Priestess to the Chalice Well✨

In June, I visited Glastonbury, England, home of the mythical land of Avalon. My two friends from Germany, Rotger & Antonia offered an “Avalon Retreat” with an intention of rekindling connections to ancient magick. On this retreat, I made formal vows to the Well herself to always honor the profound ancient truths I discovered there.

The Chalice Well of Avalon

Cartier the Queen all dressed up for Summer Solstice sitting by the festively adorned Chalice Well.

Let me tell you my story of how this all came to be. I've been a spiritual seeker since my early 20's, exploring in-depth Bhakti Yoga, Osho, the Merkaba, Energy healing, Tibetan Buddhism, Zen Buddhism and Contemplative Christianity.

As a little girl, my mother would always celebrate Summer & Winter Solstice. It was her way of rebelling against the commercialization of Christmas and honoring something authentic - Nature.

After finishing my M.Div degree at Emory University in Atlanta. I resided at Upaya Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico to deepen my exploration of conscious awareness. While there, every time a pagan holiday came up, I held a little ritual and invited others to enjoy it with me. Yet once Sensei got wind of it - she banished pagan rituals from the Zen Center grounds. I felt I had to make a choice about what I really believed in and to me, honoring Nature as a sacred path felt more authentic to me than the ideals of Zen. (Plus who wants to shave their head?!)

After moving to Rhode Island to work for the Prison Mindfulness Institute, my new friend, Nina, passed me "The Mists of Avalon" by Marion Zimmer Bradley to read. In it I found an sublime theology of Nature laid out and in a manner that felt resonate with the consciousness I also experienced exploring Zen. So Avalon became my Mecca and my spirituality flourished.

So when I took my first trip to Glastonbury, England this June - home to the sacred sites of Avalon, I felt a connection in my soul like nothing before and in the presence of sisters of Avalon I vowed to always carry the Chalice Well in my heart as my Truth.

Cartier being embraced by the High Priestess at the Summer Solstice gathering on the Glastonbury Torr just after dawn on Summer Solstice morning.