The 20th of June was the 12th Annual Stonehenge Summer Solstice gathering on the Plains of Salisbury. When planning my UK adventures from India, I had assigned myself a photographic project to attend and document the Druids’ ceremonies amongst the stone monuments. Little did I know that I would be joined by some 18,000 other Solstice worshippers. The weather decided to add drama to the centuries of history, sacrificial rituals and ghostly spirits. Rain, +9 Celsius and the dreaded whipping winds off the plains to make things just a little miserable. Not the spectacular golden sunset light on the stones or the solstice sun peaking exactly over the “Heel” stone that I had been hoping to photograph. King Arthur Pendragon, leaving the stone circle.
Enlightened souls honouring the “Heel” Stone in the early evening.
The masses arriving in the evening of the 20th despite the promise of rain.
I was relieved to see the afternoon rain subside by six and reinforced my determination to go despite the gloomy weather. How often will I be in Salisbury for the Solstice? By eight o’clock I was sitting on top of the double decker bus with other Solstice revelers and made my way to a place I have come to love. Stonehenge for me is a place of great mystery. It was built in sequences, the first starting in 1900 BC by the Late Stone Age People. It consisted of a 380 foot diameter raised circle, with 56 “Aubrey” holes placed exactly 16 feet apart in a perfect circle. The holes varied from two to six feet in diameter and were two to four feet deep. It has been discovered that they were used for cremation burials for multiple people over centuries. Likely the High Priestess’ and Druids. At that stage only 7 significant stones were erected. In 1750 BC the “Beaker” people began the second stage, which added a double row of 82 upright Welsh Blue stones forming the complete circle (one section on the west incomplete). The third phase began in 1700 BC by the Bronze Age People, who were wealthy and had developed fine craft skills. During this stage the 81 massive Sarsen sandstones and Welsh Blue stones were erected in the manner we know Stonehenge archaeologically today. It is believed the design was of Mediterranean or Egyptian orientation. Each of these phases took about 100 years to complete. It is well documented that Stonehenge has been built with perfect astronomical precision aligned with both the summer and winter solstice.
Stonehenge I – from Gerald S. Hawkin’s, “Stonehenge Decoded”
Stonehenge III, according to Gerald S. Hawkins.
Majestic stones dwarfting the mere mortals gathered amongst them.
On my arrival, after being cued in cattle-like pathways for the friendly but mandatory baggage search and dog sniff, I wandered up the field with hundreds of other adventurers. I soon found myself following elven folk clad in long swinging robes, fairy women with garlands in their flowing hair and colourful swirling dresses and in the centre of the stone rings, the Druids themselves. A sunset ceremony was underway by the Arch Druid, King Arthur Pendragon and his beautiful Queen, Calliope Muse. Speeches were made (oddly politically), solstice songs were sung, poems waxed eloquently and blessings given to all with prayers and chants for peace throughout the world. King Arthur and Queen Calliope.
Enchanted Druid and High Priestess witnessing the evening ceremony.
Mother and Daughter of Celtic Saxon decent.
The Solstice event is the only event of the year that takes down the rope fence and allows people to walk in amongst the stones. Or climb on top of those resting on the ground. Having stood outside the rope, the sensation is considerably different when you are able to walk inside the circle and touch the stones. By midnight, I found a spot outside the main entrance stones, next to a young man playing a lute. Sitting on my uncle’s camp stool with tripod set up and umbrella blocking the wind, I witnessed wave after wave of revelers arriving. Every one of them stood in awe of the stones and all stopped to touch the entrance stone; even the three cool dudes who were reluctant to show any emotion; each discreetly slid their hand along the stone guardian. Of course others embraced, hugged, kissed and splayed themselves for portraits on the entry giants.
A Druid connects with the past.
First Light within the circle in a gentle purple glow.
These revelers were immune to the elements and had a bright glow of their own!
The spirits were roaming around the circle all night.
Everyone I spoke to remarked that they felt a strong energy within the circle. Energy compounded by the pulse of hundreds of party hounds, drummers, dancers, chanters, wizards, fairies and druids. I met people from all over the world who came to experience Stonehenge and the majority took away a sense of awe and gratitude for touching the place of ancient wisdom and ceremony.
A circle was formed for the Druid’s sunrise ceremonies.
Druids chanted the Sostice Prayer.
The early morning light cast a glow over these spirit’s auras.
This Priestess delivered a poem of the power of Mother Earth and the role of Women.
A fair Maiden sang a joyful song of the Solstice and the promise of summer warmth.
King Arthur, Queen Calliope and the High Priestess affirm their Sacred Vows.
The High Druid leading the chant to give praise in all four directions – a blessing for all.
This couple shared their sadness in the death of a loved supporter of the Druid Order and scattered some of his ashes in the sacred circle.
Two couples received the sacred blessing of marriage by the Arch Druid King Arthur.
King Arthur Pendragon, Titular Head & Chosen Chief of the Loyal Arthurian Warband.
Others were disappointed that such a sacred place had been open to wild partying that did not appear to be reverent or respectful. Now I did not indulge to enhance my experience (although I must say I did stand in many places that all I had to do was breathe and partake in other’s imbibing. Honestly, I did not inhale!). Yes, I did witness excessive drinking by some but overall, the atmosphere was truly joyful, peaceful, elated and a sense of community bound with a common purpose. This might not have been expressed in holy vows and religious prayers, but through the tribal bond of drumming, singing and chanting that carried on from the time of my arrival, right to the final police sweep moving the drumming and dancing beyond the Stonehenge gate.
Morning has broken, like the new morning, the people gathered in peace.
And in merriment and love…
A beautiful fairy gently blessed the people with the ringing of her prayer bowl and love.
Heavy metal or vampire?
Striped Tiger – characters of all sorts sharing the love!
O Yes! Love was in the air. There was not a moment that I felt alone. People spoke to me, expressed love to me, sat with me, beautiful women asked to have their photo taken with me, blessings of the Druids were given to me. I am still lifted by the experience and am sad for those who remained closed to the beautiful energy and mystical bonds preserved by those far out Druid souls who work hard fighting the bureaucracy to preserve the right to come annually to honour those ancient spirits whose energy is still strong within the circle of stones.
The Peaceful Police sweeping the stones of the last revelers – time to leave.
A reluctant crowd dances, drums and chants their way out under escort!
Tired Fairies on top of the Double Decker bus going home to fairyland.
The streets of Salisbury transformed to a period back in time.
Hi Mary:
Excellent work Mary. Great commentary and beautiful photos. I very much enjoyed looking and reading.
Regards
Jim
Beautiful photography! Thank you …. I look forward to meeting you one day!
hya…..i was looking if i could see you they showed they solstice happenings around the world on C B C…but could not find you in the crowd……must have been something!!!!!are you coming back to canada or do you stay there to wait for Matt to continue your travels??????such a life , i travel between my garden out back into sooke and sometimes even as far as Langford , actually i confess i Was in Cowichan Bay yesterday….all is well here cool wet weather too….now the days are shortening again and this is supposed to be Summer!!!!!!!love reading your faraway stories!!!!love Margriet and Fred
Awesome! what a collection of odd entities (excluding you of course), truly crazy what we humans will do when we lack understanding of something, reminds me of cargo cults that mistook dropped freight from planes for gifts from the gods and worshipped them! druids, witches, tigers, drunks, all looking for answers. A life without mysteries would be dull. The building of stonehenge was a bigger project than NASA’s space endeavours relative to the number of population involved in the construction.
http://www.astronomy.pomona.edu/archeo/britain/stonehenge/building.htm
in 3,000 yrs time I guess NASA’s trip to the moon will be a mythical event with its purpose lost to all?
beautiful that was fantastic to read…….peter……woodpeckerdrums
Thank you for sharing your positive experience within the sacred space of Stonehenge.. It is true that during the Summer Solstice public access.. the sheer amount of people flocking there can be massive, and to some -overwhelming, but the other times of open access – the Equinoxes, and Winter Solstice.. the numbers then are in their hundreds rather than thousands, and if you find yourself back in the UK around these times, then come back again and experience that different, but still magical energy