The Centre Of The Universe

[poliphilo]

I was standing by the concrete post that marks the position of the obelisk- once the tallest stone in the Avebury circle but long since destroyed- and it was like I was at the heart of a machine- the inner parts of which are the stones, the ditch and the bank- and the outer parts of which are the sun, moon and stars- and I thought that if only I could find the switch, the whole thing would revolve like a carousel- with the stones bobbing up and down like horses to beautiful fairground  music.  And then it struck me that any place where one chooses to put down a marker is immediately the centre of the universe and the heavenly bodies will dutifully dance around it. 

I was in this elevated, sort-of-druidic state of mind- and looking like an authority-  when a Russian schoolgirl with a reluctant friend in tow- detached herself from her party and came across the rough grass to ask me a heap of questions. They had driven past Stonehenge, she said,  but hadn't left the coach because it looked so forbidding with all the fences, and now they were in this place she'd never heard of before where they could wander freely and actually touch the magic stones and she was full of glee. I hope I talked sense. 

Comments

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Aw, I love the sheep in the last picture! He (or she, probably) looks so totally blissed out.

I like the idea of you acting as stone-circle guru for the day, too. I bet you did it brilliantly.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I love it how unfussed the management of Avebury is- the very reverse of what's developed at Stonehenge. People and sheep are allowed to wander about and mingle and do their own thing. No-one's watching you; no-one's making you conform.

I know a bit about the site- probably more than the official tour guide did.