the X facta: January 2010

Full moon in southern hemisphere

Full Moon, January
original photo by Kel © 2010

Did you know we've just had the largest full moon of the year? I went out to photograph it, and when looking at my photos alongside reports from the northern hemisphere, I learned something new. My moon is upside down!

But I didn't rotate the photos, simply downloaded them straight off the camera as I took them. My curiosity got the better of me and I followed a trail till I found an answer.

In the southern hemisphere, (in relation to planet earth and the universe) when we stand up, our heads are pointing down; in the northern hemisphere their heads are pointing up. So we are literally 'upside down' and see the Moon from a completely different vantage point.

The dark areas which allow us to imagine faces etc are oceans and seas. The largest dark area, bottom right, is called Ocean of Storms. Just beside it, and almost as large, is the Sea of Showers. On the upper left side of the moon is a triangle of smaller seas; the Sea of Serenity, Sea of Tranquility, and Sea of Crises.

So just as the northern or southern hemispheres have an opposite perspective of the moon, the lunar landscape also has opposites: stormy crisis and tranquil serenity.

For my northern hemisphere friends, if you want to see the moon how we do downunder, go stand on your head, or swing upside down off the monkey bars :-)

Tell me, what do you see in this moon?

Blessing 1:5

as you come to the close of a heavy week
let your spirit lighten
as a feather
rising on the cool change

let your breath deepen
inhaling fresh air
into stale spaces
oxygenating your soul

as you peel off the layers
and discard the brittle skins
let them drop to the ground
and be scattered in the wind

light
fresh
skin

be born again
this day

~ Kel
© 2010

This week's art

Angel Fish
stone, wire & glass sculpture
original art by Kel © 2010

This little angel sculpture emerged while reflecting on some course material I'm processing at present. A phrase I've been contemplating this past week is "a time to gather stones" and it holds multiple resonating messages. This stone was gathered while taking a walk along the beach. It felt like the perfect anchor for a wire sculpture.

Australia Day

did some koala spotting this morning
found a little one in a tree near the ferry
then a couple of really strange ones . . .

that's my two boys
hamming it up on Australia Day

Happy hour

Drinks are on the house at the Roo Bar
original photo by Kel

Last night we had 25 kangaroos on our front lawn.
We think they were celebrating Australia Day early!

Blessing 1:4

May the Warm Winds of Heaven
blow softly upon your house.
May the Great Spirit
bless all who enter there.
May your Mocassins
make happy tracks
in many snows,
and may the Rainbow
always touch your shoulder.

~ A Cherokee blessing

This week's art

Fragmentalicious
original art by Kel © 2010

Blessing 1:3

For those daring to create

As you face a brand new canvas
submitting itself
to your hands

may it be from your heart
that this art
is divined

Let your soul stir the paint
move the brush
blend the colours

remember - soul art is deep
not always "fine"

As you place your prayer
on the linen
stretched out over frame
to receive

may the light shine down
to guide and inspire you
it will happen
if you believe

~by Kel

This week's art

Secret Women's Business
digital collage by Kel © 2010

Blessing 1:2

A blessing is a circle of light drawn around a person
to protect, heal and strengthen.
~John O'Donohue

Have you a moment
to stand still
while I wave
a circle of light
around you

Feel the energy shift
as the ring of fire dances down
over head and shoulders
like some crazy hula
around your hips

loops your legs
then scatters the remaining sparkles
into the dust at your feet

May you find sanctuary
in that circle
of light

and when the light fades
may there be enough sparkler dust
speckled on your skin
to serve as a reminder

you are held in the light

~photo and prose by Kel

Embodying a word

In some circles a new year tradition is to choose a word for the year that will guide, inform, inspire, speak into one's life for the next twelve months. Picking one word for an entire year has always seemed impossible to me. But over the past few weeks, one concept has been re-appearing in my life in various guises. I couldn't actually name it. Until I created this sculpture. And suddenly the word became clear.

This seahorse jumped out at me in the shop. At the time I had no idea what I'd do with it, but simply had to have it. Last week I felt an intense desire to work with natural elements in my art. It continued as I took a walk along the beach to collect driftwood and stone.

Back in the studio I selected a few pieces of driftwood and created a 'seahorse cave' by interlocking the timber, embedding agate stones and wiring the glass seahorse in place.

This photo from the rear shows how the sculpture is held together by connecting each piece through the holes, grooves and hooks, as found naturally in the timber.

Many of my artworks seem to name themselves. And this one clinched my word for the year:

Sue, Lucy, and Tess share their words here. Christine shares a background to the idea, her word, and an opportunity to win some really nice prizes if you wanna' play.

Blessing 1:1

As the new year dawns
and you draw the boundary lines
of your destiny,
may it be in such a way
to encourage stretching
but not so far
that things snap apart

For what shall it profit you
if gaining the goal
means losing
essential parts of yourself

~ Kel