Season of the Mermaid

Tis the season of the Mermaid. 

The element of water on the turning wheel of the seasons. 

Water in all forms begins it's  annual return to the great seas. The wind gathers and coaxes the cloud brothers to gather the stray drops in increasing volumes preparing for the wild sky theater arriving in October and November. 

Beneath the sea is the Kingdom of the Merfolks, for my dear there are not only mermaids but mermen, women, grandmothers, grandfathers and even mer-uncles who tell jokes and attend oyster shell events with glee. 

Mermaids bring hope and blessings of freedom. Teaching us how to be more fluid and adapt to our environment to make to truly ours. Finding treasures in unexpected places. Remembering if we truly want to achieve a goal it happens drop by drop or in people speak " step by step" till we reach our chosen goal. 

They teach us to sing out our troubles  and release them to the Sea. Those troubles that seem so overwhelming and impossible when caught by the wind. Carried over the waves and down into the endless depths of water become diluted broken down into tiny bits carried out far and wide to  listening ears and hearts  of the Mermaid clans who pray and connect with the song of life. 

New notes in the song return to your heart  in  unexpected blessings and hope. 

All elements, each particle no matter how small are connected in the song of life.

 Each takes a season in our ride around the sun. Every single tiny speck has a reason and job to perform in the never ending song of life. 

Spring brings us the element of air

And the winged ones Faerie, butterfly, bird, insect and us

Summer offers Fire. Season of the Dragons, Phoenix Birds and Salamanders

Autumn offers Water and our current season of the Mermaids and all who dwell around and near the water. 

Winter brings us Earth. The Gnomes, elves, trolls and all who walk crawl or slither. 

Take some time soon to visit the sea and say Hello you never know who might be listening. 

Blessings from the sea

Peg

How do I connect to my spirit guides?

Many people long for communication and guidance  with their spirit guides and teachers, loved ones from the other side or the Fae ( Faeries, mythical beings, Ect). My path to  receiving this gift was full of many trails and much advice which distilled down to some very simple steps.

Trust your own feelings, test the hell out of them.. But trust for you are the only one who can know what goes on in your own heart. 

Spend time everyday unplugged and alone. Start with a few minutes and build up to longer times. You are your own best friend and constant companion.

Spend time in nature daily.

Take long baths or showers and dream or imagine what you would talk about with your spiritual advisers.

Read read read books, stories, faerie tales, spiritual books and grand glorious novels 

Write with a pen or pencil on real paper every day. Start by coping phrases or quotes than inspire or uplift you. Then you can see where the writing takes you. 

Use your imagination for this is the key to communicate with those in the unseen world say prayers of thanks out loud to whom ever you pray to. This is especially effective when spending time in nature, gardening, at the beach or lake and while driving. Make one of those prayers thank you for helping me to walk in beauty and grace.

Listen with your 3rd mind as you create a daily practice. Your 3rd mind is the part of your mind that is the observer and the witness of your awake and sleeping life, the recorder of dreams, hunches, inspiring actions, boldface lies and untruths. It is the part of you that puzzles out problems and helps you understand. 

Love all of you both the light and the dark, for every aspect of you is important and worthy of understanding and observation and celebrating as they are uniquely you!

Be patient 

Build little altars everywhere and change them when inspired.  Simply or complicated from a feather and a rock to a faerie garden. Do what will inspire and uplift your heart. Then change when it is no longer making your heart go flitter flop. 

Love, trust and a little bit of faerie dust.. Peg

Faeries art Arthur Racham

Time to just be. 

Peg's 

Charm casting. 

Inviting the Fae into your life and Home

 As you may or may not know I am a natural clairvoyant, healer and shaman. I have been studying and working in the  metaphysical world for over 35 years. I recently opened my practice to the public and combined with my art work as well as many other faceted of my life have stepped out into the world to  spend the years I have remaining making the world a little better than I found it. I have a private online Faerie group where we explore and share encounters and ideas as well as celebrate in ceremony the four seasons and equinox ans solstice points of each calendar year.

 Here is a question I received recently,

I may have asked this before but are faeries really afraid of iron?? I'm making a inside faery garden and the room I may have to keep it in has iron things in it! Stuff of my husband's like weights and things so I can't get rid of it lol 😑

The question has been raised several times about the Fae and iron. In my experience there are no issues. Think about it for a moment iron is an element of the earth and the gnomes and elves who work with metals, stones and minerals encounter it and create with it.

 According to many old Faeires tales faeries stayed away from iron as it was toxic to them. Some of this knowledge or information started during the Iron Age as the earth was rapidly changing in ways we hunted and built things. Much of nature was destroyed and cleared out to make way for “progress”. The small tribes of people who relied on stone and wood to hunt and protect them were suddenly wiped out as the tools were no match for the new metals. There became a great fear of iron as it ended life quickly and suddenly.

 Faeries are in partnership with nature and green and growing things and have watched many many places wiped out and modernized or simply destroyed for greed or human foolishness.

 The Fae went into seclusion and left their legacy mostly to stories and tales shred around the fire late at night. But some people began to take notice and see how all is connected and our natural world   needs us to actively protect and admire as well as been a part of it.  The shifts in energy and recent ( and I mean in the last 40 years) have brought about a coming together of humans and the Fae working together in a partnership to balance out this world..

 So to answer your question your husband’s weight lifting equipment will not prevent your connection or honoring place for the Faeries. Your intent and desired to connect and be a part of the Faerie connection is the most important part of your setting up a Faerie Altar.

 And like many of us certain things are not healthy for us and cause allergic reactions. You may encounter some Fae who feel that way about iron. But they know and understand such matters and will stay away from them. Think of it as if you were allergic to eating apples but you loved seeing orchards of apple trees. You could still go and admire smell and enjoy the orchard but you knew not to eat the apple.

 Stop worrying about rules and am I doing this the right way. Open your heart and mind and simply believe in the Fae and the doorways will open. Give thanks for the tiny miracles we are shown each and every day , sunrise a child’s laughter, flowers in bloom, dandelion seed heads… and clean up trash, respect Mother Earth as bit by bit you make the world a better place

. Peg 2015

January Full Moon # 8

Hello dear readers and fellow artists!

For the final full moon exchange I had myself.  Every time I looked at the two spaces all I could see was a little creature sitting & gazing at the stars or swinging or doing something, but always sitting between the two spaces as though it was one complete space.  So as I've learned, rather than fight the visions that you're seeing, trust them and go with them.

I've learned the best place to start, if your piece will involve sculpting, is to begin with the sculpture itself. The rest of the details will take care of themselves once the sculpture is done.

So I found the color liked. Blue seemed to suit the thoughtful posing I saw the character in. I curled his toes and helped him sit gently on the ledge.  The drippiness of this particular clay lent to him naturally turning his head as though he were listening to something. 

I tried out a few backgrounds to see how I'd like them. Then I sat back in my chair across the room to see what that gave as an effect to the whole tray as well as just that little area where he would be.  Unfortunately this first set of the backgrounds just didn't quite do the trick.

But he needed a little something more... He just felt so bare.  And he was beginning to feel more like he was part of the stars,  like a little being that had come down from the stars. So I gave him a crown of stars made from some star shaped sequins.

After basking in the warm glow of the oven I gave him a little paint. I thought having a background with lines as well as stars would be fun, having lines looking more like astrological symbols and charts. So I used up a piece that I had already folded into a box (marked with sharp lines) and fit it into the new spot's shape. The background is actually made from colored pencil and is very similar to the one I made for the pink moon several moon exchanges back.

Meet my star being.  He watches over and listens.  He is ready to offer any advice you might need. He encourages us to gaze upon the stars and listen for the answer.

Thank you all for a lovely experience. I have learned a great deal and enjoy getting artwork from each and everyone of you.  I feel like I've made large strides as an artist. It's because of the project that I feel confident in my sculpting skills again. Thank you Peg!! 

JULY MOON #2

Have you heard the news? The forest is all a twitter with excitement! Down past Wise Old Oak, over Giggling Creek through Clover Meadow just a hop, skip and a jump to a patch of toadstools right there on  your left is 28 Lindsay Brown! A delightful Faery Couture shop is about to open it's doors!! All the faeries have been so anxious for the lottery drawing to see if they will be the lucky one to receive the very first appointment with the proprietress and grand seamstress, Miss Lynn. Who will be the lucky one? It truly is a grand day in the wee forest!!

I have to say I had so much fun with this month's altar for Lynn H. And was delighted that it was the 2 tall narrow spots perfect for a wee shop and Faery home right next door. In the tree 2 bluebirds of course! We all know what wonderful bows they can tie. Oliver Owl is the ever faithful nightwatchman. Made out of polymer clay and a wee bit of whimsy.

Cheers,
Cyn

SEED MOON 1

The Pink Moon by Gwen Gyldenege

More can be found on http://calmundertension.com/blog.html

It's alter time again!! 

This month's full moon is known as the seed moon or pink moon. For some reason, I've been struck by the glory of a moon dressed all in pink. See it gets the name pink from the ground phlox that blooms this time of year. And this is one of my absolute favorite times of year to photograph. I love gardens in spring. I grew up playing among the azaleas, Andromeda, bluebells and daffodils. 

Sweet Ruthie by Gwen Gyldenege Clematis by Gwen Gyldenege

Coral Azalea by Gwen Gyldenege

I love the way the earth smells when she's laughing in flowers. Persephone does leave a glorious and fragrant wake as she returns from Hades. There is nothing like the delicious smell of blooming azaleas, Andromeda  and clematis all mingling with rhododendron an the warmth of a sunny spring day or lingering upon every dew drop following a gentle spring rain.

The images you see before you are a several photographs I took in one of my favorite gardens.  If you play in the garden, you'll find magic & faeries among the bright blossoms & rich evergreens or deep underneath the cascading blossoms of the Andromeda bush.

Purple Azalea by Gwen Gyldenege

What I find fascinating is how different the scents are from each of these flowers.  The clematis really smell like chocolate.  The andromeda like a heavy, syrupy honey, and the azaleas are sweet and bright, like a sibling to the summer trumpet vine or the springtime honeysuckle found enveloping every early spring night in Kansas City, Missouri as the days heat wanes and the earth sleeps. I would love to travel the world as spring comes alive in every place just to experience the scents.  What would it be like to be right smack in the desert when all those cactai burst open?  Or how about standing in a Moroccan garden among the roses?  Or sipping your morning espresso beneath an arbor crafted of gardenia? It'd be quite a glorious hedge.  What other amazing scents could you discover?  If only to bottle these and wear them.  I would definitely wear scents of Azalea, Andromeda, or Honeysuckle.  

Andromeda by Gwen Gyldenege.

Tulip tree by Gwen Gyldenege

Andromeda by Gwen Gyldenege

Tulip Tree, Evergreens and Spring Sun by Gwen Gyldenege

Wow, glancing over this post, I love how colorful it is.  And, I realized how truely me it is!  I love it!  Color is a wonderful thing. I lived in a land of grey once and now choose to live in technicolor how ever I possibly can.

Back to the moon. When I began sculpting, I didn't intend her for the Alter project.  After last month, I decided I'd just play a little and if it worked out, great. If not, then I'd have a fun art piece and I would have taught myself to sculpt a face in paper clay.  I've done quite a bit of sculpting with pottery clay, sculpey and fimo, but paper clay seemed too soft.  With inspiration and courage found from classes with Michael DeMeng, Clarissa Callisen, Patricia Hedegaard and the Halloween book by Mr. Glitterville, I embarked upon the journey.   

Well, it was a bit soft. But, I just kept playing and out came this magical moon face.  Then, instead of keeping her just a full moon, I decided that I wanted her to represent both the full and the crescent moon.  She could be waxing or waning, depending on which side you observe her.  I gave her a long pointy nose and a very pointy up-tipped chin.  I tried the pressed in eyes like shown in Glitterville, except with mine, I added them with flattened circles of of clay and created eye sockets, just in case I wanted to add a glass eye.


Then, after bone dry, I began painting. Thank God I'd been through Michael DeMeng's classes where I learned his layering techniques to achieve the most amazing painted surfaces.  It was not easy to grasp how many layers go into a surface to achieve depth.  And, might I add the patience one really needs to have.  I do like the look, but often avoid it because I run out of patience. Well, fortunately, I happened to find an extra dosage bottle of art patience in my medicine cabinet. For this moon alone, I believe there are ~ 7 layers just for the main color.  Then, there are many more layers in the eyes, lips, etc. The nice part about layers is if you don't like the look, paint over and start again. There are actually green, blue, purple, pink, and many other colors in there.   The more I painted her, the more she felt like an Italian clown, part of the Pagliacci or even a marionette. I think my style is beginning to emerge. How lovely!

I couldn't let the moon go up without a rich and colorful night sky behind her. While resting from a minor injury, I picked up my colored pencils. Had such great fun with them on the shrinky-dinks, but haven't found the look I want on paper.  I really like a layered, depth, but didn't know how to create it.  So, off I went in search of tutorials from the great world of bloggers. Not many, but I found one that showed putting red behind blue and blue behind red. Huh. It looked weird on it's own, but I figured it would be interesting to try in my favorite colors - pink and aqua.

I started playing with the colors at hand. I was tickled to see the rich sky colors I could create. Just like so many nights I've tried to photograph, but my camera just won't pick-up.  Oh glory me, this is really exciting. Now, I have a way to create night skies.  I've been dreaming of this. And, all because I sculpted this moon, and just played really, do I know a new way to make a magical scene. LUCKY ME!

Snow Moon 6

I have always LOVED Faeries……….. Since I was child I believed in their existence! They were my playmates and friends!

Faeries have been on my brain, in my dreams and my days! For the very first time I attended FaerieCon West at the beautiful Renaissance Hotel in downtown Seattle! Faeries and Elves and Mermaids OH MY!!!!!! What a grand time we had.

I have chosen to highlight one of Cicely Mary Barker’s Flower Faeries for this month’s Little Alter. Cicely Mary Barker was born in Croydon, South London in 1895 and died in 1973.  Her Faeries were first published in 1923, which brought her international acclaim as an artist.

I love the little Faerie highlighted in a shadow box setting. It soon will be spring and Cicely Barker’s Flower Faeries always make me think of this time of year while I plan for my garden that the Faeries will love the new plantings.

Open your eyes and hearts to find a Faerie or two of your own, they make great friends!!!

Lynn Hranac