Alien World?

'Alien World?' photo by Ivar Marthinusen 

'Alien World?' is my name for this magnificent photograph . This strangely beautiful flat alien landscape looks like a lake of steaming gas which tumbles into a misty void with rainbow columns and a second sun. Is this a planet near Betelgeuse? Maybe it's in a 2 dimensional universe somewhere other? Or perhaps this is Tolkien's Middle Earth floating, hovering in between? What to you see?

It's actually on Earth. The photo was taken at a ski resort in Åre, Sweden by Ivar Marthinusen on Jan. 27, 2009. A view of the world from above atop a mountain... with sun, clouds, mist, snow, ice halo and a subsun. Thank you, thank you, thank you beloved Creator for this otherworldly, amazing, magnificent creation. WOW, I'm in awe!

Space Weather featured one of Ivar's photos on their home page February 1. The photo above was on a page with others taken on the same day. They say of the photos...

"Skiing photographer Ivar Matheson did everything right on Jan. 27th when he took the picture above. "I was at the Ãre ski resort in Sweden. It was a sunny day and the air was filled with ice crystals. This gave rise to an impressive display of luminous sun halos, sundogs, sub-sundogs, subsuns, upper and lower sun pillars and tangent arcs." The complete collection is a must-see."

~Bonnee

12/21 'The Light', Winter Solstice

 

'The Light', Winter Solstice at New Grange, County Meath, Ireland photograph by Alan Betson

Only on Winter Solstice each year will the sunrise create this beautiful warm glow in the depths of the chamber at New Grange. In complete darkness (the womb or void) one sits in quiet contemplation until the sun's first rays bring the renewal of sweet light and life.  A reminder of the all the blessing it brings for another season. The photo looks a bit like 'light at the end of a tunnel', or 'a star at the top of an evergreen tree'. Spectacular!

Message... the Light increases multifold this day. Open to receive the blessings which are pouring forth. Come to me I await you. Let us dance in joy and celebrate the Glory and Majesty of God. Be of good cheer for it comes. Rejoice!

 

Celebration abounds...

12/21 - Winter begins, the shortest day and longest night of the year. Winter Solstice (12:04 am UTC).

Yule, Pagan and Wiccan holiday which ushers in the return of Light. It celebrates the return of the Sun God. It is a time of enlightenment, when light is reborn in the womb of darkness to begin another cycle.

The lighting of the Yule log (usually oak or pine), is a traditional custom for the Holiday. It symbolizes and honors the Sun God. Some of the log is kept to begin next years yule fire.
During Yule homes are decorated with fresh evergreens, holly, ivy and mistletoe commemorating the coming of light and life. Fresh greenery in winter is seen as a magical tool of growth. Yule is a reminder that the ultimate product of death is rebirth. The celebrations include much laughter, singing, dancing and feasting.

The painting above left is called 'Winter Solstice Fire Lord' by Steven Lucas (2008). Amazing, powerful image. I hear him say "Come within, warm self and dance with me... renew." Magnificent! You can read Steven's blog or see more of his works at fineartamerica.com.

 

12/21 to 12/25 - Pancha Ganapati, Hindu festival celebrating Lord Ganesha the Five-Faced Maha Ganapati - Lord of Categories. The celebration is five days of festivities, feasts charity and gift-giving.  Daily chants, songs and bhajanas are sung and trays of sweets, fruits and incense are offered. After the daily puja, sweets are shared. Gifts are given to the children each day, who put them before Pancha Ganapati, all are saved to open on the the last day. The festival is centered on restoring peace, love, harmony and bringing joy and happiness. Image is Lord Ganesha. More at hinduismtoday.com.

 

12/21 to 12/29 - Chanukah the Festival of Lights, eight-day Jewish festival that begins on the eve of Kislev 25, celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, of purity over adulteration, of spirituality over materiality. The menorha (a nine-branched candelabra) is lit nightly, starting with a single flame plus the shamash on the first night. Two on the second and so on until all eight lights plus the shamash are kindled. The holiday traditions include eating foods fried in oil, such as  latkes (potato pancakes), dreidel games and "gelt," gifts of money. Image is a menorha. More at chabad.org.

 

12/21 to 1/9 - Soyala New Year Festival, Hopi, Pueblo and Zuni American Indian tribes consider this a time of purification and renewal. The Soyala symbolizes the second phase of Creation at the dawn of life. One of the most sacred celebrations which honors the beginning of a new cycle. Activities take place in the kiva and include reverent silence, fasting, humility and eating of sacred foods to achieve spiritual focus.  Prayer feathers are prepared and placed in homes, villages and in shrine sites around the ancestral homeland. Picture is of the Hopi Soyal Kachina who comes in December. More brownielocks.com.

May the Light renew you and yours on this sacred day. Happy Holidays!

 

The photo of the 2003 Winter Solstice sunrise at New Grange, Ireland is by Alan Betson, from Dunboyne, Co. Meath, Ireland. The photo was printed on the front page of The Irish Times newspaper on the 22nd December 2003. You can find out more about Alan at gaelicweb.com.

There is a webcast of the 2007 Winter Solstice sunrise at New Grange, Ireland available at newgrange.com.

~Bonnee

The Way 气韵生动

'The Way' CG animated ink drawing by Ching Huang

A beautifully created Taoist style 3D animated drawing.  Takes you from void  through creation examining the changing nature of all that is. Wonderful!

3D animation by Ching Huang, music by: LIU Xing

Ching Huang says, "The animation reflects an ancient Taoist view of the world as a constant changing process or metamorphosis of forms rather than seemingly isolate entities. And the law of changing is rather seemingly chaotic and spontaneous and yet under an elusive deterministic order which somewhat matches the notion of fractal in Chaos theory."

Tao (道, Pinyin Dào ) literally translated 'Way' is a metaphysical concept which describes the fundamental or true nature of the universe, world and all manifest reality. The Tao both precedes and encompasses the universe, it is holistic, active and ever changing. Tao is perfectly still and continuously moving. It cannot be described because there are no adequate words. Tao is perfect Unity. Although the Tao cannot be expressed nor controlled, it can be known and embraced. For further reading see Tao at wikipedia, Great Tao Foundation or for actual books see Sacred Texts - Taoist.

~Bonnee

The Blue and the Red

The Blue and the Red by Jonathon Earl Bowser Oil on Canvas-Panel - 24" x 16"

This striking painting speaks volumes to me. Creation, movement, life, ensoulment, light... as well Void, stillness, innerspace, non-existence, darkness. The Goddess of Darklight (dark matter, innerspace) - Christenya, the Mother, the womb of Creation. It speaks of energy and matter, light and darkness, duality and Oneness. The infinite nature of 'All That Is'. Of cycles - birth, life, death. Of time as Present Moment.  Fabulous!  Prints are available.

Jonathon Earl Bowser was born in Canada in 1962. He began drawing at age 8, painting at age 18, and graduated from the Alberta College of Art in 1984.

~Bonnee