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Would it be a good idea to have a separate thread or section for sharing/discussing ‘technique’? It’s something I think would be of general interest.
I find music distracting myself, preferring silence or just normal background ‘noise’, though I admit I haven’t tried music that is meant to be used for altering consciousness (for want of a better expression). “Zoning out” I find relatively easy (it took a while to get there though), but although insight does come when in such a state I find it to be more of a spiritual, ‘connecting’, practice.
I cobbled the following from a subscription only article by Michael Howard on [url:1322weev]http://www.mysterymag.com[/url], Howard having himself culled the info from various books.
The “Hellfire Caves” are of prehistoric origin. It is alleged that there was a ‘pagan altar’ on West Wycombe Hill with ‘pagan catacombs’ below. Tradition says that in the Middle Ages an attempt was made to build a church at the bottom of the hill, but every night the building work was destroyed. Eventually the priest heard a voice telling him to build on top of the hill, which presumably he did, and all was well after that. Another local legend says that a secret tunnel leads from the caves to St Lawrence’s church (which I presume is the church on top of the hill).
Around 1750 Sir Francis Dashwood enlarged the caves to be used by the group (which he founded in 1746) that later became popularly known as the “Hellfire Club”, but was actually called variously The Friars of St Francis of Wycombe, The Monks of Medmenham, or The Order of Knights of West Wycombe. In 1751 Dashwood paid for the church to be restored, modelling it after the solar temple at Palmyra, and also donating a font with a ‘Gnostic’ design featuring a snake devouring its tail and some doves. Also in 1751 he leased Medmenham Abbey on the Thames near Marlow (originally a 12th century Cistercian Abbey, converted into a Tudor Manor house after Henry VIII’s smash and grab on the monasteries) and made it the headquarters for his Order; he placed the motto “Do as thou will” above the front door. At his own house at West Wycombe Dashwood built a Temple of Bacchus. The whole of West Wycombe is now owned by The National Trust, and presumably open for visitors.
What Dashwood and his Friars got up to is the subject of much local legend and speculation, generally along the lines of devil-worship and drunken orgies. However, it may have been the case that at least some of the members were involved in a pagan mystery cult. If I may quote Howard:
Quote:In fact it seems to have been an open secret among the members of the Establishment which Dashwood and his friends belonged to. When Sir Francis became Chancellor, one of his first actions was to tax cider. This led to the circulation of rhyme, saying: “Dashwood shall pour from a communion cup / libations to the goddess without eyes / and hot or not in cider and excise”. This was a pointed reference to the goddess Angerona.A painting was also done of Dashwood depicting him dressed in a monk’s habit and kneeling to worship a statue of Venus. One of the leading members, John Wilkes, gave the game away when he said “No profane eye has dared to penetrate the English Eleusinian Mysteries of the Chapter Room (the inner sanctum) where the monks assembled on solemn occasions .. secret rites performed and libations to the Bona Dea”. The latter was, of course, the title of the Great Mother Goddess in the classical Mysteries.
Dashwood appears to have been an interesting character, aside from holding a number of important government posts (including Chancellor of the Exchequer). Like many young gentry he had done the Grand Tour, during which he had met Prince Charles Edward Stuart and got involved with the Jacobites. The Prince is believed to have had a number of Rosicrucian or Masonic connections, and Dashwood was himself initiated into a Masonic lodge in Florence. Back in England he had joined (before or after Howard doesn’t say) the Society of Gentlemen of Spalding, whose members included Chief Druid, Dr Rev William Stukeley. Dashwood also joined the Mount Haemus grove of druids, which claimed descent from a 13th century druidic grove established in Oxford, which itself claimed connections with the Mysteries of Ceridwen, allegedly still practised at that time in the Snowdonia region of North Wales.
Howard’s references are:
‘The Hellfire Club’ Donald McCormack (Jarrolds 1958)
‘The Hellfire club’ P. Mannix (Four Square 1961)
‘Sword of Wisdom’ Ithell Colquoun (Neville Spearman 1970)
‘Dashwood: The Man and the Myth’ Eric Towers (Crucible 1986)All looks well worth following up!
The same statement about Mary Magdalene is in Luke 8:2 -
Quote:1 Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, 2 as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them F73 out of their resources.I don’t know if the Greek is the same, and I can’t read Greek anyway. One of my theology tutors could read NT Greek well, but he has since retired. My feeling is that it would be a long shot – dangerous to build too much on a reading of a language that one can’t actually read!
Having said that, in the canonical gospels Jesus gives various groups of disciples the power to drive out demons; if Magdalene was indeed a disciple (as seems clear) then perhaps Jesus gave exorcist powers to her as well. In which case your reading would make some sort of sense; Jesus cast out 7 demons through her, i.e. Jesus gave her the authority and Mary did the dirty work (I can hear the women saying ‘tsk, bloody typical man’). The 7 demons could be a symbolic number, showing that Mary had a particular flair for exorcism.
I have read somewhere that Mary Magdalene is to be identified with Mary the sister of Martha and Lazarus, which is an interesting idea considering your article about Lazarus being the beloved disciple.
Ah, those four beasts. I do apologise for being a proper dullard. My mind had taken your descriptions to be demonic, so I just didn’t think of the throne-creatures.
The creatures in Revelation, apart from having echoes with Ezekiel’s rather bizarre vision (Ezekiel 1), also echo the seraphim in Isaiah’s temple vision (Isaiah 6); those seraphim had the six wings (two covering their faces, two covering their feet – often regarded as euphemistically referring to their genitals (painted or unpainted Yuri) – and two for flying)and were calling out “Holy holy holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory”, but no other details are given of their appearance.
Many, many years ago I thought myself that they might indicate signs of the zodiac. (Are there actually depictions of the sign of Scorpio as an eagle, or has someone made that up to fit the imagery?) Why these four signs should be chosen I don’t know; to my knowledge they don’t mark the soltices or equinoxes at the time? I wonder if their call that emphasises the Lord “who was and is and is to come” is a reference to cycles of time, which would tie in nicely with the zodiac and maybe even with precession?
I always assumed that the association with the four evangelists who are traditionally accredited with the four canonical gospels was just someone thinking “Hey, there are four creatures around the throne, there are four gospels of the Lord, lets decide which is which!”
The beasties in Ezekiel’s vision are called cherubim (in a later chapter), which is the name also given to the creatures carved in the temple as guardians (and to the being guarding the gate into the garden in Eden). There are no other biblical descriptions, but it is thought that they are identical to Assyrian karibu, the human-headed lions and bulls that guard gateways, much like Eqyptian sphinxes.
With this in mind, perhaps the four beasts are meant to guard the gateways of the heavens? Maybe echoes of some gnostic myths where after death the soul rises through the heavens, and at each gate has to get past the guardian with the proper sign or sneaky trick. Which brings us back to what Simon was saying about the beasts in the chapel maybe representing our own dark sides that must be brought under control – wheeze You don’t know the pow-wer of the dark side wheeze.
Ah ignore me, I’m just thinking aloud.
Are the four beasts the ones mentioned in the Old Testament book of Daniel (chapter 7)? They come out of the sea, the first like a winged lion, the second like a bear, the third like a leapard with four wings and four heads, and the fourth is just described as being terrifying and dreadful. The beast that comes out of the sea in the New Testament book of Revelation appears to be a composite of these four.
Why are there four scary beasts looking down into the chapel of icons?
The wife says we’ll have to visit Ireland one day – I’ve already told her that we’ll have to visit the Icon Chapel!
I like your photo, the light effects (I presume that’s what it is) gives a magical cast to the waterfall.
For what it’s worth I prayed for your colleague’s wife.
Michael
I found a reference on the www that indicated that the primitive form of the Brigid cross had three arms:
[url:2np2qngh]http://www.obsidianmagazine.com/DaughtersoftheFlame/Brigit.htm[/url]
It says that it may refer to a triple aspect to Brigid. That page has a number of references at the bottom, though it doesn’t say from which the info on the three-armed cross comes from. Simon, perhaps you can give further info on where you got your image from?
Simon, I gather that this is what you meant by the ‘crooked triangle’ formed by the ears on the three hares (on some of the roof bosses at least). The association is probably a long shot, but further to what Yuri said about the importance of Brigid in the Bristol Channel area I wonder how far this might extend into Devon, where the three hares gambol in abundance. I need to get a map out, maybe check on the dedications of those churches or the surrounding area (I’ve been meaning to get onto it for a while, but never enough time). I wonder what was going on in the minds of those Devon wood-carvers (the website above mentions that Brigid is the patron of crafts). Mind you, if Imbolc is ‘in the belly’ then perhaps there is also something in the womb-likeness that you saw in the ears themselves (obviously this may have no bearing on the Middle Eastern/Chinese version of the symbol).
Right, sorry, I’ll try and stay off of my bleedin’ three hares now.
Hmmm, does anyone know if there is an association between the Celtic Brigid and the Saxon Eostre? Both seem to have associations with spring and birth.
Interesting idea about the temple (Jesus and John as soltices, equinoxes as the doorways). I checked the date/time for the equinox and this year it’s 22 Sep (with 22:22 GMT being the precise time, that’s 23:22 BST). Next year it’s 23 Sep.
Date/Time courtesy of:
[url:12hom0uf]http://www.religioustolerance.org/fall_equinox.htm#da[/url]I’ve not seen that particular association with the Tarot suits before.
Vyxen, I think that’s Yuri’s very own work – you can see his signature on the base of the altar. I’m sure I saw it on his website; lots of other good and interesting stuff there.
Fascinating story. Re the idea of Celtic Christianity bridging Eastern and Western Christianity, I’ve recently read something about this in a book on Celtic Spirituality. Basically, because Ireland was never a part of the Roman Empire the Irish Church had a certain freedom. The style of Christianity was greatly influenced by the desert Fathers of the eastern church, which shows through in the lives of many of the Celtic saints, so this might be where the bridging idea comes from. Amongst other things the Celtic Church seemed more sensitive to the sense of the divine presence in nature and the supernatural in general, perhaps thanks to having a more contemplative heart (which in my experience encourages a certain openness to all things).
After the collapse of the Empire the Irish church re-seeded Christianity in Scotland and England, especially through the bases on Iona and Lindisfarne. Eventually the Celtic Church collided with the Roman Church and eventually agreed to adopt Roman practices. But you probably know that, if it’s at all relevent.
I don’t have a problem with Christian wrappings, being Christian myself. I take on board what Yuri said though. A theologian called Keith Ward, in a book called “God: A guide for the perplexed” wrote that in the 21st century we have available to us, for perhaps the first time in our history, the spiritual traditions of the entire planet.
I’m eagerly awaiting news from Ireland. Thanks for the website by the way.
God bless,
Michael
Thanks Yuri for your idea concerning an ‘otherworld’ connection between the Three Hares, Labrynth and Runes. It made me think and I checked my own (infrequently updated) journal. Just less than two weeks before the Three Hares put in their appearance I had been meditating on the crucifixion of Jesus; I was trying to bring some order to my thoughts on the theological meaning (I’ve done a little academic study of theology, and there are lots of ways of looking at it). All of a sudden the words came to me: “Transformation, and the path to transformation.” I was quite pleased with this at the time, as it seemed to me that many of the interpretations of the crucifixion-resurrection could be particular ways in which this theme works out. Following your comments I am now wondering about the ‘path to transformation’.
The journey to the ‘otherworld’ features in early Christian accounts of Jesus’ descent into hell (aka the Harrowing of Hell), mentioned in the Apostle’s Creed (though left out of the later Nicene Creed). I have read about there once being a whole genre devoted to describing what Jesus is supposed to have got up to in the underworld, some of which sounded quite entertaining. If I recall, the general idea is of releasing the captive souls. It certainly does have similarities with a shamanic journey to the land of the dead.
I’ve come across the myth of Odin, and his discovery of the runes after his ordeal. I find interesting the suggestion that Odin was originally a shamanic character, and the runes embodying the secrets of his shamanic cult. One of the runes – Rad (looks like our letter R) – represents a journey to the dead.
I understand that the shaman is often accompanied by an animal on the journey, so maybe that is where the hare comes in, as you suggest. I did a quick trawl of the www a little while ago, which turned up various interesting morsels:
* Hares are the animal of the goddess Eostre who is depicted with a hares head. She is goddess of spring and of the moon, associating her and the hare with death and rebirth.
* The hare was sacrificed to Osiris.
* In Buddhist legend the hare is a symbol of self-sacrifice.
* Interestingly the Virgin Mary is apparently depicted with a white hare at her feet, though I’ve not seen it myself or not noticed; it’s supposed to symbolise her victory over lust, but perhaps it’s from the adoption of aspects of pagan cults?
It’s given me plenty to work with. Thanks Vyxen for your offer of information, which would be gratefully received (though like a dullard I forgot to give you an email address – I’ll rectify that in a mo). I think I now need to work out what exactly I’m going to do with it all. I’ll be sure to mention anything that comes of it. I hope I can be of as much use to someone else in future.
Michael
Hello Yuri,
The three hares image began to grab my attention in July, when I kept running across it while looking for other things. I then discovered that Sue Andrew, one of the three members of a team researching the motif, was at the University of Plymouth (my employer).
I’ve no idea if you are familiar with it, but the three hares are chasing each other in a circle; each hare has only one ear, which it shares with one of its neighbours, the effect being that each hare appears to own a full complement of ears, the ears forming a triangle in the centre of the circle of hares.
Chris Chapman, the photographer of the team, has a very nice website with lots of images, and information on the transmission of the three hares:
[url:36pagu3d]http://www.chrischapmanphotography.com/hares/index.html[/url]
To briefly summarise, there are 17 parish churches in Devon which have three hares roof bosses, always in prominent positions, and a few adjoining Green Man bosses. Others exist in other parts of Britain (though Devon certainly seems to have the most), earlier images are found across Europe, until the earliest known images are found in Buddhist Caves in China dating to the 7th century CE. Some Chinese scholars believe that the hares came to China from Persia in the Sassanian Empire Period (2nd to 6th century CE).
I’ve exchanged a few emails with Sue, currently looking to find hints of the image on artifacts from the Sassanian Empire. Tom Greeves (the third member of the team) gives talks from time to time, and I hope to get to one of them soon (I missed the last one because it was my wedding anniversary). My own feelings at the moment are that it’s a lunar fertility symbol, but everyone who uses it finds their own meaning.
My three hares led me to interest in the Cretan (aka 7-circuit, Knossos) labrynth, via a visit to Wadebridge with my mother. I’ve discovered that there is a labrynth carved at Rocky Valley near Tintagel, just up the road (well, a few miles) from my mother. I haven’t had opportunity to visit it yet, but should do soon. The same design is used by some Native American tribes, which like the three hares is an interesting example of an unusual symbol cropping up in very different times and places.
I find that drawing the labrynth is an interesting ritual practice in itself: start with an equal-armed cross, then draw four lines from each arm that spiral around, starting with the upper arm, then the right arm, the left arm and the bottom arm. It feels significant, the cross, the four distinct spiralling lines forming a whole, a maze with a single winding path to the centre. I’m just not sure yet what it means to me, it appears to be both obvious and at the same time just out of reach. I have read that it is a journey, sometimes seen as a journey to the underworld, a journey through life, or a pilgrimage. Also, it sometimes represents the earth.
I’ve been drawn to runes since I was a boy, and recently they’ve been popping up repeatedly. I’m interested in the esoteric meaning of the runes individually and as groups, rather than in their use as a divination tool. So far I’m finding some runes have quite different interpretations.
Whoops, you didn’t really want to know all that did you?
By the way Yuri, I found your website interesting. How do I go about getting one of your Dryad Woods (I think I got the name right)? Your site mentioned Ebay but a quick look didn’t turn up anything (besides which I am an Ebay virgin).
