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here I am in a little cottage that evokes the energies of my ancestral lands - a cottage on the moors of Cornwall, or on the cliff tops of Ireland or Scotland. It has a hearth. I am a hedge witch {of sorts}. I wear upcycled clothes, patchouli oil and Redback boots. I am a gypsy; an eccentric and a mystic [I often live with a foot in two worlds]. I serve my guests, tea from an old silver teapot. I love Vervain, yarrow, chamomile & mint. Star watcher and Moon gazer. story cloth weaver. keeper of family dreams and wishes. good friend and creator of life. herbal tea drinker and potion maker.

Friday, November 30, 2012

walking The Tor

after a leisurely breakfast at Apple Tree, sitting in the conservatory overloooking the Abbey grounds, we set off to walk the famous Tor.

Taking a back path through the Abbey Farm which was, I think once part of the Abbey. it is free to visit and we hope to while we are here in Glastonbury.

"echinacea, dandelion, tansy, lungwort and other herbs grow in profusion along the pathways and I am amazed that the herbs can be gathered so abundantly and freely, not like at home, where I have to search for herbs that are so common here"


it was an early morning walk up to the top of the Tor. frosty and cold.. a strenuous walk for someone who has eaten alot of scones and Victorian sponge in the past weeks.. and not done alot of walking while eating said scones..

the scenery as I trudged to the top was brilliant, but I felt nothing.. not a connection, no emotion like I had at the Abbey. just a sense of 'I'm here'. Nothing like I feel when I sit at Echo Point or at my tree at Katoomba Falls.. but i have walked the Tor and now I can buy the tee shirt as the saying goes. The Tor for me is not as impressive as Uluru back home. But sacred none the less.

at the top we took the required photos, getting in the way of some professional photographers who asked us to move out of their shot. the damn hide! They were doing a photo shoot for some protesters who were protesting the sale of land to multinationals.. not sure why at the Tor because there is no way that would ever be sold off. well I hope not. I tried to tell them about the Kimberley back home, but they weren't so interested in that plight..

we headed off down the hill on another path.. past the Avalon orchard and through the gate and down an icy path.. I sat for awhile on a step.. and noticed more herbs and blackberries growing alongside where I was sitting

"the tangle of blackberries and nettles among the apple trees were more spiritual to me than walking the Tor. The frosty grass and crisp morning to me, feels like something that must have been a past life"

walking along the narrow road away from the Tor, I once again felt that emotion of being in a past time.. tears sprung to my eyes as I saw blackberry growing alongside the road, seeing myself gathering herbs in a basket as yet again that one foot, stepped into the past world that I once lived.

we continued on down the road for about a mile, through hedgerows, all the while joking about what we would do if one of the maniac drivers came flying around the bend.. there are no footpaths as such, so our plan was to dive into the prickly hedgerows.. we passed farmers gathering sheep with a hook..

and came upon water flowing from a pipe in the wall.. the Chalice Well water!

a wall where people had scrawled a message


and others had tied ribbons to the overhanging branches..

for hopes, dreams and wishes.. to send love and healing .. an ancient custom

we walked into town and had morning tea.. the best hot chocolate I have ever tasted.. at 100 monkeys and a chelsea bun homemade that morning. then we decided to part ways and do some shopping and wandering alone.. I went to the catholic church to light a candle.. for my own spirituality which is suffering while away and for a friend who is going through some health issues at the moment.. a candle in front of Our Lady of Glastonbury... the advent wreath was being created by some ladies and I was surprised to see that they were using some eucalypt leaves - the ones that are used back home for smudging in ceremonies of cleansing.. I went to speak to them about it and they said 'they must be especially for you' and let me smell them.. I miss the smell of eucalypts, something I never thought i would say..

I then went and bought myself a Glastonbury candle, a candle to take home, infused with herbs and oils. a special candle created for peace.. and the hope is that this candle will burn in every country across the world to create a grid of peace and love.. a beautiful thought.

walking in and out of all the shops here.. selling candles and crystals, clothes, books and jewellery.. I thought that one could become confused with all the books and implements that it seems one must have to be spiritual..
and the clothing.. oh the clothing! makes my heart race.. beautiful skirts and pixie type clothing.. all so very gorgeous, but so, so expensive

the time came to meet up with Joe for lunch..we went and had a pastie and a cup of tea in a local bakery. yum.
then we split ways again..some more shopping and then I went to the Abbey once more.. where I sat in front of where Arthur's tomb was and prayed.. then did a meditation sitting overlooking the Abbey.. where I believe that I once lived.

dinner at a local pub.. pizza and mulled wine.. i am getting quite a taste for this mulled wine! and then I was off to a Goddess chanting night at the Goddess Temple.. calling in the dark Goddess Cerridwen.. an interesting time and when asked if we have an equivalent to Cerridwen in Australia, I tried to explain yes, in our ancient land Herself.. a brooding energy in places, where I go to sit when I need to be with the dark times of my soul.. but, unless you have been to the home of my birth, you cannot begin to understand just how very ancient the land is.









3 comments:

  1. Sounds like a wonderful day! I visited the Goddess Temple too but alas, there was no events scheduled there while I was in Glastonbury. How super that you were able to attend the chanting evening!

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  2. Have never been there Robyn,but have heard so much about this place, which I've always found fascinating - thanks for providing such an interesting account and photos. It is interesting to me the places that you strongly resonnate with.

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  3. i know the avalon orchard...there is a camp site nearby where we stay sometimes but usually stay at one a bit closer to the center of glastonbury-the isle of avalon.
    it is wonderful to hear the views of someone's first time views of such a special place.

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