Tag: Visual Arts

Goddess/Muse – Calliope

THE MUSE CALLIOPE IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY

THE MUSE CALLIOPE

Calliope is a famous name from Greek mythology, for Calliope was one of the Younger Muses, the beautiful goddesses who would inspire writers, artists and artisans.

Calliope the Muse of Epic Poetry, and hers was a name invoked by many writers and poets in antiquity; for they would give praise to the Muse for their ability to bring forth words of great eloquence.

CALLIOPE DAUGHTER OF ZEUS

As one of the Younger Muses, Calliope is the daughter of Zeus and the Titan goddess Mnemosyne; making her sister to Clio, Erato, Euterpe, Melpomene, Terpsichore, Thalia, Polyhmnia and Ourania.

Calliope was named as the eldest of the Younger Muses, conceived on the first night that Zeus lay with Mnemosyne.

CALLIOPE GODDESS OF MUSIC

Calliope was a Greek goddess of music, song and dance, and was specifically named as the Muse of Epic Poetry. In this role, Calliope was normally depicted with a writing tablet in her hand.

Calliope was also said to be the muse who bestowed the gift of eloquence about mortal kings, coming to them when they were a baby, and anointing their lips in honey.

​As a result of Calliope’s actions, when adults, the anointed ones would spout gracious words, and utter true judgements.

Calliope was also considered to be the leader of the Muses, the wisest of the sisters, and also the most assertive.

CALLIOPE MOTHER OF ORPHEUS

Stories from Greek mythology would tell of the marriage of Calliope to the Thracian king Oeagrus, with the wedding taking place at Pimpleia. The marriage of Calliope and Oeagrus was said to have brought forth two notable individuals Orpheus and Linus.  Orpheus was the great musical hero of Greek mythology, and Linus was the inventor of rhythm and melody; alternatively the father of Orpheus and Linus is named as the Olympian god Apollo.

Initially, Calliope and Orpheus were said to reside at Pimpleia, but later Calliope and her son were to be found with the other Younger Muses upon Mount Parnassus. For here Apollo visited to continue the musical training of Orpheus, which had been commenced by Calliope.

CALLIOPE IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY

Calliope was rarely spoken of as an individual but she is named as present, and spoken to by Thetis, when the Muses sang their dirges during the funeral rites of Achilles. Calliope was also certainly present when the Younger Muses were victorious in their contests with the Sirens and Pierides. Indeed, Calliope was said to be the Muse who caused the Pierides to be transformed into magpies after they had had the impudence to challenge Calliope and her sisters. 

Wednesday

Wednesday

 

Wednesday: Is associated with Mercury and the colors of Purple, Magenta and Silver

Wednesday is the best time to deal with such matters as: Accounting, Advertising, Astrology, Clerks, Communication, Computers, Correspondence, Critics, Editing, Editors, Education, Healing, Hiring Employees, Intelligence, Journalists, Kin, Learning Languages, Legal Appointments, Memory, Merchants, Messages, Music, Neighbors, Phone Calls, Placing Ads, Siblings, Signing Contracts, Students, Visiting Friends, Visual Arts, Wisdom, and Writing

 

 

Practical Magick for the Penny Pinching Witch

Carol Moyer

Wednesday


Celtic Comments & Graphics

Wednesday

 

Wednesday: Is associated with Mercury and the colors of Purple, Magenta and Silver

Wednesday is the best time to deal with such matters as: Accounting, Advertising, Astrology, Clerks, Communication, Computers, Correspondence, Critics, Editing, Editors, Education, Healing, Hiring Employees, Intelligence, Journalists, Kin, Learning Languages, Legal Appointments, Memory, Merchants, Messages, Music, Neighbors, Phone Calls, Placing Ads, Siblings, Signing Contracts, Students, Visiting Friends, Visual Arts, Wisdom, and Writing

Practical Magick for the Penny Pinching Witch

Carol Moyer

Wednesday

Wiccan
Wednesday

Wednesday: Is associated with Mercury and the colors of Purple, Magenta and Silver.

Wednesday is the best time to deal with such matters as: Accounting, Advertising, Astrology, Clerks, Communication, Computers, Correspondence, Critics, Editing, Editors, Education, Healing, Hiring Employees, Intelligence, Journalists, Kin, Learning Languages, Legal Appointments, Memory, Merchants, Messages, Music, Neighbors, Phone Calls, Placing Ads , Siblings, Signing Contracts, Students, Visiting Friends, Visual Arts, Wisdom, and Writing

Practical Magick for the Penny Pinching Witch
Carol Moyer

Wednesday

Dragon Comments & GraphicsWednesday

Wednesday: Is associated with Mercury and the colors of Purple, Magenta and Silver

Wednesday is the best time to deal with such matters as: Accounting, Advertising, Astrology, Clerks, Communication, Computers, Correspondence, Critics, Editing, Editors, Education, Healing, Hiring Employees, Intelligence, Journalists, Kin, Learning Languages, Legal Appointments, Memory, Merchants, Messages, Music, Neighbors, Phone Calls, Placing Ads, Siblings, Signing Contracts, Students, Visiting Friends, Visual Arts, Wisdom, and Writing

Practical Magick for the Penny Pinching Witch
Carol Moyer

Wednesday

Legend Of The Dragon Princess

Wednesday

 

Wednesday: Is associated with Mercury and the colors of Purple, Magenta and Silver.

 

Wednesday is the best time to deal with such matters as: Accounting, Advertising, Astrology, Clerks, Communication, Computers, Correspondence, Critics, Editing, Editors, Education, Healing, Hiring Employees, Intelligence, Journalists, Kin, Learning Languages, Legal Appointments, Memory, Merchants, Messages, Music, Neighbors, Phone Calls, Placing Ads , Siblings, Signing Contracts, Students, Visiting Friends, Visual Arts, Wisdom, and Writing

 

 

Practical Magick for the Penny Pinching Witch

Carol Moyer

Your Animal Spirit for February 19th – The Green Man

Your Animal Spirit for the Today

Green Man

Green Man peers out of the foliage to remind you that not all of life’s mysteries have logical solutions. Be open to magical opportunities, spirit allies, and unconventional paths. Get out into the wilderness, ground yourself in meditation, and listen for Green Man’s wisdom. You may just catch sight of him eyeing you in his leafy camouflage.

Enhanced by Zemanta

Your Animal Spirit for January 24th is The Greenman

Your Animal Spirit for Today
January 24, 2014

 

Green Man

Green Man peers out of the foliage to remind you that not all of life’s mysteries have logical solutions. Be open to magical opportunities, spirit allies, and unconventional paths. Get out into the wilderness, ground yourself in meditation, and listen for Green Man’s wisdom. You may just catch sight of him eyeing you in his leafy camouflage.

Enhanced by Zemanta

Your Animal Spirit for Jan. 14 is Green Man

Your Animal Spirit for Today
January 14, 2014

Green Man

Green Man peers out of the foliage to remind you that not all of life’s mysteries have logical solutions. Be open to magical opportunities, spirit allies, and unconventional paths. Get out into the wilderness, ground yourself in meditation, and listen for Green Man’s wisdom. You may just catch sight of him eyeing you in his leafy camouflage.

Enhanced by Zemanta

Your Animal Spirit for October 15th is The Green Man

Your Animal Spirit for Today
October 15, 2013

Green Man

Green Man peers out of the foliage to remind you that not all of life’s mysteries have logical solutions. Be open to magical opportunities, spirit allies, and unconventional paths. Get out into the wilderness, ground yourself in meditation, and listen for Green Man’s wisdom. You may just catch sight of him eyeing you in his leafy camouflage.

August 23 – Daily Feast

August 23 – Daily Feast

Painting a picture is much the same as living a life. Some of us only get the outline sketched while others find the time and desire to mix beautiful colors and brush them on canvas. Color is used sparingly on some canvases, others are somber and dark with little or no highlights. But those whose cheerful colors, cardinal reds, sunflower yellows, and all shades of purple and lilac, show us that life does not have to be ordinary. The Master Artist, U ne la nv hi, gave us all pallets and pots of bright colors to use boldly, or to mix in subtle but lively shades. We have been given the general sketch but it is left to us to fill in the colors, harmonizing and blending until we get the right tones. Each of us is a painter and each has the charge to make life a work of art.

~ They searched for a long period of time for the source of life, and at last came to see the thought that it issues from an invisible creative power to which they applied the name Wa-ko-da. ~

PLAYFUL CALF

“A Cherokee Feast of Days” by Joyce Sequichie Hifler

Your Animal Spirit for August 13th is Green Man

Your Animal Spirit for Today
August 13, 2013

Green Man

Green Man peers out of the foliage to remind you that not all of life’s mysteries have logical solutions. Be open to magical opportunities, spirit allies, and unconventional paths. Get out into the wilderness, ground yourself in meditation, and listen for Green Man’s wisdom. You may just catch sight of him eyeing you in his leafy camouflage.

The Crafty Witch: Green Man Prosperity Magnet Spell

Green Man Prosperity Magnet Spell

 

Purchase a Green Man magnet or acquire a copyright-free image of Green Man and make your own. The Green Man is such an old figure that there are many cool, classic images of him in the public domain available for you. You can put a picture of Green Man on a printable magnet available from any office supply store, or glue a round magnet on the back of a wooden disk and pain or glue a Green Man on the front. In a small envelope, place a one-dollar bill, a sprinkle of basil, and a leaf from your favorite tree, and then seal the envelope. Using the magnet, stick the envelope to your fridge. Empower it with the following charm:

“Draw to me the mighty green

Prosperity shall come to me.

Open my opportunities

Drawing forth magnetically.”

Your Animal Spirit for August 23 is Green Man

Your Animal Spirit for Today
August 23, 2012

 

Green Man

Green Man peers out of the foliage to remind you that not all of life’s mysteries have logical solutions. Be open to magical opportunities, spirit allies, and unconventional paths. Get out into the wilderness, ground yourself in meditation, and listen for Green Man’s wisdom. You may just catch sight of him eyeing you in his leafy camouflage.

Quiz of the Day – Which Spirit Keeper do You Need?

Quiz: Which Spirit Keeper do You Need?

by Annie B. Bond

 

Native American traditions speak of four powers, or Spirit Keepers,  associated with the four directions, animals, colors, and qualities, that may be  honored and invoked, celebrated and worked with in order to bring ourselves into  better balance with What Is.

Take this simple quiz to see which Native American Spirit Keeper would be  most helpful to you now:

Look at the following sets of three statements. Which set of three is most  true for you?

A1. I long for a sense of renewal and quickening in my life.

2. I desire more clarity.

3. I feel that increased intelligence, intensity, and purity would be helpful  to me now.

B1. I long for transformation in my life.

2. I desire to be more grounded.

3. I feel that increased endurance, stability, and introspection would be  helpful to me now.

C1. I long for illumination.

2. I desire a sense of awakening and newness.

3. I feel that increased Light, spirituality, and far-sightedness would be  helpful to me now.

D1. I long for discovery in my life.

2. I desire a sense of unfolding and organic growth.

3. I feel that increased vitality, intuition and awareness of feelings would  be helpful to me now.

If you chose A, you need the Power of the North. Animal: Buffalo Color: White The Power of the North clarifies the mind and purifies our  mental being.

If you chose B, you need the Power of the West. Animal: Grizzly Bear Color: Black The Power of the West activates the intelligence of the  physical body and enables it to work with the material substances that  constitute our flesh, blood and bones.

If you chose C, you need the Power of the East. Animal: Eagle Color:  Yellow The Power of the East enables us to be enlightened with sudden  flashes of inspiration and understanding through our innermost “self,” which is  the noblest aspect of our total being.

If you chose D, you need the Power of the South. Animal: Mouse Color:  Red The Power of the South empowers and strengthens the intuitive “self.”

Spend some time facing or contemplating the direction you chose. Connect with  those qualities within you. You may want to petition the power animal of that  direction to help and guide you.

 

Calendar of the Sun for April 3rd

Calendar of the Sun
18 Hrethemonath

Day of Sheela-Na-Gig

Color: Earthy red
Element: Earth
Altar: On a cloth of clay-red set clay bowls of water, milk, incense, grains, stones, leaves, and candles. A figure of the Sheela-Na-Gig should be in the center.
Offerings: Do maintenance on your physical body.
Daily Meal: Eggs or dairy, as they come from female animals.

Invocation to the Sheela-Na-Gig

Goddess of Fertility,
You stand naked and unashamed
Spreading open the doors
To the sacred tunnel of life
From which we all came
And to which we shall all return.
You speak of the holiness of the body,
Of the woman’s passage that we must
Never forget was our entry
Into this world of flesh and blood.
You remind us that flesh and blood is as sacred
As mind and heart and spirit,
Even when we rail against it,
Even when it seems to betray us,
Even we wish it were otherwise.
You remind us that incarnation
Is not a prison but a privilege,
And that what seem the least
And most profane parts of the flesh
Are as sacred as those we see every day.
We are all born of woman,
We are all birthed of body,
We all came through suffering
And brought great joy.
Let us never forget the touch
Of skin on skin, even the lightest of which
Reminds us of where we are privileged to live.

(Each comes forth and embraces another, saying, “Your body is sacred.” The grain and milk and water is poured out as a libation. Ritual sex is encouraged on this day, with the emphasis on taking care of and respecting the needs of the body as a sacred vessel.)

[Pagan Book of Hours]

Daily OM for January 15th – Compelled to Create

Compelled to Create
Embracing Your Muse

Nearly all creative possibilities are related to the muses that inspire us. 

 

Inspiration is an intangible yet inseparable part of the creative process. Nearly all creative possibilities are related to the muses that inspire us. The ancient Greeks believed that all creation, whether artistic or scientific in nature, was motivated by goddesses who served as the literal embodiment of inspiration. These were the Muses—the givers of the creative spark. We still rely on muses to drive the creative process, though ours may take a diverse range of forms. People we meet, intriguing ideas, movies, books, nature, and cultural ideals all have the potential to awaken our imaginative minds. When we are touched by our muses, we understand viscerally that we are capable of producing our own unique kind of greatness.

Many people move through life unaware of the presence of their muse. This lack of awareness can be compounded by the fact that we may have one muse that remains with us throughout our lives, multiple muses that inspire us concurrently, several muses that come and go as necessary, or a single muse that touches us briefly at specific moments. You will know that you have found your muse when you encounter a force that makes you feel courageous enough to broaden the range of your creativity. The presence of this force will erase your self-doubt and motivate you to give your thoughts and feelings form. Should your muse continue to elude you, however, there are steps you can take to increase your chances of falling under its inspired influence. If you surround yourself with people who support you, keep a pen and paper handy, immerse yourself in culture, and brainstorm frequently, you will soon reconnect with your muse.

Once you have identified your muse, embrace it by giving yourself over to the creative inspiration it provides. No matter what you are moved to create, you will find that neither fear nor criticism can penetrate the wonderful bliss that goes hand in hand with the act of taking an idea and turning it into something the whole world can enjoy.

Daily Zen Meditation for October 1st

We had warm, wet weather all spring.
Now, white autumn is clear and cold.
Dew frozen, drifting mists gone,
Bottomless heavens open over this
Vast landscape of clarity,
And mountains stretch away,
Their towering peaks an unearthly
Treasure of distance.

These fragrant woodland chrysanthemums
Ablaze, green pines lining the clifftops:
Isn’t this the immaculate heart of beauty,
This frost-deepened austerity?
Sipping wine, I think of recluse masters.
A century away, I nurture your secrets.
Your true nature eludes me here,
But taken by quiet,
I can linger this exquisite moon
Out to the end.

– T’ao Ch’ien (365-427)

Today’s Featured Picture (close your eyes, kiddies!)

Today’s featured picture
Kenyon Cox nude study This study drawing by Kenyon Cox shows the allegorical figure of Romance nude, bending her head to read a book on her lap. Romance is one figure in a painting, The Arts, in the north-end lunette of the Southwest Gallery in the Library of Congress’ Jefferson Building. Cox was an advocate of figurative art—art that is clearly sourced from real objects—and is therefore by definition representational rather than abstract art.

Restoration: Lise Broer