Warmest greetings of the season whatever your celebration! It’s Solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, or Saturnalia! It’s merry, blessed, jolly, festive and more. It’s quietly lighting candles.
We are taking the loving peace and quiet of midwinter into ourselves. We are pausing, resting, and restoring. It’s a good time to open our hearts.
It’s time to unroll the bright festive Saturnalia banners.
In the Cabinet Drawer…
Here’s this month’s sneak peek of my visionary Wunderkabinett novel in progress…
Opening a drawer in the cabinet of curiosities, I found this tale …
The bear came in, sat beside them, stood on hind legs. Lily watched as Glynis danced with him carefully at first, then with more movement, more love, more ecstasy.
Their plain forest clothes shimmered deep colours, red and burgundy, green and purple, gold and silver. It became a magnificent occasion. Even the bear was wearing a fine embroidered silk vest, shining in the gypsy firelight. It was a transfiguration. Music and drumming filled the forest with familiar magical rhythms.
The women in the circle were fully present with them now; their fire was the same fire, and their forest was the same forest. Lily couldn’t tell if she and Glynis and the bear had come to the women or if they had come to her. They were all standing, singing and drumming. Between them and the central fire, Glynis and the bear were dancing round and round, Glynis’ skirt turning colours as it nearly glanced the fire, her arms outstretched nearly slapping the faces of the standing women. The bear’s nose glistens in fire light, claws magically flashing gold and silver, eyes projecting a tremendous love as he caught the eye of those old women standing, moving, clapping and singing, jingling their shakers and tinkling bells, striking their ancient decorated drums.
Round and round, they all circled the fire, and the night sky circled above the treetops. It was right; the world was right. The drums stopped. One woman came forward holding an ancient hammered brass or copper plate before her. She held it hard, its inscription facing the fire, then turned and showed it in each direction. Then back to the fire before wrapping it again in its old worn ceremonial blanket.
As she held the plate, the bear bowed to the fire, shrugged off the vest, and padded back into the forest on all fours again. Glynis came back to sit beside Lily at the fireside. Their view of the old women was obscured by smoke. The wind had shifted, and they moved their seats to the other side. ..
Field Notes from the Interior
Glimpses into what I’m watching, reading, or thinking about
We watch a lot of movies these dark evenings. No street lights, and we carry flashlights walking down the road to check for the mail at 5. Back inside after dinner, with the fire burning in the woodstove, it’s movie night! Best of last week: Ghostlight. Heartfelt and deep. Emotional truth.
I’ve been trying Elizabeth Gilbert’s Letters from Love, and recommend that you give it whirl. If you like to journal and see what’s opening up, this is a lovely way to look inside and receive some inner hugs and wisdom.
I tried going to Blue Sky but it didn’t take - maybe I’m just too old or jaded to be excited about another social media platform using my connections as content. Change my mind?
I flagged this post from Kate Armstrong to share with you - a delightful concept for beautiful and valuable data storage: storing data in diamonds! No time to read this? Just look at the photos and imagine the possibilities.
Any Reflections?
Welcome to the Mirror Room
Not skrying yet for 2025. Let’s say the new year begins now, in this time of good wishes. There will be time enough to ponder what is yet to come after we hear Kirk’s reassuring voice: “Captain’s Log, Stardate 2025…” Until then, let’s enjoy this peaceful gap-time with pockets of celebration here and there. See you in the new year!
The faces of the future are hidden behind the masks of the present.
