The Land of the Cathars is full of mesmerizing legends and history for my child’s eyes. I vaguely remember to have visited some castles with my dad (I even got a Knight diploma!) and my mum has always nourished an unbelievable passion for Cathars, which probably goes through family then.
Yet, like a lot of my homeland’s realities, I have taken some distance for the past few years, looking for foreign mysteries on Celtic lands, forgetting my own had some unfathomable secrecy of the Beyond. This half obligated – half chosen immobility has therefore some good and opens everyone to some hidden opportunities.
As for me, it reconciles me with my childhood castle dreams that I might now gaze at with my historian apprentice’s eyes and my imagined witch’s soul.
As for me, it brings me towards this fantasized quest and leads me to the most legendary places of all, to the most mysterious lands of all, to the most secret constructions of all, through this new category.
To Gaia, mother of all, shall I sing:
Hymn to Gaia, Homer
The oldest one, firm foundation of all the world.
All things that move over the face of the earth,
All things that move through the sea, and all that fly:
All these are fed and nourished from your store;
From you all children and all good harvests come forth,
O blessed one, our mother earth.
O blessed one, mother of all mankind,
The giver of life and the taker of life away,
For mortal men, happy are those you honour:
Your fertile earth yields up riches to satisfy all their needs;
Their cities and their homes are filled with all good things;
Well-ordered lives of men and women you bless:
Good fortune is theirs.
Their children sing for joy and delight,
Exulting in their youth, they dance through the flowers;
And over the grass they dance for joy.
It is you who bless, it is you who nourish,
Sacred spirit, mother earth.
Be well, be well, mother earth,
Lovely bride of starry heaven, of starry heaven;
And for my song grant me life both full and long.
It is you who bless, it is you who nourish,
Sacred spirit, mother earth, our blessed mother earth.
I shall remember you, and another song too.
Fleeting Wor(l)ds 