WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2008 GLASTONBURY

Glastonbury Tor from Wearyall Hill

Wearyall Hill After breakfast and our morning orientation with Mara, we headed off to Wearyall Hill, made famous by Joseph of Arimathea. It is said that he was a merchant, perhaps dealing in tin, which would have brought him from the Holy Land to the far flung isles of the Western Sea. Remains of trade goods from all over the world have been found in Cornish archeological sites, giving the story credibility. Perhaps he visited some of the sites that were ancient even in his own time – Stonehenge, Avebury, Avalon. The local folklore claims that Joseph, had brought his nephew, Jesus, with him during his youth, and they may have met with the Druids of these islands. They say that when Jesus was killed, his family fled to Europe for safety, and Joseph came at last to Glastonbury for sanctuary, planting his well worn thorn staff on the top of Wearyall hill. It miraculously took root and flowered, and a scion of that original, Levantine Thorn, is there today. Some say the cup from the Last Supper – the Holy Grail – was buried in the Chalice Well itself, for which it is named.

Path to Wearyall Hill

The windswept Hawthorn is protected by an iron grate, and beribboned by many hopeful pilgrims. We each brought a ribbon with our own prayers and added it to the colorful tree.

I added a green ribbon and prayed for the healing of a family member who had just been diagnosed with cancer. (Saint Brigid’s “Beckery” probably lies under a car park that can barely be seen to the left in the above photo.)

Mara told us that to this day, the monarch of Britain is offered a sprig from one of the Levantine Hawthorns of Glastonbury every Christmas, and Queen Elizabeth has continued to honor this ancient tradition. Glastonbury Abbey

Glastonbury Abbey from Wearyall Hill

Mara led us through the town of Glastonbury to one of its oldest structures – the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey. The original was probably a wattle and daub church, the first in the British Isles. As England’s most important abbey, it was rebuilt into a magnificent structure and was a popular place of pilgrimage until the reign of King Henry VIII. The last abbot, Richard Whyting, was cruelly executed for treason in 1539 by the king’s men (after a trial presided by Thomas Cromwell), for trying to protect the abbey from dissolution. Whyting was beatified by the Roman Catholic Church on May 13, 1895 in recognition of his martyrdom. His ghost is still said to travel along the old roadway, Dodd Lane, in Glastonbury.

Ruins of Glastonbury Abbey

Mara leads group on tour of abbey

St. Mary’s Well in Glastonbury Abbey

Gargoyle from the abbey museum Arthurian Legend

Arthur and Guinevere’s grave

Glastonbury Abbey is also said to be the final burial place of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere, although there are many other claimants to that honor.

One of the street names we passed was “Fishers Hill”, perhaps in reference to the Fisher King who might have once reigned here. The Fisher King was the “wounded king” who was the guardian of the grail that King Arthur’s knights quested after. After our tour, Mara left us to wander through the amazing town of Glastonbury. She recommended that we see the stained glass window of Saint Brigid at Saint John’s Church on High Street. Glastonbury’s other churches One place that was closed to the public is the old Saint Magdalene Chapel off the main street.

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Magdaline Close, leading to the chapel On my earlier trip, this chapel was open to the public, and it was a delightful little retreat from the hustle and bustle of Glastonbury. I hope it re-opens in the future. Next, we visited Saint John’s Church on High Street, and walked the labyrinth on its grounds before searching for Saint Brigid’s stained glass window inside.

Saint John’s Church on High Street

Labyrinth, Saint John’s Church

Stained glass of Saint Brigid, St. John’s Church Glastonbury Shopping! In spite of its rich Christian history, Glastonbury is an amazingly Pagan town, with shops like The Magic Box, Witchcraft, Gothic Image, Goddess and the Green Man, Man, Myth and Magic, Venus, Hemp in Avalon, etc.!

Glastonbury apothecary shop We had a wonderful shopping excursion, finding items I’ve never seen elsewhere. I found a stuffed raven in one of the shops, which became my magical companion through the rest this journey!

“Bran” (Raven in Welsh and Gaelic), my new stuffed raven!

Glastonbury jewelry found in various shops, including the Abbey gift shop

The Goddess Temple I discovered a modern Goddess Temple above the shops in an alcove along the main street:

The Blue Bowl Mara had arranged a special session in the temple room of Little Michael that afternoon, a quiet meditation with the Blue Bowl of Glastonbury. The Blue Bowl is another of the intriguing mysteries peculiar to Glastonbury.

The Blue Bowl from the Glastonbury Tarot by Lisa Tenzin-Dolma In 1885, Dr. John Goodchild of Bath was traveling in Italy when he discovered a lovely blue glass antique bowl in a shop window in the town of Bordighera. He learned that the bowl had been bricked up in the wall of an old building in the nearby town of Albegna, which had recently been demolished. He purchased the delicate bowl and brought it home to England. When he showed it to his father, the old gentlemen recognized that there was something special about it and insisted that it be locked securely away. Two years later Dr. Goodchild had a vision where he was told that his father was going to die shortly. He was instructed in that vision to remove the bowl from its secure hiding place and bring it to Bride’s Hill in Glastonbury. Within a few weeks, his father passed away, and he felt compelled to follow the visionary instructions. On September 1, 1898, he traveled to Glastonbury and placed the bowl under a stone in a sluice near Bride’s Mound – the possible site of her ancient chapel. He left it there, knowing that the ancient spirits of the land had a higher purpose for the blue bowl. In 1906, a young visionary named Wellesley Tudor Pole, his sister, Kitty and her two friends, Christine and Janet Allen, were drawn to Glastonbury, where Wellesley and Christine both had visions that there was an object of great significance buried within the landscape. They received information on the spirit level of the whereabouts of this item – Bride’s Mound. On September 3rd, the Allen sisters came to Bride’s Mound, which was still venerated by pilgrims, cleared away the mud and discovered the enigmatic blue glass bowl. They reverently placed it back where they had found it, and notified their friend and mentor, Wellesley. On October 1st, Wellesley sent his sister to retrieve the bowl and she brought it to his house in Bristol. From what I was told, Wellesley recognized that it was an icon of the Goddess, and he wanted it to be initially handled by reverent women. Dr. Goodchild learned of its discovery and contacted Pole with his own history of the bowl. At that time, it was placed in a shrine in Bristol and made available for people to study, though no conclusion to its age of origin was ever drawn. In 1966, Pole decided to bring the bowl back to Glastonbury and place it under the Chalice Well Trust. He stated that, “it is not

an object for veneration or a precious relic to be worshipped, but is a symbol of unity, an insignia for the coming Aquarian age.”

Painting of Blue Bowl by Mary, Wellesley Tudor Pole’s sister Since that time, people have contemplated and meditated with the bowl, some experiencing remarkable visions, others feeling a sense of being in the presence of the sacred, others felt a deep sense of peace and healing. Currently, it can be viewed on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 p.m. for silent mediation, by appointment at the discretion of the trustees. (from the pamphlet:, Chalice Well Trust, The Blue Bowl Centenary, 1906-2006) This was my second viewing of the Blue Bowl, the first time was in 2003. It is kept in a lace box and placed on the floor with a candle nearby, and viewers are seated around it. A bell is struck and there is a long period of deep and profound silence as we gaze into the depths of the bowl. Some say it is a “reincarnation of the Holy Grail”, others say it is a 19th century Italian antique. But what is certain is that it fires the imagination and is a catalyst for mysterious visions! Interestingly, I discovered some truly ancient blue bowls later in my journey to the British Museum in London.

Roman blue bowl

Turkish blue bowl

Sardinian blue bowl My conclusion is there is some kind of contemplative magic inherent in the soothing blue color of a bowl – which itself is a symbol of the feminine, and the Mother Goddess.

My own cobalt blue bowl, which I use for meditation! Nicholas Mann That evening we had a very special dinner guest – Nicholas Mann.

Nicholas Mann Nicholas R. Mann is the author of many books, including one of my favorites – The Practice of Celtic Wisdom, Druid Magic, (co-written with Maya Magee Sutton). Born in 1952, he has studied and mastered many arcane subjects – geomancy, astrology, mythology, and Celtic traditions. He has also created the Silver Branch, his own Tarot deck based on Celtic wisdom teachings. He is a long time patron of the Chalice Well Trust and an expert on the mysteries of Glastonbury. In tonight’s talk, Nicholas talked about the significance of the energy ley lines that we were following on our journey. He related the nodes along the ley line to the Chakra’s. (The chakra’s are an Indian system of observing the body’s seven main energy centers. As East Indians are a part of the Indo-European culture, some knowledge of this ancient system may have been scattered amongst other Indo-European tribes.) Nicholas theorized that the node on Saint Michaels Mount may be connected to the first chakra, (the base), the fourth chakra node found in Glastonbury (the heart), the sixth chakra node in Avebury (the mind). By traveling the energy lines, we both activate our chakras, and the chakras within the landscape. In this way, we are spiritually cleansing

the energies stuck in the earth – like old ghosts stuck in the past. It is especially important to release energies that are trapped in a violent past, such as battle sites. He talked about his studies in astro-geology, where the stars are replicated in the land, captured in monuments like Stonehenge and Avebury. He also mentioned the significance of water, that it can hold energy within its cells – remember things, which is why holy wells and pools are so important. He also mentioned the legend of Gynn ap Nudd, the leader of the Wild Hunt who emanated out of the caves from under Glastonbury Tor, a faerie realm, and also the realm of the ancestors. The purpose of the Wild Hunt is to gather wandering souls and lead them back to the light, something we can assist by helping souls cross over, ourselves. It was an incredible and inspiring talk. Nicholas Mann’s extensive bibliography:

Avalon’s Red and White Springs: The Healing Waters of Glastonbury with Dr. Philippa Glasson (2005) Green Magic

The Dark God: A Personal Journey Through the Underworld (1996) Llewellyn Publications ISBN 156718460X, ISBN 978-1567184600

Druid Magic: The Practice of Celtic Wisdom with Maya Sutton, PhD (2001) Llewellyn ISBN 1567184812, ISBN 9781567184815

Energy Secrets of Glastonbury Tor (2004) Green Magic

The Giants of Gaia with Marcia Sutton, PhD (1995) Brotherhood of Life Books ISBN 0914732323, ISBN 978-0914732327

Glastonbury Tor: A Guide to the History and Legends (Pamphlet) (1993) Triskele Publications

His Story: Masculinity in the Post-Patriarchal World (1995) Llewellyn Publications ISBN 1567184588, ISBN 978-1567184587

The Isle of Avalon: Sacred Mysteries of Arthur and Glastonbury (2001) Green Magic ISBN 0953663132, ISBN 978-0953663132

The Keltic Power Symbols: Native Traditions, the Keltic Goddess and God - The Serpent, the Power Animals and the Pictish Symbol Stones (1987) Triskele

The Cauldron and the Grail (1986) Triskele

Reclaiming the Gods: Magic, Sex, Death and Football (2002) Green Magic ISBN 0953663183, ISBN 978-0953663187

The Sacred Geometry of Washington, D.C.: The Integrity and Power of the Original Design (2006) Green Magic ISBN 0954723074, ISBN 978-0954723071

Sedona: Sacred Earth: A Guide to Geomantic Applications in the Red Rock Country (1989) Zivah Pub ISBN 0962270709, ISBN 978-0962270703

Sedona: Sacred Earth - A Guide to the Red Rock Country (2005) Light Technology Publishing ISBN 1891824457, ISBN 978-1891824456

The Silver Branch Cards: Divination using Druid Celtic Symbolism & Mythology (2000) Druidways

The Star Temple of Avalon: Glastonbury's Ancient Observatory Revealed with Philippa Glasson (2007) ISBN 978-0-9555970-5-3

Too excited by Nicholas Mann’s talk to retire for the evening, Amelie and I decided to have a night on the town, and we visited the famous George and Pilgrim Pub for a quiet chat.

George and Pilgrim Hotel One of the older buildings in Glastonbury, the interior is very traditional and comfortable. We found a table near the window and relaxed, me with my dram of single malt. I later learned that this old establishment is also famous for its ghosts! Apparently there is a specter of a monk, perhaps killed during Henry VIII’s purge. Tomorrow, we would be up early and leaving my beloved Glastonbury. I asked the powers that be that I might return another time to discover more of its delights and mysteries. Bardic Journey I had written the below poem after my first trip to Glastonbury, on tour with Mara, and brought it with me as a gift for the Little Saint Michael library.

Journey to Avalon Avalon came to me in a dream one night As I walked the moon path across the bay And the world I once knew faded away As I traveled to a world of color and light. I found myself in a pole-born barge A hooded ferryman ploughed through the waves I heard faerie music in cascading octaves And at last the island grew close and large. An island of rainbows and waterfalls And groves of sacred ogham trees Apple blossoms perfume the breeze The sacred island of the ancient Gauls. Nine queens stood on the crystal shore Dressed in somber Druid robes One held a wand, another a globe Tools of magic these women bore I stepped from the boat and they greeted me And offered a robe of pearly gray On my brow, they drew the symbol of Fey And they led me to an Apple Tree. There I tasted the magic fruit And it filled me with light and vitality I could hear the music of eternity In the strains of a fairy harp and flute. The serpent’s path wound through the isle, I learned from the trees in their sacred groves And listened to the wonder tales they wove As I dwelt in their woodland domicile. I bathed in the sacred salmon’s pool And she whispered her story in my ear, And fed me hazelnuts, the fruit of the seer As I lay in the waters, sweet and cool. I swam in the river between the Yew And under the Tor, where the dead awaited To claim the new life that they were fated As they supped from the apple’s healing brew. I sent my roots into the ground

In the court of the Druid Oaks The royalty of tree folks, Gog, Magog, they are crowned. I dwelt beneath the healing well Where Morgan’s blood flowed red. And dispensed the waters of the wellhead And sang the sacred healing spell. I sat in the Tower on top of the Tor And had high tea with Merlin the Mage Who offered advice, profound and sage, And pointed out Brigid, above the door. I saw the tree from Joseph’s staff The Levantine Hawthorn on the hill I cut a wand, inscribed a sigil And traveled down the holy path. I took the cloth, and served as Nun In the abbey by the seashore I recorded all the local folklore As the Clerks have always done. I spoke with the animals and birds Who taught me how to transform My body into every life form Through the power of magic words The three realms unfold around me As I journeyed through the inner lands The world is made of many strands And Avalon has given me the key. At last my years drew to an end And Morgan led me to the shore “You can come back, there’s always more, the sacred path is within your ken.” I floated back across the ocean The pale moon’s beam lit my way The years had passed in a single day and my journey has really just begun. (Dedicated to my teacher Mara Freeman, with whom I journeyed to Glastonbury in 2003) Books:

Marco’s Pendulum, by Thom Madley, Usborne Publishing, London, 2007 A wonderful children’s books about the mysteries of ancient and modern Glastonbury, that can be enjoyed by adults as well. Energy Secrets of Glastonbury, Tor by Nicholas Mann, Green Magic Press, Somersest, 2004 Everything by this local Glastonbury expert and author is worth reading. Glastonbury, Maker of Myths, by Frances Howard-Gordon, Gothic Image, Glastonbury, 1982 The Apple and the Thorn by Bill Melnyk and Emma Restall-Orr http://www.amazon.com/Apple-Thorn-Emma-Restall-Orr/dp/187045068X An profound tale of Joseph of Arimathea and the Lady of the Lake in ancient Briton. Websites: Glastonbury Oracle: www.glastonburyoracle.co.uk Glastonbury On Line: www.glastonbury.co.uk/pages Glastonbury Abbey: http://www.glastonburyabbey.com/ Goddess Temple: www.goddesstemple.co.uk Saint John’s Church: http://www.stjohns-glastonbury.org.uk/ Glastonbury Tarot: http://www.isleofavalon.co.uk/tarot/ Nicholas Mann: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Mann Wellesley Tudor Pole: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellesley_Tudor_Pole Abbot Richard Wyting: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Whiting_(the_Blessed_Richard_Whiting) Ghosts of Glastonbury: http://www.isleofavalon.co.uk/avalon-ghosts.html