Back in the creative ring...

After a period of creative frustration, my right hand seems healed back to its old self. I tested it out over the last few days with some intensive making, and said limb came up trumps. I'm back in the ring!

I discovered last Friday, whilst browsing a local paper, that an art exhibition run by Byron Community Centre was accepting entries in several categories. The closing date was the following Monday, which meant I had the weekend to get sorted. There was a watercolour and acrylics painting, 'Celestial Ocean', ready to go, it just needed framing up....

                                                     
I also wanted to put in one of the little dudes I make up, under the sculpture category. So, creative chaos ensued. I'm definitely not a neat person when amongst it. I like to be able to see all the beads, fabrics and wools I'm working with, which tend to be spread out all over the place. It's a bit like collage in three dimensions.

The head, especially facial features, is probably the most time consuming single part. I make it, then hands and feet out of Super Sculpey oven baked clay. Strengthened with lengths of wire inserted as a kind of armature. Then a body out of felt, and finally the clothes go over the top of it all.

Its a very organic process, no preliminary drawings, I just play with the clay. Then get inspired by the materials I have to hand. Often gathered at op shops, garage sales, as hand me downs or from chuck out piles.

Hopefully, resulting in the birthing of a little dude with character....

                                          

                  
I put my registration through yesterday. Now its a matter of waiting for the results to come in, to see if I get hung. The Byron Arts Classic exhibition goes up in early January and runs for a week.

Tai chi dragon....

I drew up this Chinese Dragon with calligraphy, that reads as Tai chi, for my teacher, who practices in the Yang style. Tai chi is an ancient 'internal' or 'soft' martial art, that has many movements sourced in observing nature, aswell as the more familiar kicks and punches. It is a very slow, graceful form, a kind of moving meditation. The different lineages, or styles, are usually named for the families who practiced, and passed them on.

Echidna tatu design...

Spring beach walk observations....

This is the time of migrating whales, journeying with their calves, along the coast where we live. If youre lucky, it also helps to be up high, you can watch them play. Huge flippers and tails slap on the waters surface erupting in white wash, spouts spray into the air above. It really seems like pure ecstatic fun, i cant see what practical purpose it serves except perhaps to knock loose the odd barnacle. Humpback whales are bigger than any dinosaur that lived, when you see them next to boats or surfers, this reality comes home.

The migrating terns have also reappeared once more, with their black caps and pointy beaks. They are consumate fishermen able to dive from a height into the waves and surface bearing fish. They fold their wings and become arrows of accuracy.

Along the beach jellyfish wash up. This week I saw a blue 'man of war' type one that was easily half a metre across, wouldnt want to swim into him. One day along the tide mark was what at first seemed like a line of jewels, glistening in the sunlight, they were infact tiny clear juvenile jellyfish.

An array of sea worn pebbles are carried and delicately deposited onto the sand by the waves. Seemingly infinte in the variety of colours and markings as I walk my gaze is draw to them, often I gather one up into my palm and walk with it a while, some come home with me. A cornicopia of stonelike variety.

We live where an ancient volcanoes edge of lava once would have met the sea and I imagine the cooling process as I look at rocks beside the ocean. Fire and water frozen in time, forces of motion fossilised into one moment.

Birds....

Birds, and indeed their feathers, have been symbolic, imbued with meaning and inspirational to people, definitely including me, the world over for eons. Shamans adorn themselves in the likeness of birds, witches create flying ointments, influenced by a striving for similar freedom to move between realms as is displayed in birds flight and the broader vision it allows. Like the Cormorant who can shift between water, earth and air in a single breath, such abilities bring rise to birds regard as messengers, translaters of secrets, bringer of omens, and bearers of souls. The Latin "aves" means both "birds" and "ancestral spirits".

Birds natural abilities allow them to gain access to wisdoms otherwise unheard or unnoticed, and give rise to the wise owl, or the clever crow, who is a worthy advisor.

Every bird has its own medicine, that can be hinted at through looking at its behaviours and presence in folklore and tale.  So that if one encounters a certain bird, or its feather trail, these charcteristics can hint at the meaning, and timing, of engaging with it, in both daily and nonordinary realities. One can also evoke a particular birds medicine if in alignment with a current path. Though, it seems, such connections are quite likely to occur organically once theres an awareness of the potentials.

Green Turtle....Vulnerable species....

sketch based on a photograph taken by Dr Andrea Marshall in her work with manta rays www.queenofmantas.com

Carnaby's Black Cockatoo... Western Australian endangered species....

Natural history illlustration....

Before we moved from the urban jungle, I had applied to Newcastle Uni for a place in their Bachelor of Natural History Illustration, and to my surprise was accepted, but by then Id signed the lease on our new home, furthur north, and so was no longer able to attend. Recently I was delighted to find a new course of similar tangents run by Leonie Norton, externally from Sydney. Its a self paced process, periodically sending assignments in for feedback and comment. Modules include drawing techniques, painting techniques (largely watercolours) and then sections on reptiles, birds, mammals, plants, shells, feathers, crystals and rocks.So Ive begun study after recieving the first module last week.

This artform has always fascinated me, its detail and precision both a reproduction of natural beauty and an accurate description of the subjects characteristics which served as reference well before the age of the camera, and indeed still do today. Already my 'eye' is shifting, once you begin to look for natural source material the world comes alive with potentials and observation kicks in. Im enjoying the process so far....

Australian animals....

Beltane birdy...

I had set up my altar for Beltane while on the other side of the
 planet, and around the streets, Samhain, or Halloween was in full swing Never seen so many witches out and about in Suffolk twas warming to the cockles of me heart! Ive had chinese rice wine for tinctures,  and a stash of quartz crystals charging a way, as well as some seeds, mandrake and black viola, hoping for a better strike rate than my last attempt.

Then there was a bird like distress call in the garden and whom should I meet, flying down to my shoulder with a little coaxing but this cockatiel wolf whistling her way into our home for safe keeping. Two days later and she's still with me and nomad-cat. Infact she's now worked out due to gaps in carpentry that she can fly all over the house no probs. Nomad is fascinated aka pondering her flavour but rapidly losing interest aka life goes on and she can fly. We've put signs up but no calls as yet. Can a bird and a cat cohabitate, it appears we're learning the answer to that question I just hope it doesnt all end in tears. If I release her again big birds like currawongs will bully her or worse. I do have a contact for a woman whos happy to take her, already owning one cockateil but I would like to find her person, she's such a character I'm sure someone is missing her....

Lizard dreamings...

 I don't know what it is with me n reptiles at the moment, but this well camoflaged fellow was very cooperative when I came across him, sitting still for his portrait. Lizard is associated with being a messenger of dreams, day and night. Those moments when you find yourself gazing at a scene mind far away in potentials and possabilities your concious mind might ignore. Daydreams are a way to connect with spirit and see opportunities. At night as we sleep the mind again is free to roam and explore, working its way through material in a different manner to when we are awake. Lizard calls us to retrieve messages from these liminal times and awaken to paths that may well offer a new direction.

Snake visitations continue...

This mama was easily 3 metres long, seriously big. The neighbours called the local snake expert. He said just to leave her be, that she'll not only keep down rats n mice, but brown snakes aswell, which are far more aggressive and gnarly. So i looked her up in my snakey book and diamond pythons mostly live in trees, sometimes crossing the ground between. Its breeding season for these babies and this one could lay some 40 eggs to hatch. Looks like nomadcat and I will just have to get used to diamond pythons being around! They are definitely shy and avoid humans where possible. Except when in ones bedroom!! Reckon I'll be closing the doors at night from now on....

Im pretty sure these guys are living in the jungle that exists between our shed and the neighbours garage, its undisturbed territory and shall remain so.

They truley are amazing creatures, mesmerising motion and markings. Australia is known by some Tribal Elders as 'Snake island' in reference to the Rainbow serpent of Dreamtime creation stories. Because it sheds its skin the snake has long been a symbol of death and rebirth. Symbolised also by the ouroborus, an ancient image of a snake swallowing its own tail and in the double snakes on a sword used by medicine as a symbol for healing. Transfiguration and the shedding of the old for healing and to make space for the new are snakes calling card. Perfect for spring time cleaning out of cobwebs, refocusing intention on new tangents and recreating old projects in new ways....

Mr Toad....

This morning when I got up i was greeted by this fine gentleman, who'd hopped into  a bucket and couldnt un-hop out. He is a 'cane toad' ( Bufo marinus) so named because he was introduced into Queensland to get rid of the 'cane beetle'. The thing is hes quite the tadpole breeder, can live in any habitat ranging from suburbia to sand dunes, is highly venomous with few predators and lives for about twenty years, hence the cure has done more damage than the symptom. That'll teach us to mess with nature, again. 

The word amphibian comes from two word "amphi" meaning double and "bios" life. Amphibians divide their lives between land and water, beginning as tadpoles and then usually spending the second half of their lives more on land, a characteristic that reflects an ability to metamorphosise and shapeshift.

Toads have featured strongly in fairytales, mythology and are well known as a potential witches familiar. With their warty exteriors they speak of beauty beyond the surface, buried treasure even, and all it takes is a kiss. Yes i did think about it, for half a second, until i realised itd probably just result in a reeeaaally bad trip.

Many would say i should have squished Mr Toad, and I acknowledge that cane toads have devastating effects on places like Kakadu national park, but when it comes down to it, who's the most devastating creature of all?

The one holding the camera.....

Snake blessing....

Last night I decided enough was enough, its time to give my altars (in our bedroom) a good cleaning and sorting. Ive been neglectfull of my practices. I swept, burned incense and wrapped items for other times of the year and sorted them into a stash of wooden boxes. It was exciting, kind of like opening a present in reverse as I imagined rediscovering things at a later date.

The first odd thing that happened was that my Druids Plant Oracle deck (which Im on my l plates with) somehow leapt out of a set of drawers, and every last card was on the ground spread nicely about. Perhaps my cat somehow pulled it off. She has been a little odd today, I told myself, meditating cautiously on a mouse (or so I thought) under the bed. But saw it as a push along to get to know the deck either way.

So merrily I kept packing. Then went into the kitchen to give my cauldron a bath. When I came back there gliding across my spring altar was a python. Amazing creature, just a baby with fresh skin but still a good metre n a bit long! Ive been here 3 months or so and never seen her before. She moved slowly exploring crevices, and gliding between statues and stones.

I gotta tell you she gave me a fright at first, but its highly likely it was a two way street. There was no aggression and once Id worked out she was not a venomous snake, and got over my fear, to watch the way she moved was awesome. Literally climbing up brick walls with the muscles in her underbelly. No wonder they are sacred to so many cultures, she was mesmerising especially in candlelight.

So Nomadcat and I slept in the study with the door shut to let her find her way outside in peace. She was trying to get out the window but the security grill was stopping her. This morning she seems to have left the building, but what a generous blessing of our refreshed altars!

Animal medicine...

"When the kunkis (tame elephants) are sick, the mahouts take them to the forest where the elephants pick the herbs or plants they need. Somehow they're able to prescribe their own medicine."
                      Dinesh Choudhury, Indian elephant hunter 2000

"The secrets of Nature are known to all wild creatures and on these they thrive."
                       Juliette de baricli Levy

Since ancient times, we have learned about potential plant medicines by observing wild animals. In records through to the modern day we watch and wonder as Juliette did.

"When i see my Afghan hounds in my gardens, or in the fields, or along the river-sides or sea-shores of the many lands where we have been together, I am always amazed at the way they have selected medicinal plants, shrubs and tress, and know where to find them an dhow to use them. By use. i mean the amount eaten to serve its purpose. Mostly their uses is as a laxative or to promote vomiting, and they know exactly how much to achieve one or the other effect."
                                             
I have watched my cat choose one type of grass over the other, tending towards soft weedy grasses rather than the drier native grasses, eating them and then vomiting. Whether because she has a funny belly or a stubborn furball Im unsure, but it is definitely a concious action to me.One related to her not feeling well or more importantly trying to heal better.

Scientists have previously thought such observations romanticised, however as sciences rigidity of old is being blown apart by discoveries and work in the field, 'zoopharmacognosy' is now a recognised area of research into the behavioural practices of animals to stay healthy. Also including the eating of soil to gain minerals missing in the diet, old bones to gain calcium and clay to counter, and bind, dietry toxins by animals.

When preparing their nests, male European starlings weave fresh green herbs in amongst them. In north America they preferentially choose wild carrot ( Daucus carota), yarrow (Achillea millefolia), elm-leaved and rough goldenrod (Soldaigo sp.) and fleabane ( Erigeron sp.) even when they are not the most common plants close by. Hows that for specific! Interestingly enough old herbals refer to wild carrot as 'bird's nest root' which suggests this plant has been used in nesting for some time. The common denominator with these plants is they smell, are aromatic. When researchers removed the fresh plants from nests, the amount of mites in the chicks rose. More specifically, chicks in nests containing wild carrot had higher haemoglobin levels, suggesting they were losing less to mites. Not only that but the plants chosen are effective against Streptococcus and Staphylococcus bacteria. Some serious fumigation going down there. In addition to this the plants starlings choose are commonly used by herbalists for skin problems such as excma, ulcers and sores. Thus they may also help with the symptoms of parasitic infestation.


So it seems the animals were simply ahead of the research.....

Tallows beach n lil gecko dude....

Came across this gecko in the kitchen, he froze and tried to blend into tiling, which maade for a decent shot, poor lil guy.

I thought it was about time I posted an image of the beach, so folks could see how beautyfull it is. Jealous? Me too, oh thats right I live here. Yep its still a bit surreal...

Roo....

spiritwolf....

Owlwise....

When Soloman the wise was given a wish, rather than choose gold n riches he went with being able to understand the languages of animals. There are entire schools of martial arts whose moves are based on specific animals patterns and indigenous folks all over the globe dance their totems alive. Over the eons we have built up associations, memories and regaled tales charactered by them. This has become a kind of symbology that can be represented by an individual animal that crosses our path, or we theirs, depending on your perspective. Take the wise owl, whilst chowing down on mice aint so romantic, its ability to see in the dark is a pretty funky skill. Its stealth as a hunter must have inspired our ancestors as they sought for similar ability. Have you ever tried to move silently through vegetation, every sound becomes amplified, but if you called upon owl you might just be in with a chance. I love thinking of animals as divinationatory beings as I go for a walk pondering life, the universe and my own navel. The deeper ones connection to someone the less easily they can be harmed without conciousness and we have a long history with animal folks to tap into. How dry life would be without them. Perhaps they look at us in the same bemused way, but somehow I reckon their symbology is based on avoiding us buggers. Helps if your nocturnal eh wise owl?

Nomad.....

Stuff comes today! Cant wait to unpack and play with things, nesting, arranging and rediscovering whats been in boxes for months. Setup studio and have access to materials and library 24/7. Last night ad libbed this drawing on the inside of a book cover I was in such desperation to draw....