Alpine locks :-)…
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Posté avec Blogsyin February I had inscribed for a course of creative spinning, The Journey to the Golden Fleece. Today I was planning to write to my mentor and say that I just couldn't continue with the course because I don't have enough time and I feel totally blocked and it's just not possible…. Then I got an encouraging email this morning and thought, well, maybe this is part of the journey after all and I'm not alone with these feelings!
So I decided to go ahead with what I had planned: expressing the moment I found my spiritual path in fibre. I discovered the path of the Ceile De, a Celtic order, seven years ago in a time when I was quite low and depressed. So I planned to use a lot of the Welsh black wool and a bit of the brilliant green raw silk I bought a little while ago. I had two approaches. I span the black wool just normally on my heavy handspindle and then the green silk alone on my lightweight topspindle, then I plied them together. That looked quite good although the green is much more noticable than I thought it would be…
Then I mixed the green silk with pale green merino wool. I don't have any proper mixing tools so I used my hand carders. I ended up with the green silk just showing up here and there in the finished yarn, much more what I had intended it to do.
And then I just stared at the rests of fibre on my sofa, black, brown, white wool and some brilliantly coloured blue and green ramie that I got as a gift with my order from Hilltop Cloud Katie.
I started putting them randomly on my carders, first the darker colours, then blending in the white and finally the green and blue. They made three reasonable rolag type thingies (never really done this before, you see!). I'm supposed to clean the house in preparation for guests tomorrow but I couldn't stop and started spinning the fibre. The thread that wound itself around my spindle touched me deeply in my heart: the colours that came out are the colours of the isle of Iona in the Hebrides and strongly linked to our tradition. On Iona I started my spiritual path consciously… This yarn isn't finished yet. I will ply this with white locks of a fleece of a lamb in the French Alps and then post a picture of the end result! I was quite taken aback, though, by this onslaught of inspiration and now definitely need some chocolate :-)…
St. Brighid's Well, Iona
White Strand of the Monks, Iona
When I started on this journey, I had a great idea how to design my first yar. Thinking back to the time before I embarked on my spiritual journey, I came across an avatar I used which expresses this pre-adventure me quite well:
So I decided to work with the colour scheme of this gothic girl I was for a while, black, red and hints of other colours witha bit of sparkle. I found fibres to work with and waited for them to arrive.
But only one shipping made it, the rest never turned up! So I had to rethink and got a bit upset. Time went by and I ended up spinning a yarn just because I felt I had to (very much the old me, by the way, feeling obliged and doiing things against my will and better judgement). This is it:
I wasn't happy because it was just a boring old yarn in colours I didn't like…
So I bought some sparkely paillettes and nylon to add them to the dark purple fibre. That would work much better, I thought. I did manage to get the paillettes on nylon thread but when the doorbell rang and I had to put it down, it all tangled up and I just couldn't get it detangled, try as I might! I thought that in the end I wouldn't be able to use the nylon anyway as it seemed unmanagable, so I gave up this path, too.
In the end, I got quite angry because nothing seemed to work out. One evening, I just grabbed the fibres I had, separated them roughly and thought, how can I get an effect into THAT? And I just started twisting andspinning and overtwisting the fibres and ended up with an effect I rather liked! The yarn is very thick but structured and looks good to me.
To be continued…
Today I have wandered farSoon the day will be overThe trees are growing darkAnd the last rays of sunlight fade awayI have to rest a while before reaching the end of my journeyI sit down at the foot of a big stoneold stone, covered in mossI close my eyes just for a momentTo gather my strengthI wrap my cloak around me And sing softly to myselfAll grows quiet around meI lift my eyes and seeA tall man looking straight at meDressed in strange clothesI feel no fear but admirationHe is so handsome and strongHis eyes deep forest poolsHis features nobleI stand to greet himBut the words don't comeI stare at the deep wound in his chestThen at his pale faceHe smiles at me and shakes his headI move towards him to helpBut as I approach he fades awayAnd I can't see him any moreI continue my wayFeeling sad yet warm insideWhat has happened at this place? Who is he? Where is he now? I walk on wonderingMy soul at peaceHe was before me and he lives onOur paths may still cross again
Brighid has come out of the hill
Bleak are the fields
Stretching to the horizon
Barren the trees
Under a leaden sky
Burdened is my soul
With its load of empty thoughts
Beat for beat
My heart labours on
Cold wind, cold air
Chill me to the bone
Cailleach the Crone
Craddles me close
Burning in my soul
Is a glowing ember
Blinding me almost
As it bursts into flame
Bright Brighid
Bountiful maiden
Bearing so many gifts
Bringing hope and joy
Two and yet one
Old and young
Wisdom and strength
Gifts without measure
Fields of Boussu-Lez-Walcourt
Low sun
Decaying leaf
The road ahead
Secrets from under the earth
Life always wins
Bible of the field preacher William Hannay of Dumfriesshire which he left behind in a pile of straw when government troops came after him. He recuperated it later on but it had been slashed by a sword…
Mask and wig of field preacher Alexander Peden, Ayrshire
Female aristocrat hunting
🙂 Drunk in charge…
Papil Stone, West Burra
Papil Stone, bird-headed men
Papil Stone, Lion
Papil Stone, “Monks”
Before Easter Sunday…
Celtic Cross at The Bield
http://www.bieldatblackruthven.org.uk/The_Bield_at_Blackruthven/Welcome.html
Life breaks through
The Wildwood at The Bield
Beltane
Fields waiting for The Sun
Daffodil
Signs of spring are everywhere…
The fields are waiting
Farmers are getting ready!
the soil still needs turning
Last years growth is whithered and dry
Fertilizer and the Lime Tree
These fields are ready
Paddeling across the water at 5:30, watching a murmuration of starlings dancing over the rushes, finding traces of beever and woodpecker, discovering wild food…
Slowly and regularly
Round and round
Dropping to the ground
Pulling and twisting
Tugging at glistening
Fibres in a mound
Smell of wool
Shine of silk
Softness of cotton
Sweetness of linen
Glorious green
Riotous red
Blazing blue
Yummy yellow
Vibrant violet
Powerful purple
Black, brown and white
Slowly and regularly
Round and round
Spins the spindle
Pulling and twisting
Twisting the thread
Tugging at the heart
Of Ariadne
Every year I am surprised to have the same experience! Winter seems to go on and on and although I know that we need winter, cold, frost, dark, stagnation, death, rest… I long for spring. Every year I think that Imbolc comes too early, that nature is not ready yet. Every hear, just a day or two before Imbolc I see, hear, feel, smell, taste a difference that announces spring. Yesterday I walked for a long time and suddenly realised how the light had changed. The sky turned blue and white and pink and was suddenly bright and warm. Light cascaded down and I stopped and looked up, wondering what had happened. The sun was going down but this light shone from high above down on me… I just relished in the brightness and then continued to walk. Lots of puddles were there along my way, bright and shining with the light, reflecting the soft pink and white of the clouds and here and there bits of blue sky. There was a change in the smell of the air, a sweetness that hadn't been there all winter. Birds were chattering in the trees and bushes and I knew: Brighid has come… It is time to shed the old skin, to drop the dead weight on my shoulders, time to allow new growth, time to stretch and straighten my back and breathe deeply. Inspiration will come, healing is near, music and laughter can be heard in the distance. Brighid has come…
Vanilla clouds sailing across a sky
Still grey and heavy
Cotton candy clouds sailing across the puddles
Huddled between dead leaves and mud
A smell of sweetness in the air
Over the scent of decay
A smell of hope and promise
Over the odour of death
Warmth of the sun
Red and golden
Warmth of the fire
Blazing white
Warmth of newborn lambs
Black and cream
Here she comes
Dancing across the fields
Healing in her footprints
Inspiration in her breath
Wisdom in her words
Here she comes
Again
Slowly
Bit by bit
Quietly
At first
Almost unnoticably
Change is here
What seemed certain and clear
Has disappeared behind a curtain of mist
I catch a glimpse every now and then
And all has turned into vapour
There is no firm ground under my feet
I put my foot down and sink
I take another step and stumble
There is nothing else to do
But to keep walking
Or is there?
Thoughts race each other
And keep turning round and round
Chasing the wind
Spinning and whirling
Forcing me to look at a mirage
My world falls apart
Shatters like glass
And I have to act
Or do I?
What is real?
What is illusion?
What is left?
Could it be
That after all these years
I have to be
Me?
Round Castle o' Burrian
Pierowall
Westray Airport…
Yup, that's it!
View across to Papay
Pictish engravings
Broken rod and crescent…
Viking plaque
The Eye of Brodgar
From the Ness of Brodgar excavation
Stone spatulas, Ness of Brodgar
Stone axes, Ness of Brodgar
Ness of Brodgar
Haematite, Ness of Brodgar
Mace head, Ness of Brodgar
The Brodgar Boy…
Grooved Ware, Ness of Brodgar
Decorations, Ness of Brodgar
We did get to Birsay finally, another Broch, only accessible at low tide. The Broch was inhabited originally by Picts and then taken over by Vikings…
The passage is open…
The Viking settlement
Cliffs of Birsay
Seagull young
Lighthouse on top of Birsay
Colours of Orkney…
Archaeologists are excavating a site on the Ness of Brodgar which seems to be a religious centre, closely connected to the Ring of Brodgar and Standing Stones of Steerness… More at http://www.orkneyjar/history…
Sunshine and Wind on my skin
Caressing me
Your hand in mine
Our eyes meeting
Souls melting into each other
Sharing, multiplying love
Savouring life
Pronouncing the inexpressible
Wind and Sunshine in my heart
Joy and gratitude
It has been so long since I have posted here! Life was just too busy, I guess.
But today was a day off, free, and I went for a walk with the dog. It was cold, frosty but sunny and here are some pictures from the land here. What a gorgeous day, what a lovely moment to just breathe the cold air and bask in the pale glorious sunshine that only lasts for a few short hours now. The Solstice is coming ever closer…
Contemplation et transformation
Caché tout au fond de mon être, il y a une source d’eau vive qui jaillit sans arrêt. Caché tout au fond de moi-même, il y a plus que moi. Notre vie de tous les jours le rend difficile de redécouvrir ces trésors mais si nous prenons un peu de temps pour mettre les distractions à côté et pour nous concentrer sur notre coeur, une grande aventure peut commencer.
Le savoir autour de cette vie intérieure n’est pas oublié par tous. Ici et là, il y a des groupes de personnes de différentes convictions et croyances qui ont pu expérimenter la rencontre avec ce grand Mystère que certain parmi nous appellent Dieu. Différentes traditions ont conservé et transmis des enseignements autour de cette rencontre mystique. Une d’entre elles est celle des Céile Dé, une petit groupe monastique écossais qui vivent une vie de silence et de contemplation. Venez découvrir cette tradition avec ses pratiques de prière, de chants et de méditation au long d’une journée avec Heike Killet, Oide (enseignante ordinée des Céile Dé).
Dimanche 24 avril 2016 à L’ArBre, Bruly-de-Pesche (Belgique)
Renseignements et inscription +32-(0)496-86.32.10, ceiledebooking@gmail.com
The old woman stares into the fire and begins to talk.
In the beginning, there were the Nine. Earth, Fire, Water, Wind and Light, Male and Female, Time and Sound, and they all came out of No-Thing.
They emerged out of the shining, whirling mass and hovered for a while. Then Water formed a ball, a huge ball, slowly turning in the void. Earth settled on Water and sighed a deep sigh of contentment. Wind laughed deeply and enveloped them in her strong arms, sometimes caressing them and sometimes ruffling up Water with mighty gusts. Time smiled and said: “It is done! I have begun.” and Sound echoed his words. All of a sudden, Fire burst out from inside of Earth and Water where she had hidden. Water turned into steam where she passed and Earth glowed red and orange in her passage. They marveled at Fire’s shining colors and fiery heat. All elements, Time and Sound complemented each other, played with each other and all was in balance.
Then Male and Female came into Being, and all of a sudden, creatures emerged in the Water, on Earth, carried by the Wind and flying into the Fire. Fish swam the oceans, in all shades of blue, but where they touched the Earth, they turned brown and green. When they jumped out of the Water and got carried for a moment on the Wind, their skin turned white and grey, and they began to breathe oxygen. This is how the mighty whales and the playful dolphins came to have lungs. Where a spark of Fire touched them, they started to glow, and when they dove back into the Water, they carried their light with them to shine in the inky depths.
Birds swarmed and flew high on the wind. (…)
To be continued
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 420 times in 2014. If it were a cable car, it would take about 7 trips to carry that many people.
After dyeing the Scottish wool that I had just picked up from the fields, I carded it and then used a wooden hair comb as a makeshift hackle! The colors blended quite beautifully and I span and then navajoplied them.
And somewhere on the web I had seen this brilliant idea to keep the ply from tangling! Works a treat!! Now the yarn is drying, so the final picture will have to wait for tomorrow.
Et voilà! 
I am quite impressed with the way the colors have come out, very soft hues of blue, green and red, held together by the woolwhite. I chose green as the color of the element earth because in my tradition the Earth is called “the Green Diamond” :-). There is still a lot of wool left so I will make more of this yarn over the next few days.
The idea is so neat but I had no dye in the house, except for Easter egg colors… Why not? This morning, I filled jars with wool, popped a tablet or two of egg dye on them and filled the jars with a mix of hot water and vinegar. They are now out in the sun and I am more than curious to check out the result later on… and here it is, solar dyed Easteregg coloured Scottish wool!! 🙂
When I had finished the Vision Quest yarn, I just could not stop but had to go on to the next project. The task was to reflect on what I love about myself because without love for myself I cannot love others, and I cannot be creative.
Some time ago, I had followed a workshop about archetypes and I was reminded of the fact that two elements are quite predominant in me: “water” and “earth”. I use “air” a lot when I deal with life and “fire” is the suppressed element that I only “let out” every now and again. I do love it when all four elements are in balance and I live out of that perfect blend.
I was hit by the realization that the fibres I had used regularly here and there in my creations express the “water-earth” elements perfectly: the beautiful blend of silk that I call in my mind “Iona colors”:
So this would be the core of my yarn, the foundation.
In order to add “fire”, I thought of the gift I had received the day before from Suzy: yellow, red, orange, brown with lots of little added hues and glitter.
In my mind, the two fibres were clashing, colors and textures were so different but hey, I would try it out anyway. Here’s the spun “fire”:
Water-earth-fire next to each other:
So, what about “air”? Air is, well, airy and fluffy and light, clouds sailing lazily across the sky on a warm summer’s day. Ah, how about the soft fur of Harriette, our bunny rabbit, carded with white wool I had gathered on a retreat in Scotland?
And now all that was left to do was to assemble the three yarns = four elements:
As in “real life”, the “air” is very noticeable and here and there the “fire” jumps out!
I really love this yarn :-).
Then I had quite a bit of the “water-earth” and the “fire” yarn left and I thought, what would happen, if I assembled just the two?
It looks rather striking, I think and leaves me to wonder what my life would be like if I based it on “water-earth” and “fire”, leave out the “air” for a bit?
Here are the two yarns side by side:
Hawk checking out the finished yarn
Well, there was so much going on over the last few weeks that I had totally neglected my spinning project, Vision Quest. The aim was to express in yarn what I saw on a photo (chosen amongst about ten with different themes). I had planned to try my hand at dying because the yellow of the sun intrigued me. In the end, I used the lovely soft winter fur that our Alaskan Malamut Hawk had been spreading around the house so generously…
The Yarn is a blend of multicolored silk, Malamut fur that I have dyed yellow with food coloring (hello, Rainbow Cake!) and green merino wool carded with green silk. I am quite pleased with the end result.
At first, I thought that the yarn was too colorful compared with the photo but when I look closely at the darker colors of the road and the greenery lining it, I can see lots of colors and that is what makes it so deep and rich. So, here it is, Road into the Sunset Vision Quest yarn!
Quiet green poet, lover of trees and other wonderful creatures.
wyrdandwonderful 
