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April 21st 2012 saw Glastonbury reconnecting with its ancient spiritual past in a celebration of the many faiths, paths and beliefs upheld in this diverse and remarkable place.
Cllr. Bill Knight, Mayor of Glastonbury, worked with Morgana West to create an event that underpinned the rising awareness of the diversity that lies within the town and demonstrated just how easy it is to acknowledge and support our differences without loosing our own individuality. So, while the Glastonbury Music Festival laid fallow, 2012 saw people from many faiths, paths and beliefs unite at Chalice Well Gardens to mark the significance of ‘Unity through Diversity’. "We all have to live alongside one another no matter what our belief or faith. This was a day where everyone in the light of the Tor could feel at one. The key message of Glastonbury 2012, was one of Harmony and Healing. In this time of war, natural disasters and economic uncertainty, Glastonbury has become a haven of spiritual healing for thousands of people from all beliefs and faiths. Glastonbury is a Great Healer from a Physical and Spiritual point of view." - Bill Knight - Mayor of Glastonbury.
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”A monumental achievement by anyone's standards and I think it showed that we don't have that many reasons to hate each other and a great deal of willingness to overcome our differences and work together.” Tim Hall. |
“In many parts of the world people of different faiths tear each other apart with words & deeds. Glastonbury 2012 was a simple ceremony that celebrated the way those of diverse beliefs can live with respect for one another.” Revd Sister Diana Greenfield |
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“I felt so humble. The amazing candle coming to my home! But that's what was so special, everyone felt as one; no individual or organisation more special than the other, all united in love. You could really feel the love & the excitement too; we knew it was something special. It felt such an honour to be part of the ceremony; it has made me fall in love with Glastonbury all over again.” |
“Our souls are all created from one original spiritual light. That spiritual Divine Light can't be blown out by the wind, like the candle light! We may all have different appearances , beliefs and practises, but if we see in each other the manifestation of the One Light, the world would inevitably be a harmonious, joyful & peaceful place.” |
”The Unity gathering has unlocked greater things to come for Glastonbury with lots of potential to be developed. This is just the beginning. |
“Then there was of course the magic. The little things. Flames flickering and refusing to light, being relit from other flames in the circle, the sharing of fire between faiths and people from different traditions. But there was also the little robin who chose his moment to come and strut his stuff carefully, and the white doves circling above. The wind playing in the branches of the two yew trees where we stood, and the gentle sound of water which, every now and then, made itself heard above the sound of the ceremony and everything else. The sparks of friendships and new beginnings being lit, and all the unspoken things which happen at a community event which in turn changes the future for each and everyone touched by it.”
Sorita d’Este
Sorita d’Este
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A key focal point for the day was the Glastonbury Unity Candle and, following its lighting at 8.30am to coincide with the time of the new moon, it was carried in its lantern on a flower-bedecked bier throughout the town by more than fifty representatives of different Glastonbury faith organisations and beliefs. Starting at the Pilgrim Reception Centre, its journey throughout the town saw it calling in at thirty different places, including temples, churches and sacred sites, until reaching its final destination at Chalice Well Gardens, where more than fifty different faith and belief representatives had gathered for a simple ceremony beneath the two ancient yew trees. Each representative was given a half-sized Glastonbury Unity Candle and had brought with them a small blue glass bottle containing water which had been gathered from many places in and around Glastonbury.
Just as there are many different waters in Glastonbury, so too are there many beliefs. Yet all come from the same source.”
Morgana West. |
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Each individual was invited to come into the circle and pour the water into a glass bowl, specially engraved with the words Glastonbury 2012, Harmony and Healing. Each person lit their personal Glastonbury Unity Candle from the flame that had journeyed around the town and, following a declaration of their faith, their path or their beliefs, they offered their own blessings on Glastonbury, its people and on out into the wider world. The simple, yet powerful, words from each individual quite visibly moved people and, as each took their turn, the common intention grew into a tangible, harmonious energy that many felt they could truly touch. When all had taken part, Morgana offered up a simple statement:
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“Light is good, no matter the lamp it shines from. For, just as a rainbow has different hues that make up its whole, so too Glastonbury has different views that makes up its Community. We have each of us come together today individually representing our paths and not always agreeing, but yet still we collectively stand, like one heart beating. May our coming together today, communicate a message of Harmony and Healing straight from the Heart of Glastonbury and out into our world.”
The Silent Minute followed. The original Big Ben Silent Minute was a peace prayer initiated by Wellesley Tudor Pole, a major in the British Army and the founder of the Chalice Well Trust. During World War II, all over Britain and the Commonwealth, millions of people joined together every evening at 9.00pm just before the news, to the chimes of Big Ben, to pray for peace.
As we stood united in the silence, the wind that blew through the ancient yew trees, the singing birds, the hum of the traffic on the road, the thoughts and prayers of the people created a new song-line that vibrated a loud and clear message - we might be different, we might not agree but Unity in our Diversity is no longer a dream. It can happen, it DID happen - right here in this small sacred corner of England.
To close, people collectively mingled into the centre creating a jumbled mix of diverse and colourful energies. Each person present filled a smaller bottle with the blended waters and each was gifted with a small box containing branches of the 1952 - 2010 Glastonbury Holy Thorn. The remaining water in the bowl was taken by representatives from the Chalice Well Trust and the White Spring and poured respectively into the waters of both places so the alchemical energy might be carried onwards and out to the oceans. As the waters flowed onwards, we gathered on the lower lawns by the side of the the Vesica Piscis pool and shared food, drink, fellowship and our aspirations for the future.
As we stood united in the silence, the wind that blew through the ancient yew trees, the singing birds, the hum of the traffic on the road, the thoughts and prayers of the people created a new song-line that vibrated a loud and clear message - we might be different, we might not agree but Unity in our Diversity is no longer a dream. It can happen, it DID happen - right here in this small sacred corner of England.
To close, people collectively mingled into the centre creating a jumbled mix of diverse and colourful energies. Each person present filled a smaller bottle with the blended waters and each was gifted with a small box containing branches of the 1952 - 2010 Glastonbury Holy Thorn. The remaining water in the bowl was taken by representatives from the Chalice Well Trust and the White Spring and poured respectively into the waters of both places so the alchemical energy might be carried onwards and out to the oceans. As the waters flowed onwards, we gathered on the lower lawns by the side of the the Vesica Piscis pool and shared food, drink, fellowship and our aspirations for the future.
Photos by Elfy Clifford and Fiona Brogan.