by 4 people |
Crafts of the Wise
One thing that always strikes me about the Wiccan/Pagan community is how many creative people you'll find within. I don't know if this religion just attracts creative people, or if there is something about it that unleashes the creative mind to spiritually express oneself in poetry, art, music, and dance. Perhaps it is a combination of both.
There's something about the act of creating that keeps me sane. There's an insatiable need inside of me to indulge in artistic pleasures. It doesn't matter what kind-- put a camera in my hand, a paint brush, or a pen, and I simply can't fight the urge to do something with it-- to say something with it.
Art- in any form- is my prayer. Inspiration is the light that guides my spiritual journey. Creating is my means of communing with the Gods and with my Higher Self. It's my ritual. The result, is my offering.
This lens celebrates that creative spirit. I hope you enjoy.
New Table of Contents
Art is the desire of a man to express himself, to record the reactions of his personality to the world he lives in.
Amy Lowell (1874 - 1925)
Pagan Art on E-bay
Week of April 20th to April 26th
Every week I search E-Bay for great Pagan or Spiritual artwork and artists, and present my favorite findings here for you.
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
Art is a collaboration between God and the artist, and the less the artist does the better.
Andre Gide (1869 - 1951)
Poetry by M.S. Beltran
If I Call Myself A Witch
If I called myelf a healer, would you be afraid of me?If I steeped an herbal tea to sooth a throat that's sore,
or for a toe stubbed on the door made a poultice for the swelling?
Should I not keep dried roots and herbs inside my dwelling?
So I prefer natural remedies to lab-concocted chemestries;
relaxing scents and mellow tones that bring relief to tired bones--
do you fear a person with the goal to heal the body, mind and soul?
If I called myself a nature-lover, would you think me strange?
If I enjoyed a camp-out on the range, and marveled at the wild wolf's cry,
and star-filled nights evoked a sigh, and I thought the budding bloom delightful?
Should I clutter up the Earth with litter and not recycle?
So with revelry I do herald in the seasons new,
and creatures of land and sea respect and feel obligated to help protect--
do you think a person so insane when they observe the Moon wax and wane?
If I called myself a student, would you have me harmed?
If with only a library card I was armed, and I learned the myths of old
and the greatest stories ever told, and pondered the human mind?
Should I not educate myself if the chance I find?
So I seek knowledge in books, professors, mechanics, short-order cooks,
the rain, the sun, the stars, the flowers, or by watching animals for hours--
do you perceive me as a threat because my thirst for knowledge cannot be wet?
If I called myself a humanist, would you laugh at me?
If I fought for equality between the sexes and the races,
and spoke against prejudices and against hypocrisy?
Should I not help make the world for challenged people barrier-free?
So I don't tell people who to love or what they should be dreaming of,
or judge one by the color of skin, but by the integrity within--
do you think it such a joke to say equal work should bring equal pay?
If I called myself a believer, would you say I was malevolent?
If I accepted a Creator so magnificent with all my heart and soul,
and strove to better know the Great Spirit who created me?
Should I limit something as infinate and omnipresent as Divinity?
So I don't question my Creator because someone else's book sold greater,
or say, one's spiritual quest, if not the same as mine, is a jest--
do you really think its evil not to believe in your devil?
So when I call myself a Witch, why do you snicker or sneer?
Why cross yourselves in fear, or presume I've yet to hear of rituals that better suit you?
Should I not be true to who I am because someone misunderstands what I do?
For a Witch is simply a healer, a nature-lover, humanist, believer,
student-- and she has to wonder how anyone can see other.
She often thinks its so absurd that people can't get past that word.
A Witch by any other name is still a Witch just the same.
Art is born of the observation and investigation of nature.
Cicero (106 BC - 43 BC)
Pagan Art on Amazon
Amy Brown Limited Edition Four Elements Greeting Cards
Amazon Price: $11.95 (as of 12/30/2009) 
Framed Art Poster 20x30, Costume of the Pagan Irish
Amazon Price: $78.00 (as of 12/30/2009)
"Sapience" Maiden Mother Crone Wall Mirror Pagan Wisdom
Amazon Price: (as of 12/30/2009)
Statuets :Open Heart - Mother Earth.
Amazon Price: $33.99 (as of 12/30/2009)
Wheel of the Year - Wood Finish - Dryad Designs
Amazon Price: $69.95 (as of 12/30/2009)
The painting has a life of its own. I try to let it come through.
Jackson Pollock (1912 - 1956)
Some of My Photography
Illusions are art, for the feeling person, and it is by art that you live, if you do.
Elizabeth Bowen (1899 - 1973)
Cafe Press Pagan Items
Lushnasa Tote Bag
Price: 15.99
Handfasting: Framed Tile
Price: 19.95
Lunar/Solar Year - Greeting Cards (Pk of 10)
Price: 17.99
NEW Design: Behold The Beauty Ornament (Round)
Price: 8.00
Gaia Sticker (Oval)
Price: 3.49
Artists who seek perfection in everything are those who cannot attain it in anything.
Eugene Delacroix (1798 - 1863)
Featured Video:
Red Thunder-- Prayer to the Great Spirit
Inspirational Music
I merely took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues.
Duke Ellington (1899 - 1974)
My Creative Writing
Transitions of the Soul: One Pagan Woman's Journey
Getting Over a Crisis of Faith, with a Little Help from My Friend
Maggie was a strong woman, a sagacious Witch, and a devoted mother. I just never expected our friendship to be so short, or for her to continue to be my mentor from beyond the grave. Read full personal essay here
Open cast call
What runs through a writer's head..?
Let's begin," my hands poised above the keyboard. "Who do we have here?"
I'm not clear on the plot, a throaty voice comes to mind, channeling through my fingertips.
"Its sketchy yet; I'm open to development."
Read full quirky short vignette here
Painting is an attempt to come to terms with life. There are as many solutions as there are human beings.
George Tooker
Squidoo is an Art, Too!!!
I love making lenses.
Lensmaster M_S_Beltran has been a member since September 3 2008, has rated 167 lenses, favorited 107, and has created 20 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "Wheel Of The Year: Yule". See all my lenses
Check out these great lenses...
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My Current Project
Wanna know what I'm working on?
A StaffI went on an early Beltane camping trip with the family at a Pagan gathering in a nature preserve near my home. I had a wonderfully stimulating weekend.
My kids and I found some nice oak branch that had been cut clean from some ancient trees... probably from the last pruning. The wood was still clean and "green." The kids decided they wanted to make their own wands, and I found a nice tall branch, forked, just a little knotty and bent, that I am making into a staff.
I envision this staff stained ebony, wrapped with sparkly silver wires reminiscant of spider webs. Don't ask me why or where this vision of this finished staff comes from, it's just something I know that it has to be... that I have to make it.
I have just stripped away the bark and am letting it dry out. I will post some pics of the process and the finished product.
Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.
Henry Ward Beecher (1813 - 1887)
Leave Your Calling Card
I'd love to hear from you. Inspire me.
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- rms rms Apr 30, 2009 @ 6:34 pm
- greetings from gothic temptations
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- Apr 26, 2009 @ 9:34 pm
- Great Idea of the lensmaker thank you
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- DarylRobidoux DarylRobidoux Apr 25, 2009 @ 3:21 am
- Nice lens.thank you!
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- WhiteOak50 WhiteOak50 Apr 24, 2009 @ 1:00 pm
- Wow!! I really like this lens and LOVE your poem!! I want to feature this lens on my poetry lens, can you contact me and let me know if it is okay. I would like to feature this poem with your link to this lens and I will make sure you get all credit. I will not do anything until you contact me. Blessings
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Reply
- M_S_Beltran M_S_Beltran Apr 21, 2009 @ 10:42 am
- Ah! Nan, thank you! The html was messed up. I fixed it. Appreciate the feedback as always.
-MSB
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It doesn't matter if people are interested. It's about you taking your stuff and shouting out into the void.
Jadelr and Cristina Cordova
by M_S_Beltran
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