#Castillo de San Marcos

[rabbitcruiser]

Benches/Chairs (No. 90)

Castillo de San Marcos, St. Augustine

Sawgrass Mills, Sunrise (three pics)

Santa Barbara, CA

Dead Sea, Jordan (two pics)

Petra, Jordan (three pics)

[dallasyt]

Join us on an exciting journey as we explore Castillo de San Marcos, America's oldest masonry fort located in Saint Augustine, Florida—the oldest city in the United States! Built in 1695, this historic landmark offers a fascinating glimpse into colonial military architecture and the rich history of Spanish Florida. From its stunning coquina walls to the breathtaking views of the Matanzas River, discover why this iconic fortress has stood the test of time and remains a symbol of resilience and heritage. Don't miss out on this incredible adventure through history!

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SEE YOU NEXT WEDNESDAY!

[disabled-traveler]

The Disabled Traveler’s Guide to Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

St Augustine, Florida The historic town of St. Augustine, Florida, which claims to be the oldest city in the United States, was founded in 1565. The Castillo de San Marcos, nestled on the shores of St. Augustine’s Matanzas Bay, is a unique, bastion-style fortress that has served as a military post since 1672. Built from an indigenous and semi-rare stone composed of the shells of dead shellfish…

[asecrettheoryblogfl]

First contact and Seloy

As said before, I don't think it's in FOY park, but I see why many do. I've been reading up on the first contact, and often times what pops up is the Timucua people, lead by Cacique Seloy.

Found out that the first fort was build over his main hut- totady that is Castillo de San Marcos, a couple of blocks south of FOY park, in the Spanish quarter.

Apparently, the verbiage of "first contact" concerning Seloy is something found in academia and museums. Since Byron (the author) was known to go to local museums and clearly had an interest in museums, I think this is where it came from.

[sabistarphotos]

February 8, 2023

St. Augustin, Florida

[thereasonsimbroke]

The Castillo de San Marcos with PalpaKelli 🇪🇸

[myprettyparanoia]

Florida has some pretty water, also some unfairly aesthetic seagulls

Some dumbass kid chased away the birds literally a second after I got that picture

These were taken outside of the Castillo de San Marco, 10/10 would recommend visiting --- the grounds around the fortress are just as cool as the inside too, and walking around the grounds is perfectly free

I'm mostly just surprised the sky stayed so clear, it was nice

[marianadecarlos]

hewwo ma amie !! i came as stated cus bourbon - habsburg infodump exchange

I would actually want a presentation about mariana de austria ... im a loser who doesnt know much about her ! i read about her when she got to spain and was confused about spanish (that was so real from her) but i dont know more cool stuff about her at all ... so feel free to tell me anything you find remarkable about her !

who is your favourite bourbon ? :3

Thank you for this Question:

Queen Mariana of Austria is known as the Mother of Charles II of Spain and the niece/wife of Philip IV. She was Queen Regent when her husband Philip IV died and ruled on Carlos II's behalf until he was 14. Like Charles II, Queen Mariana was a victim of the classic “decline of Spain” paradigm. She is defined by 19th-century historians as “weak,” “unstable,” and “ignorant” but also “Machiavellian,” “scheming,” “with a German outlook” (meaning foreign), at times “melancholic” because she suffered from migraines, and was overly pious and uninterested in politics because she “dressed as a nun." She was accused of handing power over to her favorites; Jose Everardo Nithard and Fernando de Valenzuela. In reality, She was smart, strategic, strong, decisive, and seemingly tactile. Her favorites played a dominant role in her regency but her strong and decisive personality and her extensive and consistent participation in all aspects of government suggest otherwise. She faced two political crises during her regency the first was in 1669 resolved by her dismissal of Nithard; the second, between 1675 and 1677, ended with Valenzuela’s fall and her exile. There is evidence in state papers to prove that she did not surrender power to them. Speaking of Jose Everardo Nithard, He was Mariana's tutor, friend, and later her confessor. He was made inquisitor General. As for Valenzuela, Known as the palace elf, due to his influence and connections to people in high places. He married a woman who is part the queens valet. He provided Queen Mariana information about gossip and rumors that were circulating in Madrid. Valenzuela got more influencial overtime which created tension between him and the court. He was Mariana's protégé. Their friendship caused controversy and nasty rumors where made about them as a result. The worst one I believe was the rumor of Queen Mariana sleeping with Valenzuela. The fact that people actually believe that rumor makes me angry. Mariana was dressed as a nun because this is the type of dress worn by Habsburg widows. She made a few changes to the garb like having princely folds and lavish materials. Queen Mariana was exposed to the Spanish cultural traditions because Mariana's mother is Philip IV's sister. She was exposed to Italian culture because of two generations of italian empresses. Mariana both observed and participated in court ballets, rituals, and ceremonies; her dance master, Santo Ventura, was highly regarded. Boys received this kind of instruction as well. Leopold I, for example, was an avid consumer and practitioner of theater and music as emperor. At the age of seven, for example, Mariana publicly greeted her parents on their return from the Diet of Regensburg in 1641 by saluting her mother in the Spanish style and her father in Latin. When the fourteen-year-old performed a similar greeting in Trento, this time as queen of Spain, she had had at least seven years of practice. Queen Mariana was educated and spoke Latin, Spanish and German well. Judging by her education and her fleunt spanish, I doubt she struggled speaking spanish. I read somewhere that Queen Mariana as a child loves playing with dolls. She was cheerful, obedient, and lively girl. Her marriage to King Philip IV of Spain was always described as a terrible marriage because King Philip "cheated" on her, their different personalities, and massive age gap. In reality, They had an affectionate relationship and King Philip was loyal throughout their marriage. He described himself as a change man and would give Mariana everything she wanted. They did struggle financially though and at times could get caught in a series of arguments. I mean no marriage is perfect.

Gossip writer Barrioneuvo reports that one day The Queen asked for pastries and commented that she was not served for some days. She was told that the pastry cook would not supply the palace until a large outstanding bill had been paid. She removed a ring from her finger and ordered a servant to exchange it for pastries; Manuelillo de Gante told her to put the ring back on and gave the servant a copper to buy some tarts so that the Queen can finish her dinner.

Queen Mariana was the woman behind Castillio De San Marco, After a pirate attack in June 1668 roused Mariana into action. Queen Mariana was horrified receiving this news because the attack was so brutal. On March 11, 1669, the queen regent issued her decree ordering the viceroy of New Spain to send subsidies to the city. She also added funding for the building of a masonry fortification and additional soldiers. To oversee the project, she sent Don Manuel de Cendoya to St. Augustine as the new royal governor. Her judgement protected and spurred the city’s growth over the following decades. This growth even led to a later governor requesting the same regent queen for a new two-story, coquina Governor’s House in St. Augustine.

Mariana was a good mother-in-law to Marie Louise of Orleans. After the wedding of Marie Louise, Carlos introduced Marie Louise. Marie Louise bowed to her but Queen Mariana grabbed her hands and told her to stand; and said "Call me mother" with a smile.

Mariana in the year 1696 felt pain in her breast turns out she had breast cancer and she tries her best to hide it because she did not want Maria Anna of Nueburg to take over. The pain was unbearable that she asked the doctors to check her breast. When they examined the Queen they found a huge tumor in her breast. Their is no treatment for this and she was offered relics and prayers. When she died.

Reports of miracles attributed to her quickly began to circulate. These miracles and her body’s reported “incorruptibility” three years after her death led to a beatification proceeding in the last years of Carlos’s reign. Mariana’s path to sainthood, however, came to an abrupt end when the new dynasty, the Bourbons, took power. Both the beatification proceedings in 1698 and its abandonment in 1702 were as politically motivated as everything else in her life had been

I won't give too much information on her regency because there is a book about it called Queen, Mother, and Stateswoman Mariana of Austria and the government of Spain by Silvia Z. Mitchell. This book is my source about her and the reason why I made this blog so her side of the story will be known. Other sources are from https://governorshouselibrary.wordpress.com/2022/09/22/mariana-de-austria-the-queen-behind-the-castillo-de-san-marcos/?fbclid=IwY2xjawE5D5UBHUpP8HVhtFboR9ZThC2j5LNDLj531pKjmVxtGQbf7A2yMOo2AuNxqEU3Qw

I like 4 bourbons, Philip V, Luis I, Fernando VI, and Carlos III. If I had to choose one it would be Carlos III because he modernized Spain and imposed great reforms.

Sorry I took so long to reply

[myhauntedsalem]

CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS GHOST PICTURE

Castillo de San Marcos is a fort in St. Augustine, Florida. The city itself is very old, being built by the Spanish in 1565. By 1695, the fort was completed after 23 years of construction. It is the oldest masonry fort in the United States. Castillo de San Marcos is said to be very haunted by local residents. Many executions took place in its courtyard, and bodies are said to be buried in and around the fort.

Pirates posed a threat to the fort, and one pirate by the name of Andrew Ransom was captured nearby when his ship crashed. The photograph below was taken by a tourist and then given to Cal Colgan afterward. Cal and the photo appeared on an episode of Ghost Adventures. Some believe it is Andrew Ransom.

The man to the left is believed to be pirate Andrew Ransom. He was not seen by anyone when the photo was taken. The picture was given to Cal after the phantom man with a high collar was discovered in the photograph.

[pot-black]

It's stuff like this that makes me love my job.

Taken during a month long project at the Castillo de San Marco, a Spanish-built Fort in St. Augustine, Florida , January, 2024. The Castillo is the oldest European masonry structure in the continental US. It also is the oldest fort. Construction began in 1672 and was completed in 1695. It is built of a local sedimentary stone, Coquina.

There are three drains that allow water to flow off the parapet wall. They were added to the fort to fix a settling problem. Each drain has a pipe that allows water to shoot past the wall under peak flow, because the wall is banked. But the Florida Humidity means that water is always dripping from the pipes. And the drips are landing on the wall.

Over the years this has eroded the stone. It had not been helped by past maintenance efforts to patch the stone. They patched the holes with a material that was denser than the stone. This increased erosion around the patches, and even allowed water to pool in some eroded holes. We were tasked with solving the drip issue by extending the pipes, removing the older patches and replacing them with less dense ones, and on stones that were beyond saving, removing and replacing the face entirely.

but first the wall needed to be cleaned and devegetated. Initially was told to only do the spots under the drains, but I did such a good job that I was told to clean the whole north wall. Was very satisfying, aside from getting soaked and caked in dirt 10 hours a day for two weeks.

Can anyone guess who I work for? Doesn't take sherlock to figure it out here.

[feral-soup]

This post made me and my bffs take a weekend road trip to St. Augustine to see the gators and the Castillo

Aug ABSOLUTELY deserves the praise, @ryukikit. St. Augustine Alligator Farm is one of my favorite animal facilities, hands down. It's a pretty zoo, doable in an afternoon if you kinda like crocodilians, or an all day affair if you REALLY like crocodilians. Here are my favorite things about it and why I think it's worth supporting.

1. They keep animals in interesting social groups.

Crocodilians are heavily involved parents, but most places that breed them don't have the enclosure space to let the babies stay with the parents. St. Augustine does. One of my favorite groups was their crèche of slender-snouted crocodiles. They had the parents and then a yearling cohort and a new hatchling cohort. This aligns with how these guys live in the wild- the babies stick around longer! They have the space for it, and they are very in tune with the social needs of their animals.

Very, very few zoos can keep their baby crocs with the adults and still perform maintenance and animal health checks safely. This doesn't mean these facilities are bad- it just means that they have different management practices. And frankly, a lot of these species aren't frequently bred elsewhere. Your average zoo doesn't need a setup where you can have a multiyear crèche for slender-snouted crocodiles. Some species have better success when the young are pulled early, and some zoos are better set up to raise out any offspring separately or behind the scenes. Every facility's practices are different, and this just happens to work well at St. Augustine and be really enjoyable to see as a zoo patron.

Crocodilians are exceptional parents and very protective. It's a sign of incredible animal management practices and animals that feel very comfortable with staff that St. Augustine can do this with nearly every species they breed.

2. They understand the social needs of their animals.

Some crocodilians are social. Some are solitary. Some can live happily with a member of the opposite sex but get territorial around members of the same sex. St. Augustine pays incredible attention to their social groupings to ensure that they aren't just meeting the animals' physical health needs but their social needs as well. They do continuous scientific research about social structures in crocodilians, taking blood samples to test stress hormones and observing stress behaviors to see how group dynamics change.

For example, St. Augustine is home to one of the world's largest known living saltwater crocodiles, Maximo. And his comparatively tiny mate, Sydney. During the educational presentations with these two, they point out that even their monster of a croc needs his social group- he won't eat if she's not around and he is calmer during medical checks if he can see her. These animal share a deep and special pair bond, and they make sure to talk about how the social aspect of these animals' lives is integral to their care. It's a unique aspect of the way they talk about these animals, because he IS a spectacle and he IS a sensation, but they don't talk about him like he's a mindless killing machine- they talk about him like he's a big, complex predator with social needs like any other animal. Aug is the only facility I've been to where the emotional and social needs of crocodilians is part of the education they provide guests- and speaking of education...

3. Their demos and presentations are extremely good.

The presentations at St. Augustine are some of the best I've ever seen, and I've seen literally hundreds of animal talks on everything from aardvarks to zebras. But as you... can probably tell from my blog content, I've spent a lot of time learning about and working with reptiles. I really enjoyed all of their presentations because they are very scientific about things and avoid sensationalism. They really want you to be fascinated by these creatures and love them- but more than anything else, they want you to respect them.

Also, they do a really good job handling their ambassadors. I really enjoyed something as simple as watching an educator tell us about snakes. Throughout the whole presentation she made sure that most of the snake's body was looped in her hand. The snake was always supported and was very calm. She gave the snake plenty of head room so that it didn't feel constricted- it was just good handling all around.

But also, the presentations made it clear how much the park cares about the animals' well-being. When they do the feeding and training presentations, they make it very clear that the animals' participation is entirely voluntary. They do things differently for their 9-foot saltie and their 16-foot saltie, because the 16-footer is so large and heavy he actually struggles walking on land sometimes. They adapt their programs and his care to ensure that he's completely comfortable- and he didn't actually participate in the whole feeding when I was watching! At no point did they try to push him into anything uncomfortable; they offered, he didn't engage, and they moved on. It was a clear expression of his boundaries, and I really appreciated how much his caretakers respected that.

4. Ethical Interactions

I've been to... a lot of tourist locations in Florida that have animals you can hold. Almost always against my will! Many of them are pretty terrible, and you don't actually learn much, if anything. But I really found that to not be the case at St. Augustine. Every single animal presentation and interaction opportunity was accompanied by education about the animal's biology, habits, and- crucially- their conservation status.

When I held a baby alligator at St. Augustine, the proctors- there were two, one to ensure I was holding the gator correctly and the other to educate- were very informative about the role alligators play in their ecosystem and their conservation history. The animals were all properly banded, and one of the two proctors was there to ensure that none of the baby alligators were uncomfortable. As soon as they started getting squirmy or tense, they were removed, unbanded, and taken to an off-exhibit area to relax. And when the babies age out of petting size, they just go in the lagoon to live with others of their species. I saw one upset alligator the entire time I was there, and he was clearly upset that his escape attempt was foiled by a keeper during my nursery tour.

Even though he's restrained in this shot, you can see that his full body and tail are supported, and the grip, while firm, is gentle. He's distressed, but after I took this picture, she put him in his enclosure and he calmed down immediately.

Sometimes when you have petting attractions with baby animals, those animals... don't have a happy ending. (See: cub petting.) But St. Augustine's program is fine- the gators are all aged out of wanting to have mom around, there's no declawing/defanging, and they're handled with care. And it's worth it, because people love what they understand. St. Augustine was integral in raising public awareness about alligators back in the 60s when they were endangered, and now they're thriving- largely in part to programs like St. Augustine getting people to care.

And speaking of getting people to care, let's talk about their research.

5. Shared Research Results

St. Augustine is also home to more species of crocodilian than anywhere else in North America- all of them, usually. (They didn't have a Tomistoma when I visited- that may have changed.)

Because of this species diversity, it's an incredible research resource. Having every species means that you can do a lot of work comparing their behaviors, their growth patterns, and more. They've been a major research site for crocodilian biology since the 1970s. Today, they're one of the key sites for studying crocodilian play and social behaviors. They actually maintain a blog where they post copies of papers that were written using their animals, meaning that you can actually see the results of the research your admission helps fund. You can see that right here: https://www.alligatorfarm.com/conservation-research/research-blog/

All of this adds up to a zoo that provides a unique experience, tons of actual education, and transparency about what its research and conservation steps actually are. St. Augustine's come a long way since its opening in 1893, and they really do want you to leave with a new respect for the animals they care for. Ultimately, if you're a fan of reptiles, you can feel good about visiting the St. Augustine Alligator Farm- their care and keeping are top of the line, they do a ton of innovative conservation research and support for conservation organizations, and you can see this animal there:

(Gharial from the front. Nothing is wrong with her that's just what they look like from the front.)

[rabbitcruiser]

Benches/Chairs (No. 89)

Balboa Park, San Diego

Los Angeles, CA (three pics)

Key West, FL (two pics)

Jacksonville, FL (two pics)

Castillo de San Marcos, St. Augustine (two pics)

[moonlight-records]

Light Show Surprise | LS2 (HAC #2)

pairing: ls2 x reader

summary: your favorite activity during the holiday season is to go look at the holiday lights. thankfully, Logan knows just what to do.

warning: fluff!

fc: none!

wc: 913

a/n: day 2 of moonlight records holiday advent calendar!

day 1 | current day | day 3

The holiday season can truly be a fun but overwhelming time for people with how much they can do. From ice skating to s’mores making and even movie marathons. Some people prefer to shop or explore. Your favorite part of the holiday season was the light shows. It was the least overwhelming thing. Being able to just go around and look at all the beautiful lights and see how people decorate. Especially light shows.

Like last year when you went to the Jones Beach light show in New York. You were visiting friends and you all had decided at the last minute to go see the light show. The five of you packed into the car and headed down to the beach, getting a bit lost but eventually found the line of cars and booths to pay, which you all laughed about because it was right there how you guys missed it, you don’t know. You pay per vehicle and slowly drive through seeing all the different designs. Some highlights you saw last year were Barbie, dinosaurs, Santa, and some animals through your drive.

Then halfway through you can stop and get out for the rest room and to see the snack area. They have popcorn, hot chocolate, churros, water and more. They have tables and thankfully it’s indoors so it’s warm. Outside they have a makeshift ice rink along with some bonfire stations for s’mores and a giant Christmas tree to take pictures which you and your friends took advantage of. Then you guys hopped back into the car, the sunroof opened (cause your friend insisted on sticking his head out like a dog) before it was over and you guys went off to Applebees for half apps and drinks.

It was a great night. You hope you can do it again sometime.

“Babe!”

“Coming!”

You finish applying your mascara and come downstairs. Logan is standing by the front door and breaks into a grin as you come over. Wrapping his arms around you, he gives you a quick kiss. “Ready to go?”

“Yep!”

“Do you have everything?”

Opening your bag you go through your checklist. “Phone, wallet, keys, portable charger, headphones and gum and since you won’t tell me where we’re going,” you tease, “I think I have everything for tonight.”

“I don’t think so. I think you’re forgetting this.” Logan holds up your coat and you laugh as you put it on. “Now we’re ready.” Pulling back, Logan takes your hand and leads you out.

The car ride is delightful. You get to control the aux and you switch between singing and yapping poor Logan’s ear off as he drives. Logan tells you to close your eyes about five minutes away from the surprise. You do and even cover your eyes with your hands as you start asking questions about the surprise. Logan just laughs and tells you that you’ll find out soon enough.

You keep your eyes covered when the car parks and Logan comes over to help you out of the car. You let Logan gently guide you as you can make out other people talking. It feels like forever when you two finally stop. “Okay,” Logan says, “open your eyes.”

You open your eyes and blinks to adjust for the change of lighting. You gasp softly seeing all the lights around St. Augustine that you can see while standing at the Bay front near Castillo De San Marcos. You turn to Logan, eyes wide in awe. “Logan.” You start, at a loss for words.

“Surprise!” Logan grins.

“Oh Logan, this is wonderful!” You start, “though why are we kind of far?”

“Well, that’s why.” Logan gestures to the red carriage coming forward. The carriage stops in front of you two and Logan quickly talks to the driver to confirm the carriage for them before he climbs in and offers his hand to you before pulling you up. You immediately sit, cuddling up to Logan’s side as you take in the carriage and notice the flowers decorating the back before the carriage starts with a slight jerk as you cuddle in a bit closer.

The carriage was a 30 minute ride. The carriage didn’t go over bridges and really focused on downtown but it gave you two the best view of the lights around St. Augustine. You happily ramble softly to Logan as you take in the sights of the lights. You glance at Logan from time to time, when he points out lights that you missed or any cute dogs he’s spotted on the tour, or just listens to you ramble with the warmest smile.

When the two of you arrive back at the Bayfront Logan helps you out of the carriage before tipping the driver. You wait for Logan before smiling as he takes your hand and starts leading you back towards the lights. “Oh Logan, this is amazing,” you gush as you lean into your boyfriend’s side, smiling up at him.

“Good! I’m glad you enjoyed it.” Logan kisses his forehead, “now come on, we have to snag some photos. I think I improved on my boyfriend's duty of taking photos.”

“You really want to make up for your horrible Thanksgiving post, don’t you?”

“Noooooo…” Logan glances at you and smiles sheepishly, “maybe.”

You can’t help but laugh and steal a kiss from Logan, “you’re so cute and you’re lucky I am feeling such festive joy that we can go take photos.”

Logan grins, “perfect.”

[dailyanarchistposts]

“For me, wherever I go, I know my natural and eternal environment, and I know it as part of me and me of it. Beyond whatever we think, there is a darkly glimmering mystery far beyond reason and sanity, but full of the wholeness of beauty. It perpetually sustains and bestows all things with their own nature and being- perfectly, fully and without need for further elaboration or rectification. This is the sorcerous conception of deity.”— Robin Artisson, The Toadbone Treatise

It’s December and the air is warm here.

I peer out my window with drink in hand, watching the blood-splashed sun collapse beyond the horizon and into the highway. For a moment I relish being in a State where drinking a lime-juice cocktail isn’t a desperate plea for warmer days. Here winter never comes, and as such, we never need to change our tastes to heartier or heavier food and drink.

The Southeast is the only home I’ve known: a land of sweltering heat, mosquitoes the size of your arm, and uninterrupted madness via Florida Man. Where I dwell is nothing special: an average middle class town, the wonder and mystery of the city far away and only faintly sensed. The hustle and bustle of modern living remains only a faint rumor on the wind. Life moves along uninterrupted, save for twinges of change here and there. I can imagine such a life would not be enough for some, and truthfully it’s not enough for me. But in the meantime, there’s no rush; I drink deeply from the land and Spirits around me.

I think about Gordon’s piece on Natural Magic, the equation of Self+Spirit World+Place. It rings true to me. I think about the natural world around me, my own slice of it. Underneath the regular suburban dregs still beats the heart of that wild Florida, in every thicket and every wood. In them I’ve rattled open doorways between realms in areas smaller than some public parks, I’ve spoken with Swamp Spirits and learned the unspoken keys to plant identification, and I’ve traded payment and favors with the local Dead and seen them manifest right before my eyes. All these things happened in my hometown not in spite of it, but through it.

The great lesson of Folk Magick has always been that magick was right at hand, that you didn’t need a library of books or special clothes and wands to do it. In Hoodoo a quick trip to the grocery store and some significant places around town will allow you to hurl just about anything at people. When I’m particularly stuck for an ingredient I always go Journeying into the Spirit World and ask my friends there what might do the trick. And often the most powerful gifts are the simplest.

I came to read playing cards, to cast my eyes into the twisting nether realm of probability and possibility not through some online course nor through paid lessons from a teacher. I went down to the crossroads for nine nights around 11:45pm and called out to the One Who Dwells There to teach me, the only sacrifice being the time I spent there. And teach me He did. I found whole new ways of looking at the cards, as books and ideas seemed to drop into my view from all over; I read what I could, but the biggest advances seemed to come from just being out there, alone and in the dark, hearing whispers in my head and seeing symbols dance before my eyes. I read the cards now with great accuracy, with my window into the shifting seas of potentiality amounting to an admission fee of one dollar.

Often in life our own worlds can seem disenchanted, our existences too far away from any of “the action” to feel meaningful. As in spirituality so too in politics: the same way my heart longs to stir up the dead in St. Augustine it flutters at thoughts of joining in armed resistance somewhere in the streets of Rojava; as I ponder the possibilities of protective mojos made and blessed with the dirt from Castillo de San Marcos, I wonder what revolutionary potential I could add to the people’s struggles in Baltimore, Oakland, Chiapas, and Greece. Economics and familial ties, at least for the moment, always get the upper hand.

But I do not rest on my laurels. I read, I study, I speak with those around me. I consider myself the advance guard, the agent behind enemy lines. I gather folks of like mind around me and we plan, we plot, we create pockets of resistance and freedom. We are the first cells of the revolution you see, mitochondria that will one day evolve into a greater being. We put pamphlets, we put up posters, we engage in Direct Action. Rather then wait for ‘THE Revolution” I’ll do what I can here and now, building “the new world in the shell of the old.”

Those that simply wait for monumental change, or worse vote in the hopes it will come, display a distinctly unmagical air about them: they don’t believe anything can change unless everything does, they can’t imagine that their actions could move even the tiniest mole hill, they huff that the time is never quite ripe, that until some Unknown Messiah arrives we’d best simply hope for change.

Surely we, through direct experience, know better then this?

Can’t a hidden gesture or half-mumbled phrase move someone’s mind? Won’t a fervent prayer, a simple oil, and an intensity of Will attract unseen hands to guide you? Doesn’t the simplest mix of red pepper, black pepper, and sulpher cause the flames of hell to leap up at our command? You can’t have it both ways: either you and your allies can literally shift the movin’ and shakin’s of the luck plane as well as this artifice we call physical reality, or it’s all a sham.

I don’t know about you but I’ve got notebooks filled with proof that what we deem “inevitable” or “unmalleable” is plainly not so.

Magic presupposes we can change the foundations of the world around us. Why do our political beliefs so often not follow this maxim? Why are we waiting for some Vanguard, some Party, some Candidate, to rip up the noxious weeds of Capitalism and The State? Did we come by any of our magical knowledge by waiting or did we simply go out and start doing what we could? Wasn’t every bump in the road a lesson, every victory a confirmation that even against the odds we can win?

My tradition courses through the land and was born in struggle: against the State, against the Boss, against the Police. Under candle light and shroud of burning herbs I can feel the air thick with those that whispered or sang prayers in other times; they know, they understand: the battles may be different, the symbols may have changed, but the struggle has not. Candle flames burst with the same heat and energy raging away in my heart, teeth gritting in Nietzschean Will to change the world and break anything that stands in my way. Road Opener work or Revolution, what’s the difference?

My tradition is not alone: anyone laying hands on the practical magic of the past is touching a People’s History. You did what you could with what you had on hand, including whatever ghosts and goblins happened to be around. These people were in the same boat we are: under the heel of an oppressive state apparatus, one that could kill them at any time, all for the service of an economic elite. They too watched an increasing portion of all the value they created get siphoned away, hunger pangs and anxiety the mother of many a prosperity spell. Any good witchcraft carries with it the sublime scent of necessity; by the time you’re in the woods at midnight making pacts with unseen things it’s safe to say the usual channels of change have been blocked.

What else is magic but the metaphysical embodiment of Anarchism, of politics on a spiritual plane? That YOU could defy the laws of the “Lord” and make new arrangements for yourself, that YOU could gain insights and knowledge beyond your “station” in life, that YOU needn’t wait for someone to save you because you were going to save YOURSELF? Isn’t that what Sorcery is all about? Wasn’t it a battle against the dragon Zarathustra spoke about, the one that must be defeated, that must be slain?

“Who is the great dragon whom the spirit will no longer call lord and god? ‘Thou shalt’ is the name of the great dragon. But the spirit of the lion says, ‘I will.’ ‘Thou shalt’ lies in his way…”

The day is dead now, street lights and shabby store signs acting as artificial suns. The lights manage to keep the hum-drum thoughts of day still near, a collective religious belief in the firm and unvarying nature of reality, that nothing has nor will it ever change. The lights bring stability and safety. In this warm paradise where winter never comes it’s easy to believe the lie that most things are unwavering, that some things just stay the same.

For instance, global capitalism or a client’s bad luck?

But I have neither the time nor the inclination for such adult bed-time stories. I close the blinds and set about the work of changing the world around me. To succumb to the thoughts of static existence, of even settled accounts is preposterous. I call out to the Unseen with techniques and tricks propelled into the future by the most disadvantaged in this region while the plantations of the past have gone from places of frightening power to mere relics. While others buy and sell my soul flies right down to the primal, throbbing tap-root of the land around me; what was once an altar in any other townhouse becomes the Crossroads of All Existence; my voice no longer my own, my body wracked with spasms, I become a conduit for things that others claim can’t or shouldn’t exist.

Impossible? Can’t? Won’t? Shouldn’t? All these words are nothing to me! There is only The Will. And if you Will it, it is no dream.

[wandering-jana]

Castillo de San Marcos in Puerto de San Maria, Spain. It was originally built as a fortified church, on the remains of a mosque.

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[mishimamiravenecia]

Nicopeia Icon of San Mark's in Venice

Icono Nicopeia de San Marcos de Venecia

Icona Nicopea di San Marco a Venezia

The icon before the robbery. Missing are strands of pearls that hung from the round hooks on either side under the initials. The precious jewellery, later recovered, is currently on display in the Treasury of Saint Mark's.

El icono antes del robo. Faltan los hilos de perlas que colgaban de los ganchos redondos a ambos lados bajo las iniciales. Las preciosas joyas, recuperadas posteriormente, se exponen actualmente en el Tesoro de San Marcos.

L'icona prima del furto. Mancano i fili di perle che pendevano dai ganci rotondi ai lati sotto le iniziali. I preziosi gioielli, poi recuperati, sono attualmente esposti nel Tesoro di San Marco.

(English / Español / italiano)

 It was probably created in the early 12th century, specifically to follow the emperor and the army on campaign. Perhaps it was made for John II himself, who spent most of his reign in the field, fighting the empire's many enemies.  This icon traveled with John II and his family throughout his military campaigns. When John returned to Constantinople for a parade celebrating a military victory he gave up his gold, silver and ivory chariot and had the icon placed in a kiot (decorated theca for preserving and displaying icons) that stood in his place. The victory john was celebrating was the recapture from the  Muslim Turks of the ancestral castle of the Komnenian family, Kastamon.  John believed the Virgin was personally responsible for this important victory. 

The icon was taken by bloodied Crusader soldiers in 1204 in hand-to-hand combat with the defenders of the city at the Pantepotes Monastery which was and the last stand of the Byzantines.Taken as spoils of war by the Venetians, the old and blind Doge Dandolo, who died in Constantinople in 1205, would immediately send the icon to Venice as the most important trophy of the destruction of Constantinople. Era il simbolo di come gli equilibri di potere si fossero appena spostati da Bisanzio sul Corno d'Oro alle lagune di Venezia, Dio aveva ora trasferito la Sua benedizione da Costantinopoli a Venezia con la forza delle armi.

In February 1438 a large delegation from Constantinople arrived in Venice headed for for a great church council negotiating the union of the churches that was held in Italy.  The ancient Patriarch Joseph II along with a group of clerics and nobles visited Saint Mark's and saw the treasures that had been looted in 1204. Here is an account of the visit:

... We also looked at the divine icons from what is called the holy templon... These objects were brought here according to the law of booty right after the conquest of our city by the Latins, and were reunited in the form of a very large icon on top of the principal altar of the main choir... Among the people who contemplate this icon of icons, those who own it feel pride, pleasure, and delectation, while those from whom it was taken — if they happen to be present, as in our case—see it as an object of sadness, sorrow, and dejection. We were told that these icons came from the templon of the most holy Great Church. However, we knew for sure, through the inscriptions and the images of the Komnenoi, that they came from the Pantokrator Monastery.

***

Probablemente se creó a principios del siglo XII específicamente para seguir al emperador oriental y a su ejército en las campañas bélicas. Tal vez se hizo para el propio Juan II Comneno, que pasó gran parte de su reinado en el campo de batalla, luchando contra los numerosos enemigos del imperio; este icono viajó con Juan II y su familia durante sus campañas militares. Cuando Juan regresó a Constantinopla para un desfile en celebración de una victoria militar, renunció a su carro de oro, plata y marfil e hizo colocar el icono en un kiot (teca decorad para conservar y exponer iconos) que había en su lugar. La victoria que Juan celebraba era la reconquista del castillo ancestral de la familia Comnena, Kastamon, a los turcos musulmanes. Juan creía que la Virgen era personalmente responsable de esta importante victoria.

En la Cuarta Cruzada, en 1204, el icono fue tomado por los soldados cruzados tras un combate cuerpo a cuerpo con los defensores de la ciudad de Constantinopla, cerca del monasterio de Pantepotes, que constituía la última resistencia de los bizantinos. Tomado como botín de guerra por los venecianos, el anciano y ciego dux Dandolo, que murió en Constantinopla en 1205, enviaría inmediatamente el icono a Venecia como el trofeo más importante de la destrucción de Constantinopla. Era un símbolo de cómo el equilibrio de poder acababa de pasar de Bizancio en el Cuerno de Oro a las lagunas de Venecia, Dios había transferido ahora su bendición de Constantinopla a Venecia por la fuerza de las armas.

En febrero de 1438, una gran delegación de Constantinopla llegó a Venecia de camino a un gran concilio eclesiástico celebrado en Italia para negociar la unión de las iglesias. El antiguo Patriarca de la Iglesia bizantina José II, junto con un grupo de clérigos y nobles, visitó San Marcos y vio los tesoros que habían sido saqueados en 1204. He aquí un relato de la visita:

....  También hemos contemplado los iconos divinos de lo que se llama el sagrado templon...Estos objetos fueron traídos aquí según la ley del botín inmediatamente después de la conquista de nuestra ciudad por los latinos, y fueron reunidos en forma de un icono muy grande en lo alto del altar mayor del coro principal.... Entre las personas que contemplan este icono de iconos, los que lo poseen sienten orgullo, placer y deleite, mientras que los que se lo han llevado -si están presentes, como en nuestro caso- lo ven como objeto de tristeza, pena y abatimiento. Nos dijeron que estos iconos procedían del templón de la Santísima Gran Iglesia. Pero nosotros sabíamos, por las inscripciones y las imágenes de los comnenes, que procedían del monasterio del Pantocrátor.

***

 Probabilmente fu creata all'inizio del XII secolo appositamente per seguire l'imperatore d'Oriente e l'esercito in campagna bellica. Forse è stato realizzato per lo stesso Giovanni II Comneno, che trascorse gran parte del suo regno sul campo, combattendo i numerosi nemici dell'impero; questa icona viaggiò con Giovanni II e la sua famiglia durante le sue campagne militari. Quando Giovanni tornò a Costantinopoli per una parata che celebrava una vittoria militare, rinunciò al suo carro d'oro, argento e avorio e fece collocare l'icona in un kiot (teca decorata per conservare ed esporre icone) che stava al suo posto. La vittoria che Giovanni celebrava era la riconquista del castello ancestrale della famiglia Comnena, Kastamon, da parte dei turchi musulmani. Giovanni credeva che la Vergine fosse personalmente responsabile di questa importante vittoria.

Nella quarta crociata, nel 1204, l'icona fu presa dai soldati crociati dopo un combattimento corpo a corpo con i difensori della città di Costantinopoli, presso il Monastero di Pantepotes che fu l'ultima resistenza dei Bizantini. Presa come bottino di guerra dai veneziani,   il doge Dandolo, vecchio e cieco, che morì a Costantinopoli nel 1205, avrebbe subito spedito l'icona a Venezia come il trofeo più importante della distruzione di Costantinopoli. Era il simbolo di come gli equilibri di potere si fossero appena spostati da Bisanzio sul Corno d'Oro alle lagune di Venezia, Dio aveva ora trasferito la Sua benedizione da Costantinopoli a Venezia con la forza delle armi.

Nel febbraio 1438 una numerosa delegazione da Costantinopoli arrivò a Venezia diretta a un grande concilio ecclesiastico che si tenne in Italia per negoziare l'unione delle chiese. L'antico Patriarca della Chiesa Bizantina Giuseppe II, insieme ad un gruppo di chierici e nobili, visitò San Marco e vide i tesori che erano stati saccheggiati nel 1204. Ecco un resoconto della visita:

....  Abbiamo anche guardato le icone divine da quello che viene chiamato il sacro templon...Questi oggetti furono portati qui secondo la legge del bottino subito dopo la conquista della nostra città da parte dei Latini, e furono riuniti sotto forma di una grandissima icona in cima all'altare maggiore del coro principale.... Tra le persone che contemplano questa icona delle icone, chi la possiede prova orgoglio, piacere e diletto, mentre a chi l'ha prelevata – se è presente, come nel nostro caso – la vede come un oggetto di tristezza, tristezza e sconforto. Ci è stato detto che queste icone provenivano dal templon della santissima Grande Chiesa. Ma dalle iscrizioni e dalle immagini dei Comneni sapevamo con certezza che provenivano dal monastero del Pantocratore.

Source text extracted from: pallasweb.com

photos: pallasweb.com