SOLSTiCE and WiNTER is upon us !

HAPPY SOLSTiCE

There's nothing like...

a bonfire to celebrate a fire festival !

Its Winter Solstice and I began the bonfire a couple of hours before the climax... three times i re-stacked the large pile and the well pleased Sun put His hat on to thank us for the offering.

There's a tradition here at Twilight... On the eve of Solstice, the trees in the Winter Spiral are adorned with ornaments... They were handmade by me using heavy gauge copper wire and large decorative crackled marbles.

The marbles 'charge up' during the summer months when the sun is at His peak and then radiate out their energy in the fallow months. Apart from being festive, their primary symbolic function is to encourage the Sun to rebirth and provide us with another year of warmth and light.

Red and triangular shapes represent the element of Fire.

Dark blue & the Moon represents the water element.

Green and square shapes represent the element of Earth.

Light blue & Star represents the air element.

"White the sheep that gave the wool

Green the pastures where they fed

Blue and scarlet side by side

Bless the warp and bless the thread

May the charm of lasting life

Be upon your flocks in full

From the hill where they rest

May they rise both whole and well

Bless the man who wears this cloth

May he wounded never be

From the bitter cold and frost

May this cloth protection be

Now is walked the web we spun

Winter storms may rage in vain

Bless the work by which we won

Comfort from the wind and rain"

(old Scottish waulking song adapted by Susan McKeown)

Catching up... TREASURY FEATURE THANKS !

GRATiTUDE to all those folks who take the time to feature Brizel's goodies !

A lovely celestial Treasury called Moon and Stars, created by BitofEarth, which features one of Brizel Handcrafts's Silk Tapestry Table Pouches !

A delicious lacy Treasury called Feel of a Lady, created by the infamous DCHStudio, which featured a gorgeous violet star Czech glass button... from brizelsupplies !

A fun vintage item Treasury called Ready Set Go, created by amanda0h, which featured a lot of glitzy rhinestone buttons from brizelsupplies !

Another celestial moment for Brizel Handcrafts, with treasury mistress Peylu, creating a fun treasury featuring a Brizel Silk Tapestry Table Pouch.

Remembering our dead... ANCESTOR ALTAR 2009

Like any other time of year... the Wheel turns and the season changes bringing its unique and precious gifts...

By the time October draws to its end and depending on when the dark of the moon climaxes... I've unpacked and created a special altar dedicated to those who have passed on to the 'Apple Lands'.

My Ancestor altar items are otherwise stored in a very special cedar chest... something that I 'inherited' from Gabriel... the one who 'taught me' how to reach those who were departed from this world... those souls who meant something to me... or vice versa.

I look forward to restoring the chest one of these years...

This year I decided to create the Ancestor altar in the entry way to the dome... and I was very excited to pull from my fabric repositary...

... this wonderful Michael Miller spiral skull design.

Every year I prune some part of one of my olive trees and this year i had an immense main branch that needed to be cut... so i waited for the right day and here it is with a large array of ripe black Italian olives. I think my Italian ancestors are very pleased with this substantial offering :)

I have been building my collection of Day of the Dead statuettes for some years now. These are awesome ceramic pieces that are created in Peru and have become a major part of my Ancestor Altar.

A market woman holds flowers in the front of her skirt... she wears a hat that is home to a bird and her nest... at her back she wears a backpack full of flowers.

November 18th is my paternal grandmother's birthday... i was able to harvest some red & white roses from the Spiral Garden to honor her memory. I also made her a cup of lemon ginger tea !

A group of six musicians play music to keep the altar festive... my maternal grandfather was an oboe player and musician... I wish i had had the honor of hearing him play.

Animals surround the players: on the right... a mama cat holding her four dead kittens; on the left... a guardian angel cat wearing a top hat; at the front... a cat storyteller musician with his kittens; and a dog all dressed up for the occasion !

Death, Love and Chastity flanking a wedding couple representing my paternal grandparents...

There is also a photo of a self-portrait painted by my art professor & mentor, Garrett Boone.

A circle of village women keep another wedding couple company... photos of my maternal grandparents and also a pictorial representation of my twin sister.

Justice flanks a ceramic bottle of olive oil made in the Calabria region of Italy.

Photos of my feline daughters and sons: Pat, Blinks... Tillie and Tara... Moonstone, Tammy, Jezebelle and Chelsea... All precious to me... and I still miss each one of them !

This year, I was able to find a canine for the altar. I grew up with two Irish setters and today, I have three dogs in my animal pack and family. I hope they will be with me for a long time... even Dingo, who is currently 17 years old !

And finally a photograph of me... all dressed up to honor my Ancestors and sacred dead...

YOU are not forgotten and my deepest thanks... for you have made me a better person. As I celebrate your memories this winter may your love & wisdom find their way into my consciousness. HO !

***

I want to thank my Etsy friend Laura, from lkfarnsworth, for creating the Ancestor necklace for me and also to Lisa, from Cerublu, for another gorgeous hat. Please click on their store names to visit their wonderful shops !