The Great Circle

History reveals that life was a big circle, curves and spirals when we visited Newgrange, Co Meath, Ireland. The place of the prehistoric site built during the Neolithic age 3200 BC.  According to archeology, the mounds are older than the Great Pyramids of Egypt and Stonehenge of England. As much as I want to remember the name of this area, it’s something Gaelic that I cannot pronounce such as Knowth and Dowth, the names of two more prominent mounds amongst the many smaller ones in this field.

Newgrange was build before the Iron age where there were no metals, only huge stones. This rock is decorated with spiral coils carvings sitting in front of the entrance. Legend says that these mounds are burial chambers.

“Newgrange is best known for the illumination of its passage and chamber by the Winter Solstice sun. Above the entrance to the passage of the mound, there is an opening called a roof-box. On mornings around the winter solstice, a beam of light penetrates the roof-box and travels up the 19-meter passage and into the chamber. As the sun rises higher, the beam widens so that the whole chamber is dramatically illuminated.”

Should you wish to witness the event, it is by lottery only. This is the curveball. There are very few benefits in winning this lottery to observe the solstice since it’s weather permitting.  I remember very well when I was there, it was soaked in.

A close-up look of the three spiral design is a famous Irish Megalithic symbol. It is often referred to as a Celtic design.

There is no need for me to win the lottery since I felt that I have won already by being there as I have dodged the curveball. The only curve I would want to experience is the smile on my face every time I remember traveling with my best buddy at the Mystical and Mythical Ireland.