Summer Solstice @ Stonehenge Time stops for a moment on the shortest night and magic happens

Start Time:
Saturday, June 20, 2009 at 7:00pm
End Time:
Sunday, June 21, 2009 at 8:00am

Plan to get to the stonehenge solstice early - when the car park is full, road access to the area will be closed - there will be buses from salisbury - carpark and stones open at 7pm - pass this on

Saturday, June 20, 2009 at 7:00pm - 8am sunday


**If you would like to be a peace steward for this event, please email  viziondanz@infinitepossibility.org**



bring your creativity, costumes, acoustic instruments

the rest of the year except for the equinox's and winter solstice we are restricted to walking around the outside of the stone circle.

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After the "battle of the beanfield" in 1985, the stones were off limits until it was re opened in 2000
see and explore the links here:

 http://www.infinitepossibility.org/stonehenge11/index.html
(website needs updating but is still relevant)
and ....

 http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/jun/01/remembering-the-battle-of-the-beanfield
"Remember the Battle of the Beanfield
The brutal police treatment of Stonehenge festival-goers in 1985 marked a turning point in the suppression of civil liberties

Exactly 24 years ago, in a field beside the A303 in Wiltshire, the might of Margaret Thatcher's militarised police descended on a convoy of new age travellers, green activists, anti-nuclear protestors and free festival-goers, who were en route to Stonehenge in an attempt to establish the 12th annual Stonehenge free festival in fields across the road from Britain's most famous ancient monument. That event has become known as the Battle of the Beanfield."

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"Stonehenge Round Table" The final episode of the BAFTA award winning 2004 BBC National Trust series.
Featuring this website, it is a revealing glimpse behind the scenes on the relationships that plan and execute the Summer Solstice gathering @ Stonehenge (32, 000 that year).
 http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=7793211809667135085&hl=en-GB

see english heritage site for terms and conditions, directions etc

 http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.20654

 http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/upload/pdf/Conditions_of_Entry_2009_FINAL_15_Apr_09.pdf?1244051435
peace stewards
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the role of peace steward is about being present as a responsible member of the community, being aware, diffusing potential conflict situations through friendly interaction, witnessing - whatever feels appropriate. - educating people who don't understand the history and sacredness of the situation

There will be english heritage stewards and security to back up any serious situations that cannot be diffused.

If you want to be an official steward with a badge, you will need to sign a disclaimer and communicate directly with me at  viziondanz@infinitepossibility.org

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channel 4 did a documentary about the peace steward role in 2000 the first year of the reopening - this can be seen here:
part1 -  http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-3764710024466371924
part2 -  http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=86634900283496676

** To all guests of Summer Solstice @ Stonehenge
when the car park is full, road access to the area will be closed - get there early

A BEGINNER GUIDE TO THE SOLSTICE AT STONEHENGE
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THANKS FOR THIS TO:
 http://www.myspace.com/stonehengeuk

A Beginners Guide to the Stonehenge Summer Solstice
Current mood: enlightened
Category: Parties and Nightlife
Summer Solstice at Stonehenge

Every year on June 21st thousands of people gather at the ancient site of Stonehenge to celebrate the longest day of the year – the summer solstice.



Around 30,000 people come to the ancient site of Stonehenge near Salisbury in Wiltshire, England each year to mark the summer solstice. The summer solstice always takes place on or near June 21st and marks the start of the summer. On this day the sun is at its most northerly point. This is why it is the longest day of the year. The celebration in Stonehenge mostly attracts pagan sun-worshippers, hippies and people who are simply looking for a party. Let's take a look at Stonehenge and how Stonehenge relates to the Sun and the summer solstice.


Stonehenge is a large circle of stones that was built around 3,000 B.C.. A lot of stones are ten or twelve metres high. The stones as we see them today show Stonehenge in ruin. Some of the original stones have fallen or been taken away by our ancestors for home construction or road repair. Researchers state that it must have been very difficult to build Stonehenge, because the stones used to erect it weigh several tons and some have had to be dragged from as far as 250 km away in Wales (although there are other theories). The purpose of the stone circle has long been a mystery to both scientists and archaeologists. Some people think that Druids used the stone circle as a kind of calendar. The Druids were the priests of an ancient Celtic religion in Britain 2,000 years ago. By looking at how the Sun lines up with the stones, they could tell what time of the year it was - useful for an agricultural society. However, according to the latest theories Stonehenge was a healing centre like Lourdes in France today, where sick people came to be cured. People have attributed healing properties to the stones at Stonehenge from the distant past to the present day.

What are solstices?

The word "solstice" comes from the Latin words "sol" and "sistere" and means the sun stands still. Solstices take place when the sun is at its greatest distance from the equator. Solstices occur once in the summer (21 June) and once in the winter (21 December). After the summer solstice the days get shorter until the winter solstice when the days start to get longer again. The summer solstice has been celebrated all over the world since ancient times. In England the summer solstice is traditionally associated with Stonehenge. How come?

How Stonehenge relates to the summer solstice?

In England Stonehenge is the most famous monument to the solstice. When the sun rises on the day of the summer solstice, it shines directly into the circle's center along the aligned avenue. flanked by perhaps the oldest and most famous stone that lies just outside the circle called the Heel or Hele Stone. The name of the stone may be derived from the Greek word for the sun -'Helios'. Nowadays, just like in the past, thousands of people celebrate the summer solstice at Stonehenge every year. In the past the summer solstice celebration was very important to people, especially in the northern hemisphere. People celebrated the start of the summer because without the summer sun they could not have grown their food. Moreover, the summer solstice was a joyous time because it marked the longest day of sunlight and the crops that were to come.

Modern solstice celebrations

Nowadays Stonehenge is still the most magical place in Britain to experience the summer solstice. The celebration brings together party-goers, families and modern Druids, who celebrate from sundown to sun-up. The so called neo druids believe in a philosophical movement that promotes religious tolerance, harmony and worship of nature. For the Druids the summer solstice celebration in Stonehenge is the highlight of the year. Some dress up as magicians or wizards and play traditional instruments to greet the dawn at Stonehenge. Throughout the night, revellers gather in groups to dance around drummers and bagpipe players. The rise of the sun is traditionally signalled by horns and drums. The crowd immediately becomes silent to enjoy the sunrise. Solstice nowadays is a peaceful and cheerful experience.

A celebration with a controversial past

The celebration has however a controversial past. In 1985 the solstice festival was the occasion of a violent confrontation between police and revellers. Hence the monument was closed for the solstice for 15 years. But in 2000 English Heritage, which owns the site, reopened Stonehenge for the solstice. By contrast to the wild 80s the summer solstice celebrations have been peaceful ever since.

SEE YOU THERE
:)
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