Snow,Snow,Snow- Part 1

Snow,Snow,Snow- Part 1

As the snowstorm rages outside, with its pellets driven by the howling winds to rattle the windows, this seems to be an appropriate time to dwell on the various stories and legends of snow and winter in a serious of posts.

Jack Frost

Jack Frost is often portrayed as an older man, though sometimes the depiction shows him as a young adult or teenager. In both cases he is a creature of the imagination, a sprite or fairy-like personification of the frosty, frigid weather, a variant of old Man Winter. 

The changing of colors at end of summer is attributed to him as he is depicted with paint brush and bucket coloring the autumnal foliage, red, yellow, brown and orange. 

He is considered friendly but, if provoked, he could kill his victims by covering them with snow.

Jack Frost’s roots appear to have originated from Anglo-Saxon and Norse winter customs. In Viking lore, he may have been referred to as Jokul Frosti (“icicle frost).

In the literature of the early 20th century his characterization took on a more spite-like personality and he was portrayed as dire, mischievous, carefree, happiest when he can behave as he pleases, with no obligations, and somewhat sinister. 

He is held responsible for painting the frosty, fern-like patterns on windows and for nipping the extremities in cold weather. Over the years he has taken on the role of villain, hero and disinterested natural force.

Here’s an old Indian Legend called:

  The Story of Winter Snow

Once upon a time there lived two Indian boys with their grandmother in a wigwam.  One day, while the boys were away hunting for some meat, a stranger called on the grandmother and specifically asked for the boys. As they had yet to return, she politely asked him in to wait for their return.  

Late that night they showed up loaded with a large buck deer. The visitor readily accepted the invitation to share the cooked venison. After the meal, the stranger asked the grandmother for her permission to remain with them for the winter.  Being a very kind woman she agreed without question. 

He was actually a shaman and whenever the boys went on a hunt he gave them hunting medicine to assure their success. This man’s name was Winter Snow. 

When spring came he thanked the grandmother for her kindness and hospitality and was gone.  

The young man being so drawn to him wanted to go with him and snuck out to pursue him into the woods. One morning after this, the old woman heard a moaning sound outdoors and found that the snow was melting. This sound was made by her grandsons who, as they followed the mysterious stranger, had been transformed into winter snow.

The End.

Feng Shui Bathroom

Feng Shui Bathroom

One of the Feng  Shui  guidelines  is that if you can’t see it, it is not metaphysically there. This means you can block, cover, bury, hide, deflect, reflect or use any other means to correct bad Feng Shui in your home or bathroom.

Here are some helpful hints:

• Don’t redesign your home, townhouse or condo to add a bath or powder room that sticks out past your front door since the yin of the bathroom clashes with the yang entering the house.   The front door is the main access for beneficial ch’i into your home and this flow could be interrupted by the bad energy from the bathroom.  Remember also to always keep the bathroom door closed, especially when the front door is open.
• If you are remodelling your house don’t have the stairs leading directly towards the bathroom door or the main entrance door of your home.  
• To minimize the loss of ch’i energy in the bathroom and to prevent losing money you must keep the lavatory lid down every time you flush. 
• Avoid placing a mirror opposite the bathroom door since the incoming ch’i will be reflected right back.
• The bathroom door should not open directly onto the lavatory or bath, as this robs you of your need for privacy and protection.  If you have ample room position a screen or panel in the space between the door and the toilet.
• Adequate ventilation is important to prevent the build-up of negative (sha) energy.  Dampness or mildew contributes to stagnant, negative ch’i.  One way to avoid this, especially if you don’t have a window, is to keep a few plants in your bathroom to absorb the excess moisture.
• You can also lose wealth if you have leaky taps or leave the water running so, if the plumbing in your house is faulty, fix it as soon as possible.
• Make sure there is no waste blocking the sink and that the waste basket is emptied frequently.
• It is not good to have the kitchen directly facing a bathroom.  Nor is it good to have a bathroom or shower located in the corner of your main bedroom, as this will siphon your health, luck and prosperity. The remedy is to have a divider or door that is kept closed at all times.
• Do not choose a house with a bathroom located in the center.  The most important room such as a living room, family room or a dining room should be in this spot.  If the bathroom is at the centre of the home, there is possibility that sha ch’i will easily travel to all the surrounding rooms.  You may somewhat remedy this bad circumstance by using  accessories made of earth materials, such as clay, terra cotta, and porcelain to anchor your wealth.
• Rice is a symbol of abundance, wealth, and fertility. Never flush this revered food down the sink or toilet. 

Canadian Thanksgiving 2012

Thanksgiving Day is mainly celebrated in Canada and United States.  In Canada where the temperature become colder sooner and the harvest comes before that of the United States the celebrations are held on the second Monday of October, whereas in the United States Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.

Historically this holiday had its roots in religious cultural traditions as prayers of thanks and their corresponding ceremonies are the norm among many religions after the harvest.  Today, however, it is primarily celebrated as a secular holiday. It is considered a statutory holiday in all provinces except for New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Despite their businesses being open, many Maritime citizens join in on the celebrations regardless.

Here’s an account of brief History of Thanksgiving from Wikipedia:

“The origin of the first Thanksgiving in Canada goes back to the explorer Martin Frobisher who had been trying to find a northern passage to the Pacific Ocean. Frobisher's Thanksgiving celebration was not for harvest but was in thanks for surviving the long journey from England through the perils of storms and icebergs. In 1578, on his third and final voyage to these regions, Frobisher held a formal ceremony in Frobisher Bay in Baffin Island (present-day Nunavut) to give thanks to God and in a service ministered by the preacher Robert Wolfall they celebrated Communion — the first-ever service in these regions. Years later, the tradition of a feast would continue as more settlers began to arrive in the Canadian colonies.


The origins of Canadian Thanksgiving can also be traced to the French settlers who came to New France with explorer Samuel de Champlain in the early 17th century, who also took to celebrating their successful harvests. The French settlers in the area typically had feasts at the end of the harvest season and continued throughout the winter season, even sharing their food with the indigenous peoples of the area. Champlain had also proposed for the creation of the Order of Good Cheer in 1606.


As many more settlers arrived in Canada, more celebrations of good harvest became common. New immigrants into the country, such as the Irish, Scottish and Germans, would also add their own traditions to the harvest celebrations. Most of the U.S. aspects of Thanksgiving (such as the turkey or what were called Guinea fowls originating from Madagascar), were incorporated when United Empire Loyalist began to flee from the United States during the American Revolution and settled in Canada.”

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

BoSt Galleries- Urbanites

BoSt Galleries- Urbanites

Everyone loves the open air of the countryside. Many often take refuge in rural settings where crisp, fresh air is abundant and everything is usually wholesome. The unhurried lifestyle is a powerful draw to routine driven Urbanites; however, there are abundantly rich lures and multifarious enticements in the urban settings as well, to counter and appease the most discerning of people.

I’ve compiled a few paintings to demonstrate the colours of the city:

The End

BoSt Galleries- A Day at The Beach

Modern Art Series

A Day at the Beach

Summertime is when the temperatures are sizzling and the sun is a big ball of fire in an azure sky. For cooling off there is nothing better than escaping the bustling metropolis and spending time at the beach. Far from the noises, the daily grind of work and transport, or the endless hours spent in front of the computer, cell-phones, tablets or TV, we are like the castaway sailors staking our spot on the expansive sands. Sparing an occasional look at the fluffy clouds sailing on by overhead, we take refuge under the beach umbrella, allowing the cooling onshore breeze to caress our faces.  Comfortable in our colourful beach chair we lazily fall asleep, leaving the cares of the world behind.  Then, occasionally waking up, we partake of the cold refreshments neatly stored in the cooler or digest some delectable fruit, barbecued meat or other such treat. Energized, we then rush into the embrace of waters. We swim about, submerge, or take a brief dip pretending to be fish and not land dwellers.  

Still restless, we take a good long walk on the soft sands and the shallow strand, watching our steps all the while as we take in the delightful view of the happy, frolicking beach-goers. Our ears are treated to the cacophony of cheerful sounds as we dodge the sandcastles of happy children and cooperative adults alike.

This is a sure piece of Heaven on Earth, claimed unfailingly every summer by us all during the precious summer months.

Have a fun filled summer.