Penny Lewis joined the Isle of Avalon Foundation as a voluntary director four years ago. When the opportunity to become Office Manager came up in July 2008, she decided it was time to get totally immersed! With 25 years experience in advertising TV production and Corporate Communications, she has plenty of experience in organising conferences and events and managing budgets!

During the past few years, Penny has also qualified as an Aromatherapist through The Bristol School of Holistic Therapies, taken Reiki I & II and completed a Certificate in Counselling Skills through the University of West of England. She is now in her fourth year of studying with the Open University focusing on Health Care. A love of Glastonbury and Avalon keeps her here willingly and for someone who has been and still is a workshop junkie, there’s not a better job in the world!

Initiation into the way of the Shaman began for Elsa with total paralysis following Polio at 11 years of age. She had a near death experience at this time, one of many throughout her life. For three years she was in a wheelchair unable to walk. Gradually with the help of guides and teachers from spirit, she managed to walk and overcome many other obstacles. Those years of struggle have given her a compassion for all people and a desire to work with those who need support and help.

As a young woman Elsa was a natural physic and for many years sat in a healing circle at her local spiritualist church, until one day she became disillusioned with what she was doing. On a physical level the results were outstanding, but she knew there was more to do. She knew she was here to help and teach on a very deep soul level. There followed many years of confusion and disillusion with society and authority. She never stopped working with and for those in need, those with a soul need, but it was only upon reaching a major crossroads in her life, when she met Howard and they started a journey together that she realised what she was doing had a name: it was called Shamanism. Elsa is also a Director of the UK branch of the Society for Shamanic Practitioners.
Website: shamanicwarrior.com

Michael Orchard has lived and worked in Glastonbury since 1975. He was one of the core team members of the Glastonbury Festival during the late 70s and early 80s and was responsible for setting up the childrens areas of the festival. Following that he worked with Arabella Churchill to establish the charity Childrens World which brings drama and music therapy to handicapped and underpriviledged children throughout Somerset and Avon.

Following that Michael trained as a physical therapist and ran two successful complementary therapy clinics and a London based training school. In 1998 Michael and his wife Lynne were appointed Guardians and Managers of The Chalice Well Gardens in Glastonbury, where they lived and worked for 7 years holding the spiritual energies of the place and managing a team of 40 staff and volunteers. Now Michael works as a holistic bodywork therapist, runs a small business marketing consultancy, and manages a charity supporting Tibetan children in Nepal.
Website: www. siddharthafoundationuk.org

Lynne Orchard has been visiting or resident in Glastonbury since 1980. A mother of four,and a highly successful aromatherapist and bodyworker. Lynne has worked in the fields of health and healing all her working life, and has integrated her insights from her lifelong spiritual quest into her work. In 1987 she founded a training establishment which taught accredited courses in complementary medicine to health care professionals.

Lynne was instrumental in introducing massage and aromatherapy into many NHS and private healthcare institutions From 1998 to 2005 Lynn, together with her husband Michael was the Guardian and Manager of The Chalice Well Gardens in Glastonbury where she helped to facilitate the spiritual welfare of many of the visitors who came to the Well and the retreat houses on spiritual pilgrimage. She is now an active trustee of The Siddhartha Foundation UK, a charity supporting the education and welfare of Tibetan children in Nepal.
Website: www.siddharthafoundationuk.org

Qualified in 1994, I now practise, supervise and teach Craniosacral Therapy. My original training was in Child Protection. I lectured at Bristol University and also managed Child Care Services. I practise Craniosacral Therapy in Somerset and Bristol. I have tutored at the Karuna Institute and CTET in London.

I feel able to make a contribution to Isle of Avalon not just because of 25 years experience of dealing with people and their problems but also because my sons are now independent adults and I am in good health and well being. I feel I would bring relevant and contemporary skills to the Isle of Avalon as well as patience and endurance.

I combine meditation practice, craniosacral therapy and awareness of process. I find this to be useful as it may allow people receiving treatment to make deeper connections. I particularly enjoy working with families, infants and young people.
Website: www.lynnshorthouse.co.uk

Nick believes passionately that your work should be a source of inspiration, deep fulfilment and material success. He loves helping you discover the work you were born for and then helping you create that into a successful business. Nick knows this success comes from a potent combination of marrying your spiritual heart with your business mind and having the two work in partnership. Nick knows that for many people, earning money from what they love is the final frontier, and loves helping you pin point what is holding you back from who you can really be and how successful you can be.

His style is real, authentic and entertaining. Based in London, Nick is founder of Heart at Work London and a trustee Director of Alternatives at St. James’s in Piccadilly. He is the author of five books, The Work We Were Born To Do, Unconditional Success, Powerful Beyond Measure and How To Be Inspired. He is regularly invited to speak around the world.
Websites: www.inspired-entrepreneur.com