Druid Hedge School

                                                                                         The roundhouse



I have had the most incredible few days that have filled me with inspiration. Following on from the World Drum events, I went to Wildways on the Borle in Shropshire on Wednesday for a women's drum session.

Around twenty of us walked through the beautiful woodland before we reached the roundhouse, an exact replica of what our ancient ancestors would have lived in.


Once we closed the door it was as though we were shutting the 21st century out and following the footsteps of our ancestors. It was such a beautiful atmosphere with the fire crackling in the centre, giving the only light and it was all the light we needed as we sat in a circe and chatted before playing. I didn't have a drum but within minutes a lady gave me a huge Djembe drum to play all night. It was an incredible experience, I don't know where it came from but I lost all my inhibitions, I have never played anything like that on my own and not in front of other people who had been doing it for years but I found myself making my own rhythm which magically seemed to fit with everyone else's.







As I walked around the fire which was then glowing in the centre, I became a different person, it was an incredible experience. I can almost understand how the Shamans can go so deeply into a trance and take on other forms, I felt like I was on the cusp myself.




              Inside the Yurt at Wildways with the famous World Drum
Saturday I attended the Druid Hedge School event, also at Wildways. It was a wonderful day with fascinating talks and meditations. Greywolf, Chief of the British Druid Order did a meditation called The Three Cauldrons. It actually made me cry for some reason, not out of sadness, it was just such a powerful experience that left me feeling so inspired. It was though I was actually drawing up creativity through my body and into my head which was bursting with ideas to create something.

It has given me the final push for something I have been considering for a while. Next month I will be enrolling on the full Bardic training with the British Druid Order. I thirst to learn and feel that I have to do it, even though it's a big commitment of one years study, it feels right for me.

The World Drum

(Me with the World Drum)

The World Drum returned to the UK at the beginning of March and the other day I got to hold it and beat it on top of Titterstone Clee.  The British Druid Order climbed the hill with the drum and people came from every direction to take part in this very special ceremony. Young and old, two legs and even four, we all joined together to listen to the rhythm of the drum.

We gathered in a circle and very soon the drum was beating.  I imagined it being the heartbeat of the earth and as we passed it around the circle, everyone got to play this amazing drum.  I could  feel the vibration of that and the other drums that were being played and at times it matched my own heartbeat. An incredible feeling and one that I will never forget. It's so primeval, just a simple drum beat but to me it actually meant the earth.

The World Drum is a traditional Shaman drum made in Norway by the indigenous Sami people.  It was created to take part in rituals around the world and celebrate the rhythm of Mother Earth.  It travels from one country to another and joins people from every walk of life so that everyone can share equally the need to appreciate the cycle of life.

After Five years, the drum came back to the UK where the British Druid order hosted the ceremonies around the country. It visited many famous landmarks such as Avebury Henge, Stonehenge, Glastonbury Tor, Ironbridge and then the other day, my very own Clee hill where I walk over the craggy rocks to hear only the sound of a buzzard or the sheep down below.  Now I shall  always imagine the sound of that drum as the beats carried on the wind. I was so moved by the experience that I immediately wanted to come back and drum on something. It left me wanting more.  It left me wanting to do more and celebrate just how lucky we are to live on such a beautiful planet that needs our help to survive.

                                                    The British Druid Order and other drummers