![]() ![]() ![]() But were people really ‘attracted’ by the seamier underbelly of Glastonbury’s crusties? I then thought of it in terms of the ‘Fool’s Journey’ the fool is represented in the Tarot as “the madman” or “t he beggar”, he is a fresh, open and spontaneous youth, about to set out on life’s journey unaware of the perils he will face, and not restricted by society’s norms or rules. I found this curious at first, I could see how the twinkly crystals and shelves of ‘Sort your life out in 10 minutes a day’ books appealed to many, even though, having spent nearly a decade of my working life in New Age bookshops, I find the quick fix, commercial aspects of the New Age off-putting. Morgana said “People are often attracted by one of these sides of Glastonbury and repulsed by the other”. We discussed the fact that the when people visit the town they encounter the ‘Keepers of the Gates’ – those elements which are most visible, both the new age shops full of sparkly things, glitter, crystals and bright shiny reflections and the darker more gritty underbelly represented by the street drinkers, beggars and homeless crusties (In Glastonbury they are given the imaginative collective noun of ‘Benchers’ due to them being generally found sitting on benches in the High St). But a percentage see it as very special, a great place of learning and a way to connect with their own spirituality”Īnother bloody crystal shop, sorry, lovely crystal shop ‘Over 70 different faiths, paths and beliefs are upheld in Glastonbury, a greater concentration per capita than anywhere else in the world and whilst we might not necessarily agree, we can respect our differences and work together combining our efforts for the benefit of Glastonbury and the wider world.’ The Keepers of the GatesĪs Morgana gets out into the real world more than me, I asked her how people perceive Glastonbury, she said, in her no-nonsense Northern way “The majority see it as full of nutters, hippies and skanks. Morgana does interfaith work, see Unity Through Diversity, and works at Glastonbury’s Pilgrims’ Reception Centre, from the website I learned that: I decided to go and see my friend Morgana for a chat and to get some perspective on it all. It is simultaneously both utterly ridiculous and hugely important. But, I realized, it is hard to have a balanced view on Glastonbury, even (perhaps especially) when you live here. It’s hard to get a balanced view on Glastonbury, most national newspapers will churn out the same old cliches about sandals and lentils, while more esoteric publications will waffle on endlessly about its enormous spiritual significance. ![]() Then I began to wonder, did I actually want to produce an endless stream of amusing stories about people, many of whom might be considered by some to have mental health problems, doing weird shit? Didn’t the fact that my blog might end up being read by considerable numbers of people around the world give me a certain responsibility to represent Glastonbury in a way that acknowledged its significance as something more than just a town of harmless eccentrics? ![]()
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