Lectio Divina for Chapter 2

[pobble_reads]

I've chosen the sentence The witch had gone and Grimalkin too, the cauldron, the book of spells, the toads, the foxes, the magic herbs, the brews, the broomstick, everything that had once made magic

Lectio Divinia is a 4 stage practise:
Lectio - the literal reading and narrative
Mediatio - the allegory, symbols and metaphors
Oratio - reflection - how is this text connected with my own life?
Contemplatio - the invitation - what action is this text prompting me to take?

I'll put my thoughts in the comments - please do join in and make my reading richer

Comments

Mediatio

[pobble_reads]

Pretty much each item on the list could be read as a symbol. It's obvious why the first absences that Gobbolino notices are of the Witch and his Mother - they are his remaining family now that Sootica has gone to be apprenticed (even though they have treated him badly and are ongoingly neglecting him they are the only family that he knows). But I want to think more deeply about the other items on the list - why are they significant things to mention/for Gobbolino to particularly notice that they've gone?
The cauldron and the book of spells are mentioned before the other living creatures so they must be (or at least seem) particularly important. They are practical objects that presumably the Witch uses all the time but they are also ritual objects. I imagine that the cauldron (and it's fire) must occupy a central position in the cavern and the book of spells is probably a big impressive volume - maybe on a lectern like a Bible in a church (or is it hidden away in a special secure place so that no one else can read the Witch's secrets?). The are pretty much what defines the work of a witch and what makes this a witch's cavern rather than just a place where a witch just happens to live. The make me think about the Macbeth Witches' cauldron (i did Macbeth for GCSE!) and of the magic books in Discworld that become sentient and are potentially dangerous to the reader. Has removing them somehow de-magiced and de-ritualised this place? (Is there even some kind of de-consecration process/ritual that must be followed and was done while Gobbolino was sleeping?).
Next come the other living creatures - even though they weren't friendly to Gobbolino them leaving means he is truly alone now.
Then it's the magic herbs and brews that Gobbolino notices are missing - the materials for and finished product of the Witch's work. It's another sign that she and Grimalkin are definitely setting up somewhere new (without Gobbolino). It seems that in this magical world cats work with their witches so it's taking away any vague last chance for Gobbolino to become a witch's cat. And it's meaning that the cavern is no longer a work-place or a home - if any would be clients turn up it's just going to be an empty space to them. It makes me think about how difficult and time consuming it is to pack up a kitchen and all your supplies (and I have many jars of jam that I've made waiting to be used or given to people)
And finally the broomstick - which is presumably how they left. It's another object/possession that defines a (storybook) witch. And it's the only what that Gobbolino had ever travelled apart from Sootica and his jaunt just outside the mouth of the cave in Chapter 1 - it's the only way he's ever been any distance (even though he found the ride terrifying). It's now going to be much harder for him to leave the cave (and impossible for him to follow his flying (fleeing) family). There are broomsticks in pretty much every story about witches and wizards so I've got loads of associations for them - right now I'm thinking of Mickey Mouse in the Sorcerer's Apprentice and classes in both Harry Potter and The Worst Witch. There must be a broom in every home too - it's absence is another symbol that the cavern has gone back to be a part of nature rather than a dwelling or a workplace...