Guardian article/Robert Macfarlane/pilgrims/pagans

[hecate105]

Great article Priscillian, thank you for posting it. I read the book 'The Old Ways' and it is brilliant. An excellent read for anyone interested in walking, pilgrimage and the natural world. He has such an erudite and intimate way of writing - you feel like you are right there with him. (On the tidal road yelling 'Don't do that'!) I recommend it. I also read 'The Wild places' which was very good too. I am waiting to find 'Holloway' - about the ancient sunken lanes of Dorset.
A warning - the above book is like pilgrimage - it makes you want to jump up and wander straight out the door - and on...

 

[SabsP]

Yes Macfarlane's books are brilliant. In this genre also very recommendable : Frederic Gros!

http://www.lemonde.fr/idees/article/201 ... _3232.html

 

[peregrino_tom]

Priscillian
wonderful article - many many thanks for posting. Unfortunately the '..but not forgotten' thread that you created for it seems to have been removed (any ideas, you conspiracy theorists out there?).
Fortunately your post appeared in full in yesterday's e-mail bulletin, so I was able to retrieve the link from there and copy it here
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/ju ... mage-walks
best wishes, tom

 

[TerryB]

Unfortunately the '..but not forgotten' thread that you created for it seems to have been removed (any ideas, you conspiracy theorists out there?).

I too realised that the thread had been pulled. I had put a post on it and wondered if it was my comments or question that was at fault?
Or maybe I was just keeping the wrong sort of company :shock:

Blessings
Tio Tel

 

[peregrino_tom]

Tel, not just a humble post, but a whole beautifully crafted poem! That's a tough one.
It would be reassuring to hear from whoever did remove the thread as to what exactly happened.

 

[stevenjarvis]

This forum has become an important positive part of my life. However this odd censorship is very unsettling , can anyone explain why the original thread was removed, and now the "not forgotten" thread ?
Buen Camino, Steven

 

[Stephen Nicholls]

Tel, not just a humble post, but a whole beautifully crafted poem!

Wow!
That poem brought a lump to my throat!
Exactly how I feel when walking the old Roman caminos in Portugal - which I've tried to attach!
Bom caminho!

 

[TerryB]

I think this is the poem refered to.

The ancient trackway

Across the field and down between steep banks
This ancient trackway runs. A way worn deep
Into the very bedrock of the land
By many iron shod hoofs and wheels and feet.

Who knows but what there may have passed this way,
The Celtic warrior armed with shield and spear,
Leaving behind his loved ones safe at home
Within the castle dike on hilltop near.

Who knows how many of the folk of old
Briton and Roman, Angle, Saxon, Dane:
With horse and hound, chariot, cart and sledge
Helped form this treasure of a country lane.

The ruined longhouse, roofless now, lies near
Above the river, in its valley green.
Once men and women, children, all lived here
Made tears and laughter part of this dear scene.

All, all are gone now, silence reigns within
The woodland copse and by the riverside.
Here can I stand and listen for the past
To speak to me with voices time can't hide.

The track worn down with countless wheels and feet,
The fallen walls, the ford across the stream.
The life once lived here lives again for me,
And modern life becomes the unreal dream.

©Tio Tel 2012

Some of our "training" walks on the ancient trackways locally remind us so much of the Camino! I guess the reason for the roads, tracks, hollow ways being there in the first place was simply a means of getting from A to B. The fact that this example, like so many others, is very very old, means that it carries within it so much history and so many "personal" stories. I wonder if our walking on it has left our own imprint? I would love to think that it has!

Blessings on your walking!
Tio Tel

 

[Griffin57]

Hi Pricillian loved the link. I picked up "The Old Ways" at Waterstones at the weekend as part of their Buy one get One half price offer. ( I do not work for Waterstones!)
Looks like a great read.
Thank you for directing me towards it
Sarah

 

[stevenjarvis]

Sooooo , WHAT happened to the earlier threads ? Or do we just pretend it didn't happen ?

 

[William Marques]

The original Pagan thread was Locked and Ivar deleted the ""Pagan Takeover" locked, but not forgotten..." thread. No doubt if this thread causes him to consider deleting it he will do so again.

I did not see the second thread so do not know what caused offence but do know he would not have deleted it without thought.

 

[stevenjarvis]

William, thank you for that. I am keen to understand why Ivar would have made the decision and imagine others might appreciate being enlightened.