The Magical Message of Merlin Versus Modern Materialism
Approaching a subject such as lore about Merlin the Magician is to engage an old, old story that has been cast in poetry, history, music, art, and literature. Through it all is woven a story that has stood the test of time. A poet, an artist, and a musician engaged in an esoteric, enlightening discussion that offers them all a transcendent vision of the human condition may all see the world and humanity's place in it in a new way that seems somehow transforming. Not having the prosaic language to quite put their insight into words, they may all resort to their own particular medium. The poet writes a poem. The artist paints a picture. The musician composes a song. The poem, the picture, and the song are totally different from one another, but they all produce similar feelings in their respective audiences because they are all based on the same, shared, transformative theme. They hope to convey an important insight.
Celtic/Gallic Druid Antiquity & Middle-Ages (Erica Guilane-Nachez / Adobe Stock)
Merlin is More
Is the myth about Merlin based on a historical figure? Maybe. But probably not. Is Merlin a composite formulated from several people who lived in different geographical locations and different historical times? Maybe. But probably not. Are his actions based on actual events? Maybe. But probably not. Could he really produce magic simply by being Merlin? Maybe. But probably not.
Over the course of time Merlin's importance has grown far beyond the motivations, methods, and deeds of any one man. It's his story that is of eternal importance, not the historical relevance of his deeds. Sometimes religion is not enough. People need more. Sometimes scientific explanations are insufficient. People need more. Sometime mythological relevance doesn't quite satisfy. People need more. Sometimes psychological motivation doesn't do it anymore. People need more. Sometimes philosophical discussion falls short. People need more. Merlin has become the ‘more’.
What holds the future (Anneke/ Adobe Stock)
Merlin vs Materialism
Today people live in a maddeningly literal age. Many have accepted the idea that if a character isn't historical, he or she isn't ‘real’. People have come to believe that if a historical Buddha didn't live in India 2,500 years ago, Buddhism is simply an intellectual structure. If it could be proved that a historical Jesus did not walk the paths of ancient Galilee, Christianity would cease to be deemed viable. If Lao Tzu wasn't a real person, Daoism is worthless. If Arthur and Merlin are not based on actual people, Arthurian studies are a waste of time.
Nothing could be further from the truth. But that's what one gets when one chooses to follow only fact-driven, scientifically-minded, intellectually-reasoned, thought structures. Many people think that no other world view is possible. They are wrong. Merlin stands in direct opposition to that philosophy. He is an antidote to the sickness of materialism. His story is a plea for a return to the sanity of magic.
The current predominate world view is composed of a relatively modern way to understand reality. One is taught that if one cannot see it, taste it, smell it, feel it, hear it, or otherwise measure it, it doesn't exist. That belief is called materialism. But things were not always subject to such a boring, so-called adult-focused, scientifically determined, fact-based approach to life. If one can open one’s mind to that ancient truth one will discover greater magic than can possibly be contained in any historical personage. When Merlin is freed from the shackles of a single historical character and no longer limited to scientific fact, he can fulfill the idea of ‘more’. Explanations are then insufficient. Only the work of poets, artists, and musicians will do.
