An audience with Baphomet
Just enjoyed a magical weekend camping in Cheddar with Lolita Perdurabo, Hippi Condomando and Andy Armour. The campsite was beautiful, and we managed to get spots by the river for our tents. Ducks and Geese wondered around, bats flew along the river at night, and at one point as we were sitting outside the tents, a hedgehog ran across Lolita’s boot!
Cheddar is a charming little town with, as you would expect, some very nice cheese. The early autumn weather meant we weren’t in a Cider mood, and so we mostly enjoyed the Cheddar Ales (Goats Leap being my favourite) rather than the local scrumpy. And of course one morning we indulged in the obligatory cream tea (although Lolita and I had ours with Coffee, kind of making the ‘tea’ part of the name a misnomer). The amount of clotted cream served with the scones was a little intimidating to the arteries mind…
And of course, the main attraction of the place is the proximity of the famous Cheddar Gorge. What a truly magickal place! We had all recently watch the australian classic ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’, including the documentary about its filming and one the things the actors and film makers involved in that film all commented on was the faces in the rock and atmosphere this created there. I couldn’t help but see a parallel in Cheddar Gorge, given the faces apparent nearly everywhere in the rocks and vegetation. For me this place is enchanted and one of the most magickal places in Britain, or indeed the world.
We saw quite a lot of goats over the weekend, but by far the most spectacular event was on our last day when we came into contact with an old goat that put me in mind of Baphomet.
It sat there serene, smiling at us as we watched. I felt a strong communication between us and a sense of mutual respect and friendliness. I had a strong feeling that this goat was Baphomet in manifestation, serene and godly, with a court of younger goats behind it in the trees. I said the name Baphomet aloud and it looked at me in recognition, similarly when I mentioned the name Pan. It seemed happy to be recognised by such names.
What is more, this was not just a goat from a farm, but an encounter with a wild goat living on the cliffs of the Gorge. A wild and wise old goat, clearly sovereign and not intimidated in the least by human presence. We passed it on the way to the cliff edge were we enjoyed a flask of tea and a stunning view. When we return, the smiling old goat was gone, our audience at an end.
Update: Lolita has her own account and more photos on her blog: Cheddar Gorge and Goats
