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Forum: Stones Forum
Moderated by : Andy B , TimPrevett , coldrum , Klingon , MickM , TheCaptain , bat400 , davidmorgan , Runemage , SolarMegalith , sem
Respond to: Interesting
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Budgie
Joined:
17-03-2004
Messages: 7
from Manchester
 OFF-Line
|  New Message Posted!2004-03-18 12:24
Should just say that those are just my ideas, and the ideas of some people I have learned from.
Don't mean to say you must believe what I say!! Just want to give you my perspective so to speak - if it sounds like I'm lecturing sorry straight away, its just a stylistic thing!
Also, thinking on, some South American indians believe that stones can hold memories. Again, sounds whacked, but what is your computer storing its memories on when you think about it?
The idea of trapped souls - now that's something else. In shamanic tradition, it's taught that people's energy/perception can be trapped in certain areas - for example, the places people visit in trances, mystic visions, near death experiences, journeys on power plants etc. Just as most people's perception is trapped in their everyday world. It is said to be perfectly possible to get completely locked in to these areas - most people are in fact locked in one - their life.
Maybe you perceived something like this? Shamans with a certain level, attempting to shift their perception very deeply in to another world/ area of perception, and becoming locked there? Maybe the stones helped you conect to their memory. Maybe its just a schoolgirl's story to scare people.
Who knows? I was more sceptical at first because it sounded a bit 'devils and witches' occult ceremony goes wrong and leads to horrible result, I dare you to go up there and drink cider kind of thing. But, I try and make an effort to look beyond the obvious, and consider how stories and folk legends can relate to the principles of shamanism. Even if it doesn't unravel the mystery, then maybe it can at least lead to some discussion of interesting ideas and possibilities.
Personally, I've never had the sense of anyone trapped in stones, although I've felt and perceived energies connected or even 'bound' to them.
For myself, I'll take the legend as a warning to train one's perception with great care.
Peace Y'all
BLT
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Budgie
Joined:
17-03-2004
Messages: 7
from Manchester
OFF-Line
| New Message Posted!2004-03-18 10:20
Hello all. Interesting subject - sounds whacked, but I'd like to give my input.
First, there are, as has been said, always legends of people being turned to stone. Could be interpreted as a Christian attempt to dissuade people from traditional pagan practices. But, there are many similar, much older legends. Think of Lot's wife in the bible, or the legend of Uluru.
In Chinese and Mongolian shamanism, standing still as a stone in 'standing meditation' is said to offer enormous health and spiritual benefits, and is now used widely in sport and medicine in that region. The effective power of stillness and silence would have been known in Britain too, just as I've met people who naturally use these techniques today.
As for trapped souls, I find that to be not in accord with my own understandings. For one, how does a ritual go wrong? The power of the stone circles, for me, is that they can shift your perception, allowing you to see the world in a slightly, or significantly, different way - exactly the same reason shamans use magic mushrooms, chanting, drumming, standing still etc.
For me, people's perception is connected to their energy, and so certain places can affect that energy. I believe that is what stone circles are - places that have been marked out because of their natural, very strong energy affecting qualities.
Now, a ritual is just a means to improve focus and attention. Deliberate action is a powerful tool, helping humans in all forms of life, hence the eternal love of ritual in all cultures.
Now, in my crazy world, certain places have energies and entities which can drain your energy, and/or affect your perception. Sometimes they improve your perception or knowledge as a trade for some of your energy, but sometimes, especially if you are not a focused warrior in these situations, they will just take.
Sometimes entities, or the very effect of the place of power can seriously shift your attention to other 'areas' - something many have felt, even non-spiritual types. We all have this ability - it is why we have emotions such as 'eerie'.
Sometimes our perception can be pushed right out - especially if we use techniques, ritual or power plants - and sometimes people can not be pulled back. Is that a trapping of their souls? I don't think so. I think it is a trapping of their attention.
One should not be too caught up in 'occult' theories about stone circles, in my view. True spiritual knowledge is about energy and perception, for people of my path. I don't believe in devils and demons, but I have encountered many powerful beings who's relams intersect our own. Can your soul be trapped or taken away? No, I don't believe it. But your attention can be trapped. Maybe it can be trapped in a stone circle. Many people have felt a feeling like 'I just had to get away' at a stone circle. One should be highly focussed at places of power, treat them with the utmost respect. Follow ritual action in order to keep you focussed and on the ball. - that's my advice.
ALso, should be noted that in ancient times some shamans had the power to meld their conciousness with the Earth itself, and so sometimes you come across places where these ancient warriors still, are, miserable and hungry for energy. Now they can really do you some damage - or, if you have trained properly, they can really help you.
In the same way, everyday people have their attention trapped in the everyday world - the point of shamanism is to make ones attention fluid and changeable so that we can perceive more of the beautiful and fascinating universe than most people think possible!
Peace - don't worry about those trapped souls! If they are, then all they can do is eat all your energy, hoping to get enough to escape!
Really, I think you just got a glimpse of the living Nagual.
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MarionBenham
Joined:
06-08-2003
Messages: 15
from West Yorkshire
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| New Message Posted!2004-02-22 15:44
I spent a few hours alone at Stanton last summer (some of the pics I took are on this site) and the place is full of faces, mostly they don't come out well in pics tho. I would say, personally, they are naturally occurring but the stones may have been specially selected because of it.
I didn't feel there were souls trapped in the stones or that anything bad had occurred there tho I did pick up on the 'sorrow' floating round there (these occur at many sacred sites and can cause people to weep openly)
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Jimit
Joined:
31-05-2002
Messages: 289
from winchester
OFF-Line
| New Message Posted!2004-02-17 12:41
I too have seen faces in the stones at Avebury and at West Kennet where the light from the sun, a torch or a candle has thrown them into sharp relief, BUT....the human brain is programmed to find meaning in apparently random shapes, we "fill in the details". With a tiny alteration of one's position, a movement of the light source and all has gone. One pamphlet at Avebury purports to show the "Avebury Sphinx" but even a cursory look shows that the photo has been flipped and stitched together!
It's great fun to go "Face seeking", the game of looking for Simulcra has been going on for centuaries, but that's all it is....a game. 
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Anonymous
User not Registered | New Message Posted!2004-02-16 17:53
Don't know if it is of any help but....
Another area that you may like to look up is the Dreamtime stories of Ayres Rock - I think there is a warrior who's soul is trapped in the stone, and their face can be seen.
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sem
Joined:
12-11-2003
Messages: 1709
from Bridgend,S.Wales
OFF-Line
| New Message Posted!2004-02-10 18:34
There are plenty of legends which talk of stones being people turned to stone for various misdemeanours,so who's to say your theory is wrong.Personally I don't believe they are even folk memories of such events,but as I am so often wrong,maybe you could use me as your proof.
Sem
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DoktorAtomik
Joined:
14-10-2003
Messages: 5
OFF-Line
| New Message Posted!2004-02-09 15:10
I've got a fair few pictures of Stanton Drew up on my website if you're interested Jeff.
www.hearthside.co.uk
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cjw
Joined:
25-11-2003
Messages: 8
from wiltshire
OFF-Line
|  New Message Posted!2004-02-08 20:57
I certainly do think that some stones are carved or were especially selected for their properties, but to prove this is almost impossible.
But, you do need to accept that your theory for the stones may not be someone elses, and they are allowed to have a different view.
I do know of some authors who have written articles etc on the faces in the stones, so I will try and find them out for you. It may take a while as I am away from home at University, and the info is at home.
Hope this helps.
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BlazingJeff
Joined:
06-02-2004
Messages: 3
from Bristol
OFF-Line
| New Message Posted!2004-02-08 19:23
So basically, the book "The Secret of the Avebury Stones" is a load of commerical crap and is made up. Seeing as it all depends on the eye of the beholder.
Thats what Im getting from your postings.
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Thorgrim
Joined:
25-06-2003
Messages: 794
OFF-Line
| New Message Posted!2004-02-07 16:28
You can "see" faces in natural rocks, tree bark, flames, clouds, ink blots, stains etc etc. It is all in the eye of the beholder. I don't believe that there are any faces on any of the stonesa at Stanton Drew. Look at the profile "face" of Long Meg way up in Cumbria. It hasn't been carved. Maybe - just maybe, that particular stones was selected to be erected because someone fanciedthat it looked like a face - but I doubt it.
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