I am the Voice of the Raven Upon Wind.
My harsh cries echo long upon the Earth and Air:
Nothing is Forever, Not Life,
not Love,
not Death,
nor Loss.
Only change is eternal,
and only destruction
can the seed of creation form.
My wings bear me between
Darkness and Light,
Land and Sky,
the Garden and
the Wildwood.
I perch upon the Threshold
of the Worlds,
both flesh and spirit,
gifting the Brave Seeker
with Visions and Magick of the Otherworld.
To face me
is to face your greatest terror,
the Shadow of yourself,
the unknown and dangerous.
In chancing destruction,
your fear loses it’s power to destroy.
For only in acceptance
of Mortality will you learn the …
Secrets of Immortality as I,
the Raven,
possess.
Because such birds often feed on dead animals, they have the association with death or news of death. This may not be connected with someone dying, but perhaps that some project, love or aspect of yourself is being left to die; feelings or fears about death; something you are unaware of but is on the edge of consciousness.
The Twa Corbies by Arthur Rackham
As I was walking all alane,
I heard twa corbies making a maen:
The tane unto the t’ither did say,
“Whaur shall we gang and dine the day?”
“O doun beside yon auld fail dyke,
I wot there lies a new-slain knight;
And naebody kens that he lies there
But his hawk, his hound, and his lady fair.
“His hound is to the hunting gane,
His hawk to fetch the wild-fowl hame,
His lady’s ta’en another mate,
Sae we may mak’ our dinner sweet.
O we’ll sit on his white hause bane,
And I’ll pyke out his bonny blue e’en;
Wi’ ae lock o’ his gowden hair
We’ll theek our nest when it blaws bare.
“Mony a ane for him makes maen,
But nane shall ken whaur he is gane.
Over his banes when they are bare,
The wind shall blaw for evermair.”
A Modern English Version of The Twa Corbies
As I was walking all alone,
I heard two corbies make a moan,
The one unto the other said,
Where shall we go this day to dine?
Behind that old earthen dyke,
I see there lies a new-slain knight,
And none do know that he lies there,
But his hawk, his hound, and his lady fair.
His hound is to the hunting gone,
His hawk to fetch the wild fowl home,
His lady’s taken another mate,
So we can eat our dinner sweet.
You’ll sit upon his neck bones,
While I pluck out his eyes of blue,
With his locks of golden hair,
We’ll patch our nest when it grows bare.
Many a one for him is grieving,
But none shall know where he is gone,
Over his bones when they are bare,
The wind will blow forever more.
Minted FA 4, 84 years after the death of Smaug. Inscribed in runes honoring the king of the ravens on obverse, and the town of New Dale below the Lonely Mountain below. Equal to 1/20 Disme, or 1/100 Daler. 3.1 gram of copper. 19 mm.*
“Korwin I sometimes known as Ślepowron variation – In a red field, a black raven is facing left with a gold ring in its beak; it stands on a natural tree-stump, lying crosswise with two knots on top and two on the bottom. Over the helmet and the coronet are three ostrich feathers.
Or, a raven standing upon a hurdle sable; for Crest, a beacon proper and for Motto: Beart do réir ár mbriathar. Granted September 30, 1944.
The arms of the city (German name Freiwaldau) show a tree trunk with a raven. The arms are identical to the ‘Freiwaldauer Raths Sigel’ (local seal of Freiwaldau) from 1800. The meaning of the arms is not clear, but the tree trunk can indicate the forest (Wald). An older seal of the city, known from 1633, shows a man holding a branch in his hands, on the shield a helmet with the man again as crest. The meaning of those arms is not known.
The Story and History of Saint Vincent
St. Vincent was born in Born at Cimiez, France and became the Deacon of Saragossa in the former Kingdom of Aragon, Spain. Saint Vincent lived during the joint reigns of two Roman Emperors. The Roman Emperor Maximian, who was Roman Emperor for the Western Empire from 286 to 305 and Diocletian (r.284-305). who mounted some of the fiercest persecutions of the early Church especially in the East of the Roman Empire. This was an extremely dangerous time to adhere to the Christian faith due to persecutions of the Roman Emperors, and Saint Vincent, having been appointed a Deacon of the church, was arrested by Dacian the governor of Spain. He was put to the torture by his flesh being lacerated by iron forks and thrown into the sea. His body is said to be cast up by the sea on the promontory now designated Cape St. Vincent where it was protected from wild beasts, that came there to devour it, by crows or ravens.
Before the use of adhesive paper stamps, letters were hand stamped or postmarked with ink. Postmarks were the invention of Henry Bishop and were at first called ‘Bishop mark’ after the inventor. Bishop marks were first used in 1661 at the London General Post Office. They marked the day and month the letter was mailed.
The Common Raven is an acrobatic flier, often doing rolls and somersaults in the air. One bird was seen flying upside down for more than a half-mile. Young birds are fond of playing games with sticks, repeatedly dropping them, then diving to catch them in midair.
Tree and I were not sure what had made this Raven happy enough to be jigging about, but we were only just saying that we thought we would like some of what he has had.
Then we heard what sounded like a jet arriving and we realized that Baba had returned to Lemuria in her mortar. No wonder Raven is dancing a jig.
When Baba makes a come back everyone has a reaction.
Meanwhle, this aged Raven who has clearly seen it all before, is far from impressed.
IT was the Dwarf’s who brewed the Magic Mead, and it was the Giants who hid it away. But it was Odin who brought it from the place where it was hidden and gave it to the sons of men. Those who drank of the Magic Mead became very wise, and not only that but they could put their wisdom into such beautiful words that every one who heard would love and remember it.
When you travel along Owl Creek Road you may be lucky enough to stumble upon the house of a wizard who had a close association with Odin’s ravens. Knowledge has been passed down through the ages and it is said that a few drops of her special elixir, whose taste gives wisdom, in turn leads to beautiful words dripping, like honey, from the mouth of the lucky recipients.
Owl Creek Road is challenging for many. Not everyone makes it to the Alluvial Mine, but those who have made the supreme effort and mined the rich veins have returned with gold.
Gaily bedight,
A gallant knight,
In sunshine and in shadow,
Had journeyed long,
Singing a song,
In search of Eldorado.
But he grew old -
This knight so bold -
And o’er his heart a shadow
Fell as he found
No spot of ground
That looked like Eldorado.
And, as his strength
Failed him at length,
He met a pilgrim shadow -
“Shadow,” said he,
“Where can it be -
This land of Eldorado?”
“Over the mountains
Of the Moon,
Down the Valley of the Shadow,
Ride, boldly ride,”
The shade replied -
“If you seek for Eldorado!”
Like the Knight many who travel in Lemuria are seeking their Eldorado. The collection of Advent Calendars on the site, filled to overflowing with the work of those who have passed this way are a testimony to just what rich veins are to be mined in the mines such as the one at Owl Creek.
The air is fresh this morning and I wake up bright and energetic. In my dream, le Enchanteur told me that I should travel along Owl Creek Road, across Owl Creek Valley until I see a farm house. What I would find at this farm house, she would not explain but in my dream, I saw flashing images of a woman waiting and a deep dark cavern.
Owl Creek Road winds through some territories of Lemuria that are still unknown. Raven goes ahead with some of her friends and keeps a watchful eye on the road, warning of potential danger.
Owl Creek Travelling
The air is fresh this morning and I wake up bright and energetic. In my dream, le Enchanteur told me that I should travel along Owl Creek Road, across Owl Creek Valley until I see a farm house. What I would find at this farm house, she would not explain but in my dream, I saw flashing images of a woman waiting and a deep dark cavern.
As I expected the mule assigned to me is tied to a nearby tree, almost identical to the one I slept under last night. I gathered my few things and walked over to it. It greeted me kindly and I gave it some pieces of carrot whilst I munched on a juicy sweet apple. There are fruit trees everywhere here in Owl Creek Valley and I’ve gathered up a whole bag full.
We walk and I talk to the mule, who listens attentively. I hope the apple core I’ve dropped on the ground, grows into a lovely big apple tree. I can see a brightly coloured cloak up ahead, looking suspiciously like the one I saw retreating into the bushes yesterday. This time le Enchanteur (who else could it be?) is not hiding but watching me as I walk past. I know not to approach her. She has other ways of communicating and when she wants to speak to me directly she will. I’m happy with that. She gives me a faint smile of encouragement as I glance at her and I see something mischievous glinting in her eyes. I feel a lot better now that I know she’s watching over me.
The dream I had last night gave me some other information too. There were images I’d prefer not to dwell on, ghost towns, a mysterious shadowy woman and that dark cavern again. I try not to worry but I know that I’m heading towards challenges I’ve never faced before.
As I rest and wash my dusty feet by a little stream, I look up to see the horizon shimmering with heat. I splash water on my face and drink some of the cool, sweet water and enjoy the sensation as it travels down my throat. The mule is enjoying it too by the slurping sounds I hear. The weather is hot, but bearable. I only have a loose cotton dress on anyway so my skin is able to breathe.
I set out on my journey again but this time I decide to wear my spectacles to pass the time. I should see many interesting things through those glasses.
I hope this journey is not a long one. There is only so much talking you can do to a mule.
An elegant fowl came a tapping at the door of my heart and called me to fly back to Lemuria to be with my muse. She is my guiding light.
Web Mentor and Guide
Heather Blakey has had over ten years experience building online communities using web based technologies. She first began to blog in 1999 when she was a columnist for Cathy Atherton's Prairie Den and went on to demonstrate the potential of blogging.
Perhaps you still don't know what a blog is. Maybe you don't know a tweet from a widget or how to link to others. It could be that you simply need the hand of a creative midwife to help you realize your creative potentiality.
Heather is offering private mentoring for those who want to use blogging for educational, artistic or business purposes. You can work with Heather and become familiar with all those tools people are using.
The 2006 Adventure Calendar preserved one of the Lemurian Journey's with Enchanteur. . You can find links to the collection of the Soul Food Cafe Advent Calendars housed at Squidoo. This collective is currently working on material that will be used for the 2009 Adventure Calendar.
A group of courageous travellers packed at a moments notice and headed off for a three month trek along the Soul Food Silk Road.
They discovered a road that twisted and wound endlessly. They met the Amazon Queen, a Hermit, a Mystic, Gypsy Travellers, Fortune Tellers, a Bath-house Madame, the Sacred Warrior Knight, the Mistress of the Wardrobe and many other interesting characters.
Hestia’s Hearth
Hestia, like so many Lemurians, travelled with a donkey. Hestia is the inner spark we need to survive all odds, and to keep our spirits intact on the darkest day. She is also the light that guides us and allows us to take joy in our lives, and in our accomplishments. She is our inner light and the life inside ourselves. To come to Hestia's Hearth is to commit to keeping the inner spark alive.
A Murder of Ravens
The Rookery features the work of a group of inter generational, international, creative women who have worked in Lemuria with Heather Blakey, gaining their 'raven wings' in the process.
A to Z of Alchemy
The Lemurian Abbey, which lies beyond the Glastonbury Tor, is strictly restricted to members of the Order of Soul Food, to those votaries who have committed themselves to Making Art A Daily Practice and to building The Lemurian Abbey Community. This is not a religious order and welcomes people of any faith.
During 2006 Abbey Residents worked collaboratively on the A to Z of Abbey Alchemy. Just click on the individual letters to find the tasks.
Virtual Chocolates
If you have an artist, a dreamer, a dancer, a mythologist, an imagineer, a writer amidst your clan, make sure to nourish their creative spirit by sending them a box of Chocolates from the Soul Food Cafe. But be cautioned! These hand filled chocolates are totally addictive and may change lives.
Childhood is a state or phase of imaginative existence, the phase in which the world of imagination is still a brave new world and yet reassuring and intelligible.
The strictly non-fat chocolate from the Soul Food Chocolate Box is full of projects and material to help us return to that wondrous kingdom where imagination and creativity rule. The special fillings focus on celebrating childhood joy, spontaneity and imagination.
The Dig Tree
Celebrate being Australian, learn about Australian History and discover the essence of creativity all at the same time. The Dig Tree, is etched into the Australian psyche as one of the greatest ironic tragedies. Dig and unearth some of the secrets of creativity. The Dig Tree was designed by Greg Blakey, a talented design student, with flair, imagination and the ability to meet the needs of his clients. Greg has created, amongst other things, Soul Food's zany Magic Writing Tram.
