HIRAETH

As I wander through the moors on the Ross of Mull I come upon a few ruins. I step inside the rounded corners and through the once was, doorway. There is a hearth at one end, all that is left of times gone by. The walls are pink granite, quartz bits shining through.

HIraeth an interesting word that answers some of my questions. Why do I feel very emotional when I come upon certain places. I envision what life may have been like during the time of people living in this dwelling. Such harshness, simpleness and so much awe. This is the echo of times gone past.

As I looked beyond there are a couple of massive stones. They don't seem to fit into the landscape. Quite often I see faces in the stones and this one was certainly looking down on me. I approached and felt the need to run my hands along the smoothness of the rockface. It feels different than the pink granite. Where did they come from?

As I walk towards the shore along the wall of stones I come across a shell beach. It is like a treasure trove, literally. Some cowry shells were found and it was pointed out to me that long before our era the cowry shell was used as a means of payment and regarded as a symbol of wealth and power.

All in a days walk around the croft I now realize everywhere I go there are surprises and places that draw me to them and all I have to do is pay attention and feel the rocks below my feet. We offered tobacco to the ancestors and let it fly in the wind.

GRATITUDE