Island & Thirst

The Foundation Stone laid

2011-09-20T21:34:00.007+03:00

20th September.......

The Swans of Ainola

....in 1957, Jean Sibelius died. His 5th symphony was performed in Helsinki the same day. It had been his most beloved, and the one reminding him of "a struggle with God". The swans that had appeared to him while watching the sky in Ainola's garden gave a name to the main theme of the third movement while he was still composing. There are two versions of the 5th symphony, and there are years between the first and the last. The famous Swan Theme is included in both of them, but while the original one is longer, the final version imitates the flight of those mythic birds in a more beautiful way.

I visited Ainola seven years ago (2004) and, as some people have been joking at my expense, in all honesty have to admit that I was moved to tears while standing in the garden and looking at the sky. The remembrance of the swans had stayed there and it approached me. Was this because I had somehow wanted it? I did not see them with my eyes, but I could feel them - written into that place's memory. Sibelius is among the three most important composers for me. I could listen to his symphonies without an end. And I still see the spiritual Finnish landscape when I hear that music.

Also, on the 20th of September, the laying of a certain foundation stone.

The Book of Lyrics

2010-10-31T17:23:00.110+02:00

"How does one publish a handwritten book?"

It is here, at last. The Book of Lyrics that I have been working on for so many years (go to http://www.mythicpoetry.blogspot.com/ to see and print on demand the free version, with photographs, references, quotes etc). I visited Istanbul / Constantinople in 2009, and bought this beauty at the grand bazaar. From the "manuscript" I've made there could be a "facsimile" edition coming later on. But Lyrics will be also published as "a printed book".

(From chapter V, poem VI: Night Café & Conversations. And it's Moccamaster on the left, naturally. Photographs by AF.)

The Finnish Cultural Foundation has supported the making of Lyrics.

I wish the reader will understand that while the themes of this collection vary from religion to street lamps, there's an empty chair around the table for you....

The Golden Verses

2010-09-20T14:58:00.007+03:00

Master Pythagoras of Samos, who "neither affirms nor conceals but indicates" like the Delphi's Oracle, and "who handed down to us the tetraktys (1+2+3+4), containing the source and root of eternal nature". For the Harmony of the Spheres is "the bond uniting gods and mortals". (See Carmen Aureum, or J.Thom's Pythagorean Golden Verses). These pictures were taken by AF, in September 2007.

"Few understand the deliverance from their troubles. Such is the fate that harms their minds: like tumbling stones they are borne hither and thither, suffering endless miseries. For a deadly innate companion, Discord, has injured them unawares. This one must not promote, but withdraw and flee from it. Father Zeus, you would surely deliver all from many evils, if you would show all what kind of daimon they have. But take courage, for mortals have a divine origin, to whom Nature displays and shows each sacred object. If you have any share in this, you will master what I command you by means of a thorough cure, and you will save your soul from these sufferings."

"Then, if you leave the body behind and go to the free aither, you will be immortal, an undying god, no longer mortal."
-excerpts from The Golden Verses

Kodin Alkemiaa

2010-07-25T14:54:00.027+03:00

Veronika van Duin: Kodin hoitamisesta on ilmestynyt suomeksi käännettynä. Teos sisältää neljä Helsingissä pidettyä esitelmää, helmikuulta 2008. Julkaisijana toimii Suomen Antroposofinen Liitto. Otin suomentamisen tehtäväkseni, vaikka olin paikalla ainoastaan viimeisen esitelmän ajan. Käytin apunani vanhanaikaisia c-kasettinauhoja, jotka sisälsivät myös Marketta Rauramon "simultaanitulkkauksen" esitelmistä.

Aloitin kääntämisen jo keväällä 2008. Varsinaisen työn tein kuitenkin vasta tammi-helmikuussa 2009, jolloin raakavedos valmistui. Editointi yhdessä julkaisutoimittaja Pentti Aaltosen kanssa tapahtui viimein huhti-toukokuun vaihteessa 2010. Kodin hoitamisesta ilmestyi toukokuun lopulla. Sen voi tilata helposti netin kautta (useat eri liikkeet myyvät teosta) tai ostaa suoraan esimerkiksi Kirjokannasta, Aatmasta jne. Myös kirjastot ympäri Suomen ovat ottaneet teoksen kokoelmiinsa.

"Valehtelisin, jos väittäisin" ettei minulla ollut vaikeuksia tämän käännöksen kanssa. Monet ongelmat itse ulkoasun muotoilussa johtuivat aihepiiristä ja terminologiasta, mikä on itsestäänselvää liikuttaessa tämänkaltaisilla vesillä. Mutta suurimmat ongelmat koskivat tekijän esittämiä ajatuksia. Minulla oli pakottava tarve kirjoittaa esipuhe tai johdanto, jossa pesen käteni mahdollisista "hulluuksista" tai oudolta kuulostavista väittämistä, joita teoksessa saattaa olla. Tällainen selittely ei tietenkään olisi ollut järkevää, kenenkään kannalta. Mutta sitä suuremmalla syyllä haluaisin ohjata lukijan asennoitumista kohti ennakkoluulottomuutta. Mitään ei tarvitse uskoa, vaan kaikilla on vapaus ja velvollisuus itse selvittää omakohtaisesti, mitä neuvoja tai ohjeita ottaa vastaan, ja missä määrin niitä soveltaa omassa elämässään. Olen täysin vakuuttunut siitä, että teoksen keskeisin teema on iäti ajankohtainen ja tosi, sellainen josta kaikki voivat hyötyä. En kuitenkaan halua ottaa tarkemmin kantaa Veronika van Duinin esittämiin neuvoihin, mikäli siirrytään tarkastelemaan yksityiskohtia. Tavallaan siis pesen käteni, mutten kuitenkaan kritisoi tai vastusta teoksessa annettuja ohjeita. Kodin hoitamisesta sisältää antroposofisesti virittyneen maailmankuvan pohjalta kehiteltyjä ehtoja liittyen henkisen tiedon saavuttamiseen ja sen merkitykseen arkielämän piirissä. Se on myös nykyaikaisen alkemian oppikirja. Usein "esoteriasta" kiinnostuneet ihmiset perehtyvät valtavalla innolla okkulttisen kirjallisuuden loputtomaan suohon, unohtaen elämän perusasiat. Ikävimmillään näistä aineksista kehkeytyy hyvin onnettomia tarinoita - maailmassa on paljon ihmisiä, joilla on tämänkaltaisia ongelmia. Mutta koskaan ei ole myöhäistä aloittaa huomionsa suuntaaminen uudelleen. Eikä tarkoitukseni ole kehottaa ketään täyskäännöksiin (saati muutenkaan käännyttää mihinkään). Kyse on vain ihmisen elämässä vaikuttavien eri puolien ottamisesta huomioon - jokainen voi ja saa toki tehdä sen omalla tavallaan, omalla painollaan.

Lopuksi haluaisin vielä muistuttaa, että Kodin hoitamisesta on alunperin englanniksi pidetty esitelmäsarja, jonka ylös kirjoittaminen on jo itsessään hieman harhaannuttavaa, suomenkielelle kääntämisestä puhumattakaan. Mikäli teosta ei ole alunperin kirjoitettu vaan suullisesti esitetty, vapaasti ja läsnäolijoiden kysymykset huomioon ottaen (mikä ei aina näy tai välity tekstissä), on lukijalla enemmän vastuuta omilla harteillaan - oikeastaan vaaditaan jo mainitsemaani ennakkoluulottomuden tietoista harjoittamista ennenkuin teoksesta luetaan ensimmäistäkään sanaa. Muuten lukija saa osittain syyttää itseään, jos teos ei avaudu mielekkäällä tavalla. Ja mitäänhän ei tarvitse uskoa, edelleenkään.

Friedrich Hölderlinin "Patmos"

2008-03-13T20:49:00.015+02:00

Suomentaneet Antti Filppu & Laura Vilva
Julkaistu myös Takojan numerossa 2/2008
(Ensimmäisiä säkeitä keskeneräiseksi jääneestä runoluonnoksesta)

Lähellä on
Ja vaikea käsittää Jumala.
Mutta missä vaara uhkaa,
Kasvaa Pelastava myös.
Pimeyden keskellä asuvat
Kotkat ja pelkoa vailla käyvät
Alppien pojat kuilun yli
Hentoa siltaa pitkin.
Siksi, koska ympäriinsä ovat
Ajan huiput, ja rakkaimmat
Lähellä asuvat, uupuen
Erossa omilla vuorillaan,
Siksi anna vettä viatonta,
Oi siivet anna meille, uskollisin mielin
Ylittääksemme ja palataksemme takaisin.

Näin puhuin, kun minut
Nopeammin kuin olisin uskonut
Ja kauas, jonne en koskaan
Kuvitellut pääseväni, henki otti mukaansa
Omasta talostani. Siellä valkeni
Hämärässä, kun menin
Varjoisa metsä
Ja kaipaavat virrat
Kotiseutuni; en enää tunnistanut maita;
Mutta pian, raikkaassa loisteessa
Salaperäisesti
Kultaisen savun keskeltä, minulle avautui
Nopeasti kasvaen,
Auringon askeleiden mukana,
Tuhansine huippuineen tuoksuen...

Aasia kukoisti, ja sokaistuneena
Etsin jotain, joka olisi tuttua, sillä vieras
Olin näille leveille kujille, missä alaspäin
Tmoluksesta lähtee
Kultakoristeinen Paktolus
Ja Taurus kohoaa ja Messogis,
Ja kukkia täynnä puutarha,
Hiljainen tuli, mutta valossa
Hohtaa ylhäällä hopeinen lumi;
Ja todistaen kuolemattomasta elämästä
Luoksepääsemättömillä seinämillä
Ikivanhana muratti kasvaa ja kannattelemina
Elävien pylväiden, seetrien ja laakeripuiden,
Ovat juhlavat
Jumaltenrakentamat palatsit.

Kohiseepa Aasian porttien ympärillä
Vetoa sinne tänne
Epävarmalla meren tasangolla
Paljon varjottomia katuja,
Mutta saaret tuntee laivuri.
Ja kun kuulin
Yksi lähelläolevista
On Patmos,
Vaadin saada
Siellä poiketa ja siellä
Lähestyä pimeää luolaa.
Sillä ei, kuten Kypros,
Lähderikkaana, eikä
niinkuin yksikään toinen
Ihailtavasti asuu Patmos,

Vieraanvarainen on
Talossa köyhemmässä
Hän silti
Ja kun haaksirikon jälkeen tai ikävöiden
Kotiseutua tai
Eroa ystävästä
Häntä lähestyy yksi
Tuntemattomista, hän kuuntelee mielellään, ja hänen lapsensa
Äänet kuuman metsikön,
Ja missä hiekka putoaa, ja halkeilee
Pellon pinta, äänet
Ne kuulevat ja rakastavasti kaikuvat
Edelleen miehen valituksesta. Niin hoivasi
Hän kerran Jumalanrakastamaa,
Näkijää, joka sieluntäydessä nuoruudessaan oli

Kävellyt
Kanssa Korkeimman pojan, erottamattomina, sillä
Rakastihan Ukkosenkantaja yksinkertaisuutta
Opetuslapsensa ja näkihän valpas mies
Jumalan kasvot selvästi.
Silloin, viiniköynnöksen mysteerin äärellä, he
Yhdessä istuivat, vierasaterian aikaan......

Would You Like Me To Write It Down For You?

2008-01-16T14:17:00.016+02:00

(The Book of Amber, "Meripihka". See some photocopies from this book below).

Since August 2000, when I bought a handmade empty book from Old Riga, I have been using quite fancy note books when writing down various thoughts and feelings, but above all else, my "poetic inspirares". The writings are in English or Finnish -I have used foreign language in my lyrics since 1994. But I have never kept a diary. These texts vary in topics so much that I am unable to describe their range. For example, Omnium Gatherum's Wastrel, from November 2000, has many lines taken from my first Book of Leaves, "Lehdet". I finished it in June 2001.

The next two books, from Riga and Tallinn, were stolen. I had gone into extremities with them. These books had some parts filled with unimaginable hate and despise, although there were also beautiful and lovelike lines all over, with images of churches, altars, doves, medieval romance and other things like that. But I think they were meant to disappear from the face of this earth. They have kept on living in the words of, say, The Sleeping Gold and OG's debut, Spirits And August Light, as well as in poem fragments called Letters in May.

The Book of Spirits, "Henget", was likewise bought from Old Riga in August 2002, and I thank Marianna Keisalo for giving it to me as a present (I was ready to pay for it, but she didn't accept my money). The book has the song order of SAAL in it, and the first sketches for the album "II". And it has countless lines and themes yet "unused" in public. The Book of Spirits is the one most altered of all my texts, as if the name itself somehow referred to it......spirits that came and went, all kinds of spirits, good and bad. I admit that too much of it was quite frustrated and annoying, even though I fought hard and ceaselessly against "such diseases of mind and language". Well, it's easier said than done, I know. In late 2002 - early 2003 I wrote many quotes taken from Rumi, Pushkin, Apollinaire, Yeats, Tennyson, Keats etc. When naming the book last autumn (2007) I also included a few quotes from another book of spirits, whose author is called White Eagle (the words just happened to be there for me when I needed them). "Henget" was full of notes already in August 2003, but I'm still "re-writing" it, trying to make all the layers & spirits visible, on those pages.

The next time I visited Riga was in July 2004. I bought my jewel, The Book of Amber, "Meripihka" (not to be confused with Amber Books...))). Most of the pages are still empty, I have been slow with this one. But what else would you expect, if the motto on the first page is "Kärsivällisyys", Patience. It has the song order for The Sleeping Gold and also for Years In Waste, but with the latter the order is different from what it came be on the album. Then, there are some nice-and-stupid lines like "God, give me a few coins, I'm broke but I'm standing tall" from 2004 era. Some are quite serious and some not that serious text? "What will be my shelter this autumn" asks a voice in the beginning, and it's about the Spirit's houses on this earth; Groves, Temples, Churches, Words, Myths and Images. There are three Lessons in Love, and a long quote from Wolfram von Eschenbach's Parzival, the already famous part where Trevrizent speaks to the young, foolish man (chapter 9, hermit's cave). It's in Middle-High German as well as in modern English and Finnish. It seems I also wrote about witches young and mean, in 2005. Not to rest until the air is cleaned.

In June 2005 I bought the necessary Moleskine note book, the smallest one. I got it finished 23rd of October, 2007. It is called The Book of Tongues, "Kielet". Here we have a variety of subjects from Finnish Mythology (especially the research tradition) and the line of German romanticism (Rilke and Celan) to Anthropology and Anthroposophy, not to forget a few crusading memoirs, trying to solve "the spiritual crisis of the West". That's just me, I can't help it. Hans-Georg Gadamer makes an appearance, together with Walter Benjamin and some other friends of mine, like Vladimir Vysotsky. Lots of notes for & from my poems to come (and poems that went away). The Book of Tongues was at hand when we entered the Russian Room studios last July (2007) with Mika Pekkkola and Matti Rautaniemi, to work on and build the ambient sound of Shrines. The first "record" is called Akritas. But most of this note book is about mythological tensions and traditions ending / beginning a-new. And a lot of fooling around with the nature of language(s) and tongues, of course.

The Book of Lines, "Luonnoksia", was given by my parents who went to Vilnius, Lithuania, in August 2005. It started as a sketch book for OG's third album, but eventually became something else. This is the only lined book I have, others are all blank, white paper. Still very much unfinished, it has Vysotsky translations (Katkennut lento, Susijahti, Ystävän Laulu, Maan Laulu). Juri Shevtshuk (DDT) inspired me like no one else when I was drawing the first lines. I have always loved these Russian poets and bards. There's Odinn, too, with his one eye. And there's an interesting kind of entrance made by Rudolf Steiner, together with some Finnish mythical / magical lines of poetry. It happened in September-October 2005 when Matti Rautaniemi gave me a book called How To Attain Knowledge Of The Higher Worlds (I still warmly recommend this book to everyone, just read it with an "updated" mind; it's hundred years old, after all - the innermost content or essentia is new as ever, but the forms no longer speak to us if we don't stretch the limits of our interpretation and imagination). I was finishing my essay about Finnish Mythology and writing down notes for the new lyrics. Luonnnoksia has a lot of this: "Baby, I wanna walk in the woods / with a six-string on my back". Can't get any worse or better than that!

I have had The Book of Notes, "Nuotit" in use since 2003 or even earlier, but it was in 2006 when I really started composing. Until then it had a few poems and sketches, like Last Nights of September At Hand, I'm Not Your Man, and one (20 chapters long) poem in Finnish, from early 2003, but nothing much more. During the last year or two this book has become an important collection of notes. I translated some of my poetry into Finnish there, with commentaries. I called them Vanhoja Runoja (Old Poems). I had gotten things straight for myself. And I'll have to say the commentaries published in our alternative zine Virta 3 (http://www.virtalehti.com) are just scratches, lacking a lot of precision that would have been necessary (not to mention the fact that TSG was not yet ready). So what about the Good Friday Spell's quest, with its Grail-influenced ideals emerging despite / because of all the sorrow and confusion. What about the introduction concerning the first steps on "the path of spiritual development", with Tarkovsky and Jung showing another way out of the miserable hell near "the post-modern horror", this being one of the main themes of A Good Friday Spell. It all happened in 2000 already (see the other sites for more info). During the years I have been repeating my history a few times, as if going round in circles. I have had to learn about & how to respect different kinds of views (for obviously I did not have enough knowledge or respect before). While slowly making things clear to myself, I have worked to attain spiritual tolerance and open-mindedness. Do I expect others to do the same? Of course I still fail to keep up with my ideals. These things are quite complicated if you try to weigh them one by one, without giving in to the Force of the flow(s), when you get close enough. The Book of Notes is the key to my thinking, it has tuned some of the harmony of Spheres for me. A very special warm thank you goes to all of my teachers, living and dead, material and immaterial, literal and metaphorical!

St. John and friends

2007-09-21T17:41:00.006+03:00

Having a cup of coffee with St. John and friends. The place is Patmos, September 2007. The cafeteria is Petrino. Wonderful coffee. We had a really nice time there, so thank you very much, Mika, Suvi and Laura! I'm not the kind of guy who travels around the world. In fact, I've never been outside continental Europe before. I owe this "pilgrimage" to the Island of Light to my good friend and brother, Friedrich Hölderlin, without whom I would never have found my way through. I love you.

And I can't help mentioning that I didn't even realize the popular mind's atmospheres of Apocalypse. I felt only love and warmth (and this is a theme I'd like to take further, f.ex. how will the Apocalypse seem if it is also thought of as an "initiative" writing?). Well, there was this slightly odd encounter with a monk when I was leaving the cave of St. John. We exchanged a few glances (too many?) and right after I did feel fear for a while. But it was nothing too serious that a little apologia could not undo. After all, it is very important to look a man straight into his eyes, they're the mirror of soul.