Stephen Morris's Blog, page 55

Emerald

Emerald is regarded as the traditional birthstone for May, as well as the traditional gemstone for the astrological signs of Taurus, Gemini and sometimes Cancer. Astrologers also consider emerald a gem of the planets Mercury, Venus and Jupiter.

Emerald is a stone of hope and wisdom. Some consider emerald similar to a “magic mirror”, capable of reflecting experiences of a person’s past lives. Because it can reveal the past, the gem is also considered able to reveal the future.

In 15th–16th century Russia, Emerald was considered as a talisman bringing wisdom and serenity often used by mothers and seafarers because it also protects from infidelity. There is a belief that emerald will shatter or crumble if one of the spouses is unfaithful to another. It is also used to prevent or drive away storms.

Emerald helps to treat fever, inflammations, illness of liver, diabetes. It was believed to be very helpful against epilepsy, skin diseases as well as diseases of urinal-genital system of women. It was also said that just looking at this stone before going to sleep could prevent insomnia.

Emeralds can be used to strengthen health and bring longevity. The gem can also protect against snakebites. According to one legend, seeing an Emerald is fatal for poisonous snakes, as they are blinded by it.

One of the quainter anecdotes on emeralds was by the 16th-century historian Brantôme, who referred to the many impressive emeralds the Spanish under Cortez had brought back to Europe from Latin America. On one of Cortez’s most notable emeralds he had engraved Inter Natos Mulierum non sur-rexit mayor (“Among those born of woman there hath not arisen a greater,” Matthew 11:11) which referred to John the Baptist. Brantôme considered engraving such a beautiful and simple product of nature sacrilegious and considered this act the cause for Cortez’s loss of an extremely precious pearl (to which he dedicated a work, A beautiful and incomparable pearl), and even for the death of King Charles IX of France, who died soon after.

Lily of the Valley

 

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Lily of the Valley is considered a “masculine” plant, dedicated to Mercury and associated with the element of Air. If you dream of Lily of the Valley, it can be indicative of a desire to flee the constraints of day-to-day life or re-discover the simple joys of nature.

Lily of the Valley, the flower of May much as emerald is the birthstone of May, since Maia, the daughter of Atlas, was the mother of Mercury. The flower is known by many names: May Lily, Our Lady’s Tears, and Jacob’s Ladder among them. (Daffodil, known as “lent lily,” and the well-known Easter Lily make this May Lily part of a springtime lily sequence.) Associated with the planet Mercury for astrological purposes and the healing gods Apollo and Aesculapius, the Lily of the Valley is a potent plant for magical medicinal purposes and for increasing mental abilities. It can therefore be considered related to the suit of Swords in the tarot deck.

However, all parts of the plant are highly poisonous, including the red berries which may be attractive to children. If ingested—even in small amounts—the plant can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, and a reduced heart rate

New Review for PART 3: DELUGE

The Tower, one of the Major Arcana of the Tarot deck, is associated with disaster or sudden, unexpected changes. The modern chapters of the CHoHW trilogy are each named for a tarot card and The Tower is the next-to-last chapter of the concluding book, PART 3: DELUGE.

Bonnie Cehovet, a leading blogger and reviewer of the Tarot and the Tarot-related, is among the first to review Part 3: Deluge of the Come Hell or High Water trilogy. She writes:

“Being a Tarot reader myself, and a student of esoteric magic, I was riveted at the use both factions (George and Magdalena, and Victoria and her professors) made of the Tarot itself, of the qualities of the four elements (Fire, Water, Air, and Earth), and of simple things like salt and herbs. Morris shows a thorough understanding of religion, myth, and basic human nature, bringing everything together in a final showdown between George, Magdalena (who is beginning to realize that she has been duped), the devil Svetovit, Victoria, and the professors.

This is quite a compelling series – one that you want to read again and again!”

Read the complete review here. Bonnie’s reviews can also be found on the http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/ site, one of the best sources for Tarot supplies online.

Click here to order your copy of Come Hell or High Water, PART 3: DELUGE.

SUMMER READIING

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend the Book Party in New York to celebrate the release of PART 3: DELUGE! It was a wonderful kick-off to the conclusion of the trilogy, which was the #1 Kindle historical fantasy in March!

Memorial Day is almost here! What better time to get your summer reading than NOW? What better summer reading could you have but the COME HELL OR HIGH WATER trilogy? The trilogy, which readers have called “is a rich and compelling read” and “very scary, but also very believable,” has been compared to the All Souls and Deptford Trilogy series.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR SUMMER READING NOW!

 

Party to Launch PART 3: DELUGE on May 15! C’mon along!

The release party for Come Hell or High Water, Part 3: DELUGE will be held at Marie’s Crisis at 59 Grove Street, New York City. Paperback copies will be available for sale and the autograph will be thrown in for free! Celebrate! Drink! Sing!

Take the A-D subway to West 4th Street or the #1 subway to Christopher Street-Sheridan Square. Party is 6–8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15.

Fen’ka is consumed by flames on the Old Town Square and curses Prague with her dying breath!

Pussy willow

 

Pussywillows, used in Central and Eastern Europe instead of palms on Palm Sunday, are considered sacred to goddesses of the moon, death, and royal power.

Pussy willows are often used in Central and Eastern European churches on Palm Sunday instead of the nearly-impossible to obtain palms. They bloom in early spring and the branches are supple enough to use in the holiday decorations and festivities.

Pussy willows are also associated with the moon and water, often used when invoking Hecate, Artemis/Diana, Ceres, Persephone, Hera, or Mercury/Hermes for protection. All these are deities associated with the night and the dead, ex. Hermes leading the newly-departed to their abode in the Otherworld. Early British burial mounds, near marshes or lakes, are often lined with willow branches. It is said that if you plant a willow and it — or a cutting taken from it — is thriving when you die, you will be protected in your journey to the Otherworld and throughout the afterlife.

To conjure spirits, burn willow bark and sandalwood outdoors at night during the waning moon. “Knock on wood” (i.e willow trees or bark) to protect yourself from evil or attract good luck. Willow is also considered appropriate for a magical staff (the infamous “magic wand”) or to bind a broom to be used for magical purposes.

St. Mark’s Eve

 

St. Mark’s in Venice (begun in 832 and burned in a rebellion in 976, was rebuilt in 978 and completed in 1647) is full of treasures taken from Constantinople in 1204 by the Fourth Crusade.

 

St. Mark’s Eve is the day before the feast day of St. Mark the Evangelist. His feast is observed on April 25 of each year; thus St. Mark’s Eve is April 24.

On St. Mark’s Eve it was the custom in the villages of England, from the 17th century to the late 19th century, to sit in the church porch between the hours of 11.00 p.m. and 1.00 a.m. for three successive years. On the third such sitting, it was said that the ghosts of those to die during the coming year would be witnessed passing into the church. This practice took place throughout England, but was most prevalent in northern and western counties. Some accounts of the custom state that the watchers must be fasting, or must circle the church before taking up position. The ghosts of those who were to die soon would be the first observed, while those who would almost see out the year would not be witnessed until almost 1.00 a.m. Other variations of the superstition say that the watchers would see headless or rotting corpses, or coffins approaching.

Another, one might say opposite, tradition holds that a young woman can see the face of her future husband appear on her smock by holding it before the fire on St Mark’s Eve.

Taurus the Bull

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Francois Boucher’s 1734 painting, “The Rape of Europa,” shows Europa being abducted by Taurus the bull.

Taurus, the astrological sign governing those born April 21 to May 22, is a constellation depicting the bull featured in the Grrek myth of Europa’s rape. According to the tale, Zeus was enamored of Europa and decided to seduce or ravish her. He transformed himself into a tame white bull and mixed in with her father’s herds. While Europa and her helpers were gathering flowers, she saw the bull, caressed his flanks, and eventually got onto his back. Zeus took that opportunity and ran to the sea and swam, with her on his back, to the island of Crete. He then revealed his true identity, and Europa became the first queen of Crete. Zeus later re-created the shape of the white bull in the stars, which is now known as the constellation Taurus.

According to Herodotus’ rationalizing approach, Europa was a princess kidnapped by Minoans. His variant story may have been an attempt to rationalize the earlier myth; or the present myth may be a garbled version of facts—the abduction of a Phoenician aristocrat—later enunciated without gloss by Herodotus.

The etymology of her Greek name (εὐρυ—”wide” or “broad” + ωψ—”eye(s)” or “face”) suggests that Europa was a goddess represented by the cow (with a wide face), similar to the Egyptian Hathor, at least on some symbolic level.

A person born under the sign of Taurus is said to be highly sensual, steadfast, warm and affectionate.

Bram Stoker RIP

Bram Stoker, an Irish author-actor-playwright, is best known for his novel Dracula.

Abraham “Bram” Stoker (born November 8, 1847 – died April 20, 1912) was an Irish novelist and short story writer, best known today for his 1897 novel Dracula. During his lifetime, he was better known as personal assistant of actor Henry Irving and business manager of the Lyceum Theatre in London, which Irving owned. (Stoker’s residence and parish church can still be visited in Dublin.)

Although Stoker hiself never visited Romania or the Carpathian Mountains, he spent several years researching European folklore and mythological stories of vampires. He also met Ármin Vámbéry, a Hungarian writer and traveler, whose dark stories of the Carpathian mountains may have also contributed to Stoker’s inspiration.

Stoker’s most infamous character, the vampire Dracula, has gone on to appear in many “incarnations” or guises. In the Dresden Files series, Stoker’s novel is said to be a hunter’s manual for the Black Court vampires, now all but extinct as a result. Bela Lugosi played the vampire in both stage and film versions of the story. A new study, just published in early April, Who was Dracula? explores and uncovers the wide range of source material – from folklore and history, to personas including Oscar Wilde and Walt Whitman – behind Bram Stoker’s bloody creation.

Pre-Order your paperback of Part 3 NOW!

Fen’ka is consumed by flames on the Old Town Square and screams a curse over Prague with her dying breath!

COME HELL OR HIGH WATER, PART 3: DELUGE is now available for pre-order and advance sales! Click here for the Pubslush.com site and then choose the level of “Support” that you prefer. For $15, an autographed paperback can be yours when the book is released in late April. Other levels of additional support, with other perks and awards, are available as well. Help support the final layout and design of the paperback by ordering yours TODAY!

NEW YORK/METRO AREA RESIDENTS: Order your advance copy on Pubslush and also receive an invitation to the Release Party. You can pick up your copy of the book at the party and have it autographed then.

If you want an eBook version now, you can download the Kindle version here.

As always: don’t forget to post a Customer Review on Amazon! The more reviews, the more Amazon (and other sites) will feature the books. Thank you!