Spiritual initiate Chicchan recently took a group to Stonehenge where she created a sacred ceremony, inside the ancient sacred circle, normally out of bounds to the general public. Chiccan will be sharing her experiences of sacred ceremony at the Starlight Wellbeing Expo this weekend.
Why did you go to Stonehenge? Stonehenge was part of an experiential nine-day tour of sacred sites in the UK. During the nine days, the group I led created and took part in three ceremonies relevant to the sites chosen. The first ceremony at dawn, at Stonehenge, on the first day of the retreat, honoured and celebrated the divine masculine in us all. The second ceremony was performed at the Chalice Well in Glastonbury, celebrating the divine feminine, and the third ceremony, celebrating unity, was held in a freshly created crop circle on the (northern hemisphere) Summer Solstice. I am taking a group there again in June 2012.
Why is it so significant… does it still hold the same spiritual significance and importance as it once did, or is it more of an historical site? For me, this sacred circle of stones and the surrounding land is alive with magical qualities and still holds the memories of my ancestors who gathered throughout the seasons to celebrate the movement of the cosmos; a temple to the moon by night and an astronomical alignment with our sun’s power during the day. Here they came to stand in awe and share their reverence and gratitude to creation and each other. Many people from around the world are magnetically drawn to these healing stones which continue to emanate a strong spiritual presence and cultural significance.
What is the importance of sacred ceremony? In these times of change, more and more people feel a calling to come together in joy, peace and stillness to places where they feel safe and free to express their innermost connection to themselves, each other and their divine presence. Sacred ceremonies create a special time and space to reflect, honour and celebrate these qualities together.
Why is the sacred circle usually out of bounds to the general public? As a child, my sister and I played together for hours amongst the stones while on a camping trip with my parents and years later, as a young lover with my partner Raym, I lay on the stones in a passionate embrace. The stones then were in the good care of nature, and no-one would dream of marking them in any way.
Years later, we heard that these gentle giant granite and bluestones had been chipped as souvenirs and people had made fires there and disrespectfully marked the site. The stones are now protected by the English Heritage who have cordoned off the area to the general public to prevent further erosion. Our ceremony however, is held amongst the mossy stones within the circle site, and it feels as fresh and clear as I remember it.
I was saddened to hear about the fence and the restrictive access but I hear that proposals are underway to create more grassed area in keeping with the original site on Salisbury Plains with access and viewing by visitors greatly enhanced.
What will you be offering to visitors at the healing expo? As always, the Starlight Wellbeing Expo promotes healthy minds, bodies and spirit, with workshops, talks, healers and products which showcase the diverse choices we have for ourselves and our planet, right here in Byron Shire.
The sacred ceremony workshop will focus on divine union integrating our male/female polarities. There will be a space for participants to let go of the past, transmuting aspects of ourselves which hold us back from our true essence, creating a clear space for our spirits to join as one, renewing and strengthening our sacred selves.
Starlight Wellbeing Expo, tomorrow to Sunday at the Bangalow A&I Hall, 9am–5pm. www.global-healing.com.
Image: Sharing experiences… Chicchan
