Lesson video

Hello, I'm Ms. Ramalli, and welcome to today's RE lesson, which form most of our unit Pilgrimage: why are people still drawn to ancient places? In today's lesson, we're going to explore Glastonbury as a contemporary spiritual place.

Today's lesson outcome is: I can explain how Glastonbury has developed as a site of modern Pagan pilgrimage and the connections to its past.

To help guide us through today's lesson, there are four keywords.

Our keywords are pilgrimage, Pagans, solstice, and spiritual.

Pilgrimage is a journey made to a sacred place, and it's often done as an act of religious devotion.

Pagans are people who follow a religious or spiritual belief system that is based on nature.

Solstice refers to the longest day of the year.

In the northern hemisphere, it occurs between the 21st and 23rd of June.

And spiritual is a sense of connection to something greater.

Okay, let's begin our lesson for today.

So our lesson on Glastonbury: a contemporary spiritual place takes two parts.

We're going to begin today's lesson exploring the question: why is Glastonbury sacred for Pagans? We're then going to move on to the second part of our lesson, how is Glastonbury a site of spiritual pilgrimage? Let's begin by exploring our first question for today's lesson.

Alex explains how we use social science in religious education.

Alex tells us, "Social scientists are interested in how people live and how context like where they live or when they lived affects this.

We can better understand people's worldviews by looking at photographs or analysing data.

We can survey or interview people to find out more about their worldview." In this lesson, we will ask Pagans how Glastonbury became an ancient place of pilgrimage and why it continues to be important to many Pagans today.

Glastonbury is a town in the county of Somerset, England.

Here on the screen, you can see whereabouts it is located in England.

Glastonbury is surrounded by a landscape rich in legends that has been regarded as sacred for thousands of years.

In the Neolithic period, early humans created the sweet track.

These were walkways through marshes, and Glastonbury Tor is an ancient hill.

Let's complete a check for understanding.

Glastonbury is a town in which English county? A, Gloucestershire, B, Devon, or C, Somerset.

Pause the video here and press play when you're ready to see the correct answer.

Well done to everybody that selected C as the correct answer.

Glastonbury is in the English county of Somerset.

This is Bel, and she has a Pagan worldview.

Glastonbury is an important place of Pagan pilgrimage for her.

Bel tells us, "I didn't grow up in a Pagan family, but as I grew up, my family were open-minded to me wanting to follow this worldview." Izzy asks, "I thought Glastonbury was a Christian place of pilgrimage, Bel.

Is it sacred to Pagans, too?" Bel responds, "Yes, Glastonbury is an ancient place of pilgrimage for both Christians and Pagans.

As a Pagan, I go to Glastonbury to visit ancient sites like the Glastonbury Tor.

I believe all land is sacred and connects me to my ancestors.

When I'm in Glastonbury, I feel a spiritual energy and connection." Danielle, a Catholic Christian, and Bel explain why they visit Glastonbury as a place of pilgrimage.

Danielle says, "I visit Glastonbury because of its ancient connection to Joseph of Arimathea and Jesus.

There is an important shrine to the Virgin Mary, and I come here to pray for healing, peace, and blessings from the Virgin Mary." Bel says, "I believe that Glastonbury is a thin place; a place where I can connect to nature.

It is a place where I can feel a strong connection to the ancient ancestors of the land." Okay, true or false? Glastonbury is a place of pilgrimage for Christians and Pagans.

Pause the video here and press play when you're ready to see the correct answer.

Well done if you said that statement is true, Glastonbury is an important place of pilgrimage for both Christians and Pagans.

Here is an image of Glastonbury Tor.

Bel says, "A highlight for me is visiting Glastonbury Tor, also known as the Isle of Avalon.

It rises 158 metres, so it can be seen for miles around.

I love the legend of the two dragons under the tor.

These symbolise two energies that flow through the landscape of Glastonbury." Bel explains the legend of the two dragons believed to be under the Glastonbury Tor.

Bell tells us, "There are two dragons, one red and one white.

The red dragon represents that the human world or blood, and the white dragon represents the fairy of other worlds.

These two dragons show the balance between opposites, like light and dark, strength and gentleness, and how everything in the world is connected.

They are believed to guard the land and create a spiritual energy." Let's complete a check for understanding.

Select three meanings of the legend of the dragons at Glastonbury Tor.

A, the red dragon is connected to strength, B, the two dragons show the balance between opposites, C, everything in the world is connected, and D, the dragons symbolise two energies that flow through the landscape of Glastonbury.

Pause a video here and press play when you're ready to check your answers.

Well done if you selected B, C, and D.

The three meanings of the legend of the dragons in Glastonbury Tor are: the two dragons show the balance between opposites, everything in the world is connected, and the dragons symbolise two energies that flow through the landscape of Glastonbury.

Well done, everybody.

So time to complete our first practise task.

Sofia and Lucas discuss why Glastonbury is sacred.

Who shows a better understanding and why? Sofia says, "Many Pagans believe the landscape around Glastonbury has spiritual energy and they feel a connection to others." Lucas says, "Many Pagans believe the landscape around Glastonbury has a spiritual energy and they may feel connected to ancestors.

It is also sacred to many Christians because of its connection with Jesus." Good luck completing the practise task.

Pause the video here and press play when you're ready to check your answers.

Welcome back, everybody.

Time to check your answers for the first practise task.

So you were asked to say who shows a better understanding and why.

Your answer might have included: Sofia correctly mentions that Pagans believe Glastonbury has a spiritual energy which can bring a connection with ancestors.

However, Lucas shows a better understanding as he also mentions that Glastonbury is also sacred to many Christians.

Fantastic work.

Well done, everybody.

So time to move on to the second part of our lesson on Glastonbury: a contemporary spiritual place by considering how is Glastonbury a site of spiritual pilgrimage.

So here is a photograph on your screen, and I would like you to think about and/or discuss answers to these three questions.

First of all, what can you see in this photograph? Secondly, what questions do you have about this photograph? And thirdly, what might you infer about this photograph? Pause the video here and, with your partner, have a discussion about these three questions, and then pause the video and press play when you're ready to reflect on your answers.

Welcome back, everybody.

Fantastic discussions.

Well done.

Bel helps us out with the questions we might have had about this photograph or questions that we might have asked about it.

Bel says, "I follow the Druid path as a Pagan.

The summer solstice marks the longest day of the year.

It would have been a sacred time for our ancient ancestors.

As Druids, we perform a ritual at the top of the tor.

The white robes are a connection to our ancient ancestors.

Many Druids from across the world come to Glastonbury Tor for the summer solstice.

We make a circle to create a sacred space.

We connect with the spiritual energy in this ancient place and we ask for peace to hold the circle and for peace throughout the world." Here we have Jonah, and Jonah has a Pagan worldview.

Jonah tells us, "I've been visiting Glastonbury for many years.

Glastonbury is a spiritual place of pilgrimage for my family and I.

When I walk on the tor or in the land around, I can sense the closeness of our ancestors.

My feet might walk where they did.

As a family, we visit Glastonbury for the summer solstice and other important days.

We always leave our shoes at the bottom and climb barefoot.

Standing at the top of Glastonbury Tot at dawn is a spiritual experience to remember.

I can feel the energy through the soil and into my body.

For me, it is a thin place where I can connect with nature." True or false? All Pagans will do exactly the same things when they make a pilgrimage to Glastonbury.

Pause the video here and press play when you're ready to check the answer.

Welcome back, everybody.

Well done if you said that statement is false.

Bel and Jonah both make a pilgrimage to Glastonbury and see it as a sacred and spiritual place.

However, they may focus on different things whilst there.

Jonah tells us, "Another special place for me at Glastonbury is Chalice Well.

It is a beautiful garden built around a sacred spring of water that flows near the tor.

Did you know that we are 70% water? My children like to paddle in the water and we take some home in a flask." Jonah continues to tell us, "I visit Chalice Well during the Pagan festival of Beltane.

I like to visit Chalice Well first thing in the morning so I can participate in the ceremony.

Chalice Well is a place of healing, peace, and spiritual reflection.

It calms and grounds me." Let's complete a check for understanding.

Why does Jonah visit the Chalice Well? Select two answers.

Pause the video here and press play when you're ready to check your answer.

Welcome back, everybody.

Well done if you selected answers A and B.

When Jonah visits the Chalice Well, he participates in a Pagan festival, and he does it to calm and ground him and his family.

Fantastic, everyone.

Well done.

The town centre of Glastonbury has many cafes and shops for people who make pilgrimage there.

Have a look at these two photographs and discuss what connection can you see between the town and the tor.

Pause the video here and either with your partner or in a small group, look at the two photographs and see if you can make a connection with the photographs between Glastonbury town and the tor.

Pause the video and press play when you're ready to reflect on your discussions.

Okay, fantastic discussions, everybody.

Well done.

So, what did you discuss with your partner or in your group? Did you notice, perhaps, about the building being yellow there on the left-hand side? Perhaps you thought that might be a connection to the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, or perhaps you notice an image of Glastonbury Tor at the front of the building in the right-hand picture.

Fantastic discussions, everybody.

Well done.

Bel explains why she enjoys visiting Glastonbury town centre.

Bel tells us, "Glastonbury is one of the oldest towns in England.

The High Street is seen by many as being a really magical place.

It is full of eccentric shops and buskers playing musical instruments.

I love coming here to visit.

The town has a very special energy about it that is hard to describe." Danielle says, "As a Catholic Christian, I love the atmosphere of Glastonbury, too.

Pagans, Christians, and people from all worldviews and none can meet, chat, and spend time together.

It is a place of harmony and tolerance for all." Jonah tells us, "As a family, we love to explore the town.

We buy Pagan stories to read, candles and cards to use at home.

The children like to listen to the music and visit the cafes." Let's complete a check for understanding.

Which two sites is a Pagan likely to see on a pilgrimage to Glastonbury? Pause the video here and press play when you're ready to check your answers.

Well done if you selected images A and C as the correct answers.

So time to complete our second practise task.

I would like you to create a pilgrim's guide to Glastonbury.

And in your guide, you need to inform your readers including the following points: why they might still want to visit an ancient place, why Glastonbury is sacred for Pagans and Christians, what pilgrims might be able to do when they visit and how the pilgrimage might make them feel.

Use the case studies and the photographs to help you write your pilgrim's guide to Glastonbury.

Good luck completing your practise task.

Pause the video here and then press play when you're ready to check your answers.

Fantastic work, everybody.

So, in your pilgrim's guide, you might have included the following points.

Glastonbury has links to ancient legends such as the white and red dragon.

It has also many links back to ancient ancestors.

It has been a place of pilgrimage for centuries.

For Pagans, Glastonbury has the tor, which is a centre of spiritual energy.

It is an ancient place of legends.

For Christians, Glastonbury links to the legend of Joseph of Arimathea.

Pilgrims might visit the tor.

There are ceremonies at times like the summer solstice.

They may visit other sites, such as the Chalice Well.

They might spend time in the town visiting shops and cafes.

Many Pagans talk about the spiritual energy of the town and tor.

Many Christians and Pagans talk about the special feel of the town.

Fantastic work, everyone.

Well done on all of your hard work completing that practise task.

So that brings us to the end of today's lesson on Glastonbury: a contemporary spiritual place.

So, let's consider what we've learned into today's lesson.

Glastonbury is a place of pilgrimage for both Pagans and Christians.

Many Pagans visit Glastonbury due to the connection with the legends and ancient sites like the Glastonbury Tor.

Many Pagans believe the landscape around Glastonbury is sacred, and they feel a spiritual energy.

And the connection to nature is felt by many Pagans in Glastonbury.

Fantastic.

Thank you ever so much for joining me for today's RE lesson.

Well done on all of your hard work today.

Goodbye.