Category: Religion

  • 12/17 Creator's Wheel

    Moilanen arc -photo by Steinar Midtskogen

    Creator’s Wheel photograph by Steinar Midtskogen

    Creator’s Wheel is my name for the beautiful display of Light in this photo. The scientific name is Moilanen arc, diamond dust ice crystals refract light into a wheel around the sun. Magnificent winter display of Light dancing through Creation. A magical gift, thank you beloved Creator!

    Creator’s Wheel is seen as a written symbol in many ancient traditions and known by many names. The image of a circle with a cross may be called a sunwheel, solar cross, ring cross, Celtic cross, Nordic cross, Odin’s cross, medicine wheel or something other. By what ever name, I believe it was originally inspired by a similar glorious display… a Solar Cross indeed. 

    In the American Indian tradition the Medicine Wheel is the wheel of life, it represents harmony and connection. It is a symbol of peaceful interaction between all living beings. When the four directions are in balance all is well with the world.

    sunwheelSymbolically the equal armed cross represents the physical realm or Earth. It also represents masculine. The four arms of the cross are sometimes said to represent the elements (earth, air, fire and water) or the directions (north, south, east and west). The circle represents the ethers or Heaven, the moon and feminine. So when drawn together the circle and cross represents the Union of Heaven and Earth or the Divine Marriage. 

     

    Chris-Haws sundog halo and circumzenithal arc 12-15-08 On 12/15/08 Creator gave us another display of a beautiful sun wheel in Faribault, MN. The photo left was taken by Chris Haws.

    Chris says… “This was the longest lasting sun halo/sundogs I have ever seen. Started in the early morning and continued until early afternoon. Air temp was down to -8 at one point with wind chills ranging from -20 to -30. I couldn’t help myself to stand outside (and from inside) and take in the glory of the sun halo, sundogs and the circumzenithal arc. Cold days like these manage to sneak in a reward here and there.”

    Thank you beloved Creator so many wonders!

     

     

    Creator’s Wheel is a reminder of the Sacredness of all…  every breath, every word, every step, every feeling, every thought… everything is Sacred.

    Happy Holy-day!

     

    Photograph by Steinar Midtskogen Oslo, Norway December 2007. You can learn more about the Moilanen arc at Atmospheric Optics.

    ~Bonnee Klein Gilligan

  • 12/16 Joy to the World, John Tesh

    ‘Joy to the World’ preformed by John Tesh

    Upbeat, rockin’ and fun Christmas song. Brings more joy to the world. Great instrumental performance!

    John Tesh, song: ‘Joy to the World’, album: Christmas Worship (2003),  label: Garden City Music. Video: 2005 PBS TV special Christmas in Positano, Italy.

    Joy to the worldThe original ‘Joy to the World’ hymn was written in 1692 by Isaac Watts at age 18. He wanted to add some depth to the Anglican hymns of the day. The hymn was published in 1719. One hundred years later in 1848 the words were set to music by Lowell Mason. He called the song ‘Antioch’ after Antioch, Syria the first place the term Christian was utilized. It is said he was inspired by Handel’s ‘Messiah’. You can find out more about ‘Joy to the World’ at: Hymns and Carols of Christmas.

    Have a Happy Joy Filled day and Holiday Season.

     

    John-Tesh John Frank Tesh born July 9, 1952 in Garden City, New York. At age 6 he began playing piano and trumpet and studied with teachers from the Juilliard School of music. He was named to the New York State Symphonic Orchestra in high school. In 1970 he graduated from North Carolina State University where he studied communications and music. John is a pianist, composer and national radio and television personality. He was a long time host of Entertainment Tonight. He also plays guitar, sax, keyboard and sings.  You can read more at his websites: www.tesh.com, www.myspace.com/thejohnteshradioshow and  www.myspace.com/johnteshalive.

    I found the spectacular image called ‘Joy to the World’ at: Central Coast Conservatorium there are no credits given.

    ~Bonnee Klein Gilligan

  • 12/13 White Christmas, Crosby and Reynolds

    ‘White Christmas’ Bing Crosby and Marjorie Reynolds

    Lovely, sweet and beautiful song. A walk down memory lane, when winter included horse-drawn sleigh rides and Christmas Holidays were filled with singing carols by the fire.

    Artists: Bing Crosby and Marjorie Reynolds, song:’ White Christmas’, movie: Holiday Inn (1942) Paramount Pictures, Songwriter: Irving Berlin.

    Domenico Veneziano. The Martyrdom of St. LucySaint Lucia or Saint Lucy of Syracuse, (Spanish: Santa Lucia) was a young Roman Christian woman who refused to marry because she wanted to dedicate her life to God. Her rejected bridegroom betrayed her and she was put to death by the Roman Emperor, Diocletian.  She is the patron saint of the blind. The root of Lucia is luc or lux, Latin for light. You can find out more about Saint Lucy at Saints & Angels.

    Christian Missionaries traveled to Scandinavia telling stories of Saint Lucy’s courage; she became known as Lucia Bride. The elders often tell stories of how Lucia Bride, dressed in white with a crown of ‘light’ ,would bring food and drink to the poor. She is seen as the ‘Light bearer’ in times of darkness.

     

    santalucia

    Santa Lucia Day or Luciadagen is celebrated December 13 in Scandinavia. The story of Saint Lucia is reenacted in many Swedish homes with the eldest daughter becoming Lucia Bride dressing in white with a crown of candles. Early in the morning she will bring her parents sweet saffron buns and coffee. Lucia celebrations are often held at the workplace and school. They have a procession with a Lucia, attendants, and starmen with pointed hats, caroling and sharing of saffron cake, ginger biscuits and drinks. One of the popular carols sung is ‘White Christmas’.

    Saint Lucia is also honored in Italy where many Christians celebrate with bonfires and torchlight parades.

    Happy Santa Lucia Day! Have a wonderful day filled with Light.

     

    The lovely painting above left is called The Martyrdom of St. Lucy by Domenico Veneziano (circa 1445-48). It is one of the predelas (side panels) of Santa Lucia del Magnoli Altarpiece in Berlin, Germany that was split into separate panels. Domenico, de Bartolomeo di Venezia (c. 1405/10 – 1461) born in Venice, lived most of his life in Florence, Italy. An early Renaissance painter who studied with Gentile da Fabriano in 1422-23. He was one of the founders of the 15th-century Florentine school of painting.

    The photo above right ‘a young girl dressed as Saint Lucia’ is from the short film ‘Santa Lucia’ by Elsa Entertainment. You can see more at elsaentertainment.com.

    ~Bonnee Klein Gilligan

  • 12/12 Ave Maria païen, Notre Dame de Paris

    Ave Maria païen, Notre Dame de Paris

    What a moving song! I feel her plea, her heart and her Soul reaching out to Mother Mary and Spirit moves. Wow! Brought tears and chills. Incredibly touching… Ave Maria indeed.

    The musical Notre Dame de Paris debuted September 1998 in Paris. Song: Ave Maria païen (the 21st song). Musical: based on Notre Dame de Paris by Victor Hugo. Music: Riccardo Cocciante, Lyrics: Luc Plamondon. Has played worldwide, been translated to many languages and had the most successful first year of any musical. As of 2007 the score has been recorded 7 times .

    It’s Full Moon today (Snow Moon 11:37am EST, 4:37pm GMT) and a Grand Mutable Cross is in the heavens ushering in a time of choices and changes. There are many new possibilities, forks in the road with lots of potential for positive change. We are being guided to strive for our highest ideals, spiritual Truths and wisdom. To find out more about the Grand Mutable Cross see The Aquarius Papers.

     

    La Virgen de Guadalupe by Salvador Dali (1959).

    It’s also Guadalupe Day Mexico’s most important religious holiday. Today people from all over Mexico travel to the chapel on Tepayac Hill in Mexico City to worship and celebrate. In 1531 at the the former shrine of the Aztec Mother Goddess Coatlicue on Tepayac Hill, the Virgin Guadalupe (mother of Jesus) appeared to Juan Diego. She asked him to build a chapel on this sacred ground.

    Large fiestas are held in Mexico and Central America honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe. All day people visit the church and pray. As an offering of thanks, some people pin small objects shaped like hearts, arms, or legs  (milagros) on or near the statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

    May your holidays be blessed and safe. Happy Guadalupe Day!

     

    daliandwife The incredible painting above left is called La Virgen de Guadalupe by Salvador Dali (1959). Dali’s full name is Salvador Domingo Felipe Jacinto Dalí i Domènech 1st Marquis of Púbol (May 11, 1904 – January 23, 1989), born in Figueres, Catalonia, Spain was a surrealist painter. He attended drawing school in 1916 and 3 years later had his first exhibition. His extensive artistic endeavors include painting, film, sculpture, and photography. You can find out more and see many of Dali’s wonderful works at virtualdali.com.

    ~Bonnee Klein Gilligan

  • 12/11 O Little Town Of Bethlehem, McLachlan

    ‘O Little Town Of Bethlehem’ sung by Sarah McLachlan

    A truly beautiful rendition of the song. Sweet, soft and loving. I could feel Spirit moving through Sarah as she sang. Ahhh, nice!

    Artist: Sarah McLachlan, Song: O Little Town of Bethlehem, Album: Wintersong (2006), Arista Records, LLC, a unit of Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Words: Bishop Phillips Brooks, Music: Lewis Henry Redner.

    The-Christmas-Star, YarraAfter a pilgrimage to Bethlehem in 1868 Bishop Phillips Brooks (1835-1893) wrote O Little Town of Bethlehem. The beautiful evening view of the Holy city from the hills of Palestine inspired him. Lewis Redner (1831-1908) Brooks’ church organist set the words to music for the children’s choir. You can find out more about this Christmas classic at: hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com.

    The photograph right called ‘The Christmas Star’ by Debbie Yarra is a wonderful compliment to the song. It was taken 3 days before Christmas 1999 in The Garden of the Gods, Colorado. Spectacular!

    May your Holidays be filled with inspiration and love.

     

    SarahMcLachlan Sarah McLachlan singer/songwriter was born January 28, 1968 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Growing up she took voice lessons, and studied classical piano and guitar. At 17 she fronted for the band The October Game, following their first concert she was offered a recording contract by Nettwerk. She is a 3-time Grammy and 8-time Juno Award-winning multi-platinum recording artist. Listen to her amazing music, read news, buy CDs and learn more at www.sarahmclachlan.com.

    Debbie Yarra Debbie Yarra is a self-taught photographer who took her first photograph in 1980. She lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Debbie says, “I want to capture the beauty and emotion of light, for that is the essence of God.”You can see more of Debbie’s beautiful images at www.yarraimages.com.

    ~Bonnee Klein Gilligan