As the Roman Empire came apart at the seams, the safest place to be was on the very edges of that dying empire.

I have recently been reading the books, by Robert Harris, detailing the life of the great thinker, orator and statesman, Cicero.

It is uncanny how many parallels with modern day life can be drawn from the novels,  ‘Imperium’ and ‘Lustrum’…(the third in the trilogy is yet to be published).

Of all the cumulative reasons why the Roman Empire came apart, endless wars, an over reliance on slave labour and corruption in government appear to be at the forefront.

As I read chapter on chapter, I couldn’t help but draw parallels with the state of our world today…and viewed with horror an emerging pattern of decline and fall.

The template of decline and fall remains the same regardless of time.

Wealthy Romans drank water transported through lead pipes into their villas.

The water contained up to 100 times more lead that that from spring wells.

Lead poisoning leads to erratic behaviour, mental decline etc., much of which could be viewed in the conduct of the ruling elite during the final days.

 Much the same appears to be happening now, even to the point of corrupt and debased behaviour within the ranks of the ruling elite.

I never cease to be both amazed and appalled at the continuing scandals.

We appear to be not so much governed, as presided over by people we would otherwise be embarrassed to call our friends…integrity and compassion being somewhat lacking!

When Rome fell, the world entered the “Dark Ages”.

The Dark Ages lasted several hundred years, but birthed a new Age of Enlightenment.

The light of civilization was carried back into mainland Europe, from, of all places, Ireland.

The edge of empire for me is a mindset, a refusal to be drawn into the madness.

A resoluteness to live with integrity.

A desire to continue to cultivate and practice compassion, even when our leaders applaud war and attempt to vindicate suffering and destruction.

In these days of crumbling empire, (for this mayhem cannot last much longer!), it is not such a bad place to be…the edge of empire.

If you think that 1100 blogs and over 8,000 photographs are a good free resource…Support the work of the Bealtaine Project…

Subscribe to the second website, growing daily and now with over 90 new blogs and several thousands of unseen photographs, as well as podcasts and stories… Visit:

Bealtaine Cottage Good Life Membership~ Subscribe Today!

Latest Podcast and Blogs at BCGL…

95. RADICAL CHANGES!…NOVEMBER 2016

94.   LILITH AND THE WELL (BLOG AND PODCAST)… NOVEMBER 2016

93.  HOME MADE ORGANIC INCENSE…GROWING, MAKING AND BURNING… NOVEMBER 2016

92.  AUGURIES OF INNOCENCE… NOVEMBER 2016

91.  LEY LINES, ENERGY AND PATHWAYS…NOVEMBER 2016

90.  THE SACRED WELL (PODCAST)…NOVEMBER 2016

89. SATURDAY MORNING PODCAST AND PICS FROM BEALTAINE COTTAGE …NOVEMBER 2016

88. SECOND IN THE MIDWINTER SERIES OF STORIES FROM BEALTAINE COTTAGE…THE ANGEL (PODCAST) …NOVEMBER 2016

87. FIRST IN THE MIDWINTER SERIES OF STORIES FROM BEALTAINE COTTAGE : OTHERWORLD MANIFESTATIONS (PODCAST) …NOVEMBER 2016

Or…simply make a donation

Thank you for supporting Bealtaine