Chalice Wells

Some 18 kms away from Bill Harrison's Healing Festival is Chalice Wells, a short drive across the Somerset levels and through the country lane ways no wider then 1 and 1/2 car spaces with rows of hedges either side of the lane way. To add to this unique experience I was been driven in a European VW Gulf left hand driven vehicle driving on UK's right hand side of the road and as the passenger I was sitting in the traditional drivers seat except it was me who didn't have the steering wheel, brake or accelerator or indeed indicators this is a thrill ride but more importantly it was about trust and of letting go.

These country lane ways are not long straight roads where you can see on coming traffic rather they follow the contours of the old roman roads or ancient path ways and so they hug the terrain and continue to sweep in and out so your vision becomes locked into what's in front of you as the hedges are too tall to see the view beside you.

So for me the journey was one thing the destination is another, and so in keeping with the healing aspect of this years trip, we went to Chalice Wells a spiritual garden wrapped in the mysteries of time and space, the place where the stories of ancient Avalon were spread by the traveling mistrals and traders, where wounded Knights of the Round Table and Kings came to seek the healers of Avalon.

This was the the heart centre for healing this is where the Avalon healers had their unique modalities of herbs, potions, poultices and the sacred waters that come to the surface at the place we come to know as Chalice Wells.

Man went to great length to create the Cathedrals with stained glass and resonating centre spots for the human voice to reach up and touch God, their various cloisters were constructed and dedicated to their God and Saints but here in the  Chalice Wells Gardens this is natures Cathedral.

 The high altar is where the Red Well Springs forth this is the holy sacrament where people come from around the world, to drink from these holy waters.

If you care to stop and reflect for a moment there are many ways to seek the Kingdom of God, but here is an interesting play been played out on the human stage, man in his constructed edifices which we term churches enacts the Sunday mass where upon the seekers step up to the priests altar and goes through the ritual of drinking the holy blood of Christ yet here at Chalice Wells in natures silence with out a priests rhetoric or sermon, a person can come and sit with God and drink from the altar of his holy water.

Yet the irony is not lost "my father is the gardener"  this is a place reserved for those who can claim to know God, feel, touch and smell God for the veil is close between all worlds at this juncture.

This is indeed a sacred place but the real true sacredness is the one within you, your journey should you decide to accept it is to build the temple within your own body.