It is not actually raining at the moment but this little gem would set anyone up for meditation. Is anyone getting the recurring advert about Tai-Chi exercises which start every Monday and obviously are the best thing out for elders, and at only 7 minutes long do not strain the body too much. That is the sales talk by the way.
My next link is to someone called Paul Kingsnorth, he writes through his Substack articles under the title of The Abbey of Misrule. In fact at the moment he is writing a book on 'Wild Saints' Now I am not sure which saint he covers whether the Catholic tranche or my own favourite the Celtic school but he is an interesting writer and in the link you will find his essay, called 'Once and Future Saint - Three prophecies for England'.
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| The martyrdom of St. Edmunds killed by the Vikings. Wall painting to be found at St. Peter and St. Paul church in Pickering |
In the prophecies are two kings, Edmund and Edward, the third is a prophecy that until we return to venerate the saints only then will ''real England' come back into being. I will say little on that, as a country we have turned secular and I think it will hardly change.
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| Wall painting of St. George slaying the Dragon at Pickering Church in North Yorkshire |
But it brings me round to our times at the moment. On Saturday there was a protest meeting from the right wing factions in Manchester, I think there was a gathering of one yesterday as well, as my daughter said that the men heading down the street to the pub in full St. George paraphernalia looked scary. And she advised a young black lad not to go in there.
The video of what actually happened on Saturday for St. George's day will tell you the story. There was of course a counter march against it but the police were out in full force and it seemed to have gone off fairly peaceful.
Also note, the Jesus cross carried in the video, I cannot believe we are following the American religious crusade masquerading the steady march of Fascism that is taking place.
Horrible, and they need to look at history and find out why St George became a saint. Really though, there weren't very many marching. I've seen more people protesting about a kindergarten closing down.
ReplyDeleteYes as you say they were a small crowd and plenty of police around. My daughter seem worried about it though, except of course she was still in Switzerland on that Saturday. We perhaps should have chosen the Martyrdom of Saint Edmund, local and a king. The Vikings were quite a show round Yorkshire and very cruel to boot. Its funny how we choose warring saints.
DeleteExploring the ideas of Paul Kingsnorth and the prophecies regarding St. Edmund and St. Edward provides a deep perspective on how the perception of England has shifted over time.
ReplyDeleteIt is disheartening to see a figure like St. George used in a way that causes fear rather than community, particularly when the actual history is so far removed from those sentiments. Maintaining a calm and thoughtful approach to these complex cultural shifts is a vital part of the conversation. I have just posted a new entry on my site that you might find interesting to read.
Well through the centuries Melody people could not read, they had to listen to the priests and their stories from the bible. Everything in a church mirrors a culture that frightened the people into submission. The sad thing it was the people who made wars who dominated all the time. Peace was always at a premium.
DeleteLegends and lies used over centuries.
ReplyDeleteYes as I have just said to Melody. In this church at Pickering there is also another wall painting of the torture of Saint Catherine on the wheel, all very miserable.
ReplyDeleteThey want to go back to an idealized time that never really existed, justifying themselves by twisting religion. If Jesus came back tomorrow I am certain he would not approve!
ReplyDeleteIf Jesus came back, I am quite convinced he would be crucified again, just as any person interpreting scripture as we are to love and tend to each other and welcome the foreigner in our midst is attacked and ridiculed for speaking up. The Christian nationalists are attacking Christianity before our very eyes.
DeleteAs I said to Sharon (I work backwards) Debby the whole shindig that is the American government at the moment is corrupted by its head. For a start, Jesus tossed the moneylender's tables onto the floor and as so many people have noted, he held out his hand to help in the Samaritan story. Values and teachings that mankind has taken to its heart. As Kingsnorth said, as a country we have drawn the line between secular and religion, the state is secular and the Church is religious.
DeleteSometimes I think history should be taught in a different way Steve but so much in life is built on false premise.
DeleteAs a practicing Christian I am horrified by the agenda coming out of Washington via the non-too-subtle Christian Nationalist movement. I surely haven't tuned in to listen to Trump reading from the Bible [do you suppose the man can actually read aloud?] It seems to me that one's choice of religious belief--and that includes the right to be non-Christian--is a personal matter, not one to be pushed as part of a political scheme.
ReplyDeleteOh Sharon sometimes I feel so guilty when addressing religion that I worry about tapping words out on my computer. But Vance saying that the Pope should look at his theology more closely was the last straw. It is as if politeness and courtesy have gone out of the window and arrogant stupid ignorance has taken its place. I truly feel for all the people in America who have been taken hostage by a cruel and evil government. When I mention Christianity it is normally to do with its history and it's rather beautiful churches and cathedrals we have been endowed with and the stories and myths around my beloved Celtic saints.
ReplyDeleteIt is truly shocking to see the English flag being used in such a ghastly way. I fear for my daughter-in-law and grandchildren, and my son-in-law and grandchildren, all potential victims of hatred and persecution if they happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
ReplyDeleteI know it is a terrible worry Janice, you would have thought the world had moved on but no. Yet, on the whole we live in quiet pleasant places, the aggression in big cities reflect there larger populations. The internet has brought out the nastier side of some people. Apparently the counter protest was larger and the large police presence kept good order.
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