PAGANISM AND STONEHENGE

Thousands arrived again at Stonehenge for a celebration of the summer solstice. 

The ancient site in England has kept its mystery so far for what it was used for. Many theories circulating but they are only guesswork. 

The summer solstice is an ancient pagan festival of the longest day on 21 June. 

Previously Stonehenge was banned from visitors but now it has been declared open again. It is now undergoing a £27million refurbishment.  There will be a visitor centre, car park and amenities to be a mile away. The existing road was grassed over and the original road re-opened. It was the prehistoric avenue which was used in ancient times. 

When we approaching summer solstice which is one of the pagans’ main celebrations let’s look a bit further into paganism which remains mysterious for most of us.

It started in prehistoric times and is believed to be the oldest if not one of the oldest religion in the world. Paganism used to be involved in animals and human sacrifices but this has long gone and yet people still think it is part of it. 

No, it has moved on over the centuries. Today, paganism is mainly concentrating in worshipping nature and trying to be part of it. It is in today’s world not wrong at all. By right, we all should return and care more for our nature which gets polluted and destroyed in many ways, rapidly

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Pagans celebrating eight annual festivals in a year Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice and Hallowe’en are the most known celebrations.

Since people getting disillusioned with various religions and are aware of nature being destroyed there is a tremendous increase in pagan followers. It is estimated that there are 200,000 pagans, today. 

It also has nothing to do with black magic and devil worship since there is a great general belief. Up until the ‘50s the law forbid practising paganism was changed and ever since membership increased and people are more open about their belief.

The freedom of worshipping and practising paganism has now reached a point that police officers are allowed to take time off to celebrate their festivals.

Paganism is about ecology, witch craft and Celtic traditions. 

Wiccans (witches), druids, shamans and heathens are all part of it. The witch craft which is also misunderstood has nothing do with practising black magic or any other hocus-pocus. Witches practising their craft to help people in a good way may it be for illnesses or any other hardship or problems to be solved.

The name Pagan derived from the Latin paganus which means rural and rustic. 

In the pagan religions are no set rules. The basic belief is Mother Nature which is the most powerful influence on earth. Pagans also belief in re-carnation. Today the Pagan Federation consisting of 13 districts and holds an annual conference to arranges seasonal ritual at pagan landmarks.

Pagans just follow their own path and as long it does not harm or hurt someone it is acceptable. They can choose when to practise and how often. It can mean just to watch the sunrise and/or sunset or sit under a tree and contemplate. 

Many pagan traditions still existing today. Dancing round the maypole is a celebration of starting the summer months; same as harvest festivals started in pagan times.

On the 24 June they will again celebrate Summer Solstice and the main attraction is  Stonehenge but it will be celebrated in many other places too by lighting a fire and coming to together to worship nature.

Stonehenge is so precisely built that the Sun rises and shines through the main arch on 21 June