The Raven's Cure

Gilbert Williams - Gathering Flowers

"Should auld acquaitance be forgot

and never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaitance be forgot 

and days for auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne my dear, 

for auld lang syne

We'll take a cup of kindness yet

for auld lang syne."

- Auld Lang Syne (for the Good and Old Times, the Song Nobody Knows)

We are all looking for a cure. We are all looking for answers. 

Nobody is looking after pain and doubts. This world is full of chaos already.

We all want, and want badly. We want to be understood, we want to be accepted, we want to be perfect to a society that is in the edge of destruction. It means adapting to this freaking scenario. 

And we keep wanting... we keep waiting. 

So, people wait. People stand in their high positions, expecting someone to show'em a helping hand. People await for the one who's going to listen to their conquests and disgraces. People wait, disregarding other people's waiting.

Because no one extends his hands first. Nobody shares their ears and understanding, because after all, they all think they deserve the first place. Then, everyone stands for last. A last that never comes, it doesn't matter how long someone awaits.

Nietzsche once said: "The Good and the Bad must be returned. But why exactly to the one who did the good or the bad?"

Those are hard words to us, free-thinkers and lightworkers. It's a punch in the heart, but it's a rule set by the Universe, and we are aware of that. It's is known the power of the Violet Flame, which transmutes negativity into positivity. So, this rule might simply "break", by changing the Bad into Goodness. Although, this is not that simple... for we can only live our own lives, and take care of our own actions. 

To relate on the main topic, let's put like this:

- A does an act of kindness to B, who was deeply sad and needed some comfort;

- B was hurt by C, because C also felt deep sorrow and bitterness;

- Afterwards, A needs some comfort himself, but B turns his back on A;

- Plus, B forgives C, and provides him some tenderness;

- C changes his destructive behavior, because he was loved;

- A, the one who broke the chain of hate, is all alone and hurt, because B turned his back on him.

The Good was returned to the One who, first, did the Bad. And the Bad came back to that who, first, did the Good. It's up to someone else to heal A, or, as a lightworker, A could use the Violet Flame or any other enlightenment assistance. But this is not a rule, it's an exception. In a regular chain, A would remain sad, or would spread anger and hatred all around... and the cycle would start over again. 

The world as we know it is not ready to take action. People just don't know how to behave, they don't know how to be grateful. It's not a merely wicked behavior, it is an unconsciouss answer to the ego. Instead of being thankful and aware, many (MANY!) people choose to be "morally good" and wide blind. However, a selfish moral is the grid of their pain. The chosen blindness is the proof of how weak they are to face a mirror.

So, they want, and want, and want. And never take the first step. When a single blessed being decides to do something good, he is crushed. He has his feelings thrown into the ground, with all community spiting on them. And the chain of pain and anger starts over again.

I supposed there won't be a healing while people misunderstood the meaning of "gratefullness and kindness". For no joyful seed can grow into a dry land.

But people just want to be cured. That's all they need after all. We need a last cup of kindness.

I asked for help, but all I had was judgement.

The Raven's Feelings

You could have been my friend.

And if you did, I would carry you in moments of disgrace. I would be your retreat when the storm came, I would fight your wars and believe your most unbelievable thought.

I'd walk your shoes and step your steps, if this was important to you. I'd share my words and my silence as well.

I'd have you as my sanctuary, and ask you nothing but comfort if my world was fallen apart.   

But you decided to be disloyal. You decided trangression and be unfaithful to your own self. You decided to throw back in fear and hide every single emotion and every memory as a shadow from the past. 

So, you are not my friend.

Wherever this past was touched by darkness, don't forget the joys and deep feelings that brought us where we are now. Once, love and intimacy enlighted our path, and doesn't matter what I am or you are, but at that time, We Were like that. And we laugh like that.

Rainy days are gone. Sunlight shines upon lovers that know nothing but betrayal.  The Moon echoes a sad serenade every night, for the loneliness she touches with all her Brightness. Empty times we are living… Colder people we are trying to reach. 

And all I was hoping for was a warm friendship. Cold winds arising.  Nice memories vanishing in apathy.  Then, Raven is crawling instead of flying.

Raven P.

The Raven's Memories

Courage and tenderness in someone's eyes give you the strenght to move on. One step forward and it changes everything.

Distance only makes the journey more incredible, but I heard that hearts joined together for once, will share a bond for always. So, even when we see each other splited by lands and seas, we can trust our feelings of unity. Maybe this is the sand that moves the gear. Maybe it is the power that turns the wheel of fortune and allows us to gather the memories lost along the way. 

No one can explain the connection. The answer comes from ancient wisdom and beliefs that transcend our vil understanding.

Pagan legends talk about Raven's as messengers of existence.  They are there at birth, they are there at war, they are there at death; they are there to keep memories and be the reasonable guardians of thoughts. 

Odin, father of the Aesir, was constantly represented in companion of his crows Hugin and Munin (Thought and Memory, respectively). As the main God from Nordic mythology, Odin represented weighing and strength, and his words were taken by other gods as absolute. A poem illustrates the importance of Hugin and Munin to comprehension of psychological theory that circles the legends.

"Hugin and Munin fly each day over the spacious earth.

I fear for Hugin, that he come not back,

yet more anxious am I for Munin."

It is obviously an inner reflection about ourselves. Just as Odin, the ancients enjoyed to disguise their messages, so they would be well received as if they came from the gods themselves. And who can say they weren’t sacred anyway? Well, after all, Hugin and Munin represent the past and the present. Memories keep alive everything we were and everyone who crossed our paths, as thoughts heal our wounds and allow us to make a better history.   

But we constantly look after memories. We prefer to go for them, than keep going with our own ideas. Is this so bad? I don’t think so.

Morrigan, the celtic goddess of war and birth, was also represented as or in companion of ravens. Sometimes, she assumed a raven form to send messages to warriors or to sign a new birth. What this suppose to mean?

Raven brings life, and new life is born with ancient spirit. So, the raven carries the memories from another time, but also the possibility of building a whole new story through thoughts.  

Even so, one cannot exist without other. And again, memories will reunite old fellows in order to face ancient challenges by the new point of view created by our present thoughts. Our ability to think is what makes possible the reunion of souls, it’s their reason to be.

Uther Pendragon, in the masterpiece of literature “The Mists of Avalon” (Marion Zimmer Bradley, 1979), tells Igraine about his deep feelings, that can only be explained by rescuing old memories:

"I cannot regret it. They tell us in the temple that true joy is found only in freedom from the Wheel that is death and rebirth, that we must come to despise earthly joy and suffering, and long only for the peace of the presence of the eternal. Yet I love this life on Earth, Morgan*, and I love you with a love that is stronger than death, and if sin is the price of binding us together, life after life across the ages, then I will sin joyfully and without regret, so that it brings me back to you, my beloved!"

So, if death is only a start over, the ones who shared bonds in the beginning will be connected until the very end. And there’s no reason to fight against that beautiful reunion of spirits, even if it means changing our entire plans. Because when the time comes, we will see there’s no greater gift than feeling whole again and be the most important event in someone else's life.

*Morgan was Igraine’s name in another life.

 

The Raven's Mask

A Máscara que todos usamos

Encanta-me uma banda de pop-rock japonesa chamada Aqua Timez. As músicas são criadas pelos próprios componentes, e sempre dizem respeito a assuntos cotidianos, de uma maneira poética e realista.

O conjunto expressa na melodia e nas letras situações que nos identificamos, seja por sofrermos bullying, seja por sentir-mo-nos sozinhos, seja por um amor não correspondido. Como toda banda de respeito no Japão, Aqua Timez interpretou a trilha sonora de séries (doramas), animações e até filmes, por analogia e talento, ganhando o prestígio de todos os fãs. 

O último lançamento da banda no mundo dos animes foi o encerramento número 30 da famosa série Bleach, denominado "MASK"(Máscara).  Diga-se de passagem, uma obra-prima dos estúdios Pierrot e uma das melhores investidas dos músicos, sobretudo para quem acompanha a série de TV e a participação memorável que a banda teve em outras ocasiões.

Vamos dar uma olhada no vídeo e na letra. Quem conhece a série conseguirá compreender um pouco melhor a mensagem das cenas X palavras, mas a compreensão está ao alcance de todos.

[Assistam em HD]

"Há algum coração que não tenha cicatrizes? Eu não soube responder, pois cada um vive somente a sua vida." - Perfeito. Esta passagem demonstra o quão humildes deveríamos ser quando postos frente a uma pergunta para a qual não temos resposta. A alma do Ichigo (rapaz protagonista) desprende-se de seu corpo, quando a chuva começa a cair. Na história da série, a chuva repesenta medos e angústias. No momento em que perde sua alma e tenta protegê-la com um "guarda-chuva", a casca vazia que restou de pé usa uma máscara. Tenta contatar alguém pelo telefone, que representa tudo aquilo que ele costumava ser, antes de perder sua alma.

Os amigos de Ichigo são mostrados nebulosos, em um mundo cinza e chuvoso, porque desejam ajudar seu amigo, e não sabem o que fazer. 

Quando Rukia (garota) aparece no céu azul, a máscara muda de feição, surpreende-se. Ao mesmo tempo, fica entristecido ao perceber que não pode alcançá-la. 

"Espero que algum dia nossos caminhos se cruzem novamente" - Este é o incentivo que o rapaz precisava para abandonar a máscara e voltar a ser ele mesmo.

"Quero que viva sem nuvens, por favor, não odeie a chuva. Quero que viva sem mentiras, senão acabará ficando sozinho." - O trecho indica claramente que a máscara é apenas um artifício para escapar da chuva. Tal qual a câmara do ego, as máscaras que usamos escondem nosso verdadeiro "eu", porque no fundo, odiamos a enxurrada de nossos receios. Somente sendo nós mesmos poderemos nos unir a alguém. Porque um dia as máscaras caem, e daí advêm as decepções. Se mentirmos para quem gostamos, inevitavelmente, acabaremos decepcionando esta pessoa. É impossível estarmos com alguém, se aquele indivíduo que está lá não é o verdadeiro Eu, pois então, não sou Eu de fato que estou me apresentando àquela pessoa.

O protagonista estava vivendo com uma máscara. Evitava tocar no assunto que doía, dizia que estava tudo bem, não demonstrava a tristeza para os outros, mostrava-se frio quanto ao ocorrido, e sorria para todos. Mas longe de todos, até sua máscara era triste.

Quando a luz invadiu o capítulo e deu lugar ao céu radiante, a chuva parou. A máscara foi destruída, restando apenas a insígnia que representa o "voltar a ser eu mesmo". E quando a imagem do arco-íris chega tomando o lugar do guarda-chuva, Ichigo suspira aliviado. Com a possibilidade de reencontrar a pessoa que mudou sua vida e ser sincero com ela, ele ganha forças. Não precisará voltar a usar máscaras.

"O amor está se escondendo em seu interior, esperando pousar em outro lugar.(...) Algum dia, algum dia, espero que possa te alcançar." - Máscaras escondem quem somos e o que sentimos. Embora sejam necessárias (sim, nós sabemos que são necessárias), quando estão a prejudicar alguém, outrem ou nós mesmos, devemos repensar a respeito de usá-las. Quando formos corajosos o suficiente para vivermos sem máscaras na frente de alguém, estaremos prontos para alcançar a tão esperada plenitude.

Como a famosa frase de Saint-Exupéry, "só se vê bem com o coração". As pessoas podem nos enganar de má-fé, vestirem máscaras para nos encantar e em determinado momento, revelarem-se tudo aquilo que jamais imaginamos que seriam. Mas o coração não se engana.  Podemos estar cegos pela emoção, mas a intuição que vem de dentro não se engana.

Às vezes, as máscaras são um meio de defesa, ajudam a pessoa a superar uma fase difícil. Outras vezes, são um artifício para não se sentirem sozinhas.

Uma coisa podemos concluir: qualquer que seja a função das máscaras em nossas vidas, a face mais bela é a nossa, como seres únicos que somos.

Em outros momentos, postarei mais Aqua Timez. Vale a pena.

The Raven's Chamber

Sejam bem-vindos, caríssimos!

Este é um domo destinado à interação e introspecção, as duas faces complementares de nossa condição humana. 

Após uma breve introdução, performada pelo sombrio poema de Edgar Allan Poe, meu primeiro post será exatamente sobre a perspectiva do "Corvo", uma metáfora suntuosa sobre a natureza obscura e esquiva do ser humano.

Sintam-se convidados a refletir comigo e compartilhar suas próprias acepções.

O REFÚGIO DO EGO

Quantas vezes vimos o sofrimento? Quantas vezes vivemos angústias e desgostos que nos abalaram tal, a fazer-nos cair em desespero? E quanto sofrimento ainda teremos que ver e sentir, antes de apartar-nos por entre hostes celestiais? E depois?

Maestralmente, o poeta contemplou-nos com uma apologia da alma e seus anseios. Muito mais que isso, ele apresentou-nos a própria existência, como se quisesse fazer-nos despertar de um torpor induzido pelos nossos medos e paixões.

O protagonista, triste e desiludido com a morte de sua amada Lenore, em uma noite de Dezembro, tenta apaziguar a dor com a leitura de antigas escrituras. De repente, recebe um visitante inesperado em seus umbrais. O Corvo, sem cerimônia, pousa sobre o busto de Athena, e profetiza friamente a morte do anfitrião.

Ora, o protagonista é a própria imagem do Ego, lutando contra os sentimentos de agonia trazidos pela perda de um ente querido. É um momento em que a razão perde para a emoção, e a defesa é a negação. O ego nega o fim do vínculo, enquanto a realidade toca cruelmente aos umbrais. Os umbrais, a câmara, representam a obscuridade consciente em que o ego encontra refúgio. Longe do mundo exterior, a câmara é uma saída para evitar o enfrentamento de uma existência sem outrem. Enclausurados num mundo romântico, pretendemos agir com naturalidade, dar continuidade à rotina e aos planos que fizemos enquanto partes de uma relação com outra pessoa. Tão bela, tão pura, tão idealizada.

Então, surge o Corvo para atormentar. O visitante do submundo significa a realidade que evitamos enfrentar. Ele é o pesadelo de quem sofre pelo luto. O Corvo vem, impassível, instigando nosso ego com palavras duras, porém verdadeiras. E somos obrigados a despertar.

A sombra do Corvo esparramada pelo chão liberta a alma do indivíduo. A mensagem que o Corvo traz, como um agente ancestral, é a Memória e o Pensamento (Muninn e Huginn - próximos posts). A Memória é um reflexo do passado, que faz parte do presente. O Pensamento é nossa capacidade de  superar os obstáculos e viver no contexto real. Apesar de ser um embaixador da morte, o Corvo dá fim a uma fase, e permite o início de outra.

 

A reflexão não é sobre a maneira como cada um enfrenta o luto, ou como cada um lida com as situações difíceis. Nem mesmo sobre os limites de idealização de uma pessoa querida, e sobre a vontade de dar continuidade aos planos que fizeram juntos.

A questão emerge da capacidade do ser humano em continuar sua jornada, admitindo que aquela criatura amada não mais o acompanha. Este ponto serve tanto para separações voluntárias como separações compulsórias, o sofrimento sempre será grande para uma das partes (ou todas elas).

Constantemente nos refugiamos de situações que nos desagradam em um retiro interno. Esquecemo-nos de nós mesmos e de nossa vida, pois estamos ocupados demais revivendo o passado, ou vivendo POR alguém que não está mais ao nosso lado. Apenas quando a realidade vem ao nosso encontro, inexorável, é que nos damos conta do tempo que perdemos e das oportunidades que deixamos passar. 

Todos temos momentos, fases pelas quais precisamos passar para crescer e agregar experiência. Porém, o sofrimento cultivado só perpetua os momentos ruins. Às vezes bons momentos passam por nós, mas não os percebemos porque a carga do receio é maior. As Memórias existem e merecem ser guardadas com carinho e prudência. Porém, os Pensamentos devem ser fortes o suficiente para erguer o nosso ego e transportar-nos pelas veredas da vida.

Se algo lhe faz sorrir, entregue-se. Se algo lhe dá prazer, entregue-se. Se alguém lhe dá carinho, valorize. Se a beleza cruzar seu caminho, deleite-se. Por aquele momento, você estará sob a luz radiante dos astros, livre dos umbrais opressores.

Os Corvos sempre irão triunfar. Só não vive quem está morto por dentro.

The Raven Introduction

The Raven (Edgar Allan Poe, 1845)*

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
" 'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door;

 Only this, and nothing more."

Ah, distinctly I remember, it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow, sorrow for the lost Lenore,.
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore,


Nameless here forevermore.

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me---filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating,
" 'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door,
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door.

This it is, and nothing more."

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
"Sir," said I, "or madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is, I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you." Here I opened wide the door.

           Darkness there, and nothing more.

Deep into the darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word,
Lenore?, This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word,

"Lenore!" Merely this, and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping, something louder than before,
"Surely," said I, "surely, that is something at my window lattice.
Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore.
Let my heart be still a moment, and this mystery explore.


" 'Tis the wind, and nothing more."




Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven, of the saintly days of yore.
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door.
Perched upon a bust of Pallas, just above my chamber door,


Perched, and sat, and nothing more.




Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven thou," I said, "art sure no craven,
Ghastly, grim, and ancient raven, wandering from the nightly shore.
Tell me what the lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore."


Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."


Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning, little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door,
Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,


With such name as "Nevermore."

But the raven, sitting lonely on that placid bust, spoke only
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered; not a feather then he fluttered;
Till I scarcely more than muttered,"Other friends have flown before;
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before."

Then the bird said,"Nevermore."

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
"Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master, whom unmerciful disaster
Followed fast and followed faster, till his songs one burden bore,
Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore

Of "Never-nevermore."

But the raven still beguiling all my fancy into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door;,
Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore,
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore

Meant in croaking, "Nevermore."

Thus I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl, whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamplight gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamplight gloating o'er

She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by seraphim whose footfalls tinkled on the tufted floor.
"Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee -- by these angels he hath
Sent thee respite---respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore!
Quaff, O quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore!"

Quoth the raven, "Nevermore!"

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil!--prophet still, if bird or devil!
Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate, yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted--
On this home by horror haunted--tell me truly, I implore:
Is there--is there balm in Gilead?--tell me--tell me I implore!"

Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil--prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that heaven that bends above us--by that God we both adore--
Tell this soul with sorrow laden, if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden, whom the angels name Lenore---
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels name Lenore?

Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."

"Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!" I shrieked, upstarting--
"Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken! -- quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!"

Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."

And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming.
And the lamplight o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor

Shall be lifted...Nevermore!


*Tradução de Fernando Pessoa em:  http://www.insite.com.br/art/pessoa/coligidas/trad/921.php