Neil Oliver - ‘…Glastonbury, searching for truth in a mysterious landscape’ - Podcast episode 37

[@avelsgard78]

You are beloved in our house Mr Oliver. Thank you for ALL YOU DO!!!

[@ste2442]

In our house he is as well 🤝

[@glenp3985]

Unforgettable Glastonbury. Never been there since the charlatans and the rock fest took over. I remember walking "the ley lines" around the tor with a friend who had a deep interest in all of that. The ancient spirituality of the place couldn't be missed, and this brings it all back to me, so many years later. I cherish this series, and must ask Neil to find a further 100 places to visit as I can't even think of not tuning in every week for my dose of enrichment and beauty in a now troubled world.

[@DC-jk9ts]

Pyramid stage at Glastonbury Festival. A holy city that now invites annually the Cabal.

[@esterhudson5104]

Hear hear😌

[@Anonymous-km5pj]

@@DC-jk9ts the more things change the more they stay the same, or something like that...

[@gerhardheydrich3146]

The festival takes place miles away from Glastonbury town and is only held once a year - go back and enjoy the place again 🙂

[@sicks6six]

I remember Glastonbury before all the yuppy pretend hippies opened up the gift shops selling tat, tie-dye t-shirts, wind charms and books about King Arthur and Merlyn, it was full of farmers, people who worked in the sheepskin industry, in the abattoirs and the tanners, cutters, dyers, sewers, then it changed overnight when the sheep industry collapsed with cheap imports and the new man mad materials people wanted, it was very down to earth and working class and none of these middle-class leftists had bought up all the housing stock and forced the house prices up beyond the local pockets, its OK now for visitors but it used to be good for the locals to live in,

[@clivegetliff1293]

Without History we are empty vessels... Keep up the good work Neil

[@wolfwise44]

Myths and legends that are being past off as being history serve no-one but those that wrote the original lie.

[@terrybetts3794]

Neil keep up the good work

[@johnwinward2421]

Around the 1971 Glastonbury Fair I was living in a caravan at the foot of the Tor. I later picked up a couple of degrees and spent my whole working life s a fairly hard-nosed researcher, but I've never shaken off the sense of magic that the place engenders.

[@aztecfox1]

I live in Glastonbury and I love it. Neil this video really has made my day. Thank you

[@LilyGazou]

Fortunate👏

[@daisysunshine1324]

I was hugely jealous of a friend who moved there. I thought they were going to be living in the most magical place in England. Until I stayed for the first time in the travel lodge on the industrial estate, by Tesco. It wasn’t that which broke the spell so much as the group of middle aged people sitting on the kerb drinking before pub opening time. And then later when my daughter was looking to move to Somerset, because we have family in Yeovil area. She looked at Glastonbury and realised that work opportunities are not great, especially if you don’t drive. She was a dental nurse at the time, so limited in what she wanted, but she is the sort who will do anything to get by, so she looked generally. We came to the conclusion that Glastonbury is a beautiful spiritual feeling place, with a fun high street to shop in. But just like everywhere else, under the magical veneer it has its normal everyday issues. Strangely the magic of Glastonbury hasn’t been broken for me, I’m just more mindful that it’s not the entire picture of the area.

[@jeandixon586]

Gosh, I came from SA to work at a B&B in Glastonbury in 1992 and walked up the tor (covered in sheep droppings lol) and enjoyed the beautiful town and countryside. But how wish I'd known what Neil has described here. Thank you, Neil - not only for your inimitable history-stories, but for your path and calling of speaking up about world events. All honour to you, sir 🌍💙

[@grammamellow1219]

I feel that sense of holding on by a thread. I find hope in reflecting on history as a reminder of how successful we have been in overcoming hardships and adapting to new . Blessings Abound. I appreciate you taking us along. Love from the midwest U.S. ❣️

[@elwood212]

Gramma may I say you would ‘Rock the Hell’ out of ‘Manifesting’, from another oldy who recently learned how to manifest…I lost the pain, bad luck and fear and replaced it with a wonderful husband, animals and land to grow our own. The people who keep entering our lives are all on our wave length, all loving beings…Each came quickly (average 2 days to 1 x week)…I’m so joyful for you for taking the leap into the light to SEE THE TRUTH ..sending you love and light from Qld Australia.🙏💕💕🇦🇺

[@princerupert6161]

To me, it's Britain's holy land. No specific religion, just the 'divine' running through it. You really can feel the energy. During my first Glastonbury festival, years ago, I had the compulsion to (like others) to go about bare foot. It felt the natural thing to do. Later, I remembered the passage from the bible when God said to moses, 'take of thy shoes, for you are on holy ground'. After that visit, I was a different person. If that's a modern day reaction to a pilgrimage, then it connected me to the people of the deep past. Astonishing!

[@dalenelson7161]

Sitting here in florida dreaming of visiting my ancestrial homeland of the british isles.

[@tanseygreen]

Better hurry it won't be British much longer

[@barbp2768]

Why do you say that? 😢

[@primalcolin2]

One of my favourite places, the land is special there

[@stephanieo7373]

Was just at Glastonbury, St.Nectan's, and Tintagel. I felt like I was at the center of my history and I am just a Midwestern schmuck from the US. A beautiful experience of a lifetime.

[@daisysunshine1324]

Strangely I love Glastonbury, it’s on the way to visiting my sister in law, & St Nectans Glen, as I holiday in Cornwall a couple of times a year, but hope to move there when family allows. But I’ve never felt anything special about Tintagel. In fact I kinda get irritated there and i have no idea why. I prefer Boscastle. Even when it’s busy, there is a calming peace about the village & the woodland walk along the river is beautiful.

[@Mikerumball]

I've always said old sayings are old for a reason. Because they are true. Thanks for these Neil x

[@Stenlin1]

I recognise honest people with a great heart ❤🙏🙏🙏🙏🤗

[@neilrushton7169]

This is so brilliant. I was in Glastonbury only last week - it is a magical and healing place.

[@Marsand100]

Just what I need right now

[@OrangeMapleLeaf]

Fascinating....ever since I read "Mists of Avalon", which was obviously based on the Joseph of Arimathea/Arthurian legends, I wanted to know more and you provided the whole story or legend and the actual facts, like the mining and trading of metals, that are at the base of it. Unfortunately I never had the chance to visit Glastonbury. Thank you.

[@brett-lothian]

One the few truly great orators of our time. Thank you Neil, your weekly dose of history helps make the world just that little bit better.

[@Sandgalah]

Your videos are the only KZbins I share to family and friends. We are French and Scottish ancestry, born in Australia. We ❤you!

[@amanitamuscaria7500]

Glasto certainly is special. You did it more than justice in this episode, Neil. Thank you.

[@lindabeagley4114]

Beautifully told Neil thank you

[@joansando1943]

Thank you Mr. Oliver for a magical way to spend a short time in my day, I love history and you have a gift for sharing your love of history and your knowledge with the world. Thank You Sir .

[@vickyediele]

Thank you, I need some sanity today x

[@wellnessgirl2806]

As a long term Glastonbury resident, thank you for bringing your perspective and animating the myths and legends of Avalon.

[@brenb8897]

A brilliant journey through history Mr Oliver. Thank You.

[@MrCountryboy999]

Thank you for that Neil it was fantastic

[@lutonlion3324]

My most favourite human being on the planet. Neil Oliver, a diamond in the dust.

[@grantmcauliffe3437]

Thank you, Mr Oliver. Superb.

[@judis6224]

Neil I enjoy history as well,I believe in the truth too.miss seeing you on TV on Scotland's history,can't get enough,thank you.

[@rhonataylor85]

Keep going Neil - you’re right - a love of history keeps us sane!

[@GMac2776]

We need the discipline of history, to counter the chaos of the present. History is always comforting, it’s the rock we tether ourselves to in times of upheaval.

[@sovereign_paul]

Wonderful! Thanks Neil

[@nicholasadamson2103]

What a treat. Love your narration Neal.

[@nickwhitestar7646]

I have always believe, they visited the Durids, Glastonbury and North Wales ........ 🌳🏆🌳 Thanks Neil another thought provoking podcast 👍

[@elisabethdeling5195]

Beautiful i always look for stories about Avalon and feel drown to it❤ thanks Neil for this podcast.

[@ljon2243]

Oh! Don't drown!

[@elisabethdeling5195]

@@ljon2243 hahahaha

[@elisabethdeling5195]

@@ljon2243 is attracted a better word than? Or connected maybe🤣 I don’t now

[@meganhulatt6779]

I'm sitting in my garden on the base of the Tor listening to your musings and really appreciate your telling of with this love letter.

[@hipnicity]

When I was a kid we had a tv show on Sunday mornings called Davy & Goliath. Bible stories without the church’s spin! I thank goodness I’m 62 now & very grateful I had those shows.🙏☮️❣️✨

[@janed7774]

I really am enjoying your love letter to the British isles... especially this one .. my loved one took me to Glastonbury and on to cheddar gorge for our first date .. ❤ the best first date ever and we’re both very happy still 🎉

[@daisysunshine1324]

Wow. That’s a full on date. I can (and do) spend all day at Glastonbury alone. I visited Wookey Hole, which is a part of the gorge I believe, in 2019. It was a day out for my nieces birthday, they live in Yeovil area & I live in Buckinghamshire. I have a crumbling spine & I’d not long had an op for a ruptured appendix & consequently spent over a week in hospital, so my sis in law was worried about all the steps. But it was so gorgeous there. Of course, I’m the sort of person who used to go rock climbing and cave diving, so would really love to do those there. But I’m not sure that would be sensible. Lol. I’m hoping we can go to Cheddar Gorge proper next summer. But first we will meet up at Glastonbury Frost Fayre for a crispy day of Xmas shopping and a wonderful atmosphere. We drove through snow showers to get there last year, only for my sis in law to tell me she wasn’t going as it had been cancelled, due to the bad winds we’d just had. We were past Bristol by this point and decided ‘what the hell’. Still good for Xmas shopping. But it was on. In a slightly smaller capacity. The mayor gave a fantastically rousing speech and we had a great day. As word spread, the town was getting busier and busier. The Fayre is the one thing that kick starts my Xmas spirit.

[@spence2126]

I love a good story and Neil's a great storyteller be it truth or myth or a bit of both. Keep em coming plz✌️❤️

[@robynsandri7924]

It’s magical. Realms meet in this sacred place.

[@Deliquescentinsight]

History is in fact the true source of our knowledge, this includes social, scientific, philosophical and of course the genuine source of our Epistemology, it feeds our awareness of how we know the world, and our universe - The older I become the more I appreciate History as a subject of study.

[@sophialuypaert-vediclife4ever]

Thank you Neil for another wonderful podcast! history has so much mystery and you have an amazing story telling voice! can't wait for the next episode!!

[@francestodd4377]

Thank you Neil. What you’ve said about wisdom is so true. My Grandmother used to tell the history of our area whenever all the cousins were in the car with her and family stories.

[@britanniau.k.4352]

You and the Tor- both magic Neil...

[@rachelb2231]

Thank you for another wonderful podcast. Love your work, your books, your take on today's event through historical prism. Happy to support you on patreon!

[@kathyhennigan7807]

So thought provoking and magical at the same time. It seems familiar yet I have never heard the information you provide in this video. Funny how something like this place can feel that way. So happy I found your channel.

[@waynegargan8468]

Thank you Neil. You fire my imagination. I really enjoy these love letters. And yes I love the book also

[@flipper9069]

Excellent . The Michael & Mary ley lines intertwine at the Tor, after flowing through other ancient places of interest, that are masculine & feminine respectively. St Michaels mount is another such place where the two energy lines converge.. there is a book "The Sun & the Serpant" that traces the two lines from lands end across southern England to East Anglia.

[@libertybell7145]

Thank you for this description!!

[@phoenixrising5088]

Was at the 1984 festival and climbed up to the Tor and blew my Conch Shell which sounded amazing. 🐚 Great History lesson from the beautiful Neil. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@susansherlock6934]

I felt a real pull to Glastonbury town when I first went in 1986. I found out later that my mum's side of the family came from Somerset, less than 30 miles from Glastonbury. x

[@Kamalo3723]

Stunning and extraordinary!

[@maureenrhysjones4643]

Thank you Mr. Oliver! What a lovely surprize, I just love being read to. And I particularly like you in this informative and passionate mode as opposed to the political agitant mode. As I'm from Salisbury Plain area originally, I'm an old Druid! My solar plexus is stirred every time I visit Stone Henge where I used to play and where my family go back for 6 generations...so far. Love the Love Letters! Fantastic, just love them. Thank you again🙏🙏🙏

[@r.m.8374]

Don't change bro, your walking in the right direction. Its not easy taking this path, so stay strong, always remember tiredness makes us weak. Rest, get stronger.

[@margaretdifford194]

Love history and agree with you and its wisdom and can teach us many lessons. Adore Glastonbury and are lucky enough to live very nearby, so grateful you have created these podcasts and happy to help through Patreon. Thank you, Neil.

[@kaywilliams4721]

Glastonbury, my soul home. One of the special brew crew at the white spring told me " you have the invisible elastic band round you , that keeps pinging you back here" and thats so true! Thank you Neil , really loved listening to this ❤

[@willagrant7403]

One of my favorites places in the world.

[@MaxUtley]

I am a global adventurer - grounded for a while and left to explore KZbin. I was drawn to Neil Oliver by his eloquent speech that suggested British people should exercise their collective power to say no to the nonsense that is inflicted on them by the minority elite and hostile establishment. This episode was beautifully narrated and thoroughly engaging. I am fascinated by astronomy, anthropology and history - although geography may be my passion. As someone who has travelled to nearly every country on the planet on a motorcycle and slept in a tent in everything Mother Nature can throw at me I now find myself in constant need of stimulation and to be reminded that decent, thoughtful and interesting people like Mr Oliver still exist.

[@drraoulmclaughlin7423]

Thank you for this 🙂 I'm fascinated by the Arthur Myth. I have been gathering all the Greek and Roman references to ancient North European belief systems and the commercial networks that spread goods and ideas across cultural frontiers 🙂🙂🙂

[@cynthiastogden7000]

Enthralling. I actual cried when you said Joseph of A. Walked on the Tor, possibility with Jesus, and I am not religious. Thank you.

[@evaf1150]

Dear sir Oliver I too concur with the assessment of myths With the twist and turns the truth buried in it And when spoken about mesmerizing most times With a mouth open wide in awe listening the myth

[@michelecornhill2753]

I climbed up the tor after having a life saving operation back on 2015, it was blowing a gale, took my scarf! I stood in the tower and got thrown around like a human pinball, I laughed and laughed and loved it as the elements threw me around, I had an amazing sense of healing and cleansing , I’d never been there before , the place is certainly magical and has amazing energy, I’d describe my experience as being thrown around in a spin dryer! Absolutely awesome experience which I certainly felt the energy and I felt the healing powers , now I’m not into hurdy gurdy magic, but that Tor has some special healing energy going on .

[@libertybell7145]

Thanks for your description!

[@heatherkulak8633]

Love all your work your voice is beautiful and healing I go to sleep listening to your Celtic programs

[@sueroberts6193]

My recent ancestors on fathers side are from Glastonbury, Cheddar and the Quantocks! It pleases me to know I have links to that land! Big hugsxwith thanks, you help keep me sane!...Sue in Edinburgh 💐

[@jonprice7666]

That was fantastic, thank you Neil!

[@mariesauvagetova1757]

You are beloved in my house too; Neil....My Best Visitor over this Passing Year.....We are truly blessed with having you talking to us on topics most fascinating indeed ! Together with Paul and mesmerising ly wonderful music...Keep well and Happy New Year 2023...I happen to live here not far from Magical Glastonbury Hill..Event greatly missed over those horrible past 3 years !

[@anneswift2833]

Absolutely love watching you !

[@kellydavies9699]

Thank you Neil, once again for your enchanting and inspiring sharings❤ I don't know about anyone else but I absolutely love being in Glastonbury (the town not the festival - though would happily give that a go if the opportunity arose). I was surprised, on my 1st visit, by how blown away by the place I was (being a self-confessed coast-lover). It definitely has a magical/other-worldly quality about it, one reason being, it completely throws my (usually pretty good) internal compass, i.e. when I face the setting sun, in Glasto, even though I know I'm facing west, I FEEL like I'm facing east (sunrise has the same effect on me). It's a really strange but lovely sensation😊 can't wait til my next visit❤

[@wetincornwall6882]

Born n bred in Somerset, my family has been there for probably 800yrs, 1st recording of our surname was in the Somerset rolls back in the 1200s, and records show we ain't moved about much. Here's an old story I heard as a kid. 2 Giants lived in Somerset many, many centuries ago, brothers, 1 lived on top of Glastonbury Tor, one on top of Brent Knoll. They were always fighting and used to throw rocks at eachother, hence the rocks that could be found on top of both hills. It's a good story to tell kids 😁

[@marshgirl]

I live near the Tor and regularly collect Spring water at its base . The White Well and the Red Well. Plus relax in the Chalice Gardens and Magdalene Chapel 🙏🏻🌹⚜️💜. I did a Magdalene healing retreat there it was amazing . 💫 A very special time in my life and healing profession. 💫

[@libertybell7145]

Thank you for your description

[@nickjung7394]

Really interesting. Thanks Neil

[@diogenesegarden5152]

I have often wondered about the step lychetts and undulations on the slopes of hillsides. They are quite a familiar feature of the landscape in Dorset where I live. Many put them down to animal grazing patterns around the slopes. I have a theory that these were purposely constructed by early agriculturalists to provide managed grazing platforms to either maintain a clean slope and make it easier for the animals to graze the steeper slopes, especially if the surrounding, lower lying area was subject to inundation during certain seasons of the year. These would maximise the grazing area on a raised platform by squaring the hypotenuse. They may also have been carved into, in the case of Glastonbury Tor, the sides to enable carts to bring stone for the building of the original church. You would have needed an on ramp and an off ramp to maintain traffic flow. Maybe some sort of crane system was employed to lift the stone from one level to the next, as a spiral to the top would have meant one way traffic and would also have been subject to erosion and severe destabilisation in the event of heavy rain. Just a theory but I thought I would put it out there.

[@Jason-md2fn]

Amazing 😄 a listen to your comforting and hugely intresting stories for Ages..

[@johnharpdalton4092]

I lived at Glastonbury for twenty years, until recently. It is a special place but the New Wage practitioners & festival help obscure the deeper aspects. An old gardener who every year sold a half dozen Glastonbury Thorns, told me that he had diligently tried to grow them from berries, and no success indoors or out. The only way was to graft a cutting onto an indigenous root,.which is what all the town's G. Thorns are, for the original was allegedly destroyed by Cromwell's troops. He told me, 'It's a Middle Eastern thorn and blooms at Christmas and Easter...' His tale also implied that the original GT came from the ME as a living tree - or as Joseph's staff that he planted in Wearyall Hill.

[@awaitthegroom]

As a teen in Glastonbury in the 70s I had the honour to stay at the Abbey House beside the ruins and we were allowed into the grounds at dawn with the sunrising. It was an amazing experience and I have always loved the town until the occult new age exploded all over it and swamped the other aspects of the history of the town and made it a gross commercial abhorrence. Its beauty is now from afar in my view and although I miss being there its not the place it was. The Holy Grail is not a cup but a belief which the Knights templar believed in.

[@peterww3241]

Joseph of Arimathea is buried in what used (until around 1700) to be the nave of the Church of St Mary, Castle Grounds, Cardiff, which used to be an island surrounded by the River Taff. Now it is part of Bute Park.

[@borntraveller007]

This was on my list of places to go on one of my campervan trips, now knowing this back story will make it a bit more special, Thanks Neil👍 I want to go back to Maeshowe on Orkney after someone pointed out the rocks in the entrance tunnel, i.e. Just how big they are and how did they make and move such huge lumps of rock? Sometimes you can miss what's starring you in the face and I've given up listening to what mainstream historians say on the matter, like you pointed out, they have to go with the narrative (Even if it's blindingly obvious it's BS) or they'll be cancelled.😏 There's more to our history than we are being told, and I get an uneasy feeling as to why they are hiding it from us?🤔

[@IamNotanumber-z3j]

Love Glastonbury village - I do hope it never changes

[@susiemartin3144]

Only just found you but I’ve loved your TV programmes before! Landscapes my thing, buildings archaeology in particular!

[@nigelericogden3200]

As Bob Marley stated, “If you know your history, you will know where you’re coming from” … In respect of “social media” I have found the work of Tristan Harris (“The Social Dilemma’) most helpful. I dropped Facebook 3 or 4 years back, I have not missed participation in it.

[@robertcook2572]

Although, strangely, all except the English are encouraged to know and celebrate their history. Indeed, the English are discouraged from believing that they even exist.

[@LilyGazou]

I forgot that I forgot about Facebook. 😂 I get commercials telling me to sign up.

[@valeriedelaney5245]

Yes I agree! I don’t know if you read the Bible but I think you would enjoy the true history in the Old and New Testament. I love your channel and really appreciate you!

[@rubyall1]

Thank you so much for sharing this it is so interesting xx

[@judyw5584]

Excellent

[@Chewbacca2000]

Thanks Neil!! That was brilliant

[@thevocalmale3754]

Has to be my most favourite place on the British Isles without a doubt. Just down the road a little you also have the remains of Cadbury Castle - also reputed to be linked with King Arthur. Enjoyed the podcast immensely, Neil 👍

[@breohtbrusmid489]

I lived and attended school there. If it weren't for the lack of employment I'd still be there. Lovely, amazing place.

[@rarebird_82]

I've wanted to visit Glastonbury ever since I saw an episode of McNally in the 90s. I was just a kid when he did an entire show on the area, the festival, the Tor, the monks, Avalon etc and it gripped me so much I recorded it on VHS and watched it dozens of times after. I love the nail in the gate analogy and the oyster metaphor, to describe the growth of myths and legends, perfect. I've never heard the story of the thorn tree before, fascinating stuff, particularly as Jesus apparently wore a crown of thorns at the crucifixion, I'd love to learn more about that. PS - NeilO could read the instruction leaflet for a kettle and I'd listen, such a wonderful narrator 🥰

[@elwood212]

What an incredible Tribute to a treacherous time. It has a haunted feeling for me, like One Tree Hill in Auckland NZ.

[@mariab509]

I love this. ❤thank you ❤

[@anjelakewell9671]

We live near Glasto. It’s lost so much of its mystery and no longer has the mystery that was here so long ago. It is probably our modern way of life as much as anything. I find the Somerset levels far more spiritual and mysterious.

[@webm8]

And don't forget that the Queen has, at Christmas, a cutting from one of the Holy Thorns in Glastonbury on her dinner table.

[@suemcdermott2947]

Never knew that.

[@MyAsh1974]

My wife & I stayed in Glastonbury for 3 days & wow what a truly magical place forget the music festival discover the town & it's history the people are so friendly & the trips are amazing 😉

[@hipnicity]

Wow! I LOVE THE ARTHURIAN SKELETON STORY!🙏☮️✨✨ How COOL IS THAT!

[@peterww3241]

It's fake history. The monks perpetrated a fraud to make more money from pilgrims :(

[@JohnSmith-rn8ui]

Been there ,,& did the festival in93 ,, all 3 days on the site ,chatted with the farmer ,, gorgeous hot dry weather that year ,, glorious ,,, memories .,,

[@evaf1150]

Thank you for another adventure

[@esterhudson5104]

LOVE, LOVE IT 👏👏

[@pauln7422]

I can't help feeling that maybe Tarshish mentioned in the bible is Britain. Thank you Neil

[@suemcdermott2947]

Some pastors say British Isles because of the tin and copper others say Spain. My thoughts it was Brit Isles

[@phoenixrising5088]

​@@suemcdermott2947 apparently Scotland is the oldest place on earth. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@veroniquevandroogenbroeck]

Glastonbury!!! yes a amazing festival, that you not compare as the festival of Woodstock in 1969! But Glastonbury get something special to visit. . wonderful, Neil 😀💙💙

[@marklewis5984]

"What if?" YES! Thank you once again.

[@leighcecil3322]

You don't get pearls from oysters... it's a clam family you get pearls love your work Neil 👍

[@josephwiseman5846]

father of light love be with you there is much more to reveal neil well do bro shalom shalom

[@emilymay3660]

I really enjoyed watching this, many thanks ❤️