MelnaysJānis-BlackJohn

2012-02-03T11:21:00.000-08:00

Saw-Cross for Sale. For more info see below.

With the onset of cold (very cold) temperatures, the swamps freeze over and trees are being cut at an increasing pace. In my area, the chain saws buzzed for two weeks every day, and where I would see trees, now there are vast swaths of white snow. I depend on wood burning Jotul stoves to keep me warm, and so does just about everyone else where I live. Of course, not everyone has a Jotul, but old brick stoves, which use more wood than my stove.
It occured to me that with forests no longer covering the ground, it is likely to get colder rather than warmer when the coldest part of winter arrives in January and February. My search on the internet brought up this link: http://iopscience.iop.org/1748-9326/7/1/014007
Since the Latvian countryside has already suffered a demographic crisis, a catastrophic depletion of population in the countryside, uncontrolled wood cutting on private property is likely to worsen the problem. I was interested to see the link mention the cooling effects of deforestation on NH (New Hampshire), an area that I am somewhat familiar with.from my days in the U.S.

2012-01-09T04:45:00.000-08:00

The deforestation of Latvia continues. The habitat of Latvia's wild animals--deer, wild pigs, moose, etc. continues to deteriorate. The winds [recently four (4) big storms] tear across the land. Latvians have depended on wood for thousands of years to keep warm in winter. With the land bare of forests that dependencwill have harrowing effects in the not so distant future.
See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16439807

If the coming ice-age is helped along by demorestation, it may be that Latvians become one of the first people to evolve new fur covering over their nakedness. Thanks "emsnews" for this one:
http://emsnews.wordpress.com/2012/01/09/new-study-about-impending-ice-age-irritates-global-warming-scientists/

2011-12-04T05:11:00.000-08:00

I have a new BLOGSPOT. See: http://mywealthvirus.blogspot.com/

Awsome destruction of habitat. See here: http://rt.com/news/timber-barons-wildlife-forest-233/
and here: http://rt.com/news/logging-fire-forest-business/

The Saw-Cross Flag of Temple for Destroyed Forests.
Die Zagen Kreutz Fahne.
A SYMBOL TO BE BEFORE THE EYES OF THE WORLD FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS!
The symbol of the SAW-CROSS FLAG is up FOR SALE.
If interested, please CONTACT T
HIS SITE.
Favor iyr okabet's trees wuth a /sunrise http://www.scoroncocolo.com/Sunrise.jpg

The Altar Piece, an apple-tree limb as mimesis of hurt.

View of the apple limb Altar Piece in situ

2011-10-26T01:39:00.000-07:00

"Vinteri" property, 17.9 ha. Photo fall 2010. Road in forefront under reconstruction.

Temple Black John in memory of forests

is offering for sale “Vinteri”

17.9 hectares of prime land

Location: Braslavas pagasts, Alojas novads, Riga Region, Latvia.

Legendary Burtnieku Lake is about 10 km north of property.

Lake Khegums is within walking distance

Two sides of the property are edged by roads in good condition.

One road was finished rebuilding this year.

"Vinteri" property from the crossroad looking west. Note hedge of spruce bordering hayfield.

The roads meet at a cross road.

Easy and quick access to asphalt roads leading to Matiši, Aloja and beyond.

Description of property: Originally land was zoned as 15.9 ha of arable land, 0.7 ha of forest. The southern edge of the property borders on a ditch beyond which begins a swamp. For the past twenty and more years the land has been let go fallow and has been planted by present owner with trees. Originally a well to do farm, “Vinteri” became a collective farm during the Soviet times. Upon the demise of the Soviet Union, the property was abandoned and was subsequently bought by the present owner. The old buildings on the property, located in the center of the property and surrounded by a row of oak trees, have been raised by owner because of their state of decay. One corner of the land at the cross-road has been used for a number of years as a source of hay by a local farmer.

Old road leading to old homestead "Vinteri". Tractor tracks from removing remains of fallen trees.

Description of area: About 1 km to the west along one of the roads is Temple Black John. Across the road to the north of “Vinteri” are “Dzerves”, also a collective farm during the Soviet days. The name “dzerves” means “cranes”, of which a number continue their thousand year long residence in the area and can be heard calling during the spring, summer, and early autumn days. Area has an abundance of wild pigs, deer, moose, and stork. More distant, but still in immediate neighborhood, are the small villages of Khegums, Braslavas Park, and the pagasts administrative center at the village of Vilzeni. A recent new owner to the area plans to build and develop a rabbit farm.

This is a reluctant sale, one necessitated to keep the Temple operating.and agitating on behalf of the forests and wildlife. Ideal buyer: one who more than respects nature.

Ask: Ls 30,000

Due to the present unstable financial markets, price may fluctuate.

Sale by Owner. Interested parties may communicate via email at this blogsite or contact

Inguna at +37125979406

2011-10-22T14:33:00.000-07:00

The association of a human body with the body of a tree has a long history. While sculptures have been carved of stone for thousands of years, the first sculptures no doubt were of wood. The material surely is more easily to work with. Moreover, some wood has a close resemblance to the human body. For example, an apple tree when debarked and saturated with linseed oil.

The Temple of Black Johns dedicated to lost forests has an annex where the trunk of an apple tree (see some of the photos in my previous blog), with an ax stuck in one of its crevices, hangs below the pole of a hazel branch. This trunk of the apple tree is the sacred body, an imitation of Black John (oak), but remains unpainted. If you look closely, you are likely to see that the trunk suggests both the body of a tree and the body of a human being.

The photos below give an idea of the setting, the stage, or if you will our 'altar'.

In the photo below, we see the body of the tree on the steps that lead to the foot of our outdoor temple. A creative dance group from the village of Matishi and onlookers perform a "greening of the tree" dance.

The following photo is of the visitors room and the altar space dedicated to the body of a tree, which we see as that of a human being as well.

The bodies of trees with humanlike bodies fill the stage/altar of the visitors room at the Temple of Black Johns.

We invite the reader to participate--by way of his-her subjective self--in the exercise of mimesis (imitation), which experiences our bodies as that of a tree. The next time you then need to cut down a tree, you will think twice whether you really need to do so, and if indeed you need to do so, then say a small prayer.

2011-10-17T06:43:00.000-07:00

Coming upon the scene of murder.

Another angle on the murder.

The photos are of the victim, the trunk of an apple tree, to the deforestation rage now going on in Latvia. This phenomenon is directly related to the debt imposed (rather than forgiven) on the Latvian people by Swedish banks and their lobbyist in Latvia, the President of Latvia, Andris Berzins.

We have taken the murder victim and placed it on the steps to The Temple of Black Johns. This is our temple to the memory of destroyed forests.

The forests shall rise again and human beings will live peaceably with them again.

2011-10-12T10:23:00.000-07:00

Below is my speech (in Latvian) at the opening of "Remembering the Forests Day", Saturday, October 15th, at 14:00 at The Temple to Forgotten Forests", aka "'Black Johns". Below is a calendar (also in Latvian) of events. Below the calendar the text resumes in English.

Ir pienākuši lielie maiņu laiki.

Eso Antons Benjamiņš

Nākošie 100 gadi vairs nebūs kā pagājušie 50, vai 100, vai 200 gadi.

Nesaudzīgā ekonomijas augšupeja, tā sauktā „pieaugšana” (izaugsme, growth), liberālā neo-kapitālisma apkampienā ir beigusies.

Mēs šo maiņu izjūtam savas labklājības stāvokļa brūkumā. Mēs to vēl neredzam cilvēku gaidās, jauniešu tusiņos, nedzirdam valsts paš-slavas reklāmās, visi, kuri turpina būt „ekonomijas pieaugšanas” pielūdzēji. Tāda, manuprāt, ir tukša cerība un drīz beigsies.

Esmu par šo perspektīvi pārliecināts. To atbalsta daudz tieši un netieši pierādījumi, kaut—kā mēdz teikt—to stundu, kad sasniegsim bezdibeņa dibenu neviens nezin pateikt, ja vien Dievs.

Bet tā sauktā ekonomijas „purgatorija”, kas stiepjās no paradīzes līdz ellei (dzejnieka Dantes skatījumā), ir pienākusi jau labu laiku, vismaz kopš tā sauktie „treknie gadi” ir beigušies.

Esmu jūs aicinājis pie „Tempļa Melnā Jāņa” uz pasākumu, lai „atcerētos mežus”. Esmu pārliecināts, ka meži ir mūsu nākotnē ne tikai ekspluatācijas objekti, bet pati dzīvā apkārtne.

Kad mums apkārt būs meži, mums būs liecība, ka esam noslēguši miera līgumu ar dabu uz visas nākotnes mūžu. Tādas savstarpējās attiecības nesīs visiem iesaistītiem labsajūtu par savu dzīves vidi.

Tie no Jums, kuri mīl Latviju un vēlās sev labklājību un turību, esat lūgti padomāt kā būtu dzīvot vidē, kur Jums visapkārt ir meži, bet tanī pašā laikā pastāv arī augsts labklājības līmenis.

Tāds pārgājiens „uz mežu” no pāraugušām pilsētām saprotams nebūs viena gada pārgājiens. Tas prasīs gadu dekādes un nopietnu piedomāšanu.

Nebūs viegli atkal dzīvot ar abām smadzeņu pusēm darbojoties vienā tempā un pašapziņā, nevis ar smadzeņu labo pusi pastumtu pazemē, kur dzīvo murgi, mūzika, un--tāpēc kā tā ir nepieļauta--gara pārcelšanās no domubiedra uz domubiedri nevis atklāti, bet paslēpus, neapzināti, un lielā tumsā.

Daudzi no lasītājiem, kas manus rakstus ir lasījuši, zinu, joprojām klausās manī ar neticīgām ausim. „Eiu! Ko vēl sadomāsi.”

Tā tad, lai Jūs man un paši sev palīdzētu domāt par nākotni, sveicu Jūs „Templī Melnays Jānis izcirstiem mežiem”.

Piedomāsim pie mežiem. Piedomāsim pie mūsu senčiem, kuri bija meža-vidus ļaudis. Manas vecās mātes māsa, mana labā tante Emma Melbārdis, dz. Jurjāns, Ērgļu pagastā reiz bija saimniece saimniecībā, kuru sauca „Soklēni”.

Toreiz, kad es pirmo reizi tur ienācu un dzirdēju vārdu „soklēni” domāju, ka tas nozīmē „sokās lēni”. Tikai vēlāk uzzināju, ka vārds „sokle” ir izcirtums mežā pie kura piebūvēja māju, pie kuras, domājams, bija lauks kāļiem, bietēm, kāpostiem, burkāniem, vēlāk graudiem un gotiņam, bet visapkārt tomēr palika mežs.

Sūtu sveicienus tantei Emmai un onkulim Rūdim, toreiz vēl gandrīz meža-vidus saimniecības saimnieki, kur kara laiki vēl lika atcerēt „meža brāļus” un dova iespējamu kādam no mums karu pārdzīvot.

Paldies. Tagad vārdi maniem cienījamiem viesiem: Dainim Īvanam, Janīnei Kursītei, un Laimai Muktupāvelei. Ko viņi domā un redz?

2011-09-29T07:36:00.000-07:00

Antons Benjamiņš aicina uz Mežu atmiņu svētkiem

"Koki modina cilvēku"pie tempļa „ Melnays Jānis”

15.oktobris 14.00

Padomāsim par mežu nozīmi mūsu dzīvē. Runās

Dainis Īvāns, Janīna Kursīte, Laima Muktupāvela

Piedalīsies

Senjoru deju kopa "Liepas" no Vilzēniem; Jauniešu deju grupa "Nezāle" no Matīšiem

Mūziķis Mārtiņš Roziņš no Valmieras

Mistērija: Salmu lelle "Gudrais Jānis" kā negrib tā negrib aizdegties, līdz no negribas sprēguļo.

Fantastiska iespēja amatieru fotogrāfiem un citiem palielināt savu foto kolekciju.

Ieeja brīva . Karstvīns/Mulled Wine 1.50 Ls

Autobus no Vilzēniem (pie Braslavas pagasta padomes) plkst. 13.30

Braslavas pagasts, Alojas novads

Seko Zāģu krusta zīmei no Vilzēniem.

No Valmieras uz Matīšiem. No Matīšiem uz Vilzēniem (Alojas pagrieziens).

No Vilzēniem seko Zāģu krusta zīmei līdz Braslavas parkam, tad (zīme) pa labi uz Templi.

2011-08-22T11:10:00.000-07:00

The Temple to Black Johns in Latvia

presents the sculpture of

View of the Temple to Blaxk Johns

Eso Jaņdžs

Name of exhibit:

"The Apple Orchard Speaks"

Medium: Apple wood and linseed oil.

Place: Visitor's Room at "Kalnini",

Braslavas pagasts (instructions of where and how to reach us can be located by searching earlier entries).

Earlier entries are worth looking at.

Eso Jaņdžs is a writer, sculptor, and self-elected priest at The Black Johns Temple representing the arch-Christian point of view. The Black Johns Temple believes Christianity to be a continuum, which includes the points of view of ancient myths, not to mention arch-Christianity--the Christianity that preceded neo-Christianity.

My decorative asparagus, what's left of it in spring.

When a few years back a local apple orchard was being cut down to turn it into a field for rotation crops, Eso Jaņdžs scrambled to save some of the trunks that had not been carted away and cut into firewood.

The trunks of these 'saved' apple trees were laid away to season. Now the seasoning is done, and the trunks have been transformed by Eso Jaņdžs into talking figures. By exploiting a phenomenon called "pareidolia", a subjective process that each viewer brings to his or her viewing experience, the sculptor lets the trees speak for themselves.

When sanding the time tortured apple tree limbs and trunks, the sculptor was reminded of Rodin's "Citizens of Calais" http://www.flickr.com/photos/30638010@N03/3270199151/and of course of Chekov's "Cherry Orchard" http://sarahlambert.squarespace.com/picture/cherry%20orchard%201%20copy.jpg?pictureId=6231279&asGalleryImage=true . The viewer is likely, too, is likely to see in his-her mind's eye the connection.

Posing for vanity's sake.

Eso Jaņdžs has exibited his work at such far off places as Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, USA, 1967 (sculpture)--yes, that far back, and Agija Suna Gallery (paper prints) in Riga, Latvia, as recently as June 2011.

Eso Jaņdžs does also murals. The artist's attick studio in the countryside, now the events room at the Temple to Black John, was among the month of July features in "Lilit" http://www.lilita.lv/galerija_izdevn.php?lang=lv&zurnals=47&zid=2011&count=6 , a Latvian journal of note.

The current exhibit, re "The Apple Orchard Speaks" may be viewed at the Temple of Black Johns events room. All viewing by arrangement through the email at this blogpost. Prices upon request (starting at Euro 50,000).

Black John walks through the wall.

The history of the Johns is a complicated one, but reader will remember that names such as Janis, Jean, Johann, Ian, Angus, Huan, Han, etc. are all related to one and the same root. The root may be gens (gans--herder in Latvian), from which spring such words as gendarme, jannisary, gentlemen, not to mention dun-geon, John the Baptist, and many others).

Eso Jaņdžs believes the Johns (there were many) to have been the Sacred King's messengers. Since no sacred city from which such messengers could have come forth is known from either recent or near ancient historical times, it is possible that the office and the name go as far back as 10,000 years, to before the time of the last shift of the Earth's tectonic plates http://www.mdrtalk.org/ (go to "When the Sky Fell") all at one time.

The Temple to Black Johns (Melnays Jānis) is dedicated to forests, forests that have been cut down and whose grounds have turned to desert. One of the first sculptures of Eso Jaņdžs was a variation on The Saw-Cross. Incidentally, it is probably the only original cross of the last few hundred years. The cross speaks of deforestation, the Saw-Cross suggesting a saw cutting across the trunk of a tree.

Black Johns / Melnays Jānis

The Saw-Cross

In the course of time, the Saw-Cross appeared to the sculptor in a number of shapes, one of the shapes being that of "Black John", the center piece of the temple's platform.

The temple meeting place and Black John

The temple is the site of many "trees that were". These 'trees' are scattered individually and in clusters around the temple grounds.

The temple is located on the grounds of a once upon a time household residence, which has decayed due to the changes in modern times. That is, the household as an institution and subsistance level economy ever since the beginning of time was not to be part of either the the 20th or the 21st century.

Eso Jaņdžs purchased the land, and placed the icon of the Saw-Cross over the cemented foundations of what was once a hay and cowbarn. The site of the once house proper now holds a large tent-like shed, an open space for summer family get-to-gethers, concerts, or other social occasions.

The following photographs are of apple tree trunks in the process of being sanded, covered with a layer of lindseed oil, and otherwise being "presented". The viewer is invited to try visualize the sculptures as a group of apple tree beings conversing among themselves.

Medea

What follows are a series of photographs of works in progress.

[This blog in construction. Please come back later to see Eso Jaņdžs' "The Apple Orchard Speaks".

2011-08-13T02:32:00.000-07:00

The link (below) appeared this morning on Alternet. I pretty much share the perspective therein. This is why I am placing these rather common photos before you reach the link. The scene is about 1.5 km from my house. There is a similar scene in one of the older blogs. The trouble is, it is happening all over the place here: people are cutting down their small forest plots to make ends meet. Send a big thank you to your banks.

http://www.alternet.org/story/151886/we%27ve_entered_the_age_of_mass_extinction%3A_goodbye_fish_and_a_whole_lot_more?akid=7401.171186.cDrrun&rd=1&t=21

2011-06-14T23:30:00.000-07:00

Another defender
of forests killed
in the Amazon.

Black John
Melnays Jānis
the god
at our Temple to
forests gone
weeps.

The forests in Latvia are disappearing at a fast pace, too.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13772238

2011-06-13T11:39:00.000-07:00

A very interesting blog by Elaine. It tells much about volcano activity in our day, but also tells about the significance of forests.

The Temple of Black John (dedicated to the memory of lost forests in Latvia) recommends you see and read it.
http://emsnews.wordpress.com/2011/06/13/volcanic-eruptions-chile-and-china/#more-11765

2011-06-06T03:29:00.000-07:00

DEVASTATING FOREST FIRES.
OUR SYMPATHIES TO THE PEOPLE OF ARIZONA

The Temple of Melnays Jānis (Black John) dedicated to the remembrance of man-destroyed forests, expresses its sympathies to the forests and the people of Arizona in the event of the wast fires racing across their land. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iRxA7l9zF6xcAEzNbWoW0GyZjxag?docId=447ee61375414d308cc584d0a5f5e39b&index=1

If you ever come Latvia way, you may learn more about us in the blog below, re http://melnaysjanis.blogspot.com/. Do not overexploit the land, rather work toward letting it go fallow and renew itself. Make it a temple.

2011-05-15T23:39:00.000-07:00

The Latvian media are telling us this morning that the real candidate hiding behind the ''shoe-in'' president is red head. Since our Wormelings had presumed that the "in" color was orange, one hastened to die her hair red.

Whether this is so or not only time will tell. At this time, however, our own candidate, re Pulkvedis Yandahlins, is keeping a low profile. Hint: he is thinking of coming out all green.

2011-05-15T01:32:00.000-07:00

The Temple dedicated to the memory of destroyed forests, Melnays Jānis / Black John is open for the 2011 season and is receiving visitors.

We are located in Latvia, about 30 km west of Valmiera, in the North Vidzeme Biosphere protectorate. The name 'protectorate' is on paper only, but we are working to make it real. The Temple is on private property, but is open for visits to the public. We also offer space for small parties, family get-togethers, weddings, dances, or simply a place for a restful walk on a weekend day. Our's is a very unusual place.

The Latvian Janis (aka John, Johann, Jean, Gion, Huan, etc., also Joan, Zhenja, etc.) is of an ancient Christian root and the festival is celebrated on Midsummers Eve. The owner of the Temple, one Jandzs, is happy to provide visitors with a more detailed account of his views of the origin of this celebrated, but--even so--forgotten figure of arch-Christian times. The prefered time for discussion are Sundays, 11.00-13.00. Please call 'Inguna' (in Latvia) at 25979406 to make an appointment.

Please browse through the commentaries in earlier blogs. You will find a more detailed description of how to reach us. Hope to see you soon.

2011-02-04T04:33:00.000-08:00

Alarm bells
from the Latvian forests and wildlife!!!!!!!!!!

Aljezeera English has just published an essay on the state of Latvian forests, re
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am1xKGQ3YHc&feature=autofb

The horror perpetrated against Latvian forests by LVM (Latvijas Valsts Meži -- Latvian State Forests) may not be an official crime, but surely is double talk by LVM officials and by Latvia's Prime Minister Dombrovskis. See both in Aljezeera clip.

We at "Ceļmalnieki" have the only temple dedicated to destroyed Latvian forests in Latvia. The "Saw Cross" pictured above is our copyrighted symbol, which we hope will be adopted by all organizations against wanton forest destruction. The "Saw Cross" can be seen in more abstract form at posts at the beginning of this series. Scroll down and click on "Older posts".

P.S. The January issue of the Latvian Gardeners' Club (Latvijas dārzu biedrība) magazine "Dārzā" (In the Garden) has an article and photo essay (p. 34-37) on yours truly and the Temple to Johns. The text is in Latvian.

2010-11-08T03:14:00.000-08:00

Post 17
Full or partial entries of my blogs may be found at LatviansOnline http://latviansonline.com/forum/ + Forum Home + Open Forum – The 4th Awakening. If you copy this blog for your files, or copy to forward, or otherwise mention its content, please credit the author http://esoschronicles.blogspot.com/, http://melnaysjanis.blogspot.com/, http://the-not-voter.blogspot.com/ or http://the4thawakening.blogspot.com/

I suggest you look at the links imbedded in these blogs or at the end of the blog as an integral part of my argument.

An interesting exchange of letters and information--in Latvian--about the state of Latvia's forest here.
http://aculiecinieks.delfi.lv/news/novados/rakstiet-ja-izcirtis-mezus-mes-nomirsim-bada.d?id=34985063

The governing bodies in Latvia (state and municipal) are going whack-ko cutting down trees and asserting the rule of stupidity over sense.

The cut down trees end up as sawdust and cheap export, rather than in the creation of a furniture industry.
...............................................

Viens labs iemesls kāpēc celt sev privāto lauku templi ir fakts, ka daudzās valstīs--ievēromi tās kuras atrodās Eiropas austrumos--mēs sastopamies ar attieksmi kura mums noliedz nest atbildību (šeit vārdu 'atbildību' lietoja angļu valodas conscience nozīmē). Varbūt tāpēc Latvijā ir bieži sastopama neatbildīga attieksme (arī conscience nozīmē) par to kas te vai tur notiek. Templis Melnays Jānis šo nevīžību (arī conscience nozīmē) veicināšanu, lai no kuras vēja puses tas nenāktu, peļ un uzskata to kā nopietnu šķērsli atbildīgas cilvēces veidošanā, īpaši pašdarbības veidā.

One good reason for building your own private outdoor temple is the fact that many countries, especially those located in Eastern Europe, are against the freedom of conscience both de facto and de jure. [How can you not be de jure if you already are de facto?) At Temple "Melnays Jahnis", we see this attempt to limit the breadth of meaning implicit in the word conscience as a form of spiritual repression by corrupt social icons. We lean heavily (without denying other functions to the word) in the direction that defines conscience as an aide to humankind in a self-help fashion to develop behavior that passes as responsibile.

2010-09-20T07:11:00.000-07:00

21 Here is a BBC documentary on Angor Wat, the largest temple in the world.

And here is a picture of one of the smallest in Braslavas pagasts, Alojas novads, Latvia. We call our temple "Melnays Jahnis" or Black John.

Black John is Green John turned black and all its limbs cut off. Black John recalls the forests of a land fast becoming deforested. Just yesterday a builder of log houses, which he exports to Norway, complained on a television program that his concern is running up against the problem of insufficient quality timber.

Like the jays and squirrels in the fall gather acorns to store them in their winter barns (whereever these may be), we, too, are gathering acorns and sowing them to grow into mighty (we hope) oaks.

We encourage you or your acquaintances to consider building your own private outdoor temple. Why? Because we all hold something sacred and nature best represents the sense of the sacred in our time.

When enough people build their own outdoor temples with the intent to resacralize the forest, we will have sown a seed that has a future as certain as nature is green.

2010-08-22T12:47:00.000-07:00

20 I recently came across (browsing the web) Angela Palmer’s exhibit of tree roots at Trafalgar Square, London. The exhibit was installed on November 2009.

I recommend for my readers to read Ms Palmer’s statement to learn of the artist’s activities. Currently the show is being exhibited on the lawn of Oxford University’s Museum of Natural History and the Pitt Rivers Museum in central Oxford and will be shown there until July 31, 2011.

While Angela Palmer calls her exhibit a “Ghost Tree Exhibition” and I dedicate my “Temple to Johns” to axed forests, I believe that our concerns are the same.

As irony would have it, even as I posted my two previous blogs, a small forest next to my property was torn down by the owner of the property abuts mine. I say “torn”, because modern technology can quite manage without the chain saw handled by human hands. While a saw cuts the stump, the operation actually resembles Jack the Ripper at his worst. Of course, I am speaking from the point of view of one who believes the forests to be holy places even from a quite practical point of view. Are the floods in Pakistan not the result of a lack of forests to absorb the rains?

Incidentally, I believe that Ms. Palmer’s exhibit is in its own fashion a temple. If you live in England, it might be worth visiting it and writing a letter to this blog about your impression.

2010-08-17T02:30:00.000-07:00

19 As per a previous post, on August 13, the Temple to Melnays Jānis held a fundraising dance with the musical group "Kantoris 04" performing. The temple was visited by about one hundred people, seventy-eight of them paying guests. The next public get-together is being planned for about the middle of September.

Just a day before the dance, we finished painting the temple floor. Here are some pictures of it. If you come visiting, we do not for fear of damaging the design encourage anyone stepping on to the floor. However, we will provide a carpets to lead you up the temple steps for a closer look.

Some visitors have asked whether the temple floor will survive the harsh conditions of the winter. We do not know that it will, because in very cold weather, the cold will penetrate far below the surface layers and cause cracking. Like the Tibetan monks do with their sandpainting, we will fix or redo what needs fixing and redoing.

2010-08-15T09:09:00.000-07:00

18 Temple MELNAYS JĀNIS. August 14.

In its Saturday, August 14th issue, the Latvian newspaper "Diena" [suspect for some time to be the voice of the neo-capitalist right wing (Šķēle, Šlesers, Ulmanis, et al)], published a "questionnaire” under the heading "Politics with a tune for religion” (Politika ar reliģisku pieskaņu). All six men interviewed, politicians of as many political parties, came out for politics in religion and religion in politics. The most cited reason for collaboration is that collaboration of church with state has a long tradition. The first politicians, one Cilevičs, describes this “tradition” as one where one “should not build a fence” [between the state and religion]. The last helped the newspaper “Diena” to identify itself with the Bible. Said Šmits: “We will encourage the teaching of the Bible until High School.” (Rosināsim obligātu Bībeles mācību līdz pat vidusskolai). The politicians are:

Boriss Cilevičs (SC)
Dzintars Rasnačs (VL-TB/LNNK)
Juris Sokolovskis (LPCTVL)
Aleksejs Loskutovs (V)
Staņislavs Šķesteris (ZZS)
Jānis Šmits (PPL)
Not least among the above named is the editorial board of "Diena" standing up for the Bible and not separating politics from religion.

The tyranny of reactionary religious thought (I describe it as the projection of an attitude that claims for itself to be „I am my own state and social service and no law against it however I understand it”) highlighted by its collaboration with a corrupt state has troubled Latvia with its exclusionarism for a very long time. This once beautiful countryside, where once the endearing word ruled everyday speech of the people who lived there, has become a mind-oppressive closed-end bottom of the spiritual barrel. The men listed above are not the only ones for keeping Latvians there. The Latvian Prezident Zatlers, too, is a not so hidden Christian mole in government. Who speaks for the “religious” who do not identify themselves with the neo-Christian movement that arch-Christianity has been forced to become?

The Temple Melnays Janis invites the reader to build more private temples to challenge the prejudiced state of their state. It is time to shake off the iconoclasts that would prevent nature from becoming our garden again.

2010-08-01T08:11:00.000-07:00

17 A Hindu temple in London costing 16 million British pounds is a long way from our humble attempt here in Latvia to build a private temple. However, looking at the BBC post, I am reminded that the Hindu Ganesh (the God with the elephant trunk) is a cognate of the name John and the Latvian “Jahnis”. As I have pointed out in other posts, the consonant G may slip slide and become a J (as in John) or Y (as in Janis). While the Latvians have for the most part forgotten about Janis as one of the godheads of their ancestors, reading about Ganesh may bring back some long forgotten associations. Oh, yes, our Jānis--as you can see--has four trunks.

We are presently planning an evening of dance with the well known "shlager" band known as Kantoris 04. The event will take place on August 13th at 21:00. Tickets Ls 2.50. The event will take place at "Melnays Jānis", the only temple in Latvia dedicated to Jānis (the Latvian version of Ganesh).

2010-07-27T08:53:00.000-07:00

16 One good reason for building your own private outdoor temple is the fact that many countries, especially those located in Eastern Europe, are against the freedom of conscience. We at the temple of "Melnays Jahnis" see this attempt to limit our choices as a form of spiritual corruption.

See article at http://www.voltairenet.org/article166468.html

This site has no objections to a temple dedicated to Buddha, Jesus, Shiva, Krishna, or whomever one choses to dedicate it to. However, we believe that our times require and will be more receptive to a temple that is located in nature and is dedicated to no more than a sense of the sacred. As the reader may see from the entries and photos below, we are--as we claim to be--a private temple to our sense of the sacred.

While we welcome the public to share with us our sense of the sacred, we insist on the private nature of our temple. If there develops an interest in such temples among others, we may of course form a league of like minded for freedom of conscience.

2010-07-24T07:08:00.000-07:00

15 Our private temle, “Melnays Jahnis” (Black John) takes the idea of the temple garden into the 21st century. Of course ours is a different time. We no longer live in the days of the ancient Greeks, or Romans, or Chinese, or Japanese. But this does not mean that the idea of a sacred place does not have a place in our time or in our lives. We believe that the idea of the temple—even if it originates as a private affair—connects to a much larger public. This is why “we” by inviting “the larger public” to visit us dare claim this private temple to be “ours”.

Our “Melnays Jahnis” is a temple still in its developmental stages. One of our “developments” are the trees. We have planted and are still planting trees all around the property. Some of the trees are still under the grass, so to speak, but in ten and twenty years time, the appearance of the temple should change substantially.

Our private temple is dedicated to our private faith, each his and her alone. This writer has his own, and it is inevitable that I will share with the reader some of my ideas and theology. A private temple is, after all, also a personal temple. On the other hand, no visitor is in any way asked to “buy” my beliefs or orientation even as the management may be so rude and ask you for a donation or entrance fee. “Melnays Jahnis” is a temple garden which makes (or if you will, makes-believe) the land it occupies to be sacred. We validate our claim by dedicating it to Nature, more specifically to Trees, Trees which are alive and Trees which are no more, Trees which are growing as we speak and Trees which have been sawed down and not replanted.

As circumstances will have it, we are located in what is known as a "biosphere reserve" . The biosphere reserves are under the auspices of UNESCO. Specifically, we are within the boundaries of the North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve.

We plan to keep you informed of our developments, ideas, and events.

“Melnays Jahnis” is located at the “Ceļmalnieki” estate. You may reach us by way of Valmiera. Take the road from Valmiera to Matishi. When in Matishi take the road to Aloya (left). When at Vilzeni (a small village with a crossroad) turn right and drive about 6 km toward the Old Braslava center. You will soon reach an oak lined alley. Several hundred meters down this alley you will see (on the right) a sign that reads “Matishi” and “MELNAYS JĀNIS”. Drive about a 1½ km. We are on the right hand side of the road. Please park on the road. Enter under the sign that reads Melnays Jānis….

If you live in Latvia or come to Latvia, please be sure to visit us. We prefer Saturday and Sunday visits. There is a gong (or soon will be) near the entrance. Please hit it several times with the hammer provided if no one is around. Some information about Melnays Jānis may be found at the entrance sign.

Forest News
For the curious: We take the name of our temple from the name Jahnis. This is a cognate of John, Johann, Ivan, Huan, Giovanni, etc. While there is no definite proof of it, we believe that the name "pagan" originates from Jahnis prefixed with a "pa-" + Janis, re "pa-gan". The word "gans" in Latvian means herder. Thus, pa-gan (originally pa-jahnis) is meant to belittle John by making him a lesser John, a lesser herder. Lesser to whom? You figure it out.

Full or partial entries of my blogs may be found at LatviansOnline+ Forum Home + Open Forum – The-Not-Voter. If you copy this blog for your files, or copy to forward, or otherwise mention its content, please credit the author http://esoschronicles.blogspot.com/, http://melnaysjanis.blogspot.com/, or http://the-not-voter.blogspot.com/

2010-07-14T00:08:00.000-07:00

Cut it down, cut it down!
Yesterday, July 13, 2010, traveling from Riga to Valmiera, I noted that the deforestation which I noted last fall and this spring, is turning these areas--thanks to the +30C heat--into a desert of grey sand an dry brush.

Sitting high in my bus seat, and thus able to look beyond and through the row of trees that flank the highway, one can see vast areas of just such a desert.

This morning this revealing article at the DELFI fortal (in Latvian) about the further deforestation of Latvia.

Note the letters accompanying the article. At least a half are from people who wish to see Latvia deforested, that is to say, these letters are more or less plants (no not real trees) to confuse the reader's mind. The Temple of Black John (Melnays Jānis) is opposed this "strip mining" of Latvia.

The photo below is our symbol of the saw-(ac)ross the tree's heart.

2010-07-07T14:45:00.000-07:00

The "private temple" that I am suggesting that Latvians build to develop their tourist industry has its roots not only in the history of temples of earlier times, but also in the garden as a temple. Here is a story in the NYT about Sissinghurst Castle in England. It is worth while to read also the comments of the readers.

Latvians should find it worth their while to remember their Wandering Teachers, the Johns, in whose honor they celebrate Johns Eve on Midsummer's Eve. Might not the remembrance be honored with a temple, designed in contemporary style?

It is a mystery to this blogger why Latvians should think that visiting old buildings of long forgotten barons is of more interests to foreign tourists or, for that matter, to themselves than building temples to Johns to renew not only the economic foundations of their country, but something of their own heritage. Else, the victory belongs to Pop culture, and the Latvian people prove themselves to be broke in more ways than one.

2010-07-06T12:29:00.000-07:00

The director of the tourist branch of the Latvian Ministry of Economics, Marina Pankova, does not think that Latvia will attract as many tourists as, say, Turkey. Says Pankova: "We [Latvia] will never be the goal of tourists." See here.

How sad to see and hear such assertions from bureaucrats without an imagination. This is why this question to the reader:

Would Latvia attract tourists if Latvia has a thousand temples?
We say: Of course, it would.

Would a thousand temples in Latvia built as sacred places honoring nature attract tourists to Latvia? Of course tourists would come to see. We at Black Johns (Melnays Jānis) believe that they would in fact come in great numbers.

But it takes a ministry filled with lively people rather than dundurheads to make it happen.

First comes the idea, then the encouragement to realize it (say, tax relief), then the building of it.

The Latvian countryside would benefit 1000 x!

So, why can the Prince of Wales support the English countryside, but Latvians cannot promote theirs?

As the man said to the new recruit: You are here so that I can change your attitude.

2010-06-29T12:31:00.000-07:00

The Temple of Melnays Jānis

The Temple of Black Johns

Would you not like to see a world of 1000 new temples? or would you rather see a thousand oil-smeared pelicans dying?

At the Temple of Black Johns, we hope to see a thousand new temples, rather than the natural world dying. So, please, think of yourself as one who has been invited to build a private temple.

No doubt, we live in a world that is different from yesterday. Old faiths are gone and their messages go unlearnt. Nevertheless, we hold some things sacred. Is not nature a part of our sacred? Think of how you would build a temple that is both your living space and a place that not only you, but others call a Temple.

We present the Temple of Black Johns as an example of what a temple in our day may look like.

Here is our Cross”:
The Saw-(ac)cross.
It shows a saw cutting upwards a tree.
The image suggests that the sawing-upward of the tree can stop at any time we realize how cruel the act and those who do it are and stop the act.

Please stay in the areas where the grass has been cut. The pond is for the fish and not you to swim in.

What is beyond the lawn belongs to nature, but both the lawn and what is the owner’s ultimately belong to the Great All.

The Temple of Black Johns

The Temple of Melnays Janis

You are welcome to come visit us. Address is somewhere among the posts below. We would like to see a thousand temples who use the Saw-(ac)ross A Trees Heart as their logo. The pictures should tell you about the idea visually. Below is some text you may wish to read to follow our thought. Welcome to our private temle.

2010-06-23T01:44:00.000-07:00

The Johns Eve bonfire at Braslavas Park, Alojas novads on 22.06.2010. An estimated 400-500 people attended the event.

Johns Eve is being celebrated at the Braskava Park for the 13th year this year. Yours truly restarted the tradition that many years ago. Our bonfire teams (2) construct the bonfire on alternate years and compete in creative design.

Many people from Braslavas pagasts, now part of Alojas novads, participate in making our Johns Eve festival a success. We are known for being off the beaten path, therefore, very much a community affair. In this picture three women from Vilzeni are making a wreath to decorate a nearby small stage.

Some years ago, our bonfire team built the bonfire from large roots which we gathered from trees fallen during a then recent storm. We faced the roots outward, and the design turned out to be like a spider's net, a web of connections or, better, communal bonds.

This year our bonfire resembled a small house, one perhaps which Hansel (Yansel) un Gretel lived in. Some years ago our team began to use colorful paints to enhance the appearance of our outdoor art works.

The forebears of Latvians, being a people of the forest, had plenty of wood to make their fires from. However, in our day, with much public land now in private hands, it is not so easy to access wood for burning. Thus, Alojas novads provided us with old railroad ties. Our builders were worried over the smoke this would cause. Fortunately, there was no wind, and the heavy smoke rose straight into the air and soon left but a huge torch to light the evening.

Perhaps this fire presents our community's will to live and prosper.

Of the 77 years that this author has sojourned on planet Earth, 26 years have been spent in Latvia. The first 11 years were in Latvia, followed 5 years as a refugee in Germany, then 46 years in the United States of America, and then again the last 15 years in Latvia. I am proud and humbled to be honored with the medal of "Lachplehsis" (Lāčplēsis) by the Latvian defense fund Lachplesis. May Latvia, blessed with the strength of Lachplehsis and the spirit of the Johns, live on and create a most worthy and prosperous community. May we live to present the world with the best of possible examples of pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps.

2010-06-22T01:54:00.000-07:00

Prose translation in English of poem below. It is to be sung by the Latvian melody of “Kas tie tādi, kas dziedāja?”

1. ”Who are the ones who sing by the Johns fire? They are all the Children of Johns who no longer acknowledge themselves.

2. What is the song they are singing? Does the song sing of Johns? Yes, the song sings of Johns, but the song sounds as if it comes from orphans.

3. History has been forgot, which is why the song of Johns is mute. Who are these Children of Johns, who no longer know themselves.

4. Raimond Pauls [the oneLatvians call ‘the maestro’] makes a concert for himself. He will mention no tomorrow for John. The Children of Johns open their ears (to the concert), but hear little mention of Johns.

5. Tomorrow morning, early, early, the Children of Johns will be asleep. A griffon arrives with the wings of a raven and hides the wreath of the Sun.

Kas tie tādi,
Kas dziedāja
Pie Jānīša uguntiņ?
Tie ir visi Jāņu bērni,
Kas vairs sevi neatzin.

Kas tā dziema,
Ko tie dzieda?
Vai tā dziesma
Jāņus teic?
Gan tā dziesma ir par Jāni,
Bet skan bāru valodiņ.

Vēsturīte
sen aizmirsta,
Jāņu dziesma
mēma šalc.
Kas tie tādi Jāņu bērni,
Kas vairs sevi neatmin?

Raimonds Pauls sev
koncertu taisa,
brāķē Jāņu rītdieniņ.
Jāņu bērni sanākuši,
Ausis ver, bet
Jāni nesadzird..

Rīt no rīta
Agri,agri
Jāņu bērni dziļi snauž.
Atnāk griffins
lietusarga spārniem,
aizsedz Saules vainadziņ.

2010-06-14T00:43:00.000-07:00

Kāpēc “Templis Melnays Jānis” izcirstiem mežiem?

Rakstiņš viens no pirmiem blogiem rakstu virknes apakšā!

An Invitation!

Sunday, June 20th at 15:00

Temple Black John

Of Disappeared Forests

the First Private Outdoor Temple in Latvia

located at „Celmalnieki”, Braslavas pagasts, Alojas novads

For directions see blog entries below

invites you to share with us in a bite of Johns Cheese

and a sing-along of Songs of Johns.

Participants include The Puikule Drama Assemble,

The Puikule Choir Ansemble Kolorīts.

The sing-along will be directed by Digna Virkstene.

2010-06-13T04:34:00.000-07:00

The Latvian version of this text is the first blogs of this series.
Why “Temple John of Disappeared Forests”?

© E.A. Benjamins, 2010

The name “John” is one of the most widely known cognates in Europe and beyond. We may meet “John” in such names as Johann, Huan, Jean, Ivan, Giovanni, etc. If we know that the consonant J may with time slip slide and become a G, H, D, V, X, etc., and that it may even disappear as in, say, Angus, then the number of words of “John” at their root may reach hundreds. In Latvian the word may also be verbalized, re “jonjot” (joņot) and become an adjective, re “jancihga” (jancīga), a person with something of a chip on the shoulder.

In the days of proto-Latvians (those who lived before Latvians had their own nation), the word John, Jahnis, was pronounced with a G, re Ganis or Gans (a herder of cows, pigs, geese, sheep, etc.). Do we now see that John, Gans, is the same as a king, that is to say, a herder of nations? In the days of yore some societies (the Turks for example) had two kings. One of the kings was the spiritual king, the other was his executive. Words such as gendarme, jannisery received their name as a result of being the king’s right (executive) hand.

Let us also remember that John the Baptist was not only a herder, but a healer and a shaman. John the Herder was the one who came in touch with plants and got to know their characteristics. It is likely that the word “gens” (man) was originally identified with “herder”. This is also why “John” is at the root of so many other words.

We can now better understand why the Children of Johns, a Latvian religious sect from the times of the Bogomils and the Cathars et all (known from about the 11th and 12th centuries of our era on), were thought of as a community. This was a time when our planet was still overgrown with forests. The Johns, itinerant teachers all, went from one clearing in the forest to another and brought to the people news from other parts of the world. Incidentally, the Latvian verb “jonjot” (to run fast) may have a distant echo in the English word “jog”, which j may at one time have been pronounced as a y.

John the Jogger was also known as the son of the Sun, because he was always (or most of the time) on the road and, thus, always in sight of the Sun. At the the time of the great solstices, Midsummer and Midwinter, the Children of Johns lit fires atop tall poles to lead the Johns to their villages in the forests. Of course, in the winter the hearth with its Yule log enticed the Johns to come into the house.

Let us turn now to a controversial thought, to wit, that the Johns came to be identified as protectors of the forests.

When the people made a clearing in the forests, they did so not only to build them selves shelter, but to grow plants in soil that became extra fertile due to the ashes left by the burning of the roots and the brush. When this fertility was exhausted, the people moved on.

Alas, there came a new caste of men for whom the forest was an object of exploitation. This caste no longer identified their living space with the forest, but cut down the forests to build themselves castles, castle walls, ships of war, and huge furnaces where they baked clay into bricks. The caste of princes did not allow the cleared forest to grow over, but sowed the clearings over with seeds of grain. They made thus more money. While a tree takes fifty years or more to grow into a harvestable product grains take only one season.

The Children of Johns and their Sacred kings, the Johns, tried to fight the princes off. There were wars. At first the Children of Johns were successful in defending themselves, because every tree in the forest acted as a shield. However, the princes gained the upper hand, because they turned to wholesale destruction of the forests. The Latvians have retained from these times but the tradition on Johns Eve and Day decorating their heads with oak leaf or grasses. While this tradition persists, the Latvians no longer know why they are doing this.

The process of “desertification” of Latvia allows us to recall that John the Baptist (or Savior) of the New Testament is portrayed as a man who lives in the desert and eats grasshoppers. In the days of the New Testament John there were still Children of Johns. Many went to see John (maybe also known as the Water Curer) who had come to the River Jordan. However, John was soon captured and executed.

The name of Johns (John) disappeared. One way to disappear the name among the Latvians is to replace the Johns Festival with names such as Midsummer Festival, the Lihgo Festival, Family Festival, and the like. This process is well on its way of receiving the Nobel Prize for Destruction.

The desertification of Latvia continues. Though forests in Latvia still cover a significant (46%) area, the figure reads false, because the deforested land is not replanted with trees, but allowed to overgrow with brush.

2010-06-06T01:30:00.000-07:00

Kāpēc “Templis Jānis” izcirstiem mežiem?
Skat. priekšpēdējo lpp.

The postcard to the right is available at our Johns Temple at Celmalnieki. The Saw Cross is our own unique design. The message on the card is: "Saw-(ac)ross a tree''s heart" and "Koki sapņo zāģu krustu!".

News about what is happening to Latvia's forests
(in Latvian)
re: Meža dienests apšauba
All is not as it seems. This only the smoke
to the fire behind the hill.

Was life perhaps better when we lived in the forest?
Here is an interesting link that I happened across recently.
Click HERE

2010-06-05T10:42:00.000-07:00

The Temple of Johns of Disappeared Forests

or as in Latvian "Jāņu templis izcirstiem mežiem"

The photos are of Lady or Leidīja, the unofficial mascot of our temple of Johns.

Pekse or Peksite may be my neighbor's dog, but I have seen her at other neighbors' houses who also have dogs. In short, she likes company. Peksite frequents the temple grounds, because something usually goes on there, meaning there are people around. SPeksite always has a grin around her nose when we meet. When recently I walked around the pond, she followed me, and I just happened to have my camera along. No one feeds Pekse, but we do give her an occasional belly rub. Incidentally, for anyone who is curious, my grandfather's dog was named Peksis, and Peksite looks very much like Peksis.

Here Peksite wonders if to enter the pond for a swim and then does it.

We soon walk back to the work site and Peksite dries off in the sun.

Come to visit us sometime soon. Who has heard of a "Temple of Johns of Disappeared Forests" in Latvia before? We believe along with our forebears that trees are sacred. We have some apple wood sculptures to prove that the flesh of a tree feels good to the touch. During our introductory phase, we may seem a little unsettled, but we are friendly and will try to meet you if you announce your visit ahead of time at "letters" of these blogs. We are a private property and have much concern for nature, therefore, please show respect for this little nature corner even if on occasion we are not available to meet you.

If you wish to find a place to celebrate Johns Eve as the locals do it, you are welcome to visit Braslavas Park on the eve of June 22nd. We are participating in the event by building the bonfire. Though the pagasts will be at the park, the Temple of Johns is only 1 km away, and on a nice evening it is a nice walk. For Directions see one of the blogs below.

2010-06-04T05:32:00.000-07:00

The Temple of Johns of Disappeared Forests

or as in Latvian "Jāņu templis izcirstiem mežiem"

…is located in the northeaster part of Latvia, about a twenty minute ride from Burtnieku Lake. More specifically, we are located at the former farmstead called "Ceļmalnieki" or "Waysiders", Braslavas pagasts, Alojas novads, Limbažu rajons, Latvia. Directions from Valmiera: drive west to the small town of Matisi (23 km), then turn left on the road to Aloja until you reach the first significan crossroad at the village of Vilzeni. At Vilzeni take a right toward Braslavas Park. About 6 km down the road you will enter an oak covered alley. About 1/2 km on your right, you will see a sign that reads "Melnays Jānis". Our temple is about 1 km down the road on the right. Please park your car on the road. Welcome.

Planning for the temple began some ten years ago, but the accelerating pace of deforestation in Latvia makes the temple so much more timely an event. The temple is private, and open for visits to the public on Sundays or by special arrangement. We welcome inquiries about your plans for some special event, anything from meetings, small business conferences by nature loving business men and employees, a Garden Party, a wedding in the country, concerts, dance, etc. Please contact us by way of our blogsite.

The Temple of Johns of Disappeared Forests
http://melnaysjanis.blogspot.com/
is soon opening for visitors.

2010-06-04T01:22:00.000-07:00

The Temple of Johns of Disappeared Forests
or as in Latvian
"Jāņu templis izcirstiem mežiem"

is located in the northeaster part of Latvia and about a twenty minute ride from Burtnieku lake. More specifically, we are located at the former farmstead called "Ceļmalnieki" or "Waysiders", Braslavas pagasts, Alojas novads, Limbažu rajons, Latvia. Directions from Valmiera: drive to the small town of Matisi (23 km), then turn left on the road to Aloja until you reach the first crossroad at Vilzeni. At Vilzeni take a right toward Braslavas Park. About 6 km down the road, the road enter an oak covered alley. About a 1/2 km further, you will see a sign that reads "Melnays Jānis". Our temple is about 1 km from there on the right. Please park your car on the road.

While planning for the temple began some ten years ago, the accelerating pace of deforestation in Latvia makes the temple ever so much more timely. The temple is private, and open for visits to the public on Sundays. We welcome inquiries for your special events, anything from meetings or conferences by the "Greens", a Garden Party, a weddings, to concerts, dance, etc. Please contact us by way of this blogsite.

As we have just put up a large canopy structure (see red roof), we can receive people on rainy days. The owner of the property, Eso Anton Benjamins, is available during the summer months as your guide. Anyone interested on a personalized tour, please contact this blogsite and tell us of the intended time of your visit.

Below are some pictures of the site. Please note that we are still building and adding new objects.

We welcome concerts and other performance groups. Our audience sits around our small ponds, while the performers do their serenading from the opposite side of the pond. However, we prefer that sound amplifiers not be used as a way to respect nature round about. If you hear a frog croak during the middle of a performance, its part of our plan.

The above are some pictures of our site. In due time we will be adding more. Below see blog that provides some information about John or Johns and h/her origins. Hope to see you soon.

2010-06-03T01:44:00.000-07:00

The posts at this site, while for the most part written in English, will on occasion contain material in Latvian. This is the case with the essay below. An English translation may follow later. The essay speaks of the origins of Johns, the Children of Johns, and the Johns Festival on Midsummers Eve.

The copyrighted illustration to the right is of the "Saw Cross" or "Zāģu krusts". It represents the suffering endured by nature at human hands, specifically, the cuttingt of trees by chainsaws. The Temple to Black John advocates laws that will allow the cutting of trees by handsaws only.

Kāpēc “Templis Jānis” izcirstiem mežiem?

Kāpēc “Templis Jānis” izcirstiem mežiem?

Vārds “Jānis” ir viens no visizplatītākiem vārdiem Eiropā, bet ir sastopams arī citur pasaulē. Mēs Jāni varam atpazīt vārdos Johans, Huans, Johns, Jean, Ians, Ivans, Giovanni, u.c. Ja mēs saprotam, ka patskanis J var pārnesties uz G, H, D, V, X utt. un kā tas var arī pavisam izzust, kā, piemēram, vārdā Andžs, tad vārdu virkne, kam pamatā ir “Jānis”, var sasniegt simtnieku un vairāk. Neaizmirsīsim arī, ka Jānis dažkārt kļuva par darbības vārdu joņot. Kāpēc Jānis ir tik populārs?

Iedomāsimies, ka proto-latvieši (latvieši senatnē, gadu simtiem pirms vēl bija Latvija kā valsts) Jāni izrunāja ar G patskani priekšgalā - Ganis vai Gans. Vai tad gans (zosu gans, cūku gans, govju gans, aitu gans, utt.) nav arī tas pats ķēniņš, tikai cilvēku sabiedrības pārvaldnieks? Senākos laikos bija sastopamas sabiedrības ar diviem ķēniņiem. Viens bija garīgās varas ķēniņš, otrs bija viņa domu izpildītājs, vai izpildvaras ķēniņš. Žandarmērija, janisāri savu vārdu ieguva būdami izpildvaras labā roka.

Atcerēsimies arī, ka Jānis Svaidītājs, senos laikos bija ne tikai gans, bet arī dziednieks, burvis, ko šodienas angļu valodas antropologi sauc par šamani. Jānis bija tas, kas ganos saskārās ar dažādiem augiem un iepazinās ar to īpašībām. Vai tā ir patiesība vai tikai iedoma, mēs tikai paši varam izlemt, bet ja vārdam “gens”, cilvēks, pamatā arī ir Jānis, tad nav brīnums, ka vārds Jānis ir tik plaši izplatīts.

Tagad mēs varam labāk saprast kāpēc Jāņu bērni ir saistīti ar Jāņu saimēm. Sen sen, kad vēl lauku un pļavu vietā pasauli apauga meži, Jāņi bija tie, kas apstaigāja mežos izcirstās sokles, izcirtumus un sokļu (varbūt vārdam ir sakars ar vārdu “sādža”) iedzīvotājiem atnesa ziņas no citām pasaules malām. Varam atcerēties, ka agrāk Jāņus atpazina kā staigātājus, jo gani, īpaši kalnu apgabalos, ganāmpulkus dzina uz kalnājiem, kur klajumi (ar mežiem neapaugušas vietas) bija vairāk kā ielejas. Vēlāk Jāņa vārda variantu pielīdzināja uz jebkuru pasaules staigātāju. Ir iespējams, ka joņot (ātri skriet) arī apraksta staigāšanu kā tādu - jāņotājs, staigātājs.

Jānis jāņotājs arī tika piesaukts kā Saules dēls, jo vienmēr atradās ceļā uz kaut kurieni, tātad Saules acs redzes laukā. Saules mātes lielajos griežos (tagad tā sauktajos saulgriežos) Jāņu bērni dedzināja uguni augstos kātos, lai rādītu Jāņiem ceļu uz viņu apmetni. Ziemā bija ceplis, tagad saukts kamīns, kuru kurināja, lai Jāni Ceļotāju sildītu.

Tagad pievērsīsimies pie kādas pretrunīgas domas. Būdams gans laikmetā, kad meži, ne klajumi valdīja pār pasaules telpu, Jānis, Saules dēls, tika uzskatīts arī kā mežu sargs. Pasaulē tad vēl nebija ne tuvu tik daudz cilvēku kā šodien, un ja izcirta sokles, tās ātri aizauga ar jaunu mežu. Parādījās varas vīri. Tiem koki nebija svēti, jo tie nebija viņu telpas noteicēji. Varas vīri zināja kokus tikai izmantot. Viņi izcirta mežus, lai sev celtu pilis, pils vaļņus, karakuģus un vēlāk milzu cepļus, kas cepa ķieģeļus. Varas vīri neļāva soklēm aizaugt, bet izdedzināja celmus un mežu vietā sēja labību. Tā varēja vairāk pelnīt. Koks aug 50 vai vairāk gadus, bet labība prasa tikai vienu vasaras sezonu.

Jāņu bērni nebija priecīgi par savas telpas samazināšanu. Viņi turējās pretī. Bija kari. Kungi pārvarēja Jāņu bērnus, iekarojot viņu vidi. Meži tika ātrāk izcirsti, jo kara pulku vara mežā izlīdzinājās Jāņu bērnu varai par labu (cilvēks paslēpies aiz koka ir labāk aizsargāts), bet uz klaja lauka kungu karapulku vara Jāņu bērnus pārvarēja.

Jāņi, kā senās sabiedrības gani vai pārvaldnieki turējās kungiem pretī un mācīja savus “bērnus” turēties pie senām vērtībām. Tomēr vara, kura nebijās liet asinis, guva virsroku. Atcerēsimies, ka tā sauktais Jānis Pestītājs Jaunajā Derībā tiek tēlots kā vīrs, kurš dzīvo tuksnesī un pārtiek no sienāžiem. Jāņu bērnu bija daudz, jo ir rakstīts, ka daudzi gāja ar Jāni tikties (kungi turēja Jāni prom no pilsētām) pie Jordānas upes. Taču kungi Jāni sagūstīja un nocirta viņam galvu. Pamazām Jāņu vārds tika aizmirsts un aizvietots ar nenozīmīgiem vārdiem kā saulgrieži, līgo, pikniks, ģimenes svētki utt.

Šodien Latvija tiek pārvērsta tuksnesī. Kaut meži vēl ir samērā daudz, mēs nevaram neievērot, ka tie tiek strauji izzāģēti. Cilvēki dzīvo pie “plikas” izdzīvošanas sliekšņa. Meži ir vienīgais Latvijas dabiskais resurss. Kaut meži tiek aizstāti ar labību, ievērosim, ka “labība” ir vārds ar divām nozīmēm. Kaut “labība” parastā nozīme ir grauds (rudzi, mieži, kvieši, auzas, rīsi), cilvēka zemapziņa nevar neuztvert, ka ar labību nāk apgalvojums, ka labības labums ir galējs. Tātad, cērtiet un nežēlojiet savus mežus, jo tos atvietos “labība” ar pārnestu nozīmi. Padomāsim, vai tā domāt ir ieteicams. Domāsim arī par citādiem atrisinājumiem, piemēram, kāda būtu dzīve, ja mūsu “labība” atkal būtu meži.

Moderna māja soklē! Lai līgo Jāņi, lai līgo meži, lai līgojam mēs!

© Eso / Ceļmalnieki, Braslavas pagasts, Alojas novads, Limbažu rajons, Latvija http://melnaysjanis.blogspot.com/

2010-05-05T06:32:00.000-07:00

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