Sue Vincent's Daily Echo

Union #midnighthaiku

Posted on October 2, 2020 by Sue Vincent

The lost are alone

Strength is born in union

Together in love

Posted in Photography | Tagged haiku, Poetry, together | 11 Comments

Going West: A Wounded Church

Posted on October 1, 2020 by Sue Vincent

Wales 115

I had barely raised the camera to start photographing the interior of the great cathedral at St Davids before a gentleman approached and told me that I could not… or, at least, not without paying for a permit. Now, I know that these ancient churches cost a good deal to keep standing and pay for their conservation, but I have a problem with those that demand exorbitant entry fees before forcing a ‘no photography’ rule on unsuspecting visitors. Especially when they quote ‘copyright’ as the reason; I fail to see how something the best part of a thousand years old can still enforce copyright law.

Wales 119

St Davids, however, is more than reasonable… no entry fee is charged, donations are at the discretion (and therefore within the means of) visitors and the photography permit costs next to nothing. I paid without a qualm and wandered around with my official ‘photographer’ badge proudly displayed on my chest… until someone kindly pointed out that I was wearing it upside down.

Wales 120

Somehow, though, that seemed to fit. Little at St Davids seems to be quite ‘right’..at least not if you are looking for straight lines and accurate angles; the cathedral building bears the scars of a long and troubled life. Building began around 1181 and the Norman arches of the nave are typical of that period… each differently decorated with carvings. The ceiling would normally be vaulted stone, but between the collapse of the tower in 1220 and the damage caused by an earthquake damage in 1247/48, the 15thC wooden ceiling is kinder…

Continue reading at France & Vincent

Posted in Churches, History, Photography | Tagged Celtic Christianity, Geraldus Cambriensis, Life, Norman Cathedral, pembrokeshire, Rhys ap Gruffydd, sacred sites, Silent Eye 2016 Workshop, spirituality, St David's, The Silent Eye | 6 Comments

Bull-Coyote: Other…

Posted on October 1, 2020 by Sue Vincent

…Buffalo-Bull threw Coyote high into the air with his horns.

When he came back down to earth Coyote was a Buffalo-Bull.

Bull-Coyote wandered off into another field eating grass to his heart’s content and satisfying his hunger.

Just then, Other-Coyote passed by.

“I’m hungry,” he said to Bull-Coyote, “can you make me like you?”

Bull-Coyote walked off sullenly to graze in another part of his field.

But Other-Coyote persisted, “I want to be fat like you,” he shouted to Bull-Coyote.

Bull-Coyote wandered back over to Other-Coyote, “you would be incapable of doing the things I asked of you,” he said, somewhat superciliously.

“Try me,” said Other-Coyote.

Continue reading at France and Vincent

Posted in Art, Books, Folk Tale, france and vincent | Tagged magic, meaning, mystery, Mythology, psychology, story, Trickster, writing | Leave a comment

Two journeys, one destination (4) – two sides of the hill ~ Steve Tanham

Posted on October 1, 2020 by Sue Vincent

On the second day of the Silent Eye’s ‘Pictish Trail’ weekend, we are beginning in what is, for me, one of the most beautiful places in the world. Portmahomack is a small fishing village on the north side of the Tarbat Peninsula. It’s an hours drive north from Inverness.

I’m at the end of the pier, gazing out across the deep blue sea towards highland mountains in the distance. Low in the line of dense green forest and near the sandy line of that far shore is a white fairytale castle. It could be a dream but it’s not. It’s real, and we will be visiting it on our way to the archipelago of Orkney, tomorrow. It’s called Dunrobin Castle, and is the ancestral home of the Dukes of Sutherland.

The museum at Dunrobin has some fine Pictish stones, and the castle marks the most northerly point of the Pictish trail. But the real historic trail points further north to Orkney, and that is a very different land and one-time kingdom. No-one in the group has been to Dunrobin, before. Having glimpsed its pale spires glinting in the morning sun, we can’t wait…but our Saturday has more than enough for now. Today’s explorations begin with the sight of an ancient church just over the rise of the hill at my back. I can’t see it from here, but I can feel its presence. I want the others to feel it in a different way to how I first discovered it. I want them to feel its ancientness before they see it. To do this I have to enter a state which is crisp and clear with anticipation, then share it – without words.

Continue reading at The Silent Eye

Posted in The Silent Eye | Tagged #Silenti, Ancient Sacred Sites, landscape, Mystical Travel, Photography, Picts, Portmahomack Discovery Centre, psychology, sacred sites, Scottish Highlands, spirituality, Tarbat Discovery Centre, Travel and Photography | 4 Comments

Faded Rose

Posted on October 1, 2020 by Sue Vincent

Leopard print lycra
Stretched too tight
Over tired hips
And faded lips
Bleeding crimson
Into pursed lines

Peroxide blonde
Faded to brass
Blows like straw
In winter’s maw
Threadbare tapestry
Of make-believe

Mascara laden
Heavy lids
Too much TV
Don’t want to see
The fresh faced young
Embracing life

Another drink
Another smoke
Tears tired eyes
The mirror lies
She looks away
He loved her once

Posted in Poetry | Tagged age, pain, raddled beauty | 40 Comments

Defined #midnighthaiku

Posted on October 1, 2020 by Sue Vincent

Judgement draws the lines

Mirroring expectations

Soul defines beauty

Posted in Photography, Poetry | Tagged haiku, image | 11 Comments

Going West: An Uneasy Peace

Posted on September 30, 2020 by Sue Vincent

Wales 239

Where do you begin when you have to write about a cathedral? Each chapel, every corner, every nook and cranny is replete with art and history. The sensory input is so much that all you can do is walk and attempt to catch the aura of the place and snippets of information as you marvel at how much of the past is preserved in wood, stone and colour. For me, outside is a good place to start. Apart from places like Lincoln where the outside is overwhelming as what lies within the walls. It gives a chance to get a feel for the place and seems to put what you will find into context.

Wales 087

Not that we had a lot of choice… the mayor-making was taking its time and, until they were finished, we were left with the refectory and the exterior to play with. The refectory is a lovely space, with high, clear glass windows overlooking the cloisters. It now holds a cafe and an art exhibition was in progress while we were there, but instead of mangling the ancient architecture, a floating, self-contained mezzanine has been installed that barely touches the old walls. It does spoil the proportions of the lofty space… but it is a practical and not unattractive compromise that allows modern usage of an otherwise impractical height. It also serves tea and, while several of the party lingered over that welcome beverage, I wandered off to look at the walls.

Wales 073

Not just the cathedral walls, but the remnants of the old town walls built by the Norman lords not long after the Conquest. The walled enclosure dates back to at least the 12th century, and the contours of the earthworks still remain visible. The tower that now houses the bells was added a century later and was once the consistory court of the bishops and also houses the bishops’ dungeon. The gatehouse and taller south tower came a hundred years after that.

Wales 103

Continue reading at France & Vincent

Posted in Churches, History, Photography, Spirituality, transformation, Wales | Tagged Celtic Christianity, sacred sites, spiritual turning around, spirituality | Leave a comment

Bull-Coyote…

Posted on September 30, 2020 by Sue Vincent

Coyote was going along…

As usual he was ravenously hungry.

He passed by Buffalo-Bull and noticed his size.

‘No lack of sustenance there,’ he reasoned.

“Couldn’t you make me into a Bull?” asked Coyote.

Buffalo-Bull ignored him.

“If I was a Bull,” continued Coyote, “I could eat grass to my heart’s content and grow big and strong as you.”

“Stop bothering me, Coyote,” said Buffalo-Bull, “everyone knows you are incapable of following the simplest instructions.”

“This time I would,” pleaded Coyote.

Continue reading at France & Vincent

Posted in Art | Tagged Books, Folk Tale, magic, mystery, Mythology, psychology, story, symbolism, The Silent Eye esoteric | Leave a comment

Interlude…

Posted on September 30, 2020 by Sue Vincent

It was a few weeks ago now… Well, as we couldn’t set off for Scotland, thanks to ‘stuff’ showing up on the scans the day I was meant to leave for the north, Stuart came down here. Perhaps we could, at least, touch base with some of our favourite places. After being unable to enter our little rainbow chapel, thanks to the Covid restrictions, we probably ought to have checked whether Rollright would be accessible… but instead, off we went, determined to have at least one decent day of our holiday!

And, as always, Rollright opened its arms to us. It is one of the friendliest of stone circles. Possibly that may be just because it is so accessible and easily visited, although I think there is more to it than that. It is a place of welcome. It likes people… their presence and joy… Call that daft, if you like, but that is how it has always felt.

Ever since that visit at Solstice, long ago, when I had ‘seen’ the tides of energy at the site, I have always felt at home here. And it felt right to visit the King Stone, seeing him as a leaping Flame. Right to trace the fossilised shells and sea creatures in the stone, so far above the ocean and so far inland now, recognising the elemental magic in the choosing of such stones for a ritual space.

We walked around to the Whispering Knights, resting a while by their side, listening in the silence to the breath of their conversation, before leaving our own small seed by the stones, reaffirming once more their place in the Web of Light.

These stones are so familiar now that it barely seems right to write about them again. Rollright’s stones have been part of our story for a long, long time… and yet, each time we go back there, there is a sense of renewal.

From the Knights we would walk over to the circle, taking up a place at the centre. No grand gestures, no ostentation… just a simple and quiet communion with the heart of the land through the heart of the circle. For me, there is healing in that,

Through the Sighting Stone back to the Knights… the pathways here are joined in many ways. Time and space hold little meaning, except ‘here’ and ‘now’… even though from this point in time it was ‘there’ and ‘then’. I am not sure eternity minds how we perceive it. Perhaps it matters only that we do.