Welcome to Druid Authors Welcome to the website of Penny Billington, author of the 'Gwion Dubh: Druid Investigator' mysteries and editor of 'Touchstone' magazine, the monthly journal for the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids News Druidry: Root and Branch Penny's latest book, 'Druidry: Root and Branch' will be published by Llewellyn early in 2011 The Book of English Magic In Philip Carr-Gomm and Richard Heygate's new book, 'The Book of English Magic', Penny Billington is credited for her contributions on occult fiction, and Gwion Dubh: Druid Investigator' is mentioned. The book is a fascinating and accessible read -  delving into the rich magical tradtion of this hallowed isle, from Druidry and Wicca, to John Dee and the Golden Dawn. To see reviews and order a copy, click here. For an extract of the druid detective's adventures, click on extracts Penny's LiveJournal Penny now has a LiveJournal account at Elen-Pope. Please check it out to see what she's up to! Gwion Dubh rides again! Step once more into the world of living druidry in a mystery peopled with rogues and runes, flower maidens and Norse re-enactors: and the stake our intrepid druid is playing for is the fate of the very land itself. Gwion, with occasional hindrance from his raven familiar, Hugo, is summoned to the red sandstone of the Wirral to once again do what a druid has to do, armed only with his trusty wren bag of tricks and obligatory hipflask. Penny's Schedule Spring/Summer 2010 See the Events page for more details. February 2nd Imbolc hearth fire ritual March 13th Arthur in Avalon March 21th Brean Down walk for Alban Eilir April 27th Druidry - Talk at Bath Spa University May 1st Beltane Celebration May 3rd Well Blessing May 15th The Elements of the Western Mystery Tradition June 12th - 13th OBOD Midsummer Gathering June 14th  Talk for Taunton Pagan Moot

“What did you see?” whispers the dying King when Bedivere comes back to him. Twice Bedivere replies that he heard only the lapping of the lake water on the shore, saw nothing but the swaying of the reeds in the wind.  Arthur becomes angry, accuses him of betrayal. Stung, Bedivere goes back to the lake shore and throws the precious weapon with its glittering jewel-encrusted hilt in a spinning parabola towards the centre of the lake. And beholds a graceful arm draped in white samite catch the sword and take it down under the waters. There is deep psychological truth in this story.  How often do we hang on to the remnants of a situation, a tattered relationship, a job past its sell-by date remembering past pleasures and comradeship when we should let it all go?  What makes this so hard is that although New Age wisdom and reassuring friends tell us that something new will take its place it is always the case that the same thing will never come again. As humans we cling to the familiar and avoid the pain of moving on.  Often we feel we are losing something that had moments of real beauty and pleasure even if it has gone sour or is an impossibility in the apparent world. This insight came to me during the workshop in Glastonbury on Arthur and Avalon, run by Penny Billington and Marion Sibbons. We were discussing the legend of the Solar Hero, King Arthur, in relation to the symbolism of the Wheel of the Year.  Here, beside the lake where Bedivere is tested, is the Sun and the King at Samhain, life and hope dying as the hero retreats, borne away to the Isle of Avalon by the three Queens. There he is to be healed but to stay hidden from the sight of men and women until the hour of Britain’s need comes round again.  It was one of many profound moments in a day that began with the tale of Arthur and the key events in his myth (often mediated though female figures), moved on to look at the symbolism of each event when regarded in relation to the Wheel of the Year and then took each of us on a journey in the Inner World across the lake to the Isle of Avalon in one of those magic boats without a pilot that feature so often in the Arthurian tales. Food followed. Happily, Penny and Marion had given full attention to the thaumaturgy of lunch and cake so the rigours of our inner journey found ample sustenance at midday. The afternoon was a hectic process of working on particular aspects of Arthurian symbolism in the four directions for a ritual that took place late in the afternoon. The moon was just moving into Pisces which may have partly accounted for the powerful visions that were evoked by each contribution: Arthur’s birth from the union of Igraine and Uther with the magic assistance of Merlin; the gift of Excalibur from the Lady of the Lake; the marriage of Arthur to the Lady of Sovereignty, Guinevere - and the gift of the Round table; the final departure of the King with the help of Morgan le Fay. All these were revealed to us and each of us participated in these mysteries of Britain.  I found I had tears in my eyes towards the end. Precious to me from the age of seven, these myths had acquired new significance because we had evoked these archetypes and, briefly, lived them. The power of the ritual took us all by surprise especially given that the bulk of it was created in around half an hour that felt like five minutes. If the day sounds too serious perhaps I should share our group’s brief fantasy of celebrating the marriage of Arthur and Guinevere with a sacred chant: Nice one Merlin, Nice one son, Nice one Merlin, Let’s have another one. This was an idea we chucked into the lake of oblivion. But “Nice one Penny and Marion” and please, let’s have another one.  Thanks to both of you and to everyone who contributed their goodwill and the insights of their spiritual paths.