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AMALAN

Now lets get down to business and a more in depth study and critique of said works.

" AMALAN " being the first piece of the third collection and is a solid introduction to the style and scope of the writer, from the first line one is virtually hooked and has to read on, to simply find how it continues. The author describes " AMALAN " as a journey into the world of dreams that all of us go to at night, and how it uses the Major Arcana of the standard Tarot deck.

As in the Tarot journey the FOOL is the central character and in AMALAN it is no different, the FOOL is the main player, and in the journey the FOOL meets and encounters all the other cards as powers of the sense of individuality.
This is seen in the context of the various cards.

Chapter one contains three sections to it, here we have the NARRATOR, the FOOL, the MAGICIAN and the second NARRATOR,
this section sets the tone and the pace of the work and contains some fine examples of esoteric poetry along with some very good esoteric dialogue.
It clearly shows the power behind the pieces and how they are meant to be read, and as in opera, they are meant to be read aloud, with the full flow of the human voice.

The second section has the NARRATOR, the CHARIOT, the HERMIT, the FOOL and a very interesting encounter with the DEVIL.
Here the FOOL is learning to express the powers latent within with the CHARIOT and the HERMIT as reminders of the state that can be achieved through taking control and listening to the self.
The DEVIL declares that the FOOL is always a FOOL but that the FOOL cannot recognise the truth staring it in the face, in the end of this section the FOOL is called to follow the path with open eyes but see with an open heart.

In section three, there are added the LOVERS, and the HANGED MAN.
In this section the FOOL has a song called SERENDIPITY, which politely puts the secret of the search in context with the journey.
The LOVERS piece is of the LOVE and CHOICE in the power and presence of the universe. The HANGED MAN asks for patience from the FOOL, but the FOOL has no trust in patience.

The three pieces that end this section are very good and show the somewhat futility of being but the truth is that the FOOL should never despair, for hidden within the self are keys and wonders unknown.

Chapter two has just the one section, and has DEATH as the first antagonist, for here the FOOL confronts each of the SENSES and looses them one by one.

First one to go is TOUCH, then TASTE, SMELL, HEARING and of course SIGHT.

This is quite a powerful piece of poetic verse,
the struggle between the two, the FOOL and DEATH is very well described.
So we now have a FOOL without senses, who is met by the EMPRESS as MOTHER and the EMPEROR as FATHER, who pass on some wise advice and it ends with this sound advice being given in two very differing verses, first by the EMPRESS then by the EMPEROR.

Chapter three has four sections to it,
the first one continues the battle from the previous chapter, between the FOOL and DEATH, for here the FOOL has to learn how to use a body that has no senses, and it shows the changes that the FOOL has undergone in learning to cope with the new source of being.
The second section has JUSTICE, the STAR, and the HIGH PRIESTESS added to the list of characters.
The first two characters show the FOOL the error of it's ways, by JUSTICE asking has the FOOL been looking for the wrong solution, and the STAR saying look around you at the things you think you are seeing can you not realize you are far more powerful then even you realize.
The HIGH PRIESTESS asks a very odd question almost pointing to the AUTHOR, are you crazy this cultural farce in which we are all players is merely the result of an insecure identity looking for the solution where there is not one.
The third section has two beautiful pieces by the FOOL showing how even in the state of having no senses,
there are still things that occupy the soul and heart of the questing individual.
The first piece "On the rock of Sion " and the second " who killed the spirit of man? ".
The last section in Chapter three has the POPE, and JUDGEMENT added to the list. Here it is DEATH again who returns to ask the FOOL to give up the body, the senses have been taken and now the body is due as it is no longer needed.

Chapter four is in two sections, the first one has the FOOL encountering the presence of DEATH as well as the HIGH PRIESTESS, there is the WORLD, the SUN and the MOON. who present the FOOL with the ultimatum to grow within do you need your body, and you will be nurtured by the very presence of WORLD, SUN and MOON to reassure you that you are on the right path. The second sections contains the tree symbolism of the BETH LUIS NION, and here the poetry gets truly sublime as each of the trees is called into being. The BIRCH, the ROWAN, the ASH, the ALDER, the WILLOW, the HAWTHORN, the OAK, the HOLLY, the HAZEL, the VINE, the IVY, the REED and the ELDER, thirteen trees in all and in the final verse to this chapter, we are told they form a circle for the FOOL with the FOOL in the centre and this is symbolic of the truth for they not only connect with but protect as well and here the body is removed.

Chapter five has one section and it introduces the WHEEL OF FORTUNE, TEMPERANCE, as well as a PRIEST and a WIZARD. Here the FOOL is called to travel the elements where the spirit is remaining and even that is about to be removed, leaving just the essence of self. The FOOL is told that if the answer which is lying there is not recovered then the truth cannot never be known, this throws us into the sixth chapter.

Chapter six has five sections to it, the first one introduces to the idea that the FOOL now has to relearn the story of what it means to be human and the FOOL for the most part speaks alone. The author tells me that at this point in the stage version the stage would be empty save for a screen showing the scenes presented with the FOOL doing a voice over if you like. This first section has a strong religious link in it but covering a whole gamut of religion and here the FOOL is told to be reborn on the EARTH to learn again the ways of mortals. In the second section this is accomplished by the FOOL being IN THE PHYSICAL WORLD... In the third section the FOOL is IN THE MENTAL WORLD... and it while in this world that the FOOL has a DREAM of very weird and odd occurrences, the DREAM forms section four... Section five, has the FOOL, IN THE SPIRITUAL WORLD... and here it gets a little bizarre as the FOOL becomes a thousand different religions but retains the power of the one. Chapter six ends with the NARRATOR saying that they found a body who did not exist in a house that did not exist on a planet that really did not exist.

Chapter seven has one section and is the final chapter, here the TOWER, STRENGTH and the UNIVERSE are added to the list of characters who have gone before. Here a beautiful piece said by STRENGTH sets the tone by being a strong and vibrant energy. Here also the FOOL is brought before the UNIVERSE and now has to acknowledge and atone for it's actions, the two verses that the FOOL delivers shows this dilemma beautifully while in between the UNIVERSE gives her decision. The FOOL has not heeded the truth in the soul.

The epilogue has the same energy as the prologue and this ties it neatly in a little package and your left thinking wow, what a story, and this is only the first. So join me as we explore the wondrous works on offer from this oh so talented writer. BRIAN RHODES.

And now...experience Amalan !!! © COPYRIGHT 2001 BRIAN RHODES

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PUBLISHED BY BRIAN RHODES PUBLISHING 2001

© 2001 Impressions Unlimited Productions
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