Smith of Wootton Major in Middle Earth?

[mark12_30]

Menelvagor of the shining belt. Yes. I can hear you singing...

My husband and I were looking at it two nights ago. He was struck by it, too.

Since it's about glimpses of eternal Beauty, and tasting God's life, that's why I think cultures of death don't fit. So while Ireland has plenty of Faerie, I wouldn't look for Faerie in a typical Irish wake. Yet, for MacDonald, a Scot who sees death in a very different way, death is drenched in Faerie because Death is the doorway to life eternal:

"You have tasted of death now," said the old man. "Is it good?"

"It is good," said Mossy. "It is better than life."

"No," said the old man: "it is only more life.--Your feet will make no holes in the water now."

Wilder and wilder.

Edit: I have to add.... and for C. S. Lewis-- doesn't The Last Battle, when they all go through the door, and then say farewell to Narnia, and then begin to explore where they are, and slowly begin to realize Where They Are-- doesn't your heart just break? ...Wilder and wilder.

"More life."