For the month of
September, our blog theme is “Back to School and Love of Learning.” We
will be featuring both new and classic selections about the Grove of Academe
throughout the month, along with some seasonal reflections on the arrival of
autumn and the Full Harvest Moon.
After conferring
with our editorial staff, it has been decided that the blog will be updated
three times per month, instead of weekly. This will give us time to increase
the efficiency of our social media outreach and allow us to launch another blog
in the near future. Stay tuned!
“Quod est
superius est sicut inferius.” (Latin)
“As above, so below.”
The Graeco-Egyptian priest Manetho (in white robes, at
left) is with Pharoah Ptolemy II (in red robes, at center), as depicted in Ptolemy
Philadelphus in the Library of Alexandria by Vincenzo Camuccini (1813).
Manetho was a transmitter and translator of the Hermetic teachings during the
3rd century BCE. (Image Credit: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)
“The
Music of the Spheres: A Couplet”
By
Marnie Whitaker, Staff Writer
Beneath
the stars, a song unsung,
A
melody of silence, a wordless tongue.
“September”
By Helen Hunt Jackson (1830-1885)
The golden-rod is yellow;
The corn is turning brown;
The trees in apple orchards
With fruit are bending down.
The gentian’s bluest fringes
Are curling in the sun;
In dusty pods the milkweed
Its hidden silk has spun.
The sedges flaunt their harvest,
In every meadow nook;
And asters by the brook-side
Make asters in the brook.
From dewy lanes at morning
The grapes’ sweet odors rise;
At noon the roads all flutter
With yellow butterflies.
By all these lovely tokens
September days are here,
With summer’s best of weather,
And autumn’s best of cheer.
But none of all this beauty
Which floods the earth and air
Is unto me the secret
Which makes September fair.
‘Tis a thing which I remember;
To name it thrills me yet:
One day of one September
I never can forget.
“Some Lines upon September”
By Suzy Brown, Staff Writer
September, so nice & cool;
With leaves that turn & gently fall;
When Autumn's here, we're in for fun
From colorful leaves to colorful sun!
And October, too, will be very lovely;
It's full of treats, like Halloween & pumpkin spice lattes.
“Harvest Time”
By Bryn Rose Thompson, Staff Writer
In the fields, the golden crops sway,
Ripe and ready for the day.
The air is filled with the gentle hum
Of the hardworking tractors and plows.
The farmers have labored hard all year,
To bring us the bounties we hold dear.
Their sweat and toil have given us this gift,
Of sweet, nourishing food to lift our spirits and fill our bellies with
cheer.
The combines roar as they cut through the corn,
The grain pouring into the bins like a storm.
The sky is painted with the colors of fall,
As the sun dips below the horizon, a beautiful sight to behold.
The grain trucks rumble on the country roads,
As they transport the harvest to market stalls.
The farmers wave as they pass by,
Content in the knowledge that their hard work has paid off.
As the sun sets on the fields, the harvest is nearly done.
We give thanks to the farmers, the hardworking few.
For without their dedication and care,
We would not have this beautiful bounty to share.
The ancient Greek goddess Hecate is standing beneath
the full Moon, which is one of her many symbols. She was regarded by the
Neoplatonic philosophers as the “Soul of the Universe” and is described by
Hesiod and the Chaldean Oracles as a benevolent maternal figure,
the “mother of the gods.” (Image Credit: Digital artwork by the Editor.)
Homeric Hymn #14: “To the Mother of
the Gods”
Translated by H. G. Evelyn-White (1914)
I prithee,
clear-voiced Muse, daughter of mighty Zeus, sing of the mother of all gods and
men. She is well-pleased with the sound of rattles and of timbrels, with the
voice of flutes and the outcry of wolves and bright-eyed lions, with echoing
hills and wooded coombes.
And so hail to you
in my song and to all goddesses as well!
"Harvest Moon and the East Asian Moon Festival: A
Cultural Odyssey”
By Jessica Breckinridge, Staff Writer
The Harvest Moon,
a full Moon occurring closest to the autumnal equinox, holds deep cultural
significance for various societies around the world. In East Asia, the
Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, celebrates this special
lunar event with vibrant traditions and joyous festivities.
The Mid-Autumn
Festival, celebrated in countries like China, Vietnam, and Korea, dates back to
the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE). It marks the end of the autumnal harvest season,
a time of gratitude for the bounties of nature. The festival revolves around the
full Moon, which symbolically represents family reunion, harmony, and
abundance.
One of the most
remarkable aspects of the Mid-Autumn Festival is the legend of the Moon Lady.
According to Chinese folklore, the Moon Lady, also known as Chang'e, was a
beautiful woman who became immortal by consuming a magical potion. She ascended
to the moon, where she resides as the Moon Goddess, overseeing the harvest
season and bestowing blessings upon the world.
In Korea, the
Mid-Autumn Festival is known as Chuseok, and it is celebrated with family
reunions, ancestral veneration, and the display of colorful decorations.
Traditional Korean paper lanterns, shaped in the form of cranes, are hung in
front of homes, while the full Moon is worshipped and offerings of food and
drinks are left out for the ancestors.
In Vietnam, the
Mid-Autumn Festival is called Tet Trung Thu, and it is a time for children to
celebrate with vibrant dragon parades, lion dances, and the sharing of moon
cakes. Moon cakes, traditional pastries filled with sweet or salty ingredients,
are a staple of the festival and symbolize completeness, harmony, and reunion.
Traditional
Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival activities include admiring the full Moon, eating
moon cakes, lighting lanterns, and playing with sparklers. Families gather to
worship the Moon Goddess and share stories about Chang'e, while young children
play games like "guessing the number of stars" or "sailing a
moon cake boat." The festival is a time for reflection, family bonding,
and lunar gazing, a chance to appreciate the beauty of nature and the blessings
of togetherness.
Symbols of the
harvest and the full Moon abound throughout the festival. In some cultures,
full, round, or perfectly shaped fruits and vegetables are chosen for their
resemblance to the illuminated Moon, while others decorate their homes with
images of the harvest and the natural world. The full Moon is honored as a
symbol of fertility, abundance, and spiritual growth, a reminder of nature's
eternal cycle and the interconnectedness of all life.
As the moon
reaches its peak, families come together to appreciate the bright celestial
body, often gathering in open spaces to admire the full Moon and share stories,
songs, and poetry. The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time to celebrate the simple
joys of family, nature, and togetherness, a moment to pause and appreciate the
beauty and significance of the changing seasons.
In modern times,
the Mid-Autumn Festival has continued to evolve and adapt to the changing
world, but the essence of the celebration remains the same. Families and
communities come together to honor the full moon, share traditional food, and
exchange gifts, while young and old alike continue to cherish the beauty and
significance of this beloved festival, celebrating the blessings of the harvest
and the strength of familial bonds.
The impact of the
Mid-Autumn Festival extends beyond the cultural realm, into the realm of
business and tourism too. As the festival has become increasingly popular, many
companies have seized the opportunity to market special moon-themed products,
from moon cakes to travel packages. Tourism companies offer special holiday
packages that allow people to experience the festival in different countries
and cultures, further spreading the festival's cultural significance and
economic impact.
FROM THE POEMS OF H. P. LOVECRAFT (1890-1937)
[Editor’s Note: H. P. Lovecraft is regarded by literary scholars as the
“Edgar Allan Poe” of the 20th century. He was an imaginative author of “weird
fiction” – a genre that combines science fiction, fantasy, and horror – and
also an accomplished poet. His work has inspired, among others, the
creators/writers of Babylon 5 and Doctor Who.]
Fungi from Yuggoth (A
Sonnet Cycle)
By H. P. Lovecraft (1890-1937)
(Yuggoth is the name of Pluto in HPL’s “weird fiction” and poetic
writings. Fomalhaut, known as the “Lonely Star,” is the only bright star in the
southern sky on autumn evenings as seen from the American Midwest. It is known
to have a planetary system and two dim companion stars, too.)
It is a certain hour of twilight glooms,
Mostly in autumn, when the star-wind pours
Down hilltop streets, deserted out-of-doors,
But shewing early lamplight from snug rooms.
The dead leaves rush in strange, fantastic twists,
And chimney-smoke whirls round with alien grace,
Heeding geometries of outer space,
While Fomalhaut peers in through southward mists.
This is the hour when moonstruck poets know
What fungi sprout in Yuggoth, and what scents
And tints of flowers fill Nithon’s continents,
Such as in no poor earthly garden blow.
Yet for each dream these winds to us convey,
A dozen more of ours they sweep away!
Sonnet XXXV: “Evening Star”
I saw it from that hidden, silent place
Where the old wood half shuts the meadow in.
It shone through all the sunset’s glories—thin
At first, but with a slowly brightening face.
Night came, and that lone beacon, amber-hued,
Beat on my sight as never it did of old;
The evening star—but grown a thousandfold
More haunting in this hush and solitude.
It traced strange pictures on the quivering air—
Half-memories that had always filled my eyes—
Vast towers and gardens; curious seas and skies
Of some dim life—I never could tell where.
But now I knew that through the cosmic dome
Those rays were calling from my far, lost home.
"Whispers
of Enchantment"
By
Tracy Albert, Staff Writer
In the
realm of dreams and whimsy,
Where
whispers of magic still fly;
Where
tales of fairies and elves
Take
flight upon the evening air.
With
glimmering wings and sparkling eyes,
Their
secrets they dare to confide;
Each
tale a tapestry of beauty
Woven
by the hands of nature's art.
In the
language of the flora and fauna,
In the
shadows that dance with the moon's light,
In the
whispers of the woodland creatures,
Whose
wisdom we've yet to learn by heart.
The
secrets that the woodland creatures hold,
The
hidden truths that the ancient trees know;
With
their leaves, they whisper and write,
Their
wisdom whispered on the evening air.
In the
dance of the stars and planets high,
In the
harmony of the night sky's chorus,
In the
hidden power of nature's magic,
These
are the places where wisdom can be found.
Winged Words of Wisdom
By Viviana Rivera, Staff Writer
"Music of the Spheres"
is a wonderful concept! It's the idea that the planets in our solar system move
with harmony and rhythm. The "echo" is the idea that when humans move
with harmony and rhythm, we create a beautiful, harmonious world, similar to
the celestial music. It's a reminder that we are connected to a greater whole.
Another thought on the
"music of the Spheres" and "echoing" it, is the idea of
"tuning in" rather than "tuning out." We can consciously
choose to become more "in tune" with the natural harmony around us,
and in doing so, we can become a part of the music, rather than being separate
from it. When we take time to listen deeply and pay attention to the world
around us, we begin to notice the patterns and rhythms that exist in nature,
like the movement of tides or the cycles of the seasons.
Sayings of the Stoic Sages
Contributed by Amy Kendrick, Staff Writer
Here's a Stoic proverb that
speaks to the unity and diversity of the cosmos:
"The
universe is one: one whole, and one part of the whole, for all things are
ordered together in it. It is all one city and one temple."
This proverb is from Epictetus' Enchiridion
(42), and it emphasizes the idea that the universe is a unified and
interconnected whole, with all things being part of and interrelated with each
other. In Stoicism, the world is viewed as a kind of cosmic city or temple,
where everything has its place and purpose.
The Dharma Corner
Contributed by Lisa Romenor, Staff Writer
"If we
have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each
other."
à St. Teresa
of Kolkata (a.k.a. Mother Teresa)
This quote reminds us that we
are all interconnected and that our actions affect not only ourselves, but also
the people around us. When we prioritize our own needs over the needs of
others, we create an atmosphere of conflict and discord. But by remembering
that we are all part of one community, we can cultivate understanding,
compassion, and peace.
