The Devil's Sermon
The Devil's Sermon
2023
Archival quality paper, 22kt gold leaf, paint, ink
2023
Archival quality paper, 22kt gold leaf, paint, ink
At the Devil's Pulpit in Finnich Glen, I stood atom the rock formation and intuitively began to speak this poem. Afterwards, I wrote down what I could remember, and worked on it over the weeks that followed.
I illuminated it in the medeival style using 22 kt gold leaf and some paints that I made myself. I made the black used for the lettering out of Charcoal that I made from Yew wood. Yew was often planted in graveyards and is a symbol of death, eternity, and resurrection. I also used a tan-ish grey colour that I made using my grandfather's ashes. My grandpa's passing was the catalyst for me being able to have meditative astral experiences. I also mixed lapis lasuli into Ultramarine,, and cochineal into a purple (see the snail). The marginalia are all from experiences of my trip.
I illuminated it in the medeival style using 22 kt gold leaf and some paints that I made myself. I made the black used for the lettering out of Charcoal that I made from Yew wood. Yew was often planted in graveyards and is a symbol of death, eternity, and resurrection. I also used a tan-ish grey colour that I made using my grandfather's ashes. My grandpa's passing was the catalyst for me being able to have meditative astral experiences. I also mixed lapis lasuli into Ultramarine,, and cochineal into a purple (see the snail). The marginalia are all from experiences of my trip.
The devil's sermon
I am the devil they say that I am
I make my wishes on stones
I am the witch that they say that I am
I make no promises known.
My loyalties lie with the maidens and crones
Yours lie with men and their land
My power needs no altar or throne
Yours is as steady as sand.
I am the devil they claim me to be
I am a women grown bold
I am the witch that they made of me
Cast off from the rest of the fold.
My worth is more than rubies and gold
I create riches that last
I’m weaving stories, begged to be told
Of my ancestors long in the past.
I am the one who speaks to the moon
And begs for remarkable sights
I am the girl who whispers a tune
And disappears into the night.
My heart is hardened and ready to fight
I’m learning to soften its shell
But only for those who carried me tight
And picked me up after I fell.
Now I am the devil they said that I was
I bring more followers near
Now I am the witch that they said that I was
And dance under stars without fear.
I am in training to be the next seer
My soul’s been cleansed from its sin
I hold the memories of family dear
But I've made myself a new kin.
I am the heathen they warned you about
I have no oaths but my own
I am the sinner they warned you about
My deeds are carved in these bones
I see the powers to be overthrown
And the hurt they’ve done to this people
I’m not afraid to be the next Joan
And deny those acts so medieval
I am the devil they say that I am
I make my wishes on stones
I am the witch that they say that I am
I make no promises known.
My loyalties lie with the maidens and crones
Yours lie with men and their land
My power needs no altar or throne
Yours is as steady as sand.
I am the devil they claim me to be
I am a women grown bold
I am the witch that they made of me
Cast off from the rest of the fold.
My worth is more than rubies and gold
I create riches that last
I’m weaving stories, begged to be told
Of my ancestors long in the past.
I am the one who speaks to the moon
And begs for remarkable sights
I am the girl who whispers a tune
And disappears into the night.
My heart is hardened and ready to fight
I’m learning to soften its shell
But only for those who carried me tight
And picked me up after I fell.
Now I am the devil they said that I was
I bring more followers near
Now I am the witch that they said that I was
And dance under stars without fear.
I am in training to be the next seer
My soul’s been cleansed from its sin
I hold the memories of family dear
But I've made myself a new kin.
I am the heathen they warned you about
I have no oaths but my own
I am the sinner they warned you about
My deeds are carved in these bones
I see the powers to be overthrown
And the hurt they’ve done to this people
I’m not afraid to be the next Joan
And deny those acts so medieval
