Want to get away from the big city and reconnect with nature? This is a breakdown of my trip to the Earth’s Heart Chakra in Glastonbury UK.
For my Earthstrong this year, I did a digital detox at Centre Parks Wilshire, visited Glastonbury with some friends and decided to return from the Summer Solstice. After seeing Glastonbury Tor and drinking from the natural springs there, I knew it was the place for me. The only thing that needed to change was Centre Parks, although it was very nice with a 3-bed cabin with an indoor fireplace it wasn't really in nature.
The next time we found an exciting spot online called Dorethy Goes Glamping, the first thing that caught my attention was that there was a double bed and two futons in the tent. I loved the site before I even arrived, as has an almost secret drive-through off a country road.
The reception area is an open car park in the middle of a well-maintained forest. The owner, Darrel, showed us around the site and really made us feel at home explaining where everything was with love and pride for the site. Each tent had its own place to make a fire but we would have to collect wood from the forest or buy some from Darrel. It was truly being in nature with the benefit of a double bed and access to a portable modern bathroom.
After staying there a couple of hours I knew this was the perfect place to celebrate the Summer Solstice.
What is the summer solstice?
The summer solstice is when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky and gives us the year's longest day before it starts heading down towards the autumn equinox. The word solstice comes from the root words “sol” meaning Sun and “stitium” meaning still or stopped. This year the solstice was on Tuesday 21st of June, marking the beginning of summer and the Sun's ingress into cancer. This interests me as the Sun moves into the sign ruled by the moon, representing a union of Masculine and feminine principles.
Many cultures celebrated solstices throughout the years, But what makes the summer solstice so important? From my observations and reading, I believe that there are two reasons the summer solstice is celebrated. First, because the Sun (our source of light and consciousness) is in the sky for the longest time of the year and this raises our vibration (Mood, state of mind etc.) through the release of serotonin and melatonin.
Secondly is what it symbolises, the start of summer when the harvest is coming in. The Egyptians used the summer solstice for their new year as the Nile River would flood on the solstice fertilising their soil. Some Greeks also used the Solstice for the new year.
We arrived on the solstice, after charging the car and getting something to eat at a local pub I decided I was going barefoot the whole evening to connect to mother earth. I could feel the healing energy. That night I had a rough night as I experience Hay fever but I still woke up feeling refreshed the next day.
Glastonbury (Earth's Heart Chakra)
I chose Glastonbury because it is on one of the earth's ley lines (an energetic grid that goes through the earth like the nerves through our skin) and it is the Heart Chakra of the planet. Each of the Chakra points would be highly charged with energy and we a fortunate enough to have one in the UK. The vibe there is wonderful and I would recommend that everyone visits at least once to experience it for themselves.
Glastonbury is a 20-30 minute drive from the campsite. Parking was really easy to find at The Rifleman's Arm make sure you try a pint of Thatcher's cider when you are there. From the pub, you turn right to the Red & White Springs and left to the high street both a 5 - 10 minutes walk. If you looking to see Glastonbury Tor the entrance to the path is by the springs and is 30 minutes walk from there.
Glastonbury has the greatest high street in the UK in my opinion, there are crystal shops, meditation centres, book shops, a massive church and people doing beautiful art on the sidewalk. It just has such beautiful energy after visiting a couple of book shops are buying a mood ring I went to the Temple of the Goddess of Avolon and meditated.
After leaving the temple we went to the Abbey. When you first enter the abbey there is a museum with lots of interesting artefacts, after leaving the museum you are met by a beautiful flower garden with a small chapel. Then you see the Holy Thorn that is said to have grown from the staff of Joseph of Arimathea, after that there are some ruins to explore including King Arthur’s previous tomb. There was so much open grassland that it just made me feel good, walking through the abbey was one of the best walks because there was so much to discover on the journey.
Our last stop before returning to camp was to the red and white springs where we found people selling organic superfoods, smoking and just having a great time around the springs. Being from the city and meeting people who we so open and happy even with strangers really warmed my heart.
The stars on the last night
(Picture not taken by me)
On our return from Glastonbury, I decided that I was going to stay up to see the stars from the campsite and it was more than worth it. I got myself to enter into a state of trance before the stars came out and when I looked up to see the magnificence of the stars I was almost brought to tears. The sheer amount of stars I could see was almost overwhelming, even when I visited Africa I did not see stars like this. I realised how small we are in the universe and it reaffirmed to me that we all have a unique role to play in the progression of the beautiful reality we are a part of.
I could keep going but I realise how long this post is already.
To wrap up here are some of my reflections from my trip to Glastonbury
In the big picture of things we are small parts of a bigger masterpiece called life
We must do what we can to use our energy effectively
Nature looks after us as long as we respect it
Being your authentic self may be hard but it is worth it
Join me on my next adventure
I am going to be heading back out to Dorothy Goes Glamping on September 23rd for 4 days. If you would like to join me then join my mailing list as more information will be shared closer to the time.
Thank you for reading :-)