A magical sunset, and a magical sunrise. October 2007

My friend Ann and I had a weekend stay at the Chalice Well in October 2007, and we went up the Tor to watch the sun set. It was quite quite magical. Not as cold and windy as it can get up there, and there were a lot of people there and we were treated to a gorgeous sunset, golden skies and lovely light and the sun going down into the Bristol Channel. This was when I took my iconic photo of the tower on the Tor with the setting sun,  which was later published in the second edition of "Avalon Within" by Jhenah Telyndru.

I'll let the photos do the talking

And then the next morning I woke early enough to climb the Tor in time to see not the sunrise but the just risen sun. There weren't as many people up there. It was so peaceful and so magical, the start of a new Avalonian day.

This man and the person he was with had been up there some time (Maybe all night) as they had sleeping bags and flasks of hot drinks with them.

All photos copyright Jackie Jae Fae

Tuesday 5th/Wednesday 6th November 2013m, visit 80

25 years ago on this day, on 5th November 1988, I went to Glastonbury for the first time. Little did I know then that 25 years later I would be going on average 2-3 times a year and what an impact this small town would have on my life and my Pagan spirituality. My pagan awakening happened on that first visit, when I felt the spirit of place and initially was drawn to Druidry (which I still am on my eclectic solo Avalonian path)

Going down for the day isn't enough now, I need to be there overnight to really immerse myself in the magic. So this time I went for an overnight stay and as a Companion of the Chalice Well, I like to stay at Little St. Michaels. I had Oak Room, the twin room at the back overlooking the side of Chalice Hill.

I arrived in Glastonbury about 1 O'Clock, I had some lunch and did some shopping, then checked in at the well about 3, and I didn't leave again till I checked out the following morning. I love to have a really long wander round the gardens, and instead of going to watch the sun set from the Tor I watched it from the meadow in the gardens. I love autumn sun, the low slanting gentle golden light. After the sun set I went back to my room for a while, then had two hour long walks round the gardens. When they are closed to the public it is only Little St. Michael's residents who will be in the gardens, and everyone seems to respect everyone else staying there, and that they might want to chat or they might want to be in silent contemplation like I do. Hoping maybe for a glimpse of a nature spirit.

Sadly on one of the evening walks this time my camera died. It was 4 years old and had been creaking a bit. But I decided not to get upset, and to have the second evening walk, just sitting and meditating and not worrying about catching orbs in photos.

In the morning I had a long walk round the gardens in the rain, I love rain anyway and they are magical on a wet day, in a different way. Then as it was still wet and my shopping heavy, I set off home about 10.30 and when I got back to Oxford I popped into Argos and got a new camera, a Canon Powershot bridge camera which I had had my eye on, and reduced to £139.00 as well.

With the lovely Linda Ravenscroft in her beautiful shop

I love the  Goddess Temple shop

View from my room

Shopping!

Just after this selfie my camera died :((

Wednesday 7th August 2013, visit 79!

My friend Arwen was staying for a few days. So we had an Avalon adventure. We had a taxi arrive at 6am, but I never mind an early start if it is to go to Glastonbury. We were down there by 10.

The first thing we did was visit the Chalice Well gardens which are always such an amazing riot of colour in summer. I wish I could plan my garden like that, but mine is a Glennie Kindred letting in the wild edges garden. I do love to have a lovely long wander in the gardens sitting in favourite spots. The two swing seats, by the well, in Arthur's Court, and by the apple tree which I call the faery tree. I cleansed some jewellery in well water.

Then we went up the Tor, I hadn't been up since May 2012. It is always windy up there, even on the calmest of days. But I love being up there, it feels like the roof of the world. I did have a mad moment listening to "Universally Speaking" by the Chili Peppers on my iPod and having a boogie which Arwen captured on film!

We went into town and had lunch at Heapheys and did a little bit of shopping. I recaptured the Avalon magic which I needed to do after rotten events in the last 12 months.

A Glastified Jackie

The next four were all taken by Arwen

Flat out on the way up the Tor!