Tree of Peace

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let us meet beneath the Tree of Peace

where warring nations first buried hatchets

and strangers learned of the ways to

bring it together to bend with weather

as Eastern White Pines reach skyward

toward sun and rain and alchemy down

to roots and their relations other nations

vast web unseen a dream waking in

time to see you or be you in a way

the strangers laid them down later

to rise again on the great water far off 

this land until in time few remained

and the pain took hold the strangers 

told, return now beneath this pine 

see what you can find when blind.

 

 

 

The Theft of Yule

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The term "Yule" was misappropriated from Germanic Pagans by proselytizing Christians as part of the Christmas observance. That was a long time ago. A whole lot of that spiritual theft took place in AD or Anno Domini, the period after Christ was said to be born. Some Pagans converted, some did not, but the new religion and its many proponents were vehemently driven. Their numbers grew. It was new and improved? We guess that depends on how the conversion was undertaken, peacefully or not. History tells us a lot of "or not" took place. Countless Pagan idols and sanctuaries were trashed, many Pagan beliefs were corrupted and turned into early Christian symbols. Enter Yule. 

"Yule, the winter solstice, is a time of great symbolism and power. It marks the return of the sun—when the days finally begin to get a little longer. It's also a time to celebrate with family and friends, and share the spirit of giving during the holidays." notes this observer. My  amateur research took me to far darker tales of destruction and oppression and that was just in the Middle East. In what is now Europe the coercion was similar. "As Christianity ‘triumphed’ over the course of the fourth century, so too did Christians' growing intolerance for pagans, and also Jews and ‘heretical Christians’. In the traditional narrative, Christians ended the fourth century by persecuting pagans and coercing their conversion. The political conflict was constant."  Recall the Crusades? How about The Inquisition and witch burning?  

Modern day Inquisition fans (think Christian Nationalists for instance) are quick to claim "Pagans worship the Creation not the Creator". Let's look into that. The so-called "Creation" is Nature, the Earth. It is something we can walk around in, feel, see, touch. It is what we call reality. It is also something we can love, something we might defend, something we might worship like "The Great Mystery" some indigenous people refer to. Have you seen the "Creator" recently? If so, please share the evidence.

One Pagan practice that was often shunned in ancient times was sacrifices, both animal and human. Most of us humans are appalled by such violence today unless it's on-screen or in the ring or butchers department at the store. We go to war because we feel we must and we sacrifice our young men and women to do so. It is said by devout Christians that "Jesus died for our sins". That was a sacrifice, yes? Have you ever thought about the meaning of all that? 

Time marches on and it is getting late. I don't wish to spoil your Holiday and I would like to think, in this day & age, you don't wish to spoil others' Holiday?  Happy Yule.

 

 

 

The Return of The Mad King

 

We never thought to see such a thing

yet here it is with extra madness and

a certain darkness on which to bring

fight or flight and imagining 

the worst or worse or a nothinging

or the resignation waiting in the wings

be prepared for somethingings

the show must go on regardless of an

audience or cast or even a stage to

stand upon or walk through or set

on fire yelling into the audience 

he is back gather up your things and

be prepared.

 

[ Typos intended   - d.o. ]

 

Welcome back

 

 

 

 "In the 1980s, researchers excavating a cave in the Judean Desert, in Israel, uncovered a seed that was subsequently dated to sometime between 993 and 1202 AD, making it approximately 1,000 years old. Testing of the seed suggested that it was still viable, so the research team planted and tended to it. A little while later, it sprouted. Now, 14 years later, the tree has grown to maturity.....The researchers have also found that the tree belongs to the genus Commiphora, which belongs to the same family as frankincense and myrrh."

 

While you were away trucks and chainsaws

were invented and used to clear the land 

without much thought or consideration with

fire that soon grew to consume whole forests

across the land now naked empty afraid 

back then you spread shade on Crusades and they

fought over gods and Dominion that we see today

and, believe or not, the return of mad kings

and their henchmen and women who should

know better but don't and prove that every day

sorry to have to tell you this but it is as ever

what we now call amiss and you are living

with this, again.

 

 

 

To a Certain Cedar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You held me up high among

the others on that wooded glade

in the close shade on sunny days

I was always eight years old 

back then even when I was

nine or ten climbing trees or

sailing seas away from home 

across the yard or was it a harbor

and you a mast with provisions 

stored in your limbs the insects

discovered overnight (another sight)

are you still there today you are

for me and will always be.

The ask

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You asked for my opinion

one day when supporters 

prepared for dark responses 

for flashing lights and fears

we walked along the road

where it would happen

your home before a siege 

I don't know what I offered

then but I do know you asked

so open to others and their thoughts

in a world of thoughtlessness 

a gift from you unforgotten

were it now I would say 

please stay, for awhile as

we pass the time of day.

         -  d.o. for Randy Kehler 2024

Down with the Kingmakers!

 

 

 

It is Independence Day 2024 as I write. It's rather ironic to be celebrating our independence from the old British monarchy, from the whims of King George when the majority of our own Supreme Court have just turned the United States of America into a kingdom.  Our President has been granted full immunity from any official acts he might perform in office (can you believe it?). The "gift" is little short of The Enabling Act (Ermächtigungsgesetz) of 1933 in pre-war Germany. But wait, this is the USA. We don't do kings, right?? Correct.......BUT since we have one now perhaps there's someway we can turn the clock back.

How about demanding "King Joe" pack SCOTUS with justices who don't have fascist tendencies? FDR threatened to do that back in the day. Did he really have the power to do such a thing? If so, and those clear thinking justices become the majority, might they revisit the immunity decision and reverse it? I'm no lawyer or student of the Court but if that is doable what's to keep us from acting on it? Presumably there is not enough time to do that, if it's possible, before the election in November. In that case, could our new King delay the election? It all sounds a bit crazy, yes?  

Of course it's crazy. We have gone down the proverbial rabbit hole in this country since His Malignancy took office in 2017. The MAGA death cult has transformed the once "Party of Law & Order" into a sham, an evil clown show your grandparents would never have conceived of as they put out Old Glory in front of their homes on the 4th of July.