Happy Beltane to all, a day to celebrate and wish all well!
And please do not worry–this pagan Wiccan/Druidic holiday does not have anything to do with the devil.
Rather, this holiday is one of nature and spirit and celebrates the renewal of life! It is closely connected to rituals of May Day and is observed in much of the world with an ancient Celtic influence.
So, please enjoy the natural world and life itself!
(Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com)
As this year is approaching its end, I have been thinking about what I am thankful for. I am deeply grateful for my family, including the extended one, and my friends. Additionally, I am extremely grateful for are my readers on this blog. You are a disparate group, but you are also unfailingly intelligent, kind, and civil. I have also made several friendships here with people who live far away, and I value those connections.
(Photo by Giftpundits.com on Pexels.com)
And I wish everyone a healthy and happy 2023!
(Photo by Jill Wellington on Pexels.com)
http://gmerrychristmasg.hol.es
I want to wish everyone a Happy Yule and Blessed Solstice–this wish goes to everyone regardless of religious beliefs or otherwise! This is a season of generosity, kindness, and forgiveness. Please try to spread kindness wherever you go.
Also, I am one of the unusual people who loves Winter–I always feel at my best physically and mentally at this time of year. I become more energetic, and I always feel like a child with delight when it snows.
Again–Have a Happy Yule and Blessed Solstice!
I have several Christmas movies that carry great meaning to me and that I have loved over many years. I have written about them before in this blog, and I will continue to do so. Now, however, I want to make a new entry into my list of favorite Christmas movies.
The Man Who Invented Christmas is an extraordinary film that was released several years ago. It is a wonderful movie that explores the creative process of Charles Dickens as he wrote the classic novel, A Christmas Carol. The director is Bharat Nalluri, and this work is marvelous! We get a direct entrance into Dickens’ mind as he struggles with his writing. His characters appear and talk to him, which is an excellent touch.
The film is based on the book by Les Standiford, and the stars are Dan Stevens, Christopher Plummer, and Jonathan Pryce. The entire cast, without exception, give extraordinary performances. Christopher Plummer as Scrooge is especially brilliant. Dan Stevens should be recognized as one of the finest actors today.
This film delivers the message of Dickens’ masterpiece, that humanity should be the business of everyone, that money should not be the focus of our lives, and that we should all try to help each other. It will capture your heart and soul, and it is a film I recommend completely! On a system of 5 stars, I give it five!
Please, do yourself a favor, and watch this movie!
This season is one of my favorite times of year, and I love doing this series on Christmas movies. Throughout the month of December, I will post on several of my favorite Christmas films.
White Christmas, the 1954 film about two former soldiers who turn song and dance men and who help their former commander as he attempts to run a floundering ski resort, has special meaning to me. It stars Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and Rosemary Clooney and was directed by Michael Curtiz. It features the songs of Irving Berlin. As a major piece of American film history, that would be enough to be of interest to me, but it has a much more profound connection.
My parents were both of “the greatest generation,” which is a description with which I agree. They were born and raised during the depression and were part of the multitudes of America who fought and supported World War II. My father was a Marine, and my mother worked in the Signal Corps. This group of Americans had a toughness that was forged in the fire of great tumult, both national and international. They understood that the connection to country meant service and a willingness to sacrifice for the greater good.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signal_Corps_%28United_States_Army%29)
My mother loved this movie, and it was a tradition in our family to watch it when it aired on television, which was, if I remember correctly, every Christmas Eve. If not that night, then it was always on a nearby night. Of course, as a child who was born a while after World War II, it was all ancient history to me then, but for my mother and father, it spoke directly to their lives and to their hopes and dreams.
Both of my parents have been gone for quite a while now, over 20 years–they were married for 48 years and died within 2 years of each other. As I have become older, I have learned to appreciate what my parents did for us, which, I have to admit, when I was young and stupid, I did not. To paraphrase Mark Twain, –it is amazing how smart my parents got as I got older. And I appreciate and try to continue some of the family traditions, including watching White Christmas, but now with my beloved wife. And now my granddaughter is old enough to begin to appreciate and enjoy these films. I still feel the connection to my Mom and Pop when I watch this movie. This movie speaks to the connection of people, of hope, of joy, of happiness, and of the power of music.
And I wish we would have a white Christmas, and I hope it will happen this year.
(http://lubuntu.me/blessed-samhain/)
On the pre-Christian Celtic calendar, October 31 was Samhain, pronounced Soo-when or Sow-when, and it marked the day when the world of the living and dead where at the closest. It is also the end of year, with November 1 as the start of the next year. This day is one of the most important Gaelic/Celtic/Pagan/Wiccan/Druidic holidays of the year! And please do not worry about the devil–he is not a part of Samhain. There is nothing evil here.
Samhain/Halloween is a day to remember those who have passed and to think of the future.
Poetry Mud
A Blog about Writing Personal Creative Nonfiction
My art reflects my life and travels.
I'm glad I learned to express my thoughts clearly and everyone loves to read them. Sometimes it takes a lot of thinking power to think about the surroundings. Someone who likes it, someone who enjoys it, appreciates that he is writing very well. Reading and commenting on the post I wrote would give me a lot of bullshit and I would get new ideas to write new ones. I'm really glad I got your response.
Gonna fill this page with breathings of my heart 💞
The Writing Life
Spiritual reflections through self-development, nature, meditation and dreams
I'm just another dreamer...
Movies, Shows, Sports, Stuff...and Other Stuff
Medi(t)ating between the wor(l)ds
Something for Everyone!
Ego stroking and addiction horror stories
Tutor of the young debtor
Every mountain must Die and Let it be so!
Discovering the power within
Travel, sports, gambling, gaming, and my journey through life
Where imagination flies free
Design and Life Musings
Writing about all things love
I write a lot, read a lot and give unsolicited advice.
Award-winning Historical Fiction Author
I write poems, epigrams and short stories.
Art and Writing Portfolio
Achieve your goals with hard work
Self-published Author
Poems, Poetry and more
Furnicraft, woodwork, and art
My original blog got too big. Time to downsize.
My writing, my books, my poetry and a bit of running.
When it becomes too hot, the clouds cry.
Love | Travel | Fashion
Ramblings
Professional Wildlife, Landscape and Seascape Photography
An academic adventure in foreign lobbying using modern technology .
This is perhaps the least specific blog you will find. A variety of DIY projects, book reviews, health tips, yoga poses, fashion ideas, recipes or something altogether different depending on my current mood. I've never been pigeon-holed into one category so neither is my blog. Strap in and enjoy the ride!
All the best ideas seem to arrive at ten til midnight when thoughts pass freely between waking and sleep.
A Maze of Tales and Myths
A compilation of creative work: photography, poetry, & prose
Randomness on Tuesdays - Gnoreen on Wednesdays - New Chapters on Thursdays
Chasing Wellness
#squeezingeverylastdrop out of life while I'm here
And... Action
Creative writing, photography, opinions, random thoughts and pretty much whatever I feel like!
Fake Lies, Bad Moods & Inappropriate Content
charles french words reading and writing 