Mabon, 2013...

("Boreas"; by:  John William Waterhouse, c. 1902)

Autumn is finally here. The cooler temperatures produced by this moodier season of the year have already started to filter in. Southern humidity still brings its heaviness to the party here in Savannah, but it's not as suffocating as it has been when partnering with the remaining high temperatures of summer. The possibility of rain is ever present, and the leaves have started showing the subtle changes that magical Autumn brings.

The celebration of Mabon (Autumnal Equinox) is a couple of days past, so my post is barely late. It's the time of the second harvest, with the third (Samhain) just around the corner. The battle continues to rage between the two kings, and with the darker portion of the year beginning the Holly King begins to get the upper hand.

It's a time of Thanksgiving not only for pagans, but various cultures the world over. It's a time to be thankful for the gifts from the earth, and to acknowledge that the soil is dying to lay dormant in the coming months. It is the harvests that will carry us through until the seasons turn warm. Also, it being a time of equal day and equal night, it signifies a time of balance.

Autumn has always been my favorite time of year. The richer colors that emerge, the crisp air that plays around everything, the moody and magical energy that permeates the air. I have really missed my old friend Autumn.  So glad they are coming back to stay for a bit.

Happy Autumnal Equinox and Mabon to all!

(My Jack O'Lantern from 2010)

No post about Autumn would be complete without this song. Absolutely sublime. I did peruse the other recordings, but have defaulted back to my favorite version by Eva Cassidy. Just her and her guitar. Her soulful voice evokes the exact vibe the season holds for me. To listen to the song, just scroll down to the bottom of this page to pause the pages music player.

Full August Moon...

August’s Full Moon was spectacular, as all of them are. There is something so peaceful about the moon. It helps calm the mind, giving one a time to decompress…to decompress and energize. I feel at my most creative at night, and gazing up at Luna in all her illuminated glory is one of the most inspiring things going. 

It has been five days since I took her picture. We have been having rain just about every day, mostly in the form of scattered thunderstorms, and the 21^st was no exception. I was worried that I might have to miss the photo session due to heavy cloud cover. Luckily, the clouds thinned enough for me to catch more of my monthly sighting shots.

August’s Full Moon is known by a variety of names:

• Full Sturgeon Moon: this name was given by native American tribes as Sturgeon were most easily caught during this moon
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• Full Red Moon: this name referred to weather and atmospheric conditions during the moon that could make it appear reddish when rising through hazy skies
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• Blue Moon: a third Full Moon in a season with four is referred to as a Blue Moon (most seasons have three)
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• Green Corn Moon & Grain Moon: growing crops grow tall during this time of year

The energy radiating from this last full moon in august has helped me kickstart a lethargic period in my creativity. The summer sun and the accompanying humidity has sucked the motivation out of my days. I am very ready for summer to be over. Autumn officially begins on the 22^nd of next month. It won’t be too soon for me.

Lammas...2013...

("Harvest Time"; Artist: Julien Dupres, 1851-1910)

Thursday, August 1st, is a day of celebration for many. It marks the time of Lammas and Lughnasadh, the celebration of the early harvest, and the Celtic god, Lugh (respectively). To the pagans among us, Lammas is the first of three yearly harvest festivals. The second celebration falls on Mabon (September 22nd), also known as the Autumnal Equinox. The third falls on Samhain (pronounced sow-wen), which is known most commonly by the moniker of Halloween (October 31st).

("The Harvesters"; Artist: Pieter Bruegel, c. 1565)

(To listen to this video, scroll to the bottom of the blog page and mute the page's music player.)

Full Moon For July, 2013...

Last night was July's Full Moon. A Super Moon in the sign of Aquarius. It was really beautiful. Big, and bright white. While the Moon sits in Aquarius, the Sun moves into the sign of Leo. Fitting since my birthday is on the 27th, and I am a Leo. The Sun and the Moon bring to the fore the qualities of the heart and mind respectively. The energies for this moon lean towards the unconventional. Hidden emotional issues are usually pushed to the surface during a Full Moon, which makes the time ripe for facing long hidden issues, and healing as a result. Aquarius brings a sense of freedom to openly acknowledge and analyze long shelved wishes and desires. It's a good time to focus on the future. Feelings and issues that have long been a part of the subconscious can come into play, and by using the wealth of energies present during this moon you can take full advantage of Aquarius' objectivity, and Leo's warmth. Not only a beautiful moon, but a constructive one.

When I ventured over to the marsh to see what I might be able to capture in terms of Moon shots, I was struck by the color blue. Kind of a pale cerulean blue that was matched in the sky and the glassy surface of the marsh waters. The form of the trees and other fauna stood in stark contrast like meticulously sculpted silhouette cuttings. Seemingly one dimensional shapes framed against the blue and green expanse stretching into the distance. Quite stunning.

I wasn't sure exactly where the moon was set to rise. I was on a bit of a moon hunt, and searched the far horizon for any signs of Luna's light. I could make out her location, but there were tendrils of cloud obscuring most of her form. We have had overcast weather for weeks now (in varying degrees), and seeing the wispy cloud cover made me feel crestfallen. It looked like she might very well not make an appearance in all her glory this time. However, I wasn't about to give up and go home.

Being dive-bombed by mosquitoes wasn't very pleasant, but I decided to tough it out and see if Luna might make at least a brief appearance. My efforts would soon be rewarded. Continuing to climb above the horizon, she grew brighter and started to come out of obscurity. A few more minutes and she was completely visible.

The higher she climbed in the sky, the fewer clouds there were. (At least for the time being...the radar on the Weatherscan channel showed an angry band of storm clouds headed our way...at the very least the sky would be filled with cloud cover, and that meant 'good night, moon'). In an effort to get a clear view, I shouldered my camera tripod and quickly walked to the pond. The closer I got, the louder the chorus of pond frogs got. It was worth the walk.

I always prefer clouds in some form when photographing the moon. They make a shot more interesting. They also add to the abstract quality my night time shots have with this camera. My images never capture exactly what I see with my naked eye, but I am always satisfied with my photos.

The two images here (above and below) are my favorites. Very abstract and ethereal. They resemble paintings more than photographs. Artistic shots of my birthday moon. Well, a few days short of my birthday, but close enough.