Pentecost and Poetry and Stuff
May 19th 2007 06:34
PENTECOST IS NEXT SUNDAY!
So what's this got to do with poetry and other stuff? Bear with me gentle readers,
(yes I know you're lurking out there from the stats report !!! whoever you are!?)
as I try to focus despite a torn ligament or some kind of muscle strain in my shoulder!
I seem to have pulled something doing a weights exercise that's suppose to strenghthen and firm my upper arms NOT Grrr OUCH OW pull something in my shoulder!
Tommorrow is Sunday in my time zone Ascension Sunday which is a public holiday in some Catholic countries but not in Australia. Neither is PENTECOST but both mark significant events for "Xtians" !
Ascension marks the Return fo Jesus to Heaven unless you prefer the Da Vinci / Gnostic myth that the Lord took a long vacation in Southern France . And who could blame him if he did ... I wouldnt mind vacationing in the South of France sometime!
Pentecost marks the fifieth day after Easter - its name comes from the Greek word for 50 - and the event it celebrates was according to the eyewitness report in ACTS was a granting of GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT .
(yes I know some readers may believe the Bible is fiction but ACTs purports to be a historical record whether you believe that or not)
Now on this first Pentecost one of the gifts was speaking in and understanding strange tongues. ACTS claims that bystanders heard the Gospel preached in their own native dialects and languages no matter how far they've journeyed to Jerusalem from the four courners of the world though the people present for the Festival of Booths Shavuot spoke various forms of Greek along with Egyptian Parthian Latin and Aramaic!
Speaking in tongues however is not the only GIFT of the Spirit! Paul in his epistles particularly Corinthians lists such abilites as leadership, encouragement, discernment, teaching and much more.
One Gift of the Spirit is Prophecy and here's where we come to the tie in to Poetry!
I have stated several times before that great poetry combines INSPIRATION and STRUCTURE.
Do you know what prophecy meant in Greek? A prophet or prophetes is a "fore speaker" for the Divine. So prophecy isnt just foresight or clairvoyance, seeing the past and future, its SPEAKING FOR THE DIVINE! Whatever you define or regard the Divine as being, ONE or Many, are you open to the gifts of the Spirit, be they great or small?
I have also written of honoring the Muses and their servants which may seem contrary?
No for gods and humans and spirits all came from ONE SOURCE!
(Yes I have studied Platonism and the Kabbala before anyone asks)
Poetry can be a GIFT of the Spirit?
Ask yourself what moves and SPARKS that moment of Inspiration?
That is a really great mystery!
So once again my advice to poets and artists - STRUCTURE and INSPIRATION!
Be open to that creative moment BUT be prepared to channel what comes forth by studying technique and form and other poets! Balance both.
If you're planning a meditation theme for next Sunday consider reading about Pentecost and Reflect on the gifts of the Spirit.
OOOH and here comes the "OTHER STUFF" ... sorry its a self-promo but I will TITHE from any profits to charity!
(Tithe means give ten percent to charity)
If anyone has friends who are "Xtian" and have a birthday about now or knows some Pentecostals could they please consider mentioning my latest Cafe Press Shop PENTECOST PRESS to them?
Hopefully the designs show my belief in the importance of balancing structure and inspiration? Please mention them to friends so I'ld like to spend MORE time making art and LESS time trying to market it!
And dont forget next week May 27 is Pentecost! Think about the Gifts of the Spirit!
Post script One My apologies for any missed spelling errors. There's usually alas one or two I missed. Will some one please create blog ware with a spell checker link?
Postscript Two Wikipedia has a great article on Pentecost if anyone wants to check it out!
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