April Anticipation of Day 2 in Scotland

Celtic Soul Pilgrimage:  Good news!  As of April 12, a few spots on the September Tour and Pilgrimage to Scotland remain available.  Call  Sue, (360) 779-6793 for more information.  

Anticipating Day 2 in Scotland:

Before leaving Edinburgh, we have the chance to see St. Mary’s, an Episcopal cathedral of Gothic fame.  Apparently in the early 1700’s, Presbyterianism became the National Church of Scotland replacing the Anglican connected Episcopal Church.  This raises questions for me about Scotland’s history of denominational ties,  loyalties to Catholicism, Anglicanism, and Presbyterianism (of course mixed with Pagan roots!)  I’m excited to learn more. I can imagine that those loyal to their denomination (not Presbyterian) struggled with Scotland’s switch to Presbyterianism as the National Church. 

I like that two old spinsters, Barbara and Mary Walker, were rich enough and sassy enough to pay for the construction of St. Mary’s in the 1700’s to ensure that their church continued.   It seems everyone involved in the architecture, construction, and attendance of St. Mary’s were named Scott.  Even the church spires, added generations later were built by famous architects named Scott, who were related to the original builders.  It is a Gothic wonder of airy heaven bound architecture.  Some from Edinburgh affectionately refer to the spires as Barbara and Mary which conjures up the image of Barbara and Mary, meeting at the towers in the afterlife to enjoy the view from their spires, their namesakes.   

It is said that Sir Walter Scott (of course he is named Scott!)  attended this church and the pew where he regularly sat is named and dedicated to him. I hereby publicly name an intention to find one of his novels and read it before September and then go and sit in that pew. If you have a favorite let me know.  Maybe I can absorb some of his literary genius.  How can I not love a man who wrote this:

“Teach your children poetry; it opens the mind, lends grace to wisdom, and makes the heroic virtues hereditary.”

I’m amazed how his statement of hereditary sounds a lot like current research of epigenetics. Never take lightly the deep and mystical well of creativity!

"The glowworm o'er grave and stone

Shall light thee steady;

The owl from the steeple sing,

'Welcome, proud lady.'"

last stanza from “Proud Maize” by Sir Walter Scott – 

In true Celtic form, he gives Creation a place of voice and wisdom in his work.

See you again when I anticipate Day 3 in Scotland! Sue