Rare Day On the Shore

Nature has always been associated with fantasy. The faeries dance among the mushrooms in the deep forests. Magical creatures come out of the sea, mermaids, monsters and eerie individuals with special powers, like this young lady http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkWgQqBpxBM She took what she wanted from some sailors who had decided they would kidnap a helpless girl. Little did they know that she had been lying in wait for them and luring them into her clutches. The myth was one that the simple Celts used to explain why bad things happen.

The unknown can cause fears, especially the unpredictable ways of nature. The typhoon in the Philippines is a good example of that frightening and unpredictable behavior. There are no good explanations of why natural disasters happen. We can only cope as they appear.

But nature has another side. Today, where the Pacific ocean meets the Sonoma Coast, it  was as peaceful and calm as a pond. The gentle rhythmic slap of the waves on the shore was as soothing as a lullaby. I felt like I was drenched in liquid amber sunshine. The warm breezes stirred the most wonderful feeling of well-being in my soul. Every one of my senses was teased with nuggets of pleasure.The smells, sights and sounds drove any unease from me and left me feeling at ease with the world and my fellow man. It worked a kind of special magic on me.

Take some time to build your personal fantasy, a life-affirming one. Seek out soothing scenes in nature and take it in, consciously storing the sensations for later. When the hard times come, you can fall back on your fantasy world to stoke your courage. You'll have the knowledge, deep in your being, that better times are coming. If you can hold on, change is only a matter of time.

Christmas Blessing

The Light of the Christmas Star to You
The Warmth of Home and Hearth to You
The Cheer and Goodwill of Friends to You
The Love of the Son and God's Peace to You

Passive Solar Building Practices

Off the topic of animals and Celtic fantasy...Let's educate people about Passive solar building practices. Make a sim city fossil fuels game with the ultimate goal being to  create a passive solar community that is really independent of fossil fuels. The game would teach people (especially children) about passive solar building and how feasible and necessary it is. Certainly ancient cultures took into account which way the sun was shining when they built their dwellings. There are some great passive solar house designs that were the result of a contest that was the effort of President Carter. The goal of the contest was to design homes that were affordable and that use no fossil fuels for heat. http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/SolarHomes/91HomesBook/West/West.htm Just a wee rant....

Kelpie

My dear mother always said we should leave a bowl of milk out for the kelpies. I wasn't sure what they looked like, but I thought they were cute pixies or something. They sounded kind of intriguing and appealing. I found out later that the kelpie was a much darker being, a man or a horse that lured maidens and children down into the ocean and ate them. You could tell that the friendly horse that ran up to you was a kelpie because it was wet and had seaweed in its mane. The 'man' form of kelpie would, of course, have wet hair and charm you with his beauty.Then he would lay his head in your lap. How tempting it sounds to run into a kelpie, as long as it wasn't too near the water! A wild and beautiful creature that lived in the sea, dark haired and charming. Perhaps you could tame it. Would you want to tame a wild kelpie?

The Seal Woman Song

The seashore was an important source of myth for the Celt. The seal was a creature that lived both in the water and on the shore. Shedding her skin, the seal-woman's noble beauty and mystical singing voice would attract men and make them love  her. Then the seal-woman would return to her seal skins and swim back to her home in the ocean, leaving her human lover distraught.

An Irish Blessing for Your Home this Thanksgiving Weekend

I don't know who wrote this, but it is a very nice sentiment.

God bless the corners of this house
And be the lintel blessed.
Bless the hearth, the table too
And bless each place of rest.
Bless each door that opens wide
To stranger, kith and kin;
Bless each shining window-pane
That lets the sunshine in.
Bless the roof-tree up above
Bless every solid wall.
The peace of Man, the peace of love,
The peace of God on all.

Animals are wise. The ancient Celts paid attention to their animals. Queen Boudicca released a hare from the folds of her gown to divine her victory against the Romans. Do you have special pets that are wise? What kinds of wisdom do they show? Some inspired rabbits that are wise in their joy featuring Bunny Erwin.