Wild Being: Behind the Waterfall

Waterfalls have long captivated us, offering not only breathtaking beauty but also a unique sense of relaxation. Their steady, rhythmic sound is deeply calming, immersing us in a natural sensory experience that eases mental tension. Standing beside a waterfall, feeling the cool mist, and listening to the gentle roar draws us into a state of relaxation, helping us shed daily worries and reconnect with the present moment.

The continuous flow of a waterfall generates white noise, which has been shown to promote neuroregulation—a state where our nervous system shifts from stress and "fight or flight" responses to a calm, balanced state. This process allows us to move away from heightened stress and enter a more regulated, peaceful state of being. The natural sounds and sensory immersion provided by waterfalls help facilitate this shift, making them powerful tools for relaxation and mental well-being.

Mythic Waterfalls in the UK

Across the UK, several waterfalls have gained sacred or mythic status, often tied to local legends or ancient beliefs. One such site is St. Nectan's Glen in Cornwall, where a 60-foot waterfall flows into a basin believed to hold healing and spiritual properties. The area is laden with offerings from visitors, reflecting the enduring reverence for the site as a place of transformation and blessing.

Another famed site is the Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye, where cascading waterfalls create crystal-clear pools that many visit to feel a sense of enchantment. According to local legend, these pools are inhabited by spirits—believed to be fairies or elemental beings that protect the land and water—making the location feel alive with a mythic presence. The presence of these spirits is said to imbue the pools with a sense of magic, and many visitors leave small offerings or say prayers in hopes of gaining favor or experiencing a deeper connection with the mystical energies of the place. Such places echo the timeless connection people have felt with waterfalls—spaces that seem to hold a gateway to the unseen, reminding us that some of the world's greatest mysteries lie in the natural landscape.

Taghairm and the Transformative Sound of Waterfalls

An ancient Scottish divination practice called Taghairm, documented in historical accounts and folklore collections, highlights the connection between waterfalls and mystical experiences. In one version of this ritual, a practitioner would wrap themselves in a cowhide and sit near or behind a roaring waterfall, allowing the sound to transport them into a trance-like state. This sensory immersion, combined with ritual elements, was thought to enable communication with spirits or gods, as the continuous sound would lull the practitioner into a meditative state, almost like entering another world.

Records of Taghairm, found in texts such as 18th and 19th-century folklore compilations and oral histories, illustrate the significance placed on waterfalls as thresholds to the Otherworld—places where one could transcend ordinary consciousness and seek wisdom from beyond. These historical references help us understand how natural sounds, like that of waterfalls, were believed to guide practitioners into altered states of awareness, connecting them to the spiritual realm.

Connecting with the Sacred through Spiritual Rewilding

In the Spiritual Rewilding course, we encourage participants to find a place local to them where they can experience a sense of regulation, calm, and connection. In the Wild Being module, we explore practices that help us work with these places to shift our state of being, so that we become more receptive to subsequent practices, including later working to connect with Wild Spirits. Now, we may not be able to wrap ourselves in a cowhide and sit behind a roaring waterfall like in the old Taghairm days, but we can still learn to work with the natural world around us to find our own doorways into transcendent experiences and connections with the sacred. By quieting our minds, relaxing our nervous systems, and embracing the guidance of the landscape, we can deepen our connection with the earth and begin to experience nature's sacred and transformative power.

If you are interested in enrolling on the Spiritual Rewilding Online Course, our next start date is January 2025. We will be working together through various approaches and practices to deepen our spiritual connection to the land around us.