A Visit to the Vale of Avalon
I have a country home in the West Country and during the summer especially like to spend time there.
On Sunday I decided to visit Glastonbury. I found myself in the middle of a event celebrating the Divine Feminine. Apparently this annual event has been held in Glastonbury for a number of years attracting women (and some men) from all over the world. Rather than some stuffy academic conference the event included dancing, music, story-telling, sacred drama as well as workshops. They used a number of locations in the town including the Meeting Rooms outside the Rainbow's End cafe where I took morning tea.
I was recognised there by one of the organisers who asked if I should like to join in for the afternoon celebration and closing ceremonies. I gladly accepted. The theme of the conference was Bridie or Bridget, the maiden goddess associated with healing, smithcraft and poetry.
Although I came in at the very end of the event, I was warmly welcomed. There was no press coverage, which was to be welcomed really. There is little to be considered newsworthy in open events such as this.
I ended up going to dinner with a group of women from the Republic of Ireland including quite a woman whose home had been featured on a few BBC documentaries as well as for film. She was quite a fan of Merlin and the King Arthur mythos and was familiar with my portrayal of Mab and the Lady of the Lake. We had an amusing conversation about wicked stepmothers and the like. I was deeply impressed with her encyclopedic knowledge on this and other subjects. She sparkled with the energy of a woman a fraction of her age. I accepted her invitation to visit her when I had a break in my filming schedule. I never mind spending time in Eire, it is such a beautiful country.
On Sunday I decided to visit Glastonbury. I found myself in the middle of a event celebrating the Divine Feminine. Apparently this annual event has been held in Glastonbury for a number of years attracting women (and some men) from all over the world. Rather than some stuffy academic conference the event included dancing, music, story-telling, sacred drama as well as workshops. They used a number of locations in the town including the Meeting Rooms outside the Rainbow's End cafe where I took morning tea.
I was recognised there by one of the organisers who asked if I should like to join in for the afternoon celebration and closing ceremonies. I gladly accepted. The theme of the conference was Bridie or Bridget, the maiden goddess associated with healing, smithcraft and poetry.
Although I came in at the very end of the event, I was warmly welcomed. There was no press coverage, which was to be welcomed really. There is little to be considered newsworthy in open events such as this.
I ended up going to dinner with a group of women from the Republic of Ireland including quite a woman whose home had been featured on a few BBC documentaries as well as for film. She was quite a fan of Merlin and the King Arthur mythos and was familiar with my portrayal of Mab and the Lady of the Lake. We had an amusing conversation about wicked stepmothers and the like. I was deeply impressed with her encyclopedic knowledge on this and other subjects. She sparkled with the energy of a woman a fraction of her age. I accepted her invitation to visit her when I had a break in my filming schedule. I never mind spending time in Eire, it is such a beautiful country.