Response by Mairéad.
Those “OTHER DIVINITIES” alluded to in Tom’s poem sent in search of the list of Divinities as defined in another of his poems. He often referenced this list of other Gods when posing the challenging question: “What is your first commandment?”
That poem came with a 6-point introduction which reflect back to us how modern society may camouflage the very dynamics which might repel us when we hear them clearly spelled out in pithy “Commandments’. So rather that set out these commandments in their bluntness, here also is Tom’s own introduction to them!
1. The Other Gods thrive on Anonymity – Tom HamillAll the dynamic factors in our lives have been cunningly espoused by the Mass-Media: either to be doted upon, or offered an antidote against.
2. For instance
diet tobacco flattery land acne money perspiration alcohol health woman speed depression rage house sex fear work chastity heaven oppression love despair animals fashion death competition child moon theatre beauty dance pilgrimage value envy song logic darkness discipline blood creativity laffter and more!
3. In relation to these, and other dynamic factors, what we might find ways of doing would be to glimpse the divine patterning&patterners that solicit&manipulate our psyche!
4. For it is not the images that oppress us: but the divinities that through the Media, are puppeting us into unwittingly actualising their behaviour.
5.The names of these divinities are really flags of convenience: so, more importantly, where are they embodied? how will I recognise them? What is their first commandment in each case?
6. And which of these First Commandments do I find nillywilly in my behaviour?
THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE OTHER GODS
ZEUS
KEEP ORDER THROUGH FEAR
BEND THE RULES FOR YOURSELF
HADES
THINK OFTEN ABOUT DEATH
SUFFER OPPRESSION
ELOHIM
UPHOLD THE ORDER REPRESENTED IN THE TEMPLE
BE HOLY
CHOKMAH
CHERISH THE PRIORITIES OF THE GARDEN
DANCE&PLAY
YAHWEH
LET ALL YOUR RESOURCES BE FOR THE ENSLAVED
SEE THE OTHER GODS AS THE SOURCE&MEANING OF YOUR OWN ENSLAVEMENT
ATHENA
BE COMMITTED TO THE FATHER
COMBINE WISDOMN&BELLIGERENCE
APOLLO
VALUE THE BEAUTIFUL BODY
SEEK INSPIRATION IN SOUL
ARTEMIS
ALWAYS BE A HUNTER
BE COMMITTED TO CHASTITY
ARES
HATE THE ENEMY & LOVE THE COMRADE
KEEP FIT AND CARE FOR YOUR WEAPONS
HERA
BE ZEALOUS FOR MARRIAGE&FAMILY&HEARTH
BE FIERCE IN PURSUIT OF INFIDELITY
HERMES
BE IMAGINATIVE & VERSATILE
TURN EVERYTHING TO YOUR ADVANTAGE
APHROIDITE
VALUE THE SOFT&SEDUCTIVE
SUFFER PASSION’S BITTERNESS
DIONYSIUS
EXPLORE BEYOND ALL BOUNDARIES
SEEK TO EMBODY THE OTHER
How about that for a post pandemic project for all of us to engage with?
Mairéad Heaney 19.05.2021