Dead, Mad, or a Poet (Feri part 3)

Last updated on: May 16, 2010 at 7:03 am by Sara Amis

Dead, Mad, or a Poet (Feri part 3) 2010-05-16T07:03:18-04:00 Sara Amis

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

“What would give light must endure burning.” – Victor Frankl

As I was saying, there’s a historical conflation between witches and fairies. There’s also a long-established relationship between the Otherworld and artists. You could make a case that this relationship goes back as far as our species; one of the things that marked the shift to modern humans was a sudden outpouring of art. The cave paintings of Europe are one example of a world-wide phenomenon. That art also was originally shamanic or religious in nature.

Rather more recently, the Fair Folk developed a reputation for being fond of musicians and poets. Thomas of Ercildoune got spirited away to “fair Elfland” and returned as Thomas the Rhymer. It’s said that if you spend the night on the seat of Cadair Idris in Wales, in the morning they’ll find you “dead, mad, or a poet”—which also indicates the cost of pursuing such gifts.

The number of creative types in Feri is poetically apt and mythologically resonant, but I think it has to do with the focus and concerns of the tradition and what it tends to do to you. Steve Hewell describes it thusly:

“The path of Feri is not always easy or safe; it’s not for everyone. It requires a rigorous self-honesty and a willingness to delve into our own darkness as a source of power and self-healing. It teaches us to go into all the hidden places where we have buried the parts of ourselves we fear and hate, and find there the source of beauty, love, creativity, and authenticity. It brings us face to face with our own divinity, so that the raw power of the living universe flows through every part of our being.”

One could, and I would, say the same thing about art. It’s certainly a description of the requirements for making good art. I once remarked that practicing Feri was a lot like lighting yourself on fire. I am also here to tell you from personal knowledge that it’s also not unlike writing a novel, which Flannery O’Connor described as “a terrible experience, during which the hair often falls out and the teeth decay. I’m always irritated by people who imply that writing fiction is an escape from reality. It is a plunge into reality and it’s very shocking to the system.”

If this all sounds a bit uncomfortable and possibly daft, you are correct. But oh, the beautiful light.

Pagan

feri

witchcraft

Previous Post

May 15, 2010

When The Storm Comes: A Moving Meditation

Next Post

May 16, 2010 A Perfectly Pagani Sunday

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category alexandrian asatru astrology ATW Audio books btw ceremonial magick chaos classics community conversion cosmology dianic discordian druid dvd eclectic equinox ethics family feri festivals film Fully Inclusive Events gardnerian gender issues glbt heathen hellenismos history humor initiation interfaith magick meditation Military movies music mysticism myth networking news Open Thread Pagan Pagan 101 Paganism passings polytheism Polytheistic Religion polytheology praxis Reading List religio romana review ritual sabbats santeria service solstice symbols tools values wicca witchcraft

Select a Month July 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does "Ecclesiastes" mean?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Teacher or Preacher Gatherer Prophet Judge