My drawing above was inspired by the stories of Ladye Park, just outside the town of Liskeard in Cornwall, where pilgrims once gathered in a wooded valley and here is believed to have been a chapel or shrine. I have drawn the water as a stream flowing through the centre of the picture. Many pilgrims were drawn to this particular wooded valley in the early catholic christian faith. The drawing has a man on horseback who represents the changes afoot, as the reformation brought about the destruction of many such chapels. Ladye Park itself is said to have become one of the King's hunting grounds as well as cattle pasture. The falcon in the picture is driving out the old spirits and the chapel slowly becomes entwined in the forest.
You can just see the house near the base of the large tree trunk set in the valley.
Shrine Background
With the exception of the Jews, ancient man did not have
full knowledge of the one true God or the blessed Trinity but had an innate
insight and awareness of a “creator”. His limited knowledge caused him to
believe that there were many gods with many facets both good and bad but he was
still able to make the choice between good and evil. When he followed his
conscience ‘the god within him’ he followed God not yet revealed to him by
means of Christianity.
In Cornwall
the goddess ‘Kerrid’ was believed to be a spirit who, though powerful, relied
on a ‘cauldron of knowledge and inspiration’ for her powers. Her creative
thought was understood to come from a higher spirit than herself though the
cauldron was her well. She was therefore not regarded as all powerful of
herself but one who was in direct communication with a higher being. She was
known as the goddess of love and eternal youth. It was not the eternal youth of
hedonistic people today but the eternal youth of immortal life to be gained by
all. Her symbol was the lily. She was also linked to the mythical Cretan god
Kerr who was said to appear in the form of a bee which bears the sting of death
and the honey of love leading to a new life.
Further information about Ladye Park can be found at http://www.ladyepark.maryqueenofpeace.info/
Further link available below of what remains of Ladye Park
Fantastic drawing!!
ReplyDelete