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From the journal of Sir Thomas “Rymour Oisin” Leaf:
The 10th of Quintilis (Julius Caesar’s “July”) in the good year 2009 of the Common Era:
“You may or may not have been following the LoTR (Lady of the Rhine) Quests of mine to Europe. The fantastical tales of breaking the curse on the enchanted ring and finding the key of youthful life that have become the inspirations for what I call my “Living Myth” which have led to some amazing journeys and tales as I would travel back and forth from the New World, to the Old country to the service of the lovely Lady of the Rhine. These are my “Chronicles” written about my exploits in exploring the New and Old World, investigating myths, legends, folklore, fables, and premonitions that haunt and enchant these lands. For those that want to know how the Chronicles began, please visit my index for a journal page to journal page account of these adventures.
I strongly believe that each and every human life in this world is inspired by a myth, fable, legend, or folk story that indeed “shapes” their journey from birth to death. Sometimes there are many of these tales that shapes one’s life. I believe part of the puzzle of life is to find your living myth and purpose in life. I think these myths, stories, fables, and legends can give us guidance, inspiration, energy, ethics, and values to become successful with finding our dream, seizing it, and living it. I also believe that once we find our ‘living myth’ we are that much closer to finding out our purpose in this life, as I believe we all have one. I don’t believe in chance, I do believe in fate and destiny. I believe you can control, change, and manipulate your fate as you wish. I believe there are messages in our dreams. I believe in visions. I believe in premonitions. I believe in Omens, Oracles, and divination – all of which are tools to help you gain insight, clarity, and a future view of what lies ahead or understanding what has happened. I believe these messages are puzzles and riddles that are not always easy to decipher, but once solved, will give you a world of guidance to find and achieve your purpose, dreams, and desires. With that said, let me tell you a bit about myself and the myths that ‘shape’ who I am, and how they inspire my journeys as a Techno-Gypsy.
My name is “Sir Thomas ‘Rhymour Oisin’ Leaf McGowan”. Yes, that is quite a long name. But there is power in a name. There is meaning in each and every one of those names. Of course this is not my ‘real’ or ‘given’ name. Only those close to me know that side of me. This is my artist name. I am a cartographer, curator, and archaeologist by day; and a body painter, diviner, and craftsman by night. Those would be my trades and professions that currently title me in this world. This is where the “Sir” comes from. As I ventured forth to Rhineland under servitude of the Lady Vanessa of the Rhine, it was only appropriate to pre-label myself with this classic label as her ‘cartographer / knight / and guide’ for the most excellent adventures we have had. “Thomas” is actually my birth first name. Named after “St. Thomas” the doubter, to which I do live up to, as I question just about everything. I also identify with the myth/tale of “Thomas the Rhymour” and that is where the middle name “Rhymour” comes in. Since “Thomas” also means “Twin”, I obvious have a twin-side, that being the myth/fable of “Oisin”. I’ll explain both ‘Thomas Rhymour’ and ‘Oisin’ in this foreword. So where does “Leaf” come from? It was a name given to me by my friends in the great country of Canada who nicknamed me “Leaf” because I once had several companies with “Leaf” in its name and I was always researching and learning about botany as well as being an avid tree hugger. My roots are that of Irish and German descent. I have a bit of Irish Tinker in me. On the “McGowan” name front, it was given to me because (a) Rose McGowan is one of my favorite actresses of which some of my friends think I share ‘oddness’ with, and because my Canadian friends believe I must somehow be related to (b) Joe McGowan, an Irish Historian and folklorist; and (c) Richard McGowan the American Explorer, Mountaineer, and Entrepreneur. As far as I know, I have no biological connections to any of the McGowans. My real surname actually means “Farmer in a Field” or “peasant” which I suppose explains my deep connection with plants and botany.
It was a series of haunting childhood dreams with puzzle pieces reminescent of the Fable of “Oisin” that led me to investigate his mythos. As I pieced together these dreams, much of the story of Oisin started to be told without having read his tale in the beginning. As I seem to ‘relive’ his ‘living myth’ that serves to inspire, guide, and add adventure to my life; each day I feel a deeper connection to his story which seems to reveal some visions of what lies ahead for me in my future yet to come. “
The Tale of Oisin
Oisín (Old Irish, pronounced [ˈɔʃiːnʲ], roughly uh-SHEEN; often anglicized to Ossian), was the son of Fionn mac Cumhail and of Sadb (daughter of Bodb Dearg). He was regarded in legend as the greatest poet of Ireland, and a warrior of the Fianna in the Ossianic or Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology. and is the narrator of much of this cycle. [wikipedia] “Oisin” means “Young Deer or Fawn”. Apparently, Oisin’s mother Sadbh was turned into a deer by the Druid “Fear Doirche” who was angered with her because she refused him. When the great hunter Fionn was out on a hunt, he caught her and she returned to human form. He was amazed by her beauty and spirit that he retired from hunting and decided to settle down with her. They became pregnant with a son. When “Fear Doirche” discovered this, he turned her back into a deer, and she ran off into the woods never to be seen again. Seven years later, Fionn found her child lying naked on the Benbulbin. He raised Oisin to be a great poet, hunter, and warrior. In the “Oisín in Tir na nÓg” adventure tale, we are told that Oisin is visited by a Faerie woman named “Níamh Chinn Óir – Niamh of the Golden Hair or Head”. Niamh was one of Manannán Mac Lir’s daughters. Manannan was an Irish God of the Sea. Niamh announced to Oisin that she was his true love and soul mate and that he must come with her to the “Tir na nÓg” (“the land of the young”, or “the land of promise”). Niamh and Oisin gave birth to a son and daughter. Oisin’s son is “Oscar” and his daughter was “Plor na mBan” the “Flower of Women”. They were all quite happy. However, after what seemed like three years in Faerieland, Oisin grew weary to see his family in Ireland and persistently requested Niamh’s permission to return for a visit. Little did Oisin know that those three years in Faerie were in actuality 300 human years that had passed. So Niamh gives him “Embarr”, her white faerie steed, with specific instructions that he shall not dismount for any reason for if his feet touch the ground those 300 years would immediately turn him into an ancient withered old man. Oisin returns to find his home on the hill of Almu abandoned and in disrepair. As he tries to find his father he encounters some men trying to lift a great stone onto their wagon. As he tries to help, his girth breaks and he falls to the ground, becoming a blind old man just as Niamh warned. Embarr returns back to the Tir na nÓg without him. Oisin is then left to wander the countryside of the human realms as a wise old blind man. He teams up with Caílte mac Rónáin and takes on the bardic path sharing folklore, faerie tales, and stories of the Fianna. He becomes the Epitome of the term “Wanderlust”. He is also rumored to be a staunch advocate of the Pagan faiths. He becomes quite bothered by the fact all his comrades, family, and friends are gone as is the Pagan faiths of Ireland. He encounters the Irish Catholic Saint Patrick who was responsible for destroying the Pagan faiths of Ireland. Oisin tries to teach Saint Patrick about the glories of Ancient Ireland and the land of the Faerie. This is the source of William Butler Yeat’s poem on the “Wanderings of Oisin”. Further mythology tells of Niamh coming to the shores of Ireland in search of her long lost love to find him and bring him back to Faerie. Story has it she does not ever find him and Oisin dies of old age. Oisin’s grave is believed to be located close to the foot of the Glenann in the Glens of Antrim in Northern Ireland. Yeats, James Macpherson, Goethe, and Walter Scott all wrote about Oisin and were obsessed with translating his poems. Books have been written about him. Films have been made about his story. [More stories of Oisin: Oisin and Niamh; The Youths of Oisin; The Wanderings of Oisin; and Oisin and Patrick.]
“In the early 90’s, Elyse Tera, a former lover once dedicated a book to me called “Thomas the Rhymer” as I reminder her deeply of this historic figure. I recently re-read the book. Quite a few things clicked as a spirit within my being awakened during many different changes I am currently going through. Little did I know how insightful she was and that eight years later I would wake up with the realization that there was messages and mythos in this tale that I needed for understanding my life path. “
The Tale of Thomas the Rymour
“Thomas the Rhymer”, “Thomas Rymour”, or “True Thomas” is the story of the 13th century Scottish laird and reputed prophet from Earlston (Erceldoune) named “Thomas Learmonth”. He lived approximated from 1220 – 1290 of the Common Era. He is the protagonist of the ballad known as “Thomas the Rymour” and is most likely the source of the legend of Tam Lin. During the 13th century, Thomas was born in Erceldoune, Berwickshire as a young lad who was gifted with prophecy and a tongue of honesty and charm. He was a well known author of many prophetic verses. Many attributed him with multiple supernatural powers. He was so popular for centuries after his death that many people have fabricated Thomas ‘prophecies’ to further the cause of the Scottish independence. He was known as “True Thomas” because he could not tell a lie. This was linked to his poetic ability and was a curse placed upon him by a Faerie queen. He apparently prophesized many great events in Scottish history including the death of Alexander the III of Scotland. The Ballad of “Thomas the Rymour” has to do with Thomas’ journey with the faerie folk. Thomas was a young lad that while lounging on a bank meets a beautiful woman atop a white horse. They immediately lust after one another. She tells him she is the Queen of the Faeries, takes him onto her horse, and seals his service to her with a kiss. They have a romantic love affair. A version states that the Queen turned into a hag immediately after sleeping with him and as a punishment to him but returned to her beautiful state once they arrived at her castle where her husband lived. He stayed at a party in the castle until she told him to return with her coming back to the mortal realm after seven years had passsed. He asked for a token from her to remember her by, and she offered him the choice of becoming a harper or a prophet and he chose the latter. He wandered the world revealing great prophecy and theoretically said farewell to his homeland and returned to Faerieland from whence he still has not returned. There is also the 14th century romance story of “Thomas of Erceldoune” with accompanying prophecies relating to the Ballad of Thomas the Rhymer telling a very similiar tale.
[ Comparing Tam Lin to Thomas the Rhymer ] [ Oxford Book of English Verse reference ] [ Thomas the Rhymer of Scotland ]
“So there you have the two most inspirational and motivating characters of history that have and continue to shape my life. As I delve deeper into their stories, analysis of their legends and lives I find that my living mythos starts to take form giving me clear vision of what I want and inspires me to further pursue my travels, investigations, research, and love of life. They have also played a major role as a “muse” for my writing, blogging, journaling, and upcoming books that I’m working on. “
Omens, Oracles, Visions, and Prophecies
“I strongly believe that everyone’s life is accompanied by prophecies, omens, and visions; but that a great majority of humankind chose not to listen to them or ignore them blindly as hogwash and nonsense. Of course the majority of those who actually believe in them won’t admit to it for fear of being ridiculed as a ‘quack’. Of course the good majority of what I’m about to summarize usually involves some sort of faith in some kind of religious view as none of the following is advocated by or explained by science. “
Prophecy – Is divine inspiration, revelation, or interpretation; otherwise known as psychic predictions. Regardless of one’s religious beliefs or non-beliefs, the concept of prophecy is found throughout the religions of the world, including Christianity and Islam. Its the disclosing of information that is not known to the prophet by any ordinary means. The Rabbi Maimonides describes prophecy as “an emanation sent forth by the Divine Being through the medium of the Active Intellect, in the first instance to man’s rational faculty, and then to his imaginative faculty”. The Catholic Encylopedia states it as “the foreknowledge of future events, though it may sometimes apply to past events of which there is no memory, and to present hidden things which cannot be known by the natural light of reason”. Whether one believes in it or not, we’re all affected by it, as it is one of the greatest motivational influences behind all world religions in the actions they do upon humankind.
Visions – Again, by definition and belief in from a majority of the world religions is the phenomena known as a “vision”. These are often inspirational renderings, generally of a future state and/or of a mythical being, and are believed to come from a Deity, sometimes directly or indirectly via prophets and serve to inspire or prod believers as part of a revelation or an epiphany. Sometimes these are seen as miracles. It can also refer to as the experience of “Energies” of Deity as defined by the Eastern Orthodox Church. Often, visions are the muse to artistic creations or masterpieces, songs, stories, or poetry. Visions have more clarity than dreams but traditionally fewer psychological connotations. In many cultures, visions are generated by entheogens (Peyote, Mushrooms, Acid, Opium, Salvia Divinorum, etc.) Some explain “visions” as manifestions of picture thinking or visual spatial thinking.
Omens – Are part of a phenomena known as portent or presage that tells the future or fortells the advent of change, either good or bad in interpretation. Often Omens are associated with items or the appearance of certain signs or indicators that something will happen. In the United States and some European countries, the appearance of a black cat is an omen of bad luck. Comets are also associated indicators of an omen – sometimes good and sometimes bad. Omens are sometimes revealed through the craft of divination.
Oracles – are usually a person or agency considered to be a source of wise counsel or prophetic opinion or as a revealed prediction or precognition of the future from Deities that is spoken through another object or life-form. In the ancient world, many sites gained reputation for dispensing oracular wisdom and came to be known as the “oracles”.
Divination – is the act of gaining foresight from supernatural or ritualistic means. It is the attempt to gain insight into a question or a situation by way of a standardized process or ritual. Diviners utilize readings, signs, events, omens, and prophecies often by use of tools such as runes, tarot cards, sticks, stones, bones, and other mediums that are used to contact a supernatural agency for a subject who has inquired a question or a future concern. Divination appears in most of the world religions even by those that often shun it. Divination is attacked the most by skeptics, including the scientific community as merely “superstition”. The use of divination is often considered a sin in some Christian denominations and Judaism.
Dreams – are probably the most common form of inspiration, divination, prediction, and thought process that most are familiar with since we all dream. Dreams often are composed of a series of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that are projected in the mind while we sleep. Most of the content and purpose behind these dreams are never fully understood even though it has became a field of study embraced by science since it can be dependably manifested. The scientific study of dreams is called “oneirology”. Always a subject of conjecture and a source of inspiration, dreams have been one of the most common and utilized forms of divination throughout history. Dreams have been described as responses to neural processes during sleep, as reflections of the subconscious, and as messages from God(s) or as predictions of the future.
“Now that I have the technical definitions out of the way, we can begin to proceed on my journey on the investigation of various prophecies, visions, omens, and oracles that have presented themselves upon the lives of myself and my friends; not necessarily to explain or debunk, but to embrace and attempt to understand, digging throughout the ashes of which to find the nuggets of wisdom that they are meant to reveal. As last I have brought to you many fables and tales from explorations in Europe, this time, we take a different journey, across the continent of North and South America, that are revealed within the Chronicles of Sir Thomas Leaf.
I have many oracles, visions, prophecies, and revelations that deluged my life from my early years as a child being raised as a devout Catholic to my evolution (or devolution to some of you) as an adult into a Heathen. Most of these focused on purpose, career, lifestyle, love, faith, and travels. I’m sure to tell the tale of each of them at some point here in the Chronicles or the Quests or in my upcoming publications. For now, I am to embrace a journey into the investigation of the fables, stories, and legends of prophecies and visions that many of my family, friends, and community reveal to me daily. Again to understand and seek gems of wisdom from, rather than to dispel, debunk, or analyze them. I bring to you, the following video that seems to be the current revelation influencing and shaping many-a-community that I frolick amongst …. the Mythic Call. The Mythic Call – The Bluestar of Enlightenment. Presentation to the Hopi Nations. Beloved Starlight, we are pleased to announce the Awakening of your Home of Hearts. This is a time of New Beginning.
