Going Up?
Dearest,
As tragic events unfold to hit the heart around the world, war’s brutal complexity calls for courage and strength. I know my newsletter is just a small voice, but it is an action, a form of compassion and human connection.
In this issue - a bit of Platonic reflection, an illustrated Hymn to Night, a look at an Afro-Cuban kitchen, and a special for annual subscribers.
Come with me as I join in the stream of songbirds flying deep into late October’s winds, with bonus sunshine, and darkening portents. It’s time to clean the windows and watch the seasonal show’s slow reveal.
I wish I could find a way to slot my newsletter into a specific genre. Don’t you think it would be so much more successful? Less boring for those in the identified niche audience, but I’m guessing it would be more boring for me to write. As it is, I just always feel more multi-dimensional than any one point of view permits. So despite all that, I hope you find something of interest in here.
Hymn to Night
Lately I’ve been exploring the Mystical Hymns of Orpheus. In Thomas Taylor’s translation the language is strange to the modern mind, since his work was published back in 1757. I’ve been making each hymn (invocation) into a short presentation, approaching each of these one line at a time. This one is to the Goddess Night.
I think I can prepare myself by reading the Platonist masterworks and studying their premises, looking to them as maps to show where and how. But reading Plato, Plotinus, and all is challenging and difficult. Such writing is for the greater mind to follow, not the small one that thinks these things can be known just by reading. That small mind (fostered and developed in the cave) has to move to the background and defer to the far more intelligent light, which is brighter than anything.
By the light of that intelligence the readings open themselves to the mind. This light is invoked in studies but not held by them. Theurgy is an added component that illuminates the process, alongside the immense beauty of contemplation.
We don’t have to claw our way up out of the cave - unprepared, squinting at the immensity of viewpoint once outside. Through familiarity with the ideas, the soul can be simply lifted, by beauty, by an upward movement within; this is the philosophic ascent.
Santeria Kitchen
Maniolo, a practitioner of the Afro-Cuban religion, lived right next door to the cemetery in Matanzas. When I took this photo in 2009, I was struck by the heavy presence of a horned animal head above the stove, only later noticed the dodgy electric wiring. His house was filled with visionary paintings of his tradition, his patio surrounded by votive ritual sculptures.
Different from the 100 year old Frankfurt kitchen, which is the inspiration for our coming reno that I mentioned here back in August:
Special give-away for new annual subscribers
I’ve been on this wonderful Substack platform for years now, and haven’t really pushed for subscribers. Now I feel it is only fair to give back, rather than just ride for free. Taking a tip from another Substacker, I’m offering a special for new annual subscribers. From now until October 31st, when you sign up for the annual subscription at the low price $60 CAD, I’ll gift you a print copy of my novel, Attars, absolutely free!
If you’re now a monthly subscriber and shift to annual, the book offer still stands. If you’re one of the few who happened to subscribe earlier in October, please let me know your address and I’ll send you a copy asap.
Just reply to this email for more details.
(Elevator image from Possessed Photography on Unsplash; Images & sound in Myths of Orpheus from Canva; all other images my own. Book cover by James K-M))
Everything is always connected, beyond time, and somehow right on time, let’s decode it.
Till next week!
If you like this post, click on the heart - and even better, add a comment! I’d love to hear from you.
Your beautiful video and description of the philosophical ascent was just the balm this restless soul needed this week. Thank you
Beautiful hymn Carol. Love the poetry and images.