Wednesday 29 July 2026
12 Noon, local time
Sun in Leo, Fire, the Leader/Child
Moon in Aquarius, Water/Intellect
Source of the river Stour, where it forms a series of artificial lakes which are part of the Stourhead Estate owned by The National Trust. Together with a map of the area of Selwood Forest
Dear Gatekeepers
This month we have more information on our forthcoming conference with the intriguing subject of “Gateways” as its theme. We also have a wonderful meteor shower in August and two partial eclipses one lunar and one solar.
The full moon in watery Aquarius this month takes us to the South West of Britain on the British Landscape Zodiac. Here we pilgrimage to the ancient Forest of Selwood. Its greensand ridge aquifers are home to numerous springs feeding the headwaters of five important rivers; the Brue, Cale, Frome, Stour and Wylye. This once vast and sometimes impenetrable forest stretched from north of Frome down to Shaftesbury and from Bruton to Warminster. This is a landscape steeped in legend and history. It was here in 878 that the Forest provided refuge for King Alfred and his men for two nights before Alfred’s defining Battle of Ethandune.
After gathering support from the men of Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire against the marauding Danes, Alfred met them at Egbert’s Stone. Only a few fragments of the forest now survive, but it is being revived by the Forest of Selwood Charity, working in collaboration with other national charities to promote and champion natures recovery, catalyse environmental action in the area and mobilise people to achieve positive environmental change. https://forestofselwood.org
Victorian Folly named King Alfred’s Tower This is where he raised his standard in 878 AD.
Gatekeeper Trust Online Conference 2026
‘GATEWAYS’
Sunday 8 November
Gatekeeper Trust are very pleased to announce our 6th online conference on the theme of Gateways. We have invited six speakers to share their thoughts and experiences of Gateways – a theme that is especially relevant in these changing times.
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: Matt is a water researcher, water sommelier, aviator, cosmologist and skyobserver.
- Peter Dawkins: Peter is Co-founder and Elder of The Gatekeeper Trust.
- Pam Montgomery: Pam is an herbalist, author, international teacher and Earth Elder.
- Mary Berkery: Mary is an intuitive Guide, Soul Coach and Equine Assisted Learning Facilitator.
- Louise Coe: Louise is a long-time Friend of Gatekeeper who has for many years been the
conference convener. - Rupert Sheldrake: Rupert is a scientist whose research into parapsychology and evolution led to
the Theory of Morphic Resonance.
TICKETS & RECORDINGS
All tickets include access to the live conference via Zoom as well as recordings of the conference which will be sent out during the week following the conference.
- General Admission - £25
Concessions are available, please contact secretary@gatekeeper.org.uk - Friends of the Trust - £15: purchase in the Friends area of the website
CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE, AND BOOK TICKETS
THE AUGUST NIGHT SKY
On 12 August the New Moon will pass in front of the sun, creating a partial solar eclipse. It can be seen in the west starting soon after !8.00 - the maximum (94%) will be from 19.05 in Edinburgh to 17.16 in London and finishing from 20.00. More information here: https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/how-see-12-august-2026-partial-solar-eclipse
Partial Solar Eclipse – Royal Museums Greenwich
August 12 - 13 is also the best time to see the Perseid Meteor Shower, when it is at its peak and we also have dark skies with the New Moon. Try to see it between midnight and 5 am when the sky is darkest. The Perseid meteor shower is one of the best meteor showers of the year because it produces bright meteors and is one of the most active with up to 60 per hour. There's also a high chance of seeing fireballs, which are very bright meteors, as well as meteors with long trains.
Perseid Fireball - Royal Museums Greenwich
There will be a partial lunar eclipse for our next full moon on 28 August, more about that in our next
full moon newsletter.
LAMMAS
The festival of Lammas is the summer/autumn quarter day when the summer ends and autumn begins. Usually celebrated on 1 August or the lunar date of 7 /8 August, this ancient festival is often celebrated with a loaf of bread signifying the first harvest. In Lincolnshire we make corn dollies from the ripened wheat. The word Lammas comes from the Saxon word, Hlafmaesse, meaning Loaf Mass. The Christian calendar calls this date the Festival of the First Fruits.
Here we link with Charlotte in the sun sign of Leo with more on King Alfred and re-wilding forests: LINK
With love and light to you on your landscape.