Mabh Savage
Words and the world passing by; how it sings to me; how I clamour back.
Word Emporium
Last night saw Trinity Church in Leeds play host to Word Emporium, an open mic event with the aim of sharing stories and telling truths. As part of the Love Arts Festival, one of the aims of this event is to get people talking openly about issues that effect them, including mental health experiences and our attitudes towards them.
The venue is perfect; Trinity Church is a beautiful Georgian church that has remained an integral part of the city’s architecture, despite the enormity of the shiny new Trinity shopping centre that is its new background. Rommi Smith, our host for the evening, comments on the appropriateness of the venue:
‘Creativity is my faith’ she says, and I think as artists we do put our faith in our word or our pictures; they give us hope and something to reach towards; they let us constantly improve ourselves, far more than most religious practices.
The night starts with pieces by Leeds Survivors creative writing group. The opening piece, ‘Don’t Bother’ has the room roaring with applause and I smile, knowing this is clearly going to be a good night.
The Baggage Handlers , another creative writing group facilitated by Rommi, perform a group piece accompanied by Samuel Moore on spanish guitar. Each takes short phrases that speak of their own stories and these wind together to become a much larger tale, reminding us that we each have our own uniqueness, and this should be celebrated.
The open mic itself is fast paced and has to be in order to fit all the poets in! 12 in all I think, and that’s just the first half. Phew! Each poet does one poem and is limited to 3 minutes, so the evening moves along very quickly indeed. I decided to do a poem about anxiety, which is a new piece penned only two days ago. I’d felt like this was one of the most honest and open poems I’ve ever written about this condition, but within the oceans of truth surrounding us this night, I was merely paddling near the shore.
During the ten minute interval (ciggie break for me, so much for Stoptober, oh well) the judges scored the poets and six went through to the second half, culminating in three winners: Maureen Rich, Addie P. Abbott and Davy Charles. All three prizes were well deserved; Maureen shows a vulnerability that takes incredible courage to put into words, and moved may of the audience to tears. Addie’s stories of journeys and the metaphors he uses are so relevant to, well, anyone really and the rhythm and sheer energy with which he performs are inspiring.
The overall winner was Davy Charles, with his two very different but equally impressive poems; the first about growing up with a stutter, and using the rhythms and rhymes within poetry to overcome this. This performance is one of the most engaging I have ever seen, and the way he incorprates a musicality and the organic nature of his own heart beat into the words is magical. The second is a love story, or a story about love stories, looking at the premise of meeting someone in a previous life, then meeting them over and over, getting the chance to fall in love all over again. Love poetry is dangerous as it can so easily fall into the banal, and Davy is as far from banal as can be! This tale is told with humour, lightheartedness and a genuine sense of yearning that (cliché alert!) tugs softly at the heart strings.
Talking to people afterwards, there was a general sense of warmth and wellbeing that comes from being in a safe environment where one can say what one wishes; where one can be the person one desires to be.
Spontaneous Creativity Award
I was very surprised and delighted to be awarded a Spontaneous Creativity Award from Void Poetry…
Book Review: Ariadne’s Thread by Laura Perry
“The myths of ancient Crete, her people, and their gods twine through our minds like the snakes around the priestess’s arms in those ancient temples. They call to us across the millennia, asking us to remember. In answer to that call, Ariadne’s Thread provides a window into the spirituality, culture and daily life of the Minoan people, and commemorates the richness of a world in which women and men worked and worshiped as equals. In these pages, the glory of Crete once again springs to life; the history, the culture, and most of all, the intense spirituality of these fascinating people and their gods can inspire and transform our modern ways of thinking, worshiping and being. The ruined temples and mansions of ancient Crete may crumble along the coastline of this tiny island, but Ariadne’s thread still leads us into the labyrinth and safely back out again.”
The tagline on the Moon Books site is “The Minoan world comes alive through seasonal rituals and rites of passage, honoring Ariadne and her Labyrinth.” This immediately resonates with me as (as you may know) I am fascinated with the impact ancient culture has on modern people, in ways both large and small.
From the outset I am thrilled by the passion Laura shows for her subject. Clearly the Minoans have inspired her from an early age, and it’s wonderful to see that fascination nurtured and blooming into the magical relationship she describes.
Crete comes alive for me; Laura’s description of the island belies the fact that all this information comes from research rather than first-hand experience. Laura covers all the pertinent studies relating to the Minoans and while presenting all the possible facts, is keen to stress the most likely ones as her picture of how the Minoans lived and the key points in their society. This is an intelligent and open minded approach which sits well with me. As does the focus on the everyday Minoan and not just the priest/priestess; after all, ultimately we are the ‘common folk’, so reaching back through time we may find more links to our ancestors by focusing on everyday life: the mundane as well as the magical.
The magical, of course, does play a huge part in this book. We hear about the Minoan pantheon; some are familiar but certainly for me, there is a great deal to learn and Laura keeps me turning the pages to do just that. I was astonished at the range of gods and goddesses included here! There are also the meanings of symbols, animals and how Minoan ceremony works within the Wheel of the Year. In the ritual work section, she is careful to explain the whys and wherefores of using certain symbols or not; the approach is inclusive with a hefty dose of common sense.
Rarely have I read a book that goes into so much detail about the spirituality and mythology surrounding one particular culture. The explanations of the symbolism of the Labyrinth are surprising and enlightening. Laura also looks at the similarities and differences between Ariadne and her ‘equivalents’ in other cultures, including mainstream religion. This book is truly comprehensive but what is more impressive is that it’s also fascinating and entertaining. If you are interested in ancient culture at all, you will adore this. If not, you would still get a kick out of the beautiful descriptive paragraphs and analytical style.
Ariadne’s Thread is a permanent addition to my ‘regular reads’ library and a triumph in what I consider the most necessary task of Pagan books: making it relevant. The thread Laura spins weaves all the way through time and is never broken. We can follow it either way, each page a new spool to turn.
*****/5
Book review: Pagan Portals: Moon Magic by Rachel Patterson
“Moon Magic is an introduction to working with the phases of the Moon, what they are and how to live in harmony with the lunar year and to utilise all the magical powers it provides. It’s filled with the basics of the lunar cycle, the representations and correspondences of each phase, what magic to work and when and also includes a look at the lunar year, moon deities, moon spells, meditations, specific moon rituals, moon names, tree moons and moon recipes.”
Published by Moon Books
Pagan Portals is, as the name suggests, a series of books (by various authors) with the aim of introducing various aspects of Paganism. Moon Magic seems a staple in this diet, as there are few branches of Paganism that don’t require at least some familiarity with the cycles of the moon. My initial concern is that this book may have little to offer the experienced practitioner. Just looking at the contents page dispels these fears instantly. Not only does Rachel (also known as Tansy Firedragon) cover what I would think of as ‘The Basic’ such as the phases of the moon, Esbats and some of the more well-known moon rituals, she also brings a fascinating amount of detail including working with cords, charms and supernatural creatures.
So rubbing my hands together gleefully at the prospect of learning something new about my favourite satellite, I dive right in. Rachel writes in an accessible style that is very inclusive to readers of all aptitudes. Facts are listed in well written, easy to consume bites, and each section that stems after is broken down in such a way it could almost be used as a reference book. Each moon phase has its own correspondences and magic, so it’s easy enough to flick through to find what you need at a specific time. I would find the information on oils and crystals particularly useful.
The meditations included are beautiful; someone really needs to make a podcast of these though so they can be downloaded and played at whim!
We move from the phases of the moon into the seasonal moon and examine different ways of using a moon calendar including relating it to the controversial Celtic Tree calendar. I’m glad she includes this though; it shows that moon magic and timings are not just for Wicca, but for any path.
I am particularly pleased with the Planting with the Moon chapter; this is such a simple aspect of biodynamic agriculture but so many people forget the impact the Moon has on plants and the soil. I’ve often used lunar agrarian principles for my own garden and others’, but this chapter teaches me things I never knew and will definitely implement myself.
This book is very short and as such you really have no excuse to not read it. If you have even the slightest interest in Paganism, Magic, natural living or astrology, this book will be relevant to you. The moon affects all of us, after all! Rachel brings a wealth of information together in such a way that you can go back to this book time and again, without it ever feeling old. The style is simple and full of common sense, yet magical and wondrous at the same time. Quite an achievement.
*****/5
Post Box Poets: The Return!
I really love this venue in Chorlton, Manchester (UK) and was delighted to be making a return to find out what vernacular vivacity was on offer for this month’s Post Box Poets. I was mightily surprised to find myself reading in the second half of the event! This event is the brain child of The Quiet Compere, Sarah L Dixon. An accomplished poet herself, she has found a wonderful space for speakers and listeners alike to gather and be happy. The talent on offer is mind blowing, and the variety in style and topic keeps the evening moving along so fast, I can’t quite believe it when it finishes.
Every poet brought something unique to the floor. Sarah herself has stories of tweets and grey rainbows, and is utterly gripping to listen to. Hannah Mackay spoke about a twenty year gone relationship and the resonance still recurring. Sarah Maxwell moved from sad but beautiful musings to amusing anecdotes about holidaying, with some lovely, avian metaphors thrown in.
John Darwin impressed firstly by not having any paper to carry (always jealous of those that can memorise!) and then by moving from humour to painful poignancy effortlessly. I don’t think any of us will now forget the phrase ‘I just like art galleries and getting pissed’. My favourite was ‘Cuckoo’, which to me just spoke of the callous nature of humanity via a very local snapshot.
Jonathan Eyre brings his poetry to life with a performance style that speaks of the theater; every word spoken just so to leave the perfect imprint on the listeners mind. His poem about ME I heard for the second time tonight, and if anything it only moved me more upon repetition. Pat Selden sat and talked to us as if we were confidantes; short funny bursts of what seemed spontaneity interspersed with longer stories and musings, traveling from music to politics and stopping off on a few places between. Highly entertaining.
With the Tories in town, it was no surprise there were a fair few political offerings. Neil Fawcett inspired a few wet eyes with the story of Jack, slave to the wage; very relevant in our current cutback culture. Freda Davis spoke heatedly about the entropy stemming from so called enterprise, and boy, were there some cheers at this!
Janine Pinion proved her intense powers of imagination as she took us with her on an adventure to become smaller than the rain; simply delightful.
Martin Vosper finished off the night speaking of a love not yet found, superheroes (where we find a poem within a poem) and the beauty of nature; he mixes humour, observation and wit to deliver a range of subjects that not only inspire laughs but thoughtfulness.
Oh yeah, and I read as well. I don’t know about everyone else but I enjoyed myself? To read a bit of the poetry I performed last night click here and here, which are two halves that last night I rolled into one for the first time ever. To the lady who said my poems are like ‘listening to a painting’: I love you! And thanks. Here’s to the next Post Box Poets!
Autumn Haul
Foraging on the way to the farm.
A Modern Celt: Book Launch Update
Just having a discussion about the mass appeal of the Morrigan as a tutelary goddess. Here’s one of my comments:
“I do work with the Morrigan but quite happily accept that not only does she have commonalities with other goddesses but the likelihood is at least some of her nature and legend was brought across the entire continent as memories of Hekate and the like. Having said that, I do treat Morrigan and Hekate as separate entities because that helps me compartmentalise my own working in a way I suppose; I believe that the spark of energy is within me somewhere, and the god/goddess/spirit I choose to work with is an anthropomorphism of the path I want that spark to take.”
A toast to you
Just got myself a glass of Kath’s Viking Blood Mead. It’s wrong to drink it without making a toast, so here’s a toast to everyone who is here, or will be here later, and who has put up with my hermitism and madness throughout the duration of this project. Sláinte my friends!
Mabh Savage 