: For some time now I have been curious about Esclarmonde's nom
: de plume. Did she choose the name in a spirit of humor,
: tongue in cheek? Or is she signaling a personal connection
: to Esclarmonde de Foix who was an ordained Prefect in the
: Cathar heirarchy?

'FREEDOM'S JUST ANOTHER WORD FOR NOTHIN' LEFT TO LOSE...'
I came across the story of Esclarmonde de Foix about 8 years ago. Her story (while there are many versions) seemed to epitomize my own sense of Reality. My favorite was the one about Mont Segur. It supposedly belonged to her family. When the Cathars were attacked by the Pope's army, she gathered them together at Mont Segur where they were at least 'physically' safe. But the Pope's army surrounded the castle and eventually the Cathar's began to starve. Knowing this, the Pope's emissary arrived at the Castle gates bearing a compromise: If they would all come out, the adults who had NOT taken the Consolatum would be allowed to renounce their faith and then be sent off to America. The children would be taken and raised by others (presumably as slaves to good Catholic families). Those who had already taken the Consolatum would, of course, be burned alive because that meant that they were already FREE and what could you do with a Mind that no longer WOULD ALLOW ANY foreign object between its Self and God? I mean if an individual believed that they had a direct connection to their Spiritual Essence, NO one could have power over them. Which was why the Pope wanted to curb this terrible Cathar 'disease' in the first place. Who would give to the collection plate after all, if no-one believed in their basic sinfulness?

Why would they even consider taking the Church up on its offer? The argument was that at least the children would be spared. The presumption being that they were better off 'alive as Catholics' than 'dead as Cathars'.

Esclarmonde graciously accepted the message and bid that she be allowed to give her answer in the morning. This was accepted.
During the night a great celebration took place behind the walls of Mont Segur. During the celebration, many of those inside took the Consolatum, including Esclarmonde herself. Several of the Cathars then removed something from deep inside the castle and escaped down the sheer cliff wall behind the castle. Whatever it was they were carrying was considered to be very valuable.

The next morning, the Pope's emissary had the army build a roaring fire in a small valley near the castle. He then again knocked on the castle door. It was opened by Esclarmonde herself. He again intoned the offer: Renounce your faith and you shall live, he advised her. She laughed at him and marched to the edge of the fire and jumped in. She turned and held out her arms and her six year old daughter, also named Esclarmonde, jumped into her arms. The rest followed her into the fire.

To me, Esclarmonde represents the ABSOLUTE freedom of the human Spirit. As long as any of us HAS NOTHING TO LOSE, we are free. I do not always serve her well, but it is to that Icon of absolute freedom...to that SPIRIT, THAT FREEDOM OF MIND, for which opportunity is coming like a lumbering locomotive towards us...that I give her voice. AND she returns the favor by giving me courage.

Thanks for asking,
E.