Interestingly the term Widdershins is also used by Terry Pratchett in his Discworld Novels - certain aspects of the discworld are considered 'Widdershins' that is towards where the sun rises above the shell of the Great A'Tuin.

However, in Australian Aboriginal folklore the 'widdershins' direction is in fact the most sacred. But then - being on the opposite side of the globe (south of the equator) clockwise would probably be the 'wrong' direction.

All I know is that in '02 when we visited Central Australia, I declined an invitation to 'Climb the Rock' - the local Aboriginals (and most other tribespeople I have encountered) consider Uluru sacred and I considered (and still do) that to climb the rock (even though my adventurous and competitive side WANTED to) and still do; that to do so would be the equivalent of them taking a trip to one of our pre-eminent cathedrals and climbing all over the altar, tabernacle and sacristy!

Instead of climbing (and despite disability) I determined to walk the 9 and a half kilometer circuit around it.

As we stood in the car park I noticed that about 98% of the people leaving to 'walk the circuit' were moving off to their left - that is, walking the circuit in a clockwise direction. (I didn't realise that about 50% or more of these were actually only walking around to the "sunrise" car park about 3 - 4 kilometres and then getting picked up again) and so I and my two older boys set off walking 'Widdershins" around the Rock. Mainly because I hate walking in groups and secondly - once we got out there alone it just FELT RIGHT!!!!!

We did the 4 - 4 1/2 hour walk in 3 1/2 hours - and that included stopping for drinks and photo's.

The big buzz came when we went across to the Cultural centre adjacent and we were talking among ourselves about our walk and on of the older men working there asked us which way we went - did we walk clockwise or anti-clockwise around Uluru.

I thought for a minute (we hadn't actually thought about the direction of our walk in those terms until then) and said - "Anti-clockwise; Widdershins!"

He gave us this most amazing smile - his white teeth flashing from that incedibly blue-black skin and thick beard and said - "You did it the right way, then brother. That's the proper direction to walk - the Dreaming Trail is walked anti-clockwise!"

I was quite happy about that - especially because, as I said, walking widdershins just FELT right.

Muttley