For this year's Vernal Equinox, I planned a trip to the newly discovered, but yet unverified stone circle at Harpur's Downs, high up on the north western fringe of Bodmin Moor. Research has shown that the equinox sun should rise over Bron Wennyly, Cornwall's highest hill, when viewed from the centre of the stone circle. So at dawn on March 20th 2011, I set off to find out more...
above: March super -moon-rise over Hawks Tor.At this time of super-moon vibes and equinoctial tides, I write from our hilltop home in the shadow of the brooding moor. Yesterday brought a stunning glimpse of the much hyped and feared supermoon. The huge glowing orange ball of a super-moon rose in a very brief but auspiciously timed window in the clouds. Viewed from our garden, as we were performing a simple ceremony, we were blessed by her shining, glowing presence.
This morning, however, I was disappointed by the movement of low cloud up on the higher ground. The dawn sky looked promising as I left home and climbed up onto the moor at Harpur's Downs. Clear blue sky lay overhead for much of the 15 minute journey, and as I set up the camera inside the stone circle, the views towards the mysteriously magificent peak of Bron Wennyly looked good. Several notches on the summit of the hill gave me tantalising glimpses of where the sun may appear.
Above: Cornwall's highest peak - Bron Wennyly
I settled down by the only remaining upright stone, and immersed myself in the Spring Equinox vibes of the vast empty moorland surrounding me, streching out all around, a profound expansive and wild landscape, once populated by our long-distant ancestors.
I closed my eyes in silent meditation and shortly I could hear a faint buzzing and droning. I opened my eyes, what was that noise? I looked up at the sky and saw hundreds of starlings flock overhead. Their weaving, dancing, spralling flight pattern seemed like a powerful and meaningful response to my sunrise meditations. As sunrise time approached, however, a low bank of rain cloud obscured the entire eastern horizon. Bron Wennyly dissapeared from view and Roughtor soon followed her sister peak into the misty void of obscurity.
So the newly re-discovered stone circle at Harpur's Downs will continue to keep its equinoctial sunrise mysteries a secret for now.
Above: Harpur's Downs stone circle at the Vernal Equinox sunrise, 2011
Posted by Alex Langstone on 20/03/11
This morning, however, I was disappointed by the movement of low cloud up on the higher ground. The dawn sky looked promising as I left home and climbed up onto the moor at Harpur's Downs. Clear blue sky lay overhead for much of the 15 minute journey, and as I set up the camera inside the stone circle, the views towards the mysteriously magificent peak of Bron Wennyly looked good. Several notches on the summit of the hill gave me tantalising glimpses of where the sun may appear.
Above: Cornwall's highest peak - Bron WennylyI closed my eyes in silent meditation and shortly I could hear a faint buzzing and droning. I opened my eyes, what was that noise? I looked up at the sky and saw hundreds of starlings flock overhead. Their weaving, dancing, spralling flight pattern seemed like a powerful and meaningful response to my sunrise meditations. As sunrise time approached, however, a low bank of rain cloud obscured the entire eastern horizon. Bron Wennyly dissapeared from view and Roughtor soon followed her sister peak into the misty void of obscurity.
So the newly re-discovered stone circle at Harpur's Downs will continue to keep its equinoctial sunrise mysteries a secret for now.
Above: Harpur's Downs stone circle at the Vernal Equinox sunrise, 2011
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