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L. M. Browning
OAK WISE
Poetry Exploring an Ecological Faith
OAK WISE
Poetry Exploring an Ecological Faith
L. M. BROWNING
FIRST EDITION
Interior Photographs/illustration:
Browning, L. M.
Oak wise : poetry exploring an ecological faith / L.M. Browning. -- 1st ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references, glossary and index.
ISBN 978-1-935656-01-2 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Druids and druidism--Poetry. 2. Nature--Religious aspects--Poetry. I. Title.
PS3602.R738O15 2010
811'.6--dc22
2010013858
viii
The Duties of the Bard 61
I. — Ink and Pen ~ Blood and Breath 61
II. — The Memory of the Village 61
III. — The Historian's Task 63
IV. — The Invocation 65
The Pilgrimage Inward 67
Full Circle 71
Anam Cara 72
I. — Binary 72
II. — My One Essential 75
III. — Assembling the Pieces 76
The Journey Home 81
I. — To Call for the Boat 81
II. — The Long Awaited Arrival 81
III. — The Needed Guide 82
IV. — The Journey's End - Life's Beginning 83
Returning From the Wasteland 84
I. — Ailing 85
II. — Damage Done 85
III. — Recovery 86
The Homeland 91
I. — To Resume a Past Life 91
II. — After the Long Journey 92
The Voyage Back 96
I. — Unable to Let Go 96
II. — Risk Taken 96
III. — To Invoke Remembrance 98
IV. — The Final Plea 100
Grassroots 107
I. — The Face of Faith 107
II. — Where Belief is Found 107
III. — Going Back to go Forward 110
ix
FOREWORD
xi
This wonderful oak tree, called the "Treaty Oak," is located in Jessie Ball Dupont Park,
Jacksonville, Florida, USA is over 250 years old. It is more than 70 feet tall, and the
circumference of the trunk is 25 feet. Its lower limbers obviously near or resting on the
ground are almost the size of the trunk.
(Photograph in the public domain)
PREFACE
xiii
represents the desire to discard all truths taught to us
secondhand and to personally explore an empirical knowledge
of the Divine, the World and the self.
Oak Wise is a direct translation of the word Druid. In Druidry the Oak is revered
as one of the Sacred trees. It is also viewed as a doorway into the Otherworld
or conduit through which to gain the wisdom that the Earth holds. As one of
the oldest living organisms on Earth, it cannot be disputed that the rings of a
single Oak can mark millenniums of humanity’s history. If these silent historians
are indeed conscious as the Druids would believe, they would hold a collective
knowledge of natural history more comprehensive than all annuals of mankind.
Next time you come upon an Oak, reach out and touch it and try to connect with
the history it has witnessed.
(Illustration titled: "The Druid Gove," taken from, Old England: A Pictorial
Museum by Charles Knight (1845). In the public domain).
xiv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
xv
This is a magical photograph, taken from the Austrian town of Oberfallenberg, looking
through the trees out over a sea of mist lying in the valley with the mountains of Switzerland
in the distance.
(Photograph taken by: Friedrich Böhringer, titled: "Oberfallenberg_11." In the public
domain.)
INTRODUCTION
xvii
the faith I had come to during this time was purely my own;
until one afternoon, while browsing in the library, my hand
was led to two books on Celtic Shamanism and I found my
personal faith put down before me. The two works that woke
me to the ancient roots of my faith were: The Encyclopedia of
Celtic Wisdom by: John and Caitlin Matthews and The Mist-
Filled Path by: Frank MacEowen.
It was during the days and weeks I spent reading
these books that I came to realize that the beliefs I had spent
years establishing and defining were in fact quite old. While I
thought I was progressing forward, what I was truly doing was
reconnecting with the past. I had followed my heart away from
the dogma of formal religion, so to be true to what I believed,
and found that I had naturally come to the faith held by many
of those to come before us. …I had listened to the guide within
and was led unto the ways that had been lost.
For myself, Oak Wise encapsulates that time of
discovery; the book is not strictly on Shamanism, rather it
is a convergence of my own beliefs and the Celtic traditions
of which I have learned. Despite choosing to leave behind
organized religion, Shamanism remains dear to my heart
and, if I ever consented to give myself a label to help others
understand what I believe and what my spiritual path has
been, the label would be that of a Shaman.
xviii
concept, rather it is the reemergence of the very old principles
found at the center of the Druidic and Shamanic tradition.
The Ecological Faith was quite possibly the first
“religion.” Archeological evidence estimates that Shamanic
beliefs date back some 30,000 or more years—well before any
prophets emerged from the wilderness, and was practiced by
nearly all peoples throughout the then unconnected world.
Each village, though isolated from the other, came to their
own version of the Earth-based faith. I would attempt to name
the regions of the world that hold a Shamanic history but I
would quite literally be composing a list of every continent.
The old ways of finding the Divine in and amongst the green
of nature are the grassroots of humanity’s faith in a greater
power. These old ways were the ways of a simpler people but
all the same, a wiser people.
xix
and the path of the Dervish. Among the many notable figures
in Sufism, the most beloved by many must be the prophetic
poet Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī, whose verse cannot be
given high enough praise. Incidentally, both these two men I
have listed were writers, this is not coincidence. If one were
to review a list of notable Mystics throughout history, shared
traits would begin to emerge, one such trait being that of a
propensity towards writing (usually verse) and another being
their “outsider status” within their communities. Mystics
in the past and even today to some extent, usually dwelt as
outcasts sometimes by choice, other times by force residing on
the fringes of rigid religious societies who frowned upon those
who would dare proclaim the Divine to be knowable on an
intimate level through the connecting souls. It should also be
noted that Buddhism, Hinduism and Taoism, while not having
as defined sects of Mysticism as the religions aforementioned,
do hold deeply-rooted Shamanic wisdom running throughout
their tradition.
Contained within these Mystic branches, the Old
Shamanic wisdom lives on; for Mysticism, at its heart, is the
way of the Shaman encouraging one to gain an understanding
of the Divine/Unseen through firsthand communion rather
than through solely studying second-hand accounts such as
those found in the sacred texts.
What is Shamanism?
xx
for its beginnings are not localized to one country or race.
Instead, it is a faith that each culture came to at some point in
their history. It is a faith that allows each people to establish
their own traditions; while at the same time sharing the same
fundamental beliefs. No one need convert to a foreign religion
in order to embrace this faith, all one need do is rediscover
their own past.
• The belief that the Earth is conscious, aware and holds within
her the memory of all that has taken place upon her.
• The belief that, in each moment there are things taking place
on many “planes” and that we must attune ourselves to not only
be aware of what is taking place in our life in the seen , but also
to what is taking place within the Earth and in the Otherworld
or the unseen. Achieving a “simultaneous awareness,” (as I
have come to term it), of what is taking place within, around
and beyond, brings about a more complete understanding of
our existence.
• The belief that there is a balance to our life, to the Earth and
to all living things, which must be respected; for it cannot be
disturbed without dire consequences.
xxi
while others simply believe in a Greater Force that does not
necessarily take a physical form. Most Earth-based faiths
do not require their followers to adhere to a specific doctrine
when it comes to this matter, each individual is allowed to
have their own opinion of what the Greater Power is and have
that opinion respected/accepted by the rest of the community.
• The belief that there are both good and evil forces/spirits
within us and around us. The existence of both light and
shadow, which play significant roles in what is occurring
within our lives and throughout the world.
• The belief that the soul/spirit survives death and goes unto
an afterlife/Otherworld. Some believe this Otherworld exists
upon another plane of existence; while still others believe this
place exists somewhere upon the Earth herself, in the form of
a hidden sanctuary that lies in an in-between.
• The belief that those who are dead still have the power to
effect what is occurring in our lives and communicate with us
from the place where they live on. In the Shamanic traditions
those who have passed from this world still have the ability to
act from afar as guides and teachers. One of the central roles
of the Shaman is to act as a conduit between the village and
those who have “moved on.”
• The belief that animals are the equal of mankind and have
wisdom to teach us. The belief that animals can be guides and
xxii
communicators/mediators for those trying to reach us from
the Otherworld/unseen.
The idea of spirit guides, in the form of an animal, is
quite abundant in the different regional traditions. The way
in which our individual “Animal Guide” is revealed differs;
however the basic premise specifies that such an animal would
be a species that has followed the individual throughout their
life, reoccurring/appearing in various forms to communicate
an underlying truth. The animal being one through which the
individual has been able to feel a deeper connection to the
Otherworld, the Great Force or to themselves.
• The belief that the Shamans can connect to and travel into
the Otherworld through dreams/visions or trances induced by
drumming, music, dancing, fasting, vision quests and other
rituals. It is believed that the Shaman can receive the wisdom
of the ancestors and pass it on to the village. Thus the Shaman
acts as a bridge between worlds (between the village and
the Otherworld). The role of the Shaman is as: healer, sage,
visionary, interpreter and guide.
xxiv
Present Day Role of the Shaman
Becoming a Shaman
xxv
mediator, historian, priest and teacher are, merge all these
and base them in a deep spirituality and you can begin to
appreciate the role of a Shaman.
A Shaman is known as a “walker between worlds”
because they will spend their entire life dwelling in-between
the Spirit World/Otherworld and this world (between the seen
and unseen). A Shaman has a prominent connection to those
who dwell in the Otherworld or the “unseen” and through this
connection the insights of the ancestors can be passed. All
beings, human or animal, possess such a connection through
which they are able to receive guidance from those who are
elsewhere, this connection being an integral part of the heart/
soul. Nevertheless, the Shaman’s connection is different; for in
the instance of the Shaman, the connection to the Otherworld
is more than a facet of their heart/soul, it is their vocation
(their purpose in the village) and more importantly it is their
identity.
In previous ages, a potential Shaman could be identified
by the present Shaman in the village, certain traits unique to
“the way” usually emerged during childhood. At which time that
child would be apprenticed to the current Shaman and would
learn over the coming years how to develop/nurture their gift.
Signs indicating a potential Shaman manifested themselves
differently, depending upon the individual; nonetheless there
were commonalities.
Potential shamans are individuals who have been
selected by the ancestors to act as a mediator between the
new generation and the old who have moved on (between the
seen and the unseen…between the people and the Greater
Spirit). A person who will walk the path of the Shaman will
usually display certain traits such as: a keen sense of spiritual
awareness, the ability to see the apparitions of ghosts/spirits
or will generally exhibit wisdom beyond their years. There
may also be auspicious signs surrounding the child’s birth that
will point to their future spiritual vocation.
At some point within the life of the potential Shaman
there is usually a bout with serious, even life threatening
illness, either physical of psychological. It is at this point,
when the individual is brought to the edge of their life, that he
or she experiences what is termed Shamanic Dismemberment
xxvi
or the Shaman’s Death. It is during this process that the
potential shaman is “dismembered,” stripped down to their
core belief/identity, and upon the brink, overcomes any/all
confusion, inhibitions, distractions and doubts that might
have held them back from fully becoming who they are. For
some this defining, transformative period is coupled with the
experience known as, “Soul Flight” or visions in the form of
dreams, wherein the potential Shaman is able to glimpse the
future path intended for him or her. At its core the process
of Shamanic Dismemberment is an initiatory period wherein
some part of the person being initiated dies so that he or she
can full emerge. I view this part that “dies” as the other life
that the Shaman would have led, if he or she had not been
chosen. It is in the partial death that the Shaman is born, as
the ties, which hold the Shaman solely in one world are cut, so
that he or she can dwell in the in-between.
xxvii
As our technology has advanced we have progressively
allowed ourselves to be brought away from the Natural World,
until now when we primarily reside within the Synthetic space
we have created. Disconnected from the Natural World, we
hold little appreciation for its value and are therefore willing
to harm it or through our indifference allow harm to come to
it. Mankind must attempt to strike a balance between living
within the Technological Community and the Natural World,
instead of solely residing within the synthetic world of media
and cyberspace.
Shamanic, Druidic and the other Earth-based faiths are
founded upon principles that could greatly aid us in striking
such a balance. Returning to our Shamanic roots/adopting a
more Shamanic philosophy would help is in cultivating a more
balanced way of life. Raising our awareness of what the Earth
is beneath her skin of grass and mineral muscles at its core as
well as what it gives to those who dwell upon it.
Cloistered away from the Earth as we gaze into
the screens of our television, computer and cellphone our
perspective is so narrowed we are blind to what is occurring
around us—blind to the natural beauty of the world, blind
to what is occurring on the “deeper levels.” A blindness that
leaves us starved for meaning; for it is within these “deeper
levels” and from the Earth herself, that a sense of meaning is
drawn to fill our lives.
xxviii
such a way that we are able to integrate our modern world into
the Natural World rather than laying our modern world over
top the Natural World in a suffocating, destructive manner.
At no other point in human history has it been more
important for humanity to realize that the Earth is sacred. Few
realizations would have more impact on our daily lives and on
the lives of the generations to follow than that of realizing we
dwell on a Divine plane.
Stewards of the Earth, not lords—this is not a new
concept. At present we are all witnessing the Earth going
through changes. Some still debate whether the changes taking
place in the climate and weather are due to global warming or
are a natural turn of events; however the fact that the overall
health of this Earth wanes, cannot be debated. I believe that
the time in which we have to realize the sacredness of the
Earth is waning as well, not in that the survival of the Earth
is in danger, she will live on and undergo all she needs to in
order to heal herself and regain her balance. Rather, it is vital
for us to take back up our stewardship and right the wrongs
we have made because it is the survival of humanity that will
be in jeopardy if we continue to live as we do indifferent to our
impact and convinced of our own immortality.
The earlier we rise—the sooner we wake—the more we
shall be able to accomplish. We all have various endeavors that
we busy ourselves with each day: matters of business, matters
of politics, matters of religion as well as the maintaining of
our home and the security of our family, yet all these paths
are converging, creating one focus one task, that humanity
must now undertake. And that is the restoration of this Earth
and the overhaul of the modern world so that some degree of
harmony can be had between mankind and the Earth.
xxix
no longer wanting to inhabit the Natural World. We regard the
Earth in terms of monetary value alone yet she holds the same
inestimable value of the rarest religious relics. As we invent
and build we find the Earth to be beneath us in intelligence…
we feel there is nothing else to learn from her and that she is
good now, only for raw materials. We no longer regard her as a
teacher or guide or provider yet if we were to make pilgrimage
unto an untouched place and go into the silence, there we would
hear the sermon of our sagely, biological mother, who has the
ability to turn us inward and help us find who we are as well as
what we need to fill this empty life in which we struggle.
In observing nature
we find naked truth.
In communing with nature
we find a healing serenity.
In encouraging and protecting growth
we find a fulfilling purpose.
In rekindling the fire of the old ways
we shall dispel the darkness of this present age.
L. M. Browning
Connecticut, Autumn 2009
xxx
This is an ancient oak tree growing on Fowlet Farm, Hollybush, Nr. Bedstone, Shropshire,
UK. This tree is actually on the site of an old settlement and probably revered. Even
today it is treated with particular reverence as it is frequently decorated with many votive
offerings.
(Photograph taken by: Jerry Fryman, titled: "The Ancient Oak." In the public domain.)
OAK WISE
POEMS
Oak Wise
II.
Sheltering the Outcast
3
Oak Wise
III.
One Who is Greater
4
Oak Wise
We pray to you…
So, to whom would you pray?
Do you, like all,
feel that human need
to reach to someone greater than yourself?
…I did not know there was another who was greater.
…There is you,
and then there is what gives you your ability.
We have mistaken the man as the source;
for, in our own hunger for power,
that is how we would wish it to be.
Yet your power flows,
not from some internal omnipotence
but rather stems from epiphanies you have
concerning the force beyond, yet within,
and how it lives, moves and grows.
5
Oak Wise
GAEA’S SOUL
I.
The Primordial Soul
II.
The Source of Life
6
Oak Wise
7
Oak Wise
EVERGREEN
I.
the Unforeseen Death
How disconcerting
to watch the entire world die
―every plant wilt and every tree turn bare―
without explanation or apparent cause.
8
Oak Wise
II.
The warmth of Hope
Wailing in hunger
without the nourishing bosom
of your land’s bounty,
frozen without the shelter
of your warming presence,
we mourned you
and prepared for our own end
but then you came back.
9
Oak Wise
III.
The Distraught Orphans
Until…
10
Oak Wise
IV.
The Comforting Assurance
11
Oak Wise
12
This Yew Tree, growing within the churchyard of The Church of St. Mary and St. Gabriel,
Stoke Gabriel, Devonshire, on the south west coast of England, is reportedly more than
1,000 years old. This old Yew, like many throughout Great Britain, has managed to grow
undisturbed over the millenniums due to the fact that it is rooted within a churchyard.
When Christianity came to Britannia the Churches were built on top of Druid holy sites,
as a means to force the peoples to convert to the new faith. Given the sacred status the Yew
Tree among the Druidic peoples, these holy sites of the Old Faith were usually sites where
a Yew was growing.
(Photograph taken in 1985 by: Stanley Walker, titled: "Yew Tree" (In the public domain)).
Oak Wise is a remarkable book of poetry
from a young poet, L. M. Browning, who
writes with great passion, conviction and
integrity about a transformative process,
which has cast her back to an ancient set
of animistic beliefs and faiths immanent
in the concreteness of the earth itself.
It is a book of deep personal expression:
an exploration of the spiritual world of
shamanism and Druidism in poetic form,
which is both intense and contemplative. Essentially she reaches back
to liberate and, at the same time, enable herself to forge ahead with
copasetic resolution and confidence. It is a book of poetry to which
you will often find yourself returning and each time with renewed
enjoyment and reward.
REVIEWS
“In societies that still bear an imprint of ‘the shamanic,’ male and female
shamans are a voice of the sacred. In these worlds, from bardic Ireland
to the crazy wisdom ngakpas of the Himalayas, poetry is a facet of the
shamanic tradition. The work of L. M. Browning is undoubtedly one of
these wisdom-streams. Her sight, voice and verses are a force of nature,
simultaneously reminding us what we’ve forgotten and foretelling what we
must remember to survive.”
―Frank Owen, creator of the online poetry experience NEKYIA.POETRY