Faces with names

I love this picture.

That on the right is Carolyn Potter, a very talented polymer clay artist and dear goddess of a woman friend. On the left is me. We are both wearing masks that Carolyn made. Carolyn also works with gourds. She is grounded and loving and I am forever better knowing her. We did not stage this, the clothing was just perfect for the moment and so it was. The picture was taken by another goddess of a woman friend, photographer, writer, and polymer clay artist Cassy Muronaka, her web page is here, http://cassymuronaka.wordpress.com/ , she is well worth the peruse, she has wicked wit and a phenomenal eye. This picture was taken a very long time ago at one of the first Ravensdale events (1996?) in the Northwest for Polymer Clay. The event is run by the Northwest Polymer Clay guild and you can find their information here, http://nwpcg.org/. The Northwest Polymer Clay guild also has a upcoming class with Christi Friesen, her page is here http://www.cforiginals.net/ in Edmonds, Washington this weekend August 8th and 9th at Artworks http://www.artworks-edmonds.org/ where my sister friend, goddess woman, comedian artist, Meredith Arnold works , her web page here, http://mereditharnold.wordpress.com/. Artworks is an awesome resource for artists in the Washington state area.

Ravensdale I remember as being a diamond of a moment in my life and these are diamond women in my life. The way in life is built on connection and is woven in love.

Day of the Dead

The festivities were dedicated to the goddess Mictecacihuatl,[2] known as the "Lady of the Dead," corresponding to the modern Catrina.
In most regions of Mexico, November 1st honors deceased children and infants where as deceased adults are honored on November 2nd. This is indicated by generally referring to November 1st mainly as "Día de los Inocentes" (Day of the Innocents) but also as "Día de los Angelitos" (Day of the Little Angels) and November 2nd as "Día de los Muertos" or "Día de los Difuntos" (Day of the Dead).[3]
Beliefs

Many people believe that during the Day of the Dead, it is easier for the souls of the departed to visit the living. People will go to cemeteries to communicate with the souls of the departed, and will build private altars, containing the favorite foods and beverages, and photos and memorabilia, of the departed. The intent is to encourage visits by the souls, so that the souls will hear the prayers and the comments of the living directed to them. Celebrations can take a humorous tone, as celebrants remember funny events and anecdotes about the departed.[3]
Plans for the festival are made throughout the year, including gathering the goods to be offered to the dead. During the period of November 1 and November 2, families usually clean and decorate graves;[2] most visit the cemeteries where their loved ones are buried and decorate their graves with ofrendas, or offerings, which often include orange marigolds called "cempasúchitl" (originally named cempoalxochitl, Nahuatl for "twenty (i.e., many) flowers"). In modern Mexico this name is often replaced with the term "Flor de Muerto" ("Flower of the Dead"). These flowers are thought to attract souls of the dead to the offerings.
Toys are brought for dead children (los angelitos, or little angels), and bottles of tequila, mezcal, pulque or atole for adults. Families will also offer trinkets or the deceased's favorite candies on the grave. Ofrendas are also put in homes, usually with foods such as candied pumpkin, pan de muerto ("bread of the dead") or sugar skulls and beverages such as atole. The ofrendas are left out in the homes as a welcoming gesture for the deceased.[2] Some people believe the spirits of the dead eat the "spiritual essence" of the ofrenda food, so even though the celebrators eat the food after the festivities, they believe it lacks nutritional value. Pillows and blankets are left out so that the deceased can rest after their long journey. In some parts of Mexico, such as the towns of Mixquic, Pátzcuaro and Janitzio, people spend all night beside the graves of their relatives.
More of this holiday...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead

http://www.dayofthedead.com/
http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/feature/daydeadindex.html
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/dayofthedead/

words to live by!

"Life is not a tragedy, it is a comedy. To be alive means to have a sense of humor, to have a deep, loving quality, to have playfulness."
Osho