Postcards from The Hedge - Dispatch 6
"The doors to the world of the wild Self are few but precious. If you have a deep scar, that is a door, if you have an old, old story, that is a door. If you love the sky and the water so much you almost cannot bear it, that is a door. If you yearn for a deeper life, a full life, a sane life, that is a door.”
― Clarissa Pinkola Estés,
Women Who Run With the Wolves:
Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype
Welcome to our sixth dispatch of Postcards from the Hedge. This month's care package has been prepared by our founder Kathy.
Dear Ones,
As we expand into the brightening Summer Solstice Season - we fly closer to the Sun and rewild our imagination as we soar. This is a peak time of quantum possibilities. MidSummer invites us to dream and imbibe the enchantingly potent medicine of the wild world around us. We have prepared a special Midsummer care package just for you to mark this turning of the wheel....
At the Hedge School we have been knocking on the door to the wild Self - reclaiming our cultural heritage, our indiginosity and what is called our ‘dúchas’ in our mother tongue.
The word Solstice means “sun standing still” or “grianstad” in the Irish language. On this land our ‘mother tongue’ is classified as an endangered language so we have decided to initiate an experiential Irish language element at the Hedge School. Our intention is to bring the Irish language back into the lives of people who have lost it or are simply curious to explore it.
So, we hosted a very special Midsummer Solstice Scoil Scairte experience to honour some of the ancient practices in our native tradition including the themes of the season and the gifts offered by the flowers, herbs, plants, trees and more- than- human world. We gathered virtually at the Hill of Tara with Diarmuid Lyng & Siobhán de Paor of Wild Irish Retreats to celebrate the wild power available at this time.
Doors and Druids
Our Druidic ancestors revered the knowledge held by trees, attached great importance to the forests and were guardians of this doorway to the Otherworld. The ancient Tree astrology system is based on the thirteen cycles of the moon with each cycle linked to one of the sacred trees. The Summer Solstice was a time dedicated to the medicine of The Oak Tree, Lord and protector of the forest and the King of trees. Even the name 'Druid' is derived from the Irish word for Oak –“oak” (dair or duir) meaning door and (doire / oak grove) “they who know the oak”. The Druids performed their rites in the sacred oak grove or doire for spiritual and physical protection. Dair is also the root of the words duration and endurance. These are the qualities that the oak can bestow in order to bring us into our full power and strength after the weathering of storms. You can watch a clip with Siobhán de Paor and Diarmuid Lyng live from the Hill of Tara below.
We were also delighted to be joined by the wonderful Peia Luzzi, an American born song collector, writer and multi-instrumentalist based in the mountains of Southern Oregon. She draws inspiration from her ancestral roots of Celtic and Old World European music, and folklore. With a soaring soprano voice, she dances nimbly between Child Ballads and 17th C. Gaelic laments, to Waulking Songs from Scotland, and old Bulgarian mountain wails. Her timeless originals speak to the heart of the human condition. Listen below to Peia's song 'Blessed We Are' recorded Sant Pau del Camp in Barcelona.
A Hut at the Edge of the Village
Comhghairdeas to our friend the storyteller Martin Shaw, a former guest of The Trailblazery (alongside the great Irish Comedian Tommy Tiernan) has edited a collection of John Moriarty’s writing - A Hut at the Edge of the Village has just been published by Lilliput Press.
A Hut at the Edge of the Village presents a collection of Moriarty’s writings ordered thematically, with sections ranging from place, love and wildness through to voyaging, ceremony and the legitimacy of sorrow. These carefully chosen extracts are supported by an introduction by Martin Shaw and foreword by Tommy Tiernan, a long-time admirer of Moriarty’s work.
According to Shaw, ‘These are not pastoral times we are living in, but prophetic. We are at a moment when the world as we understand it has been turned upside down. The challenge is that there are fewer and fewer people who can interpret such happenings in a deep, soulful way. Moriarty can do that. When culture is in woeful crisis, the insights never come from parliament, senate, or committee; they come from the hut at the edge of the village. Let’s go there. There is tremendous, unexpected hope waiting.’
Deep in the Woods
Another Hedge School guide, olfactory artist Erin Quinn is making us swoon with her sensorial offerings at EQ Factories. We are weak for Deep in the Woods. Erin Quinn is an Irish-Canadian award winning artist whose photographic work has been exhibited internationally. She is currently working on olfactory projects inspired by music, popular culture, art, memory and human connection.
Deep in the Woods : Gender Neutral, 10ml Limited Edition, Eau de Parfum
This rich layered scent is an olfactory ode to a very special, almost magical forest in County Meath. Woody sweetness with a hint of damp leaves and puffball mushrooms under foot. Freshness of moss on the bark of ash and oak trees. Clean effervescence of the deep, dark rushing river beside it. When I close my eyes and inhale, this transports me to being deep in those woods in the summertime after the rain has gone. Notes of Virginian Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Puffball Mushroom, Clementine, Pink Peppercorn, Smoky Birch Tar, Cocoa.
Enjoy these golden days - may the light be yours.
Beannachtaí
Kathy and all at the Hedge School
Hedge School Highlights
Put on the kettle, make a cuppa and watch some golden moments from our Hedge School musicians and performers who remind us to mind ourselves, each other and this place we call home
Recommended Resources
Here are a few watching and listening pieces inspired by the Hedge School to mind you this week:
Summer Solstice Traditions
The Summer Solstice is a time for lighting fires, especially on hillsides, leaving gifts for the fairies in your Garden, making a flower crown and harvesting wild herbs for syrups, meads, salads and teas. Herbs particularly abundant in the hedgerows right now include elderflower (make a cordial), St Johnswort (infuse the flowers in olive oil for a healing ointment), marjoram (add to your savory dishes), nettles (drink me!) and wild rose (add to your Summer salads). Drink a brew of your local Mugwort tea to awaken your vision. Explore more solstice magic here.
Oak
There are two species of oak native to Ireland, as well as several introduced species.
Sessile Oak Quercus petraea
Pendunculate Oak Quercus robur Fagaceae (Daur)
The oak is one of the Nobles of the Woods. Many years ago, Ireland and most of Europe was covered with oak forest, but we all know that this was felled to use in building. Only small areas of primary forest remain. However, the Oak is superbly suited to the Irish climate and will reach a great age if left to mature. The wood is excellent for building and particularly for boats. The tree supports one of the largest numbers of insects and other species of any tree. Oaks will grow in a variety of habitats.
Bach Original Flower Remedy Oak is for those who feel exhausted, overworked and fatigued. This remedy is for people who are struggling and constantly fighting in their everyday life. Although they often feel hopeless, they will continue to fight against great difficulties. When you feel exhausted, but continue to struggle on, try Bach Original Flower Remedy Oak here.
♪ Listen: For you ears
Andri Snaer Magnason | Interview
✦ Smell: For your Nose
Erin Quinn | EQ Factories
✯ Watch: For your eyes
Martin Shaw in Conversation with Manchan Magan | A Hut at the End of the Village:
❤ Read: For your heart
John Moriarty / Martin Shaw | A Hut at the End of the Village
Adrienne Maree Brown | The politics of feeling good and a living spell for changing the world
Stephen Harrod Buhner | Plant Intelligence and the Imaginal Realm
✬ Connect: For your Soul
Wild Irish Retreats | Home
Peia | Home