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| Durham Cathedral Cloisters (Hogwarts cloisters) |
The first two Harry Potter movies were filmed in part at Alnwick castle and Durham cathedral cloisters. Was there magic in the air? Perhaps—a little, more of which below. At any rate, it was quite fun to wander around.
At Durham we waited in line for some time to see the Lindisfarne Gospels, an illuminated gospel book produced around 700 CE by the monks of Lindisfarne. This was pilgrimage—walking slowly with the hundreds of others to catch a glimpse (inside its climate conditioned case) of holy relics. Now you see them, now you don't, as you are shepherded past the ancient documents. Like many pilgrimages, I suspect, the wonder was in the journey and not the destination—the relic too removed, too untouchable, too sterile.
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| Alnwick Castle (Hogwarts) |
The magic was in nature and in the stones so old that they feel organic, as if having grown into castle and cathedral. It's no wonder that these ancient places were chosen to film and model the magical Hogwarts.
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| St. Cuthberts Island looking toward the main island Lindisfarne |
Here was magic, for magic is in nature. Spirit infuses matter. Nature is deeply spiritual. The Dao is in all if we have eyes to see.
In recent days I have pondered much how to practice wu wei, action though none action, going with the flow. In part it is simply being present, forsaking constant questions that merely muddy the water, let the situation educate me. Acceptance.
Like ancient Odysseus, back to Ithaca. Different air. Different energy. Magic here too.
+Ab. Andy