The trouble with temples
It’s solstice time, give or take, and it’s also a weekend. This means that lots of people will converge on Stonehenge, Avebury, and sites that are more locally famous. I expect Glastonbury will have been heaving, and no doubt lots of people went to Rollright. Some of them will be there because they are Pagan and seeking spiritual and tribal connection. Some will be there to party. Some to take photos and to revel in the spectacle. Some will come in uniforms, to police the whole thing.
I like a party as much as the next Druid: Which is to say – sometimes. I probably appreciate being policed as much as the next Druid, too – depending on whether they are helping me (as they have done several times now in tough circumstances) or if they are a threat to my democratic right to protest. I find footage from fracking protests really intimidating. I don’t enjoy being in situations where my spiritual practice is media bait or a tourist attraction – I have done rituals at Avebury, but it felt really weird. On the whole I prefer a bit more privacy.
For those who want to get out there with a lot of other people, the media circus and the police – best of luck to you. Whatever floats your boat and all that. It troubles me that so often these mass gatherings do not seem to be terribly respectful of the site – there are always images of people clambering onto stones. Mind you, that’s always an issue at Avebury, every time I’ve been there I’ve seen people letting their children treat the stones as an adventure playground. All issues of respect aside, some of the stones are not as firmly set in the ground as might be ideal…
There is always a tension between religion and consumerism – and all religions have this. You have to pay to get into many cathedrals. Everyone has a gift shop with some percentage dubious tat in it. Famous sacred spaces attract tourists, some perhaps more spiritually respectful than others. Temples of all kinds need funds in order to sustain themselves, and that makes tourism attractive. Big popular festivals are a chance to rattle the collecting tins and raise your profile through media attention. There are interesting questions to ask about what is lost and what is gained in all of this.
On the whole, I prefer to do rituals without the pressures a big and famous space creates. If you’re going to stand in the centre of Stonehenge, you’d better feel pretty awesome about what you’re doing and your ability to pull it off, or you’re going to come out feeling like a fraud and an idiot. The little grove in your local wood will always be more forgiving. I prefer not having media attention – and not having to fear being misrepresented for freakshow entertainment. I have done rituals where the police tuned up – they were lovely and joined in, but the uniforms and high viz jackets make me nervous.
There are many things to seek at a ritual this weekend. Many of them having nothing to do with spirituality. Know thyself. Know what you’re looking for, and what that means. Be honest about it. Do whatever makes sense in light of that.
