Trimonthly Triquetra: Mid-September 2024

 

THE TRIMONTHLY TRIQUETRA

Compiled & Edited by Rob Chappell (@RHCLambengolmo)

Editorial Associate: Sabrina Saelind

Editorial Assistant: Jessica Breckinridge

Vol. 1, No. 1: Mid-September 2024

 

September Theme: Back to School & Love of Learning

Episode #2: “As Above, So Below”

 

Editor’s Note

                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.)

 

Sonnet XIV: “Star-Winds”

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.