Winter Solstice

It's the first day of winter which is quite obvious to most of the country digging out of a blanket (comforter. . . featherbed...) of snow. People all over the world celebrate Winter Solstice as a time of rebirth, a new beginning and a chance to marvel at the power of transition from darkness into light. And although winter officially starts on the solstice, it won't last forever (as many of us here in Maine try to remember.) In mere days we will be getting more and more light with each and every revolution of the earth. This is the bright side, starting Tuesday, the days will start getting longer, leading to summer solstice, which will fall on June 21. That day will be the longest with the daytime lasting for about 15 hours compared to 9 short hours today.

It's Fall in New England

There's a chill in the air, yet a warm sun still shines on the early turning golden leaves.

At the equinox, the sun rises directly in the east and sets directly in the west. On the autumnal equinox, which in the northern hemisphere is circa September 21 (my birthday), Mabon, one of the eight solar holidays or Sabbats of Neopaganism is celebrated.

Also called Harvest Home, a recognition of the need to share and secure the blessings of the Goddess and God during the winter months. This holiday is a ritual of thanksgiving for the fruits of the Earth and is the second of the three harvest festivals, preceded by Lammas and followed by Samhain.

The name Mabon has only been applied to the neopagan festival of the autumn equinox recently; it was not an authentic ancient festival either in name or date. The name Mabon was chosen to impart a more authentic-sounding "Celtic" feel to the event, since all the other festivals either had names deriving from genuine tradition, or had had names grafted on to them. The autumn equinox was not celebrated in Celtic countries and what is known about Anglo-Saxon customs of that time was that September was known as haleg-monath or 'holy month'.

Summer Daze

Skiffs at the Dock Greeting Cards

Been Painting up a storm

Love these new long pads and canvases!
. . . and love those lupines!
These are all scenes within a couple of miles of home.
I truly do live in a beautiful place.