Finding Light in Dark

I've been listening to Welcome Brigid by Katy Taylor. A collection of songs and prayers about Brigid and Mary.  It has helped me find a calm point during a chaotic time. 

As I write this today, it is Imbolc, the holiday that celebrates the goddess Brigid.  In ancient times, Brigid was important for she represented the return of the sun and warmth to the land.  Sheep begin lambing at this time and people attributed it to Brigit. 

Today, our lifestyles are less dependent on the timing of such things.  With the changing of the climate we are going through, it seems that the traditional time of celebrating Imbolc may need to change.  However, the spirit of the Brigid still has relevance in our modern lives.  We still have a need to honor wisdom, perfection, intelligence, creativity, poetic eloquence, healing, mystical knowledge and many of the other qualities the Brigid embodies.  Taking a moment this time a year to reflect on these qualities is one of the best ways to invite them into our lives.

Here is a poem by Lady Gregory, which was made into a song by Katy Taylor:

Poem to Brigit

It is what Brigit had a mind for
Lasting goodness that was not hidden
It is what Brigit had a mind for

Tending sheep and rising early
Hospitality toward good men
It is she keeps everyone
Who is in straits and in dangers

It is she puts down sicknesses
It is she quiets the voice of the waves
And the anger of the great sea

She is the queen of the south
She is the mother of the flocks
She is the Mary of the Gael

Happy Imbolc to everyone.  I wish that wisdom, healing and creativity finds a way through the dark to light your soul.

DoAn

Poem text: Lady Gregory from A Book of Saints and Wonders, c. 1972, Colin Smythe Ltd, UK—Irish stories, orig. pub. in 1906


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Spirit of Place

Red Fox Totem by DoAn

As I prepare to move from Central NY to Vermont, I cannot help but reflect on the importance of place in relation to my art.  I have enjoyed my time in Central NY, it has allowed me to discover a love for fiber, a talent for needle-felting and interest in spinning. Living in Central NY has confirmed that living a quieter, less urban life, one with fewer distractions and easier access to nature and living more simply is right for me.  So now, for the third time in my life, I find myself heading to Vermont.  It seems I cannot stay away...maybe the third time is a charm?  Who knows? The only thing I know is not to count on any certainty!

A few weeks ago, before I packed up my paints and paper and canvas, I completed a painting of a fox.  I had been exploring my relationship to animal totems, not based on any particular tradition, but solely through my own experiences in meditation and vision work.  The Fox is a prominent animal in my life, it often appears to me at times of great change, usually in relation to a change in location.  This time has been no exception.  During the time I was considering to move to Vermont I frequently saw a fox running in the fields behind my house or along the road as I drove.   The Fox, serves as a guide for Spirit of Place.  I know, when I see a fox, it means I am in the right place, at the right time, or, as in this case, as I contemplated moving, it reassured me that my decision was the right one.

So to honor the Fox and deepen my connection, I worked on some sketches. I explored the Fox in a less representational way, something more symbolic. The image here was the end result.  When I worked on the painting, I used paint made from the gemstone Serpentine.  I chose the paint as a way to further my meditation as I painted. Serpentine is used to help ground one's energy, clearing away blocks from chakras.  It helps in meditation and draws healing energy to problematic areas, often easing mental or emotional imbalances.   It seemed the right kind of stone to work with at the time. And working on the painting helped give me a sense of control over my situation once more.

I will connect with the Fox again after I arrive in Vermont...as a way of settling into my new space and to honor my good friend, the Fox, who has stayed with me through these many many many moves.

DoAn

Prints and Greeting Cards of Red Fox Totem are available by visiting my Gallery page.

Help in the creation of art, please consider donating! Just click on the link below:
DoAn Art is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the purposes of DoAn Art must be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.  
 
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All artwork, photos and text © Copyright 2005-2011 DoAn Art (Antony Galbraith) unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Antony Galbraith.

The Morrigan: The Dark Mother

The Morrigan: the Dark Mother

After six months of work, the painting "The Morrigan: The Dark Mother" is complete. This painting was an exploration of the dark side of life. By dark, I do not mean evil, but simply the negative aspects that when combined with the positive, complete the whole. I chose the Irish goddess The Morrigan to represent this exploration and added both archetypal and personal symbols to further represent the dark aspect of life and spirit.
The Morrigan, ancient goddess of the land, of fertility and death, became associated in more "modern times" with war. In triple aspect she was accompanied by Nemain (Frenzy), Macha or Badbh (Battle Crow). In her war aspect she appeared over the battlefield, inciting the warriors to become crazy with war-lust, and thus, causing their own demise. The Morrigan was not death herself, she was the harbinger of death, and so the Ban-Shee or the Washer at the Ford, became associated with her. She is the Kali of the Irish pantheon, the Dark Mother to whom we must respect deeply.
The Morrigan, represents the dark aspect that we all experience and possess. Everything emerges from the dark, the child from the womb, the day from night, and The Morrigan’s power exists within this place of potentiality. We also end the cycle by returning to the dark, day gives way to night, our bodies return to the earth, and so The Morrigan blesses us by releasing us from her realm and calls us back when it is time.
The dark aspect is not something to be feared, for to fear the dark, is to be afraid of our own nature. It is to be understood as part of a natural cycle of rise and fall, expanding and contracting, reaching out and turning inward, etc. The Morrigan offers us a way to understand and navigate the dark paths throughout our life, if only we overcome our fears and reach out to accept the “fruit” of knowledge she offers us.
DoAn

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DoAn Art is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the purposes of DoAn Art must be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. 


All artwork and text © Copyright 2005-2009 DoAn Art (Antony Galbraith) unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Antony Galbraith.