Episodes
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The Inspiring Women of Glastonbury, Somerset
With guest Dr Lynne Sedgmore, chair of the Town Deal Board, we talk about some of the many inspiring women who have made Glastonbury what it is today and put it on the spiritual map - from historic figures such as Alice Buckton and Dion Fortune, to modern pioneers in the community.
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Abbey House
Abbey House is a 19th century building on the Glastonbury Abbey estate. It has multiple uses but is notably popular with groups of spiritual seekers who hire the main rooms time and again for workshops and meditations. With the house's coordinator, Penny, we reflect on why that is, and hear from some of Abbey House's visitors in their own words about what makes this place special.
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Missing episodes?
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The Once and Future Avalon
The town of Glastonbury is often referred to by it's alternative name: Avalon. Join us as we trawl through the possible literary origins of the name, its early 20th century revival, and modern day thoughts on its usage and meaning. With guest local author and publisher, Sorita d'Este, of Avalonia Books.
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Songs and Silence
In the first episode of season 3, we are joined by rock singer-turned-artist-in-residence Patrick Duff, about his life story, his mystical experiences, and the inspiration behind his series of sound meditations at Glastonbury Abbey.
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Respecting Sacred Space
The subject of respecting sacred space is right at the heart what the abbey does in making the site open to the public. It’s supported by the charity’s objects, in terms of honouring the Christian heritage of the place, but also has day-to-day implications when it comes to sharing the sacred space, whether that be between Christian worshippers, non-Christian spiritual seekers, those who come for the history, the peace and fresh air, or as general tourists. With religious studies lecturer Marion Bowman we discuss the issues of shared space, contested space, and what can be done to manage the varied needs and expectations of our visitors.
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Exploring Christian Meditation
In this episode we are joined by Chris Whittington of the School of Contemplative Life who is practised in the tradition of Christian meditation and who gave a series of online meditation workshops in conjunction with Glastonbury Abbey. We discuss the themes of the workshop, how Christian meditation relates to and differs from other forms of meditation, and how it can benefit all realms of our lives.
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Our Sacred Heritage
Most people do not expect archaeology and spirituality to go hand in hand, but increasingly there is a move towards examining ‘intangible cultural heritage’ which includes spiritual beliefs as well as myths, art, and customs of the past. We talk to Prof. Roberta Gilchrist about her most recent book in which she talks about how we can re-examine the archaeology of monastic sites like Glastonbury Abbey for evidence of beliefs and practices of the Middle Ages and think about how this is discussed and presented.
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Glastonbury – a Multifaith Community
The abbey of medieval times was a community of Benedictine monks and those who worked for them. Since that time, Glastonbury has evolved into a melting pot of different faiths and spiritual paths of those who live here and visit the town and abbey. But what is it like to be part of such a unique community? We hear from Avalon Pioneer Minister Revd. Sister Diana Greenfield about her role and experience living in a multifaith environment.
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Saints Alive!
As the medieval abbey grew, Glastonbury became a ‘storehouse of saints’, claiming the relics of hundreds of holy figures. With local vicar, Preb. David McGeoch, we look at some of the saints whose connection has endured and who still leave their mark today such as Brigid, Dunstan, and Joseph of Arimathea, and what their stories can teach us.
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The History of Modern Pilgrimage
Since medieval times, Glastonbury and its abbey have been a place of pilgrimage. With guest Kim Woolmer, shrine manager at the Restored Shrine of Our Lady of Glastonbury, we look at the history of the modern Catholic pilgrimage which resumed in the 20th century. We also look into some of the other types of pilgrimage practices that occur and why pilgrimage seems to be having a renaissance in popularity today.
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Meditative Practices
The abbey has always been a place of meditation, ever since the purposeful practices of its monks. Today, inspired by various world traditions, meditation, yoga and other mindful exercises are regularly practised in the abbey grounds. We speak to trustee William Bloom about meditative techniques and some of the initiatives he’s been involved in at the abbey around meditation.
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The abbey’s spirit of place as artistic muse
The abbey has a long history of inspiring artists, going back to the antiquarians who mapped the ruins. But what about those who inspired by more than just the aesthetics of the buildings or the open grounds? We speak to two local artists, Laura Daligan and Marianne King, about their experiences of spending time in the abbey and how the spiritual dimension is woven into their work.
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The Divine Feminine at Glastonbury
Although typified as a male-dominated space, abbey life did include women – from servants to almswomen, pilgrims, saints and patrons. Not least, its prized Lady Chapel focuses on the most famous female of all – Mary, Mother of God. We look at how the Christian community honour Mary and other female figures such as St Brigid and Mary Magdalene, and how the local and visiting Goddess community interpret that Divine Feminine presence in the context of the abbey. Our guest for this episode is one of the organisers of the Glastonbury Goddess Conference, Marion Brigantia.
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Leys, Tunnels and Tombs – the abbey’s ‘other’ legends
The medieval abbey was no stranger to myth and legend, and actively promoted its connection with figures like King Arthur and Joseph of Arimathea. But what about the other myths that the place has accumulated over the years? We chat with Saffy from the abbey’s engagement team about some of the lesser known, but enduring legends including energy lines, secret tunnels, and the popularity of the Egg Stone.
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