Mistress of the triple ways
to whom the wise devoutly prays,
often armed with sword or key
to drive off ghosts or set them free,
wandering the eerie night
bearing strange aethereal light
cast by your own eternal fire,
backed by hounds and serpents dire,
triformed goddess, we who are lost
amidst dark streets or tempest-tossed
beseech you be our friend and guide
as over paths obscure we ride.
Nova Britannia Remote General Meeting: Februarius MMDCCLXXVI
Monday, February 6, 2023, 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Participants: N. Octavius Astronomus
A. Tullia Scholastica
Sibylla Ambrosia Fulvia
A. Iulius Paterculus
N. Octavius Astronomus and I joined the meeting first. After Octavius had dealt with a minor technical issue, I asked him whether he intended to run for one of the minor magistracies being elected for the first time this year. The deadline was mentioned (February 8) as was the requirement that applicants were up to date with their Nova Roman taxes.
The conversation then turned to MithraCon. I reported on progress for a potential Conventus in New England, specifically the need to integrate a reenactment. Sibylla suggested we contact Yale and get them involved, as well as involving Legio III Cyrenaica.
Sibylla proposed an outing to Wesleyan during MithraCon of this year, to visit the observatory. It was stated that MithraCon would be either April 7-9 or 21-23. (Sadly, this later had to be cancelled for the year due to low attendance.)
I thanked Octavius for recommending the ToldInStone YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@toldinstone), which was an entertaining source of previously unknown details on the ancient world. Octavius mentioned having showed some videos from this channel to Sibylla and Scholastica while staying at Sibylla’s house the previous December. I also noted that one of the videos I’d watched thus far mentioned the (historical) Legio III Cyrenaica.
Sibylla reported giving a presentation on Mithraism the previous weekend. Someone had mentioned Apollo or Helios having a lion-headed charioteer - Sibylla asked us to be on the lookout for any information about this. Scholastica mentioned a lion-headed Hindu deity; I mentioned that Mithras had a Hindu counterpart.
Sibylla mentioned her friend Chris LaFond (https://www.lafond.us/about/), an Astrologer who employed Medieval and earlier astrology. I requested that Sibylla persuade him to come talk to us. Octavius was going to contact him online. Sibylla said she couldn’t entice Chris to go to MithraCon, but that perhaps he might be interested if they went to the observatory.
After a brief intermission to reconnect to Zoom, I asked whether people were going to the event hosted by Flavius Vedius Germanicus in Pennsylvania (http://www.gensvedia.org/2023/03/13/fors-fortuna-2023/).
Octavius happened to be going to a convention in Pennsylvania that very weekend and started planning how to combine the events. Sibylla was somewhat interested, but would need a ride.
I told everyone about two books I had just gotten: Memorize the Stoics! by Kevin Vost and A Handbook for New Stoics: How to Thrive in a World Out of Your Control by Massimo Pigliucci & Gregory Lopez.
Sibylla told us more about her Mithraic presentation. Octavius communicated with Ty Stout, who confirmed he was still interested in events (but still lacked transportation).
