Crows and Ravens - so much myth and magic surrounds them, folklore has branded them as creators and destroyers, bringers of hope, life, and of course in more modern times harbingers of death and doom - but what are the stories and reasons behind these beliefs?
I look at some of these ideas in today's Totem Tuesday video:
Personally I have a real affinity with Crows. I love to be around them, feed them and watch them interact. They are so incredibly clever, perhaps people were envious of their relentless ability to work things out! They have links to the past, the present and the future, making them seem out of time with the rest of our silly world.
They are now even thought to be mind readers, what a perfectly brilliant discovery that is!
Anyway I hope you enjoy the video, and please share with me your Crow Tales...
This video and blog, is all about Seeing Faeries...
Perhaps it's easy to say you 'don't believe in faeries' whilst walking down concrete streets, browsing in busy shops, or while watching TV in the comfort of your own home.
But that confidence may waver if you were alone in the woods at night, listening to the shrill hoot of an Owl, as the Moon casts an eerie shadow through the darkening trees. Or while walking through country fields on a midsummer evening, watching the Sun set over a sparkling lake, as long grass playfully bows to the warm breeze.
Most of us were brought up on faerie tales/lore of some kind, from Faerie Godmothers to the Tooth Faery, we believed instinctively as children of a world we couldn't quite see, but could feel.
We knew Faeries were real, even though the tales we heard were long polluted by disbelief and religious disapproval.
Faeries (which is just one name for our myriad of beings we class with one word, it would be like, say an alien visited Earth and upon seeing a mouse, declared all beings on Earth to be Mice!), have been downsized from Gods, Nature Spirits, Genius Loci, Protectors to Cutesy little mischief makers, tricksy trouble makers (oh which they really can be!) tutu wearing (which they can do, if they see fit!!), diminutive fancies...
Our Victorian and Post Victorian vision of Faeries is a far cry from how our ancestors would have seen and believed in them.
As our connection with nature dwindled and waned, as we foolishly began to see our selves as something different and 'better' than the natural world, dominating rather than co creating, the Fae folk and the Sidhe, slipped further through the veil. As the wild places were destroyed, so part of ourselves seemed lost forever.
But look at art and literature at the times when our destruction was, and is, at it's highest (such as the industrial revolution and recent times), Faerie lives on in our psyche, the Faerie muse seeps through the cracks of 'reason' and shines her beautiful light of magic and enchantment.
Although Faerie are of course seen as beings of enchantment, as the name Faerie comes from 'to enchant' or to 'be from the realm of enchantment', but let's not simply see them as the stuff of fantasy, and unnecessary frippery. Their magic is real and powerful, it's the energy flowing through the Earth, it's the power of creation and destruction. Their power can be elemental and raw, or it can wrap you up in a warm dream of other worlds and beautiful music.
They weave the song of existence through music, art and dream. If we allow ourselves to walk in awareness, to visit sacred beautiful places with an open heart, and sit and relax by a wise old tree, our connection with Faerie can awaken our senses, heal and ignite our souls and enrich our lives beyond our wildest dreams.
Evening.
So the plan is to do a new weekly show for 2013 called 'Totem Tuesday', featuring my favourite ever subject- Animals, and in this case Power or Totem Animals.
In this first week I'm looking at the magical and elusive Snow Leopard.
I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas...
BB x
Laura
Here are some exciting dates for 2013! I shall be running these workshops with Inspiral Mediums who are based around the Essex area.
Stay tuned for more dates throughout the year... I'm proud to be announcing some new titles as well as some older favourites! LAURA DALIGAN'S WORKSHOP DATES & VENUES 2013 - All abilities and experience welcome. Please click on the 'more info' links for much more info and to book.
Bookings open now - spaces limited.
Power Animals Masterclass -March 16 at The Cabin, Belmont Hall, Essex - more info Power Animals Masterclass - April 28th at Cuffley Village Hall, Cuffley, Hertfordshire - more info Power Animals Masterclass -August 17th at The Cabin, Belmont Hall, Essex - more info
Winter Queen by Laura Daligan
Faery Queens Workshop - May 12th at Cuffley Village Hall, Cuffley, Hertfordshire - more info
Faery Queens Workshop - August 3rd at The Cabin, Belmont Hall, Essex - more info
The Snow Queen by Laura Daligan
Goddess Morrigan Workshop - June 9th at Cuffley Village Hall, Cuffley, Hertfordshire - more info
Goddess Morrigan Workshop - September 7th at The Cabin, Belmont Hall, Essex - more info
The Morrigan by Laura Daligan
ART EXHIBITIONS & STALLS
I will be having a stall at The Avalon Faery Ball and Fayre 9th & 10th March 2013, where I shall be selling original paintings, prints, pendants and other unique gifts.
Here are some pictures from last years Avalon stall...
And also I'm exhibiting with the Pre-Dogma Art Group in Glastonbury on July 6th.
I hope I haven't overwhelmed you with information! I'll be announcing more workshops and exhibitions soon.
It's all very exciting and I look forwards to seeing you in 2013.
Happy New Year :)
My neglected blog is getting a bit of a face lift and re energise this year - firstly I'm sharing some of the Videos I've made since last posting here...
The First is the Oak Tree - named Duir in the Ogham Alphabet, pictured below:
Duir means door, and that tells you a lot about the folklore of the Oak...
Here is my Ogham Tree Faery Painting for the Oak - Duir...
And here is my video - feel free to leave comments and thoughts :)
