Glastonbury Weather

Several publications, including the Evening Leader and Yahoo Music (UK & Ireland) ran articles about Druids praying for sunshine for the Glastonbury (music) Festival. It appears that the so-called "Archdruid King" Arthur Pendragon led revelers in London's Hyde Park in a plea for sunshine the week beforehand at the first annual NME Glastonbury Sun Dance.  Weather working must be different in the UK than it is in the US.  I don't think I've ever considered weather working from over a hundred miles downwind.  Maybe it is all about reveling than anything else. 

 

Winter Solstice at Stonehenge Aotearoa

The Wairarapa Time-Age had an interesting article about the Winter Solstice being celebrated at Stonehenge Aotearoa. Of course that piqued my interest. I had heard of Stonehenge Aotearoa but really didn't know much about it.  Well, the photographs are awesome.  It appears that the OBOD folks put on a Winter Solstice (June 21st in the Southern Hemisphere) celebration.  Their special events page shows they've hosted Wiccan and other special events.  It looks like a site well worth visiting.  If you ever get close to that part of the world, be sure to visit the site.  It has made my list of places to see.

Stonehenge Decoded

The National Geographic folks focused upon Stonehenge in June.  The magazine ran an excellent article "If the Stones could speak" in its June edition.  Additionally, the television station ran a program, "Stonehenge Decoded."  The TV program was good, although it took some literary license.  For example, they indicated that the site was sacred and that individuals that went onto the site in Paleolithic times would get into trouble for doing so, even when following a hunt.  No evidence of that, but it made for a great diversion.  The bottom line is the show promotes a new theory that identifies Stonehenge as a family burial site for a limited number of important people. Besides the tv show and the magizine article there is a web site that is is a lot of fun. There are video's including reenactment and photos galore.  Photos include predawn at Summer Solstice and lots of screen savers.  There is a quiz, that even I, who thinks he knows quite a bit about Stonehenge, didn't ace.  There is even a game that is quite fun. All-in all the focus on Stonehenge is wonderful and refreshing.