New England Antiquities Research Association

 

Modern Stone Circle To Open As Vermont Park

The Burlington Earth Clock

by Lisa Gannon

 

 

 

October 5, 2006

 

The Burlington Earth Clock: Residents and visitors in Burlington, Vermont will soon be able to witness sunsets in a whole new ancient way – particularly those falling on significant days throughout the Solar year.  The Burlington Earth Clock, a stone circle dedicated to peace, is about to be permanently constructed on Blanchard Beach on Burlington’s waterfront.   Twelve large stones will be installed in a 40–foot open circle, aligned like a compass.  The five westernmost stones will provide astronomical alignments to the sun as it swings north to south and back again on its annual trajectory through the cycle of seasons.

Visitors will be able to stand in the center of the circle and view the sun setting directly over the corresponding stone on the Summer and Winter Solstices, the Equinoxes, and “Cross-Quarter” days, which mark the midpoints between. The stone circle is located on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain, providing an expansive view of the lake and New York’s Adirondack Mountains to the west – a perfect place to view the sunset.  Stones to the east will track lunar and solar time, as well.   An interior concentric circle of stones will enable one to stand in the center and by casting a shadow, tell the time of day like a human sundial.  A permanent display explaining the Earth Clock’s form and function, as well as a seasonally changing display of local art, will also be erected at the site.  Finally, a curriculum for grades K-12 will be developed so that local school children can learn along with the Burlington Earth Clock in areas of math, science, astronomy, history and art.

 

The Burlington Earth Clock is a project of Circles For Peace (www.circlesforpeace.org) , a grassroots Vermont-based non-profit organization.  Cofounders include Circles for Peace president David Brizendine and his wife Dana, Dr. Patrick McManaway, Ivan McBeth, and others.  The Burlington Earth Clock has been 3 ½ years thus far in the fundraising and planning stages.  “Our goal is to create a peaceful space for public use,” Brizendine explains.  “Circles for Peace holds the philosophy that inner peace can be restored by the simple witness of the rhythms of nature.  Many sacred sites are on private land or are otherwise inaccessible to most people.  The Burlington Earth Clock will provide a place where anyone may go anytime to meditate, pray, and reflect, or just be, in a beautiful, calming environment as they re-connect with nature.  We hope that people will take that peaceful feeling with them when they leave the park.”

 

Dr. Patrick McManaway (www.dragonlines.net), and Ivan McBeth (www.ivanmcbeth.com), are originally from the U.K. and have been instrumental in the design and construction of the Burlington Earth Clock.  Both men, currently residing in Vermont, are friends and colleagues who have occasionally collaborated on building stone circles internationally.  McManaway is a professional geomancer and president of the British Society of Dowsers; McBeth, an avowed Druid and healer, is an experienced builder of stone circles.  Together, they approach the challenges of building a stone circle site on many different levels, using some techniques unfamiliar to most other landscape artists.  “Moving very large stones can be extremely difficult, or it can go rather easily.  It depends on the relationship you develop with the stone,” comments McBeth with a smile.

 

The site for the Burlington Earth Clock will be prepared in late October 2006, with 11 of the 12 stones weighing 5-12 tons each to be placed using modern equipment.  The 12th stone will be placed entirely by human hands using ancient methods.  Rock of Ages Granite Quarry in Barre, VT has donated all of the stones to be used.  “Our operating budget is $72,000 for the entire project.  So far, we have achieved $50,000 of our goal, so we’re two-thirds of the way there”, Brizendine said.

 

NEARA and the Vermont Chapter of NEARA are proud sponsors of this exciting, unique project!  To learn more about the Burlington Earth Clock, and to find out how you can help, please visit Circles for Peace on the worldwide web at www.circlesforpeace.org.

 

Email Lisa Gannon:  lgannon@quixnet.net

Copyright © 2006 by Lisa Gannon