Thursday Art Date With Rain -- "Cups"

Rain's visual suggestions for today's art prompt

include, not surprisingly, many beautiful 

teacups and coffee cups.

But in my city of Edmonton, Alberta,

"cups" mean ONLY ONE THING, baby -- 

THE OILERS' FIVE STANLEY CUPS!

Now, of course, all these Cup victories were won

back in the Oilers' GLORY DAYS of the 1980s.

It's been one long 30+ year DROUGHT since then.

But that does not deter Edmonton's PRIDE 

from being displayed all over the city in the form of

huge, oversized Stanley Cup replica statues.

So here are my photos of them 

in fulfilment of today's art prompt --

These next replicas are found outside

the Oilers dressing room in Rogers Place arena.

Opposing teams have to walk by the display

to reach their dressing room --

just for the INTIMIDATION FACTOR.

There is NOTHING that

Edmonton wants MORE

than to add a SIXTH Cup

to this lineup some day.

Maybe in the 2022-23 Season?

LET'S HOPE!

[Photos #1-2 and #7 courtesy of the Internet;

Photos #3-5 © Debra She Who Seeks 2022;

Photo #6 © Debra She Who Seeks 2012]

Time For Some Deep Thoughts

This Post Is For My Sister

Chris Evans doesn't

do a thing for me,

but my sister says

ROWWWRRRRRRRR!

Remembrance Day

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

--From "For the Fallen" by Laurence Binyon

LEST WE FORGET

November Full Moon Altar: Dreaming Goddess of Malta

Malta, a small island off Sicily in the Mediterranean, was home to a flourishing Goddess culture 5-8000 years ago in the Neolithic period. Over untold generations, the Maltese people created a huge, elaborate, underground temple called the Hypogeum. One of its large ritual chambers was called the "Oracle Room" and it was here that archeologists found small statues of the Dreaming Goddess of Malta. She has the generous breasts and large hips of the bountiful Mother of All and reclines on a low cot, fast asleep.

The Dreaming Goddess is believed to have been part of the Oracle Room's ritual of "dream incubation." Priestesses or perhaps seekers would sleep there "in the womb of the Goddess," hoping for a vision, a healing dream or a prophetic dream to guide them in their lives.

I bought my Dreaming Goddess statue in a metaphysical shop in Toronto about 30 years ago. She has resided on my bedside nightstand ever since.

Continuing with the theme of divination, insight and prophecy, I have surrounded the Dreaming Goddess on her altar with some other pagan items used for the same purposes -- a few tarot cards (from The Rabbit Tarot created by Nakisha VanderHoeven), a mirror for scrying (similar to using a crystal ball), a scattering of runes, and a goddess pendulum with a black velvet response cloth (gifts from a women's spirituality Circle Sister many years ago).

As nights become longer throughout the deepening month of November, is there a more perfect time for our own dream incubations? Are dreams an important source of insight or guidance to you? 

[Photos © Debra She Who Seeks, October 2022]

Calling All Unbelievers, Heretics and Infidels

Drawing Animals in Pencil

I did another graphite drawing course in September-October called "Drawing Animals in Pencil." These were all drawn freehand, although I did grid the original kitten and moose photos for extra guidance on positioning. Shading was done with my favourite trio of 2B, 4B and 6B pencils. I enjoyed the course and am happy enough with my results.

Northern Gannets

Grumpy Kitten

Polar Bear

Puppy Dog

Baby Llama

Young Moose

[Art and photos © Debra She Who Seeks, September-October 2022]