September 2008 Archives

For abducting souls

September 23, 2008 | Comments (1) |
From The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion, by Sir James George Frazer, 1926: purportedly, this incantation was used to catch souls on the Malay Peninsula. I find it a particularly lovely call, whatever its purpose.

I bring you a betel leaf to chew,
Dab the lime on to it, Prince Ferocious,
For Somebody, Prince Distraction's daughter, to chew.
Somebody at sunrise be distraught for love of me.
Somebody at sunrise be distraught for love of me.
As you remember your parents, remember me;
As you remember your house and houseladder, remember me;
When thunder rumbles, remember me;
When wind whistles, remember me;
When the heavens rain, remember me;
When cocks crow, remember me;
When the dial-bird tells its tales, remember me;
When you look up at the sun, remember me;
When you look up at the moon, remember me;
For in that self-same moon I am there.
Cluck! cluck! soul of Somebody come hither to me.
I do not mean to let you have my soul,
Let your soul come hither to mine. 

What is Active Social Plastic?

Active Social Plastic takes on cultural ephemera, turning its lens to architecture, urbanism, design, interaction, landscape, music and literature, among other leanings.

Who's behind it?

It's Molly Wright Steenson's project. She is completing a Ph.D. in architecture at Princeton University. She is also an interaction designer and design researcher with roots in web, mobile and service design.

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