A Hunter Rides – Napowrimo – day 18

 

Today’s challenge is to write a ruba’i. What’s that? Well, it’s a Persian form — multipe stanzas in the ruba’i form are a rubaiyat. Basically, a ruba’i is a four-line stanza, with a rhyme scheme of AABA. Robert Frost’s famous poem Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening uses this rhyme scheme. You can write a poem composed of one ruba’i, or try your hand at more, for a rubaiyat. Happy writing! http://www.napowrimo.net/ .

A Hunter Rides.

A hunter rides and knows of nature’s need.
Of entropy, the stirring of the seed,
In dreams he seeks the riders for his chase.
Hunted turns to hunter, mounts her steed.

In sleep, awakes to join the cavalcade.
She knows this is no merry masquerade.
Yet wild she rides with horsemen of the sky,
To harvest all the dying and decayed.

And so she’s set to ride with Harlequin,
To join the psychopomp of Nudd’s son, Gwyn,
To ride aside the hellhounds of Anwyn.
And those who see her think it is a sin.

At Samhain see them chase the spectral boar,
Tear terror from the world, and so much more,
To hear the frightful baying of the hounds,
We shake and quake and mutter, never more.

Yet should we hark the coming of the storm,
And fearful hearts are gripped til early morn,
Raise up your hands and hearts and softly pray;
Wish for the coming of the timeless born.

And thus we write the archetype anew,
As our culture re-models an immortal who,
Survived the passing storm and still rides on.
A shadow never seen unless he wants you to.

Lisa Goodwin, Bard of Ynys Witrin, April 2014

The King is Dead! Long Live the King!

The Wild Winter King has finally yielded,
His frozen breath left the forest for dead,
The goddess stirred when the cold had receded.
Awakened to seek a summer consort instead.
A young bright prince has arrived in the story,
And he’s set to rule in the Winter King’s stead.
The Queen passes by; oak, ash and thorny,
As she enters the forest in search of her mate,
Her touch reveals blossoming nature’s glory.
Nature intensifies and wild venerates,
Unity, sacred and coming to being,
May Queen and Summer King enter the chase.
Who’s doing the chasing and who is fleeing?
Sovereignty comes and chooses her kin,
Dances a mandala of new life to being.

The King is Dead! Long Live the King!

Lisa Goodwin – #Napowrimo Day 14 – April 2014

White Spring – The Gateway

The Gates are complete and will be fitted this week in readyness for our re-opening on Saturday 5th April.

This beautiful design was drawn by the blacksmith, Phil Raynor, who also crafted the gates. They were taken from my original vision and sketches. What an amazing skill, to take someone’s impression of what they would like and manifest it into a thing of beauty.

The gates are unusual in that they open along the curve of the three vesica piscis. The symbols in each one represent the archetypes or expressions of divinity that we celebrate and honour at the White Spring and to reflect the living mythology of this land.

The triple vesica piscis design is laid on a background of lines suggesting a large chalice or grail and in filled with smaller spirals, primarily added for safety.

The top section depicts Brighde’s cross, in honour of the Celtic Goddess and Christian Saint, long felt to be one of the guardians of the White Spring.

The image at the base is the triple flame, to symbolise the fires of inspiration, transformation, and the flame of the hearth. This section is also representative of three drops of inspiration from the cauldron of the Dark Lady in the ‘Tale of Taliesin’, the three rays of Awen.

The central spiral is inspired from a simple image that we have been using for quite some time, a spiral within Glastonbury Tor to represent the other-worldly home of the King of the Realm of Fae, often experienced locally as Gwyn Ap Nudd.

We have included the Tor and the tower within the central symbol in honour of Archangel Micheal.

These are all representative of the sacred and magical sources that we feel to be potent at The White Spring. I hope you will agree that these are exquisite gates that reflect the beauty of the inner sanctuary.

We would love to see you on Saturday, and if you cannot make it, please take a moment of your day to offer a prayer or loving thoughts to the water. Water holds memory and from here in the heart of Avalon our collective love of the sacred water places spreads out into the land.

Brightest Blessings.

Lisa Goodwin

White Spring Sanctuary Shocking Damage

On Friday 14th February the doors to The White Spring were damaged beyond repair.

During a full moon, under the cover of a storm with tearing winds and heavy rain, both sets of doors were smashed to pieces. We were alerted on Saturday morning that there had been a problem there during the night and several members of the keeper team met there to see what had happened.

Nothing could have prepared us for the carnage.

Both sets of doors were totally obliterated and the debris lay around. 

The beautiful stone dragon that sat on the steps was smashed by one of the doors being thrown into the well house, yet none of the shrines were touched and nothing was taken. All of the altars remained untouched and the Brigit flame was still aflame in the new bower. The inside of the sanctuary felt serene despite the destruction of the entrance ways. 

The building has been boarded up for safety and will remain closed until we can get replacements. It does look sad from outside but it is not all bad news. 

Whilst we were discussing our options a man who was collecting water overheard us talking about gates. He introduced himself; Phil, a local blacksmith from Millstream Forge. He has created some beautiful work in Town and built the Glastonbury Experience gates on the High Street. This fortuitous meeting with the blacksmith has inspired us to move past the challenge and create a solution as soon as we possibly can. 

Though nothing can take away the traumatic impact caused by the person who did this dreadful damage, the story is unfolding and now the gates, which was a job on our list, will be done much sooner than we think. 

This wonderful community resource that is loved by people from all over the world will rise again more beautiful than before.

Check the website to find out more about our work and to support The White Spring.

http://www.whitespring.org.uk

SOS! Save Our Spring ……… Urgent White Spring Appeal

Please come along to our

White Spring Presentation

Glastonbury Assembly Rooms 

Tuesday 17th September at 7pm 

and a focus group meeting Saturday 5th October at 1.30pm – location TBC

SOS – Save Our Spring

The White Spring in Glastonbury needs your help. There is a real risk that we will be forced to close unless we get more support! The owner is no longer able to generously support financially towards the annual costs as he has in previous years. Over the next year the current custodians are needing to step back to start focusing on other projects.

Why save the White Spring?

Know where your water is… Free wholesome spring water is provided to all who come to collect it.

The White Spring is not just in Glastonbury, it is in the hearts of many people all across the world; people who cherish the place. This sanctuary has become a vital sacred site to thousands of pilgrims and visitors. Many people comment that it is one of the most beautiful and unique spiritual locations they have visited in the world.

In dedication to the spiritual energies of this place, we have created sacred pools and shrines within the sanctuary. It is an expression of gratitude for the gift of pure water. It is a sanctuary, a place of reflection, inspiration and healing. It is a sacred site of great depth and beauty. It is a living temple.

Individuals and groups from all spiritual paths and traditions who come in peace are welcomed. In true temple tradition, no-one is charged or paid. Every individual who contributes does so from the heart. All is freely and lovingly given. All that is done here is done for the love of it.

The White Spring has become a prominent tourist attraction visited by more than a hundred visitors each day, and many more during peak times. The restoration of this wonderful building has impacted positively on the local area. There is a much improved atmosphere in Wellhouse lane as a consequence of the dedication of helpers who encourage peaceful respect from all visitors. This has created a wonderful loving sanctuary nestled at the base of Glastonbury Tor.

What help do we need?

Contributions can be made via http://www.whitespring.org.uk/pages/contribute.html#ancHeader

This is an urgent call out for our local and world-wide community to increase the generous support for this well-loved place.  It must now be financially self sustaining. We are putting together standing order forms for friends of the White Spring and direct debit mandates for those who wish to contribute regularly – together we can do this x

As well as continued financial support, we also need physical help. A strong team is needed to hold this space. We have a dedicated small group of volunteers who open up for the public, which is wonderful, and we need much more than this now. We need help with maintenance, ceremony, events, financial support, admin and logistics.

For The White Spring to continue as a free, open to all sanctuary much more input is needed. The custodians have agreed to spend the next six months gathering physical support and funds, after this the team will look at the situation again.

This is an exciting opportunity for the whole community to get involved. The need for other people to step up is pressing. There will be a presentation to the community, for supporters of the White Spring, on Tuesday 17th September at Glastonbury Assembly Rooms. A focus group meeting is scheduled for 5th October.

We have written a summary of the tasks involved in the provision of this remarkable place which will be available at the presentation/meeting. It is amazing how much is achieved by so few people. There are simply not enough of us, or enough hours in the day to continue as we have been.

With just a drop of dedication from each member of our White Spring community, this place will become an even more magnificent water temple, and will be kept free, ‘For The Love Of It’ forever.

Please come along and/or contribute to help Save Our Spring.

Glastonbury Zodiac

Glastonbury Zodiac

A dog greets us with wagging tail,
A salmon leaps from head of lamb.
Bull looks over dundon twins,
On milky way’s ecliptic stand.

As crab crawls up to lions mane,
The great beast lifts his head across,
And lady holds aloft the grain,
Ecliptic cross of equinox.

Lifting up to eternal dove,
Flying into scorpion claw.
The archer takes a careful aim,
And goat foot god stands by the door,

Where water flows, eternal rain,
And salmon turns to leap again.
And so complete the circle round,
Of secrets marked in sacred ground.

Lisa Goodwin – August 2013

The Legend of Prometheus

 

Always reaching for the light, that bold Prometheus,
Refused Titanic fight spared the jail in Tartarus,
He spent night after night, with his brother Epimetheus,
Shaping man after might, in name of his love.

And so by his design, and his love for all humanity
He shaped mankind, then; no mere technicality,
Athena was consigned, to breathe life; mortality.
Human being was defined, but what of personality?

Endurance, strength and nerve, an afterthought to give,
To the creatures of the earth, Epimetheus’s gift,
but it never does occur, to give humankind a lift,
and Prometheus observes this rift.

Epimetheus’s cup had nothing left for man,
The animals all supped from the lion to the lamb,
but we were snubbed in favour of his plan.
So Prometheus stood us up and the resistance began.

He felt his love for humans like fire in his brain
and under no delusion he nurtured tender flame.
To bring it to his people to rise against their pain
and a way to keep all of us warm in wind and rain.

Zeus declared that sacrifice must be more robust,
He took the best of the flesh and left the rest for us,
So Prometheus did a trick and the jape was later sussed,
and with only bones to pick, Zeus took fire, left us dust.

Prometheus flew higher than Icarus, and even though it stung,
with treachery vociferous he lit a torch from the sun.
Imagine the aurora! Yes! Zeus was set to stun.
He sent pretty Pandora, deceptive heart and lying tongue.
And a funny looking box that should never be undone
Oh, what a stunning beauty, was sent to live among
Athena, Epimetheus, Prometheus and us.

Pandora’s curiosity, was bound to do us in.
Her apparent generosity was not to be boxed in.
And she unleashed an atrocity of suffering and sin.
and all manner of monstrosity to get under our skin.

Now it is debatable, who left us with false hope
so we could be capable, to cope.
Was it he in chains unbreakable, or that dope,
of a woman unobtainable who revealed the boxes scope.

Yes, he in chains unbreakable. The last part of my tale,
Prometheus unmistakable apparent epic fail,
Made his freedom unsustainable, his passion was curtailed,
He was seized by Gods unshakable, chained on Caucasian Jail.

Day and night tormented by a giant eagle’s need,
Prometheus never repented, Liver heal and liver bleed!
Man, I would go demented while the hungry beast did feed,
Yet Prometheus never lamented, it’s greed.

Then Zeus gave two conditions, his freedom to be met,
If he could proposition and somehow get,
An immortal volunteer to agree to be dead,
And a mortal so sincere to destroy the daily threat.

Then in walked tender Chiron and brave Heracles,
The trickster may find asylum with God’s such as these.
With a sweet surrender and sudden irony,
wounded healer and defender died with notoriety.
It was no small labour, but the mortal killed the bird,
And unchained poor Prometheus … at least that’s what I heard.

Until today,
When I met him on the bus!
Yes, I know it’s an unlikely place for people like us
Still, I took the chance to ask him, why Prometheus?
And he told me …

I Prometheus, wild adversary,
Thief Immortal, paradoxical trickery.
I bring you Fire! I offer Power!
Bring you liberation, to create or to devour.

I Titanic traitor chained unto a stone.
Bird satiater, cursed to live and die alone.
Yes, my fate was always marred, the gate to Olympus barred,
permanently scarred, and on what charge?

My unrepentant, holy burning heart.
He despised my cunning, he shunned my art,
Why? Because I dared!

Bound in chains, my Olympic fall from grace.
Each day an eagle’s feast, my sacrifice to warm your face.
Why? because I cared!

And a thousand vestal virgins, do not do me honour,
and a million clay built humans still shun the sacred fire.
Why? …………. Well don’t just stare!

You heard me! I gave up what I got!
I suffered and I sacrificed, for what?!

You! Yes, you! Clay built flora in God’s image,
tormented by Pandora, holding false hope’s privilege.

I conspired, I inspired you to take charge of your own,
to stand against authority, to take wisdom gods have known,
And now little metal boxes warm your heart and heat your home,
Orange coiling filaments, light switches. Flame dis-owned!

And you choke in the smoke of your ill fed bonfires.
Eyes burning acrid; blinded by fools and liars.
And like Zeus, you bind me! Another rock to sit upon
You stand me in eternal golden form, beside your temple to Mammon.
Rockerfella wraps me in a zodiacal chain,
To witness your torture again and again.

You take my fire, run it round, with a corporate charade,
New World Order bound, coca-cola reign on your parade!
Five rings for the race of man, five rings of fire ascend,
An Olympic spell with one to rule them all, one to pretend.
A million eyes gaze on the screen, open to suggestion.
‘Go back to sleep,’ they say. No need to beg the question.

All you vacant vestal virgins wear about your neck, false chains.
And my deluded clay creations. You know nothing of my pains.
Do you.
Or do I judge too quick?

Will you awaken from the eternal torture of your soul?
Will you break the chains that bind you before your liver is sold?
Will you tend a sacred flame? Will you keep it pure and clear?
Take the power of my prophecy to those who would hear!

Will you light a simple fire, to sit by with your friends?
Will you grasp your sovereignty? You have a planet to mend.
Do you dare to burn and sack your Gods of corporation?
Do you care to claim back? Reinstate your sovereign nation!

I Prometheus,
A living mythology.
In the darkness of mystery,
I leave with you, my history.
Complete it!

Re-member Richard Whiting

I have been studying ritual and esoteric magic systems for over 20 years, and since becoming a Bard of Avebury in 1998 have been openly leading and taking part in public ceremony in Glastonbury and at festivals across the UK. I am a trained VortexHealer interested in Earth energy systems and leylines. My work within the Merlin lineage has led me to work with sacred space and geomantic stress. My love of community brought me to Glastonbury.
In September 2007 in London I attended an Intensive Earthshift Class as part of my VortexHealing training. Some of the work we did had the intention to clear the earth of negative energies that could be used as a source of power for black magic. This dense ‘black magic’ energy had accumulated on the planet through the intentional use of magical ritual, torturous death, and events involving pain and deep trauma. These sources of power are held in pockets of energy in the land that can be drawn from to support potent magical practice with ill intent.

My consciousness was drawn directly beneath the Tor. As if there was, at least at one time in history, such dense energy moving through the location that it had stuck and it was still there. I breathed rapidly, along with the rest of the class, and followed the instructions we were given. I felt an intense rush of energy; it felt like pulling out a plug and leaving room for fresh clear flow.

Much good work has been done within our community to lessen the impact of these killings, and it has had a potent affect on many levels; physically, spiritually, magically and energetically. Each of us is a part of the bigger picture and the healing that has occurred at this location of great global importance is crucial in the rebuilding of common unity.

My interest in local history and a little bit of synchronicity soon led me to the Glastonbury Documents. I found that there was in fact a ritual murder right on the top of Glastonbury Tor! Now I have written a document to detail my findings. You can look forward to hearing more about it soon.

On the 13th November 2012, at the Scorpio dark moon we met at The White Spring ‘For the Love of It’ to gather together and celebrate common unity. It was a joyous night, a true tribal gathering that warmed our hearts. At midnight, we stood in circle together to re-member Whiting and his companions and to acknowledge and empower the persistence of love and common unity that cannot be broken. Our community is coming together, I see it all around me, different groups working together, civic support opening up into areas of the community that they have never before. The rift is healing in Glaston and I give thanks for all those who have been called to play their part.

The White Spring – Beltane Climax – For the Love of It

At Lunar Beltane each year, Scorpio full moon, we have a gathering at the White Spring, from dusk to dawn, For the Love of It!

This year a friend of ours was hand-fasted on top of Glastonbury Tor in the afternoon, so sadly I would miss the reception and celebration afterwards at Paddington Farm, but I was delighted to be able to offer a blessing at The White Spring before taking the bridal party up the Tor for the hand-fasting ceremony.

At around 1pm, the couple came and took some time in the peaceful courtyard whilst their family and friends arrived. When we went inside for the blessing the handmaidens had to lift the bride’s dress so it didn’t sit in the water. I welcomed everyone and offered an elemental blessing, using the water, incense, candle flame and stone.

Phoenix is a long time friend and rainbow brother, so it was very special for me to offer this blessing to their union. We stood at a portal to the otherworld and invited the blessings of the spirits of Avalon.

Then we all joined hands and lifted our hearts in celebration and support of this union. After much cheering, we went outside and prepared for the ascent up the Tor. Taurus would be leading the men around to the egg-stone and up a steep incline to the top, whilst the bridal party would use the path from the bottom of Wellhouse Lane. Taurus blew his horn and the men set off. The rest of us waited about 15 minutes before leaving to give them time to go around. We climbed, pausing to catch our breath and look at the path below. It was sweet to look back and see the trail of people following the bride up the hill.

We arrived to a huge circle of people. A beautiful handfasting ceremony followed, Lyn (the ceremonialist) was fabulous, and the characters who spoke for each direction were perfect for the energy that they were expressing. We all turned outwards to express the love of these two people, and the love in our hearts out to the world. It was all so beautiful; a powerful tribal feeling, but I couldn’t linger too long; I had to get on.

We had already worked out the format for the evening ceremony, but we had soup to cook, ingredients to get together and equipment to load into the van. Max had got everything together when I arrived back from the Tor, so I had a chance to sit and have a cup of tea.

We arrived with plenty of time for Max and I to unload the wood, set up the tables, get the soup hot and prepare the chai. When we got there we found a large group of people from Slovakia – they had previously asked to book the place and I had told them that it wasn’t possible because of this celebration, so they decided to come along and support. And that they did! Before we knew it there were about twenty people offering to help unload the wood, light the candles and do anything else we asked of them to, it was great! We set up in record time. Many hands …

This meant that there was plenty of time for them to hold a short ceremony inside before we began. Each of them had brought a large peace candle with them and they all lit them and stood in the central chamber. All of their faces were aglow and the building was really bright. After I had slightly freaked out in my head about the candle wax dripping everywhere (and resolved it), I saw how beautiful it was. I could not understand what they were saying and singing, but I could feel the energy. They sang until we were ready to start the ceremony.

We lit the fire outside, talked of Brigid and the nurturing flame, and invited everyone to join us inside. Max and I climbed behind the central pool. This is a perfect place to do public ceremony from; the pool has a lateral wave that helps the acoustics in the building and projects your voice. It also lends inspiration and power to the words. We opened the circle, with Max inviting the blessings and honouring the four directions whilst I dramatically represented each of them with the incense, candle flame, water and a large rock. I then called to the spirits of above, below and within. We asked that each guard, guide and protect all who visit here, living or otherwise.

We invited everyone to lend their energy to the creation of a powerful orb of light, feeling the energy by clapping our hands until they tingle, then intensifying that energy to make it bigger so that we may co-create a wonderful sphere to keep us all safe and held throughout the whole night. Then we said a prayer to the water.

We shared food and drank spiced apple juice. A few people came and asked whether we would be heating up the water tonight, we had done this three years previous and (I think) because it is 2012, people assumed we would do the same. Perhaps we will do it again before the year is out but not tonight. Several people bathed in the cold waters and so many people expressed to me how the building felt more alive, more joyful.

A few women from the singing group were there, so we sang some chants and lots of people joined in with us. An elder bard of Glastonbury arrived and treated us to some wonderful seasonal songs by the fire, Jack in the Green, Hal an tow, Cuckoo… excellent songs that are now becoming familiar to me. The (holders of the roles of) May Queen and Summer King at the town celebrations arrived, invisible and unnoticed. The Queen bathed in the central pool, looking just like a pre-Raphaelite painting. Then the drumming …

Oh the drumming, it has been a bit of an issue in the past; medicine drums are pretty okay, but it really is quite loud in the building when djembes are played, and usually 10 minutes or so is enough. A previous keeper of the Spring who had a love of drumming had arrived with a djembe and asked if he could drum for a bit. When he began in the Brigid bower, I felt inspired to just dance, and I mean really dance! I surrendered to the beat and encouraged some of the Slovakian women to join me – and it went on! The bower was filled with dancing women, then the drums would die down and the women would leave to make room for another group of women to dance inside the bower. It was quite incredible, and I let it go on a little longer than I would usually (it was Beltane after all, and the energy was really rising). It was such a powerful moment and the building seemed to love it. On the opposite side of the building, men were gathered, all getting ready to bathe in the pool; they all jumped in together making a huge splash! How fantastic!

Just as it was feeling like there had been enough drumming energy, Daygan turned up; what joy! I love it when he plays his mandolin at The White Spring; it is so very magical, stirring up the fae energy; tripping and dancing on light-hearted notes of bliss – I immediately get transported to another realm entirely. I danced at each of the shrines, and let myself go. There often comes a moment at the all night gatherings at the Spring when the spirit of faery shines through so strongly that it is easy to see the fae nature of all the visitors. The light-footed faery dancers, the elven warrior, the gnome like character by the fire, sometimes I look and can see the slight hint of wings or little horns and occasionally I wonder if they have come through the front door, or a portal to the otherworld in the depths of the building. Daygan’s music often evokes that very moment.

Later in the evening, three djembes turned up from a drumming session in the Rifleman’s pub. They began to play after Daygan had finished. I told them that they could play for 10 minutes. I explained that it rattles the building if we have too much drumming. They played, gently at first, and then it got louder and louder. Everyone was loving it, the wellhouse was full of people dancing. But after a while it felt like it needed to stop, so checked in with the shrines to get a feel for how the building was being affected. It had soon became too much – the beats echoed back from the walls and the water until there was no distinguishing of each beat and it was nothing but noise. I approached the drummer with the biggest drum and as I did, saw that he had already understood; he had felt the rattle. The acoustics of the place are great, drumming to raise energy is good for 10 or 15 minutes, but beyond that, it often shakes it up too much.

The drumming stopped and the drummers stayed for some chai. The group from Slovakia had left to climb the Tor and we chatted and sang by the fire. People from the wedding party began to drift by on their way home, and we got to hear stories of the gathering up at the farm. At the moment of full moon we paused for silence, and in the morning we listened to the dawn chorus. The sky was getting lighter.

Then Pok the bard arrived. He chanted inside the building whilst we broke down the coals of the fire. We carried the fire pit, still gently glowing, into the King of the world of Faery shrine and gathered around it in the semi darkness to give our thanks to the energies that had supported us all night. We closed the circle and after Pok had spent a few moments by the coals he came outside and treated us to his wonderfully crafted words. An epic battle involving nubiru and a great earth worm; magic meeting sci-fi to create a sublime rendition of powerful proportions, delivered with unique style and a twinkle in the eye.

Then a man who I shall now remember as King Richard totally blew me away. A kind-hearted man who has been around for a couple of weeks, who by his own admission drinks a bit too much and rambles on a bit, he has slightly scruffy dress and no fixed abode. He stepped up and, like a true Shakespearian actor, quoted a speech from Richard III. Quality!

Everything had been perfect all night long, the scene had changed and shifted throughout the night, from climactic to gentle and back again – it was another amazing Beltane night. Our next ‘For the Love of It’ all night celebration takes place at Samhain, the other side of the wheel awaits us; but first we have a glorious summer to come.

Bright Blessings

Lisa

The White Spring, Glastonbury Beltane Energy Rises

On the morning of the 1st May we dropped off our costumes at the Assembly Rooms and went to the White Spring early to make sure it was ready to receive hundreds of visitors. I opened the doors, went round to the back doors and found it flooded!

The persistent rain had filled the chalk aquifer and it was spilling out like an overfilled sponge, the flow into the well house had increased dramatically. The water was pouring over all the walls of the pools, and it had backed up at the back door to mid calf height. The rate of the flow changes the feeling and sound of the place dramatically, especially when the water runs this fast and wild. I love it! It creates a raw excitement, makes my heart beat stronger and faster … sometimes it expresses the energy of a natural waterfall in a rugged windswept mountain pass.

A third of the building was flooded, with all the expected visitors, we had to pull up the drain covers, get the rods out and start pumping. It was not long before the blockage was cleared, yet it would take some time for the water to drain away fully, so we had no choice but to trust that it would be clear when the Beltane/Mayday procession arrived at 1.30pm. There was no guarantee that it would clear of course, there is always a chance of it blocking again whilst the gallons of water held back finally flow through. However, we were short of time, so had to leave it to get ready for the celebrations. I realised I would just have to ‘wing it’ if it was still flooded later.

Rushing to the rooms, we got ready as fast as we could. By 11pm we managed to get to the Market Cross, hopefully managing to appear graceful and un-hurried. Deep breaths!

Hundreds of people gathered at the Market Cross. More than last year? I couldn’t tell; the market was on the same day, meaning we had much less space to work with. Nevertheless, we managed really well with the space we had. I had cut some red and white ribbons to give to people so they could tie them around their arms and feel a part of it all – I had about 250, and I only managed to give them out to less than half of the crowd.

Before I knew what was happening, there was in a dragon dance. There are two dragons which were made at Beltane 3 years ago. A red one and a white one. In the story that was played out that year, the dragons were battling, so they had to be strong enough to take it. They chased each other around the small arena to much merryment and laughter.

The Winter King arrived, as consort, he accompanied the Queen. To warm her heart there would be entertainment and fun. So a local singing group came forward to sing a selection of beautiful chants that everyone could join in with. It was a joy to be with the community and visitors all singing together. Another group was asked to sing Jerusalem … And did those feet in Ancient times ? … everyone joined in, with particular aplomb when it came to the lyrics, ‘I will not cease from Mental Fight, Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand: Till we have built Jerusalem, In England’s green & pleasant Land.’ I can’t possibly convey here how moving and powerful it feels to sing that song right here in Glastonbury along with hundreds of people.

A fabulous performance by the Town Crier, the Arch-druid of Glastonbury, the graceful May Queen, the Summer King, and the Winter King … and lots of ooohs and ahhhs from the crowd, followed. It had been a grey and chilly morning, with a chance of rain. At the very moment when the Summer King stepped forward, the sun broke through the clouds!

The king led a flower dance, which was chaotic and fun, then it was time to walk to the waters. Chalice Well would be opening the Monks gate on Wellhouse Lane, a representative from the gardens would be bringing a blessing from the red waters, and I would be bringing a blessing from the white waters. I knew that Chalice Well would hear the procession coming so they would be ready in time.

The doors were still locked at the Spring when we arrived; all of the keepers wanted to be part of the procession, so we had planned for this. Max created a diversion (by jumping up on the wall and using his powerful voice to let everyone know what was happening) whilst I opened the doors and slipped inside with the May King and Queen, and the Winter King. Then there were a few moments for them to rest whilst I jumped around the walls lighting all the candles, probably faster than I had ever done it before. There was just enough time for me to offer a private blessing before the doors were opened.

It wasn’t exactly flooded any more, but the water was still a little deep in places and it was very wet. Still we managed to find a dry place for the King and Queen to stand whilst everyone poured in to the building.

How wonderful it is to see The White Spring, Chalice Well Gardens and Wellhouse Lane filled with people enjoying the waters and celebrating together. The story of the Summer King and Winter King was told, locally expressed through the living mythology of this land. Then the call went out – The King is dead! Long live the King! The cue to call everyone back for the blessing of the maypole. There were such cheers!

Alison and I offered our individual blessings from the red and white springs, then the waters were mixed and Merlin talked about the symbology of the mixing of these waters and how this is potent and relevant to us today. The May Queen stepped forward to give her tender blessing upon the pole, before the Summer King called on the Green Men to lift it up and lead us out onto the land.

Max and I held back to clear the wellhouse before joining this last part of the procession. It would be open again later, but for now we needed to get up to the coombe, so we cleared the building and encouraged those inside to go and join the celebrations. When we arrived at the circle, the directions were called and it was opened by the Arch Druid. Wonderful celebrations followed, we witnessed the marriage of the King and Queen, the maypole was lifted, and everyone joined in the dance.

I felt the warmth of our community, and the joy of the visitors and I loved every minute of it. Singing, dancing, playing all over the field. It is remarkable that this happens here – we are so blessed to have such a vibrant and talented community, and such a rich landscape to play in.

Later, when we returned to The White Spring, it was full of people bathing, singing and enjoying the water. Ria, another keeper had been taking care of the place whilst we were at the coombe, and it was so busy. We stayed open for a few more hours; people just kept on coming to bathe in the healing pools!

Now we were at the end of the town celebration, we could shift our focus to The White Spring celebration at Lunar Beltane. For the Love of It! From dusk to dawn, we would hold the place open and see what people would bring. The only thing we ask of visitors is that they leave the modern world behind for a night, no cameras, mobile phones or money … just an invitation to share and celebrate their inspiration, their love of the land, and of the season. Beltane was quickly coming to a climax, and with the full moon rising, I could feel the pulsing energy of the season as we prepared for the following Saturday.

You can read about that in the next blog – Beltane Climax

Bright blessings

Lisa