A Spring Equinox visit to St Clether with the Tamar Dowsers—a journey of sacred water, ancient stone and the rebellious energy that reminds me how to just "be."

There is something so profound about the Spring Equinox. It is that tipping point on the Celtic Wheel where the light finally begins to surpass the dark and we get to decide exactly how we want to grow alongside it.

Last week, as a member of the Tamar Dowsers, I joined a visit to the historic St Clether Holy Well and Chapel. Even though I grew up in Cornwall, this was a first for me. It was a reminder that sometimes the most magical places are right under our noses, just waiting for the right moment to call us in.

The Guardian, the Hermitage and the Legacy

Before I dive into the energy of the day, I have to mention Vanda Inman, who is the current Guardian of the well and chapel passed down through her family. Her dedication is the reason this sanctuary still breathes today. The site dates back to the 4th Century, named after Saint Clether, one of the twenty-four children of King Brychan. It was originally a Hermitage, a place of deep, quiet seclusion where the Saint lived a life of prayer in harmony with the wild valley.

Vanda oversaw the vital restoration that saved the chapel from becoming a ruin once more, keeping it a peaceful, open space for everyone. It is because of her stewardship that we can still stand in this ancient spot and feel the connection to the land and water. While the building itself has been rebuilt over the centuries, the massive granite altar stone has remained a constant throughout all of it, a solid, unmoving witness to every prayer and ceremony held here since the very beginning.

The Walk into the Valley

Our journey began with a walk through the graveyard and around the outside of the newer parish church. This felt like a true pilgrimage, stepping out from the village and into the wilder, hidden world of the Inny Valley.

As we walked, I could feel the threads of energy radiating off the water like tactile currents weaving through the air. For me, sensing energy is a very palpable, "charged " feeling, almost like the static before a summer storm or the deep, humming quiet of a cathedral. It isn't just an idea, it's a physical vibration in the landscape that I pick up on immediately. As I looked up at the towering landscape, I could see the magnificent Rock Guardians. These ancient stone sentinels stand watch over the valley, and you can absolutely feel their gaze as you pass by.

Sensing the Rebellious Chi

As many of you who follow my work know, my system reacts strongly to the energy. This is not limited to just a specific location; it is how I process the world wherever I am working and interacting with the energy of the land, people, or animals. In my case, this physical process manifests as a burp.

I heard this phenomenon beautifully named during an outing the day before at Buckfast Abbey with the Devon Dowsers. While exploring the Abbey and grounds, I was able to identify the chakra points moving up the central aisle. My system is reacting with every step, and those burps can certainly reach a bit of a crescendo! Someone mentioned they had heard it called "Rebellious Chi " and it fits perfectly. It is the physical way I feel and process energy of any kind; it happens regardless of whether there is a rod or a pendulum in my hand.

Some people are a bit phased by it at first, but more often than not, the accuracy of it leads to a shared laugh. It's an automatic response that keeps my dowsing light-hearted. My rod and my system often react at the exact same moment. It might feel "rebellious", but it is incredibly consistent.

That Chi was in a powerful state all day at St Clether. My body was constantly reacting as it processed the vibrations of the valley. But the moment we began our ceremony, my system went perfectly quiet. It stayed still and silent while we did the work, only releasing again once we had finished. It is incredible how the body knows when it is time to hold space.

Entering the Thin Place

The valley path ends at a gateway to the sacred site. Stepping through it, I was hit by a deep, visceral wave of sanctity.

Thin Places are those truly magical spaces between realms where the veil simply falls away. St Clether is one of those places. You do not just see the landscape; you inhabit it. The air feels different, and time seems to fold. You are standing in a frequency that is much older than any of us, where the physical and spiritual worlds meet and the mundane world just fades into the background.

Fire, Water, and the Equinox Ceremony

Last weekend was a fascinating mix of a high church in a religious context and a very ancient chapel. For me, the common thread is not the building itself but the land on which they both sit.

Churches, wells, and places of pilgrimage are often built upon much older sacred sites than the buildings that currently stand upon them. The structure may change and the religion may shift, but the energy of the earth remains constant—much like that altar stone that has anchored this chapel for over a millennium.

After a break for lunch among the daffodils and some glorious Cornish sunshine, we entered the chapel for our Equinox ceremony led by Helen Fox. A huge thank you to Helen, who held the space so beautifully. Standing where the healing holy water flows from the well house, through the chapel, and directly beneath the granite altar, we opened the sacred space and linked into the elements of the Celtic Wheel to mark this point of balance in the year.

The ceremony gave us the opportunity to truly give our voices to our intentions and goals, birthing that new energy for growth to carry us through to Samhain. For me, it was a time to reflect on how I wish to show up in the world, setting those intentions amidst fire offerings and blessings and even some delicious chocolate eggs.

We felt the connection of all four elements as a gentle breeze blew through the open space, extinguishing some of our candles—a reminder that the air was very much part of our circle. We ended by anointing ourselves with the healing waters, which were once famous for their miraculous qualities. To top it all off, the atmosphere became truly entrancing when one of our members shared her beautiful voice, the sound ringing through the stone walls.

The Memory of the Water

Since returning from the valley, I have had the chance to freeze some of the water I collected from the healing well using Veda Austin’s crystallisation technique. I wanted to see what the "spirit" of the water might reveal.

The results were breathtaking. In the ice, I can clearly see a three-sided shape. A triangle mirroring the geometry of the holy well and the chapel itself. It feels like a beautiful, visual confirmation of the site’s unique signature. To me, it was as if the water had carried the memory and the very form of the sanctuary where it rises.

Final Thoughts

This day was a powerful reminder of why I do what I do. While dowsing is the "how," the "why" is the wild magic of this land and the joy of being among like-minded souls. That is what truly feeds the spirit.

Stepping into the Inny Valley felt like a physical reflection of the change in perspective I’ve embraced on my website. Just as the valley offers a sanctuary away from the noise, I’ve found a new freedom in creating a balanced, intentional space here on my blog. It’s about honouring where we are called to be, moving away from "doing" for the sake of an audience and returning to a right relationship with life and those who find their way here.

In these sacred, thin places, I find the courage to show up as my authentic self. It is a reminder that when we stop striving and simply start being, we find exactly what we need to move forward.

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Please Note

If you wish to share any of my work or photos, please do, but I ask that you kindly credit me.

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About the Author

Jane Taylor is a Writer, Therapist, and Wellbeing Educator. Her work is shaped by her own journey and a deep understanding of how the body carries history at a cellular level, helping others unblock their natural flow toward wholeness.

Her new project, Wild Edge Dartmoor, is an invitation to let the words rest. In honour of the Munay-Ki rites and the wisdom of Ayni, there are no captions, no explanations, no marketing, and no noise. Just the tors, the rivers, the villages, the light of the moor and its inhabitants. She provides the image and leaves the rest for you. ​

You are invited to visit this digital sanctuary as a wanderer at @wildedgedartmoor

Energy, Emotion and Evolution

Moving Through the Layers of Trauma

Trauma is a deeply personal experience that can have a lasting impact on our lives.

It is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience that can have lasting negative effects on a person's physical and mental health. It can be caused by a wide range of events, including natural disasters, accidents, war, terrorism, physical or sexual assault, and childhood abuse or neglect. The symptoms of trauma can vary from person to person, but they often include flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance, feeling numb or detached, difficulty sleeping or concentrating, feeling angry, anxious, or depressed, and having physical symptoms such as headaches, stomach aches, or muscle tension.

Much like a tree carved into a glacier, trauma can be held frozen at a cellular level. 

When an experience is too overwhelming to process, the energy becomes "locked" in the body’s very cells. The life of the tree is still there, but it is etched into the cold, immovable weight of the ice, creating a state of internal stasis.

It can also make it difficult to trust others, to feel safe, and to live a full life. It can interfere with their ability to work, go to school, or maintain relationships. It can also lead to problems with substance abuse, self-harm, and suicide. If you have experienced trauma you may be wondering how to heal.

There are many different types of therapy that can help, and the best approach for you will depend on your individual needs.

Whilst talking therapy may work for some people, others find that their body needs a different path to heal. Not all talking therapy works for everyone, which is why a holistic perspective is offered; finding a way that works for you is important.

Energy Healing

Energy healing is a holistic approach that uses the body's energy field to promote physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Channelling the energies of Seichem (including Reiki) along with Shamanic practices can help you to release areas where your natural flow has become stuck.

These overwhelming experiences can often leave us feeling physically and emotionally blocked. Energy work helps to clear these obstructions, allowing the body to begin its own healing process. At times, the past leaves us feeling disconnected from ourselves and our intuition; these practices help us to reconnect with our inner wisdom and guidance.

When the nervous system becomes dysregulated, it can lead to symptoms such as anxiety, panic attacks, and insomnia. Energy healing helps to calm this system and promote a sense of relaxation. It also supports the immune system, which can be weakened by long-term stress, helping to protect the body from illness.

The Body’s Rest Button

A key part of this relaxation involves the Vagus nerve. You can think of this as your body’s rest button. It is a long nerve that connects the brain to the body’s vital organs. When we are stuck in a survival response, this "button" can feel broken or unreachable. Holistic practices help to stimulate this nerve, sending a signal to the body that it is safe to come out of stasis and return to a state of balance.

Somatic Experiencing

Somatic Experiencing focuses on the body’s physical response to the past. Rather than focusing on the "story," this method works with the nervous system to "thaw" the survival energy—like fight, flight, or freeze—that didn't get to finish when the event happened. It is about teaching the body, through physical sensation, that the danger has passed.

TRE (Trauma Releasing Exercises)

TRE is a series of simple exercises that assist the body in releasing deep muscular patterns of stress and tension. By triggering a natural "shaking" mechanism within the muscles, it allows the nervous system to let go of the high-alert state, helping the body to return to a place of calm.

Sound Healing

Sound healing uses vibration and frequency to interact with the body's cells. Because trauma is essentially "frozen" or stagnant energy, the literal vibrations from instruments like gongs, singing bowls, or tuning forks can help to "shake" that energy loose. It helps to bring the body’s internal systems back into a harmonic and relaxed frequency.

Ecotherapy

Ecotherapy, or nature therapy, is based on the idea that our well-being is deeply connected to the natural world. When we are stuck in a survival state, we often feel separated from the world around us. Spending time in nature—whether through mindful walking, gardening, or simply sitting in a green space—helps to ground our energy and soothe the nervous system. Nature provides a safe, non-judgmental space where the body can begin to breathe again and remember its own natural rhythm of growth and renewal.

Emotional Dowsing Techniques

Emotional dowsing is a type of energy healing that uses a pendulum or other tool to help us to connect with our emotions and core beliefs. This can be a very effective way to identify and release the emotions and limiting beliefs that are associated with the past. This technique is vital for reaching the root cause of the distress. Emotional dowsing can help to release these stuck emotions and allow the body to heal.

Logosynthesis

Logosynthesis uses the power of words to shift the energy held in our memories and internal images. It helps to retrieve energy that has become "split" or stuck in a traumatic moment, returning it to the present so the body can let go of old patterns and resolve the stasis.

EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique)

EFT uses tapping on specific acupressure points to release the emotional distress and pain often associated with these experiences. It is a practical tool that helps to clear the emotional charge from memories, allowing the body to feel more settled.

Bach Flower Essences

Bach Flower Essences are a subtle form of energy medicine that works on the emotional layer of the body. They help to shift the specific emotional states—such as shock, fear, or hopelessness—that can keep the body stuck in a specific energetic pattern. They are a gentle way to support the emotional evolution of the self.

Animal Assisted Therapy

Animals have a unique way of helping us regulate our nervous systems without the need for words. Being in the presence of an animal can help lower the "fight or flight" response and provide a sense of safety. Animals don't judge; they simply exist in the present, helping the body to feel grounded and reconnect with a sense of calm.

Shamanic Healing

Shamanic healing is an ancient approach that looks at trauma from a spiritual and energetic perspective. It works on the belief that when we experience something overwhelming, a part of our vital essence may "step away" to survive. Shamanic practices, such as soul retrieval, work to bring those fragments back, helping the person to feel more "whole" and addressing the root cause of the distress at a soul level.

Past Life Regression

Sometimes, the stasis we feel doesn't seem to belong to our current timeline. Past Life Regression explores the idea that we carry energetic imprints from other experiences into this life. By accessing these memories through a relaxed state, we can identify and clear old patterns or "frozen" energy that our bodies have been holding onto, allowing for a deeper evolution in the present.

Energy, Emotion, and Evolution

This process is about an evolution—a shift in how the body carries what has happened. By working with energy and the emotions held at a cellular level, we are helping the body to finally move on from the stasis of trauma. The tree carved into the ice represents a moment frozen in time, but through this work, we are allowing the body to find its own way forward, moving at its own pace into a state of more ease.

Even if you are not in formal therapy, there are many ways to support your own journey and gently encourage your body to move out of the "frozen" state

• Journaling to externalise internal chaos and give your emotions a place to live outside of your body.

• Breathwork to signal to the Vagus nerve—your body's rest button—that it is safe to calm the "fight or flight" response.

• Guided Imagery to rebuild a sense of internal safety and create a "mental sanctuary."

• Nature Connection to ground your energy; simply sitting with a tree or walking on the earth can help the body feel held.

• Gentle Movement such as Yin Yoga or mindful walking to help the energy in your limbs begin to flow again.

• Creative Expression through art or music to communicate what words often cannot reach.

  
  

Moving Forward

The evolution of the self is not a race, and it is not about arriving at a perfect destination. It is about the quiet, steady work of loosening the ice. By addressing the energy we carry and the emotions we have stored, we allow ourselves the grace to change. You are not defined by the moment you were frozen; you are a living, breathing being capable of a beautiful and continuous evolution.

About the Author

Jane Taylor is a Guide, Practitioner, Educator and Author dedicated to helping others navigate the complexities of the human experience. Her work is profoundly shaped by her own personal journey and her deep understanding of how the body carries history. By exploring the intersection of energy and emotion, Jane has gained a unique perspective on how to address the root causes of distress at a cellular level. Through her writing and teachings, she shares holistic wisdom to help others unblock their natural flow and embrace their own path of evolution and wholeness.

From the Moonlight Path a New Beginning

The Day After the Lunar Eclipse, The Moon Lights the New Path Ahead

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia eleven years ago, and for the past eight years, this blog is a space where I share the holistic practices and methods I use to manage the pain. But to be finally free, I must change the narrative. The time has come to call it a day on a name that has defined me for too long as The Holistic Fibro Fighter.

I have come to know that I was holding onto trauma at a cellular level, a trauma that kickstarted my body into shutdown and resulted in a fibromyalgia diagnosis. Living with a condition of which there is no cure has made me fight for so long. But I know that constantly reliving that same story keeps the energy alive, and I want to remain free from the pain I have now tamed. With the help of shamanic and energy work, I have reconnected with myself and begun to heal the broken parts of my soul. This is still a work in progress, and this blog post is part of that process. Now, the pain is a gentle whisper to remind me to look after myself and listen to my body. It is the wisdom from within.

I'm excited to announce the next step in my journey and a new home for my work. My blog is now called Jane Taylor Articles, and it is part of a new collection of intuitive wisdom offerings. The original content from The Holistic Fibro Fighter will remain on my Jane Taylor Online website as a complete and valuable archive of my journey.

The Journey

For over a decade, fibromyalgia has been an invisible illness that held me captive. My first symptoms began in 2013 when I was 42, and after my diagnosis in 2014, my entire life was changed. It stole my energy, my very sense of self, and took all my plans with it. Its impact covered my 40s and early 50s. In my mid-40s, I also went through an early menopause, and the medical profession never picked up on the similarities between its symptoms and fibromyalgia. As a result, fibromyalgia shrouded those changes so much that they went unnoticed. But in facing its demands, I was forced to stop and discover what is truly important in my life. Now, I am in a phase I like to refer to as Cronehood, having gained wisdom from this journey. I know that what matters most is the freedom that comes from letting go of the fight, and the inner wisdom born from healing and self-discovery.

A New Beginning

I am stepping into a new era where I am me, no longer defined by a label or a fight. The content on my various platforms now reflects that. I am moving forward with a freeness of spirit, a lightness of heart, and a quiet knowing that my life has been transformed, giving me a clear sense of the new path ahead. Over time you will see less of a presence as I gradually step back from these places.

It feels like the recent full moon, lighting up the sea the day after the eclipse—a bright light to mark this new path.

The shadow passed, the world held its breath,

Then silver light returned from death.

A path now shines, upon the sea,

A new beginning, guiding me.

Please Note that due to circumstances beyond my control, I have lost access to my original Facebook pages.

Thank you for being here with me. I am so grateful for your presence on my journey, and I invite you to join me in this new era.

You can find me janetayloronline.com

With a heart full of hope,

Jane