Lovers

There are lovers content with longing.
I’m not one of them.

Rumi

(thanks to inertiaK for image)

Blessings for Samhain to everyone

DREAMING STONES
Go to a boundary stream with closed eyes, take from the water three stones between middle
finger and thumb, saying these words as each is gathered:

Togaidh Mise chlach
Mar a thog Moire da Mac
Air bhri?gh, air bhuaidh,'s air neart:
Gun robh a chlachsa am dhi?rn,
Gus an ruig mi mo cheann uidhe

(I will lift the stone
As Mary lifted it for her Son
For substance, virtue, and strength
May this stone be in my hand
Till I reach my journey's end)

Carry them home carefully and put them under your pillow. Ask for a dream that will give you
guidance or solution to a problem. The stones will bring it for you.

Apples are significant at this time of year. I light a candle next to an apple and open my front door to
send love and joy to my family and friends.

Blessings



With thanks to Anamcara and Kees Sman

Inspiration!

Whenever I need inspiration from other women, I immediately think of Audrey Hepburn, who, in her youth was stunningly beautiful, and in her last days an ambassador for those less fortunate than herself.

I love this unusual photograph of her!!

St Swithin's Day

St Swithun's day if thou dost rain
For forty days it will remain
St Swithun's day if thou be fair
For forty days 'twill rain no more

St Swithin was an Anglo-Saxon bishop of Winchester who gained a reputation for posthumous miracle-working after his death in c. 862.

St Swithun looking very serious indeed

St Swithun's church

A legend says that as the Bishop lay on his deathbed, he asked to be buried out of doors, where he would be trodden on and rained on. For nine years, his wishes were followed, but then, the monks of Winchester attempted to remove his remains to a splendid shrine inside the cathedral on 15 July 971. According to legend there was a heavy rain storm either during the ceremony or on its anniversary.

This led to the old wives' tale (folklore) that if it rains on St Swithin's Day (July 15th), it will rain for the next 40 days in succession, and a fine 15th July will be followed by 40 days of fine weather. co

Well, thank goodness it's not raining in East Sussex, it is a beautiful day!!!

NOD

I was compiling a book of poetry for my seven year old grandchild, remembering the poetry that my mother read to me as a child.  This one was my favourite:

NOD by Walter de la Mare 1873-1956

Softly along the road of evening,  
    In a twilight dim with rose,  
Wrinkled with age, and drenched with dew  
    Old Nod, the shepherd, goes.  
  
His drowsy flock streams on before him, 
    Their fleeces charged with gold,  
To where the sun's last beam leans low  
    On Nod the shepherd's fold.  
  
The hedge is quick and green with briar,  
    From their sand the conies creep;
And all the birds that fly in heaven  
    Flock singing home to sleep.  
  
His lambs outnumber a noon's roses,  
    Yet, when night's shadows fall,  
His blind old sheep-dog, Slumber-soon,
    Misses not one of all.  
  
His are the quiet steeps of dreamland,  
    The waters of no-more-pain;  
His ram's bell rings 'neath an arch of stars,  
    "Rest, rest, and rest again."

(painting 'Shepherd with a flock of sheep' Vincent van Gogh)

chippewa medicine man - Sun Bear

Sun Bear 1929-1992

I do not think that the measure of a civilization is how tall its buildings of concrete are, but rather how well its people have learned to relate to their environment and fellow man.

Waterhouse and Tennyson

The Lady of Shalott 1888

And down the river's dim expanse

Like some bold seer in a trance,

Seeing all his own mischance -

With a glassy countenance

Did she look to Camelot.

And at the closing of the day

She loosed the chain, and down she lay;

The broad stream bore her far away,

The Lady of Shalott. 

I am Half-Sick of Shadows, said the Lady of Shalott 1916

There she weaves by night and day
A magic web with colours gay.
She has heard a whisper say,
A curse is on her if she stay
    To look down to Camelot.
She knows not what the curse may be,
And so she weaveth steadily,
And little other care hath she,
    The Lady of Shalott.    
The Lady of Shalott 1894

She left the web, she left the loom,
She made three paces thro' the room,
She saw the water-lily bloom,
She saw the helmet and the plume,
    She look'd down to Camelot.
Out flew the web and floated wide;
The mirror crack'd from side to side;
"The curse is come upon me," cried
    The Lady of Shalott. 

Waheguru (Supreme Being/God/Wonderful Teacher)

I see no stranger, I see no enemy Wherever I look, God is all I see I don't think of us and them No one do I hate or condemn I see God's image – each one a friend. Of any religion, caste or race All I see is God's shining face His smiling face, His gracious face. Accept as beautiful all His design I learnt this truth in sangat divine One Word resounds in me and you Waheguru ... Waheguru ... In him, in her, in me and you Waheguru ... Waheguru ... Beholding in every being His light I bloom like a flower in joy and delight.

adi granth - guru arjun dev ji - circa. 1604

Peace

Fountain of Everlasting Peace and Healing Balm, Wash over our wounds of war, violence, and hatred, Scrub deep the stains that destroy the fabric of Your Existence, Mend the tattered threads of the Cloak of Your Majesty, The delicate web of the universe which is Your Life and Love... A prophet of non-violence You have raised up for Truth, Reflecting the Source of Your Unfathomable Wisdom, Flowing from the One Great Abyss of Creation's Glory, Open our minds to hear Your Voice speaking Peace this day, Born from One Cosmic Egg, we are one family in You, Help us to learn forgiveness, kindness, tolerance, Greatness of mind and heart, So that destroying all weapons of war, Burying all animosities and differences, We may hear the Divine Harmony of Your Love, Preserving our blue-jewel-earth-planet, Spinning the dance of a Mother's Infinite Tenderness, That draws all into Unity in one Compassionate Heart. Bestow the Blissful Smile of sun and rain which is Your Divine Presence Making Peace grow in our hearts as seeds for a new era, Birthing the song of non-violence Which blesses our world with Peace Eternal.

prayer for peace day - sister rosemarie - 2006

The Angel's Message George Hillyard Swinstead

Please share my delight in this lovely painting......

Beltaine, May Day, and the Blessed Virgin's Day

As we approach the 1st of May,  the northern hemisphere is celebrating Beltaine,  the full onset of Spring, the fertility of the season, the bringing of new life.  Those of you in the USA who watched the series 'Mists of Avalon' (never shown in the UK) will have an idea of what Beltaine is.




Beltaine bonfire

 



The Green Man

 



Brigid

 


Maypole dancer




Maypole dancers




The May Queen and the Green Man

 It was mainly celebrated in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/beltanemayday/p/Beltane_History.htm

Beltaine is considered a cross-quarter day, marking the midpoint in the Sun's progress between the spring equinox and the summer solstice.

The word Beltaine basically means 'bright fire'  and the ceremonies which are still observed today, observe this ritual by burning a bonfire through the night of April 30th through the next day the 1st May.  Gaelic folklore has it that Beltaine is a time of purification and transition, similar to Samhain, in this way.

It has been celebrated for years by Maypole dancing in the United Kingdom, and indeed in many parts of the USA.  I still have a photo of me as a May Princess when I was five years old!!  It was a long, long time ago!

The blessed Virgin in Sorrow

In Roman Catholicism,  May is the month of Mary,  and May 1st is the day of celebration of the Blessed Virgin.

Whatever our beliefs,  it is essential that we appreciate our mother earth, and care for her (for she is in turmoil).  To take care of one another, and view each new day as an opportunity to live better and practice our faith with love and respect for all others.


 

Good Friday

Today is Good Friday.  The most important day of the Christian calendar,  not only does it commemorate the death of Jesus,  but gives us the opportunity to be mindful of the importance of forgiveness in our lives.

Love and Forgiveness ripple out affecting both the loved and the lover,  the forgiven and the forgiver, and

continues outwards and onwards to other people like a butterfly on the wing.

Do not meditate on the crucifixion,  but rather meditate on the risen Christ - this is Hope and not Fear

Tenzin Gyatso

May I become at all times, both now and forever,
A protector for those without protection,
A guide for those who have lost their way,
A ship for those with oceans to cross,
A sanctuary for those in danger,
A lamp for those in the dark,
And a servant to all those in need.
As long as living beings exist,
and suffering afflicts them,
May I too abide to dispel the misery of the world.

Tenzin Gyatso

14th Dalai Lama of Tibet

Beautiful paintings of Women and Flowers

Sir Lawrence (Laurens) Alma-Tadema,  a Dutch born English classical painter, ( married to another artist Laura Alma-Tadema)  painted enviably beautiful paintings of, in particular,  women with flowers,  either in the picture,  or worn around the hair.  They are thrillingly romantic pictures,  I share with you some of them here,  please enjoy......

ah, Spring!!!

Cherokee Blessing

HAPPY TRACKS

May the warm winds of Heaven

Blow softly upon your house.

May the Great Spirit

Bless all who enter there.

May your Mocassins

Make happy tracks in many snows

and may the Rainbow

Always touch your shoulder.

Morning by Pablo Neruda

Spring Equinox!!!

What a beautiful day it has been today in South Eastern England!!  The promise of warmer days to come.  A lovely drive in the country under blue skies which have been absent for so very long........

I thought I would look into all the different ways of celebrating this time of year,  none of the below links are part of my own belief system,  but all of them are interesting and somewhat bizarre at times!!

The vernal or Spring equinox is not just a Christian time of year in the 'run-up' to Easter,  it has been celebrated by many cultures through time immemorial....http://www.religioustolerance.org/easter1.htm

The Pagans and Wiccans were and still are busy celebrating Ostara http://home.earthlink.net/~josquin88/ostara.html

Ostara

In ancient Egypt the festival of Isis was observed when the goddess was in mourning for her dead lover who was resurrected..Some people still believe in this festival as the following link shows: http://www.templeankh.com/rituals/festivalofisis.htm

Isis

In Ireland, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated each year on March 17. St. Patrick is known as a symbol of Ireland, particularly around every March. One of the reasons he is so famous is because he drove the snakes out of Ireland, and was even credited with a miracle for this. What many people don't realize is that the serpent was actually a metaphor for the early Pagan faiths of Ireland. St. Patrick brought Christianity to the Emerald Isle, and did such a good job of it that he practically eliminated Paganism from the country.

Ancient religious stones in Ireland

Ancient stone circle in Cork, Ireland

For the ancient Romans, the Feast of Cybele celebrated every spring. Cybele was a mother goddess who was at the centre of a Phrygian fertility cult, and eunuch priests performed mysterious rites in her honour. Her lover was Attis (who also happened to be her grandson), and her jealousy caused him to castrate and kill himself. His blood was the source of the first violets, and divine intervention allowed Attis to be resurrected by Cybele, with some help from Zeus. In some areas, there is still an annual celebration of Attis' rebirth and Cybele's power, called the Hilaria, observed from March 15 th to March 28th  .http://www.pantheon.org/articles/c/cybele.html

Judaism:

One of Judaism's biggest festivals is Passover, which takes place in the middle of the Hebrew month of Nisan. It was a pilgrimage festival, and commemorates the exodus of the Jews from Egypt after centuries of slavery. A special meal is held, called the Seder, and it is concluded with the story of the Jews leaving Egypt, and readings from a special book of prayers. Part of the eight-day Passover traditions include a thorough spring cleaning, going through the house from top to bottom. http://www.hillel.org/jewish/rituals/roshchodesh/nisan.htm

Many Christian homes have the tradition of 'Spring Cleaning'  I am so looking forward to opening my windows and doors and thoroughly re-vamping my home in honour of the sunshine!!!!

In Russia, the celebration of Maslenitsa is observed as a time of the return of light and warmth. This folk festival is celebrated about seven weeks before Easter. During the Lent season, meat and fish and dairy products are prohibited. Maslentisa is the last chance anyone will get to enjoy those items for a while, so it's typically a big festival held before the sombre, introspective time of Lent. A straw effigy of the Lady of Maslenitsa, is burned in a bonfire. Leftover pancakes and blintzes are tossed in as well, and when the fire has burned away, the ashes are spread in the fields to fertilize the year's crops.

.So let us jump for joy and be happy no matter how we celebrate the first day of Spring!!!

(credit to about.com)(thanks to religioustolerance.org) painting: Sir Lawrence Alma Tadema

Let us be thankful!

 

"Sharashkas" - Alexander Solzhenitsyn

"You have the right to arrange your own life
under the blue sky and the hot sun,
to get a drink of water, to stretch,
to travel wherever you like....

What about the main thing in life, all its riddles?
If you want, I'll spell it out for you right now.

Do not pursue what is illusionary - property and position:
all that is gained at the expense of your nerves,
decade after decade, and is confiscated in one fell
night. Live with a steady superiority over life ...
don't be afraid of misfortune, and do not yearn
after happiness: it is, after all, the same: the
bitter doesn't last forever, and the sweet never
fills the cup to overflowing.

It is enough if you don't freeze in the cold and if
thirst and hunger don't claw at your insides. If
your back isn't broken, if your feet can walk, if
both arms can bend, if both eyes can see, if
both ears hear, then whom should you envy? And why?
Our envy of others devours us most of all. Rub
your eyes and purify your heart - and prize
above all else in the world those who love you
and who wish you well. Do not hurt them or
scold them, and never part from any of them in
anger; after all, you simply do not know: it
might be your last act ..... "

- Alexander Solzhenitsyn.

For some reason the traumatising developments in Japan made me think of this poem.  Sharashkas loosely means a gulag in Russian.  Alexander was interned in a gulag in Siberia for his writing.  The words resonated with me and made me give thanks for my safety and my humble but safe home.

(pic from shutterstock)

Dyspraxia

It is thought that my precious 6 year old grand-daughter may have Dyspraxia.  Do any of you have any familiarity with this problem?  What are your thoughts on Dyspraxia and the MMR vaccination?  Is there a link?  I know the debate still goes on regarding Autism and the MMR vaccination.  What do you believe to be the truth?

'Do the little things' ('Gwnewch y pethau bychain')

Hello there,

Here in the UK it is St David's Day.    
He is the patron saint of Wales.  http://sucs.org/~rhys/stdavid.html
The national flower of Wales is the Daffodil. I love Daffodils,  they are sunny cheerful flowers, and always make me smile.............

So to all my Welsh friends,  have a wonderful St David's Day!!!

"Daffodils" (1804) I WANDER'D lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the Milky Way,

They stretch'd in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance. The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed -- and gazed -- but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought: For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

By William Wordsworth (1770-1850).

Older and Wiser

I often wonder how to look good at my age.  Here are some of my absolute favourite women who look/looked good at 60 - ish.  I don't know what they have that is so special.  There is something about the way they live their lives, carry themselves, an inner strength and the light in their eyes.  I aspire to this...........ah well