The Eumenideia starts at sundown on 20 February this year (27 Anthesterion). Before I get meandering, here are the basics: Make some cakes. They can have many humps; they can be smooth on top. It depends on whether you are working with something that holds its shape. I steam soft rice cakes and drizzle honey … Continue reading Eumenideia 699.3
Drying Rosemary for Purification Water
Back when I wrote some basic guidance on how to do no-frills worship (and a follow-up one on doing quick worship), I said that one could easily buy rosemary to make purification water. I had occasion to buy a lot of fresh rosemary, and these are 6-8" sticks. Fresh rosemary leaves — some in bloom … Continue reading Drying Rosemary for Purification Water
An Etiquette of Crowns, Floral and Verdant
At the beginning of Plato’s Republic, specifically at 328b-c, the elderly Cephalus is wearing a wreath upon his head because he had just finished offering divine sacrifices in the courtyard. In addition to generic ritual wreaths, ones that use specific materials — laurel, bay, rosemary, olive, oak, and so on — have been used for millennia … Continue reading An Etiquette of Crowns, Floral and Verdant
A Miscellany of Quotations — Reading Proclus’ Essays 7-10 on the Republic in French
In January 2020, I read the first volume (of three planned) that contains essay-style commentaries that Proclus had written on the Republic of Plato. I am reading the Republic, so it seemed useful to read both simultaneously. Essays 4, 5, and 6 are lovely things; I recommend reading the new translation, which was done by … Continue reading A Miscellany of Quotations — Reading Proclus’ Essays 7-10 on the Republic in French
Happy Anthesteria 2020 (699.3)
Montsechia vidalii. (2017, March 18). Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. Retrieved 23:24, February 5, 2020. Cropped photo. This is one of the world's oldest flowering plant fossils. Changes There is no snow this Anthesteria,no struggling walk in half-darkness,only the old decay of late-fall leaves,flocks of black birds fleeing skyward,the air too sticky, the grass yet … Continue reading Happy Anthesteria 2020 (699.3)
To Mnêmosynê
Mnêmosynê of the lake shrouded in darkness star-patterned like Nyx we praise you brimming antilight who swallows harmony down like eternity drifting deep and helixing high words known ideas unuttered knives upon the tongue Time a steady exhalation a swelling deep within reflection without recognition ready to break into song ⛲️
Reflections as the World Falls Apart
all below lustrousan Apamean sun hotdew on fine statuessublimating quickMuses’ faces deep wellspringsa hum a song ruptured sharpTime limself dancesthose ruins half-rememberedcrumbling cornerstonessand whirls in harsh windsall that remains is eclipseda promise a curse rendingwe buried our heartslike Dionysos’ remainsas the temples burnedas we burned with themthey march now on Earth herselfstill the fire roars … Continue reading Reflections as the World Falls Apart
