Sacred Space

 

We travelled up to the Hebridean Isle of Lewis on Brigid's eve - an auspicious coincidence, we thought. And so it proved.  During our 2.5 days on the island, we visited the stones at Calanais 3 times.  It sounds so cliched, but there is a magic within that sacred circle that kept drawing us back. The weather was perfect - cold, sunny and the lightest of snowfalls on the Wednesday - no other tourists either, so we had the place deliciously to ourselves.

 

. Each stone has it's own unique personality.  Kristine commented on my skywatch post how they looked like old men.  They really do have a human quality, and I wonder if those ancient ancestors who first erected these stones were portraying their own community. This chap was a formidable guardian at the end of one of the long avenues

The colours are amazing.  The stones actually glow with the shades and hues of the land.  Pinks, oranges, whites, green and greys.  I love in these two shots how they seem to merge into the winter landscape.

 

To me, the inner circle looked like a group of strong ancient matriarchs.

While the men spread around in a protective outer ring. 

  

It is a special place.

Another special place was Breanish over on the far West side of the island.

  

So far on the edge, you can see St Kilda, hazy on the horizon.

An if you look really hard - maybe you can see America!

If not - there are always other delights to behold closer to the shore.

And, of course, there are always the stones.