Thursday, December 9, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
[ElfstoneLARP] Mystical Realms Newsletter for December, 2010
Greetings!
And welcome to my newsletter for December, 2010! Please feel free to forward this to anyone you think would be interested in keeping up with me! To receive these newsletters regularly, please drop me an email or subscribe online from my website (http://www.JefMurray.com ) or at: http://groups.google.com/group/Mystical_Realms . Notices of events and items of interest are at the bottom of this email.
Pitchers ==============
I have been doing some updating and thinning out of my website (www.JefMurray.com). In particular, I have added a couple of new graphite sketches and will continue to do so as I'm able. I have far more sketches posted to my Facebook page (see the Jef Murray – Artist page, and the "Sketchbook" photo album thereon), and if you wish to have one of these originals priced or made available as a print, do let me know. All of the works in my online galleries are available as signed and numbered limited-edition Giclee prints.
Ponderings ==============
The Jewelry Maker
"You're persistent, I'll grant you that," said the jeweler. He was seated at an oilskin-covered work table, magnifying loupe pushed up on his forehead. His tools were everywhere in the darkened room, but the visitor noticed, with a smile, that there were no valuables out. No golden rings, no jewels, no beads or earrings.
The visitor smiled. "I appreciate your seeing me. Your assistant…"
"…my assistant has strict orders to refuse all requests to speak with me in person. And since she has now disobeyed me, I will be forced to find a new assistant." The jeweler reached into a drawer, removed a large ornate knife, and began to hone its edge on a whetstone.
"As you see fit," said the visitor, "but I hope you'll at least hear me out."
"Five minutes," said the jeweler, looking up from his table. His eyes were ferocious. The visitor held his gaze until he resumed honing the knife, then pulled a chair up and sat down.
"You wanted more information about the brooch I left," said the visitor. "May I not satisfy your curiosity now?"
The jeweler put the knife down on the table between them. "Yes, you may. But I saw no reason to discuss it in person. I simply wanted to know where it came from, Mister……?"
"Raphael," answered the visitor.
"Ah, like the angel…." muttered the jeweler.
"Yes, like the angel," answered Raphael, smiling.
"Well, Mr. Raphael, from its workmanship, it could have been made in central Europe, but the style is curious. You bought it from some antique shop, I'm thinking? And wanted to know its worth? Is it something you want to sell? I can't offer you much…." An odd look came into the jeweler's eyes, betraying more interest than did his voice.
Raphael shook his head. "No, it's not for sale. It's an heirloom, one that's been handed down from generation to generation. And it's not mine; I borrowed it from a friend. I knew you wouldn't see me without it."
Raphael paused, then leaned across the table. "And you know very well it's not the sort of thing anyone would ever willingly sell: to an antique shop or to anyone else."
"I know nothing of the sort," replied the jeweler, his eyes on the knife. "I've seen trinkets very much like it sold in every stall from here to California."
"From here to Russia, you mean," said Raphael. "Or from here to the Court of King Arthur, you might even say."
"I don't know what you mean," said the jeweler.
"Of course you do," said Raphael. "There never were more than a few score of these ever made, and they were always guarded fiercely by those who wore them. They are kept secret, just as you keep yourself secret. They are denied, even as you deny knowledge of them and of what they represent."
The jeweler refused to look up. "I'm a jeweler," he said, "not an historian. How should I know about heirlooms and secrets? They have nothing to do with me…."
Raphael leaned across the table again. "On the contrary, they have everything to do with you, because you're one in a million: nay, one in a billion, more likely. How many of the Khazâd remain these days? A score? A dozen?"
The jeweler continued staring at the table. "Khazâd? Never heard of `em.…"
"Come now," said Raphael. "Let's not play games. You've been in business here for over 75 years, posing as yourself, and your father, and your grandfather before that. You're at least 125 years old and probably older. You came here from Eastern Europe during the 1930s, but your work remains unique, impossible to reproduce. You sell it through anonymous middle-men so that no one can track you down."
Raphael leaned back in his chair, studying the bushy beard and heavy brows of the jeweler. "You won't see anyone because you don't want anyone to know what you are. But I do know what you are. I may be the only one alive who does, other than the remaining members of your own race."
He paused and waited for his words to sink in. "So," Raphael said again, "how many are left? Or do you even know?"
The jeweler rubbed his eyes and pushed himself back from the work table, sighing.
"I only know of a handful," he said at last, looking up at Raphael. "And they keep their distance from me as I do from them. You can't know what we've suffered, especially in the last hundred years."
He climbed down from his stool and Raphael could see that he was only about four and a half feet tall and heavily built. The jeweler stepped out of the light and toward an ancient oak cabinet that stood against one wall. Brass knobs gleamed golden in the gloom as the doors swung wide. Raphael heard a drawer slide open and shut, then the jeweler returned to the table with a silver brooch in his hand.
The brooch was star-shaped and glittered and gleamed in the light like a thing alive.
"It's lovely, isn't it?" said Raphael.
"Too lovely," said the jeweler. "Because of this and things like it, my people have had to suffer for thousands and thousands of years. Your kind can never get enough of gold, or jewels…"
"…or Mithril?" said Raphael, smiling.
The jeweler scowled. "No, nor of Mithril. But it has all gone wrong now. Now, it's not just wealth and treasures from the earth; now your kind wants knowledge... of machines, and engines, and hatefulness."
"My people were rounded up and killed like animals -- in Russia, in Germany, in countless other places -- because we lived apart; because we lived like the Jews and others who sought to hold onto their culture. And we were slaughtered along with them during your `Great Wars'."
The jeweler pushed the brooch across the table. "Here, take it. I don't want to know anything else about it, or about you. I just want to be left alone; to be forgotten by your kind."
Raphael looked at the Dwarf. "My kind?" he said. "My kind has never laid a hand on the sons and daughters of Durin. My kind has fought the Long Defeat in your defense, and in defense of all the others of so many races who have struggled against the darkness."
"Pretty words, but you're a man like any other man; another greedy destroyer of anything that stands in your way," growled the jeweler, eyes again ferocious.
"Am I?" asked Raphael. He stood and picked up the brooch from the table. The flickering light from the Mithril star seemed to run along his arm and spread to his shoulder, then to his chest, and then to every part of him. An electrical crackling and roaring filled the room as sparks and lightning bursts of bluish white fire played over the visitor's frame.
The Dwarf eyes opened wide, and he trembled as the light and fury before him peaked and then subsided.
"You see, Master Dwarf?" said Raphael, as the flames flickered and died around him, "You are not the only one who keeps secrets." The Dwarf remained seated, dumbfounded.
"But, my time is short," said Raphael. "There are others I'd like you to meet, if you will be persuaded. And although you may be among the last of the full-blooded members of your race, there are others of my acquaintance whose veins also harbor the blood of Durin. And I have friends whose Sires sailed from Westernesse. I even know of men and women who have Elven and Halfling blood, although generally not both in the same person." Raphael laughed. "There is work to be done, Master Dwarf, and you are needed…."
The jeweler looked at his visitor. "Why would I care about such folk?" he asked. "What difference can it possibly make to me to know that there are half-breed mongrels from the olden days still about?"
"It can make a tremendous difference," said Raphael, "because these are souls who need to hear the old truths and learn the old skills. It can make a difference because, as you say, this generation of men is destroying itself with the knowledge it is accumulating."
"If we cannot rekindle the older wisdom in these times, then we are all doomed. And how many years, Master Dwarf, has it been since you could share your skill with those who not only sought it, but who also knew how best to use it to stave off wickedness?"
The Dwarf sat silently, fingering the blade before him.
"Consider what I've said," said Raphael. "You need not answer me now. But I'll call on you again in a few days." He laid the Mithril star down on the table and turned to go.
"Wait!" called the jeweler. "You've forgotten your brooch."
"Keep it until I return," said Raphael. "And then, perhaps, you'll be ready to teach others about its virtues."
And with that, the Maia left the shop and went out into the snow-filled twilight.
---
[This tale was first published in the journal "Beyond Bree" earlier this year - Jef]
Prospects ===================
• Turning Pages in the Magician's Book: There will be a Narnia-themed conference this Friday, December 10 from 1-6pm at the University of Minnesota. Sponsored by the Rivendell Grouop of the Mythopoeic Society and hosted by the Children's Literature Research Collections of UM, the event will take place on the west bank campus, next to the law school. You can contact David Lenander at d-lena@umn.edu for more info.
• Illustrator-signed editions of Black & White Ogre Country: The Lost Tales of Hilary Tolkien, by Hilary Tolkien, are now available to folks in the U.S for $25, postage paid. It is also available to Canadian folk for $30 Canadian, postage paid. I'm making the limited number of copies I have available to folks who have had trouble getting them shipped over from the UK. You can purchase directly from my website at www.JefMurray.com (click on the "Books" button on the left of the page).
• Illustrator-signed editions of The Magic Ring: Deluxe Illustrated Edition, by the Baron de la Motte Fouqué, are now available to folks in the U.S., Canada, and the UK. You can purchase directly from my website at www.JefMurray.com (click on the "Books" button on the left of the page).
• There are two new 2011 Tolkien-themed calendars that are either now available or soon will be. Both feature some of my work, as well as that of many other notable artists:
The 30th Anniversary 2011 Beyond Bree calendar is available at http://www.cep.unt.edu/bree/Flyer02.pdf . This special calendar features work by Sylvia Hunnewell, Ted Nasmith, and many others; it focuses on the Istari…the wizards of Middle-earth.
The 10th Anniversary 2011 Northeaster Tolkien Society calendar is available from http://herenistarionnets.blogspot.com/p/nets-calendar.html . This calendar features the art of Anke Eissman, Sue Wookey, and myself.
• The folks who brought you the Festival in the Shire in Wales this last August (see www.FestivalintheShire.com) now have some of my framed and unframed prints available, just in time for Christmas, at http://www.markfaithbooks.com/ . These are just a few of my most recent paintings, with more to come.
• The November/December 2010 issue of the St. Austin Review (StAR) features one of my paintings ("Melkor") on its cover, plus a two-page spread of some of my latest paintings and a short article of mine within. This issue focuses on apocalyptic visions, particularly as seen in science fiction. Please check it out at the StAR website at http://www.staustinreview.com/ .
• The current issue of Gilbert Magazine (see http://www.gilbertmagazine.com/ ) is the art issue, and in addition to including a couple of my dragonish paintings ("The Repentant Dragon" and "Pensive Dragon"), there is an interview with me and fellow artist Tim Jones which includes some of his fine work and a few of my illustrations from "The Magic Ring".
• A new EWTN TV special is being prepared on J.R.R. Tolkien. Featuring Joseph Pearce, this production will also include dozens of my illustrations of Tolkien's world. Stay tuned for details on when this will air….
• For folks interested in my original paintings and sketches, please take a look at the ADC Art and Books online catalog at www.adcbooks.co.uk. It features Tolkien-themed works by Ted Nasmith, Peter Pracownik, and myself. In addition, you'll find collectible items (e.g. Black & White Ogre Country: The Lost Tales of Hilary Tolkien) and rare books featured in the catalog and on the website.
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MARKETPLACE
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Tuesday, November 23, 2010
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Saturday, November 20, 2010
Make Extra Money For Christmas Online
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Friday, November 19, 2010
Make Money Online Without Scams
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Monday, November 8, 2010
[ElfstoneLARP] A Middle-earth Event-Filled Weekend!
Greetings!
This coming weekend, there will be two events that should
prove fun for folks both in Holland and in North Georgia, USA.
To whit:
• The folks who brought you the "Festival in the Shire" in Wales this
last August (see www.FestivalintheShire.com) will be holding a new
exhibit of Middle-earth themed paintings and prints in Leiden, Holland
from Thursday, November 11 at 10:00am - November 14 at 4:00pm at
Utrechtse Jaagpad 2, Leiden. This exhibition will feature works
by Rodney Matthews, Paul Raymond Gregory, Roger Garland, Ruth
Lacon, Steve Walsh, Sue Wookey, Ivan Cavini and myself. The event
is free and there will be a raffle of Tolkien-themed prints; all who attend
are eligible for the dozen or so prints to be awarded. You can find more
information on Facebook by searching on "Festival in the Shire", or at:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Machynlleth-United-Kingdom/Festival-in-the-Shire-A-celebration-of-all-things-Tolkien-inspired/149452046749
• For my American friends, and particularly for folks who live in
North Georgia, Lorraine and I will be giving a joint talk on Saturday
night, November 13, at 7pm, at St. Peter Chanel Catholic church in
Roswell, Georgia. The talk is entitled "Mystery, Mayhem, and Magic:
Using Creativity to Serve God", and although the talk itself is free,
the talk is preceeded by a catered dinner for couples. You can get
directions and register for the event at:
http://www.stpeterchanel.org/events/mac20101113.html
We hope to see many folks in Roswell, and look forward to hearing
good reports of the exhibit in Leiden!
Nai i Cala oio-siluva (may the Light ever-shine)
Jef
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MARKETPLACE
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Monday, November 1, 2010
[ElfstoneLARP] Mystical Realms Newsletter for November, 2010
Greetings!
And welcome to my newsletter for November, 2010! Please feel free to forward this to anyone you think would be interested in keeping up with me! To receive these newsletters regularly, please drop me an email or subscribe online from my website (http://www.JefMurray.com ) or at: http://groups.google.com/group/Mystical_Realms . Notices of events and items of interest are at the bottom of this email.
Pitchers ==============
I have posted three new painting images on my website. These "The House of Tom Bombadil", "Círdan", and "The Fair Valley of Rivendell". You can see all of these by going to http://www.JefMurray.com and clicking on the "Newest Works" button on the top of the page.
As always, these and all of the works in my online galleries are available as signed and numbered limited-edition Giclee prints.
Do let me know how these new images strike you!
Ponderings ==============
We are sitting on the back deck when we hear their call: strange, stricken, somewhat strangled. Dusk is falling and no birds should be out, but these are; and they are flying fast just above the treetops.
"Sandhill cranes?" I asked Lorraine. She nodded.
And so they must be. But their voices aren't joyous as we'd remembered them from their other faint, high-flung flights across north Georgia skies. These were furtive, fleeting, frightened.
And so is this season: this season of changing light, of rent leaves and wind-fallen branches; this time of treats and of tricks, of glitzed-up graves and sugar-skull snacks.
This is the time of year when we all look death in the face.
In this season, Halloween night's frivolity is quickly followed by the feast of All Saints on November 1, then the feast of All Souls on November 2. All Saints celebrates those who have gone before us and who are, we now believe, standing in the presence of the Almighty. All Souls is a more solemn day, when we pray for those who have died, but who have not yet found their way to God. By going from celebrations of life to prayerful reflections on death, we spiral down into darkness. We, in a way, traverse the three days of the Easter Triduum, but backwards.
So right now, death is foremost in our minds, as it was in the mind of J.R.R. Tolkien when he wrote his masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings. For death is the one absolute, the one thing that all of us will experience one day. And we fear it because we do not understand it. Simone de Beauvoir declared it thus: "There is no such thing as a natural death: nothing that happens to a man is ever natural, since his presence calls the world into question. All men must die: but for every man his death is an accident and, even if he knows it and consents to it, an unjustifiable violation."
And yet, death _is_ natural if one trusts that the One who gave us life did not do so simply for sport, but rather for some greater earthshaking purpose. In that case, not only birth but all facets of our lives, including death, fit into that larger plan; we are all connected in this way…we are all living out our own portion of the same epic tale.
Tolkien believed this, and even though he thought that the history of humankind on this earth would ultimately prove to be a "long defeat", that is, a progressive slide into greater and greater acts of evil and causes for grief and sorrow, he nevertheless believed that only more glory, honor, love, and wonder would result from that protracted struggle.
But we have trouble understanding and accepting all of this….
As with making sense of myriad other mysteries of this magnificent universe, what is called for is at least a mustard seed's worth of trust. With that tiniest blossoming forth of faith, we can see the mirth of the Almighty in every leaf and `round every bend in the road; without it, all we are left with is the desperate attempt to create meaning for ourselves, or to become embittered diversionists…seeking solace in pleasure, or in created causes, or, as Flannery O'Connor suggests through the voice of the Misfit in "A Good Man is Hard to Find", in just plain meanness.
But at this time of year, we are not celebrating meanness; we are celebrating the fleeting nature of life, and the need to come to grips with it.
And that's really the problem for all of us, isn't it? We don't want all of what we know to ever end. We see loved ones pass through the gates of death, never, apparently, to return. And unlike learning to trust a doctor because he's healed us in the past, or trusting in our mom because she was always there to comfort us when we had a bad dream, we've never experienced death ourselves, so we don't know if things will really be alright on the other side.
And yet, all throughout our lives, we find that when we have faith, all is usually well. With prayer, we get through the tough stuff. And if we're paying attention, we can often catch glimpses of Someone greater than us helping us through the rough patches. Death, in this context, simply represents a graduation ceremony…a final chance to tell the One who has ever proven Himself faithful to us that we do, indeed, trust Him.
My sister, Lisa, passed away this past August. Lisa hated the heat of Georgia summers. And she didn't live to see the flush of leaves turning golden, red, and orange, even though she longed for autumn's chill to swoop down on the north Georgia hills and blast the buzzing blazes of summer away. She didn't get to hear the frightened call of the sandhill cranes as they sought refuge on a dusky evening in October…but they somehow reminded me of her, and of her passing out of this realm and into the next.
I continue to pray for Lisa now that she is gone, just as I did when she was alive. And at this time of year, especially, my prayer is that her flight will not be one of fear, but of hope, love, and joy; and I will trust that she is, even now, and on a cool autumn breeze, returning home.
Prospects ===================
• The folks who brought you the Festival in the Shire in Wales this last August (see www.FestivalintheShire.com) will be holding a new exhibit of Middle-earth themed paintings and prints in Leiden, Holland this month. This event will be held from Thursday, November 11 at 10:00am - November 14 at 4:00pm at Utrechtse Jaagpad 2, Leiden, Holland, this exhibition will features works by Rodney Matthews, Paul Raymond Gregory, Roger Garland, Ruth Lacon, Steve Walsh, Sue Wookey, Ivan Cavini and myself. You can find more information on Facebook by searching on "Festival in the Shire- Free Preview Exhibition".
• It is apparently going to be a big media autumn for me, as I will have a lot of my work appearing in two upcoming magazine issues:
First, the November/December 2010 issue of the St. Austin Review (StAR) features one of my paintings ("Melkor") on its cover, plus a two-page spread of some of my latest paintings and a short article of mine within. The issue in general focuses on apocalyptic visions, particularly as seen in science fiction. Please check out the latest issue by going to the StAR website at http://www.staustinreview.com/ .
Second, the next issue of Gilbert Magazine (see http://www.gilbertmagazine.com/ ) is the art issue, and in addition to including a couple of my dragonish paintings ("The Repentant Dragon" and "Pensive Dragon"), there will be an interview with me and fellow artist Tim Jones, plus (possibly!) a short humorous tale of mine.
• There are two new Tolkien-themed calendars that are either now available or soon will be. Both feature some of my work, as well as that of many other notable artists:
The 30th Anniversary 2011 Beyond Bree calendar is available at http://www.cep.unt.edu/bree/Flyer02.pdf . This special calendar features work by Sylvia Hunnewell, Ted Nasmith, and many others; it focuses on the Istari…the wizards of Middle-earth.
The 10th Anniversary 2011 Northeaster Tolkien Society calendar is available from http://herenistarionnets.blogspot.com/p/nets-calendar.html . This calendar features the art of Anke Eissman, Sue Wookey, and myself.
• The online SF Fanzine "Starship Sofa", Volume 1 of which was a winner of a 2010 Hugo Award, has released Volume 2 on October 10, 2010. I was privileged to illustrate a tale that will be included, written by Jason Sanford, entitled " Into the Depths of Illuminated Seas". It is a surpassingly strange tale about pirates (!) and a lass who can foretell the deaths of all of the sailors in her port town. You can learn more about this Fanzine at http://www.starshipsofa.com/ .
• Illustrator-signed editions of The Magic Ring: Deluxe Illustrated Edition, by the Baron de la Motte Fouqué, is now available to folks in the U.S., Canada, and the UK. You can purchase directly from my website at www.JefMurray.com (click on the "Books" button on the left of the page). I was privileged to have been asked to develop the cover and interior illustrations for this new edition, and it is one that finally presents this tale in a format in keeping with its magical and epic themes. Described as a cross between "The Lord of the Rings" and "Ivanhoe", this is a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, and one that will appeal to all ages of folk who love chivalry, epic battles, enchantment, and romance. You can keep up to date on the book's reception on the Facebook page entitled "The Magic Ring", or at Valancourt's website.
• A new EWTN TV special is being prepared on J.R.R. Tolkien. Featuring Joseph Pearce, this production will also include dozens of my illustrations of Tolkien's world. Stay tuned for details on when this will air….
• For folks interested in my original paintings and sketches, please take a look at the ADC Art and Books online catalog at www.adcbooks.co.uk. It features Tolkien-themed works by Ted Nasmith, Peter Pracownik, and myself. In addition, you'll find collectible items (e.g. Black & White Ogre Country: The Lost Tales of Hilary Tolkien) and rare books featured in the catalog and on the website.
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Tuesday, October 5, 2010
[ElfstoneLARP] Mystical Realms Newsletter for October, 2010
Greetings!
And welcome to my newsletter for October, 2010! Please feel free to forward this to anyone you think would be interested in keeping up with me! To receive these newsletters regularly, please drop me an email or subscribe online from my website (http://www.JefMurray.com ) or at: http://groups.google.com/group/Mystical_Realms . Notices of events and items of interest are at the bottom of this email.
Ponderings ==============
After the meal, the revelers gathered around the blazing hearth to enjoy the pleasure of new friendships and the renewal of old ones. They were basking in the light of the Yule log and in the warmth of brandy after the Christmas Day feast when some called for a Christmas tale. Brother Aran, who was by far the most versed among them in ancient songs and lore, was closely pressed, and after some coaxing, he agreed to entertain them.
"Let me think," he said. "I've heard so many wondrous tales over the years, as have others among us." Here he paused and glanced up at Father Hildebrandt. "But here's one I've rarely shared, and I daresay very few of you are likely to have heard it before, at least the full tale."
"You've all encountered the story of the Fourth Wise Man, have you not?" he asked. Many of them nodded in assent. "Well, in that tale, there was a fourth king who sought to attend the nativity of Christ, but who lost his way and instead spent his fortune on those in need whom he encountered on his journey. And in that way, he came to know Christ in the poor, even though he never saw the child Jesus with his own eyes. But, here's a more ancient tale, and one that was told in various forms from the earliest days of Christianity.
"It seems that there were four wise men: Balthasar of Arabia, Melchior of Persia, and Gaspar of India were the three best known to us. But the fourth was named Mazadân, and he came from the British Isles. He was a Druid, and like the others, he had watched the stars and had seen that some great movement of God's grace was in motion. Mazadân was of an ancient race, and some said he had fairy blood flowing in his veins. So, he had lived for many ages of men without aging at all; and in his lengthening years, he learned much about the nature of man and about his foibles and weaknesses.
"It was the autumn of the year when he had first observed the star in the east, and the leaves were blazing gold and crimson in the highlands, when Mazadân began his long trek through the forests of northern Europe and sought passage to the land of Judea.
"Because Mazadân was a hermit and a prophet, he ruled no lands and had no treasure to bring to the Christ child. But he rendezvoused with the other Magi before they sought audience with King Herod. And, being subtle and wise in the ways of men, Mazadân tarried at the court of Herod after the other Magi had departed: long enough to see clearly the king's duplicity. That is, despite Herod's outward show of wishing to pay homage to the child himself, he in fact sought him so that this new threat to his own sovereignty might be removed speedily and ruthlessly.
"Armed with this knowledge, Mazadân removed from Herod's court and followed in the footsteps of the other Magi, arriving at Bethlehem several nights after the three kings had departed. And when he arrived, he prostrated himself before Mary and Joseph and told them that God had sent him to guard and protect the child, and he warned them about Herod.
"So it came to pass that Mazadân helped the Holy Family to escape from Judea into Egypt and to avoid the slaughter of the Innocents that Herod brought down upon all of the young children of his realm. And Mazadân became as a cherished uncle to Jesus, and later, a cousin.
"For Mazadân, despite his many years, had the appearance of a man in his late youth or early middle years. And, as Jesus grew to manhood, Mazadân remained just as he had been, so that when Christ took up His ministry, Mazadân even appeared to be the younger of the two. By that time, Mazadân had taken unto himself all the habits and rituals of the Jews, and so was accepted among Jesus' kin as one of their own. And even as Jesus gathered His apostles, Mazadân became one of them, appearing the youngest but being, in fact, the eldest of them all. And he took the name of John, and because he had been known and loved by Christ for all of the Savior's days, he was called by Jesus "the beloved."
"Much of what we know about the apostle John comes from his own gospel, and of course it was always the most prophetic and the richest of the four gospels, even as Mazadân was wiser and could see farther into the future than the other followers of Christ; except perhaps for Paul, whom Mazadân also came to love. But Paul came later, after the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. And it was not in vain that Christ placed the care of his mother into the hands of Mazadân at the foot of the cross; He knew that Mazadân would protect and honour Mary, even as he had been His own guardian ever since His infancy.
"We know of Mazadân's writing of the gospel of St. John, but he would not call himself by that name or by his true name, even in his own book; rather, he refers to himself simply as "the beloved disciple". Historians also tell us that it was a different John who wrote the book of the Apocalypse, but it was not so. Mazadân was John of Patmos just as he was John the Apostle. And he wrote that second book as a result of his own revelations from God after the Assumption of Mary; because by then, and as a result of his long years in the company of our Lord and of the Blessed Virgin, he had grown in spiritual stature and in favor with God, and his prophetic vision had grown keen.
"But what became of Mazadân after writing his Revelation? Here the thread of his tale gets tangled, because this was the time of the weakening and collapse of the Roman Empire and of the long darkness of the ages that followed it. Medieval myth puts Mazadân back in the British Isles during the time of the historic King Arthur, and in some cases he is said to have been a member of Arthur's Round Table. Other tales make him out to have been the knight Parcival, or Ambrosius Aurelianus, or even the great hero of the north, Sigurd, who slew the dragon Fafnir. Still others claim that Mazadân became an itinerant priest and wanderer through the bitter lands and ages that led up to the plague years…the "Wandering Jew" named Cartophilus who is to bear witness to Christ unto the final days of this earth.
"But nowhere is Mazadân's death ever recorded, nor is there any suggestion that Christ's words to St. Peter in Chapter 21 of St. John's gospel referenced anyone other than Mazadân. The passage reads thus:
"So Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, 'Lord, and what is to become of this man?'
Jesus said to him, 'If I wish for him to remain until I return, what is that to you? Follow Me!' "
o o o
Brother Aran ceased speaking. There was a long silence in the room as the listeners pondered his tale.
"So, does this mean", said Charles, "that Mazadân could still be alive, living among us even today?"
"So it would seem," said Brother Aran, leaning back in his chair.
"But if he never ages, he could be anyone, could he not?"
"Certainly," said Brother Aran. "He could even be someone in this very room."
There was a moment of embarrassed silence as the revelers glanced nervously about at each other.
"But, Brother Aran," said Father Hildebrandt, "if that were truly so, there would be nothing to fear, would there? Surely, as you say, this Mazadân was sent as a guardian and protector of the Holy Child, correct?"
"Yes, Father Abbott."
"Anyone sent by God in such a capacity could not be evil, and his presence would be more than welcome to us, especially in dark days such as these."
"Indeed, Father Abbott, that is so," said Brother Aran.
"But what do you make of this tale, Brother Azarias?" asked Charles, turning to their mysterious companion. "Do you think any of it could possibly be true?"
Azarias glanced at the faces of those around the fire and smiled. "I make of it an intriguing legend. But, I fear we would only know the truth of the tale by asking Mazadân himself."
"And how would you go about doing that?" asked Charles. "Where would you go looking for Mazadân, if you wished to find him?"
Azarias looked at Charles thoughtfully. Then he said, gently, "I don't believe you would ever be able to find Mazadân...unless he wished to be found. And I believe he would only wish to be found if some grave peril was at hand: one that called for him to show himself forth as the one living and irrefutable witness to the events of the Resurrection; or that called for knowledge or wisdom such as only he had attained over the centuries. He would never reveal himself lightly; for it would be a terrible shock to the people of these times to come to know that such a one as he existed in their midst."
The revelers became silent and thoughtful. Gazing into the fire, each of them could hear the wind roaring outside the windows of the hall; and in the rustling of skeletal leaves against glass panes, the enormity of the time encompassed by Brother Aran's tale seemed a palpable and mysterious presence in the fire lit room. Thus deep in contemplation, none noticed the glance that passed between Azarias and Father Hildebrandt, nor the flicker of a smile on the latter's face.
Prospects ===================
It is apparently going to be a big media autumn for me, as I will have a lot of my work appearing in two upcoming magazine issues:
First, the November/December 2010 issue of the St. Austin Review (StAR) features one of my paintings ("Melkor") on its cover, plus a two-page spread of some of my latest paintings and a short article of mine within. The issue in general focuses on apocalyptic visions, particularly as seen in science fiction. Please check out the latest issue by going to the StAR website at http://www.staustinreview.com/ .
Second, the next issue of Gilbert Magazine (see http://www.gilbertmagazine.com/ ) is the art issue, and in addition to including a couple of my dragonish paintings ("The Repentant Dragon" and "Pensive Dragon"), there will be an interview with me and fellow artist Tim Jones, plus (possibly!) a short humorous tale of mine.
The folks who brought you the Festival in the Shire in Wales this last August (see www.FestivalintheShire.com) will be holding a new exhibit of Middle-earth themed paintings and prints in Leiden, Holland in November. This event will be held from Thursday, November 11 at 10:00am - November 14 at 4:00pm at Utrechtse Jaagpad 2, Leiden, Holland, this exhibition will features works by Rodney Matthews, Paul Raymond Gregory, Roger Garland, Ruth Lacon, Steve Walsh, Sue Wookey, Ivan Cavini and myself. You can find more information on Facebook by searching on "Festival in the Shire- Free Preview Exhibition".
There are two new Tolkien-themed calendars that are either now available or soon will be. Both feature some of my work, as well as that of many other notable artists:
The 30th Anniversary 2011 Beyond Bree calendar is available at http://www.cep.unt.edu/bree/Flyer02.pdf . This special calendar features work by Sylvia Hunnewell, Ted Nasmith, and many others; it focuses on the Istari…the wizards of Middle-earth.
The 10th Anniversary 2011 Northeaster Tolkien Society calendar is available from http://herenistarionnets.blogspot.com/p/nets-calendar.html . This calendar features the art of Anke Eissman, Sue Wookey, and myself.
The online SF Fanzine "Starship Sofa", Volume 1 of which was a winner of a 2010 Hugo Award, is preparing to release Volume 2 on October 10, 2010. I was privileged to illustrate a tale that will be included, written by Jason Sanford, entitled " Into the Depths of Illuminated Seas". It is a surpassingly strange tale about pirates (!) and a lass who can foretell the deaths of all of the sailors in her port town. You can learn more about this Fanzine at http://www.starshipsofa.com/ .
Illustrator-signed editions of The Magic Ring: Deluxe Illustrated Edition, by the Baron de la Motte Fouqué, is now available to folks in the U.S., Canada, and the UK. You can purchase directly from my website at www.JefMurray.com (click on the "Books" button on the left of the page). I was privileged to have been asked to develop the cover and interior illustrations for this new edition, and it is one that finally presents this tale in a format in keeping with its magical and epic themes. Described as a cross between "The Lord of the Rings" and "Ivanhoe", this is a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, and one that will appeal to all ages of folk who love chivalry, enchantment, and romance. You can keep up to date on the book's reception on the Facebook page entitled "The Magic Ring", or at Valancourt's website.
A new EWTN TV special is being prepared on J.R.R. Tolkien. Featuring Joseph Pearce, this production will also include dozens of my illustrations of Tolkien's world. Stay tuned for details on when this will air….
For folks interested in my original paintings and sketches, please take a look at the ADC Art and Books online catalog at www.adcbooks.co.uk. It features Tolkien-themed works by Ted Nasmith, Peter Pracownik, and myself. In addition, you'll find collectible items (e.g. Black & White Ogre Country: The Lost Tales of Hilary Tolkien) and rare books featured in the catalog and on the website.
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MARKETPLACE
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Tuesday, September 14, 2010
[ElfstoneLARP] "Chivalry Today" Podcast on "The Magic Ring"
Greetings!
A new podcast was just released yesterday by "Chivalry Today"
that features an interview with Dr. Amy Sturgis on the newly-released
illustrated version of "The Magic Ring" by Baron de la Motte Fouque.
You can listen to this podcast by clicking the following:
http://www.podcastalley.com/podcast_details.php?pod_id=24443
The show in question is podcast 43.
Hope you enjoy this!
Jef
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Tuesday, September 7, 2010
[ElfstoneLARP] Mystical Realms Newsletter for September, 2010
Greetings!
And welcome to my newsletter for September, 2010! Please feel free to forward this to anyone you think would be interested in keeping up with me! To receive these newsletters regularly, please drop me an email or subscribe online from my website (http://www.JefMurray.com ) or at: http://groups.google.com/group/Mystical_Realms . Notices of events and items of interest are at the bottom of this email.
Pitchers ==============
I have posted three new painting images on my website. These are a currently unnamed work that will be the cover image for a book that I am illustrating, plus "Radagast", and "Helm's Deep". You can see all of these by going to http://www.JefMurray.com and clicking on the "Newest Works" button on the top of the page.
In addition to these works, I've added a few new graphite sketch images. These include the new sketch of Reepicheep and of Lucy and the Spellbook, both from C.S. Lewis' "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader". I've also included additional interior illustrations from "The Magic Ring".
As always, these and all of the works in my online galleries are available as signed and numbered limited-edition Giclee prints.
Do let me know how these new images strike you!
Ponderings ==============
Scudding September days dawn; trouble trembles tree leaves and tumbles parched pavements. We await quicksilver storms to quench hot horizons. Forthwith shall foliage fold and flail with tempest's trumpet; but for now all is fallish folly. Steam heat mirages mete….
Muscadines shine in netted nests. I pick pocket purple plums and perfume passersby with pithy scent. Fermented fantasies they'll swell; bubbling brews tall tales will tell. Fearlessly we'll flay fell fictions and dark dreams dispel.
But for now, the rout of ripening reigns; all is fizzing in falsetto. But bloom is broken; doom has spoken and rinds rattle, hinds huddle. Feast well, doughty dears, for all is passing… passing… passing…. All that's lasting soothes and snuffs our fears, but Love alone safeguards these golden years.
Prospects ===================
• Our latest grand exhibition at Moreton in Marsh, "The Edge of the Wild", is over and was a great success. We had mixed cool and rainy days followed by mild sunny weather. Every windowbox was filled with begonias and pansies, and the corn fields were golden and glowing. Many thanks to all of the folk who made our trip over so special.
• A new EWTN TV special is being prepared on J.R.R. Tolkien. Featuring Joseph Pearce, this production will also include dozens of my illustrations of Tolkien's world. Stay tuned for details on when this will air….
• The online SF Fanzine "Starship Sofa", Volume 1 of which was a winner of a 2010 Hugo Award, is preparing to release Volume 2 on October 10, 2010. I was privileged to illustrate a tale that will be included, written by Jason Sanford, entitled " Into the Depths of Illuminated Seas". It is a surpassingly strange tale about pirates and a lass who can foretell the deaths of all of the sailors in her port town. You can learn more about this Fanzine at http://www.starshipsofa.com/ .
• Illustrator-signed editions of The Magic Ring: Deluxe Illustrated Edition, by the Baron de la Motte Fouqué, is now available to folks in the U.S., Canada, and the UK. You can purchase directly from my website at www.JefMurray.com (click on the "Books" button on the left of the page). I was privileged to have been asked to develop the cover and interior illustrations for this new edition, and it is one that finally presents this tale in a format in keeping with its magical and epic themes. Described as a cross between "The Lord of the Rings" and "Ivanhoe", this is a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, and one that will appeal to all ages of folk who love chivalry, enchantment, and romance. You can keep up to date on the book's reception on the Facebook page entitled "The Magic Ring", or at Valancourt's website.
• For folks interested in original paintings and sketches or prints of my work, please take a look at the ADC Art and Books online catalog at www.adcbooks.co.uk. It features Tolkien-themed works by Ted Nasmith, Ruth Lacon, Peter Pracownik, and myself. In addition, you'll find collectible items (e.g. Black & White Ogre Country: The Lost Tales of Hilary Tolkien) and rare books featured in the catalog and on the website.
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MARKETPLACE
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