Weblog 185

August 23, 2009~ 12:00am
Like my granddaughter, I've always had a fascination with witches. Although there have been few actual witches in the world's history compared to the number of woman thought of as such-



many of them were killed in earlier centuries just for the accusation- there is something so totemic about the idea of a woman with mystical powers, for good or ill. I believe it starts in infancy at a time when one female holds the power of life and death, discomfort or its remedy, and the image curls there deep in the psyche, something to be both drawn to, and feared.

I came across this startling statistic:

"Scotland is estimated to have been Europe's biggest persecutor of witches.

In the 17th and 18th centuries Scotland put to death over 4,000 alleged witches.



A small well (pictured above), on the eastern corner of the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle, marks the spot where, over a timespan of 250 years, 300 women accused of witchcraft, were burned to death."

In all, there were 4,000 'witches' put to death in Scotland...that's quite a tally for one small country. We tend to fear power. We also tend to lend power to those we feel helpless to stand up against- ('mother' again)- and our mythologies and superstitions, even our religions- are wont to reflect those deep-seated fears and prejudices.

This state of affairs seems natural in a patriarchal society where any perceived stronghold of femine power might be seen as threatening. Witches are pictured as ugly old crones, whose very homeliness would exercise less hold over...well, men.



Women do know secrets. Women's intuition is no myth....it's a fact. It may be due to some animal sense of the natural rhythms of moon and cycles, or because of the way the female intuits need in those she cares for. Women bring forth life, and what could be more powerful in this, or any world? Honestly... if all men were to die out tomorrow, but their sperm frozen, the earth could go on indefinitely....but the inverse of that is not true. Think about that! Pretty damn heady stuff, I'd say. Heady enough to turn that first female- 'mother, life-giver' -into the Boogeyman--- if one's perception of that primal female memory happens to be negative.



As to the old crones, they were probably simply old cronies, who sat around sipping tea and swapping recipes



not a mean bone in their bodies, yet they swung from gibbets and were burned at stakes.

The poor ladies bore the anger and fears manifested in hysterical cries of "Witch! Burn the witch!" --as maddened mobs carried torches, eager to see their fears burned away as well. Ladies out there......we're pretty powerful dames...and don't you forget it.

When folks try to stamp on your abilities, your intuition, your talents-- don't take it, ladies. It's only fear speaking. They're seeing their witch-



-- and it could be 'mother'... 'old teacher'... 'sister'....any female who held strong influence over a life. Be proud of her. She's their nightmare-- but you are splendid!




August 25, 2009~ 5:00am
Yesterday, I lost someone very dear to me. Wayne's sister Garnet, who's struggled with diabetes and its complications for many years now. Not a Christmas has gone by in the past 15 or so that we have not been an intimate part of each other's, and I shall miss her terribly.


Almost blood, but not quite...the incomparable beauty of this lovely woman will remain with me always. (And Garnet, you still have the prettiest name I've ever heard.) Rest in peace, my dear dear friend...you're in my heart forever.

Here on this page, amidst talk of splendid and strong women- you were a powerplant.



I love you, sweetie.




August 26, 2009~ 8:45am
The passing of an Age....the last lion of the Kennedy Dynasty has left us, and oh....it makes me so sad....I truly loved that man. Here's one of my favorite shots of what Ted Kennedy was about...



That's Ted, at the height of the war in Iraq, casting the most wonderful annoyed, angry, disapproving glance at the chief war-monger, Donald Rumsfeld.

Kennedy- no matter what you might say of his legacy, good or bad, that man.....was always 'for us'.


The Last Pyre

Big
as a bear

magnificently flawed, he only
used
his claws
when the rich guys
were
hood
winking into wins,
that which the little guy
was
losing. He began each sentence with It's

all my fault

for he
had many, and each
acknowledged. Big
voice

big
head

big dreams, the Ursa

Major

of the
senate is dead

and how
unbelievable that seems
after watching him
live his life
so publicly
for 40 years, Ted Kennedy, big brother
to
us
all,
is gone. The last
real
hero.

If

he'd
never
lived,
only Shakespeare
could have written him.






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