From youthful fantasies of flight to naked humiliation, your dreams reflect the arc of your life.
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tom watson
04/01/11
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lhsu
04/15/11
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wiltimprice
04/08/11
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stevenlane
03/20/11
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ginorod
04/01/11
June 05, 2012
A message comes from an advanced society in outer space that needs our help.
Of course, in the Information Age we would probably quickly find it was a hoax.
That’s perhaps as close to what happened early in the 12th century in Europe, when a mysterious 12-page letter began to circulate that described a fabulous kingdom.
With one basic difference: it was believed.
There were over 100 different variations of the letter published over the following few centuries, but the gist of it was this:
"I Prester John, who reign supreme, surpass in virtue, riches and power all creatures under heaven. Seventy kings are our tributaries. I am a zealous Christian and universally protect the Christians of our empire, supporting them by our alms."
Then he would get to the good stuff.
"...we have gold, silver, precious stones, animals of every kind and we believe no people is our equal under heaven."
And then the really good stuff.
"We live in a kingdom, a land of milk and honey, where there are rivers of gold and a magical cistern with mystical aqua vitae where anyone that drinks is guaranteed longevity (the first recorded mention of the Fountain of Youth)."
He would usually close with a variation of this.
"...With all these riches, all this goodness, (reiteration was effective) I am in danger of being overrun by infidels and barbarians."
He gave his location sort of nebulously: a “modest” kingdom in the East, comprising the "three Indias," and enclosed a map.
Most often, the letters were addressed to Emanuel I, the Byzantine Emperor of Rome, though other editions also went to Pope Alexander 111 or the King of France.
The result?
Expeditions were sent to find this mythical kingdom. Men went to find the secret of perpetual middle age. Hearts beat wildly in young Lochinvars going to rescue their princesses in distress. Scholars sharpened their quills to re-write history.
The search revealed no Kingdom. But what was the hurry? It had only been a century or two.
Heavies like Gregory of Nazianzus, John Damaschene, Isidore of Seville, Rabanus Mourus and Christopher Columbus continued to mull where it was.
By the 14th century, subsequent letters (published as a 10-page manuscript in several languages) said that the besieged kingdom was really in Abyssinia.
“Pearls there as plentiful as peppercorns,” was the way one letter described it.
Portugal sent expeditions to find Prester John throughout the century. Cartographers included the kingdom of Prester John on maps in the 17th century.
Some scholars think that the basis for Prester John came from the great empire of Genghis Khan and others concluded the fuel propelling the myth was to offer hope to Christian armies fighting the crusades.
Maybe they never found "paradise" but looking for it sparked the Age of Discovery, and helped catapult the west into the Renaissance.
The man who never was became one of the most influential people in history.
The power to imagine may be the greatest power we have.
still thinking about today...
Submitted by:
tgw318
03/12/11
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coolcole
04/13/11
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jettster
04/10/11
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nlehrman
04/01/11
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Paul Geller
03/21/11
Most of history is heavily marbled with myth. The conduct of the crusaders was such that those enlightened of the brutalities might be tempted to abandon the practice of the religion altogether. I could go on & on, but it's past my bedtime. For the record, Hazel has ANOTHER birthday.....
Happy Birthday, Hazel! Have a wonderful day.
I unfortunately not a big history buff (and probably going to be wrong about my next comment), but maybe all of this is where our childhood fairy tales originated from. Magical kingdoms and the like. Being the silly person that I am, I'm more informed on the fairy tales than I am on history. Happy Birthday Hazel!
Sometimes, MBAILEY, they are the same thing.
HAZEL--Hope its the best birthday ever! Best wishes!! I heard there's a party in your honour in London....
haze, ChefDeb is right. I saw the party they threw for you in London on the Telly here in The Colonies.
Dream on, people, dream on.
Pen-blwydd Hapus, Hazel!
You are your own myth. You write your own letter. Mine is called Woodpecker Logic for the Tempest-tossed Soul. Sometimes it takes fifty eight years to learn what you really knew all aong. My mythical letter speaks of a flawed southern entrepreneur who has spent an adventure filled lifetime traveling around the world and finding himself looking back at the half century mark & laughing. I have unearthed the mystifying fact that deep in my soul there resides a childlike wish to find out what makes me tick. Restfully restless but happy nonetheless. My Appalachian roots, a persistent sage-like woodpecker, my spiritual partner Thoreau, and an ancient Oriental guru who interrupted my beach vacation on the Redneck Riviera, all played a role in my whimsical and enlightening story of self-discovery through old fashioned reflection. I found the streets of gold lead to a Walden where trees and grass abound and angels are shaped like Trout.
Something there is in human nature that wants to believe the unbelievable: a sheriff from a county across the lake who did a psa warning against internet scams, lost sixty thousand dollars in one of the cruder… internet scams.
There is no such thing as a free lunch, rivers of gold would be hard to fish and a life without natural limits would be one where time and the tethers of relationships would lose meaning.
Fantasy is infantile but there is a lot of money in it.
Happy, happy, happiest birthday, Hazel. Wishing you all the best that life offers
And yes, Stoney, as was said.....there's a sucker born every minute.
If its too good to be believed, it's probably not true.
or, as we say around here...."if it quacks like a duck..."
It seems we have a fundamental need to hope/wish/think/dream/yearn for something perfect and magical. Is it the same need that is usually channeled into religious belief? A sibling to religion? Our lives as we live them have a tendency to become dull and we become disenchanted....perhaps that's why the magical kingdoms of Prester John....and their present-day UFO sightings, and Nigerian oil deals....can twang at somebody until they decide they want to be the hero in their own story so they throw off the everyday with passion, but little reason, hoping to come riding back into their story and setting with riches and honors and glory. And really, wouldn't some of those 'suckers' say they were only following their dreams? The wiser of us say, just because you can fly in your dreams doesn't mean you should jump out the window and try it, does it? But then....seekers, suckers, dreamers, madmen, adventurers, romantics, .....by whatever name - they entertain and enlighten us sometimes by the sheer unthinkability of doing what they did.
When mythical things happen, times are really bad. Be fearless. All you have to do is believe!
Welcome Carolbabock...I am clapping.
Speaking of how the years mix fact with myth, the QE2 60th Jubilee in London is quite the ceremony, pomp, circumstance, & stability in uncertain times. Then there's the cranberry Bentley, still looking good 10 years after it's presentation to Her Majesty.....
I have to go off topic to marvel over and praise the Diamond Jubilee Celebration which I have been glued to for days. No one else I know is interested and every one has been giving me squirrelly looks about it and all I can say is "too bad for you." Everytime someone actually makes fun of this amazing 85 year old woman who fulfills 400 engagements a year and functions in so many ways, not the least of which is helping her countrymen feel good about themselves annoys me. We have no official outlet for that, let alone someone with her knowledge, experience and common sense.
All that aside, the technical aspects of the production are spectacular. Each event outdoes the other and they have all gone off like clockwork. There she STANDS, hours at a time. Hundreds of stairs up and down, not even aided by a railing. The pageantry and spectacle have been unequalled and the BBC's coverage has been terrific.
I have to say with all due respect, there hasn't been a single Pythonesque moment--except intentionally when at the Concert last night Prince Charles referred to the Queen as "Mummy."
I am really looking forward to the Olympics there now. Thank you for bearing with my Royal Rant.
If it matters:
Manuel I Comnenus (1118-1180)
Pope Alexander III (ca. 1100-1181)
Gregory of Nazianzus (329-390)
John Damascene (ca. 676-749)
Isidore of Seville (ca. 560-636)
Rabanus Maurus (ca. 780-856)
Some fancy time-traveling here. Perhaps Prester John always existed on another dimension.
Carolbabcock...welcome.
CD - I remember being in grade school when the queen ascended to the throne. My mother bought me a "coronation" skirt. It had all things England on it with the queen's picture wearing her crown. I loved that skirt.....it spun out in a circle when I twirled.
CD---I've been following closely, as well. I'm utterly amazed how fresh she continues to look after back to back parties and fetes! I don't know how she has the stamina for it all and continues to look eager and refreshed, not the least bit tired or drawn. And isn't it nice to women dressed up without their boobs falling out of their dresses? I wish we were a nation of hat wearers, altho' I don't know where they can possible find room to store those creations.
Happy Birthday Hazel.
Prester John. King Solomon's Mines. The Mountains of the Moon. All arise in Africa, home to the human race.
Kind regards to Hazel on her birthday!
And: "It's good to be The Queen."
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HAZEL.
I HOPE YOU GET TO ALL THE THINGS YOU LOVE TODAY.
WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE YOU WITH US.
Welcome CAROLBABCOCK.
Join us at Hazel's Birthday party on the sepiatrain tonight. Bring a treat for Floyd.
Birthday greetings, Hazel. Hope it turns out to be the best yet with better ones to come.
The secret(s) of success are not mythical. They were revealed to me circa 1963 in East Point GA by a Manager who had escaped the cotton mills arounf Augusta. At the time I thought he was the crudest most cynical cynical human I had crossed and I had crossed more than average at my tender and callow age of 27. . But it has turned out to be the sagest advice I ever got and here it is: "Success is like throwwing $hit against the walll...some sticksd and some falls off. You just have too keep throwing it up." Happy Bitrthday, sweet Hazel!
Back on topic ~ the land flowing with milk and honey wasn't all it was hyped up to be.
Carol & CD~ I have been watching it and am amazed by the stamina and good humour ot this 84, nearly 85 year old lady.
VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAZEL!!! Prester John is still alive and doing his thing, only now he is known as a cantidate for office or is running for reelection.
The myth of the unicorn: Many years ago one of my daughters mention on the way home from school that she had to write a paper on "The Care and Feeding of a Unicorn." All four of us--three daughters and I--spent a delightful time thossing around ideas to perpetuate and embellish the myth. Using the wonders of the imagination is challangeing and fun; it even lifts the spirit. I certainly think those who did the same to the Prester John myth were rewarded in the same way. Sadly those who took it seriously were not. Are there no those still among us?
For the Anglifiles among us: God Save the Queen. She is indeed a amazing woman.
To see U.K. banded together as a joyous family with no politics, no tragedy, no agenda other than love for this symbol of "Brit-dom" is really inspiring.
Happy Happy Birthday Hazel dear, I hope happy days will come to you all year, if I had one wish then it would beeeeee...a Happy Happy birthday to you from me!
As a special birthday present I promise not to sing that aloud to you.
Prester John? Sounds like a medieval confidence racket. But then again maybe I've watched too many con/heist shows. Seems sort of like the "lost heir" premise.
But then again my father has also dealt with that. His whole life he's gotten letter, telegrams, phone calls, and visits from people claiming to be his long lost half siblings through his sub-lebrity father. It all starts out as friendly and "oh I'm so glad to find my family roots, you should come and visit me some time, it is wonderful here, you'll love California" and then it devolves into "I need money" or "I have something of our father's, would you like to buy it from me?".
Jaded. Who, me?
A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY DO I WISH YOU, DEAR HAZEL! I wish you a bit (or more) of self indulgence and extravagance -and happiness, of course, much happiness. xx
I have read tales of Prester John, but never
considered these in light of our own village here...a nebulous land of milk and
honey, ruled sagaciously by our gracious host J. Peterman.
Perhaps the tales were tailor made for this wandering cloth merchant,
turned lord and master of his own virtual kingdom. It is all I can do to offer
my services, when and where I am able, and bow in humble fealty to his, if mythical then nonetheless captivating, powers.
Happy Birthday Myth
Hazel! May this be as sweet as your 16th and I hope that your 16th was very sweet.
For those with an unobstructed view, don’t forget this evening’s or late
afternoon’s show.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKvG0RU4_fI
Paolos, we're all prepared for the transit of venus, in fact I'm getting off work at 4pm to watch the show with my nieces and nephews with the viewing glasses saved from the eclipse. All these astronomical phenomenons have put me in the mood to watch John Carter again for some reason.
I have a sneaking hunch the Queen has body doubles,or a Disney staff .....
I believe that most myths are somewhat, somehow, all rooted in Truth and Faith. To let one's mind wander and wonder on the beauty of Creation is so much more satisfying than bashing one's head against the proverbial wall looking for facts and proof. (Of course, we DO need facts and proof, or a bunch of folks would be out of work, and we'd fall off the Earth when we sailed to England to wish Hazel a Happy Birthday) But if everyone could take one moment to reflect on those myths, those fairy tales, that thought of Atlantis, and see it as though one were a child again...how happy and how peaceful one might find that moment? Feeding and Care of Unicorns....I'm so there!!!!
Park4, rings90 ~
Have you voted?
Have you taken note of the fact that someone is pointing out who hasn't?
Had not heard of that before.
http://sunearthday.nasa.gov/webcasts/nasaedge/ streaming live @ 5:45 Eastern from Mauna Kea-
I am endangered by being overrun by infidels and barbarians...A meatless dinner??!!!
Peanerbuckle (thanks Pogo) 'n jelly
ACK, make this storm blow over faster so I don't miss the transit!
Thanks for the website TOMMY. I'm watching it and sent it on the my grandchildren. I hope they're watching too.
HAZEL, a very happy birthday to you, and many more.
I, too, venture Off Topic, for I too am captured by the Jubilee. As I have been by every event in England all my life. And now we can see them.
Just imagine the lifetime of Queen Elizabeth; the changes she has observed and experienced -- all with infinite grace. What a toll the Jubilee will take on her -- but she is wise, and understands the need -- the genuine need -- for such celebration. Through everything, she has remained staunch, private, yet available when she must be.
In an interviw by Piers Morgan wih two women who've long been part of the monarchy's
lives and history, one explained, "We need to see this; need to see her square black heels, her hats, her composure in the face of everything from war to family indiscretions,
even The Wave," which she proceeded to explain. Royals are taught it, being told "it's like screwing in a light bulb." Which she demonstrated and by Jove! she's got it! it's true, though I'd never heard it explained.
She continued, "In a time when nothing seems stable, there is ONE thing that remains so -- the monarchy. The QUEEN. And we take comfort in that."
TOPIC: Because of its very improbability I love Mr. P's tale. Loving mythology as I do, I can't imagine how I'd never encountered it. The improbability; the magic; the 'it's on another plane, in another dimension" is in fact what draws us, what drew our ancestors.
And, unless they lose something highly valuable, it will so draw our descendants. Let them not abandon imagination; not be unmoved by pageantry; not unappreciative of history;not be ungrateful that England remains, "...This land, this England...." no longer to the ends of the earth, but everywhere television can take us.
Once disjointed memories. Now even essence flow. Sharpened inner vision. Sunset colors' afterglow.Looking to dark shadows. Probing the indigo deep. Where micro infant steps. Become macro giant leap. Unspeakable profound words. Indescribable poignant scenes. Perplexed cherished visions. Enlightened new Essenes. Then I sit alone barefoot. Hold a cigar in one hand. Shaken martini in the other. As I glimpse at sky, sea, sand. Boxes are freshly opened. Reality surgically dissected. Perception briefly abated. ~As I sit here I am reminded of this poem I wrote while howling at the moon. Could have been Venus. Might be a myth. Called it Glimpses are redirected. Still do.
******** :) ******Happy Birthday Hazel,***********enjoy your Artistry....
enjoy your summer flowers, and whimiscal gardens....... along with your local starry nite skies, so bright and so right..... equivocally wonderful.....in celebration of your birthday year....Cheers!!!!*************************Tommy T..... I just read that someone caught a 29 pound Trout the other day .near Erie Pa.......and beat an old record of .... 23 pound Trout ; Trout is "like," edible gold to me ; Trout cooked with green pepper, white onion, and a bay leaf...lots and lots of cut fresh lemon..wrapped & grilled..Chef Choice....Fair.....yep.pretty good stuff that Trout...add butter...imagine a fanciful dinner dish platter holding a 29 pounder...geeze...getting back on topic......Ok, I will say that the show..." Star Trek,' has showcased many a performance ON life storys and in attempt to...or has help to ....answer alot of our ambiguous questions on life reasons for existance...or lifestyle choices....dramazations...that sea saw.... up and down about myths in general..or do you suppose..... or What if...or this.........regarding a myth of Prester John.....anywho....you or I...... just want to go along with the crowd...together....and meet at the next Soc Hop........again Roman Mythology tells us.... why no one would want or care to enjoy the "Midas Gold Touch...." or not one of us would want to own a box " aka" "Pandoras Box!".....OK, I saw UFO's in May...I wrote to the weather channel and reported them...I might of been online here," ...on the eye..".It was a busy month, I got to dance to John Krysenski (from the TV show the office; his family from my hometown, too....)HE WAS singing my favorite tune...Bruce Springstein....something Higher...something Higher....etc...Born to Run album came out in 1977, that year..... my best artist friend knew...that i loved Bruce and his songs; he silked screen the cover of the album onto my favorite white T-shirts.....so, I know how to dance to my generation....song hits....ACDC "Black 'n' Black....Anyway i did not write it, the UFO's I saw...maybe; Its True..it is.. ...it was late..." how wild..... at 2:30 in the morning..... I saw 2 Tangerine Lights sparkled like a plane headlights, which I have seen white airplane lights..sparkle...as they move toward your "eye" view deadon...... I do not think to the village knows this yet..... because I very elusive about seeing what I saw..a mental grasp of the IDEA!!!! "oK not sure how to explain...but all Togerher 6 lights all same color Tangerine bright sparkeling Airplane Headlights....are they those Drones....????..as I worked on my laptop at 2:30 am early morning we had cloudy skies but there was a very apparent clear skyline...with drifting cloudlike....structures above the clear part of the nite sky ; the UFO's were in pairs one Tangerine Light mimic or right behind following the other...The first light approched over the Allegheny River directon...then right anle ascent...the 2nd followed and mimic...then as following ascent with a letter S movement pattern....then awe...ah HA....I knew this is something totally different, strange....UFO...yes...then to my amazement...a second set of two ...pretty much the same pattern...soon as it hit the cloud coverage...no more lights are visible...then the final set of two ; as it were they moved so slow....then the movement not helicopter or airplane natural movements at all...then I got my camera. but my precluded body langauge hesitated and slowed the photo opportunity....remember I was on the computer....on the laptop..somewhat sleepy, tired...but alert like an Eagle....I failed to get a picture but reported it to the Weather Channel..and maybe"the Eye" ..I forget...?&^^%???...so .....but it ended..... the Tangerine Sparkles...of flying objects...were no more in my view......and now what do I do....how do I think and wondered....felt like candy cotton for days after.....somewhat bewildered ...
I posted on my new Seapansie pic, I found For-get-me nots in the woods ;see community page; oops I danced to John Krysenski singing in the movie ...thepromiseland....sorry for all the typos in my post; I spent the day gettting my Lifeguard Certification...this week 9am to 4pm i had to swim 12 laps first thing at 9am...without my coffee....then retrieve a 20 pound brick, might as well have been a 29 pounder Trout...and place the brick on my chest and back stroke without using my legs..inverted breast stroke kick..back about 50 yards without coffee...and throw the brick on deck...all for helping saving lives...in the Aquatic Arena for Water Safety...nite nite..
ooops without using my arms I mean...inverted breast stroke is a fun stroke ...if you get the chance ...figure it out...
Imagination!!! The stuff of fiction and so much of science fiction....I just watched the new Mysterious Island with my granddaughter (whom I am taxi-ing to and from fencing lessons this week in the city), and the Jule Verne, RL STevenson, Jon. Swift references were indeed reassuring! Maybe kids will now read those books that the movie mentions....
But in the realm of imagination, the story has modern kids finding the volcano that spews gold, creatures that have morphed so the large are small and vice versa (huge ants, bees, bug), and Atlantis is a place in the South Pacific to be discovered! Capt. Nemo's Nautilus is reignited, electric eels are power sources, and The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) is a kind and understanding stepfather!
Yes, imagination is out there, and the movie folks are making films about it!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAZEL!! Greetings and good health to you from across the pond!
ChefDeb, I completely agree with you about Queen Elizabeth II as a great role model and amazing woman! (I'd say Charles may be her only mistake...;-))
The Diamond Jubilee has been impressive!
Those Brits can sure do fireworks! Even the Queen was oooing and aaahhing.