Re: OT Cardinal Points (was Re: Clockwise without clocks)

Steg Belsky wrote:

> On Apr 2, 2005, at 10:56 PM, Joseph Bridwell wrote:
>
>> Knowledge of NSEW for me is influenced by my decades as a Pagan -
>> mentally establising cardinal points from the sun etc. is nearly a
>> subconscious process for me when I visit any place (though Seattle
>> seems to have been the most problematic for me because of the many
>> grey cloud-covered days).
>
>
> How does that work?  What's the reason for establishing cardinal
> points/direction?
Je ne suis pas Pagan, but IIRC from the handsfasting I attended, each
cardinal direction is associated with a different set of helper
spirits.  The officiant (priest(ess)?) faces each direction as s/he
calls out for aid from the associated pantheon.

> The reason i'm asking is because, for comparison, i've also picked up
> ways to recognize cardinal directions (although i'm not quite at the
> 'nearly subconscious' point yet) for religious reasons, since as a
> traditionally observant Jew i need to pray 3 times a day in a specific
> direction (Jerusalemwards).
That would seem to be different, though.  Facing Jerusalem (or Makkah
for Qibla) is not a simple matter of identifying compass points; you
have to identify the exact bearing of the path from your location to the
target city, which is not something you can really do subconsciously.
Especially not if you follow the Great Circle route . . . :)

-Marcos

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