GLASTONBURY: AVALON OF THE HEART

by Dion Fortune

The grey Tor rises to heaven and the green hill dreams beside it. Between them springs the running red water of the Holy Well; at their feet lies the town with its red roofs and blue peat-smoke. Around stretch the moors with their willows and water-cuts, and the banked straight streams and sluices that can only flow out into the sea at low water. It is a green land, a kindly land, and a Hill of Vision broods above it.

This book, first published in 1934, is one of the most evocative of all tributes to Glastonbury - the "English Jerusalem". It remains an essential companion for anyone who has been touched by Glastonbury's magic.

This is the and of Arthur, Merlin and Morgan Le Fey; the place to which, according to tradition, Joseph of Arimathea brought the Holy Grail containing drops of Christ's blood; and it is here that Arthur, Once and Future King lies buried. Above all, Glastonbury is the Mystic Avalon, a gateway to the unseen, and a place of pilgrimage still.

Cover photograph: Janet and Colin Bord

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Mythology, Occult, British Literature, Spirituality, Arthurian

114 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1934

About the author

Violet Mary Firth Evans (better known as Dion Fortune), was a British occultist and author. Her pseudonym was inspired by her family motto "Deo, non fortuna" (Latin for "by God, not fate").

From 1919 she began writing a number of novels and short stories that explored various aspects of magic and mysticism, including The Demon Lover, The Winged Bull, The Goat-Foot God, and The Secrets of Dr. Taverner. This latter is a collection of short stories based on her experiences with Theodore Moriarty. Two of her novels, The Sea Priestess and Moon Magic, became influential within the religion of Wicca, especially upon Doreen Valiente.

Of her non-fiction works on magical subjects, the best remembered of her books are; The Cosmic Doctrine, meant to be a summation of her basic teachings on mysticism; The Mystical Qabalah, an introduction to Hermetic Qabalah; and Psychic Self Defence, a manual on how to protect oneself from psychic attacks. Though some of her writings may seem dated to contemporary readers, they have the virtue of lucidity and avoid the deliberate obscurity that characterised many of her forerunners and contemporaries.

Reviews

[Carianne Carleo-Evangelist · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was first published in 1934. It's an interesting look at Glastonbury as it compares to the mythical Avalon, but it's a little too woo for me. It looks at things like the chalice from the Last Supper coming to the English countryside a little too literally

[Arlene Allen · Rating 2 out of 5]

More wishful thinking than fact.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Take equal parts history, mysticism, Christianity, folklore, discredited racial attitudes and Theosophy, add dollops of disregard-for-critical-analysis and making-the-facts-fit-the-theory, and you have the elements of a book I should hate, but I actually found it all rather charming. To be fair, Fortune says at at one point, "All this is speculation, not history; modern myth-making, not research," and I think it's this mythopoeic strand I find attractive.

[Simone · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this for my bachelor thesis. It's a nice description of Glastonbury, seen through the eyes of Dion Fortune. However, one should not read it for its historical value, and I would recommend that you go visit Glastonbury before or while reading it. Otherwise, I have a feeling many might be annoyed by the many descriptions of a landscape you can't really imagine without having seen it yourself.

[Garry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can't beat reading this book (Chapter 11 especially) sitting atop the Tor.

[Chiefdonkey Bradey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dion Fortune whispered in my ear - when I climbed the Tor I found mist and silence - the prayers of those with me were bright birds - filling the pale world with light

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm an American. I lived in England, mostly homeless, from 2000 - 2005. During that time, I was a Witch/Pagan. The first place I lived in England was Glastonbury Tor (illegally, until we got caught.) I really, really liked the place, and the quirky little town next to it.

So, I was really looking forward to reading this, especially since Fortune was so well regarded in all the other witchy books I'd read.

But this was a crashing disappointment. It's repetitive, it's way too sweet, and it feels somehow incomplete. I'm sure the English Tourist Bureau must've been thrilled with it.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A highly Romantic and evocative hymn to Glastonbury. Best read for its atmosphere rather than its factual accuracy. Approach it in the right spirit and it's an enjoyable read.

[The Book Circus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye opening insight into one of my favourite places

[Silvi Gian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of a travellers' book, not one of the bests by Dion Fortune. Too much speculative and reiterative for my taste. But easy to read thoug.

[Eileanór Bláth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meraviglioso. A tratti sembra la voce narrante di un documentario, perchè ti porta in giro per tutta la zona di Glastonbury, ti fa vedere il panorama e ti descrive anche il piccolo particolare, tanto che si vorrebbe essere sul posto e leggere camminando. Ma soprattutto è scritto in modo poetico, a volte quasi commovente per chi ama questo luogo. Il suo lato mistico, mitologico e quello umano: Artù e Atlantide che s'intrecciano con le arti contadine salvate e riportate a nuova vita. Un libro assolutamente da leggere :)

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The legends, history, and mystical stories of Glastonbury written by someone who lived there, founding a retreat under the shadow of the Tor. First published in 1934, the writing is poetic and full of imagery.

[Angie Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will inspire you to travel to Glastonbury, it grabs at you heart and never lets go. This is truly magic, myth, legend and heart woven into words and placed carefully on the pages of a book created by a woman who is magic herself.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took me on a spiritual journey of a place that may have once been Camelot. It was enjoyable if sometimes verbose. I most definitely want to pay Glastonbury a visit now. It sounds like quite a magical place.

[Nancy Goldberg Wilks · Rating 5 out of 5]

My copy is simply entitled "Avalon of the Heart", copyright 1934. In my opinion, this book captures the magic of Avalon...the magic that can still be felt in Glastonbury.

[Bornbazie Flame · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dion is brilliant.

[Jayney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read, tells a lovely historical story although there are not true facts or references. Not for sceptics.