Welcome to The World Around Us, and today in the first part of a 2-part series, we bring you to the fascinating town of Glastonbury in the west of England. Steeped in history and claiming a treasure chest full of wonders, England is indeed a playground for the traveler, explorer and dreamer alike. With such a rich and varied past, England offers many sites of historical and biblical significance – castles, monuments, carvings, stone circles, myths and legends that fascinate and inspire us.

Today we introduce you to one of the most historically holy and spiritual places in this fair land. A place of worship and pilgrimage going back centuries, visited by many and loved by all. A place that long ago earned the title of being the seat of Christianity in England, a place that even the great King Arthur was said to have been, and Joseph of Arimathea is believed by some to have visited with young Jesus.

Glastonbury has indeed seen the coming and goings of many legends. The surrounding area has been recorded as a place of vast historical interest, with Stonehenge being just 38 miles away and the famous town of Avebury just 40 miles away. Avebury itself is an historical site with its famous stone circles, reportedly to have been 4 times the size of Stonehenge in its day. This part of England truly does prove itself to be worthy of exploration and protection for our future generations.

And here on Weary All Hill is where our journey of Glastonbury, also known as “Happy Isle of the Blest,” begins.

Glastonbury’s history does suggest that at one point in time Joseph of Arimathea possibly visited England with a young Jesus and came here to Glastonbury. Joseph, a wealthy tin merchant and a follower of the enlightened Master Jesus, is believed to have played an important part in bringing Christianity to this part of the world.

It is said that after Master Jesus departed from the world, Joseph returned to Glastonbury. Weary from the journey, he and his companions sat to rest here on what was later named “Weary All Hill.”

Saint Joseph had a staff with him. It was said to have been taken from the same thorn tree as that which was used to make the Crown of Thorns placed on Jesus’ head. As Saint Joseph plunged his staff into the ground, it took root and grew to become the Glastonbury Holy Thorn.

There are now a few Holy Thorns originating from the original one and this here is one of them. These thorns are unique in that they blossom not once, but twice a year, one of those times being Christmas.

Many say that this type of thorn can only be found in the Middle East. It is not native to this country, thus perhaps giving credence to the tales of Joseph’s visits. From here we go on to explore Glastonbury’s most imposing site. Towering above the surrounding wetlands is the famous Tor. The Tor assures all of its presence from every direction and visible for miles to the approaching visitor.

It has a history that reaches so far back, that to give it a beginning is seemingly impossible. The word Tor is derived from the Celtic name meaning conical hill. This is Glastonbury Tor, a cone-shaped hill towering over the village of Glastonbury.

There are countless myths and legends associated with the Tor, and it has been many things to many people at many times. Let’s make our way to the top. Many ancient symbolisms indicate the importance of high places such as mountains and hills in our history. Soaring above us, they indicate a bridge between earth and sky, the material reality and the reality of unseen dimensions.

Here, halfway up, we begin to get a sense of the position the Tor commands. The top is believed to have been leveled at some point to build a large stone circle, and following that in the 900s, a church. In 1275, this church was brought down by an earthquake. Rebuilt in 1323 it then stood until approximately 1539. And now towering above us we see all that remains today, Saint Michaels Tower.

As we approach the top of the Tor with its enigmatic tower, we begin to feel the Tor’s presence giving us a sense of timelessness. The Tor has had the ability to foster and attract all kinds of ideas and beliefs down through the ages, yet forever exuding a presence of being bigger than them all. Looking in all directions, we experience the commanding position of this hill’s 360 degrees visibility, taking in 3 counties.

Nestled amongst hills and surrounded by wetlands and believed to be shallow sea some 7,000 years ago, Glastonbury had spent most of its history as a semi-island. You can see the vast flat areas showing the wetlands and can picture boats sailing into Glastonbury through the Bristol Channel, bringing offerings in exchange for lead and silver from the close by Mendip Hills. This again gives credence to claims of Saint Joseph’s visits. Being a tin merchant, he could very well have traded here.

We will join you again soon here on the Tor at Glastonbury in the west of England. Welcome back to The World Around Us on Supreme Master Television.

We are back here on the Tor in Glastonbury looking into the fascinating history of this sacred place. From certain angles looking at the Tor one can see the spiral pathway that leads to the top. They are worn and weathered but nevertheless can be seen.

These pathways are sometimes seen and sometimes not. Depending on the light and shadows of the day, they come and go as if just visiting for a while. The Tor maze is walked by many with the intention of solving seemingly impossible challenges. Its effect can lift the veil of illusion and open up the senses. It can enable clearness of thought and guidance, perhaps from a higher Self we all have within yet may not fully tune in to.

Much discussion has surrounded the Tor and the reason for the seven levels of terracing that encircles it. Scientific surveys suggest that it was made some four or five thousand years ago, in fact, about the same time as nearby Stonehenge. Geoffrey Ash, the well-known Arthurian scholar, suggests the slopes are the remains of a great three dimensional Neolithic labyrinth, a ceremonial pathway dedicated to the ancient British Goddess.

This pattern appears on the ancient Kretan coins of Crete. It is also found on rocks at Tintagel Castle in Cornwall, said to be the birthplace of the legendary King Arthur. It also appears among the Hopi Indians as a symbol for Mother Earth. It is a matter of future archaeology as to whether this will be proved or not.

The fact that the Tor has possibly been here in existence for some 4,000 years or so seems to have given it an endless list of roles and meanings throughout time. Amongst the many great legends is one that connects it to Gwynn ap Nudd, who was, according to Welsh folklore, king of the fairies. In these ancient times fairies differed greatly from the way we perceive them today.

Tall and youthful, despite great age, they were believed to be the givers of knowledge concerning astrology and healing to local people. The Tor was said to be the gateway to this fairy underworld, placing itself between two worlds. A vast number of fairy encounters are associated with hills, with the belief that the hills are bigger inside than out. This inner realm was known as Annwn or Avalon, hence Glastonbury is also referred to as Avalon.

Here on the Tor, possibilities are endless. The Tor is a truly ancient hill, and history suggests that it was one of seven islands left above water after the great flood, making it a natural Noah’s Ark and an important haven for the regeneration of life.

Water has also always had an important place in ancient symbolisms. All civilizations had to locate themselves near water sources for their survival.

Here, not surprisingly, the Tor is said to house an endless source of waterways, forming a variety of underground springs. Dowsers, who use special devices to search for the presence of water underground, are convinced of the hollowness of the Tor and the presence of such springs, one of which is the Chalice Well spring situated at the foot of the Tor.

Evidence indicates that this spring has flowed constantly for over 2,000 years, never failing, even through droughts. Not only this is professed to be housed by the Tor, it is said also that a series of tunnels are present within the hill that lead directly to the nearby and once great Glastonbury Abbey. Bearing in mind that the church of Saint Michael then graced the Tor, it is feasible that, as with so many other historical sites, tunnels were constructed for various needs of monks and the gentry.

As with most great things in this ephemeral existence, interpretation is plentiful. However, upon visiting these magical and sacred sites, many will leave with a deepened sense of awareness of things beyond what is ordinarily seen or known. Glastonbury is without doubt a treasure chest of spiritual connections to our past and present.

Thank you for being with us here today. Please join us next week on Supreme Master Television for the second part of our program, The World Around Us, featuring the wondrous, spiritual treasure of Glastonbury in the west of England.

Coming up next is Words of Wisdom, right after Noteworthy News, here on Supreme Master Television. Farewell and God bless!