Some places distinguish themselves,
first glance,
part curve & coastline roll,
nothing more,
still, slow
lift the veil
glimpse deeper,
feel texture, smooth unique forms,
practice geological crafts,
caressed ocean rise & fall
torso twist & turn,
with millennial restlessness,
some settle,
in slumber,
life-form
aggregates,
flocks, herds, names & stories
hover, rest, soar & plunge,
surge in your liminality,
flow land & sea
sinuous figure,
washed & soothed,
rise paps,
taste cloud & rain
rest upon her
sanctuary
with gifts returned
dive deep
seek
macabre collections,
offer chitin charms
share exoskeleton
amulets
upon her flanks,
now she bares
palette pools
yellows,
browns
&
greens
mix & wash
with cumulus brush
cyan coating
maritime hues
in time
we can drown,
draw down,
wash & wave
escaping
solar bleached
realities
before
winters
first flurries
with
gentle
poise
discover
new
totems
The distinctive point, Rubha na Caillich, is a weathered rock outcrop on the coast of the Kintyre peninsula.
To the north, the seascape soon leads to the Corryvreckan (Cauldron of The Plaid) Whirlpool, where it has been said the Caillich washes her cloth at the end of Autumn and when cleaned becomes the white winter snow covering the land.
To the east, across the Sound of Jura, are the Paps of Jura (Beinn an Òir, Beinn Shiantaidh and Beinn a’ Chaolais)
Immediately, to the south of Rubha na Caillich, is Dun Cragach, where a small community dwelt beside the Caillich figure about 2000 years ago. I am sure they would have recognised the distinctive form next to them and would in some way have incorporated her presence into their ceremonies and stories of the landscape they inhabited together.
They would have also interacted with the other birds and animals of the landscape, with perhaps different perspectives from today : how they understood, otter (or diving sea birds), who brought sea urchin and crab to eat on her flanks, leaving exoskeleton amulets, would be fascinating to explore further.
Travel south a further kilometer and you reach Carraig nam Bodach but that is another journey together.
heritagelandscapecreativity 