Chalice Hill

Seven days in Glastonbury and some amazing realizations.

On my last day in Glastonbury. I decided to walk up Chalice Hill. I had been staying at an Essene Retreat B & B and the reading I was doing of the Essene teachings said the Graal/Chalice and the round table were both buried in Chalice Hill. My journeys in Glastonbury taught me that myths and legends have some basis in truth, especially if I want them to. My walk took me past buddhist prayer wheels at an ashram and finally onto the pathway leading up the hill. As I walked I spoke to the earth Goddess asking her to help me find a rock to take home. If there is a rock for me to take let me notice it. The earth is red in parts and the rock as well. There is a red spring which emerges out of the Glastonbury Tor which runs parallel to Chalice hill. I could feel the energy of this sacred place. The energy helped me keep climbing. The view from Chalice Hill is of the city below and of the magnificent Tor with its ancient tower dedicated to St. Michael the Archengel resting on the top. The Tor itself is a labyrinth and one can see that clearly from the view on Chalice Hill. 

I love Glastonbury. Glastonbury asked me to know myself, to stay connected with the land and with love. That is what I took on my walk up the hill. Many people were walking up the Tor only 4 of us were walking up Chalice Hill. It is easy to stop and let others pass, my pilgrimage this day was inner as well as outer. The inner was saying goodbye to Glastonbury. 

I realized that staying in a place I really loved for a longer period of time allowed me to see the shadow and light. The light was easy to see, I was a pilgrim, I was in love and it was fun. The shadow emerged in the later couple of days. The strong held beliefs and how they sometimes become truths that restrict. How was I doing that in myself I wondered. As I walked the hill I carried my last 6 days in a place I had been saying I would love to live in and realized to live in a wild, sometimes crazy, mystical and spiritual place I would need to open my heart and love all of it while not being attached to any of it. Ohhhhh I wonder how spirit would help me walk that path? 

I walked up he hill, used my prayer beads to help me find the energetic centre where the Chalice and Round table were buried, stood on the centre and connected with the land and the possibility.  I sat on the grass and connected with why I was here. The land was what brought me back to me. The Tor, Chalice Well, the Abbey, Wearyall Hill and Chalice Hill were Glastonbury, the Glastonbury I loved. The town with all it's shops and seekers of "something" was the more mercurial part of Glastonbury I could take in little bits.  Glastonbury taught me what I love and need more of in my life, nature. 

I decided to end my last day the same way I started my pilgrimage in Glastonbury at the Chalice Well. 

By the time I entered this world peace garden I was roasting from my walk. The sweet lady in the gift shop suggested I cool my feet in the healing pool In King Arthur's Couryard. I put my feet in the cold water of the red spring that emerges from under the Tor and flows through the Lions head in the Chalice Well and down into the pool. It was wonderful, cold and wonderful. 

I breathed in the garden and Glastonbury. I was so thankful and felt very blessed. I had met the land, the earth goddess had shown me the most amazing rock to bring back filled with fossils and crystals and I had allowed myself to fulfill a dream to come and stay in Glastonbury for an extended period. 

I also realized I was not saying goodbye to Glastonbury, it lived in my heart, lived in me. I feel that I don't really know what Glastonbury means to me and how wonderful that it will continue to reveal itself in time and in many magical, mystical, alchemical, earthy ways. Thanks Glastonbury I love you.

Now I am heading to a lovely little town called Compton Bassett in Wiltshire to house sit for two weeks. A place 5 miles from Avebury, also one of my favourite stone circles. I will be looking after chickens, goats and Diane. A quieter time a different pilgrimage. What a blessing, I did not know what I was going to do for my two unplanned two weeks. I did know I was needing to plant myself in one place quietly for a time and this wonderful opportunity presented itself from two generous mystical, beautiful new friends.

More to come.

The heart is where legend and truth meet.

I am sitting in a tiny room at the top of the house. I have a skylight which opens to allow air and light in.

Right now little golden particles are being lit up by the setting sun. Glastonbury is a place of magic, mysticism, legend and above all fun. Today I spoke to a fellow in a Tarot shop who wears a copper wire over his head ending in a beautiful spiral at his third eye. A woman who wears the most beautiful elf ears. I love Glastonbury. Have I mentioned that before, I Love this place.  Magical, mystical, alchemical .....

Have you ever wanted a legend to be true? Well in Glastonbury the one legend I want to be true has much evidence of it's possibility. The legend - Joseph of Arimatheia a rich man, and relative of Jesus  who after the Crucifixion claimed the body of Jesus from Pilate. He came to Britain with other disciples and founded the first British church at Glastonbury, where he planted his staff. This miraculously flowered into a tree, The Glastonbury Thorn, whose offshoots may still be seen today, flowering every Christmas. (A sprig or cutting is sent to Buckingham Palace every year from this tree, which analysis has shown is a Palestinian variety.) Joseph also brought and kept there certain sacred relics, perhaps the Chalice Cup or Grail. He knew Britain from his trips as a tin merchant, and in fact, on one of his trips he brought his nephew, the boy Jesus.

Joseph, and some say the Mary, are said to be buried there, along with the Grail featured in legends of Arthur – whose official tomb is still to be seen there.

So in one little place we have: the Grail, a holy thorn Tree, the burial place of Arthur and Guinevere, the uncle of an amazing being who walked the earth.

As I walk around this village it opens my heart and mind, what if this is really true- what if. That is part of the excitement and maybe it helps me feel closer to the magic of stories and legend. 

I love the energy and the friendliness of Glastonbury. Today I talked to a elder in the church who loves her village. She asked me if I had been to the Abbey, (pictures coming tomorrow) when I said yes it was wonderful she replied "Yes, we love it." Each person who I have spoken to loves living here, because I am so excited I have been asking.

It really is fun being in a place filled with legends, faeries, dragons, ruined Abbeys, holy thorn trees and a tiny chapel that began in 1264 as the St. Mary Magdalene Hospital and was converted in 1444 to a chapel. I sat and did my spiritual practice in two churches today St. John the Baptist (where the stained glass window is from) and the little chapel. Both fed my soul and helped me love Glastonbury even more. Below you will fiind a lovely window from St. Mary's

Blessings to you all. I know I am feeling blessed and having fun. Tomorrow I am off to lay on the grass in the Glastonbury Abbey to feel the St. Michael and Mary ley lines. How fun is that!

A place of the Goddess

The Chalice Well in Glastonbury is one of the beautiful spots in this mystical village. This morning I sat near this grotto and did Spiritual Practice. I could hear the birds, feel the peace and a connection with the Goddess energy of Avalon. I love Glastonbury, it is a mix of peace, mystery and creativity. 

I spoke with an artist today who painted a mural of the Glastonbury Tor on a wall in her shop. She spoke of the energy in her shop and hearing monks singing. Glastonbury is all about energy. I have been asking myself what I am here for. Energy, art, ancient legends all that and more. What are you offering me Glastonbury? Help me to open my heart and being to the reason I answered your call.

  

Standing in Stonehenge

Here I am in the middle of Stonehenge communing with the wonderous beings of rock and earth.

The fascinating thing was certain rocks called to me. This was one who felt familiar.

Mystical Tour

Joy and mystery and magic. Two days ago I started the tour. A Women's Journey to Avalon. Wonderful times. The two most profund experiences have been the Lady Chapel section of the ruins at old Sarum. If you do not know what Old Sarum is (I didn't) do an image search it is amazing. The most sacred part is the cathedral ruins. I received a healing on the grass from our wonderful tour guide Cameron and just being in this place I felt the energy and the mystery. The single stone in the ruins below is where we could feel the energy the most. 

Since coming to this land of beauty, deep green fields and faery magic I am feeling the earth energy.

There are so many sacred places in England and they are alive with earth energy, the energy of the earth goddess, I am truly loving it.

STONEHENGE

The next day we walked inside Stonehenge. My excitement took on a strange calm as we neared the new entrance to Stonehenge. Very different, we were driven from the new visitors centre to the Henge. 

It is so different walking inside those majestic stones, my body could feel the closeness and I needed a few minutes to ground my energies to be able to step inside the circle. Luckily we took the time to sit near the heel stone in sacred circle. The four of us on the tour connecting with the land and our reason for being here. It was so wonderful to honour earth, air, fire and water in sacred circle. I love our group and how we bring a balanced wholeness to every place we visit. Now it was time to enter Stonehenge, excitement building. We cannot touch the stones and I am okay with that. Being so close I did not need to touch them they were touching me. 

Each time I go to Stonehenge I experience the energies differently. Did you know there is as much stone deep in the earth as you see coming out of the earth? The words I used to describe it was male majesty, Stonehenge grounds and holds the energy for this area of Salisbury. It is a conduit, and grounding rod. These are my feelings not science.

I experience it as being truly majestic. The stones speak to my heart, a personal friend. When we drove by Stonehenge a few days later I looked at it in the distance and new walking around it would just never do, I have touched and been touched by these stones just by being in their presence and loving them. To walk around them would be like being around Don and not being able to touch him.

STONEHENGE ROCKS - okay the little kid who was wanting to run around and hug each stone needed to say that for she was very well behaved and did not touch one stone inside the henge.

That is all for now - more to come later. 

London

I am sitting in my hotel at Heathrow. Tomorrow I start the tour " A Women's Journey to Avalon".

I have spent the last two days walking around the British Museum. It really is big. 

Today I went back to visit the jade. I realized yesterday I had missed it. 4 years ago I visited it,as well. 

This section touches my heart, for me it is the most peaceful section of the museum. Beauty and grace in stone. Jade is a most interesting stone to carve, when it heats up the stone almost carves itself. When I carve it I use a diamond wheel. The artisans who carved these pieces used hand tools, love and holding the shape as a picture in their mind. My favourite piece is from China, the Neolithic period, the Hongshan culture, around 3500 BC.  I will include the picture.

The last two days I have been struck with how challenging it is just to be with me. Those quiet moments when there is no internet, no one to talk to, no museum to wander around, just me. 

I am getting used to my travelling companion - me.  All the preparation I made is really helping. The book I created helps me remember why I am doing this and what is important to me. 

My spiritual practice is also a wonderful friend. Bringing me back to my heart and deep connection.

I will make this blog a short one as my brain is still getting used to a different time. More to come soon.

Does this path have heart?

Does this path have heart?

Less than a week and I will be traveling to the next phase of my pilgrimage. I have been asking myself how will remember why I am doing this? How will I support myself when I start to miss the ones I love at home? Over the past 6 months I have begun to create a book. My pilgrimage book. Filled with pictures to inspire me and images of wondrous beings who will walk with me. 

Since starting my book, poems, inspirations, quotes and pictures have come my way from Spirit and people who feel inspired to send me something. I am so grateful. These generous offerings have become a part of my book. I will check it each morning to see what is being offered to me today.

Maybe something to consciously carry into my day.

Something to keep in mind as I travel, take pictures and or sit and contemplate my surroundings.

 As the time to begin this phase comes closer my intuiton has offered me many internal images of England, helping me to see how I might do and be on this pilgrimage. Walking softly in relationship with my surroundings, being in a deeper relationship with that which I can see and that which is behind that which appears. Remembering to breathe in the architecture, plants and flowers, people and landscape. Opening my heart and being opened with each moment. 

My last visit to England took me to Stonehenge. Not my first time. Yet, I was as excited as if it were. As I walked around this sacred space I took pictures for families so they could all be together, spoke with a few people and walked the land around the stones. When we left for home I realized that I felt as though I had been there all by myself. Just me, the stones and the land. It was the land that spoke to me as much as the stones. The feeling was powerful and wondrous. All by myself. I just realized that I can walk in two timelines at the same time. Listen to what the places I visit have to offer me, be in relationship with both the seen and the unseen. Listen for the call my pilgrimage is calling me to hear in this moment. 

Does this path have heart? May this question from my Life Mission III manual begin to live in me. And I have to say yes because there have been so many supportive hearts helping me to really take this journey. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

And my heart is moving me forward into the unknown  - thank you. My heart is open to the mystery - thank you. Stay tuned. May the unfoldment unfold with ease and grace. 

Love Diane     

The Journey Before the Journey

I am finding out about journeys. It is the help and enthusiasm of friends that is fun. Almost as though they are part of the journey. So I thank them. For my part, where to go and what to see? I realized today I needed to keep my intention close and listen inside. What is calling you Diane? There is where you go. Where are you being called to, that is where you go. The other morning I woke up with the city Exeter ringing in my ears. Today I spoke to friends who loved Devon. Interesting Exeter is in Devon. There are many journeys in a journey. I find as the days go by after I have spent some time with the map, patterns are becoming clear. Locations are calling to me and my original thought of spending lengths of time in one place feels so right. We have been watching a show that has Oxford as it's backdrop and I long to stay in places where I do not have to leave tomorrow, where I can become part of the culture for a moment in time. When I move inward with that thought I hear the call of the Celtic. The call I have been hearing for the last year and a half. Help me to listen and hear is my prayer today.