This is the first day of a three-day fast, and I’m realizing how many snacks there are in this house. Living with a pregnant woman, you learn to always have food on hand, and a glance around bears this out: a rolled-up bag of chips on the nightstand by the bed, snacks near the TV, the kitchen cabinets full of choices. I normally get home from dropping her off and set into those cabinets, but not today. The grehlin is giving me a hard time.
On that note, let’s return to a random tarot card for today’s blog direction.
1 – THE ROAD WARRIORS
2 – NIGHT OF COYNES
This alternate spelling led to some interesting google search results:
What an absolutely awful texture that is. Wonder of wonders that people can be so different, look at this thing and not get their teeth set on edge. Yikes. Could be a good album, though? I will never listen to it.
Cool bioluminescence shot by Patrick Coyne.
This “night of coynes” search turned up many articles about the most famous Coyne of our time, Wayne of The Flaming Lips. They’re local celebrities, with Coyne’s Womb Gallery being one of the neat artistic staples of OKC. Here’s an article with his basic thoughts about basic things. It’s a wonder people ask artists questions like this. Just make the music/art/whatever!
3 – BALALAIKA
This word caught my eye on page 15 of searching “night coynes”. I’d never heard it before. Turns out it’s a traditional Russian stringed instrument. A quick search for the term brings up this “balalaika metal” song that has 640,000 views.
Which led to this video about a “theorbo.”
4 – SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT
The story begins as King Arthur’s court celebrates the New Year for fifteen days. The lords and ladies of the court are having a great time dancing and feasting. The story describes the lavishly served feast with all the trimmings. Each guest is free to partake in the royal meal. However, King Arthur will not eat on such a high holiday until someone tells a fascinating or adventurous tale.
After a year has passed, Sir Gawain must prepare to leave for his journey to the castle of the Green Knight. The other knights are sad to see such a good friend and stellar knight meet with such a bitter blow. Gawain’s answer to the concerns of his fellow knights demonstrates his bravery: “Why should I tarry? In destinies sad or merry, True men can but try.“
The poem describes Gawain’s armor in detail. He carries a red shield that has a pentangle painted on its front. The pentangle is a token of truth. Each of the five points are linked and locked with the next, forming what is called the endless knot. The pentangle is a symbol that Gawain is faultless in his five senses, never found to fail in his five fingers, faithful to the five wounds that Christ received on the cross, strengthened by the five joys that the Virgin Mary had in Jesus (The Annunciation, Nativity, Resurrection, Ascension, and Assumption), and possesses brotherly love, pure mind and manners, and compassion most precious. The inside of the shield is adorned with an image of the Virgin Mary to make sure that Gawain never loses heart.
From Maypole of Wisdom
Broken River Blog 