St Swithin's Day

St Swithun's day if thou dost rain
For forty days it will remain
St Swithun's day if thou be fair
For forty days 'twill rain no more

St Swithin was an Anglo-Saxon bishop of Winchester who gained a reputation for posthumous miracle-working after his death in c. 862.

St Swithun looking very serious indeed

St Swithun's church

A legend says that as the Bishop lay on his deathbed, he asked to be buried out of doors, where he would be trodden on and rained on. For nine years, his wishes were followed, but then, the monks of Winchester attempted to remove his remains to a splendid shrine inside the cathedral on 15 July 971. According to legend there was a heavy rain storm either during the ceremony or on its anniversary.

This led to the old wives' tale (folklore) that if it rains on St Swithin's Day (July 15th), it will rain for the next 40 days in succession, and a fine 15th July will be followed by 40 days of fine weather. co

Well, thank goodness it's not raining in East Sussex, it is a beautiful day!!!

NOD

I was compiling a book of poetry for my seven year old grandchild, remembering the poetry that my mother read to me as a child.  This one was my favourite:

NOD by Walter de la Mare 1873-1956

Softly along the road of evening,  
    In a twilight dim with rose,  
Wrinkled with age, and drenched with dew  
    Old Nod, the shepherd, goes.  
  
His drowsy flock streams on before him, 
    Their fleeces charged with gold,  
To where the sun's last beam leans low  
    On Nod the shepherd's fold.  
  
The hedge is quick and green with briar,  
    From their sand the conies creep;
And all the birds that fly in heaven  
    Flock singing home to sleep.  
  
His lambs outnumber a noon's roses,  
    Yet, when night's shadows fall,  
His blind old sheep-dog, Slumber-soon,
    Misses not one of all.  
  
His are the quiet steeps of dreamland,  
    The waters of no-more-pain;  
His ram's bell rings 'neath an arch of stars,  
    "Rest, rest, and rest again."

(painting 'Shepherd with a flock of sheep' Vincent van Gogh)

chippewa medicine man - Sun Bear

Sun Bear 1929-1992

I do not think that the measure of a civilization is how tall its buildings of concrete are, but rather how well its people have learned to relate to their environment and fellow man.

Waterhouse and Tennyson

The Lady of Shalott 1888

And down the river's dim expanse

Like some bold seer in a trance,

Seeing all his own mischance -

With a glassy countenance

Did she look to Camelot.

And at the closing of the day

She loosed the chain, and down she lay;

The broad stream bore her far away,

The Lady of Shalott. 

I am Half-Sick of Shadows, said the Lady of Shalott 1916

There she weaves by night and day
A magic web with colours gay.
She has heard a whisper say,
A curse is on her if she stay
    To look down to Camelot.
She knows not what the curse may be,
And so she weaveth steadily,
And little other care hath she,
    The Lady of Shalott.    
The Lady of Shalott 1894

She left the web, she left the loom,
She made three paces thro' the room,
She saw the water-lily bloom,
She saw the helmet and the plume,
    She look'd down to Camelot.
Out flew the web and floated wide;
The mirror crack'd from side to side;
"The curse is come upon me," cried
    The Lady of Shalott. 

Waheguru (Supreme Being/God/Wonderful Teacher)

I see no stranger, I see no enemy Wherever I look, God is all I see I don't think of us and them No one do I hate or condemn I see God's image – each one a friend. Of any religion, caste or race All I see is God's shining face His smiling face, His gracious face. Accept as beautiful all His design I learnt this truth in sangat divine One Word resounds in me and you Waheguru ... Waheguru ... In him, in her, in me and you Waheguru ... Waheguru ... Beholding in every being His light I bloom like a flower in joy and delight.

adi granth - guru arjun dev ji - circa. 1604

Peace

Fountain of Everlasting Peace and Healing Balm, Wash over our wounds of war, violence, and hatred, Scrub deep the stains that destroy the fabric of Your Existence, Mend the tattered threads of the Cloak of Your Majesty, The delicate web of the universe which is Your Life and Love... A prophet of non-violence You have raised up for Truth, Reflecting the Source of Your Unfathomable Wisdom, Flowing from the One Great Abyss of Creation's Glory, Open our minds to hear Your Voice speaking Peace this day, Born from One Cosmic Egg, we are one family in You, Help us to learn forgiveness, kindness, tolerance, Greatness of mind and heart, So that destroying all weapons of war, Burying all animosities and differences, We may hear the Divine Harmony of Your Love, Preserving our blue-jewel-earth-planet, Spinning the dance of a Mother's Infinite Tenderness, That draws all into Unity in one Compassionate Heart. Bestow the Blissful Smile of sun and rain which is Your Divine Presence Making Peace grow in our hearts as seeds for a new era, Birthing the song of non-violence Which blesses our world with Peace Eternal.

prayer for peace day - sister rosemarie - 2006

The Angel's Message George Hillyard Swinstead

Please share my delight in this lovely painting......