Many readers will have been sucked in by the Press's coverage, and that unfortunately also includes that of the Pagan Press, of the troubles surrounding Stonehenge and other related issues.

Pagan groups throughout the land, and beyond, are galvanised into a "Them and Us" situation. The "Them" in this instance, are the great unwashed, the so called New-age Travellers (which it should be remembered was a media invention, that led Margaret Chatter to brand them "Medieval Brigands" and thereby begin a legislative campaign of what can only be termed cultural cleansing) and the "Us" being the respected face of Paganism.

We now sit on our high horses proclaiming our good intentions and deriding those of the so called troublemakers who spoil it for the rest of us. Yes, it's all right to let us genuine Pagans onto the Sacred Sites but let's keep the others out. Sounds bit like the Christians saying "Lets let the vicar in but ban the congregation".

The fact that we are all there for the same reasons seems to have escaped our attention. Yes, there will always be an element of troublemakers at Sacred Sites, no more or less than their will always be that same element at football matches or political rallies and alike. We Pagans, should be the last people to tar all with the same brush or to dismiss out of hand other peoples' personal and spiritual beliefs for being at and attending a Sacred Site.

For those of "Us" who think of themselves as Priest Caste I would say Stand and Fight for your Faith and those who believe in it and lead by example. And for those of us who believe we are all simply believers I would say, like the so called priests, do not fall into the trap of thinking they are all alike - United We can stand, Divided we can not...

I personally have been attending Stonehenge, Avebury and other Sacred Sites for many years, as well as a number of political rallies and environmental protest sites, and if there is one thing I have learned, its the strength of commitment and belief across the board. Do not judge on appearance alone and do not brand all as like. Because some one wears their Robes in public and with pride, it does not make them a better person inside than someone who does not; nor does it make them a better Pagan or necessarily mean that their belief is that much stronger.

And all the time we are Bickering amongst ourselves Church and State are laughing all the way to the abyss.

Many of those we think of as troublemakers are the very same Warriors we field in Battle protecting the Mother with their lives and risking imprisonment for their beliefs, which are invariably our beliefs also.

It is long over time to dismount from our proverbial high horses and stop being so bloody sanctimonious. It really doesn't matter who's gang is better than who's, for at the end of the day we are all in the same gang the Mother's. And it really doesn't mater if Our way is better than Their way, for again there is only one way, the Mother's. And it really doesn't matter who looks better than who, because to the Mother we're all beautiful.

No Coven, No Order, No Group has the monopoly on what is right and what is not. None of us can truly say "we are right and they are wrong", all we can say with certainty is that this works for Us and this works for Them.

If we stop looking at the differences that divide us and instead look to the similarities that unite us, then perhaps there is hope. Hope that one day we can unite for the sake of the Mother we hold so dear. That day is here - look around you - time and place. Why else do you think you have been called, for your own amusement?

The Time is Now, Stand and Unite or divide and fall, it's your choice.....

Yours in the Heat of Battle, the Peace of the Grove and the Sacred Space Between.
King Arthur Pendragon

Chairman
C.B.D.O