The eleventh summer gathering of the European Landsknechts was held in Provence.
Those of us who believe in signs, both those of words and those of numbers, knew well that this was not only the eleventh gathering, but also the first meeting of the second decade, which marks a transition.
Precisely at the moment of the opening, our Alix departed from us
after a long and extremely difficult battle against a series of illnesses. She held on until the very beginning of our gathering, so that she could leave us in communion with all of us and thus bless the beginning of our second decade.
Naturally, both her presence and her departure marked this edition.
On the very evening of her passing, July 23, we lit a candle and accompanied her with our singing. At the closing of the camp, after the lowering of the flag, we carried out another ceremony, which we will describe at the end of this report.
The flag was raised at half-mast.
Then our gathering took place.
For those who have never been to Provence
we reproduce an excerpt from the welcome document, which may help them imagine what it is about.
The extraordinary thing, in the sense of something that goes beyond the ordinary, is that we communicate with one another without speaking the same language.
The return to what is essential is the strength of our gatherings in Provence.
We believe that a silent revolution is underway, one that largely ignores even itself. Yet we want and are able to accompany it if we maintain a serene spirit and stop remaining prisoners of conditioned reflexes. It should be said that these conditioned reflexes have increasingly surrendered in recent years, even though it is never enough.
What truly matters is, precisely, the serene recovery of what is essential, together with a style of life and thought that accompanies it and allows us to innovate, to adapt to the present, and to engage with anyone without fear, while not yielding a single millimetre on the level of the inspiring principles that guide us.
As every year, the gathering was organised into teams
mixed according to gender, nationality, and age.
The four teams each refer to different historical or symbolic figures.
This year, we chose commanders of the modern era.
The GREY team was dedicated to the commander Matias de Albuquerque (1580–1647), born in Portuguese Brazil and active in the Restoration wars on the Iberian Peninsula.
The BLUE team was dedicated to Turenne, or Henri de La Tour d’Auvergne (1611–1675), a French commander active during the Thirty Years’ War.
The RED team was dedicated to Ambrogio Spinola (1569–1630), a Genoese commander who served in the Spanish armies during the war in Flanders.
The WHITE team was dedicated to Wallenstein (1583–1634), a German commander of the Holy Roman Empire.
Every morning Chi Kong session and in free moments Tai-Chi stick.
Before summarising the course of the tournaments, let us dwell on the themes discussed during the moments of reflection and exchange
First of all, we spoke about the opportunities and challenges arising from the changes currently taking place at the social and international levels.
Then, through a process of maieutics, everyone was led towards a positive perspective and an encouraging vision of the future.
Finally, through the theme of Remigration, we presented the various traps and manipulations currently being carried out by false friends, professional provocateurs, and enemy agents, as well as the necessity of moving independently, with clarity and awareness.
It was concluded that, before the end of the summer, we will draw up a political document expressing the basic criteria for navigating a mined sea, attempting to avoid the mines while continuing to sail, and without leaving the helm to counterfeiters.
Particularly flattering, and even partly surprising, were the words expressed by
those who took part in Saturday’s round table. These were people who do not represent only themselves, but also structures with a series of mobilisations and influences that can reasonably be counted in the thousands.
From France, Spain, Italy, Greece, and Portugal, the answers to the question: “How useful have the annual meetings in Provence and the Landsknechts been?” were truly enlightening and, in some respects, inspiring. However unusual and difficult to define our “Mercurial” role may be, those who approach us not only understand it but make it their own and pass it on, to the point of correcting many attitudes, sometimes even without realising it.
Messages or reports also arrived from Poland, Sweden, the Netherlands (very interrsting and important), and Argentina.
The competitions held were:
- Boules
- Axe throwing
- Literary composition
- Trivial Pursuit
- Guess the character
- Arm wrestling
- Baby foot
The final ranking was:
Wallenstein (White team): 36 points.
Spinola (Red team) and Turenne (Blue team): 30 points.
Albuquerque (Grey team): 21 points.
But the most significant aspect of the gathering was the presence of the very young buzzard Cleo
who was flown. This was a tribute to falconry, to Frederick II, who was its greatest master, but also to Provence, since in some way she is even its daughter, given that her falconer was there last year when he was informed that the young falcon was ready to be taken in, which he did during the journey home.
Once the flag had been lowered, we dedicated a more significant tribute to Alix.
We lit a candle and two flames, displayed the flag like a standard, and formed a semicircle with torches.
We spoke very few words, placing the emphasis on those we dedicate to Alix: Honour and Fidelity.
We sang.
We dedicated to her a solemn Present!
The weather was bad, with a risk of storms and hail, but we wanted to maintain the ceremony at all costs. When we lit the candle, a single flash of lightning appeared. When the song dedicated to Alix, Les oies sauvages, mentioned “orage” (storm), a single clap of thunder was heard. When everything had been gathered away and we returned indoors, at the very moment we crossed the door, it began to rain heavily. As if the sky had waited in order to respect our remembrance.
The next edition, the twelfth, will take place from Thursday 22 July to Sunday 25 July.
Organise yourselves from now on, without postponing too much, because it will be an important edition.
