Aberdeen surprise

What a surprise Oldrock had for me! He was visiting his daughter in Scotland and he took me with him. I got to fly on a plane properly. I've been on a plane before of course when I came to Ireland but I didn't see much of it because I was in my travelling box that time. It was so much better flying with Oldrock.

So we went to Aberdeen. We flew from Cork to Dublin and then to Aberdeen where we stayed with Oldrock's eldest daughter. She gave a funny look to Oldrock when I was taken out of his backpack. I can't think why ...

While I was there I was taught how to swim in the North Sea. I was very safe because Oldrock put something on my arms so I wouldn't sink even if I didn't kick hard enough. Ohhhhh it was cold and afterwards I had to dry myself warm again quickly.

We also visited Duthie Park which was a fantasic place with lots of plants and trees. I felt really at home there.

I even sat on a cactus plant. I don't recommend that ... my spikes didn't protect me so I'm sure it would be even worse for people without spikes. Ouch! I learned lots of cactus aren't called cactuses. I also learned to treat cacti with respect and not to get so close to them in future.

At one stage I got so tired Oldrock's daughter carried me. I like her a lot because it was very nice of her to notice my legs were wearing out.

To finish the day I practiced my swimming and went skinny dipping in a pond I found in the tropical part of the Park. Luckily no-one was around to see.

Shaman Sham goes to University

I had a treatment from Oldrock who is a Neuromuscular Therapist. He did explain what this means and its something to do with using static pressure points. The treatment was absolute heaven. You would have thought he would have been nervous about giving a treatment to a hedgehog but he wasn't and amazingingly my spikes did not stick into him at all.

I have booked in to get more treatments before I leave here. It helps no end when you have to travel in a very small travelling compartment which can leave you a bit achey even if you are a very young hedgehog like I am.

So on to the university where I saw where Oldrock works. I think he has a easy life here because I sat on his desk while he "worked" and look - is that the Indie Shaman site on his computer? He took some photos of me for my blog while we were there then the battery failed in the camera so we will get more pictures later.

I wanted to give a lecture in a lecture hall that has had the same seating for the last 120 years but unfortunately no students turned up. I'm sure I would have been very good though if they had and the lecture hall was very big and impressive.

So instead I had a sit down and let Oldrock have his say instead. I had a lovely day at the university and I'm sure I soaked up lots of learning from just being in the building as well as from listening to Oldrock.

Oldrock tells me he has a surprise for me later this week. Watch this space and I will let you know as soon as he tells me.

Meeting Old Rock and Pebbles

Butterflywings told me there would be a surprise for my last night staying with her so I was really excited last Friday evening. It always makes me happy sad when I hit the road again - happy to be on the move and meeting more friends and sad to be leaving my old friends.

The surprise was a drumming session with my Indie Shaman friends and some new friends as well. We all had a wonderful time and I think a drumming session is a very good idea for a Shaman's move-on party. Actually I have a sneaking suspicion that Butterflywings may hold these full moon drumming sessions once a month anyway but it was still a wonderful gathering for my last evening so it doesn't matter does it? After the drumming I said a sad bye bye to Butterflywings and a happy hello to Old Rock.

Old Rock then took me to his home and let me light a night light at his alter to bring in the new day.

Then on Saturday he introduced me to some more new friends so I won't be lonely when he goes to work and we relaxed and sat around the fire.

On Sunday, Old Rock took me to Kerry to meet his daughter and grandson. I got on very well with Pebbles. We both fell asleep in the car when we went out. Well there would be lots to see and do, so I wanted to make some more energy and you do that when you are asleep.

We did lots of exploring and visited Listowel and Tralee. Luckily Pebbles has short legs like me so we didn't have to walk very fast. I also like to have a rest now and again and this was a very comfy hedge to rest on. I like to listen to the song of the river and this was the perfect seat to do that.

We even did some tree climbing and I was very brave and had a go too. Old Rock had to give me a bit of a hand though as hedgehogs aren't really designed for climbing trees.

Look out for my next blog because Old Rock said I'm going to university soon! I wasn't sure what a university was but he explained its a place where people go to learn so it sounds just my type of place.

Exploring Kilbrittain

Today we went out to explore around where Butterflywings lives. First we went to the beach at Harbour View. The tide was out and we had to walk a long way to get to the water. I had to sit down on the way as my legs were aching from walking in the sand. Fortunately Mr Butterflywings had a plastic bag in his pocket and he let me sit on it so I didn't get my bottom wet.

I think they took pity on me then as they let me sit up on the breakwater and rest for a while. It was a bit green and slimy but I had a good view from there. A great big white bird, which I learnt was a seagull, seemed to want to sit next to me so I got down then. Well it was a lot bigger than me.

Then I found worms! I was really excited about this as I didn't know you could get worms on the beach. I was hoping that I would be left alone so I could have a snack ...

From one part of the beach I could see a big house in the distance. Butterflywings explained that this was Coolmain Castle which belongs to the Disney family, the same family that makes all the films like Mickey Mouse and Cinderella. She also told me that this wasn't the only castle in Kilbrittain and so on the way home we stopped to see the other one.
You can actually see Kilbrittain castle from Butterflywings garden but it looks much bigger close up. She told me that it is the oldest inhabited castle in Ireland. I bet it's full of all kinds of spirits whooo, whooo, whooo.

After this we went to Kilbrittain woods. The woods are quite big and just as you go in there is a river which goes down to the sea. We stopped on a little wooden bridge over the river. Butterflywings had to hold onto me as she was worried I would fall in when I climbed up to sit on the bridge.

The stone bridge is called Deasy's Bridge and the other side of it is the estuary, then the sea. I learnt that lots of birds migrate here in the winter and live in the estuary for a while.

Visiting the stone circle at Drombeg

The floods, ice and snow have all gone and the sun was shining so we all went out for the day to visit the stone circle at Drombeg. I wasn't sure what to expect but the stone circle was quite big, or maybe I'm just a bit small. It was good as I got to sit up on one of the stones. I did ask the stones for permission first and they said yes, I think that's because I'm a Shaman as Butterflywings and Mr Butterflywings didn't sit up on them.

I learnt that Drombeg is probably Ireland's most famous stone circle. Drombeg means Druid's Altar and the circle has seventeen pillar stones made of local sandstone.


Butterflywings said I should sit on the flat stone in the centre I think she said something about a sacrifice but I must have misheard her as there were lots of things on the stone that looked like offerings. At least I didn't have to sit in the water or I'd have got a bit wet.

I also went to look at the Fulacht fiadh which is a communal cooking pit with a hearth. Hot stones were taken from the fire and dropped into the water trough, I learnt that these stones could boil seventy gallons of water in about fifteen minutes.

The people who lived there had two huts made of stone and you can still see where they were. This is me sat in the doorway that joined them.

Mr Butterflywings took a photo of me with Butterflywings. Its good she had a nice bright coat on so I couldn't lose her. The stone circle looks quite good behind us doesn't it.
Just before we left I asked the stones if I could sit tight up on one of the largest ones. We had a bit of trouble as most of them sloped but this one was really comfy. I just wanted to sit and soak up the energy for a while before we left.

Learning about the Sidhe

I see a tall dark, handsome stranger.....no wait, that's me. I really must get the hang of this scrying. Maybe the light's too bright or something, now let me see............no just me in there, good job I am so handsome.

I've been practicing some more of my shamanic skills too. I have had a go at dowsing for flower essences and using the flower essence cards to select them. These are some of the ones I liked the look of all I have to do now is work out what they are for. Maybe I can journey to find out.

I've been reading the Nature Speak cards too. I like these and I've borrowed some glasses so I can see them more clearly. Don't I look distinguished in them.

Butterflywings says that if I'm in Ireland I really should learn about the Sidhe. She gave me this book to read. So far I've found out that 'The Sidhe' can mean people of the mounds or the lordly ones or the good people. It's really another name for fairies.

It says the Sidhe settled in Ireland millennia ago and after a battle retreated to a different dimension of time and space. It is said they live underground in mounds, fairy raths and cairns. My book also says that the Sidhe are tall and handsome, dress richly and that their halls are richly decorated with sumptuous foods and drinks.Oohh maybe I'm a Sidhe, that sounds just like me.

The Sidhe protect trees and mounds and can curse any mortal who destroys or damages them. Good job I'm Shaman Sham and would never do anything like that or I think they'd scare me a little.

I'm going to keep a look out for them or rather an ear out for my book says that whenever the Sidhe appear there is a strange sound like the humming of thousands of bees and also a whirlwind is caused.

Shaman Sham learns all about snow

Wow, so that's what snow is, I've been reading about other Indie Shaman having snow and have seen some of their pictures but I didn't really understand what it was. I was so excited that Butterflywings found me a hat and scarf so I didn't get cold and then she let me go outside in the snow. Mr Butterflywings said I looked like Paddington Bear but I don't know who that is so I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not.

Butterflywings said I could help feed the birds and so she helped me climb up onto the bird table. I had a look into the container to see if there was anything I might like. All I can say is the birds must be very hungry if that's what they eat.

I was a bit damp after I climbed back down so I went and hid under the bamboo for a while as it wasn't snowing so much there. I didn't realise that snow was wet. It doesn't look it does it. Ohh there's always so much to learn.

I found a new friend in the garden and decided to hang out with him for a bit. His name is Buddha and he was sheltering from the snow too. He doesn't say much though, very quiet and inscrutable.

Mr Butterflywings said that if I was staying outside I might like to play in the snow. He told me about snowballs and building snowmen and I was quite excited about having a go but then he told me that there wasn't enough snow and we'd have to wait until there was. He's very kind though because he made me a sledge and pushed me around the garden on it until he go too tired and said he had to go back indoors.

Then I found some footprints in the snow. I think they belong to the Sidhe. I'm sure they like playing in the snow too so it must be them.

Butterflywings said that as there were no cars around I could go and sit on the wall so I could see the snow across the crossroads and down the valley.

After that I really was getting a bit cold so when I got back in the house we put my scarf and hat on the radiator to dry and I went and sat by the fire so I could get nice and warm again.