THIS IS THE TALE...IT IS NOT FICTION & MAY NOT BE CONVENTIONAL LITERATURE BUT I HAVE FOUND THAT TRUE STORIES ARE MIGHTIER THAN FICTION AND I BELIEVE THAT IT IS TRUE EXPERIENCE THAT MOLDS AN ARTIST...WITH OF COURSE OF THE ANECDOTES FROM OTHER PEOPLE . JACK KEROUAC WROTE HIS BOOK "ON THE ROAD" AUTOMATICALLY WITH NO CORRECTIONS ON ONE PIECE OF PAPER (A LONG SCROLL) IN JUST OVER A WEEK.
I HAVE LOTS OF ANECDOTES & WRITINGS INCLUDING POETRY, ARTICLES AND CRITIQUES...SO I WILL ASSEMBLE WORDS FROM VARIOUS SOURCES AS THE MOOD TAKES ME WITH OUT A PLAN & NOT KNOWING WHAT IS TO FOLLOW.
SO WE COME TO "THE MANDALA" i.e. MCCLURE'S SHED ON A 2 ACRE PLOT (THAT IS NO MORE) IN LAMORNA VALLEY, CORNWALL...A MANDALA IS TRADITIONALLY A PAINTING USED FOR MEDITATION & LITERALLY MEANS "CIRCLING"...BUT AS AN ARTIST/ALCHEMIST I TRANSMUTED THIS HUMBLE SHED INTO A MANDALA...I DID THIS AT THE INSTIGATION OF A FRIEND IN HEIDELBERG BECAUSE AT THE TIME I WAS BEGINNING TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE LOCAL BUREAU-BUNNIES (LOCAL CIVIL SERVANTS) AND SOME LOCAL MAFIA TYPES...I SUPPOSE HE THOUGHT THAT A MANDALA MIGHT ENDOW THE SHED AND THE LAND A DEGREE OF SPIRITUAL PROTECTION WHICH IN RETROSPECT WAS A BIT NAIVE BUT IT IS DIFFICULT TO TELL AS SOME TRULY EVOLVED BEINGS BELIEVE THAT A "TRUE CHRISTIAN" SHOULD GIVE ALL THEIR POSSESSIONS TO THE POOR BELIEVING THAT YOU ONLY NEED "FAITH" TO SURVIVE & THAT "GOD" WILL PROVIDE...SO ANY ATTACHMENT TO ANY MATERIAL OBJECTS IS A HINDRANCE & ONE MUST RISE ABOVE THE PETTINESS OF THOSE WITH SUCH LOFTY AMBITIONS WHO'S GREED IS ENDLESS.
THE FOLLOWING IS A POEM I WROTE WHEN THINGS STARTED TO GET DIFFICULT IN LAMORNA ABOUT 5 YRS AGO:
Ode to a shed...In Lamorna
Should "The Shed" in the garden stay
Beneath the trees who's boughs do sway
And with the melodies of the birds convey
A message to all souls passing that way;
That beckons pilgrims to stop and pray
In a place blessed with a simple array
A refuge for the innocent of the day
Those untainted by demons that prey;
Upon those who're unable to betray
And who will never never shy away
From their duties to the lost and stray
And the vagabonds of night and day;
That few artists deign to portray
And Peers of the Realm far far-away
Not wanting to risk a nasty affray
Show no compassion...tis sad to say;
With the dawning of a bright new day
Let light be shed bringing forth an essai
Of Truths hidden and in disarray
And avoid a future of much dismay;
By being diligent and au fait
To what Ministers have to say
Of this Sacred little hide-away
Equity...will misfortune allay;
Let natural justice lead the way
To a fair and honourable display
into an Era of reform and fairplay
This is all I ask.. si'l vous plait.
TO BE CONTINUED...