CALANAIS AND THE MAJOR LUNAR STANDSTILL

Calanais is a prehistoric megalithic site on the Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides (Scotland) which is around 5,000 years old. The site consists of several large stones that were arranged in the shape of a cross, with a central stone, and an avenue leading to it. Calanais is impressive for its size, its remote location and its mysteries. Who built these megaliths and for what purpose? What is the meaning of the monument?

Such are the mysteries and raptures surrounding the monument, that the Calanais stones have been inspiration for the ‘Craigh na Dun’ stone circle in the famous television show Outlander (2014), which acts as portal between the 20th and 18th centuries, as well as the Pixar film ‘Brave’ (2012). Calanais is also a focal point for astrologers.

However, Calanais is not just one single megalithic site, although the biggest stone circle has received the most attention – the so-called Calanais I. In fact, Calanais consists of just under twenty stone circles scattered all across the surrounding landscape! Of course, some of these are much smaller, and little remains of others but, overall, this shows that the whole landscape around Calanais was part of wide network of monuments and people connected together in prehistoric times.

The lunar standstills
Every 18.6 years, the moon moves through a whole cycle across the horizon tilt. At the extremes of that cycle, the moon rises at the most northerly point on the horizon and sets at its most southerly point. This is called a major lunar standstill. The latest major lunar standstill took place in 2006, and a new one is happening right now and will peak in January 2005.

During the major lunar standstill, the moon will travel very low across the horizon, and, in specific landscapes, the moon may appear to be rolling across the hills. At this time, when the moon is closest to the horizon, an optical illusion makes it appear much larger than usual. The farther north you go, the more impressive the phenomenon becomes.

The major lunar standstill at Calanais
Nearby Calanais stands a hill range with a curious form. Local people have named the hill “Cailleach na Mointeach” in Gaelic (“The Old Woman of the Moors”), also called the “Sleeping Beauty” in English. This is because the hill range, against the horizon, looks like the form of a woman lying on her back, where her head, body and knees are visible.

Curiously, if you stand at the northern end of Calanais’ avenue on a night where the major lunar standstill is visible, you will witness the moon skimming over the horizon, rising from the Sleeping Beauty’s breast, crossing the horizon, and eventually shining into the centre of Calanais I’s stone circle. If you stand in other Calanais sites, like Calanais II and III, you will also be able to witness the moon skimming across the Sleeping Beauty’s features.

Curiously, it is thought that the central stone circle at the main Calanais monument was originally placed to coincide with the winter solstice. It was only 500 years later, around 4,500 years ago, when three rows of stones and a long avenue were added to the monument, that its orientation and attention shifted from the solar solstice towards the cycles of the moon and the major lunar standstill. Could this have been a shift in beliefs from sun to moon, from day to night, from the masculine to the feminine?

What do you think? Are you tempted to witness the major lunar standstill at Calanais in 2024/2025? The good thing is, you won't need to travel all the way out there to experience it - the event will be streamed online.