Severn Journey

Here's a lovely poem from Roger - a thoughtful journey.....


Thursdays are early mornings for me
I get a train at 7-58 that hurtles me into Gloucester
leaving behind the nature of the Forest of Dean
but feeding me with the pleasures
of the ever-always-changing River Severn.....


Where my eyes fail
My dreams arrive

Sparse trees making their slow way
across fields chopped flat

birds clip a xylophone of leaves

some things to remember
some things to do

Mist-cloud-fury of fading dawn
and water curling in its own danger

They threaten windmills
nothing could steal this show

Each word measures my journey
prolongs my memory

Pays back the cost of my ticket
and beckons the day closer


best to all
will send some pics


Roger



......

Samhain Approaches

If you're having trouble viewing this, please double click on the title (Samhain Approaches) then it may work! Sorry folks - some Blogger anomaly I think - it works Ok through the dashboard!

Squint your eyes and choose to see

I hope that fired you up! 

Samhain is a fortnight away and is the start of the Celtic year. 

The Wheel has turned full circle, the harvest is home and larders are well stocked, the trees are rapidly shedding leaves and drawing sap into their hearts ready for the winter's rest.

This festival is honoured in many different ways, with fire and feasts, with stories of long ago, with rituals and in "All Hallows Eve" pursuits.

It is a time for remembering departed spirits, their deeds and ways, one of the gateway between the worlds, when the veil is thin. 

A time to bring your sheep and cattle (figurative or real) down from the high summer pastures to safety for the spring or to slaughter to sustain us through the dark winter months.

Dunk your apples, feast with friends

Reflect on the year just passing and plan for the next

Light your fires and in them cast your offerings or prayers 

Share how you celebrate Samhain by sending your contributions to celticyeartwo@btinternet.com

      

Love and firelight

Lindsey

banner

Hi all

Just wanted to say big thanks to Ian for the changes he has made to our banner.

His original art work and Liz's words compliment each other so beautifully.

The words were originally as a spiral around the art and can be seen here

 

Lindsey

Nobody But Me

Here a musical contribution from Rob that's sure to get your toes tapping and your empathy engaged!

My apologies for the video but Blogger can't cope with music formats - unless any of you know differently....please..do let me know!

Yay! Thanks Rob and welcome to the Celtic Year

Lindsey

P.S. Rob lives in Japan.....

Norton Woods

Taken on his way to get the biggest and shiniest conkers he had ever seen

 in Norton Woods on the way to Clumber park from Bolsover, Derbyshire.

I love this atmospheric, beautifully lit, elegantly framed picture so much

 I'm walking through it.

Andrew, thank you  for letting me post it and welcome to the Celtic Year!

Lindsey

Abnoba and Autumn Equinox views of Lumsdale

   

Abnoba

A slip of a breeze over her dark cloak

She emerges in cool grey ripples

Green foliage skids on the pond

Mouldy squashed berries

Migrating geese rise

 Bracken spores float 

Abnoba

Arrives

Sighs

Feasting from the fruit of her forest

She dances to a harvest moon

Fly-ing over spiders’ webs

Through hedge, where rose hip twines

Lying by the brook

Under the stones

All alone

Now she

Rests

On the bank, a greedy little dog

Eyeballing the daft, dabbling ducks

The crunch of human foot steps

Concealed by the trees

Abnoba she hears

Poises to fight

But instead

                             

Turns and

Leaves

                                                                                                                  

Abnoba was the Celtic Goddess of the Black Forest itself, a mountain in the Black Forest, childbirth, and a number of rivers; the river Avon is thought to be a variation of her name

Marie

There are more glances of Lumsdale (at Imbolc) here



Derwent Dams

Here are some wonderful photos and prose from Helen, her first contribution to the blog. Welcome Helen!

The shower broke, a plumber was called – ‘3 November is the soonest I can come’…….’did I give you a date? Sorry can’t make the 3rd, next week looks better, ok the 9th’

The 9th dawned; thick fog, dismal, gloomy. The prospect of heading for the hills was unappealing but the plumber needed a dog free environment.

The higher I drove, the clearer it became until I emerged into the most perfect autumn day!

The air was pure

I wanted to fill my lungs

I greedily inhaled and felt the cleansing effect course through my veins

I wallowed in selfish solitude but wanted to share the experience

The beauty I could see

The freshness of the pine resin I could smell and taste

The all consuming silence I could hear; and

The springy earth I could feel

The calmness of the day gently warmed by the distant sun was reflected in the mirror surface of the untroubled water of the dams and I began to reflect on the blood, sweat and tears lost in the creation of this incredible feat of engineering, the loss and sacrifice of the former residents whose village was laid to rest in the hidden depths of the flooded valley, the provision of water that is taken for granted by those supplied by the dams and the almost guilty pleasure that this day had given me

Derwent Dams

Derbyshire Peak District

When I returned home, the water of the dams was again flowing through my repaired shower!

Helen

Long Meg and her Daughters

Saturday was a beautiful autumnal day crossing the Pennines across high moors via the cobbled streets of Alston and the impressive Hartside Pass to visit Long Meg and her Daughters (this link has Wordsworth's thoughts about the circle)

The Lake District from the top of Hartside Pass. I love the fading colours.

Long Meg watching over the circle, oh yes and the cows. These pilgrims paid their respects and left. leaving a stillness, a peace, no human sound, a panoramic sky, the evidence of our ancestors and a buzz in the centre that would not be denied.

Long Meg, silvery lichen highlighting the stern planes and etching the wrinkles of her timeless face.

One of the spiral markings on her side.

More photos to be seen here , ironically we used sat-nav to get to this amazing ancient place, the co-ordinates are NY571372 !

Hugs

Lindsey

Mood: Connected!

The Green Man's Autumn Equinox greetings

This amazing sculpture is deep in Hamsterley Forest, one of my favourite haunts, it is place of beauty, peace, wild spaces and provides wonderful walking meditation for me. I wrote the poem a few years ago now but it still reflects how I feel about walking in nature - although, these days, with more creaks and groans from both me and the forest I think.

Walking

The physicality of motion

Hips harmonically playing

Striding stretching, bending

Feeling every muscle working

The sensuality of action

Skin glowing, sliding, heart pumping

Optimum function, oxygen flooding

Pleasure centre responding

The practicality of reaction

Through thought, muscle patterning

Feet, legs, body, head all following

Mind appears aimless, meandering

The freedom of distraction

Unconsciously sorting, clearing, storing

Shoulders relaxing back straightening

Peace, balance, tranquillity affirming

The release of emotion,

Earthy walking potion

Body, soul unification

Sanctified inspiration 

I'm hoping to go and see Long Meg and her Daughters at the weekend, so watch this space!

Hugs

Lindsey

A reminder that here the autumn equinox is a week away, enjoy the turn of the seasons!

Harvest Home

Autumn Equinox, Harvest Home, Mabon, or simply
this wild season of winds and gathering for the days ahead,
this time of changing colours and  low late summer sunlight,
this time of preparation, of clearing and sorting, of equal day and night.

Breathe in this deepening light, the summer work is done,
the winter's tasks ahead, dance, sing, feast and play,
reflect on all that's past and plan your winter crafts
treasure the Harvest Moon, tend the home fires, honour the Green Man

The Wheel turns on with wisedom, healing and rest.

As some of you will be aware, I became "blog mistress" last Samhain and Sally has proved a hard act to follow! If any contributors would be interested in taking on this interesting task for the next Celtic Year it would be great to hear from you! e-mail me at celticyeartwo@btinternet.com  also I'd be very interested to hear your views about the blog, whether we should continue into year 3, how it could develop, oh and, of course, to send your contributions. These could be photos, crafts, painting, writing, music, videos.....don't worry about the Celtic connection - it is worldwide and in our very bones.

Greens, browns, reds, orange and yellows!

Lindsey

Harvest Time

Another month has passed and we can now feel the hints of Autumn in the air, summer has been such a busy and happy time, so apologies for the lateness of this post.
Since Lammas I've been watching the changing landscape and the greening of the cut hayfields. I wanted to share with you this painting and poem, written for my lovely young friend to remind her of summer.

Magic Meadow

Under summer evening sun in the time after haymaking,
Climbing from greening fields she reached the fairy mound

then sat serenely amongst fantastic flowers.

She connected with black cat who watched

Brownie as he tumbled and laughed.

All silently seen by Heron.

Each at ease in a magic meadow spilt from nature’s book.

and some detail

Enjoy this turning of the seasons, it is less than three weeks until the Autumn Equinox, already my blueberry bushes are changing into their reds and golds and I'm looking forward to more amazing colours from nature.

Hugs

Lindsey

Tap

Standing, I turn the tap

And the river runs through me

Bathing my fingers in cool serenity

I recall sitting sublime on our riverside
Talking in the balm of a breathless July evening
Fingers trailing

Dusk’s midges rose from the almost still water
Fluid black clouds
Threatened pin prick bites

You laughed as creeping cigarette smoke
Hastened their retreat to munching bovines
Lethargic in summer’s lolling haze

Led inevitably into cool darkness
The conversation drifted, meandered, echoed our companion
Yearning for an ocean to wash our souls clean

The shooting star distracted us
Its death igniting a different passion
That waned too with the fading moon

I recall my digits, invisible in the darkening murk
Of night hidden river
Slowly numbing in the chill water

Shocked, I turn the tap clockwise
Ceasing the flow
Enough is enough

Lizbeth

Lughnasadh/Lammas/FirstFruits/Brón Trogain

Hi all

Just days now until the celebration of the new harvest, this is a time for gathering and collecting the fruits of our labours, a time for sharing the work and the harvest with others, a time for seeing and planning for what is ahead. Not always easy to achieve I know, the way is often shrouded. This painting is called "At MistRise The Way Appears" and expresses this challenge for me.

Lugh is the Celtic deity of the Arts and of Science and he decreed that a feast should be held at first fruits time to honour his foster mother Tailtui, a royal lady of the Fir Bolg who died of exhaustion trying to clear a forest for planting grain when ordered to do so when defeated by the Tuatha De Dannan. The feast celebrated the harvest and Tailtui's life and games and contests of skills took place. It may be that the Olympic games themselves were started to commemorate fallen heroes and comrades of battles, offering a portion of the harvest to the gods is commonplace in many religions throughout the world, we all give thanks and honour to nature's bounty which sustains us all, on many differing levels. This idea of sacrifice is clear in the Wicker Man, Green Man, Corn Man concepts, the sacrifice to ensure more in the coming next year, this "death" acknowledges the coming of the winter months, but we don't want to dwell on that overmuch just yet, there are many summer days ahead, days for gathering in, for storing and for creating!

I love to try new art forms so here is a small batik with fire, sorry the images have not been tidied up in photoshop -on the wrong computer! Unusually for me, this is untitled as yet, suggestions would be very welcome!

Let us know how you celebrate, I can't wait, lovely friends are joining us for home made pizza (our Celtic 21st century version of bread) and we will have fire, drink and joy!

Summery hugs with love and light

Lindsey

alentejo solstice

Mothers and Children

I was tasked to produce a pot after Henry Moore's theme, Mother and Child, this is my take, two mothers, two children with a lovely creamy vellum glaze.
Love and light to you all
Lindsey

The Honey Moon

Beneath the Honey Moon in evening air

they melted with the shifting land,

basked in her sweet shimmering light,

watched a flight of gazing hares,

heard the promise of summer sun,

tasted the stalking smoothness of cat.

Then he spoke, soft and low, of life ahead,

of the midsummer gathering past,

of their joyful leap through Solstice fire

and children coming tall, fair and brave.

She shared thoughts of beauty, spirit, love.

The Honey Moon smiled on bright and full

and the Wheel turned and all was so.

Painted and written yesterday under The Honey Moon of June 2010.

FeelGoodHugs

Lindsey

Solstice Suns

Solstice Sun






















Funny how paintings turn out sometimes - this is a Sun (in fiery Hubble style) which moved me to paint the next, my romantic version of the Tarot Sun card, a very important card for me!

Solstice Sun
19






















Sunny Solstice greetings friends - leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Hugs
Lindsey

Solstice Greetings

Hope you are all enjoying this beautiful Solstice, the sun is shining and the earth is verdant. Here's a link which will take you to more photos of Lumsdale, Marie's photographs are lovely and capture the atmosphere - I feel as if I know the walk well!

Thanks Marie.

Hugs
Lindsey

Summer Solstice

The Druids of the ancient Celts celebrated “The Light of the Shore” - Alban Heruin and throughout the northern hemisphere different cultures still honour this time of year, when the days are long and the crops are fulfilling their abundant promise. Following the apex of light and the crowning of the Oak King we are enter the waning light of the year and he falls to his darker aspect, the Holly King.

This is the start of summer with many beautiful days ahead.

The power of the sun is revered and reflected in the lighting of balefires for which differing types of wood are required – have a listen to Nine Trees - The Bale Fire Song by the magical Tinkerscuss here

Fires were lit all over the Celtic lands from sunset the night before midsummer until sunset the next day. They were used to drive out evil and purify, to guard against disease and misfortune and the people would dance or leap through the flames as a rite to strengthen or renew vows

The first (or only) moon of June is called The Honey Moon and was the best time to gather honey from the bees. Honey was said to increase fertility and love and so was fed to newly wed couples. Because of the Celtic custom of renewing vows or making permanent hand-fasting agreements at Midsummer, June remains a popular time for weddings and we still call the period soon after the wedding as “The Honeymoon”.

This next link takes you to some amazing photos of Lumsden by Marie who says:- Lumsdale Valley is one of the secret treasures of Derbyshire. The Arkwright Society sign proclaims ‘A unique heritage of ruined mills: trees ponds and wildlife...’ It is an exceptional example of a water-powered industrial site in a relatively small area.

If you yearn to see more of its archaeological secrets the best time to visit is around the Imbolc festival when nature is almost naked.

The remains of the watermills are intentionally frozen in time, their ghosts trapped by the living, a hidden area of romantic and magical decay. The wooded valley is also a haven for wild animals, birds including Treecreepers and a variety of plant life. At the Summer Solstice it is a shady green retreat. Marie

I can’t wait to see the Solstice pictures!

Have a great time wherever you are and send us your pictures, words, music or any other artistic expression!

Celtic blessings

Lindsey

Summer Storm

Rain softly falls nurturing the crops
Fertile earth odours tease the senses,
But all the while I feel disconnected.
Silver light flashes from wind dance leaves
Glancing through the edges of life's soul
Dancing, teasing, beckoning; life's wheel turning
And sun bursts through dark cloud with hope returning

Liz and I wrote this a line at a time on Facebook - loving what a status update on facebook can generate