There are more than 30 prehistoric sites and over 3,000 ancient
standing stones near the city of Carnac in the northwest of France,
and because Mother's Day is May 14, now is an especially good
time to think about sacred places devoted to the Great Goddess.
Many scholars agree that our ancestors worshipped the Great Goddess
during the Neolithic Age, when grand temples such as Avebury and
Stonehenge were built. The shift toward a male deity didn't begin
to take hold in Europe until around 4500 bce. In France it is
very likely that Goddess worship continued through at least 2500
bce. A staggering number of ancient standing stones stones can
be found scattered across the moors and fields in a 15-mile stretch
along the south coast of Brittany. When the Romans invaded Gaul
they carved images of their deities on some of the stones. Centuries
later, Christian crosses were added to the ancient site. Today,
visitors can still feel magical power in the mysterious stones.
Although the original purpose of these megaliths has been lost
in time, local traditions associate them with the moon and the
seasons. Bonfires were lit nearby on Midsummer Eve, and sheep
and cattle were herded among the stones for protection and to
ensure fertility. Even today it is said that couples who are cannot
have children are advised to dance among the stones. If you should
be fortunate enough to find yourself wandering among beautiful
carved stones in South Brittany, I hope you will take a moment
to honor the Goddess. She remains alive today, identified as Mother
Nature and Mother Earth. Her spirit is the endless cycle of birth,
death and renewal, and she is a force as eternal as the changing
seasons.
Robert Scheer writes about spiritual travel to Mother
Earth's sacred places. Tel: 604-431-2917 Fax: 604-431-2918, mailto:powertrips@canada.com http://www.cedarcottage.com/powertrips