Glastonbury
Glastonbury, in the Somerset Levels of SW England, is the centre of the mystical Isle of Avalon - England's spiritual heart, as explored by Dion Fortune and Nicholas R Mann in Glastonbury, Avalon of the Heart and The Isle of Avalon. Glastonbury and the Isle of Avalon are also known as the Isle of Glass, Glass Town the Isle of Apples, Isle of Affalach and Ynis Witrin / Ynyswitrin. This is said to be the Blessed Isle of the West with an entrance to Annwn where it was believed by the celts that the soul goes to await reincarnation. It was to Glastonbury that Jesus Christ is said to have come with Joseph of Arimathea. On Weary-all Hill just above Glastonbury Joseph of Arimathea planted his staff in the ground, and from this grew the thorn tree that blossoms every year at the winter solstice, the anniversary of Christ's birth. The original tree was destroyed at the reformation, and it's site is now marked by a stone. It's descendents continue to bloom at the church of St John in the town, at the winter solstice, from which a sprig is sent each Christmas to the the reigning monarch. Glastonbury Abbey is believed to have been one of the several locations of perpetual chant, and Joseph of Arimathea is said to be buried at the southern corner of the Mary Chapel in the Abbey, along with two cruets - red and white - containing the blood and sweat of Christ. The Chalice Well and the lesser-known white spring are renowned for their spiritual healing qualities. Many pilgrims leave rag offerings here, just as they do at Madron, Sancreed, La Fontaine à devotion de la Fontenille, La Bonne Fontaine, and Courbefy. The Pilgrim path to the top of Glastonbury Tor is claimed to have been a massive Labyrinth - indeed Hamish Miller's dowsing, as detailed in The Sun and the Serpent has demonstrated that it is a very sophisticated configuration indeed. Hidden in the landscape surrounding Glastonbury is the renowned Glastonbury Zodiac described in Glastonbury, Avalon of the Heart and The Isle of Avalon. Glastonbury Tor is the principal key point on the celebrated St Michael ley which follows the Beltain / May day sunrise alignment from the far south western tip of England to the east coast, visiting many megalithic sites as well as chapels and hills dedicated to St Michael en route. This alignment gained recognition after John Michell referred to it in his seminal work The View over Atlantis, and which was followed-up by Hamish Miller's comprehensive dowsing of the alignment as described in detail in The Sun and the Serpent - the wonderfully evocative text of Paul Broadhurst bringing the alighnment alive in the mind's eye. Two ancient oak trees known as Gog and Magog still stand a short distance from the Tor, at the entrance to an avenue of oaks which leads towards the Tor. The Tor itself is reputed to be hollow, the dwelling of Gwynn ap Nudd. Many tales are told of openings which lead into the Tor, and of those who have ventured inside. Of the few who have returned most are struck dumb or insane, and unable to describe what they encountered there. Fisher's Hill, to the east of Wearyall Hill is said to be named after the Fisher King of the Grail legends. According to Ithel Colquhoun (The Living Stones) "There is a morphologic connection between the three hiltop shrines - islands or almost islands - which constitute the main triangle of Michael-force for this region - Mont St Michel, St Michael's Mount and Glastonbury Tor". Resources:
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