Snake in My Life..A Good Thing?

	Wisdom, Healing, Initiation The symbol of eternity
I was kayaking this past weekend, and as I was getting out of the kayak, this snake zipped past me and onto the shore.  It had a fat little catfish in it's mouth and was intent on a tasty dinner. Not being a huge fan of snakes, especially ones that I not only couldn't identify, but also apparently had been swimming nearby, I headed up the bank for my iPad to document it.  After posting on Facebook, it appears that it is probably a juvenile brown watersnake that looks a little too close to a cottonmouth snake.  (love that name, reminds me of my misspent youth, ha ha) Anyhow, Dana Haan posted this information, and I thought it is a lovely way to give Mother Nature an additional spin.
This a powerful totem -- it is the symbol of transformation and healing. The Snake is wisdom expressed through healing. It is a protector and guardian totem, along with its sister totems, the Dragon and the Serpent. If a snake totem has come into your life, your creative forces are awakening. Your intuition will sharpen and be more accurate. Snake energy is the energy of wholeness, cosmic consciousness, and the ability to experience anything willingly and without resistance. It is the knowledge that all things are equal in creation. It also signals a transition in your life. New opportunities and/or changes. Snake is fire medicine, the medicine of transmutation. On a material level, it is vitality; on an emotional level, it is ambition and dreams; on a mental level, it is intellect and power; on a spiritual level (the highest level), it is wisdom, understanding and wholeness. Snake magic is heavy magic.  Become the Magician and transmute the energy and accept the power of the fire. The Snake is one of the symbols of Thoth.

Close Call

We were driving through my son's new neighborhood checking out the local park and getting oriented when we looped back and saw this.  We had just driven exactly where it fell, less than 5 minutes earlier.

The tree took out the power and a few other things.  It was one of those thought provoking moments where you stop and thank whoever up there is looking out for you and your family.

Mother Nature, you wield a big stick!

Plunderers

The other day, I watched a huge flock of cedar waxwings swoop into my yard and decimate all the berries off of one large hedge within about 5-10 minutes. It was a feeding frenzy/orgy all at once. I'm for sharing, but it also is the home of one of my favorite cardinal families and I'm hoping they will still stick around.

The cedar waxwings were nice enough to drop a feather or two in my yard, which I quickly scooped up, ziploc bagged, and popped into my freezer.  I learned from Sara Sally to freeze for awhile (was it 2 weeks?), then defrost for awhile and then refreeze to be sure all the little living creatures were gone.  Instead of using these in my art, I have promised my cat Zeus, that they are earmarked, (or waxwinged) for him.  He has a penchant for feathers.

I am watching some cute tiny yellow finches feed right now and hoping that a pair of matching feathers get dropped for me. I'd love to make some earrings with them.

What do you make using nature's renewable resources?

Bonsai Tree Artistry

Japanese artist, Takanori Alba's natural material art invokes magical places that are carved and intertwined with bonsai trees.  You can see more of these delightful and intricate pieces by visiting here.

Plant Texture

Last weekend we were heading for rooftop margaritas, when I spied these plants in a tiny area. I love the texture of them. They made me want to reach right out and touch them. (I don't know what kind they are...anyone know?) But the cool light color against the warm bright green as well as the spiky against the frilly sure made me smile.

So here you are. Just a little something that caught my eye. Do you have natural textures that intrigue you? Got a link to post and let all of us see a photo?

Guess What I've Been Making?

Yep, pinecones!

I've recently been going through a back to nature stage. Here are some of the pinecones I've been making and will have with me at The Gathering. I've also been making special beads for hanging them, wait til you see them. Lots of fun.

This year, my Bead Bazaar table will have a theme. I think you might enjoy it. Will you be at the Gathering?

Glass Challenge- Nature's Beauty

The Flow and Profitable Glass & Glass Patterns are sponsoring the current Glass Challenge. It's time to commune with Mother Nature, because the topic for this challenge needs to be inspired by Nature's Beauty.

Beads, sculpture, mixed media and other means are welcome.

Entries will be judged on originality, creativity and whether it relates to the theme.

Deadline is September 30th, 2009.

I've included two gorgeous nature photos to start you thinking about the beauty around us.

To read more about the contest- including seeing what the prizes include, please click here.

And good luck to everyone. I hope you enter, and better yet, hope you win!

See you tomorrow- http://www.StudioMarcy.blogspot.com