[Closed] Anyone else find they get a bit emotional near the summer solstice?

After the longest day winter is on it's way .That's the emotional bit it's depressing

Nope.

I'm bipolar, i get emontional about everything,the wind blowing the wrong way, dogs in hats,****ing chaffinchs, boiled eggs,I have an irrational terror of rock ballads and iphones. consider yourself lucky.:)

MTFU?

jahwomble - Lol! 😛

Yeah I do, specifically about 3 days after.

Stonehenge gives off the most amazing vibes, as do other relics in Wiltshire. Done a few rides past there and would like to be amongst the stones at the Solstice.

Winter can be scarey for many people but the seasons are to be enjoyed. There is beauty everywhere if you open your eyes to it. Do not fear it.

Oh and ignore druid - what does he know? 🙄

Science maybe?

Mumbo jumbo!

I do.. but mainly cos my friends birthday is on the solstice so there is plenty celebrating to be done..

we actually managed to co-ordinate ourselves up to Stonehenge on the right night last year for quite an exhilarating experience..it could be slightly disturbing and/or cold and boring if you're not used to tens of thousands of full time pagan/hippy/pikey/techno traveller types plus another 20 or 30 thousand sensation seekers gathering together to dance/ogle/encourage/rob/worship/abuse/love/understand each other..

we left one of our party to make his own way home after he disappeared.. arriving home a day or so later having gotten lost by following the siren call of a mysterious and distant light on the horizon..

good times.. would have been better if the security firm had allowed us to take more booze and more blankets onto the site..

yeah but mainly because Glasto is the week after it and im usually on a masssssssive come down! Does that count!!!

Go to Stonehenge for the Solstice - that'll convince you that things are not so bad. The presence of a couple of thousand drunk / stoned / high fraggles, crusties, hippies, wasters, ravers, locals and associated hangers-on soon reminds you that you are not all that bad and you have a future. Cider and weed does not give anyone a 'deeper understanding of the stones, man'.
The few druids and other serious-about-it people are a reminder that there are also nice people in the world. But a minority.

The presence of a couple of thousand drunk / stoned / high fraggles, crusties, hippies, wasters, ravers, locals and associated hangers-on

I take it you've not attended the solstice events then tootall?

The numbers are much closer to 50 000 even after you've taken into account sensationalist/alarmist press reporting..

I've been going up there for a good few years on and off... and know others that have attended the celebrations for a good few decades on and off..

It has without doubt turned into a circus and there are a number of folk in attendance each year that would equally turn up at the stranding of a whale.. or the opening of a new supermarket by girls aloud..

there is a large majority of people that just turn up for a jolly good piss-up and an epic hullaballoo with thousands of like minded folk.. which I imagine the solstice celebrations have attracted at Stonehenge and at stones and and henges and monuments of every description since time immemorial.. with a spirit of toleration very much in evidence that is neccessary at such a huge party.

no doubt the organised religion types with their desire to sacrifice a few virgins and wail their very serious mumbo jumbo have to be tolerated in the spirit of the festival too..

the fact that it attracts a large population of folk who are.. err.. less inhibited by middle class laws and values adds a wonderful integrity to the proceedings and certainly helps lend a few glimpses into a much earlier, wilder and free-er past that alot of people yearn for and only few have fought for over the years..
At least this is the effect I personally experienced..
Might have been due to the drugs and booze though!

No

The presence of a couple of thousand drunk / stoned / high fraggles, crusties, hippies, wasters, ravers, locals and associated hangers-on soon reminds you that you are not all that bad...

But if you don't like it, stay at home, fair enough!

i'm a fairly regular visitor to stonehenge for the solstice celebrations most of what yunki, konabunny etc says is also my experience. I'm not sure I particularly like the 'managed access' concept but hey ho.

Avebury, Silbury hill and west kennett are also an excellent venue for the solstice and have the advantage of a. being somewhat less intensely controlled and b. at one end of the ridgeway, making a night ride from the vale of the white horse a real nice way to meet the dawn as you arrive in avebury at dawn.

Avebury also has the benefit of being the only stone circle in the world with a pub in the middle of it!

No - beginning of September for me - light levels change

yunki - Member

I take it you've not attended the solstice events then tootall?

I have - which is why I commented on what I saw there - but forgot the trustafarians, middle class kids rebelling and other self-worthy hangers-on.
I went there with a very open mind as I have a deep interest in ancient Britain, divining, etc and have visited many ancient sites around the world. I found the majority of those present to have the self-belief that, due to drink / drugs / dreads / banging a drum for hours / German para boots / blowing a frikkin rams horn over and over / repeat festival attendance (better if illegal and free of course) / poor personal hygine, they had a deep insight into Mother Earth and all things worthy and ancient.

They didn't.

Sounds like they're the appropriate descendants of the original menhir-bothering, sun-worshipping, sickle-waving, mistletoe-abusing druids who thought they had a deep insight into fertility and the earth, then.

After the longest day winter is on it's way

It's a great ride downhill though.. July.. August.. September.. Even though the daylight is on the wane you still have some of the year's BEST months go come 🙂

a much earlier, wilder and free-er past

On what planet was the past much more free than today?

The solstice is an amazing time of year that is very special to some people.

And it's not all 'hippies, crusties' and drug taking. Midsummer is incredible and wonderful, it just depends on how the individual celebrates it.

solstice who?

And it's not all 'hippies, crusties' and drug taking

No.
February, working from home, cabin fever, little light in the day time, that's when I need to have an away-holiday as I find I grind to a halt.
Ban February I say!

We'll be celebrating it by trying to get pregnant... that's the spirit, isn't it? 😉 8)

Yes I do, mainly as I organise a solstice pub crawl ride around my local hills! i get pretty tired and emotional and normally fall off!

I have an irrational terror of rock ballads

Stonehenge on "Midsummer" morning. I can't imagine anything more nonsensical and dreary, to be honest...

the last time I was at stonehenge there was a bloke walking round tutting a lot

was that you TooTall? 😉

I think everyone has a different version of the solstice and waht it means in their own universla world view. Most of dread heads are fluffy, why would it annoy anyone?

Is there free-sex in a consequence-free environment available at this event?

If so I'm in.

Avebury, midsummer night... Beautiful. 8)

[i]On what planet was the past much more free than today? [/i]

This planet, the time before fences and private property signs.

Kev

[i]The few druids and other serious-about-it people are a reminder that there are also nice people in the world. But a minority. [/i]

That's most odd as every day I see nice people in a majority and find that the nasty ones a really small minority. Wonder why it's the other way around just because the day is a few minutes longer.

yossarian

Avebury, Silbury hill and west kennett are also an excellent venue for the solstice and have the advantage of a. being somewhat less intensely controlled and b. at one end of the ridgeway, making a night ride from the vale of the white horse a real nice way to meet the dawn as you arrive in avebury at dawn.

Avebury also has the benefit of being the only stone circle in the world with a pub in the middle of it!

There is NOTHING MEANINGFUL about the way the solar system is moving around.

Also, Stonehenge was built to mark the winter solstice.

Hippies. Pfeh.

I have - which is why I commented on what I saw there - but forgot the trustafarians, middle class kids rebelling and other self-worthy hangers-on.
I went there with a very open mind as I have a deep interest in ancient Britain, divining, etc and have visited many ancient sites around the world. I found the majority of those present to have the self-belief that, due to drink / drugs / dreads / banging a drum for hours / German para boots / blowing a frikkin rams horn over and over / repeat festival attendance (better if illegal and free of course) / poor personal hygine, they had a deep insight into Mother Earth and all things worthy and ancient.

They didn't.

+1

Having lived among the Wilts sites most of my life (have defected over the border to Hants.. the ridings better ;-)) there are an awful lot of idiots attracted by the sites. Solstice just means the traffic gets worse 🙂

Worse than this is the appearance of 'guides' at Avebury whose main intention appears to be to ensure that people stay at home and look at a DVD rather than experience the site for themselves. I'm sure there are some good ones but the few I've come across consider the stones to be theirs and would prefer people not to be there at all.

Conversely there were a bunch of hippy types up at West Kennet longbarrow just celebrating the new moon, who were very nice indeed.

There is NOTHING MEANINGFUL about the way the solar system is moving around

iirc that big ball we orbit is quite important and fairly meaningful as is our orbit and our distance from it etc.

Let me try and clarify it for you by placing the capitals elsewhere.

There is nothing meaningful about THE WAY the solar system is MOVING AROUND.

Try again.

So you are claiming that the way we orbit the sun and the distance from it is meaningless then?

There is nothing meaningful about THE WAY the solar system is MOVING AROUND.

Practical yes. Meaningful, no.

Similarly, a "mid-point" in a planetary cycle (a description that depends on where you are observing it from), has no more "meaning" than any other supposed "conjunction".

Get back to waitrose to buy your imported sh1t. Oh wait, abroad has seasons too.

Why on earth would I buy shit? Imported or otherwise? What a strange bunny you are...

Waitrose is a really good store, in my experience. Where do you shop?

Coming late to the realisation that the seasons are universal probably hasn't done you any harm. 😆

I think that the people going to Stonehenge for Midsummer to get drunk and drugged up are turning away those who genuinely want to celebrate in a sacred place.

Many Pagans will be turning to other locations to celebrate this year. However, if some people want to celebrate by getting completely off their faces, then that is down to them - everyone has a different way of doing it!

EDIT: And also, just because some people don't believe that there is any meaning in the solstice, doesn't mean that those of us that do believe are wrong. Just means we've all got different beliefs and viewpoints! Ain't diversity and tolerance wonderful?

Practical yes. Meaningful, no.

for many people the two things are entwined.

Why on earth would I buy shit?

Are you sure it's not just hay fever?

you seem pretty angry about all this Mr Woppit

you clearly use a different dictionary from me then

meaningful -1.Having meaning, function, or purpose.

It is clear our position - where we are- does have a function and a purpose and therefore meaning. Without this we would all be dead /never have lived ..that is pretty meaningful to me if not too you.

I agree the spirirual bit is meaningless to you [ and to me] but the geographical location of planets is MEANINGFUL if you want to stay alive.

Oh dear... it now appears that some of the STW collective ARE getting a bit emotional before the solstice.. 🙄

I agree the spirirual bit is meaningless to you [ and to me]

So we agree, then. Steady, Jam29er is at the door and I think he/she's a bit upset about something. Perhaps he/she needs to spend some time in a field being "spiritual"... 🙄

yossarian - Member
you seem pretty angry about all this Mr Woppit

No, no. Not at all. Just practising my disdainful lip maneuvers. 😆

Oh dear... it now appears that some of the STW collective ARE getting a bit emotional before the solstice.

On what planet was the past much more free than today?

hmm... maybe I'm being romantic or you're being obtuse.. neither of us actually lived in historical times so lets not split hairs hey gumbo?

Certain (christian) rules did not exist ruling whether or not I could live this way or that way... and anyone bombastically imposing on my way of life would have been justly and immediately met with severe and definite righteous indignation and all would have agreed that I did what was right and good..

and you can.. if you so desire.. go on to tell me about this violent opressor and that one.. but I am talking about a gathering of folk to celebrate midsummer and to drink and mate and sing and tell tall tales and laugh at the pompous vicar etc etc etc etc

This is my romantic view of the stones history and I argue that it's as valid as the next mans.

I went there with a very open mind as I have a deep interest in ancient Britain, divining, etc and have visited many ancient sites around the world. I found the majority of those present to have the self-belief that, due to drink / drugs / dreads / banging a drum for hours / German para boots / blowing a frikkin rams horn over and over / repeat festival attendance (better if illegal and free of course) / poor personal hygine, they had a deep insight into Mother Earth and all things worthy and ancient.

ha ha ha
wally! (should that be 'where's wally'?)

if you're interested in history etc why go there when a hippyfest is occurring? do you believe that the people in ancient times were generally cleaner and better mannered and were less likely to be getting sloshed and grooving to rhythmic chanting and drumming?
and I'm quite certain that you didn't manage to interview the 'majority' of people there as you claim.

Perhaps he/she needs to spend some time in a field being "spiritual"...

I really don't understand the attitudes on this forum sometimes. So what if someone wants to stand in a field being spiritual? Is it hurting you? Why the need for the sarcastic eye-rolling?

JAM29er - Member
Yes but it doesn't mean anything

My dear JAM, of course it does. It means Junkyard and I agree, and I'm disdainful... 8)

I really don't understand the attitudes on this forum sometimes. So what if someone wants to stand in a field being spiritual? Is it hurting you? Why the need for the sarcastic eye-rolling?

yep, I don't get this either. The funny thing is that that kind of attitude is TOTALLY absent from the folks that congregrate at stones all over the UK on midsummer...

It means Junkyard and I agree

Agree you're a numpty?

My dear Woppit, I concur.

JAM29er - Member

It means Junkyard and I agree
Agree you're a numpty?

No, we agree that "spiritual" doesn't mean anything...

The funny thing is that that kind of attitude is TOTALLY absent from the folks that congregrate at stones all over the UK on midsummer...

Ooh, I bet if you dug deep enough you'd find some. Take JAM29er, for instance. 😯

I'm lovely, my mum told me so. She said she didn't like you though, thought you were a numpty.
*inappropriate smiley*

I'm a sod... a smelly one

JAM29er - Member
I'm lovely, my mum told me so. She said she didn't like you though, thought you were a numpty

Very cosmic.

No, don't think she read it in her stars. It is written on the toilet wall though.

Yes, Mrs North's birthday is on the Solstice, and I'm usually fretting that the gift I have got her is nice enough.

😀

Ooh, I bet if you dug deep enough you'd find some. Take JAM29er, for instance

nah, he's just risen to your fly Mr W

he don't seem as cross as you are about how other people celebrate their existence. 😉

Yes, Mrs North's birthday is on the Solstice

Just a quick question... is Mrs North a bit... well.. different? Weird might be a better word..

I have known 3 solstice birthday folk and they have all been a bit.. erm.. unusual.

I suspect that maybe if all people born on the solstice are special then there might be something significant about it after all.. which will upset Woppit. But only a tiny bit... and he'll try not to let it show.

EDIT: FOUR solstice birthday folk!

I think that the people going to Stonehenge for Midsummer to get drunk and drugged up are turning away those who genuinely want to celebrate in a sacred place.

The po-faced neo-druids are just making up nonsense based on 18th century myths and Asterix books. I don't suspect the first solstice at Stonehenge (Where the demons dwell / Where the banshees live and they do live well) was that sober either. I mean, after dragging those bloody things up from Wales you could do with a mead.

But only a tiny bit... and he'll try not to let it show.

i sense a disdainful lip curl coming on 😀

yossarian - Member

Ooh, I bet if you dug deep enough you'd find some. Take JAM29er, for instance

nah, he's just risen to your fly Mr W

Yes, almost too easy.

So we agree, then

Yes, almost too easy.

well done, you can save this thread to your favourites now

*rolls eyes at Woppit*

My Birthday is the 21st.
Always a bit sad because I'm a year older.
Hoping to kick it off with a bike ride this year, watch the sunrise but only if its clear.
Always fancied riding from Sunset till Sun-Up, but somewhere with a nice view of the sunrise.

yunki - Member
and I'm quite certain that you didn't manage to interview the 'majority' of people there as you claim.

I claimed nothing of the sort. I reported what I experienced. I went there at Solstice because, firstly, I happened to be in the area and secondly, I wanted to see what the people who made the effort to be there on a certain date/time were making of the place.

Errr, I think you did.

blah blah I found the majority of those present blah blah

Junkyard - Member

So we agree, then

Only if you want to grasp at the bit where I mention spirituality

Well, of course. That was the bit we agreed on...

I claimed nothing of the sort.

err... you absolutely unequivocally did claim such!

I found the majority of those present to have the self-belief that, due to drink / drugs / dreads / banging a drum for hours / German para boots / blowing a frikkin rams horn over and over / repeat festival attendance (better if illegal and free of course) / poor personal hygine, they had a deep insight into Mother Earth and all things worthy and ancient.

They didn't.

how did you deduce what the majority of tens of thousands of people BELIEVED without asking them?

And who are you to decide whether a person has insight into mother earth and all things worthy and ancient?
baffling claims

you really are obtuse Whoppit thank f@ck I only have to interact with you on a forum I recall now why I do it so rarely

Yes I know. Irritating, isn't it?

😆