Solitude of Stones

You touch humanity when you touch a stone in a circle!

Touching the giant stone circles and fairy forts on my recent trip to Ireland ignited my imagination like never before. Ireland has over 300 stone circles. These are megalithic rocks arranged in a circular pattern where the circle can be over 300 feet in diameter. Believed to be created during the Bronze Age (3300 – 1200 BCE), they are a testament to the mystical spirit of people who brought them together. As I visited these circles, many questions came to mind. Why did the people feel the need to move these massive quartz rocks from the mountain quarry and arrange them in a circle to align with some astronomical geometry? Many of the stones have markings and symbols to identify their significance in the movement of the sun, moon, and stars. Was it to do with cosmological observations? And did those observations make mysterious whispers in the wind worthy of worship and ceremonious rituals?

Grange Stone Circle

Another phenomenon I noticed was the belief in Fairy Forts. These are circular structures made of earthen mounds, trusted to be portals to the fairies and other supernatural beings who live under the mounds. Ireland has recorded 32000 fairy forts. Forts bordered by beautiful hawthorn bushes demand respect and are approached with superstitious beliefs to this day. Most people honor the superstition and go around them when building roads and structures.

Fairy Fort

As I reflect upon these peculiarities, I deduce that people have had a strong desire to connect with something bigger than themselves in the heavens, perhaps an effort to connect with the Creator and the complex planetary system in the sky. Yet at the same time, the fairy fort superstitions empower them to bring the mysterious supernatural beings closer to the land and touch the channel of communication with the Universe through them.

Today, as we go about our modern life, the remnants of these phenomena mixed with our religious beliefs and relationship to God give us a sense that people of ancient times were no different than we are in modern times. Through space exploration, we too are searching for our place in the universe and remain steadfast in awe of our creator. Worships and ceremonial rituals today play the same role as they did then. Through a sense of faith and prayer with or without saints, we too bring the supernatural closer to us, especially when we face suffering!

As I walked around the circle touching those rocks, it felt like I was touching our humanity from past to present, for all its weaknesses and strengths! I am inspired to wonder about what kind of legacy we (or I) would leave behind for the generations who would want to connect with us. Would we shape a world that will create monuments and legends of collective ‘goodness’ and restoration of our history and environment as we move into the age of AI, or would we be a lost heritage?

With that in mind, I am more determined to create my art with a long-lasting impact, to contribute to our legacy in ways that form lasting positive relationships, and to walk a road of kindness to make our world a better place so what we leave behind through our footprints present a testimony of the people who lived with courage and audacity!!