Blessed Samhain or Happy Halloween

On this night, the veil between this world and the next grows thin. The spirits of those who came before us are near, and they hear us when we call upon them. All part of the endless cycle, life and death walk hand in hand, side by side. Without one, we cannot have the other. As light begins to fade, we embrace the dark part of the year, knowing that without the darkness, the light is meaningless. Take time to reflect on what this new year means to you, and what it meant to those we call the Ancient Ones. May your ancestors look upon you proudly as you honor them tonight.

Winning Photograph

What a great way to start of the week, especially after last week. I won Grand Prize in The Lancaster News (Official page) Photo Contest and my photograph of Autumn on Andrew Jackson State Park lake won. It was used as the cover for Discover Lancaster Magazine.

Copies of photo may be purchased at http://fineartamerica.com/featured/autumn-reflections-howard-lawless.html

How my teenage daughter reminds me

Yesterday, I asked Kt to remind me when we got to the store to pick up dish washing soap. Of course she had to put in on a post-it note and then posted to my forehead. We went to the store with it there, but I did take it off before entering the store. Kt is such a joy.

Blood Moon at Samhain

Original 16x20 acrylic, mixed media.

At twilight, the betwixt time, the veil between the Otherworld and our everyday reality is thinning, as the Blood Moon before Samhain rises,  Raven a messenger of Irish/Celtic Gods and Goddess takes flight to bring messages from those who have traveled to the Otherworld, also called Tír na mBeo ("the Land of the Living"), Mag Mell ("Delightful Plain"), and Tír na nÓg ("Land of the Young"), Isle of the Blest or the Summerlands.

Blood Moon: A blood moon is also called a Hunter's Moon. It is the first full moon after Harvest Moon. The Harvest Moon is the full moon nearest to the autumnal equinox. In October, we see the Blood Moon travel through the sky. This moon is also called the Shedding Moon or the Falling Leaf Moon. Coming right before Samhain it's a time when the nights are crisp and clear, and you can sense a change in the energy around you.

Samhain (pronounced /ˈsɑːwɪn/ SAH-win or /ˈsaʊ.ɪn/ SOW-in),  in Irish, Oíche Shamhna and Scots Gaelic, Oidhche Shamhna, is a Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter or the "darker half" of the year. It is celebrated from sunset on 31 October to sunset on 1 November, which is nearly halfway between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice. Along with Imbolc, Beltane and Lughnasadh it makes up the four Gaelic seasonal festivals. It was observed in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. Kindred festivals were held at the same time of year in other Celtic lands; for example the Brythonic Calan Gaeaf (in Wales), Kalan Gwav (in Cornwall) and Kalan Goañv (in Brittany).

© 2013 Andy Lawless All rights reserved. My work may not be reproduced, copied, edited, published, transmitted or uploaded in any way without my written permission

 http://fineartamerica.com/featured/blood-moon-01-andy-lawless.html

Eye of the Hunter

Close up of a hunter eyes.Our neighbor's cat Morris. 

“In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats” Old English Proverb.

Prowling his own quiet backyard or asleep by the fire, he is still only a whisker away from the wilds. - Jean Burden

Cat: a pygmy lion who loves mice, hates dogs, and patronizes human beings. ~ Oliver Herford

 

May be purchased at 

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/eyes-of-a-hunter-andy-lawless.html?newartwork=true

Blue

Magickal/Magickal Color Correspondences

Associated Body Parts: Neck, throat, thyroid, lungs, ears, mind

Magical Association:  Increase wisdom, wealth, joy, opportunity, patience, peace, truth, loyalty, meditation, introspection, insight, happiness, fidelity, remove confusion, the ocean, elevation, calming, tranquility, spiritual development, protection, cold, stability, harmony, trust, cleanliness, order, long distance travel, higher education, political power, social standing, dealing with foreign cultures/countries, religion, philosophy, forecasting, broadcasting, publicity, expansion, luck, growth, sports, horses, legal matters, doctors, guardians, merchants, police officers, psychologists, charity, self-improvement, research, studying, reading.

Astrological Correspondence: Jupiter, Moon, Virgo, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces

Elemental Correspondence: Water

Color Theory Color Symbolism
Blue is the color of the sky and sea. It is often associated with depth and stability. It symbolizes trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, faith, truth, and heaven.
Blue is considered beneficial to the mind and body. It slows human metabolism and produces a calming effect. Blue is strongly associated with tranquility and calmness. In heraldry, blue is used to symbolize piety and sincerity.
You can use blue to promote products and services related to cleanliness (water purification filters, cleaning liquids, vodka), air and sky (airlines, airports, air conditioners), water and sea (sea voyages, mineral water). As opposed to emotionally warm colors like red, orange, and yellow; blue is linked to consciousness and intellect. Use blue to suggest precision when promoting high-tech products.
Blue is a masculine color; according to studies, it is highly accepted among males. Dark blue is associated with depth, expertise, and stability; it is a preferred color for corporate America.
Avoid using blue when promoting food and cooking, because blue suppresses appetite. When used together with warm colors like yellow or red, blue can create high-impact, vibrant designs; for example, blue-yellow-red is a perfect color scheme for a superhero.

Light blue is associated with health, healing, tranquility, understanding, and softness.
Dark blue represents knowledge, power, integrity, and seriousness.