Roman – SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR)

The Secret Garden - 4 Fosters Lane - London!

UK: Visiting St Vedast-Alias-Foster Church Courtyard! (15.8.2026)

15/08/2026 Adrian (釋大道)

This is why some of us can still speak the old language of “Gaelic” or Gallic”. We win in the end by absorbing all these foreigners and turning them into Celts. Every invader has lost their distinctiveness over time and became “us”. Just as I am a Hakka-Celt – my Chinese family Celtic Hakka! We are explorers who like finding old and unusual things. Well, today we discovered the remarkable Courtyard of St Vedast-Alias-Foster (this French Saint was born c, 453 CE – but the church was built in the 12th century by Flemish migrants – possibly on the site of older Celtic churches) – the address being: 4 Foster Lane, London EC2V 6HH. It was rebuilt and redesigned by Sir Christopher Wren around 1670 – having suffered damage during the 1666 Great Fire of London. What is the Courtyard today used to be part of the church’s graveyard. The church was built is in the style of English Baroque architecture.

UK: Giant Sun-Dial [Wakefield Gardens] – Outside the South Exit of Tower Hill Tube Stop! (1.8.2026)

01/08/2026 Adrian (釋大道)

As such, we completely missed this giant sun-dial and were not aware of its presence. Yesterday, (31.7.2026) we visited the Tower Bridge – which allowed us to leave the Tube by its other exit – thus permitting a close-up encounter with the giant sun-dial. The children have seen the sun-dial at the former home of Charles Darwin in Kent – so they were aware of the mechanism and the science behind its functioning. What impressed them (and us) was the sheer scale of this structure. Everyone attempts to get the best and all inclusive photographs. We have always followed the idea that the more the children physically experience – the greater will be their progressive thinking capacity! This sun-dial is fascinating to encounter – similar to finding a maze! London – like England – is full of these kinds of things and we are lucky to live so close to it all!

The finely-carved Roman gemstone shows a charioteer standing on a racing chariot, with whip in hand, urging on two high-stepping horses

England: Latin Medieval Seal – Reading “+SECRETVM . RICARDI” [with Roman Gem-Stone] Unearthed! (2.2.2026)

02/02/2026 Adrian (釋大道)

The inscription – which reads +SECRETVM . RICARDI – shows the seal was created specifically for a man called Richard.

He would have used it to make a mark in hot wax to seal his letters and documents.

Richard appears to have specifically chosen the carved gemstone, known as an intaglio – possibly as a way of showing he had an understanding of the Classical world, according to Miss Rogerson.

She said: “It definitely would have been an indicator of the owner’s social status as a way of saying, ‘I have the means of obtaining something from a far gone time and place’ and indicated they were quite important – or saw themselves as quite important.”

British Scarecrows - Linked to Pagan Gods!

UK: Are Scarecrows Linked to Pagan Fertility Gods? (22.6.2025)

22/06/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

This may be due to the Celtic traditions developing within heavily forested areas prior to the arrival of the Romans – who cleared trees to build their straight roads. Romans also cleared forested areas to create farming fields – so open fields were “foreign” to the British Celts. The Druids are reported as detesting the Roman habit of destroying the sacred woods (the Druids and their Celtic Army were finally beaten by the Romans at the Battle of Anglesey circa 60 CE – the last time “magic” was known to have been used on a British battlefield). During these times, crops were planted within the safety of the forested-canopy – where the Gods of Fertility operated more or less unaffected by the wild birds. Wide, open fields were not yet accepted as “British”. It might have even been the case that Celtic farmers came to some arrangement with the wild birds – setting aside some food for them so that everyone got on without conflict. There was 800-years between the Romans (5th century CE) leaving and the plague creating the conditions that led to the development of the modern British Scarecrow (14th century CE).

Sonnet: Tilting At Sunyata! (14.3.2024)

14/03/2024 Adrian (釋大道)

Some end their days inflated figures – like Henry VIII (but not Puyi).

Hesitant in handling so much amassed power.

Perhaps it is a seasonal thing.

The mood will change with the tilt of the breeze, or the sweet scent on the air.

Wise words have become ever more poignant.

They slip with a greater ease into my consciousness.

Genealogy: ‘DARIИGOLD’ – Provenance of a First-Name! (22.9.2023)

22/09/2023 Adrian (釋大道)

I hope this lady lived a long and happy life free from pain – as out of her genetics I have come into being -and so have my children! Over the years I have broached the subject of her ‘first’ or ‘Christian’ name – ‘Daringold’ – with a number of academic experts who state that they have never encountered this name before and that it must be the consequence of a ‘copying’ mistake or ‘hearing’ error! This certainly happens as in the past (particularly the 17th century CE) the English languish was not yet ‘Standardised’ and illiteracy abounded! Scribes (or ‘Scriveners’) were highly skilled – but these educated individuals often spelt the same word in different ways – even when this word appeared on the same page (Shakespeare was famous for ding this in his original texts)!

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