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Seasonal Well Dressings at the White Spring

Seasonal Well Dressings at the White Spring

Last updated on: April 30, 2025 at 2:46 pm by Annwyn Avalon

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Seasonal Well Dressings at the White Spring 2025-04-30T14:46:40-08:00 Annwyn Avalon

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When I first began volunteering at the White Spring, I was introduced to all the shrine spaces. Some of the shrines I was deeply drawn to. At the same time, others felt unattended and bare. Truth be told, they are all unique in some way. While some are established, others change seasonally.

Every time I was in the Spring, I would walk by the seasonal shrine. It felt bare and untended, like a place where random things were placed. After I became the ceremonialist of the Spring, I set out to make the shrine seasonal! Dressing Wells and Sacred Springs is an old folkloric tradition. Places like Malvern and Buxton have large well-dressing events each year. These celebrations grew from local traditions and customs that reach back into the past.

So, just over a year ago, the Women of the Well (the women volunteers) began meeting a few days before the Sabbat to bring the seasonal shrine to life! We begin by walking the land and wild harvesting flowers, small branches, ivy, and anything else that is in season. We meet in the Spring, where we light a few candles to bring light to the space. Then, we lay out the foliage to see what we have. We then cleanse the altar with White Spring water, and then begin constructing the altar.

Annwyn Avalon at the White Spring – Photo by Southwest Wilding Photography – Debra Smitham

This year, for Beltane, we constructed an arch out of branches; it is woven with Hawthorns, Apple Blossoms, Quince Blossoms, Cow Parsley, White Lilacs, Wisteria, Ivy, Horse Tail, Elder Leaves, Forget-me-nots, and so much more! Goddess statues that have been left by patrons of the spring stick out from the greenery. Venus of Wilendorf, A Neolithic Goddess, a carved stone goddess, Gaia, and a few resin statues. We also had a family come in during the Spring Equinox with a series of wooden carved and painted goddess figures. They are placed lovingly around the altar. In the center is a silver bowl with crystals that patrons have left in the Spring as offerings. Two large crystals that other patrons gifted to the space also reside in the space.

All of this is lovingly arranged for patrons to use the space to connect, pray, worship, commune, meditate, or create rituals to connect with water, the spirits of the place, and their deity. You can read about an experience I had at the Seasonal Shrine with a few patrons at midnight during the Summer Solstice last year here.

Unfortunately, there is no photographic evidence as it has been a long-time policy that there is no photography in the Spring, which is pretty rare in this day and age. So these creations are only for those who come and visit the Spring. You will have to stop by on the Sabbat to come and see our creations!

Dressing the Spring seasonally, and for the Sabbats has become such a joy for me. When we are finished, we often light seasonal incense, then we sing songs, weave words of magic, and set intentions for ourselves and the Spring. It has become something that I look forward to. It is something that I used to dream about doing, and now it is a reality! I hope you can stop by on one of these Sabbats and experience the magic of the White Spring and the Seasonal Shrine.

Annwyn Avalon at the White Spring in Glastonbury – Image by Southwest Wilding Photography – Debra Smitham

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About Annwyn Avalon

Annwyn Avalon is a Water Priestess living in Avalon. She is the Ceremonialist and the Co-Custodian of the White Spring in Glastonbury. She is the Founder of Triskele Rose Mystery School, Water Priestess Training, and the Water Priestess Confluence. She is also the Author of Water Witchcraft: Magic and Lore from the Celtic Tradition, The Way of the Water Priestess, and Celtic Goddess Grimoire. She has also contributed to numerous esoteric publications in the U.S. and England such as The Magical Times Magazine, This Witch, Witchology, the Patheos Blog "The Water Witch". She has contributed to Brigid's Light: Tending the Ancestral Flame of the Beloved Celtic Goddess and more. She has devoted her life to the study of Esoteric Water Mysteries and Avalon. Her path is one of sacred service to the waters of this world and her ancestors. She is an initiated Witch and Priestess, Reiki Master Teacher, award-winning Dancer, and has a BFA in sculpture, BA in Anthropology as well as an apprentice certification in herbalism. She is also the Sacred Steward of Chalice Orchard. The former home of the famous authors Dion Fortune and Geoffrey Ashe. You can find Annwyn roaming the hedge rows of Glastonbury or at the White Spring in sacred service to the waters. You can read more about the author here.

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