tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33689950.post7247960586303747158..comments2023-09-24T13:36:00.981+01:00Comments on The night and half-light of dreams: Reflections on August at the O and the Missa de AngelisPragmatic Mystic http://www.blogger.com/profile/08877990361303745003noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33689950.post-6590591531181709282010-08-05T06:44:28.302+01:002010-08-05T06:44:28.302+01:00I do miss the services of my youth. I remember ba...I do miss the services of my youth. I remember basic training, when I went to mass as much for the organ and peace as the threats of the Sgt (there was a choice: church call or cleaning detail). Alas, Mass was a modern "rock band" service, perhaps to drown out the prots - their service was set to something between "snake handling" and "golden calf." After that I chose the zen of cleaning.<br /><br />Even though I'm well quit of the Holy Mother Church, I miss the Latin and the organ. It still pops up now and again, such as the "Non nobis" scene from Henry V.Dan Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03639009285795708700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33689950.post-16277213174310191662010-08-04T16:25:54.306+01:002010-08-04T16:25:54.306+01:00It reminds me of the "still, small voice"...It reminds me of the "still, small voice", you know?<br /><br />You can experience it as an overwhelming wave, and that will transport you, and fill you up, immerse you... but it's like the Uncertainty Principle, you know? You're feeling it all, so you don't know where you are, or how you fit into any of it. This is not a bad thing. But, as you say, the silence gives you the room to locate yourself in all of that, and just sort of <i>be</i> yourself.<br /><br />The relationship between the all and the nothing is very interesting. I think I remembering reading somewhere that some Native American traditions deal with this, and I've always kind of wanted to learn more about it.<br /><br />Ari.xxCEADhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04778999811353354648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33689950.post-81986513585950493192010-08-04T16:08:55.617+01:002010-08-04T16:08:55.617+01:00Thank you, everyone. Ari, I totally agree - BOTH t...Thank you, everyone. Ari, I totally agree - BOTH transport me; each has a place.<br /><br />What the silences allow is space for relationship with God, I think - space to be alone in the togetherness.<br /><br />Some initial ideas - and NO, you didn't write too much; would love to hear more! xxPragmatic Mystic https://www.blogger.com/profile/08877990361303745003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33689950.post-24500216328313795722010-08-04T16:04:19.062+01:002010-08-04T16:04:19.062+01:00I'm late in responding because this post gave ...I'm late in responding because this post gave me a lot of interesting things to think about.<br /><br />"Once We Were Kings", the last song in the musical <i>Billy Elliott</i> (I think the last one), is sung by the chorus while the miners are returning to the strike. It's an incredibly moving song, about how a group of people has lost the battle they were fighting but they're still alive and they're still standing with each other. What makes it even more moving is this: just as it gets climactic at the very end, with everyone singing in harmony, suddenly the music disappears and they continue a capella. Ordinarily one thinks of the music intensifying as you reach the climax, but here they do the exact opposite, and it's remarkably effective.<br /><br />This is one of the things this post makes me think of.<br /><br />The other thing, which is related, is that there are seasons for everything (yay Ecclesiastes). When everything swells to a huge rousing climax, it <i>can</i> be very effective. Both small movements and large movements have the power to take you somewhere beyond yourself, but sometimes one or the other is called for. <br /><br />I find this fascinating. I totally get what you mean; one of the things I was surprised to discover about the disorganised, frequently silent Jewish services was how powerful they were. I had expected to miss the complexity and pageantry of the Catholic mass, and I never did. And yet, I think the experience in my life that most transported me to somewhere transcendent was the one time I went to the opera, which was all about high drama and swelling orchestras and soaring voices.<br /><br />I have already written too much, so I'll stop. But I'm really glad you posted this.CEADhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04778999811353354648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33689950.post-11809013032212799812010-08-02T11:40:46.445+01:002010-08-02T11:40:46.445+01:00I love reading your writings. Though, not as much ...I love reading your writings. Though, not as much as I adore the word irimtated or irimtation. :) Might just add these to my vocab.<br /><br />Love this!Playful Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17851497836034113385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33689950.post-22211352421736980282010-08-01T21:09:30.512+01:002010-08-01T21:09:30.512+01:00LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this post! You are so my heart-tw...LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this post! You are so my heart-twin. I am always fed so much more deeply with simplicity than I am with the most ornate rituals. And I too love the Kyrie (and first heard it from Mr. Mister). I don't think I've ever heard a Kyrie that I didn't love.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing, dearest! xxKenethanoreply@blogger.com