#cornucopias

From: Kilburne, Richard, 1605-1678. A topographie, or survey of the county of Kent. London : Printed by T. Mabb for H. Atkinson, 1659

Keywords: cornucopia, folklore, Kalevala, witches, envy

🎧Is from Hunger Games The national anthem Horn of Plenty. In the film (s) it is like the goddess Diana is fighting against the evil ideology, but she herself becomes an ideology.

In the Greek mythology Zeus as a child broke his nursemaids horn (she was a goat Amaltheia), that became a Horn of plenty. A kind of magical phallos - mother was no longer needed.

Miracle mills can be found in fairy tales and folklore round the world. Philosophers have always been preoccupied with the question of whether man would be happy if he did not have to strive for his livelihood. Even Neurological research supports the idea that the search itself gives a meaning, the seeking process. (Panksepp).

In the ancient Finnish (Baltic-Finnish peoples) poems Sampo had a very prominent role. The most familiar story we find in the Kalevala. The main characters in the Sampo poems are: the wise man Väinämöinen, the blacksmith Ilmarinen, the queen of the north Louhi. All of them have magical powers. I have made some non-serious “player cards” that might make it easier to remember these characters.

Matriarch Louhi helps the wizard Väinämöinen, basically saves his life. As a reward she asks a Sampo, magical mill. Väinämöinen knows that a blacksmith Ilmarinen could make it. Mistress Louhi has also a lot of daughters. Both Ilmarinen and Väinämöinen start a competition where they try to prove their value to Louhi.

Finnish myth Sampo is also a cornucopia myth. Like so often in the myths, things go badly and the task remains unreachable. In the myth of the Sampo men of the väinöland are trying to steal the Sampo back from the phallic woman, by using phallic means.

It is suggested that the Finnish word “kateus” (envy) is synonymous with “Noita” (witch). It is oftentimes suspected that part of the 15th-17th century witch-hunts was the result of hunger. That people lived through particularly bad harvests. But the Envy does not explain the phenomena fully. Surely it is one emotion that featured in those times, between the neighbors.

Psychoanalytical point of view: As Melanie Klein has stated, envy is in all of us and the lack reinforces it. Magical phallos is denial of the lack - in the perverse universe (Chassequet-Smirgel) the lack is denied and the desired thing is stolen rather than worked through.

Seasonal vibrance The air is becoming cool and crisp. Doorsteps, lampposts, and mailboxes are adorned with cornstalks, gourds, pumpkins, and cornucopias – signifying the plentiful harvest and the generous feasts to come. Changing trees create an inviting atomsphere and embody the obvious transition from the warm summer days to the cozy fireside evenings of winter. Enjoy it while it lasts, for…