Living Tribe

New Blog

2012-01-26T00:47:00.001Z

It's ages since I last blogged or did anything online. So here's a post out of the blue.

Just created a new blog thats completely unrelated. As some of you know, I am a performing comedy hypnotist and have started a blog in view of adding views and insight to all things hypnosis: http://robmuirhypnosis.blogspot.com/

My personal website explaining a little of what I do: http://www.dreamguardian.co.uk/

Back Again!

2011-06-14T20:02:00.000+01:00

After a long spell of silence, I have returned and shall be popping posts up from now on. Much has happened, much to report.

Thank you for your patience

Break On Through ...

2011-01-11T19:14:00.001Z

We all have teenage heroes & one of many of mine was Jim Morrison of 'The Doors'. Here's a little homage to him & my teenage angst:

Break on through……

Those of us who stay in our room with supposed limit graded aptitude in English lit and prose

With school reports written by teachers lacking in social skills who stifle creativity with their limited mantra

“He lacks concentration…….. Could do better!”

The textbook changes shape, as paper aeroplanes fly unlimited miles across the bedroom to other worlds.

Where words become expressions readily dripping from an angry tongue.

Fourteen years of cattle prodding, parental nagging, tidy hair and tucked in shirts

Where rivalled siblings win the day, with pretty smooth skinned features and perfect smiles that light up rooms and outweigh bespectacled, awkward teenage boys waiting for the kiss of a princess to cast away the spell.

Downstairs, the mutterings of an organized world are muffled by the bedroom door.

The portcullis deadlocked and bolted as if in anticipation of invasion by a foreign tribe keen to initiate young blood into their ancient culture.

Radio waves fill the room transmitting immortalised words of lost souls from beyond the grave to those with an ear.

Words that spiral and dance in infinite form to music pulsating, reaching inside the beating heart, changing its rhythm at will.

Manipulating, captivating, trancing, awe-inspiring.

Suddenly!

The door slams open

Enter the tall perfectly formed shiny black leather clad figure.

The black of the raven.

The blackness of deep dark peat rich soil of a grave.

Darkness of another world.

Black the colour of transformation.

For only through true darkness comes pure blinding light.

The enigmatic figure fills the doorway striking an arrogant pose

As if to be expected…….

“I am the lizard king!”

Website

2010-12-02T20:20:00.001Z

My websites getting there and if you wish you can take a seak peek. It will be live in the new year when course dates are confirmed & I have ecommerce setup: Revival Skills

Let me know of any mistakes or failed links etc.

I want to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to Adam for all his help so far in hosting & general advice, it's very much appreciated.

Types of Bushcraft Courses For Next Year

2010-11-30T20:40:00.002Z

Update on courses for next year. So far I've put together:

A one day course
A one night course
A weekend Course
A course in Tuscany

One day Course

Our aim is to give an overview of the core skills needed and instill personal confidence. This course is primarily for those who are unsure or have never experienced the joy of bushcraft and outdoor living.

One Night Course

For the one night course we will teach the basic skills needed for your to survive a night in a woodland setting. Some of the areas covered are, building and organizing a camping area, basic fire lighting and fire management.

Along with this we will cover safe use of cutting tools and campfire cooking methods as you will be preparing your own food. Water is essential to life so we will point out water collection, filtration and purification as well as much, much more.

Weekend Course

The weekend course provides the fundamentals in bushcraft and wilderness living. It is designed to be safe and instructive and enjoyable at the same time. This is more of a comfortable learning experience than a military or endurance event. Cooking methods are logically involved as well as water collection, filtration & purification.

What's more i will introduce you to edible and medicinal plants, tree identification and uses for diverse woods. Many subjects are included within this weekend course including, both modern and ancient fire starting methods & management, sourcing and constructing shelters, natural cordage and the pursuit of food, including game preparation (mammal, fish and bird).

This is a completely hands on course. It is all about learning by doing and not just by boring lectures. That means that there is the chance to try EVERYTHING and there'll be plenty of time and help at hand too.

Tuscany Bushcraft

A fantastic opportunity to learn bushcraft and natural living skills in beautiful Tuscany. The venue (Casalino) is situated in an area in the north-east of Tuscany called the Casentino, close to the border of Emilia Romagna, in Italy. Learn the essential bushcraft skills and techniques needed in this wonderful yet chalenging landscape

The venue (Casalino) is situated in an area in the north-east of Tuscany called the Casentino, close to the border of Emilia Romagna, in Italy. The site is located on the side of Mount Montopoli and overlooks the
stunning view of the Valle Santa.

Casalino lies within the national park of Monte Falterona and Campaigna, and thanks to this the original fauna is reclaiming it´s place. From snakes and scorpians to wild boar, deer and even wolves roaming the landscape, it´s easy to feel as though we are the intruders. This course covers all you would expect on a bushcraft and survival course. The essential skills needed to survive, and is based on the four main principles of survival: fire, food, shelter and water.

Also, with many paths leading through woods, fields and rivers covering the mountains, makes it a pleasure to explore their environment. Nearby there is the medival monestary of La Verna, where St. Francis of Assissi supposedly recieved his stigmata. It is easy to see why the monks sought refuge and solace in this remote area.

Being so summersed in wilderness away from cilivisation, Casalino very much creates a feeling of risolation and escape from day to day ´normal´ life.

So, here's to next year

New Bushcraft & Survival Courses - More ...

2010-11-14T11:08:00.003Z

A snippet of news regarding my bushcraft & survival courses:

I've secured woodland to use in the South of England & Tuscany. I am also in the process of negotiating woodland in both Wales & Scotland as well as Northern England. I want to provide locations all over the Uk so that they are accessible as possible and offer different experiences & challenges.

I'm excited too at being able to teach these skills in Europe. It's a gradual process getting these things organised and in place, yet underneath I know it has the potential to go bonkers all of a sudden.

I'm designing my website at the moment and aim to have that up & running when I'm in a position to trade, insured and finalised everything.

A good marketing plan is next on the agenda as it's all very well having a shop but it's no good without PUNTERS!!

New Bushcraft Courses

2010-10-22T16:05:00.001+01:00

I've finally started to put together bushcraft course packages of my own for the comming new year. I'm in the process of getting everything organised at the moment before structuring the finer detail of the various courses.

One project I have in mind will involve a weekend course that is pagan influenced. The theme will naturally be based on pre-roman techniques and living.

I'm really excited about the whole thing although somewhat nervous. So, watch this space for more updates & news ...

Update: I'm Still Here

2010-09-19T14:59:00.001+01:00

Just a very brief update to inform the blogshere: All is well. Time has been rather strange over the past few months as well as my own mindset.

Regarding some of my previous posts: My modern star constellation brythonic mythology is alive & well. It has form now in the ether & at some point will materialise here in the surreal blog world.

Spent time in the woods & have projects relating to bushcraft/survival within the pagan community as well as in general. Another of these ventures could take place in Tuscany. More on this & other such plans soon...

Walking The Talk

2010-04-19T21:56:00.004+01:00

I recently went with my wife for a walk to places we hadn't visited before with the coming of the super weather. We ventured to Fishguard in Pembrokeshire with OS map in hand and did a cicular walk around some ancient sites. What always amazes me living here in Wales is how untouched so much of the land is. We were able to go & spend time by burial mounds unhindered & alone.

Here are just a few photos of where we visited courtesy of my wifes super camera skills:

Garn Wnda Burial Site by the village of Llanwnda. It's on a granite hill over looking the sea. It's not too steep a climb only about 200 metres. Now if I was going to buried bronze age style, then this where I would be placed.

Garn Wnda Burial Site from the side giving an indication of the view from up on the hill. Stunning!!

A further 3 miles or so west is Gilfach Burial Site on another rocky hill complete with standing stone. It proved quite difficult to get to through the thick gorse! It over looks 2 ironage fort sites too.

On our journey back we came across Penrhiw Burial Site just outside Harbour Village, Goodwick. It was the largest site we had seen on our walk.

Wild Food Book Recommendation

2010-04-16T19:11:00.001+01:00

Following on from my Forage post, I thought I would recommend the best book for foraging & wild food cookery. There are several on various aspects of foraging I can highly recommend (and subsequently will do) but if there is just one you should have, it is:

Wild Food by Roger Phillips ISBN 0-330-28069-3.

It is by far the best for information, identification & superb recipes.

Enjoy!!

Ogham, Trees & Foraging Stuff

2010-03-24T01:00:00.002Z

Whilst taking a group around on a foraging session explaining food, medicinal & poisonous plants as well as trees & their uses. It occurred to me how much neo-paganism promotes its reverence for nature & its connection with the natural world but how little is mentioned of the subject matter on a practical level.

There is much written about nature spirits and fairies. Much new-age mumbo jumbo & fantasy fueled material, meditations and workshops. It appears detached from the actual harsh reality of nature, rather prefering to be in the comfort of a warm house & imagine it in a virtual disney like world in the mind. There are poems and articles on the ancient druids worshipping trees and a huge ever growing industry promoting Ogham divination merchandise. There are tree calenders, various tarot type cards and nunerous books of questionable research into these strange markings.

Are they really a mystical language only known to the druids, that once unlocked reveal the secrets to nature, the human soul and its destiny??

I think it rather unlikely.

So I thought I might start posting a few blogs in the future on the identification and practical uses of various plants & trees and how this might explain our ancestors attitude towards them.

Star Constellations and more...

2010-02-24T01:57:00.005Z

Part of what we teach on bushcraft courses is methods of natural navigation, using the landscape, trees, fauna & the sun. We also teach using the stars at night. Part of my background research to teach this was obviously learning the constellation names & the classical myths behind them.

What I realised is that there isn't much information known about our ancestors and their understanding of astronomy. When I researched this area, I couldn't find anything - well, that was reliable & not newage type material. I'm very privilledged to know & be able to get in touch with a respected celticist to discover if there was anything at all within reputable academia. Sadly there isn't. I have no need of wikipedia when I have access to MEGLIPEDIA!

So I have started with the idea constructing my own and before anyone gets nervous, it's not going to be a druid stonehenge starlore venture with crystals & tarot cards! It will more a way of learning the constellations with a brythonic mythical slant, albeit slightly modern. It's going to be a major undertaking as I want to have important subject matter running through the stories as well individual & specific themes for each constellations. Bo has already given some helpful ideas & references to be getting on with.

The pressure really is on because Potia has already written & created wonderful mythical work that can be viewed here. Lee also has crafted fantastic work that be viewed on the brython site too as well as his highly recommended brythonic myths blog. I have my work cut out and realise it will take time to evolve and materialise.

Now thats the future plan but what of navigation by the stars. Below is a very basic explanation and what will be the first constellations my myths will be inspired by.

For us in the northern hemisphere, there are many constellations that are visible throughout the night and are invaluable for navigation. The 2 main constellations to look for are the big dipper (Plough) and Cassiopeia. They seem to rotate around the one star that appears static, the Pole star (North star) which is almost above polar north. I can assure you that following the instructions below & using the diagram, you'll find them quickly and and consistantly. The Big Dipper, more commonly known as The Plough is part of a larger constellation, Ursa Major (Great Bear). The last 2 stars of the plough point almost directly to the pole star roughly 4 times the distance between themselves (below). Cassiopeia is shaped like a W and is opposite to the plough on the other side of the pole star at about the same distance. (see below).

Centurian Movie Trailer

2010-02-12T16:00:00.000Z

At last the trailer's out for the long awaited movie ... Well, I've been waiting a long time for it!!

Centurian Blogspot

There's some great film pickies found here too

Standing Stones

2010-02-12T10:03:00.002Z

On a friend of mines farm are a few bronze age standing stones. According to the archeo report, they are not placed on burial mounds but rather placed on natural formed mounds possibly representing 'burial mounds'.

This a view from them looking directly west. There is a natural spring close by that leads into the valley below. I suspect that at the winter solstice, the sun sets directly down through the distant valley. Note to self; I must investigate this coming solstice.

A view of one standing stone and a ironage hillfort earthworks in the background. This is on the left of the first photo.

There's a distinctive ancient feel about the place.

Fire

2010-01-28T07:41:00.002Z

I love the sight, the sound and smell of an open fire, there’s just something magical about it. It’s absolutely essential for it cooks our food, purifies our water, dries our clothes and gives us light to name just a few reasons. The main reason is warmth when it’s cold. Primitive methods of fire lighting are skills that anyone can learn but are very difficult to master. It teaches us all patience and persistence, deepening ones respect for our ancestors.

I will give an overview of some the techniques and methods with a view to produce detailed blogs on each one in the future including photos, and possibly videos too. It’s worthy of note that just by lighting a fire is but just the beginning. Managing and maintaining it are as important, if not more (future blog).

Iron pyrites, either two pieces struck together or a single piece struck with flint creates some sparks on tinder. A notoriously difficult and time consuming method. Great respect will be gained for our ancestors when first attempting this technique. The curse words you’ll use will be different but I can assure you the intent behind them will be EXACTLY the same as our forbears!!

Flint and Steel: before the very recent invention of matches, the most common method was the flint and steel. The components of the set up were the flint, the steel, the tinder (sulphur material when available). The steel struck the flint to create sparks to land on the tinder. Materials dipped in sulphur if available were added to the tinder. Today modern strike-a-light steels have a high carbon content which produce a large amount of extremely hot sparks.

Fire by friction. Essentially creating fire by intense friction with wood on wood. This in turn creates an ember for tinder, that then combusts. Full technique of making a bow/drill set, materials needed and method of application to follow in a future blog.

The Purpose Of Life

2010-01-09T21:20:00.009Z

Due to a recent serious family illness, this has become a slightly more thoughtful post albeit short. Normally I’m quite a rational person but of late I’ve naturally been wrestling with soulful things.

I proposed the question on Caer Feddwyd Forum, ‘What is the purpose of life?’ So this is more a post of questions rather than any answers.

Is there a purpose to life, a point or meaning to it at all?

Is it up to us to create meaning in our lives?

Is it an arrogant concept to think that there’s an ultimate plan created by unseen force or forces? As some monotheistic religions purport?

Most of the time, I’m not sure there really is an overall plan or purpose and it all boils down to purely the survival of the species. But there’s still a part of me that can’t help but wonder as to the continuation of the soul after death. For our ancestors, they seemed quite clear that they did continue in some re-incarnation sense.

There’s been no satisfactory evidence to suggest otherwise but it’s a bit of a mind fuck to think that death is final & total oblivion. The Gods & ancestors at rare times seem so real & tangible yet when I contemplate my mortality it all just appears to be a desperate hope.

Is it just hope in desperation to remove the fear of death?

I mean, it’s just impossible to actualise ‘not being/existing’.

There are those in this world I love so deeply & beyond words that the thought of their complete demise is too upsetting. To think there was absolutely no point or reason for their existence. A member of Clas Brython, Heron described the essence of identity which for me just summed up the whole issue for me.: The survival of ‘identity’.

When put in this context, doesn’t quite seem so bleak an outlook, thoughts?

The Essentials

2009-11-10T17:00:00.001Z

If we are to ask ourselves: What do I really need?

How would we answer?

I mean, at the end of the day what do we really need?

Where ever we live, we’re reliant on four essentials. Without these we simply couldn’t survive for very long. They are: Water Food Shelter Fire

Let’s take water, as an example. We cannot live without it. Here in Britain, we are surrounded by water and certainly have our regular rainfalls! Up and down the country there are natural springs, beautiful lakes and flowing streams. It’s all around us, acting as a constant reminder of its importance. It is and has always been revered by humans all over the world.

The significance of water for the ancient Britons is clear too, by the volume of votive offerings found in many lakes. Natural springs had many healing cults and rivers too, often had Deities connected with them. So it wasn’t just a practical association but a spiritual one too.

Today, we take for granted the availability of water because we only have to turn on a tap or go a short distance to a local shop/supermarket. What if these were not available?

What then?

In the future, I’ll expand this idea on a bushcraft/survival ‘how to’ theme: Finding Water, The Collecting/Transporting Water and it’s purification. Also, I’ll develop the other three essentials into ‘how to’ practical topics, namely: primitive methods of Food, Shelter and Fire (Full technique of making& using a bow/drill set, materials needed and method of application).

Beginnings

2009-09-28T07:31:00.002+01:00

So, Where to begin?

How to express views on contemporary issues affecting Modern Paganism, Bushcraft, Survival Skills and primitive technology?

Just how do you to present a diverse range of topics in a coherent way?

Here goes ......

While I’m passing through this existence we call life, I’m desperately trying to engage fully with it as well as enjoy the ride. For me to better comprehend it, I really need to understand who I am. I feel I first need to learn of my past, by which I mean my ancestry, who brought me into being, here in this country we call Britain. My direct ancestry and that of the peoples of Britain has been a persistent, recurring impulse for many years, it’s also been a somewhat emotional and spiritual rollercoaster at times too.

As I travel and venture further back to beyond ‘Pre-History’, that passage of time becomes less clear, even murky. There is much New-Age romanticism written on Pre-Roman times that blurs the known evidence. Many Modern or Neo-Pagans have also added to this growing trend with numerous workshops, books, meditations and path-workings created for the seeker of ‘Celtic’ spiritual enlightenment. Thus making it even more difficult to distinguish between fact and fiction.

For me, it’s by experimenting physically with what has been discovered and researched that I personally begin to see through the ancestor’s eyes. By experiencing their difficulties, using their problem solving and reasoning I grow ever closer to them. They become real, present and tangible. Subsequently, I can start to gain an insight, a glimpse not of myself but rather where I came from. I can then start to tell their stories and pass on their understanding.

For sure, I am a product of the twenty first century and I’m pleased to be living in this era of truly amazing technology and healthcare. But much has been lost with these advancements too, perhaps our sense of purpose or even our soul?

There is much to learn from our ancestors, which is worthy of preserving and passing on to the next generation. There are also many lessons to be learned from their errors, mistakes and ignorance. But this is also true of modern times. There is much to be ashamed of within just the past couple of centuries and it could be argued even worse than more than two thousand years ago.

For our ancestors, their spiritual and secular world was entwined. It is with this in mind that I will share my thoughts. Some purely practical, some spiritual and some further still blending of the two.

Thank you for taking the time to read my words.