All preparations are now made for the annual Beaker Folk expedition the sacred places of the West.
Please bear in mind that this is the land of Arthur; of Alfred; of Joseph of Arimathea; of Hardy and Cecil Day Lewis. Our pilgrimage is not about scrumpy and St Austell "Wreckers". We don't want a repeat of Burton's stay in Truro General.
Saturday, 23 February 2008
Thursday, 21 February 2008
Saw the whole of the moon?
Well, what a shame that the skies over Husborne Crawley were on the hazy side. However some glimpses of the eclipse - and now the awesome site of the first hints of the sun, bringing a pink hue to the skies over the Amazon warehouse at Marston Gate.
Some notes of clarification I should perhaps have issued before all that panic broke out at 3am. The expression "the moon has turned to blood" is a metaphorical one. It refers to the colour of the moon, and also references the prophecy of Joel, and its interpretation by St Peter on the Day of Pentecost.
It is not meant to be taken literally. Those members of the Order of the Gibbon who decided that a war had broken out between the Man in the Moon (today we prefer Occupant of the Moon) and the Moon-gibbons, causing the moon to run with blood - were frankly just losing it. The peace chants and the prayers for reconciliation on Luna were unnecessary.
Anyone now suffering from cold-related illnesses should make their way to the community First Aid room, where Hnaef will be serving hot toddies and handing out blankets. If he'd only shave his legs (it'd be for charity...) he'd make a lovely nurse.
Some notes of clarification I should perhaps have issued before all that panic broke out at 3am. The expression "the moon has turned to blood" is a metaphorical one. It refers to the colour of the moon, and also references the prophecy of Joel, and its interpretation by St Peter on the Day of Pentecost.
It is not meant to be taken literally. Those members of the Order of the Gibbon who decided that a war had broken out between the Man in the Moon (today we prefer Occupant of the Moon) and the Moon-gibbons, causing the moon to run with blood - were frankly just losing it. The peace chants and the prayers for reconciliation on Luna were unnecessary.
Anyone now suffering from cold-related illnesses should make their way to the community First Aid room, where Hnaef will be serving hot toddies and handing out blankets. If he'd only shave his legs (it'd be for charity...) he'd make a lovely nurse.
Monday, 18 February 2008
Gibbon Moon
Warning to all Beaker Folk intent on dancing in Ashley Heath this evening. Frankly the forecast is for it to be a bit taters. Please wear at least six layers, and a hi-viz to assist the Bedfordshire Mountain Rescue should you get into difficulties.
Anyone planning any more extreeme dancing, please leave it to another evening. I spent far too much time at MK General last year as a result of that kind of behaviour.
To clarify terminology - the current moon is gibbous, meaning it's less than full but more than half full. Some-one misheard us while we were taking sightings this afternoon and went off telling other people it's the "gibbon moon". By tea-time it had formed into a fully-fledged sect worshipping the moon-gibbon. It is said that the moon-gibbon brings fertility (inevitably...), and that it rewards those of its followers who climb in trees while proclaiming the gibbon song. For goodness' sake, get a grip.
Anyone planning any more extreeme dancing, please leave it to another evening. I spent far too much time at MK General last year as a result of that kind of behaviour.
To clarify terminology - the current moon is gibbous, meaning it's less than full but more than half full. Some-one misheard us while we were taking sightings this afternoon and went off telling other people it's the "gibbon moon". By tea-time it had formed into a fully-fledged sect worshipping the moon-gibbon. It is said that the moon-gibbon brings fertility (inevitably...), and that it rewards those of its followers who climb in trees while proclaiming the gibbon song. For goodness' sake, get a grip.
Wednesday, 13 February 2008
Thin Place Bungee
I am sorry to report yet another unacceptable use for a thin place.
The thin place in the beech spinney is very important to the life of the community. It is a place of communion and refreshment. A place to feel close to the Divine and the Earthly.
It is not acceptable to tie a length of elastic rope to the top of one of the trees and bungee. You are not repeatedly and rapidly entering another dimension - you are simply showing a lack of respect.
Also, it's too cold and foggy to go climbing in those trees. Hnaef is now severely bruised after missing his footing in a high branch. We'll discuss what exactly he, as a senior member of the Druidic team, thought he was up to once he comes round...
The thin place in the beech spinney is very important to the life of the community. It is a place of communion and refreshment. A place to feel close to the Divine and the Earthly.
It is not acceptable to tie a length of elastic rope to the top of one of the trees and bungee. You are not repeatedly and rapidly entering another dimension - you are simply showing a lack of respect.
Also, it's too cold and foggy to go climbing in those trees. Hnaef is now severely bruised after missing his footing in a high branch. We'll discuss what exactly he, as a senior member of the Druidic team, thought he was up to once he comes round...
Wednesday, 6 February 2008
Ash Wednesday / New Moon
First of all, let's explode a few myths.
Ash Wednesday is nothing to do with the new smokers' shelter down at the White Horse. Even though it is particularly snug, what with the heater and the double insulation. It is nothing to do with cigarette smoke.
In common with many modern Christian festivals it has pagan origins. In this case it stretches back to the reverence of the ash tree. The ash (or "ashe", as the Celts called it) has many symbolic associations. In the Norse, it was Ygdrassil, the world-tree. In Anglo-Saxon times it was believed that ash dryads were the most comely. Only one thing on their minds, the Anglo-Saxons. Especially the Saxons. In many ways our Beaker Fertility Folk are rather similar.
In Beaker times, ash trees were used as the precursors for stone circles. This was a good way of getting your ley-lines sorted out during the thirty or forty years it took to drag the stones down from Wales, Scotland or - according to choice - Basildon. The use of ash trees in this way is evidenced in the many placenames and surnames that include "Ashley" - "the ley marked by the ash". We can speculate that when the stones were finally in place the ashes gave their last service as they were burnt, illuminating the great rituals in the solstitial dawns and dusks when the sarsens were consecrated.
The druids had great reverence for the Ash, which they regarded as second only to the Oak as a host for the holy mistletoe. To be honest we've no evidence for this, but it stands to reason, doesn't it...
The sacredness of the Ash was recognized also in the Middle East, to the extent that one of the Tribes of Israel took its name from the tree, as did the Canaanite goddess Ashtaroth.
In Celtic times yet more placenames received their names from the tree. Ashton-under-Lyme, for example, got its name from the habit of interring an ash barrel (or "tun") in quicklime at the winter solstice, in the hope that the gods would accept this sacrifice in return for restoring light to the world. Likewise Cold Ashby, Northants, gets its name from the sacrifice of an ash tree at this coldest time of the year.
Into Norman times the Marquis of Northampton built his fortress of Castle Ashby. It is thought that he believed, at a time of Saxon rebellions, that constructing his castle from this sacred wood would protect him from all attack. (The Marquis, after all, had other problems - due to a terrible spelling mistake his wife confused him with a Marquee, and using him for parties and receptions).
So there we have the history of Ash Wednesday. Now get out there and repent!
Ash Wednesday is nothing to do with the new smokers' shelter down at the White Horse. Even though it is particularly snug, what with the heater and the double insulation. It is nothing to do with cigarette smoke.
In common with many modern Christian festivals it has pagan origins. In this case it stretches back to the reverence of the ash tree. The ash (or "ashe", as the Celts called it) has many symbolic associations. In the Norse, it was Ygdrassil, the world-tree. In Anglo-Saxon times it was believed that ash dryads were the most comely. Only one thing on their minds, the Anglo-Saxons. Especially the Saxons. In many ways our Beaker Fertility Folk are rather similar.
In Beaker times, ash trees were used as the precursors for stone circles. This was a good way of getting your ley-lines sorted out during the thirty or forty years it took to drag the stones down from Wales, Scotland or - according to choice - Basildon. The use of ash trees in this way is evidenced in the many placenames and surnames that include "Ashley" - "the ley marked by the ash". We can speculate that when the stones were finally in place the ashes gave their last service as they were burnt, illuminating the great rituals in the solstitial dawns and dusks when the sarsens were consecrated.
The druids had great reverence for the Ash, which they regarded as second only to the Oak as a host for the holy mistletoe. To be honest we've no evidence for this, but it stands to reason, doesn't it...
The sacredness of the Ash was recognized also in the Middle East, to the extent that one of the Tribes of Israel took its name from the tree, as did the Canaanite goddess Ashtaroth.
In Celtic times yet more placenames received their names from the tree. Ashton-under-Lyme, for example, got its name from the habit of interring an ash barrel (or "tun") in quicklime at the winter solstice, in the hope that the gods would accept this sacrifice in return for restoring light to the world. Likewise Cold Ashby, Northants, gets its name from the sacrifice of an ash tree at this coldest time of the year.
Into Norman times the Marquis of Northampton built his fortress of Castle Ashby. It is thought that he believed, at a time of Saxon rebellions, that constructing his castle from this sacred wood would protect him from all attack. (The Marquis, after all, had other problems - due to a terrible spelling mistake his wife confused him with a Marquee, and using him for parties and receptions).
So there we have the history of Ash Wednesday. Now get out there and repent!
Tuesday, 29 January 2008
Rules for Submission of Assignments - Druidic Ministerial Course
Note - these regulations are subject to amendment without warning and at random intervals. They will be posted on the Community website, which is run on a PC in Keith's garage. The website is liable to occasional service problems during the winter months, when it gets a bit damp in the garage. By the way, any password we give you won't work because we will also give you the wrong user ID.
All submissions are to arrive by the first Full Moon after the appropriate solstice or equinox. First Class Post is acceptable, but we prefer homing bitterns for delivery.
Assignments should be 1.7 spaced, printed in purple in Lucida font.
An electronic version is to be emailed to keith@thebeakerfolkofhusbornecrawley.com. It should be saved in BBC Wordwise format. Upon receipt of your submission, Keith will email you back to let you know you've named it wrong. He won't tell you why.
Always use the official cover sheet. You can tell the official sheet because it's slightly different to the one you've actually got. Cover sheets should be written in the Cyrillic script, using a magenta chinagraph pencil.
Please do not use staples.
All submissions are to arrive by the first Full Moon after the appropriate solstice or equinox. First Class Post is acceptable, but we prefer homing bitterns for delivery.
Assignments should be 1.7 spaced, printed in purple in Lucida font.
An electronic version is to be emailed to keith@thebeakerfolkofhusbornecrawley.com. It should be saved in BBC Wordwise format. Upon receipt of your submission, Keith will email you back to let you know you've named it wrong. He won't tell you why.
Always use the official cover sheet. You can tell the official sheet because it's slightly different to the one you've actually got. Cover sheets should be written in the Cyrillic script, using a magenta chinagraph pencil.
Please do not use staples.
Tuesday, 15 January 2008
The Hermits of Imprecation
On visiting the apple store this morning, we discovered a Hermit of Imprecation has taken up residence in there. Please can all Beaker Folk be careful when collecting apples. Not only has the Hermit got a vile tongue on him, but he's taken to throwing Granny Smiths at anyone who annoys him.
Monday, 31 December 2007
New Year's Eve - a warning
OK, we've got through the Yule festivities without anything really stupid happening. No animals disappeared from the Safari Park, no roadkill for Christmas dinner, nobody frostbitten on Aspley Heath - although to be honest that's probably down to the mild weather rather than any sort of common sense on the behalf of the current flock of Beaker Folk.
As far as we're aware, the first Beaker Folk celebrated New Year at All Hallows - or possibly 1 February - or 25 March - or possibly Christmast. It all depends what spurious point you're trying to make about paganism pre-dating Christian festivals.
In any case - what I'm trying to explain is, 31 Dec - 1 Jan is a totally arbitrary distinction. It has no real meaning. It's just the change between two dates.
Let's hit the mead!
As far as we're aware, the first Beaker Folk celebrated New Year at All Hallows - or possibly 1 February - or 25 March - or possibly Christmast. It all depends what spurious point you're trying to make about paganism pre-dating Christian festivals.
In any case - what I'm trying to explain is, 31 Dec - 1 Jan is a totally arbitrary distinction. It has no real meaning. It's just the change between two dates.
Let's hit the mead!
Sunday, 23 December 2007
Activities for December 23
Full Moon, and the 43rd anniversary of the departure of Dr Beeching from the railways
6am - grumbling about what time it is
6.30am - donning of anoraks
7am - words of thanksgiving that the Bedford-Bletchley line is still running
8am - breathless excitement at the possible forthcoming reopening of the Oxford line
11am - martins
12am - nuns
2pm - terse
4pm - socks
6pm -10pm - migrations
11pm - barking at the moon
6am - grumbling about what time it is
6.30am - donning of anoraks
7am - words of thanksgiving that the Bedford-Bletchley line is still running
8am - breathless excitement at the possible forthcoming reopening of the Oxford line
8.30am - cursing the memory of Dr Beeching
11am - martins
12am - nuns
2pm - terse
4pm - socks
6pm -10pm - migrations
11pm - barking at the moon
Saturday, 22 December 2007
Solstice
Overall, unimpressed with the behaviour at Solstice.
Many Beaker Folk chose to opt out of the shortest day of the year, claiming they had Seasonal Affective Disorder. This is of course a serious condition for those who suffer it. However I suspect that most of those huddling under their duvets and shuddering at the sight of daylight had simply spent more time in the White Horse than was strictly necessary.
Most Beaker Folk eventually made Sunset on the 21st. The Act of Darkness Fear seemed to be treated in quite a post-modern fashion - the comment "Well, it's not the end of the world, is it?" was seriously inappropriate in the context of the Beaker tradition that, at Solstice, only prayers and (vegetarian, non-violent) sacrifice will save the world from darkness.
The evening Community Solstice Party was likewise somewhat spoilt. We had invited the Aspley Guise Lady's Bright Hour for a celebration of Yule Cheer. Young Keith's rendition of "The Best of The Prodigy" was not warmly received. However it is fair to say that "Firestarter" was at least appropriate to our later bonfire celebrations.
Many Beaker Folk chose to opt out of the shortest day of the year, claiming they had Seasonal Affective Disorder. This is of course a serious condition for those who suffer it. However I suspect that most of those huddling under their duvets and shuddering at the sight of daylight had simply spent more time in the White Horse than was strictly necessary.
Most Beaker Folk eventually made Sunset on the 21st. The Act of Darkness Fear seemed to be treated in quite a post-modern fashion - the comment "Well, it's not the end of the world, is it?" was seriously inappropriate in the context of the Beaker tradition that, at Solstice, only prayers and (vegetarian, non-violent) sacrifice will save the world from darkness.
The evening Community Solstice Party was likewise somewhat spoilt. We had invited the Aspley Guise Lady's Bright Hour for a celebration of Yule Cheer. Young Keith's rendition of "The Best of The Prodigy" was not warmly received. However it is fair to say that "Firestarter" was at least appropriate to our later bonfire celebrations.
Sunday, 2 December 2007
Beaker Bling
Having fought a short and clearly unsuccessful campaign against the outbreak of festive Bling in Advent, we have decided that it's better to join 'em if you can't beat em. Putting that 30 ft illuminated polar bear in the Ancient Oak must have taken some doing. As my niece Alysia would say, "nuff respec". (I really must persuade her to move out of Houghton Regis - or "the Hood", as she insists on calling it).
Therefore, in the potting shed, you can now find a range of exciting and traditional Beaker festive ware.....
Weatherproof tea-light holders in the shape of Mother Christmas....... £4.
Please note that in line with our environmental credentials, parrafin wax-based tea-lights are forbidden in the Community. They are produced from a non-sustainable resource, and they release dangerous benzenoid chemicals when burnt. Tallow tea-lights are very suitable for outside use, but a bit smelly for the Moot House. They are also unsuitable for vegetarians. Beeswax tea-lights are also available in the potting shed, at the very reasonable rate of £5 for a dozen. These are unsuitable for vegans, but then what isn't? For vegans, an alternative to parrafin , tallow or beeswax tea-lights is stumbling around in the dark. With all the carrots you must be eating, you'll probably manage.
Dancing snowpeople that sing Christmas carols in eight indigenous Malian languages.... £6
Inflatable Druids with flashing sickels and mistletoe..... £20
Life-size polystyrene Stonhenges - ideal for those Solstice celebrations - £250
Therefore, in the potting shed, you can now find a range of exciting and traditional Beaker festive ware.....
Weatherproof tea-light holders in the shape of Mother Christmas....... £4.
Please note that in line with our environmental credentials, parrafin wax-based tea-lights are forbidden in the Community. They are produced from a non-sustainable resource, and they release dangerous benzenoid chemicals when burnt. Tallow tea-lights are very suitable for outside use, but a bit smelly for the Moot House. They are also unsuitable for vegetarians. Beeswax tea-lights are also available in the potting shed, at the very reasonable rate of £5 for a dozen. These are unsuitable for vegans, but then what isn't? For vegans, an alternative to parrafin , tallow or beeswax tea-lights is stumbling around in the dark. With all the carrots you must be eating, you'll probably manage.
Dancing snowpeople that sing Christmas carols in eight indigenous Malian languages.... £6
Inflatable Druids with flashing sickels and mistletoe..... £20
Life-size polystyrene Stonhenges - ideal for those Solstice celebrations - £250
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