Rath Maeve is a massive circular rath, approximately half a mile south of the Hill of Tara, legendary home to Queen Maeve.  We visited it yesterday, and were shocked and dismayed to see that somebody has been felling mature ash and beech trees on the embankment.  Here’s some photographs of our visit.

SacredSitesofIreland paid a short visit to this site yesterday.  There isn’t much to be seen on the ground, there is clearly an elevated area, but any outstanding features have long  been removed by ploughing.  Stones are scattered all around and if you had the time to check you could find something of interest.  Here’s some photographs and a short video we took.

Last Saturday I visited Fourknocks and Bremore.

We visited Fourknocks first, a passage tomb near Naul, County Dublin

Following on from this we visited Bremore, near Balbriggan in County Dublin, an unexplored Mound similar to the Mound of the Hostages at Tara; where the very first settlers are meant to have arrived in Ireland.   Photographs on my facebook page Sacred Sites

A new archaeological site has been identified at the Hill of Tara, using Google Earth and was confirmed using a 2008 arial photograph, approximately 630 metres southwest of Rath Na Rí.   It’s an embanked enclosure, approximately 80m in diameter.   For more information see UCD School of Archaeology on Facebook

I attended Frank Prendergast’s lecture last night on the Lismullen Enclosure, Design Beyond the Obvious in the Iron Age.  He comes to some very interesting conclusions on the structure and usage of the Lismullen enclosure, which sadly no longer exists today, as it was excavated as part of the M3 Motorway build.  His report is available to download here

I had a fabulous time at Dublin Falconry this afternoon.  It’s located just outside Balbriggan, North Co. Dublin and is run by Trevor Roche.  It’s obvious that Trevor loves what he does and is deeply committed to his birds, and he speaks very passionately and knowledgeably about conservation and taking proper care of these species, some of which are endangered.

We got to witness a flying display, one with a beautiful owl, who was extremely friendly and perched on my arm a few times, and one with a harris hawk, who had a more forbidding manner about him but was fascinating to watch in flight.  Here’s a couple of pictures of our visit, for more the full album is up on Facebook.

The Platonic Solids, so called after the Greek Philosopher Plato, are the Tetrahedron, Hexahedron, Octahedron, Dodecahedron and Icosahedron. All the sides of a Platonic Solid are of equal length, and if you were to draw a circle around a Platonic Solid each corner would touch the arc of the circle. Their properties are as follows.

The tetrahedron is a four sided, three dimensional triangle (imagine a pyramid shape with all sides of equal length) that represents the element of Fire. For me Fire means heat, passion, life, vibrancy, excitement, energy.

The hexahedron is a six sided three dimensional cube and represents the element of Earth. For me Earth means grounding, nurturing, strengthening, the energy of Mother Nature, the energy of crystals and of trees.

The octahedron is an eight sided three dimensional diamond, and represents the element of Air. For me Air means the energy of thought and of the wind. The energies of feathers and birds, of mental energy and the spoken word.

The dodecahedron has twelve sides and represents the element of Ether. For me Ether represents Spirit, or Universal Life Force Energy, and the sparkles we can sometimes see in the air are the Ether.

The icosahedron has twenty sides and represents the element of Water. For me, Water represents emotion, hidden depths, and a deep knowledge.

I find meditating in my icosahedron very calming, and always helps to shift things emotionally. When it was being made originally there was a problem with the crystals, which was strange because they were amethyst and citrine points, which should have been easy enough to source. I found out why quickly enough. When the icosahedron was completed without crystals and magnets the energy vibration was so strong I couldn’t sleep for three weeks, was totally wired every night. Things calmed down for a few weeks but when the magnets and crystals were added the same thing happened again, so clearly I needed to be introduced to the vibrational level in stages to get used to such a high level. Interestingly when I covered it with black plastic the energy flow stopped, so I decided to leave it uncovered continually and let the copper oxidise.

So far on my druidry journey I have completed and handed up my first assignments, and gotten feedback from my teacher, who is pleased with my work.  I bought a beautiful robe and wore it visiting a faery fort.  I’ve gone dowsing in the woods with another apprentice druid and found two beautiful staffs, which I need to work on and I’ve made an autumn altar.   Loving every minute, and deeply grateful that I’ve been chosen for this work.  Each day I feel more deeply connected with spirit and with nature, such an exciting path to be living.

I am delighted to announce that we have a new Seanchaí on board, Oein DeBhairduin.

Oein is a grandson of a well known Galway Seanchaí whose childhood was filled with the tales and adventures of the elder-folk, an influence that has had a profound and ongoing effect which bred within him a daily hunger for connections and reflections. Oein is a trained psychologist and qualified herbalist, alongside being a practicing astrologer and horoscopist for numerous newspapers and magazines. He currently manages Dervish Bookshop and Holistic Centre in Dublin city centre while also running an online apothecary www.irishapothecary.com which focuses on traditional wild harvested Irish herbs, remedies and crafts.

You can read Oein’s tale of the Hill of Uisneach in our Celtic Mythology section, here.  Hopefully more to come very very soon. 🙂

 Received my CD “The Hill of Tara” from Sacred Sites of Ireland. Guided meditation by Treasa Ní Mhurchú. One of the best guided meditations I have heard. It bought down my stress level in just an hour of listening. Definitely can be considered healing. I have never been to Ireland, but this CD seemed to bring it to me. Thanks Treasa.

Judi Murphy Burris, Utah USA

‘After having major heart surgery the road to recovery looked to be a long slow process.  I first listened to the Hill of Tara in the hospital bed as the noise of machines, the general hustle and bustle and the sleeplessness was making me agitated. I needed to relax to aid my healing. This was more than meditation it was therapy for my mind. The words were soft and soothing the harp was angelic but it was the voice that was heavenly. I went back to being a young boy and being enthralled once more by the magic of Ireland. I listened to the cd a few times a week.  I was no longer uncomfortable but sleeping soundly with pleasant dreams and waking feeling happy. I became like the Beech tree I firmly replanted my roots to stabilise myself and was more aware of what I needed to do to recover. This CD gave me courage, determination and patience. Would highly recommend for those who want to strengthen their mind to heal their body and engage their soul. It was like magic. Thank you.’

Thomas Raymond, County Cork