...posted here because a) I need to think through what I want to ask before I get to the MM comment box and b) I want to make sure my images work. Also, since it's relevant to the ongoing divination project, I figured it could fit right in here.
(Also listing my other questions so I don't forget them - in order of least importance) [JMG's answers are below]:
1. Would it be acceptable to use linen for a nemyss? The instructions say cotton, but I happen to have a piece of linen. Also, should it be plain or would appropriate decorative elements/colors be ok for a border?
2. In The Druidry Handbook, in the lengthier descriptions of the Ogham fews, each few is correlated with a path (between the eight stations and the central grove) on the Wheel of Life. On page 96, Ngetal, is listed as "Alban Elued to Lughnasadh" - however that path is already assigned to Muin (though there it's listed in reverse order, from "Lughnasadh to Alban Elued" since the circle is going in that direction). I'm assuming that Ngetal's is an error and that it ought to read "Alban Elued to Samhuinn," correct? The Druid Magic Handbook shows this to be the case (as in the image posted below in reference to my next question).
3. (sorry, this one is a long-winded lead-up to a very basic question and I hope I can explain myself clearly with some supporting illustrations)
In The Druid Magic Handbook, in the more detailed look at the way the fews relate to the paths on the Wheel of the Year/Life, this schematic appears on page 56:
Interested in the geometry of the layout, I tracked the progression of the fews from line to line. There are three "directions" represented in the 24 different paths between the stations (stations marked by empty circles below): 1) from one station to the one immediately following it - around the circle, 8 paths - represented in yellow in the following image; 2) from one station to the one-next-over (skipping one station) - around the outermost squares, 8 paths - represented in orange in the following image; 3) from each of the eight stations to the inner (grove) circle - the rays, 8 paths - represented in scarlet and green in the following image (ignore the magenta paths and the numbered circles for now):
So, following how the fews proceed from path to path, I noticed an elegant pattern: an alternation from circle to square (multiplied) and then to the rays. However the assignment of one path disrupted this. Below you can see the progression, until you get to the last of the paths along the circle where instead of leading to the last of the square-lines, the motion jumps to the rays, proceeds through 4 of the rays, jumps back out to the remaining square-line, then jumps back in for the last 4 rays. In this image, the movements are numbered and you can see the "odd man out" that isEadha Ioho at what is the 20th position (rather than the 16th - both positions circled in yellow:
Had the progression proceeded without that abrupt switch, it would've tracked like this without a leap "in" toward the center then back "out" then back "in":
Finally my question - is there a logic behind placingEadha's Ioho's path (Samhuinn to Imbolc) in the position that might have logically gone to Ailm (since Ailm follows Ruis in the order of the fews and Ruis's path is the last one of the circle)?
Or is this likely just a case of someone back in the "lineage" said or drafted something and after that everyone went with it?
I admittedly didn't meditate on it too deeply (beyond just noticing that the fews stop being in order there, and having that send me off to track paths and draw pictures) - and this because I'm not following Ogham right now (viz. my previous week's comment about the elemental correspondences and my seeing just how closely the elemental combinations can track Ogham on the Wheel of the Year - current answer: not so well).
So, how to make sense of this if any is to be made...
****
The answers and some corrections.
JMG said, "1) The ancient Egyptians made their nemysses out of linen, and so yes, you can too.
2) Yes, that was a typo. My books have those.
3) Somebody probably just drew it up that way. As far as I know you're the first person to map the paths out the way you've done. I'd encourage you to keep on exploring it and see where it leads you."
And![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
tradgardsdruid pointed out that I'd misread one of the Ogham. I typed Eadha instead of Ioho, so I'll go back and correct that now.
(Also listing my other questions so I don't forget them - in order of least importance) [JMG's answers are below]:
1. Would it be acceptable to use linen for a nemyss? The instructions say cotton, but I happen to have a piece of linen. Also, should it be plain or would appropriate decorative elements/colors be ok for a border?
2. In The Druidry Handbook, in the lengthier descriptions of the Ogham fews, each few is correlated with a path (between the eight stations and the central grove) on the Wheel of Life. On page 96, Ngetal, is listed as "Alban Elued to Lughnasadh" - however that path is already assigned to Muin (though there it's listed in reverse order, from "Lughnasadh to Alban Elued" since the circle is going in that direction). I'm assuming that Ngetal's is an error and that it ought to read "Alban Elued to Samhuinn," correct? The Druid Magic Handbook shows this to be the case (as in the image posted below in reference to my next question).
3. (sorry, this one is a long-winded lead-up to a very basic question and I hope I can explain myself clearly with some supporting illustrations)
In The Druid Magic Handbook, in the more detailed look at the way the fews relate to the paths on the Wheel of the Year/Life, this schematic appears on page 56:
Interested in the geometry of the layout, I tracked the progression of the fews from line to line. There are three "directions" represented in the 24 different paths between the stations (stations marked by empty circles below): 1) from one station to the one immediately following it - around the circle, 8 paths - represented in yellow in the following image; 2) from one station to the one-next-over (skipping one station) - around the outermost squares, 8 paths - represented in orange in the following image; 3) from each of the eight stations to the inner (grove) circle - the rays, 8 paths - represented in scarlet and green in the following image (ignore the magenta paths and the numbered circles for now):
So, following how the fews proceed from path to path, I noticed an elegant pattern: an alternation from circle to square (multiplied) and then to the rays. However the assignment of one path disrupted this. Below you can see the progression, until you get to the last of the paths along the circle where instead of leading to the last of the square-lines, the motion jumps to the rays, proceeds through 4 of the rays, jumps back out to the remaining square-line, then jumps back in for the last 4 rays. In this image, the movements are numbered and you can see the "odd man out" that is
Had the progression proceeded without that abrupt switch, it would've tracked like this without a leap "in" toward the center then back "out" then back "in":
Finally my question - is there a logic behind placing
Or is this likely just a case of someone back in the "lineage" said or drafted something and after that everyone went with it?
I admittedly didn't meditate on it too deeply (beyond just noticing that the fews stop being in order there, and having that send me off to track paths and draw pictures) - and this because I'm not following Ogham right now (viz. my previous week's comment about the elemental correspondences and my seeing just how closely the elemental combinations can track Ogham on the Wheel of the Year - current answer: not so well).
So, how to make sense of this if any is to be made...
****
The answers and some corrections.
JMG said, "1) The ancient Egyptians made their nemysses out of linen, and so yes, you can too.
2) Yes, that was a typo. My books have those.
3) Somebody probably just drew it up that way. As far as I know you're the first person to map the paths out the way you've done. I'd encourage you to keep on exploring it and see where it leads you."
And
tradgardsdruid pointed out that I'd misread one of the Ogham. I typed Eadha instead of Ioho, so I'll go back and correct that now.
