Author: lazaruscarpenterauthor

Lazarus Carpenter I have lived in Wales for over twenty five years. Born in North Yorkshire, I am now an author, actor, musician and song writer, previously being a therapist, trainer and researcher, specialising in mental health. He was educated in Middlesbrough, Sheffield and Cambridge. With a fascination for Welsh History, I create worlds within worlds; magical, haunting, spirituality permeating sound moral codes of life. I live quietly with Debbie Eve (also my illustrator and our dog, Noodle in a small cottage surrounded by the beauty of the Brecon Beacons in the Valleys of South Wales.

Peter Kropotkin

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Peter Kropotkin (1842-1921) was a Russian revolutionary, geographer, and anarchist philosopher best known for advocating anarcho-communism. Born into a noble family, Kropotkin initially pursued a career in the Russian military and later in geography and natural sciences. His experiences in Siberia, where he conducted extensive geological and biological research, led him to develop ideas about mutual aid, which he argued was a natural principle of evolution. Kropotkin’s seminal works, such as “Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution,” challenged the prevailing notion of survival of the fittest, emphasizing cooperation over competition as a driving force in nature.

Kropotkin became involved in revolutionary activities and was imprisoned for his beliefs. After his release, he lived in exile in Europe, writing influential texts advocating for a society based on voluntary cooperation and the abolition of the state. His major works include “The Conquest of Bread” and “Fields, Factories and Workshops.” Throughout his life, Kropotkin remained committed to social justice and environmentalism, promoting anarchist principles and influencing various movements and thinkers. He returned to Russia after the 1917 Revolution but became disillusioned with the Bolshevik regime’s authoritarianism. Kropotkin’s legacy endures in anarchist thought and movements advocating for decentralized, egalitarian societies. 

Henri Bergson

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Henri Bergson (1859–1941) was a French philosopher known for his influential ideas on time, consciousness, and creativity. His works challenged the prevailing mechanistic view of the universe and emphasized the importance of intuition and experience over rationalism.

In “Time and Free Will” (1889), he distinguished between “measurable time” (quantitative) and “lived time” (qualitative), introducing the concept of “duration” (durée) to describe how individuals experience time subjectively.

In “Creative Evolution” (1907), Bergson argued against Darwinian evolution’s purely mechanistic interpretation. He introduced the idea of an élan vital, a vital force driving evolution and creativity, emphasizing the spontaneity and unpredictability of life.

Bergson believed that traditional philosophical methods relied too heavily on intellect and abstract reasoning, which could miss the essence of life. He advocated for intuition as a means to grasp reality more fully. His ideas profoundly influenced various fields, including literature, psychology, and the arts. His thoughts on time and consciousness paved the way for existentialist and phenomenological philosophies.

Bergson received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1927, recognizing his rich philosophical contributions. His work continues to inspire discussions on the nature of time, consciousness, and the dynamic quality of life. 

Herman Hesse

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Herman Hesse was a German-Swiss author, poet, and painter, born on July 2, 1877, in Calw, Germany, and died on August 9, 1962, in Montagnola, Switzerland. He is best known for exploring individual spirituality and self-discovery, often delving into themes of duality, nature, and the human psyche.

Steppenwolf (1927) – This novel explores the conflict between the individual and society, focusing on a man named Harry Haller who feels split between his human and wolf-like instincts.

Siddhartha (1922) – A philosophical novel that follows the journey of a young man in ancient India as he seeks enlightenment, reflecting Hesse’s interest in Eastern spirituality.

Demian (1919) is a semi-autobiographical novel about self-realization and the struggle against societal norms.

The Glass Bead Game (1943) – Often considered his magnum opus, this novel imagines a future society that values intellectual and artistic pursuits above all, exploring the nature of culture and knowledge.


Hesse’s work was heavily influenced by his own experiences, including his struggles with identity and mental health. He was associated with the German Expressionist movement and later became a key figure in the counterculture of the 1960s, particularly among those seeking alternative spiritual paths. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1946. Hesse’s writings resonate with readers today, appealing to those interested in philosophy, psychology, and the quest for meaning in life. His exploration of the inner self and the pursuit of authenticity remains relevant in contemporary discussions of personal growth and spirituality.

‘Walls Have Ears’- Craig y Nos Castle

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Introduction

In December of 2022, I had a dream to bring alive the story of Craig y Nos Castle,
to relate the history, its life and times but in that of a novel format. Then, the idea came to write the story from the ‘first person’ perspective as an observer of the comings and
goings of life in this Gothic mansion. What better, thought me, than to be a lump of rock
in the foundations mined from the Cribarth, overlooking Cae-Brynmelyn-Bach opposite
Pentrecribarth farm? Deep in the foundations I would be aware of everything that
happened through vibrations emanating within the walls. Thus, the title was born, ‘Walls
Have Ears’.
Craig y Nos Castle has a long history of paranormal occurrences. As a ‘trance
psychic channel’ I felt an opportunity presented itself to incorporate the words and stories of the spirits still present, combined with tales gained through actual historical facts and interviews with people who had family and work connections with the castle through the years. Thus my research began both with those alive, and those long gone to the world of spirit.

Abstract

I know not how long I have lain upon the Cribarth, here so high on this
craggy ridge amidst passing clouds looking down to the valley below. Back in the
mists of time, volcanoes roared, earthquakes cracked mountains, ice thawed, and beds
of limestone and Twrch sandstone were laid down in sedimentary layers in tropical
seas near the equator some 350 million years ago. They arrived where they are
today by continental drift, and since then, here is where I have been, and much has
passed me by. Many have trod over me through millennia, ancient Celts, Druids,
invaders from Rome and England. But I am a rock, and I remember everything
passing through time as only a rock can.
Staring down the valley below, I see a tall man whom I know to be Captain Rice
Davies Powell, distinguished, suited and whiskered, leaning on an ebony walking
cane with a hand grip of gold. He stands on a field I know as Cae-Brynmelyn-Bach
opposite Pentrecribarth farm. It is late in the Autumn of 1843, leaves falling and
floating through the air, blown by easterly winds gather beneath stone walls and
footings covering ground as a carpet of bronze.
Captain Rice Davies Powell shielded his eyes with a gloved hand, the noonday
autumnal sun momentarily blinding more than ambition. His companion was a much smaller yet rotund man in his fifties, with bushy dark hair swept back over a checkedcoat collar. He stood with a sketchpad in one hand and charcoal in the other. Thomas H Wyatt was an architect of some renown, and being far from his offices in Great Russell
Street, London, he stood looking at the empty field of Cae-Brynmelyn-Bach. A tall,

stooped, thin man with wispy, greying hair stood at Thomas Wyatt’s shoulder. His
partner, David Brandon, accompanied him travelling from their offices by rail to
Swansea and then coach and four to Pentrecribarth for a planning meeting with
Captain Powell. Both were well-known architects at this time, responsible for building numerous Gothic-style churches, public buildings and private mansions.

Graham Greene

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Graham Greene was an English novelist, playwright, and critic born on October 2, 1904, in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire. He is known for his exploration of moral ambiguity and human conflict, often set against geopolitical backgrounds.

Greene’s early life was marked by a strict upbringing, with his father being a headmaster. He attended Balliol College, Oxford, where he developed a passion for literature. His literary career began in the 1920s, and he gained fame with novels such as “Brighton Rock” (1938) and “The Heart of the Matter” (1948). These works often delve into themes of faith, guilt, and the complexities of human nature.

Throughout his career, Greene wrote over twenty novels, along with short stories, plays, and screenplays. He also worked as a journalist and was involved in various political and social causes, which influenced his writing. Greene’s experiences during World War II and his travels in Africa, Cuba, and Vietnam provided rich material for his narratives.

In addition to fiction, Greene was known for his non-fiction works and essays, often reflecting his views on politics and religion. He was also a devout Catholic, and his faith significantly shaped his worldview and literary themes.

Greene received numerous accolades for his contributions to literature, including being nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature multiple times. He passed away on April 3, 1991, in Vevey, Switzerland, leaving behind a profound legacy that continues to influence writers and readers today. His work remains relevant for its deep psychological insight and exploration of moral dilemmas