Tag: pagan holiday

art, folklore, pagan

Wishing Everyone A Wonderful Winter Solstice!

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Winter Solstice, Yule, Mid-Winter or Alban Arthan is the celebration of the rebirth of the sun after the longest night of the year.  It is one of the eight solar festivals comprising the Wheel of the Year.  Nourished in the womb of the Goddess during the dark time of the year, the sun symbolises the God born anew.  Plants that remain evergreen such as fir trees, holly and mistletoe are used as decorations.  A good time to reflect on the past year and make plans for the new year.

Wishing everyone joy, peace, good health, prosperity in the new year!  May all your dreams come true!

art, folklore, metaphysical art, pagan

Winter Solstice

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Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice, Yule, Mid-Winter or Alban Arthan is the celebration of the rebirth of the sun after the longest night of the year.  It is one of the eight solar festivals comprising the Wheel of the Year.  Nourished in the womb of the Goddess during the dark time of the year, the sun symbolises the God born anew.  Plants that remain evergreen such as fir trees, holly and mistletoe are used as decorations.

The Goddess at Winter Solstice wears a crown of holly and mistletoe as she awaits the birth of her child.

The Winter Solstice Goddess Print is available in two sizes:
https://magickmermaid.com/Magick-Goddess-Pagan-Celtic-Mythology-Art.html

Magickal Oak in Winter Print is part of the Magickal Oak Series:
https://magickmermaid.com/GreenMan-and-GreenWoman-Art-Prints.html

art, folklore, magickal art, metaphysical art, pagan

Cerridwen’s Cauldron of Knowledge

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Cerridwen’s Cauldron

A Celtic Crone Goddess, Cerridwen presides over the Cauldron of Knowledge, the contents of which must brew for a year and a day. She is known to shape-shift in the form of a sow.

Cerridwen creates the potion of knowledge which brews for a year and a day in her magick cauldron. A few drops of the potion and one gains all wisdom including the ability to see into the past and the future. Legend says that Cerridwen asked her servant, Gwion, to watch over the cauldron. Some of the potion splashed on his fingers which he licked without thinking. He immediately possessed all knowledge and ran away. Cerridwen pursued him as he shapeshifted into many forms, lastly becoming a small grain. Cerridwen changed into a hen, consumed the grain and became pregnant, giving birth to the great bard, Taliesin.

The origin of the witch stirring her cauldron of brew is most likely the image of Cerridwen.

8in x 10in (20.32cm x 25.4cm) Print 
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11in x 14in (29.72cm x 41.91cm) Print
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To see more Magickal Art please visit https://magickmermaid.com

folklore, pagan

A Happy Lughnasadh to Everyone!

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Lughnasadh

Summer has passed its zenith and although temperatures are still quite warm (in the Northern Hemisphere), the sun sets a bit earlier each day.  Some crops are ready to harvest and preserve for the coming cold months.

Lughnasadh, named for the Irish Sun God Lugh, is celebrated on the first or second day of August.  It is the first of three harvest festivals.  This festival celebrates the grain harvest as well as fruits and vegetables that ripen in late Summer.  A perfect time to try a new bread recipe, dry herbs, preserve fruits and veggies!

Besides giving thanks for the abundance of the first harvest, this is a good time to reflect on the goals and projects you began earlier in the year. Have they come to fruition as you planned? Or do they still need more work to develop into what you envisioned? There is still time to edit and revise before the next harvest!

Wheat Harvest

 

art, magickal fantasy art, pagan

Imbolc – Celtic Sun Goddess Brighid

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Goddess of Fire and Fertility

Imbolc celebrates the Goddess in her incarnation as the Bride of the returning Sun God. For the celebration of Imbolc, many candles are lit to symbolise the return of light and heat represented by the Sun God. Grain dollies made from the sheaves of the last harvest represent the Bride. The Goddess and God await the return of Spring and their sacred marriage at Beltaine.

Brighid (or Brid) represents the supreme Mother. She is the Celtic Sun Goddess of fertility, fire, creative inspiration, healing and protector of children. She is honoured at Imbolc, 2nd of February. Her symbols include blackberries, natural wells dedicated to her and the heart, an ancient symbol of feminine power. She holds a cauldron of fire as the sun rises in a lush green valley.

Wishing everyone a joyful Imbolc!

 

Brighid is available in two sizes on https://magickermaid.com

art, metaphysical art, pagan

Happy Mabon to All!

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Mabon, Autumnal Equinox

The Second Harvest

Autumn GreenMan

The days are noticeably shorter and there is a chill in the night air in the Northern hemisphere. Some of the trees are beginning to don their Autumn colours. The GreenMan, a symbol of green and growing plants, is all dressed up for Fall as we approach the dark season of the year.

Mabon is the second harvest festival of the year, occurring on the 21st or 22nd of September. The apple and grape harvests are celebrated. Vegetables, fruits and herbs are ready to be picked and preserved for the coming Winter.

A time for giving thanks! And also a time to evaluate the progress made on goals set earlier in the year. Did everything work out as planned?

Wishing everyone a fruitful harvest!