Gentlemen, be still my soul. Never have I prayed so hard, nor grasped so much towards the heavens, before the raging sea in the darkness of night, to pull down the energy of the stars and believe that I can shape my destiny.
At the moment and location when I was born, almost all the planets, plus sun and moon, were in the Fourth House, which symbolizes home, history and heritage. A couple of nights ago I lay on the frozen ground just so I could see the stars so long obfuscated from me in New York, and had the most surprising realization. “Home” — the thing which I have spent my lifetime meditating upon the most deeply and painfully, ever since I was two years old and we left Berlin and my parents said I cried “Where’d my home go?” — may not signify the concept of beginning, but rather the concept of destination.
The chaos of the last two months closing out NY and living in the magical realm of Newport albeit in a chaotic, negative-charged building, is over. The 10-year trial of midlife crisis in New York is over. Today, in the greatest haste, I was able to sign the papers for a suitable home and ask “May I awake there Christmas morning?” And the keys to the kingdom were given. And so Christian gets to be properly “reborn” to his new life chapter on Christmas Day. For I grabbed two men who looked down on their luck and paid them handsomely to move my belongings, and rode my bicycle far and furiously for the magical box that connects us to the world, and here I am in the new home with wine and Internet!
Merry Christmas, and God rest ye merry, gentlemen. Awaken, and you will discover the world is on thy side. — CHRISTIAN CHENSVOLD
I also like the other hymn sung to the same Finlandia chorus by Sibelius –
We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender!
We go not forth alone against the foe;
Strong in Thy strength, safe in Thy keeping tender,
We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.
Strong in Thy strength, safe in Thy keeping tender,
We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.
Enjoy the outdoors (nature)–long walks. And good architecture.
Keep the Daily Office (worship), eat good food, and listen to choral versions of Elgar’s Nimrod (Lux Aeterna) while meditating on the lasting symbol of death-to-life (forward) movement: the cross. Take reasonably good care of your body, and adorn it (clothing) well.
Spend time with a great dog and nurture friendships. Find a beautiful place and live there. (sounds like you’ve done this).
Funny, but Charleston has come up several times in conversation in my few weeks here. The two cities seem to be strangely related.
The new place is coming together quickly and quite well, save for the ghost possibility that just happened, because:
a) of course the ghost would pick me to announce its presence to, because
b) I would actually believe there’s a ghost because that’s the logical next step of having a spiritual awakening and moving to New England in winter in a Gothic state of mind
Merry Christmas Christian- I’m happy this new chapter has had an interesting and encouraging beginning. I wish you the best!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas, and I think Bon Voyage may be apropos here
May your new home bring you much happines, contentment and joy. Merry Christmas, Christian.
Merry Christmas. Hope Newport is everything you wanted.
Happy Christmas–and welcome to the City by the Sea. It is, indeed, a remarkable place.
May the Newport Holiday Schwartz be with you.
Hope it keeps on getting better and better. (Sounds pretty great already.)
Beautiful Hymm, Christian.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Soft launch of Trad Man today, Christmas Day, as originally planned:
https://trad-man.com
Just a few posts, but a nice tribute to Christ by previous Ivy contributor Andrew Meschter, who moved near to Newport the same day I did.
I also like the other hymn sung to the same Finlandia chorus by Sibelius –
We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender!
We go not forth alone against the foe;
Strong in Thy strength, safe in Thy keeping tender,
We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.
Strong in Thy strength, safe in Thy keeping tender,
We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.
Shalom
In the Bleak Midwinter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRobryliBLQ
best wishes for the new year CC!
@Jim
Indeed, a lovely melody and Merry Christmas, Christina Rossetti.
Merry Christmas Christian! Good luck in your new Home! Cheers!
Enjoy the outdoors (nature)–long walks. And good architecture.
Keep the Daily Office (worship), eat good food, and listen to choral versions of Elgar’s Nimrod (Lux Aeterna) while meditating on the lasting symbol of death-to-life (forward) movement: the cross. Take reasonably good care of your body, and adorn it (clothing) well.
Spend time with a great dog and nurture friendships. Find a beautiful place and live there. (sounds like you’ve done this).
Happy Feast of the Nativity.
How in the world did I think you were packing up and moving to Charleston SC? You sound deliriously happy w/ your new home, Happy New Year CC!
I visited Newport about 13 years ago in the summer and really enjoyed it. Christian – many your new home bring you many years of happiness and joy.
Funny, but Charleston has come up several times in conversation in my few weeks here. The two cities seem to be strangely related.
The new place is coming together quickly and quite well, save for the ghost possibility that just happened, because:
a) of course the ghost would pick me to announce its presence to, because
b) I would actually believe there’s a ghost because that’s the logical next step of having a spiritual awakening and moving to New England in winter in a Gothic state of mind