Wednesday, June 01, 2005
All that is left of this pre-dissolution building is the tower. Like all of Glastonbury it has a surreal feel about it. It seems like a strange place to build considering the effort it takes to get to it, it is always windy and chilly, and it's just kind of spooky. The last Abbot was hung here, but I don't think that is the only cause for the imposing feel of the place.
The Glastonbury Thorn is supposedly found only here and in the Holy Land. The story is that Joseph of Arimathea visited here on a merchant voyage. He supposedly stuck his staff in the ground where it sprouted into a tree. He took this as a sign and built a church here from mud and willow branches. This tree like all Glastonbury Thorns is said to be descended from the original.
Glastonbury is believed to be the original site of the first Christian presence in England. There is a belief that this place is a powerfully spiritual place, they claim it has something to do with the crossing of "lay lines" whatever that means. This is part of the ruins of an abby that was destroyed during the dissolution of the Catholic Church in England.
We went to Glastonbury for Joy's birthday. To say the least this is an interestingly alternative place. It has a huge "alternative" population. While we were there, some people were celebrating Beltain (a pagan holiday), another group was instating a new "Arch-druid", and as we were sitting in a tavern we witnessed other residents smoking marijuana openly.
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