As we pause to reflect on the the past year my wish for you and your loved ones is that we can all find simple peace - peace in our hearts, peace in Nature and peace in our communities. Let us work together to keep our Light shining bright and let Love guide our choices in 2013.

 

Carpe Diem 12-12-12

Everyone had their own way of marking the day yesterday...or ignoring it if that was their preference. I had no plans. It was not an Earth-based day of importance... not like an Equinox, Solstice or Lunar phase. This calendar that drives most of human activity on the planet right now is a construct of convenience. Still, many people were taking time to pay attention to something global and that can't be all bad.

I had no idea what the day would bring so I decided to not plan anything....except to try and tackle the mountain of paperwork clogging up my desk. The day was grey and dreary, perfect for desk work. Hooray!

Then I looked outside and big fat snowflakes were lazily drifting down...and I just had to take some time out, make a cuppa and enjoy the show. We've had very little snow so far and none of it sticks for very long because the earth is still unfrozen. But the flakes were like goose down feathers and they began to add up quickly. Soon everything was etched in delicate white lace. As I scanned the horizon I realized we were going to get a break in the clouds. It was just above freezing and the snow would not last very long... in fact it was already melting where it hit the ground...but a curious thing was happening... any place where a stone stood above the ground it was just a wee bit colder, just cold enough to allow the snow to stick and stay.

I have been working for many years on a special stone circle in my garden and had completed a section just a few days before so I was delighted to see the Frost Faeries were coming out to inspect (and bless) my work. Suddenly, I knew what I wanted to do to commemorate the 12-12-12 moment. I grabbed my camera and my tiny garden nippers and as I put my coat on I glanced at the clock... 12:00...of course!

As I stepped outside I could see that the snow had stopped and that the light was getting brighter. I guessed there might be about 10 minutes before it would be full force and would begin to melt all the snow, even that which was dusting the stone circle. I had to act quickly. On my way out I stopped by the studio and collected some dry Hemlock cones...12 of them.

On the way down past the circle, I snapped some quick photos. I passed a Balsam tree and snipped off 12 tiny branchlets. I headed down to the garden and managed to find about 20 Hawthorne berries still left on the trees. The sun was now fully out and I could hear the dripping in the forest signaling that the snows had begun to melt.

I chose to work at the Western gate because it had the biggest base stone and was also partially shaded by the upright stones which formed the gate. I've used this spot before to make some of my creations and it just felt like the place to make a simple gesture to the moment.

  So the twelve branchlets went down....and next the 12 Hemlock cones, and then I selected the 12 best Hawthorne berries and they wend down...all while trying to be very careful to not disturb any of the surrounding snow. 

  Sometimes it is not about making something fabulous and complex....sometimes it is about letting the moment pull you out of your chair, out of your plans and routine and out the door and into something impulsive, simple and sweet.

 This is especially true when the Snow Faeries have given you such a lovely canvas to enjoy for a few fleeting moments!

We'll return to the construction tour of the Dragonfly Faerie House shortly...and I have another Framed creation to show you....someone may want it for gift-giving, but I have to do an evening shoot so you can see what it looks like when the lights come on. Wishing you joy from the frosted circle.

20% off at Lulu + Holiday shipping schedule

Hi Everyone,

   I just received notice from Lulu that they are once again offering a great sale on ALL publications, which include my books and calendars.  

   To qualify for the 20% discount, use FELICITAS in the coupon code. You can only use it once and it expires next Friday Dec 14th. Happy shopping!

   Also if you are wanting your item in time for Christmas, here is their most recent update on shipping/ordering deadlines....click HERE for that info.

Amazing!!!

The practice of Slow Work

As things speed up more and more for most folk, I am discovering that my work is slowing down. In a good way. Here is an example.

 This is a house which was custom-made for a client earlier this fall. We had discussed several design elements that she wanted in her Faerie house. She wanted autumn colours. She loved Gothic and Tudor styles...and Rivendell as imagined in the movies. She has a passion for all things Celtic and wanted something in the house to reflect this. She liked stonework and drama.  She wanted a bold statement and she was very patient to wait for when the Faeries were ready to show me what to do.

 This house took more than a month to create. It is hard to believe, even for me(!) that all of this started with a pile of bark, some twigs, stones and passion to create.
Along the way more items are added for magical effects... transparent doors made from a photograph of a Dragonfly wing, glass baubles, lights, silk and wool and fabulous handmade Japanese paper....and lots and lots of time.

There are so many details in this house that it will take more than one post to share them with you...which I will over the next few days.

  I will have some "behind the curtains" look at how I make some of the details that are in this house... but for now, a few more peeks.

 As with all my houses where you can see a finished interior, the roof lifts off so we can have a better look inside, or to let more light in so we can look thru the front door and get a glimpse of the Japanese wallpaper and glittery decorations inside. We'll take a closer look later.

 Of course at night, everything is more dramatic. Here is nearly the same view only the roof is in place here.

 As with any tour, we start with the front door. The translucent panel is taken from a photograph of a dragonfly wing. It is created in such a way that it is both iridescent, translucent and glittery. Any Faerie knows how to do this but it took me a while to learn how to pull it off.  The finial is a Scrub oak acorn sent to me by my sister...as are the "lamps" to either side of the door. The design is light and breezy, a reminder of summer and sunsets on the water and dragonflies skimming the ponds and lakes in delicate dances of delight.

  The center pull of the door is a 7 spiral design which is crafted in gold-plated silver. The original design can be found on the great Alberlemno Pictish stone in Scotland. It is from the center boss of the cross. I was lucky enough to see the stone in person when I once visited Scotland. I felt it would hold great importance for the client and it seems it does. The pull is held away from the frame with an Amethyst bead.

   What may be hard to understand is that all the parts of this door were handmade and fitted together just for this project from materials that I collected out in the wilds. There is no pattern, save what the wing shape gives as inspiration. It takes time to find just the right twigs to fit in place....they cannot be bent, they have to be used as it. They have to be cut, carved, trimmed, sanded and fitted carefully together...slowly building the shape over many hours. All the gluing takes extra long because I use epoxy resins now since the hot glue does not last well enough in these finely detailed structural elements. And all of this is no more than about 6 inches high. Twigs break. Beads break and eyes cross with the effort to get it right. But I love doing this work! It fills me with such joy when it is finished and I can hold it in my hand...a little bit of magic.

    We'll take up the tour of the rest of the feature of the Dragonfly Faerie house shortly.  Meanwhile, sometime this week, I don't know when and I don't know who it will be, but someone will arrive here and be the 50,000th visitor to my blog! It is hard to imagine that many people have come to see my little corner of creativity and magic. Thank you everyone and when we cross that number we shall have to have some sort of celebration!

A different kind of Advent ceremony

You are invited to join in on a very simple yet potent ceremony as we move towards the Winter Solstice. I just learned about this practise and wanted to share it with you because it seemed a perfect way to get ready for this most auspicious day/event.

This is the ceremony of 21 stones. Ideally we would have started on December 1st, but the beauty of this ceremony is that one can start at any time, though 21 days is the ideal. Here is what we are doing:

Gather up 21 stones. They can be of any size, shape or quality. It is nice if they have meaning to you personally. Many of us have our stones in some sort of container or laid out in some sort of pattern where they will not be disturbed for the next 3 weeks. Here is my collection in a pottery plate made by a dear friend of mine from long ago:

   Each day we choose one stone to hold in our hand while we spend some time in silence. During the silence you may wish to meditate, pray or some other focusing practise. One can express gratitude, intentions, or what one wants to release. Whatever you feel you most want to express as these last few days of the solar year wind down and we come to the sill-point of the Winter solstice (summer for those down under).
    After sitting with your stone, take it outdoors and release it back to Mother Earth. Again, you can be as simple or as creative as you want to be around how you actually do this. Some people may wish to literally bury their stones, as if they were seeds going into the earth to take root. Some may wish to arrange them in a special place out in a garden. Some may wish to leave them in public places, but hidden for sharp eyes to find, or tossed into a body of water somewhere. It is entirely up to you. The main thing is to remember that this is a process of focus and release... all moving at a slow and mindful daily pace to our destination- the Solstice (which is Dec. 21, 2012 at 6:12 am EST).
    Since there has been so much made of this date in the greater collective, it seemed appropriate to offer a special kind of "advent calendar" to celebrate the journey. If you feel moved to join in, please do. If you'd like to send me any photos of your stones, or any part of your journey, please do so and I'll start a special page here to share the images. 

    It's OK that we may have to play a bit of "catch up" with our stones...don't worry. Start with 21 and make your first contribution be however many are needed to get you synchronized with the date. (if you start on the 4th, then do 4 stones on your first release... the process is framed so that you will have your last stone to give away on the 21st. )  Start from where you stand and just move forward with diligence. We are all doing the best we can. And on the Solstice will will each have one remaining stone to hold while we contemplate this magnificent creation and the gift of being HERE together...and then we will all give our stone, in whatever way we feel moved, back to the Earth.

Blessed Be!