Preparing the temple for the final ritual drama of the weekend is always bittersweet. It is the last stage of a journey that has been years in the making. This
Tag: Being
Lord of the Deep: Surfing the WebLord of the Deep: Surfing the Web
Saturday is always a heavy day, with three rituals and attendant prep sessions, as well as two explorations, led this time by Lorraine and Jan, both of whom are ordained
Lord of the Deep: Rebuilding the citadelLord of the Deep: Rebuilding the citadel
Once more the fates move. Now, while Gilgamesh steps beyond himself, he and Enkidu, Life and Death, Man and Nature, become the portal that guards the Veil of the Beyond.
Lord of the Deep: Stepping beyond…Lord of the Deep: Stepping beyond…
When Lord of the Deep was being written, decisions had to be made about which elements of the ancient Epic of Gilgamesh to include, which to leave out altogether and
Lord of the Deep: Getting under the skin…Lord of the Deep: Getting under the skin…
In any drama, be it ritual or otherwise, there is a fine line over which you must hover as an ‘actor’. You are not your character. Lines and scenarios that
Lord of the Deep: True colours?Lord of the Deep: True colours?
Gilgamesh and Enkidu journey into the wilderness; pursuing the king’s desire for personal glory, the two have left Uruk to seek out the ‘forest demon’, Humbaba. Gilgamesh has vowed to
Gilgamesh descending (4) ~ Steve TanhamGilgamesh descending (4) ~ Steve Tanham
Steve continues his view of the Lord of the Deep weekend through the eyes of Gilgamesh: And as I watch Gilgamesh ascend towards the vast cliff-edge from which his life
Lord of the Deep: Going for gold…Lord of the Deep: Going for gold…
One of the ‘simple pleasures’ of working on the Silent Eye workshops is that I get to fulfil my dream to run a wardrobe and props department. I love the
The Quest for Immortality: Terms…The Quest for Immortality: Terms…
* … The terms Ego and Id had not yet been applied to the components of the human psyche when Gilgamesh was written but the self same dynamics are evident
Lord of the Deep: Brothers in arms…Lord of the Deep: Brothers in arms…
In order to indicate the passage of time and distance in our story, we tend to walk the circular form of the temple. The third ritual drama began with Shamhat
Gilgamesh descending (3) ~ Steve TanhamGilgamesh descending (3) ~ Steve Tanham
Steve continues to share his experience of the weekend from the perspective of Gilgamesh: Entranced by the living spell that is the movement of the Fate Dancers across their patterned
Lord of the Deep: Dancing the Seven VeilsLord of the Deep: Dancing the Seven Veils
The first part of the second ritual drama was easy enough to design. The Trapper…who looked so good in his costume, he should really dress that way all the
Lord of the Deep: A radiant dawnLord of the Deep: A radiant dawn
There is something about greeting the rising sun at the dawn of a new day that changes our perspective, especially on a spiritual workshop, when the attention is already focussed
Lord of the Deep: The Tyrant and the PriestessLord of the Deep: The Tyrant and the Priestess
We began the workshop weekend by opening a whole can of worms. Gilgamesh, Lord of the mighty city-state of Uruk, stands within the temple of Ishtar, face to face
The Quest for Immortality: Seeds…The Quest for Immortality: Seeds…
* “And in their bed chambers at night… The young-folk of Uruk cry themselves to sleep…” * “When the wild-man succumbs, the animals will leave him forever. He will no
Lord of the Deep: HeroesLord of the Deep: Heroes
“It is,” said Steve, not knowing quite how true his words would prove to be, “a weekend for heroes.” While the ancient story of Gilgamesh and Enkidu was originally
Pancakes, sophistry and sacrifice…Pancakes, sophistry and sacrifice…
It is Shrove Tuesday and in England that means pancakes. Not, you will understand, those heart-warming American delights, nor the elegance of French crepes, but ‘proper’ pancakes. For my sons,
Though they may not know it…Though they may not know it…
* The One animates Spirit with Light. Spirit animates Soul with Love. Soul animates Body with Life. The Body generates the Many The Many live in the One. *
Seeds of Sound…Seeds of Sound…
* Our Words of Truth with their intents: EARTH – to become aesthetically aware… CALM – to affirm in admiration… HAY – to treat with equality… EAT – to live
Why Myth? IV…Why Myth? IV…
* ‘Gilgamesh is among the greatest things that can ever happen to a person.’ – Rainer Maria Rilke. Those of you with an eagle eye will have realised that next
The alchemy of joyThe alchemy of joy
By the time this goes out, another workshop will be over and our Companions will have dispersed for another year. Inevitably, every time we go back to Great Hucklow, we
All in the feeling?All in the feeling?
It was a beautiful morning. I had watched a barn owl glide across the field as dawn limned the horizon with gold and palest pink. The sky was beginning to
EasterEaster
In England today there are chocolate eggs and rabbits. In France the church bells are silent as the bells of St Peter’s fly to the children, tied with ribbons and
A silent voiceA silent voice
It seems a very long time ago now, before the launch of the Silent Eye, that I wrote “Coming Through”, about the way we are sometimes guided by unseen hands.
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Pygmalion and Galatea by Jean-Leon Gerome 1890 Have you ever noticed how many times we cling to the known rather than risk the adventure of the unknown… even when the