Holy Solstice

This is my first post since Covid! I feel like I've just come out of a coma. Have a blessed Yule! Maryte Danute The Baltic bit is a bit wrong. Saule dies during the solstice and it is through our songs she is reborn. The Lithuanian word for December, Gruodis, means death as that is when the sun dies. THE DEER MOTHER * Written by Freyja Mae Lomas In a time long before Santa flew across our skies, it was the female reindeer who drew the sleigh of the sun goddess at Winter Solstice. Today it is not Rudolph that adorns our Christmas cards and Yule decorations but the deer mother’s beloved image. Because unlike the male reindeer who sheds his antlers in winter, it is the doe who retains her antlers, and it is she who leads the herds in winter. The Northern tribes in the Neolithic era depended on reindeer to survive, the earth was much colder then and the reindeer more widespread, the female reindeer was especially venerated by the northern people. She was the “life-giving mother”, the leader of the herds upon which they depended for survival, and they followed the reindeer migrations for milk, food, clothing, and shelter. Through the lands of Scandinavia, Russia, Siberia, Britain and across the land bridge of the Bering Strait, the deer mother was revered as a spiritual figure associated with fertility, motherhood, regeneration, and the rebirth of the sun. Her antlers adorned shrines and altars, buried in ceremonial graves, and were worn as shamanic headdresses. Her image was etched in stone, woven into ceremonial cloth and clothing, cast in jewelry, and painted on drums. And across the northern world, it was the Deer Mother who took flight from the darkness that engulfed the northern lands to bring light and life to the new. The red and white colors of Yule are thought to descend from Siberian legends. Folktales tell how shamans, dressed in red suits with white spots, would collect the Amanita Mushroom (the archetypal red and white mushroom) in large sacks, then dry them over a fire and deliver them via his reindeer sledge to the community as gifts at the winter solstice. The extra spring in the steps of the reindeer due to them feasting on these mushrooms is the reason the reindeer are said to have taken flight. While many historians observe the link between Santa’s garb and the red and white amanita mushroom ingesting shaman, few mention that it was the female shamans of Siberia who originally wore red and white costumes trimmed with fur, horned headdresses or felt red hats. The traditional ceremonial clothing worn by the Sami women healers of parts of Sápmi (Lapland), were green and white with a red peaked hat, curled toed boots, reindeer mittens, fur lining and trim. Sound familiar? The Reindeer was a sacred animal to our ancient ancestors of Northern Europe. The doe was seen as the giver of light and life and is linked to many ancient goddesses of these areas. Beiwe is a Sun Goddess of the Sàmi, the indigenous people of whom the Northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, and most of the Kola Peninsula call home. The Sàmi are reindeer herders who rely on the reindeer for their survival. In Sàmi folklore, Beiwe nourishes them and their herds and helps her people maintain mental health during the difficult months of darkness. In their stories of her, she flies through the heavens on the Winter Solstice with her daughter, Beaivi-nieida (sun maiden) in a ring of reindeer antlers flinging fertility and life back onto the land. At the Winter Solstice, warm butter (a symbol of the sun) is smeared on doorposts as a sacrifice to Beaivi so that she could gain strength and fly higher and higher into the sky. Rozhanitza, the Slavic Winter Goddess is associated with reindeer and the Winter Solstice. She is depicted as a horned Goddess with reindeer antlers. Folk art of red and white embroideries were made of her for solstice celebrations. On her feast day, December 26, cookies made in the shape of deer were given and eaten for good luck. Saule, the Lithuanian and Latvian goddess of light and the sun, took to the skies on the Winter Solstice in a sleigh pulled by antlered reindeer. She journeyed with the aid of her smith, who forged a golden cup in which to catch her tears which then transformed into amber. During her flight through the heavens, she threw these pebbles of amber, like little bits of sun to the world of humans below. She was a spinning Goddess who used her skill to spin the rays of sunlight onto the world. Horned Goddesses are found in the Celtic world also. Ellen of the Ways, in her most ancient form, was the Guardian of the Leys, the ancient track ways. As a Horned Goddess, she led the way on the migratory tracks of the reindeer. Esther Jacobson in her book, The Deer Goddess of Ancient Siberia, concludes that the deer images found throughout the early nomadic and semi nomadic cultures of the vast steppe and mountainous regions of Eastern Europe and Asia are evidence of a Deer Mother as the source of life and death. "We can learn from the wisdom of the past, a time when humans understood more clearly our tiny part in the cosmic web of life. and the necessity of honoring the earth and all its life. At this time when the shadow side of human nature once again seeks dominance through naked self-interest and the promotion of fear and hatred of others, let us remember and honor the ancient’s belief in the Reindeer Goddess, the Sun Goddess and the Mother’s Night when She both flies high in the sky and dives deep into the earth to nourish and promise a renewal of life in the coming spring. Though it may be dark now, the light will return”. In the cold Arctic north, it was women who were the original shamans and healers, and it is likely that their traditional wear is the true source for Santa’s costume. It is also very likely that they were the first to take shamanic flight with the reindeer on winter’s darkest nights. My hope is that these women are not forgotten today and that they live on in the Deer Mother who still appears on our Christmas cards, seasonal decorations, and tales of Santa’s flying reindeer. And while we may not recognize her, I believe some deep, old part of ourselves still remembers the original “Mother Christmas” who brought light and new life to this Earth. So, this solstice and Yule take a moment to remember the forgotten winter goddesses of old and their magical reindeer. Look out from your warm cozy home into the cold of the darkening eve. And on the sacred night when the sun is reborn, look for the Deer Mother flying across starry skies, tell the story of the ancient Deer Mother of old, after all it was she who once flew through winter’s longest darkest night with the life-giving light of the sun in her horns.

Long story shorter

   

I've had a lot of trouble lately with my kindle which I use for a camera. For over two weeks I wasn't able to receive photos from it which were sent to my e-dress.

 

But, I called my favorite 20-year-old, and John came over and fixed it. Then it was Halloween, and I'm just now catching up on my postings, so I thought I would share my most recent painting, and only my second acrylic painting of a black cat for Halloween. This painting was a long story, too. I had signed up for an online painting class, and about halfway through, the lady who was teaching the class lost the broadcast, and I was unable to get back on her class, but did manage to finish it.

 

Picture one is just the painting, 

and the other a 'Ready for Halloween' tableaux.

 

Enjoy November and stay safe!

 

Art Update

Finally finished my largest [18" x 24"] painting ever of
the Dene River in Scotland. I'll be entering it in several
shows. Here it is unframed:

 Framed:

When I was leaving Scotland, my friend Faracy Moon Grouse
gave me a hand-detailed print of "Persephone" which I also framed:

I gave her a copy of my hand-detailed print of "Mycale" [the
Mother of Gemini]: She was the first witch who was documented
for 'drawing down the moon.']
The photo is of another copy of the print. I often sell them at art
events I attend. Will start on my Lithuania and Sweden travels
as soon as I can catch up on everything else.

May 1-3

Found a few more photos from 4/30, but as you can see, the quality is not what it should be:

Performers at the fire arch.

More performers. That's George taking pictures to the left of the blue birdman.

Nice view of Edinburgh from the top of Colton Hill.

5/1

Arose before dawn to gather the May dew, and then slept in. Leaving in two days so I went to the Botanic gardens and Art Museum.

Just loved everything in this photo.

Purples all over

One of many waterfalls.

There are so many scotches in Scotland, but didn't have much room in the suitcase and still have 3 weeks to go in Lithuania. I was walking back on Clerk Street and found the last bottle of this and brought it home.

Laughfrog

 That evening Faracy had a few friends over for Bealtine, and they did divination, and we drank wine and had potluck finger foods, and then I suggested we listen to "Repent Walpurgis" by Procol Harem, followed by a screening of the perfect movie for May Day, "The Wicker Man." Happy May was had by all.

5/2

Last full day in Scotland. Faracy took me thrifting and sightseeing again, and to one of her favorite places, the river Dene. I'm working on a composite painting of these five photos. We had cappucinos and steak sausages for dinner. I gave Faracy one of my paintings, and she gave me one of hers. Then I packed like crazy for my flight to Lithuania tomorrow afternoon. 

Dene Folly

Dene gate

River Dene

Walpurgisnacht

Faracy had told me they celebrated May Day on 4/30. Now I get it. The event we went to started at sundown on Walpurgisnacht on Colton Hill. We arrived around 6 and found a great parking spot right away. It was a short walk to the gate and then up the hill with thousands of others to bring in the May.

That's Arthur's Seat behind us, and the Moon rose between us
Faracy was kind enough to lend me a purple, heavy wool coat. It was cool, and as it grew darker, it grew colder, too. My pictures could not capture all the entertainment and views in the dark. We had stunning views of Edinburgh and its surroundings from the top of Colton Hill.

This was one of the stages. [That's Arthur's Seat through the pillars.]
There was a bonfire site, and other event areas, and at least 100 performers.
 Excellent food and drink vendors.

With a Full Moon rising over Arthur's Seat, they crown the May Queen and King around midnight and then head from Colton Hill to Arthur's Seat for a May Day party.

We ran into a photographer who knew Faracy, and took some photos of us. His name is George Cairns, and he takes lovely photos of us and of Nature.
We stayed till midnight, but left before the rush, and had an easy time returning to Gladstone Terrace. We did not go to the after party. Here are two photos I took in her flat.

Faracy told me her grandfather has had her painting like this since she was a child.

Faracy's flat has really high ceilings as you can tell from her curtains.
I was shocked! They're a Wm. Morris print, too. She said they were there when she moved in.

 

4/28

4/28
Arose early for me and went to the Museums of Scotland. Hard to post all the photos, but these were my favorites in their genres.

My favorite museum piece of the whole trip. It was the only one you weren't supposed to photograph, but I took it anyway.
It would make a great jigsaw puzzle.

It's an ale hall after all.

Best stained glass.

Pictish stones

Superstitious

Where J K Rowling wrote the Harry Potter books

Public Library in Edinburgh

Library Ceiling

After a long exploration of the Scottish Museum and surroundings, I stopped here on Clerk Street for a proper afternoon tea.

Afternoon Tea at family shop on Clerk Street

Cost all of 10 pounds

While I was on the way back to Faracy's, I found a duvet and pillow case for 4.5 pounds of William Morris' 'Pomegranate' pattern. It's one of his oldest designs, circa 1864.

Pomegranate Pillowcase [by Sanderson's]

 I also found a space heater there for 8 pounds, but wasn't sure it would fit in my suitcase. 

4/29
Went back the next day and bought the heater. Faracy picked me up and Matty took the heater back to the flat for me while we went out charity shop shopping.

The ones left behind.

Went to over 10 stores, but didn't really find much. Did buy a jet necklace for 2 pounds. All that shopping made us peckish, so we went to a cute fish and chips place full of schoolboys, and enjoyed a classic UK dish. Next, on to the Secret Garden for onesies and perrenials.

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View of patio seating and plants. We enjoyed hot drinks inside and then off to pick up daughter, Maddy, and start BBQ.

Family BBQ : I could see my breath, but the sausages were really delicious. I said good night. After all I have a long event on Walpurgisnacht.

Scotland, Part 2

April 25 - 27

When we returned to her home, her Polish boyfriend, Mattis, made us "instant borscht"! It was delicious. They put me up in the big closet where Faracy's mom stays when she visits. It was cozy and warm. This Californian doesn't think 10 degrees [50 F.] is balmy.

4/25 Spent the next few days acclimating, relaxing, and touring Edinburgh. Scotland is very beautiful in Spring. And Nature was just beginning to bud, and branch, and flower when I arrived.

Have no idea what these are, but they're purple.

Slept in the first day and wandered around Clerk Street. Mattis sent me to an Eastern European Deli on that street next to a Charity Shop [where I found an excellent book, "Folktales of the Scottish Border." ] The Deli had wonderful rye breads, meats, Polish mustard, and cheeses. I went there every other day.

View of Arthur's Seat from Clerk Street

 Was really lost around Princes Street, and boarded a tram instead of a bus. A dapper Scotsman in a stunning black plaid suit offered to escort me back to the proper transfer spot and intervened for me with the ticket taker.
[Wish I'd taken a photo of him, but I did snap one of this darling child at a 'brass' concert inside the  Natl. Gallery on 4/26].

Just love her shoes! She was listening to the music at the museum.

My niece, Caira, would probably like to play this.

Fine Scottish Establishment - had to check it out.

That evening Mattis made us real beef Borscht with the dumplings. Really yummy. 

4/27

Season of the Witch opening. Faracy is a well-known artist in the Edinburgh art scene. She had organized this event with five other artists, and at the opening, several paintings sold in the 300-500 pound range, including this one which was also used for the poster for the event. [Red dot on card on the left means it was sold.]

 I had a few things with me I'd brought for the conference in Rome, and had set up shop in a window area and sold a print [dancing toads on the left] and an amber necklace for 50 pounds.
I was asked to speak about May Day and its customs and was happy to share my knowledge with the crowd for about 10 minutes.

The show was quite a successful event. There was even a belly dancer, and Faracy was well dressed for the show.