Halo in the Hermit Cave

The Halo played in a cave called Hermit's Cave in the Organ Mountains of southern New Mexico, site of the Jornada branch of the prehistoric Mogollon culture. It's also common knowledge that this area was the frequent stomping grounds of 18th and 19th century Apaches, so most likely they were aware of the shelter provided by La Cueva as well. It was during the 1860s that La Cueva became home to one of the more obscure characters in New Mexico history, an individual by the name of Agostini-Justiniani, "El Ermitano" . . . the Hermit. A mystic and healer known in several countries from his travels and work with Penitentes.




In 1869 he spent time on the Old Mesilla Plaza visiting with the Barela family, sometimes preaching in their home. He told them of his plan to live at La Cueva. The Barela family, and probably anyone who had the opportunity to do so, warned him of the danger of living out there alone. He answered their concerns, saying "I shall make a fire in front of my cave every Friday evening while I shall be alive. If the fire fails to appear, it will be because I have been killed. I shall bless you daily in my prayers."

One Friday night in the spring of 1869 the Barela's fears were realized when the usual fire failed to appear. Antonio Garcia led a group up the mountain to find the Hermit lying face down on his crucifix with a knife in his back. He was wearing his penitential "metal girdle full of spikes."

El Ermitano is buried in the Mesilla Cemetery with the following Spanish inscription, "John Mary Justiniani, Hermit of the Old and New World." He died the 17th of April, 1869, at 69 years and 49 years a hermit."

This is an improvised piece. I'm sitting on a unstable 4inch board so the halo kept slipping off my lap. I'm wearing a utility Kilt by the way, very nice for hiking on a blistering hot desert day.
Enjoy
thank you for watching and for your comments

Category:

Music

Tags:

• hermits
• cave
• organ
• mountains
• las
• cruces
• new
• mexico
• la
• cueva
• dripping
• springs
• halo
• pantheon
• steel
• pan
• drum
• percussion
• improvised
• peaceful
• healing
• meditative
• spiritual
• native
• american
• mogollon
• apache
• indian
• hang
• hong
• desert
• ethereal
• utility
• kilt
• kilts
• hiking

[ktbee7]

Hi Randy.  Fantastic playing, fantastic location, fantastic player! Thank you. I am now fortunate enough to have been able to buy a hang, but please tell me, what is this "halo"? Cheers, Katrina from Adelaide, Australia (one of your long time admirers and subscribers)

[LoneGranger]

@ktbee7 Thank you Katrina. The halo is a cousin of the hang made in the US though. check out my website links for info on them. Congratulation on your hang. I hope you soar.....

RG

[Maysey1]

Very nice! I enjoyed it very much. Where did you get the utility kilt, it would be nice to wear something like that on my hikes through the desert. Peaceful video, thanks for sharing! Mark

[LoneGranger]

@Maysey1 Got this kilt at Things Celtic in austin, tx. However, it was made by kilted nation you can find them online. It's like having built in air conditioning. Love it.

Glad you enjoyed the video.

RG

[axildrum]

Great vid and great technik !! in a unstable position.

I think I'll never do that, too afraid for the Halo.

Thanks

[oldsailer43]

Where could a person buy /get a drum? like that?

[oldsailer43]

Where can a person but one of them, "Drum's" ?

[oldsailer43]

Is "the hermit " the same Hermit that lived in a cave at Council Grove ,KS. ?

[Lepercurtidoo]

well i guess you only answer to compliments ... nevermind

[fluteCarrier]

Randy, seems you & the halo have become good friends. Enjoy!

Saggio

[Lepercurtidoo]

thx for al this historic information ! But could you tell something about the halo also ? ;-)

the scale etc ...

good work !

cheers