December Will Be Magic Again

Christmas! What else? Possibly a lot more, but this little-known Kate Bush song is one of my favourites, ever since someone lent me a much-cherished copy for safe-keeping. I'm not one for Christmas music, but this will definately be accompanying the cooking of a large bird, potatoes and brussels sprouts, then echoing through my mind as I walk through the cold streets in search of a nice warm pub. Parachutes? If you read the lyrics, it probably means something else, but what a better way to think of falling snowflakes?

The video for this song may show more meaning than the actual lyrics. Again, this song may be about a sacramental mushroom experience, namely amanita muscaria. It produces a sensation of flying. Santa/St. Nick is the "super shaman" of Siberia who traditionally brought this mushroom by during winter solstice. It was highly treasured and came at just the right time to bring joy! To this day, the red and white color scheme of Santa, the wrappings, the icicles, North Star, reindeer, etc. echo the true meaning of Christmas: an ancient fertility religion revolving around amanita muscaria as a holy sacrament. I would argue that her "parachute" is a reference to a large amanita fruiting body. Also, awakening anybody on a "heavy" mushroom dose of this sort is proscribed so as not to traumatize them. Hence, not "waking the lovers" and simply "covering them up". This mushroom is still used as a wedding sacrament in Lithuania where it is said that "two become as one" if they are married with it. Hmmm...I wonder why bishops and the Pope wear red and white with a little red cap on their heads. Hmmm... In the video, Kate is wearing red PJs with white polka dots (look closely!) and repeatedly gestures to the back of her chair (which looks suspiciously like an amanita cap). She is a true artist and these are not accidents. She is delightful! I highly recommend John Allegro's "The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross". P.S. (If there is any doubt, I recommend taking a close look at the record sleeve for this song: reindeer with amanita mushrooms growing on the saddles! And Kate is obviously the lion.) gaffa.org/sensual/…