The Legacy of Druids

I saw Stonehenge for the first time in 1970. I walked about dreaming and smiling, knowing that this was another picture from my fourth grade geography book, that I could check off. There wasn’t a fence preventing entrance then, and even though I was smiling I was also serious. For I had a promise to keep.

The previous year I had converted 17 thinking humans to becoming Druids. If you are not aware, Druids have played a very important role in reaching that goal. As Pythagoras once said, ‘All that I know I learned from a Druid Priest’ and the Druids have left us with numerous sayings: YOU’RE A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK. YOU’RE BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE. PUT DOWN ROOTS. AND THE FAMILY TREE.

I had sworn their names would be placed under the central altar, where they would be honored by the Druid gods twice yearly. Carefully I slipped the scroll of thick paper under the stone, stepped back and gave the Druid salute.

Marilyn and I returned in 1985 along with a former student. I had spent hours telling Dean, who wonderful it, was to walk among the stones; and since he was a professional photographer, he was chomping at the bit to get in there with his various lenses. We pulled up and there was the dammed wire fence encircling it, and uniformed guards evenly spaced and ready to repel anyone who tried to jump it or burrow under.

The guard nearest us explained they had to put the fence up because people had taken to coming in with hammers and taking bits and pieces away. He also told us that certain groups professing to be Druids were allowed on the sight, but only on festival days, and this was not one. He joked and told us one group arrived with ancient musical instruments and in dress to dance about the place, trying to pray the temple resting beneath the site up from its hiding place

So I told him about my list and he gave a nod and said, "Sir, we keep all artifacts left on site. If someone didn’t snitch it, it’s down at the visitors center." I was off in a shot as Dean set up with his strongest lens.

The only question I was asked was if I remembered the year and month, and I told them it was 1970 and July. The clerk nodded, went to a huge file , pulled it open, fished about, gave a grunt and turned with it in hand!!! She also told me that it had been displayed twice as the proper way to leave some sort of declaration, and that really helped. I was not allowed to touch it, but she laid it on the counter and I silently read those names again. And as I did, I matched each one to a very successful young person, in very diverse occupations doing what they swore they would do. And their oath? Simple. They swore that they would take their talents and use them to help man, not to enrich themselves. I mean, what the hell, that’s a nice foot print, ain’t it? Bet your bottom it is! See you soon, when we’re off to Mexico and a very wonderful witch doctor, bruja to those who are aware.