Gnome News - No 06 -1980

Magazine Overview

Title: Gnome News
Issue: No. 6
Date: Spring 1980
Publisher: The Gnome Club
Location: West Putford, Devon, England

This issue of Gnome News, published by The Gnome Club, focuses on updates from their Gnome Reserve and explores deeper themes related to nature, spirituality, and metaphysics.

News from the Reserve

Ann Atkin reports on the reopening of the Gnome Reserve for the summer season. Developments include an extended path allowing visitors to complete a full circuit, passing by new features like a large fairy ring of toadstools used as Gnome homes and a 'cliff' area with caves and caverns created from a fallen beech tree, now a site for miniature mining operations by 3-inch gnomes.

Lady Gnomes have also made an appearance in the Reserve, welcomed by the male gnomes. Several schools are booked for visits, including one with 70 children. The author mentions positive interactions with local Rotary Clubs, some of whom have visited the Reserve with their families. The Reserve is open daily from 10 am to 9 pm, except Saturdays, and offers tea, coffee, or barley cup to members and their families.

Fulfilling a Need

Ann Atkin expresses her belief that the Gnome Reserve fulfills a need by creating a space for people to connect with nature and feel their kinship with the whole of life. Gnomes are presented as spirits of the earth, animating primordial matter. The aim is to create an atmosphere where all individualised fragments of life are united by love, transforming the earth into a 'Heavenly Garden'.

Letters

Several letters are featured:

• Charles C. McCracken, Director of the Center for Arts and Human Development, requests to be placed on the mailing list for resource dissemination, asking for 100 copies of mailings if possible, and a brief description of the organization.
• Ann Atkin responds to McCracken, explaining the organization's aim is to help create a synthesis between inner and outer lives, leading to a creative, caring, and responsible approach. She quotes J. E. Circlot on the 'tendency of opposites to unite in a synthesis' and explains the vital role of Gnomes as conveyors of 'Cosmic gold' that can enrich all aspects of life. She emphasizes that Gnomes are fun and that club members come from diverse backgrounds.
• Terry Parkins, a 13-year-old, expresses his desire to join the Gnome Club after visiting the Reserve and painting his purchased gnomes. He requests details and an entry form.
• Ann Atkin replies to Terry, expressing pleasure at his letter and enclosing a membership form. She mentions that many gnomes have been indoors during winter, counting down to April, and have been drawing up plans for the summer. She recounts a humorous incident involving a fisherman gnome who was washed downstream but survived.
• Ken & Rita Barry write to thank Ann Atkin for a gnome with a watering can, whom they named Sam. They report that a baby gnome they received has helped their miniature rose bush flourish.

Dominion Over the Cattle

This article, referencing Genesis 1:26, argues for a spiritual rather than physical dominion over animals. It critiques the current treatment of animals in factory farming, citing Dr. Magnus Pyke's book 'Our Future' and an example of a farmer who moved his pigs to a field. The author suggests that the fear and anxiety experienced by animals in factory farms are transferred to humans through consumption, leading to societal issues like anxiety and the reliance on valium. The article questions if humanity is paying a price in suffering for its treatment of animals and touches upon the potential of technology to record animal experiences, posing the question of whether this would revolutionize our concept of dominion.

The Garden as a Metaphysical Symbol

This extensive article, an extract from the Royal Society of Arts Journal, explores the concept of gardens as metaphysical symbols reflecting humanity's relationship with nature and the divine. It draws from various cultural and historical perspectives, including:

• Introduction: The lecture proposes that society needs an explicit metaphysic that corresponds to reality for human survival and fulfillment, and that the current implicit Western view is an anachronism.
• Metaphysics and Symbols: It defines metaphysics and symbols, emphasizing the need for a valid metaphysic expressed through art.
• Cultural Views: It discusses different views of God-Man-Nature, from animism and polytheism to monotheism (Judaism, Christianity, Islam). It contrasts the Judeo-Christian view of dominion and subjugation with the Islamic emphasis on creating a paradise garden on earth.
• Historical Expressions: The article traces the expression of these views through historical gardens, from monastic gardens in the Middle Ages to the formal gardens of Louis XIV at Versailles, which demonstrated man's power over nature.
• Renaissance and Enlightenment: It notes the shift towards a more secular view during the Renaissance and the emergence of ideas about harmony between man and nature during the Enlightenment, citing writers like Addison and Pope.
• Modern Interpretations: The article discusses how these ideas were transformed into landscape architecture, urban parks, and suburbs. It also touches upon the persistence of animism and pantheism, particularly in Eastern traditions like Taoism, Shintoism, and Zen Buddhism, which view nature as a manifestation of God.
• Art and Expression: It highlights the role of art in expressing these metaphysical views, noting how painters like Salvator Rosa and Poussin shifted focus to nature, and how the Chinese developed a unique aesthetic in architecture and gardens.
• The Garden as Metaphor: The garden is presented as a metaphor for man's ideal relationship with nature, representing harmony and order. The article suggests that examining gardens can reveal societal attitudes towards nature and world order.
• The Islamic Garden: The Islamic view, emphasizing the creation of paradise on earth, is presented as a powerful metaphysical symbol.
• Christianity and Nature: The article contrasts the Christian view, which often saw nature as fallen or pagan, with the more integrated views found in other traditions.
• The Role of the Artist: The importance of the artist in giving form and substance to metaphysical ideas is emphasized, using the example of the stained glass windows at Chartres.

Fairies

Leslie Shepard discusses the confusion surrounding various supernatural beings like pixies, elves, and gnomes, suggesting they may be fragments of ancient beliefs, nature spirits, or even fallen angels. He notes the decline in fairy sightings coinciding with an increase in UFO reports, posing the question of whether flying saucer visitors are the modern equivalent of fairies. Shepard recounts the story of a captured leprechaun and reflects on the enduring appeal of fairy tales, which capture a sense of mystery and longing for lost worlds.

Gnome Olympics

A humorous cartoon depicts the 'First Gnome Olympics', featuring various gnome sports such as 'Eagle Racing', 'Mountain Climbing (from the inside)', 'Tossing the Toadstool', 'Toy Making', 'Long Distance Digging', and 'Keeping Still'. The editorial comment notes that the finalists in the 'pot-of-gold' hiding event did not include a leprechaun because he hid it too well. It also humorously observes that gnomes, while not having 'races' like humans, have adopted characteristics of nearby humans as a form of protective coloration.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently explores the connection between humanity, nature, and spirituality. The Gnome Club's philosophy emphasizes harmony with nature and the creation of a positive, loving atmosphere. The articles on metaphysics and fairies delve into deeper questions about our place in the universe and the nature of reality, suggesting that a more integrated worldview, possibly inspired by nature and expressed through art, is needed. The overall tone blends serious philosophical inquiry with a whimsical appreciation for gnomes and the natural world.

Title: Gnome News
Issue Date: August 1980 (implied by context of late arrival and August issue)
Publisher: Nottingham Sport
Country: United Kingdom

This issue of Gnome News, dated August 1980, presents a blend of practical gardening advice, local folklore, and club-related content. The magazine is divided into two main sections: the 'Moon Diary' for gardening and an article titled 'The Fairy Isle' focusing on the folklore of the Isle of Man.

Moon Diary

The 'Moon Diary' section, attributed to Marcus, provides a month-by-month guide for July through December, offering specific dates for various gardening activities. These recommendations are based on lunar phases and astrological signs (Elements: Earth, Water, Air, Fire) believed to be conducive to specific tasks. Activities listed include watering, mulching, harvesting, spraying, weeding, seeding, planting (both below and above ground), fertilizing, cuttings, pruning, trimming, sod turning, digging, and machinery use. The diary emphasizes that these are suggestions, and gardeners should use their own knowledge and experience.

• July: Focuses on watering, harvesting early crops, spraying, weeding, seeding, and planting. Specific dates are provided for each activity.
• August: Continues with watering, harvesting, spraying, weeding, seeding, and planting. It also lists dates for fertilizing, cuttings, and pruning.
• September: Includes recommendations for watering, harvesting root crops, spraying, weeding, seeding, planting, and fertilizing. Dates for pruning and trimming are also given.
• October: Details dates for watering, harvesting, sod turning, digging, seeding, planting, and fertilizing. Pruning and trimming dates are also provided.
• November: Lists dates for cleaning up, digging, sowing, planting trees and shrubs, and pruning vines. Machinery use is also mentioned.
• December: Covers cleaning up, dusting, spraying ground, digging, pruning, trimming, planting trees, and sowing in heat.

The Fairy Isle

This article, written by R. Hogg, a Club member residing on the Isle of Man, explores the rich folklore of the island, particularly its association with fairies. The author notes that the Isle of Man celebrated its Millennium in 1979, and visitors would have encountered its natural beauty. Hogg highlights the common practice of greeting fairies at the 'Fairy Bridge' near Santon, warning that neglecting this courtesy could lead to misfortune. The article mentions the Santon Burn as an area with numerous fairy sightings and stories, and points out that the original fairy bridge is located nearby.

Other regions of the island, including Ballasalla, Laxey, Ramsey, and Jurby, are also noted for strong beliefs in fairies. Reports suggest fairies are of both sexes, vary in size from a few inches to a couple of feet, and dress in colourful clothes with pointed caps. The article also distinguishes fairies from other mythical beings in Manx folklore:

• The Fynoderee: A Manx Brownie that lived a solitary existence in the mountains. It would work hard on farms at night in exchange for provisions left out by farmers, and notably refused to wear clothes.
• The Buggane: A fearful and unpleasant creature. Legend states that the Church at St. Trinians lacked a roof due to the Buggane's influence. The Buggane was reportedly never seen again after an encounter with a local tailor.

Hogg concludes by observing that while modern life may lead to a decline in these beliefs, the Isle of Man's natural beauty remains, preserving its fairy heritage.

Competition

Gnome News announces a competition inviting Club members to help pupils from College Notre Dame in Bourbourg, France, identify and name the small people with green clothes depicted in a drawing. Participants are encouraged to write about these figures or create their own drawings. Prizes for the competition will be pottery models of little green pixies.

Fairy Funeral

This section features an extract from Kathleen Raine's biography of William Blake. It highlights Blake's belief that every natural element, from flowers to insects, was inhabited by a fairy or spirit of life. The extract recounts an episode described by Alan Cunningham, where Blake witnessed a fairy funeral. According to the account, Blake saw tiny creatures, the size and colour of grasshoppers, bearing a body laid on a rose leaf, which they buried with songs.

Gnome News is Good News!

This section promotes membership in The Gnome Club of G.B. & Gnome International. Membership benefits include a club badge, Gnome News (published three times a year), and participation in competitions. The annual subscription fee is £2.50 for Great Britain and £3.50 for abroad (surface mail). The club welcomes members to contribute articles, stories, drawings, and comments. Members are asked to mention their club number when writing. A special offer for members who joined before April '79 includes a small, one-year-old pottery gnome with their subscription renewal.

Small Ads and Reminders

• Small ads of up to 30 words are free for club members.
• A reminder for a 'Fairies exhibition' at Brighton Museum from May 3 to July 13, 1980.
• An announcement for the '5th Festival for Mind Body Spirit' at Olympia, London, from June 21-29, 1980.

Editorial Notes

The editor states that they do not necessarily agree with every view expressed in Gnome News. The layout and print are by Nottingham Sport.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are gardening, folklore (specifically concerning fairies and gnomes), and the promotion of The Gnome Club. The editorial stance appears to be one that values both practical advice for enthusiasts (gardening) and the preservation and exploration of folklore and mythical traditions. The magazine actively encourages reader participation through competitions and contributions, fostering a sense of community among its members. The inclusion of William Blake's perspective on nature spirits suggests an appreciation for the mystical and imaginative aspects of life.