TO BE A PILGRIM BY JOHN BUNYAN (ORIGINAL 1684 TEXT)

Who would true valour see,

Let him come hither;

One here will constant be,

Come wind, come weather

There’s no discouragement

Shall make him once relent

His first avowed intent

To be a pilgrim.

Whoso beset him round

With dismal stories

Do but themselves confound;

His strength the more is.

No lion can him fright,

He’ll with a giant fight,

But he will have a right

To be a pilgrim.

Hobgoblin nor foul fiend

Can daunt his spirit,

He knows he at the end

Shall life inherit.

Then fancies fly away,

He’ll fear not what men say,

He’ll labour night and day

To be a pilgrim.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derby_Grammar_School

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiSxSZ0s0AQ

DIANAE

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

When Diana lighteth

Late her crystal lamp,

Her pale glory kindleth

From her brother’s fire.

Sleep through the wearied brain

Breathes a soft wind

From fields of ripening grain,

The sound

Of running water over clearest sand,

A millwheel turning, turning slowly round,

These steal the light

From eyes weary of sight.

Little straying west winds

Wander over Heaven,

Moonlight falleth,

And recalleth

With a sound of lute-strings shaken.

Love’s sweet exchange and barter,

Then the brain sinks to repose;

Swimming in strangeness

Of a new delight.

The eyelids close;

Oh sweet the passing o’er from love to sleep.

But sweeter the awakening to love.

When Diana lighteth

Late her crystal lamp,

Her pale glory kindleth

From her brother’s fire.

ORIGINAL LATIN

Dum Diane vitrea

sero lampas oritur,

et a fratris rosea

luce dum succenditur.

Morpheus in mentum

trahit impellentem

ventum lenem

segetes maturas,

murmura rivorrum

per arenas puras,

circulares ambitus

molendinorum,

qui furantur somno

lumen oculorum.

Dulcis aura zephyri

spirans omnes etheri

nubens tollit;

sic emollit

vi chordarum pectora.

Post blanda Veneris commercia,

lassatur cerebri substantia.

Hinc caligantes mira novitate,

oculi nantes in palpebrarum rate!

hei quam felix transitus amoris ad soporem,

sed suavior regressus soporis ad amorem.

Dum Diane vitrea

sero lampas oritur,

et a fratris rosea

luce dum succenditur.

Text taken from the Thirteenth Century Benedictbeuern Manuscript of the monastery of the same name. The Benedictbeuern Monastery was founded in Bavaria in the eighth century and is the source of the Carmina Burana.

http://www.mediaevalbaebes.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNVd7N1T4wo&list=RDMNVd7N1T4wo#t=51

Words: Mediaeval Latin.

Music: Katharine Blake.

Henry Van Dyke

“Time is too slow for those that wait,

Too swift for those that fear,

Too long for those that grieve,

Too short for those who rejoice,

But for those who love, time is Eternity.”

Henry Van Dyke

AVE MARIA

Ave Maria! Jungfrau mild,

Erhöre einer Jungfrau Flehen,

Aus diesem Felsen starr und wild

Soll mein Gebet zu dir hin wehen.

Wir schlafen sicher bis zum Morgen,

Ob Menschen noch so grausam sind.

O Jungfrau, sieh der Jungfrau Sorgen,

O Mutter, hör ein bittend Kind!

Ave Maria!

Ave Maria! Unbefleckt!

Wenn wir auf diesen Fels hinsinken

Zum Schlaf, und uns dein Schutz bedeckt

Wird weich der harte Fels uns dünken.

Du lächelst, Rosendüfte wehen

In dieser dumpfen Felsenkluft,

O Mutter, höre Kindes Flehen,

O Jungfrau, eine Jungfrau ruft!

Ave Maria!

Ave Maria! Reine Magd!

Der Erde und der Luft Dämonen,

Von deines Auges Huld verjagt,

Sie können hier nicht bei uns wohnen,

Wir woll'n uns still dem Schicksal beugen,

Da uns dein heil'ger Trost anweht;

Der Jungfrau wolle hold dich neigen,

Dem Kind, das für den Vater fleht.

Ave Maria!

Ave Maria! maiden mild!

Listen to a maiden's prayer!

Thou canst hear though from the wild;

Thou canst save amid despair.

Safe may we sleep beneath thy care,

Though banish'd, outcast and reviled –

Maiden! hear a maiden's prayer;

Mother, hear a suppliant child!

Ave Maria!

Ave Maria! undefiled!

The flinty couch we now must share

Shall seem with down of eider piled,

If thy protection hover there.

The murky cavern's heavy air

Shall breathe of balm if thou hast smiled;

Then, Maiden! hear a maiden's prayer,

Mother, list a suppliant child!

Ave Maria!

Ave Maria! stainless styled.

Foul demons of the earth and air,

From this their wonted haunt exiled,

Shall flee before thy presence fair.

We bow us to our lot of care,

Beneath thy guidance reconciled;

Hear for a maid a maiden's prayer,

And for a father hear a child!

Ave Maria!

"Hymn to the Virgin" by Sir Walter Scott in German and in English

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ave_Maria_(Schubert)

THE QUALITY OF MERCY IS NOT STRAINED

The quality of mercy is not strained;

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest;

It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:

Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes

The throned monarch better than his crown:

His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,

The attribute to awe and majesty,

Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;

But mercy is above this sceptred sway;

It is enthronèd in the hearts of kings,

It is an attribute to God himself;

And earthly power doth then show likest God’s

When mercy seasons justice.

Excerpt from the Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare.

The Wind and the Rain (from Twelfth Night) by William Shakespeare

When that I was a little tiny boy,

With a hey, ho, the wind and the rain,

A foolish thing was but a toy,

For the rain it raineth every day.

But when I came to man's estate,

With hey, ho, the wind and the rain,

'Gainst knaves and thieves men shut the gate,

For the rain it raineth every day.

But when I came, alas! to wive,

With hey, ho, the wind and the rain,

By swaggering could I never thrive,

For the rain it raineth every day.

But when I came unto my beds,

With hey, ho, the wind and the rain,

With toss-pots still had drunken heads,

For the rain it raineth every day.

A great while ago the world begun,

With hey, ho, the wind and the rain,

But that's all one, our play is done,

And we'll strive to please you every day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrqLDlOlldA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGGkL2mMsEo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KO1-2KF5mhY

THE TURNING OF THE YEAR AND GOODBYE 2016

The Yuletide and Christmas has all but gone, the New Year of 2017 creeps nearer and is welcomed in its’ approach. It is I think true for many, that 2016 has not been the best of years and a near countless number of us now look forward to a fresh start.

In the context and world of politics, war and violence, murder, mayhem and much else besides, the general perception is that 2016 has been one of the worst years in living memory. There are many who will remember 2016 for the number of celebrity deaths, others for the acts of terrorism conducted by self-proclaimed armies and by official police and military forces, for what is war but legalised terror and murder?

Equally; these deaths of world leaders and celebrities, raise many questions about our western society. Why does the death of a celebrity touch us so deeply? Is the life of a celebrity, any more important than that of refugee drowned in the Mediterranean? Are their lives more important than a neighbour? Do only celebrity lives matter today?

I certainly look forward to a fresh start, recognising that both 2015 and 2016 have been marred by ill health and many personal difficulties. This has left me far behind with the many projects that I have, within my as yet unfinished portfolio and I sincerely hope that 2017 will see some of these complete, finished and published.

These projects comprise of several blogs and pending reviews, including reports of some of the most important Craft events of the century so far. For it has to said, the year 2016 has been marked by gatherings of great importance and I have been fortunate to have attended them.

So like many of us today, I eagerly look forward to the departure of this tarnished year of 2016 and sincerely pray that 2017 will be a more productive, happier and healthier one. To all the readers of the blog I say this; I wish thee well, fear not the future and I hope that the coming year will be a blessed one for all of us.

Benisons to you all.

FFF. Chattering Magpie.

HANSEL AND GRETEL: A WARNING FOR THE YULETIDE

In this the approach to the Yuletide and Christmas, I wish to share with you and warn you of a traditional story still taught to our children. I refer to the Brothers Grimm tale of Hansel and Gretel.

In this tale a harmless old woman, allegedly a Witch; living alone in the woods and sharing gingerbread with passing children, is pushed into an oven and roasted by two ungrateful brats.

This action is obviously an allusion to the burning times, when an average of three million feminist Wiccans per century, over three consecutive centuries were “roasted” by the church. Although, this is a staggering figure when the population of Medieval Europe, is actually taken into account. However, I digress.

Our children are actively being taught to discriminate and persecute Witches, mad cat ladies and people who like ginger bread. It is time to make a stand lest the Burning Times return. I ask you, have we forgotten Magna Carta? Did she die in vain?

© Chattering Magpie 2011 with the special acknowledgement of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Ray Galton, Alan Simpson and Anthony Aloysius St John Hancock.

QURAN 81 (1-14)

When the sun is overthrown,

And when the stars fall,

And when the hills are moved,

And when the camels big with young are abandoned,

And when the wild beasts are herded together,

And when the seas rise,

And when souls are reunited,

And when the girl-child that was buried alive is asked;

For what sin she was slain,

And when the pages are laid open,

And when the sky is torn away,

And when Hell is lighted,

And when the garden is brought nigh,

Then every soul will know what it hath made ready.

HYMN TO PAN BY JOHN FLETCHER

SING his praises that doth keep

Our flocks from harm,

Pan, the father of our sheep;

And arm in arm

Tread we softly in a round,

Whilst the hollow neighbouring ground

Fills the music with her sound.

Pan, O great God Pan, to thee

Thus do we sing!

Thou who keepst us chaste and free

As the young spring:

Ever be thy honour spoke

From that place the morn is broke

To that place day doth unyoke!

The Oxford Book of English Verse, Oxford: Clarendon Press 1919

DO YOU HEAR THE PEOPLE SING?

[Enjolras:]

Do you hear the people sing?

Singing a song of angry men?

It is the music of a people

Who will not be slaves again!

When the beating of your heart

Echoes the beating of the drums

There is a life about to start

When tomorrow comes!

[Combeferre:]

Will you join in our crusade?

Who will be strong and stand with me?

Beyond the barricade

Is there a world you long to see?

[Courfeyrac:]

Then join in the fight

That will give you the right to be free!

[All:]

Do you hear the people sing?

Singing a song of angry men?

It is the music of a people

Who will not be slaves again!

When the beating of your heart

Echoes the beating of the drums

There is a life about to start

When tomorrow comes!

[Feuilly:]

Will you give all you can give

So that our banner may advance

Some will fall and some will live

Will you stand up and take your chance?

The blood of the martyrs

Will water the meadows of France!

[All:]

Do you hear the people sing?

Singing a song of angry men?

It is the music of a people

Who will not be slaves again!

When the beating of your heart

Echoes the beating of the drums

There is a life about to start

When tomorrow comes

From the musical Les Misérables by Claude-Michel Schönberg, Alain Boublil, Jean-Marc Natel (French lyrics), Herbert Kretzmer (English lyrics) and James Fenton (English additional lyrics).

JERUSALEM BY WILLIAM BLAKE (1757 – 1827)

And did those feet in ancient time,

Walk upon England's mountains green?

And was the holy Lamb of God,

On England's pleasant pastures seen?

And did the Countenance Divine,

Shine forth upon our clouded hills?

And was Jerusalem builded here,

Among these dark Satanic Mills?

Bring me my bow of burning gold!

Bring me my arrows of desire!

Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold!

Bring me my chariot of fire!

I will not cease from mental fight,

Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,

Till we have built Jerusalem,

In England's green and pleasant land.

BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD: FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH (1967)

Here’s something happening here.

What it is ain't exactly clear.

There’s a man with a gun over there.

Telling me I got to beware.

I think it's time we stop, children, what’s that sound?

Everybody look what's going down.

There's battle lines being drawn.

Nobody’s right if everybody's wrong.

Young people speaking their minds.

Getting so much resistance from behind.

I think it's time we stop, hey, what's that sound?

Everybody look what's going down.

What a field-day for the heat.

A thousand people in the street.

Singing songs and carrying signs.

Mostly say, hooray for our side.

It’s time we stop, hey, what's that sound?

Everybody look what's going down.

Paranoia strikes deep.

Into your life it will creep.

It starts when you're always afraid.

You step out of line, the man come and take you away.

We better stop, hey, what's that sound?

Everybody look what's going down.

Stop, hey, what's that sound?

Everybody look what's going down.

Stop, now, what's that sound?

Everybody look what's going down.

Stop, children, what's that sound?

Everybody look what's going down.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp5JCrSXkJY

THE HEARTH OF THE TURNING WHEEL HALLOWTIDE RITUAL 2011 - 2016

Introduction

This ritual requires a light in the east, a skull in the west, a stang near the north-west and the larger cauldron in the centre. All present should bring their own chalice or drinking horn.

Oil, incense, salt and water used as per usual practice.

Centring or grounding

“Now upon this Hallows night

Let spring open the dark gates of winter

By call of crow and toad beneath the stone

By smoke, by spirit, by flesh, blood and bone.”

Call of the Robin and the Marion

“Beloved Bloodmother of this our clan. Welcome us at this time, with your heart and womb. Let us learn to live in love with all you are and so our seeking spirit shall serve the Sacred Blood.”

“Beloved Father, speak to us in vision and do not abandon us to the grave. Nor hand us over to Hard Fate utterly, nor those whom our love protects.”

All in unison: “By the fire of dreams and the compulsion of sorcery. By knowledge, daring will and silence. By the tides of Earth, Sea and Sky. By flesh, blood and bone we call thee.”

All turn slowly on the spot widdershins while one other reads:

“We conjure thee compass round,

Be ye cast and be ye bound.

By road above and road below,

By snake and hare and toad and crow.”

(pause)

“By red spirits, white spirits, grey spirits and black,

We conjure thee by threefold track.

Be ye cast and be ye bound,

Hallowed be O compass round.”

Blessing and anointing with oil

When finished, return to the centre and bless the oil. Take a suitable oil and using wand, athame or hand bless and say: “I do consecrate and bless this oil, to drive out all impurities and make fit for use in this our rite.”

Each person will anoint the person to their left with this sign:

While saying: “You have walked this path in spirit (and) now (you) do so in flesh.” Please note that words in brackets are optional.

Blessing the elements

Light the incense, using wand, athame or hand bless and say: “I do consecrate and bless thee, O' elements of air and fire, to drive out all impurities and make thee fit for use in this our rite.”

Put three pinches of salt into the water, using wand, athame or hand bless and say: “I do consecrate and bless thee, O' elements of water and earth, to drive out all impurities and make thee fit for use in this our rite.”

Pick up the incense and say: “I scent this circle with air and warm this circle with fire. This I do in the name and power of our God the Lord of the Greenwood.”

Then carry the incense around the circle widdershins.

Pick up the bowl of salt-water and say: “With water and salt the symbol of our labour. I cleanse and bless this place in the name and power of our Goddess the Lady of the night.”

Sprinkle a little salt-water around the circle widdershins or at each compass point, north, south, east and then west.

Hallowing the compass: opening

I call thee, red spirits of the Eastward road.

Keepers of the flame of enlightenment and the blade of cunning.

I call thee, white spirits of the Southward road.

Keepers of the bones of memory and the stone of wisdom.

I call thee, grey spirits of the Westward road.

Keepers of the mighty waters and the cauldron of transformation.

I call thee, black spirits of the Northward road

Keepers of the dark winds of spirit and the skull of initiation.

All in unison: “We call thee, we call thee, we call thee. By flesh, blood and bone we call thee.”

Central focus

“Lo, there do I see my Father.

Lo, there do I see my Mother.

And my Sisters and my Brothers.

Lo, there do I see the line of my people back to the beginning.

They do bid me to take my place among them.”

Pause and then say (Griffith 2011):

“We stand between the quick and the dead.

We honour our ancestors, known and unknown.”

All present take a drink and then each in turn pours the remainder of their chalice contents into the cauldron.

“Ancestral powers of this our blood,

We are your people, guard us well.

By earth and air, by fire and flood,

By magick mime and spoken spell.”

Each person present takes a biscuit and taking a bite, crumbles the remainder into the cauldron.

Additional poetry may be included at this point followed by a few moments of silence in remembrance of the ancestors.

Hallowing the compass: closing

Grey Spirits of the Westward road, we thank you for your presence and aid in our rite and we bid you farewell.

White Spirits of the Southward road, we thank you for your presence and aid in our rite and we bid you farewell.

Red Spirits of the Eastward road, we thank you for your presence and aid in our rite and we bid you farewell.

Black Spirits of the Northward road, we thank you for your presence and aid in our rite and we bid you farewell.

All in unison: “We thank thee, we thank thee, we thank thee. By flesh, blood and bone we thank thee.”

Final closing

After a pause all in unison say: “By the fire of dreams and the compulsion of sorcery. By knowledge, daring will and silence. By the tides of Earth, Sea and Sky. May all beings and powers of the visible and invisible depart in peace. By flesh, blood and bone we do thank thee.”

One solitary voice: “This rite is now ended, may all depart in peace, with our blessings.”

The Chattering Magpie/Hearth of the Turning Wheel ©2011

REFERENCES

Artisson R.(2006) The Witching Way of the Hollow Hill: the gramaryre of the Folk who dwell below the mound. Owlblink Bookcrafting Company USA.

Chattering Magpie (Griffith D.B.) (2007) The Hearth of the Turning wheel Samhain ritual 2006. Hedge Wytch magazine issue 40 Samhain/November 2007 pp32-37

Chattering Magpie (Griffith D.B.) (2011) The Hearth of the Turning Wheel Hallowing of the Compass. Silver Wheel Volume 3. pp134-135.

Crichton M. (1976) Eaters of the dead. Knopf.

Gary G (2008) Traditional Witchcraft – A Cornish book of ways. Troy Books.

Grey W. (nd.) cited by Jones E.J. (1990) Witchcraft: a tradition renewed. Robert Hale, London.

Jones E.J. (1994) The Roebuck in the thicket. Capall Bann.

Jones E.J. (1990) Witchcraft: a tradition renewed. Hale. London.

Eachwen Colldwr (Palfreyman J.) (2010) The Hearth of the Turning Wheel Hallowtide Ritual 2009. Silver Wheel Volume 2. pp50-54

Sempers C. Raven G. (1998) Rite for the full moon. Privately published.

Shakespeare W.  (nd.) A Midsummer nights’ dream.

Valiente D. (1978) Witchcraft for tomorrow. Robert Hale, London.