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Winter Solstice By Robin Whitehead |
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From: Robin Whitehead
Hello everyone, I thought you might like to share my experience of the sunrise on the 21/12. A Pagan friend suggested I join them at the Longstone, or the 'stone' as they refer to it. The Longstone is situated to the south of the Isle of Wight, about 1 mile from the sea. It nestles between some small hills overlooking a small valley below Brooke Down. Brooke Down has ancient barrows on its summit and I guess it is perhaps 500 to 600 ft. high. There is also a barrow on a smaller hill that overlooks the Longstone. The Longstone itself is not too spectacular. It is about 12 ft. high and is of some sort of sandstone. There is a smaller stone at its foot, laying down. The stones do not show signs of having been worked and perhaps they are too ancient and weathered anyway. They are in the open at the top of the valley and there is a clear view to the end which runs approximately east/west direction. It is a place that seems to attract people and at weekends it is a favourite walk. People always seem to go and touch it. It is said that many ley-lines pass through the site. Before the hurricane 11 years ago, the Longstone was at the edge of a forest and completely hidden and since it is an exposed site, the trees were flattened and the forest has since been cleared. I arrived before daybreak and was the first there. It was clear and frosty. People started to arrive, there are several routes by which to get there. Not being in the habit of getting up before dawn at this time of year, I had no idea how long sunrise takes. We stamped around to keep warm and chatted. I met some interesting people. It is always refreshing to hear from folk that are not fettered by the usual doctrinal religions. The sunrise was beginning to look spectacular. The thin clouds were filled with red. Looking up towards the Down, away from the sunrise, the sky here too was transparent red. There were now about 25 people present, including some familiar faces, and I had no idea what was going to take place. We were formed into a circle in front of the stone and one chap read out some text that made reference to Pagan entities. Then another stepped forward and recited an ancient rhyme. He then asked us all to join hands and led us round, anticlockwise, to close up the circle. But instead of doing so, he overtook the tail on the inside such that we formed a spiral into the centre. When he reached the centre, he abruptly turned through 180 degrees and led the line back out in the opposite direction. We ended up on the outside again but facing outwards. Shortly afterwards, the sun broke the top of the hill to the East and flooded the stone with light...... I'm sure some of you will be familiar with this simple ritual. I am not sure what it is called. Anyway, the whole thing was quite special for me, and they all said it was the best winter sunrise they had ever seen. In talking to some present I found out that there is a group that meets every so often to study folklore. I am going to give it a try and the next meeting is a lecture about Buddhism. By the way, I took some photos. I could send some down the line if anyone's interested. In the evening, we went to a party at my Pagan friend's place. It was a wild and fantastic do. Celtic music (you've got to dance to it), singing, wearing strange headgear, playing on Bodhrans and generally letting-go. Very theraputic - great! One observation - at no time were children not involved, in other words - no double standards. This is a good indicator of a caring society.
Robin (robin.w@zetnet.co.uk), © Robin Whitehead. Archived in The Sigilhouse Library with permission.
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