet associated with the unconscious.
Herbs under the dominion of the Sun are those of pleasant
smell, good flavour, a love of open, sunny places, majestic form, and
yellow or reddish flowers, with uses connected with the heart, the eyes,
resistance of poison and evils, and comforting of the vital organs.
They include amber, angelica, balm, barley, burnet, burning bush, butterbur, celandine (greater), centaury, chamomile, chick pea, cinnamon, cinquefoil, cumin, daffodil, elecampane, fenugreek, feverfew, frankincense, galangal, garlic, ginger, eyebright, hellebore, lavender, leek, lovage, maize, marigold, marjoram, onion, paeony, pepper, pimpernel, radish, rice, rosemary, rue, saffron, spikenard,
St. John's wort, storax tree, sugar cane, sundew, tormentil, vervain,
viper's bugloss, and water-lily. Trees include ash, bay, cedar, citrus
(lemon, orange), heliotrope, ivy, juniper, laurel, mistletoe, mulberry,
myrrh, palm, vines, and grape vines." Go to: http://www.complete-herbal.com/history.htm
This notion seems both strange and barbaric to the post Enlightenment mind but all revolutions throw babies out with the bathwater and such has been the case for much of the lore which preceded the appropriation of religion by the martial states. Technology has fostered the illusion that man may impose his own order on the natural world as opposed to learning from nature in order to harmonise with it, that we are currently experiencing a denouement that parallels those suffered by other, "revolutionary" societies which had come to believe their own propaganda should be clear to even the previously most blinkered by now.
Many who proselytise for permaculture, biodynamics and, "lunar planting" in Britain do so whilst labouring under the misapprehension that one can indulge in such practices here whilst still using both the Gregorian calendar and a Mediterranean/Middle Eastern astrological system. Astrological systems are specific to their vernacular, this should be obvious, remember that such systems are rooted in agricultural practice and just as the plants grown in different regions of the world differ so do the planets and cosmic systems which have influence over them and with which they correspond. Maize grown in South America does not vibrate on the same harmonic as do grains grown in Western Europe, yes there have been huge numbers of species introduced from different regions to different regions all over the planet but these should be integrated into the pre-existing practices of the regions in which they are intended to be introduced based on an understanding of the energies which govern those regions; in order that integration can take place it is, therefore, essential to understand the cosmic and planetary forces which influence the region in which one is working and that is the problem here in Britain for a, "true accounting" of our Brythonic astrology has not been properly undertaken, sacred sites aligned to stars systems not recognised by the Mediterranean or Middle Eastern astronomers are ignored by even, so-called, "serious" researchers and, "hit-it-with-a-hammer" type astrological, "bodges" abound. Take the issue that prompted me to post on this subject today; "whence falls Beltayne this year?" The, "bodge" is to say; "well, "May Day" is the 1st of May (Gregorian), so pick the full moon nearest to that date!" Which would be on April 19th this year, but this is obviously far from satisfactory; as we know the lunar and solar cycles turn at very different speeds so it is far preferable to know which constellation (star-sign), the sun must enter into prior to the full moon that defines the sabbat but if one doesn't know which constellations one is using or how they are characterised it is impossible to predict the date of the sabbat with any accuracy (the planets also, "migrate", of-course, and to know what their movements signify is also essential -see quotes from and comments on Culpeper-). This is especially important when it comes to germination and propagation (et.al), because as is true in many religions; "one does not labour on the sabbath", or to put it more accurately in terms of Wicca (the belief system that preserves more Brythonic lore than any other); "one does not raise on the sabbat!"** Sabbats are times when spiritual and communal energies come to the fore, when humanity must be, "true to its nature" and manifest the vibrations which are at their zenith at these times by becoming a, "pure channel" for them, preparations must already have been made, the grosser materials must transform into the, "finer-stuff" of the etheric energies in order to return to their origin for when one is attached to the material one imposes stasis on the dynamic equilibrium that informs the vitality of life and begins to manifest Thanatos where there should be Eros (and yes the Mediterranean cultures, religions and philosophies do have their place -when properly integrated-).
*Briton is an interesting case in this regard (an, "exception that proves the rule"?), because the Brythonic culture was never civilised, nevertheless when man started to forge metals from the earth the temptation grew to impose his will on both people and environment and it was during the bronze and iron ages that human sacrifice became known in these islands where and among whom (although only among some not all), it had not been known before and it was the possession of the resources needed to manufacture arms that was our downfall for it was our precious tin that really drove the Romans to make strenuous efforts to concur these islands and subjugate their peoples, therefore, it can be seen that "civilisation" is not necessarily a prerequisite for cultural and societal collapse its just that such have often manifested themselves in the form of the fall of civilisations.
**It is my understanding that this prohibition (as regards the practice of agriculture), mainly relates to the, "breaking of soil" and the consequent disturbance of its ecosystem.
Nb. Many now-days like to proselytise for the notion that our Brythonic culture and religion went through, "revolutionary" changes at various points in our history, however, those who do so fail to realise that the religion remained essentially the same but was informed by technological change (such as the use of metals -smelting and forging of tools-), thus we see developments in the design of sacred sites from simple mounds to the sublimity of the henges (both stone and wooden), and eventually the subtle, "earth carving" represented by the Bronze Age, "Uffington Dragon" (that is not a horse but rather a representation of the, "fire-from-the-earth" that must be, "appeased" and befriended in order to manifest the treasure of the bronze and iron ages).
Whilst it is obviously true that the, "Beaker People" (whose smelting abilities are thought to have ushered in the Bronze Age in Britain), brought a new technological understanding and a different culture with them, when they migrated here from central Europe, such did not fundamentally change the pantheon or religious practices of these islands, henges and stone circles continued to be constructed in Britain well into the Bronze Age, moreover, without Britain's tin resources the technologies of the Beaker People would have been next to useless. Perhaps (again see following post), there are parallels here with the Norse pantheon and their belief in the Aesir and the Vanir whereby the Vanir represent the more "magical" understandings of, "The Old Religion" and Odin and his Aesir represent the more "physical", materially concerned (and also unfortunately), warlike culture of the new technologies (go to: https://norse-mythology.org/tales/the-aesir-vanir-war/ & http://www.hurstwic.org/history/articles/mythology/myths/text/first_war.htm
).
The mound next to the Uffington carving is still known as; "Dragon Hill".
**Were they really "ancient"? Much of their understanding seems very modern to me or at least highly necessary to be both comprehended and integrated by our so-called, "modern" societies.
***Ayurveda the astrologically based system of medicinal practice with its genesis in the Indus Valley culture of India takes the minutiae of an astrological system to its limits, but let's remember, quote; "The, "environmental experience" to which I refer above is not simply that
of one generation it includes the entire, "racial memory" of the people
and will (of-course), have included, "The Flood" and many other
cataclysmic events (dating back to the dawn of man itself). "Harry and
Ron" had not only been exposed to these experiences (and the, "mythical"
tales which kept them alive throughout the generations), but also to the
movements of the heavens on a nightly basis. It is the conceit of
modern man who spends much of his time in-front of (what one of my
history teachers used to refer to as); "the smelly telly" that he is only now able to divine the movements and purpose (that is if he thinks
they have one), of the heavens. It is obvious (and explains much of the,
"amazing" archaeological evidence of the astronomical/astrological
-"astrologomal"-, accuracy and precision of ancient cultures throughout the World), that clear skies, repeated observation and careful record
keeping led, "ancient" man to make many startling discoveries (both in mathematics, medicine and environmental science -incl.agricultural
science and, "plant lore"-)" Go to: http://www.arafel.co.uk/2014/01/the-cerridwen-update-on-mesolithic.html
and from the same post; "If we wish to understand the mindset of our ancestors in relation to the
colonisation of Britain I believe that we must understand the
geological events which preceded the final retreat of Britain's
ice-sheets. To this end I again refer the reader to Peter Warlow's
genuinely mind-bending book; "The Reversing Earth" (let's put it this
way static conceptions get us nowhere ), and to the work of Adrian
Gilbert co-author of; "The Orion Mystery" and author of; "The Holy
Kingdom"; when you then include Michael Poynder's; "PI in The Sky" and
James Vogh's; "The Thirteenth Sign" you should come to one realisation
(amongst the myriad), which is that; when, "ancient" (careful), man wrote
anything down he did so for a reason, materials were too precious and
skills too rare to waste on trivialities.
Par exemple oblique..
"Ancient man clearly attempted to build accurate circles, he made many
brave attempts (of which Stonehenge is perhaps the best example), but he
never quite managed it!"
(in other words; "brave try grunty could do better 4/10!")
So;
"Harry"
"Yeah!"
"Come over here. and get hold of this."
(hands him pointed stick tied to length of rope or heavy twine)
"Right! Ron, you grab this."
(hands, "Ron" the other end of the, "rope" which is also tied to a pointed stick)
"Right, Ron you stick your end in the ground."
"O.K." Says Ron and does so.
"Harry, you walk away until the rope is taught and then walk around
Ron's stick keeping the rope taught whilst scraping the pointed end of
your stick in the ground as you do so!"
"Right!"
(after a few attempts they managed to draw a fairly accurate circle)*
*I mean Ron's stick was dislodged a few times before they got the knack
and Harry's sobriety was always in question, but they persevered.
"....and....
"You know I also have a sneaking suspicion that the; "Cursus" at Stonehenge may well have truly been, "dead-ground*". From; "What's that Coming Over The Hill?"
"Geo" - "Metry" = "Earth/(ground)" - "Measurement" The Pythagorean
Brotherhood were it seems taught their "spacial-math" by the (for want
of a better description), "Brythonic Hyperboreans", .. #AntikytheraMechanism
.JPG)
