Rock Art
So how does rock art relate to lucid dreaming?
Ray Mears has been a great advocate of bushcraft and living closer to nature and it was during one of his programmes about Australia that I was stunned to see rock art images that bore a striking resemblance to a yellow goblin I 'dreamed' during a Native American visualization I took part in during a Trackways Wilderness Spirit Philosophy Course. I soon discovered more about the legends around Wanjina rock art and couldn't believe how the images were so reminiscent of creatures of folklore such as elves and goblins and even modern aliens. However, in the same way that I'd left Trackways feeling I should look into native British Shamanism rather than Native American shamanism, I wondered if there were any examples of British Rock Art. To my amazement there was more than I realized and hence my interest in messages from my ancestors began.
British rock art images are much simpler than those typical of Australian or even French cave rock art. The images on the left are from Roughting Linn in Northumberland and are typical of the cup and ring design which are widespread in the UK. The patterns seem so simple and meaningless at first - and maybe this is one reason no great importance is placed on them in the UK. However, readers of Graham Hancocks's book 'Supernatural' will be familiar with the idea that these simple shapes may be related to Entopic Phenomena bourne out of psychedelic hallucinations.
The first site I visited is probably one of the UK's greatest single example. Roughting Linn in Northumberland (above) is quite remote and is becoming quite overgrown but the whole site is covered by many examples of rock art. Set in a beautiful wooded location, it is a must see site.
Meg is a single standing stone in the Long Meg stone circle in Cumbria. I've visited many stone circles but as far as I know, Meg is the only stone with rock art images.
When we visited Meg, it was fantastic to see some modern day belongings had been placed under the stone - welcome signs that the circle is still in use.
The latest site I have visited is Ilkley Moor which has got to be the most extensive area of easily assessable rock art in the UK and a beautiful Yorkshire Moor to boot. I visited the Badger Stone which is a fantastic example of a solitary rock on the moor with extensive art. The Twelve Apostles Stone Circle is nearby and sites such as Hanging Rocks have excellent examples of art (below left). The image below right shows a modern example or rock art sitting right next to ancient examples. An act of vandalism or just a continued heritage?
Stone-Circles.org.uk site is a great source of info on rock art and their locations
Aims now are to see the rock art at the Newgrange Passage Tomb in Ireland. I also want to spend more time at some of these sites just sitting in the setting and dreaming what occurs. Another great idea has been suggested by Ryan Hurd on his dream studies site. Ryan proposed using the sites for dream incubation and I'd like to look into that as well. Finally when I return to these sites I'd like to take geotagged photos and even learn how to take photos that reveal the patterns on the rock better.
And what does the Art mean? Entopic images from journeying shamans, star maps, song line maps or just stone age graffiti. Perhaps we will never know but maybe dreaming will bring some suggestions..........