Here Comes the Sun

"Raven Steals the Sun" watercolor & ink

As the wheel of the year turns to spring, we see the day lengthen and sun fills the sky.  Here is a story about the arrival of the sun compiled from many of the cultures in the northern latitudes:

Long ago, at the beginning of the world, Eagle was the guardian of the Sun, Moon and Stars, of fresh water and of fire. Eagle hated humans so much that he kept these things hidden so humans had to live in darkness, without fire, fresh water or light. Raven did not like stumbling about in the darkness, so he came up with a plan. Eagle had a daughter and Raven being a handsome snow-white bird, pleased Eagle's daughter so that she invited him to her father's home. She hoped Raven would ask to marry her. While at Eagle's house, Raven found the Sun, Moon and stars, and fresh water inside a box. He waited for his chance to slip the box beneath his feathers when no one was looking. Then he took a brand of fire and flew out of the house. As soon as Raven got outside he placed the Sun in the sky. When the Sun set, he hung the Moon up in the sky and spread the stars around. He flew back over the land and dropped the water he had stolen, forming streams and lakes in the world. Raven continued to fly, holding the brand of fire in his beak. The smoke from the fire turned his white feathers black. Finally, when the firebrand began to burn his beak he had to drop it. The fire struck the rocks below and hid itself within them. That is why, when two stones are struck together, sparks of fire will fly out. Raven's feathers never became white again after they were blackened by the smoke. That is why Raven is now a black bird. 

The painting pictured here is currently available as prints. The original painting is being made into a box, not quite big enough to fit the sun, and I will post it here once it is constructed.

Click here to view print  & greeting card options

Like myths about Raven? Listen to this story Raven and the Winding River on BirdNote.

Happy Spring!

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.  
 
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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.

12th Annual Great Swamp Spring Migration Nature Art & Craft Festival

Please join me for featured acclaimed wildlife artists, environmental displays, “Talons” Birds of Prey, live music, children’s activities, crafts, food, and more!!

I will showing and selling my needle-felted wool sculptures and taking orders for personal pet portrait sculptures. 

The Great Swamp Conservancy's 12th Annual Spring Migration Art and Craft Festival.
8375 North Main Street, Canastota, NY 13032
May 1st and 2nd 10am - 4pm

Suggested donation: $3/adult, $1/child

I have been working very hard since the start of this year on these needle felted sculptures, I will be pleased to have the opportunity to show them to you! I hope to see you there.

DoAn 

Help in the creation of art, please consider donating:
   DoAn Art is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions in behalf of DoAn Art may be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.  
 
Subscribe in a reader
 
All artwork, photos 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.

Brigid: Igniting the Inner Fire

Brigid, whose name means “fiery arrow”, was beloved of the Irish Celts, and survived Christian conversion by becoming a Catholic Saint who is still revered to this day.  For the ancient Irish, Brigid was the goddess of all things lofty and elevated, such as high rising flames, upland areas, wisdom, perfection, intelligence, creativity, poetic eloquence, blacksmithing, healing, mystical knowledge, and warfare.  She was the daughter of the Father god, the Dagda of the Tuatha Dé Danann.  Some stories suggest that her mother was The Morrigan, the dark goddess, and with her birth she brought light from the void.


She was considered a solar goddess, and stories of her birth recount her rising from the earth into the sky along with the rising sun with rays of light emanating from her head. With every step she took flowers sprouted and birds sang and soared in the air.  Though she was associated with the sun, it was not the physical sun she represented, but the healing energy associated with it.  Snakes are sacred to Brigid, symbolizing  regeneration and the rising of the kundalini energy that exists and rising within each of us when we are healthy and balanced.

The blackberry is sacred to Brigid, and serves to symbolize her strong protective nature with its defensive thorns, and arching, tangled canes, as well as her healing nature by providing nourishing berries and herbal healing remedies.

Throughout Ireland, one can find shrines built over or near natural springs where people go to pray and receive her healing energy through her sacred waters. 

Imbolc was a significant holiday associated with Brigid.  In the ancient times this was a time to acknowledge that spring was not so far away, despite the tight grip winter still had over the land.  For the ancient Gaels, this time of year was particularly harsh.  It was considered the dead month.  But, despite the harsh winds and icy rain that fell, signs of spring could be found.  Ewes began to lactate, Cows gave birth, Ravens started to build nests, and green buds started to appear on branches and poke through the dirt.

Imbolc was important because it fell on an in-between time, a very powerful and sacred time for the Celts.  Brigid, if properly respected, brought the warmth of the sun, the flame of spring, healed the dead-time, and brought words to the poet’s lips.  Her miraculous powers could change water into ale and stone into salt. With boundless generosity she fed birds, animals, and the poor, and they all loved her in return.

Rabbits and Hares were also ancient symbols of spring.  The hare was an emissary of the Otherworld and a symbol of the in-between time, which made Imbolc a such a sacred time.  It is also the time of year that the footprints of rabbits and hares can be seen in the snow, as they search out the tender green shoots to eat and court their mates.  The snowshoe hare, with its ability to change its coat through the seasons, symbolizes the creativity embodied by Brigid. 

In modern time, Brigid can teach us to look bravely into the darkness and bear witness to the growing light.  It is a time of renewal, of re-affirming those resolutions we took at the beginning of the year to better ourselves. Now is the time to understand that no matter how difficult and dark things may appear to be, it will pass, for in order for darkness to exist light must exist as well. 

She asks us to apply creativity to our lives, to live with passion and in accord with our spirit.  A life that is full of passion, creative and healthy is blessed and burns with Brigid’s fire.

Brigid’s fire is the spark of life.

DoAn


Prints and Greeting Cards are now available at my Print on Demand page: http://fineartamerica.com/featured/1-brigid-doan-art.html

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

All artwork, photos 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.

Spring Migration Nature Art, Craft & Children's Festival

If you don’t have any plans this weekend please consider coming out to the wonderful Spring Migration Nature Art, Craft & Children's Festival! Learn details about the festival at www.gscincny.org.

In addition to the fun and educational events going on at the festival, I will have a table with my art, prints, greeting cards and newly created felted creatures. I hope to see you there!

Saturday May 2nd 10am-4pm
Sunday May 3rd 10am - 4pm

8375 North Main Street, Canastota, NY 315-697-2950

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.