Magic, Flat Tires, and the Praying Hands.
Day 1 – Down Memory Lane, Adventure and Challenge (a bit long, but worth it!)
After a good night’s sleep in my B&B in Aberfeldy, I was eager to start my adventure.
They say beware of what you ask for, as you might get it. So, I definitely got my adventure and challenge on my first day.
I started the day by visiting the oldest tree in the UK (and maybe Europe), the ancient Yew tree in Fortingall. Then off to Glen Lyon.
Once you turn into the Glen, it’s like stepping into a magical place where time stands still, and all my memories from 20+ years ago rush in.
The mystical atmosphere of the trees, the music in the air as the wind rushes through the leaves, and the way the light dances between the leaves all create
magic that opened my heart.
However, when it comes to people and their footprint on the land, things do change. Invervar Lodge, where we used to stay, is no longer a B&B, but a working farm,
so I could only see it from the driveway entrance, but it looked as always. A beautiful white Manor House. I could still see in my mind’s eye how my small daughter
used to dance and play on the lawn in front of it.
From there I continued on until the end of the Glen at the Bridge of Balgie, where I stopped in the lovely coffee place overlooking the Glen.
It was time to head back, and I planned to have a late lunch back in Fortingall, but when I got to the junction, something told me to take to the right towards Killin.
I had no idea what it was, but I said… Adventure.
Sure enough, I got it!
Just as I entered Killin, a message came up on my car’s screen: Check Tyres, low pressure.
So I stopped to Google where is the closest petrol station was. It was only 2.5 miles away. But as I started driving, the car started screaming STOP and call Road Assistance. When your brand new rented car starts screaming at you… you listen.
I found a safe parking place and called the emergency number the rental agency gave me.
I’ll save you the long story, but it took 2 hours for the AA guy to arrive, only to say he couldn’t help me and to call the mobile garage that would come help me.
That took another 2.5 hours, so by 20:30 I finally could drive back to Aberfeldy to my bed.
The amazing thing was that, the whole time, I never got pissed off or angry. I had a lot of reasons to be upset, as so many mistakes were made, but I didn’t. I only felt gratefulness for all those people who tried to help me. And the cherry on top of it was I found out what was calling me in Killin… The Falls of Dochart.
I wouldn’t have seen them if I hadn’t listened to my gut feeling and stuck to my plan.
But I think the major thing was that I realised… I’m a changed woman! Honestly, I had more than 10 reasons for getting upset with the rental agency that didn’t give me a spare tyre, for not letting me know, for not informing the AA that I don’t have one, etc & etc… but I didn’t… I enjoyed myself all that time.
So, I guess that was the biggest gift I got already on day one.
Day 2 – Praying Hands of Mary
Today I went to visit an old friend. Praying Hands of Mary is a rock that stands up in the middle of nowhere, not far from the Bridge of Balgie.
The rock is different from any of the local rocks, and no one has a clue how it arrived there. Some say the Druids knew how to levitate rocks and that’s how they
got it there. For what reason, no one knows.
But for certain it became a sacred place. I loved this place so much; each time I would need strength and direction, I would imagine myself there, sitting next to it, leaning my back to the rock and getting strength and wisdom from her; yes, though it’s a rock, it’s a she!
One year during the retreat, a couple decided to tie the knot there, and we had a handfasting ceremony up there.
I always remember the walk and the climb up to her as one of the more challenging ones during our retreat, but either my body became stronger in the last 23 years, or… younger. It wasn’t as tough as I remembered it. But she was still so beautiful and majestic.
Throughout the whole way, the sun was upon me, like the song “shine gentle on my face”, and when I got up to the rock, I had a few minutes to sit and bask in her beauty and meditate when the rain fell softly upon me, forcing me to open my eyes and see the beauty around me. I felt blessed.
