September 9, 2024

Stones Rising XXX Report
By Pamela Alexander
Photos contributed by Members & Guests

Taking a tilt at moving a massive 5 ton Stone. An aspirational effort. – Stones Rising 2024.

The Thirtieth Year of Stones Rising was an amazing event. It brought so many old friends home, and so many new friends joined us for the first time, learning the lore and lessons of The Land as the event evolved around us.

    Our hearty crew, with some heavy assists from modern technology, managed to move and raise two very daunting stones into the Great North Copse. Together, at over 22,000 lbs they are the heaviest stones we have ever raised, and the Easternmost is a full fifteen inches thick! They bring the arc of the Copse around significantly to the South East and South West, truly defining the ellipse. It is truly a breathtaking sight.

Stout wooden blocks of cribbage are gathered by Stone Pepople to prepare a Stone for Raising – Stones Rising 2024.

Everywhere you looked, people were stepping up, having amazing experiences, and doing extraordinary things: from the many hands that showed up in the kitchen to scrub, peel, chop, and cook, to the three young women who proved indomitable as Stone People, to the young man who had never even seen a ceremony, but stepped up to play a didgeridoo solo at his very first one - and loved it. People engaging themselves to the fullest with immediate and authentic experiences.

An Altar is grcaced with a decorated stone and thirty years of commitment ribbions – Stones Rising 2024.

Rigging in place, the People lay hands on the lines to raise a Stone – Stones Rising 2024.

Ceremony was made in a good way, and gave a glimpse of some of the many paths that weave the cloth of Four Quarters. From traditional Lakota Inipi and prayers from Cuban Santeria, to High Wicca or more free-form psycho-emotive ceremony, there was much of everything. And, to cap it off, a ridiculous “mocktail” party Sunday night gave us a chance to meet and mingle in our finery.

Yes, we were there. Yes, we saw it. Yes, it was done in a good way.

Hands on a massive lift bar to lift a Stone into position to be rigged for Raising – Stones Rising 2024.

After the Rising, Ceremonialists prepare for the Rifutal of Consecration – Stones Rising 2024