“I know this path by magic not by sight”

I write this from the space between. For a time I have been in the unknown. I feel like I don’t know who I am losing—what parts of me are crumbling—nor do I know who I am yet becoming.

A silver mist descended and lulled me into a slumber and when I awoke I was in the labyrinth. In a gnarling dark forest with its illusory shadows. I have yet to reach the centre, which in itself is only half the journey, if or rather when I’m to re-emerge.

Being in the void of the unknown feels nebulous, clumsy almost to express because we tend not to spend very long here, frantically scrambling to find our way out—any way out. Or we create another world on top of the labyrinth and climb up onto this. Smoothing its maze over with concrete, dusting off our hands, good luck! but missing our opportunity to uncover new depths within ourselves. I’ve done this time again.  

I can’t say I’m happy here surrendering. I can feel an irritated body within a body clawing to get out. To escape from myself. But today I am brought solace reminded of our ancestors and their belief that all life begins in the dark. Our Universe began in the cosmic dark. We dream in the darkness of lidded eyes. It is in this place that all magic originates. Because it is a place of infinite possibilities.  

Our forebearers, the filí, the poet-seers and the draoithe, the druid magic-makers understood the prospects of the darkness. You see in our myths and native tracts, poets and druids described as ‘dall’. Dall means 'dark', 'obscure', or 'blind' in Old Irish. You also see the use of the words 'caech', which means 'blind in one eye', 'hidden', 'veiled', 'mysterious', and its variation, 'goll'.

This speaks to their trust that we must enter full or at least partial darkness to access magic. To receive imbas forosnai—the wisdom or knowledge that illuminates, the second sight. However long it takes to come.

Art: La llamada (The Call) by Remedios Varo, 1961

The unknown gifts us with a separate sight beyond ordinary logic, and so we can only “know this path by magic”, not by regular sight. These words are taken from Irish poet, Paula Meehan’s mystical poem, Well:

Well

I know this path by magic not by sight.
Behind me on the hillside the cottage light
is like a star that’s gone astray. The moon
is waning fast, each blade of grass a rune
inscribed by hoarfrost. This path’s well worn.
I lug a bucket by bramble and blossoming blackthorn.
I know this path by magic not by sight.
Next morning when I come home quite unkempt
I cannot tell what happened at the well.
You spurn my explanation of a sex spell
cast by the spirit who guards the source
that boils deep in the belly of the earth,
even when I show you what lies strewn
in my bucket — a golden waning moon,
seven silver stars, our own porch light,
your face at the window staring into the dark.

Art: Moon Falls a Thousand Times by Naeemeh Naeemaei

In my own bucket, I can dream of a golden waning moon and seven silver stars.

Do I know what they mean? No. Not yet.

But that’s the beauty of mystery. The beauty of the dark.  

So if you are in, or when you find yourself in the space between, listen for your soul’s whisper:

“I know this path by magic not by sight.”

Mythical Leadership Podcast

I was recently invited back on one of my favourite podcasts, the School of Embodied Arts Podcast with Jenna Ward. Jenna and her phenomenal body of work have been a huge expander for me in recent years.

Our conversation was rooted in this question:

For leaders shifting away from the cultural norms of leadership obsession with “more” “bigger” and “eternal summer/growth”, who can we look to for guidance?

In response, we explored:

🌀How I came to (re)vision leadership through my background as a Feminine Embodiment Coach, Mythologist and Anthropologist

🌀We unpack the current masculine overculture and why it keeps many leaders in their maiden energy

🌀I share Celtic myths, stories and wisdom to reimagine what leadership could look like for modern coaches, creatives and leaders

🌀We touch on the different archetypes we might be playing out as a leader (often unconsciously)

🌀Women, wealth, witches and modern stewardship of money

It’s a rich convo!