Under The Woods Faeries

Been to the land of faery….

admin — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 19:45:44 +0000

Now I am back. Wow. Fast and furious flies the time–100 years have come and gone.

Happy Celtic Bramble* Month!

“O, blackberry tart, with berries as big as your thumb, purple and black, and thick with juice, and a crust to endear them that will go to cream in your mouth, and both passing down with such a taste that will make you close your eyes and wish you might live forever in the wideness of that rich moment.”

~Richard Llewllyn (How Green Was My Valley)

A busy month for faeries!

It is fitting that September is the month of the snagging vine. There seems to be so many things pulling at my sleeves all at the same time. Should I go toward that pull or maybe this one…a thousand tinny tugs that can ensnare you in inertia. I feel like St. Anthony Tormented by the Demons, (etching by Martin Schongauer,ca.1480-90 ca.1480-90) But if you can free yourself, and you are very careful, the sweet berries are you reward. And I am certain they are made more delicious because of the battle you must wage against their thorny vine.

But September is a time to stand in the balance. To hold both the night and the day in equal measure–the yin and the yang, the celestial balance of light upon the hemispheres. Bask in the late summer’s sun. Harvest the fruits of your labor, fill the stores with your bounty for Mabon, the celebration of the Autumnal Equinox on the 23, will mark the slide to Hades and the barren darkness of winter. Let the cold begin.

THE VINE OR Bramble: The Equalizer

September 2 – September 29
Vine signs are born within the autumnal equinox, which makes your personality changeable and unpredictable. You can be full of contradictions, and are often indecisive. But this is because you can see both sides of the story, and empathize with each equally. It is hard for you to pick sides because you can see the good points on each end. There are, however, areas in your life that you are quite sure about. These include the finer things of life like food, wine, music, and art. You have very distinctive taste, and are a connoisseur of refinement. Luxury agrees with you, and under good conditions you have a Midas touch for turning drab into dramatic beauty. You are charming, elegant, and maintain a level of class that wins you esteem from a large fan base. Indeed, you often find yourself in public places where others can admire your classic style and poise. Vine signs pair well with Willow and Hazel signs.

http://www.whats-your-sign.com/celtic-tree-astrology.html#CelticZodiacAsh

FAERY BLESSINGS!

*Brambles are the thorny vines that include raspberries, blackberries, dewberries and loganberries.

Happy Hazel Tree Month

admin — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:27:43 +0000

With all the excitement about the new calendar I forgot to honor the Hazel Tree and those of you who are born during her month! If you were born between August 5 and September 1 you were born in the Celtic month of the Hazel Tree. You are the “knower.” Happy Birthday!

What a month of celebrations!

Hazel – The Knower

If you are born under the energy of the Hazel, you are highly intelligent, organized and efficient. Like the Holly, you are naturally gifted in academia, and excel in the classroom. You also have the ability to retain information and can recall, recite and expound on subjects you’ve memorized with amazing accuracy. You know your facts, and you are always well informed. This sometimes makes you appear like a know-it-all to others, but you can’t help that; you’re genuinely smart and usually know the right course of action because of your impressive knowledge base. You have an eye for detail, and like things to be “just so.” Sometimes this need for order and control can lead to compulsive behaviors if left unchecked. You have a knack for numbers, science and things that utilize your analytical skills. You like rules, although you are typically making them rather than playing by them. The Celtic tree astrology sign of Hazel joins harmoniously with Hawthorn and Rowan’s.

http://www.whats-your-sign.com/celtic-tree-astrology.html#CelticZodiacAsh

August is also the beginning of the harvest celebrations (see earlier post on Lammas) in the Northern Hemisphere. Enjoy the last whisper of sun before winter sets in for the long dark months.

Faery Blessings

Find the Hidden Faeries

admin — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 16:58:59 +0000

In the faery portraits I create, one of the art overlays is a magic photograph of the old Magnolia Tree in my yard– the Tree where all the faeries gather each year. Until I add this layer to the portrait all of the faeries remain invisible to the eye. But once it is dropped into place the faeries begin to appear. I have tried all sorts of other art layers in my work. Pine trees, hydrangeas, flower gardens, wooded paths, grass, weeds, sand, fireworks, …. the list goes on. Nothing. Interesting effects but not one faery hiding in the shadows. Faeries are often though to be like Disney’s Tinkerbell, but they are all manner of creatures. Look to the drawings of Brian Froud and you will see what faeries look like, or at least they look a lot like the ones that appear in my fine art faery portraits. They are never perfectly clear in the portrait, the edges are soft, and the faces mostly invisible, but the shape is undeniable– or at least undeniable to those who believe in faeries. For those of you who have more difficulty believing, I’ve sketched one so you can see one more clearly than the soft and tinny image in the August Faery Portrait in my 2012 calendar.

Little flower faery made visible

Someone asked me if I put them there, the answer is no. I don’t put them there at all, I just look and find them. I am certain you will be able to find all sorts of creatures once you start looking. Enjoy faery hunting!

Hmmm… I wonder… If I was to make glasses out of slides of my magnolia tree, would I be able to see faeries as I walk through the garden? I’ll get back to you on that!

Faery Blessings.

Pre-order your 2012 Faery Calendar!

admin — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 22:43:33 +0000

http://megacalendars.com/Avalanche.html?sort&filter_id=12

Please pass the word!

Faery Blessings!

The New Faeries Calendars have arrived!

admin — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 20:19:38 +0000

Avalanche just sent me my copies of my 2012 Faeries Calendar and they are beautiful! I hope they will be in stores everywhere! If you can’t find it near you contact Avalanche and see if you can get one from them… Call Perfect Timing, Inc. at 800-262-2611 and order Item # 7001415. I have one for each of my faeries and will be sending them their copy today! I am crazy happy! Hope you love it! Or click on the calendar cover and order it directly through Amazon! Enjoy!

The Faeries are out in the world!

So you can see some of the faeries within!

Sometimes in taking these portraits when I finish developing them, other faeries in the background appear. You will have to look closely to see if you can find the hidden faeries in the portraits!

Can you find this faery peaking under the wing of January's faery?

Can you find these little creatures?

Happy Hunting!

Faery Blessings

Finding Faeries in the Garden

admin — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 19:39:17 +0000

Can you see the faery behind her?

Getting the next 30 orders ready to fly home, and as usual during the magical phase of my faery portraits a faery appears. Some are harder to see than others, but this little faery wanted to be seen!

And there she is, arm outstretched, holding her magic wand....

Never this clearly captured! Isn’t she beautiful? I wonder what blessings she will bring this little one sitting under the old pine tree?

Blessings

Happy LAMMAS!

admin — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:31:09 +0000

I was born at sunrise on the 31 of July, the eve of the high faery holiday of Lammas. My first night was spent under the glow of the Lammas fires where pagans danced and celebrated the harvest festival in joyful lamentation over summer’s end. Lammas marks the return of winter’s shadow sun. You can feel it in the air– that hint of winter’s cold beneath the hot August sun. It is the traditional time of craft fairs! And summer harvest fairs and potluck dinners!

The bittersweet celebration of the harvest

To know more:

http://www.leyline.org/cra/articles/lughnasadh.html

http://www.sacred-texts.com/bos/bos050.htm

http://www.asiya.org/sabbats/lammas.html

Symbolism: First harvest festival; aging of the Deities, honoring of Sun Gods

Symbols: Corn dollies, cornucopia, grains, the Sun

Foods: Breads, grains, potatoes, summer squash, cider, blackberry pies and jellies, berries, apples, roasted lamb, elderberry wine, meadowsweet tea

Plants & herbs: Ash, camphor, caraway, fern, geranium, juniper, mandrake, marjoram, thyme, sunflowers, wheat

Incense and oils: Allspice, carnation, rosemary, vanilla, sandalwood, aloe, rose

Colors: Red, gold, yellow, orange

Stones: Aventurine, citrine, peridot, sardonyx

Animals and mythical beasts: Roosters, calves, the Phoenix, griffins, basilisk, centaurs

Some appropriate Goddesses: all grain, agriculture, and mother Goddesses; Alphito (Greek), Ashnan (Sumerian), Bast (Egyptian), Bau (Assyro-Babylonian), Ceres (Roman), Demeter (Greek), Gaia (Greek), Ishtar (Assyro-Babylonian), Isis (Egyptian), Libera (Roman), Persephone (Greek), Rhiannon (Welsh), Robigo (Roman), Tailtiu (Irish)

Some appropriate Gods: all grain, agriculture, Sun, and father Gods; Cernunnos (Celtic), Dagon (Babylonian), Lahar (Sumerian), Liber (Roman), Llew (Welsh), Lugh (Irish), Neper (Egyptian), Ningirsu/Ninurta (Assyro-Babylonian), Odin (Norse), Osiris (Egyptian)

Decorations: Corn, hay, gourds, corn dollies, shafts of grain, sun wheels

Activities: games, country fairs, making corn dollies, baking bread, gathering fruits, visits to fields, orchards, lakes and wells.

Spell/ritual work: Offering thanks, honoring fathers, prosperity, abundance, generosity, continued success, connectedness

Faery Blessings

Queen Mab

admin — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 19:50:11 +0000

The Queen of dreams in her poppy crown

She is the powerful queen of dreams and can make your wishes come true– if you are worthy; or she will play mean tricks upon you if you are not. She is to be feared and avoided by bad people, but can be called upon by those with a pure heart. Be aware of your intentions when you make your wish. Do you want to succeed because you desire that as a fulfillment of your dream, or do you want to succeed to spite another? If your wish is a dream-come-true based on spite, Queen Mab will grant your wish and send it back to you wrapped in such suffering and turmoil that you will forever regret your desire.

Queen Mab in her poppy crown represents rest, beauty, and success.

Blessings

Holly Celtic Tree Month

admin — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 12:12:00 +0000

The Faeries hava a surpirse for you July 39th!

Holly – The Ruler
July 8 – August 4
Among the Celtic tree astrology signs the Holly is one of regal status. Noble, and high-minded, those born during the Holly era easily take on positions of leadership and power. If you are a Holly sign you take on challenges easily, and you overcome obstacles with rare skill and tact. When you encounter setbacks, you simply redouble your efforts and remain ever vigilant to obtain your end goals. Very seldom are you defeated. This is why many people look up to you and follow you as their leader. You are competitive and ambitious even in the most casual settings. You can appear to be arrogant but in actuality you’re just very confident in your abilities. Truth be known, you are quite generous, kind and affectionate (once people get to know you). Highly intelligent, you skate through academics where others may struggle. Because many things come to you so easily, you may have a tendency to rest on your laurels. In other words, if not kept active, you may slip into an unhealthy and lazy lifestyle. Holly signs may look to Ash and Elder signs for balance and partnership.

http://www.whats-your-sign.com/celtic-tree-astrology.html#CelticZodiacAsh

This is my Celtic sign, I was born during the Holly Tree Month and oh, if only the description was 100% accurate…lol! I can hear my college professors laughing…’skate through academics’… true only if they were dull blades on thin ice!

Ah, but the faeries are not done laughing yet! They have picked a date on my faery calendar, a day to grab our attention. They made July ’39′ invisible to me, Tom, and two very skilled proof-readers until after the calendar was printed and distributed. They insisted, so now it is on the calendar… it must be a special date for them and for us. Watch closely for Faery Gifts and Faery Shenanigans! It is a day of laughter for the citizens of Faery and you may be the target of their tricks or their blessings! Or this may be the night they will reveal themselves to you. They have our attention… now what?

What happens to you on July 39, share with us!

Faery Blessings

First Midsummer Faeries

admin — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:23:32 +0000

the first little faeries of the summer

Our 2011 Faery Festival was wonderful; the yard was full of faeries flitting about enjoying the day. We had so many come to the festival that we may have to move it to a much larger place!

This little elf and faery stopped for a moment to let me take their photograph. When I developed the image, I saw that two more faeries had joined them in the garden, can you see them? I am always surprised that they are clearly there in the photograph, but were completely invisible to me when I snapped the photo. Can you see them? I’ll show you!

This is the beautiful faery sitting quietly in the background...

I did not add her or draw her or did anything but develop the image with my usual technique… is it magic?

Little faery creature in the garden...

He seems like a joyful little elf…

Not every Fine Art Faery Portrait reveals the faeries that are in my garden, but most do… It’s so much fun to find them!

Faery Blessings!