From The Inner Circle At Stonehenge

A radiant dusk was upon us when we reached the top of the concrete staircase. Emerging from below, our trivial conversation abruptly ceased. We were stunned into an instant, breathless, respectful silence. Before us rose the towering magnificence of Stonehenge… graceful and glimmering in the late Summer sunset!

Being so suddenly in the presence of the most famous prehistoric monument in Europe, was the most memorable moment of my entire journey. I had the privilege of being a member of a small private party on a special tour to this magical place. Our visit took place after hours, with special permission from the authorities.

The exclusive access we were granted enabled us to visit Stonehenge at sunset, and later under starlight, after the site was closed to the public. Most importantly, we had the unique privilege to enter into the inner circle, which is not accessible to day visitors.

There is a magik here, an enchantment that seems to come to life after the Sun has set and the world has begun sleeping ~ David Rowan

We had finally reached Stonehenge after an all-day, and at times nerve-wracking, mad dash around the prehistoric English countryside. The fun began early that morning with a clockwise walk around the stones of Avebury. Our guide, Astrologer David Rowan, is a very passionate, dedicated man who has devoted a significant part of his life to exploring and studying the cultural history, archeology and astronomy of the sacred sites and Neolithic landscape surrounding Avebury and Stonehenge.

David took us on a whirlwind tour of the area, including the Kennet Stone Avenue, the mysterious, artificial mound known as Silbury Hill, the Neolithic tombs of West Kennet long barrow, and the Sanctuary. After lunch we trekked on to the Stonehenge landscape, visiting sites like Woodhenge, Durrington Walls and finally Old Sarum, by which time my friend, Christine, and I were longingly eyeing the bottles of Celtic Mead and Strawberry Wine that English Heritage was selling at the gift shop.

Indeed… it had been a long, taxing day. I had the whole group waiting for me earlier, because I got lost and had to use my intuitive radar to locate them at Old Sarum. If you have ever driven around England, on those roundabout, haphazard Celtic roads in a rented car, you will know the challenges I faced!

Do you know how there are moments when the world moves so slowly you can feel your bones shifting, your mind tumbling? When you think that no matter what happens to you for the rest of your life, you will remember every last detail of that one minute forever? ~ Jodi Picoult

Then came our first visit inside Stonehenge, just before sunset, and the stresses of the day were soon forgotten. We went right inside the ancient temple, where the ground below the inner circle pulses with a palpable, brilliant energy. Under the careful watch of the guards, we were not allowed to touch the stones, but we did have the once in a lifetime opportunity to wander among them and take amazing pictures. David describes these moments perfectly on his website: “To be able to do this as the light changes and feel the stones grow in stature as the sunlight fades is brilliant; the site really does change from being a load of rocks in a field by daylight to an enigmatic temple by night.”

But the magic did not end there. After a much-needed dinner at a nearby manor house restaurant, we returned to the mysteries of Stonehenge for the second time. This time beneath the stars.

According to David this tour is always held on a New Moon, “because when the Sun sets, the Moon is also below the horizon, ensuring that when you return to Stonehenge, the only lights in the sky are the stars. To see the night sky illuminated like a planetarium in that place, with the great trilithons in your vision, is simply breathtaking.”

I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again ~ William Penn

Once inside the temple, David surprised us with a special Astrological chart he had prepared for that exact place and moment in time. He explained the significance of where the planets were positioned around us at that very moment, and then he offered guidance on what we should focus on, and what we might want to avoid, during our subsequent meditation within the inner circle. Of course, this was vitally important, as whatever thoughts, emotions, or wishes we would send out during our meditations would be vastly amplified by the forceful energy vortex emanating from Stonehenge. The Stonehenge is a powerful energy portal, since it is located at the heart of a network of ley line alignments.

Then followed the most unforgettable meditation of my entire life. We were given the exceptional opportunity to each find a spot inside the Stonehenge, where we could sit or lie down in comfort to privately meditate for half an hour. David gave strict instructions as to maintaining silence, isolation and absolute darkness.

All flashlights, phones and other devices were switched off, and once everyone got settled in, we all surrendered to the peaceful supremacy of this magical place. I was especially blessed, as I happened to position myself right in the center of the inner circle… and from my little hub at the core of the United Kingdom’s Unmissable Wonder, I sent out rockets of desire for our world to become a better place.

Articles in this series are from Anthon’s travel blog, which he wrote during his 2013 European tour. The blogs are a collection of spiritual adventures, pilgrimages to sacred places and accounts of his personal odyssey into self-realization. Other articles in this series:

Journey Born Under A Divine Star

In The Powerful Presence Of The Maiden Goddess (Athens, Greece)

A Sign From Apollo At The Delphic Oracle (Dephi, Greece)

The Shaman’s Schmetterling In Gottsdorf (Berlin, Germany)

Empath Unplugged At Bath Spa (Bath, United Kingdom)

The Disappointed Jesus In London (London, United Kingdom)

© 2013 Anthon St Maarten