It has been a long time since I have posted here, much has happened some for good, some for ill, friends have come and some have gone, but all I believe meant to be in the universes ultimate plan.

One of the good things is the way that the Dorset Grove has blossomed in the last few months and that I am now one of the two Bards of the Grove.

That is all for now but I hopefully will not leave it so long till I write here again.

Autumn Comes With a Lions Blast

Autumn comes with a Lions blast

Threatening to blow the leaves from the trees,

Before they get their yearly chance to shine.

And creeping over the sill comes the spectre of winters skeletal grasp.

Yet how can this be as yesterday was summer still.

And tomorrow may be again.

But the spiral to the dark time has begun and cannot be halted.

The time of bonfire smoke carried on the still night air.

And the deep brown smell of earth carried on the breeze.

Soon shops will be full of of orange globes, pumpkins,

Ready to feel the child's sharp knife baring their souls.,

As the chill wind bears ours.

Soon the winter crone will rise and take her place In our hearts

Do not fear this, she is the power in the water turned to stone,

The force of rock moving upon rock.

Embrace her, let her in give yourself over to her power.

See! Her power warms you but lays you bare to the core.

Embrace her and be made anew as the land is made anew by the icy

Blast from her snowy mantle.

Pangur-ban

One Bards Response to the Looting

I have pondered hard and long on what my response as a Bard should be to the awful events of the last week, should I be angry at a society that allows young people to be so disenfranchised that they resort to rioting? Make no mistake not all the rioters were in it for the looting.

Should I be dismayed that professional agitators were there to make sure that the riots started in the first place? Because make no mistake again they were there. Should I be angry at a society that is made up of the haves and the have nots?



The answer to all the above questions is yes I should be both angry and dismayed and make no mistake I am but I have also been asking myself what I can do as a Bard to make the situation better. As a Bard I think my role is to share the beauty I see around me, to try and heal broken hearts and sooth troubled souls, to pour oil on troubled waters, I will leave the deep political arguments to others. So you will see no political diatribes from me just words I hope of comfort, hope and inspiration.



Pangur-ban.

Expanding Thir Vision

Expanding Their Vision
Nine Ways to Help Others Awaken to Consciousness

By simply being yourself, you can help the people in your life see a living example of consciousness.


1. Living by your values allows you to become a positive source of inspiration for others. Don’t hide – express yourself and embrace life without reservation. By simply being yourself, you can help the people in your life see how one person can make a difference by being a living example of consciousness.

2. When you communicate your views, do so casually and in a nondogmatic manner. Allow the people you speak with to ask questions. Offer only as much information as they are ready to hear.

3. Igniting the spark of consciousness can be as easy as giving someone a gift. A favorite book, a medicine bag, or a beautiful gemstone can pique your loved ones’ curiosity and prompt them to begin an exploration of the soul.

4. Teaching a friend, relative, or colleague to meditate or chant can put them on the path to consciousness while simultaneously reducing their stress levels.

5. Others may want to know more about living consciously but are unsure of how to begin. Starting a discussion group – even a virtual one – can help you reach out to individuals that are eager to learn.

6. By recognizing and acknowledging the inherent value in everyone you encounter, you can teach them how to value others. Sometimes, the easiest way to encourage people – even challenging ones - to respect others is to respect them first.

7. Invite people from your personal and professional lives to join you in attending a ceremony or ritual. The experience may touch them in a profound way or introduce them to a new spiritual path.

8. Casually point out the interconnectedness of all living beings using concrete, everyday examples. Many people are unaware of how their actions affect the world and are intrigued when they learn of the power they hold.

9. Introduce your loved ones to conscious living in a lighthearted and enjoyable way. Serve delicious organic recipes at gatherings, volunteer as a group, and show them how wonderful it can feel to be truly aware and connected to the universe.

This is taken from the Daily Om website you can get daily updats by registering at,

www.dailyom.com

The Role of the Bard

What in these days is the function of a Bard?

In the time of my Bardic ancestors their role was to pass on the stories and lore of the Gods and to prick the conscience of the King by the use of satire.

Apart from being the kings conscience I do not think that the role of the bard has changed much.

The role of the Bard today I believe is to remind people that there is a life behind this one. In Celtic philosophy there is an idea of the hidden world referred to as the mountain behind the mountain, and I believe my role as a Bard is to remind people that this world exists.

So many today have forgotten the old stories of wonder and magic, stories where Gods and man co-existed. Tales of heroes, dragons and elves. In short they only believe what their eyes tell them is true.

In the book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Harry says to Dumbledore “Is this inside my head?” and his reply was “Of course it is Harry does that make it any less true?!

My job as a Bard is to get people to see the wonder that is there for the finding.

Pangur-ban
16/7/11

Forest Deep

Pangur-ban 9/7/11

Forest deep, forest dark
Forest take my
heart tonight.

Feed my spirit, move my soul,
Feed my vision, clarity unfold.

Forest deep, forest dark
Green man wakes
my hearts delight.

Move my feet, and let me dance,
Move my eyes to see at a glance.

Forest deep. forest dark,
Forest be my
Home tonight

Pangur-ban

A Knock at the Door