#birchover

The Reform Tower, Stanton Moor, Derbyshire

High on Stanton Moor in Derbyshire stands an austere square tower. It was built sometime after 1832 by the local landowner, William Pole Thornhill (1807-1876), to commemorate Earl Grey, the politician who successfully fought for the reform of Parliament in the early 19th century.  (more…)

Continuing the story of a Silent Eye workshop in Derbyshire, in December 2017. Parts One, Two, Three, Four, Five and Six can be found by clicking the highlighted links.

Traditional initiation ceremonies tend to follow a roughly similar outline. The initiand is put through a series of symbolic trials, including the acceptance of mortality, each designed to test resolve and dedication, before…

Continuing the story of a Silent Eye workshop in Derbyshire, in December 2017. Parts One, Two, Three, Four and Five can be found by clicking the highlighted links.

Just behind the Druid Inn and across the narrow lane from Thomas Eyre’s church of St Michael, is the strange landscape of Rowtor Rocks.We have visited the place on many occasions, but it needed only one visit to realise that there…

Continuing the story of a Silent Eye workshop in Derbyshire, in December 2017. Parts One, Two, Three and Four can be found by clicking the highlighted links.

Where silver trees have bent their bough O’er sleepy village streets, we go to solve the riddle of the stones A scattered presence in a row. To nourish soul and body’s need- A place where ancient bards ovate, A haunted landscape sows the seed

Facing Fear With The Silent Eye, Part 8 – Weird

Helen Jones

I recently attended a workshop with The Silent Eyeabout Facing Our Fears, an extraordinary weekend spent among the hills and grey stone villages of the Peak District. It’s taken me a little while, as it usually does, to process everything that happened. Once again there was history and mystery, good company and tasty food, old friends greeted and new friends made. And, as always,…

Traditional initiation ceremonies tend to follow a roughly similar outline. The initiand is put through a series of symbolic trials, including the acceptance of mortality, each designed to test resolve and dedication, before symbolically ‘dying’ to their old self and being ‘reborn’ into the new. The landscape of Rowtor Rocks lends itself perfectly to the traditional scenario and, as part of the…