The Lost Way to Avalon

 Here and there on the web,
there are a few pages by people who're creatively trying to
bridge the abyss 
and find the lost way to a common ground
shared by Pagans and Christians. 

One day I ran across this very interesting and well done essay 
that makes a lot of cogent points 
about the problems many Pagans seem to have 
with Christ and Christianity.

"The Christ and the Craft"
by Shadwynn

(Of course, we don't necessarily agree with 
every idea or belief expressed in this article!)

Shadwynn's Christo-Pagan group is one of those inspired by the
Mysteries of the Holy Grail, 
one of the few genuine points of intersection
between the Pagan and Christian traditions.
These mysteries and many other mythic events 
and a fascinating history have their
geographical heart and center
in the area of Glastonbury, England, which many believe
to be the location of the legendary Isle of Avalon.
Here's a very nice webpage for those intrigued by that. . . 

Isle of Avalon

An excerpt:

"Glastonbury is on a former island in the Somerset marshes. 
. . . Once megalithic centre, a place of the Goddess and a Druid college,
its medieval abbey became a famous pilgrimage place.

Glastonbury is overlooked by the Tor, a majestic hill of power
  and home to the king of the fairies, Gwyn ap Nudd. . . "

Glastonbury Tor website

"Legend has it that, shortly after the Crucifixion,
  Joseph of Arimathaea built the first Christian church 
where the abbey ruins now stand. 
King Arthur was buried here, and Glastonbury has been home to
Saints Patrick, Dunstan, David and Bridget."

Both the above websites have many gorgeous photos to enjoy. . .
and many links to explore and learn about the traditions
and about all the fun going on nowadays around Glastonbury.

If you haven't yet read it, you might now like to check out my 
meditations on the motif of the Lost Island of Paradise,

The West beyond the West.

What once people sought in earnest pilgrimage
later men of the West came to seek to dominate in conquest.
This ended in tragedy for the indigenous peoples of the Americas.

But for those of humble heart,
paradises can still be found,
for one's attitude can transform almost any place
into the Blessed Land.

–

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