Pilgrimage: Peoria and the Giant Oak

Pilgrimage is a journey to a holy place. Many people make pilgrimages because of their religion, such as the hadj. I discovered the beauty of pilgrimage many years ago during a trip to Brittany. If a pilgrimage resonates with an individual, it encourages one to return to that place again.

For a first-time pilgrim, it is difficult to imagine what one will see. When I first went to Brittany and saw so many amazing sites, it produced days’ worth of pilgrimage, not just to a site, but to a whole region, from the alignments at Carnac, to le Jardin des Moines, to le Forêt de Broceliande, to le Val Sans Retour.

Yet, pilgrimage does not have to be so overwhelming. Sometimes it is subtle, understated, and marvelous. There is surprise in the unexpected, but there is also wonder in treasures hidden in plain sight. I had such an experience just this past weekend in Peoria, Illinois.

It started with Ogham

Let me explain how this came to be. I met Nick many years ago, at Pan Pagan Festival, then being held near Knox, Indiana. He bought an ogham set and, as I usually did in those days, when someone purchased an ogham set, I offered them my free email course on the ogham. Nick expressed an interest, and we went our separate ways.

The course required about a month’s worth of study for each few, and after each five fews there was a test, and the tests repeated after every five additional fews. Once a student finished the final course, they were eligible for induction into a special order. Originally, this was the Order of the Morrigu, since the Morrigu issues a prophecy at the end of the Second Battle of Mag Tuired. Several groups of people were initiated in that order when the course was first offered. This Order later became the Order of Ogma, named after the God Ogma, who created the Ogham.

When Nick finished his coursework and the numerous tests, I offered to come to Peoria to initiate him into the Order. We spoke during the springtime and decided upon the date, which was to be just past Summer Solstice. I made plans to fly into Peoria and the journey to the pilgrimage began.

My plan was to do an ADF Core Order of Ritual Summer Solstice rite and include Nick’s initiation into the workings section. Nick sent me the location, and it was a place called Giant Oak Park. The name, for a Druidic endeavor, sounded exactly right.

Arrival

When I arrived, I noticed that it was a park without a place to park. It had the beginnings of pilgrimage, where one loses themselves in the mundane or the way to the arcane or magical. The Oak is surrounded by a metal fence, perhaps to keep away the Fae and local goblins. As I walked around, I noticed how the fence followed the contours of the oak but did not try to control or define the great tree.

The attendees at the ritual began assembling and Nick came early as well. All things were put into motion and the preparations continued. I set up the altar and spoke with the various people who stopped by, but I kept glancing over at the Giant Oak. There were times when I felt I could almost hear a humming noise coming from the tree.

I did my usual preparation and the pre-ritual briefing, and all was ready for the ritual to begin. Each step paused, like the Sun stopping for Solstice. Time was moving very still.

Offerings

The offerings were made, the omen taken, and the Waters of Life was shared among the participants. It was time to bring Nick into the Order of Ogma, and this part of the rite went very well. Nick was ready for the event and the surrounds held time in obeyance while we moved through the Ogham.

Once the initiation was complete, we thanked all the beings that helped us in our work, and the ritual ended. Afterwards, the photographer asked if he could get a few pictures near the tree. I had yet to experience the great tree, and now I was ready.

The Giant Oak

The Giant Oak was spectacular. This tree is hundreds of years old. It was not a tree that had grown tall, but a tree that had expanded to a remarkable size. Its massive branches extended out near the ground, and it filled the space around its perimeter with a presence and the very air felt dense around it.

Some of the branches and leaves extended beyond the area of the fence, and the leaves were solid, mighty, even leathery. This was more than just a tree, it was truly one of the spirits of nature. I stood in awe of its energetic presence. I was even more impressed by this slow, deliberate pulse that extended out from its trunk, low against the ground, and outwards past the fence.

It felt as though it bent the space around itself, with a presence and a serenity that I have never experienced before in a great tree. I inserted myself into a collection of branches and leaves. It felt as though I were a living part of this tree. I felt as though I was in the presence of a great divinity, an amazing spirit. A giant oak.

Nature Spirits

In Druidry, we talk a lot about Nature Spirits. Often, these are the creatures in nature. Nature Spirits do not necessarily attach to a corporeal body. In this instance, it was an enormous, beautiful tree.  This great tree was imbued with a powerful and engaging spirit, inhabiting its own small piece of the world. It was not just worthy of note; it was worthy of respect. It was an unexpected reverent moment for me.

I cannot say how happy I am that Nick finished his Ogham course. I love to see accomplishments and completions. Nick has been doing a lot of work with the Ogham. I like to see this practice move out of the realm of divination and into the world of daily practice. Coming to Peoria was a wonderful way to acknowledge this accomplishment.

Yet, as part of one journey, something unexpected revealed itself: the Giant Oak. Without even knowing that it was happening, I made a pilgrimage to see an amazing spirit, one of great presence and spirit. It left a mark on me, an invisible oak leaf that felt leathery and substantial.

I will be back.