Not a knot at the joint when reflected at St Abbs and not a Temple of S...

Not a knot at the joint when reflected at St. Abbs and not a Temple of Sabazios

With a touch of editing here is a Gordian Knot with a join not knots between the images. Alexander the Great when either presented, or confronted a challenge he was often able to approach with directed focus that brought him success against all odds. When shown the knot of King Gordias that was said waited to be undone by the next ruler of Asia Alexander is said to have looked at the problem which might have been a knot of shrunken and matted fibres and decided not to let the impossible stand in his way to conquering Asia and either cut the knot, or removed a lynch pin. His approach is given different emphasis through the retelling with some telling of his impetuous and head strong charge to a quick victory with no limitations from rules and expectation, or he could be seen as successfully assessing the problem and correctly realising the answer had nothing to do with knot work, but rather creating a situation in which the knot no longer worked.

The unfathomable knot had been dedicated to the Phrygian God Sabazios. Alexander and his fellow Greeks recognised aspects of Sabazios that for them connected him to their God Zeus. Zeus was the all father and chief of the Greek Gods on Mount Olympus. In resolving the Gordian Knot that had been held sacred and guarded by the Priest of Sabazios, Alexander who became known as, “The Great,” showed that he would let nothing stand in his way, that he was determined to defeat any problem and to be victorious winning and so bringing the blessings of Priests and Gods with him on his vast military campaign. Other interpretations are made of this recorded incident and the Gordian Knot is a legendary feat that is taken as evidence of many different problems and solutions leading to the retelling being set to reveal almost whatever each tale teller wants you to see in their version of the story. Here my Gordian Knot has been the joining of the ropes in Photoshop to present loops at the harbour where the sea never stills and rather it rolls around in seasonal tides and so readily presents whatever aspect of the sea you wish to see.

© PHH Sykes 2022

phhsykes@gmail.com

Spott Church East Lothian Scotland stained glass window to the memory of Marion Robertshaw MacLean 1956

 “To the Glory of God and in loving memory of MARION ROBERTSHAW MacLEAN formerly sister Q.A.I.M.N.S.(R). who died 30th, August, 1956.”

This stained glass window to the memory of Marion Robertshaw MacLean who died 1956 is at the end of the western arm of the church. The information on the window has been researched and information on the Church and the local area is available in the Church at opening times and through those still continuing the gathering and presenting of the history. I was on a trip between Megalithic Standing Stones and to the Witches' Stone just outside the village of Spott.

We were very fortunate to find the Church open and I used available light to catch what I could of the interior. We were greeted and made welcome and shown some of the history of the area from the fantastic records that were in the Church. Some of these pictures might be further edited as I have not been well and editing the healing message and symbology has been all too saturated with richly coloured stained glass strength perceptions trying to work a way into my everyday vision. The over emphasis on scrutinising images as you edit can bring about strange views, nothing that a cup of tea and time away from the screen cannot cure. I feel that I need to make a return visit and ask about using a tripod to bring out the light better.

© PHH Sykes 2022

phhsykes@gmail.com

Spott Church

https://spottchurch.org.uk/

Witches' Stone, Spott

https://canmore.org.uk/site/57667/witches-stone-spott

Easter Broomhouse Standing Stone (Prehistoric)

https://canmore.org.uk/site/57622/easter-broomhouse

Pencraig Hill Standing Stone (Prehistoric)

https://canmore.org.uk/site/56240/pencraig-hill

Also The Modern Antiquarian and The Megalithic Portal

Witches' Stone, Spott

https://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/6453/witches_stone.html

Witches' Stone, Spott

https://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=8239

Easter Broomhouse Standing Stone

https://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/1492/easter_broomhouse_standing_stone.html

Easter Broomhouse Standing Stone

https://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?x=368000&y=676600

Pencraig Hill Standing Stone (Prehistoric)

https://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/1494/pencraig_hill_standing_stone.html

Pencraig Hill Standing Stone (Prehistoric)

https://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=6703