Spirits of Place exist in any natural geologic feature but,
those I have always found it easiest to relate to personally have been those
connected to bodies of fresh Water and the Land surrounding them.
My ancient ancestors in South Wales would
have perceived the rivers closest to them to be deity. My parents grew up on the banks of the
Susquehannah River (in the North-Eastern part of Pennsylvania) as did many
generations before them.
I grew up near
the Delaware River and I now live on the banks of the Schyulkill River. The Leni-Lenape
who lived here before us called the River “Turtle Creek”. The name has the added meaning of “Hidden” or
“Refuge”.
When I first moved here seven months ago, I sought to form
a relationship, a connection to the Spirit of this Place and that meant the
River and the Land surrounding it.
I began visiting the banks of the River and found a
Sycamore Tree (one of the species of Trees for which I bare a strong affection
and affinity). I made offerings and
expressed a desire to build relationship with the River and the Tree and the Land.
At the suggestion of one of my wise and valued teachers, I
carved Othala into the soft Earth beneath the Sycamore, then scraped the Earth
and the Rune into a bowl. I collected
Water from the River into a jar and brought the Earth and the Water home.
In my bedroom I created an Altar to the Spirit of this
Place where I now live. I placed the Earth
and the Water into silver dishes and scribed Othala into them and I placed a
small Turtle fetish carved from green stone between them. Every day that I am home, I light a candle and
sing at this Altar, and every day that I can, I visit the Tree and the Riverbank
and I sing there as well.
The Spirit of this Place supports me and I give thanks for
this new Friend. Spirits of Place have
been my allies since I was a small child and I give thanks for each one of
them.
