mermaidcamp
Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water
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Elizabeth Bessiles, 14th Great-Grandmother
March 21, 2013
— 6 Comments
Elizabeth Bessiles
She was the only child and heiress of William Bessiles, whose family had been settled at Besils Leigh, Berks as Leland says in his quaint language, ‘syns the time of Edward the first’. The Bessells cam out of Provence in France and were ‘men of activitye in feates of arms as it appearith in monuments at Legh; how he faught in listes with a straunge knyghte that challengyd hym, at the whitche deade the kynge and quene at that time of England were present’. (source – http://www.tudorplace.com.ar)
She married Sir Richard Fettiplace.
Elizabeth Bessiles (1465 – 1511)
is my 14th great grandmother
Anne Fettiplace (1496 – 1567)
daughter of Elizabeth Bessiles
Mary Purefoy (1533 – 1579)
daughter of Anne Fettiplace
Susanna Thorne (1559 – 1586)
daughter of Mary Purefoy
Gov Thomas Dudley (1576 – 1653)
son of Susanna Thorne
Anne Dudley (1612 – 1672)
daughter of Gov Thomas Dudley
John Bradstreet (1652 – 1718)
son of Anne Dudley
Mercy Bradstreet (1689 – 1725)
daughter of John Bradstreet
Caleb Hazen (1720 – 1777)
son of Mercy Bradstreet
Mercy Hazen (1747 – 1819)
daughter of Caleb Hazen
Martha Mead (1784 – 1860)
daughter of Mercy Hazen
Abner Morse (1808 – 1838)
son of Martha Mead
Daniel Rowland Morse (1838 – 1910)
son of Abner Morse
Jason A Morse (1862 – 1932)
son of Daniel Rowland Morse
Ernest Abner Morse (1890 – 1965)
son of Jason A Morse
Richard Arden Morse (1920 – 2004)
son of Ernest Abner Morse
Pamela Morse
I am the daughter of Richard Arden Morse
Berkshire flag
Equinox Hilaria
March 20, 2013
— 6 Comments
Cybele drives the lion chariot
At the Equinox everyone on earth has about the same amout of darkness and light. The sun is close to the equator as it shines for about 12 hours on all parts of the earth for a day. This seasonal shift is of significance to most native cultures. It signals either a lengthening or a shortening of daylight in the months ahead. It creates the conditions for spring planting or fall harvest, depending on the hemisphere in which you live. For a single day, however, we all have the same amount of light and dark in our experience. The literal meaning of the word equinox is equal night. Many calendars begin around the vernal equinox. Romans began the new year on the Ides of March, Astrology uses 21 March as the first of the year, as the Sun moves into Aires. A new year celebration makes sense at this time, as do celebrations to honor rebirth.
The Roman goddess Cybele was associated with rebirth in one of the first Spring break resurrection parties ever held. Romans were all about blood, so they used real bull blood…no chalice of red wine for them. Hilaria was a celebration of resurrection and eternal life held in Rome on the vernal equinox to honor Cybele. She ruled dangerous animals, fertility, and rebirth. She protects civilization. The fact that she is resurrecting her son, Attis, who is also her lover is not a big deal in Roman terms. These things happen in pantheons all the time. After all was ceremonially brought safely back to life Hilaria commenced in a frenzy of joy and mirth. We do not have any evidence of chocolate bunnies, but they were festive in their own Roman way, with orgies, and chariots drawn by lions, castration, and other stuff they liked. Violets are the flower of the day, since the blood of Attis when he died the first time became the violet we pick in the spring. Do not hesitate to decorate your eggs with violets if you want to get down Roman style this year. Unlike our own Virgin Mary, this mother drives a lion chariot, while holding a pineapple, and is on the violent side, so, caveat emptor.
Roman goddess Cybele
Cybele with her lions
@Pontifex Francis
March 18, 2013
— 1 Comment
Pope Francis has the twitter handle of the Vatican now, and this is his first tweet:
“Dear friends, I thank you from my heart and I ask you to continue to pray for me. Pope Francis.”
His style is matter of fact. He keeps asking for the people to pray for him. He breaks out and kisses babies. I think he is a very smart and astute cookie. The Jesuits are big into discernment as a key to practice. The order teaches ways to recognize the activities of the spirits in action in everyday life. They devote a good deal of time and effort into understanding the emotions and the spiritual meaning in the details. They listen for the voice of God. It is most tempting for the human ego to impersonate the Creator, rather than deeply search for divine guidance.
The Catholic church needs now to both listen to the membership and discern what is spiritually best for the world. A closed, authoritarian, dogmatic institution has the need for a live wire to bring it back to awareness. The first deliberate steps taken by Pope Francis (who I believe is named for both Francis of Assisi and Francis Xavier) signal a new direction. I am neither Catholic nor a fan of any church, but I do appreciate discernment. He seems ready willing and able to bring fresh discernment to a troubled institution. He has already changed the vibe.
Adam Forrester
March 18, 2013
Forrester coat of arms
My 20th great-grandfather, Adam Forrester, was the founder of a clan in Scotland. He became wealthy trading, and had permission to import grain into Scotland without paying duty. His castle no longer exists, but there are parts of the churches he erected in his time that can be seen today. He and his son John held important political offices. The both were Keepers of the Great Seal of Scotland. The clan is without a chief and has been waiting for one for centuries. I want to visit someday, but I do not think they will hand over any clan power to an American woman.
Adam Forrester (1360 – 1405)
is my 20th great-grandfather
John Forrester (1390 – 1448)
son of Adam Forrester
Janet Forrester (1410 – 1488)
daughter of John Forrester
John MAXWELL (1404 – 1484)
son of Janet Forrester
Mariota Maxwell (1430 – 1472)
daughter of John MAXWELL
Annabella Boyd (1449 – 1476)
daughter of Mariota Maxwell
Robert Lord Gordon (1475 – 1525)
son of Annabella Boyd
CATHERINE GORDON (1497 – 1537)
daughter of Robert Lord Gordon
Lady Elizabeth Ashton (1524 – 1588)
daughter of CATHERINE GORDON
Capt Roger Dudley (1535 – 1585)
son of Lady Elizabeth Ashton
Gov Thomas Dudley (1576 – 1653)
son of Capt Roger Dudley
Anne Dudley (1612 – 1672)
daughter of Gov Thomas Dudley
John Bradstreet (1652 – 1718)
son of Anne Dudley
Mercy Bradstreet (1689 – 1725)
daughter of John Bradstreet
Caleb Hazen (1720 – 1777)
son of Mercy Bradstreet
Mercy Hazen (1747 – 1819)
daughter of Caleb Hazen
Martha Mead (1784 – 1860)
daughter of Mercy Hazen
Abner Morse (1808 – 1838)
son of Martha Mead
Daniel Rowland Morse (1838 – 1910)
son of Abner Morse
Jason A Morse (1862 – 1932)
son of Daniel Rowland Morse
Ernest Abner Morse (1890 – 1965)
son of Jason A Morse
Richard Arden Morse (1920 – 2004)
son of Ernest Abner Morse
Pamela Morse
I am the daughter of Richard Arden Morse
Medicine of the Planets
March 14, 2013
— 3 Comments
Astrological Man
planetary rulers of organs
Zodiacal man, 17th century engraving.
Woodcut from Felice Passera, Il nuova tresoro degli’arcana farmacologici galenici, Venice 1688-89.
In the history of medicine the planets and cosmos were the guiding clues that were used to discover treatments and cures. All plants are ruled by planets as are parts of the body. Before YouTube people studied the heavens and did lots of praying. They reached a number of conclusions about cosmology of which most humans today are unaware. Pharmacists, medical doctors and healers used astrology in practice as a matter of course. Everything depended on seasons and the sun. Before we dug coal and oil from the ground civilizations rose and fell because of food supply. Knowing how to make, prepare, gather, and preserve food for the seasons was a matter of life and death. It stands to reason that knowledge of farming and nature was also the only means to improve diet, hygiene and health. Plants are the medicine from which drugs are synthesized now. Plants are the food from which processed foods are prepared today.
Plants were gathered and cultivated to be used as food and medicine. The phases of the moon were and still are important in plant cultivation. More detailed information about the meaning and use of plants was studied by the ancients. In fact, in Basel, Switzerland, arguably the big pharma capital of the world, the botanical garden is smack dab in the middle of the medical school campus. This was the same medical school from which my man Paracelsus was expelled for being a heretic. We like to think we are all that today with our science. I believe we have allowed a much narrower view of life to reign. I think we are made whole and healthy by the cosmos. Smaller, short term thinking is not all that healthy. Taking drugs of unknown origin is the new normal. You might look at these planet guys and think they are silly, but they would not pop pills without any rational reason. We cannot return soon enough to growing, knowing, and using plants as food and medicine. That is what nature intended, gentle readers.
Queen Maeve
March 13, 2013
Tara is the magical center of the Emerald Isle. Maeve is the goddess of Tara. A self affirming magical Irish legend, Maeve was the sensual primal woman. Her name means intoxicated woman. She rules sovereignty as well as sexuality. As a symbol of the sovereign, she temporarily married the Kings of Ireland, and rejected those not up to the job. She is perhaps all legend and may have been a real queen.
Celtic women did not suffer the same unequal status as other Euro women. They held property and went to war. Queen Maeve granted sexual favors to the most valiant members of her army as part of standard operating procedures. She, like Cleopatra, was said to have had a multitude of lovers. Her husband had extramarital activity also. They went to war with each other over a bull. She felt the need to have exactly as much property as her husband, and allowed her lusty passion to turn to war. Her story, not recorded, but passed down in Celtic mythology, warns that hot passion can go either way. This wild, drunken, sexy queen had her way with Ireland, and perhaps still does.
Personal Religion
March 12, 2013
— 1 Comment
My favorite author, teacher, and living spiritual expert is Thomas Moore. He is finishing a new book called A Religion of One’s Own. His concept is not to do away with religion, but to inspire and revive it. The Dalai Lama has recently spoken about a similar concept. Institutional religion is having momentum problems in the developed world. Yoga, in all the many forms, is still enjoying a growth in popularity in America. Although yoga was brought to the world by Hindus, yoga is not a religion in itself. It is a philosophy.
The casual way he talks about warming up for the book by translating the Gospels from ancient Greek lets you know what kind of scholar he is. He has taught in full on Latin, composed music, and become a well respected therapist. His own fluid path was probably never suspected by anyone, least of all him, when he became a monk. When is a monk more than a monk? I think we have two excellent living examples today. Both Thomas Moore and the Dali Lama of Tibet teach kindness, meditation, and natural magic. As experts in religion, as scholars, and as holders of the traditions, these men are shining stars. We are lucky that they have both chosen to write books for us, teach us, and even, bless their hearts, tweet us. They are both telling us we need to connect to spirit and each other for quality of life.
I think that worldwide the ways of communication have changed and the drift toward a meaningless existence has increased. Churches and temples reflect this in both a positive and negative way. If people look at their own religion as a sham, but still pay dues in order to just be a member of something, the future of those institutions is bleak. Keeping up the facade has become an expensive, and sometimes self destructive activity in some religious organizations. Personal practice that is designed to cultivate compassion and mindfulness can nourish the soul of the world. We are in need of this kind of responsibility taken and embraced by individuals and communities. We had religious reform, some have had revival. Let us have personal religious renaissance. The book will not be out for a while, but I am already in favor of the whole idea.
Wemyss Clan of Fife
March 11, 2013
Wemyss castle
Mine is a lowland clan derived from the McDuffs. My 21st great- grandmother was born in her own castle in Fife in 1322. It has been rebuilt, but is still privately owned by my family in Fife. I know someone who went to her ancestral castle in Scotland, and was invited in and treated very well by the contemporary royal inhabitants. These clansmen can have a broad idea of family, if you are truly in the bloodline. I am not really expecting the Wemyss clan to welcome and embrace me, but I would not mind seeing the gardens open to the public that have been created by my clan.
Margaret Wemyss (1322 – 1342)
is my 21st great grandmother
daughter of Margaret Wemyss
daughter of Isabel Inchmartin
daughter of Margaret Erskine
daughter of Isabel Glen
daughter of Isabel Ogilvie
daughter of Elizabeth Kennedy
daughter of Isabella Vaus
daughter of Marion Accarson
daughter of CATHERINE GORDON
son of Lady Elizabeth Ashton
son of Capt Roger Dudley
daughter of Gov Thomas Dudley
son of Anne Dudley
daughter of John Bradstreet
son of Mercy Bradstreet
daughter of Caleb Hazen
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
I am the daughter of Richard Arden Morse
from Electronic Scotland Com. The Scottish Nation – Wemyss:
This Sir David Wemyss, the elder son of Sri Michael, had a son, Sir David Wemyss, who was one of the guarantees for the release of David II., and this baron’s son, also named Sir David, was one of the hostages for that monarch’s ransom. The latter left a daughter, Margaret, married to Sir Patrick de Inchmartine, and by him had a daughter, Isabel de Inchmartine, heiress of that barony. This last married Sir Alan Erskine, and had two daughters, his co-heiresses, Margaret, wife of Sir John Glen, and Isabel, married to Sir John Wemyss of Rires and Kincaldrum, the heir male of the family. Besides the lands he held from his father, and those disponed to him by his father-in-law, he had extensive grants of lands in Fife and elsewhere, from Robert II. and Robert III. He had three sons, the second of whom, Duncan, was one of the hostages on the liberation of James I., and the third, Alexander, was ancestor of the family of Wemyss of Lathocar
Race Riots
March 11, 2013
Tulsa race riot 1921
Race riot Tulsa 1921
My father, Richard Arden Morse, was a bit of a racist, but did not have any idea of his own pedigree. His great-grandfather came to New York from Ireland during the potato famine with his O’Byrne parents and siblings, who dropped the O’ to assimilate. When asked, my father would say he was Scots Irish. This American term refers to the Ulster Scots, who have all those Orange issues in Northern Ireland. A little flash of orange ribbon drives these people, and their neighbors, completely batty. You would need to be born in Ulster to understand this, I think. The troubles are a completely local phenomena, although both sides have supporters elsewhere.
Richard Arden was born in Independence, Kansas on Feb 18, 1920. In December of 1920 armed violence broke out between white and black citizens of that town. It was a very small town, and this had to be a big impact on the area. In 1921 the city of Tulsa, where I was born, was host to one of the most violent of race wars of all time. The Tulsa racial violence of 2 June, 1921 was distinctly ignored by Oklahoma official history until very recently. I only lived in Tulsa for about 4 years, and my dad also left Independence with his family to live near Ponca City, Oklahoma during his school years.
He was for sure Irish, and when Mr. Scott married Ms Byrne, he was trending Scot again. However, I do not think he knew what any of this meant. I believe that my father’s racial prejudice was a karmic and cultural affliction. He did not openly dislike anyone because of race, but his actions betrayed his deeper ethics. To his credit, he and my mom made an effort not to pass the racist culture on to my brother and me.
Bridget OByrne (1808 – 1880)
is my 3rd great grandmother
James Oscar Byrne (1840 – 1879)
son of Bridget OByrne
Sarah Helena Byrne (1878 – 1962)
daughter of James Oscar Byrne
Olga Fern Scott (1897 – 1968)
daughter of Sarah Helena Byrne
Richard Arden Morse (1920 – 2004)
son of Olga Fern Scott
Pamela Morse
I am the daughter of Richard Arden Morse
Bridget O’Byrne was typical, but lucky. She survived the passage to New York, and most of her kids did also. She had a home in upstate New York. Sarah Helena, her daughter in law, wrote the notes I used to start my tree. The O’Byrnes of Wilna, Jefferson, NY gave their estate to a Catholic church there, and left the records of their family history with that church. A treasure hunt awaits me in upstate New York that may reveal all the Irish information I can handle, including Bridget’s family name. The Catholics of Wilna have my bingo card, and I am grateful.
Irish Heritage
March 10, 2013
— 7 Comments
Grandmothers
The lady on the far right, Emiline P Nichols, was born in Pennsylvania in 1837, moved to Ohio, and then to Kansas. Her daughter, Harriet Peterson (to her left) married an Irishman, James Oscar Byrne, of County Meath. James died the year his daughter, Sarah Helena Byrne (big lady in the middle) was born. He is buried in a Catholic graveyard in Kansas. Without the hardship and adventure endured by James O’Byrne I would not have the luck of the Irish, so I am eternally grateful.
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