I Surprise Myself
Jan. 21st, 2009 10:13 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
poliphiloYesterday morning we were in Glastonbury.
Glastonbury is one of the two places I think of as "home".
I climbed the Tor as I always do. Dion Fortune says the air at the top is full of sparkles- and I can't think of a better way of putting it. On this occasion it made me feel very heavy and earthbound. I addressed myself to the genius locii and said, "Guidance would be nice".
I came back down and rejoined Ailz and Ruth in the town- and then I surprised myself. We went down a wynd- and there was a shop there called The Witchcraft Experience or something of the sort- and I insisted we went in- and first I bought a pendant in the shape of a viulva- which I wore for the rest of the day- and then an amber ring for Ailz and a pentacle ring for myself.
Will I wear this to church on Sunday?
But of course.
Because Jesus is not enough. He's the god of the public temple I can get to most easily- so convenience comes into it- but I have to say I've never really loved him. Tipharetic Sun Gods aren't particularly lovable. They're too bright and shiny. Did anyone ever love- as opposed to adore- Apollo? I need other Gods in my life.
Especially I need Her.
They have a Temple of the Goddess in a yard in Glastonbury. You go up wooden steps into an upper room. You take off your shoes- as if it were a mosque- and leave them by the door. There was a woman at the back arranging flowers. The shrine is Hindu or Catholic in its over-the-topness, with incense and taped music and lots and lots of images. The central image is a terracotta statue of Herself as Crone in a cloaked hood carrying Her staff. I could look at images of Jesus all day and feel nothing in particular- except admiration for the artistry- but show me any image of Her....
I lit a couple of candles- and promised I'd rebuild our temple at home- in some form or other.
Glastonbury is one of the two places I think of as "home".
I climbed the Tor as I always do. Dion Fortune says the air at the top is full of sparkles- and I can't think of a better way of putting it. On this occasion it made me feel very heavy and earthbound. I addressed myself to the genius locii and said, "Guidance would be nice".
I came back down and rejoined Ailz and Ruth in the town- and then I surprised myself. We went down a wynd- and there was a shop there called The Witchcraft Experience or something of the sort- and I insisted we went in- and first I bought a pendant in the shape of a viulva- which I wore for the rest of the day- and then an amber ring for Ailz and a pentacle ring for myself.
Will I wear this to church on Sunday?
But of course.
Because Jesus is not enough. He's the god of the public temple I can get to most easily- so convenience comes into it- but I have to say I've never really loved him. Tipharetic Sun Gods aren't particularly lovable. They're too bright and shiny. Did anyone ever love- as opposed to adore- Apollo? I need other Gods in my life.
Especially I need Her.
They have a Temple of the Goddess in a yard in Glastonbury. You go up wooden steps into an upper room. You take off your shoes- as if it were a mosque- and leave them by the door. There was a woman at the back arranging flowers. The shrine is Hindu or Catholic in its over-the-topness, with incense and taped music and lots and lots of images. The central image is a terracotta statue of Herself as Crone in a cloaked hood carrying Her staff. I could look at images of Jesus all day and feel nothing in particular- except admiration for the artistry- but show me any image of Her....
I lit a couple of candles- and promised I'd rebuild our temple at home- in some form or other.
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Re: In his own write --classic,and on to the moon
Date: 2009-01-21 03:59 pm (UTC)I've always liked Fortune's suggestion that the best way to protect yourself against psychic attack was to go watch a Charlie Chaplin movie.
I'm a little confused at the moment. There I was, trundling round, looking at the sights- and suddenly I find myself having a religious crisis. Nevermind, it will all sort itself out in the end.
I'm always delighted to receive a pastoral visit from yourself :)
Re: In his own write --classic,and on to the moon
Date: 2009-01-21 05:17 pm (UTC)Glastonbury is that kind of place. It...how do I say this...breaks apart things that have cracks in them.
Re: In his own write --classic,and on to the moon
Date: 2009-01-21 07:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-21 07:48 pm (UTC)was a sounder person that dolores ascroft-
nowicki (sol if you are familiar, but I am
out of date and not sure what the structures
are now)
well but more generally
Tony, remember with spiritual stuff you know
God and the world and so on dont depend as much
on us as we do on them , God creates us and
is not rendered short of breath when our faith
wavers or goes off a bit somewhere...
but to know all of life that is appropriate
for us...
so God be with you in all your comings and
goings and sometimes speak to God also as person
to person and ...
thats all I have now,
+Seraphim
no subject
Date: 2009-01-21 08:34 pm (UTC)I very much like that phrase about God not being rendered short of breath by our waverings. I'm suddenly reminded of Shelley's lines-
"Life like a dome of many-coloured glass
Stains the white radiance of eternity"
We all have our favourite colours- or combination of colours- but the white radiance is the Thing.
no subject
Date: 2009-01-21 08:44 pm (UTC)the fire that does not burn or singe
a sleeve etc
the second light of
"with thee is the fountain of life
and in thy light we shall see Light"
and yet I would hold that white radiance
is of the same spectrum as that reflected
in a pool of rain water etc
all is light of light as it may be
or something or , dash it man, time for
me to turn in for the night
+S