Joan's commandments
cadhla just reposted her Commandments of Coyote (awesome). One of the remarks in response was about writing the commandments of the deities at whose altars we worship (James Hillman). I'm preparing to give a sermon on Joan of Arc in a couple weeks at my church, and have been reading her trial transcript. So here are her personal commandments as they speak to me right now:
1. You can always ask the Voices. But you may not get an answer right away. Or ever. And it may not be the answer you want.
2. Not everything you hear can or should be passed on. Consider carefully, don’t talk gleefully.
3. Warn those you are about to vanquish. It’s polite.
4. When vanquishing evil, be the standard bearer, not the berserker. Be visible in the fray proving that you trust your Voices. Give others chances to surrender to the better path. It may take them a while.
5. While integrity may lead to the stake, sidestep betrayal if at all possible so that your Voices are not stilled.
6. Insight, courage and leadership are never limited to a specific gender, age, or social background. If the Voice is true LISTEN regardless of who speaks it.
7. You will almost always be betrayed or abandoned by the existing authorities. Deal.
8. While your Voices may not be human, you are. You will be broken, you will make mistakes and you will die. Cut yourself some slack. P.S. There will also be great joy at times.
And here is one of the most amazing songs I've ever heard about Joan. It will start to play a few seconds after you bring up the link:
http://www.actionext.com/names_j/jennifer_warnes_lyrics/joan_of_arc.html
And here is are the song lyrics cadhla wrote about Joan for me in an Iron Poet round:
http://cadhla.livejournal.com/1341223.html?thread=16486183#t16486183 (thanks again, Seanan).
Burn bright everyone!
1. You can always ask the Voices. But you may not get an answer right away. Or ever. And it may not be the answer you want.
2. Not everything you hear can or should be passed on. Consider carefully, don’t talk gleefully.
3. Warn those you are about to vanquish. It’s polite.
4. When vanquishing evil, be the standard bearer, not the berserker. Be visible in the fray proving that you trust your Voices. Give others chances to surrender to the better path. It may take them a while.
5. While integrity may lead to the stake, sidestep betrayal if at all possible so that your Voices are not stilled.
6. Insight, courage and leadership are never limited to a specific gender, age, or social background. If the Voice is true LISTEN regardless of who speaks it.
7. You will almost always be betrayed or abandoned by the existing authorities. Deal.
8. While your Voices may not be human, you are. You will be broken, you will make mistakes and you will die. Cut yourself some slack. P.S. There will also be great joy at times.
And here is one of the most amazing songs I've ever heard about Joan. It will start to play a few seconds after you bring up the link:
http://www.actionext.com/names_j/jennifer_warnes_lyrics/joan_of_arc.html
And here is are the song lyrics cadhla wrote about Joan for me in an Iron Poet round:
http://cadhla.livejournal.com/1341223.html?thread=16486183#t16486183 (thanks again, Seanan).
Burn bright everyone!