18/06/16
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Weekly Portion: To Reflect
Read:
Judges: 13:2 And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bore not.
Weekly Poison: To Redeem
Rite:
Weekly Potion: To Restore
Reason:
Where to start? Follow your heart, for it shall show you the way.
To flutter, to calm, to heal, to harm. Listen to all it says.
Saints and Sinners
All Hail Mallt y Nos!
St Eligius, (born 588 – died 1 Dec 660), is the Patron Saint of miners, goldsmiths, knife makers and coin collectors among many others, but especially of Horses and the folk who work with them. In the 7th Century he warned the recently converted against the ‘diabolical chanting, dancing and leaping’ of the solestitia, in reference to the ancient Pagan rites of the festival, which included lighting bonfires to protect against evil spirits and in later times to help guide the way for Witches who might be on their way to their meetings.
St. John’s Day, according to the Christian belief, is set on 24th June. It is the Holy Day of St. John the Baptist (born late 1st Century BC – died AD 31-36). Many countries and traditions begin the festival rites the night before, also known as Midsummer’s Eve which is during the festival of the Summer Solstice (Solstice from the Latin Sol and Sistere– ‘Sun’ and ‘to stand still’).
Attributes of St John: Camel skin robe, scroll with Behold, the Lamb of God, own head on platter, pouring water.
According to the Gospel of Mark, John is a fulfilment of the prophecies of Isaiah, Malachi and Exodus. John proclaims baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin, and says another will come after him who will not baptize with water, but with the Holy Spirit.
It was also a custom for women to wash their hands and arms in the Rhine to help avoid the curses of the coming year, as according to Petrarch (who is credited with initiating the Renaissance in the 14th Century and also with the concept of an historical Dark Ages), who recorded what he saw on St John’s Day 1333 in Cologne. He was also a follower of St. Augustine; who used his Confessions to reflect….
…As the book fell open, Petrarch’s eyes were immediately drawn to the following words:
And men go about to wonder at the heights of the mountains, and the mighty waves of the sea, and the wide sweep of rivers, and the circuit of the ocean, and the revolution of the stars, but themselves they consider not.
The Triumph over Death. This is the third subject in Petrarch’s poem “The Great Triumphs”. He also wrote, “Letter to Posterity” and poetry about a mysterious female called ‘Laura’…
“In my younger days I struggled constantly with an overwhelming but pure love affair – my only one, and I would have struggled with it longer had not premature death, bitter but salutary for me, extinguished the cooling flames. I certainly wish I could say that I have always been entirely free from desires of the flesh, but I would be lying if I did”.
Petrarch never rises above the “bel pié” (her lovely foot): Laura is too holy to be painted; she is an awe-inspiring goddess. Sensuality and passion are suggested rather by the rhythm and music that shape the vague contours of the lady.
To Restore
This is the time of the year with the longest day and the shortest night. At twenty minutes to midnight, face the South and hope that the evil wind doesn’t help conjour up a storm that hides the glory of the full Moon, start thinking about something that brings you good feelings. It could be any number of things:
- A memory
- A sound
- A sight
- A feeling
- A taste
Now think of the good things that have happened this year and also the bad. Weigh them in your mind, which would be the greater weight? If it is more good than bad, then I hope you are grateful and deserving of the Blessings you have received. If the judgement of the weighing be more bad than good, then I hope your Curses be reversed at the switching of the tide of the year.
Tarot – Hanged Man
Metre. Commander. King over Water, Formed Earth in the Universe, Cold in the Year, and the Belly in the Soul. Forty plus six hundred.
- M is for Memory
- M is for Mercy
Hosea: 6:6 For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt-offerings.
- M is for Money
- M is for Myrrh
Yours truly,
xMx
Amen, Amen.
Future Days
To know, to want, to dare, to silence.
St Paul of Tarsus Paul of Tarsus (born 5AD – died 67AD). Patron Saint of Gentiles, Missions and Theologians.
Attributes of St Paul, Saul of Tarsus: Sword.
The Angry Farmer 