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Sacred CelebrationsA SourcebookGlennie KindredIntroductionTo celebrate the Earth's yearly solar cycle is to take part in an ancient tradition which has been handed down to us since before Celtic times. These festivals fall at eight points during the solar year, and include the fixed points of Winter and Summer Solstices (the longest night and the longest day); the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes (day and night are of equal length); and the four seasonal peaks of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Celebrating these points is a means by which we can connect to the Earth's passing seasons and acknowledge the way this resonates within ourselves, as part of the natural world. Interwoven in the Sun's cycles are the monthly cycles of the Moon whose influence affects all of life on Earth from the tides of the world's oceans, to the fluids within our bodies, our emotions, our unconscious, the fertility of women and their menstrual cycles.
Throughout the book I use the word 'Celtic' as a term which recognises this as a cultural lineage in the lands of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, as well as all over Northern and Western Europe. Many of their traditions have been lost, destroyed by the Christian religion which sought to establish a new patriarchal God, and destroy the worship of Pagan Gods and Goddesses. Much can be rediscovered through folk customs, legends and folktales. Much has been kept alive through Pagan tradition, Druidic and Bardic lore and Pictish and Celtic art. The Christian calendar, on close examination, has overlaid its own festivals to fall at the same time as the Celtic ones, but with a subtle difference of perspective. This was necessary, as part of the conversion process, which changed the whole spiritual experience of the people of these lands. The Church taught us to view Spirit and Matter as separate realms, and to fear the inner worlds. This is so deeply entrenched, that even those without any religious belief are deeply influenced by it. We also feel ourselves to be separate from and superior to the rest of nature, and that men are superior to women. This fragmented state has brought great damage to the Earth's environment and to ourselves. In order to change this perspective, there is a need to see ourselves and our relationship to the Earth, the Moon and the Sun with new eyes. We need to re-learn what we have forgotten and re-connect to the inner realms, which are a continuous presence around and within us. We have all been conditioned for so long to only use our logical intellectual minds, it is important that we begin to become aware of, and listen to our intuitive side. It is our conferred power and inherited right. There is no need for a hierarchy of spiritual authority. We are each able to follow our own path, to break free of outworn attitudes, damaging dogma and concepts, and to transform and change. We have to learn to be part of the natural world again. We can do this by working with the energies which are both within ourselves and all around us. Then we can feel ourselves to be part of creation and not somehow fragmented and separated. Everyone and everything is sacred. Every action has a reaction in both the inner and outer realms. Celebrating the solar cycle of the year and the monthly Moon cycles is a way of re-connecting to the native traditions of this land. When we are freed from superstition, fear and suppression, we are once again potent and alive, and moving forward to embrace a new spiritual understanding emerging now as we enter the Aquarian Age. This is a reference book for each of the Celtic festivals, and the Sun and Lunar cycles, as well as a source book for related activities. It is an exploration of the many aspects manifest at each festival, from the underlying energy of the Earth, and its place in the year's cycle, to the integration of the patterns and clues which have been handed down to us from traditions which have survived from the pre-christian past. By combining these different aspects, and intuitively reforming them into something new and yet connected, we can integrate what we know to create new patterns to enhance change and transformation. Thus, these festivals remain part of a living tradition which can be used as an aid to our spiritual process at this time. The Wheel of the Solar Year
The Celtic peoples of our lands celebrated the cyclic flow of the year at eight points during the year's cycle. These festivals can be used to honour and celebrate the Earth and her seasons, ourselves and each other, our achievements as well as our losses, and to come together as a community, to share ourselves, our food and drink, dance, sing, and reflect. Each festival is celebrated with a different focus. Each can bring a structure to our lives by consciously making a connection to the passage of time and our path within it. The wheel of the year is not just a matter of changing from one season to the next. Beneath the manifestation of seasonal change, there is also change within the subtle energies of the Earth. These energy patterns affect us all (consciously or unconsciously) so that by understanding the flow and direction of this energy, we can move with it, as true inhabitants of our planet Earth: belonging, part of and flowing with it on all levels of our being. The Eightfold sub-division of the year is marked by the four fixed points in the year forming a cross. These are called the Quarter Points and are the Winter Solstice in the North (20th - 23rd December), the shortest day and the longest night; Summer Solstice in the South (20th-23rd June) the longest day and shortest night; the Spring Equinox in the East (20th - 23rd March), and in the West, the Autumn Equinox (20th - 23rd September) both of which are when day and night are of equal length. These are fixed points in the year, the exact day and time each year can be found in any good diary. These Four Quarter Points are then crossed again by what are known as the Cross Quarter Festivals. These are the four great fire festivals of our Celtic past. They fall at the seasonal peaks and are used to celebrate and participate with the power of nature. They are the point at which we can connect with the developing energy of the new season ahead. Imbolc or Imolg is in the North East and is celebrated at the end of January/beginning of February, when Winter has reached its peak and the first signs of Spring are showing themselves. Beltain is in the South East and is celebrated at the end of April/beginning of May when Spring has reached its peak and Summer is becoming apparent. Lammas or Lughnasad is in the South West, and is celebrated at the end of July/beginning of August, when Summer has reached its peak and the first signs of Autumn are showing. Finally Samhain, in the North West, is celebrated at the end of October/beginning of November, when Autumn has reached its peak, and Winter is beginning to feel that it has arrived. The Quarter PointsThe Solstices
Solstice means 'the standing of the Sun' (Latin) and at the two Solstice points in the year, the Sun's cycle reaches its peak, stops, and begins its change of energy. The great cosmic clock of the waxing and waning cycle of the Sun. From Winter Solstice to Summer Solstice, the Sun is waxing, reaching its peak at the Summer Solstice, the longest day and shortest night. From Summer Solstice to Winter Solstice, the Sun is waning and the darkness reaches its peak at the shortest day and longest night of the Winter Solstice. The Solstices then are a time to stop, and to look back on where the half-yearly cycle has brought you, and a chance to look forward and see the direction in which the next half-yearly cycle may lead you; a moment to be conscious of your life's flow and direction; a time to express your hopes and fears, your intentions; to assimilate your learnings and celebrate your achievements; a time to celebrate the light; a time to celebrate the dark; a moment to be conscious of the way this waxing and waning of the Sun affects our lives, and to celebrate this duality and what it means to us. When the light is increasing from Winter Solstice to Summer Solstice, all beings are moving out into the light, becoming more individual and independent, expressing their own identity and uniqueness, expanding outwards into the material world. But as the light is decreasing from Summer Solstice to Winter Solstice, nature and life as a whole is integrating itself into a more social way of life, going within, reflecting and becoming more intuitive, expanding into the inner realms - exploring inner wisdom.
The EquinoxesAt the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes, day and night are of equal length all over the world. The focus here is the balance of light and dark, the outer world is balanced by the inner world. Both are equal. The Equinoxes fall at the beginning of the seasonal changes: Spring with its promise of Summer, and Autumn with its promise of Winter. The new season will affect all of life and bring changes within as well as without, as well as releasing new energy patterns. Times of transition are often chaotic and stressful, but out of this chaos, new ways, new ideas and new directions can manifest. The Equinoxes are a time to take action, transform, release the past, and move forwards. Use these points as a focus for the direction you wish to go in. This means you will meet the new energy poised and prepared. The Cross Quarter PointsThe Quarter Points of the Winter and Summer Solstices, and the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes, are then crossed again by the Cross Quarter Points, known in the past as the Four Great Fire Festivals. These were celebrated by lighting big fires on the hilltops, uniting communities by a common bond of celebration. These four Cross Quarter festivals fall at the seasonal peaks, at the point when the season is about to change into the next, and is the right time to use this developing energy. Because of this, their application during the year's cycle is of deepest and significant importance to us if we wish to work with the Earth's energies, and participate in a process of positive change both for ourselves and the Earth. Each of the Cross Quarter festivals offers a unique opportunity for us to celebrate and be aware of the developing energy and what this could mean for us; to bring about manifestation through the power of our deepest wishes and positive intent. IMBOLC is at the end of January/beginning of February. Winter is at its peak, but the days are lengthening slightly, and the first signs of Spring are apparent. The active phase of life is beginning as the Sun's power returns. This can be combined with the intuitive receptive energy and what has been assimilated and understood on the inner levels during the Winter months. It is a time for new beginnings, emerging ideas and the outer growth of personal seeds from their incubation period within.
BELTAIN is at the end of April/beginning of May. Spring is at its peak, the days are getting longer and warmer, and the first signs of Summer are establishing themselves. The Earth's energies are at their most active as the blending of the intuitive inner energy and the active outer energy brings manifestation and fertility. This is the life force at its most potent and powerful, and the right time to use the expansive energy to its fullest potential. LAMMAS is at the end of July/beginning of August. Summer is at its peak, but the days are beginning to shorten slightly and the first of the harvest, the grain, is being gathered in. Here we can begin to assimilate and gather in our own personal harvest, the manifestation of our heart's desires, and the fruits of our active labour. It is a time to take a reflective look at ourselves and return to the spiritual inner world for deeper understanding of our actions. SAMHAIN is at the end of October/beginning of November. Autumn has reached its peak now, the harvest is all gathered in. The days are getting shorter and Winter is almost upon us. We return once again to the reflective spiritual realms inside ourselves, for regeneration of the Spirit, rest, and contact with our inner wisdom. Each of these Cross Quarter festivals is influenced by one of the four elements through the four fixed astrological signs. The fixed signs are very energetic. Their energy endures, and they propel projects to completion. Imbolc falls in the middle of Aquarius k, an Air sign; Beltain falls in the middle of Taurus b, an Earth sign; Lammas falls in the middle of Leo e, a Fire sign; and Samhain falls in the middle of Scorpio h, a Water sign. There are some who would fix these Cross Quarter festivals by dates on the calendar: Imbolc eve on 2nd February, Beltain eve on 30th April, Lammas eve on 2nd August, and Samhain eve on October 31st. I prefer to look at the position of the Moon and any other astrological information, and choose a time when these influences are at their most potent. Celebrating the Cross Quarter Points may go on for several days. The MoonThe Moon and Her Cycles
The Earth revolves around her axis in one day. The Moon orbits around the Sun in approximately 29 days (a lunar month). The Earth orbits around the Sun in one year. These cycles are the alternating waxing and waning rhythms of Gaia. Understanding their influence and how we can best use the energy in our lives, enables us to be integrated into their cosmic dance. As seen from the Earth, the Moon and the Sun appear to be equal in size. The Sun is 400 times larger than the Moon, but it is also 400 times further away from the Earth. At new and full Moon, the Earth, Moon and Sun are aligned. When the Sun and Moon are diametrically opposite each other, the Moon is full. When the Sun and Moon lie in the same direction, the Moon is new. The Sun and the Moon influence the energy cycles of all life on Earth. The Sun gives us light and warmth in an outward dynamic of manifest energy. The Moon's reflective qualities distribute this energy during the hours of darkness, bringing receptivity and assimilation. The celebration of the eight Celtic festivals provides a connection to each phase of the solar year and its season. Within that framework, the Moon interweaves its monthly lunar cycle. The Winter and Summer Solstices and the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes are fixed astronomical points in the solar year. Using an astrological diary, you can check the influence the Moon will bring to these celebrations. The four great fire festivals of Imbolc, Beltain, Lammas and Samhain, are not fixed points and can be celebrated when the Moon's influence most complements the energy of the festival. The influence of the Moon was recognised and honoured by the earliest people, who noticed that the approximate 29 day cycle of the Moon's phases corresponded to women's menstrual cycles. The Moon became feminine and was personified as the Triple Moon Goddess whose unfolding cyclic phases from new to full to dark was understood as part of the cosmology and pattern of the web of life and death, representing the three great cycles of birth, maturity, death and rebirth. The Moon's aspects are personified as the Maid, emerging Moon Goddess; the Mother, abundant provider and full Moon Goddess; and the Crone, wise woman and Guardian of the inner realms, dark Moon Goddess. The Moon is the closest celestial body to the Earth and its force of gravity is so powerful, it pulls on the oceans, causing two high tides a day. This same influence affects all the fluids on the Earth, including the underground waters, the circulation of our body fluids, the ovulation cycle, the growth patterns of plants, and the migration patterns of birds. The Moon also influences the watery nature of our unconsciousness, our emotions, our moods, feelings and perceptions. She is reflector and shadow, and the cycles of her three aspects influence us more deeply than most of us are aware. Keep a Moon diary and watch how closely your patterns are connected to the Moon's outward and inward flow. The alternating waxing and waning of the Moon's cycles when understood, can enhance and balance the way we choose to live our lives.
The Phases of the MoonNew Moon The Sun and the Moon rise together in the East. The Moon is invisible because it is hidden by the Sun's brightness. The new Moon is sacred to the Maid aspect of the Triple Moon Goddess, bringing inspiration and intuition. It is like a new seed, full of potential and energy. The new Moon is the time for new beginnings, the time to begin new projects, new directions, new resolutions. It is the best time for invocation and speaking out your intent. Crescent Moon The Moon rises mid morning and sets after sunset. She can be seen in the western sky in the late afternoon. The rising waxing energy of the Moon brings growth to all ideas and plans. In nature, foliage, fruit and seeds develop when the Moon is waxing. Waxing Half Moon The Moon rises about midday and sets about midnight. She can be seen from soon after she rises until she sets. This is a period of growth and activity on all levels. Gibbous Moon Visible soon after she rises just before sunset, to when she sets just before dawn. From here to full Moon, make the most of her abundant waxing energy. It is a time of activity and expressing yourself through your feelings. Full Moon Rising at sunset, and setting at sunrise, the Moon is visible throughout the night. The Sun and Moon are opposite each other in the sky and the Moon is reflecting all of the Sun's light. This is the time for celebration and outward expression. It brings change, revelation and emotional peaks. Sacred to the Mother aspect of the Triple Moon Goddess, it brings abundance and the blending of Spirit and Matter. This is the peak of psychic power and heightened energy, sometimes causing us to feel unbalanced and crazy (lunatic). This is the time of culmination, fruition, and completion. The Moon is so bright she can light the night and cast Moon shadows. This brings a period of increased light which is sufficient to assist photosynthesis in plants, and thereby increases growth.
Disseminating Moon The Moon now begins to wane. She rises mid-evening and sets mid-morning (one hour later after sunset each night). The waning Moon brings self-assessment, looking within, and reflection. In nature, the waning Moon cycle promotes root development. Waning Half Moon The Moon rises around midnight and sets around mid-day, and is visible from when she rises to when she sets. The Moon continues to wane, bringing inner reflection, transformation and change. Balsamic Moon (Waning Crescent Moon) The Moon rises before dawn and sets mid-afternoon. This is the very last sliver of Moon seen in the eastern sky in the early morning. The waning Moon is sacred to the Crone or wise woman aspect of the Triple Moon Goddess, bringing inner wisdom and entry into the dark inner mysteries and knowledge. This is the time for banishing rituals, to let go of things no longer helpful to you, to break psychic links. The Dark of the Moon The Moon is said to be dark for three days before the new Moon when it has waned so far that it is no longer visible in the sky. Waning and dark Moon rites are for guidance and understanding, and for assimilation of wisdom on inner levels. It is a time for quiet inward reflection, reaping the fruits of our wisdom and experience. The Moon and the Sun-SignsThe Moon passes through a different Sun-sign every two and a half days. When she reaches the sign the Sun is in, it is the new Moon. When the Moon is full, she is in the opposite sign from the Sun. Integrate both the outward manifest qualities of the Sun-sign, and the inward reflective qualities of the Moon's cycle to understand the way this affects our lives. Moon Qualities The Moon brings us closer to our emotions and feelings. She is receptive, soaking up and assimilating, adapting and changing. She influences the way we nurture ourselves and others. We are more likely to sense what's going on rather than to consciously know. She brings us intuition and reflections from within. Moon in Aries Aries is a Fire sign and will act directly and instantly, a natural starting point for new projects and plans. It is the right time to channel all that 'me-first' energy to initiate change, and to act on impulse. Ruled by Mars, it brings assertiveness and courage to express your feelings. Be aware of selfishness and impatience. Moon in Taurus When the Moon is in this fixed Earth sign, a calm stability will settle around you. Ruled by Venus, you feel sensuous, secure, solid, unhurried and earthed. You may also feel possessive and stubborn. Moon in Gemini Gemini Moons bring stimulation and activity, spontaneity, communication, conversation and a myriad interesting ideas and connections. Gemini is a mutable Air sign ruled by Mercury. Moon in Gemini is the time for communicating your feelings, and making connections within and without. It may bring great restlessness and scattered emotions. Moon in Cancer This Water sign is ruled by the Moon herself and this is a highly emotional time when tears can come readily and there is a tendency to become over-sensitive, dependent and needy. Memories are strong, and the home, family and mothering are important. It is a good time to look after family and friends and make time for your home. Moon in Leo This fixed Fire sign, ruled by the Sun, demands attention on all levels. It is a time for magnanimous gestures of creative celebrations. Be generous with your feelings and your enthusiasm in sensitive and thoughtful ways. Moon in Virgo Virgo, mutable Earth sign, ruled by Mercury, asks us to look at what needs to be taken care of. Moon in Virgo is the patterning seer, arranging, categorising and tending, until every meticulous detail has been integrated and understood. There may be a tendency to lose the overview, and become over-critical of yourself or others. Moon in Libra A harmonious and romantic phase for family, friends and lovers to relax and appreciate each other. Libra is an Air sign, ruled by Venus, and will restore balance to the emotions through diplomacy and the refining of ideas and ideals. Use this time for making things beautiful and harmonious. You may be indecisive and extremist. Moon in Scorpio Scorpio is a fixed Water sign ruled by Pluto and Mars. When the Moon passes through this sign, feelings are intense and deeply felt, sometimes to the point of obsession. During this time you delve into your unconscious and come face to face with the dark shadowy side of yourself. You may have to look at your fears and deal with the emotions which this brings up. Moon in Sagittarius Now is the time for optimism and a relaxed easy-going phase. Ruled by the benevolent Jupiter, the Moon in Sagittarius connects us to our inner wisdom and prophetic truths, allows us to be spontaneous and to seek adventurous solutions. It can be a restless time bringing an inner need to throw off all responsibility. Moon in Capricorn This Earth sign is ruled by Saturn the great teacher, and will bring strength and inner wisdom, and a desire to organise yourself, set down some rules and guidelines. Find ways to help yourself deal with your emotions, but avoid becoming too pessimistic or rigid. Moon in Aquarius An Air sign ruled by Uranus, the Aquarian Moon brings a love of personal freedom and individuality. There is an ability to detach yourself from old emotional patterns. Be idealistic, challenging, unpredictable, and see what is revealed. Moon in Pisces This Water sign, ruled by Neptune, will bring dreamtime into your waking life, and magic into all possibilities. Moon in Pisces will bring intuition and receptivity, and a place from which to wish all your dreams into reality. Spiritual awareness and meditation are the highest use of these energies. Celebrate the irrational and the Spirit paths; leave the rational mind behind. At the same time as combining this integrated Sun sign with Moon qualities, remember to also weave in the energy inherent in the Moon phase, and the direction in which the Moon is moving. Keeping track of this brings a connection to the natural energy flow and means you can make the best use of it in your daily life.
Celebration, Ceremony and RitualThe way you celebrate the Celtic festivals is a matter of choice and experiment. What matters most is the experience of communicating with the outer world, bursting with created abundance, and connecting to your inner levels and spiritual path. The changing year provides a wealth of experiences through the cyclic ebb and flow of the Sun's energy. Interwoven with this, are the monthly cycles of the waxing and waning Moon, and the planetary influences. Each festival is a chance to feel yourself as part of the whole, and also to connect to the moment, the here and now. From this point of being you can look back on what you have been doing, feeling, thinking; on your health, and on your spiritual journey. You can also look forward with an understanding of the Earth's (and your) inherent energy flow, to where you wish to go, how you may best use the oncoming energy for your greater good, the greater good of the Earth, and all those around you. It may be that you wish to celebrate these festivals on your own, or with a close friend; it may be that you prefer to gather with a group of friends and explore the possibilities of creating ceremonies and rituals together. You must work at the level you feel most comfortable with. Touching your deepest feelings and expressing the sacred will bring with it a connection to the inner core of your being. If you are with friends, inevitably you will become closer as a result of this sharing. The Five Elements and the Celtic TraditionCentral to any ceremony or sacred space are the four directions and their corresponding four elements of Air, Fire, Water and Earth. The fifth element, Spirit or Ether, is said to give birth to the four, and is everywhere and nowhere, within and without. It is both immanence and transcendence. It is interwoven and interlocking. If you were creating a sacred circle to include all the elements, Spirit or Ether's place would be at the centre, and it would also be the circumference. On the pentacle, Spirit is the top point with the four elements making up the other points. The four quarters linked with Spirit make the pattern of a cross within a circle, a symbol which predates Christianity. The five elements can be used to create a temporary or permanent sacred area. This may be done in a room, a garden or amongst a group of trees. You may wish to create a large outside sacred space, large enough to include the whole group of friends taking part in the celebration. If you have a large garden or a piece of land, you may wish to set up five permanent shrines to each of the elements. This may be used as a force-field or protective circle around the whole area. Most of us lack the space within our homes to have a room put aside as a permanent sacred space, but if you have a spare room or attic which can be created for this purpose, it is a wonderful asset. It can be used for group meetings, meditation, healing, and any time you need to connect deeply to your inner world. Weather conditions, especially during the Winter, make it difficult to celebrate the festivals outside, and so there is a need to create a sacred space inside. You may want to celebrate on your own, and therefore need only a small space. You can set up the five elements by invocation and the placing of something to represent each element. Hang an elemental hanging on the wall using coloured wool or painted material. You might do a painting which summons the power of each element visually. Decorate a stick with coloured wools and threads, hang things from it which suggest that element, and place these in each of the directions as you visualise their inherent energy. You may wish to make four shrines in the four directions, placing appropriate things in each. The seasonal changes bring fresh things to add and new understanding. Always remember to include Spirit, by honouring it in some way at the centre and the circumference. This may include flowers, a candle, a gift, a figurine, a flat stone or tray on which are placed small representations of each of the elements. Stand at the centre. Use a standard compass to establish where the four directions lie. Turn it until the red arrow settles on North. This fixes the position of the four directions. Central to creating a sacred area using the five elements, is visualisation. You must visualise the five elements strongly in your mind's eye in order for their energy and power to become manifest. By doing this, you are creating links and connectors for the energy to travel through. Air in the East The Sun rises in the East, and so it is the place of new beginnings. Visualise the wind, the flow and patterns of air; the sky with the birds gliding and travelling along the air currents; gales and strong winds, gentle balmy winds; visualise sounds travelling, your voice and its power, the power of song, music, your breath. Air brings the power of thought and communication. Use your voice to speak out a welcome, to honour the presence and the power of Air, to thank the Air for its gifts to humankind. Place a feather, hang a bell or mobile or wind-chime in the East. Fire in the South Visualise the heat of the mid-day Sun, flames of Fire consuming, transforming and cleansing. Fire brings passion, power, change and creativity. Fire connects us to our life spirit, sexuality, expansion, our vital energy. It can be creative or destructive. It represents transformation. Its colours are red, orange and gold. Light a candle here, or burn some incense or herbs. Welcome and give thanks for the active vitality of the spirit of Fire. Water in the West Visualise waves, the sea, flowing streams, waterfalls, rain, tears, the Moon. Water reflects our emotions flowing through us, the pull of our hearts, our deepest feelings, our unconscious, our imagination and our intuition. Here is love, compassion, receptivity, mysteries, the soul. Place a bowl of spring water in the West. Give thanks for the life-giving element of Water and the receptivity this element brings. Earth in the North Visualise the material world, trees, plants, rocks, soil and animals. Visualise the mountains and the caves, the roots, the minerals and crystals beneath the surface of the Earth. The North is the place of our inner wisdom and ancient knowledge. It brings containment, fertility, abundance and experience. Place a stone or a crystal in the North to represent the Earth. Welcome the nature spirits, the plant and tree devas, the Faerie and other elementals. Give thanks to the Earth for its supportive energy. Spirit The fifth element, Spirit, is all around us, above and below, within and without. It connects us to the unseen world, our Guardians, guides, and our spiritual path. It is at the centre of our being. It cannot be seen, cannot be named, but it is always with us, connecting us to a universal energy and power, Unconditional Love, connecting us to what has been and what will be and yet it is always in the present moment. With each season you will find new ways of representing the five elements, and each season presents a new opportunity to creatively express each of them. This is the most powerful way of understanding how these forces work within us. The enjoyment is in the making, and you will almost certainly surprise yourself and produce something you are very pleased with. |
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Guidebook to Sacred England |
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Original research, ideas |
Book extracts |