Imbolc

Hello!

After my previous post about Samhain I was thinking that maybe I would do a little research on the rest of the Celtic seasonal festivals (Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh). Samhain is the last one I've written about but just in case you didn't read it I will put a link down below. Maybe you wonder why I have started with the last one. Well, apparently it may seem like that, but actually, Samhain was the eve to mark the start of a new year!

The Imbolc festival, nowadays known by Christians as the Candlemass, was celebrated the 1st and 2nd day of February (north hemisphere) and it marked the beginning of the lambing season and also the beginning of Spring. Etymologically, the word Imbolc means 'in the belly' (of the Mother) which means that everything in nature is awakening after the long cold winter and feelings like hope and renaissance have place. The Celts honoured the goddess Brighid, who was a goddess of healing, smithcraft, fire and hearth. Brighid was represented as the Triple goddess. She was said to bring fertility to the land and its people. She was represented as a maiden.

It was also a festivity where fire was involved and they put candles as representation of the Flame of Brighid and for make wishes, they made handmade dolls and the Brighid Cross was made as a protection and prosperity symbol.

 Brighid as the Triple Goddess

Representation of Brighid giving new life to the earth.

(Source: Brighid Celtic Goddess Images)

Sources for the text: Brighid / Imbolc

My Samhain post: Samhain Celtic Festivity

Samhain

Hello my dear readers!

I have come again to talk about a new topic that I have never talked about but I've been very interested on. I've also choosed this topic because soon some of you will celebrate, or at least you will be conscious, that the 31st of September is Halloween! Maybe some of you didn't know about this fact, but previous to the Christianization this festivity was called Samhain.

I would first like to talk about the people who believed in this pagan beliefs and they were the Celts. They lived approximately from the Bronze Age onwards and they were situated in many parts of Europe and the Mediterranean region. Although they were a vast amount of tribes they had the same language and the same artistic tradition which made them special from the rest of the world. Nowadays there are some parts of the British Isles and France where this language is spoken.

The Celts used to celebrate a festivity (Samhain) to conmemorate the ending of the harvest, in fact, etymologically, this words means 'the end of summer'. It was also for celebrate the start of a new year, as it began in those dates. Since this moment the days were getting shorter and the nights longer so for them it was a time of darkness (and sometimes literally because in the north the sun only showed up for few hours). Also in this time they kept the cattle and the herds in the stables, the time for harvest was over and things such as battles had no place until Beltaine (another festivity).

Spiritually, these people believed that the veil that separated the world of the living and the world of the spirits was thinner so that meant that these immaterial creatures could come and wander in our world. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing because all the passed-away members of a family could come once more and visit their loved ones. But also the evil creatures could pass through and make some damage so that's why they lighted up enormous bonfires to scare the bad spirits. The bonfire had a double function: to show the way home of the deceased and to keep away bad spirits. Also they wear costumes to hide from evil creatures.

So now you know a little bit more about this festivity! Nowadays as you can see it has changed a lot and it's more a consumist event than what it used to be.

Thanks for reading!

Pumpkin

I will link down below some sources that I have used.
Celts
Halloween's origin
Pumpkin image

Summer Vibes

Hello world! Summer is almost here so let's receive it with a big smile. All that days of work, full of stress, full of responsabilites and duties... Now they are gone! I know that when we are having fun time flies, but we have to take advantage of that and have fun, relax and be with the people we love.

Go and purchase the sun, take some vitamin D and let the sun hit your face (always with protection). Drink a lot of water because as you'll sweat a little bit more than usual your body will need some extra fuel.

Do a lot of exercise, take long walks in the nature, ride a bike, walk your dog or renew your bond with your friends. There's so much things that you can do!
You can also have more time for read new books or read again your favourite books, pamper yourself, give little gifts to your friends, reunite with your family and travel a lot lot around the world. Meet new people, know new smells, try new flavours, open your mind and see the world from different points of view... There's so much things that you can do!

Live the life you want and not the life you've dreamed. Purchase all your aspirations, little by little. Never give up, there will always be an opportunity so wait for it and catch it!

I wish you all a very good summer full of smiles, good vibes and happiness.

*The picture above has been taken by me and you can find it on my VSCO account.


The author of this blog

Self-Love

Hello again!

It has been a long since I haven't post anything and I thought it would be a good idea to write something positive and encouraging to all of you. So I have collected some inspirational things which, sincerely, some of them are mine but the rest are taken from some accounts which motivated me. I hope you like them!

As the title says, I am going to put some ideas which can be done whenever you want, they are not expensive and they just need a little effort from you. So here they are!

-Get outside
-Have a picnic
-Soak some vitamin D
-Get amongst nature
-Read books
-Meditate
-Simplify your life
-Hug somebody you love
-Unplug for a while (from your phone, Internet, TV, social media...)
-Play with a pet
-Exercise
-Take care of you body, soul and mind
-Watch sunrise & sunset
-Dance around the house without caring about how you look
-Listen to the birds when you walk in nature
-Go on a road trip
-Help someone without expecting anything in return
-Be positive
-Celebrate the good things in life
-Go for a walk/run
-Get more organised
-Respect the ones who think different from you
-Clean your house often
-When you are under preassure, take a breath and let the air go through
-Begin the day as if it was the last
-Romantic dinners
-Be thankful
-Talk about your problems and look for help if you need it
-Forgive, like the brave has always forgiven
-Learn a new language
-Give flowers
-Respect nature, animals and living things
-Laugh at yourself
-Travel and be open-minded
-Conquer your fears
-Start good habits
-Slow down and take your time
-Love
-Be respectful with yourself and love yourself

And this is it! Thank you for reading it.

Author of the blog

Frases

"En el sollozo, el sufrimiento no es un vestido que el cuerpo adopta. El sufrimiento humano excede las aberturas. Desborda las salidas. Encuentra salida."

P. QUIGNARD, Sur le jadis

"Considerando entonces a la Belleza como mi provincia, mi siguiente pregunta se refería al tono de su más alta manifestación -y toda experiencia ha mostrado que este tono es uno de tristeza-. La Belleza, de cualquier clase, en su desarrollo supremo, invariablemente mueve a las lágrimas al alma sensitiva. La melancolía es pues el más legítimo de los tonos poéticos."

E. A. POE, Filosofía de la composición

¿Qué es la muerte?

¿Qué es la muerte, después de todo? Un mal momento, un pasaje, el paso de poco a nada. Cuando alguien preguntó a Cércidas, el megapolitano, si aceptaría morir: "¿Por qué no?", respondió; "ya que después de mi muerte veré a esos grandes hombres, Pitágoras entre los filósofos, Hecateo entre los historiadores, Homero entre los poetas, Olimpo entre los músicos".

VÍCTOR HUGO, Nuestra Señora de París

In darkness let me dwell

In darkness let me dwell; the ground shall sorrow be,
The roof despair, to bar all cheerful light from me;
The walls of marble black, that moisten'd still shall weep;
My music, hellish jarring sounds, to banish friendly sleep.
Thus wedded to my woes, and bedded to my tomb,
O let me living die, till death doth come, till death doth come.

My dainties grief shall be, and tears my poisoned wine,
My sighs the air through which my paintings heart shall pine,
My robes my mind shall suit exceeding blackest night,
My study shall be tragic thoughts sad fancy to delight,
Pale ghosts and frightful shades all my acquitance be:
O thus, my haplest joy, I haste to thee.

Anonymous

Included in the 1606 song collection "Funeral Tears" by J. Coprario.
The first stanza was used by John Dowland for his musical composition.

Autumn

O Autumn, laden with fruit, and stained
With the blood of the grape, pass not,
but sit
Beneath my shady roof, there thou may'st rest,
And tune thy jolly voice to my fresh pipe;
And all the daughters of the year shall dance,
Sing now the lustry song of fruits and flowers.

-William Blake


Autumn Equinox 22nd September 2017

Top Ten Practice Tips

Practive everyday: help your long-term memory and improve your learning curve.
Have specific goals: create specific, attainable goals before you practice.
Begin with the basics: go over technique first. Always have a warm-up plan.
Focus on the tough stuff: spend your time on what you cannot play. Turn fear into confidence.
Write it down: get the most from your practice log. See your goals and accomplishments.
Slow it down: muscle memory. Never make mistakes. Learn it right the first time.
Break it down: identify musical sections. Don't always start at the beginning. Help memorization.
Use a metronome: always work on improving your time. Don't stretch time for the Tough Stuff.
Practice away from your instrument: visualize yourself playing successfully. Hear the music in your mind.
Accentuate the positive: use positive language in the practice room. Focus on solutions, not problems.

by Molto Music Publishing Company.

16 Habits Of Successful People

Create a routine
Write a routine for the morning and the night. And add some inspirational phrases to help you go through the day.

Wake up earlier
This might be one of the hardest things in the list but in the long run, it can be very beneficial. The body and mind are ready to start to work and be more productive. So instead of going into the social media, start you day with positive mind and energy!

Make your bed
This seems to be the stuff that your mother would always tell you everyday. I know. But having a tidy and clean space is very important to increase your motivation.

Workout
This make you feel more confident, relaxed and motivated for the new day. And you stay healthy.

Get inspired
Look for some inspirational phrases, books with happy thoughts, inspirational boards and pieces of art.

Set goals
Diary, weekly and yearly. It doesn't have to be like a To-Do list.

Simplify your closet
Get rid of all the clothes you wouldn't wear or don't make you happy anymore. Afterwards it will be easier to dress up.

Simplify your makeup
Let you natural beauty come out.

Get a "Work Zone"
Create in your bedroom or anywhere else at your home a place where you can work peacefully and without any annoying noise.. Set the mobile phone off or use the "Do Not Disturb".

Always have a bottle of water and drink it
It is very important to be hydrated throughout the day.

Give plants some love too
If you can afford it or you have enough space, put some little plants like decoration. It always give a better image to your bedroom.

Planning and packing
Always do it the night before so you don't forget nothing.

Learn things
Don't go to sleep without having learnt something.

Time for yourself
Give yourself some whims or fancy presents.

Pamper yourself
Relaxing baths and care routines for your whole body.