A Tale of Lore 05 February 2018 17:50
Growing up on the Cornish coast almost surrounded by the magnificent Atlantic ocean, a county steeped in myths and legends. So many visit Cornwall on holidays, they do indeed see the beauty of the Land, and sometimes if timed just right they may even see one of our festivals. If we look upon legends these days we, for the majority see them as tales told through the centuries with little thought as to their origins or truth. The fact is we really do not know, but that does not stop the romantic in us listening to ancient tales of love and betrayal. Such is the story of the Irish Iseult and the Cornish Tristan.. Their story came to light in the mid-12th century, Iseult was to marry Tristan's uncle, Mark the King of Cornwall, on the way back they both drank a love potion. They fell deeply in love. This of course enrages King Mark who sentences them both to death, in a change of heart he puts Iseult in a leper colony then chases Tristan to Brittany where a poisoned lance end his life and the lovers tragic tale. Cornwall also has links to Arthurian legends, Of a birthplace in Tintagel and Dozmary pool, the place of the Lady of the Lake where Arthur threw Excalibur on the beautiful but wild Bodmin moor. Every county has its myths and tales to tell.. But learning of these whilst growing up in Cornwall, I could not help but find a path that would take me away from the mundane, it becomes an escape and a place to learn of ancient knowledge and of things most assume are forgotten, lost to the past. The Hurlers‌ standing stones on Bodmin moor, where the story tells of men who were turned to stone after playing games on a Sunday. The stories throughout Cornwall of mermaids luring sailors to their deaths, you can even find a carving of a mermaid in Zennon church These tales and many more besides became an absolute inspiration for me, the one I found most fascinating was our very own Atlantis, in the Land of Lyonesse, mention in Arthurian stories. It was supposed to be the place of the final battle between Arthur and Sir Mordred. Alfred, Lord Tennyson's Arthurian epic Idylls of the King wrote a fated passage as: Then rose the King and moved his host by night And ever pushed Sir Mordred, league by league, Back to the sunset bound of Lyonesse— A land of old upheaven from the abyss By fire, to sink into the abyss again; Where fragments of forgotten peoples dwelt, And the long mountains ended in a coast Of ever-shifting sand, and far away The phantom circle of a moaning sea. And so I began my path seeking inspiration from the land and sea walking the same path as my ancestors. One of my biggest loves was to discover the ancient sacred sites of Cornwall and the lore that surrounds them. It is at this time I discovered Spriggans, some would describe them as nasty beings full of malice, I on the other hand I have not found this to be true they are the Cornish guardians of the lands sacred sites, you will only encounter their wrath if any harm is done to the sites they care for. By finding the Spriggans and working with them it took me naturally to work with elementals. I have worked with all the elementals in rituals and spell casting, but the one I come back to again and again is Water and the Undine elementals. It's like being with an old and trusted friend, though I never ever
take them for granted. They are powerful beings that can aid and assist you in magickal workings. One of the first magicks I did and still do to this day was the sea and Stone spell… perfect for any time of the year, under any moon, and on any day… Find yourself a nice quiet spot on the beach, find a pebble one that sits comfortably within your hand. Anything negative that you have in your life, anything that makes you unhappy, people, circumstances.. Feel the pain that gives you and push it into the stone you hold, you are putting no intent toward a person or circumstance, what you are doing is freeing yourself from the way it affects you. Once you have done this walk to the seas edge and throw the stone in … Bow to the Sea as a thanks and mark of respect and simply turn and walk away. Now if you do need to do this more than once make sure you choose a different location next time. The Sea, the land, the lore.. It is all connected, the elements can guide us if we chose to ask for their help and guidance, the lore of the land on which you walk can offer you many things, if you can open your mind and heart to them. All legends start somewhere, those legends surrounding them were of extraordinary people, who's imprint on our land has forever marked them in our stories and our minds. May be they walked the land thinking about their ancestors, Maybe when we are the ancestors they will talk of the good things we achieved. The myths and legends, our lore and land… make them your inspiration.. This is your tale to tell.