HAMPSHIRE:
Autumn sunshine in North Hampshire to connect and amplify our Gatekeeper network of light. Linking to other light holders and to creative collaborations past and present: the lantern used for the St Michael’s Mount light sculpture in the land representing the inner light in all things, with a visual reference to the Gatekeeper butterfly, the work with the Portland Sculpture & Quarry Trust and restoration of white horse hill figures. Sending light energy and love to these installations and
landscapes keeps the energy flowing and helps both the land and ourselves heal and prosper.
Angela Shaw – Gatekeeper Trustee
DEVON:
I visited Knowstone Menhir with my singing bowl, a fir cone and golden autumn leaves, and as the weather was wet and windy I waited in the car asking the spirit of place when it was ready for an attunement. This stone had been the subject of our research into mid Devon this year as it stands in between the Gemini of Dartmoor and Gemini of Exmoor, just on the junction of three ancient pilgrim paths. The two landscape zodiacs seem to be energetically linked. This one is near 'Black Dog Village' - a sign that it is dedicated to the guardian dog Anubis of the Underworld, at the gateway to a sacred cosmic landscape.
The paths seemed to scintillate with silver threads, left there by the ancient pilgrims' devotion... they seemed to want to participate. So I sang and walked round the stone, and rang the bowl, untill the stillness came and the silver threads entwined and made a 'knot' to receive my future vision of commitment. Strange, that had not happened before, so this is what is required now, as I lifted a 'heart grail' in my palms, in my visioning, and felt my crown opening as a blessing for the land. It was powerful and I felt energised with this 'Inner Light' settling into the earth.
STOCKPORT:
We were both suffering with colds and headache on Sunday 2nd so for the first time in these collaborations we opted to stay at home and installed ourselves in our summerhouse which we often use for Solstice and Equinox celebrations. It was cold, damp and blustery as we walked down, but two buzzards were wheeling and calling overhead. It is amazing how, over the years, our Gatekeeper work has been associated with birds of prey whether at the start of a process or to finish. We always take these manifestations as a good sign that we are moving and working with the right orientation. Doing the right thing in the right place with the right intention. We lit candles and settled down just before 12 noon. We sat between heaven and earth visualising a network of light all around our fellow Gatekeepers for 30 minutes in silence apart from the sounds of nature-wind, rain, leaves rustling, birdsong. The sun came out, we extinguished the candles, sending the light out into the world.
Mike and Vivienne Newton
SK6 5AG
SUSSEX:
We joined Light in the Land from Ditching in Sussex, sitting in the sun outside the church with our lanterns and then going into the church to discover finding this beautiful stained glass window. It was a beautiful experience from Sagittarius, connecting peacefully. Louise
STAFFORDSHIRE:
A Light in the Land 2025 mini-pilgrimage in words and pictures
The sun shone brightly on the morning of Sunday 2 November 2025.
I had decided the previous day that with fine weather forecast I would take the opportunity to do a mini-pilgrimage based around Light in the Land at 12 noon. My home is on the Wedgwood estate in Staffordshire. Next door is the World of Wedgwood, which includes the Wedgwood factory and the Wedgwood V and A Museum. Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795) was a pioneering potter, entrepreneur and abolitionist who began the company in 1759. His family continued the pottery business and in 1950 moved the factory from Etruria in Stoke-on-Trent to Barlaston on the outskirts. Wedgwood continues to support the local community. It feels as if the benign presence of Josiah Wedgwood permeates the area even though it was his descendants rather than he himself who lived here.
At 10.30 I set off with my two retired greyhounds, Jupiter and Juno. We were heading for the viewpoint on the National Trust’s Downs Bank a few miles away. We walked through the Wedgwood estate past the three adjoining Wedgwood Lakes, which border the Wedgwood Cricket Ground. We climbed the gentle slope towards the older part of the village past Lower House with its deconsecrated St John’s Church. Barlaston Hall (as it was then called) was bought with its 392 acres by the Wedgwood family for a new all electric pottery and model village for its employees and a new railway station (now disused). We continued into the rather sprawling mixed village of Barlaston past the family run Milk Barn selling fresh milk and related produce from the Holstein Friesian cows grazing in the adjoining fields. Another local hub is one of the two village pubs, the now unfortunately named Duke of York. Crossing the village green we entered the path up to Downs Bank.
The path wound through woodland between fields up to Downs Bank entrance. The dogs and I took the lower path to the left where we met the magnificent Merlin, another retired greyhound. Hounds always recognise their own breed. It’s a wonderful ease with each other that they exude. It very much reminds me of the feeling when as humans we are with others we recognise as being on the same wavelength. There’s a sense of calm and warmth.
At the bottom of the rather uneven path we crossed a wooden bridge over a stream and made our way out into the open area with a steep path up to the viewpoint.
I had allowed 90 minutes which was perfect timing as we reached the viewpoint with time to spare. The previous group observed the accepted etiquette and stayed a few minutes to check out the view and the landmarks marked on the toposcope on the stone column. I then had the view to myself for a few minutes so I could take some photos. It was worth the climb.
The toposcope pointed out towards the south-west the Wrekin in Shropshire, recognisable for many miles around. I thought back on the Gatekeeper pilgrimage there a few years ago.
To the north was marked Mow Cop, another recognisable landmark this time with ruins on the top, and not marked but in the same general direction is Bosley Cloud. A number of Gatekeeper trustees and members had attended a presentation and walk there, led by Gary Biltcliffe and Caroline Hoare, in August 2025. Bosley Cloud is a powerful energy point on the Spine of Albion (and indeed will feature in Caroline’s talk in the 2025 online conference on 23 November entitled Sacred Space).
A few other people walked from the opposite direction to me so I continued walking to a small copse of trees which was sheltered for meditation but also still had the expansive view. At noon I stayed in standing meditation, visualising the light streaming in a gentle explosion into and out of the landscape. After about 10-15 minutes of quiet with no disturbance from other walkers, out of nowhere a wind blew up and created a quite fierce rustling of the leaves on a totally still day aside from that little interval. I have often found this sudden whipping up of wind a common feature of spiritual work outside. It feels to me like a sign from spirit that the work has been done and everything is cleared and pure once more.
It was time therefore to walk down the other side of Downs Bank to the coffee shed for a light snack, drink and ice creams for the dogs. On the way we met a four-legged friend, Freddy, the deaf Old English Sheepdog who lived locally with his family but it was the first time they had visited. Jupiter, Juno and I foster Old English for a local charity while they find forever homes. Freddy was not one of our foster dogs, but his sister, the adorable Abby, was. She is now living the life near a beach in Wales while Freddy is obviously enjoying life too.
I have always viewed dogs as an important part of my spiritual practice. I believe they naturally ground energies so well and spread the light wherever they go. After the sojourn we crossed the bridge by the side of the ford and re-entered Downs Bank by the Stone entrance and walked along the stream before taking the upper path above the stream along the fence to the gate where we had entered a couple of hours previously. It was then retracing our steps home taking time to appreciate Upper House, a former home of Francis and Frances Wedgwood, and now a hotel and restaurant which still has wonderful views across the countryside.
Interestingly, the house contains some Portland Stone which is another link to a Gatekeeper pilgrimage in August 2024.
All in all, a peaceful and enriching All Souls’ Day
Jane Knight
Eckernförde, GERMANY:
Dear Gatekeepers,
My husband and me celebrated the ceremony on the 2nd of November 2025 in the garden of the home of our family, located in Windeby near the city of Eckernförde, Germany. The coordinates of the place are 54.462421 N , 9.811480 E
An old fir tree with ivy all around creates a beautiful place in this large garden. We lay a cross around this tree and marked it with garden- juniper, flowers, leaves and quince fruits all found in the garden itself and we put a light in the north-west direction of the cross.
During the whole ceremony the sun was shining, some birds (woodpecker, wren, tit ) accompanied us, and a pair of swans passed the place a little bit easterly from the North to the South.
Our thoughts and wishes were concentrated on the saving of our democracy, thankfulness for living in such a peaceful, harmonious place and the hope, it might stay peaceful in future as well.
Thank you all for this great event!
From Samantha