Here’s the second installment of guest writer Jack Phoenix’s account of his time at Bestival 2006. His personal view.
. . . drink . . drugs . . . these are things i have found a little too moreish – i can no longer partake, much as i would like to sometimes . . . i managed to survive day one without succumbing to temptation, &, having become miserable & exhausted, have awoken in more positive mood, following a dream of Jack the Giant Slayer selling his cow for beans in a vibrant, technicolor whirl . . . . . i’m rifling through some old letters from the late poet & songwriter Ivor Cutler . . i have an unpublished interview i’m working on . . . a line from a letter he wrote me in 1992 strikes me . . . “I suspect you of being a man,” he said, “who is still a child – particularly the one in ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes'”. . .
V: The Hierophant: Taurus; spiritual master, adviser, confidant; inner guide, spiritual father; greatest transformation . . . The title ‘Hierophant’ . . describes him who has been consecrated, is perfect and inspired . . the final realization of human potential that merges with the divine . . the sword and moon indicate the balance between emotions and knowledge . . the enlightened unites and develops both masculine and feminine parts of him or herself . . . the naturalness of the child is an expression of true wisdom . . truth can be a provocation designed to disturb the sweet, dark slumber of the unconscious mind . . . the Hierophant carries the light of consciousness into the darkness of ignorance . . the search for the self leads to spiritual areas . . listen to the feelings of your heart . . there is only one message worth listening to – the message of your own heart . . . [Ziegler]
. . . just enough time to recharge camera batteries – & myself with a spot of Transcendental Meditation . . i call in on the dog . . his presence lights up any room, and his joyous energy seems to have had a tonic effect on my parents . . he greets me with a frenzy of bounces & a thorough licking . . . i often feel the compulsion to do the same on meeting people i like, but manage self-restraint for fear of provoking violence or involuntary detention . . . you just can’t get away with it unless you’re a cute little puppy . . . sometimes life is so unfair . . .
. . . today i am wearing full Arabian sheikh kit, as presented to by Dad by a grateful Saudi pupil 30 years ago . . . it doesn’t occur to me that this might provoke unfavourable comment until i am cornered by a couple of crusaders brandishing their swords by the main stage . . i add a “Don’t Invade Iraq” badge, &, my rucksack on my back, try to avoid asking whether my bomb looks big in this . . . i love the whole fancy dress thing . . gives an immediate childlike party feel . . . strange conjunctions of gorillas & policemen, Scooby Doo & a Viking . . . and then there are the last minute desperadoes in cardboard box or black bin bag . . . but disappointingly i didn’t see a single nun . . .
More later ….
