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Scotsman
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Why Nigel Farage is the High Druid of our burgeoning Age of Unreason
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... It was reportedly 'a joyous and peaceful occasion' as a record-breaking crowd of 25,000 'sun devotees and other revellers, including druids, pagans, hippies, locals and tourists', in the words of the Associated Press, witnessed sunrise at Stonehenge on the longest day of the year, while more than 400,000 from around the world watched online. 'It is fantastic to see Stonehenge continuing to enchant and connect people,' said Richard Dewdney, English Heritage's head of operations for the ancient monument. It may well be fantastic from English Heritage's viewpoint – given it depends on people being interested in its sites – but is it really such good news from a broader perspective? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Many people may have gone along simply for a nice photo on Instagram, but the druids will doubtless have been delighted to perform for such a large audience, spreading their message and perhaps winning a few converts. The sun rises over Stonehenge on the summer solstice, an event that attracted record crowds of druids, sun devotees, tourists and others (Picture: Finnbarr Webster) | Getty Images 'False association' It seemingly matters not that, according to Professor Ronald Hutton, a Bristol University historian, we know 'practically nothing' about the historical druids of Britain at the time of the Roman invasion. Undeterred by the lack of facts, our imaginations have apparently recreated no less than eight different kinds of druid since about 1500, including the 'nationalist druid', the 'demonic druid', and the 'green druid', the latter of which, Hutton says, 'appealed strongly to the Romantic Movement's veneration of nature as an antidote to civilisation, urbanisation and industrialisation' or, in other words, the world made possible by advances in science and technology. It also does not seem to matter that Stonehenge's famous stone circle was built in about 2500 BC, and was possibly even more ancient and mysterious to the druids than they are to us. Professor Carole Cusack, in expert in religion, has written: 'The false association of [Stonehenge] with the druids... has become a form of folklore or folk-memory that has enabled modern druids to obtain access and a degree of respect in their interactions with Stonehenge and other megalithic sites.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Modern druids may argue they are tapping into the spiritual 'energy' of the site, as their ancient predecessors would surely have done in the past and, as an agnostic, I previously wouldn't have had a problem with this. However, unfortunately, the increasing number of people inventing their own reality, in one form or another, means my attitude towards such make-believe has been hardening dramatically. In April 2020, shortly after Covid hit the UK, the British Druid Order issued a 'Chant for Healing & Protection'. 'It draws inspiration, language and symbolism from a poem in the medieval Irish Metrical Dindsenchas. The story in which the poem is contained describes actions taken by the Irish god of healing, Dian Cécht, to quell a disease outbreak by destroying the serpent that embodies the illness, reducing its remains to ashes and then washing them away in the purifying waters of a fast-flowing river (a reminder to keep up regular hand-washing),' the BDO's blog explained. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The reminder about hand-washing – an effective way of reducing the spread of viruses such as Covid one – saves the author from my outright contempt. But the suggestion that a chant can provide any kind of 'protection' is ridiculous. Nigel Farage has emerged as the UK's leading 'nationalist druid' (Picture: Carl Court) | Getty Images 'Harmful alternative treatments' Such ideas feed into a growing anti-science movement. Oncologist Dr Tom Roques, vice-president of the Royal College of Radiologists, recently told BBC Panorama that medical misinformation was becoming increasingly problematic, partly because of politicians like Robert Kennedy Jr, the US Health Secretary, who has expressed some decidedly bizarre views about vaccines. "I think the risk is that more harmful alternative treatments are getting more mainstream. That may do people more active harm,' Roques said. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Empowered by social media, shallow, pretentious and arrogant 'influencers', health 'gurus' and other assorted armchair experts who think they know better than the real ones are, like the druids, imagining their own reality and, unfortunately, convincing far too many people. This burgeoning Age of Unreason has also created a new source of trouble for hard-pressed climate scientists. It is no coincidence that the Reform UK party dismisses efforts to tackle climate change as 'net stupid zero' while also wanting an inquiry into vaccine 'harms'. It should be noted that, in the very real worlds of high finance, insurance and military planning, to name but three, the 'debate' is over – there is widespread acceptance of climate science and the dangers of delaying meaningful action. The fact that 'green druids' are also concerned about all this, in their own special way, makes it no less real. Climate 'sceptics' want people to think it's all a lot of hippy-dippy nonsense but it is not. The scientists who work in this field include physicists with a working knowledge of quantum mechanics. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Sneering at scientists, doctors and business Of course, Reform is most associated with its opposition to immigration, which they deem to be a 'Bad Thing'. Experts in the business world – such as the Confederation of British Industry and the Scottish Chambers of Commerce – take a very different view. Rain Newton-Smith, the CBI's chief executive, has warned that current immigration policy 'is preventing businesses from accessing critical skills to deliver investment, putting at risk growth and jobs'. This would be dramatically worse under a Reform government. Despite such practical warnings, the party is adamant that the UK must reduce immigration, possibly even to 'net zero', to 'protect our culture, identity and values'. I imagine those 'nationalist druids' would wholeheartedly agree and venerate Nigel Farage as their High Priest.
Scotsman
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Why Nigel Farage is the High Druid of our burgeoning Age of Unreason
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... It was reportedly 'a joyous and peaceful occasion' as a record-breaking crowd of 25,000 'sun devotees and other revellers, including druids, pagans, hippies, locals and tourists', in the words of the Associated Press, witnessed sunrise at Stonehenge on the longest day of the year, while more than 400,000 from around the world watched online. 'It is fantastic to see Stonehenge continuing to enchant and connect people,' said Richard Dewdney, English Heritage's head of operations for the ancient monument. It may well be fantastic from English Heritage's viewpoint – given it depends on people being interested in its sites – but is it really such good news from a broader perspective? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Many people may have gone along simply for a nice photo on Instagram, but the druids will doubtless have been delighted to perform for such a large audience, spreading their message and perhaps winning a few converts. The sun rises over Stonehenge on the summer solstice, an event that attracted record crowds of druids, sun devotees, tourists and others (Picture: Finnbarr Webster) | Getty Images 'False association' It seemingly matters not that, according to Professor Ronald Hutton, a Bristol University historian, we know 'practically nothing' about the historical druids of Britain at the time of the Roman invasion. Undeterred by the lack of facts, our imaginations have apparently recreated no less than eight different kinds of druid since about 1500, including the 'nationalist druid', the 'demonic druid', and the 'green druid', the latter of which, Hutton says, 'appealed strongly to the Romantic Movement's veneration of nature as an antidote to civilisation, urbanisation and industrialisation' or, in other words, the world made possible by advances in science and technology. It also does not seem to matter that Stonehenge's famous stone circle was built in about 2500 BC, and was possibly even more ancient and mysterious to the druids than they are to us. Professor Carole Cusack, in expert in religion, has written: 'The false association of [Stonehenge] with the druids... has become a form of folklore or folk-memory that has enabled modern druids to obtain access and a degree of respect in their interactions with Stonehenge and other megalithic sites.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Modern druids may argue they are tapping into the spiritual 'energy' of the site, as their ancient predecessors would surely have done in the past and, as an agnostic, I previously wouldn't have had a problem with this. However, unfortunately, the increasing number of people inventing their own reality, in one form or another, means my attitude towards such make-believe has been hardening dramatically. In April 2020, shortly after Covid hit the UK, the British Druid Order issued a 'Chant for Healing & Protection'. 'It draws inspiration, language and symbolism from a poem in the medieval Irish Metrical Dindsenchas. The story in which the poem is contained describes actions taken by the Irish god of healing, Dian Cécht, to quell a disease outbreak by destroying the serpent that embodies the illness, reducing its remains to ashes and then washing them away in the purifying waters of a fast-flowing river (a reminder to keep up regular hand-washing),' the BDO's blog explained. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The reminder about hand-washing – an effective way of reducing the spread of viruses such as Covid one – saves the author from my outright contempt. But the suggestion that a chant can provide any kind of 'protection' is ridiculous. Nigel Farage has emerged as the UK's leading 'nationalist druid' (Picture: Carl Court) | Getty Images 'Harmful alternative treatments' Such ideas feed into a growing anti-science movement. Oncologist Dr Tom Roques, vice-president of the Royal College of Radiologists, recently told BBC Panorama that medical misinformation was becoming increasingly problematic, partly because of politicians like Robert Kennedy Jr, the US Health Secretary, who has expressed some decidedly bizarre views about vaccines. "I think the risk is that more harmful alternative treatments are getting more mainstream. That may do people more active harm,' Roques said. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Empowered by social media, shallow, pretentious and arrogant 'influencers', health 'gurus' and other assorted armchair experts who think they know better than the real ones are, like the druids, imagining their own reality and, unfortunately, convincing far too many people. This burgeoning Age of Unreason has also created a new source of trouble for hard-pressed climate scientists. It is no coincidence that the Reform UK party dismisses efforts to tackle climate change as 'net stupid zero' while also wanting an inquiry into vaccine 'harms'. It should be noted that, in the very real worlds of high finance, insurance and military planning, to name but three, the 'debate' is over – there is widespread acceptance of climate science and the dangers of delaying meaningful action. The fact that 'green druids' are also concerned about all this, in their own special way, makes it no less real. Climate 'sceptics' want people to think it's all a lot of hippy-dippy nonsense but it is not. The scientists who work in this field include physicists with a working knowledge of quantum mechanics. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Sneering at scientists, doctors and business Of course, Reform is most associated with its opposition to immigration, which they deem to be a 'Bad Thing'. Experts in the business world – such as the Confederation of British Industry and the Scottish Chambers of Commerce – take a very different view. Rain Newton-Smith, the CBI's chief executive, has warned that current immigration policy 'is preventing businesses from accessing critical skills to deliver investment, putting at risk growth and jobs'. This would be dramatically worse under a Reform government. Despite such practical warnings, the party is adamant that the UK must reduce immigration, possibly even to 'net zero', to 'protect our culture, identity and values'. I imagine those 'nationalist druids' would wholeheartedly agree and venerate Nigel Farage as their High Priest.
Boston Globe
21-06-2025
- Boston Globe
See photos from sunrise at Stonehenge with thousands of druids and revelers
Get Love Letters: The Newsletter A weekly dispatch with all the best relationship content and commentary – plus exclusive content for fans of Love Letters, Dinner With Cupid, weddings, therapy talk, and more. Enter Email Sign Up About 25,000 sun devotees and other revelers, including druids, pagans, hippies, locals and tourists, showed up, according to English Heritage which operates the site. More than 400,000 others around the world watched a livestream. Advertisement 'This morning was a joyous and peaceful occasion with the most beautiful sunrise,' said Richard Dewdney, head of operations at Stonehenge. 'It is fantastic to see Stonehenge continuing to enchant and connect people.' Stonehenge was built in stages 5,000 years ago on the flat lands of Salisbury Plain approximately 75 miles (120 kilometers) southwest of London. The unique stone circle was erected in the late Neolithic period about 2,500 B.C. Advertisement Some of the so-called bluestones are known to have come from the Preseli Hills in southwest Wales, nearly 150 miles (240 kilometers) away, and the altar stone was recently discovered to have come from northern Scotland, some 460 miles (740 kilometers) away. The site's meaning has been vigorously debated. Theories range from it being a coronation place for Danish kings, a druid temple, a cult center for healing, or an astronomical computer for predicting eclipses and solar events. The most generally accepted interpretation is that it was a temple aligned with movements of the sun — lining up perfectly with the summer and winter solstices. A man touched the stones at Stonehenge on Saturday. It's one of the few days when visitors have access to the site. Finnbarr Webster/Getty The crowd at sunrise. Finnbarr Webster/Getty Medical responders attended to a visitor during hot temperatures. Finnbarr Webster/Getty Visitors were dressed for the occasion. Finnbarr Webster/Getty Stones and phones for the sunrise through the monument. Finnbarr Webster/Getty The stones have been there for thousands of years. Why they are there is their secret. Finnbarr Webster/Getty A variety of people were at the site about 90 miles southwest of London. Finnbarr Webster/Getty The sky cooperated, with clouds overhead but clear light on the horizon. Finnbarr Webster/Getty
