|
Post by nellie on Jul 18, 2011 14:48:30 GMT -1
Have I read something about Lugh standing on one leg somewhere? Is this related to the druids crane stance?
|
|
|
Post by dreamguardian on Jul 18, 2011 15:30:18 GMT -1
not cranes for me, but herons. I should think the behaviour of both birds is similar enough for them to be interchangeable in this context. I recall recently catching the tail end of a piece about the reintroduction of Cranes into Britain, I think it may have been Norfolk but not sure. Very successful introduction and more planned elsewhere. I have a heron's nest within view from our property. They have reared productively every year we've been here. Incidently. The river close to where they nest filters off slightly to the most beautiful reed bogland. When there is a mist, it's always last to leave there. It's very emotive and atmospheric. Rivers are extremely potent in focussing my spiritual awareness particulary when it's fragile and vunerable.
|
|
|
Post by potia on Jul 18, 2011 15:49:50 GMT -1
I'm currently exploring the Thomas the Rhymer backgrounds on my blog, and will do so over a number of posts. One thing that i hope to get to, but which might be worth airing here first, is the way he travels to the Otherworld. The well-known ballad alludes to travelling through water and through blood to the knee. But the earlier(?) tale, which I'm now examining, is quite specific about travelling through water [/i]for three days. Do others have thoughts about the medium of water as a way to the Otherworld?[/quote] There's a strong tradition within the Irish mythology and Scottish folk tales of travelling over the water or under the water to get to the Otherworld. For me personally the places that have been gateways to the Otherworld for me so far are caves beside water. They tend to be places where I feel a clear balance between earth, waters and sky. Now that I have experienced Lochmaben I think that location will be added to the places I can journey to the Otherworld from so yes I'd say the presence of water is important although not necessarily going through it. Saying that walking in mists and fogs are also times/places I feel the Otherworld very strongly.
|
|
|
Post by nellie on Jul 18, 2011 16:37:56 GMT -1
Mist and fog, yes I agree that I feel the Otherworld is very close at this time.
Just read (peter beresford ellis) a Manx tale of the Feans being taken down under the waves to the land of the Fomorians.
Maybe there is also something about the reflective quality of water when it's still, as well as its liminality, that might link it to another world?
|
|
|
Post by redraven on Jul 18, 2011 18:08:13 GMT -1
Maybe there is also something about the reflective quality of water when it's still, as well as its liminality, that might link it to another world? I think it's simpler than that. Viewing the bottom of a lake through the water makes the appearance of the bottom appear darker than normal. Therefore, water may have been viewed as the lens giving access to the dark otherworld. The associations with the otherworld through access in caves, very well attested in many British pieces, seems to me to present a compelling link of a "dark view" through water linking to the access the "dark world" in caves. RR
|
|
|
Post by Heron on Jul 18, 2011 21:48:53 GMT -1
Mist and fog, yes I agree that I feel the Otherworld is very close at this time. Yes, as well as the liminal quality of springs, wells, lakes and streams, and the many stories (such as the Llyn y Fan legend) of such places as conduits between the worlds, the general sense of misty and rainy days is another example of this liminal quality. I've been noticing a change in my mood with all this recent rain, and wondering about the effects of changes in air pressure on my sensibility. I've always felt this, but the specific feeling of response to a change to low pressure has been particularly strong these last few days. I'm also wondering if the effect is particularly pronounced when we get low pressure at this time of year. I have a written record of similar feelings in a previous wet July.
|
|
|
Post by Heron on Jul 18, 2011 21:56:19 GMT -1
herons, waters edge, crossing over. Of course
|
|
|
Post by redraven on Jul 25, 2011 12:22:33 GMT -1
Earlier in the year, with changes in both our personal circumstances and the subsequent freeing up in leisure time, both myself and Potia agreed we would jointly visit different areas of Britain with a view to experiencing these areas and using our different perspectives to see what we could surmise about said areas (plus of course, both of us being pragmatic enough to share some costs associated with such visits ) So we have been visiting various areas around the Uk for some months now and will continue to do so. We both expected that each area would have an influence on at least one of us, with myself being more interactive with the land and ancestors and Potia being more interactive with deity, so we sort of edged our bets that at least one of us would be able to interact at some level. Our perspectives were sufficiently different to assume that this would be the case, plus it is always helpful to have another person around if the interactions become intense and also it would be interesting for each of us to observe and play a part in any ritual or votive offerings we were inclined to make at such sites. So we have visited sites, such as Vindolanda this weekend, and from these sites, most unexpectedly, we have developed a basis for a shared cosmology. I say unexpectedly, because at the beginning of this, my own interactions, as I have posted frequently, have been lacking in any sort of interaction with any named deity. However, being with Potia in these places has facilitated interactions with a few named deities. And it is true to say, that interactions with the land for Potia were on the same scale as my interactions with deity and my presence has now facilitated for Potia, interactions with the land. We both have now experienced different perspectives not previously available to either of us beforehand. Most surprisingly however, is that these interactions with landscapes along with UPG that has now moved into SPG, has given us a basis for a shared cosmology. And this has been quite a surprise to both of us. As with most things, this is by no means a static or finished perspective, but based on the localities and UPG (SPG) we have experienced, I think it's fair to say that we both agree on the basics. And as such, these are what we think, at this time, may be true for our emerging Brythonic perspective. The Godessess appear to be tied to the land through sovereignty. My own UPG presents a picture of a cloak lightly brushing the ground (rather poetic, but that's how it's been presented to me). Of course we know of other Godessess who are not pictured in this way, but from the available material regarding Godessess in a Brythonic context, at this time, I have to say that the land does appear to me to be tied to the feminine aspect. The Gods appear to be culturally tied. That is to say, their interactions appear to be formatted through cultural interactions (again, there will be exceptions) and they appear to be able to hold dominion. They appear, therefore, to be in a position to offer dominion to who ever they wish. The distinction therefore, suggests to me that sovereignty is long term, whereas the passing of dominion to a culture is relatively short term. And, for me, this sets some form of definition as to the different roles and aspects of a polytheistic worldview in a Brythonic framework. RR
|
|