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Post by Mick the Frik on Jul 10, 2005 23:59:50 GMT 9.5
Yeah - I think we're all getting excited about this essay! In the meantime, however, I know that Shakespeare mentions Mab in Romeo and Juliet - it's quite a long passage of beautiful poetry, obviously, and refers to her tiny size - ie her carriage is an empty walnut shell etc. She weaves magic, of course, but really seems to bear little resemblance to Miranda's Mab. She's also referred to in Ben Jonson's The Satyr ( 1603 ) "This is Mab, the Mistress-Fairy, That doth nightly rob the dairy." Although Ambrosia calls Mab the "Mistress of Magic" ( rather sarcastically as I recall ) again, it doesn't really sound like the lady we know and love. Another book I have - on all things - monsters - well I suppose some of the goblins could be quite nasty - refers to Mab being able to control our dreams. Interesting, as one of you has dreams about her.......wish I did. Head hits the pillow - I'm gone these days. It also refers to Oberon as her consort - not her hubby! In Shakespeare, of course, she's called Titania - and I think they're, you know, an item.......I think that fits in with our Mab a bit - "You can look but don't touch" sort of thing. Perhaps they fell out - hence his absence in Merlin. After all, Oberon is said to be the father of the half-human called Robin Goodfellow - some say Robin Hood! Obviously she did not approve and kicked him out of the Land of Magic! Looking forward to this essay...........XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
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shock
Mirandaholic
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Post by shock on Jul 11, 2005 0:53:48 GMT 9.5
Lol, no pressure, Solitas! Hehe, well... I dunno, I read somewhere that Mab was overthrown and Titania took her place by Oberon's side...
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shock
Mirandaholic
Posts: 104
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Post by shock on Jul 11, 2005 1:04:37 GMT 9.5
well... on one site it said she was killed by her nephew... but that she was killed by a sling shot witha lump of hard cheese! LOL! I can just imagine that in the movie! If it had been that easy, Merlin would be laughing!
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shock
Mirandaholic
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Post by shock on Jul 11, 2005 6:43:50 GMT 9.5
WOW! Well done, Cara! Respect! So Mab is still worshipped? That's an interesting thought! I never really thought Shakespeare's speech for Mercutio was all too reliable! I would love to find any books on her now! She sounds a lot like a Celtic version of Artemis/Diana. What exactly are the Tuatha de Danaan? I keep trying to find out but I can't find a single good site!
What relevance did the Fairy people have in Celtic tradition? Personally, I believe Mab is the Mother part of the Morrighan because all the references I have found to her being "Queen of Magic/Fairies" seem to have been based more on the NBC's Merlin! Perhaps she was Queen of Magic.... I'm not sure. What do you believe?
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shock
Mirandaholic
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Post by shock on Jul 11, 2005 6:50:40 GMT 9.5
Hehehe! That sounds like a good ending! We'll just pretend that's how it happened! I think Titania was just a ladylike, censored version of Mab to suit the times.
We can just have Nimue leave Merlin too cuz she realises what a plonker Merlin is and has no desire whatsoever to live in his hut with him!
Oh and congratulations for the amazing essay and what is the longest post I've ever seen!
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Post by Kemmellie on Jul 11, 2005 7:53:05 GMT 9.5
Wow, Cara! That was an amazing essay! I loved it. I read it to my mom and she loved it too!!! And Shock, I have a really good book on the Celts that talks a lot about the Tuatha de Danaan but I forget the title...it also mentions some of those myths that Solitas mentions in her essay, I'll have to go find it because sadly I'm forgetting lots of the stuff I learned while in high school (on my own of course) because I was going through spiritual/religious anxieties a lot more then. Although Cara's making me more interested again. I wrote a poem about Danu that you, Cara, will probably not like my Christian comparisons at the end, but it really only was from the envy I had of the comfort my mother spoke of when she joined the church after my grandma died a long time ago...however, she's a free-thinker and after I put my foot down about going to church in fifth grade, never really went back to. Ignore the complicated and incorrect syntax of that sentence you all. Plus, the poem was while looking at this really amazing painting of a woman flying above or sinking into the earth with her hair flowing and mixing with the leaves swirling around her. Probably going to have to double post to bring it up.
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Post by Kemmellie on Jul 11, 2005 7:55:30 GMT 9.5
“Going Back to the Earth” +The title of a Karen Godfrey painting
O great Mother Plunge me into your soil As I sink deeper into your embrace Set me free—
Beautiful D’anu, Lift my spirit higher Give these bronze strands wings Surround me with your presence— Let me lie here in reverence, Soaking up the wet of the Earth Breathing in life from your oxygen Grasping strength from your roots. Let me know your existence—
O wise Mother, D’anu, Speak to me of freedom, Of the gospel in your ancient trees Speak to me of the truculence your people knew
O Pagan spirit, O Celtic spirit,
Sing of a time long ago On the flowing islet Eire Let me grieve with you, Drown me in your ocean of leaves So I can emerge anew— Cleansed, revivified Fresh with a belief in you—
Goddess of the Earth Mother of the gods
Let me feel at peace Let me believe If only for this transient moment— Life continues to dance As my body sinks into the Earth And my soul rises up in the Air Shed no tears, Mother Let me be at one with you Let me know that feeling—that calm
Just once— I would like to know how the Christians feel Just once— Before I shut my eyes
6/28/03
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shock
Mirandaholic
Posts: 104
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Post by shock on Jul 11, 2005 7:58:27 GMT 9.5
I think we all forgive double-posting here or I'd be in loadsa trouble lol! You should post the poem or something, I'd be interested! I have no poetic talent whatsoever, so people that do write poems intrigue me! I'd love to know the titles of these books, since I can order them! It really is a good essay, Solitas!
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shock
Mirandaholic
Posts: 104
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Post by shock on Jul 11, 2005 8:00:10 GMT 9.5
I was a bit late posting that last one lol! It's a pretty emotional poem, I like it! Is there any paganism in your family, Kemmellie?
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Post by Kemmellie on Jul 11, 2005 8:05:29 GMT 9.5
No, my high school friends and I were very interested in it though. When I went to Ireland, I was a very big fan of the Irish Celts and Bono so it was a very happy time!!! And the next time I go upstairs to my room, I will look for the book.
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shock
Mirandaholic
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Post by shock on Jul 11, 2005 8:09:54 GMT 9.5
Yay! Thank you very much! *smiling inanely* People do seem to go through Wicca or pagan phases, don't they? I looked at Wicca but it never really.... captured me, I guess! My family are the least religious people on Earth though lol!
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Post by Kemmellie on Jul 11, 2005 8:15:56 GMT 9.5
LOL, mine too THANK GOD(/S/ESS)!!!
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shock
Mirandaholic
Posts: 104
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Post by shock on Jul 11, 2005 8:25:04 GMT 9.5
LOL! Quite funny! Someone asked my mum what religion she was the other day and she sorta blinked at them and went "I dunno!" It's 10 to 3 am here, why am I still up??
I just really wanna see where this Mab discussion goes, I guess! I'm considering going 2 bed soon! Maybe.
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Post by Christina1981 on Jul 11, 2005 8:39:25 GMT 9.5
My last name means Wolf adviser......hehehe......does that mean that my ancestors were Mab's advisers?? ;D........I have English, Irish, Scottish, and Welsh in my blood........don't ask me how......as they were all at war with each other over the centuries. I also have 5 other nationalities, all of which were at war with each other, so it's kind of a miracle I exist, hehehe. Now I know where the movie Willow got its plot......... the baby's name in the movie is Elora Danaan..........hehehehe...........and there are fairies, brownies, etc. It's fun to study the ancient cultures............I find them fascinating myself.
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Post by Kemmellie on Jul 11, 2005 8:46:03 GMT 9.5
Oh thanks...I'm glad you enjoyed the poem! I do agonize over diction and syntax when writing, thanks for noticing!!! And I'm very glad you wrote the essay too!
My Merlin dvd needs to get here because I'm not remembering who Vortigan is and you all keep mentioning him!!!
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