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Journal of the Companions of theChalice WellIssue No. 31 • Summer 2011“In the blossom’s shade there’s no such thing as a stranger.”

EditorialChristchurch, Japan, Fukushima nuclear plant, uprisings in North Africa, war in Libya –it’s been quite a start to 2011. Lots of changes, for everyone, everywhere. These are indeedstirring, transformational times. So much is happening that many of the large American newschannels had already spent their entire budgets for 2011 by the end of March.However, here at Chalice Well, as Simon said in the last issue, it is a time of keepingthings simple so that the living sanctuary is held and maintained. This is the season whennature bursts forth again in all its glory, reminding us of its beauty and power, particularlyafter the sub-zero temperatures of this winter. There are some beautiful photographs in this‘Chalice’ showing the spring wave. As you will see in this issue we recently remembered aformer Trustee who gave great service to the Well, Pip Bourne, who died in February. Herfamily members, many of who had not visited Chalice Well for many years, were struck bythe healing atmosphere, the flowers and plants, and the dancing red waters, and were deeplyaffected.Also this time Julie Davies, our Companionship Registrar, spotlights what it means to bea Companion of the Well and the different ways you can help and support, while CompanionClaire Dixon tells us about the Silent Minute. When the chance came for Wellesley TudorPole to acquire this site a small group of close friends, loyal supporters of the Silent Minutesince 1940, sent out a message to 2,000 members in the British Isles and overseas. The positiveresponse ensured the stability of the early days. It is not generally known that for the firstsix months of 1958 the Big Ben Silent Minute office in London was used for Chalice Welladministration.We are pleased to welcome Kate Tudor Pole to our pages telling us about her greatgrandfatherWellesley while reviewing Gerry Fenge’s new book ‘The Two Worlds of WellesleyTudor Pole’. Elsewhere in this issue you will also find Tom Done and his bees, Robert Berman’swords and amazing photographs highlighting his Spiritography, three water poems by RoseRaphael and ‘The Garden of the Goddess’ by Companion Sally Jordan Austin. There is theusual news update, this years Companion’s Day programme and a listing for some of ourfuture events.We hope you will enjoy this issue and take this chance to wish you a warm and peacefulsummer.Paul FletcherFront Cover: (Photo by Gareth Lovelock)Quotation Kobayashi Issa (1763-1828)Back Cover: (Photo by Joanna Laxton)The Chalice Well Trust is a registered charity, founded in 1959 by Wellesley Tudor Pole and a group offriends. It is dedicated to preserving the ancient spring and surrounding gardens as a living sanctuary foreveryone to visit and experience the quiet healing peace of this sacred place.The Trust welcomes donations to maintain Chalice Well and gardens including Little St. Michaels retreathouse, and to further its work. Voluntary contributions towards upkeep are therefore greatly appreciated.Any person who wishes to support the Trust’s purpose by making an annual subscription may be registeredas a Companion of the Well.For further information contactThe Chalice Well, Chilkwell Street, Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 8DD UKTel: 01458 831154 Fax: 01458 835528.Email: info@chalicewell.org.uk Website: www.chalicewell.org.ukRegistered Charity No: 204206Published by The Chalice Well Trust, Chilkwell Street, Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 8DD, UK2

News from the WellImbolc and Spring EquinoxOn 1 February we welcomedvisitors to our First Stirring/Imbolc meditation around thewell head, to commemorate thefirst tender shoots emergingfrom the earth at the close of aparticularly snowy winter! Ason previous Wheel of the Yearevents, entry between 10 and12 was free, with refreshmentsavailable until 1.30pm on thelower lawn. On this occasion theopening of the Monk’s Gate intothe garden allowed celebrantsfrom the White Spring to join usfor the midday meditation withthoughts turning to the promiseof spring and new beginnings.The Spring Equinox, aSnowdrops in the Sanctuary (Photo by Tony Arihanto)gloriously sunny day, marked the greening of the earth and an abundance of yellow springflowers, reflected in the well head dressing. The midday meditation at the well head, withover 200 people, lead by Jacqueline Redmond, turned our thoughts to this time of vigorousawakening. Light refreshments on the lower lawns were available, as well as home-made cakeson a cake stall, with proceeds going towards medical supplies for Lalibela, the Ethiopian towntwinned with Glastonbury.Imbolc Morning (Photo by Tony Arihanto)3

Spring Equinox Gathering at the Wellhead (Photo by Tony Arihanto)Conversation Café in Full Swing (Photo by Tony Arihanto)4

Archive LaunchWe are pleased to announce the launch on our website of the Chalice Well Historical Archive.If you go to the front page of our website and click on the top link ‘About Chalice Well’the drop-down will show a link to ‘Historical Archives’. If you click on that it will take youto the front page of the Archive section. There you will see three main sections marked byphotographs. To enter the appropriate section just click on one of the photographs.These sections feature articles and original writings by and about Wellesley Tudor Pole,Alice Buckton and the Chalice Well Trust. Within each area will be a selection of writings andphotographs relevant to each with tag lines and references.It is our intention to build this over the coming months and years as more of the Archive ismade available on-line. This will be complementary to the ongoing publications of the ChaliceWell Press (booklets, Story of A Living Sanctuary etc.) and will be primary source materialof interest both to the researcher and to those with a general interest in the Chalice Well.Prayers for Japan - Synchronicitous BlessingsOn Thursday 31 st March a group of usgathered at the Wellhead in response to arequest from Masaru Emoto, the JapaneseProfessor, who many of you will rememberstayed at Chalice Well in 2009. His workfor the past 20 years has been focussed onobserving the effect of directing prayer andloving vibrations into water, even at hugedistances, and its transformational results.In view of this, he had asked people all overthe world to send Love to the contaminatedwaters around the Fukushima Nuclearreactors.The week before I had been talking toMuriel about the Christchurch earthquakeStar of Bethlehem flower (Photo by Sophie Knock)and the devastating impact that this was having on people she knew, when I was drawn to acluster of flowers beneath Grandmother Beech. Here I found a Star of Bethlehem, which isthe Bach Flower Remedy for shock and trauma. I had never actually seen this plant before andit felt like a gift to see it at that moment. We both agreed that we should make an Essence withit, as it felt so pertinent to everything that was happening in the world. The day we decidedon later turned out to be the same as the world-wide water meditation; it all felt very blessed.At the chosen time of 12.00 our circle tuned in and repeated the phrase, “The water ofFukushima Nuclear Plant, we are sorry to make you suffer. Please forgive us. We thank you,and we love you” three times, as we visualized the golden light from our hearts overflowinginto the Wellhead and traveling through the waterways across the world to Japan, surroundingthe country, her people and the water with Love. As we harmonized our vibration with anOm, we poured in the Star of Bethlehem Essence, which is described in The Healing Herbs ofEdward Bach by Julian Barnard, as having “the strength in its bright radiant purity to realignthe pattern.”Afterwards two ladies came up who had been part of the ceremony, they happened tobe from the Prefecture next to Fukushima. They were deeply moved to have been at theWell at this time. We had the privilege of giving them each a bottle of Chalice Well CherryBlossom Essence to take back with them as Cherry Blossom is so associated with Japan andits cleansing, restorative energy is deeply needed at this time.Sophie Knock5

Active Supporter Companionship of Chalice WellThe concept of ‘Companionship’ support of Chalice Well has been present ever since theTrust’s inception in January 1959.The Companionship of Chalice Well was formed with the object of uniting all who wishto co-operate in safeguarding and preserving the site as a centre of pilgrimage and healing.Over the years the supporter base has grown, from a few hundred in the early sixties, mainlydrawn from the Silent Minute Fellowship, reaching 2000 some ten years ago, and numberingnow over 3500 individuals who support Chalice Well through their Companionship.Those who live near enough to Chalice Well, and who can give freely of their time on aregular basis constitute our valued support base of ‘Volunteer Companions’ who help outin our gatehouse, shop, garden and office, and at our events throughout the year. There aremany other Companions who would like to support Chalice Well and all it represents, but areunable to because of geographical or time constraints.This spring we are hoping to widen our Active Supporter base (later in the year we will alsobe reviewing our Lifetime Supporter base). The Active Supporter’s category of Companionshipwas launched on Companions Day 2000, in recognition of the many Companions who arevery happy instead, to offer a level of financial support to Chalice Well Trust at an enhancedlevel to that provided by standard Companionship fees.Our Active Supporters (minimum of £8 per month, or £100 per year) after 1 st April2011 will receive 15% discount on most items when they visit the bookshop. They will alsoreceive an invitation to a late summer social evening with refreshments, an informative talkby our Trustee and Archivist Paul Fletcher and a £20 voucher redeemable against their firstbooking in our retreat accommodation. Like all Companions, Active Supporters are able toCompanions’ Day 2010 (Photo by Tony Arihanto)6

ook the Trust’s retreat accommodation (Little St Michael’s and Chalice Well Lodge) on anindividual or group basis; book the Upper Room for private meditation when they visit thegardens; receive our tri-annual journal of Companions, The Chalice; and attend the annualCompanions Day (this will be on June 4 th in 2011).If you would like to support Chalice Well and help us to maintain it as a very special placefor future generations, please join or renew as an Active Supporter; or, if you’d like to supportChalice Well by offering someone special the gift of a standard Chalice Well Companionship,please call or email or visit our website at www.chalicewell.org.ukJulie DaviesView of the Tor from the Meadow (Photo by Tony Arihanto)ApologyIn the last issue (Chalice 30) we inadvertently missed out a credit for the Robert Bermanworkshop. We would like to thank John and Lisa Coward from the Psychic Piglet shop in theHigh Street for their help and input in organising this and for bringing Robert into contactwith Chalice Well.7

Companions’ Day ProgrammeLunch – Lunch can be pre-ordered for £6.00 via the Companions’ Day event listing onthe website or by calling 01458 831154. We have a vegetarian, vegan and wheat-freeoption available, all supplied by Rainbow’s End who provided last year’s delicious fare.Once ordered you will be able to collect your Lunch Tickets on the day, at theWelcome Table in the entrance to the marquee.09:00 Gardens Open, tea, coffee & biscuits available10:00 Opening Circle around the Vesica Pool10:15 Welcome from Trustees in the marquee10:30 Anthony ThorleyAnthony will share his extensive knowledge of the story behind theGlastonbury Zodiac.11:00 Refreshment break – Tea, coffee & biscuits available11:30 Keynote Speaker John WadsworthJohn, an experienced facilitator of transformational zodiacal journeys, willtalk about Chalice Well’s place within the Glastonbury Zodiac.12:15 Lunch accompanied by Vicki Burke on harpTea & coffee available13:45 John Wadsworth & Anthony Thorley Q & A14:15 Vicki Burke performs ‘Aquarius’ and other songs inspired by theGlastonbury Zodiac14:45 Tea & coffee on sale until 15:3015:00 Meditation at the Well Head with John Wadsworth15:30 Closing Circle around the Vesica Pool16:00 Gardens open to the public18:00 Gardens closeThere will also be Upper Room meditations at 12.15 & 14.30If you would like to join either of these 20 minute meditations please give your nameto the person at the Welcome Table in the entrance to the marquee.8

News From The GardenAt the time of writing spring is truly sprouting out all over the place, as herbaceous perennialstriumphantly emerge from their darkened slumber in anticipation of another year offloriferous delight. Bulbs are brightening the visual scene with their colourful show, and treesand shrubs are bursting their buds with expectation. This is a wonderful and hopeful time ofthe year where optimism abounds. It is times like this when I feel blessed to be able to spendmy working time in a garden, especially in such a magical one as this.New borders flourishing(Photo by Gareth Lovelock)The main borders are looking very colourful right now due to the exuberant tulip display,and the alliums following on from them. The newly-planted shrubs and perennials will mostlytake a year or so to grow into their allotted spaces, but in the meantime plenty of annuals willfill the gaps.Being a very busy time of the year the garden team has been focussing on getting thegarden looking good to welcome the new influx of visitors and pilgrims. Plenty of weeding,pruning and trimming is happening daily. Mike has been sanding down and oiling all ofthe benches with linseed in order to keep them in good shape and prolong their life. I’vebeen mostly found up in the nursery area sowing seed, pricking out and potting on, movingseedlings from potting shed to greenhouse to cold frame, and finally onto the staging, readyfor planting out. It’s all very exciting!The Grandmother Birch was felled in January, and I have encircled the stump with a fewsections of her trunk so as to give visitors the chance to sit and tune into their memories ofher, or simply have a communal spot for general contemplation. There is certainly a big gapthere now, and it may be some time before we get used to her absence from the garden. Soon Iwill be planting another large tree, a Box-leaved Maple (Acer negundo) in that vicinity, whichwill eventually fill the space.9

The Long Bed (immediately behind the Gatehouse) has been getting some attention. Newadditions to the planting include: a Prunus cistena, a lovely white-flowering, plum-leaved shrub,which had been a container plant for a number of years, and now will get the opportunity togladly spread its roots; two varieties of gladiolus (these are surely due for a revival); a gorgeouspurple hardy geranium; and a tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa ‘Quan She Mao Yu’). We’reaiming for the ‘wow’ factor for this bed this year, so watch this space!This winter’s extremely cold temperatures have sadly put paid to a large number ofborderline shrubs, so regular visitors will no doubt notice their absence from the garden vista.They include fuchsia, ceanothus, hebe, cistus, trachelospermum (Star Jasmine), osmanthus,pittospermum and myrtle. I will have to wait and see what happens to the weather patternnext winter before considering replanting these same species. In the meantime I will only plantthose shrubs I know are fully hardy, and able to cope with temperatures down to -15ºC. Maybeit will be some years before we return to milder winters. All we can do is wait and wonder.Up by the Lion’s Head the old box hedge had been suffering for a number of years witha specific rust fungus, which had become more and more unsightly. Non-organic gardenerssimply reach for chemical sprays to control it, but that is not my way. The fungus itself isnot fatal to the box, and I did try cutting it back hard, but it just got progressively worse.I considered planting alternatives, but as it is a fairly shady site none of them would havesufficed. So it was decided to replace like for like and new box plants were brought in. We dugout a trench and filled it with fresh soil before planting out two new rows. The hedge looksquite uneven at the moment, but once I can see that they have taken well they will get their firsttrimming. Fingers crossed the fungal spores will have dissipated, and the new plants get thechance to thrive, free from disease. Despite attacks by honey fungus and recurrent black spoton roses the garden hasn’t fared too badly from pests and diseases, so long may that continue.And so, the warmer months are almost upon us once again. I can hear the bells of Beltanebeckoning. Let’s pray for a glorious summer, with much colour in the garden, and celebrationin the air. Enjoy!Ark Redwood10(Photo by Gareth Lovelock)

Orchard NewsIn the orchards the sap is risingand the trees are stirring withleaves and blossoms. Cherryplum blossom has come andgone, plums are already goingover to fruiting and it’s theturn this week of pear blossomin Buckton’s Orchard mostnotably the ancient hollowedout pear that has been visitedby two Greater Spottedwoodpeckers in recent weeks.We are probably three weeksaway from apple blossom time (Photo by Tony Arihanto)but some of the earlies such as James Grieve and Fortune already have closed flower buds andthe sunny dry weather in March followed by rain has spurred early development. Beltaneshould be a sea of apple blossom – weather permitting!On the ground Buckton’s is decorated by the yellow of celandines and the purple ofground ivy with just a few pink white outcrops of Ladys Smock. In fact it’s the greens who arereally dominant in the form of rapidly emerging nettle, dock, cow parsley, yarrow, geraniumand grasses. A reported evening visitor last week was a deer with baby faun.In February we hosted two very successful pruning workshops run by Orchard Mentor LesDavies MBE in conjunction with Somerset Rural Life Museum (SRLM) bringing 24 people into do hands-on training in how to do both formative pruning (young trees) and maintenancepruning (mature trees) in Buckton, Tor and Plum Orchards.One particularly satisfied participant was David Heeley, Chair of the Friends of SRLM, whosuccessfully arranged with Joe Joseph and the Trust for 4 resident sheep to be transferred tothe Plum Orchard from time to time to rest the land at SRLM and prevent build up of disease.Ark and I are currently preparing for a first ever Chalice Well Grafting workshop onApril 23 rd by saving graftwood from a Blenheim Orange in Buckton’s and growing on M27rootstocks supplied by Les Davies. The workshop is heavily oversubscribed but we hope onthe day 12 people will be able to practise grafting cuts and techniques and take away their owngrafted dwarfing tree for patio or small garden planting.I’d like now to thank and remember my first Orchard mentor, Charlie Graham of Stawell,who worked with me intensively pruning our fruit trees from 2008-10 and without whomI would not have grasped the basic principles. Charlie had a serious health setback in 2010and was not able to join me for pruning this year though he is making a good recovery. Formy part his past training and Les Davies’ guidance saw me through, with pruning more orless on my own this year; an unexpected but positive initiation after 6 years as an Orchard‘Apprentice’.I’ll leave you with some summer pruning tips: from late May onwards through to the endof August in warm weather lightly prune all stone fruit (e.g cherry and plum). At the sametime if needed, summer prune apple trees especially water shoots and congested growth inthe centre of the tree.Finally a date for your diary in October (15 th ) is our 3 rd Apple Day for picking, juicing,storytelling, sheep displays and talks by Les Cloutman of Somerset Wildlife Trust on ‘OrchardWildlife’ and our own beekeeper Tom Done. 2-5 pm as usual. Anthony Ward11

Water Poems by Rose Raphael1Beloved listen to the waterSee your life as the flow of the waterSee your life as it flows through all obstaclesSee your life as it feels the joy of freedomSee your life as it flows with easeSee joy and life in the water2Listen to the water and know that all is wellThe dance of the Divine is in the soundThe music of God dwells within this soundAll knowledge is hereAll life is here3This sound will take you deep within and bring you to your joyListen to the water and know the love of the Divine oneListen to the water and know the laughter of the Divine oneThe Garden is playing in the Divine oneThe garden lives within the Divine oneThis is the body and breath of the Divine oneThe beauty that exists within the heart of all.Pic: Robert Berman12

Robert Bermanwrites about Chalice WellI was recently invited by the Chalice Well in Glastonburyto do a presentation, sing a few songs and show my“Sacred Water” DVD. While being there, I was fortunateenough to have the opportunity to do a bit of what I callmy Spiritography (Shamanic Photography).Over the years I have taken many photographs ofwater throughout the world, and have seen some prettyamazing things in the water. The images from the ChaliceWell are very unique. Whilst there, I thought it might bea good idea to place my camera down into the Well to seewhat would show up. Prior to this, I spoke to the Welland asked her to show me what she wanted people to seeof her.Looking at the Well with our normal vision, it looksvery much like an ordinary dark well. What I found inmy photography work there was a real pleasant surprise.Beyond the veil of what looked like dark water came themost amazing beautiful vibrant colours! I continued mywalk about in this very sacred place, whilst discoveringmany surprises.The Chalice Well in Glastonbury is by all means a real treat for anyone wanting to trulyconnect with the essence and spirit of the Water. The place is full of elementals, in and out ofthe water, that are truly wanting to connect with us.With the many beautiful people visiting the Chalice Well each year, bringing their loveand offering their blessings and prayers to this very sacred place, it truly is no wonder that thewater is extremely colourful and very happy.The water of the Chalice Well isone of the most amazing bodies ofwater I have had the opportunityto experience. Treat yourself and gospend some time there, sit quietly bythe water and let her speak to you.You will be glad that you did. TheSecret to connecting with the wateris to send her your love and then tosit back and receive. When you gothere please give her my regards….Thank You Chalice WellKeep up the wonderful workPhotos by Robert BermanIn addition I will be participating in the Chalice Well Full Moon event in the Garden on June15th full Moon. Gareth and I are going to try and show some of the images during the night if itis possible.To see an exercise developed by Robert visit our website at www.chalicewell.org.ukTo see more of Robert’s work visit his web site at www.rememberthewater.com13

Remembering Pip Bourne14by Ann ProcterPip Bourne was a vital force in the progress of Chalice Well froman almost hidden well behind run-down buildings to the sacredsite set in beautiful gardens with well-appointed facilities weknow today.Phyllis Mary Bourne died on Valentine’s Day 2011, havingachieved her 100th birthday on December 9th last year.Pip first visited the Well in 1966, at the suggestion of her husbandDr Arthur Bourne who had been here in 1925. He wanted to use thehealing water to aid his recovery from a big operation. It was so effective that they volunteeredfor a working week the following spring, staying in a barely habitable Little St Michael’s.Then, and for many years to come, they put all their spare time into anything which neededdoing about the place to make it special for visitors: cleaning, decorating, mending, weeding,cooking and serving teasfor Companions’ Day,washing up, bookkeeping,chasing sheep out of thegarden, clearing blockeddrains, just anything thatwas needed. Initially thishappened when theyspent weeks relieving theresident Wardens so thatthey could go off duty,but presently they cameto live in Glastonbury andwere even more involved.Arthur, alias “Old Man”as she always called him,was a Trustee from 1973until his death in 1986,overlapping with Pip’sservice in this capacityPip in the gardens 1980’sfrom 1981 to 1996.Those of us who servedwith her on the Board always appreciated her wisdom. She didn’t say much, but what she didsay was well worth our attention. It helped to have someone personally steeped in the historyof the place, but she was never one to discourage change where it was appropriate.One of her very important functions was to engage with visitors, mostly informally whileshe was working away at something useful. She had a superb sympathetic ear and a quiet wayof showing her love for everyone, including the wildlife in the garden. She told of a robinwho would come to the kitchen door for a morsel of cheese when she banged a spoon. There’smany a tale of that robin and his descendants making significant approaches to people in thegardens, even without cheese!She made very many human friends, some of them lifelong, from encounters at ChaliceWell. For me, she was the first person I met there because she was sitting in the gatehouse that

lovely spring day, ready with a twinkling smile to take my 30p ticket money. Gatehouse” wasa grand name for the little wooden hut, held together with ivy, in which she was ensconced.She had a few of W.T.P’s books for sale, and some explanations about the Well on a boardwhich she asked us to return when we left. Later we became Companions (two guineas then!)and were allowed into the Upper Room. We learned that Pip looked after this special place,maintaining the permanent light, bringing up fresh flowers, and keeping it all clean andpolished. It certainly felt a very well loved room, faithfully nourishing the intent behindW.T.P’s creation. Yes, she was a committed Christian, and worshipped regularly at St John’s,but her spiritual approach was in tune with the Well’s current ethos of “Many Paths, OneSource”.When Pip resigned her Trusteeship, planning tomove to East Anglia to be near her family at the ageof 86, we gave her a tape recorder and asked her tospeak some of her memories into it. These were latertranscribed by former Trustee Mary Priest-Cobern.A rather shortened version appears as Facet 3 in thebook “This Enchanting Place - Facets of ChaliceWell”, published by the Well and still in print. So youcan get to know Pip a little better if you read that.Fun and adventure appealed to her. For exampleshe embarked on a trip on a sailing catamaran in her80’s with my husband Roy, remarking that this wasquite something for someone so antique. So he calledher his “favourite antique” and she always signed herletters to us thus when she wrote from afar.Her nieces and nephews have asked to donate aPip sailing in Roy Procter’s boat(Photo Roy Procter)tree to be planted in her memory. Our lovely Grandmother Birch had succumbed to honeyfungus, so we were able to find room for an Acer Negundo for Pip. May she flourish andnourish future visitors with her beauty.Then on April 15th we gathered to celebrate Pip, and to rest her ashes on the grassy bankwhere she had scattered Old Man’s back in 1986.Some 50 people attended the ceremony preceded by tea in the Meeting Room. Some familymembers came from all over England, some locals from St John’s congregation, and some whoknew and loved her as neighbours and in connection with Chalice Well. The sun did not shine,but the robin visited. The Glastonbury Candle was in attendance. Rev John Sumner returnedto Glastonbury to leadthe ceremony and therewere several heartfelttributes and readings.As Pip had requested,we sang “Jerusalem”, andthen enjoyed the gardensin their Spring eveningglory.We thank and blessthis lovely lady and wishher well with her journeyonwards.Pip Bourne Memorial at Chalice Well (Photo by Gareth Lovelock)15

Garden of The GoddessHer presence is known and felt within this place,this sacred garden of the Goddess. She moves withdelicate beauty touching tree and flower alike. Shewaves to the song birds, and gestures the fruit toblossom on the trees, in the orchard garden.She sings in Her heart, and calls to those whomight visit Her in this sacred place, that they mightwalk beside her quiet waters and drink from thestream of wellness.She invites us to take our rest beside the fountainof Her heart. There, we may listen, as we quietourselves and enter into the stillness of Her Divineheart - from which all wisdom flows and where shemay guide us and open us to the newness of ourever-evolving journey and life pathway.The Mother of Divine grace and beauty remindsus of our strength, as we touch and nestle beside thetrees that have long existed in this place, as they carrythe wisdom of all that has been, throughout the erasof time. In their quietness they stand, reflecting onthe essence of all that have communed with them,and found shelter beneath their leafy mantle. They stand in their quietness, even as the lastvisitor of the day passes by, and then theybecome the silent witness to the stars andcapture their light - to bring a taste of theheavens to this earth, as starlight caressestheir outstretched boughs and sings itssong, of love, to the soul of the earth.Just as the sun’s warmth touches theday and brings to the blossoms their life,so the stars and the moonlight shine andbring the mystical to this place, dancingwithin the inner realms of our heart andmind.Whether sunlight or starlight shinesinto this garden, that is a sanctuary to thesoul, it is a place where the Goddess alwayswalks. You can envision Her majesty andfeel Her presence, as you invite Her to sitbeside you in this garden of delight andrest your head upon the vastness of Herheart, and listen to the murmurings ofwisdom that are held there - just for you.By Morning Star(Sally Jordan Austin)(Photo by Chaia Forster)16(Photo by Gareth Lovelock)Companion of the Chalice Wellwww.BirthofaNewCreation.com

Tom Done –Chalice Well BeekeeperBee Keeper Tom Done (Photo Tony Arihanto)Now into his early 70s ChaliceWell Beekeeper Tom Done’sway of keeping in touch withthe wonders of nature since hisretirement after a lifetime as adairy farmer has been to expandhis beekeeping hobby into a smallbusiness in his new home inSomerset. “Working with naturehas been my life’s motivationand I’ve always been fascinatedby bees and I like honey butI’ve definitely got a commercialapproach to beekeeping and myaim is to sell the honey from my12-14 hives”.He was looking to expand in2002 when pioneer Chalice Wellbeekeeper Andrew Groves soldup to emigrate to Italy and Tomtook the opportunity to buy hishives in Buckton’s Orchard witha guaranteed outlet for his honeyin the Chalice Well Shop. Honey yields can fluctuate wildly from year to year due mainly toweather conditions but in an average year The Chalice Well hives will produce anything from120 to 220 pounds of honey.Last year Tom had his first big setback when wasps from hidden nests in the loft of theRetreat house robbed and destroyed three of his hives in Buckton’s Orchard. This year he’shoping for better things after the winter hibernation period is over at the end of March. Eachhive will then have up to 10,000 over-wintering beesand to survive Tom must leave some honey and sugarsyrup for the bees to eat and support the new broodin Feb and March.A constant supply of new worker bees is essentialas they only live on average for 6 weeks by whichtime they may have flown up to 500 miles in searchof pollen and produced a teaspoon of honey each!By April spring blossoms, including apple, pear andplum in Buckton’s Orchard will begin to fuel honeyproduction as long as the weather is kind (bees donot like flying in the rain and cold). The presence ofbees in Buckton’s orchard is of course beneficial to thefruiting of the orchard trees as honey bees are majorpollinators of apple trees and other ‘Top Fruit’.Bees at Chalice Well17

In the winter Tom only visits the hives once a month to check the hive is still intact but bylate spring he’ll be at Buckton’s Orchard every week to ten days adding ‘supers’ to allow beesextra space to store honey and attempting to avoid swarming (when the temperature and thenumber of bees rise in the hive, the old queen gathers half the hive and leaves to establish anew colony) by catching them in time and dividing them. If conditions are favourable Tomcomes to take a honey crop from the hives in the orchard in June and again in late Augustbefore putting the hives to rest again in October.Talking of swarms of bees evokes fears about the dangers of bees but Tom is adamant thatbees are not dangerous and will not sting unless disturbed or attacked. He wears a bee suitbecause “opening a hive is breaking into their home and if someone breaks into your homeyou want to drive them away”. In Tom’s view it is only natural for bees under perceived threatto defend themselves by stinging. Swarms don’t frighten Tom either and he is more thanhappy to be on call to collect escaped swarms in the Glastonbury area and re-home them.Is there anything different about the honey produced on Chalice Hill? “It is usually darkerthan the honey from Butleigh where the bees have access to Rape nectar which produces amuch lighter honey”.Is there anything special about keeping bees in Buckton’s Orchard? “Well it is a niceposition on the sunny side of the hill facing south and it is sheltered from the north winds byChalice Hill but most of all if I didn’t get the help and cooperation I get from the team at theWell I couldn’t do the job. It’s that side of things that makes it such a pleasant site to work on”.Anthony Ward18Bee Hive at Chalice Well (Photo Tony Arihanto)

The Silent Minute -The Stillness within Silenceby Claire DixonThe search of silence in our busy, modern world can often seem elusive and yet these momentswhen created can be pivotal in our daily lives. An idea, the stimulation of creativity, a solutionto a problem, peace to share with the day and its events or strength to overcome challengescan all be discovered within the stillness of silence. It can also be a space to bring healing,peace and prayerful intent into our lives and our world.The founder of the Chalice Well Trust, Wellesley Tudor Pole (WTP), often referred tothe importance of observing silence on a regular basis and in stilling the mind. As he wrotein “The Silent Road” “…it is through silence, not speech, that Revelation is received.” Thisstillness allows the presence of the Divine within us to step forward and to be realised withinus, so that this wisdom may guide and direct us in our lives.This stillness and serenity can be found in many ways such as meditation, prayer,contemplation or by simply pausing a while in the day to observe silence.In the spring of 1940, before the evacuation of Dunkirk, WTP launched the Big Ben SilentMinute Observance with the goal of uniting people in a minute’s silence every evening at9pm, creating a daily opportunity for prayer to focus on peace and freedom throughout theworld. He approached the BBC to restore the chimes of Big Ben on to the radio but wasunsuccessful. In September 1940 he met with Winston Churchill at the House of Commonshoping that Churchill’s support of the Silent Minute may help persuade the BBC to broadcastBig Ben striking at 9pm on the radio as the signal to observe the Minute. Churchill’s responsewas immediate as he rang the Director General of the BBC, Hugh Carlton Greene, in WTP’spresence. The response was positive and was formally agreed on 28 October, with the firstchimes being broadcast on Sunday 10 November 1940. This was continued until 19 September1960 when the striking of Big Ben was transferred to 10pm.It was estimated that by 1944 over 10 million people were regularly keeping the SilentMinute around the world. It received support from the King, the government and manyorganizations both in the UK and abroad.The origins of the Silent Minute lie in the evening of 2 December 1917 in a conversation atthe mouth of a cave on a hillside near to Jerusalem just before a battle. A British officer spoketo his fellow officer of his premonition that he would not survive the upcoming battle thatnight and that in the future a greater war would come. He asked his friend to create a dailymoment of silence so that the Divine Power that lay within silence could become available toall for strength and guidance in the difficult times ahead. He died a few hours later and hisfriend, WTP, was severely wounded in the battle.Close links between the Silent Minute and Chalice Well have existed since the 1950’s. Over2000 supporters of the Silent Minute were contacted when the opportunity to purchase theproperty of Chalice Well became possible in the 1950’s. Their positive response allowed thepurchase to become a reality. In the first 6 months of 1958 the Big Ben Council’s Londonoffice was also used for Chalice Well administration. Once the Trust was created the Councilacted as London representative.Whilst the idea of the Silent Minute was born during the war it does differ from the twominute silence held yearly on Armistice Day. This moment could be viewed as looking tothe past, honouring and remembering those who have made the ultimate sacrifice of theirlives in service to their countries. The Silent Minute is for us here and now daily, as we look19

to the future to the building of a better world, to create a world of peace and unity for all.Paradoxically this moment of daily stillness can lift us out of time and into the true timelessreality of Infinite Love that always exists, should we wish to reach out to it.As Companions and visitors to the Well are aware a beautiful and resonant bell is rung atnoon and 3pm to acknowledge the Silent Minute for us to observe this moment of stillnessfor unity, peace and healing. For those who doubt that such a short space of time can makea difference, simply pausing and listening in the gardens can create an awareness of a shift inatmosphere, a deepening of purpose and an intensity of focused presence. It is like a waverising to its fullest height and within the Minute it spreads outwards to all it can reach.For those who have had the pleasure and honour of sitting in the Upper Room a similarpalpable presence is felt in the dedicated silent space, as we sit either in a group on a Thursdaynight, on a group retreat or as an individual sitting, enfolded in stillness and timelessness.Perhaps this is what WTP was alluding to when he wrote, “In the Unity of the Silent Minutespiritual power is made available for the service of mankind. Peace and power can be drawnforth from the Infinite reservoirs of silence. Silence can become the gateway to the EternalMind. Each can become a Chalice into which is to be poured the Light of the Presence ofGod”.By sharing just a few moments of our day with this observation of silence we can join inthis wave of spiritual power rippling out into our world in the simplest of ways. If a focus isneeded WTP suggested the following:“May Thy Will be Done on Earth. Please show me how to play my part … or … Be stilland know that I Am God … or … Here and now I draw from the fountain of Life to manifestmy existence in God. From the Wellspring of Love so that I reflect His Love in fellowship andservice to others. From the Source of Wisdom in order to understand the purpose of my lifeand to fulfil it.The time will come …when a deep silence will descend upon us, a silent stillness filledwith love.”Finally, to summarise the power of the Silent Minute by WTP from “The Spiritual Healer”magazine August 1954:“The keeping of this Minute regularly and reverently seems such a little thing and yetit can well become the dedicated means for the complete transformation of life upon thisplanet, and for bringing the Golden Age to birth. Thank you for doing your part.”Claire Dixon is a Companion of Chalice Well.20

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