August, 2022 – Michael Grenfell

A very strange sort of summer. The sky says it all: a sign!!!

So, rocketing inflation, War in the Ukraine, UK politics descend to slapstick, Climate crisis as the earth burns, COVID still around – general disintegration – etc., etc.

Sure is hot in my garden:

But, life goes on….

I am preparing a talk I am to give on ‘John Cowper Powys and William Blake’.

My point of reference is Gnosticism – a topic I have considered for some time:

http://www.michaelgrenfell.co.uk/literature/john-cowper-powys-and-william-blake/

Powys is/ was somewhat of a wild writer of philosophy and fiction:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUy9LfiUm2w

One of three renowned writers from the same family: the others being Llewellyn and Theodore. In preparation for this talk I have been re-reading Powys’ Glastonbury Romance – a highly charged epic set in that legendary Somerset town.

So, all things pastoral and the spirit of nature this time of year:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KryMsU5Muo

And, some more work on dowsing:

Yes! And folk music. I visit the New Forest Folk Festival – for the first time! – in its 10 years of activity. It is kind of a ‘mini festival’ : plenty of room, spatial audience, and a handful of eating places. The same sort of festival food on offer though: lots of beans and lentils.