Tuesday 30 June 2026
12 Noon, local time
Sun in Cancer, Water, the guardian, inner reflection.
Moon in Capricorn, Earth, the Initiator and Consolidator
River Avon, Bath (Capricorn)
Dear Gatekeepers,
Welcome to our Capricorn full moon newsletter. We have lots to tell you this month including our Annual Conference – the theme is Gateways and the date is 8 November. See below for full details. So please read on and save the date.
Sarah Dawkins and Andrew Clark hosted a wonderful associated pilgrimage earlier this month. “In the Light of Beauty.” We started from Lincoln on the cusp of Leo and Virgo in the British Landscape Zodiac where we met our hosts, Sarah Dawkins and Andrew Clark. With the help of a large poster of the British Landscape Zodiac, Sarah indicated the route we would take along the old Fosse Way from Lincoln to Bath which sits on the cusp of Capricorn and Aquarius.
Sarah explained the purpose of our pilgrimage was to envision the light of beauty in the human heart and in nature; connecting with the flow of universal love and making a heartfelt offering to the land and all who are sustained by it; envisioning an arrow of light, moving from the northeast to the southwest of Britain; energising through song and dance the British Landscape Zodiac in harmony with the landscape zodiacs of Scotland and Ireland; and thus helping us all to flourish and become Beacons of Light. Here is a link to the rest of the pilgrimage.
A Gatekeeper Pilgrimage to Astbury in Cheshire
Moon in Gemini
Our group met Vicky Wade, our leader for the day, at Astbury Mere cafe then walked a short distance to a small and wonderfully overgrown community orchard where we started our pilgrimage with our Gatekeeper invocation to the spirits of the land. From there we walked down to the side of Astbury Mere. This was formerly a gravel pit but now serves as a park and nature reserve frequented by ducks, moorhens and anglers as well as fellow strollers.
We then passed to a quieter level through some sloped woodland and up on to Lambert Lane with its mix of inter- and post-war buildings. This lane, however, is also a remnant of an ancient track leading towards the uplands of the East and the Bridestones.
As we journeyed, we shared some thoughts about breathing and aspects of what we sensed in the air as we strode onwards towards Stoney Lane. Along this bumpy track we took in the contrasting horizons of the low-lying meadow lands to our right compared with the upland fringes, including Bosley Cloud and Mow Cop with its amazing folly to our left. Vicky read out a short piece of prose called Horizons by David Whyte as we contemplated what horizons and view were.
Following those reflections the group arrived at Astbury village and approached the church dedicated to St Mary via a path to and around a most venerable yew. Other pilgrims were there too and we all seemed mesmerised by its intricate bark, shape and character. Inside we studied a framed certificate from The Conservation Foundation signed by Gatekeeper’s very own Sir George Trevelyan alongside the actor Robert Hardy, conservationist David Bellamy and yew tree expert Allen Meredith which confirmed that the St Mary’s Church Yew was 2,000 years old.
Our knowledgeable church guide, who conveniently lived literally next door to the church, pointed out the many features of the Grade I listed church with its exceptionally wide nave for a village church, including a green 'cat' roof boss, a rood screen with dragons and a 14th century lectern in the shape of a raven-like ‘eagle'. The interior struck our group of pilgrims as a peaceful, balanced mix of shadow and light.
It is possible that a church existed on this site in Saxon times, going on evidence such as fragments of stone with Saxon decoration and coffin lids found nearby. However the earliest fabric of the church is Norman.
Our group visited on 31 May, the last day of the month dedicated to Mary, and in fact her feast day. This would have been one of the parish’s major feast days in medieval times, namely ‘The Visitation of the Virgin Mary’. As our pilgrimage had been punctuated with poetry and prose, we ended with Mary’s Song of Praise, The Magnificat. This seemed a fitting tribute of gratitude for the insights of our journey and to acknowledge what our ancestors would have heard on St Mary’s Day.
Vicky Wade, Gatekeeper Leader, and Jane Knight, Gatekeeper Trustee
Chris Street Obituary
It was with great sadness that we learnt of the death of Chris Street on 11 April this year, after a long and debilitating illness. Readers may have known him through the Earthstars community, his work on the Camelot Moat in Trent Park, his talks and healing expeditions, fascinating discussions and through his inspiring books.
2026 Gatekeeper Trust Annual Conference:
Sunday 8th November 2-5.30pm online
Gateways
Gateways hold the liminal space between what is, what has been and what is yet to come. They are loci of becoming, a place to pause and reflect before choosing to enter through these portals to new potential, experiences and knowledge. The Gatekeeper awaits you there.
SPEAKERS
- Matt Thornton: Water, Our Evolving Relationship - A Living Journey into Observation, Perception, and Water’s True Nature:
Matt is a water researcher, water sommelier, aviator, cosmologist, and sky-observer. - Peter Dawkins: Portland, a Gateway. The Importance of Stone - The Foundation Stone of
the Universe. Peter is Co-founder and Elder of The Gatekeeper Trust. - Pam Montgomery: Gateway Herbs Are Guiding Us in Our Next Evolution
Pam is an herbalist, author, international teacher and Earth Elder. - Mary Berkery: Horses as Threshold Guides
Mary is an intuitive Guide, South Coach and Equine Assisted Learning Facilitator. - Louise Coe: Winter and the Dreamtime of the Year
Louise is a long-time Friend of Gatekeeper who has for many years been the conference convener. - Rupert Sheldrake: To Be a Pilgrim
Rupert is a scientist whose research into parapsychology and evolution led to the Theory of Morphic Resonance.
Click here for Tickets and information
Portland Update - June 2026
Visit 6/6/26 to progress the carving of the Gatekeeper Stone and further the siting of the Fleet Street portal.
The Gatekeeper butterfly is beginning to take shape on the edge of the Gatekeeper Stone. Hannah is committed to continuing the carving during the summer and hopes to progress to the book of nature pages. PSQT are also preparing the lettering on the Brunsden geomorphology stone in the Memory Stones circle to mark 25 years since The Jurassic Coast was inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for the outstanding universal value of its rocks, fossils and landforms. It remains England’s only natural World Heritage Site, with Portland at its centre. The look out view from this stone encompasses 96 miles of coastline and a timeline of 185 million years.
Click here to read the full report
Here we meet Charlotte in her landscape of Cancer Sun - CLICK HERE
Sending you love and light on your landscape.
Rose
Rose.wol2022@gmail.com