November 2, 2008

-From Wikipedia
(October 28, 2008)-

** "All Soul's Day
-- November 2, 2008 -

The custom of setting apart a special day for intercession for certain of the faithful departed is very old. But the celebration of general intercession on 2 November* was first established by St. Odilo of Cluny (d. 1048) at his monastery of Cluny in 998. The decree ordaining the celebration is printed in the Bollandist Acta Sanctorum (Saec. VI, pt. i. p. 585). From Cluny the custom spread to the other houses of the Cluniac order, which became the largest and most extensive network of monasteries in Europe. The celebration was soon adopted in several dioceses in France, and spread throughout the Western Church. It was accepted in Rome only in the fourteenth century. While 2 November remained the liturgical celebration, in time the entire month of November became associated in the Western Catholic tradition with prayer for the departed; lists of names of those to be remembered being placed in the proximity of the altar on which the sacrifice of the mass is offered. " **

The fact that this could be interpreted as a form of mediumship in the classic Pagan and Wiccan tradition seems to have to slipped peoples minds entirely, no thanks in large part to the ongoing, through-out history, efforts of the Roman Catholic church. (Don't even get me started! lol)

Anyway this is really just my way of recognizing the deep, dare I say it, almost filial affection for a woman who has inspired me for many years, ever since she went back to university at the age of thirty-seven, because she wanted so badly to become a nurse, finally graduating in the top 3% of her class, and within a few months, receiving a mark in the 98th percentile range on her RN exams! She has always been there for me when I really needed her and I will never have the words to be able to thank her properly.

I love you, Mom!

Jamie
Pagan Forge

*technically when the 2nd of Nov falls on a Sunday, the Celebration gets moved to the Monday following, but it's generally celebrated on the 2nd.

Lady Liberty's Lost Her Head!

So, I'm watching this show on History Television tonight called "Aftermath:The World After Humans", and there is a scene that struck me as a particularly biting bit of political wit in this day and age.

Over 150 years after the sudden, (and unexplained, but since the why is not relevant to the premise of the show, it doesn't really matter anyway), the Elements are beginning to take their toll on the structures of our lives. We have already seen the consequences of 150 plus years of neglect on the Eiffel Tower as it toppled from the middle as a result of rust. Now we are in New York. The Statue of Liberty has already lost her Torch arm as rain has penetrated her copper cladding. That combined with the natural humidity of the Harbor, has caused the statue's iron skeleton to collapse. We are then witness to the sight of the statue's head falling forward to land in the forest at her feet.

Thus, "Lady Liberty has Lost Her Head!" Please tell me I don't have to explain the significance of this in light of the current political climate, both here and in the U.S.

I'm working on a post about my recent trip to Halifax Thanksgiving weekend, to be a part of "MAC Leather X: A Celebration of Leather" I got to visit with friends I haven't seen in a long time. I got a chance, (well several really, but who's counting! ;p ), to visit a terrific new bar in Hali, the new "Menz Bar" on Gottingen street, did a little shopping - bought a new memory card for my camera- Sony Store in MicMac Mall, great price - took lots of pics, too. I am currently cropping and clearing up pictures from the Sunday night Celebration proper. Took over 80 pics that night and it'll take time to get the done. Then I'll be posting them along with whatever info I have, or can remember.

Until then, this will have to do.

With Light,

Pagan