Rudston is just down the road for us. The Neolithic monolith is the tallest in the UK – standing 25 feet tall. It weighs around 40 tonnes and was brought about ten miles from where it was quarried. There was another stone in the church yard that was moved and a few others in the surround that were associated with it. It is probably around 5000 years old and dates to the early Neolithic.
It was quite common for churches to be built on sacred sites. Many stone circles were desecrated for their power. The village I live in has a church on a flat topped hill that may well have been artificial and had a stone circle on it.
The church tried to at once break the old religion and incorporate it.
Very cool…. Stonehenge is the one thing I regret missing on our trip…
Any plans to do your trip now?
Namaste Opher 🙂
I am a sucker for these Neolithic sites – Wales is awash in them and whilst I will never get chance to view them all, it remains an intention to at least make it to most. Tis not just their physical presence in the landscape that remains awe-inspiring but our relationship to them
I was recently recounting an experience I had sleeping rough one night beneath the cap-stone of Pentre Ifan, a famous burial cairn in the Preseli mountains. Quite an experience and one I would recommend to any brave heart or thrill-seeker.
http://cadw.gov.wales/daysout/pentreifanburialchamber/?lang=en
Combining your love of music with standing stones, I’ve no doubt you’ve either read or perhaps own a copy of Julian Cope’s Teardrop Explodes) book ‘The Modern Antiquarian’? And if not here’s a link to get your Neolithic taste buds salivating nicely 🙂
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/home/
Namaste 🙂
DN
Hi Dewin. Yes I am strongly attracted to standing stones and Neolithic sites. They resonate with me. You surmised correctly. I have both of Julian’s wonderful books. Wonderful.
Indeed they are: I was introduced to his book by an Archaeology student whilst studying here in Wales almost a decade ago. It was she who helped fashion my love and interest in all things Neolithic and I am so pleased that she did.
Good to hear you have them in your library also. Great stuff.
Namaste 🙂
DN
They are so comprehensive Dewin. And they look good too! It is good to have a comprehensive view of all those amazing sites. I connect with them.
As I do and very readily so. I like the way the books are fashioned: an artful blend of personal perspective, prose and poem written I imagine in situ and inspired by actually being there. I’d love to a tour of the UK by following the featured places in his book 🙂
Heading off at a tangent, I’ve come across a word (a made up word if you will) that has at once laid me low as much inspired me. The word is ‘onism’ – In philosophy, monism is the view that a variety of things can be explained in terms of a single reality or substance, or a distinct source. Onism is a kind of monism, because your life is indeed limited to a single reality — by virtue of being restricted to a single body — but something is clearly missing. Or to put more meat on the bones: the frustration of being stuck in just one body, that inhabits only one place at a time, which is like standing in front of the departures screen at an airport, flickering over with strange place names like other people’s passwords, each representing one more thing you’ll never get to see before you die—and all because, as the arrow on the map helpfully points out, you are here.(http://www.dictionaryofobscuresorrows.com/post/73524850764/onism)
This word arrives as I sit watching a film about the life of an obscure artist called Leanora Carrington (https://anelegantmystery.wordpress.com/2018/01/29/the-mysterious-was-always-around-the-corner/)
I know there is a relationship existing between these two but I can’t quite put my finger on it. But I’m sitting here very much thinking that indeed something is missing – that I don’t fit in to life somehow? It is the most peculiar feeling.
Namaste 🙂
DN
Exactly so – they are works of art. I have used it to check out a few areas on a couple of occasions.
Back in time when humans worshipped through animism they felt that everything was alive – the rocks, earth, sun, moon and mountains as well as trees and animals. Humans were part of it all and of no greater importance. I feel we have lost some of that experience. I have an affinity for rocks, trees and sunsets that I can only describe spiritually though I do not hold with any superstition or religion. Do we all live in one reality?
(I’ll check out the links you kindly sent through).
Hey Opher,
I agree and share your sensibility: humankind has long forgotten that we are merely one thin stretch of gossamer in a web of life that is far greater and far more mysterious than we will ever know. Human kind has placed itself at the apex of all life on Earth when in actuality we have absolutely no reason be so arrogant and proud. Human beings remain an infant in this Universe yet believe we are in some way supreme. Mother Earth is supreme, we still suckling like babies.
When did humankind lose their way or remove themselves from who and what we truly are? Whatever happened to the psychological evolution of our species?
‘Do we all live in one reality?’ – sincerely, I have no definitive answer whatsoever to that question. My gut instinct is to say yes: that it is an individual’s perception that makes the experience unique for each of us. But who can say what reality actually is anyway?
My head is blown today – my strength failing me somewhat. I cannot find rhyme or reason this evening to accept reality as it is playing out on the world stage and in particular here in the UK. The truth being presented about UK politics that is now starting to appear more quickly throughout the media regarding the filth and diabolical activities of this bastard government is really starting to hurt.
https://skwawkbox.org/2018/01/29/43-of-disabled-claimants-under-tories-attempt-suicide-mcvey-still-on-board-of-samaritans/
Namaste 🙂
DN
Dewin – all things pass. Bad times give way to good times. It is incumbent on us to ensure the good times come around quicker. Something to aim at. It keeps us busy and gives us purpose. Chin up.
Maybe that is true for those still alive, but not for those long gone dead and buried because some bastard millionaire decides they want to make a fast buck.
Pray God me strength.
Namaste 🙂
DN
Dewin – well as my Mum used to tell me – worry about the things you can do something about not the things you can’t.
Wonder how the vicar would react to a wild pagan midnight dance around it …
I don’t know. But I’m tempted to see.
Wow it looks like an amazing place to see!
It is a big monolith. Shame they built a church next to it.
That’s sad.
It is a standard part of human practice. They try to steal the power.