musings from the marsh...

A Sunday Stroll & A Woodpecker...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Erin) — Thu, 16 May 2013 07:34:00 +0000

Sunday was Mother’s Day. I am not a mother. No kids. Over the last several years I have had the random friend ask me if I want to have children. My answer is ‘no’. That window closed in my mid-30’s. Let me correct myself there…I ‘closed’ that window in my mid-30’s. Having children is a huge commitment. Mentally, emotionally, financially…in every way possible. I am on the verge of turning 49 this year, and I have had a couple of people ask me if I’m going to have a baby now. Again, no. I am not equipped to raise a child these days. Not only would the pregnancy be hard on me physically (my various ailments), but on that same level I don’t think it would be fair to a child for me to have one now. If nature would allow me to get pregnant, and have a healthy baby, I wouldn’t be able to participate in their life like I once could. Hell, I would be in my upper-60’s when they graduated high school. I would want to be extremely involved and present in their life. Support them in their endeavors. At my age that would be difficult.

I spent a portion of Mother’s Day at work. It was rather busy, but I expected it to be. I spend the bulk of my time as a cashier, so I witnessed the last minute purchases of a number of fathers, husbands, and children wanting to make their wives/mother’s day special. In the craft store I work in we have a large floral department. We carry a wide variety of faux flora, and much of it is really pretty…for fake flowers. Among the customers were a number of customers around my age and older who were buying flowers for their mothers. Mothers that had passed. The flowers were meant to help carry their thoughts of their mothers through the veil. To impart their feelings of love, and to let their moms know that they are not forgotten. When one reaches a ‘certain’ age, I think individual mortality comes into mental play. One connection had when one is young graduates to a connection when one is older. The proverbial light at the end of the tunnel looms closer, so the connection with parents who have passed is rekindled on a foundation of mortality. We all carry memories of family and those close to us, but when we get older we think about life in a different way. Perspective shifts. Those flowers purchased on Mother’s Day acknowledge that shift.

After work I did what I usually do, which is spend a bit of time unwinding. After taking some time to decompress, I decided to do something that I haven’t been doing enough of as of late. Going for a stroll. It was a lovely day out. Relatively warm with a breeze. It was also at the point where the afternoon was giving way to the evening, so it wasn’t too bright. Very relaxing, and my preferred light level for my flash-less photos.

As I walked down the sidewalk leading from our front door, I could hear the sound of hammering. What I perceived to be hammering, anyway. There are handy men around from time to time, taking care of odd jobs for my neighbors, so I assumed it was one of them. Then I remembered that it was Sunday, the universal day off for most.

I set a trajectory for the picnic table on the far side of the pond. My shortest path there took me across the grass area that surrounds the pool. The hammering sound got louder with each step I took, and seemed to be coming from a big green tree off to my right (in the above photo, it’s the tree on the right). I quietly walked to the tree, and ducked around some hanging moss to walk beneath the branches. I first heard fluttering, and that was followed by a rather large bird that flew down to rest on a low branch. I then heard some quick hammering, followed by more fluttering. The strong, continual hammering I had heard from before was higher up in the tree. Not one, but two woodpeckers were hard at work. One above, and one now in front of me. Fumbling with my camera, I tried to snap a decent photo of the bird on the lower branch. I would move a little to get it in sight, and it would quickly hop out of position making me have to adjust mine. This little game ended when it spread its sizable wings and flew off.

The loud pounding from on high was pretty constant. I turned my attention to the woodpecker hammering away at the top of the tree. Luckily, the branches of the tree are spread in a way that makes seeing the top easy. I could clearly see the bird, its head bobbing up and down as it forcefully struck the wood and bark. A chunk of tree would fall here and there, a couple of pieces narrowly missing me. When I think of a woodpecker, the first image that springs to mind is “Woody the Woodpecker”, star of cartoons from the 1940’s. As for actual woodpeckers, this sighting was my first. In the past I have heard them from a distance, but have never been in a proximity that allowed me to see one. Until this particular Sunday. I became determined to capture an image of him/her.

(To listen to the video, pause the music on the player located at the bottom of the blog page.)

I first tried to capture a still photo. There was an extremely low probability that I would be able to get a decent shot as I didn’t have the tripod with me, and a camera in my hands is definitely not a ‘steady cam’. After snapping a couple of fuzzy images, I decided to try a different tack. Video. As quietly as I could, I moved around to the opposite side of the tree’s trunk, and found a spot where the setting sun cast a good amount of sunlight on the winged worker. ‘He’ continued to hammer away, pausing here and there to feast…I decided that he appeared to be looking for food. Large chunks of bark covered wood continued to be cast off. The bright streaming light made the woodpecker quite visible to my camera lens, and I was able to make out the bright red crest of its head. It looked like it was wearing a faux hawk. Which reminded me of ‘Woody’. The sound on the video above does not show the hammering to be as loud as it actually was. In person it had the firm thud of a hammer head with that echo-y quality noises of that kind have.

Once I was able to view the video on my computer, I could really see the red on its head. I decided to do some Googling to find out exactly what kind of woodpecker it was. My search was a quick one. The rather large bird is known as a Pileated (crested) Woodpecker, and they are known to get between 16 and 19 inches in length. They are fairly common in many parts of the US. My assumption that he was pecking for food may not be far off the mark. As far as protein, they are known to like beetle larvae of a wood boring variety, and carpenter ants. They also like nuts and berries. They are known to make multiple entranced, large nests in dead trees. The tree this woodpecker was pecking was quite alive. Once I saw the close-up images of the Pileated Woodpecker, I could see Woody’s resemblance.

I continued on my stroll. Had an odd encounter with a young boy (looked to be around 10 years old) who was kicking around a soccer ball and a football. I said ‘hi’ to him, but he didn’t even give me a glance. Just continued kicking the balls. Got to the picnic table. As peaceful as ever. I acknowledged the path leading into the wooded area skirting the marsh. Every time I visit the picnic table I give a nod to the path. One day I’ll venture down it, and see where it leads.

As I retraced my steps back home, I didn’t encounter the boy again. Guess he got tired of kicking balls to himself. As is the usual around that time, the calm breezes carried muffled voices out to me. Voices coupled with the bustle and clatter of dinner being prepared. The only member of the living I met on my way home was a cat. He seemed fairly calm, and at first meeting didn’t seem to be effected by my presence. I tried to snap his picture, but he proved to be a tad elusive. He would let me get close, but not too close. Of the few pictures I took, the one above is the least fuzzed out of the lot.

I arrived home feeling calmer and refreshed. Communing with nature, and taking pictures…sublime.

The Light Half...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Erin) — Mon, 06 May 2013 02:07:00 +0000

The marsh gets greener by the day as we now enter into Summer. I took these pictures on Beltane, and a lovely evening it was. The tide was in and higher than usual during light hours, so I was glad to be home to take some photos. The tidal creek behind the condo takes on a completely different life when it is full of green brackish water.

The day was overcast, and pleasantly cool. A strong breeze danced through and around the flora. Other sounds mixed with Gaia's breath: the rustling of unseen creatures; the distant droning of a lawn mower; the unintelligible murmer of voices issuing from one of the screened in porches facing the creek. I purposefully stayed to the bank of the tidal creek. I saw no other people. There were no cars passing by. On one side were condos. On the other was nature...soothing and alive.

The Earth is in transition, entering into the light half of the year. I feel that I'm in transition, too. I have had my physical aches and pains, and they have been in full force this past week. I have been dealing with them as best I can. After all, I will always have them in varying degrees. Pushing through and dealing with them as part of day to day life has proven much easier. The point of my focus is key. That, and my mind set. The main tool in my personal arsenal is my creative side. The side that occupies the larger part of my self...of who I am.

Art projects that I have had waiting in the wings are now becoming works in progress. It feels good to be flexing my creative productivity.

Beltane. A time of rebirth...fertility. That encompasses so much. Much more than the obvious. 'Fertility' can be experienced on so many levels. Yes, there are the obvious "birthing" methods, but there are others, as well. The realms of the mind and the soul. Two realms that, for me, are tapped into on a daily basis. For me it is important to build and to grow. To expand on levels that are important to me.

Hoping everyone had a Blessed Beltane, and/or May Day.

Beltane & May Day...2013...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Erin) — Thu, 02 May 2013 03:46:00 +0000

Cheap Trick's "Live at Budokan" 35th Anniversary Concert...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Erin) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 03:45:00 +0000

A couple of days ago, I learned that Cheap Trick was going to be playing a gig in honor of the 35^th anniversary of their mega-hit album, “Cheap Trick Live at Budokan”. Very cool. Even cooler, the performance was going to stream live online via the web site, ‘Livestream’. (The only other live event I have tuned into on the net was the ’09 performance of U2 at the Rose Bowl that was streamed on YouTube…a great show it was.) I have heard of Livestream, so I followed the link on my Facebook newsfeed. After a quick sign-up (a requirement for watching the Budokan show), I was good to go. Sunday, April 28^th, 8:00 PM/EST, at the John Varvatos Bowery boutique in New York City.

I had to work Sunday, and didn’t get out of there until a few minutes to 8:00. I was a bit ‘late to the party’, but tuned in when Robin Zander was intro-ing “Need Your Love”. Before I get to my mini-review of the show, I’m going to travel back for a moment…

In the late 1970’s to 1980’s, I was in high school. Music was of great interest to me, and I can safely say that while some teenagers were spending time glued to the television, I was frequently listening to music while drawing, etc. Some of my favorite bands during those days were RUSH, The Who, and…you guessed it…Cheap Trick. The first album of theirs that I could call my “intro” to them was, “Heaven Tonight”. It was the 1979 release of “Live at Budokan” that cemented their position on my favorites list. The “Dream Police” album (also released in 1979) didn’t hurt either.

(Left to right: Robin Zander, Bun E. Carlos, Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson)

Seeing the Facebook announcement for the anniversary gig reminded me of the time I had seen them in concert. Initially, I remembered catching them at the Fox Theater in Atlanta, Georgia, for their “Dream Police” tour. I saved a number of old ticket stubs from back then, so I dug them out in search of the Fox stub. It appears that I misplaced it, but I do have the stub from another show I completely forgot about. It is for their “All Shook Up” tour in 1981, at the Omni.

My memories of seeing them in person are great ones. They really knew how to put on a show. All were skilled musicians, and Robin had great pipes. (He was extremely easy on the eyes, too.) They hold a permanent spot on my short list of great concerts.

Back to Livestream, and the concert of last night. As I already mentioned, I had to work Sunday afternoon, so I had to tune in to the show already in progress. Judging by a set list I found, I came in a little more than halfway through. The feed quality was better than expected. The sound was also good.

(Left to right: Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander, Daxx Nielsen (in back), Tom Petersson)

As all of us do, the boys have aged. Rather well for the most part. Rick Nielsen (guitar) still looks as geeky as he used to, and is still rather hyper on stage. He bounded around, his bejeweled bow tie that said ‘BUDOKAN’ glinting in the stage lights. Tom Petersson (bass guitar) still looks pretty much the same, and was quite a bit more reserved than Nielsen. Then there was Robin, one of my huge fan-crushes from the past…

(Robin now...)

Robin Zander (lead vocals, guitar) has aged very well. For 60, he looks great. Still has maintained his stage persona. Still has his long blond hair. He hasn’t ballooned like other guys of his age. He’s still a good looking guy. Now for his voice…

(Robin then...)

I was doing some date checking via Google, and came across a Rolling Stone review of the streamed show. Their assessment was glowing. I am assuming they were at the actual venue, and didn’t watch it online like I had. That being said, it pains me to say that I was a little disappointed. “Need Your Love” was the first song I saw/heard, and there were times I found it painful to listen to. There is a bit of falsetto-ish singing Robin does during the tune, and…well...let's just say that some sour notes were hit. He did okay on other tunes. I just think it would’ve been wiser to stick with songs within the range he can still handle. Maybe he was having an off night. I dunno. Seeing him on stage caused me to mentally regress a bit. To remember seeing him in the past. Looking down on him from the Fox Theater balcony, trying not to drool on the fans below. In the overall sense, I was glad to catch what I did.

There was one major discrepancy in my Cheap Trick experience. Bun E. Carlos was not in attendance. The gentleman who was there pounding the skins was Rick Nielsen’s son, Daxx. He did a fine job, but Bun E.’s absence left a hole. I think it did for a lot of long time Trick fans. I did some more Googling to try and find some explanation. All the info I found was from Bun E.’s side of things. He still considers himself a member of the band, and I didn’t find anything to say the others didn’t feel the same way. There does appear to be some bad blood though. Don’t know what it would stem from. Bun E. says that they asked him to take a hiatus, and so far it looks to have lasted a couple of years. Trying to find any clues as to what the feelings of the rest of the band are was like looking for the proverbial needle in a hay stack. I won’t lose any sleep over it, but I am curious to know the whole story.

My little criticisms aside, I’m glad I got to catch what I did. Cheap Trick is still rockin’ it out...hopefully, they will get the entire original line-up together some time in the not too distant future...

Earth Days & Images...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Erin) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 04:31:00 +0000

Another day draws to a close here on the marsh. Spring has definitely sprung, the temperatures wavering between the low 60’s, and upper 70’s. Today was another day in the trenches at my part-time gig. I’m looking forward to a decent night’s sleep…tomorrow is a day off. A day off with predicted thunderstorms. 90% chance of rain according to the weather scan channel. I dig rain, so I’m looking forward to it. For me, rain and productivity go hand in hand. I’m in need of some creativity.

Trying to get a grasp on my daily schedule since becoming a part of the working world again has proven slightly daunting. My work shifts don’t usually last more than 5 to 5 ½ hours, but they are placed in the scope of my day in just the right way to make scheduling my time difficult. Three main areas of my life are: Work; Housework; Creative Time. So far, the first two are biting into the third…which, of course, is what I deem to be the most important area. I have had a few art projects waiting in the wings for weeks, and my blog hasn’t seen much action for just as long. It’s my blog that I am tackling first. Time to travel back a bit to grab my formula for posting on here…back to my blog’s beginnings. Not regressing…just retrieving the original essence to put it back into play.

(Bird houses, Camilia blooms, and new fern fronds.)

I have always posted what I have been moved to post. That has never changed. What did change was a slowly evolving ‘expectation’ I placed on myself, in the guise of what I thought other people expected. Certain posts that I felt readers had come to expect from me. I claim responsibility for unintentionally nurturing this ‘expectation’. For the most part, I think it to be self-imposed. (I could go deeper into trying to relate what I perceive this “self-imposed” expectation to be, but that would just be tedious for me to write, and for you to read…moving on.) The change will probably be noticed more by me than anyone else, but it needs to happen. This blog is important to me, and it needs to be the organic creature it once was.

Last Monday (the 22^nd) was Earth Day. A day set aside to give props to the planet. One measly day. I look at every day as Earth day. After all, the Earth doesn’t live off of us…

The various photos in this post were taken over the last couple of weeks. Gaia has shown several of her moods in that time. Cool, warm, sunny, rainy, breezy, windy, calm. I captured some of them during my strolls. Strolls that are becoming more regular again, thankfully. It doesn’t matter how long or short my walks are, just as long as I take them. Walking outside and communing with nature for even a few minutes does wonders for my mental health. A little nature induced stress relief and relaxation should be a regular part of anyone’s health regimen…in my opinion.

(This photo and the one above it were from an overcast, and rather windy, day on the marsh. The strength of the wind was seen in low lying chop on the water's surface.)

I’m posting some of my photos from the last couple of weeks in much belated honor of Earth Day…and every other day…which I also think of as Earth Days…

(These shots are of a blooming Sago Palm by the condos pool area. I think this is in the later stages of the bloom cycle...strangely beautiful, it looks like an alien face-hugger might come flying out.)

(Radiant sun, Dogwood blooms, blades of grass.)

(Spanish Moss covered tree, Honeysuckle blooms (when I was young I would pinch off the end connected to the flower's stem and pull the stamen out...the drop of "honey" clinging to it was so sweet), and a mottled brown leaf that looks to be from one of the many Magnolia trees around here.)

(No stroll would be complete without paying a visit to the marsh side picnic table on the far side of the pond.)

Alpha Visitors...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Erin) — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 06:20:00 +0000

Shadows. Dark forms, black as pitch. Even in a darkened room there is usually just enough light to allow one’s eyes to adjust…to make out forms. Shapes and shadows of objects in the room. Sometimes the eyes can make out the shape of other things…

For the last few months I have been having some experiences that both intrigue and unnerve me. Part of me is convinced that the experiences are real…but in what sense? They are probably the stuff of dreams, but they seem so real as to make my imagination think of other possibilities. I haven’t been very vocal about them because up until a few days ago I wasn’t convinced that there was anything to truly relate to anyone. What proof do I truly have? With each experience, I appear to be quite lucid, and my eyes seem to be open. With each passing night the big question mark for me is ‘did I actually see what I thought I was seeing’?

Before I go any further, I will try to explain what my experiences are. For some time now, I have been sleeping on the bed in our computer room here because I need to incline my back and shoulders when I sleep. My back and joint issues make sleeping flat on a mattress painful, and of course that means sleep isn’t possible. When I shut down the computer before I lie down on my pillows for some rest, it gets very quiet in here. Fairly dark, and quiet. Not until the last couple of months have I felt even the slightest unease when I turn the lights off. It’s not a fearful unease, but the unease of…I don’t know how else to say it…the unease of feeling like I’m not alone in the room. Initially, I just chalked it up to the fact that I watch quite a lot of paranormal shows on television. That being said, that sort of stuff has never bothered me. I have had experiences with hauntings in the past, so I do believe in ghosts/spirits. I don’t really count any of that as the cause of these feelings. The frequency of my odd 'mental' events just has me a tad perplexed.

The first time I had an ‘experience’, it really freaked me out. I seemed to wake up; I lifted my head and looked over towards the computer which is on a table to the right of the bed on the opposite wall. I remember seeing the form of a person standing by the computer chair, and closer to the room’s door I could make out a kind of churning shape that appeared to be forming into something. I laid back and closed my eyes, but had to take another look. I remember slowly turning my head and really trying to focus my eyes. I figured it was all imaginary, and if I looked really hard I would find that nothing was really there. That didn’t happen. The churning mass continued to form something, and the image by the chair seemed to turn what I thought to be its head in my direction. At that point I just shut my eyes and tried to focus on something else. Eventually I fell back to sleep, but when I got up that morning the experience was still very vivid in my mind. So…was it real? Was I dreaming? I have extremely vivid dreams from time to time. It could have been. As it was a bit unnerving, I decided that it was a dream and pushed it away out of mind.

I have had several similar experiences since then. I say similar because they haven’t been the same forms. Some of the more recent images have clearly been people. The last ‘incident’ was night before last…one was seated at the foot of the bed, and another was standing by the bookcase. There hasn’t been anything sinister about the images. Some are looking at me, and some aren’t. It always seems that they know that I can see them just as they apparently see me.

So…what do these images, visions, whatever you want to call them, mean? I would immediately call them dreams, but I am utterly convinced that I do open my eyes and move my head. Am I conscious? I can definitely say that I’m not fully conscious. I think that is clear. Am I in the alpha state at these times? That seems to be the best explanation. If I’m in the alpha state, I would be in a light sleep with the ability to tap into my subconscious. It is a state where dreams are produced…but it is also a state that is prime for entering into meditation. The mind is more open. The focus pullers of the conscious mind are, in essence, ‘asleep’. Assuming that I am in ‘alpha’, which is it…dreams or something else?

The last incident that I mentioned above was very vivid. I have memory of my eyes being open, and I remember thinking to myself, “okay, now my eyes are clearly open…there is no denying it”. But were they? The mind is an interesting and mysterious thing. To say I am puzzled would be an understatement. Frustrated even. I just want to know for sure what is causing me to see these “images”. How? I have no idea.

Most will just call it vivid dreaming, and maybe that’s all it is. I have had a couple of recurring dreams in the past. Can this be classified as a recurring dream? I have to say, “No”. If I saw the same images each time, I would have called it a recurring dream after the first few times. The images are different each time. Some are more vivid and formed than others. If it is a dream, what is the message, if any?

Will I see more “visitors” in my room in the days to come? I suppose time will tell. Whatever these ‘dreams/visions’ have to tell me, I hope they say it soon…I need sleep...

Sunday Snaps...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Erin) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 00:08:00 +0000

Should Punxsutawney Phil be fired? A lot of people seem to think so. Phil popped out of his hole, and was not greeted by his shadow. Historically, that is supposed to mean that an early Spring is on the horizon. Snow is still falling in many parts of the US, and Phil's name has turned into proverbial mud. I've even read that the famous groundhog has gotten death threats. Really? Seems a bit harsh. However, it might be said that that is easy for me to say...

Today is a beautiful day. 65 degrees, and sunny. Over the last couple of months we have had the temperatures dip a bit here and there. We have had some rainy days in there, too. If Spring was predicted to arrive early, it seems to have here on the Georgia coast. For the most part, anyway. As the days go on the temperatures are staying within the low 60's to upper 70's range.

A normal Savannah Spring is covered in color. Typically, azalea bushes burst into pink and white blooms. At the moment they have popped out a few flowers here and there, but nothing to rival the norm. One thing that did arrive early, and that shows no sign of abating any time soon, is the pollen. Everything is covered in the yellow powder. Even when it has rained, the pollen is back in no time. Hopefully that part of our "early Spring" will stop soon...my sinuses and the sinuses of the other allergy sufferers would be most appreciative...

Between work, normal chores and such at home, and just feeling flat out nackered most of the time, I haven't been able to pay much attention to the things I enjoy doing. Things that not only feed my creative side, but that give me much needed therapy and mental release. One of the two most important is my frequent forays into nature for some communing, and photo snapping. I finally reached a stage of intense withdrawal, and finally was able to take a stroll on Easter Sunday.

In the neighborhood of 80 degrees, it was a perfect day to get some shots of the marsh. It is a tad muddy at the moment, but the green is returning. The blue of the Bull River winked in the sunlight just as it usually does. Other than a few shots here and there of what azalea flowers have grown, and some textural photos of some evergreen shrubs, there was a lot of the dry and the brown. Gaia still shedding her skin after the Winter until Spring clothes her again. The photos in this post are from that day.

That visit to the outdoors made all the difference to my mental state. I won't put off paying nature a call again. The beach has been calling...

To everyone still dealing with the cold, sending you some warm thoughts.

Full Moon In Libra...March 27, 2013...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Erin) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 07:38:00 +0000

("Libra", Artist: Subaru01rins)

Wednesday, at 5:29 AM/EST, is March’s Full Moon in Libra. An Air sign, Libra likes a harmonious atmosphere. Libra projects peacefulness, civility, and the desire to be surrounded by nature and beauty. If you jive with where Libra is ‘at’, then you might want to focus your energies on those being projected by the Full Moon…because with the effects of the collective aspects, this lunation is going to be a trying one. There are some strong lessons to be learned here. The main focus is in the realm of the emotional, and the need to be able to ‘spread your wings’. Freedom is desired, but there are some hard energies in the way that can have negative influences. A fair bit of conflict can be expected, but how you deal with it is key in maintaining your personal sense of harmony. Others may put the blame on you, but owning your role and working towards a place of compromise is the way to go. It could be hard at times, but don’t lose your sense of perspective.

The Libran Moon will be inconjunct Neptune and Mercury, both in the water sign of Pisces. It is important that, even in the most trying of situations, you make an effort to keep things as lifted and gentle as possible. With the Sun in Aries in opposition to the Moon, there is opportunity to form a united front between your conscious, and subconscious. Take the high road, and stay away from angry finger pointing when dealing with others. A dose of respect can trump any competitive edge others may have, which can move things in a more healthy and productive direction.

Venus, Mars, the Sun, and Uranus all have something in common this lunation. They are all in fiery Aries, and this Ram will be delivering some annoying head butts. Libran ruler, Venus, conjoins the Aries Sun, so that influence does serve to soften some blows to an extent. There is an emphasis on relationships of all kinds (personal, business, familial, etc.), and how to approach connected issues that bubble up. The Full Moon will be making a pretty tense aspect to Uranus in Aries, and Pluto in Capricorn. When dealing with a probable battle of wills, err on the side of expressive freedom gained via tapping into Libra’s compassion, rather than allowing egos to hurt yourself and others. If you look hard enough through the veil of cloudy negativity, you’ll be able to see the positive that lies on the other side.

There is a chief culprit dealing out all of the stresses during this Full Moon: Mars. Not only is Mars Aries ruler, it’s in the sign of Aries. Mars is one tough customer symbolizing a number of strong traits, some of the main ones coming to the fore here being confrontation, aggression, anger, drive…add Aries willfulness, forcefulness, and directness into the mix, and it spells some trying situations. Mars is in there swinging with several aspects: Jupiter in Gemini; Pluto in Capricorn, and Saturn in Scorpio. There is also a Yod with Mars, Saturn in Scorpio in position at the apex, and a sextile Jupiter in Gemini acting as the base. Pluto in Capricorn squaring Mars doesn’t help things. Add to that the fact that the Yod made up of Saturn sextile Pluto, with Jupiter inconjunct to both Saturn and Pluto, is still in effect…well, it is highly advised that you make a big effort to agree to disagree.

(Artist: David Palladini)

A lot of hot button issues and underlying emotional pressure will be on the bubble, so be prepared for some of that to boil to the point of eruption. The best course is to just let it do its thing. There could be some much needed healing that will result. Expect some upheavals on any and all levels within relationships. This is a prime time to work on owning your part in a situation. Work on individual inner wisdom and reach to your higher self. Studying things through that lens can help you heal (if necessary) and move on. Some hidden truths could make themselves known. Be open when looking at relationships. Some old relationships may have run their course, and it’s time to severe whatever ties remain. Others may show a need to expand and move to the next level. No matter how confrontational or manipulative others can be, keep your side of the street clean.

With all of the planets in Aries, you may want to take a long hard look at your own anger management. Don’t let others light your fuse. Are you admitting your part in a conflict, or putting the blame elsewhere? With the number of inconjuncts happening this lunation, common ground will be hard to find. You might just want to decide to step back from things and go at them when the atmosphere calms a bit. Few will be in the listening mood. There are also a few squares to Pluto in Capricorn. Things kick off the day before the Full Moon with Mars, and continue on Easter Sunday with the Sun and Venus. The next several days are a good time to take a long look at any control issues you may have.

The following excerpt is from the Farmer's Almanac:

Full Worm Moon - March: As the temperature begins to warm and the ground begins to thaw, earthworm casts appear, heralding the return of the robins. The more northern tribes knew this Moon as the Full Crow Moon, when the cawing of crows signaled the end of winter; or the Full Crust Moon, because the snow cover becomes crusted from thawing by day and freezing at night. The Full Sap Moon, marking the time of tapping maple trees, is another variation. To the settlers, it was also known as the Lenten Moon, and was considered to be the last Full Moon of winter.

Ostara, 2013 & A Wild Hare...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Erin) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 07:24:00 +0000

Spring has officially sprung with the Vernal Equinox, and Wiccans and Neo-pagans everywhere are celebrating its arrival with Ostara. The celebrations name is derived from the name of the Germanic goddess of Spring, Eostre. Ostara is often associated with the Celts, but there are no known Celtic Equinox celebrations in the history books. As with many pagan celebrations, Christians adapted Ostara into the celebration of Easter. I’m assuming it was done as another in a long line of moves by the church to try to Christianize the Pagans.

(Pagan/Wiccan Wheel of the Year)

For the early Pagans, the Equinox was a time to celebrate the new crop season, and the planting of those crops. The Spring Equinox is a perfect time to start new seedlings.

Ostara is acknowledged/celebrated by Pagans with the creation of Ostara eggs, trees, and altars.

(Some great egg designs I found online: Top Left ~ Leaf Eggs;
Top Right ~ Eggs decorated with beans and grains; Bottom Center ~ Handpainted Eggs)

(A couple of great examples of Pagan Ostara altars)

I think most people have heard the term “mad as a March Hare”. That phrase always makes me think of “Alice in Wonderland”. I conjure a mental image of the Madhatter’s Tea Party, and his friend the ‘mad’ March Hare (‘mad’ meaning ‘crazy’). The phrase actually has factual roots in the natural world.

('March Hare' from Tim Burton's, "Alice in Wonderland")

To Medieval society, the March Hare was viewed as a major fertility symbol. This particular species of bunny is nocturnal most of the year (only comes out at night), but that changes in March when mating season arrives. Then they spend the day looking for mating opportunities. It is a common occurrence during this time to see a couple of the bunnies boxing. Some assume that it’s two males duking it out over a female, but interestingly it is a female fighting off a male…either he doesn’t suit her fancy, or she has already done her mating time. The reaction from rebuffed males is one of frustration, the bunny bouncing around in an erratic fashion. It is this reaction that spawned the phrase “Mad as a March Hare”.

(Dueling Bunnies)

An interesting factoid about the females is that, like most rabbit species, they are “superfecund”. That means that they can conceive a second litter while still pregnant with the first. Guess that’s how the phrase “breeding like rabbits” came about…no wonder rabbits multiply so quickly.

("Spring")

For me personally, when I hear the word 'Spring', my mind conjures up a painting. Dutch artist Lawrence Alma Tadema is the creative mind behind my favorite painting at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California, aptly named "Spring" (c. 1894). It is truly a breathtaking piece, the joy of the revellers and the vibrant floral colors bringing the paintings sentiment to life. The celebration of life. The celebration of Spring.

To the Pagans celebrating the Equinox, Happy Ostara. To everyone else, Happy Vernal Equinox and/or Hoppy Easter.

The Hiatus Has Ended...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Erin) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 03:09:00 +0000

(A rainy day by the marsh...from a few weeks ago...)

My blog has been an oasis for me in many respects since I started it. I muse, review, share, and post. It’s not only an outlet for personal expression of various forms, but it serves a therapeutic need of mine. Creativity has always been my main form of therapy, and this blog falls snugly into that category. Why have I been neglecting it?

It hasn’t been on purpose. I have had a list of posts ready and waiting. A list comprised of a little of this, and a bit of that (I generally post whatever I am moved to write about). I am about to 'get back to it' on here. To start in on my ‘To Write’ list. Really. Promise.

Why did I veer off my blogging path in the first place? Mainly, my fairly new part-time gig. It has taken me a few months to work it into my daily life in such a way that I can get back to my usual “free time” projects (those I do out of necessity and otherwise). My schedule changes from week to week, so that has been the cause for the adjustment. I have gotten my sea legs at work, so I can get back to my regular day to day doings. Blogging is one of the top two keys to my continued mental health. It’s a vital part of stress relief for me.

The other ‘key’ is photography. Taking my photo snapping constitutionals. The weather has warmed up enough that extended walks are more bearable. No more outings where I return home unable to feel my hands from the cold. Actually, we had a virtually non-existent Winter. In my opinion, anyway. My explorations of the surrounding natural, bucolic world of Savannah are resuming.

There have been a few quick doses of camera usage here and there to prevent my going completely mental. Some of those pics are in this post.

New Moon In Pisces...March 11, 2013...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Erin) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 07:52:00 +0000

Monday, March 11^th, at 3:53 EST, is the next New Moon. This month the Moon is in the mystical and energetic water sign of Pisces. This cycle is attuned to the vibrating energies of the cosmos. There is an abundance of peaceful and loving energy to be had, and boundaries are dropped allowing us to partake. That may sound a bit ‘hippy dippy’, but this lunation provides plenty of strong spiritual energy for healers and those possessed with talents of a creative nature. There is a Stellium at hand with the Moon, Sun, Chiron, Mars, Mercury retrograde, Neptune, and Venus all in the sign of Pisces. There is a peaceful ‘stillness’…a calm that should be taken advantage of. Allow yourself some time to just be in your own skin. The Pisces New Moon gives us the opportunity to open ourselves up to the universe and be of spiritual service to ourselves and others. Allow yourself to feel the positive energy/power radiating from the higher planes, and pass it on to those close to you. Be loving, and be compassionate. Embracing the human aspects of ourselves, as well as the spiritual aspects, aids us in getting in touch with our individuality…with our ‘self’. It also gives us a renewed perspective on the bigger picture of our life as a whole.

New Moons are typically times of new beginnings. However, this lunation is a bit different. We are looking at the end of one astrological year, and the start of a new one. There are twelve signs in the zodiac, Pisces being the last…the sign that marks the end of the zodiacal year. This ending puts great emphasis on the resolution of the old. Quite a few of the planets are positioned in Pisces, so it is advisable to make dealing with old issues the top item on your ‘To Do’ list.

As far as what other business some of the planets are up to, Mars is ready to move on to its next position…it doesn’t jive much with the mellower and more neutral Pisces. Mars is preparing to ascend and take up position with Aries, a sign that is more focused and more to Mars’ liking. On the other hand is Venus who is all about love, so this is a great time for new love/lovers to make some new moves in the direction of new love.

(Artist: David Paladini)

Jupiter in Gemini is square retrograde Mercury in Pisces, and conjunct Chiron. Tempers can flare here. Be prepared for disagreements around plans forgotten. Try your best to keep yourself in check, and stay away from finger pointing. There is great probability that any outbursts or rage fueled reactions will cause damage to important relationships. Also, Jupiter is still within orb of sextile Uranus in Aries. Mercury is getting ready to station direct on March 17^th, which is going to make things a tad more complicated. There may be a tendency to not see the forest for the trees, so make an effort to not assume and let the facts present themselves. You know what they say about “what happens when you assume”…

This New Moon cycle will also see a repeat performance. A Yod with Jupiter in Gemini, and Saturn in Scorpio sextile Pluto in Capricorn as the base. The Yod will hit its peak strength during the next Full Moon in Libra. During the next couple of weeks or so try to keep your head on straight. Stay calm and centered, kicking impatience to the curb. Things will happen in their own time.

"Dark Shadows"...The Movie...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Erin) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 07:01:00 +0000

(Johnny Depp as "Barnabas Collins"; Michelle Pfeiffer as "Elizabeth Collins Stoddard")

Ya know, there are some movies that I am critical of before I even see them. Most of them are the films based on television shows that are already established and successful in their own right. TV series that, however outdated and flawed, have a fan base to this day. I have already written a post or two about this particular TV show to film translation. Now available on DVD, I finally viewed the movie…Tim Burton’s production of “Dark Shadows”.

From the get-go, I saw the use of creative license. Granted, the opening credits did say the film was based on “Dark Shadows” created by Dan Curtis. The first glaring use of creative control was with the characters of Maggie and Victoria. In this film adaptation, they are one in the same person. On the train to Collinsport, Maine, Maggie Evans decides to change her name to Victoria Winters. That change is small beans compared to many of the happenings through the course of the film.

In no way can I color myself surprised that the movie was a big goose egg. Did it have the patent look of a Tim Burton production? Yes. Did it star Burton’s two staple actors, pal Johnny Depp, and longtime ‘significant other’ Helena Bonham Carter? Yep. Was it over the top to the point of camp and beyond? Uh-huh. I’m a Burton fan, as well as a Depp and Bonham Carter fan. I also appreciate a bit of the ‘over the top’ and the camp. But…

Have you ever watched a production, whether it be stage, television or screen, where the jokes fall extremely flat even though the actors are giving it their all? I have no doubt that there are a group of people who laughed their proverbial asses off at this movie. That group is made up of everyone attached to the production itself. While I forged ahead on watching it in its entirety, I had visions of the cast and Burton sitting around a table having their first read through. I could see them laughing raucously at each other as they delivered their lines, totally in on the “joke(s)” at hand. My thought was, “I bet they thought this was outrageously funny, but did they really think about how it would translate to the audience? To the people who weren’t in on the initial joke?” It doesn’t seem to me that they did.

("Barnabas" tries to catch a nap...)

(Top Left: Chloe Grace Moretz as "Carolyn Stoddard; Top Right: Bella Heathcote as "Maggie Evans/Victoria Winters";
Bottom: Jonny Lee Miller as "Roger Collins", Helena Bonham Carter as "Dr. Julia Hoffman)

("Elizabeth Collins Stoddard" gets her Ma Barker on...)

As for comparisons between this remake and the original, I can’t help but make them as I am a die-hard fan of the "Dark Shadows" of the 1960’s. I’m sure Burton and Depp (a producer on the 2012 project) might say that comparing the two is pointless since they didn’t intend to keep the original elements intact. To take the overall story where they did, I agree. But to make Maggie and Victoria one in the same bugged me…both are important characters in their own right. They could have easily taken Maggie out of the picture altogether. As the film progressed, we would learn that Maggie/Victoria/Josette (Bella Heathcote) was disowned and put in a mental institution at a young age because she ‘could see dead people.’ Then there’s the character of Carolyn Stoddard (Chloe Grace Moretz) who is 15 years old, and a werewolf. Roger Collins (Jonny Lee Miller) is portrayed as a womanizer, theif, and terrible role model for son David, and is basically banished from Collinwood by Barnabas…he is hardly present in the film and could have easily been left out. I could go on, but you get the picture. Most of the characters of the ensemble don’t compare much to the originals (which is actually pretty criminal considering the cast Burton had). The whole film doesn’t really compare. Aside from character and place names, it wasn’t really “Dark Shadows”.

What did make the “Dark Shadows” of 2012 truly unmemorable was the script. It was the flat jokes that beat the audience over the head. Depp is fine as Barnabas, but he lacks the presence of the original Barnabas Collins, Jonathan Frid. Surprisingly, really. Depp is an accomplished actor, and known to be a huge fan of Frid's Barnabas. Yes, in the scope of the newer production, Barnabas is presented in a more anachronistic fashion. His old ways are primary fodder for the joke writing pen. Sadly, it is ink wasted as most jokes illicit an eye roll and/or a groan…if even that. There is a section of the story where Barnabas holds a grand Ball and invites the whole town to Collinwood. At Carolyn’s sarcastic suggestion, Barnabas gets Alice Cooper to headline. The ‘my what an ugly woman’ jokes proceeded to bash me over the head. Yes! Okay! I heard you the first time! Such a waste of a fine actor such as Depp…but then he is a producer…he obviously approved.

(Original Cast Members: Lara Parker~"Angelique", Jonathan Frid~"Barnabas Collins",
David Selby~"Quentin Collins", Kathryn Lee Scott~"Maggie Evans"; and Johnny Depp as "Barnabas Collins" 2012)

(Kathryn Lee Scott, Michelle Pfeiffer as "Elizabeth Collins Stoddard" 2012, David Selby, and Lara Parker)

As a rule I avoid reviews of movies I plan to see. Many times I disagree with them, liking that which has been panned, and vice versa. “Dark Shadows” was no exception, and I stayed away from its reviews. There was one tidbit of info I did get while it was still in production, and that was the appearance of surviving members of the original cast in a cameo. I thought that was pretty cool, and looked forward to seeing them after all these years. Actually, a chance to see them in the film made me stick with it to view it in its entirety. I watched, and watched………and watched. Then the end credits began to role. What the…? I sat through every frame and didn’t notice them at all. Did it not happen after all? I hopped on the computer to Google about it, and there it was. A still frame of the original cast members. They were presented entering Collinwood to attend the ball. There was also apparently a quick flash of them chatting with Collins family matriarch, Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (Michelle Pfeiffer). The two moments were such throwaways; if you blinked you would miss them. Christopher Lee had a longer appearance as a boat captain (another one of Burton’s staple actors). If Burton was going to give the original actors and production a nod, he should have given them a nod. Not the feeble onscreen flashes they got.

(Alice at the Ball...)

No, I wasn’t expecting much when I pressed the ‘Play’ button on the remote. Optimistic I wasn’t. However, there was a tiny molecule of ‘I hope I’m wrong’ in there. But I wasn’t wrong. Burton’s batting average hasn’t been that great in recent years. “Sweeney Todd” is brilliant, but Sondheim was involved…he is known to be a stickler and I doubt he would have allowed the movie to be less than superb. On the other hand, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” was awful. Another remake that flunked…and Burton was quite outspoken about how he was going to do the book justice, as the Gene Wilder “Willy Wonka” was crap.

By what I have said in this post it may not seem that it pains me to give such a review, but it does. I’m a Burton fan. Have been for years. I have great appreciation for his artistic attention to detail, and for his original works. If I could give Tim some advice it would be to stick to his own original brain children, and stay away from reworking already established productions that have solid cult followings. That’s seriously shaky ground that he’s fallen on more than once.

I decided to skip my usual Readers’ Digest breakdown of this film. I’ll save the time for a movie I do like. Do I recommend “Dark Shadows” the movie? In the broad sense…not really. Burton fans will see it anyway as that’s what fans do. I did. I can’t say, “You must see it to see how plodding and disappointing it is.” I can say, “If you’re at home with nothing better to do, and can see it for free then by all means do.”

Now, THIS...

...THIS has interesting possibilities...

Full Moon In Virgo...February 25, 2013...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Erin) — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 05:55:00 +0000

("Virgo", Artist: Stephanie Pui-Mun Law http://www.shadowscapes.com/image.php?lineid=24&bid=591

For those of you who read my monthly moon postings, I had to take a break from them. I started a new gig just before the holidays, and my free time was cut into considerably while I made the adjustment. Have had a few people ask me if I was going to start back up again, and I think I have my time balanced a bit better now, so…

February’s Full Moon falls on the 25^th of this month at 3:28 PM/EST, and is positioned in the sign of Virgo. This lunation is a chatty one. Most people will have a lot to say, and won’t hesitate to say it. This moon is also set to illuminate some of the finer details of your life. If there are any areas of your life that need some adjusting and/or improving, expect them to bubble to the surface. Full Moons not only resemble a celestial spotlight, this Virgo Moon will act as one shining on personal projects already in motion. This revealing light will make areas that need correcting more obvious.

A Mars-Mercury conjunction in the sign of Pisces is the culprit behind the free flowing communication during this cycle. Mercury became retrograde as of February 23^rd (and will remain so until March 17^th), so that’s where the communication push begins. Mercury and Mars putting their heads together can be tense, and things said can be sharp and intended to wound. The fact that they are conjoined in the sign of Pisces tempers that quite a bit…a good situation for some mellow Piscean vibes. Even though you may get sick and tired of hearing about some issues over and over, it’s good to tough it out. The seemingly endless chatter could be leading to a light at the end of the tunnel, and a resolution.

Virgo is a perfectionist, and can be quite analytical at times. The Virgo Moon speaks to organization and keeping an eagle eye on details. Don’t go halfway on things leaving them incomplete. See things started through to their conclusion. There is great potential for some breakthroughs during this lunation. Jupiter signals they could very well be big, while Pisces and Virgo say they could be emotional or intellectual respectively.

("Virgo", Artist David Palladini)

The Piscean Sun conjoins the Moon and Chiron, both in Virgo. This aspect represents the potential for purification. It’s a time to heal wounds that have been festering for some time. Also a healer, Saturn in Scorpio and Pluto in Capricorn are in harmonious aspect to the lunar axis. This adds to the healing energy with emphasis on older issues. Be patient in letting them go.

Still sextile to Jupiter in Gemini is Uranus in Aries. In addition, Aries is semi-sextile the Pisces Sun and inconjunct the Virgo Moon. We have all heard the saying about patience being a virtue. Uranus will most likely try that patience. Don’t be surprised if others seem too demanding, and want to move forward on certain things without any discussion. It’s advised to at least think about their way of doing things, and to not throw it all away just yet. You may find that it holds weight and can be of use down the line. When others are ‘gung-ho’ about something, we might let it rub us the wrong way without giving things a fair shot. Try to not be overly critical of others (yourself included). Try to keep your perspective no matter what.

Still in need of some romance this month? Shortly after the Full Moon, Venus will exit Aquarius to move into Pisces to conjoin Neptune in Pisces. It’s a perfect time to play the romance card with your significant other.

For the Virgo Full Moon lunation, work on cleaning up your act and refining your life. With balance comes serenity. Always stay focused on the big picture, and look forward – not back. Also, make some time to do something for others...it will only add to the enrichment of your own life.

(Photo: h. koppdelaney)

The following excerpt is from the Farmer's Almanac:

Full Snow Moon - February Since the heaviest snow usually falls during this month, native tribes of the north and east most often called February's Full Moon the Full Snow Moon. Some tribes also referred to this Moon as the Full Hunger Moon, since harsh weather conditions in their areas made hunting very difficult.

"Anti-Christ"...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Erin) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 05:02:00 +0000

Art is a form of self-expression, and the concept of art is a many faceted stone. Each facet of said stone represents a different form of art. Drawing, painting, sculpting, weaving, photography, writing, and so on. The artist may have a specific focus when pouring themself into a creation. They may hope to evoke a specific mood or emotion in viewers of the finished product. They may hope to express what they have found to be difficult to express by any other means. Yes, art is indeed a form of self-expression.

The art of film making is yet another form of art which is exemplified in the world of the independent film. I have a deep appreciation for independent films, as they tend to take more risks and try to actually put forth a movie that has substance. Subjects and plot lines that aren’t necessarily cut and dry, but that cause the movie-goer to think. They try to touch something within the audience.

All that being said, it is not under the control of the movies creator as to how the viewers will react…as much as they try, it’s not always possible. The deeper and darker someone travels within themselves to pull out a story, the more mixed the resultant reactions will be (in many cases). In the end some movies are just a crap shoot. The film has been made, released to the masses, and it is then out of the director’s hands.

I recently watched a film that many would consider to be an “art film”. I will agree that this film is worthy of the label “art film”, and go one further by calling it an “esoteric art film.” I have ventured into a number of those thought provoking worlds. Some have left me feeling satisfied in one way or another, and others have left me feeling cheated or even bored. So where did this latest film leave me?

(Willem Dafoe)

Before I continue, the name of the film is “Anti-Christ.” I had wanted to see it for some time as the little I had read about it intrigued me. The fact that Willem Dafoe is in it was also a positive selling point. He has occupied a place on my favorite actors list for some time. The film was painted to have a supernatural side. A therapist and his wife travel to a secluded cabin in the woods to deal with grief caused by the tragic death of their young son. I am paraphrasing, but that’s what I got from the short blurbs I read. That description is true enough, but what I ended up seeing is far removed from what I was pre-conditioned for.

Before I sat down to start writing my impressions on this film, I decided to not do any surfing on the net in preparation. Director Lars Von Trier wrote and directed “Anti-Christ”, and I didn’t want to read any interviews with him. I also didn’t want to see what other views were on what the film is actually about. I would say that “Anti-Christ” is a film that best falls under the category of “up to individual interpretation.” From the moment the film started, I felt plunged into a place of…discomfort.

The structure of the film is laid out in chapters, beginning with the epilogue. Shot in black and white, and running in slo-mo, the two characters at the core of the film (Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg, as wife/mother) are in the shower. This scene evolves into close-ups of rather graphic sex. These close-ups are interspersed with shots of their young son climbing out of his crib, and walking into the room to watch his parents in action. The young boy sees an open window in the room, crawls up onto the table by it, and proceeds to walk out and fall to his death. As for the construction of the epilogue section, I kept feeling like Von Trier was trying too hard to be David Lynch…and failing. Maybe Von Trier did want to project feelings of distaste, but the switching back and forth between shots of the boy walking to his death and the parents twisted bodies and contorting faces was unsettling. All of this was set to a soundtrack of an aria (Lascio Chi'o Pianga) from Handel’s, ‘Rinaldo’.

For the remainder of this post, I will be calling the two primary characters “He” and “She”…those are the monikers given them by Von Trier when he penned the tale. Both parents are grief stricken, the mother doubly so. After a collapse at the boys’ funeral she is hospitalized and prescribed drugs which her therapist husband is against. “He” decides that she is better off without the pills, and he feels he can treat her in a more healthy way by having her face her grief. From this point forward, I’m not going to get into a detailed blow-by-blow account of the film as it is extremely convoluted. To do that would be far too tedious…and confusing, really. Before sitting down to watch “Anti-Christ”, I had expectations of a horror movie in a paranormal vein. That’s not completely off the mark in terms of my interpretation of things. This film is truly an example of interpretation being directly seated in ones head space at the time. There were noticeable hints here and there about where Von Triers wanted to take me on his journey, but they were not strong enough to carry me down his path. “She” was scared of the forest where the cabin is…the cabin where most of the film takes place. “She” spent time alone there with her son. It was during that time that she seemed to slip into madness/go crazy. “He” takes her back to the cabin in the dreaded forest to face her fears. Once there, the film takes off into a world of symbolism, and nympho-maniacal and masochistic sex. “She” seems to exhibit a split personality (which feeds my initial impression of her going crazy), and goes in and out of having to sleep, and/or mount her husband in brutal/angry fashion. My distaste during this film grew exponentially. It really went over the edge when she became enraged because she thought he was going to leave her. The physical abuse she inflicts on him is hard not to empathetically feel…even as a female. Then there is the act of female circumcision she performs on herself with a pair of scissors. Before the end of it all, we see a replay of the epilogue from the perspective of "she" who remembers watching her son crawl up on the table and fall to his death...and she said nothing. "He" does end up killing her in the end, but from everything I saw in the film it appeared she had it coming. From where I sat she was an unstable maniac who would kill or be killed.

The only symbolic thread I could see (and it didn’t turn up until about the middle of the film) was reference to “The Three Beggars”, depicted in the film as a fox, a deer, and a crow. A phrase that “she” says, “when the three beggars arrive, someone must die,” was heralded by the appearance of the three beggars. I felt there must be some deep meaning in the story unfolding that concerns the ‘beggars’, but it wasn’t computing clearly enough for me.

“Anti-Christ” is dark, brutal, and couldn’t get out of its own way long enough for me to try to understand what the whole point of the film is. Is there a point? I kept thinking there had to be…but it was hidden in a hard to watch and tangled storyline.

I took some time and stepped away from this review. During that break I did some of the surfing I veered away from before. I received confirmation about my thought on it being a piece that is open to individual interpretation…there were a number of them to be found. Some views are based on allegorical links to the book of Genesis, the Garden of Eden, and the guilt of woman-kind. Nature did play a role in the film, so there were some pagan based interpretations. Even Von Trier, who penned the script, doesn’t know where the story came from. He wrote it during a time of deep depression, and says it saved him by making him write ten pages every day. In an interview he said:

"Truthfully, I can only say I was driven to make the film, that these images came to me and I did not question them. My only defence is: 'Forgive me, for I know not what I do.'" This precipitates a bout of giggling. "I am really the wrong person to ask what the film means or why it is as it is," he says finally, "It is a bit like asking the chicken about the chicken soup.”

So, after writing everything I wrote above, after reading other reviewers opinions, after reading an interview with Von Trier…can I now see the forest for the trees? Is a clearer focus and plot line emerging in my mind? Am I able to take more from the film and flesh out a clearer understanding of what the film means?

No.

I can still say that I found it hard to follow. It was disturbing to watch. It was complicated and felt gratuitous at times. If I can’t see a plot, or a point, then maybe there isn’t one to be had.

(Charlotte Gainsbourg; Willem Dafoe)

Why did Dafoe do it? He clearly saw something I don’t. I would be curious to know what thoughts were going through his head by the time he reached “The End” on the final page of the script. I’m assuming that he saw something, as I have never considered him a “dim bulb”.

Would I recommend this film? To anyone? Good question. My immediate response is ‘no’, but then I think…maybe? It’s just one of those films where the viewer’s reaction is linked directly to their state of mind at the time. It’s going to have a different effect on each person that watches it. Maybe someone else will find something relatable in it (as scary as that seems to me), and it will touch them in a way that it didn’t touch me. It left me with a bad taste from the get-go, and proceeded to get darker, stranger, and more brutal.

As far as a recommendation of ‘yay’ or ‘nay’ for the movie “Anti-Christ”, I am going to quote a friend and say, “I’m Switzerland”. Interpret that as you will.

Hearts & Flowers...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Erin) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 23:49:00 +0000

Today is Valentine’s Day. A day on which people the world over are professing their admiration for those closest to them. It’s lovely that there is a day set aside each year that everyone can count on for sending and receiving messages of amour. For my dad and step-mother the day has added meaning as they were married on Valentine’s Day. It’s truly a day of romance for many.

Valentine’s Day is just another example of using a past event, person, or place, to found a day on. In this case a person (St. Valentine) who has little to do with the rampant expressions of love we see these days. The following quote is from one Dr. Sheldon Cooper from the television show “The Big Bang Theory” (a show I make a point of tuning into each week), and it kind of sums things up:

There are a few schools of thought as to why “Valentine’s Day” is situated in mid-February. One of them is that it was the Church’s way of trying to take the wind out of the sails of the pagan celebration of Lupercalia, and “Christianize” it. (I think some would be surprised at the fact that most, if not all, of the religious holidays throughout the year find their origins with the pagans.)

(Left: Romulus & Remus; Right: Faunus)

The fertility festival of Lupercalia makes more sense when trying to historically link this date with today’s Valentines shenanigans. It was a Roman fertility festival dedicated to the founders of Rome (Romulus and Remus), and the Roman god of agriculture, Faunus (the Greek counterpart being Pan). After sacrificing a dog and a goat to the cause, the priests (a.k.a. Luperci) would cut the hides of the animals into strips, dip them in the sacrificial blood, and travel the streets marking the faces of the city’s women. The women welcomed the marks as it was believed to make them more fertile over the coming year. The Luperci would also tag fields for potential crops with the blood.

The second half of the festivities really speaks to the concept of Valentine’s Day. (Well, I think it does.) All of the single women would add their name to a large urn, and later in the day the city’s single men would draw a name from the urn, pairing up with the gal named for the coming year. It is said that most of those pairings would end in marriage. Whichever side of the Valentines history coin you place yourself on, I wish everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day & Lupercalia.

The second part of this post is in regards to some recent photos I took that have a Valentine’s Day flavor. No, they aren’t of roses, but the Camellia is a rose-like bloom. These particular photos involve a newly discovered tool for my interest in nighttime photography. I have said it many times when posting my photos…I am not a fan of the camera flash. It takes all of the ‘mood’ out of a photograph. There are elements of dimension that are lost with a flash. Yes, it is much more difficult to do at night, but when I snap a picture of something, I want to capture the image as close to how I see it with my naked eye. Often I will end up with something even more artful than what I saw to begin with. These surprises are only achieved without the use of a flash. When I take a picture I want to capture shadows. I want to capture recesses. I want to keep every nuance that gives a shot depth and mood.

(My trusty flashlight)

A flashlight. That is my newly discovered tool, and night time photography friend. A couple of nights ago we had rain. (Which we need.) Just to the right of the front porch is a Camellia bush. I had noticed a bloom earlier in the day, and decided to experiment with some photos. (Putting a new job into my daily schedule mix has kept me from my daily picture taking jaunts…I was experiencing some heavy withdrawals.)

The porch light was on, but that was not having any real effect. When the light was off nothing was registering at all. That’s when I grabbed the flashlight I had with me. With the camera on the tripod, and the flashlight in my hand, I could angle the light any way I wanted. This might seem like a ‘so what’ moment to some, but it has opened up a whole new avenue for me to explore. Obviously it won’t help when I photograph the moon, but as far as those things that are on ‘my level’, it has changed things in an extremely good way.

Here are some of the fruits of that photo session. I quite like them. The accompanying quotes aren’t so much in the Valentines vein, but involve the color red.

"The true color of life is the color of the body,

the color of the covered red, the implicit and not

the explicit red of the living heart and the pulses.

It is the modest color of the unpublished blood."

~ Alice Meynell

"He liked to observe emotions; they were like red

lanterns strung along the dark unknown of

another's personality, marking vulnerable points."

~ Ayn Rand

"Out of the ash I rise with my red hair

and eat men like air."

~ Sylvia Plath

"Make a remark," said the Red Queen, "it's ridiculous

to leave all the conversation to the pudding!"

~ Lewis Carroll

"Perhaps the old monks were right when they tried

to root love out; perhaps the poets are right when

they try to water it. It is a blood-red flower with

the color of sin; but there is always the scent of a

god about it."

~ Olive Schreiner

Happy Chinese New Year...2013: Year Of The Water Snake...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Erin) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 00:58:00 +0000

Today not only marks the first day of the luni-solar calendar, it is the first day of China’s two-week long New Year celebrations. The two-weeks will culminate with the Lantern Festival which falls on the day of the first Full Moon (the Virgo Full Moon, on February 25^th) of the new calendar.

This new cycle has us bidding farewell to the passing “wood cycle”, and the Black Dragon of 2012. In this year of 2013, we begin a “fire cycle” with the Chinese calendar symbol of the Water Snake. The influence of the ‘wood’ of last year was surrounded by luck, but things moved a bit slowly. With the new added ‘fire’ of 2013, expect things to pick up the pace considerably.

The sign of the Snake contains various elemental components/influences. In addition to the obvious element of water, it also consists of metal, earth, and fire (as it is in the group of fire signs). There is an opposition between the water and fire elements, so for those wondering what the coming year will bring, this opposition will effect most people the same – a mix of good and bad fortune.

Being the 6^th animal of the Chinese horoscope, and an even number, the Snake represents “Yin” (female energy). In addition, the symbol has the male components of metal, earth, and fire. When dealing with someone born in a year of the Snake, you may see a soft exterior, but expect a tough interior.

There are all kinds of ways that the Chinese New Year is celebrated, and they are all fueled by tradition. For those of you celebrating the luni-solar New Year, I wish you a Happy New Year of the Water Snake!

(Left: for the New Year, red envelopes are given as gifts for good luck, and to ward off evil spirits; they usually contain money which adds to an even number (odd numbers are associated with funerals);
Right: Oranges are also traditionally given to extend good wishes and respect for the New Year)

(Left: 'Nian Gao', or New Year Cakes, are a traditional symbol of progress in ones daily life in the coming year; they are to promote the improvement in one's life year by year;
Right: 'Jiao Zi' are crescent moon shaped dumplings; they are a symbol of hope for a coming year of plenty.)

(The Knots above are made and hung in homes to promote good luck for the coming year.)

Picture...Spark...Memory...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Erin) — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 01:22:00 +0000

(Jean Cocteau, c. 1939)

As we wend our way through life, we experience events in a myriad of ways. Some have a bigger impact than others, but each experience gets tucked away into our grey cells in the form of memories. Countless memories, many of which we never recall. But some of them we do. A person, word, phrase, place, situation…all have the ability to resurrect memories. The mysterious aspect of a memory resurrection device is the memory that is pulled from the dark recesses of the mind. There are the ones that are completely relatable to the trigger device (ex: a Disneyland commercial reminding you of a childhood trip you took there with your family). Then there are ones that aren’t as easy to relate to the mental film they pull from your past. The subject of this post is one of the less obvious recollections.

The trigger device for the sake of this post is the photo at the top of the post. A photo of Jean Cocteau, taken in 1939. (Frenchman Cocteau, was a multifaceted creative person…poet, artist, playwright, filmmaker…I’m sure I left a couple of talents out, but you get the gist. On a side note: he was the creative mind behind the 1946 film masterpiece, “Beauty & the Beast”…I wrote a post about the film on this blog that can be found in the ‘Movies’ section under “Labels”...if you’re interested.) The fact that the picture is of Cocteau has nothing to do with the main focus of this memory. The photograph could be of Moe Howard, or Thor. Personal identity doesn’t matter in this case. It is the structure of the photo. The placement of Cocteau’s head and the wooden hand beside it.

Seeing that image took me to a weekend. A weekend at my Dad’s house many moons ago. The latter half of the 1970's. The players in this remembered tale are me, my brother, and my step-sister. The parental units (Dad and step-mom) weren’t home, so it was the three kids fending for themselves at the two-story house on Mount Vernon Highway. The scene begins with step-sister, Debbie (she prefers to go by Debra now, but for the sake of this retelling she will be referred to as ‘Debbie’). Debbie is chatting away on the kitchen phone. Since the cord of said phone will reach across the downstairs hall into the dining room, she has seated herself on the bottom area of the staircase leading to the second floor. Right foot pressed up against the banister, her back is against the wall.

(Me & Mike)

Cut to the upstairs, where a bored brother and a bored sister are…bored. (Another note for the sake of this post: Mike and Debbie are both four years older than me…I think I was around twelve years old at the time, so they would both be around 16. I shuffled through my meager catalog of old photos of family members, and was only able to come up with photos of my brother and me. The school photos I selected for this post are in the neighborhood of the correct ages we were at the time of this event. The one of me is included due to it being one of my better school pictures…the others should have been burned years ago…yes, they are that ‘good’. The one I picked of my brother is probably a couple of years younger, but it reflects the mischievous nature he possessed in those days.) Mike and I are upstairs in his room, unable to think of something to do to pass the time. Then a proverbial light bulb goes on over Mike’s head. I can say with all honesty that I have no recollection of how he managed to come up with this “scathingly brilliant” idea (a “Trouble with Angels”, reference).

Before I get to the actual mischievous act, I will first try to accurately paint a picture of the stage: The staircase leading to the second story was positioned against a side wall of the dining room, and had a banister up to ceiling level that faced out on the dining room. The upstairs hallway ran parallel to the staircase, with a banister overlooking the staircase and the dining room beyond. Mike and Debbie’s bedrooms were on the second floor, one on either end of the hallway. Their bathroom was positioned in the middle of the hall, in the wall opposite the hall’s banister that looked down on the stairs.

As I stated before, Debbie was casually seated on the bottom few stairs, her right foot pressed against a banister post, and her back against the wall. Basically, if Mike and I looked over the banister, we could look straight down on Debbie and the top of her head. Upstairs, Mike and I are bored, and out of nowhere Mike has a brilliant idea. An idea that involves a latex surgical glove, a length of fishing line, and a few other small aesthetic elements. A prank. Yes, the initial idea of the prank was his, but I will admit that I probably did add my two cents. As I don’t remember any specifics about my creative involvement, I will assume it was the use of aesthetic elements.

The key to the successful execution of our prank was for Debbie to remain on the phone throughout the preparation phase of things. Since she was prone to long gossip fueled conversations with her friends, we were able to tell that she was going to be glued to the phone for a good while. Perfect. We had every confidence that we could see Mike’s mischievous idea become a reality.

(An example of water filled surgical gloves.)

Luckily, we had everything we needed in Mike’s room, so there was no danger of Debbie figuring out that we were up to something by one of us having to use the stairs. Our mother worked in the lab at Grady Hospital (in Atlanta, Georgia), and she had brought home some surgical gloves from work (to explain the presence of the gloves in Mike’s room). The first step was to “fill out” the glove so it resembled a hand more. For it to be useable in the way we wanted to use it, Mike quietly entered the bathroom and filled it with water, tying the open end closed. Perfect. The water gave it enough firmness and weight to do what we wanted, and also have the appearance of being on someone’s hand. Mike had a large puzzle ring (a silver ring that could come apart and then be reassembled…like a puzzle), so we put that on the glove's ring finger. To add a little more aesthetic character, we fashioned a fake shirt cuff and put one of Mike’s cuff links in it. The final stage was to tie a length of fishing line to the knot on the wrist end of the glove. The result was better than we had initially hoped for. After lifting the hand up on the line to test the integrity of the line knot, we prepared ourselves for our big reveal.

(Puzzle ring...haven't seen one of
these in years.)

Just as we knew she would, Debbie was still in the same spot engaged in her dramatically intense chat with her friend on the phone. Stifling the laughter that was fighting to come out, Mike and I crept quietly out of his room until we were standing right above Debbie’s head. Slowly, Mike dangled the glove on its line and began to slowly feed it over the banister towards unsuspecting Debbie. The water filled glove had a very ghostly quality, and I can remember thinking how creepy it looked as it seemed to float down at her.

When the fingertips of the phantom glove were just to the top of Debbie’s head, Mike paused to wait for the right moment. Then slowly he fed the glove past Debbie’s left ear, and…tapped her on the shoulder.

Her head snapped around to the pale white of the glove. Needless to say, she jumped. Screamed. The phone handset flew out of her hand. She was really terrified. Then she heard the raucous laughter of my brother and I, and her fear turned to anger. I don’t remember what the aftermath was like, but I’m guessing that my brother and I holed up in his room for a bit to let things blow over.

For the most part, that prank is a vivid memory. I expect that I’ll remember other things, as usually happens. One memory, sparks another, which sparks another, and so on, and so forth. I do remember that Mike and I did prank our unsuspecting step-sister other times. Of course it was always in good fun. From our perspective anyway. Though I don’t think Debbie appreciated it much. She has always had a great sense of humor, so I would like to think that she would eventually see the humorous side to what we did. As she had been an only child before Mike and I became her ‘step-siblings’, Debbie hadn’t had the conditioning that Mike and I had. Not to say that our youths had been all that typical, but we grew up having a brother/sister. We were more accustomed to getting on each other’s nerves.

Hopefully, we didn’t annoy Debbie too much…

Imbolc Blessings...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Erin) — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 02:17:00 +0000

("Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May", Artist: John William Waterhouse)

For pagans, today marks the midpoint between the Winter Solstice (Yule), and the Spring Equinox (Ostara). Known as a "cross quarter" day, the Sabbat of Imbolc is identified by many to be associated with Saint Brighid, in the role of fertility goddess. Imbolc marks the beginning of the light half of the year...the approach of Spring, and the gradual warming of days.

For those of you smoothing your fire ashes, leaving your bits of cloth out for blessings, making reed dollies, or celebrating in your own festive way, Happy Imbolc wishes to you all!

Blessed Be & Merry Meet!

Leo & Luna...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Erin) — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 22:32:00 +0000

It was a beautiful moon last night. Big, bright…full. Shining like a celestial stage lamp, spreading light and shade across night’s landscape. Seems fitting that it should shine so brightly in the reflected brilliance of the blazing sun. January’s Full Moon is positioned in the sign of Leo, a fire sign. Fiery and emotional Leo. Yep…that’s me.

I am a Leo. Under this particular moon I have felt a few things spark. Emotions and traits that reside within this shell. Loyal, creative, energetic, proud, idealistic, optimistic, spirited, anchored, concentrated. Of course, with the positive comes the negative. Everything is a balancing act. I can be stubborn, impulsive, quick to anger. They are all things that fit me comfortably into a position under the sign of Leo…but they all also make me human.

It is said that this particular moon phase carries a couple of prime influences. The first of the two is a strengthening of love relationships. That seems fitting as we continue to home in on the yearly day of love, Valentine’s Day. Seems the moon is getting people geared up for some expressions of adoration. There is one consistent effect of amour, and it comes in the form of a ride on the emotional rollercoaster. The moon is set to take us for that ride whether it’s linked to love or not. All relationships on any level are fair game. Watch out for falling drama…

The other prime effect is in the area of creativity. Over the last week or so I have definitely felt a boost to my initiative, and my creative juices. Granted I haven’t been in a place to start using those abundant juices until now. That’s okay though. My grey cells were working over design ideas in preparation. The Valentine’s Day theme is in the center of the mix as the art project I’m focused on is for a wedding anniversary that falls on that day. Here’s hoping I get it completed in time for mailing…(knocking wood)…

I have always felt my most inspired during night time hours. The moon is always at the center of that inspiration. Calm, peaceful, magically energetic night. Now is a great time for sipping the flow of energy, especially if creativity is in the mix. As I sit down to start sketching this evening, I’ll be having a full frothy mug of moon to help me get started.

Cheers to Luna…

Are You There, Winter...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Erin) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 23:44:00 +0000

(A pollen speckled Camilia bloom on the bush by the front door)

January is not quite over yet, and all I have to say is…what is up with our weather here on the Georgia coast?! It’s almost as if winter never arrived. Not fully. Autumn swung by. Made its presence known. Stayed for its usual yearly visit. Winter seemed to signal its approach, but it never really got here. The Solstice came and was celebrated, but I have yet to feel the actual complete transition. We had a few really crisp and chilly nights that got down there on the temperature scale. Around 40, or so. Then this last week was like spring had prematurely sprung. The temperatures lingered in the ‘60’s for a few days, and then the warmer days came. Warm as in the upper-70’s warm. No jacket necessary. T-shirt weather. Add to that the fact that when I walked out to my car to head to work yesterday, my Audi was covered with a yellow dusting of pollen (we had some rain in the evening which rinsed things off, thankfully). It seems that the trees are as confused as I am…

Eighteen or so years spent living in Los Angeles without any real seasonal shifts had me pining for the changing seasonal tides I grew up with. Now I’m back in my home state, in the ‘four season’ zone. It is a bit different here in the coastal town of Savannah. No ice storms to speak of like I experienced growing up in Atlanta. We have had extremely cold temperatures here, but not as bone chilling as the winter bite one gets deeper inland. Will winter finally show itself, and stick around for a spell? I don’t want to even hazard a guess. Of the unpredictable things in life, the weather seems to be in the top 10…at least. I just hope that the normal seasonal development of the local flora hasn't been messed with too much.

The latter half of yesterday saw the temperature take a dive into the neighborhood of 50 degrees. Today is also a jacket day. It seems winter might be making its approach again, and I hope this time it’s not just a ‘drive-by’. I really hope for a winter shift even if its a late one.

For now it looks to be jacket weather. However, I’ll be keeping both my t-shirts and my heavier coats at the ready. To quote the Boy Scouts, I will “be prepared”…

"Snow White & The Huntsman"...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Erin) — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 09:39:00 +0000

I finally saw a film I had added to my “I’ll watch it when it comes out on DVD when there’s nothing else worth watching” list. The only thing that kept me from passing it over all together is the fact that a certain Aussie actor is in it…the talented and fetching, Chris Hemsworth. A fave of mine.

The film as I am sure you have already deduced is “Snow White & the Huntsman”. The tale of Snow White and her seven short cohorts is a well-known and much beloved fairy tale. There have been a number of film versions ranging from a silent version produced in 1916, to versions featuring Betty Boop and the 3 Stooges, to a late 1990’s movie production, “Snow White: A Tale of Terror”, starring Sigourney Weaver as the evil step-monster. Different films often mean different variations on the theme. Not a bad thing in itself, but it is all in the execution.

“Snow White & the Huntsman” is a slightly different variation from the classic tale. The Huntsman has always been a key element of the story, but here he is more prominent within the story. The seven dwarves do make an appearance, but it’s later in the storyline. The Evil Queen is indeed evil, literally sucking the life out of innocent young girls to keep her beauty and youth intact. She has a brother present in this version who acts more of her lackey, bringing her young victims and whatever else she commands. (I read in more than one place that the first time director of the film, Rupert Sanders, gave interviewers the impression that “SW&TH” was going to be very tongue-in-cheek…uhm, not so much.) The evil ‘Ravenna’ (who turns into a cloud of ravens when she magic’s herself away), is played by the very able actress, Charlize Theron. She brings a life to the character that oozes venom. Ravenna comes into the life of Snow White when her father, King Magnus, saves the beauty from captors oblivious to the danger he’s in. He falls in love with Ravenna and the two wed. Ravenna murders the king with a knife on their wedding bed…a bit more brutal than the usual poison method. The queen then imprisons Snow White in the dungeon until she is a young woman.

Around the time that the queen learns that Snow White is the key to both her immortality and her death, SW escapes from the dungeon with the aid of helpful bird guides and a white horse that meets her on the beach. (Convenient, eh?) The horse takes her into the dark and evil forest, guards close on her heels. The queen orders her brother to find a guide to take them into the forest to find her valuable yet dangerous escapee, and to kill her.

Enter the Huntsman, an embittered drunkard who knows the forest better than anyone. His deceased wife is the cause for his dive into despair. He is dragged (literally) into ‘working’ for the queen. His payment? Ravenna says she has the power to bring his wife back to him from the dead. Hemsworth puts in a good turn as the Huntsman (not surprisingly), being suitably grimy and gruff. Leading Ravenna’s men and her brother into the forest, he makes quick work of tracking Snow White down. The Huntsman quickly finds out how deceitful the queen’s brother is, and he decides to not allow her to be killed and saves her instead.

The rest of the film has the duo encountering various characters and creatures, all which leads back to the queen and the big showdown between her and Snow White. Interestingly enough, the seven dwarves don’t really figure as strongly into this version as they do in most others. We do see them during the last section of the film (cinematically shrunken actors-Ian McShane and Bob Hoskins to name a couple- rather than actual little people), but they didn’t really need to be there for the amount of time they are given onscreen. The film ends with Ravenna being destroyed and Snow White sitting on the throne.

What’s that? I haven’t mentioned the actress that plays Snow White? Well, I am about to. Call it saving the worst for last. Actually, I am going to ask a question…can anyone tell me why Kristin Stewart keeps getting cast in big budget films? She has all of the emotional expression of a dust bunny. Any hope this film had of being good was killed by her presence as the key figure of Snow White. By the time she bites the apple that seemingly kills her, I was wondering why we couldn’t have been spared the agony of watching her up until that point by having her ‘bite it’ from the get go. It would have improved things. I would have been more entertained watching Theron and Hemsworth play chess for two hours. The film would have been so much better with an actress that can actually produce different facial expressions. Even TWO facial expressions would have been an improvement.

I feel for the movie goers who shelled out money to see this dud in theaters. I will admit that a part of me toyed with the idea of seeing it on the big screen to see Hemsworth, but I couldn’t bring myself to pay the inflated movie ticket price because of K Stew-movie killer. The person I feel the worst for is Hemsworth. Of all the actors in the film, he spent the most onscreen time with her. Chris was good in the movie, which speaks to his acting chops. I can’t imagine how it was for him acting opposite her. Granted I am not an actor, but I was a member of a theater company for a number of years and know and have worked with some fine actors. Acting is very give and take. Especially in scenes that should be emotionally charged…something Stewart just doesn’t deliver on. They could have cast this cardboard standee of her and gotten just as much emotional range. In a scene where emotions are high, actors should be able to feed off of one another. Chris was on his own as Stewart…well, she can’t act. I know I am not the only one who has noticed this about her. What gives Hollywood? Oy…

Chris Hemsworth does a good job in “Snow White & the Huntsman”, as does Charlize Theron, so if you are a fan of either of them, see it. You’ll have to tough out the abysmal acting of Stewart, but it can be done…I did it…as painful as it was...

A New Year...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Erin) — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 09:32:00 +0000

It’s a New Year…2013. This past year seemed to drag on at times, but when the end came I wondered where the time had gone. I can still make out the holiday season of 2012 if I turn around and squint, but as Christmas no longer has much meaning to me it didn’t really register when I was in the thick of it. The retail job I was able to snag carried me through in a cloud of ‘bustle’, but aside from that my yuletide time was fairly low-key. I did decorate my rather thin fake tree I paid less than $10 for last year, and I hung the fake wreath I have on the front door. For me it’s either fake tree, or no tree. I dig trees way too much to put a dying tree in my living room. I’m not necessarily including my current tree when I say that there are some really well done fake trees available today. I enjoyed mine…cheap as it is.

Juggling my time between a job and life in general put a bit of a damper on my blog time. I have a list of posts that I need to catch up on. This post is tagged to start the ball rolling…we’ll see how it goes…

(I kind of have a 'thing' for "Thor"/Chris Hemsworth...I created the above to entertain my friends more than anything. *grin*)

(I've always thought
Morticia is the coolest...she has
been my FB profile pic of choice
for awhile.)

As many people do these days I keep in contact with the majority of my friends through the avenue of social sites, Facebook being my chief site. As they are spread hither and yon, it is the easiest route. Last Yule I received the ‘Photoshop Elements 10’ software package. Up until the last month or so I had only been using it to clean-up my photos. ‘Elements’ has many functions, and the latest one I have been playing around with is pasting and layering elements into one photo. “Thor”/Chris Hemsworth, and Morticia Addams, have been two of my test subjects. Yule/Christmas and the New Year seemed as good a time as any to start playing. The feedback I got from friends was complimentary, so I appear to be doing well so far. I haven’t done anything too difficult yet, but I think that will soon change. I tend to push myself creatively, and I have been creating collages with my photos (predominantly my cemetery work). I see a Deviant Art page in my near future…figure that would be a good place for posting them.

Photography has been my latest passion. “Latest” meaning within the last three or four years. It is such a creative art form. It really opens the eyes to a new and different perspective on things. As I have spent more and more time making excursions to various areas of interest (cemeteries being chief), I am finding that I look at everything in a different way. For me it’s a momentary thing. I don’t spend a lengthy amount of time framing things up, focusing the lens…I glimpse something, point, and shoot. I often surprise myself when I later review what I’ve taken. Not to toot my own horn, or anything. *grin* I’m just satisfied with my photographs, and my photographic sense…but then that’s why I take pictures. Because I enjoy it. No better therapy. Situated by the marsh as I am, with nature all around me, it’s all out there for me any time I need to go for a walk and get a dose of the sublime.

New Year’s Eve I walked to the dock remains near the cul de sac to take some pictures. My last marsh shots for 2012. As I snapped them off, my mind wandered to a Christmas many years ago. My dad had a farm in Duluth, Georgia, on 300+ acres of land. I was spending the Christmas holidays with him (my parents had been divorced a number of years at that point). It was 1974 (I was 10), and I received my first camera as a gift…a Kodak Pocket Instamatic camera. A cool little gadget, it was in the days of film cartridges and flash cubes. I was thrilled with it. I don’t know what happened to that camera. Kind of wish I still had it.

(To play this video, you can scroll to the bottom of the blog page to pause the music player.)
Having snapped my final marsh pictures of 2012, the dim light level of evening was waning fast, so I headed back in. It dawned on me that I have a few pictures that I took with that old Instamatic. After rooting through my boxes of old photos, I found them. To say that my picture taking “eye” has improved over the years would be an understatement. I obviously suffered from some serious framing issues back then…

Example #1 of my first photos with my first camera. The subject of this photo was to be my dad wearing the Stetson hat he got for Christmas. Well, at least I got the top half of his head in frame...

Example #2 was intended to be a shot of 'Bullet', my dad's new Blue Tick Hound puppy. At least I got part of him. Oh, and the foot is my brother's...

2012 is over. Still trying to wrap my head around that. The oft used saying of "the older you get, the quicker the time passes" is so true. As I said before the past year had its plodding areas, but now that it's officially over it feels like it passed in the blink of an eye. Then again, if the Mayans had been right, we wouldn't be here at all now. *eyeroll* Did anyone really think the world would end on December 21st? Sadly enough, I bet there were at least a handful of dooms-dayists who did. I've had a rant or two on my blog about the supposed Mayan prediction of the end of the world...now that the day of doom has come and gone...well, nuff said.

So...what about 2013? As I look at the clock, we are almost 4 hours into the second day of it. There are a few things I would like to accomplish during the coming year, but I am trying not to put the cart before the horse. If I think too much about future days I stress myself out. Living in the moment...the now...that's what I'm trying to focus on. The past is history, tomorrow is a mystery. Living in the moment is said to get easier as time passes. It is proving to be an ongoing effort for me. An effort well worth it, but an effort nonetheless. I have some mental windmills I have been tilting at. Worries about things that haven't happened yet. They too shall pass, but for now...living in the moment.

I am hopeful for a peaceful, productive and prosperous year to come...for all of us.

Happy 2013.

Full Moon In Cancer...December 28, 2012...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Erin) — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 07:52:00 +0000

("Cancer"; Artist: Yuhon @ http://yuhon.deviantart.com/art/Zodiac-Sign-Cancer-175419211)

December 28^th, at 6:23 AM/EST, is the final Full Moon of 2012, and this one is in the sign of Cancer (whose planetary ruler is the Moon). As always, Full Moon phases represent the culmination of things. They also represent a time when squashed and hidden issues of an emotional nature can rise to the surface for much needed (and sometimes strongly recommended) attention.

Cancer is a water sign whose energy resides within the ambitious Cardinal modality. When in top form, the sign of the crab is both dynamic and powerful. Its fluidity can flow past obstacles, and help clear away road blocks. This moon phase is about the hidden being revealed; the buried being uncovered. Emotional memories and baggage getting uncovered so new light can be shone on them. These memories and emotional issues can come from any point on the spectrum, from the sweet to the heavy. There is much strong energy to be utilized during this lunation, and it’s not only ripe for healing but also transformation.

There is one main configuration of note for this phase. Pluto in Capricorn is conjunct the Sun, both opposing the Cancer Moon, while making a tense square to Uranus in Aries. These aspects will be making emotional matters rather tumultuous at times. You may need to board the ‘emotional roller coaster’ at some point to help move things to a place where you can see things more clearly. You may encounter a surprise or two along the way, but don’t let them sway you from the task at hand: focusing on old emotional issues and baggage, so you can heal/transform them so they no longer have adverse effects on your life moving forward.

The foundations of these emotion based issues are primarily of a relationship nature (but they usually are…so much of our lives are affected by the relationships we have with others). Familial, financial, even the relationship we have with ourselves. This is the time to clean, heal, and change when necessary, those emotional bocks we have been sitting on. This moon can assist in bringing you back some clarity and emotional strength. Don’t be afraid to allow confidence in. Be receptive. Be open. Express yourself, and allow the healing to happen.

(Artist: David Palladini)

Don’t let any initial chaos sway you from moving forward and through any emotional upheavals. On the other side of the issue sits clarity and light. The flow of the water sign will help loosen issues that need tending to, and by embracing the healing energies of this lunation the cleansing can happen. It is advisable that you focus on yourself and take stock of how you respond/react to things in general. During the peak day of the phase and the couple of days following, there is great potential for crankiness, and passive-aggressive behavior. If you find yourself feeling a tad moody, try to keep tabs on just how cranky you are being.

As the year 2012 draws to a close, think of this emotional healing as an element of any preparations you are making for entering into the New Year.

Out with the old, and in with the new.

The following excerpt is from the Farmer's Almanac:

The Full Cold Moon; or the Full Long Nights Moon ~ During this month the winter cold fastens its grip, and nights are at their longest and darkest. It is also sometimes called the Moon before Yule. The term 'Long Night Moon' is a doubly appropriate name because the midwinter night is indeed long, and because the Moon is above the horizon for a long time. The midwinter Full Moon has a high trajectory across the sky because it is opposite a low Sun.

New Moon In Sagittarius...December 13, 2012...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Erin) — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 06:39:00 +0000

December 13, 2012, is the New Moon in Sagittarius, at 4:42 AM/EST. Sagittarius is a fire sign, so expect some charged and heightened energy. Something new and exciting is just around the corner, and this lunar phase says that actions are more powerful than words for now. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself feeling motivated to throw caution to the wind, and wanting to jump ahead with both feet on a new project. Yes, there is plenty of strong and energetic energy to go around, but before running aimlessly into new ventures it is prudent to clarify your intention, and carefully consider what is laid before you. By all means forge ahead, but be smart rather than reckless.

The sign of Sagittarius is one of optimism, and expansiveness. It is also a curious sign. Sagittarius is symbolic of the higher self, and the higher mind. The energies of this New Moon will be around through the end of December, so take the opportunity to put these plentiful energies to work. Aim to your higher self, and to higher goals. Open your consciousness and listen to your voice within. New Moons are about starting new goals and setting fresh intent into motion. This is an optimum time to aim high, and put some strong goals into motion.

Sagittarian Mercury is Square Piscean Neptune, and at the same time Mercury is Trine Uranus in Aries. These aspects speak to the afore mentioned need to be smart rather than reckless. There is potential for a seemingly brilliant idea to falter, as it is heavily dependent on as yet unformed potential. Shelve it for a while, and revisit it when things have gelled more.

Uranus in Aries is preparing to station direct a few hours after the New Moon, so for the moment it is at a standstill. It is ready to forge ahead once the time is ripe, but with the influences of Mercury and Neptune mucking things up, there is potential for unrealistic expectations. Again, really consider things, and do your best to see the forest for the trees.

(Artist: David Palladini)

Jupiter in Gemini forms the apex of a Yod, while Saturn in Scorpio Sextile Pluto in Capricorn forms the base. This time of year is an expensive one for all of us. When setting up budgets, be doubly sure that your income and spending are balanced. Capricorn and Scorpio will help keep you on track.

Although the aspect is diminishing, Venus in Scorpio is Sextile Mars in Capricorn. You could feel a surge of passion in your existing relationship or with someone new. Whatever your intentions are be sure to make them as clear as possible.

During this New Moon in Sagittarius simplicity is the name of the game. On the subjects of romance or new business ventures keep things as simple as possible, and focus on the path to the end goal. As always, honesty is the best policy. Energy is high and there is plenty to go around. Just don’t let it make you go off half-cocked. Keep things in perspective. Remember, by staying smart rather than reckless, great things are just around the corner.

Full Moon Musings...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Erin) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 07:35:00 +0000

The past couple of weeks have been an adjustment, as I've been getting back into the groove of being (somewhat) gainfully employed. I have had my pictures of the Gemini Full Moon of November 28th uploaded and ready to post, but day to day life was getting in the way. Spending time on my blog is something that needs to happen. It's something I must do. So here I am...spending some much needed time on my blog...

(Artist: Julie L. Hoddinott)

I was born at the tail end of the month of July, which makes me a Leo on the astrological charts. Not all of the traits Leo's are said to possess I will admit to. I can be very 'encouraging', 'loyal' (to a fault in some cases), and 'generous'. 'Ambition' and 'confidence' are two that are said to be strong in Leos. I can say that I am both, but along specific lines. I have many creative talents, so any ambitions I have would definitely lean in that direction. I am confident in many ways, but not to the point where it makes me unbearable to be around (I have known a few like that...have wanted to pop them in the head). The last trait I will mention is 'independent'. I am very independent, and am perfectly content to spend time with me. The overall zodiacal breakdown of the sign of Leo has many more layers to it, but I'm not going to delve any deeper.

As I sat down to get my Moon photos ready to post, I started thinking about how much I appreciate the Moon. It shines at night, and I have always preferred the night time. So much so that I often joke about there being vampires on my family tree. The outside world during the night is so magical and mysterious. The sounds, shadows, and dark recesses are particular to the hours that Luna occupies the sky. I find my connection with the Moon interesting...since I was born under a fire sign.

Leo's ruling "planet" is the Sun. (I don't know why they count the Sun as a planet since it is obviously a star.) The sun and I have never been on good terms. Spending lengthy amounts of time in the blazing rays of a summer sun has pretty much always resulted in red searing pain. I do remember being able to hang out at the pool, and being able to tan, when I was young. I'm not really clear why things changed, but they did in my twenties. Maybe it has to do with my auto-immune disease, Graves Disease (hyperthyroidism). Who knows? I don't do well in the heat, and my eyes don't do well in bright light. If I had my druthers, I would stay in all day and get stuff done at night. Too much of daily life happens during daylight hours, rendering that thought useless. As much distaste as I have for the sun, I do my best to tolerate it's unavoidable presence.

The sign that is associated with the Moon is Pisces. The sign of the fish has traits that...well, traits (some of which) I feel describe me better than Leo the lion. 'Imaginative', 'accepting', 'devoted', 'compassionate', 'adaptable'...all of those describe me. On the down side, Piscean people are said to be 'escapist', 'overly sensitive', and 'indecisive'. All of those register a "yes and no" with me. Hmm...oh, who am I trying to kid? I am a Leo who despises her sign's ruling celestial body. Not much I can do about changing that, so I'll just continue to be a Leo who has an intense dislike for the sun.

November's Full Moon was beautiful. Once I could see it. Here on the Georgia coast we had experienced some rain, and the sky was still filled with dense cloud cover during the day of the 28th. I had pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I would have to miss seeing the Full Moon. It was to be a special one, too, as it was to be accompanied by a lunar eclipse. Would I have gotten to see the effects of the eclipse? No, not really. There were some subtle effects visible with the naked eye. For about a half an hour before and after the peak/maximum of the eclipse, light grey shading would be visible along the northern 'limb' of the Moon.

As darkness descended over the marsh, I ventured outside a few times to check the sky. Just in case. I noticed some small areas where holes were appearing in the cloud cover, but nothing large scale. The last trip out, I was turning to go back inside when I noticed some brightness through the black line of tree tops along the marsh edge. Bingo! My sense of hope started to return. I grabbed the camera, tripod, and headed towards where I hoped the Moon would be.

It was there, but clouds still covered it. I decided to wait a bit to see if Luna would make an appearance. The clouds dispersed a little here and there, only the brilliant rays shining through. Then little by little the Moon appeared.

I look forward to the Full Moon each month. Such beauty, and energy. It marks the culmination of things. A time to deal with and resolve issues, so you can cut them lose. The brilliant round Moon shines its cleansing light. I really dig the Moon. It's the Earths satellite and nearest piece of the cosmos...another interest of mine...

Up next, the Cancer Full Moon of December 28th...