
“Listen to them, the children of the night, what music they make.”
–Bram Stoker
There’s a dark path in the forest that reaches not only to the horizon but far up into the stars in the sky. The contours float, infused inside and out by an endless melody that sings chaos into shimmering pattern.
Where does the story end? Perhaps it leads to dreams that have been hidden away, to possibilities invisible in the light of day. To once upon a time that becomes here and now.
If you listen–still, silent, boundaried by the night–it’s possible to catch a glimpse of these distant voices. But only a child can find the entrance to this liminal landscape of matter, spirit, and sound.
wonder shines
silvered, transcendent–
opening

The Kick-About prompt this week was the quote from Dracula, above. These monoprint paintings were a response to that.

The road from Samhain to vampire costumes for Halloween travels through the pop culturization of every holiday we celebrate for commercial purposes. But that does not completely disguise its real roots in the transition from fall to winter and the crossing over that occurs between the worlds of the living and the dead.

It’s fitting that we have turned Samhain into a children’s festival–we can join in for their sake, hidden behind masks, remaining rational adults while keeping a thread tied to our ancient rites of passage.

Children are our conduit to what we are ashamed to acknowledge. They remain close to the Other Worlds–they still believe completely in magic.

For earthweal, where Sarah has asked us to think about Samhain and celebrate the places that lie between.


Beautiful 🥰
Enchanting 🥰
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Thanks David.
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Interesting insight. No children here and no holiday and no spooks. Just this time of year to deal with.
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I think you have the spirit of a child. Your sense of wonder at the world shows up all the time.
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Good!! The world deserves all the wonder. Thank you!
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Beautiful artwork and words
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Thanks Rall.
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Beautiful reflection on this time of year, Kerfe. I never thought about it quite in this way before. I like the art, too. The first ones make me think of the night sky, and the very last one the way it looks when you stand by a tree and see the sun shine through the autumn–colored leaves.
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Thanks Merril. The change of seasons definitely had an influence on how I approached the art.
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You’re welcome, Kerfe.
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I love the Bram Stoker quote, but I also love how you have turned it on it’s head: children are indeed our gateway to forgotten magic!
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They are! Thanks Ingrid.
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Yes, children are so full of wonder. The trick is keeping some of that shine as we age….I think it comes back in our later years. Though you are young and seem to still see through eyes of wonder. Loved this post. Your art, as always, is wonderful – fall colours.
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Thanks Sherry. I think you’re right–as we age, we return to some of our childhood wonder.
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Beautiful, Kerfe. I really valued your insight into the way children give us permission to explore the darkness of this time in a safe and magical way.
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Thanks Sarah. Another thoughtful prompt.
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Children have insight into things we’ve forgotten or dismissed. Love what you’ve written here and the paintings are wonderful.
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Thanks Myrna. May we always be surrounded by children.
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these are indeed enchanting beautiful images in your art and words … you captured that between world magic that kids are so ready to embrace!
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Thanks Kate. That’s why I don’t understand why some people want to live in adult-only communities.
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they’re the ones missing out 🙂
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There’s a spot on my pre-dawn walks where I stop to listen to the faintest whispers of breeze high up a huge camphor tree: that slight, distant sound is so easily lost to the blare of human living, but it’s also a stair to the liminal place you write and paint here. A holy place for me and waiting.
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A stair to the liminal. I like that idea a lot. And a tree would be the place for it. Thanks Brendan.
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Lovely artwork. and the words, lovely as well. I especially loved: ‘only a child can find the entrance to this liminal landscape of matter, spirit, and sound.’
There is so much to learn from children. And we’ve heard it before “be more like children”
Thanks for sharing. xo
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Thanks Selma. It’s good advice.
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I adore this, Kerfe. Samhain is a time of opening and wonder, absolutely, and it feels to me that the veil is so thin today I should declare it in full bloom!
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Thanks Sun. I agree the season feels particularly potent at the moment. I’m hoping that’s a good sign.
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Fabulous paintings. I often miss seeing the world through the eyes of a child. Circumstances in my life have left me jaded.
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Thanks. That’s too true of most of us. But wonder does break through occasionally.
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Children need no invitation into the liminal. Nice words and art.
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Thanks Paul. No they don’t.
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