The irony of Leo’s recent “ice capade” is enormous. We think of Dante’s epic, “The Divine Comedy,” which features just such frozen crystals lining the deep Central Well of the Ninth Circle of Hell. Traitors and oathbreakers are trapped immobile and forever silenced in a lake of their own frozen tears. In the very center is the arch-traitor, Lucifer. The icy wind that emanates from the beating of his wings only further ensures sinners’ imprisonment in forever frozen waters.
Perhaps equally appalling is the fact that “crystal gazing” has been, both in legend and history, an important form of pagan magic, aka “white magic.” We think of the fabled Arthurian Merlin, the wizard with a crystal ball and lakeside fantasies, and then real pre-Christian Celtic priests, the Druids, who based their alleged powers of divination and the casting of spells and curses upon worship of Nature. While the priestly caste of Druids was extinguished by Christianity by the 7th century, the memory and cloning of bards of their ancient pantheism persist today. They still love stones, use crystals in solstice rituals and moon rites. They still worship Mother Nature in quiet, secluded areas, clearings in woods and forests, near lakes like Loch Arthur in Scotland…or Castel Gandolfo’s Lake Albano.
Very good spins!
Could add a headline of “Leo bombs in theatrical remake of O’Neill’s “The Iceman Cometh.”
My favorite is yours, i.e. Pope Loki I. In Icelandic and Norse myth, Loki is a smart aleck, a master of illusion, who loves mischief and tricks. Purported to have kinship and loyalty to the gods, Loki remains half-human and ultimately shows allegiance only to himself and his giant army of cronies. Some today still believe that polished Labradorite crystals and the like can link us to Loki’s magical spells.
The irony of Leo’s recent “ice capade” is enormous. We think of Dante’s epic, “The Divine Comedy,” which features just such frozen crystals lining the deep Central Well of the Ninth Circle of Hell. Traitors and oathbreakers are trapped immobile and forever silenced in a lake of their own frozen tears. In the very center is the arch-traitor, Lucifer. The icy wind that emanates from the beating of his wings only further ensures sinners’ imprisonment in forever frozen waters.
Perhaps equally appalling is the fact that “crystal gazing” has been, both in legend and history, an important form of pagan magic, aka “white magic.” We think of the fabled Arthurian Merlin, the wizard with a crystal ball and lakeside fantasies, and then real pre-Christian Celtic priests, the Druids, who based their alleged powers of divination and the casting of spells and curses upon worship of Nature. While the priestly caste of Druids was extinguished by Christianity by the 7th century, the memory and cloning of bards of their ancient pantheism persist today. They still love stones, use crystals in solstice rituals and moon rites. They still worship Mother Nature in quiet, secluded areas, clearings in woods and forests, near lakes like Loch Arthur in Scotland…or Castel Gandolfo’s Lake Albano.
🤦 So many memes will come out of this. Ex:
Pope Loki I
Good job American I.C.E.
Let the Ice Age begin
Today I make hell freeze over
You’ll understand if you knew where I’ve been
Robert Frost, I just read your ‘Fire and ice’ poem. I favor ice, I favor ice, I favor ice.
Buy a blessed block of ice for a loved one in hell
Forget indulgences, I give you icedulgences
Hey world, frost yourself (xref movie ‘How to lose a guy in 10 days’).
Very good spins!
Could add a headline of “Leo bombs in theatrical remake of O’Neill’s “The Iceman Cometh.”
My favorite is yours, i.e. Pope Loki I. In Icelandic and Norse myth, Loki is a smart aleck, a master of illusion, who loves mischief and tricks. Purported to have kinship and loyalty to the gods, Loki remains half-human and ultimately shows allegiance only to himself and his giant army of cronies. Some today still believe that polished Labradorite crystals and the like can link us to Loki’s magical spells.