HallowQuest - lesson 3 - The Goddess of the Land

[PathWalker]

This lesson speaks about recognising and responding to the Goddess (or other form) of the spirit of your land.

The first page is some discussion of this, and then there's a lot of work - a set of 5 questions, a set of 4 tasks, a meditation, and a layout of the cards into a particular configuration.

 

Remember, as ever you have a week (or as long as you need) to complete this lesson - no need to rush through it or worry about the amount of activities  :)

[PathWalker]

PathWalker

 

My answers to the 5 questions when I began this course.

 

1. How do you feel about being a citizen of your country?

I feel glad to be born and live in this country, but I don’t enjoy some aspects of our society or (general) government. The land itself is beautiful and sacred, ancient myths and sites inspire me to see myself as part of a chain; and I want to be able to make a positive change.

I despair of the poisoning of the land – and the planet; the greed of so many of the people, and the lack of spirituality and goodness. I am ashamed of dirty dealings, racism, neglect and cruelty.

 

 

2. If you could visualise your land as a person, what would it look like?

An old, old woman, tough and lined like the mountains and rocks, capable of anger and even violence against the foolish and cruel. But also so gentle, like river meadows on summer’s days, or lambs in Lakeland fields. Or an old gnarled shepherd – wise, capable, giving, nurturing, knowing what to do, even when it’s a time of death. Not wasteful, re-using, seeing the potential in things.

 

 

3. What national characteristics are particular to your country?

Polite reserve.

Conservative outlook.

Talking about the weather.

Kindness to animals, dogs especially.

Interest in history and lineage.

Respect for royalty and class.

Superior attitude towards foreigners.

 

No cards really strike me as conveying those things. Several of the castles make me think of “An Englishman’s home is his castle”, and a couple of the cards show ancient monuments. In Grail Two someone has put out a dish of water for birds to drink.

 

Did I miss the point here? Will check out what others made of this when I’ve finished.

 

 

4. See your country’s failings, what kind of healing does it need?

Greed/ selfishness.

Misuse of land/resources.

Aggression – personal and national.

Lack of spiritual direction.

Constant need for “entertainment” (electronic gadgets and so on).

 

I felt that many of the major cards expressed qualities that would my country heal, Guinevere, Gawain, the Hermit, Star, Lady of the Lake, Cauldron, even cards like the Tower would help bring change.

 

 

5. What is your country’s romantic or poetic name?

It’s most common name is Albion, but I also think of the land in much earlier times as “Land of Trees” as woods covered much of the lowland, and I personally am very interested in trees.

 

 

 

[PathWalker]

PathWalker

 

This is what I wrote about the tasks of lesson 3

 

Tasks:

 

1. As you go about daily in your locality, feel the different energies of the streets, green places, buildings etc. Which areas make you confident, unsure, depressed, etc?

 

Most of the area around the hamlet where I live is fairly neutral. There is an area at the top of the small hill to the north – where three roads meet – which invokes mixed feelings in me. There is a large roughly triangular grass area in the centre, with trees. One Oak, to the west, has a great welcoming energy. The trees to the north cast a much darker feeling. I intend to draw a map, and dowse the whole triangle.

An old isolated church on a hilltop a few miles away is a spot that draws me. I’d like to find out more about the age of the church, and the site, there’s a pool right beside it too.

I like a certain spot on the edge of a field facing east nearby, from where I can see the iron age fort on the hill.

I think such spots are, for me, often linked to specific trees, often Oaks.

 

2. Choose an area in your locality which according to you is in need of healing. Do what you can practically e.g. clearing rubbish. In addition, every day actively beseech spiritual help and send it to the area choosing a card if appropriate to focus your meditation.

 

There’s a certain spot on the hill where lads park up and drink cans, and natter I guess, and throw their rubbish into the hedge and ditch. I clear cans from there, and recycle them. I hadn’t thought of a card or photo yet to keep calling that area to mind for a focus.

 

 

3. Choose a local area which according to you feels unsafe. Dedicate it to a specific deity, archetype, healing energy or power and invoke its help e.g. by prayer, meditation, ritual. Give it a nice name (the area) particularly if you usually think of it by a nasty one.

 

It occurs to me that the stretch of motorway which runs just two fields away from my house is probably the biggest threat near to me. I often see blue lights rushing along there at night, or see lanes of stationary traffic. I think that associating it in my mind with some of the qualities of Helios, the Greek god who drove the chariot of the sun across the sky could be a good. The folks in their vehicles need to be awake, seeing clearly, and not deviating from their set course. That might help quite a bit.

 

4. Create a closing affirmation to end each meditation e.g. 'From that world to this world I return from (card name) to my own time and place.

 

“I have walked with/in ………..

and followed my quest.

Now I step back through the doorway

and travel in my journal.”