I like the poem Dwina, even if I am unsure of all the meanings.
I did not know the story of Biggs and for me, like John in his comment, it has a shivery quality - 40 winters is a long time, and I guess Dinton can still have the feel of it.
Oliver Rackham very differently in his history of trees in Britain wrote of the enchantment in Hatfield Forest to be found at the site of the old hermitage in the quiet of winter.
It is a while ago that I came across a term 'Hermitage of the Heart', and perhaps I should look again.
I passed The Dinton Hermit pub so many times before I knew the story and it stuck with me… so many years for John Bigg to ‘feel’ the great impact of that action. I remember reading about the Cromwellian controlling influence in Ireland too. I saw his life-mask in a glass drawer… quite shocking….
Yes, Britain has it's history of murderous statecraft. Richard III was the last English monarch to die in battle, but James IV of Scotland was killed in 1513 with his thousands at Flodden just a few fields away from where I sit. The site still gave off an unwelcome feel when we came here 41 years ago. Leaving aside Henry's wives and thinking about it this morning, Mary of Scots having been displaced by a rebellion died on the scaffold after judicial process a mere 62 years before Charles 1st. Apparently her execution was a sensation across Europe in the period that was to lead the 'protestant v. catholic', (Wiki quote): "The Thirty Years' War, from 1618 to 1648, was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history", which preceded and was concurrent with British rebellion and civil war: vicious stuff.
We seem to have named pubs for some of it ever since!
“ Becoming a writer, an artist, a poet or author, is a Hermitage in itself. It requires a safe space and the ability to be solitary that is part of the withdrawal from some aspects of the material world and entering the world of research and imagination.”
Thank you! This so true! Since I have been writing for just less than a year I find myself in much solitude. It’s a high contrast to my previous more public life as an entertainer, and I’m getting used to it.
Excellent Dwina, I always find meaning in your posts. 🤗
Thank you Charlotte, and you have had such a brilliant public life… sometimes it is lovely to set down roots and write, reminisce and share with others. The platform of Substack has allowed us to do this in another public scenario… it is another way to be accepting of both worlds. ***
Fascinating! I loved Aylesbury - so much more accessible and magical than Stonehenge, the smaller stones more of the people than the Druid priests. Aren't yew trees also grown in graveyards? Interesting symbolism.
I have yew hedges hundreds of years old and two oak trees over 800 years old and a walnut tree that houses bees. One can never own these ancient trees, only be a custodian.... I think it is true of everywhere, however small or large, old or new. One yew in the churchyard across the road is almost a thousand years old. The whole area was once ruled by the Kings of Mercia,,, and Anglo Saxon territory through Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire and North of there.***
Brilliant, Dwina, full of wisdom, and personally very timely! It's interesting of Biggs' 40 Winters, as it reminder of the 40 days and nights in the Desert, as well as the many religious and spiritual stories with '40' as a part of the pilgrimage to Divinity. Thank you, you do such fabulous work!
Thank you Dwina, such wonderful information, the Hermit is definitely one I relate to, although a busy person I love my solitude and time alone to meditate, pray and just be.
I know exactly what you mean. It is good to have friends who are also creative because they understand that need for solitude. I enjoy seeing children enjoying their own company and being absorbed in their various talents. It helps with their independence and the expression of creative abilities. ***
Thank you - I do love that Civil War story. I'm also - reading your description - struck by the dynamic of the relationship between the Hermit and the Magician. You've inspired me to go away and have a good hard think about it!
Yes, there is an interesting relationship between the Magician, the Hermit and also the Heirophant… and the Hermit is the power dynamic between the High Priestess and the Tower… if the Majors are laid out in three rows with the Fool above, the middle row from numbers 8 to 14 are the powers that not only separate the top and bottom rows but also bring them together. I have two extra cards that I added to the Majors without changing their numeration, so I actually have three rows of 8. The top row shows the Archetypes of the souls within us. The middle row shows the Powers of those archetypes, and the bottom row is the Path of light to reach enlightenment or full knowledge. I also like your work with the cards.***
Brilliant as ever. The story of John Biggs gave me shivers! I love the hermit too - being a bit of a one myself - and the richness of the interpretation is very powerful. I can’t wait to start reading with the Vedic Tarot.
Especially the masked men on the scaffold… that hit me the most i think… and then knowing the story of George’s ancestor being given Charles I’s lace collar to keep. Such a small world. ***
Thank you for this story, which you mentioned yesterday - I had no notion of John Biggs. I have to say that your Vedic Tarot Hermit is one of my very favourite cards from it!
Thank you, Caitlin. You always liked my Hermit. I could have written many other stories of known Hermits, especially the Irish ones, but wished to show some of the interpretation of the card itself. We should visit the Ashmolean to see Bigg's boot!
I like the poem Dwina, even if I am unsure of all the meanings.
I did not know the story of Biggs and for me, like John in his comment, it has a shivery quality - 40 winters is a long time, and I guess Dinton can still have the feel of it.
Oliver Rackham very differently in his history of trees in Britain wrote of the enchantment in Hatfield Forest to be found at the site of the old hermitage in the quiet of winter.
It is a while ago that I came across a term 'Hermitage of the Heart', and perhaps I should look again.
I passed The Dinton Hermit pub so many times before I knew the story and it stuck with me… so many years for John Bigg to ‘feel’ the great impact of that action. I remember reading about the Cromwellian controlling influence in Ireland too. I saw his life-mask in a glass drawer… quite shocking….
Yes, Britain has it's history of murderous statecraft. Richard III was the last English monarch to die in battle, but James IV of Scotland was killed in 1513 with his thousands at Flodden just a few fields away from where I sit. The site still gave off an unwelcome feel when we came here 41 years ago. Leaving aside Henry's wives and thinking about it this morning, Mary of Scots having been displaced by a rebellion died on the scaffold after judicial process a mere 62 years before Charles 1st. Apparently her execution was a sensation across Europe in the period that was to lead the 'protestant v. catholic', (Wiki quote): "The Thirty Years' War, from 1618 to 1648, was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history", which preceded and was concurrent with British rebellion and civil war: vicious stuff.
We seem to have named pubs for some of it ever since!
“ Becoming a writer, an artist, a poet or author, is a Hermitage in itself. It requires a safe space and the ability to be solitary that is part of the withdrawal from some aspects of the material world and entering the world of research and imagination.”
Thank you! This so true! Since I have been writing for just less than a year I find myself in much solitude. It’s a high contrast to my previous more public life as an entertainer, and I’m getting used to it.
Excellent Dwina, I always find meaning in your posts. 🤗
Thank you Charlotte, and you have had such a brilliant public life… sometimes it is lovely to set down roots and write, reminisce and share with others. The platform of Substack has allowed us to do this in another public scenario… it is another way to be accepting of both worlds. ***
Fascinating! I loved Aylesbury - so much more accessible and magical than Stonehenge, the smaller stones more of the people than the Druid priests. Aren't yew trees also grown in graveyards? Interesting symbolism.
I have yew hedges hundreds of years old and two oak trees over 800 years old and a walnut tree that houses bees. One can never own these ancient trees, only be a custodian.... I think it is true of everywhere, however small or large, old or new. One yew in the churchyard across the road is almost a thousand years old. The whole area was once ruled by the Kings of Mercia,,, and Anglo Saxon territory through Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire and North of there.***
Brilliant, Dwina, full of wisdom, and personally very timely! It's interesting of Biggs' 40 Winters, as it reminder of the 40 days and nights in the Desert, as well as the many religious and spiritual stories with '40' as a part of the pilgrimage to Divinity. Thank you, you do such fabulous work!
I love the article and the stories. They are brillant.
Thank you Dwina, such wonderful information, the Hermit is definitely one I relate to, although a busy person I love my solitude and time alone to meditate, pray and just be.
I know exactly what you mean. It is good to have friends who are also creative because they understand that need for solitude. I enjoy seeing children enjoying their own company and being absorbed in their various talents. It helps with their independence and the expression of creative abilities. ***
So looking forward to the deck. ❤️ the Hermit and the wonderful stories.
Thank you Nancy. I enjoy all your writings and interactive posts. ***
Thank you - I do love that Civil War story. I'm also - reading your description - struck by the dynamic of the relationship between the Hermit and the Magician. You've inspired me to go away and have a good hard think about it!
Yes, there is an interesting relationship between the Magician, the Hermit and also the Heirophant… and the Hermit is the power dynamic between the High Priestess and the Tower… if the Majors are laid out in three rows with the Fool above, the middle row from numbers 8 to 14 are the powers that not only separate the top and bottom rows but also bring them together. I have two extra cards that I added to the Majors without changing their numeration, so I actually have three rows of 8. The top row shows the Archetypes of the souls within us. The middle row shows the Powers of those archetypes, and the bottom row is the Path of light to reach enlightenment or full knowledge. I also like your work with the cards.***
Brilliant as ever. The story of John Biggs gave me shivers! I love the hermit too - being a bit of a one myself - and the richness of the interpretation is very powerful. I can’t wait to start reading with the Vedic Tarot.
Especially the masked men on the scaffold… that hit me the most i think… and then knowing the story of George’s ancestor being given Charles I’s lace collar to keep. Such a small world. ***
Love this! 🐢 Looking forward to your amazing Tarot deck to be released.
Thank you for this story, which you mentioned yesterday - I had no notion of John Biggs. I have to say that your Vedic Tarot Hermit is one of my very favourite cards from it!
Thank you, Caitlin. You always liked my Hermit. I could have written many other stories of known Hermits, especially the Irish ones, but wished to show some of the interpretation of the card itself. We should visit the Ashmolean to see Bigg's boot!
I really enjoyed this and it resonated with my need to withdraw when writing. I’d love to see a picture of your door with the little holes in it! ✨