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

[oakmouse]

Sound becomes very muted but very clear. It's remarkable! I recommend you try it next time you're there.

The stones at Avebury (and West kennet --- same stuff) "sing" too; they vibrate sympathetically with any noise of the right tone, and the effects of singing or chanting near them can be quite astonishing. I felt at one point as though I was about to pitch forward onto my nose because the ground seemed to be shaking. It wasn't, though; the apparent shaking was the stones vibrating to a chant being sung. Wild stuff. I imagine it had tremendous effects, back in the day.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Fascinating.

If we only lived a little closer I'd be back there this weekend.