Medicine Buddha Mantra

Here is a beautifully sung and arranged version of a good healing mantra, the Medicine Buddha Mantra.
This also has a lovely and relaxing video with it, along with the words if you like to sing along. I enjoy singing this mantra very much!!
When I listen to/sing this mantra, I feel like I am soaring and freeing, which is a wonderful feeling to experience!

Hallowe'en creativity

For the last 5 years I have written regular email updates for the UK young peoples charity AYME ( www.ayme.org.uk ).
The emails are a cheery and informative newsletter which goes out twice a month to about 200 young people across the UK, who, like me, suffer from a severe form of the illness M.E.
The latest update went out in time for Hallowe'en.
However, not being able to find a good hallowe'eny poem to include, my mum said to me about writing one myself... so I did! Along with some timely input from my mum and dad hehe!
The three of us put our heads together and had a fun time bouncing around ideas... and here's the result!
I thought I'd share it on my blog aswell so you could all see it, and to help get you in the hallowe'en mood! Enjoy!


HALLOWEEN NIGHT
 
As the moon shines bright
in the cloud speckled sky,
 
An eeriness fills the air
as the ghouls float by,
 
The witch on her broom
with familiar by her side
 
While crones stir their cauldrons
in a graveyard close by.
 
Down in the streets
children play trick or treat
 
Unaware of the mist
beginning to swirl around their feet
 
And from the houses pumpkins shine,
devilish faces alight
 
Should we be scared?  Should we scream?
Things aren’t all they seem,
 
Beware on this Halloween Night!!
 
©Natalie Saxton 2010



And if you needed anything more to get you in the hallowe'en spirit, check-out this seasonal video of the beautiful song (and a favourite song of mine) Samhain night by Loreena Mckennitt! Happy Hallowe'en!!

Beautiful fantasy art

I love beautiful paintings that spark the imagination and tell a story. For me, the artist Anne Stokes does all this and more!
Her paintings are on fantasy and gothic themes and draw the viewer in with their atmosphere, colours and haunting beauty.
I often sit and look for ages at Anne's paintings, enchanted by the work of this wonderful artist.

Below are a few of my favourite paintings by Anne Stokes. For more, visit the website at http://www.annestokes.com/

                                                                    "Kindred Spirits"

                                                                    "Magical Mirror"

                                                                       "Angel Rose"

Les Misérables 25th Anniversary

On the 3rd of October the 25th anniversary concert for Les Mis took place at the o2 arena. It looked like a great evening!
Here is Samantha Barks in the role of Eponine singing 'On my own'. I thought this performance was truly amazing. Sam's voice is just beautiful!

Another fleeting thing...

This bipod natural stone arch can be found in Algeria. The thinner of the 2 legs that hold this arch up is now only 6 inches thick!! Wow.
So, it may have stood for 100's of thousands of years, in various states of weathering, but for how much longer?! Good job we have photo evidence then!

Byron's poetry -a convert!

Up until a few years ago I had never read any of Lord Byrons poems. I'd heard of him, of course, and as I delved deeper into Georgian and Regency history, I learned much about Byron, and his life and times.
Eventually, I sought out some of Byrons poems, and I'm so glad I did!

The first one I read was 'She walks in beauty', and its since become one of my all time poetry favourites! I love the Romantic poets and their writings, and 'She walks in beauty' is a great example -beautiful, passionate and imaginative.



She walks in beauty


She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling place.

And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!

Fleeting Art...

I found this odd and fascinating photo. I have no idea where in the world it is, but its lots of mini human figures, carved from ice, then left to melt in the sun! Definitely fleeting art!

Photo © ctto

no1 post...The official!

Hiya! So, the last 2 blogposts were my dad...posing as me, while we got everything sorted! So this could actually be classed as my first official blogpost...ever! So, Hello! Hope you enjoy nosing round.
I'm going to try to post as regulary as I can. At the moment I'm bedbound with severe M.E, but am improving steadily so hoping regular posts will be so!
Unless stated that they are mine, any photos/videos/writings are randoms that I like and love, where the name of the artist/author will always be given, if known.

I think that's it! Hope this is a good day for you, take care,

Love Natalie xxx