Let me share some of the magic that happened as I prepared for my Ancestral Healing Masterclass. I felt incredibly guided throughout and although most of the work was done with crystals, I knew I wanted to take participants out into Nature too. We are lucky to have a wooded park in Llandrindod Wells which leads down to the river.
I went to have a look for a spot that would be good for us to work in. I'd been guided to use rags to send prayers for the ancestors and was looking for a suitable tree to bear them. I use biodegradable fabric to do this - all natural fibres. It's really important that the rags will break down over time and not cause constriction for the tree's growth as synthetics can.
First I took a little trip to the Chalybeate spring to drink some of the iron rich water. This is similar tasting to the Red Spring water at Chalice Well. It's a pleasant spot, but it is rather too public to do any work there.
Then my attention was drawn to some little used steps that lead to the stream which runs through Rock Park. I have walked down these before; I wasn't sure why I had to go at this point, but I followed the flow of my Guidance, even though turning to the right only leads to a short path that ends in a rock face, or so I thought.
Having reached the 'dead end' I looked down. There at my feet was a little pool full of Autumn leaves. I scuffed the leaf strewn edge and saw cobble stones had been laid in semi-circles around it; they hadn't been there when I last visited the spot. Ooh, you don't lay cobbles around a puddle! This felt exciting!
Researching 'rag trees' I had already come across references to them being located beside natural springs. You dip the prayer into the spring water to ask for a blessing before tying it to the tree. I had thought the stream would have to suffice, but here was a perfect little pool of spring water for our use.
I then looked up and realised a yew tree was growing above the pool and arching its branches over the stream. Yew trees are symbolic of eternity and rebirth as they are incredibly long lived and can regenerate themselves even when the centre of their trunks have hollowed out with age. This is why they are often found planted in churchyards. What perfect energy to help us send prayers to the ancestors!
When I got home from this recce I mentioned my 'find' to my husband Steve, who surprised me by saying, 'Yes, it's the Eye Well." Apparently the 18th Century blacksmith used the little pool to cleanse his gritty eyes after work and swore by its efficacy. I wouldn't bathe my eyes in it, but it was absolutely perfect and I will visit it more often now.
We had a lovely Masterclass outing and finished by connecting with this magnificent oak tree and thinking about how many generations of humans it had witnessed.
