Glastonbury and the Three Dan Tian – Part Three
The Tor – Glastonbury’s Upper Dan Tian
If Glastonbury Abbey represents the lower Dan Tian and Chalice well is the middle, then clearly Glastonbury Tor equates very well with the upper Dan Tian that resides within the head of the human body. The centre of this upper Dan Tian is situated at the pineal gland in the middle of the brain and emanates out from there, where it exits the third eye area between the eye brows. It is the most Yang of the three Dan Tian and as such it is the one closest to the ‘heavenly realms’ or higher states of consciousness.
Each Dan Tian can be seen as a kind of energetic transistor and is an area of the body where transformation can take place. The lower Dan Tian is where Jing, or our essence is converted in to Qi. The middle Dan Tian is where Qi is converted in to Shen, or Spirit and the upper Dan Tian is where Shen is converted, if we are advanced enough, in to emptiness, which is the raw essence of the Dao.
During the Nei Gong process, an energetic practice that seeks to work with body’s subtle internal systems, you always start off with the lower Dan Tian and move up from there. It is not until the much later stages that one begins to encounter the energetics of the upper Dan Tian. Initially this may take the form of a bright white light that can be perceived but there are other markers that show that this level of internal awareness has been reached. These markers include things that many in the Western world deem as impossible such as increased intuition, clairvoyance, clairaudience, seeing auras, telepathy and other ‘supernatural’ abilities. However it must be stated that these markers are not something that should be sought out or given too much importance as they are just signs along the path that show that some level of energetic ‘gong’ or skill has been reached.
The very centre of the upper Dan Tian is often referred to as the ‘muddy pill palace’, a name that could also be used, very fittingly, for the enigmatic Glastonbury Tor that rises up out of the mud and swamps of the Somerset levels. Anyone who has ever been up the Tor when it seems to be an island surrounded by a sea of mist, can attest to its enchanting and magical nature. A place that reaches up towards the mysteries of heaven.
Like the upper Dan Tian, Glastonbury Tor has long been seen as place where different levels of consciousness can be reached. The Celtic peoples saw it as a gateway to the fairy realms, others claim it to be a passage to the underworld and the dead, whilst a modern day phenomenon has seen it become a hot bed for UFO sightings. Whatever the truth maybe, it has long been linked with the otherworldly.
And over the years I have heard many a story that seems to suggest that Glastonbury Tor can have seemingly have strong effect on a person’s upper Dan Tian. I have heard about people who upon climbing the Tor for the first time who have been struck down by a brilliant white light. I have heard of those who have spontaneously encountered past lives whilst upon its slopes, and other who have astrally projected themselves to it from far away. It has emblazoned itself upon the national and even global psyche as place of wonder and mystery and I for one will forever feel the awe of its magical presence.
The way to encounter or experience these Dan Tian within the body is to be able to hold our awareness, our attention at these certain points of our energy system. It may be possible to assist with this process if our outer world matches that of our inner world. Therefore it maybe an interesting practice to try and connect with one of the Dan Tian whilst being within the corresponding holy sight of Glastonbury’s energetic composition.