A Major Oak ~ Medieval Days

I have not been around Blog land all that much recently, partly due to the fact that as the weather warms up there is much to do outdoors..So for those of you who I have not been around to visit recently my apologies. I would also like to take this opportunity in thanking those who have nominated me for various awards this year.. Time is really flying and as good as my intentions seems to be, I have still failed to honour them, but you all know who you are and I thank you most sincerely for my nominations.

Thanks also go out to those New subscribers, the numbers are slowly swelling and I hope that you will not be strangers and make yourselves known.. I try to interact with all those who regularly comment upon Dreamwalker’s Sanctuary. I do hope you find my posts and pages of interest. 

This weekend has been a Holiday for May Day, and the Sun came out in all its glory for the weekend I thought I might share what I was up to.

So here is a glimpse into my day in Sherwood Forest.. Its right on my doorstep and I love going walks in the Woods around and about here.Trees are such wonderful beings, each one  as unique and individual as you are.

As well as walking I saw some wonderful Butterflies too which was a great surprise as some are out early. I will comment upon them and the variety I saw in a separate post to follow soon..

The Major Oak. Here you see it with the gap where Robin Hood was supposed to have hidden! ?

This is the Major Oak, it weighs around 23 tons and has a girth of 33 feet-10 meters.

The Major Oak is now supported with beams and wires .

Some die and decay while others are struck by lightening ..

Old Oaks that have died.

More old Oaks in the wood

This Oak is gnarled and has a hole through its top trunk.

The Laughing Tree

Please click on the photos to enlarge and find our more.

The Oak Tree has to be on of my favourite Trees.. The English Oak ‘The tree of courage and the doorway to inner strength’ representing endurance and self-determination. Known as ‘The King of the Forest’ and the King of the Trees it holds not only my heart but a special place of affection in many a heart.

The slow growing Oak can live for 1,000 yrs  and can hold over 500 species of insects, butterflies, bats, and birds, all making their home in the bark or branches. .. 

In the past Oaks were planted to mark boundaries as they are so long-lived. The Druids taught under them, and later the clergy would read the psalms and gospels under them as they walked the parish boundaries. The Oaks then became known as Gospel Oaks.

Special Oaks that were used for marriages became known as Marriage Oaks. The sky Gods were said to send  down their power through the lightning bolts, and we saw some Oak trees in the wood which had the markings of a lightning strike..

The Oakleaf was used as a symbol or longevity and strength and was engraved upon coins.. this was in later years replaced by the Lion. Oak leaves and acorns are often found on coats of arms and within family crests.. The acorn the symbol of immortality the strength and power of Nature . Mighty Oaks from little Acorns grow. Acorns were also carried in pockets to bring increased vitality and strength. Acorn bobbins too were hung on windows and above the fireplace as charms against lightning bolts. We saw many carvings of Acorns and the GreenMan in the craft tents.

You need to go and seek out the Oak when you are weary and you feel life challenges. Oak helps us reconnect with the pulse of energy, bringing its strength into your veins, it helps us let go, as it warns us about our own stubborn strength. teaching us that if we do not bend and go with the change we can break in the storm.. I love nothing better than to sit with my back against an Oak and feel its energy.

During the Middle Ages Oak became the main construction material for building homes and ships. Many of the Royal forests were planted with Oak trees to ensure the supply for British navel fleets.. Oaks were also cut down in vast numbers to provide charcoal for the Blacksmiths who worked making the armoury and weapons as well as tools.

Oak Bark was also used by the leather industry to process in the tanning of raw hides.

Younger Light Oak branches are still in demand for furniture making, doors, and coffins..

Oak leads the way when you need strength and courage to carry on. It brings deep calm and inner peace, helping you sort our  your inner turmoil’s. It restores your will and determination which may have been weakened through stressful situations.. It helps restore faith in our way forward ..

I could go on and on, and no doubt many may think I already have as I look at my word count. Below I will post a selection of photos some of the mighty Oaks as we walked through the wood … And the Major Oak in particular.. if you click onto the photos more information I hope will be there as you can view larger.. The other selection are of the medieval market and shows the armour and costume, skills of the past.

I do hope you have a wonderful weekend … Much love to you all. as I send you the Spirit of the Oak and my Day in Medieval Times!. 

Click each photo to enlarge and find out more information.

A competition of Longbow and Crossbow was had A fine display of archery skills from both men and women

In the heart of Sherwood Forest, the Medieval Market Show May 6th 2013 An array of tents showing crafted items in wood and leather. Also display tents of Medieval cooking, and weaponry,

Fascinating Amour on show with the History lessons behind how each piece evolved and was worn and used.

This knowledgeable gent explains how Rabbits were caught- or poached..He had a very captive young and old audience listening to lots of interesting facts about jail sentences and hanging… Life was tough if you were poor and caught trying not to starve..

These People were showing us their medieval cooking skills, they were baking, bread, and cooking chicken, and Rhubarb stew on the wood fire …along with many other tasty meals.

Cooking a Chicken over wood fires. We also were shown how they turned milk into butter churning by hand in a small jug, The children would do this.

Beautiful Hand crafted bows

Arrows, all various lengths to fit different bows. Each one hand crafted with individual flight quivers attached.. I stood and watched as people came to have custom made arrows crafted on the spot.. Each one is steel tipped and can Kill when shot at speed..

Armour and weaponry on show in various tents.

A competition of Longbow and Crossbow was had A fine display of archery skills from both men and women

An Early Morning Walk

This morning We went a walk around 3 miles in total.. Below is a poem I wrote in 2010 and I added some photo’s of our Walk today… I hope you enjoyed your walk with me, It blew the cobwebs away and put a zing into my cheeks…This afternoon I am now going to paint… I will be visiting you all very soon… Keep warm and stay safe…  

 

Looking through the bushes at the sky

The Track

An Oak Tree

The snow blows off the fields in a biting wind

Hawthorn Berries

Bleak and cold

Snow clings on forming icicles Reminded me of seal

A young Oak

A farm in the distance ..

Snow laden hedgerows.

March 24th 2013

The Snow Flake

There it came out from the sky

Fluttering softly, gentle as a sigh

First one, then two,

Then a million or too

Each one unique in pattern and form

Together they joined so perfectly

A Blanket so thick, building silently.

Children awoke with glee in their eyes

Gathering up their winter surprise

Adults too went walking afar

To place their feet upon Virgin Stars

Sunlight glistened on crystallised ice

Breath on wind, the feeling was nice

Red rosy cheeks, as icy winds felt

While dogs jumped in air catching balls that did melt.

Imprints of boots with sledges in tow

Trudging up hills, to slide and let go

Magical, glistening, sparkling pure white

A world it transformed, and all overnight.

And it all began with a flake or two

A carpet of white, just waiting for you

Winter wonderland, embrace and partake

In the beautiful gift of a humble Snow Flake..

© Sue Dreamwalker  2010 All rights reserved.

I hope as you enjoyed the poem and if Snow is still about where you live

I hope that you will also wonder at the beauty of each snow flake.

Each one like us is unique in its form

As one little snowflake it may seem insignificant

But when its joined together with thousands more

Just look at the Transformation it makes..

Together WE DO Make a Difference..

Love and Blessings

Sue Dreamwalker

~~~~~  

Prophecy

  

Prophecy

Throughout the ages there have been many prophecies for us to think about, The Millennium was one, where we were told computers would go on the blink and some thought that the world would come to an end..  All Prophecy is fluid and changeable.

Our future is not set in stone..Why is that? The reason is that we create our own reality through our thoughts, through our collective thinking, known as mass consciousness.

What a prophet  sees is only one of the probable outcomes of our future, if we don’t like what the prophet has to say then we have the power to change it.

Many books are being written and have been wrote about the forthcoming Earth changes and you have only to click onto the net to see the many that have been written about the pending changes which are supposedly to happen in the year 2012. When the Mayan calendar ends

Many in the past believed that our earth’s demise would come from an asteroid, or nuclear bombs, or a shift of the poles so as the Earth tips on her axis. Who knows?

But the Mayans knew about the cosmic cycles, and scientists are now acknowledging that the Earth is far older than was first thought, and that civilizations were thriving on Earth way before ‘the cave men’.

The scriptures of the Indian Vedas also describe cycles of creation that span millions of years, including civilizations that flourished and then decayed and perished. The Mayans themselves appeared out of the mist some 4,000 yrs ago, and just as mysteriously disappeared back again.

So are we not just such another civilization? The thing is we think we are invincible, untouchable with our technology.   We have created our weapons of destruction, and seem hell bent on destroying each other. Warring factions want their power and control over others fuelled by greed by those few who are in positions of power.

Several years ago I wrote a poem called Earth, I described how the Earth is a living organism as if she has feelings, which she does and we as humans were her irritants on her back..

I feel that it will be nature we have to look to. And not because of global warming, because who knows if civilizations have been as advanced more so than us in the past, then has not the Earth gone through global warming before?

The Mayans described at least 5 different ages or cycles in the past each lasting just over 5,000 years, and each ended in a cataclysmic cleansing of negative Karma created by man. And then each new era mankind would start again from scratch form, from the survivors.

But as I said in the beginning, nothing is cast in stone, and that is why many are writings books on enlightenment and we are getting messages from our Angels, Inspirational speakers, life coaches, and healing and the alternative therapies are all coming to the fore  along with our Indigo and crystal children.

Because our mass consciousness CAN make a difference to this world.. For thought creates.. Unfortunately what is being generated around this world is so much negativity. The Media thrives on churning it out, and we get caught up in its negative web.

What has brought this home to me more now than ever before is the Earthquake we had in the UK this week, whereby I, who live in the centre of our country felt the earth shake and shudder. It made me think how very fragile we are in the face of nature and her wrath, and how in the blink of an eye all that we know could change.

And as I write this the wind is howling a gale outside as if to reiterate her might.

THE HOPI

The Hopi whose name means ‘people of peace’ have traditions that date back thousands of years. These teachings point to prophecies that would manifest just before what they termed a great purification of the Earth. It would be a time when the Earth would shudder and tremble causing much destruction in order to cleanse the planet of karmic negativity. Not too long ago I played a video on my in which the Hopis said that those prophecies have now been completed.  I hope to dig it out again and post above.

The Hopis also said the weather would become unpredictable and would ‘cleanse away many things with wind and rain.’ They said we must each be self-sustained and go back to growing our food from Mother Earth. Above all, they said, man needed to go within himself in order to gain spiritual understanding of what would be happening. Their prophecies matched the Mayan prophecies.”  

Here are some of the Hopi signs heralding the coming purification telling us that it is near…

Trees everywhere will be dying (it’s going on right now).

People will build a house a throw it in the sky (Skylab, Mir, the current space station)

Cold places will become hot and hot places cold (that is happening with global warming, global weather patterns are changing)

Land will sink beneath the sea and rise above it (such changes have already begun)

The appearance of a blue star (in 1987 a blue star made its presence known when a hot blue super-giant exploded and made world history as a spectacular supernova)

There will be paths in the sky (airplane contrails and chemtrails)

There will be cobwebs in the air (power lines all over the United States)

A “gourd of ashes” will be dropped from the sky to burn the land and boil the oceans (atomic bomb)

These signs are pretty obvious and all have come to pass.

Just a few thoughts for you this weekend between My Soul Journey. 

I wrote this back in 2008 and have reposted it again…

Have a Wonderful Weekend 

© Sue Dreamwalker  2008- 2012 All rights reserved.

Together we Stand!…

Have you see the film Happy Feet?

Did it not make you smile and laugh.. Well here is your chance to do a little dancing of your own, and help a few Penguins along the way and you don’t even have to move from your arm-chair… All you have to do is feel the beat of Nature in your heart and click your fingers and your mouse.

Something was on my mind last night.. I couldn’t sleep, So I wrote the poem below as I thought about the Antarctic Ocean under threat, I support Avaaz in many of their campaigns of human rights and environmental issues so I will just use their words here as “The whales and penguins can’t speak for themselves, so it’s up to us to defend them. Let’s change negotiators’ minds with a massive wave of public pressure — Avaaz will surround the meeting with hard-hitting ads, and together we’ll deliver our message to delegates via a deafening cry on social networks.”

So Lets apply the pressure!…

Watch the Videos and click the links and Please support Avaaz in their petition.. Once we ALL of us join together and make a Stand.. We CAN make a Difference in the World..

Keep reading…..

Can you not hear the sound?

Do you not listen with ear to ground?

Is not your head tilted to listen?

Are not your eyes moist with tears that glisten?

Can you not feel it deep inside?

Do you not see the rising tide?

Is not your heart open and wide?

Are you not touched with humble pride?

Can you not see her virgin grace?

Do you not see this beautiful place?

Is it not time you used your voice?

Are you ready to make a choice?

Listen; really listen to our Earths Lament

As our Grandchildren ask where our species went

Can you not hear the silence of a dead sea?

Are your eyes cried out with sorrow, don’t you see?

Will you join me to make a stand?

Will you unite to save this land?

When will you wake up before it’s too late?

We need your voice to save the Antarctic

Do we destroy everything we touch?

Do we not rape and pillage so much?

Is it not time to listen?

Please read and Sign this petition

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_the_southern_ocean_5/?tlGazab

“Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favour of fair use.”

 

© Sue Dreamwalker – 2012 All rights reserved.

 

Links

Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources

Antarctic Ocean Alliance

The New York Times

Avaaz- The World In Action

Be At One with Yourself~A Poem

Be at One with yourself

Be at one with the world

Be at One with Nature

And see your life unfurl

Close your eyes and imagine

The beginnings of a New Earth,

And Open your eyes to your beauty

Breathe in and give Birth.

For you are One and part of the Whole

Not a separate Unit , but a Beautiful Soul

United within the One Divine love

And part of that cosmic hub.

Share your love along with your Light

And Rejoice in Gratitude

Use your sight

To see a world in Beauty and Grace

You are stronger than you think you know

Spread a little Love where ever you go

Shower your peace and sprinkle your heart

Into the rivers of life send a ripple a spark

Be Calm, knowing all is well

Keep breathing in Peace for inside it dwells

Know you are where you are meant to be

Open your eyes

Come on now See

For we are ONE and it’s time to Unite

Stop all your hating, and judging and strife

Find your heart and clear out your mind

Seek out yourself

And Wisdom you’ll find

Let go of torments and allow the Joy in

Come on now people

It’s time to begin

Be One with yourself

Be One with the world

Be One with nature

And Let the Universe Spin

For the Spiral is turning and

Peace will Win..

© Sue Dreamwalker – 2012 All rights reserved.