Riverside totem

I enjoy coming across a woodland totem, there's something about folk creating these archaic features that resonates, something timeless; highlighting maybe our subconscious connection, or our desire for connection, to a bygone age and the magic and ritual of connecting with that ancient landscape. I'm not adverse to setting one up myself, for me it's definitely partly the pursuit of connection to a shrouded past, the world of ancestors and a wilder wood.

Horse shrine

 

Our walks in the forest and the things we come across frequently puts me in mind of Holdstock's 'Mythago Wood'; and Mythago Wood has always made me think of the forest. In this case a horse skull stands guard at a place between worlds where the woodland abuts wet heath and bog; and I'm reminded of the prehistoric horse shrine deep in Mythago Wood. Good book, I recommend it.

The Watcher

The forest should be a world full of mystery and magic.

 

Oh deer

I mentioned only yesterday what a harsh and unforgiving environment our beautiful and peaceful forest can be. Walking round the other side of Clay Hill Bottom this morning I came across evidence of it. A deer skull and bone, from a young deer I reckon, the rest of the remains long ago scattered. If you take your own path across the land, you'll often come across the remains of forest inhabitants who'd come to the end of their journey, or just didn't make through. In fact I came across another body through Clay Hill Bottom, that of a pony, I haven't posted that picture, it was still a bit soft tissuey. That said, I have thought about doing a photo post on the topic of death in the forest, we'll see.

Antler project pt1

I went back out to Holmhill today and collected the antler rack I found earlier in the week. I know I said I wasn't sure about removing it from the forest, and that's still the case. The antlers will be returned to the forest, but I have a plan for them. Strapped my pack the antlers again moved through the forest, weirdly at one point a deer approached me (or rather the antlers) and was noticeably surprised when I emerged from the undergrowth. Walking back on Sunday a picture began to form in my mind of what the antlers were meant for, pondering on it today, I'm sure it's right. 

Horse Shrine

It was years ago I first read Robert Holdstock's 'Mythago Wood', I've read it many times since and would honestly say it had, and continues to have, a powerful effect on how I experience the natural world, myth and legend. I know it's a work of fiction, though I found aspects of it resonate, and anyway, there's often truths to be found hidden in fiction. Reoccurring features throughout the books (there several books and short stories in the Mythago Wood series based on the mysterious Ryhope Wood), are the horse and horse shrines, the horse has always been a important and powerfully symbolic animal, important to human cultures all over the world, they have helped us so much, and in so many ways. From beasts of burden, wood and field labourers to revered, respected and feared war-machines, and everything in between. The horse has been our companion throughout our journey from way back when to now. The New Forest is famous, amongst other things, for its rugged ponies, 5000 of whom range free, living and dying almost wild as they have done for over 2000 years, and whose ancestors arrived here after the last ice age. As I say, they live and die wild in the forest, and I regularly find horse skulls and my mind wanders back into the mythological landscape of Mythago Wood. The horse shrines in the stories always feature skulls.

Death by ?

I frequently come across bones and skulls when out walking, probably as I have some trouble keeping to paths, and choose those less walked, but two skulls together is a first for me. Two deer skulls amongst a jumble of disarticulated bones, Roe Deer I think, quite small skulls, juveniles, I'm not sure whether they aren't different genders too. An odd find. Usually I'd put a single skull or skeleton down to natural causes of some kind, disease or trauma, but two together suggest something else, foul play of some kind, maybe. I wonder what went on here?

Oh Deer!

We came across an almost complete Deer skeleton today in the woods. Which was unusual. Usually the skeleton has been disturbed by scavengers and dispersed far and wide, often only a few bones remain. But this skeleton looked complete, disarticulated but still closely grouped.  I think it was a young Roe Deer, the skull says young/small and the antlers look like those of a Roe (all nodular around the lower section and near the base). Nice find.

Oh Deer

Let this be a warning to all and any of the woodland folk who seek to meddle with my rule, said the giant stag as he place the bleached skull of his rival on the stick, high up for all to see. The woodland folk cowered and averted their eyes, they knew it was true, and that obedience was not a option, but the rule. All except the Squirrels, what with them being gobby bastards.  True story! Well, that's what I heard anyway.