Herne in the Peak…Robin in the hood !
July 30th, 2010 by Carol Stuart Jones 
Herne the hunter, the mythological figure said to haunt the ancient oaks of Windsor is generally accepted as presenting a face of the Old Horned God.
Through folk tale, film and song, his fame and appeal has captured the imagination of many modern pagan folk, becoming an icon of the true faith of Albion, as woodsman, wildman, hunter, free spirit and sacrificial king, bearing the antlered crown of his beloved deer.
How strange then that this potent spirit reaches out to whisper his name to our Cuveen; The Clan of Tubal Cain, especially towards Lammas.
Out in the White Peak, by chance we manage to capture images of the Red Deer against old oak, a group of a dozen or more stags with full sets of mighty furry tines, playful, energetic, and the very essence of animal masculinity, an uplifting sight and a joy to behold.
Could Herne be here, watching from beneath the emerald verdure of the lightening trees, here in deepest Derbyshire, in our neighbourhood?
Ask any child who it could be bearing such qualities and the Archetype reveals itself effortlessly, the subjective reality of myth mocking the objective analysis of academia, the name morphing to Robin Hood…who else?
Furthermore there is a place name in these parts that occurs three times and deserves closer scrutiny; Hob Hurst’s House.
Whilst Hurst suggests a link with Herne, Hob is of particular interest being a derivative of Robert, as is Robin (this calls to mind Robert Cochrane aka Roy Bowers; a patron of our faith).

Roy’s group bore the title of the Royal Windsor Cuveen; his home in Slough being not too far from the ancient Royal seat of Windsor, so one may surmise from this that the legends of Herne the hunter bore some degree of relevance.
By some twist of fate, Derbyshire maintains the old traditions honouring Old Hob, where local people may leave milk for the Celtic elven spirit in order to obtain his favour, and Robin Hood is very much a local legend; a much celebrated folk hero.
The majesty of Sherwood Forest has shrunk somewhat over the centuries, but Derbyshire was once a part of it, known as the Forest of the Deer and the Royal forest of the Peak, being royal hunting grounds under the jurisdiction of Hood’s old enemy, the Sheriff of Nottingham.
Robin Hood served as the common people’s champion, the heathen glory in opposition to the restrictive unfair establishment that sought to crush the living spirit of the true Englishman.
Yet his stride was superhuman to the level of Godly; near Stanton Moor, one finds Robin Hood’s Stride, and there it is plain that no mere mortal could straddle the width of the gritty rocky outcrop rising out of the limestone to piss upon the dancing maidens below and turn them to stone, thus creating Nine Stones Close.
An uncharacteristic gesture… for normally Robin was careful to honour the feminine, being Maid Marion’s champion in the peasantry’s May Day festivities of old, and of course this act is open to conjecture … but it raises a wry smile none the less!
Once again, the intrepid and wind buffeted Clan of Tubal Cain ventured to Nine Stones Close to commence their Lammas rites and observances, and in the shadow of Robin Hood’s Stride, the stang was raised and wreathed with local wheat, in honour of the Old Horned God.
With mirth and reverence we contemplated the tangled threads of this potent mystery, one eye over the left shoulder and armed with battered and broken umbrellas, ever ready for the full flow of ancient force to pour down upon us.
The Clan wish you all the very best for your Lammas rites, our harvest has been rich and meaningful this last year and we hope that you all have equal cause for celebration.
f.f.f.
Carol Stuart Jones
Maid of Tubal Cain




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