I think that one of the most beautiful regions in the world is Languedoc, a part of the Pyrenees in southwest France. I have been there several times and its valleys, mountains, vegetation and rivers always impress me. However, as human beings are quite unpredictable, it was precisely in this magnificent place that the first great European “heresy” arose, Catharism.
Many books have been written on the subject, yet it is possible to summarize the Cathar philosophy in one simple phrase; the Universe was created by the devil, all this apparent beauty is a diabolic work.
According to the encyclopedia, they were dualists who believed in the existence of two gods, one of good (God) and one of evil (Satan), who created the material world. Because of this, they took a vow of chastity and had no intention of procreating and presenting the devil with more followers. They called themselves “perfect” and were disposed to martyrdom to prove the importance of their belief. The symbolic end of the movement, which triggered off the first crusades recorded in history, took place on March 15, 1244 in the fortress of Montségur. After a long siege when they were offered the choice of converting to Catholicism or else die, approximately 250 “perfect” men, women and children climbed down the mountain singing of their intent to throw themselves into the flames of the bonfire specially made for the occasion.
For a long time I was interested in Catharism. In 1989 I met Brida O’Fern (who later on became a character in a book of mine), who had been a Cathar in an earlier incarnation. At the beginning of that same year I had met Mônica Antunes, who at that time was just my friend, now my friend and agent.
Since for spiritual reasons I needed to go on the Cathar walk (a trail linking together the castles/fortresses of the “perfect ones”) I invited her to take part in a stretch of the walk.
Mônica and I reached the foot of the Montségur Mountain one August afternoon. We had planned to climb it the following day, and after dinner we went to chat in the place where the bonfire had been lit almost 800 years before (an insignificant monument marks the spot). The weather was overcast, with clouds so low that we could not even see the ruins at the top of the gigantic rock. Just to provoke Mônica, I said that it might be interesting to make the climb that very night. She said no, and I was relieved, imagine if she had said yes!
At that moment a car drove up, the same make and color as mine. An Irishman stepped out and asked, as if we were from the region, from what point the rock could be climbed. I suggested that he make the climb the next morning with us, but he was determined to go up that very night, he wanted to see the sun rise from up there, claiming that perhaps he had been a Cathar in a past life.
“I wonder if you could lend me a lamp?” he asked.
And everything seems to fit; Brida, the obligation of going on the Cathar walk, the joke with Mônica a few minutes before, and now this fellow, with a car just like mine. It is a sign. I go to the hotel in the village where we are staying and borrow a lamp, the only one they have.
Mônica seems scared, but I say that we have to go ahead. Signs are signs, I say. The newcomer asks where the path is. I told him it did not matter and to just start going up the path.
And for some time, (I cannot remember how long) the three of us climbed a mountain that we did not know at night and with the fog that only allowed us to see a few yards ahead of us. Finally, we penetrated the clouds, the sky filled with stars, the moon was full, and standing before us was the gate of the fortress of Montségur.
We entered and contemplated the ruins. I looked at the beauty of the firmament, wondering how we got there without any accident, and then I think it is better not to ask any questions and just admire the miracle. The Cathars contemplated this very same sky, and believed that all these stars were the work of the devil. I shall never understand the Cathars, although I do respect the integrity with which they dedicated themselves to their faith.
I have returned to Montségur and climbed the mountain several other times, but have never again managed to find the path that we used that August night in 1989.
Mysteries exist.
Creo que la Lingua d’Oc e uma limgua de unificacao,no?
now u see it now u don’t…
I was not aware of the importance of the Occitan language until I came onto this blog.
http://www.langudoc-france.info/1904_troubadours.htm
“Ritualistic- couples engaged in a courtly relationship.
The lady was the exalted domina, the commanding mistress of the affair. He was her servous, her lawly but faithful servant…..Unrequisted desire was part of the fun (one might observe that this aspect has developed in a specialist trade in more cynical modern trades).”
The Troubadours were linked to the Cathars.
“The tradition was also carried to Aragon,Castile and Leon, Italy and across the Mediterranean sea to the Holy Land.”
The origin of the Troubadours is still open to speculation – Arabic, Celtic and Latin, folklore, Al-Andalous, Moslim cultures etc
This for me has a strong connection and makes sense.With the arrival of the Jews who were persecuted and chased from Andalusia and dispersed to Egypt and the South of France – particularly in Montpellier by the Almohades family.
They established “Study houses” all around the Languedoc.
They were free thinkers and very tolerant towards other nationalities, religions, etc they taught medecine, philosophy (inspired by the Greek ones) Aristote – continued to practice Arab where they originated from (Fez) and translating scientific works as well as medical from Arab into Hebrew and Latin and keeping in touch with each other from one continent to the other.
Moise Ibn Tibbon (translator)
Andalusian (Averroes)
The Institute Euro-Mediterranean Maimonide was transferred a few years ago onto Montpellier.
Whatever… they were very wise men! I believe they hold the Key, the musical note, the poetry, the humour and the love of life – the way it should be – Right?
I have taken quite a few photographs at the Institute Euro-Mediterranean Maimonide in Montpellier. If someone can help me with the pasting I can send them across for you to read.
I think this is a confirmation that we are all connected.
It was strange for me to read that they were translators. -the only thing I ever liked at school with geography -.
so, yes, the magic mountain has its appeal and mystery…
:)
Thank you magical woman…I love the troubadours music and poetry…http://www.trobar.org/troubadours/
Can you share your link again…it doesn’t work…
Love
Hildegarde
the link does not work?…all is not lost. It is only symbolic!:)
http://www.languedoc-france.info/1904_troubadours.htm
Thanks for letting me know! Appreciate it.
Love
xx MCh
A very nice story and have read your book the Alchemist – i see the facination – i too have read about the Cathars and the mystery surrounding the Place – as it is told that the same Cult left with a hidden treasure – today posseded by the last Templars :)
Amen!!
Your writings are so rich and interesting – I really enjoy reading stories (real stories) like this one. Thank you for sharing :)
Bisous xx
Yes I’ve “already said that”… I’m talking to the machine.
–
“the Universe was created by the devil, all this apparent beauty is a diabolic work.”
Dear Paulo,
Not all the Cathars believe that the devil created the Universe. It seems there are 4 sorts of Cathars. And some of them believe that they can’t be any bad in or from God: they are the absolute Cathars.
I’m maybe one of them, though I never really interested so much myself in. For me: Almighty is not God, as God is just a celestial between others. Almighty is “above”, as a father/mother.
But I can feel that during 200 years catharism have been changed a lot and diverging opinions, as well geographic situation led to different rules of living.
Nowadays, some people assemble them to the arya doctrine. Maybe for true… A doctrine that has been buried as its main symbol, by the catholic church and then because of the nazi’s research.
CathARism was probably born from the European crusades to Orient. Indeed, in this time, educated people discovered another story of the original creation, thanks to relics, parchments, and objects coming from pillages in Egypt.
Aryas, “-and not aryans-”, were the children of Is-Râ-El people, that were not white as Himm/tlerism imposed so, but crystal made. Maybe those lightning Beings, we read here and there about in Ancient Books. They taught to Nagas that taught to Indian and Ethipian people; the latter as ancestors of Egyptians.
We know all this from the Turin’s Papyrus and Altar both, though the catholic church never talk about those races, we should better translate as “rays”; that were giants.
Cathars practised the imposition of hands. I discovered that thanks to your text. I’m obliged. It then carried my thoughts along to an Egyptian drawing representating Anubis that puts his hands on Osiris.
For them that practise helped the soul to brave death. Not only baptism.
For me, people on Earth are not prepared for the big travel. And each time one group discovered the original Truth, or just a part of them, to apply it in everyday’s life, they have been destroyed by the fire, and then by epimedies.
I’m afraid that a handful persons keep this secretly.
Though Truth is never long unseen for the one that seeks.
Many thanks.
Sings.. there are all around, dont they? :) in you story, the man asking you for a lamp, ur joke to Mônica, the fact that Brida was a Cathar, the car.. Maybe those were sings, maybe they were not.. What if you werent mean to go up? I thing you would not have even realized them… As people say, or as you have said.. Maktub..
What did you find in or through that path?
“the Universe was created by the devil, all this apparent beauty is a diabolic work.”
Dear Paulo,
Not all the Cathars believe that the devil created the Universe. It seems there are 4 sorts of Cathars. And some of them believe that they can’t be any bad in or from God: they are the absolute Cathars.
I’m maybe one of them, though I never really interested so much myself in. For me: Almighty is not God, as God is just a celestial between others. Almighty is “above”, as a father/mother.
But I can feel that during 200 years catharism have been changed a lot and diverging opinions, as well geographic situation led to different rules of living.
Nowadays, some people assemble them to the arya doctrine. Maybe for true… A doctrine that has been buried as its main symbol, by the catholic church and then because of the nazi’s research.
CathARism was probably born from the European crusades to Orient. Indeed, in this time, educated people discovered another story of the original creation, thanks to relics, parchments, and objects coming from pillages in Egypt.
Aryas, “-and not aryans-”, were the children of Is-Râ-El people, that were not white as Himm/tlerism imposed so, but crystal made. Maybe those lightning Beings, we read here and there about in Ancient Books. They taught to Nagas that taught to Indian and Ethipian people; the latter as ancestors of Egyptians.
We know all this from the Turin’s Papyrus and Altar both, though the catholic church never talk about those races, we should better translate as “rays”; that were giants.
Cathars practised the imposition of hands. I discovered that thanks to your text. I’m obliged. It then carried my thoughts along to an Egyptian drawing representating Anubis that puts his hands on Osiris.
For them that practise helped the soul to brave death. Not only baptism.
For me, people on Earth are not prepared for the big travel. And each time one group discovered the original Truth, or just a part of them, to apply it in everyday’s life, they have been destroyed by the fire, and then by epimedies.
I’m afraid that a handful persons keep this secretly.
Though Truth is never long unseen for the one that seeks.
Many thanks.
Paulo,
I agree with you about the sadness of the Cathar philosophy and yet their dedication to their belief(s), but isn’t this what always leads to evil in this world. I mean, of course, the following of an idea despite it’s inherent evil, or falsehood, to the exclusion of reality and/or truth. Vlad the Impaler was dedicated beyond all normal behavior, but terribly wrong in his actions. So too were the Nazis, the KKK, the Khmer Rouge, and many others in history.
That has always been my problem with many of the religions of humankind. They make no allowance for the belief of others and any flaws with their own. Today we find: “Christ is the only path!” “Allah is the only true source of salvation!” What happened to the idea that all faith has something to offer. What is perfect for one may not be so for another. Isn’t it the seeking of and finding God in any way we can … not he rigid adherence to some “manmade, organized, and regulated” set of rules that is important.
That is/was much of what drew me to your work in the beginning; that you have a deep faith in the Christian outlook, but were open to other sources of enlightnement and knowledge in your path to God.
I believe in duality on the spiritual level, and I believe all people are spiritual beings connected to a power (God) which encompasses everything on earth and in the Universe. Here the spirituality of all men and women, living and dead, can connect. This pool of spirituality contains both good and evil, and we are all responsible for connecting to the good part of spirituality when we pray or act. Through this the good part of the pool of spiritualty will grow.
Just some thoughts I use to think! :-)
Mysteries exist,when intuition takes over reasoning.