Friday, September 23, 2016

The Alchemy of Autumn

 I sit on the stone ledge by the front door. A place I often sit in all seasons. The place to take my cup of tea or coffee and look at the garden. It is the afternoon and I have come outside to take a break and feel the last warmth of the early Autumn sun. Sunlight catches a cobweb, it's almost invisible thread stretches  from the rusted doorbell to the valerian plant below. A home connected to a home. 
A dragonfly darts about the garden, a shining fairy in disguise and the ivy flowers on the old shed are singing with a choir of honeybees. Sharing this feast are red admirals. Six of them. The red and white on their wings contrast against the bluest of sky, jewels of the garden, small treasures from heaven.

The Alchemy of Autumn has begun. It is visible of course all around us, but it is also a feeling felt in the stillness, the slowing down and in the bird song. A sensing of different energy and magic in the air, which to me is felt most strongly from now through to Winter.
The Autumn Equinox has passed and now the days begin to get shorter. It's time to get and do, what I call the the 'cosy things' or the hip or trendy term now seems to be 'hygge'  ;-)  Cosy socks, woolly tights, spiced tea, hot chocolate and soup. Time to light the fire inside or out, dig your hat and scarf out of the cupboard for long walks to look for mushrooms and toadstools. Time to light more candles now the evenings are darker and retrieve that half finished crochet that you begun last year. 
It's a time to gather and harvest and brew potions and wine, jams and jellies.  
 Have your ingredients ready, in this case blackberries. The other items are to help the spell. A magic wand comes in very handy if you are not so good at making Jam. Mine is made by a very talented young friend of mine and it's relatively new, so I wanted to test it and check it worked. ;-) (You can see more of her beautiful wands here)
Say the magic words and wave the wand.
Then.....'ta- dah'!  Blackberry Jam! ;-)
All there is to do now, is make a pretty label and pop it in your cupboard. 
                                                                               ~***~
'Alchemist: A person who transforms or creates something through a seemingly magical process'

On my desk a little Alchemy has been taking place.
Tiny paintings, treasures of Nature. I have used real gold to symbolise treasure and show that their importance is of equal value in the grand scheme of life. After all gold is 'nature's' treasure too, but we put so much more value on it than a flower or an animal and even water. (which I find scary sometimes)
                                                                'Between the Space of Golden Light
'Midnight's Treasure'
'Metamorphosis'
'I see the Golden Light that Surrounds You'
'In the Beginning' #2
'In the Beginning'#1
'Born of Gold'

"Here is all of life, all into one
 In moments such as this, all that lives and breathes under the sun is part of Heaven's kiss"
Crimson Skies. The Cinematic Orchestra

More gold on this Hare, this time not the real kind though, just paint. 
'Summer Gold'
'Night and her Magic'
'Night's Treasures'
'Hills of Home'
'Tor and Thorn'
'Tamarisk and Sea Holly'
'Sea Holly'
'Sea Holly Small'
'Magnificent Bee' (Pendants  #1 and #2)
After rather a lot of fiddly small painting I am having an urge to paint something bigger now. :-)
All of the above items will be added to my Etsy shop next Tuesday 27th September at 19.00 (7pm) UK time. 
Enjoy your weekend and fingers crossed the sun stays out for walks and gardening and whatever you are up to. 

Thanks for reading! x

16 comments:

  1. You are so a "girl after my own heart". Here I waved my wand over deep russet and ruby crab apples and honey from our hive and lo and behold, the mead began to bubble! I hope to snare a magical hare this time round, I have a place just waiting. Mabon Blessings and thank you as always for sharing your art with us all ~ Carolyn

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    1. The mead sounds wonderful Carolyn... one of these days I would like to have a go at making some too. It's on the list but haven't yet got around to doing it. :)

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  2. Oh my goodness! More hangers! I've been trying to snag one for years and always seem to miss when they are added to your Etsy shoppe. I'm going to try to make an alarm on my phone so I won't miss this time! :-)
    blessings
    ~*~

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  3. Oh my goodness your blackberry jam looks so delicious! I love the new paintings with gold, they look so evocative of this time of year. I'd rather like your Robin one for a christmas card. :) xx

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    1. Thanks Jess. the blackberry jam is nice, but a little too sweet for me but hubby likes it. I think strawberry jam is my favourite ;)

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  4. Your little treasures are exquisite. Happy Autumn!

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    1. Thanks Vicki, glad you like. Magical Autumn wishes back to you. :)

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  5. Sometimes all that glitters is gold, especially in autumn time. Beautiful words and works Karen, they really shine... I was thinking about you during the full moon. Autumn Blessings. x

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    1. Thanks Jo. Magical Autumn wishes to you. :)

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  6. Beautiful post of autumnal alchemy and those two hare hangers 'Hills of Home' and 'Tor and Thorn' are absolutely sublime and magical. Such wonders - thank you for sharing :) x

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  7. I've just found you via Yarrow's blog and have ordered some of your lovely cards from Etsy. I will also have to try harder for a hanger next time! CT :o)

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    1. Thanks Countryside Tales! Glad that you found me. :)

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  8. May we display your header on our new site directory? As it is now, the site title (linked back to your home page) is listed, and we think displaying the header will attract more attention. In any event, we hope you will come by and see what is going on at SiteHoundSniffs.com.

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