Reading this made my day in this time of one new horror after another. The initial statement in italics roped me in. "There is only one thing for it then — to learn. Learn why the world wags and what wags it" Thanks
Myrddin (Merlin) was a real individual and the evidence for his life is fairly conclusive. The 'son of the Devil (Pagan) and servant of God (Christianity)' being also the first recorded case I am aware of concerning PTS from the horrors of battle only makes his humanity very real. Another great read. Thanks.
I do recall White's book, it was required reading in school, tho I never quite got why, since the official take on both book and author was suitably savaging for the typically brutal American education system.
I always somehow found the media interpretations of Merlin wanting, and yours is the first piece that has-in my estimation correctly-placed him within that great tradition of the Druids.
At some point the Celtic and Germanic branches divided, and so we think of them today as entirely separate. Perhaps they are, and I'm trying to connect the wrong dots, but the Wanes, the Vanir had their place in the west over the waves when they were done with this world.
He fascinates me. He is most druid - like to me. But he is the prototype for Gandalf and Dumbeldore, as well. Which book of White's were you reading? The Sword in the Stone? Why was their take on WHite and his book savaging? I love that book so much. THat's very interesting about Celtic and Germanic branches dividing...
Why was their take so savaging? I would have to explain things that would require more explanations, and I'm sure you have better things to do than read all that. Let us just say that the principle of cyclic time, reincarnation, shapeshifting, and the like was too much for their point of view. There was, and probably still is a kind of oppressive duality in American education, and an impetus to join one of the two camps. Ancient realizations don't exactly fit with either camp.
When I really study the enormity of Celtic and Germanic mythology, I am consistently struck by the dedication the modern mind has to reinterpret this corpus of work in a certain way, so Vikings have to be bad ass killers. Its okay, even fun at times, but it certainly is an incredibly simplistic perspective,. Beyond all that, I keep finding haunting echoes in both traditions, like the Isle to the west over the waves, that make me think of so much more.
...what was wrong with Merlin?...i mean in all the excitement he didn't even pause to consider his personal pronoun(s), had he no conscience?...worse, he seems rather difficult when it approaches the question of his readily accepting the agendas intended foisted upon him, though perhaps he'd mastered the art of the real meaning accruing to the concept of social distancing, his never been around when he was 'wanted'...suggests a subtle variation on the idea of 'presence' that i wish to explore at length, at great length that is!...(pun intended!)...jayz, to my dismay i've a feeling i'm confusing him with another, and thats a compliment to his evergreen qualities of his calibre of magican!...seriously, my comment may misrepresent the facts of his life, apologies, so i appreciate the article, which i'll read again, very interesting!
Well I think that T.H.White mixed in a lot of his own opinions into his version (s) of Merlin and Arthur, he went to town and shamelessly hijacked Merlin for conveying his own views. Apart from that, his Merlin is amazing in how he teaches Wart to shapeshift into hawks, geese, to 'sort out' the problem of being a human being.
Nov 16, 2023·edited Nov 16, 2023Liked by Siofra O'Donovan
...i had personal experience before convid that heron's are messenger's, tell u another time and during and since convid crows, and starlings are among my very best friends...one crow in particular...i'm never out of his sight during the day...he's on another level is 'Citizen'...if folk only spent a little time with them they would realize how beautiful these beings are!...i had 'Liberty' crow, stunningly beautiful female crow...very, very sadly rip!...what a sense of humor and communication she possessed...Citizen is an incarnation of wisdom and all the previous as well!...they're full of love!...so many humans are shocking ignorant...Merlin is right, and i'm glad to discover that through ur article! ... two great videos... https://youtu.be/flU0rDDGtHU?si=_HQcy56qRYLHGAo3 ... https://youtu.be/SybELkQxy8g?si=l2q144Lhl-ts_1jd ... and one for the road! ... https://youtu.be/1WupH8oyrAo?si=P92Sko5KcemHlw7D ...
Reading this made my day in this time of one new horror after another. The initial statement in italics roped me in. "There is only one thing for it then — to learn. Learn why the world wags and what wags it" Thanks
Myrddin (Merlin) was a real individual and the evidence for his life is fairly conclusive. The 'son of the Devil (Pagan) and servant of God (Christianity)' being also the first recorded case I am aware of concerning PTS from the horrors of battle only makes his humanity very real. Another great read. Thanks.
Yes he was an early case of post war PTS for sure. Thanks Thomas .
Thank you for this piece, Siofra.
I do recall White's book, it was required reading in school, tho I never quite got why, since the official take on both book and author was suitably savaging for the typically brutal American education system.
I always somehow found the media interpretations of Merlin wanting, and yours is the first piece that has-in my estimation correctly-placed him within that great tradition of the Druids.
At some point the Celtic and Germanic branches divided, and so we think of them today as entirely separate. Perhaps they are, and I'm trying to connect the wrong dots, but the Wanes, the Vanir had their place in the west over the waves when they were done with this world.
Wyrd feelings stir within.
He fascinates me. He is most druid - like to me. But he is the prototype for Gandalf and Dumbeldore, as well. Which book of White's were you reading? The Sword in the Stone? Why was their take on WHite and his book savaging? I love that book so much. THat's very interesting about Celtic and Germanic branches dividing...
I believe it was The Once and Future King.
Why was their take so savaging? I would have to explain things that would require more explanations, and I'm sure you have better things to do than read all that. Let us just say that the principle of cyclic time, reincarnation, shapeshifting, and the like was too much for their point of view. There was, and probably still is a kind of oppressive duality in American education, and an impetus to join one of the two camps. Ancient realizations don't exactly fit with either camp.
When I really study the enormity of Celtic and Germanic mythology, I am consistently struck by the dedication the modern mind has to reinterpret this corpus of work in a certain way, so Vikings have to be bad ass killers. Its okay, even fun at times, but it certainly is an incredibly simplistic perspective,. Beyond all that, I keep finding haunting echoes in both traditions, like the Isle to the west over the waves, that make me think of so much more.
So well written. An enjoyable read on a rare cool rainy winters day in the free state of fla. Keep on keeping on
Thank you Keith.
...what was wrong with Merlin?...i mean in all the excitement he didn't even pause to consider his personal pronoun(s), had he no conscience?...worse, he seems rather difficult when it approaches the question of his readily accepting the agendas intended foisted upon him, though perhaps he'd mastered the art of the real meaning accruing to the concept of social distancing, his never been around when he was 'wanted'...suggests a subtle variation on the idea of 'presence' that i wish to explore at length, at great length that is!...(pun intended!)...jayz, to my dismay i've a feeling i'm confusing him with another, and thats a compliment to his evergreen qualities of his calibre of magican!...seriously, my comment may misrepresent the facts of his life, apologies, so i appreciate the article, which i'll read again, very interesting!
Well I think that T.H.White mixed in a lot of his own opinions into his version (s) of Merlin and Arthur, he went to town and shamelessly hijacked Merlin for conveying his own views. Apart from that, his Merlin is amazing in how he teaches Wart to shapeshift into hawks, geese, to 'sort out' the problem of being a human being.
...i had personal experience before convid that heron's are messenger's, tell u another time and during and since convid crows, and starlings are among my very best friends...one crow in particular...i'm never out of his sight during the day...he's on another level is 'Citizen'...if folk only spent a little time with them they would realize how beautiful these beings are!...i had 'Liberty' crow, stunningly beautiful female crow...very, very sadly rip!...what a sense of humor and communication she possessed...Citizen is an incarnation of wisdom and all the previous as well!...they're full of love!...so many humans are shocking ignorant...Merlin is right, and i'm glad to discover that through ur article! ... two great videos... https://youtu.be/flU0rDDGtHU?si=_HQcy56qRYLHGAo3 ... https://youtu.be/SybELkQxy8g?si=l2q144Lhl-ts_1jd ... and one for the road! ... https://youtu.be/1WupH8oyrAo?si=P92Sko5KcemHlw7D ...
They are extraordinary, we just do not pay enough attention to our avian friends. I have a problem because we have too many cats.