Betws -y- Coed
I reflect on my 4 days in Betws Y Coed, in Eryri, mountain territory:
In a land surrounded on all sides by hills and rivers, converging.
The rivers flow from the mountains, contributing, tributaries.
The rivers flow from the lakes, collected in the highlands, over milky quartz and slate.
I enjoyed so much being surrounded by giant old oak trees, their branches gnarled with age, covered in moss. Something so satisfying seeing many full grown oak trees, I am reminded of the lack of those surrounding me even though I live in a semi rural area.
To see the mountains, stirs a sense of timelessness, of infinite ancient beings, dwelling, unconcerned with human affairs.
I find out the name of the hill I climbed is Gartheryr:
garth - promontory, hill, enclosure
eryr - eagle
The internet tells me Garth as a name means gentle, enclosure, and watchful. Whilst I’m not certain of the accuracy of this translation, I felt that gentle, watchful presence protecting and enclosing me whilst I was there.
On the climb I truly felt like I was ascending to heaven, whether it was the fast breathing, I felt I heard the voice of God in a Blackbird (Mwyalchen) singing to me whilst I caught my breath beside a mountain stream.
It’s not possible to contain those moments and describe them in photo or story, it’s not possible to contain those moments at all, they are living breathing moments of presence and raw experience. No one will ever witness the same moment I did, and no one will experience it quite the same way, subjectivity.
Why do I have to go to the old woods? To the mountains to hear God so clearly?
For the first time ever I bowed my head and touched my hands together sincerely in a 1000 year old church, St Michael’s Old Church / Hen Eglwys Sant Mihangel, an ancient sacred site, no doubt built upon a converted Celtic sacred site, like many early churches. I received no voice from God inside the chapel but pressing my head against the 3 Yew trees (tair coed ywen) outside I received an answer.
—
Have you ever climbed to heaven?
Have you ever heard the voice of god?
Have you ever tasted the mountain spring?
Nothing as pure
Nothing as clean
Heaven indeed.