When I first started thinking seriously about Light in the Darkness I first thought of a train tunnel and then since Easter was approaching I also thought of the image of the empty tomb of Jesus.
Also during this time my daughter's favorite movie has become "The Secret of Kells". A movie that loosely tells the story of making the famous Illuminated Manuscript The Book of Kells. There are many references in that movie of bringing light into the darkness.
The Gospels bring Light to the people.
Jesus Christ is the Light of The World. John 8:12
At the end of the movie - the older monk tells the younger "You must take the book to the people to light the way in these dark days of the Northmen"
The movie was made in Ireland and while it is a cartoon, it is visually stunning and was nominated for an Oscar. It is filled with Celtic/Irish symbolism - both Christian and Pagan.
There is a cat character called Pangur Ban (rhymes with Anger Pawn) who plays a key role. I looked up the meaning of the name and discovered that it was from an old poem written in Gaelic at a monastery in the 9th century at or around Reichenau Abbey. The last line of the poem translated into English is:
Master of the death of mice,
He keeps in daily practice,
I too, making dark things clear,
Am of my trade a master.
or:
He loves: Pangur, never idle
Day or night
Hunts mice; I hunt each riddle
From dark to light.
You can find the two translations *here* The poem is pretty long.
I really truly thought of making the cat into a quilt. I refrained.
Instead, I give you Triquetra, which is the fancy name of the Celtic Knot of the Trinity.
On the back I printed the Gaelic version of the Pangur Ban Poem, and the two English translations I found. I also printed the song and translation from the movie - along with all my label information.
I am in Florida! While you all are reading this. Please take the time to check out the other members of Four-in-Art and their quilts. I will update my links when I can.
4 comments:
How lovely and beautifully made - the binding detail is the icing on the cake. And that's one of my favourite poems, though the translation that I know and love is by Robin Flowers (you can find it at https://www.ling.upenn.edu/~beatrice/pangur-ban.html )
I love the deeper meanings you've discovered while thinking about light in the darkness, and I love them all (I need to go and read the poems and watch the film, too). Easter is such a time, where Christ's light shone forth for all of us, and I love the triqueta and how you created it. Thanks for such a thoughtful interpretation...one that made me think. It's beautiful!
This is stunning. I love that poem and Celtic symbols and you've you're Triquetra is really beautifully made in every detail :)
Great to have so many meanings tied up in this knot! And I really enjoyed reading the following post on how you made it- demystified the process of something so complex. Yet the knot itself holds the mystery of its meaning!
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