Holy Trinity

"Blessed are those who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing."
Camille Pissarro

Another "early" wake-up at 5.30 with the morning light, gives me time to start the day with a relaxation meditation.  Day two of The Shamanic Lands gathering - I've come on Walkabout following a synchronistic prompt via an email.  Shamanism is about the journey; this weekend's journey began yesterday at the gateway to Annwn and took us within ourselves.

Today continues the process, although within a different framework.  My take on  Shamanic traditions is that they share common goals, communion with Creation/Creator, albeit following different - individual - pathways.  Today's begins appropriately enough with a journey guided by a deer, a reindeer, to the rhythmic beat of the drum, the traditional accompaniment to the Shamanic inner journey.  It was a very powerful experience with a strong - unexpected - resonance which I also felt later in the day.

The afternoon session began with an address by a man from the Amazon rainforest, from Ecuador, who spoke of his connection to Pachamama, Mother Earth.  If this seemed a rather distant connection to where we were, it was put in perspective by the last presentation by a man who was drawn to a distant island in the Pacific to study their spiritual tradition.  David came from the Isle of Man and found that the tribal myth of the Pacific island included a link to the triskelion, the flag of his homeland.  He spoke of the "serpent" energy, something I'd find particularly interesting - synchronicity perhaps - on my homeward journey. 

As the gathering was brought to a close I left and was drawn to visit the church at Cefnllys, in the hills above Llandrindod, for some reflection on what the area is to me.  My ancestors are from Llyswen, and my father frequently visited Llandrindod, so this is very much the "Land of My [fore]Fathers".  The church is noted for its' circle of old Yews surrounding the churchyard, and as I approached I marvelled at the sight of a Red Kite quartering the hillsides in welcome.  The church was open and welcomed visitors, despite its' relative isolation, so I spent a short meditation time there before returning.

I thought my day was complete when I returned to the farm, but I was recommended to visit the Metropole for something to eat, in the bar.  I decided to follow this in the spirit of the weekend, as an invitation to explore.  The meals on offer though were more than I wanted, so the barman helpfully suggested I sit in the lounge and he'd bring me a sandwich.  The lounge was fairly fully occupied with the exception of one corner, so I headed over and took a seat to make a few notes from the weekend.  My sandwich duly arrived and it was only as I relaxed into eating I noticed a beautiful painting on the wall opposite me, featuring a deer.  I thought I recognised the style, I have a small print featuring a deer on the wall of my studio back home, so I went for a closer look.  It was indeed by artist A K Skipsey and the title of the painting was "Mother Earth", which rather neatly closed the circle for me on the theme of the weekend, or so I thought.