A very strange occurrence yesterday.... I was taking Boo for her mid-morning walk to the Ghost tree when spirit spoke and told me to go somewhere else. I just allowed them to lead me on their chosen path. We, Boo, me and spirit, walked way past the swamp. past the Cedar grove and deeper and deeper into the disorientation zone ( A place where both Tara and I have been lost before, which I have already blogged about).
I found a clear spot and lit my herbs and called on the plant beings of Mugwort to purify space before I started my prayers. At that very moment, I heard the crashing of trees and looked to my side, to see tree after tree collapsing. I thought that is strange, I wonder what it is. The noise got louder and louder as if a huge truck was smashing though the trees, and came closer and closer... I called to Odin
" Odin, All father what is this?"
His rely was one word " HIDE!"
I stepped behind a huge cedar, looked down to see where Boo was but she was gone.
The deafening sound stopped instantly, no trailing off into the distance utter silence. No sound of Boo barking and running through the brush absolutely nothing.
I followed the trail of destruction and it just stopped dead, I hung around for about twenty minutes calling and calling for Boo but no sign. So I decided to head back to the house grab the walkie  talkie, my gun and return to look for the dog.
All the way home, I called and whistled to no avail. As I turned the corner to the house there was Boo Shaking in fear, a huge gash on her chest and many many cut and scuff on her belly. The wound on her chest was like something had stripped the skin clean off.
We treated her injuries and gave her something to calm her down, for the rest of the day before she went outside she would stop in the doorway and just bark and bark. Normally Tara would receive my spiritual adventures with usual, I have to see it for myself, attitude but this time the state and condition of the dog, whether the damage was caused by something or by the dog being so frightened that she did it to herself escaping, made Tara wonder.
I myself will take another look at this place, but not just yet.

Have been back from Avalon for nearly two weeks now, and after some struggle to acclimatize, my feet are grounded back in the US. It was a good trip with many things to mull over in the coming days.  One thing, for me is known for sure, that sitting around a fire with good brothers, spinning yarns,sharing music and stories, is the way, WE (mankind) are supposed to live. The echoes of that tribal existence fill my soul with joy and happiness.
So step away from the TV, the phone, and get really connected. Stare into the flames that flicker and dance in the fire. Lose yourself in the warm glow that generates from the communal hearth. Let the laughter and rants of good friends and family be your entertainment. For all there is, is the moment, enjoy and absorb its magic and the allow the tribal energy that rises to heal your trouble soul.

For my Brothers Tim Raven and Bill Francis, let us gather by the fire more often. Let us share our stories and spread the words of those who came before.

" Man is the joy of Man." The Havamal. Sayings of the High One

Beginning to ground back in the US. Woke up at 4;30am and went for a walk in the forest as dawn broke. Ended up at the ghost tree and held prayers and ceremony asking the land to welcome me back and to reveal more teachings for me to absorb. I called on the plant beings of the Mugwort plant, to consecrate me and the land I stood on, burning its dried form to cleanse and purify the space. Inhaling some of the holy smoke, to help with my visions, the answers came.
"Be true, be pure and know that Odin walks with you, where ever you are."
As I left the forest, I thought of the retreat just done and the one that will be held at Mabon. This event will be different from any others I have held before. We will help the students become engulfed and entwined of one of the Celtic legends. Which one will be decided by consulting the runes, then we will incorporate the equivalent Norse saga and blend the two legends and their riddles together.
Some will bond more with the Celtic, some with the Saxon / Norse tale. Each individual will take their role within the yarn, whilst in the land, whilst in a vision, to find how this archetype guides them to resolutions of the imbalances in their Midgard lives. This allows the Red and White Dragon's to weave their healing path.

Beltane Retreat.

A big thank you to those ladies who attended our workshop. This was the first time Tim and I had worked on retreat together. It went absolutely brilliantly, we were definitely blessed by the Gods. At the end of the event we celebrated the Beltane morn on top of Glastonbury Tor. At which point we were blessed by being allowed to witness a glorious sunrise. It will take a while for the attendees to embrace all the teachings ( from spirit) they received. Not only they but myself and Tim had some important messages and confirmations come forwards.
Now back in the US, with a bald eagle perched in the tree beside my house, I know that being here has made my connection even deeper than it was and the medicine that comes forward, makes more sense, in Glastonbury I was inundated with readings and healings, so found it difficult to truly make time for my own connection and medicine. I can only understand the true magic of Avalon when I am away and I can only appreciate the healing and nurturing of the forest when I am the other side of the world.
Here is a pic of Tim and the students making the Symbel Oaths, drinking from the mead horn to Honor, the Gods, the ancestors and making oaths for themselves.

Finally coming to the end of my isolation, Tara will be home in three days. This time on my own has given me plenty of spiritual moments where I could just be still and connect with spirit. I have had my students to interact with online and my vision quests that I hold every two weeks, so we are not talking complete solitude. During this period, the power of my shamanic visions has definitely stepped up a gear and Odin has shown me some exceptional things

In tonight's online web cast 7pm PST/ 10pm EST "The Voice Of Odin" I  will be revisiting Ragnarok (The Doom Of The Gods), as requested by my good friend Kelli Lair, but I will be reading from the Teutonic sagas not the Norse, as this will give us a slightly different perspective on the story. I will also be briefly talking about a lesser known Goddess called Zisa or Cisa.
All of the sagas and tales of the tribes of Northern Europe are myths that we can embrace and search for answers within. The meanings are not always obvious, but that is the point, they are a quest. Each has to enter the tale and find their own place within the story. It should be seen as an initiation, embracing the archetype, learning from their mistakes and understanding their faults. My Gods are not infallible but they are there, they have always been there and will always be. You see they don't really live in a book, they live in my blood and my bones back to he beginning.

Rune Rant.... As most of you can tell by now, I am totally in awe of the runes for changing my life for the better. I still get absolutely infuriated when people say.
"Oh the runes, they are a bit like the tarot, aren't they?"
No, not really, you can use both for divination but that is where the similarity ends. I connect directly to Odin and the other Norse Gods through the runes, I chant them in prayers (Galdr). I do my stanza, runic yoga. They can be melded into powerful helms and talisman to heal and protect my clients.
The deeper you go with the learning and wisdom they offer, the richer your life becomes and this path of knowledge is never ending. The colourful array or myths and legends that surround the Aesiric Gods, are each mesmerising tales.They teach and instruct in the way you should live your life and honour those who came before us.
 Because the runes are also the Old Norse/Saxon alphabet and language of our ancestors, I use them for my sacred writings and within counselling sessions they indicate directly the names of people, loved ones who wish to give messages.
These are holy, divine tools gifted to us from the Gods. So please, as I accept the paths of others and give respect to the beliefs of all I come across, allow me the same courtesy. After all English is linked to the runic system, our days of the week honor the old Gods. They are ever present all around us in the Holy festivals we celebrate, piggy backed by Christianity to make it easier for the heathens to assimilate the church into their lives.
Spirit, God, collective consciousness, it is all the same stuff.  It is that bright light that shines in the forest, the beacon we are all drawn to.  Each of us has the right to call that divine source what ever we want.
I call it "ODIN"

If you want to learn more of the runes, I teach, I guide and I open the doorways to this ancient source, so you to may glance into the Well of Mimir and drink of its knowledge.

Blood moon last night, missed it completely fell into a deep spirit dream and couldn't wake if I had wanted. But this is how it was meant to be for the messages I received were strong and true. The dream started with myself, my Father and my eldest son carrying the wicker coffin of my mother from the location of the Holy thorn in Glastonbury, along the ridge of Wearyall Hill towards the Tor.
At one point we realized this was a long way to carry my mother and an ironing board appeared in front of us, so were rested our load on this and sat on the grass to take in the view and get our breath back.
The lid off the casket flipped open and my Mother sat up and spoke. she was young and beautiful and dressed very myctically in flowing robes. She called me to her and she said.
" Look at you with your full beard, I love you so much son. Don't worry about the other side it is a wonderful place full of magic and happiness."
She then gracefully got down from the coffin and walked back up to the holy thorn. She beckoned me to follow and at the tree she learned in close and told me to check on some friends and watch over them. Whenever she has appeared in dreams and told me something it has always come to pass.
So today I give thanks to the Blood moon for the great message I was gifted.
Blessings to all