A Bard's Blog

Major Events in Jewish Mysticism Year in BCE or CE 700 BCE The Torah rediscovered by Josiah, King of Judah in Solomon's Temple. 6th century BCE- 1 CE Second Temple period, first mystical beliefs formed under the name "Work of the Chariot" based on Ezekiel's vision of G-d's chariot. 5th Century BCE Square Script adapted as preferred script for the writing of Torah scrolls. 200 BCE Mystic scholars live in Qumran, which is now Jordon. 1 CE Mystic tradition largely focuses on visionary experiences from the Hebrew Bible. 2 CE Rabbi Akiva and his successor Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai have written treatise. 5th Century CE Rediscovery of Sefer ha Yetzirah, The Book of Creation legend says it was written by Abraham. 6th century CE Rabbi Akiva's followers continue to study mystic tradition, including the model for the four rabbis who experienced the divine while living 939-1038 CE Emphasis on out of body experiences according to the school of Ha...

Somehow, I lost this poem. But I always intended it for the lovely shire of Shire of Rokeclif, Northshield, in La Crosse. Much love to that fair place. For many long year the Pheonix has grown And watched o’er the people here Alas in the fading summer For then, the Phoenix must die. He has exploded with wings And guarded the shire, Full of love for the people below, Alas that he must die. His cries can be heard in the heartbeat of the people, On the Fierce wings of Roacklif’s song People he loves, and people he guards For the will that he holds, but now he builds his pire. When at last he lays down his head The summer is at end, And people gather in the Hall, He sheds a tear as he vanishes in the ash and fire. But anon, here he comes In vibrant light! Rekindled by the beacons of flame. And that’s how the Phoenix lives! A toast to the people of the Phoenix, For his gift was the Autumn Rose, For the day that he rose from the ashes— He cried tears from whi...

Now Is the Month of Maying Lyrics by Sir Thomas Morley, Published, 1595, Now is the month of Maying, when merry lads are playing! Fa la la la la! Each with his bonny lass, upon the greeny grass fa la la la la! The Spring, clad all in gladness, doth laugh at Winter's sadness! Fa la la la la! And to the bagpipes’ sound, the nymphs tread out the ground! Fa la la la la! Fie! Then why sit we musing, youth’s sweet delight refusing? Fa la la la la! Say, dainty nymphs and speak! Shall we play barley break? Fa la la la la! A brief study of the quaint phrase in the song Now is the Month of Maying ." Say, dainty nymphs and speak! Shall we play barley break? " The song is a light-hearted one about the return of spring. Most of the lyrics are still easily understood today, apart from that last line. Since this issue at hand this month is springtime fun, I thought to examine "barley break" and discovered it was a game along the same lines as "Red Rover...