For as far back as history goes, Glastonbury - Avalon - Yns Wytrin has been held as one of the sacred places of the British Isles. Written records go back barely 1000years but myth and legend take us back through the mists of time to an other worldly paradise isle in times now long forgotten. Over the centuries the myths, the legends, and the history have been woven together creating a fascinating pageant where time and time again a particular archetypal story plays itself out in the Avalonian landscape.

The Avalonian story mirrors one of humanity's deepest urges, that is, to find the truth of our own existence. Who are we and why are we here? The recurrent themes show us three things: the constant play of the light and the dark forces, the perilous quest in which all must be surrendered to find the precious grail, and a landscape full of magical symbolism.

In this presentation, Michael will take you on a mystical journey through the last 5000 years, linking together all the stories, all the characters and showing how the divine drama is once again being re-enacted with all of us as the actors, creating the new myths and legends.

From the ancient days of the High Priestesses, and the Zodiac builders, through to the Druids, and the Lake Village people, a deep spiritual patterning was imprinted here. Gwynn Ap Nudd guarded the gate of the otherworld, and the worlds of faery, nymph and driad were felt and known .Later came Joseph and the early Christians, St Bride St Patrick, and St Dunstan. The great King Arthur gathered the people of Wessex, and Avalon became his spiritual home; it is here that he lies (in spirit at least) awaiting his rebirth when the true destiny of Britain will once again be honoured and recognised.

The waters of the blood spring and the Tor springs flowed freely and brought healing and insight, the Abbey fell, but spirit remained, biding her time for the next chapter. A hundred years ago the new Avalonians arrived, Dion Fortune, Alice Buckton, Bligh Bond, Tudor Pole, and began creating the foundations of a new age, when Avalon shall rise again like the phoenix from the ashes of the old. And so to the present, as the phoenix actually awakens, light and dark battle it out as ever, there is chaos and uncertainty but through this the light begins to burn more and more brightly.

Come along and enjoy this amazing story, let yourself be lulled into the ageless magic of this place, and see how the Avalonian story is once again unfolding in our midst.

Michael Orchard became an 'Avalonian' following his first visit here in 1971 when he became a 'pyramid builder' at the Worthy Farm Glastonbury Fayre. Moving here in the mid 70s later he now finds himself woven into the fabric of the place and loves it immensely. Michael and his wife Lynne were the last Guardians of The Chalice Well, from 1998 to 2005, and personally welcomed thousands of visitors to the Gardens, the Retreat Houses and to the ceremonies and events they organised. Michael now has a therapy practice in the town and works with The Oracle, Glastonbury's monthly What's On and Who's Who paper. He can be contacted at avalonorchard@yahoo.co.uk