“For Sound in the Land in May this year I stood on the longest packhorse bridge in the UK overlooking the junction of rivers Trent and Sow on the Shugborough estate in Staffordshire. It was in close proximity to the Trent-Mersey canal and the main West Coast railway line. I was struck by the various communication lines emanating from this spot.
At the beginning of October it appeared that I was guided to be there once more as I had received an invitation to a friend’s 50th birthday party in nearby Tixall within the old Shugborough estate. Unfortunately my friend was unwell so it had to be postponed. That meant I was close to home in Barlaston on the Wedgwood estate. I had thought I’d be missing a webinar from 2-4 that day I had signed up for in August but the change of plan allowed me to attend live.
One of my standard walks with my two retired greyhounds is from my house next to the Wedgwood Museum across the Wedgwood level crossing, and down the Trent-Mersey canal from bridge 104 to bridge 103 and then up the hill past Lower House formerly inhabited by the Wedgwood family and back home.
It so happened I had left my phone at the theatre in Shrewsbury the previous afternoon. As I use my phone for the time and taking photos, I calculated when I needed to set out in order to reach canal bridge 103. This is a good resting place next to one of the village pubs, the Plume of Feathers, where I knew I could sit on a bench undisturbed while the world passed by. I find my internal clock is pretty accurate when I use it and don’t rely on physical means.
It was a peaceful interlude while life continued to move round me with cars driving over the canal bridge and trains travelling across the second village level crossing. I was aware of but not distracted by the various sounds. Locals get used to the warning alerts of the barriers coming down to allow trains to cross. You get to recognise the different characteristic sounds of the speedy West Coast line, the more leisurely cross country trains and the heavier vibration of freight trains. People were starting to arrive in the pub car park for their Sunday lunch bookings. Walkers with and without dogs were about as were cyclists. Narrow boats were passing by with some mooring up to take on board provisions from the shop. I sat and pictured the light entering all that was around me, connecting with others doing the same thing elsewhere and seeing the light travelling out into the planet and beyond with increasing power.
I reflected on the similarities between my position in November and May. Both times I was on an old family estate overlooking water in the midst of a communications hub where lines of energy flowed in all directions via many different means.
Once again the Universe had conspired for me to be in the exact place I was meant to be that day.”
Postscript: As I didn’t have my phone with me, I couldn’t take any photos that day but I have subsequently walked past on 7 November and taken some to give an idea of the setting although the energies will be different in the shots. I also have included two of Lower House and its church where I passed. It overlooks the communication links as you can picture from the background. Feel free to use any or all.
Thanks
Jane
