Sacred Wells

Sound Bite

Sacred Wells is an in depth study of springs, wells and waters that have been venerated from California to Cornwall, Russia to Australia. Tales of faeries, black hounds, hauntings and miraculous cures are explored. Many of these sites are still locations for religious festivals and ritual, unchanging for hundreds of years.The book is illustrated with photos taken by the author.

About the Book

This book is a welcome addition to the scant literature concerning holy wells, springs, and rivers around the world—One of a few serious works outside of regional studies which discusses, in depth, the folklore, mythology, and archaeology of holy wells and springs, as well as rituals that still exist today at many of the sacred water sites around the world. Sacred Wells is a fascinating look at the continuation of ancient pagan traditions into modern culture. Many of these wells are still frequented by those who seek miraculous healing. Mysterious beasts, ghosts, fairies, and gods are still believed to reside in and near these holy areas. This study examines the universal appeal of these sites and provides an excellent reference for anyone interested in folklore, history, and the development of religion.

Introduction

Sacred wells are recognized around the world, in nearly every culture and in every age. Long associated with feminine, divine power they are also seen as places of healing, magick,  wisdom and sources to the Other World. Some believe that these wells were originally created to bring the moon and its powers to the earth, at least in its reflection. Water from these holy wells was believed to have the intrinsic value of fertility and life, and thereby love and sexuality. In many cultures, and for untold centuries, it has been believed that Holy wells are inhabited, or at least guarded, by nymphs and faeries.

Holy wells are also contradictory. Traditions have held that they are life giving, they grant wishes, they heal, they foretell the future but also that they may take life, apply curses, and serve as residences for lost souls and supernatural mischief-makers. Over the years, most holy wells have been renamed after Christian saints but in many cases the ancient practices associated with them continue. Thousands of people still flock to Lourdes and other sacred sites for healing. Votive offerings are still left in secret at many out-of-the-way locations throughout Great Britain and Europe.

Today some scholars are questioning the origin of these holy wells. Were they really venerated by our pagan ancestors? Are they purely the creation of the Christian era? Ronald Hutton noted in his work, The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles, that "not a single structure, not even a basin or retaining wall, can be convincingly dated back to the early Middle Ages, let alone to pre-Christian times."

It is acknowledged that many, if not most, structures constructed around these water sources were created in Christian ages along with the associated linking to a particular saint.  The early Church assigned Christian names to specific wells in an effort to remove traces of pagan usage. The study of the particular saints who had wells dedicated to them is an interesting one. There are over 200 wells named for St. Helen in Britain but it is likely that the original term for these wells was hael, meaning "omen."

"St. Alkelda's"  well in Middleham is an obvious reworking of the Old Norse words "halig kelda" ), meaning a spring of living waters. However, far too many myths and legends tie particular wells to pagan gods and goddesses to discount the pagan origin of many of these sites. These wells were considered sacred long before the followers of the new religion of Christianity placed walls and other structures over them. In addition, many wells, springs, rivers and lakes have ancient offerings in their depths indicating a pre-Christian origin. Richard Muir, in his book The National Trust Guide to Prehistoric and Roman Britain, wrote: "It seems very likely that the multitude of early Christian holy wells are an inheritance resulting from the Christianization of much older pagan holy places."

What is most important, however, is how these monuments affect us today. Do we find an important archetypal link in our concept of what is holy and divine through these wells? Do we find ourselves at peace when we visit these areas? Do we find physical relief of our aches and illnesses by partaking of the waters? Springs and wells are archetypal symbols of life, fertility and vitality.

The Irish have a legend of the Well of Knowledge and, in fact, wells have been regarded as having a special wisdom that can be obtained through their waters. The underground sources of the life giving waters have naturally attracted a religious significance for those living around them. These sources of life (also described as avenues to the underworld) have special guardians in the forms of nymphs, faeries and other mystical beasts and beings.

The United States does not have "holy wells" as they are known in Europe. Modern America does not have the history or traditions associated with long periods of habitation by a single, widespread culture with an intimate relationship with the Earth. The cultures of Native Americans are diverse and their populations are and were located over a widespread geographic area. In a broad sense, these cultures do share a belief in a special relationship with nature and the mystical or divine and there are many areas, including springs and rivers, which were and are still held sacred by the indigenous peoples of America. Thus the United States does have many magickal places, but they are not as well known or documented as those in Europe and Great Britain in particular. Some Native American sacred sites are discussed in detail in Chapter 2. It is the personal relationship that each of us has with the Earth which creates sacred space. The sacred sites discussed in this book have been considered special for hundreds and thousands of years. But one individual, or a few, recognized them originally as places of wonder and power. We can do the same even if we live in a country that has not had the linear history that Great Britain and Europe have had. If you know an area that is meaningful to you, that feels powerful and mystical, then you have connected with the sense of spirit and have begun the process of creating a sacred place. This book will examine the ancient roots of the mythology and spirituality that is associated with holy wells and the religious conflicts that surround them. In addition, the contemporary religious rites practiced at various sacred wells that date back to prehistoric times will be examined.

Table content

Chapter 1: The Sacred Well in Ancient HistoryChapter 2: A Spotlight on Sacred WellsThe Chalice Well, Glastonbury GlastonburyÃ??'s White Well SpringSt MadronÃ??'s Well, CornwallSt NectanÃ??'s Falls, Tintagel St PiranÃ??'s Well, Tintagel Sancreed, Cornwall St EunyÃ??'s Well, CornwallSt BridgidÃ??'s Well, Ireland Lourdes, France The Wells of Rome Lumbini Ã??' Birthplace of Buddha, NepalHoly Springs and Water Lore of EthipoiaCenot©s & Other Sacred Waters of the AmericasChapter 3: Sacred WellsÃ??'Holy TreesChapter 4: Wells and Votive OfferingsChapter 5: Myths and LegendsChapter6: Healing Wells and Springs Chapter 7: Ancient and Contemporary RitualsChapter 8:Holy WellsÃ??'A Pagan & Christian PerspectiveChapter 9: Holy Wells and Divine ApparitionsChpater 10: Holy Wells in TodayÃ??'s WorldChpater 11: Place Names and the Danger of LanguageChapter 12: What Makes Healing Water Heal?

Information

Sacred Wells: A Study in the History, Meaning, and Mythology of Holy Wells & Waters by Gary R. Varner offers a comprehensive and global exploration of the mystical, historical, and cultural significance of holy wells and sacred waters. This expanded second edition delves deeply into the enduring spiritual traditions tied to natural springs, wells, and waters revered across various cultures and epochs, providing readers with both scholarly insight and vivid descriptions of these enigmatic sites.
The book opens with an examination of the ancient origins of sacred wells, tracing their connections to prehistoric times and the reverence ancient peoples had for water as a symbol of life, healing, and the divine feminine. It discusses the association of wells with fertility, wisdom, and the underworld, highlighting their role as liminal spaces between worlds. The integration of religious and mythological narratives, such as those involving Druids, Celtic goddesses, and Christian saints, illustrates the layers of belief woven around these sites.
A significant portion of the work shines a spotlight on specific wells from around the world. Notable examples include the Chalice Well and the White Spring in Glastonbury, famous for their symbolic red and white waters and their ties to Arthurian legend and the Druids. The book also investigates St. Madron’s Well in Cornwall, known as a "dream temple" where sacred dreams were incubated, reflecting ancient healing and divination practices. Other internationally renowned sacred waters like Lourdes in France, the holy springs of Ethiopia, and cenotes of the Yucatan Peninsula are explored, demonstrating the universal human fascination with healing waters.
Varner addresses the various rituals and votive offerings associated with holy wells, including the practice of well dressing, the use of cloth and pins as offerings, and even the darker aspects of cursing wells with inscribed lead tablets. The book explores myths and legends surrounding wells, such as the tales of dragons and other guardians, apparitions like the “Ladies in White,” and the transformative or miraculous powers attributed to these waters.
Moreover, the author examines the healing properties of well waters from both a spiritual and scientific perspective. He discusses the minerals found in these waters—such as iron, sulfur, radon gas, and silica—and their reputed health benefits, while acknowledging the powerful role that belief and connection to the “spirit of place” play in the healing experience.
Sacred Wells also provides an historical perspective on the evolving relationship between pagan traditions and Christianity, highlighting conflicts and syncretism, as well as the socio-cultural dynamics that have influenced the preservation or destruction of these sites over time. Finally, the book includes a gazetteer of notable wells worldwide, a discussion on the complexities of place names, and a thorough bibliography for further study.
This work serves as a valuable resource for those interested in folklore, mythology, religious studies, cultural history, and natural spirituality, offering a richly detailed and respectful treatment of a subject that spans the ancient to the contemporary world.