Glastonbury Tor (Photo credit: Nick Kenrick .)
Over the next few posts, I’ve decided to share some of the words that are pinned up on my study wall.
This is the room where I do my writing, plan my lessons and tutor some of my students, so it’s a special place where much of my waking life is spent. The window looks out onto a northern roof-scape of Glastonbury, with St Edmunds Hill towards the west and – if you know where to look – St Michael’s Tower (the one on top of Glastonbury Tor) just visible above treetops over to the east.
Above the door there’s a small metal sign, bearing the word:
INSPIRE
That’s to remind me what I’m here to do. It’s what living, educating and writing are all about.
Ranged around the walls are other texts from various sources, which have shaped my thinking – and consequently my life.
Today I’m going to share a passage written by a fellow Glastonbury resident – a mystic and visionary who, among other things, created the trust which still runs the beautiful Chalice Well Gardens – my number one favourite place in the world.
His words, having been written in the early twentieth century, pre-date our rather wafty New Age terminology, but the sentiment is clear, and his uncompromising words have helped me to take stock and refocus when doubts and worries have threatened to take over.
The importance of positive, constructive, optimistic thinking all day long cannot be over-estimated. The fight on which you and I are constantly engaged is against the so-called forces of fear, depression, self-centredness and frustration. Bar your gates against these negative forces as the first step towards making yourself and your life of greater service to others.
Wellesley Tudor Pole
Looking at Life 
Hi, Jan. Your INSPIRE reminder sign seems to be doing its job. When I feel the inspiration to read blog posts, yours are at the top of my list for their inspirational content.
Regarding the Wellesley Tudor Pole quote, I feel inspired by his emphasis on constructive, optimistic thinking. And while I agree he doesn’t use New Age terminology and that his sentiment is clear and his words are uncompromising, I’m not quite as inspired by his suggestion there’s a constant fight against the forces he names, or his suggestion to defend against these forces if we want to be of service to others.
From the point of view of the saying, “What you resist persists,” which admittedly has a New Age feel, some of Mr. Pole’s suggestions can seem a little counter-productive, even if they are well intended. Perhaps there’s more than a difference in terminology between the inspiration of the early 20th century and the inspiration available today.
Hi Bob. Thanks for your lovely comments about inspiration. I feel very much the same about your posts.
Yes, I completely take your point about WTP’s focus on ‘fighting’. Interesting. Of course he was writing at the time of the Second World War – a time when battling the forces of evil would have been very much a part of everyone’s life.. However he was at the heart of a movement to win the war for the allies through focused group positive thinking, and even persuaded the BBC to have a daily silent minute, to allow the whole population to focus on peace. (The tradition lives on at the Chalice Well Gardens.) So in many ways he was well ahead of his time – the first Intention Experiment?
Thanks for sharing those words of wisdom. I feel blessed to have met you.
Wendy
Bless you for saying so, Wendy x
I love your sign, Inspire. And the quote resonates with me. Above my stove, I have a small square with a pretty design and a quote on it that reads, “Wherever you go, go with all of your heart.”
From what I know of you, you certainly follow that advice, Susan ❤
Hi Jan, thanks for this inspirational post. I love this affirmation because it confirms that it is a lifelong battle that we all share, it takes great inner work and commitment to bar the gates against thenegative forces. Very timely words of wisdom. 🙂
I’m glad you found them helpful 🙂
Wonderful post, thanks for sharing x
Thank you for commenting, Roma x
beautiful thoughts……
Thank you ❤
🙂
Stepping over the language and meanings of another time, a fearful one, his clear intention of service is inspiring. “Fear, depression, self centeredness” feels to me like a spiral inward, conscious or otherwise, into our own interior. “Constructive, optimistic thinking,” “making yourself and your life of greater service to others” is the intention to live in an outward moving spiral.
Inhale, exhale, contract, expand, inspire, express, maybe we are all breathing into each other.
Thanks for the inspiration!
And thank you for your thoughtful and insightful interpretation of WTP’s words, Minerva.