Glastonbury Pilgrim Reception Centre Manager and Co-founder Morgana West (sixth from right, front row)  spent the weekend of Imbolc  (31st Jan - 2nd Feb) at Ammerdown, a beautiful Christian Retreat and Conference Centre near Bath and open to people of all faiths and none with a special emphasis on dialogue, reconciliation and renewal.

Writers, Leaders, Founders and Movers & Shakers within the Christian and Pagan communities had been invited by Ammerdown to join together and converse with the intention of building bridges between differences in celebration of their common love of the Earth. 

Morgana says;

"Myths on both sides were explored and dispelled, insights were made and new-found respect and understanding blossomed. Warm friendships were forged out of the common bonding; new relationships were developed." 

"Imbolc belongs both to the Goddess and to St Brigid. I  have always felt that Brid's evolution from Goddess to Saint linked Pagan and Christian traditions in the same way as the Cauldron of Cerridwen and the Holy Grail were combined in Arthurian legend and that she acts as a bridge between the two worlds; successfully making the transition back to Goddess again for many people and with most of Her traditions retained."

"To attend this historic event, especially at Imbolc, has been an honour.  It was pure nourishment for my soul, unique in that it was something that could ONLY be done by Christians AND Pagans. At the simple closing ceremony in the chapel we gathered around the Brid/Brigid altar. I offered up a prayer asking that after we had all parted and returned to our own worlds, Brid's  light might shine brightly from within us all encouraging harmony, understanding and tolerance between people of all faiths and beliefs."

Sadly the Amazonian Tribal Leaders due to arrive in Glastonbury have been refused entry into the UK.

Reasons as to why are not yet forthcoming.

The Earth Spirit Centre, in association with the Amazonian Pachamama Alliance, is bringing three
Amazon Tribal Leaders – from the Achuar, Shuar, and Zapara nations – to Glastonbury on 8th and 9th
July, as part of an international ‘Amazonian Ambassadors’ mission to inform the world of the
environmental disaster occurring in the Amazon, relating to the destruction of the rainforests.
The three Tribal Leaders, as representatives of the people who inhabit the Amazon [the ‘Lungs of
the World’], will meet with the Mayor and Council as the civic representatives of the people of
Glastonbury [the ‘Heart of the World’] at the Town Council meeting of Tuesday 9th July 2013.

Jiyunt Uyunkar Kaniras, 25, is an Achuar Nation Tribal
Leader from the Wachirpas village deep in the rainforest of
Ecuador. She is among the first women from her tribe to
ever travel abroad. Having collaborated with the highly
acclaimed Achuar owned and operated, Kapawi Ecolodge,
including their language program for employees, Jiyunt has
some experience with the English language and visitors
from the outside world. She comes as an ambassador for
her people, forest and all Amazonian women.

Olger Jencham Sandu, 26, is a Shuar Nation Tribal Leader
from the rainforest village of Yuwintsa in Ecuador. His
leadership qualities were recognized at a young age and he
now has significant experience in positions of responsibility.
His main focus is cultural preservation, defending traditional
values and language, and developing viable alternatives to oil
exploitation.

Yanda Montahuano Ushigua, 23, is a young Zapara Nation
Tribal Leader who was born in the village of
Llanchamacocha in Ecuador’s rainforest. The Zapara were
thought to be extinct in recent times and have since gained
U.N. World Heritage Status for their culture and language.
Yanda now lives in the small town of Puyo, working as a
radio reporter. His program is aired on the Waorani
tribe’s radio station. Yanda has also created a web-based
network to share information about what is happening to
the rainforest and its people.