A local legend relates how the stone ring of Callanish was found many hundreds of years ago by a farmer looking for large rocks to build a wall. Wandering across the desolate wind-swept moors of the Isle of Lewis, the farmer came upon a single large stone jutting from the ground. With the intention of removing the stone, the farmer began to dig for its base. As he dug deeper and deeper into the earth, other stones began to appear until finally he had brought to light the ancient ring of Callanish. Whether or not this popular legend is true, we do know that the stones of Callanish were indeed slowly covered by peat moss during the many thousands of years since the site was abandoned.
Archaeological excavation at the site had determined a construction period as early as 3400 BC and paleoclimatology studies had shown that ring's use as an astronomical observation device may have ended sometime around 1500 BC. About that time the weather in much of northern Europe cooled, the previously clear skies clouded over, and consistent astronomical observations became more difficult. The site of Callanish was abandoned and the slow-growing peat moss relentlessly inched up and over the standing stones.
Sitting within the perimeter of the ring, Toran leaned against a stone, closed his eyes and quieted his thoughts through the practice of a meditation technique he knew. He wanted to present an empty mind, similar to a clean black board, to the spirit of the place so that the quality, or character, of that spirit would become clear to him by the emergence of words or feelings in his mind. In years to come he would become more sensitive to this power of place yet now, sitting quietly and alone at Callanish, he felt or received a message about creativity. He intuited that the power of the place could somehow influence the faculty of creativity in visitors. Given the astronomical alignments of the major stone rings, such as Callanish and Stonehenge, he had a suspicion that different celestial energies somehow contributed to the psychological and spiritual influences people reported from visiting the sites. He didn’t know which particular stars the stones of Callanish were aligned with but he would find learn that later.
As part of his research into the megalithic culture and its construction of stone rings, Toran had read widely, considering the theories of scholars from both orthodox and alternative vantage points. He had found the writings of John Michell, Robin Heath and John North particularly helpful in understanding the matter of astronomical observations of the megalithic era.
Many people, when they heard the term ‘megalithic astronomical observatory’ would laugh or express scorn, replying that, “No one in such ancient times had any telescopes.” Yet telescope-astronomy, which allowed observers to use large glass lenses and peer into distant realms of the universe, was not the type of celestial observation which the megalithic sages had performed. Instead they practiced what has been called horizon astronomy, whereby they observed the rising and falling of different celestial objects on the horizon. Throughout the course of the year, as the planet turns on its axis, the stars, sun, moon and planets will be seen to rise and set at different places on the horizon. By setting up site-lines using arrangements of standing stones, such as were frequently found in the stone rings, the ancient sky watchers could observe the cyclical movements of different celestial bodies along the horizon.
This method is really quite simple to perform and anyone can do it even today. All that is needed is a flat area of ground for making observations, a 360 degree view of the horizon, and a few years for watching the horizon each morning and night. As Toran would respond to the skeptics, “It’s not rocket-science, you know, it’s only a matter of understanding this simple way to make the necessary observations – basically just sitting and watching the sun, stars or moon rise and fall – and then taking the time to do it. It’s actually fun too. You bring some coffee or a bottle of wine, and perhaps a friend to talk to, and then you gaze across the heavens as they endlessly move across the night skies.”
After three rainless days (what luck that was!) at the stones of Callanish and other Neolithic sites in the immediate area, Toran next made his way to the south of England. Relaxing for two delightful days in the sensationally beautiful city of Bath, he then went one morning to Stonehenge. He had read a significant amount of about the site, including antiquarian travelogues, academic studies and fiction, and knew it to be the most famous stone ring in the world.
Aerial view of Stonehenge, England
