A priest, magician, or a soothsayer. In the ancient Celtic religion. That’s what a druid is.
I had to look up druid to be sure I wasn’t one. And that soothsayer? It isn’t what it sounds like either. A soothsayer is one who is able to foresee the future.
Every time I hear “druid” I think of an oil change for some reason. That’s right — like for a car.
“We changed your oil and checked your druids. You’re good to go.” As they close the hood of the car and pat it twice.
Anyway, all of this comes to mind because I just happened upon an article this morning concerning Stonehenge. You see, a group of archaeologists discovered what could be one of the largest prehistoric sites in the United Kingdom. This just a mile or so, north of Stonehenge.
When they were looking around recently, those scientists discovered this massive ring of what they are describing as “ancient” shafts. There are at least 20 “shafts” more than 32 feet in diameter and 16 feet deep that form a circle more than 1.2 miles in diameter.
That’s a big ring. And, it surrounds the site of a Neolithic village called Durrington Walls. At this point, they have no freaking idea what this means, I’ll bet you. But they are saying that it could shed new light on the origins of the mystical stone circle we all know and love as Stonehenge. (Neolithic is the time in the latter part of the Stone Age, when stone weapons and implements prevailed, in case you aren’t familiar with the Flintstone days.)
Archaeologists believe the circle of shafts was created about 4,500 years ago. Perhaps, they say, this could have somehow marked a boundary and guided people towards the religious sites, while warning others not to cross.
Like how did that work? Guiding some while keeping others out? Subway tickets? Or maybe signs. Yes. I can see the signs nailed up around those winding shafts now. “No Girls Allowed.” “Go Back.” “Do NOT Enter.” “You MUST Be Taller Than Scooby-Doo to ride this ride.”
It’s a big mystery to them. I’d count on it. Look at the disparity in the timeline. The shafts are built around 2500 BC. And they think Stonehenge went up between 3000 B.C. and 1600 B.C.? Seems like ambiguity there. Like waiting a long time on a contractor.
I brought up the “druid” thing because the article mentioned that Stonehenge is “one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions. Hundreds of people including druids and pagans typically visit the site at the summer and winter solstices.”
Druids and Pagans. The dictionary labels a pagan as a person holding religious beliefs other than those of the main world religions. Well now. I’m definitely a pagan, and I’m going to try to find out how I can get a druid certificate.
I mean, anyone can become a preacher these days. Why not a druid? Regardless, I thought you might like to know about the secret shafts in England. They built them for a specific purpose, that is for sure. And all we can do is speculate about those reasons. It could be, just maybe, the Stone Age was much more than we realize.
Apparently. Yabba. Dabba. Do.
============
“Can’t you see that I’m only advising you to beg yourself not to be so dumb?”
― Petronius, The Satyricon
===========
“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”
— Socrates
===========
“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”
— Lao Tzu
==========
