Last Friday marked the annual celebration of Gurdjieff’s birth. It fell on the thirteenth, just before the Orthodox Russian New Year. Traditionally, January 13th has been celebrated as Gurdjieff’s birthday, although the actual year and date of his birth are shrouded in mystery. Apparently, Gurdjieff designated January 13th as the time to renew one’s work, not as his birthday celebration.
However, from the NY Foundation to JG Bennett’s Claymont Society for Continuous Education, groups use January 13 to celebrate Gurdjieff’s Birthday. On this night, lavish feasts are held in his honor. Traditionally Gurdjieff’s unique Toasts to the Idiots have been part of Claymont’s feast night, passed down from J.G. Bennett’s Basic Courses at Sherborne House.
Claymont’s Annual Celebration
Over the years, the community at Claymont has come together to prepare the feast in celebration of Gurdjieff’s Birth. Working in the kitchen is a privileged and sacred task. Only necessary talking is encouraged. Stops are employed at intervals to bring one back to presence. Often an inner task is given.
Certain elements of the meal are traditional. For instance, the “Gurdjieff salad,” a fine dice of ingredients with unique flavor, presented in small portions. Often there is broth or soup, followed by the main course.
Tradition is Born
During World War II, Gurdjieff hosted dinners at his flat in Paris. Somehow, he always managed to come up with a delicious meal complete with delicacies, even during the worst of the war. The flat was small and once squeezed in, no one could move. So, the food would be chained hand to hand from kitchen to dining table. This has also been part of the “tradition.”
Whether or not food is chained to the table, there is always alcohol to toast with. Either Armagnac (Gurdjieff’s favorite), Cognac, or Vodka. Sometimes the Vodka is spiced with red pepper. At Gurdjieff’s table, men had to drain their glass in three toasts, women in six.
Gurdjieff would designate a Director to give the toasts, which can be understood as a typing system. The lowest level of Idiot is Ordinary, the highest is God, or Absolute. Idiots 19 and 20 are the “sons” of God. The highest level of Idiot that a human being can attain is 18. Toasts were interspersed during the meal, calling the room to attention.
At Claymont, a tap on glass heralds the next toast. A reading or shared memory may precede the toast.
Who’s An Idiot?
The Idiots have names, like Super, Arch, Hopeless, Compassionate, Squirming, Square, Round, Zigzag, Enlightened, etc. There are oft-told stories of someone, like Bennett, “receiving” his Idiot at the hands of Gurdjieff himself. But otherwise, it is up to us to discover our own. Over time, as one’s inner being develops, so too can one’s Idiot ascend the ladder.
The work at a Gurdjieff Feast includes “honorable” drinking and presence. Without these, one has not been at his table.
Love the snow globes…it looks like there are white birds inside.
And there are when we open.
Right on, James — the Aphorisms were printed inside on little slips of paper. Also on little disc mirrors (about 3″ diameter) on the tables to be discovered and read as you saw yourself in the mirror. Thanks to Karla and Angel who headed up the decorating team.
How special and sacred suppers are! From our simple daily ones with family to celebratory annual ones with beloveds…aka…. Idiots. Time to rejoice.
And reflect! Thank you Lora, we should not lose sight of the sacredness of “breaking bread” together, in whatever guise it takes.