In the morning, the men reconvene in the lowest part of the tower, and are given clothes of yellow and their Golden Fleeces and are told that they are now Knights of the Golden Stone. After breakfast, the Warder gives them each a golden medal and they are led onto 12 ships. Christian sails on the one flying a flag of Libra. They sail near the First Gate, which Christian passed through when he first arrived at the castle. The larger group from yesterday were surprised to see the King resurrected. “I had fastened my tokens around my hat, which the young King soon noticed, asking whether I was the one who was able to redeem the tokens beneath the portal. I answered humbly, ‘Yes’; but he laughed at me, and told me I should need no decoration from now on: I was his father! Then he asked me what I had redeemed them with. I answered: ‘with Water and Salt,’ whereupon he asked who had made me so wise. Then I grew bolder and told him what had happened with my bread, the dove, and the raven.” So we see how this whole adventure comes full circle. Continue reading
The next morning, the men are greeted by the Warder and a group of young men who bring them ladders, wings, and rope.They draw lots to see which one each is to carry, with the instructions that they should keep them all day. Christian was stuck with the ladder. With these tools, the men climb to the next level of the tower. Continue reading
On the next day, Christian gets up early and wanders around the castle. His page leads him to an iron door that says that Venus is buried there. The page opens the door, and leads him down a dark passage into the King’s Treasury, in the midst of which was an extraordinary tomb: Continue reading
These last four days of the Chymical Wedding are the most allegorical days of the entire text, and as such, I’m not sure how to proceed. But since I’m giving a presentation about this text today, the least I can do is make an attempt to understand it. I suspect that this would be a lot easier if I were more well versed in the Hermetic tradition. Continue reading
I changed translations, which proved to be a good thing. Much easier to comprehend. I wonder what that says about me as a reader…
Anyway, to finish up day 2: There is a feast and several of the attendees are quite loquacious and are mocking everything in sight, including Christian, which makes him feel bad. This piece is written very much from Christian’s perspective and includes all of his thoughts and feelings, not just his experiences. It’s more of a diary in that sense. The Virgin comes in and warns them that there would be a test of merit the next day, a sort of spiritual weigh-in, which makes Christian very nervous. When it is time to retire, several of the party are ushered out by invisible servants, except for Christian and 8 others. Because they lingered, they were tied to the wall of the dining hall and left for the night. Then, they realize that they just proved themselves unworthy and are worried about the consequences the next day.
Christian has an interesting dream: Continue reading
I’ve decided that I don’t like this translation. I haven’t finished day 2 yet, and I blame the translation. This particular translation was done in 16-something, according to the cover of my reprint, and the spelling and grammar are just too archaic for me. It’s probably a good thing that I didn’t become an Old English scholar (though I still toy with the idea of becoming a Medievalist…. In my post-post-post doc career change) Continue reading
The selection of the central panels communicate a timeline for the development of the Christian church, as though Michelangelo was demonstrating how Church politics had corrupted the faith by misappropriating the later books of the Old Testament as the foundations for the life of Christ, using the stories from Genesis to reflect how the relatively young church had corrupted itself into a corner.
Michelangelo further enhances this message in his Last… Continue reading
In the process of preparing a presentation about the Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosencreutz, written by Johann Valentin Andrae, I thought it might be fun to blog my reading of it. I’m working through two translations. The first one I’m calling the Fox___ translation, because I found two different versions of the same text, both calling him something else, and I haven’t bothered researching what his name actually is. So far… Continue reading
The Sistine Chapel was conceived as a pinnacle representative for the Christian church. It was built according to the biblical dimensions of Solomon’s Temple and decorated with images from the Old Testament and their parallel in the New, thus justifying the foretelling of the coming of Christ. Additionally, the Pope was seen as the spiritual descendent of Peter the Apostle, inheriting the keys to the kingdom of heaven upon gaining… Continue reading
2010 is upon us! I am looking for suggestions on programming, locations, and scheduling. All topics shoudl be myth related, but I am open to anything. Also, if you would like to either lead a particular discussion or know someone who would, I am open to that as well. I would like for us to meet at least quarterly or bi-monthly. Any and all suggestions are valuable and appreciated. Leave… Continue reading