Spirit Whispers

Christmas Trees

2011-12-25T18:28:00.001Z

I had the idea...

that the moon in the mist...

made the perfect decoration

for these christmas trees

Solstice Blessings

2011-12-22T23:25:00.000Z

And so, the longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere has passed... an indrawn breath... a pause... and the year exhales, continuing it's journey around the wheel... the sacred circle...

The morning looked miserable & cloudy so no chance of seeing the moon rise... I sent out my wish that it would be lovely to catch a glimpse, but thinking there was really no chance I wasn't really looking. All of a sudden the moon was there through the trees... a tiny gap in the cloud! I whispered my thanks....

This crescent moon is waning towards the darkness... following the circle of birth and life and death and rebirth.... riding the clouds towards dark moon... a time of introspection and re-assessment, before readying to re-emerge....

The point of moon-rise is moving closer to the point of sun-rise, almost converging..... and just as the winter solstice signifies emerging from the darkness, the clouds dispersed.... rapidly... as the solstice dawn reached out, pushing away all traces of lingering darkness...

I welcomed the golden light into my being as the sun threw tantalizing beams to bounce off the remaining clouds.... light flooding the sky.... I feel so thankful for this sight... for being here, now... feeling the energies in the woods as i waited, swaying to the rhythm of an invisible drum...

Crows made their way across the wood behind me, and a wren scolded just yards from my feet. A lone magpie seemed to bounce along the tree tops..... (i think you'll like the next pic, rose!).... magpies long tail can be a bit unwieldy at times & he took a moment to find his balance... the centre-point that we too must find to keep our balance in this world.... magpie... black and white... light and dark, night and day... or so he seems...

A fitting message on solstice morn... for magpies feathers have an iridescence, an extra sheen... transcending mere black and white... as this sunrise is about more than night and day...

A spectacular sky as the sun breaks past the horizon... i give thanks for the sun that shines on us all... and i wonder which horizons i can break past too....

Wishing you all the best, whether your year is turning towards light or dark.... may you have a wonderful journey wherever it takes you xx

Sharing with Skywatch

An interview & Giveaway

2011-12-21T17:14:00.001Z

Oh, how neglectful i have been towards friends in the blogosphere. How swiftly time slips by! I hope everyone is well.... i may have been out of sight, but you definitely have not been out of mind. I've just felt a bit 'computered-up'!

I heard myself telling someone I hadn't spoken to for ages that "I haven't really been doing much" and realised that it wasn't strictly true. In terms of quantifiable output.... no.... but I have read an awful lot.... i've scribbled notes by hand rather than sat at the computer... my etsy shop has had a few sales, but i've found myself drawn in.... getting involved with etsy teams, fiddling with descriptions & listings and stuff like that... and i have been interviewed by the lovely Carrie at CherryBlossomTattoo blog.

There is also chance to win yourself a Christmas prezzie.... part of the fun of the interview is a give-away.... a photograph from my etsy shop. The only snag is it ends tomorrow (Thursday). I promised myself i'd get a post written straight away to tell you all, but.... hmmm, no viable excuses really, sorry about that.

I've often looked at photographs by other people that have been obviously 'photoshopped' with textures & layers applied.... i've always thought that it was a bit beyond me, at least without a great deal of time & effort to work it out (& actually having photoshop would be a help too, lol). But I came across this~ pixlr-o-matic~ which gives free photo effects totally for free! Its sooooo easy & has plenty of wonderful vintage, retro, sparkly etc etc effects.... i cant remember whether there was 2 or 3 layers of texture on the crow above. The main page for pixlr is here... there is free photo-editing software there aswell as the effects.

As you can see, i've been playing a fair bit trying things out!

Yesterday's moon was a lovely waning crescent.... too rainy this morning, but i'm hoping it isn't too thin a sliver to catch tomorrow on the Winter Solstice morn, and of course it depends on the clouds first thing.

Something else i've been playing with is creating effects in camera. I'm loving using long exposures & altering the focal length as i shoot to create surreal, dreamy scenes. I've got loads of these, but haven't got them into the shop yet... it's on my list!!

I've been journeying a bit in those dreamworlds, melting into the trees & flying with crow, so perhaps that is why these appeal to me.... so many layers & shadows.... so many thoughts that seem to hang on the periphery of my mind, one minute so clear, another i'm left wondering what it was i was so clear about....

Perhaps as the year turns and the days begin to draw out, i will be ready to return & write 'out loud' again.... i feel the time is coming. It's funny, there are a couple of others that i have been closer to in the blog world, who also have been silent of late...

Any way.... If you have time & are so inclined do pop over to see carrie's blog. She promotes other etsy sellers with such enthusiasm and her own photography is lovely. Don't forget to leave a comment if you want to enter the draw to win a photo, here, but be quick!

With love... suzi xx

Rainbow Over The Transporter

2011-07-15T22:54:00.002+01:00

The Transporter Bridge over the River Tees at Middlesbrough is quite an iconic feature of the landscape around here... opened in 1911, it is one of only three still in existence in Britain.

Sunlight through storm clouds always makes me smile... and as thunder rumbled we were treated to not just one rainbow, but two....

The bridge is there in the middle, but i had to lighten things up to actually see it... the skies were so dark!

Steel sentinels ignore the storm to deliver the constant transfusion of life-blood required to keep the wheels of industry turning.... electricity crackling from the sky & through their arms....

Information about the Transporter Bridge is here and here

go visit!

Reflections

2011-07-12T19:42:00.001+01:00

This was taken at the end of May, when we were near Doncaster, South Yorkshire... it's part of the community woodland that was Brodsworth Colliery (closed in 1990). We stayed nearby 4 years ago for a while & this time it was a re-connection.

Looks really peaceful doesn't it? It is. However, just behind those trees is the motorway & traffic noise is constant. I walked a path with only a few hawthorns between me & the road & wondered what the trees thought of the noise... the answer seemed to come straight back "what noise, we don't hear it".

I found as I wandered round, that it did cease to exist as i enjoyed the landscape around me... But for the trees, it isn't a case of shutting it out or getting used to it... i really don't think they are aware of it at all... it's beyond their frequency range. They're operating at a much higher level, and perhaps for me the sound disappeared as i walked in a state of semi-meditation.

See those steps by the weir on the left? I sat there one early morning chanting 'Awen' over & over... starting off slowly... consciously... breathing inspiration out to the water & trees, breathing it in from them... but after a while the chant took on a life of it's own and speeded up... became undulating... it had the resonance of another language and I was transported to another place, another time. It was cold & snowy, I was wearing furs, moving between tent like structures covered with skins... like the reflections on the lake it was slightly hazy, real & unreal at the same time...

Same picture, rotated... how many different images do you see from this angle? Patterns, portals, creatures, faces... they were all there before, but changing perspective... like changing consciousness brings unseen things into view. They're all part of our landscape, whether in front of our eyes or in our minds... or elsewhere... How close we look & how deep we go is up to us... by changing the way we look, shifting focus, we can go beyond the surface reflections...

And there further along the bank... a heart... reminding me to follow my heart and look deeper. A heart that is completed by taking notice of what is above & below... our world & otherworlds... real and unreal...

Bright Lights

2011-06-21T15:48:00.003+01:00

No view of the lunar eclipse for me.... heavy rain & cloudy skies an hour before moon-rise & the prospects were bleak! But there was a break in the clouds as the sun set & i was hopeful... however, the brightness in the west did not spread to the east where the moon would have appeared over the hills, and as the night wore on, the cloud thickened.

We are on Teesside at the moment in the north east of England, staying near Billingham, on farmland once owned by the chemical giant ICI. Instead of the glow of a moon in earth's shadow I watched the lights begin to appear on Tees Dock and the burning flares of various treatment plants around me.

Even without seeing, i was aware of the eclipse energy... an energy that can brings things to the surface out of the shadows, that can show things in a different light... a time for renewal & seeing different perspectives. Looking at the burning flares, I thought of energy transforming... of lunar eclipse energy... filtering down around the world... transforming hearts and minds... breathing compassion & peace into hardened hearts & narrow minds...

I never saw these flames form the shape of a heart at the moment i clicked the shutter... not until i looked through to choose photos for this post. How wonderful is that? Energy transforming before my eyes, a symbol of compassion amongst the industry... funny where hearts turn up, eh? Clytie find them all over & has a weekly link-up at Random Hearts, if you want to see some more.

... and of course, I couldn't leave you without a picture of the moon from another night! I've just printed this one up for myself on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag. It's the first time i've tried this paper & i'm so impressed... it shows up every shade of dark blue & black with rich velvety textures, and the light is so vivid... i love it! This is one of my favourites that i've ever taken at the moment (available for sale here), now i've just got to remember where i saw a perfect frame for it!

For more skies around the world visit

skywatch

Sycamore Flowers & Seeds

2011-06-16T20:59:00.001+01:00

It was back in April when I watched the sycamore buds break out into leaf. We've moved a couple of times since then, so i haven't been able to follow the progress of any particular flowers...

The variation between trees along the same row can be huge, with some trees in flower before others have barely opened their leaves. Flowers & seeds develop at different rates across the sycamore community, spreading the risk of hitting adverse conditions that could hit fertilisation or the spread of seeds.... increasing the chance that some of them will mature under optimum conditions. Thus the species as a whole has a greater chance of new growth & continuity.

We humans develop at vastly different rates too... for some everything clicks into place early on, for others it is much later in life... whenever.... it is the right time for each individual, just as it is right for each tree. Our inbuilt urges to travel, settle, have families, create, pursue ambitions, give it all up, explore spirituality etc etc cover years & generations of human life. Depending on conditions around us & our own make up, some are more successful in certain areas than others... but it is that diversity that allows our species as a whole more chance of growing & continuing.

By the end of april all the sycamores were full of pendulous flowers... masses of them... some will produce seeds, some will be blown adrift, but they all play their part. Just as we are filled with a mass of flowering potentials within us... some come to fruition, some are cast aside.... all play their part in giving us opportunities to develop.

male sycamore flowers

Some sycamore trees produce only male flowers, some only female... and some produce both male & female flowers that grow side by side within one flower spike. The sycamore will retain the same sexuality throughout its life & this is the case for many other tree species, but some, the ash for example are known to change their orientation.

female sycamore flowers

It's quite easy to accept that this is just how things are... for trees... but some have tremendous difficulty accepting that this can be the case for humans too. Everything that we are is seen in nature....

male & female flowers together

Perhaps our attitudes, both as individuals and collectively, are like the flowers on a tree... some seem to flourish for a while... then wither... or don't withstand the wind of change that blows through them... or simply give way to allow other, healthier ones to survive...

Perhaps as we approach the Solstice, it is a good time to assess our own attitudes... to examine them & decide whether any should be cast away... to allow the the celestial winds to blow through our minds & refresh us... to ask that healthy attitudes & practices enrich our lives.... as the year turns & moves into the next half of its cycle & breathes life into the seeds of potential within us...

Treats...

2011-06-02T17:53:00.000+01:00

A couple of new blogs...at least relatively new; I've been meaning to post these links for a little while now! Both are a treat, so please pop over & give these ladies some deserved encouragement. Not that either are dipping their toes tentatively into the blogosphere... they've dived in, and the ripples are spreading across the ethers! I could enthuse about both in different ways, but the best thing is to just look for yourselves....

Suzy

Bloodstone Bay

Sarah

Three Strange Angels

The Goddess Particle

2011-05-30T00:40:00.001+01:00

A flash of green catches my eye as I wander in a shadowy wood... A shaft of light cutting through branches, illuminating fresh young elm leaves and paper-thin seeds... bright chips of stained glass folding discs of sunlight into translucent brilliance.... invoking a sense of awe and reverence in this woodland cathedral.

My eyes wander... gazing at the light through the seeds, constantly drawn to different parts of the tree, marvelling at the beauty, entranced by the stillness of the wood... captivated by the energy of this sacred alter.... words & phrases weave themselves into my consciousness... this seed.... i am the seed... breathes life... birth of future... conceive own birth... dark places... radiance... growing in my own womb... grow from the past... i am the strands of all matter....

For some reason i think of scientists searching for the 'god particle' and grin, thinking perhaps they should be looking for the goddess particle.

***********************************************************************

Well, this is a first... the first recording of my voice since i was a kid, on the first slideshow i've made... and open to the public... with no edits, mainly cos i haven't worked out how yet! When i took the photos i couldn't decide which to use & thought 'hmmm, a slideshow would be good'. I was writing the last Festival of the Trees at the time, so thought i might get it done for the next one. I'd had so many thoughts whilst sitting in the wood and was mulling over the idea of how to incorporate them when, surprise, surprise this months submission asked "to observe our own engagement with trees, and record it—with video, audio, slideshow, or any other creative composition we can dream up"

Plenty of time, huh! Except i started working full time & haven't been at home on my own, then we moved again & friday was the first time i've sat down & thought about it. My plan was just to see if i could do a recording & how to add it to the slideshow... then do it again 'properly'.... but... to do it how i'd like it is going to take much longer & i'm actually quite pleased with the first draft, just the fact that I did it! So... if you have landed here hoping for some polished poetry & crack-shot editing... err...tough luck!!

I scribbled stuff down when i got home and added more as i looked back through the photographs later. And i do scribble... i write in all directions on a page, fitting in a thought following from another, not necessarily crossing out the line or phrase i've abandoned for something else, crossing out but then adding a tick to show i changed my mind back again.... i'm sure you know what i mean.... so, this morning i looked at the pages & sighed at how much re-writing, re-ordering & refining it needed & thought "i'll just see how much time this lot runs out at...."

And so... i can hear myself desperately scanning alternative choices to finish a line... i can hear my brain clicking over which bit should follow which in places... i've emphasised bits quite differently to how i meant.... and one word in particular screams at me to be changed... but, you know what? I'm leaving it just as it is. If i don't tell you which bit, what word etc you probably won't realise... and everyone, including myself, can have an opinion on what to change or what to keep, but this piece is what it is... a one-shot that i'm happy with for what it is... when i have another go, it will be a different piece of work.

And this seed will grow into something else i'm sure.

It turned out that that was the easy part... actually getting the bloomin' thing uploaded took me 2 days to work out! whether it was me or dodgy internet i don't know, but i managed to post a blank box instead of a slideshow more than once! So i gave up trying to post direct to blogger & went to youtube instead... All part of the learning curve, eh?

Brenda has a lovely blog over at "Rubies in Crystal" & she is hosting the June edition of Festival of the Trees. Thanks Brenda for giving me the incentive to get this thing started!

Hawthorne... the white & the red

2011-05-15T21:31:00.000+01:00

Well, we have wandered down to South Yorkshire with our caravan as Steve is working near Doncaster. Just outside our window are some gorgeous red hawthorn trees.

I've only ever seen the odd one here & there before, but this is a row of fairly young trees. The hawthorn is related to the rose, and these flowers do look like clusters of mini roses.

Gorgeous aren't they? Quite different from the wild hawthorn that I have usually seen, and i think these are much more 'rose-like' than the red flowers i have seen before.

Across the world there are many varieties but in the UK there is mainly the 'Common Hawthorn' & the 'Midland Hawthorn'.

I have noticed some variations of the white flowers & leaves in some places... especially in hedges or areas that have been re-planted. It is the Midland Hawthorn that has the variety of colours, but they will cross-fertilize & many hybrids occur.

The leaves of the Midland are glossier & not so deeply indented as those of the Common Hawthorn. This is the main difference stated in many online resources, but i have also read that the Midland has a double head to the stamen, whilst the Common has a single one. (Any input gratefully received!)

Morning Silence

2011-05-04T21:13:00.001+01:00

I love this...

"Shhhh.... we are listening to the heartbeat of paradise this morning".

Can you hear it?

I really think you should pop over & read the rest of what Matthew has to say

at Backyard & Beyond

Then, sit a while in silence while you visit

and contemplate the flow of life-giving water

through the veins of the Earth...

Festival Of The Trees~ 59

2011-05-02T01:16:00.005+01:00

In a magical land, long, long ago, trees grew freely with no fear of being harmed. Mystical beings roamed this land, and lived an existence that was peaceful & calm (even the trolls & dragons were pretty well behaved most of the time so long as you left them alone). Trees were respected, their wisdom revered, and all who lived there cared for the land. 'Twas a happy existence in this fairy-tale place, protected from "progress" that raced across earth.

But there came a time, the inhabitants were worried. The balance of nature was going awry, more & more creatures & magical beings, were seeking safe harbour in this mystical place. Refugees from de-forested lands, were pouring in to seek solace. The elders & dryads conferred at length, then sent their kindred back out to the world. Their mission was vital, they must succeed... to infiltrate 'people' to spread the word, that trees were essential to the world's well-being.

sycamore

Some of the nymphs, pixies & elves chose to resemble human beings (our s-elves) to get their message through. I think Jasmine could be one of them as she spreads her Natures Whispers, sharing her wanders in a forest of dreams, and of 'wakeful green'. Valerianna must have fae blood too, for she shows how forests can heal the soul and her paintings of Ravenwood Forest are magical to behold... be sure to scroll down & look in her side-bar for more artistic treats!

Those clever creatures from long, long ago, have so many ways of helping us see & two Rebecca's show us how... Rebecca In The Woods and Rebecca of A Year With Trees. It's not really hard to be inspired by trees when we open our eyes & open our hearts. Dorothee shows us in Virtual Notes, to look in all seasons at how beauty abounds, and Clytie finds a tree wearing its heart on its sleeve! Another who speaks with a dryads voice... is a Greenwhisper of love for magical forests & woodland trails, impossible to leave without feeling at peace. Debby has undertaken a fantastic project (at least for an artist that loves trees!) drawing & discovering the history of an ancient forest.

rowan

Many fairies & gnomes hid in legends and tales... making sure that grains of truth always remain, no matter how often tales may evolve. As stories do, they snuck into our homes & into our minds... adults may need some help to see, but all children know that magic is real! Silvia, whose name is 'of the forest', is one who remembers the magic of childhood, she tells her tale at WindyWillow. On the subject of willow... young Cathy learned how to observe & pay attention with the willow from her grandmother... a skill she learned well as her painting 'Forest Through The Trees' shows.

oak

Fables do tell of good versus bad, carrying the torch of triumph over adversity, a theme that recurs in tales you read here. John compares his life with illness to a tree enduring a lightening strike... and these two curious trees demonstrate just how resilient & enduring they can be when lightening does strike. Gene shows some videos (worth watching all three) of a historic oak that was struck... in this case it was 'people' that got in the way of it's recovery (obviously they need some fairy dust!)
It is always sad to see a tree come down, but that is not necessarily the end... we can learn much from their spirit & tenacity as Barb explains.

rowan

Barry also speaks of the tenacity of trees & asks what we can do to help... perhaps he too has some elven blood, for he creates the most magical leaves (elves) enfolded with words that I know are spreading around the world. Those crafty pixies & co are taking their mission seriously, helping artists to weave subliminal messages into their work in diverse ways. Who could fail to be moved by a Song of Hope like this? And look at her name... Forrister... who can deny that sprites are at work here & now at the Free Spirit studio. This piece, a more abstract design, is inspired by the Tree of Life. Oh that Tree Of Life, as Stella says, 'the tree of all trees'.... inspiring our thoughts and the paths that we take. I reckon that spiralstone's sequence of events contains sprigs of that tree.

ash

Of course, in that forest, long long ago, everyone knew that trees speak to your soul, and magical beings, right here on earth, are spreading the word for others to hear. "She Speaks" says it perfectly, as does "Songs of The Loving Earth", both stories told by Little Drum of The Dreaming Tree, accompanied by the most beautiful photographs. I'm sure you will see the tree spirits as you wander through this sacred space. Laura in her gnome-mound hears them, calling with the rain and she shares a tender blessing watching leaves unfold. Another Laura also feels them call, saying 'let me count the ways'... (laura, from the latin laurus meaning laurel, hardly surprising then that these two who share a name both sense the energy).

The energy of trees is enhanced by the moon, and at Moondreamin' we see moonlight streaming through trees... the words apply equally to moon & tree. It was a full moon that inspired a collaboration of poetic reflections between karyn & steve... the energy was certainly flowing from the first email to the final poem & image.

elm

Sherry is following the progress of the dogwood tree, go see the poems she writes... of the dogwood legend; there's more as the month goes on & finally it flowers. Ash also keeps an eye on how trees progress, and has been known to undertake missions in top-secret places. His photos this month are a joy to behold. A couple of questions I just want to ask... Have you ever seen an alligator tree? (straight out of the magical forest it is!) And do you know your chestnuts? There's more in the comments on that one, fascinating to read. This month I've been photographing the progress of the elm and the sycamore if you want to see.... trees always inspire so many thoughts for me!

May 1st is Beltaine... an ancient festival celebrating the fertility of nature that is so apparent in the northern hemisphere at this time of year... Ambermoggie takes a stroll through the trees & shares her Beltaine Blessings & insights. For Kimberley at Oakmoon Studio, woodlands have inspired her to begin painting & writing again... oh, the healing energy of the trees works in so many directions! There are even trees planted to represent directions... the Compass Sycamores. Trees have inspired some of the greatest literature & Richard Horan set out to collect the seeds that inspired americas literary greats

willow

Now, humans can be.... well, strange.... they don't like to be "told", which is why the inhabitants of forests of old have had to employ these subtle ways to coax & inspire. They even sent a delegation to hide in the words of every nation... the word-sprites are found in language & text, weaving their clues through the words & phrases we use. It's true. Just look at the word "inspiration"... inspire... = spirit, sprite, surely you can't argue with that when you can see how everyone here is inspired? I know they've been reading & are secretly pleased, that so many people are inspired by trees!

Many thanks to everyone who has contributed & taken the time to write such wonderful material. It has been a pleasure to visit every branch of this festival.... may you continue to be inspired, and to be such an inspiration.

did you spot any tree-sprites on your way through?

Elm Seeds

2011-04-28T20:33:00.000+01:00

30th march

And so the flowers die away... and give way to new life. As the flowers fade & seeds grow, the leaf buds also begin to open... three cycles of life easily visible to us at one time. Other life-cycles within the tree are progressing too... twigs & branches stretching... extending... the tree itself adding another ring within its trunk... and don't forget the root system, with it's own cycle of growth & renewal underground.

It is easy to see why the Tree of Life or the Tree of Knowledge is used as a metaphor in spiritual traditions. We are not just growing & learning on one level, but many at any one time... sometimes more obviously & sometimes things are expanding in the background unobtrusively.

3rd april

The colour of the elm seeds... or rather the case that encloses them... is such a vivid bright green, they really stand out from a distance and are one of the earlier flashes of colour visible in early spring in the uk.

9th april

The fruit of the elm... a soft papery sheath containing a single seed, delicate wafer thin discs that are actually surprisingly tough, protecting the precious embryo within.

There is a vibrancy, an ethereal quality to these clusters of seeds that almost seem to glow when seen en masse... an extra dimension that you maybe don't perceive from a photograph. In real life I don't know of a word that describes their particular hue. I know that people perceive colour differently & I always wonder whether others see the same shade as me.

13th april

There was a time when I saw this fresh green growth from a distance, perhaps driving by & marvelled at the early leaves of spring... I didn't realise they were seeds not leaves. I assumed that the leaves just darkened as they matured. You can see the leaves beginning to grow... a different shade of green entirely. It goes to show that nothing can be assumed and what you think you see can be something totally different... take the time to examine & study... be it a thing, a person, a situation & not take things for granted.

these are just seeds... no young leaves on this tree yet.

Of the trees i know, none come close to the brightness of this green, somewhere between lemon acid drops & neon green. As they age their colour turns whiter... more milky green

21st april

Nature's own frisbees that will release themselves from the tree that gave them life (or is it the tree that releases those that it gave life to?) to glide on the breeze, carrying the potential of new life with them. Not many of them actually take root & grow... most new elms spring from suckers from the base of the parent tree. Nature already has various means of procreating, whilst we are still experimenting & worrying about ethics. Perhaps it isn't the means that should cause concern, more the egos & potential for mis-use that raises questions of trust.

24th april

Vast amounts of seeds that will never grow... perhaps like souls that prepare for life but don't actually make it... perhaps like people in our mass of humanity that don't reach the potential we think they should. But who are we to say what that outcome should be? What is 'full potential'? And don't you think that 'full potential' is often a standard set by someone else for us, or that we think someone else should attain?

For every little seed that is scattered, for every idea that doesn't become reality, for every person however much they do or don't develop... they all play their part, they all do what is necessary for them, however much we may think otherwise.
Chances of a tree maturing from seed are increased by the numbers released.... if thousands did not perish on the way, the few that grow would not have the chance to reach "full potential". And do they really perish? They give of themselves so that some of their kind can succeed... they provide sustenance for birds & insects, some take root and provide forage for other creatures... others decompose & give nutrients back to the earth, helping all-sorts to grow. No, they do not perish, they nourish... mission accomplished, they fulfil their role in the cycle of life.

27th april

In the same way, ideas lead to other ideas, until a plan with the strength to mature develops. And what of people? Perhaps some give themselves as sacrificial lambs so that others may thrive. Some may be the cause of inspiration to others, either by their selflessness or by selfishness or misfortune that pushes others to reach beyond what they may have settled for. But this does not mean that we should accept situations or settle for being anything less... on the contrary we should always strive for ourselves & for others, for the world & humanity.... for who knows which of those seeds will be the one that grows into the most wonderful tree?

Sycamore Buds Breaking...

2011-04-24T15:29:00.000+01:00

20th april

21st april

21st april from the other side

22nd april

23rd april

24th april

Amazing how fast it all happens!!

Sycamore Buds

2011-04-22T23:06:00.000+01:00

Way back in february i spied the sycamore buds,

a promising glimpse of green on skeleton limbs of trees...

25th February

hopefully i waited.....

and waited....

no change

at least not on the outside....

still i waited...

7th April

and suddenly in april they began to swell....

the energy that had been building inside broke loose...

10th april

a visible daily change...

14th april

how exciting

just watching the rate of growth increase...

16th april

as if they suddenly got the message

and realised what they were supposed to be doing...

17th april

feeling the impetus,

that once unleashed can not be halted...

19th april

Fragile...

2011-04-20T09:47:00.000+01:00

Spring Browns!

2011-04-17T17:04:00.000+01:00

Brown may not be the first colour we think of to associate with spring but i've spied quite a lot of it around.... in varying hues & combinations....

the glorious cock pheasant on the look out for his harem...

hares a-plenty, madly dashing...

a wheatear, newly migrated for the spring & summer...

and poplar leaves....

not the same variety as in my earlier poplar post but a close cousin...

perfect inspiration for colour palettes...

Elm Flowers

2011-04-17T13:13:00.003+01:00

25th february

It doesn't seem five minutes since i saw the first elm buds breaking open... i was quite shocked to see that it was back in February, and a bit annoyed with myself for not sharing their progress sooner. Tight little balls of red flowers breaking out of almost black buds...

12th march

They soon burst out. Even though the flowers are really quite red, the combination of colours merges together from a distance meaning that unless you are looking, you could be forgiven for not seeing them. But once spotted you wonder how on earth you missed them!

19th march

We often look at people the same way... we see their general appearance... take in the general impression they give without really seeing what is really there. We can pass the time of day with someone without ever discovering the true person. That's not a fault or recrimination... whilst some people wear their heart on their sleeve or display their personality in full like other blossoms, some are more restrained. Like the colours of the elm flowers, the bright threads of personality can seem to be muted and they don't demand attention. But when someone is interested enough to take notice, or when they choose to reveal themselves, their true beauty shines out.

19th march

And how rewarding... to see the inner beauty of a person... or a flower! I love these little flowers... they are so subtle, but the more you look the more fascinating details reveal themselves. Every year when I see them, it is like meeting up with a friend that I know I love & revel in re-discovering why... and as we chat we find out a little bit more about each other that we didn't know before that deepens our connection.

The elm is a 'perfect' flower, that is, it has both male & female parts.... the female 'pistil' that will develop into the fruit & the male stamen that produces the pollen for fertilization. If cross pollination from other trees does not take place, the elm will pollinate itself... mainly with the help of insects, bees & butterflies.

30th march

All too soon the flowers die away, but then a new magic takes place as the green fruit bearing the seeds begins to grow.

Firsts...

2011-04-01T10:33:00.000+01:00

First green leaves on the Hawthorn...

in the first light of the morning sun...

(and hopefully the last of the frosts!)

And for the first time, I'm hosting the May edition of The Festival Of The Trees & I'd love to include something posted by YOU, dear friends! You may have seen the link before as I've often included it in my posts, but if you haven't followed it before, I'll tell you that it leads to a monthly collection of posts about... da-daaa... TREES (as if you hadn't guessed!)

14th march

So... I'd love it if you posted something during the month of April that shows how trees whisper to your soul... or your heart or your mind... I love the factual as well as the spiritual & less tangible...

Go on... share how trees inspire you... whether it be artistic or poetic, photographic or scientific... or something we might not know.... whether it's about how they grow or heal the sick.... taken from ancient lore or something quite futuristic....share something about trees that makes you tick!

Then just email <suziscribbles [at] yahoo.co.uk> by the end of April with a link to your post.... and if you stumble across something that you think might be good to include, i'd appreciate it if you let me know.

angel's breath

2011-03-31T21:07:00.000+01:00

is it just the breath of angels

that keeps the sun up in the sky?

Poplar Catkins

2011-03-27T13:02:00.000+01:00

what promise do these buds hold?

1st march

I think they are a grey poplar... which is a hybrid of the white poplar & aspen, or perhaps they are white poplar, but i'm still a bit unsure in my identification. If any one can help confirm, or give specific differences between white & grey poplars, i'd be grateful! From everything I've read they seem very similar.

Little grey catkins beginning to emerge... at this stage they remind me of the pussy willow that is also out at the moment. It seems that the poplars are actually part of the willow family.

While I was looking & taking pictures, 'bits' of something started falling around me... no, it wasn't starting to rain... catkins were raining down though, some whole ones & some small pieces...

There was no wind at all, & as they were only just starting to flower it was too soon for them to fall of their own accord. I scanned the branches above me & soon spotted the culprits...

Blue-tits were pecking away scattering catkins all over the place. They cheerfully ignored my presence & entertained me for quite a while with their acrobatics, spiralling around branches & hanging upside down to seek their prey!

The bark is quite grey and has some beautiful patterns of algae on it.... and the lower part of the trunk has loads of diamond shaped fissures... a gorgeous texture!

14th march

In a couple of weeks, the catkins have elongated... you can see the individual flowers that make up each catkin. On both white & grey poplars, the male flowers are red. The trees are dioecious, which means they have either male or female flowers on a single tree, not both.

All the trees in this group seem to be male... apparently this is not uncommon, female trees are much thinner on the ground and have green-ish yellow catkins.

Come & play...

2011-03-19T10:06:00.001Z

... there's a little give-away & news of photo-quotes
& collage material over at Suzi's Scribbles!!

She smiles... and I feel her light fill my soul

8 x 10 inches print

A Blanket of Comfort for Japan

2011-03-15T11:10:00.001Z

May we join together in our thoughts... sending healing, love & calm across the ethers...

May those threads of energy twist together, forming ever stronger strands... weaving together with the thoughts of others across the world and beyond...

forming a healing blanket... infused with love & calm & hope...

Let us spread that blanket over japan & the ocean where the effects of the earthquake are felt....

A blanket of comfort & calm... gently soothing the Earth... absorbing the anguish & pain... gently transmuting them into loving, peaceful energy... a blanket of calm gently soothing & settling the tremors... feel the earth's heart beating steadily once more... calmed by the blanket of love...

A blanket of comfort & calm... gently settling the ocean... absorbing the anger & fear... transmuting them into loving peaceful energy... quelling the tidal reactions.... feel the ocean breathing easy once more, soothed by the blanket of love...

A blanket of comfort & calm.... settling over the nuclear reactors.... gathering in the radiation... absorbing it into the strands.... gently soothing & transmuting.... settling unstable energy... converting it to loving, positive energy.... feel that power reigning in... calmed under a blanket of love...

A blanket of comfort & calm... surrounding the people... absorbing their shock & grief, their fears & uncertainties.... comforting & healing... scattered emotions & physical pain... all being absorbed... and transmuted through the strands of our blanket... into loving positive energy... see them renewed with love & hope & strength... comforted under a blanket of love...

See the blanket growing.... boosted by every thought... every energy transference... see it extending out around the world... tucking it in around everyone affected... around creatures of land & sea & air... a blanket that never wears thin... a blanket that renews & heals & grows...

settling itself over the world.... calming & loving... comforting & healing... people in every walk of life... gently reassuring & encouraging... helping more & more people to breathe easy & feel their connection....

...& feel free to share this...

Alder... Catkins, Cycles & Continuity

2011-03-12T22:53:00.000Z

The alder, like the hazel produce male catkin flowers... very similar at first glance, but last years female flowers that have developed into cones give the game away. The catkins began growing last summer and over winter they paused, tightly closed as they waited for spring....

And they are so worth the wait.... this, i think is one of my favourite photos... in good old morning sunlight again. They have a reddish tinge to them and they are bursting out all over the alder trees right now. They are at so many different stages across a single tree, spreading the fertile season for a couple of months.

A beautiful mass of catkins dancing & shaking their fertility dance... young lads strutting their stuff in front of the ladies... both last years cones & the tender new buds of femininity share the same branches as the cycle of new life continually revolves... the spiral of flowers down the catkins & the ridges of the cones echoing the continuity of all life...

See those younger sisters... small red cone like flowers. I always feel that the alder is a representative of balance & continuity... symbolic of god and goddess in harmony, male and female visible all year round at various stages of their cycle. Right now there are two generations of the female flower.... later the mature female cones will drop & next generation of male flowers will begin to grow before the last of their brothers have fallen, whilst the fertilised females will continue to swell & develop... a continual cycle of new life & re-generation....

Seeds have already been fluttering from the cones and will do so til long after the last cone has dropped... the seeds will be carried by wind and water, the alder being well suited to watery and marshy landscapes. The wood is very durable in water, but less so out of it... much of Venice stands on posts made of alder, but an alder fence on dry land won't last at all. It's leaves however decompose quickly in rivers to provide valuable nutrients...

I particularly love this picture too... capturing the smouldering fire energy that is associated with alder... yes fire, for it's ability to fix nitrogen from the water in which it thrives and breath life into poor quality soil... passing on it's essence of continual life in earth wherever it grows... an alchemical fusion of all the elements blessing the land for those that come after it... a tree of life indeed.

This photo is from this week last year... our harsh winter has slowed things down a touch, but the catkins will rapidly lengthen and the leaf buds will soon catch up! I sat nestled into the base of one of these inspiring trees the other day and asked if it had any message for me... the answer? "just look around..." I smiled... and didn't have to look far. One of my first posts was about sitting under an alder and i remember it so clearly... mmm a truly special tree.

The Festival of Trees for april will be about Celebrations & Festivals.... why not head over & offer a contribution?

"This month we invite you to share the news about tree festivals, Arbor Day tree plantings, and other celebrations of trees and forests. Tree-lighting ceremonies, chain-saw competitions, logging shows, wood crafts, tree-planting events, and giddy woodland frolics are all welcome for a complimentary booth at the Festival of the Trees 58."

The Machine

2011-03-11T21:13:00.000Z

in that hour of nearly waking

he dreamed...

of peaceful days not ripped by noise

metallic joints fatigued & shrieking

of gentle days not jarred by sound

pulverising rocks to dust

in that hour of not quite sleeping

he sensed...

celestial mystery at his side

reflected heavens in silent waters

harmony for one still moment

last breath of night before the day

See skies from around the world at Skywatch Friday

& reflections of all kinds at Weekend Reflections

(*thank you* Sue for whispering the inspiration in your comment elsewhere)

Thanks... & Hope Rocks

2011-03-08T10:56:00.001Z

My thanks go to the spirit that moves me for this lovely blog award... the feeling is mutual for the spirit that moves me is also one lovely blog!

I usually put off responding to these until I "have time" to decide who to pass the award onto... of course I think much then don't do! So this time I'm making a mention straight away... and would also like to thank faerwillow over at serendipity and rose at Gryphons & Gargoyles who have passed the same thing my way before. Thank you ladies!! If you don't know them, why not pop over & say hi.

The idea of the award is to pass it onto new or newly discovered blogs & spread the bloggy love around. This is where i get stuck... where do i start & where do i stop... and another hour has gone by as i skip around & read 'just a little bit more'....

So for now, I'm just going to link to one post at Woodstock Lily ...Hope Rocks from Lille Diane. When you've read it, jump back to the top of her blog to discover more about this lovely lady & why not join in with your own 'Hope Rocks'.

I like the idea of secretly spreading a bit of sunshine into the lives of someone unknown.... words on pebbles, notes slipped into books... left in the street, in a shop... anywhere that they will be found... there are countless ways... let your imagination run wild & spread some rainbows into someones heart!

And speaking of rainbows... here is another lady on the rainbow trail of discovery & recovery...

Paula at Vers l'arc en ciel... (there's a little 'gratitude' rock in this post of hers)

Moon Treasures

2011-03-07T11:54:00.000Z

As we move around so much, it is not always easy for me to find work straight away, (at least not the paying kind), and so I have decided to put some serious effort into making something from what I do. My calligraphy has been on the back-burner for a while, and plans are underfoot to revamp how I approach that. But as I am nearly always camera in hand these days, this seemed the easiest place to start, and so I recently opened a little shop on etsy...

Lone Crow Photo

I underestimated the amount of time I take to edit pictures and create descriptions, but progress has been steady and will become easier as time goes on. There is still much to add, but some of my photo's have attracted attention already.

This one is in a treasury called "red as a rose... black as the moon"

If you don't know about etsy treasuries... they are collections of items that someone puts together along a theme of their choosing. It's quite a good way of browsing shops, when someone else has done the work of bringing things together for you!

Next came "Moonstruck".... some lovely artwork in this treasury. So far, I've concentrated on my moon photographs in the shop and it's rewarding to have other people choose them for treasuries and direct people towards my shop already.

This morning brought news of another treasury inclusion... "New Moon". That's three in a week... I feel honoured and thankful. I'm awaiting that first sale, but I've been preparing the ground & sowing the seeds over new moon... I've offered up my prayers... so now I wait and continue the work on various ideas to add to my shop.

Why Lone Crow? Well, the name came a few years ago... I was wandering the woods near an old quarry in Derbyshire where we were staying... a crescent moon was low in the sky and I'd been musing on druids & things shamanistic... a crow cawed above me & seemed to say 'lone crow'... a lone crow appeared regularly over the next couple of weeks shouting the same thing. When I started planning my shop a crow appeared again shouting 'Lone Crow'... it seemed appropriate to use that name now & so Lone Crow Photo was born.

Days of Pencil Sketchiness

2011-02-26T21:16:00.000Z

the year pauses and takes a breath

days of pencil sketchiness

with a misty wash

spikes of last years hedge trimmings

brutally exposed

weep tears of dismal drizzle

silence

wrapped in fog

protected

cloud whispers to earth

in muted undertones

longstanding companions exchanging news

aware of each others rituals

grey days

a breather before the rush of spring

Lambs Tails...

2011-02-24T22:54:00.000Z

... or hazel catkins, if you prefer! As a child I always looked out for 'lambs-tails' and hoped to be the first to spot them... what type of tree was irrelevant then. We may have a way to go before Spring arrives, but catkins dancing on the breeze are such a refreshing sight at this time of year... flashes of yellow in an often bleak or dreary time of year in England...

These are the male flowers of the hazel, usually the first tree flowers to burst out with colour.

I was lucky enough to catch them on a sunny morning, which is rare at the moment.

I'd hoped to catch them before they burst out & see the first ones,

but they have progressed at a great rate in the couple of weeks we were away.

The baby catkins have been on the trees since last year...

toughened up for winter & waiting 'til the time was right,

each one like a little chrysalis.

There are plenty more still to open....

there is a wide variety of stages to be seen on one tree,

from new buds to old husks that held last years hazelnuts...

I can't resist them...

like bunches of golden caterpillars,

basking in sunlight on their way to becoming butterflies...

The stamens of the male flowers are starting to unfurl outwards,

and soon will be releasing clouds of pollen...

Look a little closer...

see that little red tuft emerging from it's own special bud?

These are the female flowers... pollinated by the wind.

Successful fertilisation only occurs from other trees,

a single tree cannot pollinate itself.

Gorgeous aren't they? And so easy to overlook.

From these will grow the fruit... the hazelnuts.

I look forward to seeing them grow.

The March edition of The Festival of Trees will be hosted by

Rebecca in the Woods

so if you have a tree-related post of any kind

why not send her your link to include in this wonderful monthly tree-fest?

Grey Days

2011-02-19T18:31:00.001Z

Grey days with heavy skies have been predominant of late... some bright ones here n there, but the exception rather than the rule. The type of days that people tend to complain about... moaning about dull & dreary dampness. But I must confess... i like grey days.

Not just for striking silhouettes of last years seed heads... just as beautiful in their dried out state as with their summer green... perhaps more dignified somehow... simple shapes and yes, dull colours that blend into the background on brighter days.... but these stark shapes against the grey take my breath away...

These are in-betweeny days as the year hangs between winter & spring, just holding it's breath, pausing, before the frenetic growth yet to come... grey days have an ethereal beauty that whispers to the senses, rather than shouting for attention...

Days of pencil sketchiness preparing for the full colour paintings of seasons to come. I've always loved a palette of watery greys & pencil or charcoal sketches and love the nuance & texture of pencil lettering. There are probably more shades of grey than any other colour... to explore, to revel in...

Damp & drizzly grey days... when clouds & earth sit close in tender conversation... sky, kissing the trees & curling my hair... I feel cocooned & protected, walking between worlds somehow, comfortable with a foot on either side... mmmm, i like grey days....

ps.... essex didn't work out. we are back in yorkshire... steve managed to get another job within half an hour of jacking the london job!

New Horizons...

2011-01-26T21:07:00.000Z

On Friday we venture south towards the big city... London bound are we, as Steve starts working on the "2012 Olympic Village". We've resisted attempts to send us that way for a long time... more people, busier roads... we're just not city folk. So we've both had more than the usual pre-headingoffinto the unknown nerves. But, the project he was due to start on has been delayed until after Easter and work is work! I wonder what my new horizon will be like next week?

Finding a suitable caravan site has been a problem... there are fewer options, often extortionately (in my opinion) priced, & i've experienced attitudes I've not had to deal with before. We travel with a caravan & a little trailer... which is our garden shed, aswell as housing motorcycle & where the dog sleeps. Apparently this makes us, I quote, "pikeys" (gypsys) and "we have to think of our other caravanners". I know some elements of the Gypsy/Travelling community do cause problems and some of them don't help their own cause, but it's the first time I've encountered such blatant hostility based on what I might or might not be. I suppose I'm lucky compared to many who are subject to various prejudices on a regular basis. Some sites haven't wanted us before, but they haven't been nasty. The tin lid on it all was when he asked what I do... I said I'd look for a job, & thinking he was actually interested I told him I walk, write, paint, read blah blah... the result? "Well, I'll definitely have to say no then"!!! His loss! We have got somewhere though.... just north of the Dartford tunnel if that means anything to anyone!

The pictures are all of recent sun-rises.... even though most days lately have been a bit insipid, cloudy, drizzly affairs... I love them all in their own way & I guess I will soon find the charms of the place we are going to. I think being a country girl I have mis-conceptions about "london"... i've visited a couple of times & it's been fine so i'm sure all will be well when we get there ... yesterdays nerves have given way to anticipation & I'm intrigued to see what happens & where we will be... new horizons are around the corner, I wonder what they'll bring?

Silence...

2011-01-23T22:40:00.000Z

... is golden, they say, and I certainly have been silent in the bloggy world of late. But, there are only so many things a girl can give her time to, and with other distractions I just haven't had the compulsion to write. That isn't strictly true... there is so much I want to write but words haven't flowed when I've had the time & haven't had the opportunity to be here when they do! Ah, such is life sometimes!

A secret place, at the end of the valley where we stayed in Lanarkshire, Scotland...

a place to hold your breath as you enter the silence...

with reverence...

like walking into a cathedral and gazing in wonder at the architecture.

Indeed it is a holy place,

with lofty spires leading your eye

& lifting your heart...

I've re-visited this place many times in my heart since we left... it seems so quiet at first, but as I sit amongst the tree roots, tucked under the branches sounds emerge... the chatter & twittering of tiny birds, hidden from view... the laughter of the brook a way behind me... the whisper air through the needles.... sounds of trees breathing and moving... Depending where I shift my focus any of these can seem either so loud or barely imperceptible... the song of the forest...

the song of the forest entangles me,

a refrain that entices and draws me in,

whispered lessons filtering through...

the wisdom of ages in each flake of snow

I've not been able to comment on some blogs for a while, so though I have visited & read your words, I've been silent on that score too (as well as not being able to view blogger stats or access the template designer!) The stats have re-appeared, but I still can't comment on those that have comments embedded below the post, pop-up window comments seem to be ok. There are still a few fixes to try, but I've not had the heart to spend time on removing/replacing stuff to see what works(or not) yet. So, if you haven't heard from me, rest assured I do think of you & send my love. Sometimes by the time i've tinkered with a few more things, i can't be bothered to say anything.... sorry... techie stuff is a chore to me.

In some ways it feels like the universe is conspiring to keep me silent.... but like the forest, there is much going on... just tuning in to different things... my fingers are starting to itch though!

Winter Solstice

2010-12-26T18:45:00.000Z

december 21st... winter solstice...

it began with earth moving between sun & moon...

all in alignment...

a time to think about how we are aligned within ourselves...

to evaluate our shadows...

to glow in the light of our own worth...

i was working, so couldn't photograph the sunrise

but the setting solstice sun was a sight to behold...

infusing a golden warmth

over frosted fields...

a totally different vista in the opposite direction...

of palest pink & blue & violet...

a surreal pearlescent glow...

what do the solstice skies speak of to you

as the days now begin to lengthen in the northern hemisphere?

can we successfully integrate these vastly different aspects...

of personality... of culture... of humanity...?

the evening solstice moon...

full... potent...

regenerated from the shadow of eclipse...

rising in phoenix colours...

whispering her message to those who will listen...

Return From the Wilderness

2010-12-10T21:21:00.000Z

Well... where do I start? For the last few weeks I've been in an internet black hole... at least on my mobile network. We've been staying close to Leadhills, the second highest village in Scotland... in a valley with rushing stream, wild heather moorland and a fir plantation at one end...

It snowed the night we arrived which added a touch of sparkle to the hills as the sun smiled. In the days to come we would see the clouds roll over these hills, engulfing each one in turn. We couldn't tell what type of weather was coming until it hit us... lashing rain, drizzle, mist and then more snow all made their way over into the valley bottom, clouds either creeping or surging in fascinating patterns...

At the opposite end of the valley, to the west, was the forest that often had trails of mist weaving through it...

Elsewhere it was tree-less, apart from an occasional stunted little beauty bravely making a statement... Some would say the landscape was bleak.... but I thought of it as Mother Earth with no make-up on. A wild, rugged beauty that I could appreciate as I wandered...

It felt an honour to be there, to connect with Earth & Sky. Somehow it feels like I have entered a new cycle of my life... everything that has gone before is stripped away, only the most resilient... necessary... parts of me remain to make the next phase of my journey. Like this landscape that may seem barren, the things that grow deserve to be there and are capable of surviving no matter what the conditions...

Light & shadow painted ever-changing patterns and the stream offered a constant musical accompaniment. A rhythm that sang to my heart and an energy that I could feel with every breath...

And so, we're back in North Yorkshire for a few weeks, or maybe more, with tales to tell & thoughts to share. I'll write more as time goes on. 'Tis good to be back, though I have enjoyed the isolation of the last couple of months.

Little Acorns...

2010-10-26T16:31:00.001+01:00

18th july

Back in July acorns began to form,

soft rosettes curious to see the world...

24th july

by the end of the month, cups were toughening up

& the promise of acorns could be seen...

8th august

rapid growth in August...

27th august

baby acorns no more...

most definitely aware that they are the seed of mighty oaks!

7th october

and so the leaves turn...

and acorns fall to earth...

20th october

back to earth... a return... re-turn...

to begin a new cycle...

those that are not eaten will be gradually covered by earth...

they'll gradually put forth roots and begin to grow...

Mighty oaks from little acorns grow...

The next Festival of Trees is to be hosted by Arati at

Trees, Plants & More

If you have a post on any tree related subject, just

pop over here for submission details

Calligraphy Exhibition at Ripon Cathedral

2010-10-20T07:43:00.000+01:00

North Yorkshire Calligraphers are holding an exhibition in Ripon Cathedral in North Yorkshire, UK. It runs until 31st October... so if you are nearby or can make the trip you have time to catch it. Going by the standard of previous exhibitions it will be well worth seeing.... the Cathedral is a stunning setting & Ripon is a lovely little town to wander with plenty of places of interest in the vicinity.

This was the group I started off with way back... err, a few(?!) years ago (1992 ish). Some of those people are still involved and some are calligraphers I have taught... the group is thriving and talented.... and I really wish them well with this exhibition x

Red Moon, Silver Moon

2010-10-18T13:02:00.000+01:00

Just in case you had any doubts

that i am inspired by the moon

a couple more canvasses are over here

and if you didn't know

i seek out her shining glance

over here

A Magical Place

2010-10-13T15:38:00.000+01:00

Behind me, to the south, a magical cobweb pathway & ash trees...

beside me, to the west, a mystical glade of birch & oak,

leading to woodland with ancient trees,

where all kinds of birds & creatures wander...

in front of me, to the north, rolling fields and meandering river...

to the east, pine trees, marshy ponds and a view of the sea

with waves breaking just beyond the estuary....

Low cloud with a persistent misty dampness has been the pattern, which has not allowed a glimpse of the new moon & merest glimpse of sun... but i am deliriously happy. There is a contagious joy to this place and I bask in the kiss of the clouds embracing the the forest. Surrounded by birdsong, the call of crow & buzzard, heron, gull & goose passing overhead... it is peaceful... thankfulness exudes in every direction, above & below... and from me.

Travelling North...

2010-10-07T16:03:00.000+01:00

... to Dundee in Scotland. Well, we actually came up from North Yorkshire on Tuesday... it was a lovely day & our route (about 5 1/2 hours) took in the coastline of the North East. We spotted Lindisfarne, or Holy Island as it is known, then crossed the Forth Road Bridge (spectacular), then over the Tay Road Bridge (beautiful view) which brought us into Dundee. No photos as we were pressing on to find our caravan site & get things set up.

Steve is working up here for a while.... don't know whether it's for 2 weeks, 2 months or 2 years.... but that is part of the adventure! We quit the house in favour of a caravan 4 years ago now, but have been in one place for almost 2 years, so it's quite exciting to be on the move again. We never get much notice about such moves, so had quite a rush packing & trashing "stuff" that we have accumulated.

early morning sunlight

The day before we left a buzzard circled overhead... the first one I'd seen where we were. I'd always hoped to see one, but they don't have much of a presence in the area... then just after we crossed the border (passport & phrasebook in hand, lol) there were two buzzards flying beside the road; i could hear their distinctive cry and felt that it was a good omen.

I always get a buzz in my stomach around the Scottish Borders... a sense of connection. It's an area that calls to me. Perhaps it's ancestral memories, as both my maternal grandparents and their lineage are from the area... scattered along both sides of the border. Yeddie Jackson is an ancestor, notorious along the borders in his day. This is what my mum found about him....

Yeddie Jackson

The Hunter King

To mention the name of Yeddie Jackson, is to awaken the memory of many a borderer whose hearts were young forty or fifty years ago. He had a threefold capacity as shepherd, host and king. As a shepherd he was known and respected at all the sheep and lamb fairs from Stagshawbank to Lockerbie. Then a host or gudeman of the shepherds shieling, at the Dead Water Well’ where many an invalid found a home and wholesome faring, his memory endures with gratitude in the domestic annals of a thousand homes. His was the only house where lodgings could be had at the time when the Dead Water Well was a resort of invalids, of tourists and of anglers. It is however, as the Hunter King, that Yeddie’s fame is widest spread. Poets have embalmed him in song, and artists have preserved his likeness as the Hunter King. In that capacity, he acted as monarch of all he surveyed. He and his fellow sportsmen followed the fox whereever it was to be found. The sublime and silent vale of Keilder, the gathering ground of North Tyne, the moorland and the marsh of Dead Water, the links and fells of Liddlehead, were each and all, the hunting-ground of Yeddie. His sporting excursions sometimes extended, on the west edge of the Solway, and as far south as the Humber. He kept foxhounds and terriers ready for the field, and the shepherds and the farmers that he summoned to the meet also brought their dogs along with them, so that when they were gathered, horsemen and foots men, hounds and terriers, a motley field they made. James Davidson of Hindlee, the Dandy dinmont of Sir Walter Scott was seldom awanting when Yeddie gave the call. Davidson carried his Dandies in wallets on the pony’s back along with him, but as my informant told me, ‘they were good for naught but howking’. Robson of Keilder Rig was another of Yeddie’s most choicest men, and so was Tom Potts of Burnmouth. The Duke of Northumberland might be almost considered one of the staff, and Lord John Scott was another. In fact men of all ranks, on both sides of the Border, were visitors at the homely fireside of Fairloans. An eyewitness of a lay-on on Thorlieside Fell, says that, ‘when the terriers were purring in the fox den, and the hounds in full music for the outcome of Reynard, Auld Yeddie clapped his hands and shouted ‘glorious, glorious’. His enthusiasm was exuberant and tended to inspire all round. A whole volume might be written about him, and yet he would be no truer hit off than the description given of him by James Telfer, the poetic schoolmaster of Saughtree, and here it is :-

THE HUNTER KING

( Tune -‘ Bonnie Dundee’)

Brave King of the Huntsmen, we’ll sing of thy glory

Old cock of the Border, our praise is thy due;

Thy years may be many, thy locks may be hoary,

But young is the heart that is honest and true.

O still cans’t thou rise, though the weather’s not charming’

Though white are the mountains, and hie thee away;

False Reynard soon hears the halloo so alarming,

That rings the death knell while his dawning is gray.

O where is the Huntsman, in Tyne, or in Teviot,

In England, or Scotland, that’s equal to thee?

Thy fame loudly rings from the Solway to the Cheviot,

Through all the wide border by muirland and lea.

Thy feats are well known on the wastes of the Humber,

Thy shouts have been heard on the banks of the Tweed;

But where is the Tod that can hear them and slumber,

The shouts of the Huntsmen of Liddesdale head?

Long life of thee Yeddie, and fame be attendin’t;

The joys of the chase do thou never forget;

Thou prince of good fellows, thou soul independent

Thou hearty old hero success to the yet.

O long on the mountains where blooms the brown heather,

By rock, seaur, or fountain or dark lonely glen,

May’st thou sally forth all regardless of weather

And capture the fugitive fox in his den.

And long may the shepherds who live on the Border

Rejoice as they meet you when brightens the sky,

To join the halloo and merry disorder,

When the scenting warm and the hounds are in cry.

Come fill up a bumper, we’ll pledge thee in glory,

The links of green Liddel in echo shall ring,

Thy years may be many, thy lock may be hoary,

O young is thy heart yet,our brave Hunter King.

(James Telfer)

Although Yeddie retired from the herding and hunting when he had attained the age of four score still his ruling passion reigned supreme until the end of his days. When he left Fairloans he went to Redmoss, near Newcastleton, and stayed with his son John; and there was visited by sportsmen and gentry who had known him in his palmy days, and by others who had heard of his fame. Helen, his worthy wife died at the age of 91, on the 28^th December 1849, and old Adam himself expired on the 28^th of January 1857 Aged 94 years. The worthy old couple of whom many a story is told, now lie side by side in Castleton Kirkyard. They have left a numerous race behind them to cherish their memory and perpetuate their honoured name. The gude wife rather objected to Yeddie’s portrait being painted, in case people would laugh at him. In the picture of him at Keilder Rig he is lively looking with low crowned hat and blue coat, and is seated on a crag with foxhound and terrier both in leash eager for the fray. The likeness is a most correct one, and is visited by tourists from far and near.

an upside down rainbow arc-ed above me before we left...

Going a bit further back down my grandmothers side is gypsy blood... perhaps that goes some way as to why I so enjoy this lifestyle. I have no inclination to settle under bricks & mortar at this time. With Scots & Romany down one side, Irish & Norse the other, I'm quite a mongrel really! I've also just discovered that a great-uncle married an Aborigine girl... so although there is no blood-tie, somewhere I have distant cousins in Australia.... fascinating eh?

a magical, glittering smile!

We'll be moving sites at the weekend, as this one is pants & a total rip-off.... not a good attitude from the owner. So I'm visualising rainbows filling the place before we move on again. I'm looking forward to exploring the area though, once we get somewhere else sorted out... and also some blog time too, which has been distinctly lacking lately!

Wishing you all rainbows in your life.... suzi xx

Where did August go?

2010-09-10T23:20:00.000+01:00

Nearly 2 weeks into September already!! I'm sure time is speeding up.... and no, i'm not accepting that it's just an age thing, lol. But... I do have a theory on this... I reckon time moves in a spiral and we are moving closer to the centre. As we, and time, get further in we spiral faster. Perhaps when we get to the centre, the spiral will start to spring out again & time will gradually move slower?! Anyway, that was not what I was going to write about.

I didn't do a deep & meaningful new moon 'meet me at the water' ritual... though I was thinking about it all day... just a gentle connection, thinking about 'flow'. I never got a post written for the Festival of Trees, though I thought about it, and will no doubt post my pics & thoughts anyway sometime soon. I haven't done any of the projects set by Caterina in her Transfer Love course... but i have watched 2 of the videos... she gives soooo much information, which i have absorbed & will try... I heartily recommend this course to anyone remotely interested in learning about or improving transfer techniques.

But... I have been working furiously on several other projects simultaneously... a couple more canvasses, reworkings of this & this... backgrounds & lettering to make up some collage packs for crafters, and, inspired by Cat's course, lettering suitable for using in transfers. These are taking a fair chunk of time, scanning & testing & re-working etc, but should have some available for willing volunteers to trial before I launch them... do you know anyone??!!

On the photography front I've been doing a lot of moondreamin' and have been working on an idea to present some of my images for sale... these i will definitely show you soon, now that I think I've figured a way to varnish over them that I'm happy with for what I want to do... I will seek your opinion soon!

I've also felt the need to re-connect with a few people here & there... I do tend to veer between feeling pretty sociable to withdrawing into my own little world where i exist quite happily on my own... it's that old chestnut about balance... and time... and i do agree with the theory that time expands to fit what you have to do... i seem to have put in more hours everywhere in less time somehow. That time spiral I was on about seems to bounce up & down I reckon, stretching & contracting as necessary... cos when i have 'nothing' to do I still don't have 'spare' time, if you know what I mean... boredom is not a feeling I am familiar with, nor do I want to be!

I am thankful for the ideas & inspiration and the opportunities that flow... may you also be inspired & be blessed with opportunities... love suzi x

Peace, Joy, Give...

2010-09-05T14:59:00.002+01:00

Three little words.... run them around in your mind... over and over....

peace... joy... give....

The joy of breathing, creating... friendship,

peace... joy... give....

keep running them around, circling in your mind

joy... give... peace....

imagine you are holding them in your hands...

peace of mind... peace in your heart... peace in the world...

joy... give... peace....

let them form a circle,

a continuous blessing...

give... peace... joy...

flowing out to the world from your hands...

give a blessing... give love... give friendship...

give... peace... joy...

does your heart swell with joy as you give out peace?

peace... joy... give....

does it bring you peace to give out joy?

joy... give... peace....

can you feel them them circling through your body?

can you feel the energy emanating out to the world?

I could certainly feel the energy in this little bowl
when I held it in my hands...

a gift I am honoured to receive from Barry, of Rust n Stuff
I urge you to go & see the 'stuff' that he does with metal!

"I wanted to do a trifold because of the spiritual significance
that is often connected to the number 3 and the triangle; "

This is what Barry wrote in this post... I did not know then,
that I would shortly be holding it in my hands...
neither did he know that I had thought 'mmm,
a three-fold one would be nice'!
B... it is so much more than nice.... thankyou x

A Copper Sun...

2010-09-05T14:55:00.000+01:00

I've just finished a couple of canvasses with calligraphy, which you can see here if you like!

Of Giveaways....

2010-08-12T13:24:00.001+01:00

I love the effect of transfers & Cat at La Dolce Vita is an expert.

art & photo: caterina giglio

She is offering a free place on her transfer techniques course, so if you are interested why not

pop over there & leave a comment, but hurry, it closes on Sunday 15th!

art & photo: caterina giglio

On second thoughts, don't go, because I will have less chance of winning...

only kidding, I've already won a gorgeous painting lately that I'm feeling very pleased about...

art & photo: patricia ariel

Isn't it gorgeous? This is entitled 'Waterlily' by Patricia Ariel that I won in her Solstice giveaway... I just love her work, and you can see more over at mesmerized by the sirens...

I am so grateful to have this piece in my home, thankyou patti!

Meet Me At The Water's Edge...

2010-08-08T16:52:00.000+01:00

Meet me at the water's edge

and dance to an ancient rhythm

feel the beat of forgotten song

re-discover what time has hidden

ocean dancing, ocean dreaming

with the gentle tidal rhythm

feel the healing waters flow

a soothing song to help us grow

call on water's energy

the power to nourish, nurture & heal

endless potency

ride the tides of ancient truths

meet me at the water's edge

ocean dances, ocean dreams

meet me at the waters edge

and dance to an ancient song

heed the urge to come ocean dancing

will you be carried on an ocean dream

wherever it may lead?

I was already working on this canvas when I discovered Moon Daughter writing about a New Moon healing ritual, started by The Divining Women... they call it 'Meet us at the water'.

Well, the words 'meet me at the water's edge' just kept creeping in to my mind, so i laid that first phrase down on the canvas I had ready to go & words i had already jotted down followed on naturally. The second part begins with the central spiral & the words just flowed as I wrote... the design took care of itself as I went. One of those "Awen" moments of Divine Inspiration.

New Moon is approaching.... at 04:08, Tuesday 10th August in the UK... so why not why not come to the waters edge & add your thoughts to the stream of energy that is flowing. It doesn't have to be at the exact time of the new moon... the New Moon energies are strong for a day or two either side, so just pick a time that feels right for you. And you only have to visualise being beside the water to be there in spirit... a bowl of water, a photograph or taking a bath can help aid connection. See you there ; )

Dawn...

2010-08-08T12:43:00.000+01:00

...just in case you're not up at this time of morning ; )

This was Thursday morning...

a beautiful golden dawn...

a lone crow in a tree, which is relevant for me...

and if you click to enlarge, you can just see swallows wheeling in the sky...

and this was friday at sunrise...

i felt a sense of excitement as i greeted the day...
a sense of something to come...

I don't know what, but it seems that energies are moving in exciting ways for me... I can feel it. Things have not been stagnant, but I have been meandering for quite a while, as if preparing for something... now it is like i can smell the ocean not far ahead of me and anticipation is building.

This dawn seems to herald more than a new day... not just on a personal level... it seems much bigger, and I visualise golden rays of dawn light touching all of humanity... bringing light to souls caught in darkness... to awaken & heal... to brighten the path of those just finding their way... to guide & reveal... to warm all our hearts, to nourish & re-vitalise...

Wherever you are, may you have sunshine in your heart!

An Amber Moon...

2010-07-23T13:36:00.000+01:00

.... for ambermoggie. Her patch of sky has been covered with cloud all month, so how could I resist posting this... hope this compensates a little, amber! (oh... take a peek here for a few more of this months moon photos!)

For so many of us the Moon is much more than a pretty bright object in the sky. We seek her out & miss her when she is not there... we honour her rhythms that affect us so... and seek her help in understanding ourselves. Watching her cycles is a clue to the changing rhythms of our moods, creativity & energy that pulse with the music of our Universe. If you haven't taken notice before, try noting the phase of the moon when different energy levels hit you... see if there is a pattern there. Being able to recognise the fluctuations, and being aware of when & how they affect you can make such a difference.

I no longer worry when I don't feel like creating artwork when the moon reaches its last quarter... i tend to ponder & write more intuitively at dark moon... and as the moon waxes past the first quarter, from half to full, ideas come thick & fast... if i'm going to be 'upsettable' its likely to be at new moon. Not always, & we are all different, but a little understanding goes a long way!

This site is great for checking moonrise & moonset times....

& skywatch friday has great skies from around the world.

Etsy Virgin ; )

2010-07-04T17:11:00.000+01:00

Well, I decided to give an etsy shop a go the other day. I put a couple of canvasses up but managed to "lose" one of them... i guess i never pressed the final 'save' button. Thought "bugger it, I'll try again tomorrow". So looked again yesterday & found a message to say my lonely little canvas was included in an etsy treasury. You might like to take a peek at 'For the love of chocolate' Ooh, amazement... I'd only been there a few hours!

It doesn't stop there though. First thing this morning I had a mail to say it was sold!! Shock... excitement... what do i do now... I mean, I hadn't even finished writing my shop announcement & stuff (well, barely started actually), so had to have a quick exercise in finding my way around the 'convos' & find out how to do what next! Must admit I'm pleased as punch, especially after having a couple of rejections from shops I've approached in the last couple of weeks.

I've posted a few "chocolate" canvasses over at suzi's scribbles lately. Guess I'll have to get cracking with putting more into my etsy shop of the same name. Hopefully it's a good sign of things to come!

Scots Pine

2010-06-30T19:40:00.001+01:00

When I first saw these back at the end of April, I thought 'ooh, baby pine cones'... but I am glad I did not embarrass myself by posting at the time, because they just kept growing....

They are the male flowers of the Scots Pine... they are actually teeny cones though... and parts of the pine trees are covered in them, mainly, but not exclusively the lower parts....

Meanwhile, other shoots have been sprouting to produce these female 'flowers'...

and this time they really are 'baby' pine cones.....

Most, but by no means all of these are higher up.... it is thought that this is to aid cross-pollination- pollen will drift across & up to fertilize other trees, rather than directly up...

the cones take two years to mature, before opening up to drop their seeds....

Yvonne, over at The Organic Writer is hosting this months Festival of The Trees.... she requested artistic submissions if possible. Well, I have no trouble being inspired by trees (if you hadn't noticed) so here is a piece of my calligraphy inspired by pine trees and the words of George Seferis.

I know a pine tree that leans over near a sea. At midday it bestows upon the tired body a shade measured like our life, and in the evening the wind blowing through its needles begins a curious song as though of the souls that made an end of death, just at the moment when they begin to become skin & lips again. One night I stayed awake all night under this tree. At dawn I was brand new as though I had been freshly quarried.

George Seferis- Greek poet, essayist & diplomat, 1963 Nobel Prize for Literature winner.

I have written in more detail about this piece of work & my process over at Suzi's Scribbles

Solstice Finale

2010-06-22T10:33:00.003+01:00

Another solstice photo-fest..

I didn't know which way to turn...

moon behind me...

pinkness all around...

literally colour in every direction...

think there'd be a case for some photoshop stitchery

to create a 360 panoramic (if i had it!)

a final kiss as colour faded from the sky...

until all was done, and the moon dropped into the cloud...

(sky-watchers, the full set of pics from

previous posts is here with solstice eve & sunrise)

skywatch has more amazing photos

Solstice Sun a Rising...

2010-06-21T15:13:00.000+01:00

04:38

04:39

04:42

04:45

04:47

04:49

04:52

04:59

see the web bathed in golden light?

05:13

Solstice Blessings.... wherever you are in the world x

Solstice Eve

2010-06-21T14:45:00.000+01:00

It seemed as if the skies put on a show to herald the Summer Solstice...

the moon seemed to glow from within, not just with reflected light....

the clouds seemed to form a vortex, being drawn towards light...

which intensified with the light of the setting sun....

and the moon continued to glow....

waxing past half way... full of promise & hope & beauty...

All The Rivers Flow Into The Sea...

2010-06-16T13:24:00.001+01:00

... yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again. Ecclesiastes 1:7

I find myself thinking of this biblical quotation as I sit by the riverside... gazing at water still shaded from the early morning sun... watching heads of willow seeds drift slowly by... all the rivers flow into the sea...

I start adding my thoughts to the flow.... love & healing... flowing down the river... to the sea... out into the ocean... mingling with the currents.... flowing to where it is needed... I see strands of energy... light... moving with the current.... spreading out.... more & more strands multiplying... shooting out, spreading through the world's oceans... converging from all directions to bring light into troubled waters... so that we can once again see blue skies reflected in pure, clean waters...

As the sun begins to light the shadows along the riverbank, I visualise the shadows of disaster & destruction lifting from our oceans... I pray for clarity & purity to return... for the waters, the sea & plant life in the ocean & along the coast.... I notice aeroplane trails reflected in the river... an inverted 'V'... I picture it right way up... for victory in the recovery from the oil disaster.... i send my thoughts along the trails... to dissipate into the air & be carried by the wind to where they are needed... To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again.

for watery images from around the world

For the Oil Outpouring

2010-06-11T16:15:00.002+01:00

moon reflected in oily clouds, may 27

Are you helping or adding to it?.... please resist the urge to judge & utter recriminations, there is time for that later & plenty will do it anyway. If you feel horror, panic or distress, please consciously try to turn it around into hope, focus & strength... send positive thoughts to those actively working in the area... to those working for a solution, to those rescuing wildlife, to those directly affected so far, to the creatures, the plants, the water, etc etc......

Intention works...

it has been shown time & again both in the scientific world & the spiritual. Visualise the wound closing, healing... the flow of oil from it being plugged... clear, healthy waters returning. Send energy to stem the flow & see it happening as often as you can throughout the day.... every time you boil the kettle...wash up... go to the loo... wait in a queue... once you have the picture in your mind it gets easier to recall the more you try.... associate it with the simple things you do. Actively help.

Here’s a vizualisation/meditation... you can expand on it or you can use parts of it at any time... spend as much time as you need on each part...

Prepare...

...set your scene... gather whatever tools or symbols you need to aid your focus & direct energy... perhaps a bowl of water with a floating candle would be appropriate here... crystals, stones... earth energy is vital.... connect to the Earth in whatever way you choose, either literally or through visualization...

Connect...

See yourself in a place where you connect to the Earth... sitting against a tree, whose roots go deep into the Earth... on a boulder that reaches far into the ground... on a mountain, in a forest, it doesn’t matter, wherever you connect... connect... feel yourself becoming one with the Earth.... feel her steady resolve... feel the heartbeat...

Be part of it...

Take yourself to the source of the out-pouring... feel yourself rising through the earth on the ocean floor... Be there... see the turbulence where the oil meets the ocean... don’t panic, just observe... watch, feel... until you are fully present.... until you are fully part of it...

Arc of light...

Feel the energy of the earth building in you... moving through you... building... expanding... when you can contain it no longer, when you are tingling with energy, shoot out a beam of light (i’m seeing gold, but use whatever colour you choose)... straight out, up through the turbulence of the out-pouring.... see it arc above you... a streak of golden brilliance.... see it expand outwards... forming a canopy of light high above you... golden light extending in a brilliant dome that reaches out & down... around... as far as you can see... gradually extending down until it meets the ocean floor in all directions.... See the light forming a dome over the open wound on the sea-bed... holding the turbulence within....

Calm...

Hold it there a while.... letting the energy, the heart-beat, pulse through you... through the oil & water... around the sides of the dome of light... hold the turbulence within... breathe calm into the waters until the turbulence settles... breathe calm... breathe....until the oil knows it is contained...

Close the dome....

Then gradually draw the dome of light closer.... see it coming closer... down & in.... easing the oil back into the earth.... gently... slowly... contract the dome of light... keep it going... down & down until you are back within the earth... back into safety... and the golden light is sealing the gash in the earth’s crust....

Heal the wound...

Visualize the wound above you healing.... light & earth melding... closing the gap.... see it closing.... see it healing...until you are sealed safely in the Womb of the Earth... relax... you are safe in the arms of the earth.... rest a while.... breathe.... relax & breathe until you feel it is done.... then slowly come back to the place you started.... feel the warmth of the sun & a gentle breeze... hear water trickling somewhere nearby.... & know that all is well.....

Share...

Please share this... let us use the web to spread a web of love & hope... encourage as many as possible to actively help with energy & intention... and add to the energy of others around the world to repair the tears in the web of life...

may 28th

Wild Rose

2010-06-07T15:15:00.000+01:00

The first wild roses have appeared in my locality... just an odd few... I spotted this one where the rose has scrambled up high above a tall hawthorne. Unaided, it would not be able to reach such height, but the briar rose is not afraid of seeking support from others! Tenacious & resilient, we can learn much from this beauty of the hedgerows.

It may not naturally grow very tall, but it will reach out to grasp the slightest limb of another tree and scramble ever upwards... They do not appear grasping or weak in using any available support, & several roses alongside each other will use each other for support to aid their mutual growth. And if they can't reach up, they will reach out... spreading roots & suckers ever wider. Obstacles are seen as an opportunity to climb around or over... not to trample on or quash, but as tools to strengthen & enhance...

The branches are covered in buds... each individual flower does not last long, but they don't come out all at once, promising a gorgeous display over the next few weeks. The flowers may be fragile & delicately scented... but this is only one aspect of the wild rose's personality. The stems are tough, yet flexible and the thorns can be vicious! Can be vicious... if you are careless enough to brush too close, or try & cut or pull a stem... normally the hooked thorns aid the plant to climb and provide a safer haven for smaller birds & creatures within the tangled thickets.

Like the cultivated roses in our gardens, attempts to slash or cut it back, only ensures a redoubled growth, with extra shoots springing from the point at which it is cut...creating extra strength & vigour. It dawned on me once, that we, ourselves are often 'pruned'....

I once had a business that was meant to be, combining art, crystals & healing.... the opportunities & synchronicity that enabled it... well, there is no doubt it was meant to be. It was a shop that vibrated at a higher level somehow and customers constantly remarked on the energy... But things seemingly outside my control began to go wrong. I say seemingly, because we are never completely aware of the bigger picture... karma, soul-plans, changes needed, future opportunities & direction, lessons... so many things that can only be appreciated with hindsight. One thing after another led to emotional & financial heartache... I kept hanging on & finding ways around them, but there came a point when I had to let go. It was making the decision to let go that was the hardest, and that was a lesson in itself.

I was not in a good state really, but all the time i knew that I had to trust. To Trust... in a higher wisdom, that all was in order, that this too was meant to be. It was at that time, looking at the roses, wondering what it was all about, that I realised it was a part of my life that needed pruning. Not necessarily that there was something wrong with it. However beautiful the flower, sometimes the branch needs cutting back.... to prevent running into a future obstacle, or to change direction, or just to strengthen the growth... allowing more shoots to develop & produce even more abundant flowers...

A few missing petals does not diminish its beauty... likewise a missing business or relationship does not take anything away from me (or anything else that applies to you)... it creates new shapes, new angles... revealing more of the character inside. Sometimes we are capable of seeing what needs pruning, but sometimes it is forced upon us. We may use our thorns to hang on, or lash out & cause hurt... but inevitably, when it happens we have to trust in the bigger picture & in ourselves...to keep trusting & to see the beauty of the changing path... until those new shoots begin to grow, and they always do... until new things begin to bloom in our life... and if we continue to learn & love & trust, we can bear some spectacular flowers!

If you fancy any wild rose recipe ideas try a look here at the
herb society

Hawthorne in Full Bloom

2010-05-26T11:15:00.001+01:00

8th may

16th may

23rd may

for Wordless Wednesday

Step Into a Cloud

2010-05-21T10:33:00.002+01:00

Dramatic sunsets continue to catch my attention...

the intensity of the colours, the shapes of clouds...

the burning orb that is our sun,

casting light that is both constant & ever changing.

Only a week ago the the sunset was to the left of those trees.

Don't you feel that you could step right into this cloud...

on the way to some other dimension?

Expand you mind and step inside...

feel the wonder of creation...

Is that an arm that curls round to keep us safe as we ride the air?

Or is it a path to slide down, then jump to the cloud next door?

Like the curl of an ocean wave... but more dreamy...

safe in our arms, we bring you calm

exhale those troubles & tensions,

breathe in a sense of freedom...

be blessed by the breath of a fiery sky,

that gently soothes your burdens...

How inviting does that look? (especially if you click & enlarge it)

A portal... a dreamscape... a view through your mind's eye...

or simply beautiful pattern & colour?

No wonder that man is continually fascinated by the skies & beyond

For more wondrous skies take a trip in the clouds to

Thank you to all who take part & share their views

ps... skywatchers may like the next post too!

Sunset... Moonset...

2010-05-19T17:23:00.000+01:00

Monday had a fiery sunset... reds & oranges & a copper sun...

Small wonder then, that we had a copper moon...

monday 17th, 22:06

I saw the first sliver of the new moon, low in the sky on saturday; absolutely gorgeous, a slight haze of cloud, her full shape just visible behind her tiny crescent... but by the time I'd dashed in for my camera, it was too late. I was prepared on sunday though....

sun 16th, 21:35

If you click to enlarge.... that tiny dot in the lower right is Venus... at this time of year, in the northern hemisphere she is "The Evening Star", shining bright in the west...

sun, 23:15

An hour later the moon was deliciously copper as it sank lower in the sky in the west... but I was quite taken aback at the speed of it disappearing... how the sun's light visibly faded & shrank... Have you ever watched a moon-set? I've watched the low morning full moon's disappear before, still lit by the rising sun when I've been lucky to be out at the right time...

The moon's path has followed the sun over the horizon the last few days, and I burnt the midnight oil to follow Monday's moon-set, determined to get a decent photo... until you are behind a camera, you don't realise how the light changes in 15minutes, never mind an hour... every time i went out i had to adjust, even though to the naked eye the moon looked the same...

monday 23:42

tues 00:19

The last one wasn't as successful, even sharpened up... there were some wisps of cloud & the reflected light had nearly faded altogether... vanishing just a few moments later...

I know, if you search for photos of the moon there's nearly a couple of million results, but these are special to me... my first successful new-moon shots with a fair amount of detail, without having to do a load of editing... and a coppery red moon too...

'Seashells' Calligraphy Rubber Stamp

2010-05-18T00:59:00.000+01:00

For those who enjoy rubber stamping... skip over to Suzi's Scribbles to see a 'give away' featuring a bit of my lettering... if you want to that is, lol!

At Home in The Willow

2010-05-16T19:46:00.004+01:00

This tiny tiny stream, reflecting willows, leads to a secret grove...

overlooked by this tree...

It is h-u-g-e.... with twin trunks each twice as wide as me
(and i'm not thin!)I sat quite a while on a fallen tree,
just listening to birdsong, watching the early morning sunlight &
shadows shadows playing through the leaves....

As I sat, enjoying the beauty

& energy of this place with its statuesque willows,

I felt drawn to move closer to this particular tree...

I noticed the shadows cast by this wild rose...
oh, how I love the briar rose,

but look closer... it is actually growing from this tree...

And growing nearby on this gracious trunk, fungi...

looking like some cyclops eye (except there were several of them!)

... and all the time the shadows played...

I gazed the height of this willow tree, allowing my spirit soar,
I felt the breeze and the sun in my hair
and swayed with her outstretched arms.
I felt the stream tickle my toes
through her roots in the dark, moist earth.
I felt the life that this tree supports
in the rhythm of her heart-song.

Then I became aware of hunters... flitting to & fro,
circling her branches... seeking out food...

A pair of treecreepers...
back & forth with beak-fulls of insects for their brood...
It took ages to get a clear shot...
they were so fast, constantly on the move!

http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com

http://heyharriet.blogspot.com

The Secret of Kells... coming to the UK

2010-05-10T09:29:00.001+01:00

In an earlier post I gave a link to 'The Secret of Kells' website.... there is also a 'Blog of Kells' if you are interested....

The Secret of Kells is an animated film, which intertwines historical facts with celtic mythology, a fictional tale woven around real events. Reading the blog gives a fascinating account of both the history & the mystery of this story, as well as an insight into animation & film production, the people who made it & the characters, the effort to get it into circulation etc etc, and there are some great videos on there too. The Blog of Kells charts the process from when production started back in 2005... they'd already been working on it intermittently for six years prior to that!

The film has already been released in America (lucky you!) and a distribution deal has finally been struck for the UK. I just love what I have seen of this... from the artwork, to the music... it is all full of symbology & like any good story, there are lessons to be gleaned from it. Here is something to wet your appetite, and there are more clips on youtube... It's not hard to see why it has been nominated for Oscars & Acadamy awards, as well as a win at the British Animation Awards... enjoy...

Desert Sunset?

2010-05-07T18:04:00.000+01:00

One of the reasons I wanted a 'proper' camera was that my compact didn't always capture 'true' colours in sky shots... now, my new one may be capable, but the operator has much to learn! After the success of my last sunset, perhaps I was a little trigger happy... in my defence dinner was about to burn! However, it was one of those 'happy accidents' and I ended up with a gorgeous desert sunset in the north of England... except the trees might give me away!

It was nowhere near this dark.... but perhaps if I hadn't confessed, you wouldn't have known. I do love the dramatic effect though. It set me off thinking about perception again... the way we see things, or don't... comparing the camera & image to our minds & thoughts.

There is an infinite stream of information out there, both in the physical world and beyond that can flood our minds, as light floods into a camera... the aperture & shutter regulate the amount, which we can take control of manually, or leave on the automatic programme. When we are born we come with automatic settings that regulate the amount of information (light) and how we process it which gives us the picture we have of the world. Of course, none of us have exactly the same programme, and our settings are altered by the upbringing & experiences that we have. But at some point we have the choice of switching to manual.... of taking control of our attitudes & action... of changing the way we see things or react.

We can open our own apertures & be more open to information or energy. We can adjust our own shutter speeds of judgement & analysis... etc etc. But it is the combination of settings that gives the picture, and sometimes it appears better or worse than, or at least different from what is really there... maybe that is why some people see no reason to change, others are never happy, some always are.

So, I'll keep tweaking those settings until it becomes instinctive & see the beauty in every scene....

Thank you to Skywatch Friday

go visit for some wonderous sights!

Larch

2010-05-06T11:42:00.000+01:00

Well, our move to Gloucestershire didn't happen. It seems that change was in the offing though... Steve changed jobs, I'd already given my notice & trained my replacement... then we hitched up our caravan and re-sited our home the weekend before last. Still in North Yorkshire, only 10 minutes down the road but the surroundings are much different... flatter, more open... bigger skies somehow... a river not far away and a wider variety of trees.

Already more than content with what was around me, I found these....

Larch flowers! I didn't know... I can't believe I've not seen them before, there are plenty of larch in the woodlands i have walked. Maybe I've not been there at this time of year, or maybe it's a case of not seeing the wood for the trees!

The larch is a pine, but is deciduous... it would have been good to watch the needles grow, but never mind, there are still some tiny tufts just sprouting to keep an eye on! Hopefully we will be here long enough to watch these gorgeous female flowers mature into cones....

This one looks like one of last years, but they can stay on the tree for a few years, getting greyer as they age (sounds familiar, i guess they mature into crones!)

I love the way the branches fall & there is something about the silhouette of these trees...

I keep going back to look at these photographs and find myself sinking into meditation as I do... if you haven't already, click on this last picture to enlarge, then just gaze at the flower.... it is tenderness unfurling... have you done it yet? did you feel your heart chakra expand? did you feel an all- encompassing tenderness? did you stay and let that tenderness spread throughout your body? did you connect to the heartbeat of the earth?

You might feel like trying the same thing with the first picture... I notice a distinct difference, maybe because of the sky in the background which has an ethereal quality, but the feeling is more expansive, it naturally spreads out beyond me... from my crown as well as my heart.... follow the heartbeat... let tenderness spread throughout the world... wave upon wave... emanating from the spiral of the larch flower... connected to the spiral of life... to the heartbeat of the world...

Watery Wednesday: Green Eyes

2010-05-05T12:13:00.001+01:00

Green eyes gaze,

restful, see...

eternal memories

drifting by....

peaceful gaze,

green eyes see,

hold my gaze

as I pass by....

I feel green eyes

absorbing me,

peaceful gaze

of empathy.

green eyes gaze

green eyes see

has more watery images

Hawthorne

2010-05-02T09:33:00.001+01:00

I've been out looking for May Blossom, or Hawthorn flowers this weekend... unfortunately none made it out for May Day in my neck of the woods... but I found this goddess tree...

8th april

The new hawthorne buds are also known as 'bread and cheese' in some areas... have you ever tried them? You can eat the buds straight from the tree... quite tasty!

20th april

The leaves and buds have developed quickly throughout April, rapidly filling the hedges with green....

24th April

The flowers have certainly been racing to appear, and the boughs are so full, they will be spectacular...

28th april

But although there are glimpses of white beginning to show in the odd bud, the blossom is yet to unfurl...

1st may

This is what we have to look forward to though, and it won't be long.... The Queen of May!

Sunset

2010-04-30T13:10:00.003+01:00

How beautiful are these sunset clouds? In fact, 'beautiful' is far too tame a description... there is something much more powerful about them beyond mere words. And the contrast between the between those at the top and the lower, distant sky.... but if I could zoom in on those, they would have more amazing details in relation to the sky beyond. Neither one would be a more accurate or real portrayal, neither would be the full picture, just a snapshot of a given aspect at one moment in time....

Even looking at the bigger picture isn't the full picture; how could it be? That's something way beyond our capabilities or imagination... but it helps to put things in context in relation to what we see or know. I never cease to marvel at the sights that nature gifts us, and whisper silent 'thank-you's' (actually, often out loud) so many times in a day, it would be impossible to count.

Just shifting my gaze a couple of inches brings an entirely different vision, connected to the first but calmer & more muted, just as spectacular in it's own way... Just an inch or two of movement where I stand equates to miles on the horizon... how far in deepest space? How far up is that cloud and how deep are the ripples we see in it? I'm sure someone knows, but I am content to wonder and just gaze upon it's face.

Whether we look scientifically or spiritually, whether we search with reason or intuition, we see from where we are standing... from one angle at any given moment... exploring & learning about the mystery that we are a part of. Each little shift in understanding, each tiny step or leap in comprehension might only seem like an inch, but how many miles does it equate to in the recesses of our mind, or the vastness of our consciousness? How far might it reach? How far could it travel along the strands of the web that connects us?

I thought that first cloud looked like it could be upside down... so I cropped it & turned it... makes a landscape out of a skyscape don't you think?

you stroll around the landscape of my mind

and peruse my inner vision

you brush your hand through scented thoughts

and scatter dust from inhibition

you take a sip from my well of love

and gaze at the paths i've travelled

you look through my eyes at the skies ahead

and polish a cluster of stars

you pick up a memory that weighs in my heart

and skim it over life's rivers

you reach for a cloud lit up by my sun

and turn it in your palms

you smile as you turn it upside down

to sail in an eternal ocean of wonder

plenty of amazing photographs over at

thank you to the organisers & the participants