Thomas
Recently my friend Alex came by my home to take a few pictures of the henge I built in the back yard. While she was here she asked if I would write a few lines about how and why I built it. I agreed to her request. But as I sit here trying to put the experience into a few lines, I find it impossible. The why is a story, the building is a story and living with it is another. But I will do my best, after all this is an article, not a novel.
We will start at the beginning. "God said let there be light and there was light." Well that may be too far back. Let’s start in July 2000. My name is Thomas. I come from a long line of mystic and religious people from both sides. Some summoned demons, others cast them out, and I am not without powers in my one right. I came into my power in my middle teens. Emotion is the key to the intensity of my power. Consequently I have been looking for something to gather and hold power, so I might practice the art at my leisure without need for an emotion to feed on. Having tried winds, staffs and amulets with little success, the amulet was the best.
One day the henge came to mind. I have been fascinated by henges ever since I saw pictures of one in grade school. I knew that was it. It would have to be done in phases, rocks ain't cheap. But what if it didn’t work, what will I do with all those big rocks in the yard? Hell, I’ll make a round flower bed out of the damn thing. People have English Gardens, French Gardens; I'll have a Celtic Garden, and hopefully a "Point of Power".
In my research I found that what writings that are left, to be little more than campfire stories of ancient heroes. The church it seems has destroyed or hidden away all the Pagan and Druid text, pertaining to their religious practice. This is not to say they did something wrong. By their standards they did the right thing. That happened 1,500 years ago. Things were quite different then. Man was struggling to find civility and religious clarity. We cannot judge those men by today’s standards; we can only morn their folly. But it doesn’t help someone today looking for assures to very old questions.
After searching through my vast library, and countless hours watching The History Channel, it seems no one knew why the henges were built, so I would have to build one myself. That was the only way to see if my belief that there was "power in the form", not "the placement of the henge." I live in the outer suburbs of Dallas TX., not Wales or Scotland. I felt as no chance placement could have any influence on the outcome. Next I talked to my wife about what I wanted; to build a henge in the back yard. My wife has always gone along with what I wanted to do, but this was outside for all the neighbors to see. To my surprise she was not only supportive but enthusiastic about the project.
There was a perfect place right off the back patio. My house faces east, and I would enter my henge, or flower garden from the East. What I needed was three stones, six or seven feet long by one to two feet square. My friends, there are not a lot of stones like that laying around your local landscaper. But I found exactly what I needed not five miles from my home, at my local nursery.
Next I needed to have a stone raising party, or hire a crane. It is suppressing how heavy stones that size are. The party was a big success. With the help of my son, two son-in-laws and my pickup truck the two standing stones with lintel, were up in no time. I was satisfied with our accomplishments, but my help, being younger and perhaps drunker, wanted to use the stones I had for another project, to finish the smaller standing stones and Heel stone. I wasn’t sure they were what I wanted, but I gave in to their persistence. They turned out to be exactly what I wanted. Goes to show when you think you need something, you may already have it. You’re just looking at it wrong. You see the values you put on it, not the potential it may have. In relationships, as in material goods, you may need to take a different look at what you have, before looking for something new.
When completed the rough beauty and power of the henge far exceeded my expectations. A small stone roughly twenty to thirty inches high stood in the North, East and South, with the lintel stones in the West, completing the eighteen foot circle. The lintel stones standing six feet tall and five feet wide, overlooking the three and a half foot tall Heel stone sit in the center. The white limestone rising out of the green lawn were the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, except my wife of course.
Later that night as we prepared for bed we were talking about the henge. She was telling me how glad she was I had finally started it, and I was saying how happy I was. I was sitting on the foot of our bed, and my wife was talking to me. As she walked into the master bath, her words become distant, the room faded away.
I stood on top of a rolling hill dressed in a white robe. In the valley below me stood a henge just like the one in my back yard, only this one was four or five times bigger. People were coming up the valley all dressed in white robes. They all assembled in the henge. They seemed to be waiting on something, but what? Then I knew, they were waiting on me. I had come quite a way to be here. There was something I needed to do and they were here to help me.
As I walked into the circle person after person spoke to me. I knew everyone. We greeted each other, and talked, but I heard nothing. Not a word, but I knew what they said; we talked of life and the joy of it. Then the time came for me to do what I had come to do and it all faded away.
Do I think my henge was a success? It is beyond my wildest dreams.
Thomas
Thomas will write another article about his Stonehenge in our February EZine. He has so many interesting things that have happened to him to tell us. It is fascinating to explore different moments in time in ancient cultures. If anyone I have ever met has Celtic Ch'i (Cosmic Breath of God) within, it is Thomas. Being part Irish I totally feel connected to Celtic times. Join us again for the February EZine about 2/15. I know you will enjoy it.
Thank you Thomas for writing for us and making us aware of the power of the forces of Nature that exist and can be harnessed with curiosity, hard work and determination. I think all of that resides within our DNA. Love that Celtic DNA... am looking forward to next month's Stonehenge story.