SteveTanham – writing, mysticism, photography, poetry, friends

Category: #Silenti

Writing without the other hand to steady him was hard, but the other was clamped on his thigh, holding back the flow of blood. The words on the vellum were like the wanderings of a dying bird… he smiled at the thought, despite the pain. Through eyes filled with hot and salty water he read what he had written: ‘They came at the end … Read More Two journeys, one destination (5) : blood and stone

October 6, 2020 + #Silenti, Ancient Landscapes, Ancient Sacred Sites, Mystery Schools, Photography

The Old Men of Hoy

by Steve Tanham

I remember the ferry poster. May 2018 and we were on our way to Orkney for the first time. Four of us had travelled by ScotRail up from Glasgow to Thurso, a few miles west of John O’ Groats, the most northerly point on the British mainland. From Thurso, we were booked onto the evening ferry to Orkney, landing in Stromness around ninety minutes … Read More The Old Men of Hoy

October 4, 2020 + #Silenti, Consciousness, Lake District, landscapes, Photographic techniques, Photography, Seasons of the year

Mellow Moods for Autumn (1)

by Steve Tanham

A series of seasonal shots for Sunday, in either monochrome or with the colour reduced to give that mellow mood… The mists and the lane. The first mists gently fill the spaces between the trees at the end of the lane. So ‘soft and special’ you want to run out and take the shot before the shafts of sunlight disappear… ©Stephen Tanham, 2020. Stephen … Read More Mellow Moods for Autumn (1)

October 1, 2020 + #Silenti, Ancient Landscapes, Ancient Sacred Sites, Christianity and modern mysticism, Consciousness, mystical travel, Photography

Two journeys, one destination (4) : two sides of the hill

by Steve Tanham

On the second day of the Silent Eye’s ‘Pictish Trail’ weekend, we are beginning in what is, for me, one of the most beautiful places in the world. Portmahomack is a small fishing village on the north side of the Tarbat Peninsula. It’s an hour’s drive north from Inverness. I’m at the end of the pier, gazing out across the deep blue sea towards … Read More Two journeys, one destination (4) : two sides of the hill

September 29, 2020 + #Silenti, Ancient Landscapes, Ancient Sacred Sites, Mystery Schools, Photography

Backwards into a Loch

by Steve Tanham

The sinister man in the white overall was tall and very athletic. He’d just talked me through what was going to happen next – punctuated by rapid movements of his blue gloved hands. I was still shocked and not sure I’d heard correctly, so in the photo I’m watching carefully as he explains things to the car ‘in front’. My one salvation was that … Read More Backwards into a Loch

September 28, 2020 + #Silenti

In brief…

by Steve Tanham

From Sue… The Silent Eye As the majority of our friends and readers will now know, I was rushed into hospital last week in a very bad way. I would like to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who has sent good wishes through all the various social media platforms, through the comments, by email, snail mail, text and phone. And to the … Read More In brief…

September 27, 2020 + #Collie dogs, #FurryFives, #Silenti, Collie dogs

#FurryFives : closed path

by Steve Tanham

Tess: The sea is down here, I told you. Human: but you don’t like swimming in the sea! you like running on beaches. Tess: Where there’s a sea, there’s a beach! Human: Well, we can’t go straight to the beach that way. Tess: Why not, it’s quicker! Human: Because it’s a railway line… ©Stephen Tanham, 2020.

September 27, 2020 + #Collie dogs, #ShortWrytz, #Silenti

#ShortWrytz : drizzle Mondays

by Steve Tanham

The coastal town of Arnside is famous for its sunsets. Two rivers; the Bela and the Kent, flow out into Morecambe Bay through the arches of the famous long viaduct that connects Arnside with Grange-over-Sands on the way to Barrow-in-Furness, famous for our nuclear submarines. But this is a wet Monday, and Tess, our collie dog, is familiar with a different drill, as I … Read More #ShortWrytz : drizzle Mondays

September 24, 2020 + #Silenti, Ancient Landscapes, Ancient Sacred Sites, Christianity and modern mysticism, Consciousness, mystical travel, Photography

Two journeys, one destination (3) : the mystery of the Picts

by Steve Tanham

(Above: the view of the neighbouring Inverness Castle from the steps of the museum) ‘The Romans were frightened of them…” I remember reading that the week before our Scottish workshop and being astonished. I knew the Picts had created some of the most mysterious stone carvings I had ever seen. But fearsome warriors? Weren’t these enigmatic people simply farmers? We were in the Inverness … Read More Two journeys, one destination (3) : the mystery of the Picts

September 22, 2020 + #Silenti, Ancient Landscapes, Ancient Sacred Sites, Mystery Schools, Photography

Nomadics of John O’ Groats

by Steve Tanham

I thought it might be interesting to take some of the less relevant episodes – the ‘out-takes’ – from the just-completed Scottish workshop (and subsequent journey to Orkney) and run them on Sun in Gemini, in reverse time-sequence. The Thursday blogs, here and on the Silent Eye, will continue with the linear sequence of the Scottish and Orkney explorations. That way the odd bits … Read More Nomadics of John O’ Groats

September 15, 2020 + #Silenti, Consciousness, guided mystical walks, Higher Mind, Mystery Schools, Photography, Places and Prose, Poetry, Scotland

Two journeys, one destination

by Steve Tanham

I remember listening to T. S. Eliot reading his poem The Four Quartets for the first time. The words held me spellbound: “We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time.” My wife and I had first travelled to Inverness four years ago, we came … Read More Two journeys, one destination

September 10, 2020 + #Silenti, Belief and Faith, Consciousness, Esoteric Meaning of Myth, esoteric psychology, Psychology, Unconscious

The Entered Dragon (6) : figures in the mist

by Steve Tanham

Continued from Part Five Centre stage, the King smiles at us. His gaze is strong but gentle. As our eyes touch his, we feel the sense of purpose he holds. Courage and force reflect in the subtle colours that draw us into his very being. We feel renewed by this contact, shown that the burden of what we must face in the day-world is … Read More The Entered Dragon (6) : figures in the mist