Saturday 11 September 2010

This Is Not Nationalism!

This is not some kind of nationalistic intent, nor is it a kind of rural conservative smack-of-leather-on-willow nostalgia for the past. It does not aim to celebrate Britain or the United Kingdom or its constituent nations. It will not reflect the wistful romanticism of Morris traditions or the New Age fantasies of 'Celtic' (allegedly) shamanism. This isn’t the kind of Middle Class pursuit of the healthy walk across the moors… it’s not that kind of love of the landscape. Although walks across moors will be part of what I do… It will delve into the past but will not be limited by that past: it will aim to leap forward into the future.

It will depict Britannia, but she won't be the symbol of Empire nor the original Brigantia of Celtic tradition, but something more modern for today... Her Imperial image was always of Athena and given that Athena's origins lie in Libya (Neith) i always felt it was most appropriate to depict her as black.

There will be mushrooms. There will be hip-hop, trance and psytrance. And electronic noodling about. There will be Industrial Heritage alongside 'Dark Satanic Mills'. Of course DNA will be there, but so will the rivers. There will be MDMA in clubs and free parties. There will be Henges and Inner City Blocks. The techne is creative and productive, but somewhere under there is a visionary intent.

These islands used to be sacred. If you were a druid or any kind of holy man in Western Europe who wanted to learn about more ancient traditions free from Roman influence, you came here.

There will be Avalon, not Eleusis or Heaven. The Place of Apples. Nine nights awake, Amathaon whispers the Name of Names. There will be ley lines and crop circles and aliens in Warminster town.

This is not nationalism. This is a serious and soulfelt attempt to wind these islands into the visionary nexus that many folks around the world are seeking to create and which, for some reason, Britain lags behind despite its unique ingredients, experiences and elements. Some places seem to readily open themselves up to new World Ages (California, for example), others seem ready to drag energy away such that there is only violence (Jerusalem).

But the suspicion I have at present is that this landscape wants to be asked. It doesn't want to give readily. It wants to be asked by someone who loves it, not for the politics or for nostalgia but simply for love. And I do love this land. So I will ask.


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