A Write Royal Rant February 2023
Imbolc Greetings to you all, a time when night is seen to visibly give way to day, and the first stirrings of spring may be seen as the snowdrops break through looking for the renewed sun.
The passing between Winter Solstice and Imbolc is always 'our' least busy time, but just as the days get lighter and the natural cycle 'picks up', so to do we, and find more energetic things to pass the time. For us it is a renewed look at the political landscape ahead and how it shapes (and often dilutes) our Civil rights and places unnessesary burdens on our Glorious Mother Nature.
First however a word about The Winter Solstice at Stonehenge.
My heart goes out to the many pilgrims who made the journey only to be denied the ability to make their observances in the Temple at dawn; To all those who although close at hand, missed the traditional Greeting of the Sun with the assembled gathering. To the Senior, Robed, Pagans and Druids who likewise missed the very moment in time they had travelled long distances to witness. And to take part in the celebrations.
Many Pilgrims and those who would have led and participated in ceremony, spent the dawn 'stuck in endless' and in my view totally unnecessary, traffic jams. I warned them (the authorities) and have gone on record many times, standing always against the total closures of the By-ways Open to All traffic (BOATS or Droves) within the World Heritage site over the Winter solstice period. This practice gives EH the monopoly on parking, and in my opinion places an artificial cap on numbers attending.
Needless to say, I brought this up at a recent meeting, one where Wiltshire Council refused to attend and the Police couldn't be bothered either, so I walked out in protest. Not before, leaving them a document of complaints from senior Druids and Pagans present, and a photo of how we manage when left to our own devices parking up on the Drove keeping the thorough-fare clear and allowing the thousands present to observe the dawn from what they view as their Temple, without turning a single Pilgrim away as EH constantly did at winter,
I shall submit plans for the coming winter Solstice 2023 but whatever their view, it is my intention to once again return to the Drove.
I leave you (as I did, the Authorities) with a photograph of how it works when we are left to our own devices.
Blessings
King Arthur Pendragon /|
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