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John Taylor, 11th Great Grandfather
June 9, 2013
— 2 Comments
Rev John Taylor
One of the many preachers in my mother’s paternal ancestry, this reverend John Taylor seems to have helped Henry VIII solidify the Church of England. I need to go back and study British history, just like the War of the Roses business. If, indeed, this Rev. Taylor was in cahoots with royal Henrys VII as well as VIII, the tables of fortune turned on his son, Rowland, who was burned at the stake. Royal and loyal did not always work out for my ancestors. The preacher theme is passed down all the way to my mother’s grandfather who was a preacher in the Church of Christ in Texas.
is my 11th great grandfather
son of John Taylor
son of Rowland Taylor
son of Thomas Taylor
son of Thomas Taylor
son of James Taylor
son of John Taylor
son of John Taylor
son of John Taylor
son of John Nimrod Taylor
son of John Samuel Taylor
son of William Ellison Taylor
daughter of George Harvey Taylor
I am the daughter of Ruby Lee Taylor
John Taylor (c. 1480 – 1534) was Master of the Rolls of the Court of Chancery from 1527 to 1534, following a successful career as a priest and civil servant. Taylor would have been notable just for the circumstances of his birth: he was the firstborn of healthy triplets who all survived to adulthood, which was virtually unheard of in the 15th century.
King Henry VII met John and his brothers Rowland and Nathaniel in their childhood, and undertook responsibility to educate the three boys if they came to manhood; this informal act, and others like it, later inspired Queen Victoria’s Royal Bounty for Triplets which continued until the reign of Elizabeth II. There is note in the Royal Privy Purse expenses of 1498 “for the wages of the King’s Scoler John Taillor at Oxenford.”[1]
During his lifetime, Taylor donated money towards the building of St. James Church in Barton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire, the village where he grew up. Construction began in 1517 and was completed in 1533. The John Taylor High School, a specialty science school founded in Barton-under-Needwood in 1957, was named in his honor.[2]
In 1503, Taylor was ordained Rector at Bishop’s Hatfield, and then became Rector of Sutton Coldfield in 1504. He served as one of the Royal Chaplains at Henry VII’s funeral, 21 April 1509, and was afterwards appointed by King Henry VIII as the King’s Clerk and Chaplain-he was later one of the commissioners to decide if Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon was valid. In 1511, he was made Clerk to the Parliament.
Taylor was appointed as Archdeacon of Derby in 1515, then as Royal Ambassador to Burgundy and France and Prolocutor of Convocation. In 1516, he was appointed Archdeacon of Buckingham, and was conferred the degrees of Doctor of Civil Law and Doctor of Canon Law at Cambridge in 1520. He was one of ten chaplains present at the Field of the Cloth of Gold in 1520. In 1528 he became Archdeacon of Halifax.
From 1527 to 1534 he was Master of the Rolls of the Court of Chancery — the presiding officer of the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal. This position was the third most senior judicial position in England (after Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Justice).
References· “Taylor, John (d.1534)”. Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885-1900.1. Notable Bartonians: John Taylor (circa 1480 to 1534)2. John Taylor High School
Source: John Taylor (Master of the Rolls). (2011, September 20). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 15:03, October 27, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Taylor_(Master_of_the_Rolls)&oldid=451553336
James Taylor, England to Carolina
June 4, 2013
— 5 Comments
grave James and Mary Taylor
My 7th great grandfather sailed to America when he was 27 years old, to start a new life in the new world. Two different James Taylors on the early Virginia scene make research a bit tricky:
The James Taylor known in history as James Taylor 1st, may be the son of immigrant John Taylor and nephew of the above Dr. James Taylor. He was b in England 1635 and was transported to America under the Headright System by John Rosier of Northumberland Co., Va., 7 Feb 1650. He was well educated, an able lawyer, surveyor, vestryman of the church, and a member of the ‘40’s,’ a group of trustworthy men chosen to defend the Colony against Indians. Each man was levied a tax in arms and provisions. The record of this assignment is in the Parish Register of Northumberland County, Virginia, 1676, listed by Melnor Ljungstead in early court records and notes.
“James Taylor I was a large landowner and he was a prominent citizen in the colony. He was a lawyer and public official and served as a member of the House of Burgesses. He was sheriff of New Kent County in 1690 and vestryman of Saint George’s Parish. He was married, first, about 1666 in Virginia to Frances Walker who died September 23, 1680. He moved to Orange County, Virginia, and belonged to Saint Stephen’s Parish in New Kent County and also in King and Queen County…
“James Taylor I was married, second, to Mary Gregory August 12, 1682. She was born about 1665 and died about 1747. She was a sister of John Gregory, Jr., and they were from Essex County, Virginia. Her father was John Gregory and her mother was Elizabeth Bishop of Sittenbourne Parish, Rappahannock County, Virginia…”
James Taylor of New Kent County 10/21/1687 744 acres Rappahanock County Virginia Land Patents Book 7 page 625 South side of the Rappahanock River, 480 acres granted to Mr. Henry Abery, who sold to Mr. Robert Bishopp, who bequeathed to John Gregory, who gave to his sister Mary, now wife of said James Taylor; said land in danger of being lost was petitioned for by said Taylor the 1st day of the last Genrll. Court -04/15/1687 & granted by the Gov’r; beg. by the Indian Path alias Mr. Abrey’s path, to fork of Gregory’s Creek, on Richard Gregory’s lyne, in sight of John Gatewood’s plantation, to the Rowleing Roade. 246 acres for the transport of 5 persons: James Taylor, Hanna Martin, Robert Jones, Ursula Collis, Hanna Collier.
Mr. James Taylor and John Neal of New Kent County 10/20/1689 209 acres New Kent County Virginia Land Patents Book 8 page 16 in St Stephen’s Parish, on North side of Mattapony (Mattaponi) River, beg. below James Taylor’s plantation, along John Neel’s line, to Col. Thomas Walker, on Robert Jones, To Thomas White’s. Importation of 5 persons: Tho. Grimstone, Hugh Jones, Tho. Allen, Tho. Davis, Anne Brooking.
The Virginia Heraldica Being a “Registry of Virginia Gentry Entitled To Coat Armor” edited by Wm Armstrong Crozier; 2nd addition; Southern Book Co., Baltimore 1953, List James Taylor in Vol 7 on pg 108.
Crest: A naked arm couped at the shoulder embowed, holding an arrow ppr. Motto: Consequitur quodcunque petit. “Strikes what he aims at or he gains what he seeks.”
James Taylor, ancestor of the Caroline County family of that name, is said to have come from the vicinity of Carlisle, England. He was in VA before 1650 and took out patents of land on the Mattaponi River.
An old ring handed down in the family is said to have once been his property, and it bears engraved upon it the above crest which is that of the Taylors of Pennington Castle.
Taylor Caroline county Crest: A naked arm couped at the shoulder embowed, holding an arrow ppr. Motto: Consequitur quodcunque petit. James Taylor, ancestor of the Caroline county family of that name, is said to have come from the vicinity of Carlisle, England. He was in Virginia before 1650 and took out patents of land on the Mattaponi River. By his first wife, Frances, he had Jane, born 27 Dec., 1668; James, born 1674; Sarah, born 1676. His first wife died in 1680, and in 1682 he married Mary, sister of John Gregory, by whom he had the following children: John and Anne, twins, born 1685, John died young; Mary, born 1688; Edmund, born 1690; John, born 1693, died young; Elizabeth, born 1694, died young; John, born 1696. James Taylor died about 1698 at an advanced age. An old ring handed down in the family is said to have once been his property, and it bears engraved upon it the above crest which is that of the Taylors of Pennington Castle. The descendants of James Taylor have been exceedingly prominent in the history of the State, one of them–Zachary, becoming President.
Frances Bell Evans, a Gr Gdau of James Taylor has in her possession a Seal Ring, which bears the Taylor Arms, which he wore, and with the ring the legend has been handed down which is said to have added the fourth Boars’ Head to the Arms. It relates that when the Chase was at it’s height, a wild boar, hard driven, turned upon the Royal Huntsman, whereat there sprang to his defence one of the attending Knights, who interposing, thrust the animal through with his lance. The King, in gratitude, told him to prefer any request whatsoever and that it should be granted. From this time the “Crest” and Distinguishing Mark of this Knight and his descendants was the uplifted Arm with Lance in Hand, accompanied by the Motto:
“Consequitor quadcumque Petit” (He Strikes what He Aims at or He Gains What He Seeks).
The descendants of James Taylor have been prominent in the history of the State, one of them — Zachary, becoming President. A common ancestor with Pres. Lincoln. “Old Taylor” liquor was created by a KY relative.
“There are two recorded dates of the death of James Taylor, one April 30, 1698, and another September 10, 1698. He died in King and Queen County, Virginia, Saint Stephen’s Parish. King and Queen County was formed from New Kent County in 1691.
“James Taylor held many land patents. In 1671 he owned 1,650 acres of land along the Mattaponi River. Between 1687 and 1695 he purchased more land along the Mattaponi so that his total acreage was 13,925. In 1693 he deeded to trustees of South Farnham Parish two acres and fifty perches of land on the south side of Hoskins Creek for a church. He held a patent for 950 acres of land in Kent County, Virginia, where he built his home and named it Hare Forest, named for the Earls of Pennington Castle in England where Taylor ancestors are buried. By division of county lines his home was in Orange County, Virginia, where his children were born. This home is now located in Caroline County, Virginia, about eight miles from Bowling Green, Virginia. He died 30 April 1698, and is buried in King William County, Virginia, which was a part of his estate. (Comment: Note that some of the above information seems to be referring to Dr. James Taylor, the uncle of our James. Researchers beware!- his uncle may have built Hare Forest).
“On 6 June 1933 a memorial tablet to James Taylor 1st was unveiled at King and Queen County courthouse in Virginia. Dr. Rupert Taylor, Senator Henry Taylor Wickham and Admiral Hugh Redman of the U.S. Navy addressed the gathering. Following is some information taken from excerpts of their speeches: New Kent County was formed in 1654. King and Queen was formed from New Kent 1691. Essex was formed in 1692, King William 1701 and Caroline in 1727.
“In 1690 as Sub-Sheriff of New Kent, County, Virginia, James Taylor served summons on those connected with Jacobite disturbances. He was Attorney of several cases in Essex County. He was also connected with trying to stop the lawless organization known as ‘Plant Cutters,’ who destroyed and burned tobacco plants and beds at night in an effort to control the price of tobacco.
In 1683 Gov. Henry Chicheley called out the militia, arrested and punished the offenders. However, Lord Culpepper who represented England’s interests, didn’t agree with the decision. Consequently many were indicted and ‘hanged by the neck until they were dead.’
The Tablet is inscribed as follows:
“James Taylor of England emigrant lawyer, public officer, lived in St. Stephen parish, King and Queen County, Virginia, died April 30, 1698, first wife, Frances Walker, born 1640, died April 22 or Sept 22, 1680, she was the daughter of Thomas Walker and niece of Edward Walker of Virginia. James’s second wife, Mary Gregory, daughter of John Gregory the son of Roger Gregory who first married Mildred Washington, aunt of General/President George Washington. Mary was from Essex County, married August 12, 1682, from him were descended , President James Madison, President Zachary Taylor, Colonel James Taylor (Knighe of the Horse Shoe), Judge Edmond Pendleton, John Penn signer of the Declaration of Independence, John Taylor of Carolina, General James Taylor of Kentucky, Admiral David Taylor, Admiral Hugh Rodman, Admiral Robert M. Berry, and other distinguished churchmen, soilders, sailors and officials, in each generation who assisted in the formation and perpetuation of the colonies and this nation”.
“This tablet given by Jaquelin P. Taylor, seventh in descent, June 1933.” A short biography of James Taylor, filled with the errors alluded to above, is contained in Carte’s The Forebearers and Descendants of William Taylor and Mahala Cromwell:
“The Forebearers & Desc of Wlm Taylor & Mahala Cromwell” by Carrie Carte 1980 LDS 929.273T219c “Americans of Gentle Birth & Their Ancestors” LDS 973D2pa “Historical Southern Families” by Boddie LDS 975D2B Vol 4 & 5 Note:James Taylor age 28 is listed as a px on the Truelove of London to Bermuda in 1635 (from “The Original Lists of Persons of Quality 1600-1700 by John Hotlen 1931) See the 1st listed doc above for info on the Taylor home & cemetery James Taylor was a lineal desc of the Earls of Pennington & emigrated in 1635.
[Comment: Note that some of the above information, especially the dates, seems to be referring to Dr. James Taylor, the uncle? of our James. Researchers beware!]
In Family Puzzlers, Feb 3, 1977, No. 485: The Taylors of Orange trace their ancestry back to James Taylor of Carlisle, ENG. The time of his emigration to VA is not actually known. He settled on Chesapeake between North and York Rivers, and died in 1698.
Jamestown VA – 1624 MARTINS HUNDRED VA T460 ? TAYLOR 1624 JAMES CITY CO. VA T460 TAYLOR, Fortune
Moss, Mary m. 19 Aug., 1724, John Taylor. St. Paul’s Parish Register.
Submitted by Sara Beth Swope, a descendant of Mary & Samuel J. Dunn. 8/97; EMail: sbswope@netten.net
In 1987 she found the old Lewis-Taylor Cemetery now Crowder Cemetery, near Whiteville, Hardeman Co. TN. She mailed me Bible records, wills, charts, other researchers notes; a great deal of data on the Joseph Taylor and Mary Ann Taylor families who migrated to Hardeman Co. TN. See list below.
History of Fayette Co. TN. 1986; Family Puzzler 2-3-77 No. 485; Mary Ann Blackwell Bible records; R. B. Shore Bible Records; 1985 Taylor Descent; Shore chart & Shore Descent; Crowder Cemetery Picture; Rev Thomas Taylor memoirs; Joseph Taylor’s will and 1985 letter; Ancestory of Elizabeth Willis Goode by Carol J. McCraw and Col. Joseph Taylor record.
Other sources where info on James Taylor can be found are listed below some with conflicting info. One Thousand Years of Hubbard History Genealogy of the Cloyd Basye and Tapp Families Beverly’s History of VA St. Mark’s p. 74; Genealogical and Historical Notes on Culpeper, VA Register of Maryland’s Heraldic Families Vol 1 The Lewis Family of the Seventeenth Century
“Of Carlisle, ENG; much of the descent and vital statistics from NGS Quarterly Vol XVIII, Jun 1930, No 2. Located in VA between the York and North Rivers. 1693 DEED: King and Queen Co, VA, DB 8-268. Capt. Joshua Story, James Taylor, and Jonathan Fisher 9,150 acres. 1694 DEED: King and Queen Co, VA, DB 8-317. James Taylor 134 acres. 1695 DEED: King and Queen Co, VA, DB 8-414. James taylor 500 acres.
According to this researcher: Name is James Cary Taylor Birth: 1615 in Earl Hare,Carlisle,England 1 Death: 12 Sep 1698 in King And Queen,Virginia Father: Thomas Taylor b. 15 Mar 1574 in Hadley,Middlesex,London,England Mother: Margaret Swinderby b. 1578 in Copenhagen,Denmark Burial: Bowling Green,Caroline County,Virginia Mary Bishop Gregory (Wife) b. 1665 in Essex,Caroline County,Virginia Marriage: 12 AUG 1682 Children: Elizabeth Taylor b. 1684 Ann Taylor b. 1684 Mary Taylor b. 1686 Mary Bishop Taylor b. 2 Jun 1688 in Caroline County,Virginia John Powell Taylor b. 18 Nov 1696 in Caroline County,Virginia
Frances Walker (Wife) b. 1640 in Accomoac. Accomack County,Virginia Marriage: 1666 in New Kent County,Virginia Children: James Taylor b. 1668 James Taylor b. 14 Mar 1675 in King And Queen,Virginia Jane Taylor b. 1674 Sarah Taylor b. 1676
James Taylor held many land patents. In 1671 he owned 1,650 acres of land along the Mattaponi River. Between 1687 and 1695 he purchased more land along the Mattaponi so that his total acreage was 13,925. In 1693 he deeded to trustees of South Farnham Parish two acres and fifty perches of land on the south side of Hoskins Creek for a church. He held a patent for 950 acres of land in Kent County, Virginia, where he built his home and named it Hare Forest, named for the Earls of Pennington Castle in England where Taylor ancestors are buried. By division of county lines his home was in Orange County, Virginia, where his children were born. This home is now located in Caroline County, Virginia, about eight miles from Bowling Green,Virginia. He died 30 April 1698, and is buried in King William County, Virginia, which was a part of his estate. (Comment: Note that some of the above information seems to be referring to Dr. James Taylor, the uncle of our James. Researchers beware!- his uncle may have built Hare Forest).
James Taylor (1608 – 1698)
is my 7th great grandfather
John Taylor (1685 – 1776)
son of James Taylor
John Taylor (1727 – 1787)
son of John Taylor
John Taylor (1747 – 1781)
son of John Taylor
John Nimrod Taylor (1770 – 1816)
son of John Taylor
John Samuel Taylor (1798 – 1873)
son of John Nimrod Taylor
William Ellison Taylor (1839 – 1918)
son of John Samuel Taylor
George Harvey Taylor (1884 – 1941)
son of William Ellison Taylor
Ruby Lee Taylor (1922 – 2008)
daughter of George Harvey Taylor
Pamela Morse
I am the daughter of Ruby Lee Taylor
Rev Thomas Crosby, 9th Great Grandfather
May 23, 2013
— 2 Comments
Crosby Coat of Arms
My 9th great-grandfather made it across the Atlantic Ocean to arrive in the new world at the age of 8 months, in 1635. He was born in England and his grave can be found today, located in Boston. He graduated from Harvard College and became a minister. There are conflicting reports about his formal ordination, but no doubt that he was employed to teach religion. He also got to trade ammo and alcohol. He made his money selling liquor, powder, and shot. This paints a funny picture if you ask me, but I am prejudiced against much of the founding fathers’ behavior. Thomas was well respected in his time as a preaching ammo and alcohol dealer. I appreciate that he survived so I can be here today. It would have been very easy to die on the voyage from England as an infant, but he had a different destiny.
Thomas Crosby (1635 – 1702)
is my 9th great grandfather
daughter of Thomas Crosby
daughter of Sarah Crosby
daughter of Sarah Sears
daughter of Sarah Hamblin
daughter of Mercy Hazen
son of Martha Mead
son of Abner Morse
son of Daniel Rowland Morse
son of Jason A Morse
son of Ernest Abner Morse
You are the daughter of Richard Arden Morse
Reverend Thomas Crosby was baptized at Holme on February 26, 1635, named after his grandfather. He was brought to New England by his parents on 2 October 1635 (8 months old).
He graduated from Harvard College in 1653. Although never ordained, he was hired in 1655 to preach in the church at Eastham, MA and continued as minister succeeding Reverend John Mayo there until 1670 at a salary of 50 pounds per annum. Reverend Crosby was also engaged in trade and in 1664 was among those who kept for sale “liquor, powder and shot”.
Later, he became a merchant at Harwich, Mass., and while on a business trip to Boston was found dead in bed there, 13 June 1702, aged sixty-seven years. His inventory totalled £1091-16-0 with debts of £717-16-0, leaving a net estate of £374-0-0. His heirs divided his property by agreement, 8 Aug. 1705.Marriage 2 Sarah FITCH b: in Mass.1662Children Thomas CROSBY, Jr. b: 7 APR 1663 Sarah CROSBY b: 24 MAR 1666/67 Joseph CROSBY b: 27 JAN 1668/69 John CROSBY b: 4 DEC 1670 in Eastham, Massachusetts William CROSBY b: 16 MAR 1672/73 Ebenezer CROSBY b: 28 MAR 1675 Anne CROSBY b: 14 APR 1678 Mercy CROSBY b: 14 APR 1678Increase CROSBY b: 14 APR 1678 Eleazer CROSBY b: 31 MAR 1680When Thomas was eleven years of age and his brother Joseph was seven, they removed with their Mother to Braintree, a Village on the south side of Boston, Mass. now Quincy, after her marriage to the Rev. William Tompson.After attending District School, with the assistance of Doctor Tompson, entered Harvard College, graduating in 1653, and was ordained a clergyman. He was minister at Eastham, Mass. from 1655 to 1670. He seems to have been engaged as a religious teacher to carry on the Sabbath Service at a salary of 50 pounds.While at Eastham, he was engaged in a trade. He resided near the burying ground, a place he bought of Jonathan Sparrow in 1665. He removed to Harwich, about 1670, here he was also engaged in a trade. His widow, Sarah, the mother of his 12 children, m. Apr. 28, 1703, John Miller, of Yarmouth. He died in 1702 and has many descendants living in the vicinity of Cape Cod, Mass. He had a half-sister Anna, born in 1648.
In about 1662 he married Sarah Fitch. Their children born in Eastham, MA were: 1. Thomas born April 7, 1663, died May 21, 1731. 2. Simon born July 5, 1665, died 1718 3. Sarah born March 24, 1666-7, married Silas Sears 4. Joseph born January 27,1668-9, died May 30, 1725. 5-6. JOHN (3) born December 4, 1670 and died May 25, 1717 and twin who died February 11, 1670/1 7. William born March 1672-3 8. Ebenezer born March 28, 1675 9-11. Anne, Mercy and Increase born April 14, 1678 (Anne married William (2) Luce, (Henry 1) on July 5,1704) 12. Eleazer born March 31, 1680Later he became a merchant at Harwich, MA and was one of the founders of the church in that town. On a business trip to Bostonhe was found dead in bed there on the 13th or 27th of June 1702, age 67 years. He is buried in the Old Granary Cemetery in Boston, MA. After his death, his widow Sarah married John (2) Miller of Yarmouth on April 8, 1703, son of Reverend John and Lydia Miller.
Sister Kelly and Ishtar
March 31, 2013
— 2 Comments
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- Jessica Rabbit
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- Ishtar of Babylon
True religion is a concept hard to grasp. The idea seems to be that divine providence has finally brought all wisdom and knowledge into the possession of one exclusive (chosen) group. This group, who thinks it is all that, persecutes other groups because they are not in possession of true religion. In some places one needs to handle snakes or fall down on the floor speaking in tongues to satisfy the veracity of one’s religion. In other places one only has to donate funds, and then is totally off the hook. True religions distinguish themselves by claiming not to be connected or influenced by religions in history. They often have dead or living prophets that rule the roost. In the south they also have radio shows. Sister Kelly uses her pulpit to explain how the Babylonian fertility and war goddess, Ishtar, got mixed up into Easter. Kelly McGinley of Mobile, Alabama wants to get to the bottom of all this history and evil.
Yes, Sister Kelly, there is an Ishtar, and her fertility symbols are used in a mixed metaphor called Easter. It is fine if you want to stay home while the rest of us go out to brunch and eat chocolate bunnies. We have no need to cast aspersions on your beliefs.
Wealth
March 29, 2013
— 3 Comments
Andrew Carnegie wrote an essay he called The Gospel of Wealth. This idea came to him after Carnegie had become the wealthiest man in the world. As we check the biblical Gospel for Easter, we should check the reality gospel that is practiced in our nations and neighborhoods. The most disgraceful have been hogging the assets of society, and ultimately of the planet. Symbols of power and politics today are all about over consumption. It does not matter which one— fraud, health care scandals, or useless government busy work are the source of the waste. The point is that our wealth is being used to destroy the general good of the entire society. Our assets are spent to promote shameless partisan destruction of our best interests. We are going morally broke. In 1889 Carnegie wrote:
Thus is the problem of Rich and Poor to be solved. The laws of accumulation will be left free ; the laws of distribution free. Individualism will continue, but the millionaire will be but a trustee for the poor; intrusted for a season with a great part of the increased wealth of the community, but administering it for the community far better than it could or would have done for itself. The best minds will thus have reached a stage in the development of the race in which it is clearly seen that there is no mode of disposing of surplus wealth creditable to thoughtful and earnest men into whose hands it flows save by using it year by year for the general good. This day already dawns. But a little while, and although, without incurring the pity of their fellows, men may die sharers in great business enterprises from which their capital cannot be or has not been withdrawn, and is left chiefly at death for public uses, yet the man who dies leaving behind many millions of available wealth, which was his to administer during life, will pass away ” unwept, unhonored, and unsung,” no matter to what uses he leaves the dross which he cannot take with him. Of such as these the public verdict will then be : “The man who dies thus rich dies disgraced.” ~Andrew Carnegie
Nature of Man
February 23, 2013
— 3 Comments
Is the essential nature of humans greedy or generous? There are two sides to every coin. If it were possible for you to reverse one trend, what would you change? I think I would make it obsolete to ship, process, and package food.
God Archetype
February 20, 2013
— 5 Comments
Jung’s Kundalini
One of Carl Jung’s most controversial theories was his view of the God within. He was drastically disappointed in his first communion at the Swiss Reform Church. His father was the pastor and Carl was a faithful member of his church. He expected something more, or different, when he attended that communion. He basically never stopped pursuing that ecstasy he had wanted through religion for the rest of his life.
His later years were consumed with individuation, which he considered to be the meaning of existence. He used artistic expression, dream journaling, and isolation in a primitive tower built by his own hand to achieve his own individuation. He studied ancient alchemy and philosophy. His belief that symbols contain the most direct and deep meaning lead him to study ancient texts and charts. To Jung individuation was not a substitute for God, but a deep search for the divine nature of self.
His investigations were deep and lengthy. He stated that he only studied of God as a psychological archetype and not as religious doctrine. His idea of the collective unconscious is that images and symbols are primordial. We absorb symbolic messages but do not analyze their meaning. That is why Jungian therapy can include sand box drawing, word association, and art to discover archetypes. Dream work is a pivotal part of Jungian analysis. In his tower, reading about ancient alchemists, living without modern conveniences, Jung came close to living in a dream. Most cannot afford such an extravagant personal quest for the divine, but we can all do a little dream investigation. Does God enter your dreams?
dream spiral
Red Book
February 19, 2013
— 2 Comments
“My friends, it is wise to nourish the soul, otherwise you will breed dragons and devils in your heart.” ~Carl Jung, Red Book, Page-232.
Carl Jung changed the history and the practice of psychiatry. His work is used today by some who are not even aware of his influence or the story of his life. The Red Book was published posthumously after being locked in a bank vault in Switzerland for many years. Finally out of the shadows itself, the book serves as a deep reference as well as an artistic guide to the underworld. How would the Red Book of your soul look? When do you plan to create it?
Drawing Red Book
Do You Believe God Loves You?
February 16, 2013
Julia Sweeney of SNL fame performed the opening of her show “Letting Go of God” for this TED talk. She is witty and insightful as she talks about her childhood exposure to religion. We all had different parental models. My parents were not religious but they belonged to a church they rarely attended. They got the big idea that I needed to go to this Presbyterian church when I was about 11. They made no bones about the purpose of my Sunday school enrollment. It was punishment. I am not sure what the infraction was, but I was to atone by being a Sunday school student. It fully sucked. I successfully physically fought off my mother in the ladie’s room the first time she tried to leave me at Sunday school, but eventually I had to go for a couple of years. I even was baptized and confirmed at the same time, since in infancy I was not baptized. My overall impression is that it was a drag, but I do know some of the songs still today. I asked my father why I had to go and they did not. I always remember his answer. He said, “I believe in God, but not like that.” Why they thought I should be indoctrinated like that is still odd to me.
Cultural Delusion
January 19, 2013
— 4 Comments
Cultural mendacity is a flawed belief system taught and accepted by groups. Plato and Tennessee Williams were very concerned about this subject. Folklore and folk medicine, like belief in the chupacabra, is brought over from the past. Political and commercial propaganda is created daily to influence cultural habits. Pavlov trained his dog to be delusional, consistently. You are trained to think buying Fruit Loops on credit is a fine practice for your budget and your health. The political parties are training you to donate money to feed the status quo without even knowing what the status quo is.
Lance, the psycho bully, Armstrong needs to stand tall as a role model for all of history. Protesting too much is a classic sign of dishonesty. Willful blindness extends to all layers of our society. Most of it is not as harmless (not to indicate that these crimes were petty) as doping cyclists. Mortgage fraud and investment banking fraud, as yet to explained to the victims in clear terms, are examples of cultural delusion. Sick work ethics that ignore misdeeds and reward anti social behavior fall into this category as well. Systems are mendacious, but cultures are easily duped. Like Pavlov’s dog, groupthink salivates at the sound of the bell because it has been taught to associate the bell with food. Pavlov in this experiment plays the part of the government. The bell is congress. The dog is the tax paying citizen. The dog food cupboard is full of imaginary dog food, known as the budget. Mendacity is the system in which we live.
