Dolmen grove chronicles

Dolmen Grove Chronicles

Celebrates

The Journey of the Soul

Birth doula & soul midwifery

The Indefinable Legend of the Unicorn

Review of the latest Spriggan Mist CD

Myths & legends

www.dolmengrove.co.uk

CONTENTS

1…21 Years of the Dolmen Grove – Taloch Jameson

2…Preternatural Parasites & Predatory Faeries – Aaron Ilya

Dabbah

3…Spriggan Mist Album Review – Myths and Legends –

Diane Narraway

4…Journey of the Human Soul - introduction by Diane

Narraway and featuring Birth Doula by Kash Salem,

Conscious Birthing by Kate Woods, Serving the Goddess -

The Whole Cycle by Eirwen Mitchell, The Soul Midwives

School by Felicity Warner.

5…Dolmen Gig Guide – March/April

6…The Dandelion – A Plant of Two Halves

7…The Dolmen Grove Ethos

8…The Magic of Mythical Creatures – Molly McHenry

9 …The Indefinable Legend of the Unicorn – Cheryl Waldron

10 …Metaphysical and Healing Properties of Kyanite –

Cheryl Waldron

11…Aromatherapy – Sandra Wiseman

12…Diary of the Hedgewitch & Sowing Charts – Rachael

Moss

13…The Crabchurch Conspiracy – Mark Vine

Photos in this issue – Scott Irvine, Rachael Moss, Harry Walton, Dennis Wright,

Joanna Caswell, Mark Vine, Ray Ray

Photos of Kate Woods and Felicity Warner are used with their permission.

Cover photo Duncan Knifton

Artwork – Sem Vine, David Cilia, KT Glitz, Anthony Spears

Unless otherwise stated all other images are from the public domain.

Further information on the Dolmen Grove can be found at:

www.Dolmengrove.co.uk

http://www.facebook.com/pages/TheDolmenGrove/110124449082503 All information is accurate at the time of publication and all articles are assumed to be the work of

those being credited

https://www.facebook.com/DolmenGroveMagazine?ref=hl

THE DOLMEN GROVE

The Dolmen Grove is a pagan organisation of mixed spiritual paths established in the early

90s by Taloch Jameson, which over the years has grown from one small circle in Weymouth

Dorset, to several clans not only across the UK but worldwide.

The Spiritual ethos of the Dolmen Grove has remained the same throughout and is based

purely upon the Freedom of the Individual.

It is the collective belief that in an age where technology can often dwarf our humanity, it is

important that we take control as individuals and embrace our own spirituality in order to

maintain the equilibrium within an ever changing world.

Although the Grove is not a political organisation preferring instead to focus upon the

spiritual, this does not prevent either individual members or the Grove as a collective from

playing an active part in humanitarian and environmental issues.

There are no hierarchy or titles within the Dolmen Grove as it is our aim to encourage each

man and woman to discover their own unique and authentic journey so that their spiritual

connection is founded upon that which works for them as an individual rather than a spiritual

rule book set for the masses.

The key to our success is the Round Table which is made up of around twenty people from a

variety of spiritual paths who uphold the spiritual ethos of the Grove. They not only organise

their respective moots but also the festivals and events hosted by the Dolmen Grove.

Our Moots are regular meeting places which are held once a month in several areas. Although

these are organised by and largely attended by Grove members, non-members are always

welcome to find out more about the Grove and enjoy the company of other free thinking

people as well as the activities organised by the Moot.

There is a membership in place that enables those who wish to be part of this ever growing

Clan to enjoy reduced ticket prices for Dolmen Grove Events, festivals and where stated

‘member only’ Ceremonies and Courses. Although we host many Ceremonies which are

open to the general public, to avoid crowding and to allow our members to celebrate free

from pressure we also hold members only ceremonies.

‘ALL ARE SPIRITUALLY UNITED WITHIN THE DOLMEN GROVE

In the early nineties I spent some time in France, where although I was well versed in the Druidic traditions,

having learned them in childhood, I spent a significant amount of time furthering my studies in occultism

and upon my return to England I became active within a coven where I taught and facilitated magickal

rituals.

However I became disillusioned with the concept and ideals of the hierarchy system, believing that

individual spirituality is itself much larger than witchcraft, druidry or any of the other paths found under the

umbrella term of pagan or heathen. I was aware that because paganism was and still is in its infancy the

many moulds fashioned during the pagan revival will eventually be broken as we encompass the future as a

pagan people. With this in mind what had initially been a small private gathering became available to all

those seeking to celebrate their own authentic spiritual path free from any hierarchy and this officially

became the Dolmen Grove in 1993 since when it has grown in numbers and more importantly in friendship.

For many years the Dolmen Grove was not open to the public, meetings such as moots and social gatherings

were private events and by invitation only but through a recommendation system these gatherings grew in

numbers. Members would meet people or have friends who may have similar interests and would be invited

along to a moot or a ceremony. Eventually it was decided that the time was overdue for the Dolmen Grove

to become public and it made sense to arrange moots within a public place where interested people could

easily find us. The first Dolmen Grove public moots began in a side-bar of the Marquis of Granby,

Weymouth where it was quite quiet, enabling talks and meetings to take place undisturbed. It caught on very

quickly and attracted interested people from many areas.

Although it attracted some great individuals it also was a honey pot for a fair few pagan messiahs who

believed they were either the next Merlin or Morgana Le Fey. The difficulty in these early days of becoming

public was having to deal with individuals as such who can be very persuasive and dominating characters

and the last thing the Dolmen Grove wanted was to be seen as a strictly controlled organisation with a set of

rules that would inhibit personal growth.

As a result of this the Round Table was established and titles such as Arch Druid or High Priestess etc. of the

Dolmen Grove were abolished. This caused a lot of upset among many of the members, as the Dolmen

Grove was already beginning to grow rapidly and there were quite a few who carried titles of some

description. There began a murmuring in the grove and several individuals decided that they should be

allowed to keep their titles but at the risk of causing further upset it was decided that the rule would stand

and there would be no titles or self-appointed Messiahs. In fact the only position anyone could hold would

be that of Chairperson to facilitate events ceremonies etc. and whoever the unfortunate soul was would have

to be voted in by the rest of the Round Table and serve at least 1 full year as Chairperson before being listed

and recognised within the history of book of the Grove.

This was accepted by the majority but however there were individuals on the Round Table at the time who

disagreed with the abolition of titles and their leaving was inevitable. As is often the case in these situations

a few individuals left with some ill feeling, believing that they had been unfairly treated in having their titles

abolished. Some of these went on to form their own Groves or independent circles and groups etc. But for

the Dolmen Grove life continued and in no time at all its numbers had tripled and has continued to grow

solely based on the fact that the Grove is free from hierarchy and open to all people from pagan and heathen

paths and those who seek spiritual freedom.

Taloch Jameson

Since its early beginnings the Dolmen Grove has grown from a small gathering in the side-bar of a local pub

to seven well attended moots across the South of England.

Weymouth is the Dolmen Groves oldest and most established Moot which these days takes place on 2nd

Wed of every month at the Old Town Hall, High West Street, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 8JH. 7.30pm on-

wards.

Weymouth Moot is held in a quiet location in the town centre where people can come together to share their

ideas, knowledge and enjoy regularly talks and workshops on a variety of pagan and heathen topics as well

as enjoying ively and interesting discussions. Weymouth moot is hosted by Sarah & Charlie Penfold who

ensure that everyone is kept informed of up and coming events and that speakers are booked and advertised

in advance. Further information is always available on the Weymouth Moot Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/groups/435089566582005/

Dolmen Grove Hampshire Moot meet on the first monday of each month at the Heathfield Arms,116

Blackbrook road,Fareham,Hants. PO15 6SQ.

This is a large moot that has a great core of attendees, who share the Ethos of the Dolmen Grove and bring a

diverse and interesting range of knowledge from various paths, along with love and friendship.

They have a variety of different talks lined up for 2015 including, amongst others, David Wells and Peter

Knight.

They also hold Moot outings and local Dolmen Grove Ceremonies, as well providing updates and infor-

mation on Dolmen Grove events. Hampshire moot hosts are Duncan and Angie Wilde, who can be contacted

through Facebook- Dolmen Grove Hampshire Moot.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/www.dolmengrovehampshiremoot/?ref=ts&fref=ts

Poole Moot meet every Third Tuesday of the month at The Kings Head, High Street, Poole, Dorset. BH15

1BP Tel. 0871 951 1000.

It is a smaller friendly moot that hold talks on a variety of subjects and arrange local Ceremony's to sacred

sites around Poole to celebrate the Wheel of the Year. Updates and information on Poole moot and its up

and coming events can be found via Facebook. For further information contact moot hosts Trimmer and

Paula Willcocks either on Facebook or Telephone 07758 329804

https://www.facebook.com/groups/285539554914086/?fref=ts

Dolmen Grove Essex Moot meet once a month on Sunday afternoons usually from 2pm to 5pm at The Scout

Hut in Grays, Essex.

They are a small but growing group comprising people from a variety of paths and spiritual backgrounds.

The moot is run as a collaboration of its members, with all members playing an active role in the success of

the moot. Demonstrations to date have included Tai Chi, pendulums and arts & crafts, plus a visit from a

Hare Krishna group. If you're interested in coming along, the moot dates are agreed on at the end of each

moot and published as an event on the Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/groups/dolmengroveessexmoot

The Dolmen Grove Cornwall Moot meet on the first Wednesday of every month at The Polgooth Inn,

Polgooth, St.Austell PL26 7DA from 7.30pm onwards.

The moot meet up once a month in the heart of mid Cornwall to share ideas, find out more about Dolmen

Grove membership, events, outings, ceremonies and collect for the land fund.

All spiritual paths are welcome to enjoy talks and workshops on a variety of interesting subjects as well as

pagan path outings to ancient sites in Cornwall.

Coming up they have a workshop on Ritual workings, a talk on paranormal investigations and a Reiki

Workshop. Also their wheel of the year event is the Ostara psychic Fayre & Spring Ball.

If you would like to come along and join in or for further information please contact Karen & Dave cooper

on Dolmen Grove Cornwall Moot Facebook page,

https://www.facebook.com/groups/460165050682366/?fref=ts

The Dolmen Grove Portland Moot meet up on the last Wednesday of every month at the George Inn, 133

Reforne, Portland, Dorset DT5 2AP from 7.30 pm onwards . They are a small but friendly group who meet

monthly to discuss any upcoming events and answer any questions in relation to the Dolmen Grove and

membership enquiries. They welcome all spiritual paths and often gain knowledge from each other.

They have regular talks from talented members, upcoming talks include at April moot -Scott Irvine doing a

talk on ‘Consciousness as a thought’. In May Therese Spooner will be doing a talk on the use of meditation

in everyday life and ritual.

All our welcome to come along and for more information you can contact Beth Irving or Nemmius Teach or

visit our Dolmen Grove Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/148075512033935/?fref=ts

Dolmen Grove Berkshire moot meet on the 3rd Tuesday of every month at The Boot Public House, Park

Road, Bracknell RG12 2LU.

Moot times are generally between 8.00pm and 10.00pm. The moots are varied, with guest speakers or

musicians. They regularly hold workshops ranging from scrying, meditation and pendulum work through to

more craft orientated activities. In between our moots are just social gatherings where people get the chance

to know us and each other. The moot organises several rituals, gatherings and other activities like Ghost

walks and visits to places of interest throughout the wheel of the year including the Enchanted

Market. Contact Maxine Cilia on 07916173517 or Baz Cilia on 07771896677 for details.

All moots hold a raffle in aid of the Dolmen Grove Landfund where prizes are donated by members and all

Moot hosts can be contacted by those interested in attending or offering talks/workshops.

Preternatural Parasites and Predatory Faeries

“In love, as in gluttony, pleasure is a matter of the utmost precision” - Italo Calvino

We have a justifiable fear of supernatural

parasites. Predatory monsters are bad

enough, rudely coming at you with

gnashing teeth and rending claws, and

equally offensive are those silver-tongued

fairies and demons with their bizarre

requests and inexplicable fascination with

contract law. These sorts of malign

entities can be overcome by brains or

brawn, but what of the critter that hides

from view, makes you do all the work, and

reaps the benefits without so much as a

“by your leave” or “thank you, sir”, until

of course, you die.

Cross-culturally and historically, mankind

has always looked about at his fellows

with faster metabolisms, and self-

satisfyingly concluded that the only way

these folks can indulge in such gluttony

without gaining a pound is through the

preternatural machinations of a paranormal

parasite. While this might seem like the

ultimate symbiotic weight-loss plan, rest

assured that faeries of this ilk, such as the

English Joint Eater, Scottish Just Halver,

Irish Alp Luachra, and African-Yoruba

Abiku are singularly interested in your

untimely demise, essentially comprising an

entire class of fey micro-predators.

Celtic faeries and the subterranean races

have traditionally been regarded as fussy

eaters with an odd level of phobia towards

purity and hygiene, and the mechanism by

which they obtain sustenance is rather

convoluted, particularly when it comes to

the nastier of the little folk, and it has been

postulated that the Joint Eater

clandestinely attaches itself to an

individual and snaps up whatever they

consume, hauling it away for sanitization

and consumption, while the poor victim

remains insanely hungry, slowly starving

to death as all his nourishment is

repurposed.

Scottish legends specifically “avouch that

a helvo or great eater has a voracious elve

to be his attender, called a joint-eater or

just-halver, feeding on the pith and

quintessence of what the man eats; and

that, therefore, he continues lean like a

hawk or heron, notwithstanding his

devouring appetite; yet it would seem they

convey that substance elsewhere, for these

subterraneans eat but little in their

dwellings, their food being exactly clean,

and served up by pleasant children, like

enchanted puppets (Folklore and Legends,

1891, p158).

Gaelic scholar and faerie folklorist

Reverend Robert Kirk (1644-1692) in his

detailed and authoritative ethnography of

faerie culture The Secret Commonwealth

of Elves, Fauns and Fairies, regarded the

means by which witches were thought to

obtain sustenance was part and parcel of a

“system of doubles” that included the Just-

Halver behavior, as well as the

introduction of changeling children.

He suggested that at root, we could

observe a spectrum of parasitic behaviors

among the supernatural set. “By an airy

being of this kind the Highlanders

explained the false or morbid appetite. A

"joint-eater" inhabited the patient; "he

feeds two when he eats." As a rule, the

Fairies get their food as witches do—take

"the Pith and Milk from their Neighbours'

Cows unto their own cheese-hold, throw a

Hair-tedder, at a great distance, by Airt

Magic, only drawing a spigot fastened in a

Post, which will bring Milk as far as a Bull

will be heard to roar." This is illustrated in

the drinking scene in Faust.

This kind of charge is familiar in trials for

witchcraft. In accordance with the whole

metaphysics of the system of doubles,

which are parasites on humanity, is the

superstition of nurses stolen by Fairies,

and of children kidnapped while

changelings are left in their place. The

latter accounts for sudden decline and loss

of health by a child; he is not the original

child, but a Fairy brat” (Kirk, 1891, xxix).

The Alp Luachra, an Irish variation,

behaves in all respects like a Just Halver,

but was believed to be introduced to the

body by the accidental swallowing of a

newt while one slept near a river. Where

the Just Halver was thought to ride along

invisibly, the embodiment of the Alp

Luachra in a newt, actually allowed for a

few defensive strategies, say the

consumption of vast quantities of salted

beef or herring without drink, leading to an

insatiably thirsty Alp Luachra emerging

for a little libation. Scholar of the Irish

language and first President of Ireland

Douglas Hyde (1860-1949) noted the

ubiquity of the legend, commenting “This

legend of the alp-luachra is widely

disseminated, and I have found traces of it

in all parts of Ireland. The alp-luachra is

really a newt, not a lizard, as is generally

supposed. He is the lissotriton punctatus

of naturalists, and is the only species of

newt known in Ireland. The male has an

orange belly, red-tipped tail, and olive

back. It is in most parts of Ireland a rare

reptile enough, and hence probably the

superstitious fear with which it is regarded,

on the principle of omne ignotum pro

terribli.

This reptile goes under a variety of names

in the various counties. In speaking

English the peasantry when they do not

use the Irish name, call him a

"mankeeper," a word which has probably

some reference to the superstition related

in our story. He is also called in some

counties a "darklooker," a word which is

probably, a corruption of an Irish name for

him which I have heard the Kildare people

use, dochi-luachair” (Hyde, 1910, p183).

These appellations certainly maintain the

notion that the Unseelie courts regard us

unfortunate humans as a sort of cattle.

A further example of such a spectral

passenger can be found as well in non-

Western sources, such as the Abiku of the

Dahomey and Yoruba peoples of West

Africa, evil forest spirits said to attach

themselves to a person in infancy, slowly

starving the child to death by consuming

all the food they take in, no matter the

quantity.

“The general idea seems to be that the

uninhabited tracts of country abound with

numbers of evil spirits or demons, who

suffer from hunger, thirst, and cold, since

nobody offers sacrifice to them and they

have no temples, and who are constantly

endeavouring to improve their condition

by entering the bodies of new-born babes.

Only one Abiku can enter and dwell in the

body of the same child, and, as there is

great competition amongst the Abikus for

such a position, an Abiku is only suffered

by his companions to enter peaceably, and,

in fact, to be recognised as having vested

rights in a child, on condition of his

promising them a share of the comforts he

is about to obtain. When an Abiku has

entered a child he takes for his own use,

and for the use of his companions, the

greater part of the food that the child eats,

who in consequence begins to pine away

and become emaciated” (Ellis, 1894,

p112). This curious characterization would

seem to support Reverend Kirk’s

hypothesis that the changeling and joint

eater are related phenomena.

As American Physicist Martin H. Fischer

once observed, in our more introspective

moments we like to think that “humans are

the greatest of earth’s parasites”, when in

fact we generally work pretty hard for our

daily bread. The truly efficient parasite

prefers you do the heavy lifting. Perhaps

we should consider Peter De Vries

warning that “Gluttony is an emotional

escape, a sign something is eating us” in a

more literal sense

.

Aaron Ilya Dabbah

http://esoterx.com/

References

Ellis, A. B. 1852-1894. The Yoruba-speaking Peoples of the Slave Coast of West Africa: Their Religion, Manners, Customs,

Laws, Language, Etc. With an Appendix Containing a Comparison of the Tshi, Gã, Ew̜e, And Yoruba Languages. London:

Chipman and Hall, ltd., 1894.

Folklore and Legends: Scotland. London: W.W. Gibbings, 1891.

Hyde, Douglas, 1860-1949. Beside the Fire: a Collection of Irish Gaelic Folk Stories. London: D. Nutt, 1910.

Kirk, Robert, 1641?-1692. The Secret Commonwealth of Elves, Fauns & Fairies: a Study In Folk-lore & Psychical Research.

Lon

OUT NOW!!!!!‘

Women of Babalon’ – The latest publication from Black Moon Publishing Edited by

Mishlen Linden and featuring a diverse collection of women authors

and artists who offer their concepts of the modern day Babalon through rituals,

experiences, and artwork.

http://blackmoonpublishing.com

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Women-Babalon-Howling-Womens-

Voices/dp/1890399493/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1425806842&sr=1-1&keywords=women+of+babalon

Myths & Legends

Reviewed by Diane Narraway

Myths and legends is the latest album by masters of

Ethereal Steampunk Spriggan Mist and new vocalist

Ann-Mari Thomas’ debut album. Ann-Mari brings her

unique vocal style which is both spiritual and

contemporary with hints of ‘Kate Bush’ and ‘All about

Eve’. Her voice is complemented by the music and

possibly the first time we get to fully appreciate the full range of musical talent on offer.

In amongst some heavy bass lines courtesy of Baz Cilia, impressive drumbeats from Colin

Garratt and Spike Stockdale’s accomplished guitar playing we get to experience the musical

talents of Maxine Cilia whose input on this album is both creative and imaginative. The

clever use of woodwind instruments provide this album with an authentic otherworldly feel.

This is not just a well-produced album, it is both captivating and inspirational drawing on a

variety of myths and legends that invoke a wide range of thoughts and emotions as we enter

the realms of magick, death, fantasy, obsession, destiny, love and retribution. By far their

best album yet and a must for any cd collection.

Ann-Mari Thomas - Lead vocals

Maxine Cilia - Guitars, Recorders,Whistles,Clarinet,Saxophones,Backing vocals

Baz - Cilia Bass, Backing vocals

Colin Garratt - Drums

Spike Stockdale – Guitars, Backing vocals

Bex Rennie – Recorders, Cello and Backing vocals

Arrangements Maxine and Spike

Produced by Spike Stockdale

Mixed and mastered Steve Williams

CD artwork by David Cilia

Music and lyrics written by Baz Cilia/Maxine Cilia/Bex Rennie/Ann-Mari Thomas.

Journey of the Human Soul

“We fall from womb to tomb, from one blackness and toward another, remembering little of the one and

knowing nothing of the other ... except through faith.”

Stephen King - Danse Macabre

There are indeed few things in life which are

certain and it is safe to say that all of us will

experience two – birth and death. As we

stumble, stagger and dance through life we will

shed many tears, some of joy for the miracle of

new life and some of anger and sorrow for

loved ones whose journey in this life has come

to an end.

It has long been

recognised that

these events are

more than just

happy or sad

events, they are

the arrival of a

soul into this

plane of

existence or

indeed the

departure of

one. In fact the

earliest

evidence of

ritual found by archaeologists is that of

funerary rituals. It seems reasonable to assume

that if death was marked then it is most likely

that birth was too, after all they are the two

biggest events in the human journey on this

plane of existence, marking the beginning and

the end of it.

What was once the role attributed to the

‘Psychopomp’ ( from the Greek

psuchupompos, meaning the ‘guide of souls’) is

now undertaken by the Birth Doula (Initially

coming from an ancient Greek which was the

feminine form of slave) and or the Soul

Midwife/End of life Doula. (Midwife is from

Middle English midwyf meaning literally with

woman)

We readily accept that the mother needs a

companion during labour but how many of us

consider that perhaps there is a greater need

than just having someone holding your hand

and shouting breathe every few minutes.

Likewise at the end of life when a soul is

departing this realm, it is as much in need of

guidance as those left to grieve.

This is the realm of

the Doulas and Soul

Midwives which today

is a far more complex

role than those in

antiquity. While

Doulas are not

medically trained,

they are trained as are

Soul Midwives as

birth or end of life

companions

respectively.

Even then

‘companion’ is a word that falls short of the

actual role of the Birth Doula as they provide

emotional, physical and practical support for

the mother throughout pregnancy and labour,

resulting in a less stressful delivery which in

turn is less traumatic for both mother and

baby.

The Soul Midwife/Psychopomp are as

culturally varied as people and are today most

commonly associated with the end of life. It

involves the non-judgemental transportation of

the soul to the next or afterlife. In antiquity

these were often seen as deities, angels or

animal guides, Charon is a classic example of a

spirit psychopomp while for others the role was

filled by tribal priest or shaman.

Today certainly in the Western world the

psychopomp has for many been replaced by

undertakers, modern priests and funeral

celebrants and for a long time the only thing

that remained of the psychopomp in recent

times has been the administering of last rites

available to those in hospital a service which

has been dominated by the larger mainstream

monotheistic religions.

Today though things are changing and the role

of the psychopomp changes once again. There

is no doubt that those grieving the loss of their

loved ones need emotional support, likewise

families of those who are terminally ill, but all

too often the focus becomes fixed on health

care and the patients physical comfort

overshadowing their spiritual needs. Likewise

funerals whilst providing a chance to say

goodbye to or celebrate the life of those they

love have often neglected the spiritual essence

of the funerary rite.

The need for spiritual support for those reach-

ing the end of life on this plane has become

recognised as an essential part of our journey

and under the name of ‘Soul Midwifery’ is now

finding its way into hospitals and hospices.

Diane Narraway

MEMBERSHIP OF THE DOLMEN GROVE

The Dolmen Grove offers a lifetime membership, which simply means a one-off payment of £20 for

those who wish to embrace and enjoy the freedom, Clanship and the right to practice their own

spiritual path within the Grove family.

Full Members of the Grove will enjoy reduced rates for events such as Gatherings like the Beltane

Spirit of Rebirth and Tribal Dreams, and to many other events when stated.

A Full member will receive a Membership Card and a unique Membership Number that identifies

who they are when wishing to attend Member only Ceremonies and other Dolmen Grove Events.

The Dolmen Grove does not have a hierarchy, as we do not believe that people need titles or labels to

follow a spiritual path; instead the spiritual ethos of the Grove is facilitated by a Round Table, a circle

of people from all walks of life.

For further information on the Dolmen Grove and becoming a member please send an email to

[email protected].

Also find us on faceboook - thedolmengrove and thedolmengrovemagazine

The Birth Doula

A doula is an individual who provides support to

families through pregnancy, birth and the early

postnatal period but we are best known as birth

partners.

To me, defining what a doula does, is almost

moot. Experience tells me that what we do, is less

important than what we are. It is our

companionship that reassures the women we

serve. The comforting presence of a woman who

has been through birth herself is powerful. In their

study “Mothering the Mother”, Klaus Kennell and

Klaus found that women attended by doulas had a

50% reduced caesarean rate, 60% less epidurals

and 24% shorter labours. A doula provides guar-

anteed support in labour for as long as she is

needed.

I go on call when a woman reaches 37 weeks of

pregnancy, and remain available to her, 24 hours a

day until after the baby is born. There are no shift

changes for doulas, we won’t leave her side unless

she asks us to.

Sometimes women employ a doula because their

partner cannot attend the birth. Sometimes

because they have preferences for their care that

fall outside the default policies of their healthcare

provider, and wish for an impartial advocate.

Often they just want the security of a familiar

face, when they might not know the midwife who

attends them, and a confident supporter who

won’t lose their cool.

Birth is not just the birth of a child, but also the

birth of a mother. A labouring woman is leaving

behind a chapter of her life, and starting anew.

Some women reach this point screaming and

crying, some approach it with peace and

confidence, but all of them will make that

crossing. I see parallels between my work as a

doula, and serving as an initiation officer within

my order. I can show them the precipice, but I

can’t jump for them. Ultimately that challenge,

and achievement, is theirs.

Kash Salem (Doula and Perinatal yoga teacher)

[email protected]

Conscious Birthing Ethos

To acknowledge birth and its roots; remembering our inherent ability to give life in an undisturbed, natural

way.

To also acknowledge that we are always fully supportive of your choices, wherever and however you choose

to give birth.

To help you to steer a course of your own making, rather than become lost in a system.

To encourage you to listen to and trust your intuition.

To help you become informed, and therefore empowered, around decision making throughout your preg-

nancy and birthing experience.

To, when appropriate, encourage you to venture inward, seeking out your roots of strength as well as

those roots of fear which do not serve you.

To help you to prepare for the unexpected by learning how to remain focused and empowered, when things

don't go according to 'plan', through practising flexibility and adaptation as a means to prevent feelings of

failure.

Birth Doulas are present during pregnancy,

empowering the woman/couple to make informed

choices around their forthcoming birth and then

attending that birth with them, wherever it may

happen, home, birthing centre or hospital. We

offer continuity of care, which has been shown to

dramatically reduce intervention, lead to a shorter

labour and halve the chances of the birth ending

with an emergency Caesarean section. Birth

Doulas practice in a non-judgemental and deeply

present way, bringing a sense of intimacy and

awareness to each birth.

The Courses I offer are birth Doula training

weeks, facilitated from a grassroots perspective

and influenced by ancient knowledge, which is

often shared through the tradition of story-telling.

There is an intimate atmosphere on each course,

where we come together to share our own birth

stories and spend time debriefing them in a safe

and held space, before we begin to look at

offering a Doula service. There is usually much

laughter, some tears and always a lot of cake

involved!

Conscious Birthing Doulas initially spend time on

some self-enquiry during our training courses,

examining our intentions to serve in this way. We

look at the work as a gift and a humbling

opportunity to serve creation herself, looking at

how we can be in the eye of the storm with a la-

bouring woman, remain grounded and keep the

space clear for the arrival of a new life, Earthside.

We honour the rite of passage which birthing

brings and we learn to work with those herbs,

remedies and ancient techniques that have served

us during this transformative time for hundreds of

years. Remembering these skills and reinstating

this tradition is key for me as a facilitator.

After the Course, Birth Doulas can go on to join

Doula UK, a well-recognised national body of

Doulas. Within this organisation, a fledgling

Doula can choose a mentor and will work through

at least 4 births, at their own pace, filling in a little

paperwork to reflect on each experience (and each

family will do the same, commenting on how they

found their Doula supported them during this

time).

When the Mentor and trainee Doula are ready,

which is usually anywhere between 6 months and

2 years, the trainee Doula becomes 'Recognised'

within the organisation. Doula UK has a well-used

website where potential clients can choose their

Doula.

There is no qualification necessary to work within

a hospital in this way either as a Doula, or as a

Soul Midwife (one who holds the space for the

dying) and in my experience in supporting both of

these transitions, I've found that there is a huge

similarity. Using remedies and comfort measures,

dealing with fears, supporting and holding space

are all comparable for Birth and Death

Doulas/Soul Midwives.

Remaining non-judgemental, being grounded and

compassionate becomes much easier when I

consider the enormity of each of these bookends

of life and through that awareness, it becomes

possible to hold a space and work with the

energies involved, rather than getting too caught

up with each personality during the transition.

Serving birth and/or death is a life-choice, a voca-

tion and an honour. It demands authenticity and

strength and in return offers a rare opportunity to

witness the beauty, power and fragility of all life.

. Kate Woods

Websites: www.doulatraining.co.uk (for Doula Courses)

www.consciousbirthing.co.uk (for Doula service)

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 01458 831375

Courses run from my home in Glastonbury, St.Ives in Cornwall, Brighton and Ibiza. The courses in Glaston-

bury, St.Ives and Ibiza all have residential options

Wynterkallista offers a range of natural,ethically sourced

Aromatherapy health and beauty products created with care.

We also specialise in hand madePagan/Wicca products, such as

Wands and Staffs, Herbs, Dilly and spell bags.

We are fully licensed by Cosmetic Safety Consultants Ltd.

Also a qualified, experienced and fully professional member of the

Guild of Holistic Therapists

Wiccan High Priestess and Celebrant

[email protected]

www.facebook.com/Wynterkallista

S erving the Goddess – The Whole Cycle

My life has been a devotion to the Goddess, I chose to follow the Morrighan and it has been this devotion

that has shaped my purpose on this Earth.

Honor Johnson describes the Morrighan’s domain as that of ‘being a transporter between life and death; a

birth Goddess and a death Goddess in that she moved the Soul through these cycles’. Later on she has

mainly been connected to her work with the Warrior and his Death.

To these ends I trained as a birth-midwife and have worked in this capacity within the NHS for ten years

after my own childbearing years were ending. Of these ten years I worked with terminations and stillbirths

therefore working with birth and death in a very quick cycle.

This was for the parents and family a time of great sadness, a long awaited space had been created into their

circle and now it was not to be. Their acknowledgement of their energetic changes they had undergone in

preparation of being parents is still real and will never be undone, however there was no growing life to hold

safe. Such grief is almost incomprehensible unless you have been that parent.

In contrast these new Souls make their transition very easily as their energy is pure and light containing none

of the ‘stickiness ‘ we humans acquire on our journey home. The help given, if any for Souls to transition

with grace is the work of the Soul Midwife in her capacity as a psychopomp.

For me to complete the cycle involved working with death so I chose to train as a Soul Midwife.

Felicity Warner who has written beautifully on the subject, has a purpose in this dimension to ensure that

there are enough trained Soul Midwives so that All Souls have a ‘good death and a smooth transition’. In her

book ‘A Safe Journey Home ‘she writes;

‘Not long ago when people were born and died in their own homes, arriving and departing were community

events with friends and gathering and supporting the families. Towns and villages had midwives and ‘wise

women’ who were skilled in the art of birth and death, providing practical help and comfort.’

Today death has been seen somehow as a ‘failure’ by some in the medical profession as amazing advances

have been made in curing, fixing, and saving. A and E departments have been a regular place for a Soul to

transition … and having been there one wonders at the extreme energies permeating such places. This

causes the Soul’s journey to be, as I can only describe as ‘sticky’ and more difficult for transition. At home

in familiar surroundings, in one’s comfy bed or on the sofa looking out at nature, the Soul can fly freer and

join the birds and the breeze whose energy is natural.

Hospices can be kindly and comforting places to transition, as the staff are not trying to save a Soul that

knows this is the moment to transition, instead they provide comfort and support.

Women labour and give birth better at home, similarly Souls die better at home, supported by love and care.

Souls who chose to go via violent and sudden means, have their own special needs and a

skilled psychopomp, on the Scene can help these traumatised and fragmented Souls gather themselves

together and be at peace in order to carry on their way.

In Ireland, where they are generally very good at ‘dying at home’, a man died in his car. He had suffered a

massive coronary behind the wheel of his car. Fortunately no-one else was injured, however a crowd

gathered including myself and because I had some resuscitation experience was urged to give him CPR.

Luckily for this Soul, who was a twenty stone man and couldn’t be moved for CPR to occur, he was already

hovering in and out of his body. Instead of attempting an impossible resuscitation I sat, held his hand

and said ‘My name is Eirwen and I am sitting with You in this Your transition and we will walk in peace ’.

This is my work, this is what I have devoted my life to and this will carry me home.

Eirwen Mitchell

The Soul Midwives School

The Soul Midwives School, based in Dorset offers professional training and mentoring programs. Students

are mainly from the UK but also come from as far away as the USA, South Africa, New Zealand and

Europe. These courses began over ten years ago, as a pioneering approach to caring for the dying.

Our work is now recognised by many hospices and mainstream organisations.

Whilst working within their own communities, our Soul Midwives continue their professional development,

returning to refresh their skills, share new ideas and techniques and receive continued inspiration and

support from our tutors but, most importantly, from each other.

People, from all walks of life and of all ages are welcomed on our introductory days. From these, a

significant number become practicing Soul Midwives.

We also run a very successful Distance Learning Programme.

Through our links with practitioners in other branches of medicine and pastoral care, we are constantly

developing and expanding our course material.

We are deeply committed to the service we offer and take a very practical and heart-based approach to the

spiritual and sensitive aspects of death and dying

Intro dates

March 14th

May 9th

July 11th

September 12th

November 7th

Part 1 dates 2015

20-22 February

24-26 April

5/7 June

21-23 Aug

16-18 September

27-29 November

The 12 Principles of Soul Midwifery

1 - To work as non-medical holistic companions who guide and support a dying person in

order to facilitate a gentle and tranquil death

2 - To support and recognise the individual needs of the dying person and ensure they feel

loved and supported.

3 - To create and hold a sacred and healing space for the dying person (whether in a hospital,

a hospice or at home).

4 - To respect and honour a dying person’s religious/spiritual or atheist/agnostic beliefs and

practices.

5 - To work as non-denominational, multi-faith practitioners who honour the dying person’s

beliefs about life, death or the afterlife.

6 - To listen, provide gentle therapeutic techniques, and ensure compassionate care at all

times.

7 - To ‘serve’ our friend; not aim to ‘fix’ or ‘rescue’.

8 - To give healing, using sound, touch, colour, scented oils or other gentle techniques to

alleviate pain and anxiety.

9 - To keep a loving vigil.

10 - To work holistically with the spirit and soul of our friends at all levels and stages of

transition.

11 - To support families and their loved ones, giving loving care with a human touch

12 - To provide comfort, continuous support and reassurance in helping a dying person to

experience the death he or she wants.

The Soul Midwives Handbook

Soul Midwives, a movement begun by Felicity

Warner, has changed the face of modern holistic

and spiritual palliative care in the UK and abroad.

Soul Midwives are holistic and spiritual

companions to the dying. They draw on

traditional skills, now largely forgotten, applying

them to our modern world to ease the passage of

those who are dying. Their services are used

within people's own homes, in hospices, and care

homes.

Anyone with an open and compassionate heart and a desire to help others can

become a Soul Midwife. This book will guide you through the principles and

techniques that can be used to help anyone, anywhere, to

achieve a peaceful and tranquil passing.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Soul-Midwives-Handbook-Holistic-Spir-

itual-ebook/dp/B00BY5S45S/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=

1425839795&sr=1-1&keywords=soul+midwives

Felicity Warner www.soulmidwives.co.uk

For course details email [email protected]

The Dolmen

March

Sat. 28th Ostara Festival Cornwall

April

Sat. 4th Pirate Festival Finns Weymouth?

Fri. 10th De Oude Remise, Bad Nieuweschans, The Netherlands

Sat 11th PFI Conference, Lunteren,Netherlands

Sat 18th 9th Wikinger Festival Berlin

Sun 19th 9th Wikinger Festival Berlin

Fri. 24th Dolmen Grove Beltaine Festival UK

Sat. 25th Dolmen Grove Beltaine Festival UK

May

Sat 16th MPS Rastede Germany

Sun 17th MPS Rastede Germany

une

Sat 13th MPS Bashorst Germany

Sun 14th MPS Bashorst Germany

Fri 19th Feuertanz Germany

Sat 20th Feuertanz Germany

Sat 27th MPS Wassenberg Germany

Sun 28th MPS Wassenberg Germany

The

The Dolmen

www.thedolmen.com

The Dandelion: a Plant of Two Halves.

The dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is

one of my favourite and most used herbs.

Its properties illustrate some of the most

important principles and concepts in

herbalism. It is also one of those plants

which heralds the onset of spring.

The leaf and the root are used, albeit for

different tasks, demonstrating the necessity

of knowing which part of plant to use if

you are using it as a medicine.

The leaf is diuretic i.e. it increases the flow

of urine. (Culpeper: ‘openeth the passages

of urine’). Used wherever there is

accumulation of excess fluid it is also

excellent for treating problems associated

with heart failure when used with

‘medicinal heart’ herbs.

Stimulating kidney function to promote

diuresis causes a loss of potassium from

the body; potentially harmful and a

problem with allopathic (pharmaceutical)

diuretics. The dandelion contains a more

than ample supply of potassium to

compensate for this loss; a good example

of why herbalists use whole parts of plants

and resist attempts to isolate the so called

active constituent.

The root is a liver herb and is used

wherever there is congestion in the liver

and gallbladder. (Culpeper: ‘has an

opening and cleansing quality…. used for

obstructions of liver, gallbladder and

spleen’). It is a tonic for the liver helping it

to work better, improving elimination of

waste products from the body. It is

therefore prescribed where there are signs

of toxicity such as in skin and joint

disorders and where the digestion is

sluggish.

It livens the digestion, its bitter property

stimulating the appetite and its action on

the liver increasing the flow of bile and

relieving constipation by supporting the

body’s natural processes.

It is a nutrient herb containing iron,

copper, calcium, magnesium, silicon,

potassium, chloride and vitamins A and E

which is why the leaves are good to eat in

salad. They can also be steamed; the

bitterness can be relieved by mixing with

spinach.

The cleansing and tonic properties are the

reason it was combined with burdock in

the famous drink. Tonic beers were also

made and wine is still made from the

flowers, traditionally being drunk at

Beltane.

The white sap is a good remedy for warts.

The first record of its use in healing was

by Avicenna in the 10th Century (for use as

a general curative; an apt description given

its properties); it is also mentioned by the

13th century Welsh Physicians of Myddfai.

The yellowness we associate with liver

dysfunction illustrates the relevance of the

Doctrine of Signatures here in that the

yellow flower is the message we are given

as to how the plant might help us.

The name Taraxacum derives either from

the Greek Taraxos (disorder) and akos

(remedy) or from the Greek Taraxo (I have

excited) and achos (pain) both referring to

the healing actions of the plant.

More than 45 English names are on record

including Witch Gowan, Piss-a-Bed,

Peasant’s Clock, Wishes and Lion’s Teeth,

the names deriving from the actions of the

herb, the appearance of leaf or seed head,

and folk lore.

The number of names is a recipe for

confusion and illustrates the reason

herbalists write prescriptions in Latin; for

the avoidance of doubt as to which plant

we mean.

The name Dandelion is from dens lionis

meaning lion’s tooth which may refer to

the leaf shape, the connection between the

yellow flowers and the golden teeth of the

heraldic lion, or the connection between

the whiteness of the root and the lion’s

tooth.

Although the plant does not feature much

in magickal lore, it is associated with

elemental air and solar energies and is a

plant of bright energy and vitality.

If Dandelion appears in a dream it signifies

difficult times ahead, which those who are

wise will see as an opportunity to change

and move forward.

There is much folklore surrounding the

seed-head; e.g. blowing the seeds to send

thoughts to a loved one, to tell the time, to

determine how many more years one

would live or how long before one would

get married to name but a few.

Picking the flowers or bringing them

indoors was said to provoke bedwetting

while sniffing the flowers on Mayday

would stop bedwetting for a year.

Burying dandelions in the north-west

corner of the garden is said to bring

favourable winds; I cannot say this works

well on Portland!

Andrew Cowling

BSc(Hons),Dip.Phyt,D.Hyp,RCST,MNFSH,FNIMH

Herbalist, Craniosacral Therapist, Hypnotherapist

62 Grove Road

Portland

DT5 1DB.

Tel. 01305 860611.

THE DOLMEN GROVE ETHOS

Foundation

Dolmen Grove was founded in the early 90’s, initially as a

small gathering of individuals dedicated to the exploration

of individual spirituality centred around pagan and

alternative beliefs. As time passed this grew into the

Dolmen Grove of today maintaining its ethos of spiritual

freedom free from the constraints of a hierarchy and the

restrictions of dogma.

Equality

Within the Dolmen Grove all individuals are equal

irrespective of age, experience or wealth. To ensure that this

is maintained, organisation of the Dolmen Grove is

facilitated by a round table, made up of several individuals

from a variety of paths who give their time voluntarily.

Opportunity

Each new day brings the opportunity to strive towards

personal fulfilment to discover and effect positive change

both personally and on a wider scale. Within the Dolmen

Grove the individual has the opportunity to grasp, shape and

develop their own spiritually in peace and whilst enjoying

the friendly clanship of like-minded people.

Wisdom

Knowledge and wisdom are not one and the same but both

are equally deserving of respect in their own right. Wisdom

is attainable through all walks of life and is essential to

one’s individual existence and the further evolution of

human consciousness.

Freedom

No individual is truly free unless they have freedom of

choice. Within the Dolmen Grove we strive to promote and

uphold this philosophy.

Love

Love is everything. Love is the law. When the individual

uses love to drive the creative force then negativity is

repelled bringing about positive change for the future.

The Future

Within the Dolmen Grove we recognise history as a teacher

and it is our hope that by understanding the negative aspects

of the past we can avoid recurrences in the future.

Gatherings Moots

The great journey we call life is but short lived in this

physical realm of our understanding, and as we know full of

twists and turns. If we are fortunate we manage to find

like-minded friends to experience and share the pleasure of

our journey. Within the Dolmen Grove, we create and put

on special events such as gatherings and moots that are

dedicated to the clanship of the Dolmen Grove, where our

members can meet and celebrate the wheel of the year or

simply socialise in good company. As both individuals and

as a clan we try our best to carry the spiritual ethos of peace,

equality and the freedom of the spiritual path. It is always

our goal to promote friendship, even at times when we may

find ourselves personally challenged we seek to extend the

hand of friendship in the spirit of love and peace.

Interaction

Whilst playing an active part in the Great Pagan Revival and

strengthening the fabric that gives paganism its hope for the

future we often interact with some of the larger

organisations although as an established grove of over 21

years we make it quite clear our main focus and attention is

placed solely upon our own Dolmen Grove members . As a

non - hierarchical clan where spiritual respect cannot be

purchased by magickal title, money or fear we continue to

grow and as we do so we become stronger and more

experienced, constantly learning and evolving in order to

stabilise a firm foundation for our members.

The Dolmen Grove ethos EQUALITY, OPPORTUNITY,

WISDOM, FREEDOM, LOVE …

For more information on the Dolmen Grove:-

www.dolmengrove.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Dolmen-

Grove/110124449082503

https://www.facebook.com/DolmenGroveMagazine?ref=hl

Email: [email protected]

Membership email: [email protected]

The Magic of Mythical Creatures

Unlike the views found in mainstream society, the allure of myths is one that the magical community

both openly accept and discuss without prejudice. We have the benefit of seeing it from two

perspectives at once, and do so without the necessity of choosing one over the other, allowing room

within our culture, for a psychological understanding of them as symbols while also keeping our

magical minds tuned for their spiritual existence in the realms beyond our own. In this way, one may

simultaneously respect the lore of dragons as fable, as archetype, and as a being with whom it is

possible to make meaningful contact.

Mythical beings are found in the folklore of every country in the world. The most common ones have

entered into popular culture eventually becoming ‘common property’ of all peoples instead of just

their native homes. Such is the case with the mythical creatures discussed here. They are known to all

of us, through stories and images, but in the magical community they are also understood as magical

helpmates. Many opt for adding objects with their likenesses to their spells or altar space, in order to

petition them for help, or by entering into trance to speak with them personally through ritual and

journey meditations. Calling upon the assistance of mythical creatures can enhance your magic in a

way that can only come from aligning yourself with these timeless and universal beings.

Mermaids Mermaids have been spotted on a variety of

rocky shores and at sea with tales of them have

been told and retold since the days of ancient

Greece, with each region having its own

particular view of these watery maidens.

No matter their homeland, mermaids epitomize

female charm with its eloquence, charm, and

the danger found within. Naturally, their

element is Water.

Magical use - Their powers to enhance your

beauty and allure or for protection when

travelling by water. The double-tailed mermaid

is especially potent for prosperity magic.

Unicorns Found in the art of early Mesopotamia as well

as China and India, these Airy creatures are

wild to their core, graceful and proud.

Traditionally, a unicorn cannot be tamed, only

lured for a time by an innocent girl. Their

pure nature has been known to turn against

them, giving an unfair advantage to hunters

lying in wait. These beings have been

associated with magic since the Renaissance,

and were reputed to grant wishes should one be

fortunate enough to glimpse it.

Magical use – It is said that through the image

of a unicorn or by contacting them through

meditation they may grant your wishes, or

enhance your wisdom, imagination or dream

fulfillment.

Centaurs

We are most familiar with the Greek centaur,

but its origins can be traced back to India circa

3000 BCE. The union of man and horse,

intellect and strength, the genteel and the

brutish, the centaur is the representation of

raw male power. They have great prowess in

battle and their hot tempers mirror the element

of Fire. Once generally considered without

human morality and understanding, the great

teacher Chiron brought to the race an

association of intelligence and patience.

Magical use - The power of the centaur can be

used to release your wild nature or to be brave

when facing war or other great conflicts.

Contact Chiron privately (or his offspring)

through meditation as his name and image can

be used for artistic inspiration, or as an aid for

both the teacher and the student, as well as for

gaining secret knowledge.

The Phoenix This mystical bird sprung from ancient Greece

and has a lifespan so dramatic that there is said

to exist only one upon the earth at a time.

Ruled by the element of Fire, it is the symbol of

immorality, rebirth, healing, and invincibility,

for nothing can kill the phoenix; it can only die

when its proper time comes.

Magical use - Its power can be used for renewal

of the self, starting again, longevity, healing

either oneself or to others.

Dragons There are significant differences between

Eastern and Western dragons and so their

ruling element is variable. They carry with

them a complex set of symbolism, notably

fame, success in business, expansion, and

guardianship. Where, in times past, the dragon

was presented in stories as adversaries to be

overcome, more recently they are the heroes for

their strength and wisdom.

Magical Use - Call up the dragon's image for

protection, to stand against enemies, for

notoriety and gaining fame.

The Sphinx The silent sentinel in the Egyptian desert, the

Sphinx is a unique creature. It is strange to

think that even in ancient times, the story of

how it came to be upon the Giza plateau was as

mysterious as it is today. The story of its

directive to eternally guard the secrets of the

Pyramids grew over the centuries. This

marvellous figure, therefore, represents not

only vigilance and wisdom but also mystery

itself.

Magical use - Call up the sphinx to gain secrets,

insight and for self-initiation.

Faeries

Faeries, nymphs, and plant devas are often

placed together in their descriptions and their

duties within nature. Though they are all

creatures of Air, their temperaments can be

quite different. Fairies don't hail from any one

area but instead make their home all across

Europe. In folklore, the focus is on their

mischievous behavior. Today, however, they are

considered much more kindly often honored as

carefree and joyful. The fairy represents

freedom, beauty, the magic within nature and

the powers inherent in trees and plants.

Magical uses - Call up the fairy for attraction

spells, tricks, freedom and liberation, and joy.

Gnomes Paracelsus brings us the first tales of gnomes as

alchemical beings during the Renaissance.

They are magical creatures, Earth Elementals,

and are created by the earth itself. Gnomes as

they are popularly recognized today are from

Scandinavia and are nearly as distinctive as the

fairy. With red caps, round merry faces, and

long white beards, they are quiet in their duties

as keepers of nature. They tend wild plants and

animals as well as being miners and working

with precious stones. As symbols, gnomes

represent stability, earthly wealth, luck,

knowledge, and ceremonial or alchemical

magic.

Magical use -Their powers can be used to gain

prosperity, luck, enhancing money spells,

ambition, and to heal sick or injured anima

How to Utilize the Powers of Mythical Creatures in your Magic

There are many options open to you for adding the potency of these beings to your work. Each person

will see variations in their own associations, in addition to the classical, which can influence which

methods you choose. For this reason, you may wish to write your own words to accompany the

actions described so that the spell most accurately captures your vision of the being you seek.

Add a token of the creature to mojo bags

Paint or draw its image on ritual/ceremonial objects

Invoke it as a guiding spirit during spell-work

Post its image upon the altar during casting

Call upon it by name in spells to gain its attributes

Seek it as a totem animal

When we forego the idea of reality being based solely upon the duality of truth versus fantasy, we are

free to welcome in spirits from different levels which although we are unable to physically perceive

them, can still have a profound effect upon our world. After all, that is the very nature of magic itself.

Molly McHenry

The Indefinable Legend of the Unicorn Across the long millennia, in every land and time,

The Unicorn is present, in book, and art and rhyme.

From Greece the written word came first about the one-horned beast;

Ctesias wrote of many things, the Unicorn not least.

Some mighty scholars lent weight to the infant legend then;

The Elder Pliny, Aelian, and Aristotles pen.

Odell Shepard - Love of the Unicorn

In our modern

world, it is easy for

us to doubt the

existence, past or

present, of Unicorns.

For all creatures

known to man, we

have scientific and

archaeological

evidence proving its

existence; carefully

preserved DNA, skin, fur and bone samples.

Dinosaur skeletons sit mounted on plinths in

museums alongside taxidermy specimens of

Dodo’s, giant Elks and fish, but nowhere in any

museums or private collections around the world,

do we see the taxidermy reproduction of the

Unicorn, except for ‘fantasy collections’, and yet

the Unicorn is with us, revered as a mythical,

magickal and powerful beast, one who commands

the greatest of respect by all that crosses its path.

So why is the Unicorn so popular in the minds and

stories of mankind?

We see them in many places of modern day life,

there images are in art, both classical and modern

and in books. They adorn bed covers and wall

hangings in our homes, they sit as stuffed toys and

our children play with musical ‘hobby horse’ style

Unicorns complete with rainbow tails. But how is

possible to have such adoration for a creature with

no actual proof of existence, one that has

seemingly, quietly tip-toed through history,

accepted by all, its existence never really being

questioned by anyone of historical stature, even

though there is no credible evidence, to date, to

suggest such a creature has ever existed or still

does today.

The first surviving, written account of what is

believed to be a Unicorn, dates back to the Greek

Physician Ctesias in his book titled the ‘Indica’ in

416 BCE. The Indica was written on Ctesia’s

return from the then, mysterious land of India,

after attending the Persian King, Danus II for

nearly twenty years. He wrote:

“There are in India, certain wild asses which are

as large as horses, and larger. Their bodies are

white; their heads are dark red, and their eyes

dark blue. They have a horn on the forehead

which is about 18 inches in length. The dust filed

from this horn is administered in a potion as a

protection against deadly drugs”.

Save the dark red head, this depiction of the

creature he encountered, can readily be compared

to the Unicorn we recognise today, but his account

could well have been easily dismissed if it wasn’t

for the philosopher Aristotle, whose words were

so highly regarded, rarely argued with and

generally taken as absolute truth. Aristotle said of

the Unicorn:

“We have never seen an animal with a solid hoof

and one horn, as the Indian Ass and the Oryx”

With this statement it was believed that he

corroborated Ctesias account of such a creature,

therefore confirming, (at the time) without doubt,

the existence of the Unicorn. The word of two

famous philosophers of course holds credible

voice, but surely the words and not actual

evidence, of just two such scholars cannot have

convinced the world of the existence of Unicorns,

can it?

Qilin image by Sailko

There are written accounts of horned beasts, we

can assume are Unicorns that date back millennia,

but depictions of Unicorns date back far further.

The Babylonian tribes of the Mesopotamia’s,

Assyria had two ruling powers, the Sun and the

Moon, the Lion and the Unicorn. The Sun, the

Lion, a yellow ball of flame, ruled through its

strength and domination of all that its light

touched. The Moon, the Unicorn, a pure silver

white, ruled through its strength of co-operation

and harmony. The Sun Lion would pursue the

Moon Unicorn across the sky in a daily chase, yet

the Sun Lion, despite its strength and vitality

rarely caught his prey, yet when he did, it would

be the Sun Lion himself that would be obscured

by the Moon Unicorn, the harmony taming the

fierce.

In other civilisations, there are writings of horned

beasts such as the Zhi. The Chinese dynasty of

Han, tells of a mythical beast with one horn that

had the ability to tell the guilty from the innocent.

It is said that the animal would sit at trials and

advise the court officials as to who was innocent

of wrongdoing and who was guilty of the crimes

they had been charged with. The creature would

then gore the guilty man with its horn, delivering

instant death.

This creature was described as having a horn in

the centre of its forehead, the stature and body of a

deer, sometimes with scales, sometimes without, it

had the hooves of a horse and a tail of a cow and

closely resembled a bearded goat. Another

example is of a Chinese mythical beast that

closely resembles the Unicorn, the Qilin. It is

described as dragon like, with an equine body, the

brightly coloured scales of a fish and often

depicted with a central horn on its forehead.

Unlike the Zhi, who was fierce and the bringer of

death to the guilty, the Qilin was described as a

gentle beast, despite its scary appearance, echoing

the personality of the Unicorn we relate to today.

These two great horned creatures are not believed

to be actual historical creatures though; they are

remembered as mythical beasts, written about in

magickal stories that have passed down through

time.

In the Old Testament, a creature named as a

Re’em is mentioned a number of times in the

Books of Job, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Psalms

and Isaiah. The name of this creature has been

translated and renamed as the Unicorn. In the

Book of Job 39:9-12, God tells, brags even, to

Job, of the magnificent creatures he has created

including hawks, goats, sheep, peacocks, horses,

eagles, dogs and bullocks; but of the Unicorn he

says:

“The Re’em (Unicorn), whose strength is great, is

useless for agricultural work, refusing to serve

man or harrow (plough) the valley”

The myth of the European Unicorn is widespread,

a beautiful, shy hooved creature; a silver white

horse like beast with great strength and agility. It

sports a long silvery, flowing mane and tail and is

sometimes seen with a beard, similar to that of a

goat and of course, the long spiralled horn in the

centre of its forehead. This is the accepted,

modern day interpretation of how people all over

the world visualise or picture the Unicorn.

The Indus Valley civilisation, were a Bronze Age

people (3300-1900 BCE) of Afghanistan and

India, they were one of the earliest civilisations of

the history of our Earth. In 1912 archaeologists

digging at an Indus Valley site discovered ancient

seals made of bronze and terracotta, upon these

seals were depictions of a creature that closely

resembles what we would recognise today, as a

Unicorn and there have been many ancient

carvings and cave paintings found of many

creatures with horns, including goats and bulls.

The obvious problem here is that these creatures

have always, even today, had two horns. Ancient

carvings and paintings are often depicted from a

side view, which would give cause to believe the

carving and paintings were showing a creature

with only one horn, the other hiding behind the

preceding one. Could this be where the ancient

legend of the Unicorn comes from,

misinterpretations of artwork?

But there is another plausible explanation for the

one horned creature we call the Unicorn; mutation

within species. There are countless accounts of

creatures born with only one horn, those being

deer, goats, cows and saolas. And even in recent

news a discovery of a deer with one horn has

created media frenzy, with some calling it the

‘original Unicorn’. These examples though are

flawed in the least, when a perfectly healthy

species bores an offspring that is too obviously

disfigured or mutated, this would be recognised as

being an isolated incident and recorded as so.

In Western Europe, India and Persia there is a

legend that tells of the Karkadann, a monstrous

one horned beast with plated armour that roamed

the grassy plains, ferociously shaking the earth

when it ran; another example of a mythical

Unicorn is a creature called the Elasmotherium, an

extinct species of Rhinoceros? The latter is the

favourite of the Historian.

We move on to bedtime stories of Unicorns,

beautiful magickal creatures who are the gentle,

good natured heroes of the tale. There are

countless examples of these tales and legends

especially told to children; they range from

Unicorns who have been gifted with wings rather

than horns, to pink Unicorns that eat chocolate

grass.

Already here we can see very clearly that these

examples are fiction, written purely for children

with the purpose of enjoyment of reading. But

there are older Faery tales that depict Unicorns,

one in particular gives way to the legend of the

Unicorns association with noble virgins, it starts,

like so many faery tales with a ‘Once upon a time’

One horned Oryx image by Yathin S Krishnappa

It is said that a long time ago in a land far away in

a magickal forest, a respected hunter saw through

the dark night, what he thought was a brilliant

white horse in the distance, upon closer inspection

he discovered it to be a Unicorn, it was emerging

from a river shining as brilliantly as the silver

Moon. Entranced by the sight of the beautiful

creature, the hunter called for his fellow huntsmen

and gave chase.

The Unicorn however, knew that the men could

never capture him, so he played a game of hide

and seek, waiting for the hunters to draw close

before he would bound out of sight. As night

turned to day, the men became tired and angry, the

Unicorn was eluding them and they did not

understand why.

Walking in the forest that day was a young,

beautiful noble girl; the Unicorn came to a stop in

front of her whilst she sat under a tree. She

reached out to comb his shining mane until the

Unicorn laid his head in her lap.

Unbeknown to the young maiden and the

huntsman, a Unicorn can only be tamed by an

innocent, beautiful and virtuous maiden of noble

birth. For the Unicorn, it was his downfall; the

huntsmen found and captured him. In a book

named Physiologus, written in the Christian city

of Alexandria, there is an entry

regarding this legend of Unicorns; it

is said that a Unicorn is able to tell

the difference between such a

virtuous maiden and one of opposing

values, and would then slay the

unvirtuous maiden.

The Unicorn doesn’t actually appear

in any of our ancient cultures

mythology, there are mentions from

time to time of them in fictional

stories and there have been instances,

mentioned above, where a creature

can easily be mistaken for a Unicorn. Ancient

Grecian Scholars believed that they existed, they

wrote of them, but they have never appeared in

ancient Greek Mythology. We find no mention of

Unicorns in Celtic, Egyptian, Roman or Norse

mythology as living or magickal creatures, the

closest we can find is the legend of Pegasus and

the Griffin (legends and not facts).

Our own Gods and Goddesses, kept close to them

mythological creatures and rode upon them into

battle and beyond, Shiva rode a Bull named

Nandi, Cerberus was the three headed hound of

Hades, the witch Medea’s chariot was drawn by a

pair of winged serpents but never is there a

mention in ancient mythology regarding the

Unicorn, I find this unusual; the Unicorn, a

magnificent and magickal creature has not once

been kindly adopted by a deity, or even mentioned

in their histories, is this because they have never

existed or is there another reason?

Could it be that the gentle and regal Unicorn did at

some point in history exist, a small numbered, shy

and elusive creature that were hunted relentlessly

to the point of extinction many thousands of years

ago. There are many tales that say the horn of a

Unicorn, ground to a fine powder is a powerful

antidote for poisoning, a thing that ancient Kings

and rulers feared above all, a possibility perhaps,

and a story we can see echoed today with the

hunting to near extinction of Rhino’s and

Elephants.

This is a plausible explanation due to ancient tales

depicting the horn of the Unicorn being attached

to the skin of the Unicorn and not

fused to its skull as we would expect;

Dutch colonists in Camdebo (East

Cape of South Africa) confirmed

seeing these creatures alive and

admitted to killing them stating “they

resemble the Quagga, or wild horses;

the horn only adhered to the skin”;

archaeologists would only ever

unearth the skeletal remains of a

creature closely resembling a horse,

would they not. Or perhaps there is

another explanation and one that is

popular with those that follow the

path of the Fae; they believe the mystickal

Unicorn did exist and still does today and perhaps

like the Fae, they are only visible and accessible to

those who truly believe in their existence.

Whatever your thoughts and beliefs may be

regarding the Unicorn, some admiration must be

given to this beautiful and majestic beast, for it

has walked through the course of history

alongside human kind, whether it has been in the

heart, the mind or in reality. It has touched the

hearts of many, inspired artists and poets alike and

has transformed the imagination the both children

and adults.

Cheryl Waldron

Sources: Universal Geography of All Parts of the World – Volume 3 – Conrad Malte-Brun. The Indica – Ctesias. Love of the Unicorn - Odell

Shepard . History of Animals in Ten Books, Volume 1– Aristotle. The Old Testament. Physiologus – Author unknown.

The Dolmen Grove Ostara Psychic

fayre & Spring Ball

Saturday 28th March

Psychic fayre 10am - 4.30pm Stalls, workshops, land fund raffle

£££££2.00 entry on the door.

Spring Ball 7pm - 11.30pm

With music from

Cephalodidge

Spriggan Mist

The Dolmen Box Office for evening tickets 01326-211222

http://www.crbo.co.uk/eventDetail.php?evGrp=247&ev

Id=9631

This event is hosted by Dolmen Grove Cornwall moot.

Artwork by Anthony Spears of Ethereal spirits – https://www.facebook.com/EtherealSpir-

its

Metaphysical and Healing Properties of Crystals -

Kyanite

Kyanite is a popular choice with holistic healers due to Kyanite being able to open, cleanse and balance all

of the chakras, clear meridian lines and realign the both the physical and ethereal bodies. The more common

blue Kyanite, has close associations with the Brow Chakra (3rd Eye) and the Throat Chakra owing to its

ability to expand psychic awareness and communication on all levels.

Kyanite is one of only two crystals that does not need regular cleansing, if at all (the other being Citrine)

because it does not collect or retain any negative energy, it transmutes it into what is asked of it; which is

handy because Kyanite dislikes water.

If you are looking to sharpen your communication skills, especially within the workplace or group setting

this is the crystal for you. Kyanite encourages self-expression and vocal skills, it helps the wearer to speak

their true voice with diplomacy, so an ideal choice for anyone who needs help in settling a dispute or

repairing relationships.

Cheryl Waldron

Kyanite is the stone of improvisation and

communication that transmutes an extremely

high vibrational frequency and has a fast

transfer of energy, making it an ideal choice

for attunements, metaphysical work and

meditational states.

It is a common, although somewhat

expensive stone, described as a long, flat,

splintery and bladed crystal originating from

India and Brazil.

Metaphysical Properties

Dream recall

Energy transfer

Enhances psychic abilities

Balance & energy work

Past-life regression

Intuitive Guidance

Breaks self-destructive cycles

Aura cleansing

Acceptance of ageing

Lucid dreaming

Healing Properties

Releases blockages

Muscle soreness

Thyroid problems

Calming

Promotes logical thinking

Balances emotions

Sore throat & vocal illness

Relaxation

Chest conditions including infections

Aromatherapy

If you are new to Aromatherapy or have not read previous articles on this then an insight to it is: - Aromatherapy is the use of

organic essences extracted from aromatic plants for healing and maintenance of vitality.

It may help minor ailments, keep us fit whilst still enabling us to be relaxed and at ease with ourselves.

The oils work by entering the blood stream via the skin, smells evoke memories and the brain registers the scent via the

neurological and the endocrine system.

The therapeutic potential of essential oils, like other plant derived remedies, has yet to be fully realized. Although numerous

medical herbs have been utilized since antiquity, many of which have become of modern drugs (such as Quinine and cocaine)

In order to use an essential oil apart from Lavender and Tea Tree they MUST be blended with carrier

oil.

Black seed Carrier oil This oil is new to me and one I am going to try as

sounds great. Black seed

oil or the Latin name is

Nigella sativa originates

from Asia and is extracted

by cold compress - the col-

our is light. It naturally

contains Vitamin A, B, D,

E, the shelf life is 2- 3 years

and is good for use on

normal to dry skin. The

Black seed itself is good to

cure all remedies. The

carrier oil nourishes

softens and conditions the skin and does not feel

greasy and is a natural hair tonic, promoting hair

growth.

There is a vast amount of information that says

black seed is a remedy for “every illness except

death". It is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and has

its own unique fatty acid profile and instantly

softens the skin and because it is non-greasy it

works well in massage oils, encouraging a healthy

digestive system and a re-invigoration of energy. It

is anti-inflammatory antibacterial and antiseptic, so

is good to clear up skin problems. This oil will help

Psoriasis, Diabetes, Cancer, Hepatitis, Asthma, and

much more.

Sandra Wiseman Therapies 4 You

01702 52395107804 138585

www.therapies4you.com

You'll need Skype Credit Free via Skype

Palmarosa Essential oil This oil will go really well with the above carrier

oil as it is good for skin and digestive problems.

Its Latin name is cymbopogon martini It is Native

to India and Pakistan but is now grown in Africa

Brazil, Comoro Islands and Indonesia. It is

extracted by steam distillation of the fresh or dried

grass before it starts to flower. It has upright,

yellow or yellow-green stems supported by a

small but penetrating root system and grown in

the wild the plant may reach 2.5 to 3.0 metres in

height. The oil looks pale yellow to olive in colour

and blends well with rosewood sandalwood

geranium and other floral oils

This oil smells like rose oil, which is how it got the

name Palma Rosa. This is also why it is sometimes

used in place of rose oil and is often adulterated

with rose essential oil, since it is cheaper

There are many health Benefits from this oil as it

has antiviral, anti-bacterial and has antiseptic

properties, so can relieve the discomforts of ‘flu

and high temperatures. It is so good for the skin by

adding a few drops to a carrier oil, it can help with

acne, minor skin infections, scars, wrinkles and

moisturises the skin. It regulates sebum production

and like Lavender stimulates cell regeneration.

This is good for intestinal infections, anorexia and

also if you are convalescing. It can also be helpful

for stress related conditions and can if you are

feeling insecure, confused, lonely or vulnerable.

This is a very safe oil as it is non-toxic, non-irritant

and non-sensitising.

Wheel of the year

February (Imbolc) -The Enchanted Market,

Wokingham, Berks.

March (Ostara) -Psychic fayre and Spring Ball, St

Austell, Cornwall

April (Beltane) - Spirits of Rebirth Camp, Dorset

June -A Midsummer Nightmare

August - Tribal Dreams, Gathering of the clans

September (Mabon) – Bardic event

October (Samhain) - Psychic fayre and Wytches

ball

December – Yule Ball

www.dolmengrove.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Dolmen-Grove

Diary of the Hedgewitch

Early spring and the world gasped a little, stirring

in its deathly sleep, and the freshness of white

snowdrops appeared, hanging their heads as if

embarrassed at their sudden appearance; and

there, as the winter wounds

open, oozed pus yellow

primroses promising hope with

their weak jaundice in the bleak

damp days of February.

A quickening as the heart thrums

and the sap, newly aroused,

spurts forth, and in that gasp are

heard a cacophony of musical

notes, feathered songs reaching

crescendo as the Sun bleeds

upon the eastern horizon, the full

harmonic climaxing into the first

surging of spring.

Voices resound, bouncing and

reverberating, as if echoing from

vast invisible spaces, breathing

life into a world waiting in

anticipation, and we resonate to

the frequency that is an

expansion as the world begins to

sleepily stretch its limbs, and up

thrust the first shoots from

beneath the dark earth.

Possibilities not yet manifested but on the verge

of becoming, teetering, a brief hesitation in

anticipation as the young Sun’s light brings rebirth

and new growth, and the potent unrestrained force

of Life emerges bubbling with the smouldering

Light; the old has been shrugged off, a sacrifice in

order that new beginnings germinate from the end

that begets the beginning.

Pigeons, overcome with the bright boundlessness

of a sunny day, alit with the passions of spring,

court in flight, grey against the vast blue, the

sudden sharp whip- cracks of their wing beats

slash the sky as they come together and pull away,

together again, a dance and celebration of all that

is fertile, and ever-creating, in an ancient eternal

rhythm.

In each season, a change occurs that is reflected

upon the land, the creatures, the plants; we see it

in the many colours, textures, and movements, we

listen and dance to its song and compose songs of

our own, its fragrance tugs us deep into an ancient

past and projects us into the vast

infinity of future;

we taste it on our lips, its breath

touches and streams through us, and

we feel it, intimately, deeply,

weaving the threads and creating that

which emerges from all possibilities.

Spring brings the stirrings of

beginnings, the startling light-

bringing at Ostara, an awakening

into endless possibility as

something new is hatched into the

pink and crimson dawn, and we can

grasp the world with renewed

vigour, new eyes, renewed

consciousness, and giddily we

unfurl, creating the future, the

universe alive within.

The tightly contracted leaf buds

begin to slowly unfurl and the

seedlings, fruit of the previous

flower, shoot forth to begin one of

many possibilities, wavering,

twisting, and the creative will of life, insatiable,

begins to surge restlesslessly, forever seeking and

gaining greater complexity, refinement, and

diversity, and striving for perfection which will

never be attained, for

all is flux, and ever in

a state of becoming.

But for a moment, the spring equinox brings a

trembling balance, a pivot, the great mother who

gave life, demanded it back, to give it again,

fertilised anew by the virile creative potency that

roars its desires, releasing them into form,

thoughts, imaginations and

deeds, and is mirrored in the

exuberant vitality

over-spilling in the frolicking

newly born lambs, splashed

in the vibrant sun gold

yellow of daffodils and egg

yolk yellow and violet

crocuses, sung in the hum of

sleepy bees as they weave

the world with their

vibration, sipping sweet nectar in their conjoining

with blossoms; virility and fecundity blazing,

aflame with desire, uniting in Love, igniting into

myriads of form, unceasing motion, expression

upon expression in the longing for perfection, as

the passion of the Sun’s fiery heat inflames into

rapture.

We sow our seeds, in many ways. For me as a

gardener, spring and seed sowing is the busiest

season and I don’t think I will ever cease to

behold in wonder a tiny seed and all that it

contains – everything, all that has been

manifested, all the mysteries of life, and all that is

to become in its round boundless circular or oval

egg-shape, breaking forth into manifestation and

growth, leaf, flower and fruit, returning again to

seed.

It bears experiences of its parent both of all that it

had experienced from earthly influences to greater

cosmic ones as the Sun and the Moon and the

planets and the stars weave their dances into that

of a plant rooted in the Earth but reaching

to the heavens.

As well as the genetic information within

a seed, there is contained all the

influences of the gardener and stories held

within that of the human journey.

Cherokee Trail of Tears beans, and the

corn plant that was domesticated by the

Aztecs around 2000BC, and the pollen

from herbs found in a cave in Iraq

60,0000 years ago bear these stories. Plants are

used as shelter, transport, clothing, food and medi-

cine, and are part of our cultural past and revered

in ceremonies, songs and tales, sharing, entwining

and enkindling their evolution with ours.

And we also are the seeds bearing all the stories of

our pasts, all those that have been before who

gestated us, and the all fertility of the future, and

aroused with the unrestrained surging vitality of

spring, create forth the possibilities, the stories,

and the unfurling, of humanity. We are the singers

of the song that threads all that is to be, the

weavers of the tune dancing in the dawn, and,

despite our own pools of darkness, bearers bring-

ing in the light.

Rachael Moss

The DEMON PIRATE T-Shirt Now

Available In Celebration of the

Great Spirits of the Sea

we bring you the Vampire Pirate.

Available in Black (white screen

print)

The Dolmen have always had a close

affiliation with the Sea and its dark

& mysterious secrets as 21 years of

Dolmen music have expressed this fully, from Shanty to ferocious

Celtic Rock. Now as part of our

celebration of these 21 we release the

DEMON Pirate.

Long Live the Pirate King

http://www.thedolmen.com/merchandise.html

Designs on white that

capture the spirit of

Dolmen music available in

a variety of sizes. http://www.thedol-

men.com/merchandise.html

Designs on white that capture the spirit of Dolmen music

available in a variety of sizes.

March Sowing Calendar

Mon Tues Weds Thurs Fri Sat Sun

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

from 1pm from 12pm

6pm A 7am 9pm

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

6pm 2am

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

from 10am

P 8pm 10am 2am

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

2pm 8am

30 31

April Sowing Calendar

Mon Tues Weds Thurs Fri Sat Sun

1 2 3 4 5

x all day x all day

A 1pm 3am 12pm

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

from 2pm from 11am from 4pm

8am 4am

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

from 3pm

x until 4pm

1pm P 4am 7pm

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

from 11am

11pm 12am

27 28 29 30

A 4am

Irvine Photography

Pagan photographer www.irvineimages.co.uk Tel: 07748198089

Crops to Sow in April

Root/Earth Flower/Air Leaf/Water Fruit/Fire

Beetroot Flowers Asparagus Aubergine

Carrot Broccoli Brussel sprouts Broad bean and French bean

Onion late summer cauliflower Cabbage Cucumbers

Parsnip Celery and celeriac Peas

Radish Chard Peppers

Kale Sweetcorn

Kohl rabi Tomatoes

Leek

Parsley

Salad greens and lettuce

Spinach

Crops to Sow in March

Root/Earth Flower/Air Leaf/Water Fruit/Fire

Beetroot Flowers Asparagus Aubergine

Carrot late summer cauliflower summer Cabage Broad bean

Onion Celery and celeriac (under heat) Peas

Parsnip Kohl rabi Peppers

Radish Leek Tomatoes

Salad greens (under cover)

Spinach

Tickets available http://www.dolmengrove.co.uk/Beltane.html

The

CRABCHURCH CONSPIRACY Mark Vine

The Crabchurch Conspiracy weekend is the culmination of a lifetime's work by Dolmen lyricist, author and

local historian Mark Vine, who has studied and researched the subject since joining the English Civil War

Society in 1976. He eventually wrote a book entitled The Crabchurch Conspiracy and later the lyrics for the

seminal Dolmen album of the same name in 2009.

The story behind the conspiracy is a long and complicated one, which

encompasses the whole of Dorset, but the actual occurences which are

commemorated each year in Weymouth are as follows ….

In 1644-5, several royalist plotters within the twin towns of Weymouth

and Melcombe on the Dorset coast conspired to deliver the ports back

into the control of King Charles 1. It has been suggested that he needed

a safe south coast port at which to land a huge French army which he

hoped would deliver a decisive blow and end the resistance of the

Parliamentarians whom he had been fighting for about two and a half

years. The conspirator’s plans were almost successful, but their

intended victim, Colonel William Sydenham, Commander of the Parliamentary garrison and MP for

Melcombe, managed to get most of his force into that town, though he lost a much loved and respected

brother and fellow soldier, Francis, in the initial assault.

Soon, a two week long internecine bombardment was taking place between the factions. In the third week,

what appeared to be the coup de gras arrived in the shape of the archetypal cavalier general, George, Lord

Goring and his 6,500 strong army, which meant that Sydenham’s tiny but stubborn garrison of just 1300

souls, were now outnumbered six to one. It would surely only be a matter of time before Melcombe too fell

to the King’s Army. Underestimating Colonel William Sydenham, the eldest son of a local Dorset

landowner, was Goring’s first and biggest mistake, for not only did Sydenham succeed in retaking

Weymouth, but he also withstood the full might of Goring’s military response, delivering a “miraculous

victory” and ending the King’s aspirations of getting the upper hand in Dorset.

So each year, a group of enthusiasts and re-enactors, The Weymouth Garrison, put on a series of events in

the town in honour of those who took part in the momentous events of February 1645. These include,

costumed re-enactors performing scenarios from the story, such as the arrests, trial and execution of the

Crabchurch Conspirators, actual combat, memorial marches and, a special concert performed by The

Dolmen of their album which includes narrations from the book. This year narrations were performed by

Professor Ronald Hutton, History Professor at Bristol University, Local actress Jane McKell and Steve Howl

from Poole Re-enactment Society.

All of the money raised, goes towards the refurbishment fund for the Weymouth Old Town Hall, an original

Tudor building which found itself in the forefront of the original conflict in 1645.

The 370th anniversary Crabchurch commemoration of 2015, proved to be the best yet with hundreds of peo-

ple coming along to see what it was all about and to learn about

the history of the town. People came from the all over the UK

and even Holland to be a part of it all.

Next year, the commemoration will be carried on with new and

exciting ideas to bring the incredible history of this wonderful

old town to the people who own it www.crabchurch.co.uk

http://crabchurch.co.uk/buy.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/151860796918/?fref=ts

http://weymoutholdtownhall.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Old-Town-Hall-Wey-

mouth/193500114026?fref=ts

DISCOVER THE CRABCHURCH CONSPIRACY

This critically acclaimed album came about as

the result of collaboration between Taloch

Jameson of Celtic FolkRock band, The Dolmen

and writer/historian, Mark Vine, who wrote

the album’s lyrics.

Soon after work started on the project in 2009,

the talented Josh Elliott joined the band as lead

guitarist and also contributed to the writing of

the music.

The celebrated historian Professor Ronald

Hutton narrates throughout. He says of it:

‘This is a spectacular subject for a musical

album, and one rarely treated in that form.’

The Dolmen make the result work really well,

alternating bulletins of real history with the

kind of electric folk, from high-energy dance to

lament, which the band has always played to

perfection. I felt both entertained and moved:

it seemed at times as though a real voice was

being given to the dead.’

THE ALBUM The CRABCHURCH CON-

SPIRACY: THE DOLMEN

The Crabchurch Conspiracy is Available to

buy from thedolmen.com

“Read on,

For it is here,

And it is written in blood..."

“This is a work which brings properly to life the most dramatic and

horrific sequence of experiences which this town has ever known, and

which put it, at moments, at the heart of England's destiny.”

Professor Ronald Hutton

www.crabchurch.co.uk

http://crabchurch.co.uk/buy.html

All Dolmen cd’s and merchandise are available at:

www.thedolmen.com

Or download from: www.cdbaby.com

www.itunes.apple.com

The Dolmen App.

can be downloaded at itunes.apple.com

www.dolmen.co.uk

Further information on Dolmen Grove can be found

www.dolmengrove.co.uk

Dolmen Grove Facebook links

Portland Moot

https://www.face-

book.com/groups/14807551203393

Poole Moot

https://www.face-

book.com/groups/28553955491408

Weymouth Moot

https://www.face-

book.com/groups/43508956658200

Berkshire/Bracknell Moot

https://www.face-

book.com/groups/15023413511424

Cornwall Moot

https://www.face-

book.com/groups/46016505068236

Essex Moot

https://www.facebook.com/groups/dolmen-

groveessexmoot

Hampshire Moot

https://www.facebook.com/groups/www.dol-

mengrovehampshiremoot/

Dolmen Grove Chronicles

https://www.facebook.com/DolmenGroveMag-

azine

Dolmen Grove

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Dolmen-

Grove/110124449082503

Email Diane Narraway (chairman Dolmen Grove/Editor Dolmen Grove Chronicles)

[email protected]

A Dolmen Grove trip to Castlefest is being organized . It will be

from 31st July - 2nd August 2015.

The cost will be £170 to include coach fare, entry to the festival

and camping.

This is a Dolmen Grove event and although priority will be given

to Dolmen Grove Members it will be on a first come first served ba-

sis, and seats may be available to non –members.

Numbers of people wishing to go are required by Friday 20th of

this month so the size of coach can be booked.

To reserve tickets or for further enquiries please contact

Angie Brown

[email protected]

Steve Booth.

[email protected]