Shrines

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The temple contains shrines in honour of the spiritual energies of this place. The shrines are carefully set and cared for by the keepers of the spring.

We wish to keep these shrines clear and set as they were intended, so any offerings left at the shrines will be prayerfully moved to the seasonal altar. The seasonal altar changes every six weeks to reflect the changes of nature throughout the year, and offerings from the natural world are welcome here.

The White Spring is home to a shrine in honour of Brigid, Celtic Fire Goddess and guardian of sacred springs, within it, The Brigid Flame perpetually burns. A shrine in honour Our Lady of Avalon can be found beside the healing pools. The shrine in honour of the King of the World of Faerie is at the portal to the otherworld, as legend has it. The ley-line known as the Michael line runs right through the building and Micheal, forever associated with Glastonbury Tor, is also honoured here.

brigid

Brigid, is a Celtic fire goddess, keeper of the hearth fire, of the fire in the forge, and of the Divine flame which burns in our hearts. Brigid is also a guardian of sacred springs and wells. Hence Her presence at the White Spring which is so greatly treasured.

The hazel tree and the swan are sacred to Brigid, the wolf her companion.
Brigid is the personification of the spiritual aspect of the natural impulse for new life. She is the spirit of Imbolc, the first stirrings of spring. Call to her as midwife at the birth of new ways of being in your life and as godmother as they grow and flower.

Brigid is the inspiration of poets and prophets. She is the bridging and balancing energy that reveals the unifying principle between and above the experience of duality; between divine and human, tribe and land.

On a wonderful day around 525 c.e. a child filled with the spirit of the goddess Brigid was born in Ireland and was named Brigid, also called Bridie. Destined at birth to be a great saint. Her father was a druid chief named Dubtach, her mother Brocessa his Christian slave. Their love and the truth of their traditions met in the child. Brigid too wilful to become a wife chose to enter a monastery. The bishop, prompted by the Holy Spirit blessed her as an Abbess as well as a nun. She lived and learned at the Beckery in Glastonbury before founding her abbey Cill Dara, the house under the oak, in Kildare Ireland. Here, women and men lived peaceful, prayerful lives together. It became famous for the art and craftsmanship created there, inspired by angels it was said. The abbey was a place of plenty, a place of learning and healing for all. Conleth, blacksmith and bishop, was the companion of Brigid there.

Brigid was greatly loved and known for her wisdom, good advice, hospitality and generosity. She inspired and transformed many people’s lives and performed great miracles of healing and of increase. A local king in return for healing gave her as much land as her cloak would cover she tossed it and five thousand acres fell under it. She hung her cloak on a sunbeam to dry. The land, the Burragh, is still protected.

Brigid is of the Mary sisterhood, called the Mary of Gael. She was midwife in the stable and godmother at the presentation in the temple. St Brigid's day. Imbolc the Celtic festival of the first stirrings of spring and the purification in the temple are all celebrated on the 1st and 2nd of February.

Brigid is a real, living spirit amongst us.
Many of us, from many paths, have experienced her inspiration and transformation, her humour and wisdom, her help and healing hand in our lives.
Brigid is midwife as we give birth new ways of being,
and stays with us as faery godmother as they flourish.

Call to her, she will hear you.

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