Casting Light…
![2013-Light-Darkness[1]](http://pruebatten.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/2013-light-darkness1.jpg)
Midwinter Eve – traditionally a time beset with the magic upon which our myth and legend is built. Until recently, I worked as a fantasy writer and my life revolved around creatures like the Gan Ceanach, the Caointeach or the Ban Nighechain who were particularly active at the darkest times of night. It was even considered a time when we as humans could pass through the curtain between us and the fey life.
This post is meant to be shedding light upon the dark, and my historical fantasies could do that – they could beguile you, light your torch, take you on a dangerous dancing journey led by the flickering golden illumination of the Teine Sidhe.
But here, where I live, it is midsummer. Whilst you in the north celebrate the longest night and the shortest day, we are celebrating the longest day and the shortest night.
So how do I shed light on your dark?
I think the best way is to give you some of our light, just for this day.
The images are taken from an island, Maria Island (pronounced like Mariah Carey).
It’s not far from House and is where we spend a lot of time in all seasons bar winter. It’s small, inhabited only by a ranger, seasonal walkers and boaties and has an eccentric history beginning with our original Australians through colonial convict settlement, on to later odd business developments that all failed, to now being a World Heritage site. I am sure you can see why…
Feel free to use it to illuminate and warm your way through the rest of winter and into the burgeoning light of spring. After all we’ve got plenty of light and can share…
Please visit all the other blogs who are Casting Light and have a wonderful winter solstice if you’re in the north and summer solstice if you are living in the south.
- Helen Hollick : A little light relief concerning those dark reviews! Plus Prize Giveaway!
- Debra Brown : The use of Light on Book Cover Art
- Alison Morton Shedding light on the Roman dusk
- Anna Belfrage Let there be light!
- Beth Elliott : Steering by the Stars: Stratford Canning in Constantinople, 1810 -12
- Melanie Spiller : Lux Aeterna, the chant of eternal light
- Janet Reedman The Winter Solstice Monuments
- Petrea Burchard : Darkness – how did people of the past cope with the dark?
- Richard Denning title to be announced
- Pauline Barclay Shedding Light on a Traditional Pie
- David Ebsworth : Propaganda in the Spanish Civil War
- David Pilling : Greek Fire
- Debbie Young Fear of the Dark
- Derek Birks Lies, Damned Lies and … Chronicles
- Mark Patton : Casting Light on Saturnalia
- Tim Hodkinson : title to be announced
- Wendy Percival : Ancestors in the Spotlight
- Judy Ridgeley The Twelve Days of Christmas
- Suzanne McLeod : title to be announced
- Katherine Bone : Admiral Nelson, A Light in Dark Times.
- Christina Courtenay : link and title to be announced
- Edward James : The secret life of Christopher Columbus; Which Way to Paradise?
- Janis Pegrum Smith : title to be announced
- Julian Stockwin : Ghost Ships – and a prize Giveaway!
- Manda Scott : Dark into Light – Mithras, and the older gods
- Pat Bracewell Anglo-Saxon Art: Splendor in the Dark
- Lucienne Boyce We will have a fire – 18th Century protests against enclosure
- Nicole Evelina What Lurks Beneath Glastonbury Abbey?
- Sky Purington : The Scotch-Irish Impact on American Holidays.
- Stuart MacAllister (Sir Read A Lot) The Darkness of Depression
What beautiful photos, Prue. They bring back memories of our visits to Australia, particularly our trip north of Cairns. Thank you!
A pleasure, Wendy. Wonderful light, wonderful water and 4 hours flight from Cairns. A little bit cooler too, but just as nice!
Nice of you to share your daylight! 🙂
Just for you, Debbie.
Thanks Prue, I can almost feel the sand beneath my toes. Lovely photos, but I can’t help loving our grim British landscape!
Grim? Far from it. Absolute beauty. Home is where the heart is for everyone I think.
Thank you, that looks absolutely wonderful! 🙂
Pleasure, Christina.
On a cold, dark, winter morning, your pictures made my heart and soul dance for joy! A portent of days to come. I believe I can feel the warmth of the sand, and the sea spray while boating…
That’s EXACTLY what I wanted you to feel!
Oh, what a treat to share your sunshine – thank you! Enjoy your midsummer celebrations!
There’s only one problem with midsummer! It means it’s half over and we’re on the downward slide to autumn! But still time left to enjoy…
Prue, your post is a delight, especially as I lay here in bed shivering on a cold, rainy day. I wish I was there with you. Best of luck to you in your writing and happy holidays, whichever one(s) you celebrate.
Thanks Nicole. But would you believe we are having a cold rainy day here? 14 degrees C when only 3 days ago it was 37 degrees! Have a wonderful festive break yourself. Cheers.
I feel re-energized just by looking at these pics – especially the one with the wake.
Ah Anna. That’s exactly how I feel when I look at them in the middle of our winter. I use a couple as favourite screensavers in the middle of the coldest months…
It is hard to imagine the sun, sandy beaches, blue skies… we have a howling gale, pouring rain – and I’ve discovered that I have a hole in my wellie boot! Great post – thanks!
Thanks Helen! Time for new wellies?
Such gorgeous photos!!!
Thanks Marsha. After some very summery and warm weather though, we are back to rain today!
Lovely pics! Right now we are having wild and windy weather and torrential rain…not that it stopped Solstice celebrations. If you could pass a bit of sunthis way, though, it would be appreciated!
Take as much as you like! Shared with pleasure.
Thank you. As the sun begins to set here in California (and has already set east of me), this is just what I needed!