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World Focus on British Isles Coronation May Miss Historical Nuances Within Kingdom

WORLD FOCUS ON BRITISH ISLES CORONATION MAY MISS HISTORICAL NUANCES WITHIN KINGDOM

FIRST WEDNESDAY SURFACING from UNDERGROUND WRITER’S CAVERN into LIGHT OF DAY to WELCOME MAYDAY/BELTAINN CELEBRATING SPRING/ONSET OF SUMMER/ RETURN OF HOPE & JOY & PROMISE

Both Barack Obama and Nainoa Thompson were born in Oahu, Hawai’i—one ten years before the other. Both have grown up to influence a world which has lost its way, and both have taken a lead in altering the course of Mankind for its greater good.

Barack Obama b. August 4, 1961 Honolulu, HI; Nainoa Thompson b. March 11, 1953

“Like Hokule’a captain Nainoa Thompson says, ‘We’re all in the same canoe.’

“We’re all on this planet Earth together, so it makes sense to get along and change things for the greater good-together.”

44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, 1st to implement 2015 Paris Agreement Carbon Neutral goal during his tenure, 2009-2017.

Huntly, Aberdeenshire: Rich Rival Gordon [Catholic] Stronghold Enraged James VI & I So Much, He Forgot Position as King of England, Personally Hacked Coat of Arms on Doorway

Elizabeth I’s rule of England in 1500s was remarkable for its peace & prosperity & fact that she refused to align herself with royal houses of Europe. She died childless & throne passed to her cousin James VI of Scotland & I of England in 1603.

Willy, Willy, Harry, Stee,
Harry, Dick, John, Harry Three;
One, two, three Neds, Richard Two,
Harries Four Five Six, then who?
Edwards Four Five, Richard Three,
Two Harries, Edward and Bloody Mairee;
Elizabeth the Virgin Queen
Two Jameses with Charlies in between….

William and Mary, Anna Gloria
Four Georges, William and Victoria…

Ned, Geo, Ned, Geo, Liz –party pnemonic:Kings & Queens of England

John de Critz c. 1606 courtesy Dulwich Picture Gallery

James VI (Stuart) & I, cousin of Elizabeth I who died 1603 without issue

With a British coronation coming up this month, many cities in the United Kingdom of Scotland, England, Wales & N.Ireland [+oceanic territories & dominions of the far-reaching British Commonwealth) will be celebrating.

Unfortunately, because of an internal lack of foresight on the part of the soon-to-be king, many regional territories within the island chain have felt discarded-superfluous even-[pic far rt below]as Buckingham Palace has been concentrating on a round-the-country series of events—breakfasts, [ancient feast-days] streetside “Big Lunches” & picnics in the run up to Coronation in the heart of London at Westminster Abbey, seated on 1066 Edward the Confessor’s Coronation Chair, with Scotland’s crowning stone: Stone of Destiny (royal Stone of Scone, Perthshire, pic.1 below left) in position under the seat. After coronation it will be returned to Edinburgh Castle.

The Stone of Destiny/Stone of Scone usually resides—along with other Scots royal regalia—in throne room of Edinburgh Castle, pic.lower left above, under protection of @Nat_Trust_Scotland, alongside crown & sceptre, dolphin staff of sovereignty & other crowns of the North. Pic 2 left above shows Scotland’s Lord Lyon King of Arms Lord (Johnny) Douglas-Hamilton bearing regalia for HM The Queen on her last visit to Scotland before she died last year. That particular crown is Scotland’s oldest, created from Rhynie [ABD] gold & pearls from River Ythan, Buchan ABD. Pic 1 top where Stone of Scone used to reside, Scone Palace, Perth.

Forgetting his Elevated Position, Resorting to Childlike Behaviour

Interestingly, when James VI & I was given dominion over England as well as Scotland in 1603, one would have thought honour would have consumed him, banishing all other jealous or childlike thoughts forever. His ancestors, from Guardian of Scotland William Wallace, to Stuart kings before him, had longed to subjugate the southern kingdom from the time of the 1308 Herschip o’ Buchan [wholesale destruction by burning of Scotland’s eastern landmass of ancient Caledonian Forest] by self-crowned Robert Brus in his mindless rampage north to destroy Comyn rivals in Buchan, & coastal Morayshire; when Edward I, Hammer of Scots first demanded subservience.

Instead, one of first actions James chose was in fact to follow a long-time grievance against powerful [Roman Catholic] Earls of Huntly whose ‘Gret Place’ [Palace] of Strathbogie between Aberdeen & Moray coast rankled. From Wars of Independence, through 14th century protestantism throughout the land, Huntly had maintained staunch Roman Catholic ties. It also held sway over one of the richest agricultural valleys [between Deveron-Bogie rivers] in inland Aberdeenshire.

Original castle, known as the Peel of Strathbogie, was built by Duncan II Earl of Fife on the Strathbogie estate some time around 1180 and 1190.

Earl Duncan’s third son, David, inherited Strathbogie estate, later-through marriage-became Earls of Atholl around 1204. During Strathbogie ownership, Robert Brus was a guest after razing Caledonian forests in Herschip o’ Buchan.

The family was loyal to him throughout this awful vendetta, but before [Bruce’s win at] Bannockburn 1314, David of Strathbogie shifted his support to the English. Bruce saw this as treachery and granted the castle and estate to Sir Adam Gordon of Huntly because he was consistently loyal.

In 1506, the castle was officially renamed Huntly Castle. Although the castle was burned to the ground, a grander castle was built in its place.

Huntly—an Aberdeenshire Favourite Royal Haunt

In 1496, Perkin Warbeck, pretender to the English throne, was married to Lady Catherine Gordon, daughter of George Gordon, 2nd Earl of Huntly and Jas. IV was guest at their wedding. James IV came from Edinburgh to Huntly in October 1501 and gave gifts of money to the stonemasons working on the castle. In October 1503, James IV came again and played in a shooting contest at the “Prop” target in the grounds. He came back the following October, on his way south, accompanied by four Italian minstrels and an African drummer. James IV played cards at the castle 10 October 1505 and gave a tip to masons working on the building. These visits were part of the king’s annual pilgrimage to the shrine of Saint Duthac at Tain, Rossshire.

Architecturally L-plan, the castle still consists of a well-preserved five-story tower with an adjoining great hall and supporting buildings. Areas of the original ornate carved façade, above rt. and interior stonework remain from early 16thC. The grounds, though less imposing today, stretched for several acres through rich agricultural farmland which supported all of Earl Huntly’s household, with loads to spare for tenants, friends and neighbours.

Wings were added to the castle in the 16th and 17th centuries. English diplomat Thomas Randolph stayed two nights in September 1562, and wrote that the castle was “beste furnishede of anye howse that I have seen in thys countrie”.

Its rich landholdings attracted other royals.

Royals with more Warlike Intentions found Reason to Enjoy Bounty

Mary, Queen of Scots decided to take the castle, to enhance her power in the kingdom, giving her reason that the Earl withheld from her a royal cannon lent to him by Regent Arran. She sent her half-brother Commendator of Coldingham, John Stewart to arrest Geo. Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly at the Castle in October 1562. On the day child’s Tutor Pitcur arrived and spoke at the gate, the castle tower watchman spotted Coldingham and the Master of Lindsay with troops a mile off. He alerted the Earl who ran “without boot or sword” and hopped over a low wall at the back of the castle, finding a horse before Pitcur could stop him.

Elizabeth, Countess of Huntly, then welcomed the queen’s men and gave them a meal and showed them around the palace. It was noted she still had her chapel furnished for Roman Catholic worship.

George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly died after Battle of Corrichie October 28, 1562; the castle was garrisoned for Mary, Queen of Scots [Queen Dec.14, 1542 until forced abdication 1567] by Crawfurd and 20 soldiers. Furnishings, including beds and 45 rich tapestries were taken to Aberdeen, then shipped in barrels to Edinburgh for the royal bedchamber and MQS’ “refurbishment”.

In 1576, Geo. 5th Earl collapsed from food poisoning, while playing football outside the Castle on the Green. He was taken to a bedchamber in the round tower, next to ‘Grit Chalmer’, Great Chamber. After he died, he was laid out in that Chamber, with his valuables in his bed-chamber.

Supernatural events then occurred: sudden collapse of a servant in the ‘Laich Chalmer’. Next day, another went to the Gallery at the top of the ‘New Warke’ where precious spices were stored. She & two others also collapsed and when revived, felt cold.

After the Earl’s body was embalmed & in the chapel, his brother sat on a bench in the Hall by the Great Chamber door, and heard unexplained sounds from inside. He said “there is not a live thing bigger than a mouse may enter that chamber with the door locked.”

James VI & I’s Jealousy his Undoing

As a child, James VI & I had witnessed his mother MQS systematically rob Huntly of rich tapestries, paintings & furnishings for her own private apartments in Edinburgh. After her imprisonment, he ruled Scotland efficiently, without sentiment as a protestant monarch for 35 years before being summoned as King of England on Elizabeth’s death, 1603. He had to have suffered much pain through his mother’s mistreatment & death; yet he masked it well.

On being visually confronted by the land of his youth, however—the abundant rich landholdings of central Aberdeenshire between rivers Deveron and Bogie in particular, where the policies of Catholic Gordons in his Protestant kingdom flourished, he must have literally “lost it”. No recourse to parliament or pretense of leniency for “misunderstood” or ignorant subjects.

He took a hacksaw, a hammer and a knife and started hacking at the Gordon initials and Coat of Arms on the delicate doorway entrance to the New Warke, left above.

His sublieutenants and courtiers waited while their monarch became exhausted and then found him a carriage and whisked him away from temptation. No-one has so far taken a ladder to erase the beautifully (though egotistically-inspired) lettering on the Castle’s main Warke but it may now seem improbable as inscriptions lie four storeys above ground.

Historical Perspective on Coronation Madness

With impending madness centred on London for next week’s great event, many will forget—perhaps philosophically, and therefore with calm forgiveness that the to-be-crowned Monarch will in all conscience never approach a gentle peaceful. loving countenance which his mother always held in her heart for ALL of her subjects.

Scotland was for HM Queen NEVER a place to wear a pretend kilt or to make false appearance of enjoying the wilderness of the North.

She literally DID love the North: Aberdeenshire, Deeside and Balmoral in particular. She may or may not have worn a tartan skirt but she always had her headscarf and handbag at the ready ❤

We love you your Majesty, r.i.p.

Writerly Word to the Wise

From our (not so insecure) Writers’ Cavern below the present Earth, as it continues on its endless rotation around our solar parent & the great Universe beyond: may we say how “admirable” it is to be calmly confident enough to forgive any and all silliness on the part of current royal pretenders who wear kilts one day as a gesture (?to what) & forget about our northern region of the British Isles on the next.

Rather should we, like the Obamas (above rt, being met on landing in Britain 2009 by HM Queen) be thankful to be able to do some good with the tools we have been given—as Obama did with his 2% emissions ceiling in Paris Agreement, or his fellow countryman, Pacific Navigator Capt. Nainoa Thompson, top of page in his four-year canoe journey to greet Pacific Islanders. It is, after all a wonderful gift to be able to put pen to paper—even tapping keyboard in higher service counts! Keep on writing, guys! ©2023MarianCYoungblood

May 3, 2023 Posted by | ancient rites, art, authors, blogging, culture, earth changes, environment, fantasy, fiction, history, nature, ocean, organic husbandry, popular, publishing, ritual, sacred sites, traditions, trees, writing | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Making Lemonade with Giant Lemons of Change Opens Doors of Perception

MAKING LEMONADE WITH GIANT LEMONS OF CHANGE—Monthly Writers’ Gathering for Scribes Ancient and Modern, Insecure or Otherwise

Nihil Illlegitimi carborundum Don’t let the b- -tards grind you down

We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about Science and Technology

Carl Sagan, 1999

After a year of Zoom birthdays, virtual graduations, and masqued take-out dinners, many of us want to party again: to attend impromptu gatherings like music festivals, left, and explore the innards of ancient ruins or modern museums’ treasures, right. Celebrations help to create and cement relationships. Celebrating puts us back in touch with our happy self.

But it’s not just big occasions that should be marked. Acknowledging small moments is so important for wellbeing. Psychologists call it “savoring.” Savoring is about appreciating an event or activity in the moment, sharing tiny victories, and noticing the good things around you

Are you the Languishing or Flourishing type?

The Harvard psych department Dr Van der Weele quiz sets out five areas of life you can personally assess: good, bad or indifferent. Do you wake up each day with a reason to go out and do; or would you rather go back to sleep?

Ticking the Boxes & Remembering to feel Gratitude

Grateful for rain, fresh air, a small garden, a walk in the woods? Bringing that to our attention—feeling gratitude—has an effect of lightening the load, making us feel useful, purposeful aka better. Creating a weekly gratitude ritual can cement a good habit. Studies show that taking time to reflect on what we’re grateful for improves our mood,

Feel like we’re ticking boxes. Getting things done makes us grateful for the quality of life.

The simple act of thanking someone for what they do—hospital workers, shop assistants, security guard. Even the masked raider who delivers your unexpected package out of the back of an anonymous brown and black UPS van.

The Robin Hood Effect: Being Kind—Giving a Helping Hand Makes the Helper Feel Good, Familiar

Sometimes people feel an extra spring in their step when they talk to a stranger on a plane or the subway, or when they are greeted in a restaurant.

While eating out has become a rare event, we have missed the familiar: being seen in public by other people, being greeted enthusiastically and with respect by others—particularly after long periods of isolation and self-entertainment—has the effect of energizing and invigorating the (lonely) psyche, and immediately helps create bonds within the neighborhood or community. This has happened for people connected with a church, choir or singing group, familiar running mates and yoga and fitness classes.

Re-connecting within the community—even something as simple as hanging out at your old coffee shop—is something we have all missed.

Social media has filled the gap in many western societies where iPhones and Smart devices have taken up the slack of no daily rhythm of entertainment. But all of us writerly virtuosos, weaving our virtual conversations, have become accustomed to retrenching in the Writer’s Cave, making our own coffee, and getting back to business —thanks to our Muse—on the keyboard.

Ancient Ibis-headed scribe Thoth’s ability to write made him god of wisdom, carrier of information and inspiration—similar to Greek Hermes, Roman Mercury. Patron of writers, he invented writing, music, medicine, and magic.

He wrote it all down.

Although Osiris and Isis are said to have brought civilization to mankind, Thoth gave the Egyptians their civil-religious practices. God of Equilibrium, he weighed the balance of life and death, kept records of the Afterlife and maintained the Library for the gods. At a time when few could write, his unique ability was supernatural, divine.

Make an Ancient Connection—with a Tree, a Bird, a Human, a Cat

Ibis-headed Thoth, seen as the “voice of Ra”—accompanying the Sun through the dark realm of Night to emerge next day, to begin again—sets an example to us 21stC lost souls: He sees mystical connections within the Earth, that all Life is interconnected and adapting to change. And we human scribes may actually benefit—yeah thrive—from learning something new; DOING a new dance routine, trying a woodland walk never attempted before. Writing the long-dreamed pf fantasy novel. Ticking happy boxes, indeed.

The gods assure us—cave-dwelling scribe-o-philes with a passion for the written word—that we won’t regret it. New habits for old; new life where there was none. Writing community/IWSGers, What are we waiting for?

©2021MarianYoungblood

May 5, 2021 Posted by | ancient rites, art, Ascension, authors, belief, birds, blogging, culture, environment, fantasy, fiction, history, Muse, nature, novel, poetry, publishing, ritual, traditions, trees, writing | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment