17/10/18 | By Thea Prothero
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I intended to write this blog piece about my recent visit to Eire but as October is here, and already the gentle summer breezes (or sweltering heat) are memories caught in glimpses of sunshine through russet and gold leaves, I wanted to combine this with a homage to the Ancient One. For I feel in my bones the call of the darkness, the smell of rotting leaf mould brings a sense of circular closure on this year. In mediation I hear rocks and mountains moving and shrinking under frozen fingers, and I know it is Her time, the Cailleach.

Some places sing with Her signature, the wild places. Under scores of copper bracken and long dead heather, where life is a memory in the dried skin of faded dusty seed heads, long emptied and withered into skeletal forms. Places that are whipped by winds and beating frosty rain, empty. The Cailleach in her element, strides and remembers. Her most sacred place, at the highest point in county Meath, vibrates mostly strongly with echoes of Her and the ancient ancestors. Loughcrew.
Considered one of the four main passage tombs sites in Ireland, and spread across four hills, collectively known as Sliabh na Caillí, (Mountain of the Cailleach). The site dates back 5-6,000 years. Unlike the famous Newgrange which is aligned to the Winter Solstice, Cairn T, (the most easily accessible and famous of the cairns,) is aligned to the Equinoxes at spring and autumn. As with it’s famous cousin, light enters the tomb and falls on the beautiful symbols and illustrations at the back. These carvings are fresh and look as though they were created days, not eons ago. Surrounding the tomb are the remains of other smaller satellite tombs, and the Hags Chair. A throne-like stone, carved with weather worn circular markings, on which people like to sit in and make a wish.

Edit: Please view this video for a brilliant interpretation of this story by Tourism Ireland: https://www.facebook.com/Ireland/videos/10154490137515629/UzpfSTEwMDAwODA1MzEyNTcxOToyMzI4MTQ2OTIwNzk3MDU2/?id=100008053125719

Loosely the story goes that the Cailleach was jumping from hill to hill with an apron of stones, when she came to Sliabh na Caillí, her apron string broke and the stones stand there still. She then rested on the edge of a large stone which became known as the Hags Chair. This story is probably remnants of a creation myth, featuring a goddess venerated and loved in ancient times.

Hills and mountains are to me, liminal places, exposed to the elements, separate from the earth below, the visible becomes invisible and vice versa; these are the places of the Ancient One. At my visit I was both vulnerable and strong. The heavy blackest clouds drew closer, wind whipped my clothing and hair in circles, I felt as though I was there and not there as I turned my face towards

Her path. Her power was fierce and punching, Her strength of creation and destruction was overwhelming. I bowed my head as She passed, thankful for Her mercy, and elated that Her icy drowning spittle had touched my skin. I shivered with a deep coldness and euphoria, longing to linger but unable to.

Along the road below the monuments is the Megalithic Centre, which has a warming café serving very welcome hot soup and tea. I had partially wanted to visit the centre to see Jane Brideson’s exhibition of paintings “Tales of the Cailleach”. Each painting relates to the Ancient One & Loughcrew. Under each picture was a small board with explanations and poems, taking the visitor on a journey through both Jane’s work and her relationship with the Cailleach. I have been an admirer of Jane’s work for some years, and through her paintings of the Ancient One, I now recognised an intimate and deeply intrinsic connection that I both admired and wanted to share.

Now in my darkening room at the end of summer, from the wall behind the screen, the Cailleach’s piercing eyes watch me from Loughcrew, as I write this blog. I know her touch is agonising, ripping the life from the year, bringing death and deep seemingly endless sleep, but from her stark ferocity, light will return.

 

Thanks to Jane Brideson for allowing me to feature her painting in my blog. Please check out Jane’s wonderful blog and follow her on Facebook. www.theeverlivingones.blogspot.com/

For information on Loughcrew please visit: https://www.loughcrewmegalithiccentre.com/

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