Conference Day 4

Today Kevin visited the Somerset Rural Life Museum which covers the lives and skills of the people who lived in Somerset. He then followed this up with his daily ritual walk up the Glasstonbury Tor hill.

The Glastonbury Abbey Barn

Bakers Cart

Hay Wagon

Interior of the Abbey Barn

Wicker Work from Willow

Peat Barrow

Mud Horse Fishing Equipment

Yesterday at Conference there was a dedication to the life of Coco a Priestess Sister of the Glastonbury Temple who passed over in September last year. I had never known the women myself but was so moved by the words of those who knew and loved her dearly, that I could only hope to live a life so well to have people feel as they do for her for me when my time comes.

A college of photos of Coco who's dedication took place yesterday at conference.

Today the inspirational Lydia Ruyle talked on her images of the Earth Goddess, she has travelled the world with her work on the goddess and the banners she creates travel the world with her blessings to being joy and knowledge to all those who work with the goddess.

Lydia Ruyle & Julie Felix two matriarchs and inspirational women

Some of Lydia's sacred banners

Kathy Jones talking on the the Motherworld.

Carolyn Hillyer with her wild songs of mother earth

 After workshops this afternoon we attended a matriation ceremony this evening honouring the Heart of the Mysteries where we were given the opportunity to tell the goddess what gifts we bring to her and how we will serve her from now on. We then heard the truth in words of the Oracle of Eartha as we haven taken responsibility for being alive on the earth today. This was very sacred and special ceremony, we then received our mark of our Matriation.

We were gifted one of the many clay goddess made by all the participants of the conference to take away with us from the ceremony along with a message.

Conference Day 3

Today Kevin walked up Wearyall Hill on his walk through the town. Wearyall Hill is an elongated low hill which lies to the southwest of the town. It is here that Joseph of Arimathea is said to have placed his staff in the ground when he landed all-wear from his journey from the Holy Land. His staff sprouted and became the Holy Thorn, the descendants of which still blossom today at Christmastide. A cutting of the Holy Thorn is sent just before each Christmas to the Queen's table. The Holy Thorn was vandalised in December 2010 but it is hoped that with proper care it will regrow its crown. It blossomed at the Winter Solstice and in May. The thorn blossom is sacred to the orgiastic Goddess Cardea.

The vandalised Holy Thorn with prayer and healing ribbons around the protective fence

View back to the Tor from Wearyall Hill

Kevin's next stop was St Margaret’s Chapel, the Magdalene Almshouses and Quiet Garden  in a small secluded site in a conservation area off Magdalene Street. They have witnessed prayer and healing since the 13th Century when they were part of Glastonbury Abbey. The site is now managed by the Mary & Margaret Charity. The current chapel was built in 1444. It is nowadays used and revered by Christians, Sufis, meditators and followers of the Magdalene.
 

The finger labyrinth in the Almhouse

St Margaret's Chapel

A shop that Kevin found of which he is not sure what the sell, the sign says Traditional Hoodoo and Conjure, Tarot and Services

 I started my day at the prayer circle before conference today we then had an opening drama piece to start the day before we did our first workshop of the day. I chose to do bodywork which was very interesting.

Mother Earth ready for birthing

The children who were birthed from the mother

 After lunch I went to the Goddess Hall to see a creative piece that had been created in the garden of an ancient megalithic tomb.

Ceremonial or Meditative Circle in the back garden of the hall behind the Yurt

The wonderful Yurt

Looking back towards the hall from the garden

 We then joined together again for another creative piece of the transformation of the earth.

Followed by the sacred singing of the marvellous Julie Felix

After entertainment we went to our second workshop of the day and I did Kundalini yoga using the gifts from the mother, in the beautiful Goddess Hall.

Goddess Hall Main Altar

This evening we were entertained by a very extensive theatre piece about the story of the mother line and our connection to Mother Earth, an absolutely amazing presentation.

Conference Day 2

Today Kevin had a walk through town and then walked the Tor as has become his daily practise.

The quite little lane at the side of our unit complex

Town Hall

Wonderful window display at the crystal shop

Yin Yang another fabulous shop

The prayer wheels out the front of the ashram

Looking up at the skys from inside the tower/tor

The fallen standing stone the entrance to the Tor Labyrinth

The Chalice Well Water flowing from the laneway ensuring access to the mothers water even when the well is closed

Directly opposite is the free flowing waters from the White Spring

I started my day early this morning at prayers in the wonderful Goddess Temple. The artwork within the temple is extraordinary all made by priestesses of the goddess, there are so many truly talented women.

I believe this amazing goddess statue which this photograph does no justice to was gifted to the temple from another temple and their priestesses she now stands so proudly on the Altar

The conference started today with a drama presentation from the first spiral priestesses honouring mother earth. We then were given 1/2 hour talks from various people on different aspects of the mother earth goddess and ended our morning with marvellous sacred singing with an amazing band of singers and musicians. We then broke for lunch and went to our selected workshops for the afternoon.

I went to the Miracle Room after lunch to see the sacred space and exhibition entitled Embrace by Wendy Andrew. This fabulous piece was created just for this conference and the centre is made up of leaves with the prayers of many of the attendees at conference forming the centre piece of the goddess. My personal prayer is held there with all the others a beautiful opportunity to form part of the whole which is what this conference is all about. This concept of all one is so wonderfully embraced and held by those designing the conference and you are never left out, everyone is included and embraced on a level that I have not experienced elsewhere.

Tonight I am off to celebrate Lammas on the slopes of the Tor in Bushy Coombe so wonderful to be able to celebrate on her land and honour her in this way.