I have been very lax in keeping my journal, from hereon-in I shall endeavour to make regular entries, my memory not being what it once was.

I have been distracted by so many visions, memories, thoughts arising during and after the planting ceremony.  Voices of the distant past softly whispering to me – calling me.

I could still hear them as I walked slowly to the station.  As I approached the ticket office a figure within waved me through – indicating the train already at the platform.  I boarded and took my seat.  No sooner had I settled than the train set off.  As it departed I could hear the siren from the Vulcania calling all passengers to return as it was ready to leave for the next port of call, Owl Island.

Much as I would love to visit I know now is not my time.  I am not concerned about finding my way back to the ship as I have the walnut gifted me by E which, apparently, acts as a transporter which I may need should my own wings fail me.

The train accelerated at an alarming rate, hurtling towards the very tip of the headland – I could not see where the track went – it just disappeared.  Over the edge we went!  The track with the train upon it somehow clung to the side of the cliff.  It was not hanging as a cable car, the track was flat against the cliff face, the train rattling along seemingly defying gravity.  Now  I of all people should not be surprised by this, I know only too well how time and space can bend and curve – what appears solid and fixed not always being so.    However, it was a most peculiar and extraordinary experience – I sitting, still upright in the compartment, not a hair out of place, whilst the train itself travelled on its side.

It is often best not to question these things or examine them too closely, acceptance is safer and gentler on my sometimes fragile sense of sanity.  I am intrigued though.

Not that I had much time for thoughts of any sort.  I felt the train rise and then descend quite sharply, slowing as it did so.

I noticed a definite change in the light and atmosphere as the train came to a halt, both having an indefinable quality of shape as if full yet appearing empty.

Shaking myself down mentally I took up my bag and left the train. As soon as I had stepped down from the compartment the train set off again.  I have taken out my journal here to make these notes before I go further.

Where I am can hardly be described as a platform, nor a station.  I have descended from the train into open meadowland.  I sit here writing on the soft summer grass.   It is absolutely silent, not a sound, no birdsong, no rustle of wind, nothing.  Directly in front of me  is a pathway which leads to what I can only describe as an entrance and as there is nothing else in view for miles around me it is there I must go.

I think I had assumed the caves would be on the shoreline and be large, open, dank  and yet airy, suffused with the salt water scent of the sea.   I had not anticipated that I would  be entering into the depths of the Mother Herself.

I left the Vulcania with every intention of heading directly to the train station from where I was to board a train taking me on a somewhat perilous, or so I had been told, journey to the caves wherein I would meet with my Dream Master.

The irony of the timing of this venture had not escaped me.  Imbolc is fast approaching, the ritual lighting of candles and fires to welcome  the slowly increasing power of the Sun with its promise of good harvests in the year to come and yet here was I, not for the first time in my life it is true, going in entirely the other direction, headed inwards to the dark when all around are beginning to turn outwards to the sun and the light.

However, on my way to the station I was brushed by someone obviously well versed in the art of shadow dancing.  S/he appeared as a wavering of the light, quite, quite indistinct to most eyes yet I could define a figure within swathed in rainbow silks.  This person laid into my hand an invitation.  It was to the Sementivae Seed Festival and although I knew the meeting with my Dream Master was somewhat overdue, I would not ignore this opportunity to plant for the future before turning inwards.

I followed the sign to the Temple which lay within a grove – a place of great natural beauty and peace.

Above the entrance to the grove:

I entered and was amazed at how the outer look of the Temple belied what lay inside it……as the inside was, in fact, open to nature.  I took my place to sit quietly to meditate on the year to come and to offer up prayers of gratitude.

This place resonated deep within me, transporting me to another time.   I was once again walking in meditation the spiral path of the Tor on Summer Isle.  I was hearing clearly the chanting and footfall of those who accompanied me as I took the circular route to the top, whereupon we would welcome back the light and pray for  fecundity in the year to come.

View from the Tor across the Summer Lands (Avalon):

I was connected to the earth beneath me, feeling my roots sinking ever deeper into her welcoming arms, the energy of the earth rising in me, awakening the snake energy which lies within us all, travelling from the base up through the spine.  I am at one totally at peace, connected and energised.  I am ready for the journey which lies before me.

High pitched singing brought me back to the present.  Slowly I returned, my vision adjusting itself to the here and now.  Stretching and looking about me I saw the masks hung to one side of the Temple.  I was instructed to focus and choose one to wear for the planting.  I chose a simple full-face one – the blue of which drew me to it, it being the blue of our robes on Summer Isle.

I was feeling quite wistful as I made my way down the path towards the meadow, holding the small hand-crafted pouch which contained the seeds.

On reaching the meadow I closed my eyes and let my feet guide me to the correct planting spot.  On opening my eyes I saw before me a small stone circle,  it looked to be a medicine wheel and I knew this was my place.

I sat in quiet contemplation for a while, offering up my prayers for the futures of us all whilst very slowly and deliberately planting the seeds.

I stayed a while breathing in the wonderful surroundings, reluctant to leave the warmth and peace of this place that reminded me so much of  my ancestral home, but I knew I must.

It was time.  I arose and set out for the station.

I awoke this morning with a start.   The dream I had been having was so real, so lucid it took me some time to re-orient myself to my surroundings.   I sat up and had some water, seeing a note that had been propped up against the glass I took it up and read it.  It was an invite from E to join the precarious ride on the Train of Thoughts on the Island of the Temple People.   This train would take me to the deep, dark caves within which I would meet with my Dream Master, who would lead me to the Land of Dreaming.    Now there’s a coincidence!   The dream I had moments ago awoken from was very similar in that this too was the beginnings of a journey to meet my Dream Master.  It was obviously a portent which indicated I was well on the mend.   In the lucid dream I was in a Maiden form and I feel that for the journey ahead I should remain in my present state of Apprentice Crone, I have the sneaking feeling that to enter the caves will take someone with more experience than a Maiden, in all her innocence, could bring.

I will pack a few things to take with me, my cloth journal which is essential and will be my record of my time in the Land of Dreaming, the gifts from E – the walnut and bag of essentials, pens and pad and my special stones.  My needs are few and I prefer to travel lightly, but I do have the sense that I shall be gone a long time, although when one travels between the realms time becomes irrelevant.

Before I leave I shall offer up prayers to the Mother to watch over us all.

Gwaelyan I shall leave on the Island of the Temple People to enjoy the various festivities and to visit with old friends as she wishes.  She is a wonderful apprentice and an excellent friend, it will be a great gift to her to have time for herself – it has been a while.

So….I shall make ready.  It is time to depart for the Island.

M.

Forgive me for not introducing myself before now, I have been suffering from some malady which laid me low.  Poor Gwaelyan has had to sort everything out and she has done a wonderful job, my cabin looks and feels like home.  I barely remember anything of coming aboard or the ensuing days, except for an awareness of a lot of laughter and song, it is a shame I missed all the fun and games.  However,  I am sure there will be more to come.  I understand that we are docked at The Island of the Temple People.  Once I am fully recovered I shall go ashore and meet up with some old friends.

A little about myself.  At heart I am a reclusive yet I venture out into the world to find community within which to learn and to grow.   I was not at all ready to begin another journey but The Mother insisted, She said it was time and when The Mother speaks, I listen.  I was named after Morgan le Fey, the Lady Morgana , an ancient descendant of mine and with whom I have some attributes in common.  Although under the influence of  fever I have been acutely aware of the presence of those belonging to the Faerie, they have a resonance to which I am attuned.  More of that later no doubt.

As I am emerging I can see my way forward perhaps.  I am an impetuous, stubborn creature, born a child of the fire, I do not wait and always think I know best.  I started out on this journey with reluctance in my heart, my whole being already consumed by another only-just-begun journey of the inner variety but as the fog in my brain clears I can see that they are interlinked, conjoined, one with the other.  Of course, in my rashness I set up two journals, two very separate journals – what do I do now?

I am very far from new to this earth and I frustrate myself in that I do not wait, do not trust somehow.  However, in the rashness often the unexpected grows and it could be it was time for a new start – rather a cyclic returning to roots and from those roots this new beginning.  The Mother once said to me that I compartmentalise everything – I shrugged as I saw nothing amiss in that.  Now I am beginning to see how it can hinder.  I have compartmentalised these two journeys which are, in fact, one and the same.  Well I will find a way.  For now I am here in my cabin recuperating still and I am delighted at last to have joined  you all wholly – in spirit at least, the body will follow.

M.

For many months now my Lady Morgaine has been on retreat, withdrawn from the world relearning and honing her skills in the Shadow Arts.  However  it seems we are to cut this retreat short as a messenger arrived a few days ago bringing news that a new and exciting journey was to begin, the mode of transport a cruise ship, the SS Vulcania.  Now who could resist an invitation such as this.   So here I am packing as per my Lady’s instructions.   There is much to do and only a few days within which to complete the necessary preparations so I must away now but I will be back soon enough once we are underway.

Gwaelyan