Catherine de Medici's Gift + NOSTRADAMUS Giveaway!!!

 The C.W. Gortner Event continues here at EBJ with my creative post on Catherine de Medici:

No Choice, But The Better of Two Evils...

Catherine de Medici believed she had a ‘gift’...Oh, but not the kind you and I would delight in receiving.  Her gift came upon her suddenly (not in the excitedly surprised- kind of way though).  It made her ill, wobbly, anxious and often feverish...You could say that rather than joy, her gift delivered tragic results.

From a very young age, Catherine could ‘see’ things in her future.  These sudden visions would bring about fever and convulsions, and mostly fear. Catherine gradually had no choice but to accept that there was nothing she could do about her ‘Gift’ except use it as a forewarning of future devastation.

In embracing that which she had no control over, Catherine sought further help through others who shared variations of the ‘gift’.  She relied on apothecaries and seers for clearer predictions, cures and ‘precautionary concoctions’ that could either help, or destroy; depending on the need.  As such, when we 

read  Gortner’s ‘CONFESSIONS OF CATHERINE DE MEDICI’,   

 

we are presented with two of Catherine’s most important seers.

 The two men were of very opposing minds and methods ever:  Cosimo, the evil and NOSTRADAMUS, the pure.  Both of these men helped Catherine in different ways.  Cosimo brewed potions for childbearing, attractions, pain and poisoning...On the other hand, Nostradamus cured, restored and predicted royal ascensions, downfalls and tragedies.  Up until their death, both of these seers remained true to the root and nature of their abilities. (If you read Gortner's book, you’ll understand what I mean by this).

At the time, (strategically convenient), Catherine did not see this dabbling as heretic or as contrary to her Catholic beliefs.  In fact, she believed that everything she searched for in terms of predictions and cures was for the ultimate good of France, her people and her family. To her this was a necessary evil that bore no other choice.

Ultimately, you can say that Catherine was a true Machiavellian at heart (In fact, The Prince, by Machiavelli was her very favourite book).  It’s probably no coincidence that Machiavelli’s main motto was no less than: The End justifies the Means. (How very Catherine indeed;)

NOTE: This post ties in with   Heather's Creative Post on Nostradamus, at The Maiden’s Court, Please check it out to find out more about Nostradamus. You will love it!

Now...for this grand C.W. Gortner Event...Heather of The Maiden's Court and I have a  

Fantastic Giveaway!!!

 We are giving away 1 Hard cover of : 

THE FINAL PROPHECIES OF NOSTRADAMUS, by Erika Cheetham, to a lucky winner!!!

 

RULES TO ENTER:

1-You MUST BE A FOLLOWER OF BOTH: Enchanted by Josephine and The Maiden’s Court.

2- Leave a comment HERE  AND at MAIDEN’S COURT

3- For an extra 5 points Tweet, FB, or put this on your sidebar (come back here with link;)

Canada- US only.  Winner announced May 17^th.