My body is fully aware of the turning of the season this year. Today is Imbolc, the day in the northern hemisphere when we observe the middle of winter, the celebration of purity, young maidens, seeds and the ewe's milk. From this day onward spring is coming; faster and faster, as the days lengthen, the light levels increase and our bodies wake up from their cold slumber.For the first time in months I've cut a new stencil - of my sister Sandi. She was the older sister, the good one, who always tried to please mother and father and who was a focused and loyal daughter. She had fair skin, freckles, red hair and dark brown eyes. Taller than I and with prettier legs - oh, I love this woman whose skirt I remember hiding behind on more than one occasion. She is stronger than anyone I know and has endured many hardships.
I guess I've been in a contemplative frame of mind, thinking about other times. It doesn't make me sad. I find the passage of time to be a rich mystery. I remember so much. My memory has made beautiful stories of all the errors and misteps. Life is messy.
Tonight we attend a celebration of Imbolc, Candlemas, Ground Hog Day - whatever your designation for the day. Little celebrations will get us through winter. I guess it's time to start making valentines. Mmmmm, that will be fun.
I've just spent ages reading your journal pages, and it's strange, but I've been looking at your pages for months and never noticed before that each spread can contain several days. I think that's where my problem is with art journalling. I had this idea that I have to do a full spread or nothing. Not true! I feel like you've given me permission to do just a bit, just what I can.
ReplyDeleteHappy Imbolg to you! I hope you had fun at your celebration. I like having a holiday with light and warmth in February. :) And of course I love all your journal pages.
ReplyDeletecan i tell you a secret? shhh...lean on over here now...here it is...you have enriched my life. you are precious to me. there. now i've spilled the beans. xo-k
ReplyDeleteBlessed Imbolc, Judy! Thank you for sharing your wonderful work -- it brings light into MY life!
ReplyDelete--Annette
p.s. My Mom loves her "Wine Angel" print.
Happy Imbolc, Happy GH Day, Judy. Just when I am blown out of the water by the Buddhas, this gift of the day AND your blog is laid before Me... It's been very very cold in Athens, GA!!! But today, people were going about in shirt sleeves or very light denim jackets. Yessss, it's on its way, for sure! I'll try to send it your way asap!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work here.
I'm glad to know that while I've been drinking milky tea, reading about border collies & chickens named Henrietta, taking naps, and watching episodes of LOST, someone has been working in their journal. Life without art really is flat. Sigh.
ReplyDeletethe grip of winter is strong. coming for a visit has loosened it.
The pattern under your sister's outline works so well. I love the tenderness in your work concerning your sisters, sometimes amusing, often so wistful.
ReplyDeleteKelly has said so well what I feel too. I visit your blog every day and relish the beauty and insightfulness (I hope this is a word!) I find there.
your reflections, both visually and through you soulful words are beauty touched with the lightness of coming spring. yes, i feel it too... miss you xo
ReplyDeleteI, too, am happy that the days will begin to lengthen and the sun will shine again and the maidens will dance about...but I draw the line at ewe's milk!
ReplyDeleteYour pages are both light in feel and yet heavy with words. One might just guess you are a complex woman. Thanks for sharing with all of us.
Imbolg- love the new word! I am so happy it is mid-winter officially. Went to a HeART of the Winter art show today up in the country and saw green stuff growing in the woods. Crazy for Feb 2nd but I am NOT complaining.
ReplyDeleteIt's much harder being the older sister, I know I am one, it's like being the guinea pig, your parents test everything out on you, my two younger siblings had a much easier time. Love your journals, you came up in my and Judy's conversations over the weekend, in the most positive way, hope your ears weren't burning.
ReplyDeleteRo
xo
How do you learn of these celebrations? I had never heard of this one. More wonderful pages ... I still can't narrow my self-blathering down to the neat, concise paragraphs you do, though.
ReplyDeleteThanks for another wonderful post and for the Imbolc greetings. I spent mine teaching art, but that was just perfect for me! And the snow really helped mark the occasion even though my hubby and I are more than ready for Spring...and hopefully an equinox baby!
ReplyDeleteJudy, your pages and words are absolutely stunning. A real visual treat. Thank you. Dayna
ReplyDeleteImbolc?
ReplyDeleteHoorah! I have even more to celebrate on this day.
My son's birthday, groundhog day and now Imbolc. What a wonderful day it was, too.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Love those journal pages, Judy.
Oops! Reading and looking at your work when I should be doing my own. But I must leave a comment: When I saw you with your two sisters and saw the title "What's Left of Home" - I think that was it - I saw another similarity in our lives. I, too, have two sisters and they are what is left of home to me. My father wanted to be an inventor, and he was. He had two patents, but he had to do other work.
ReplyDeleteI love reading your words, Judy. You are (no pun) wise. - femminismo