What are the most important human characteristics? Love, kindness, joy, honesty, integrity, compassion? Who are we, why are we here, what is the Purpose of all this… and what do
Tag: spiritual journey
Where the wildflowers growWhere the wildflowers grow
Locus iste a Deo factus est, Inaestimabile sacramentum, irreprehensibilis est. This place was made by God. A priceless mystery, it is without reproach. Anton Bruckner. I was talking this morning
My Spiritual Journey by Steve TanhamMy Spiritual Journey by Steve Tanham
This week, I will be sharing again a little about the people behind the Silent Eye, starting with its founder, Steve Tanham: Sue has asked Stuart and I to record,
EmergenceEmergence
The dragonfly perched on the sun warmed granite of the bench… more than I am allowed to do, as it still has to be drilled and fixed immovably in place.
‘Aye’ of the Unicorn: Whirligig…‘Aye’ of the Unicorn: Whirligig…
* As the weekened progressed we were to work our way around ‘the limbs’ of an elemental pentagram. * Two sites from the region were given over to each element.
The Quest for Immortality: Anomalies…The Quest for Immortality: Anomalies…
* Given that much of the Epic of Gilgamesh has found its way into the Hebrew Book of Genesis in a somewhat garbled form… Why, we may wonder, is the
Lord of the Deep: Taking rootLord of the Deep: Taking root
One of the questions people don’t like to ask is whether or not our ritual drama weekends serve any useful purpose. It is all very well coming along to share
Gilgamesh descending (8) ~ Steve TanhamGilgamesh descending (8) ~ Steve Tanham
The portal through which all the others have passed – except ghostly Enkidu and forlorn Gilgamesh – shimmers and fades. My brother – his twin – fades… And he and
Lord of the Deep: Outrunning the sunLord of the Deep: Outrunning the sun
“Can’t stop,” said I, dashing through the corridor. “I’ve got to paint celery…” “Can you help me with my skin?” “Sure. I’ll just grab the pins…” There were a number
Lord of the Deep: “Why is there such grief..?”Lord of the Deep: “Why is there such grief..?”
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
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
The Quest for Immortality: Masks…The Quest for Immortality: Masks…
* It has to be owned… The Temple Space has never looked finer. Mind you, we say that every year! * Even Coyote, a late, somewhat incongruous addition to proceedings
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
The Quest for Immortality: Gods…The Quest for Immortality: Gods…
* The workshops serve as a Celtic Cauldron of Plenty… Everyone gets what they most need. How is this possible? How is it possible that three years on from
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
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