Halloween Countdown 2017, Day 4

[eldritchhobbit]

For years I have admired the beautiful, atmospheric, and often spooky photography of Lizzie~Belle. 

This past summer she documented the incredible headstones at the South Burying Place in Concord, Massachusetts. Check out her entire album of photos from the cemetery here.

Here are some of my favorite photos from the series.

“Let us prepare our minds as if we’d come to the very end of life. Let us postpone nothing. Let us balance life’s books each day. … The one who puts the finishing touches on their life each day is never short of time.” - Seneca

At a Roman triumph, the majority of the public would have their eyes glued to the victorious general at the front—one of the most coveted spots during Roman times. Only a few would notice the aide in the back, right behind the commander, whispering into his ear, “Remember, thou art mortal.” What a reminder to hear at the peak of glory and victory!

… Such reminders and exercises take part of Memento Mori—the ancient practice of reflection on mortality that goes back to Socrates, who said that the proper practice of philosophy is “about nothing else but dying and being dead.” In early Buddhist texts, a prominent term is maraṇasati, which translates as ‘remember death.’ Some Sufis have been called the “people of the graves,” because of their practice of frequenting graveyards to ponder on death and one’s mortality.

Throughout history, Memento Mori reminders have come in many forms. Some, like the aide behind the general, were there to humble. Others were invented to inspire zest for life.

- from “’Memento Mori’: The Reminder We All Desperately Need” at The Daily Stoic

Comments

[lizziebelle]

Thank you so much! It's always a "squee" moment when I see my own photos show up on my feed! I hope someday you can visit, and I can take you to some of these places. :)

[eldritchhobbit]

Thank *you*, my friend, for allowing me to post these! These photos are, like your others, simply amazing. I am delighted to share the beauty with others.

I'd love to get up to your neck of the woods one of these days. Sooner rather than later, I hope! It would be so lovely to visit with you in person! And I'd totally take you up on your kind offer to show me some of these incredible places. :)

[ankh_hpl]

Truly atmospheric photos, here. Thanks for sharing!

[eldritchhobbit]

Yay! My pleasure! Aren't they amazing photos?

[febobe]

Gorgeous! Thank you!

[eldritchhobbit]

You're most welcome!

[reynardine]

Lovely pictures! This puts me in mind of a composition that came out some years ago, an orchestral setting of songs made from epitaphs written on the stones of an old burying ground in New Hampshire. This video was the promotional video for it. Someone has the whole album on Youtube, just search for "The Old Burying Ground".

(Edited: it won't let me embed the video, but here is the link: https://youtu.be/2Lm3qH3DitQ )

[eldritchhobbit]

Oh wow -- amazing! *flails* Thank you so much for putting this on my radar. It's new to me, and right up my alley!

I'm listening to the promo video now, and I can see how beautifully it fits with these photos. Fantastic!

[acciochocolate]

I'm impressed by how clean these tombstones are--I never knew that anyone cleaned such.

[eldritchhobbit]

They are in incredible shape, aren't they? I think historic New England cemeteries like this one are considered genuine tourist destinations, which might account for at least some of the TLC these have obviously received.

[acciochocolate]

My mother's family cemetery gets weeded and graveled. I used to hsng out in it during all-day church meetings; the preaching didn't sit well w/ my liturgical upbringing. Last saw it over a decade ago.

Mike and I plan to explore Oakland one of these days.