#hamilton wright mabie

[julesofnature]

“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” ~ Hamilton Wright Mabie 

[kamala-laxman]

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” Hamilton Wright Mabie

[along-the-meadow-path]

In Arcady - Hamilton Wright Mabie, illustrated by Will Hicok Low

[bones-ivy-breath]

Hamilton Wright Mabie from the New York Public Library

[indeedgoodman]

[infinitedonut]

"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love." - Hamilton Wright Mabie

[thebeautifulbook]

IN ARCADY by Hamilton Wright Mabie. (New York: Dodd Mead, 1903) Illustrated by Will H. Low. Decorated by C.L. Hinton who may have designed the cover.

source

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Bellerophon rides Pegasus to his task of slaying the Chimaera: ’Yes, there he sat, on the back of the winged horse!’, 1914, by Mary Hamilton Frye  (from the book ‘Myths Every Child Should Know’, 1914, Hamilton Wright Mabie (Editor)

* * * *

“If the gods do a shameful thing, they are not gods.” ― Euripides

+

BELLEROPHONTES (Bellerophon) was one of the most celebrated heroes of myth. He was a son of the god Poseidon and Eurynome, wife of King Glaukos (Glaucus) of Korinthos (Corinth). In his youth Bellerophontes captured the winged horse Pegasos as it came to drink from the town's fountain.

He was later exiled for the murder of a family member and journeyed to the court of King Proitos (Proetus) in Argos for purification. The queen, however, developed a lust for the hero and when he spurned her, she told her husband he had tried to violate her.

Proitos then sent him off to King Iobates in Lykia (Lycia) with a closed letter requesting the youth be put to death. Iobates was reluctant to do this himself and so commanded Bellerophontes to slay the fire-breathing Khimaira (Chimera) which was ravaging the land. He rode into battle against the beast on the back of Pegasos and slew it by driving a lead-tipped spear into its fiery gullet.

The king then ordered him to subdue the barbarous Solymoi tribe, and later the Amazones, but again he proved victorious. Finally, Iobates commanded his guards to ambush and kill the youth, but he slew them all. The king was forced to acknowledge that Bellerophontes must be the son of a god and welcomed him into his house as his son-in-law and heir.

Despite all of his successes, Bellerophontes was still not satisfied and sought to ascend to heaven on the back of Pegasos. Zeus was angered by his presumption and sent a gadfly to sting the horse, causing it to buck and cast the hero back down to earth. After this he wandered the world alone, despised by both gods and men.

The mythological etymology of Bellerophontes name was "Slayer of Belleros" from the Greek Belleros and phonos. However, it is likely that the name originally meant "Wielder of Missiles" from the Greek words belos and phoreô.

[foodandfolklore]

How Odin lost his eye

Art by Malevus

I found a book from 1906 that was a collection of already existing stories from other already published books. These stories were collected by Hamilton Wright Mabie in his book Myths Every Child should know. He wrote many books like this, for both adults and children. A collection of stories he felt everyone should be aware of. Pomes, Shakespeare, Fairytales, Culture; even Publishing a book about Japan in 1914, 2 years before his death.

I think he was fascinated by stories of old, as well as how it can shape cultures of today. While he didn't write these stories himself, he clearly wanted more people to know about these stories. So I thought I'd share one while I think many know, I still think it's important to share. This story can originally be found in In the days of Giants by Abbie Farwell Brown, 1902.

How Odin lost his eye

In the beginning of things, before there was any world or sun, moon, and stars, there were the giants; for these were the oldest creatures that ever breathed. They lived in Jotunheim, the land of frost and darkness, and their hearts were evil. Next came the gods, the good Æsir, who made earth and sky and sea, and who dwelt in Asgard, above the heavens. Then were created the queer little dwarfs, who lived underground in the caverns of the mountains, working at their mines of metal and precious stones. Last of all, the gods made men to dwell in Midgard, the good world that we know, between which and the glorious home of the Æsir stretched Bifröst, the bridge of rainbows.

In those days, folk say, there was a mighty ash tree named Yggdrasil, so vast that its branches shaded the whole earth and stretched up into heaven where the Æsir dwelt, while its roots sank far down below the lowest depth. In the branches of the big ash tree lived a queer family of creatures. First, there was a great eagle, who was wiser than any bird that ever lived—except the two ravens, Thought and Memory, who sat upon Father Odin's shoulders and told him the secrets which they learned in their flight over the wide world. Near the great eagle perched a hawk, and four antlered deer browsed among the buds of Yggdrasil. At the foot of the tree coiled a huge serpent, who was always gnawing hungrily at its roots, with a whole colony of little snakes to keep him company—so many that they could never be counted. The eagle at the top of the tree and the serpent at its foot were enemies, always saying hard things of each other. Between the two skipped up and down a little squirrel, a tale bearer and a gossip, who repeated each unkind remark and, like the malicious neighbour that he was, kept their quarrel ever fresh and green.

In one place at the roots of Yggdrasil was a fair fountain called the Urdar-well, where the three Norn maidens, who knew the past, present, and future, dwelt with their pets, the two white swans. This was magic water in the fountain, which the Norns sprinkled every day upon the giant tree to keep it green—water so sacred that everything which entered it became white as the film of an eggshell. Close beside this sacred well the Æsir had their council hall, to which they galloped every morning over the rainbow bridge.

But Father Odin, the king of all the Æsir, knew of another fountain more wonderful still; the two ravens whom he sent forth to bring him news had told him. This also was below the roots of Yggdrasil, in the spot where the sky and ocean met. Here for centuries and centuries the giant Mimer had sat keeping guard over his hidden well, in the bottom of which lay such a treasure of wisdom as was to be found nowhere else in the world. Every morning Mimer dipped his glittering horn Giöll into the fountain and drew out a draught of the wondrous water, which he drank to make him wise. Every day he grew wiser and wiser; and as this had been going on ever since the beginning of things, you can scarcely imagine how wise Mimer was.

Now it did not seem right to Father Odin that a giant should have all this wisdom to himself; for the giants were the enemies of the Æsir, and the wisdom which they had been hoarding for ages before the gods were made was generally used for evil purposes. Moreover, Odin longed and longed to become the wisest being in the world. So he resolved to win a draught from Mimer's well, if in any way that could be done.

One night, when the sun had set behind the mountains of Midgard, Odin put on his broad-brimmed hat and his striped cloak, and taking his famous staff in his hand, trudged down the long bridge to where it ended by Mimer's secret grotto.

"Good-day, Mimer," said Odin, entering; "I have come for a drink from your well."

The giant was sitting with his knees drawn up to his chin, his long white beard falling over his folded arms, and his head nodding; for Mimer was very old, and he often fell asleep while watching over his precious spring. He woke with a frown at Odin's words. "You want a drink from my well, do you?" he growled. "Hey! I let no one drink from my well."

"Nevertheless, you must let me have a draught from your glittering horn," insisted Odin, "and I will pay you for it."

"Oho, you will pay me for it, will you?" echoed Mimer, eyeing his visitor keenly. For now that he was wide awake, his wisdom taught him that this was no ordinary stranger. "What will you pay for a drink from my well, and why do you wish it so much?"

"I can see with my eyes all that goes on in heaven and upon earth," said Odin, "but I cannot see into the depths of ocean. I lack the hidden wisdom of the deep—the wit that lies at the bottom of your fountain. My ravens tell me many secrets; but I would know all. And as for payment, ask what you will, and I will pledge anything in return for the draught of wisdom."

Then Mimer's keen glance grew keener. "You are Odin, of the race of gods," he cried. "We giants are centuries older than you, and our wisdom which we have treasured during these ages, when we were the only creatures in all space, is a precious thing. If I grant you a draught from my well, you will become as one of us, a wise and dangerous enemy. It is a goodly price, Odin, which I shall demand for a boon so great."

Now Odin was growing impatient for the sparkling water. "Ask your price," he frowned. "I have promised that I will pay."

"What say you, then, to leaving one of those far-seeing eyes of yours at the bottom of my well?" asked Mimer, hoping that he would refuse the bargain. "This is the only payment I will take."

Odin hesitated. It was indeed a heavy price, and one that he could ill afford, for he was proud of his noble beauty. But he glanced at the magic fountain bubbling mysteriously in the shadow, and he knew that he must have the draught.

"Give me the glittering horn," he answered. "I pledge you my eye for a draught to the brim."

Very unwillingly Mimer filled the horn from the fountain of wisdom and handed it to Odin. "Drink, then," he said; "drink and grow wise. This hour is the beginning of trouble between your race and mine." And wise Mimer foretold the truth.

Odin thought merely of the wisdom which was to be his. He seized the horn eagerly, and emptied it without delay. From that moment he became wiser than anyone else in the world except Mimer himself.

Now he had the price to pay, which was not so pleasant. When he went away from the grotto, he left at the bottom of the dark pool one of his fiery eyes, which twinkled and winked up through the magic depths like the reflection of a star. This is how Odin lost his eye, and why from that day he was careful to pull his gray hat low over his face when he wanted to pass unnoticed. For by this oddity folk could easily recognise the wise lord of Asgard.

In the bright morning, when the sun rose over the mountains of Midgard, old Mimer drank from his bubbly well a draught of the wise water that flowed over Odin's pledge. Doing so, from his underground grotto he saw all that befell in heaven and on earth. So that he also was wiser by the bargain. Mimer seemed to have secured rather the best of it; for he lost nothing that he could not spare, while Odin lost what no man can well part with—one of the good windows wherethrough his heart looks out upon the world. But there was a sequel to these doings which made the balance swing down in Odin's favour.

Not long after this, the Æsir quarrelled with the Vanir, wild enemies of theirs, and there was a terrible battle. But in the end the two sides made peace; and to prove that they meant never to quarrel again, they exchanged hostages. The Vanir gave to the Æsir old Niörd the rich, the lord of the sea and the ocean wind, with his two children, Frey and Freia. This was indeed a gracious gift; for Freia was the most beautiful maid in the world, and her twin brother was almost as fair. To the Vanir in return Father Odin gave his own brother Hœnir. And with Hœnir he sent Mimer the wise, whom he took from his lonely well.

Now the Vanir made Hœnir their chief, thinking that he must be very wise because he was the brother of great Odin, who had lately become famous for his wisdom. They did not know the secret of Mimer's well, how the hoary old giant was far more wise than anyone who had not quaffed of the magic water. It is true that in the assemblies of the Vanir Hœnir gave excellent counsel. But this was because Mimer whispered in Hœnir's ear all the wisdom that he uttered. Witless Hœnir was quite helpless without his aid, and did not know what to do or say. Whenever Mimer was absent he would look nervous and frightened, and if folk questioned him he always answered:

"Yes, ah yes! Now go and consult someone else."

Of course the Vanir soon grew very angry at such silly answers from their chief, and presently they began to suspect the truth. "Odin has deceived us," they said. "He has sent us his foolish brother with a witch to tell him what to say. Ha! We will show him that we understand the trick." So they cut off poor old Mimer's head and sent it to Odin as a present.

The tales do not say what Odin thought of the gift. Perhaps he was glad that now there was no one in the whole world who could be called so wise as himself. Perhaps he was sorry for the danger into which he had thrust a poor old giant who had never done him any wrong, except to be a giant of the race which the Æsir hated. Perhaps he was a little ashamed of the trick which he had played the Vanir. Odin's new wisdom showed him how to prepare Mimer's head with herbs and charms, so that it stood up by itself quite naturally and seemed not dead. Thenceforth Odin kept it near him, and learned from it many useful secrets which it had not forgotten.

So in the end Odin fared better than the unhappy Mimer, whose worst fault was that he knew more than most folk. That is a dangerous fault, as others have found; though it is not one for which many of us need fear being punished.

[psychopasss4]

MERRY CHRISTMAS 🎁🎄❣️

“Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.” – Peg Bracken

“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” – Hamilton Wright Mabie

“Christmas Day is in our grasp, as long as we have hands to clasp! Christmas Day will always be, just as long, as we have we! Welcome Christmas while we stand, heart to heart, and hand in hand!” –Dr. Seuss

“Christmas gives us the opportunity to pause and reflect on the important things around us.” – David Cameron

“The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.” – Burton Hills

Wishing your family a blessed Christmas.Merry Christmas! May the LORD be with you❣️

[slowdancewithme23]

Heureuse est la saison qui engage le monde entier dans une conspiration d'amour - Hamilton Wright Mabie

[julesofnature]

“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.”

~ Hamilton Wright Mabie 

[radical-revolution]

"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of kindness.”

― Hamilton Wright Mabie

Photo - Ajahn Sudanto, Abbot Pacific Hermitage

[furmity]

[George Hand Right, The Binding of Fenrir appeared in Hamilton Wright Mabie, Norse Stories Retold from the Eddas (Dodd Mead,1908).

Law degree part 3: Tyr  ᛏ

As a heathen with the ambition of earning a law degree, I am naturally a devotee of Tyr. I'd been aware of him before, but only started reading about his myths and worship while applying for university.

I was immensely drawn to the myth of his missing hand. The idea of self- sacrifice in lawgivers really left an impression on me. The resignation of “this has to be done and it must be me“. Honour and oath- making can be over- emphasised in heathenry, I don’t look on him as “the first oath- breaker” or any of that. This myth reminds us of the need for deception when we can protect ourselves and others. Honesty is akin to obeying the law: it’s the right thing until it’s the wrong thing, they have their reasons and limits. Tyr knows the difference.

So I introduced myself and volunteered to be a tool of his will. His shrine was on my desk. I prayed a novena in the lead up to my first semester, offering single malt whiskey. He was with me as I watched my first lecture. I’d give thanks for evidence that I was learning and laid good grades at his feet. His candle burned while I studied for exams. I dedicated last year’s Lent to him, but prayer cycles generally followed the academic calendar.

My UPG impressions are of a very serious individual who listens quietly and holds you accountable. I believe Tyr stands for democracy and local government. I'm all for strategic lawbreaking where obeying the law is wrong, and malicious compliance is a tool for change. Know the law to change the law. This stance feels right around Tyr, to me.

Tyr’s martial aspect is not something I really get into. I painted a Tiwaz icon on fabric patterned with medieval banners, saddled knights, and archers- but I’m a pacifist thank you so much. I’d like international law to really do something about keeping the peace and rounding up war criminals. Surely a lawgiving war god is the one to pray to for peace. He’s a war god who disabled himself! He nips problems in the bud. I should lean into that more: Please may diplomacy prevail, make Putin rot. Please may Australia always remain friendly with China, for the sake of Chinese- Australians above all.

At the beginning of last year I was absorbed by Lynne Kelly’s memory palace work (introduced by my dad, dammit, see part 2). I highly recommend her book Memory Craft and there are some good interviews with ABC. The various techniques are as useful for students as they are for remembering names and lists. My law notes were transformed into illuminated manuscripts on her instruction, and held up to Tyr. There’s so much law now that no one can remember it all, but I honour the oral lawgivers of old. I would really like to develop a devotional chaplet to him which works as a memory palace for law. Rosaries are mnemonic devices after all.

As a cultural Christian, my sky god of justice slots neatly into the mental space of a judging heavenly father. I recognise that may put certain people off. My moniker of “heretical heathen” has as much to do with being unbaptised in a Christian culture as it does with Norse gods. My pagan practice is synchretised with Christianity and I've noticed Tyr resists this. While I may dedicate a Christian period of sacrifice to him, divination tells me not to conflate him with Jehovah or Christ. The common law is very Christian and I don’t think that sits well with him. I respect that.

Just before my first year began, my sister stick- poked Tiwaz into my skin (I know, I know [1], I could well have chosen a hand), which I consecrated to my patron. Rather than waiting until I’d accomplished my goal, I did it to sort of bind myself to the path. I knew the degree was going to be difficult and unlike anything I’d done before... I didn’t want to drop out. Since I have dropped out and will not be studying this year, well, the tattoo seems to catch my eye a lot.

Of the many reasons I left, an important one was my ability to do the thing justice. It would surely not please my patron if I slid through like “Ps get degrees”. They do, but will you know your stuff? When I had to retake an exam I didn’t beg to get through, but asked for the opportunity to prove I know this. I didn’t pray to Tyr when I made my decision to leave (I didn’t pray to anything). I don’t seek his forgiveness, but I am sheepish about approaching him. I haven’t lit his candle in six months but his icon remains on the altar.

I have now decided to resume study next year... or part time second semester? I feel it is time to speak to the One- Handed and decide what I’m about. “I want a law degree”, I’d said. I got lost in the idea of prestige received for being a lawyer. I know I will be better placed with an ombudsman (one of few Scandinavian legal ideas we use here), a government department, or a union. I kind of toy with the idea of only doing pro bono legal work for activist groups. No small inspiration for studying law was hearing that organisations like the Satanic Temple (no, I’ don’t endorse) have in- house lawyers. There’s a niche somewhere for me, where I can be most useful and satisfied.

I want to read a couple of textbooks cover to cover this year, work on the manuscripts, get my base knowledge really solid. Program them into that chaplet.

Yes, it’s time for a blót.

[1] No frith with fascists! In re Tiwaz:

As you can see, these abominations don’t understand runes much anyway.

[thepropertylovers]

My Wish for the Holidays

It’s quiet and cold this morning. The kitchen is somewhat messy, signs of life and fun from last night still all over the countertops. Our friends Matt and Beau are leaving today to go back to New Orleans for the holidays so we had a goodbye dinner last night and I made this recipe. It turned out well! Perfect for a cold winter night.

I looked at the calendar yesterday and realized we have less than two weeks until Christmas and we haven’t done any of our actual shopping yet. Why do we wait so long every year? Christmas has a way of sneaking up on me, I suppose because we’re so consumed with the craziness of the end of the year, and I seem to lose track of time this time of year. The plan is to get all of the shopping completed this weekend and to do what we can to relax and have a smooth rest of the season. We’ll see if it actually happens that way.

As the holidays are setting in, I hope they feel like the photo above: warm, cozy, relaxing. I want them to be filled with joy and laughter and kids playing and family time and cozy Christmas movies and pasta and wine and blankets and lots of hunkering down at home. Of course, there’s much more to life than warm and cozy feelings, and the chaos of the holidays are a great reminder of that, but I think the best we can all hope for is to have those moments sprinkled in with the rest of what life has to offer

That’s my wish this year: To appreciate all the moments that this season brings, the cozy and the crazy (which can sometimes be one in the same). Hamilton Wright Mabie said it best:

“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.”

[el-futuro-no-se-desecha]

Navidad CAS

❀ ˙ ♡ frase ♡ ˙ ❀

“Bendita sea la fecha que une a todo el mundo en una conspiración de amor.” - Hamilton Wright Mabi.

❀ ˙ ♡ descripción del problema ♡ ˙ ❀

Hay trabajos que están muy mal pagados, siendo uno de estos el personal del colegio. Esto, en ciertas ocasiones, previene a las familias de estas personas poder tener lindas celebraciones. Por esto, se decidió que se volvería a reactivar el proyecto de la navidad CAS (se paró por COVID) para volver a darles a estos niños una gran celebración en la que puedan compartir entre ellos y se lleven lindos recuerdos de lo que es la navidad.

❀ ˙ ♡ participación ♡ ˙ ❀

A pesar de que el proyecto se lleva a cabo en diciembre, el 17 de diciembre para ser más exactos (aún no sucede), la preparación empieza meses antes. En nuestro caso, la preparación empezó en octubre. Se dividieron los grupos, siendo algunos de estos: envolver y clasificar regalos (grupo donde participo), hacer conos con sorpresas (padrinos), hacer un baile para entretenerlos, hacer un show disfrazados de elfos, etc. Dichos grupos se dividieron y se organizaron para plantear un presupuesto para que lxs líderes sean capaces de organizarse y proveerles tal dinero. Además planeamos que para recolectar dinero rifaremos algunas canastas navideñas. La sección de esta rifa decidió que para conseguir las canastas se pedirán donaciones de los tres salones de 10mo IB para armarlas (harina, fideos, leche, etc.). Los grupos de animación (baile y show) se reúnen para practicar los que van ha hacer y tener todo bien coordinado. El resto aún no se ha hecho pero se tendrá que realizar para ese momento: comprar regalos, hacer un horario, agregar más entretenimiento, etc.

Hasta ahora mi participación consistió en pequeñas cosas. La primera fue ayudar a hacer el presupuesto de nuestro grupo. Entre todxs decidimos que como nuestro presupuesto eran como 40 soles, no se los pediríamos a lxs líderes, sino que los colaboraríamos entre nosotrxs. Aún no hemos podido desenvolvernos en nuestra parte como grupo porque aún no nos ha tocado, pero ya pronto entraremos en acción. Además, me voluntarie para hacer el panel sobre “Navidad CAS”, para que la gente se empatice más cuando lo vea. Finalmente, mi participación por ahora concluye en que ayude en la rifa. Primero, donando tres bolsas de fideo para las canastas y, por último, ayude a mezclar las rifas y asegurarnos de que era completamente aleatorio. 

❀ ˙ ♡ reflexión personal ♡ ˙ ❀

Proyectos que nos involucran personalmente, como este en el cuál tenemos que tratar con los niños y hacerlos sonreír por nuestra cuenta, siento que nos ayudan a enseñarnos de humildad y a ser empáticos.

❀ ˙ ♡ aprendizajes CAS alcanzados ♡ ˙ ❀

• Identificar en uno mismo los puntos fuertes y las áreas en las que se necesita mejorar.

• Mostrar que se han afrontado desafíos y se han desarrollado nuevas habilidades en el proceso.

• Mostrar cómo iniciar y planificar una experiencia CAS.

• Mostrar compromiso y perseverancia en las actividades/proyectos. 

• Mostrar habilidades de trabajo en equipo y reconocer los beneficios del trabajo colaborativo.

• Mostrar compromiso con cuestiones de importancia global.