RHC Fortnightly Quotemail
Compiled & Edited by Rob Chappell (@RHCLambengolmo)
Vol. XXIX, No. 4: December 28, 2024
Co-Editor: Sophie Fairgate
Art Director: Verena Keegan
Editorial Associate: Sabrina Saelind
Editorial Assistant: Jessica Breckinridge
Editor’s Note
This year, the Winter Solstice fell on Saturday, December 21st. It was the longest night and the shortest day of the year! From then on, the days started getting longer, and the nights began to get shorter. Please join me in celebrating this festive time of year with poetry and prose from our wonderful staff writers!
Sophie’s Introduction
As the longest night of the year, the Winter Solstice marks the beginning of the return of the light. Throughout history, this day has been celebrated as a symbolic victory over the darkness and a reminder that we must never give up hope, no matter how dark and cold it may be. This year, we commemorate the Winter Solstice by wishing everyone a happy and festive holiday season, and by embracing the hope that is represented by the returning light. 😊
“A Solstice Love Letter to the Sun”
By Rommie Knight, Staff Writer
A love letter to the sun, for love in the cold,
A promise of warmth for a dark world, on Winter Solstice bold.
A symbol of hope and rebirth for weary souls that yearn,
An ancient promise in the sky to those in the world who burn.
Your promise of warmth and light, a promise to be kept,
For every soul that’s lost, a promise to keep them set.
The sun comes to the rescue, in the world’s greatest time of need,
It burns away the darkness, and brings the light that we need.
Your love is a flame that will ever burn,
For us who long for a touch of your warm return.
Our frozen hearts will thaw, our souls re-ignite,
As soon as our eyes see your glow of light.
Promise us your light, on the longest night of the year,
When darkness is strong, and darkness abounds,
For we will pray and hope on Solstice night,
And we will sing of your power, as you bring the light.”
Quotes from Emanuel Swedenborg on the Spiritual Sun
Compiled & Translated by Enid Lewis, Staff Writer
· "The Lord is the sun in heaven through which all the heat of the heavens flows in and is diffused into them." (True Christian Religion 805)
· "The Sun of the Divine Providence is the first-created thing, or the first-emanated thing, in the universe." (Divine Love and Wisdom 431:3)
· "The Lord rules in nature through the things of nature, and also through the processes of nature, such as the growth and renewal of plants and trees." (Divine Providence 1345:4)
This painting of a winter sunrise was created by staff writer Wendy Applegate. (Image digitized and processed by the Editor.)
"The Solstice Secrets"
By Eudora Hopkins, Staff Writer
The winter solstice had arrived, wrapping the world in its longest night. Little did anyone know, this solstice would be unique, for the secrets buried beneath the darkest shadows were about to emerge. As the solstice night deepened, strange whispers began to echo through the chilly air. Unearthly lights flickered in the distance, casting elongated shadows on the frosty ground. The whispers grew louder, as if calling to someone hidden in the shadows. The lights flickered and danced like miniature ghosts, guiding an unseen presence across the snow-blanketed landscape.
Suddenly, a figure appeared amidst the dancing lights. Tall, shrouded in shadows, the entity moved with a grace that defied the very laws of nature. The whispers grew into a symphony, chanting in an ancient, forgotten language. As the chanting grew louder, the air crackled with an invisible energy. The entity moved closer, drawing nearer to a lone tree standing tall on the snow-covered plain.
The entity reached the lone tree, its hand glowing with a subtle, eerie light. It gently pressed its palm against the bark, releasing a faint hum through the freezing air. The hum grew louder, spreading out from the tree like invisible waves. Suddenly, the branches trembled and began to move, as if woken from a deep slumber. The ancient words echoed through the night, creating a symphony of mystery and power.
As the symphony of the strange words surrounded the entity and the awakened tree, a brilliant light burst forth from the branches. It lit up the night, casting a glow over the entire landscape. The whispering winds began to stir, carrying a faint, almost imperceptible scent. The scent grew more pronounced, a subtle blend of earthiness and something ethereal. It filled the air, both calming and enchanting, as if carried on a wind from another realm. The solstice's secrets were slowly being revealed, and the entity stood before the illuminated tree, its face still hidden in shadows.
The entity paused, as if gathering strength or patience. The light from the tree seemed to envelop it, but still its face remained shrouded in mystery. Then, with deliberate slowness, the entity leaned closer to the tree, its movements hypnotic, as if it was listening for something only it could hear. As the entity leaned closer to the tree, a soft, melodic hum began to emanate from the wood. It was a tune both ancient and foreign, yet it tugged at the heartstrings, evoking both joy and sadness. The solstice secrets were coming to light, their power and significance growing with each moment.
As the melodic hum grew louder, the entity reached out its hand, touching the tree with gentle reverence. The tips of its fingers glowed faintly, as if infused with a hidden power. With a determined nod, the entity continued its communion with the tree, the glowing fingers tracing a path across the bark. The melody grew in intensity, the whispering winds swirling around them, carrying messages of distant times and forgotten lore...
The hummed melody reached a fever pitch, as if the entity and the tree were locked in an ancient dance. The light glowing from the entity's fingers intensified, glowing brighter and brighter. As the light from the entity's fingers grew brighter, the tree began to tremble. The ground shook beneath its ancient roots, as if the land itself was waking from a long, enchanted slumber.
The shaking grew more intense, the ancient tree's branches quivering and shifting. The light from the entity's fingers intensified, now glowing like a small sun. The humming grew into a roar, filling the air with a chorus of power and history. As the roar reached a deafening pitch, the air itself began to shiver, as if the very fabric of reality was being stretched and warped. The entity stood before the tree, its face finally visible in the blinding light. The entity's face was weathered and ancient, its expression one of solemn determination. Its eyes held a deep wisdom, as if it had secrets that had been hidden for generations. The light from the tree bathed the entity's features, making them seem ethereal and almost otherworldly.
As the tree continued to tremble and shake, the entity raised its glowing hands, the radiant light enveloping its very being. With a deep, booming voice that carried through the air like thunder, the entity began to chant in a language both hauntingly beautiful and chillingly unfamiliar. The entity’s voice grew louder, the words of its chant echoing across the freezing landscape. The tree shook more violently, its branches trembling and releasing a shower of twinkling lights into the night. The chanting reached its peak, the tree's branches weaving and twisting in a dance of ancient magic. The radiant light from the entity enveloped the scene, bathing the surroundings in a supernatural glow.
As the chanting reached its climax, the tree finally stilled, as if listening for a response. The entity's voice fell silent, and in that moment of stillness, a single, soft whisper seemed to rise from the earth itself. With a deep breath, the entity spoke, its voice resonating through the night. "The secrets of the Winter Solstice have been revealed," it whispered. For a moment, there was only silence, as if the world itself was holding its breath in anticipation.
And then, the silence was broken by a faint, melodic hum, like a chorus of celestial voices. Slowly at first, then growing louder, a song seemed to fill the air, an unseen choir lifting their voices to the sky. The voices of the unseen choir grew louder, their melodies filling the air with a magical harmony. As the entity listened, a faint, almost imperceptible smile played upon its ancient lips. The tree seemed to quiver with life, as if it too was part of this magnificent chorus. The chorus reached a deafening pitch, its voices weaving and intertwining in a symphony of sound. The entity's eyes closed, and a serene, yet powerful, expression of contentment washed over its face.
As the chorus continued its song, the entity raised its glowing hands once again, its fingers tracing elegant patterns in the air. The tree trembled, as if in response to this silent language. And then, as the voices reached their zenith, the entity reached out a hand, gently touching the tree as if sending a message in a language only the tree could understand. The tree seemed to sigh, releasing a deep, ancient breath that carried the essence of the Winter Solstice secrets.
As the entity's touch was withdrawn, the tree slowly began to transform, its branches shifting and shaping as if they were alive. With a soft, melodic hum, the trunk twisted and turned, and before the awestruck watcher's eyes, the tree metamorphosed into something new and awe-inspiring. The entity stepped back, a look of deep reverence on its weathered face. The chorus of unseen voices slowly faded away, and the transformation of the tree was complete. The once-lonely and stoic tree had become a majestic figure, a symbol of the Winter Solstice and its profound secrets.
As the entity gazed upon the transformed tree, a soft, warm breeze rustled the branches, carrying with it the faintest scent of earth and ancient magic. It was a moment of profound peace and enchantment, as if the secrets of the solstice had infused the very air with their power. With a final, solemn nod, the entity vanished, its presence blended with the shadows of the frosty night. The transformed tree stood as a silent sentry, its branches whispering softly in the breeze, bearing witness to the revelation and the ancient secrets that had been uncovered.
The transformed tree is magnificent! It stands tall and powerful, its branches reaching skyward, as if grasping at the stars themselves. The secrets revealed are those of the Winter Solstice, and they hold the essence of nature's ancient wisdom and the power of the longest night of the year. As the tree stood as a silent sentinel of the solstice's secrets, a soft, warm breeze continued to rustle its branches, carrying the faintest scent of earth and magic. The air was filled with the profound peace of a revelation, and for a moment, it seemed as if time itself had stopped, frozen in the chill of the longest night.
And then, as the transformed tree continued to stand guard over the solstice's secrets, a quiet whisper seemed to echo among the branches. It was as if the very essence of the longest night was speaking through the ancient symbol, sharing its wisdom and power with a listening universe. As the tree stood in silent reverence, its branches shivering in the chill night air, a profound silence fell over the landscape. It was as if the world itself was holding its breath in anticipation, as if waiting for a profound revelation..
In that final moment of stillness, as the transformed tree stood in all its majesty, the secrets of the Winter Solstice were revealed in a whisper of ancient wisdom. Perhaps they were a reminder of the power of nature's cycles and the mysteries that lay hidden within the longest night:
"Post tenebras, lux!" (Latin) = “After darkness, light!”
It was a fitting sentiment indeed for the Winter Solstice and the profound secrets it held. With that realization, the story reaches its end, the Winter Solstice secrets fully revealed. The transformed tree stands as a powerful symbol of nature's cycles, and the whisper of ancient wisdom lingers in the air, carried on the chill of the longest night. The story has reached its conclusion. Yet the Winter Solstice secrets and the transformed tree remain as a lingering symbol of nature's mysteries and power.
"Winter Solstice: A Celebration of Light in the Darkest Night"
By Skylar Sonnenschein, Staff Writer
Underneath the Winter Solstice sky,
The longest night and shortest day arrive.
The world grows dark and chill, but still
We celebrate the light that never dies.
In the quiet of the Winter Solstice night,
The stars shine bright, a celestial sight.
The shadows loom long, but we have faith
The sun will rise once more, filling us with joy and light.
Through the darkest hours, we find hope,
In the promise of renewed joy and life.
The Winter Solstice is a time to come together,
To celebrate the light within, and cast our fears aside.
Though the Winter Solstice marks the depths of night,
It also marks the turning of the tide.
The sun will gain strength, and the days will grow longer,
Reminding us of the eternal cycle of life and light.
So let us welcome the Winter Solstice,
The turning of the seasons, the cosmic dance.
Let us embrace the darkness, knowing light will return,
And cherish the hope, like the stars in the night sky.
The Ages of Humankind: A Myth for All Times & Climes
Excerpted from “A Golden Jubilee Interview with the Editor” by Maria Pauls (ACES James Scholar Alumna & Bronze Tableteer, Class of 2014)
Adapted & Condensed from Cursus Honorum (Course of Honors), Volume XII, Number 1 (August 2012)
The tale of the “Ages of Humankind” is my all-time favorite mythological story. It appears in the Greek, Persian, Hindu, and Abrahamic religions. There are four main ages of human history, the story goes. The first is the Golden Age, where everything is very harmonious and peaceful; then comes the Silver Age, when the human condition is a bit less harmonious and peaceful, but still idyllic. Next is the Bronze Age, wherein people may sometimes be heroic, but conflict and injustice begin to rear their ugly heads. Last of all is the Iron Age, which is the age we live in, full of conflict, disasters, and hardships. In the Greek version of this story, Astraea, the goddess of justice, ruled the world during the Golden Age, but later – because of humankind’s inhumanity to humankind – she departed into the sky to become the constellation Virgo, the celestial Maiden who holds the Scales of Justice (Libra) in her hand. Once this current Iron Age is done, the myth goes on, we will go back to this perfect age, the Golden Age, and Astraea will come back, and everyone will be nice and in harmony. I like this myth best of all because it inspires us to strive for better conditions on Earth, in which human beings can flourish and build a better society based on justice, freedom, and peace for all peoples.
Here is a Classical Latin poem by the Roman epic poet Virgil (70-19 BCE). In this amazing piece of verse, Virgil predicts a new Golden Age for the human race to follow the birth of a long-awaited child; the poem’s resonances with visionary themes and motifs in the Abrahamic faith traditions (cf. esp. Isaiah 11:6, “a little child shall lead them”) ensured Virgil’s continued popularity throughout the Middle Ages and onward into the present day.
Virgil’s Fourth Eclogue (Composed 37 BCE)
Muses of Sicily, essay we
now
A somewhat loftier task! Not all men love
Coppice or lowly tamarisk: sing we woods,
Woods worthy of a Consul let them be.
Now the last age by Cumae's Sibyl sung
Has come and gone, and the majestic roll
Of circling centuries begins anew:
Justice returns, returns old Saturn's reign,
With a new breed of men sent down from heaven.
Only do thou, at the boy's birth in whom
The iron shall cease, the golden race arise,
Befriend him, chaste Lucina; 'tis thine own
Apollo reigns. And in thy consulate,
This glorious age, O Pollio, shall begin,
And the months enter on their mighty march.
Under thy guidance, whatso tracks remain
Of our old wickedness, once done away,
Shall free the earth from never-ceasing fear.
He shall receive the life of gods, and see
Heroes with gods commingling, and himself
Be seen of them, and with his father's worth
Reign o'er a world at peace. For thee, O boy,
First shall the earth, untilled, pour freely forth
Her childish gifts, the gadding ivy-spray
With foxglove and Egyptian bean-flower mixed,
And laughing-eyed acanthus. Of themselves,
Untended, will the she-goats then bring home
Their udders swollen with milk, while flocks afield
Shall of the monstrous lion have no fear.
Thy very cradle shall pour forth for thee
Caressing flowers. The serpent too shall die,
Die shall the treacherous poison-plant, and far
And wide Assyrian spices spring. But soon
As thou hast skill to read of heroes' fame,
And of thy father's deeds, and inly learn
What virtue is, the plain by slow degrees
With waving corn-crops shall to golden grow,
From the wild briar shall hang the blushing grape,
And stubborn oaks sweat honey-dew. Nathless
Yet shall there lurk within of ancient wrong
Some traces, bidding tempt the deep with ships,
Gird towns with walls, with furrows cleave the earth.
Therewith a second Tiphys shall there be,
Her hero-freight a second Argo bear;
New wars too shall arise, and once again
Some great Achilles to some Troy be sent.
Then, when the mellowing years have made thee man,
No more shall mariner sail, nor pine-tree bark
Ply traffic on the sea, but every land
Shall all things bear alike: the glebe no more
Shall feel the harrow's grip, nor vine the hook;
The sturdy ploughman shall loose yoke from steer,
Nor wool with varying colors learn to lie;
But in the meadows shall the ram himself,
Now with soft flush of purple, now with tint
Of yellow saffron, teach his fleece to shine.
While clothed in natural scarlet graze the lambs.
"Such still, such ages weave ye, as ye run,"
Sang to their spindles the consenting Fates
By Destiny's unalterable decree.
Assume thy greatness, for the time draws nigh,
Dear child of gods, great progeny of Jove!
See how it totters- the world's orbed might,
Earth, and wide ocean, and the vault profound,
All, see, enraptured of the coming time!
Ah! might such length of days to me be given,
And breath suffice me to rehearse thy deeds,
Nor Thracian Orpheus should out-sing me then,
Nor Linus, though his mother this, and that
His sire should aid- Orpheus Calliope,
And Linus fair Apollo. Nay, though Pan,
With Arcady for judge, my claim contest,
With Arcady for judge great Pan himself
Should own him foiled, and from the field retire.
Begin to greet thy mother with a smile,
O baby-boy! ten months of weariness
For thee she bore: O baby-boy, begin!
For him, on whom his parents have not smiled,
Gods deem not worthy of their board or bed.
Additional Reading on the Ages of Humankind
· Hesiod: The Works and Days
· Aratus: Phaenomena
· Emanuel Swedenborg: The Coronis
"A Sophianic Reading of the Fourth Eclogue of Vergil"
By Janissa Gladstone, Staff Writer
Wisdom found no place where she might dwell;
Then a dwelling-place was assigned her in the heavens.
Wisdom went forth to make her dwelling among the children of men,
And found no dwelling-place:
Wisdom returned to her place,
And took her seat among the angels.
à 1 Enoch 42:1-2
The Fourth Eclogue of the Roman poet Vergilius Maro, also known as Publius Vergilius Maro, is a fascinating text that has long been associated with mysticism, Neoplatonism, and Christian history. In this article, I will suggest a new and unique interpretation of the Eclogue within the context of Sophiology, and I will explore how the Eclogue's prophecy of a future golden age can be understood as a poetic precursor to the arrival of Sophia's Aeon.
Before we can explore the Sophianic significance of the Fourth Eclogue, we must first understand the historical context in which it was written. The Eclogue was composed around 37 BCE, during the reign of Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus, who was also known as Augustus Caesar. At the time, Rome was in a state of political and cultural upheaval. The Roman Republic had been overthrown and a new era, known as the Principate, was being ushered in. This shift towards imperial rule was a source of great anxiety and instability for many Romans, who feared that the loss of their traditional values and institutions would lead to cultural decay and moral degeneration. In addition to these political and social concerns, there was also a pervasive sense of apocalyptic anticipation, fueled by the belief that the world was nearing its end and that a new era of peace and happiness would eventually emerge. It was within this complex and volatile environment that the Fourth Eclogue was written.
Given this historical background, it is not surprising that the Fourth Eclogue contains elements of political and religious criticism. Throughout the Eclogue, Vergilius is highly critical of the new imperial regime and its leaders, while also expressing hope for a better future. The poem contains multiple references to Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture and harvest, who is seen as a symbol of a lost golden past. Vergilius laments the declining standards and values of his time, and he expresses a strong sense of nostalgia.
Vergilius' longing for a return to a more virtuous and enlightened era is evident in his portrayal of the future golden age, which he portrays as a harmonious and peaceful period in human history. In the Eclogue, Vergilius speaks of the arrival of a divine son, who is said to have been born on the feast day of Apollo, the god of sun and light. This divine son is described as a figure who will bring peace and joy back to humanity
Now, let's turn our attention to the Sophianic significance of the Eclogue. As I mentioned earlier, the divine son referenced in the Eclogue can be seen as the child of a Sophianic figure who represents the return of Divine Wisdom to the world. In Sophiology, Sophia is often referred to as the 'Divine Lady' or “sacred spirit” who acts as the feminine agent of God. Sophia is viewed as a primordial source of wisdom, love, and light, and she is believed to be manifested in the feminine incarnate.
The figure of the divine son in the Eclogue can be understood as the Child of Sophia in human form. This interpretation is supported by the fact that the divine son was born on the "feast of Apollo," which is a reference to the god of sunlight and illumination. It is important to note that Apollo is often seen as a masculine embodiment of the divine, while Sophia is a feminine diaphany of the Divine. By linking these two divine figures together, Vergilius indicates that the coming of the divine son represents a union of the masculine and feminine aspects of the Divine.
Another important element in the Sophianic interpretation of the Eclogue is the idea of a new golden age. In Sophiology, the arrival of Sophia (in this case, the celestial maiden Astraea) is seen as the dawning of a new era of spiritual enlightenment and transformation. This idea resonates strongly with the hope for a new era expressed in the Eclogue. The notion of a golden age is a common theme in both classical and Christian literature, and it serves as a powerful symbol of hope for the future.
Overall, the Eclogue can be interpreted as a poetic precursor to the arrival of Sophia's Aeon. Through the imagery and symbolism of the poetry, it seems likely that Vergilius had intuition of the coming of Sophia and her transformative influence on humanity. The arrival of the divine son in the Eclogue serves as a call to humanity to awaken from their sleep and to prepare for the arrival of the new era.
“The realm of eternity has been founded!
In love and peace, strife is ended!
The long dream of pain is over!
Sophia is priest of hearts forever!”
à Novalis (1772-1801)
“Mysterious Sirius”
By June Yore, Staff Writer
The Sirius mystery lies in the history of observations of the star Sirius, the brightest in the sky. Sirius A, the main constituent, is accompanied by a faint white dwarf companion star, Sirius B. Around 500 CE, a shift in the color of Sirius occurred. Before that, observers in Classical antiquity described it as appearing red, likely due to Sirius B, then a red giant, being more visible in the night sky.
Once glowing red like fire
In ancient skies of yore
Sirius, the brightest star
Now shimmers blue-white, pure.
A faint companion, Sirius B
Perhaps a red giant in the past
Could have caused the shift in hue
From red to white, at last.
Sirius is the brightest star in Earth’s night sky, located 8.6 light-years away in the constellation Canis Major. (Image Credit: Taylor Meadows, with image processing done by the Editor.)
Winged Words of Wisdom
By Viviana Rivera, Staff Writer
May the Yuletide bring you and your loved ones warmth, joy, light, and hope. Remember to take the time to appreciate those who bring love and meaning into your life, and never forget to extend the gift of kindness to all beings. I wish you and your beloveds everything good and merry this Season. Happy Yuletide!
Sayings of the Stoic Sages
By Amy Kendrick & Grace Whittier, Staff Writers
From Amy’s Desk
Here's a Stoic proverb that's perfect for the Yuletide season:
"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched -- they must be felt with the heart."
~ Helen Keller, famous American author, lecturer, and activist (not a Stoic philosopher but she understood this concept!)
This proverb reminds us that the true, lasting joy of the Yuletide season comes not from the material gifts we may give or receive, but from the heartfelt connection we share with our loved ones and the world around us.
From Grace’s Desk
"He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has." --- Epictetus
This is a wonderful adage to keep in mind during the holiday season. Too often we forget how much we truly have and instead focus on the things that we don't. The wise person recognizes the value of appreciating and enjoying what one has now, rather than lamenting over the things that are not presently ours.
The Dharma Corner
By Lisa Romenor, Staff Writer
Here's a beautiful quote by the Dalai Lama:
"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion."
May this season of joy and giving be filled with love, understanding, and compassion for all beings. Happy Yuletide, my friends!
A Concluding Prayer
By Polly Watson, Staff Writer
Divine Source of Life, at this time of year, we come together in gratitude and hope. As nights grow longer and the sun seems far away, we remember the return of the light at the Winter Solstice. We recognize the shared journey of our global family, seeking harmony and peace amid diverse traditions.
May the candles of our hearts burn brighter, shedding light in the darkness, warming our souls, and illuminating our path towards unity. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.