| Since we live only 1 mile or so from
Stonehenge, Tarythe and I went to the Winter Solstice. English
Heritage had told us that they weren't letting anyone in until about 0800
(with sunrise at 0810), so we didn't have to get early. However, it
was quite cold and there was ice on the windshield, so it took us longer
to get going than planned. We barely made it in time, but the sky
was overcast, so there was no sunrise anyway... |
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| As we walked into the stones, it appeared
that a wedding was just finishing. Tarythe walked over to the far
side, but the crowds all got in the way. (79kb)
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Tarythe, standing near the "ceremonial
stuff" from the wedding. You can see the left candle is still
lit. (87kb) |
Tarythe, hanging out with the stones.
(107kb) |
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| I wasn't sure the last picture was good, so
I tried to snap another one when this lady (in purple) walked over with a
small green stone in her hand, laid it on the stone Tarythe was leaning on
and began muttering. We moved on... (74kb) |
*One* of the arch/head druid guys, laying
out his stuff for a ceremony. (79kb)
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Here, he is invoking/welcoming the spirits
of the south (having done the east already). (93kb) |
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| Here he has just turned to the north. I am
not sure if he considers his short sword magical or not, but it kind of
appeared he though that. (93kb)
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And is now invoking/welcoming the spirits of
the north. (100kb)
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I snuck around to where Tarythe was standing
and snapped this shot. (177kb)
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| The (small) circle of people around that
druid were now walking in circles holding hands, and spiraling inwards...
(81kb)
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Tarythe holding up the circle! (100kb) |
A couple of interesting looking chaps.
(142kb) |
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| The druid finishing whatever he was
doing. Notice the cameraman almost in his face. (127kb)
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Two ladies with neat walking sticks, talking
to a friend. (96kb) |
The same two ladies, with a different
arch/head druid of somewhere. (90kb) |
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| A shot of the stones, showing how much
smaller the winter solstice was (compared to the summer solstice).
Only a few hundred people. (70kb) |
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