Urban Pagans Mark Solstice With Marriage of City, Country and Me

London Times ^ | June 21, 2010 | Nick Ray

[Steelfish]

Urban Pagans Mark Solstice With Marriage of City, Country and Me

Johnny Blueeyes conducts the pagan marriage at Shoreditch, London [pic in URL] Nick Ray for The Times June 21 2010 On the eve of the longest day of the year, as the sun was setting over the Gherkin, beneath the Broadgate Tower bathed in orange light, I married my unwitting colleague Kaya Burgess.

If there are ley lines in London it seems unlikely that they would cut through an East End car park. But last night, as druids prepared for their ancient rituals in Stonehenge, 400 urban pagans performed their own ceremonies in the shadow of a Shoreditch pub.

“I think it has tapped into something people really believe in,” said Josef Valentino, 20, an artist who co-founded the Civic Solstice. “I thought of an urban ceremony to reconnect with the universe. People in the city are so blinded by the lights that they cannot see the stars or free space.”

It seems that the summer solstice is the traditional window for the pagan “handfasting” ceremony. Since I was single, I thought it best not to take any chances.

“What are you doing at 7pm this evening?” I aked Kaya in a text message. “I need someone to marry me.”

The evening was presided over by the High Priestess Johnny Blueeyes, a performance artist who grew up a Roman Catholic but now describes himself as pagan.

“This event is about grabbing hold of the good things about organised religion and the magic of love,” he said in a club cloakroom as his assistant swooshed mousse into his hair and grasped the straighteners. “It is an ancient pagan ritual that goes back to Norse times. It is so old but it is something very modern.

[alloysteel]

Compared to the invasion of British Isles by the Muslims, the pagan religion of Druidism seems almost benign.

Lord knows the Christian establishment of that country is providing no resistance to the spread of “new” forms of worship of - something.

[ARepublicanForAllReasons]

I judge these soi dissant Pagans by their actions, since I am not sure about their beliefs.

I do know that from pagan religion, Christians in Britain observed the time of Jesus' birth on the Winter Solstice, since it was already a Holy day for the new converts. Due to astronomical progression, the date is now off by 4-5 days.
The Christmas tree is also a vestige of pagan tree-worship. And of course the days of the week are from pagan deities - Sun, Moon, Woden, Thor, and Saturn. Tuesday = ? (must look that one up).

But as long as they don't sacrifice their children or consort with demons, and such things, I'm ok with them. I couldn't read the entire story, but these particular pagans seems centered around the Druid priesthood of ancient Britain and Western Europe.

[mrs. a]

“...as the sun was setting over the Gherkin...”

...they found themselves in quite a pickle...