Winter Solstice
- Stonehenge Pictures 1
There was Open Access at Stonehenge for the sunrise at 8.03a.m click on the thumbnail to see a bigger version |
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 Approaching Stonehenge |
 The Winter Solstice crowd gathers within the sacred stone circle |
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Open
Access for this year's Winter Solstice at Stonehenge began at 7.30a.m.
There was no car park open on the English Heritage
site, so everyone
used the nearby lanes and any available lay-bys surrounding the stones.
It was all very different from the heavy security and police presence
at the Summer Solstice in June - much more relaxed, due to the smaller
amount of people - the temperature tends to deter many at this time
of the year! It was easy to reach the centre of the mighty stones - no massive crowds, instead lots of room to stand and stare in awe of the massive megaliths. Luckily there was no rain as the dawn approached, but it was very cold. Most of the crowd was well prepared with thick coats, scarves, gloves and enveloping blankets. We
were led by a wonderful druid with some peace and love chants - the
atmosphere was great. Then a hand-fasting ceremony was held and others
followed this with dancing and bongo playing. A lone Japanese woman
did her own celebratory singing between the trilithons, some hugged
stones, whilst others just enjoyed being in the magical circle of
the people's own temple. |
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 Stonehenge's sihouetted trilithons |
 It's good to see the stunning Stonehenge sarsens again |
 Winter Solstice Stonehenge 2004 |
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 Stonehenge solstice wintery wait |
 Stonehenge towering trilithon |
 Stonehenge |
 Stonehenge |
 The Winter Solstice crowd wait within Stonehenge's inner circle |
 The druids arrive in the circle |
 Druids lead the chanting as dawn approaches |
 The Winter Solstice sunrise nears |
 Stonehenge solstice dance |
 Blessings to all this happy solstice morn |
 Stonehenge Winter Solstice ritual |
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 The Stonehenge sky begins to change |
 Our ancestors have gazed east thro' Stonehenge's portalsportals |
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 Winter Solstice December 2004 |
 The solstice day breaks in the People's Temple |
 Stonehenge dawn |
 Where's the sun? |
 Stonehenge solstice crowd look east |
 It's light but where's the solstice sunrise? |
