Gorsedd Caer Abiri

The Gorsedd of Bards of Caer Abiri
Founded at Avebury at the autumn equinox of 1993, the Gorsedd of Caer Abiri set the pattern for our other Gorseddau. Because the first Gorsedd was held during a multi-faith conference, the rite was constructed to be as open and welcoming as possible to folk of all faiths or none, while maintaining a strong Druidic flavour. Since it was the autumn equinox, an element of seasonal celebration was included. By request from some of those attending, it also included child blessings, handfastings and a short form of bardic initiation.
Within two years of its formation, the Gorsedd had become what Professor Ronald Hutton described as "the central event of the New Druidry," attracting hundreds of people to celebrate among the ancient stones circles of Avebury. For many Pagans, it represented a first opportunity to celebrate their faith in public and to have their rites of passage witnessed and honoured by a broad community of like-minded souls.
The celebrations begin with a gathering outside the restaurant near the National Trust shop at 12 noon. From there, a procession, sometimes called the 'god party,' weaves its way around the great earthen bans of the henge to the South Entrance, where it is met by the 'goddess party.' A woman sits in the seat of one of the two huge sarsen stones that flank the Southern Entrance. She represents both the Mother Goddess and the female guardian of the stones. After she has given her blessing on our presence, we move to the Ring Stone for any handfastings, then on to the Southern inner circle for the main part of the rite, which ends with bardic performances.