Sacred site reopens to meditation

Peace Times 10

According to Druid viewpoint, for centuries sacred sites such as Stonehenge and Avebury in England were used to harmonise the elements and therefore the body, mind and spirit. Druids believe that if we do not acknowledge the role of the elements, planets, stars and constellations as components of our consciousness, collective wellbeing deteriorates. It could be said that the misunderstanding leading to the closure of the temples for spiritual worship was a symptom of the modern malaise which has a tendency to place material values above spiritual ones.

Druids, however, are now celebrating the re-opening of Stonehenge for spiritual purposes on the focal point of the Celtic year, the summer solstice. Tim Sebastian - Arch Druid of Wiltshire and Conservation Officer for the Council of British Druid Orders - comments: «Humanity today faces many problems. All spiritual paths offer relief to both the struggling individual and the collective culture of nations. Druidry, too, can assist those wishing to connect with their spiritual essence and heal themselves».

Tim further offers his thanks to Lama Gangchen for his work towards world peace and healing at the sacred sites, which has helped to resolve misunderstandings between the custodians of the sites (English Heritage) and Druids wishing to use the ancient temples for spiritual worship and ritual, he confirms: «It requires a great healer like Lama Gangchen, with the ability to transcend cultural differences, to resolve current difficulties. British Druidry would like to pledge its support to him, in his worldwide healing mission».

Lama Gangchen first visited Avebury on the summer solstice in 1993, one of the outcomes of this was an ongoing «Bardic School» for the presentation and propagation of the Celtic tradition. This now has over 300 members and meets at Avebury on the Saturday closest to the 8 festival days of the Celtic calendar. On midsummer of ‘95, ‘96, ‘97 and ‘98 at the invitation of the Richard Glyn Foundation and with the kind permission of English Heritage, Lama Gangchen performed world peace and healing rituals at Stonehenge. After his successful work in 1995 the Druids succeeded in gaining a court order recognising Druidry as a valid spiritual path and also recognising that the sacred sites be utilised as places of spiritual worship. In 1998, English Heritage welcomed 100 Druids to celebrate the solstice by performing a ritual inside Stonehenge. Ongoing negotiations between Druids and English Heritage are resulting in plans to rebuild Woodhenge, a building to be based on geomantic principles, and locating a school for esoteric education.

Angela Long