Much has been written about the Tor. Appropriately so as legend has long claimed the Tor to be the magical entrance to the celebrated Celtic underworld of 'Annwn', crowned with an elaborate stone circle at its apex. The latter claim has been supported by recent archeological digs that suggest a stone circle was in place around 2000 BC, before being toppled by an earthquake.

There is strong evidence of the Tor being a religious site as early as 5000 BC. Some present day Druids claim that the Atlanteans built a Holy Temple atop the Tor, in a circular pattern supported by twelve columns and a dome, similar in design to the Greek Temple of Apollo. They claim it still exist there in the dimensional fold that is hidden within the misty veils of the portal atop the Tor.

The Druids and ancient Celts used the Tor as a place of sacred initiation for their priest and holy archdruids. These ancient mystics were keenly intune with earth energies, and were aware of how such areas could be utilized for healing and inner discovery. Celtic legends claimed the Tor to be hollow, and inhabited by spirits and undergods of the Celtic spirit world 'Annwn'. The western slope of the Tor was said to contain a tunnel that led to the entrance to Annwn, the 'parallel world'. A huge boulder called the 'egg' stone marks the entrance to 'Annwn'. It is located on the northwest side of the Tor, about 100 meters from the ground level. The eggstone does posess a unique electrical vibration, and seems to radiate warmth, even in the cold, wet winter season. A holythorn tree grows near it, brightly adorned with the prayer ties of New Age pilgrims.

The Tor labyrinth rite involves a symbolic seven-tiered walk on a sometimes discernable, steep and often slippery path that winds unconventionally around the Tor. Each completed lap represents a movement in consciousness, both correlating to the chakras, and symbolizing mans backward and forward progressions in the struggle for enlightenment. There are several versions of how the labyrinth maze should be walked. The most popular route begins near the bottom of the Tor just above the entrance at Wellhouse Lane, at a large fallen standing stone, just past the first bench. A clear path leads to the third level, where one takes the first turn at stone mark on the steep vertical path. Here one turns clockwise to begin the first lap. The encircling paths take a pattern of 3,2,1,4,7,6,5 ending at the 5th level. Prayer and permission is sought to proceed to each new level, where a new guardian guides the initiate. As the path winds upward it becomes more difficult to follow in the thick grass and steep inclines.

I found the spiraled labyrinth walk mind altering, almost psychotropic. The Tor emits a similar charm on the ley energies that embrace his girth.

The generally straight flowing Michael and Mary leylines run in a most interesting pattern on the Tor. Cornish dowser and author, Jamish Miller intricately mapped the Michael and Mary leylines in 1997. He recorded that the lines traced an elaborate 'in and out' pattern between the Tor and Chalice Well. The lines seem to form a 'mating' of the energies. The Mary line forms the shape of an open cup. The Michael line forms a phallic shape entering the cup pattern.

The implications are quite astonishing. The Tor was in fact a center of the Beltane fertility celebrations of the pagans. The male and female leylines present seemed to be following suite. The energetic synergy of the leyline bonding creates a virtual fountain, a very formidable orgasmic fountain of fertile energy that is both strengthening and expanding in its effect on the human body and mind. It is easily felt, the energy is potent and vital in its effect on the aura, body physical and spirit. It blends the trinity of body, mind and spirit. The sensation is spiritual. A total spiritual uplifting through the crown.

Although unusually shaped, The Tor is a natural geological formation. The top is a hard quartz capstone, atop a softer chalkstone. The unusual structure was likely formed by the flow of the red and white springs. The whale shaped Tor is adorned energetically with a powerful blend of several earth energies, leylines, ionic fields from the spring flows, quartz amplification from the capstone, and the soothing ionic field of the calcite. The coiled nature of the leyline pattern on the sloping Tor would also tend to further amplify spiral energy culminating in an increased energy outlet along the top.

The presence of the Archangel Michael exists, and can manifest within that intense field, near the Tower dedicated to his namesake. The portal holds a host of entities waiting to work with the sincere seeker. This writer has been to many locations of sacred energies in the world, and I can say that my first and most powerful vision and only time I truly saw the face of my Spirit Guide 'Lam' was atop the Tor. The sense of magic, of Christ, Joseph of Armithea and of Camelot are here, and words cannot describe such a sacredly harmonious melange of beautiful feelings. Go there, visit. Take the pilgrimage to Glastonbury. The site of the Tor rises above the landscape 20 minutes before one arrives by car. It is the beacon of Michael.

The seeker may wish to bring a waterproof jacket, a small blanket or tarp, and foam earplugs. Often the Tor is crowded around the Michael Tower and solitude for prayer quests and meditation is more easily found by moving a few meters down the ample slopes. The earplugs will create the uninterrupted silence, and the blanket allows one to create a dry seat on the often rain soaked grass. Rain can come up quickly and pass just as rapidly. This part of England generally gets the sunniest weather in the UK, so don't be dismayed if it does rain. The people of Somerset can adhere to the old saying, "If you don't like the weather, just wait, it'll change". There is no finer expression of natural beauty than a sunny day in Somerset. Likewise, there is no softer rain than the rains that green the Tor. The Tor shines. Brilliantly. For eternity.

Readers Note: Don't forget to read the other articles in the Glastonbury series:
The Abbey Ruins
Magical Glastonbury
Chalice Well

And so it is….
Tyberonn © Oct 14 2001

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