The Grotto della Sibilla in the Umbrian Mountains which was first mentioned in classical legend. Guerino the Wretch reaches a mountain pass near Norcia in Umbria where he meets with the Devil. The Devil, of course, wants Guerino's soul and tempts him by describing a subterranean kingdom where every delight will be his. Seemingly, in this kingdom, trees flower and fruit at the same time and there is no pain or age or sorrow.Packing to go to the Grotto
Welcome to L'Enchanteur et la Muse
I was delighted with the response to my suggestion and now that the ten chairs are filled, I am number ten, we are ready to start our quest. The nature of this quest will unravel with the passage of time.
But, first we need to pack. We are going to take up residency in the long abandoned Grotto della Sibilla, in the Umbrian Mountains in Italy. The Grotto was first mentioned in medieval, not classical
legends and the Sibyl pronounced her oracles there for hundreds of years.
I don't have a recent map but I am sure we will manage to find the Grotto and will settle in quickly.
Now you have to think about what you will take with you, especially given that you will need this case to bring home the treasures you gather during our stay.
I want each of you to find a small suitcase and quite literally pack for our three month stay. In a comment on the Lemurian Mysteries, Winnie Cross, who has left for Denmark wrote a piece in response to
Fran Sbrocchi's suggesting she take a photo of her in her case.
I couldn't zip
the suitcase
so I
unpacked two shirts
and some
earrings who needs that many
earrings and
the lotion and almost my swimming
suit but I
didn't and I put in
opera glasses and took out
binoculars
and squeezed
my shampoo into tiny
bottles and the incredible new suit
case from eagle creek finally zipped
shut and it was then
that I realized that there
had been plenty of room for Fran all
along and that I had packed her
long
long ago
in my heart
We have to travel light.
Deep breath! Are you sure you still want to come?
love The Enchantress
posted by Heather Blakey @ 4:27 AM
10 comments
10 Comments:
I have my trusty green suitcase, I was going to take the large one, but I figure space is at a premium, so I have opted for the smaller.
In it I have packed my regular journal and pens, as well as a journal specially for this trip. I have the clothes that I am wearing as well
as solid walking boots to explore my surrounds. My Ugg Boots for cold nights, and my favourite knitted scarf and beanie. That reminds
me I must take my current project - my knitted bag. I think that will do - that leaves plenty of space for treasures that I collect during the
trip.
There also has to be room for a few books, one of which has to be Marina Warner's From the Beast to the Blonde. You see when
Heather sent the first email to pack our bags, I did a search for the Grotto della Sibilla and one of the sites was talking about Warner's
book. So I hunted down my copy and then Heather sends another email recommending it.
I am ready to go, let the enchantment begin.
My sturdy "Art Can't Hurt You" totebag is filled with sunlight(and
maybe a few corn shucks from the Farmer's Market!) I embark on this
journey with new eyes and the pilgrim's soul. My familiar, Katy, is
at my side, whispering canine codewords of encouragement. I clear my
mind. The enchantment begins.
Sorry I'm late...but I never pack much anyway, travelling is a journey of discovery.
I've popped some dried fruit and a picture of my grandchildren into my
old shoulder bag which has seen better days but is used to being
hauled off places at a moments notice. There's room for a small box of
paints, my sketchbook journal and a charcoal pencil, but they are
always in the bag anyway. Only need one pair of shoes (the ones I'm
wearing, sturdy for walking) because I mostly go barefoot. A pair of
glasses (my eyes aren't as sharp as they used to be), a small copy of
the Children's Garden of Poetry and off we go.
Gail
Good morning Heather and Fellow Travelers,
My suitcase is a small red and black tartan in stretchy canvas with buttoned and zipped pockets inside and out. It is waterproof, of course and will float if the occasion warrants.
I suspect I shall pack cold chicken as well as, "coldtonguecoldhamcoldbeefpickledgherkinssaladfrenchrollscresssan dwichespottedmeatgingerbeerlemonadesodawater -- -"
I have seed and a bag of peanuts for the local birds and squirrels. And chocolate. A notebook and a few pens. I'd best tuck my memory into one of the pockets now before I forget or mislay it.
I think I'm ready. I haven't packed my inhibitions, worries, fears or misgivings. I've left my lack of confidence behind in the hall closet. The TV, radio and computer are turned off. There's a smiley note on the fridge saying I've gone and can't be followed. Done.
Wait for me guys, I'm comin'!
Barbara
Countdown to a Grown-Up
At seven a teacher, a nurse, an actress
wild dog, space alien,a magician
At thirteen an artist, a writer, a poet
beautiful, sexy, someone who belonged
At twenty-one a nurse, a mother, a wife
artist, writer, traveler
At thirty divorced, wealthy, somewhere else
intense, passionate, sexual
At forty Frida Kahlo, Georgia O’Keefe, Ellen Gilchrist, Barbara Kingsolver, Margaret Mead, Winnie Mandela, Guinevere, an organic farmer, Sojourner Truth, Lillian Wald, Margaret Sanger, the Dalai Lama, Laxshmi, a bellydancer, a healer
someone who sees, listens, transforms, creates
I grow toward myself.
I am large, I contain multitudes.*
*(Walt Whitman)
Oh Yes! I sure am excited about this journey! With such an experienced and wise guide, I will be in for lots of learning... maybe even enlightenment ;-)
All I bring is my heart and she will lead me to all that I may need.
When I was a child we used to play a memory game. A group of us would sit in a circle and the first one would start off “I packed my suitcase and in it I put …. “ . The next child would repeat this sentence and add their item and so the game would proceed around the circle until someone forgot one of the items and we had to start over again.
Oh how I hate packing. I’m accustomed to packing as if I was going on an arctic expedition and the prospect of having to travel light fills me with dread. As I’ve reached that stage of my life frequently described as the mental pause I know I’m bound to forget something vital so I have decided to go against my grain and pack light, relying on the enchantress to supply me if I really need something. I must not forget my wits however even if I forget everything else. I have decided to take my hooded cape – made of swansdown and therefore light as the proverbial feather but waterproof – which will serve as my main outer garment. I will need a belt of some sort from which to hang my scallop shell (ancient symbol of all pilgrims) and my little gauze pouch with the seed pearls sown on to it. This, my shamanic bag, contains tree essences and crystals my friend, Jane of the Green Heart, has given me for this journey, and a dreamcatcher. In common with many people born under the sign of Pisces, I have problems with my feet - I would be much happier in water than on land - therefore I will pack my Mercury shoes, with the wings attached to the heels. These will assist me in my flights of imagination. One of the material objects I will take with me will be my digital camera without which I never travel for I surmise I will see many things of wonder and I would wish to preserve them in some more permanent way than my memory can. I will also need to take a journal, a pen filled with everlasting ink and some zip lock bags for storing all those found objects I will pick up.
I think I'm ready now.
Traveller: I love the items you packed...I admit I am coveting some of them! Karen
Karen, you would be welcome to share my swansdown cape should the weather turn inclement. It is the latest model - the fully expandable, fits any size version -indeed I'm sure the whole group could probably shelter within
your passport has been APPROVED and is coming by Raven Courier Shiloh. Welcome to the Soul Food Silk Road.
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