This subject has been really fascinating to me today. It has been a great gift. It has opened my eyes to the wonderful work of both Martin Shaw and Michael Meade and I particularly loved your poem at the end, which resonated with me deeply. Thank you again.
I'm so happy you're finding some worth in this post David, thank you for your reflections.
Wow, what a delight to be discovering Martin Shaw for the first time - I remember that feeling!
Curiously he made a brief reference to Valemon in his own Substack today, in the context of Serbian orthodox teacher Elder Thaddeus' words, urging is 'not to bribe our own conscience' Martin writes:
"In fairy tales the village bribes you to stay put when you meet the wise bear in the forest. He offers you a golden wreath, but you have to venture far out into the forest with him to receive it. There’s risk involved. So the community may make a false wreath to keep you as-you-were, but caught in the fantasy of the false-wreath, rather than the imagination of following the real one.
Which is a storytelling way of saying be aware of what bribes us into refusing the call by pretending that we have."
Thank you Will, much appreciated. I'm glad you enjoyed the poem - I hadn't realised it would make an impact with people, but it seems to be connecting ✨
This subject has been really fascinating to me today. It has been a great gift. It has opened my eyes to the wonderful work of both Martin Shaw and Michael Meade and I particularly loved your poem at the end, which resonated with me deeply. Thank you again.
I'm so happy you're finding some worth in this post David, thank you for your reflections.
Wow, what a delight to be discovering Martin Shaw for the first time - I remember that feeling!
Curiously he made a brief reference to Valemon in his own Substack today, in the context of Serbian orthodox teacher Elder Thaddeus' words, urging is 'not to bribe our own conscience' Martin writes:
"In fairy tales the village bribes you to stay put when you meet the wise bear in the forest. He offers you a golden wreath, but you have to venture far out into the forest with him to receive it. There’s risk involved. So the community may make a false wreath to keep you as-you-were, but caught in the fantasy of the false-wreath, rather than the imagination of following the real one.
Which is a storytelling way of saying be aware of what bribes us into refusing the call by pretending that we have."
So good Jez, thanks so much for sharing your ponderings here. Loved your poem especially. This was Wild, Green & Heart-full. 💚
Thank you Will, much appreciated. I'm glad you enjoyed the poem - I hadn't realised it would make an impact with people, but it seems to be connecting ✨