Today is the Epiphany.
Perhaps it is because I have only had one cup of Earl Grey but I am blinking drowsily. Truth be told, I am sliding into Winter Brain, although the temperatures are calling me a blatant liar with a high of 52°F forecasted for today. The sun has just broken out behind weeks worth of clouds and I am tap-dancingly grateful for this has been one of the most unlikely sleeper seasons on record. As there has not been enough cold in the Alps, there isn’t the pull to create the Mistral winds that fold back the blanket across the sky. I am keeping an eye on the one magnolia blossom that opened her bloom three months ahead of schedule, hoping that her sisters won’t follow suit. They must be tempted…like I am to take my camera and chase after these bright lights with a butterfly net before they disappear again.
But I think that I will stay put and watch it from my window instead, just as I have been following the saga of the swallows that are fighting over the bird food ball that we have tucked into a crook of the olive tree. For despite the weather, my body knows what January means and so the blue of this second room on the first floor of Anthony’s house feels just right. No, not blue for sadness (like the brilliantly voiced character of “Inside Out” – if you haven’t seen it already, it’s amazing) but blue for calm.
On a few of my friends blogs, “reinvention” has been the new buzz word and it has left me subtly surprised. For although “Necessity is the Mother of Invention” (thank you, Plato) and some of us have no choice but to start over from scratch (I’ve done it), I am dubious when it comes to anything whispering of “a whole new you.” We need who we already are. I am more inclined to peaufiner or keep adjusting if I can, working on both the personal projects and modus operandi that are already en route. Quietly. In the past, there have been midnights which were ushered in with the banging of pots and the trill of my Dad’s old trumpet. Not this year. Granted, I am also really aware that tomorrow marks the one year anniversary of the terrorist attack at Charlie Hebdo.
So what is the Epiphany? As in the religious signification, not the spine-tingling realization nor the galette des Rois almond pastry with a surprise hidden inside that is served in France today. Let’s see…it is several things…but to (over) simplify, it is ancient, a celebration of the Adoration of the Magi in Western Christianity and of Jesus’ baptism for Eastern Christianity or sometimes both together. There are many different manifestations of this holiday all across the world and until very recently, it was often considered as important as Christmas itself. However, in Medieval times, there also existed Twelfth Night, which was then a period of rollicking tomfoolery as portrayed in the eponymous play by Mr. William Shakespeare, a time when holiday greenery was burned in case evil spirits were lurking there. Perhaps it is best to go to the source? I am drawn to the etymology of the word from the Greek, epiphaneia which is the verb “to appear” and signifies “to reveal” and also “manifestation.” Interesting.
So, we have something or someone existing, something brand new arriving. Yes, I start to see what my friends mean. Old customs and current traditions are often closer to each other than we think. Then as now, we keep on keeping on, each in our own beautiful way, like the fluttering of the birds or the peace that a blue room brings.
Speaking of new, a sneak peak of one of the first additions to the new old house, below, in the adjoining bath to this blue room…can you imagine? I can. 🙂
If you have missed the introduction to Anthony’s house, you can find it here.
And here is a lovely song that I heard on FIP yesterday:
Well…if you feel like sharing…where are you at right now?
Do you feel like hibernating or jumping out of a cake?
Do you have goals or just some clear ideas of things to look forward to?
Because…as you can see…(and this is the follow-up from the previous post)…
…the door is open. All we need to do is walk through…
Cheers,
Heather
Fab pictures, as I expected, I'm not a winter person at all, I want to hibernate, just crawl into bed with my books!
Epiphany here, in Greece, is a very important celebration for The Greek Orthodox Church, third only, in rank, after Easter and Pentecost.
Today it's blowing a gale , I'm sure it would give your Mistral a run for its money, and it's freezing, I don't want to reinvent myself, I just want SUMMER!
Susan.x
I am with you in prefering to peaufiner…the idea of "reinventing" oneself has always bothered me, because, as you so perfectly write, "we need who we already are." As for the mode, I too prefer quietly, and almost invisibly.
Here, our road has been covered in ice and vestiges of last weekend's snow each morning, bringing an inclination to hibernate, and that is when I have been reading. As the afternoons have brought sunshine with a bit of warmth and the east wind, the dogs and I have roused ourselves and played/worked outside for an hour or so until it's been time to go inside and jump into active brain work. Sometimes I've succeeded at making that jump, other times not. The clock is ticking, though, as I must prepare for an upcoming hearing and decisional work. I do not have specific goals or clear ideas of things to look forward to, just a general sense of what is to be accomplished and a certain optimism borne of a lovely Christmas time in Berkeley with my family. And the joy of gazing at your lovely blue photographs and that blue and copper bathtub. Thank you, Heather, Leslie in Oregon
Oh, that lovely blue paint. Gorgeous photos, once again. I'm not interested in reinventing myself at all, but peaufiner – that's a new word to me and I guessed what it might mean (and was happy to see I was correct) – a concept that is more doable and certainly more appealing these days.
I'm back in the classroom, herding teenagers and hopefully filling their minds with things that will help them continue to invent themselves. I'm tired, this first week back, and would love nothing more than a little hunkering indoors.
NOPE!
NO re-invention here………………..I will keep plugging along doing whatever it is I do!
Let's keep EXPANDING what we have……………if you get my drift and definitely keep sharing YOUR WONDERS of YOUR part of this tiny WORLD!
Which reminds me………a need to make a BOX!
XO
"We need who we already are." Perfect. Thank you for that. Each morning I ask for the grace to know my true self. I don't think it's an alien being but someone just beneath the surface, hidden under layers of old ideas and protective varnish and dulled dreams. Je t'embrasse, G.
Such beautiful evocative photos. I am not one for jumping out of cakes. Cold weather has finally arrived here in the mountains of North Carolina, so I'm going into hibernation mode. Beautiful clear and sunny days, though, that mock my hunkering down. I'm not so sure about reinvention, but I'll go for expansion.
I wrote a long piece I could never recreate and software rejected me. Please think beautiful thoughts and then a serious one.
Dear Heather as always beautifully worded and the blue room…ahhh! I need sunshine on these cold wintry days and right now have cloudy overcast and drizzly cold weather. Of course it IS Winter. Sunshine gives me motivation and inspiration which know should come from within…..
xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
Life Lessons: So Honored
I am enjoying the first real winter day this season. So I will stay put and make the most of it until the sun starts to shine again. Right now the wind is blowing, a strong, blustery, northerly wind and I long to capture it in my hands and put it in a covered pot so that when the days get too warm and calm, I can let it free.
The blue of that room is just so perfect. I hope that Anthony keeps the colour.
Beautiful post Heather. I need sunshine too. Cannot go days without it, without hurting. It makes me long to feel the warmth on my shoulders and I survey the garden. Yes, even here, halfway around the world, the weather and animals are acting strange. My blueberry bushes have swollen buds; much too early. I thought I saw two birds that build nests up high over my front porch, looking for a new spot to build their nests. Much cold left so I hope they'll just eat and stay warm before trying to hatch any babies.