LET'S GET SOME DRUIDS IN!

Waterperry House, the School’s retreat centre in the South of England, is familiar to many members of the School all over the world. David has been its Bursar for nearly two decades and has overseen many developments in that time. Here he writes about one of them. 

Let’s Get Some Druids in!

David Hockley, London/ Waterperry

It was about 2013, and Simon Buchanan had just arrived at Waterperry House and Gardens, newly appointed as Steward. We were in our weekly meeting – me as Bursar, the action man for the house – and he with overall responsibility for the estate. We were talking about the Yew Henge, a garden feature planted about eight years earlier in yew and box. This is a replica two thirds the size of the original Stonehenge, a site of druid practices. 

Being early June, mid-summer was just around the corner. I mentioned that I’d seen a circle of druids all in white gowns celebrating the Summer Solstice in the 1970’s. And Simon suggested: ‘Let’s get some druids in!’

Waterperry House has 80 acres of beautiful grounds; one of the attractions is Yew Henge

I phoned around and found someone with a Summer Solstice text prepared by a member of the Order of Bards, Ovates (people in second stage in the druid training focussing on the nourishing and healing aspect of herbs and trees) and Druids. I printed out a few copies and asked residents on the estate to gather at dawn on the 21st. A motley bunch paraded down to the Henge, not in white but earthy greens and browns, staffs in hand looking for the direction of the rising sun.  A sacred circle was cast, Awens chanted (sacred syllable invoking supreme spirit), the four directions acknowledged, respectfully asking the spirits of the season to bless our ceremony. 

I was hooked.

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