have you ever been to stonehenge? it is my most favourite place from 'back home'...it is mysterious, beautiful and to me, has a really powerful energy. on two days of the year the fences are taken down and you can walk right amongst these enormous beauties to celebrate the summer and winter solstice. last night was the summer solstice...celebrating the longest day of the year: midsummer. i find it hard to describe what it is like being at the stones...i wouldn't say i was a spiritual person but i feel such a strong energy emanating from the stones when i'm that close to them. not a physical energy (although some people claim to feel a 'shiver' of energy when they touch the stones) more of an emotional energy, a connection with something ancient. when you visit the stones you park a mile or so from the henge and walk across fields with the stones beckoning you in the distance....walking with a tribe of people all heading towards the stones, playing instruments, wearing flowers and ivy in their hair. and as you get closer to the stones you can take them in in all their huge and mysterious glory...a henge which supposedly took over 3 million man hours to build with it's creation beginning over 5000 years ago.
theories and rumours abound around the mysteries of the stone (many of them avalonion, which to me creates beautiful imagery in my mind of knights, white horses and flowing locks full of flowers!) and the henge site is surrounded by other ancient sites which are thought to coincide with ley lines, or energy lines, that run through the earth. growing up just 20 minutes from the stones i've been able to visit these other sites, such as avebury stones, the chalk horses and silbury hill, and have been able to walk among the many crop circles that 'mysteriously' arrive (or less mysteriously are created by wiltshire folk who arrive late at night to create these beautiful signs by pressing the crops down with boards!). i have yet to visit the beautiful glastonbury tor though....
unfortunately cloud covered the sunrise this solstice year so i thought i would share some shots from 2005 where we had a beautiful sunrise among the stones...
i've been visiting the saracens at stonehenge for almost 10 years now....but i think it might be my last time. over the years the number of visitors have massively increased, with other 36,000 people thought to be at the stones last night. but it's not the number of people, it's the type....when i first started visiting on the summer solstice the stones encircled a wide tribe of people for that night: pagans, druids, neo-travellers, locals, those who respect the earth but who hold no particular religion. last night was saddening....it was like a student union party, full of teens wearing day glo glasses, falling over themselves wrecked on alcohol and party drugs, climbing on the stones....and other more aggressive types who were skulking around and bringing an odd air to the celebrations. the media made out it was a pagan and druid celebration....it was more like an acoustic rave full of people who have no respect or care for the ancient stones that they were puking on. also made me realise i'm turning in to an oldie....'back in my day....'!! but, it is sad, think i'll attend the winter solstice next time, utterly cold but i'm sure much more magical.
has anyone else ever visited stonehenge? would love to know you thought of the stones...and where are your favourite places from your home town?
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15 comments:
I have never been to stonehenge, but someday I will. It is on my today list. These pix's are breathtaking.
I had two friends that went there, and somehow they missed the bus and got stuck out there all by themselves...had to walk back. Not sure what time of year it was...but they said it was night time. I hope they had a flashlight. :-)
oops...I meant to do list.
oh no! but i would have definately taken the opportunity to sneak among the stones had i been your friends...imagine being the only people there...i bet it would be amazing...in fact, i'm now inspired to do a late night trip of my own!
oh god. i would love to see stonehenge sometime, but not if it is like a rave scene. how horrible!!! that is just all kinds of wrong.
and i love the images above. they are so beautiful, and it sounds cheesy, but they make me feel at peace (that is a RARITY!). :)
not cheesy at all! that's exactly how i felt when i first started visiting and i'm so pleased we got these pictures...i've just discovered that you can visit the stones out of hours just by yourself....no other people there, how lovely would that be! being in amongst the stones is definately the thing to try so would recommend going to winter solstice in december when only 300, rather than 30,000 people go!
Beautiful photos and the first time I ever read anything detailed about Stone Henge. For me, it would be not only the type of people who kept me away, but the number of people. I dislike crowds of any sort. Great post!
I visited Stonehenge a few years ago (but not at solstice time). I also visited Avebury stone circle. My absolute favourite though is Castlerigg in the Lake District with its backdrop of mountains and fells. Last time I visited, it was really quiet, timeless, and enchanting. Thanks for a great post!
Lovely photos . How sad that it was overun by pests this year . With any luck they'll all swarm somewhere else next time .
There's a little neighbourhood in Groningen I like to wander in where all the streets have flower names . Big Rose St. , Little Rose St . Big Lily St . and so on . The houses are all tiny and tatty , it's full of artists , students and old ladies and there's always something new to see .
thanks! glad you enjoyed the post...i love all the theories and stories that surrond these ancient sites...not sure i believe them all but they are fun to read!
just checked out the castlerigg stones...they look beautiful, remind me of avebury. and i love tiny tatty houses! i intend to have one at one point...in fact i've seen the one i want. tiny and cute and the shape of a 50p piece!
I've always wanted to go to Stonehenge, especially at Midsummer. The sheer numbers do put me off though, and it's a shame that the atmosphere was spoiled while you were there. I've heard that Avebury is a good spot for the Solstice, as it's "less popular" than it's more famous cousin.
i would definately recommend going to stonehenge, it's really beautiful....i really considering the winter solstice now...apparently only 300 people go and the ceremonies actually take place inside the stones (unlike at the summer solstice) which would be lovely to see. Would also like to go to Avebury to...tis not too far away!
I've never been there but really looking forward of seeing it too someday. Nice photos! Thanks for sharing them.
thanks matt! i was so pleased to get these photos, a solstice sunrise is rare!
I randomly have read a lot about Stonehenge and still feel like I have no idea the purpose or meaning of the monuments. Lovely pictures
Wow - your solstice pictures are amazing! We have just had our winter solstice - glad the days will start to get longer!!
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