BoSt Galleries Exhibit- Spring Flowers

BoSt Galleries Exhibit – Spring Flowers

Spring in New Hampshire 

“Too green the springing April grass,
Too blue the silver-speckled sky,
For me to linger here, alas,
While happy winds go laughing by,
Wasting the golden hours indoors,
Washing windows and scrubbing floors.

Too wonderful the April night,
Too faintly sweet the first May flowers,
The stars too gloriously bright,
For me to spend the evening hours,
When fields are fresh and streams are leaping,
Wearied, exhausted, dully sleeping.”

By Claude McKay

The Year's at the spring 

“The year's at the spring,
And day's at the morn;
Morning's at seven;
The hill-side's dew-pearled;
The lark's on the wing;
The snail's on the thorn;
God's in his Heaven—
All's right with the world!”

By Robert Browning

Spring Bouquet

“An earthen vase
held a bouquet
simple crocuses
at the street corner
in the downtown
of the city, around
the corner, down the block
on the way to school
a bit of color
shining through
the urban tableau
reminding us of beauty
amidst the clutter
of daily life.”

By Raymond A. Foss

May 20, 2007

The End. 

BoSt Galleries- Ode to the Chrysanthemum 2012

BoSt Galleries- Ode to the Chrysanthemum 2012

Here’s another lovely poem. The sentiment well describes this spectacular flower.

Chrysanthemum

The rose is called the queen of flowers,

          Surrounded by her sisters fair,

          A lovely throng of beauties rare, Chrysanthemum.

The rose is called the queen of flowers,

          Surrounded by her sisters fair,

          A lovely throng of beauties rare,

She holds her court 'mid summer bowers,

          'Neath smiling skies of sunny blue,

          Gayly they bloom the summer through

Brightening all the golden hours.

But when the autumn days have come

          Then blooms our sweet Chrysanthemum.   

As we watch the summer days depart

          And the painted leaves in silence fall,

          And the vines are dead upon the wall;

A dreamy sadness fills each heart,

          Our garden seems a dreary place,

          No brilliant flowers its borders grace,

Save in a sheltered nook apart,

          Where gay beneath the autumn sun

          Blooms our own Chrysanthemum.

Ah! she is not a "Summer Friend,"

          She stays when all the rest have flown,

          And left us flowerless and alone;

No singing birds, or blooms to lend

          Their brightness to the autumn haze,

          'Tis she who cheers the dreary days;

'Tis joy to know so sweet a friend;

          No fairer flower blooms 'neath the sun

          Than autumn's queen Chrysanthemum.

__Hattie L. Knapp.

Poets and Poetry of Kansas

Edited by Thomas W. Herringshaw

(Chicago: American Publishers' Association. 1894)

The End.

Halloween- Origins and Traditions

Halloween: Origins and Traditions

Halloween (Hallowe’en , also known as Hallowmas, All Hallows, and Hallowtide) is an annual holiday that is observed on October 31. It derives its name from the Christian calendar and occurs the day before All Saints’ or All Hallows’ Day.  Some scholars however claim that the All Hallows’ Eve’s tradition initially was incorporated from pagan harvest festivals and festivals honoring the dead, particularly the Celtic Samhain. 

Samhain (derived from an old Irish word Samuin, meaning “summer’s end”) falling on the last day of autumn, was a time for stock-taking and preparation for the harsh, cold winter months ahead.  According to the ancient Celts’ calendar, this was the last night of the old year and at this time of year when the physical and supernatural worlds were the closest, all manner of magical things could manifest.  For one thing the souls of the dead were supposed to revisit their homes on Samahain eve, while witches, hobgoblins, warlocks and other evil entities walked abroad and devoted themselves to wicked revels.  To defend against these wayward evil spirits, the Gaels would built huge, symbolically regenerative bonfires and invoked the help of the gods through animal and perhaps even human sacrifice. In the Western Isles of Scotland the Slaugh, or fairy host was composed of the souls of the dead flying through the air, and the feast of the dead at Hallowe’en was also the festival of the fairies.   But the good fairies, too, according to some folklore, made their appearance at this time from dusk until midnight.

Later on Halloween was heavily influenced by the Christian holy days of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day which, falling on November 1 and 2, were a time for honouring the saints and praying for the recently departed who had yet to reach Heaven.  In 837 Pope Gregory IV ordered the church-wide observance; by the end of 12^th century this became the holy days of obligation across Europe, incorporating such traditions as the ringing of bells for the souls in purgatory and “souling”.   “Souling” is when the poor folk or, later replaced by costumed children, carry lanterns made out of scooped out turnips and go from go door to door on Hallowmas, Nov 1, receiving food or coins in return for prayers for the dead on All Souls ‘Day, which is on Nov 2. There was also the custom of baking bread or sour cakes for “all christened souls. 

Another scary belief held that the souls of the departed wandered the earth until All Saints’ Day and All Hallows’Eve, providing the vengeful spirits a last chance for revenge before moving onto the next world.  Christians therefore took to disguising themselves and, by wearing masks and costumes and following the lighted candles set by others to guide their travel for worship the next day, avoided any repercussions from these rancorous souls. In this day and age, this custom has been perpetuated   by the children donning disguises and going out trick or treating.  It is interesting to note that this “trick or treating” actually dates back to the Middle Ages and includes Christmas wassailing, resembled the late medieval practice in Scotland and Ireland’s ‘guising. Costumed children visited each house asking for treats, with the question, “Trick or treat?” The word “trick” refers to a, mostly idle, “threat” to visit mischief or harm on the homeowners or their property if no treat is given. 

The ‘guising participants traditionally modelled their costumes after supernatural figures such as monsters, ghosts, skeletons, witches, and devils, which over time incorporated popular characters from fiction, celebrities or generic archetypes such as batman, superman, ninjas and princesses.

The Carving of jack-o-lanterns meanwhile has been derived from the Samhain custom of carving turnips into lanterns to light the way of the souls held in purgatory.

In North America the Puritans of New England had strong opposition to this holiday, so it was not observed until the 19th century when the influx of Irish and Scottish immigrants reintroduced it. At first it was confined to immigrant communities but, by and by, it has became a widespread celebration by all social, racial and religious backgrounds in North America and elsewhere.  Today the Halloween imagery includes themes of evil, the occult, death and mythical monsters. Black and orange are the traditional colors now.  Meanwhile the jack-o-lantern custom of carving the turnip has evolved into a carved pumpkin that is far softer and much larger.

Halloween has always been considered a particularly auspicious occasion for supernatural experiments and games. Some observe the religious rites such as praying, fasting and attending vigils or church services.  Others indulge in carving pumpkins, decorating house with ghoulish images to scare the trick and treating children and conducting party games such as apple bobbing. There is, of course, a whole host of other fun activities, that include young and old, such as visiting haunted attractions, playing pranks, telling scary stories and watching horror films. Here are few more mentioned below:

“Bobbing” for Apples- No Halloween is complete without an “apple bob.” Each member of the party is given an apple from which a small piece has been cut and into which a fortune written on a slip of paper has been inserted. The apples are thrown into a large tub of water and the company invited to duck their heads and retrieve an apple with their mouths. From the apple they draw out the slip of paper and read their fortune. These fortunes, which must be brief, will be of greater interest if they deal with affairs of love such as “Your husband will be masterful and handsome”. 

Few, mainly college and university students, partake in the old Celtic custom that includes lighting great bonfires on Halloween and, after these had burned out, make a circle of the ashes of each fire. Within this circle, and near the circumference, each member of the various groups that had helped to make a fire would place a pebble. If, on the next day, any stone was out of its place, or had been damaged, it was held to be an indication that the one to whom the stone belonged would die within twelve months. Such a morbid superstition, however, does not find much favour in modern times, and those manifestations which are connected with affairs of the heart are more popularly sought after on the Eve of All Hallows. Here are some of the spells that may be cast by college students in dorms, for fun sake, only on Halloween.

To See Your Future Spouse- Retire into a dark room with one lit candle as the only means of illumination. Place the candle in front of a mirror and peer into the glass. At the same time, you must either be eating an apple or combing your hair. After a few moments it is said that the face of the man whom you will wed will appear over your shoulder.

There is an old country superstition which decrees that if a girl should eat a salted herring just before she goes to bed her future spouse will appear to her in a dream carrying a cup of water with which to quench her thirst.

A similar test may be made with three saucers. One is filled with clear water, another with ink or muddy water, while the third is left empty. A girl or boy who wishes to know their fortune is blindfolded and led toward the table with their left hand outstretched.   They then told to touch one of the saucers.  Should the participant touch the saucer containing the clear water he or she will soon be married to a beautiful girl or a handsome boy.  If on the other hand he or she touches the saucer containing the ink or muddy water their future spouse will be a widower. If it so happens that they touch the empty saucer it is an indication that they are unlikely to ever marry.  (Remember folks this is only a guessing game… No one can truly predict the future. )

According to custom mashed potatoes is the correct dish for Halloween, and they also offer us a method of divining which member of the company will be the first to wed. Into the heap of mashed potatoes a ring, a low domination coin, a button, a heart- shaped -charm, a shell and a key are inserted.  Then all the lights in the room are turned out and each guest, armed with a spoon or fork endeavours to find the hidden charms. The one who finds the ring will marry first; the coin signifies wealth; the button brings bachelorhood, or spinsterhood; the heart, passionate love; the shell, long journeys; the key, great success and power.

To ascertain if your lover is true: On Halloween select one of the notes which you have received from your sweetheart, especially one which contains a particularly passionate and important declaration; lay it wide open upon a table and then fold it nine times. Pin the folds together, lace the letter in your left-hand glove, and slip it under your pillow. If on that night you dream of silver, gems, glass, castles or clear water, your love is true and his declarations are genuine; if you dream of linen, storms, fire wood, flowers or that he is saluting you, he is false and has been deceiving you.

To find whether Lover will be Happy?... Well, there is a game-spell for that also:

A group of friends sit around an open fire and a boy, selecting the girl of his choice, invites her to place a nut in the glowing embers; he, too, does likewise. If the burning nuts merely glow or smoulder, then the respective couple who place them there, are suited for one another, and will enjoy  a good relationship  in perfect harmony and love. But if the nuts should burst, or crackle loudly, or fly apart, then beware, for it portends that the boy and the girl will have a stormy relationship, their temperaments not being in synch, they will quarrel excessively.

Have fun on Halloween.

Feng Shui Rooms in House- Living Room

Feng Shui Living-Room

In feng shui, remember the acronym CANES:  Colour, Animal symbols, Number, Elements, and the Seasons as guidelines for your accessories, interior and architectural designs.

The living room, sitting room or you may call it a family room- this particularly important living space in your home is where family members and friends often gather to be entertained, pass the time, and share a variety of feelings and experiences.  It has to be conducive to feelings of welcome and comfort.

Here are some helpful hints:

• An unobstructed movement of cosmic energy, called chi, is one of the attributes of good feng shui and traditional Chinese medicine. To facilitate maximum chi flow and your good health, keep the design and décor of your living room functional and simple by using additional colour, lights, plants, reflective objects, blinds, screens and furniture arrangements.  Plus remove the clutter in your home in general to facilitate this flow throughout.
• Ideally the front door should not lead straight into the living room. If the living room leads directly onto the street or if several doors lead into the room, it can leave you feeling vulnerable. If the house or apartment is small, but if the living room is large, block the force of the incoming ch’i with a screen, bookcase, wall or some other such partition. In contrast a dark, confined living space creates oppressive conditions.
• Arrange your furniture to provide protection from the rush of energy that can enter through a doorway or large window and do not face them towards sharp corners or angular objects which cut through beneficial energy.
• Do not place the sofa directly opposite any door; you will be inundated with the rush of oftentimes negative ch’i each time that door opens. This will leave you feeling drained and vulnerable.  
• Nor should you place the back of the sofa directly in line with any door. This will leave you vulnerable and unprotected as well.  If this is unavoidable, at least placing wind chimes over the door will alert you when someone is entering the room.
• Do not position the sofa or chairs under a beam: this could cause financial ruin or ill health.
• Ideally the sofa, a key item of furniture that is used most frequently, should have the support of a wall or another piece of furniture such as low bookcase, shelving unit or screen behind it.  The same principle applies for armchairs.  This position allows you a certain security and control, as you are able to see the individuals entering the room.
• The height of a ceiling plays an important role in the living room. For instance, if the ceiling is too high in proportion to the size of the room, chi rises and disperses, and if the ceiling is too low, chi is condensed and cramped.
• If the room is full of alcoves and corners energy may be caught and trapped, so do not clutter these areas.
• I repeat, do not crowd the room with ornaments, sharp objects and angular furniture. Beneficial ch’i moves more freely around curved edges and symmetrical arrangements.
• Cramped passageways between furniture are to be avoided as they limit the circulation of beneficial ch’i and at the same time funnel negative ch’i. 
• Organize lights in a way to establish an easy, relaxing ambiance. Avoid using bright fluorescent tubes or bulbs directly above your head as this may cause headaches and vertigo.
• If an open concept dominates the floor plan, and the kitchen and living room are in plain view of each other, screen off the kitchen area to prevent smells and steam filling the area where you sit and relax watching T.V.  Clear away left-over food and empty the kitchen waste bins frequently.
• If the living room is L- shaped, do not crowd the narrower part of the room with furniture and ornaments. Instead, place lamps in these dark corners.
• Large windows or patio doors allows too much ch’i to escape the room, particularly if they are juxtaposed. (Opposite to each other). In this case, make good use of curtains or blinds to restrict the loss of energy.
• If the back door and front door face each other, it means that your wealth will fly away.
• You should not have a lavatory door opening directly into the living room.
• Keep your walls balanced with an equal amount of covered and uncovered space. Have the proper balance of male and female images in the artworks displayed.
•  Avoid displaying images of predatory animals and their fallen prey. Images of death and violence emanate negative energy.  Instead, decorate the room with uplifting art and images that inspire and calm you during your day. 
• Position the spines of the books so that they are all flush with the edges of the open (or closed) bookcase shelves.
• Keep lots of healthy green plants in your family room. They will keep the peace when everyone assembles there. 

 The End