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A tad disappointed that this book wasn’t a full five stars. Barbara Erskine has remained one of my favourite authors since my teens so on my way to approaching 50, I have appreciated all her books and mostly more than once or twice as they are such a joy to read. I really enjoyed this book. It’s part historical detective novel, part supernatural thriller. Much of the story is based on historical records. Eadburh, one of the daughters of Offa, married Beorhtric, King of Wessex.
Sometimes you find yourself confused about your direction. You might have been so sure you were meant for this situation, this love, this job, or this thing, yet you’re forced to walk away. All the signs had been pointing to potential magic and fulfillment, but somehow things are not turning out the way you expected or wanted. Do not give up on your dreams. Something unique that will serve the greater good wants you to call it to life. You were given this idea as a gift from the Divine, and it is your mission to forge a new path to bring it here. If you knew the “how” of it, it would mean that you’re not dreaming big enough. That said, the research was good, the historical detail just what I expect from her stories and the basis of the story was fine, just not mind-blowing. If a Fox can’t find his tail, it might be because he’s chasing the wrong things and looking in the wrong direction, one that is unnatural to him. Sometimes you might find yourself compromising to avoid conflict. If you’re coming from a place of fear, that may work in the moment, but you may still lose something about yourself in the exchange. You know this deep down, but occasionally you need to be reminded to stay true to your inner knowing so you don’t trade your truth in acquiescence, giving in to someone’s expectations or perceived dominance just to keep the peace. All the Willows Know Your Name Essential meaning: being witnessed and seen by another, being understood, the flexibility of healthy relationships, interdependenceThere are days when you know you’ve done all you can and surrendered your attachments to outcomes, trusting that things will turn out the way they will. You don’t have anything to prove anymore. When you reach this moment, you experience a kind of satisfaction and accomplishment that may not even have anything concrete, any real perceived success connected to it. You just know peace and serenity. This may be fleeting, but it doesn’t matter how long you stay at peace. Once you know the feeling, you can always return to it. The T’nalak’s cultural symbolism and connection to indigenous practice are highly relatable to the members of this group in the ways our family traditions are similarly connected to our cultural identities and heritage. It symbolizes our links to our ancestors. Because the T’nalak is traditionally woven by women of the community who apprentice their daughters to maintain such a tradition, we see this practice as something that empowers women in the community. The impact of female empowerment, doubled with the cultural significance of T’nalak, is of paramount importance to us not only because it is passed down from generation to generation, and from mother to daughter, but also because it has survived colonial rule. Though T’nalak and other forms of fabric weaving are specific to the T’boli, their cultural significance translates to how other societies and groups value their own rituals and strengthen ties to their heritage which, in turn, provide opportunities for later generations to seek a deeper understanding of themselves and their cultures. Men are often responsible for planting and stripping the abacá and flattening the newly woven fabric. To do so, they fix a cowrie shell to one end of an abacá stem pole and link the other end to the roof as a hinge, pushing on the pole to apply pressure on the fibre with the shell. Beyond Your Fears the Weavers Dance Essential meaning: the negative effects of prolonged fearful thoughts, moving out of fight-flight-freeze, being courageous in spite of your fears The book follows Eadburh throughout her life, from the palace where she grew up to Wessex, where she became Queen and had a hand in killing her King. She crosses the sea to Charlemagne and travels through parts of Europe, finally returning to England and then Wales, much later in life, always searching for her lover Elise.
Angry and passionate, she rebels - and her defiance may lead to war. A past that will not stay buried Centuries later, unsettling visions disturb a cottage hidden amongst the Welsh hills, and Bea begins to have haunting nightmares. While the design process is full of mystery, the weaving process is easier to apprehend. Transforming the rough stems of abacá into woven threads is hard work. First, the fleshy material inside the stems is separated, dried, rubbed and combed to produce soft, resilient fibres. Charlie showed me a bundle of these fibres, each measuring about 2m long and resembling an elderly person's white hair. The bundle contained roughly 1,400 strands, which produces approximately 6m metres of T'nalak.Sometimes I read a book that stays with me for a long time. I was recently gifted a copy of The Dream Weavers by Barbara Erskine to read. I love historical novels and this was a great story, set in Anglo Saxon Mercia and the modern day. The Dream Weavers by Barbara Erskine It was a good idea to start with the modern side of the story – it can sometimes be a little difficult to get in to a new (or old) world with its unfamiliar names and customs. It’s been a while since I immersed myself in the distant past but by the time I was taken there in the first episode of Eadburh’s life, the momentum had built. Sometimes a split narrative can seem contrived but I liked the way it was done here, allowing a modern commentary on long-past events without anachronisms. And if there is a need for exposition, inserting a passage from a book being written by one of the characters is pretty neat; I found it more engaging than being told by the narrator.
Joel is based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and we got the chance to go visit him in person to collaborate on the project and see his work in person. You can follow along our journey and meet Joel and his “neo-folk primitive” style – a blend of folk art and sophisticated iconography rendered in a neo-primitive technique. At the heart of these events is an ancient love story, between a Prince and a Princess, one of them Welsh, the other Anglo Saxon. What follows, culminates in some terrifying experiences for Emma and Bea, and to a lesser degree, Simon. Danger lurks around every corner, as characters from the past make their presences felt. It’s your choices that will determine your personal experience of your circumstances. How will you respond to life now? Can you be true to your values, to your dream, even if not everyone else agrees? You are surrounded by so many loyal friends and well-wishers who want the best for you. Do not give your energy to those who would deny you, including your own critical voice that tells you you are not enough, don’t have what it takes, are not perfect, etc. It’s okay if you’re not for everyone—why would you even want to be? Briefly Bea is called into author Simon's house to lay a ghost. This is a cue for exploring the ghost's past doomed love affair. Simon's teenage daughter Emma somehow gets roped into the dream life of the Saxon princess, youngest daughter of King Offa. And Bea's other mission is to rescue Emma.
What the Winter Spirits Know
Sometimes you are exposed to so much information, it overwhelms you. You aren’t able to translate that knowledge into wisdom because you don’t find time for integration. Life is busy, and you may be used to moving through life’s obstacle course at a fast pace. Over the years Barbara Erskine has established herself as a writer of novels that skilfully blend history with aspects of the supernatural. These are often referred to as ‘time slip’ novels as within the narrative there is a link between characters in the present and the past. While not literal time travel, the mental links are still powerful.
Top Singles – Volume 26, No. 14 & 15, January 08, 1977". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on March 19, 2016 . Retrieved June 13, 2016. My only criticism is that at times I did feel that the modern narrative got a little repetitive. Bea looks into the past, her husband tries to convince her it’s dangerous, she says she won’t do it again and then she does, over and over. It also definitely gets less spooky as the story goes on and we start to understand more of the ‘ghost’s’ story and she becomes much more of a living character. There is plenty of tension though as Simon’s daughter becomes dangerously involved with the past.This is your time to fully immerse yourself in the beauty of your life while trusting that all your needs will be met. Magical energy works through you for the highest good of all. What is most important now is for you to have clarity on what you genuinely want to manifest and experience in your life. Be sure you’re willing to take responsibility for this and go the distance to care for your co-creation. I love the historical aspect to this novel and the way it’s convincingly intertwined with the modern day characters. The title is very apt, as the author weaves fact and fiction, past and present, into a delightfully atmospheric narrative. The descriptions of the landscapes are very evocative and the historical elements are clearly extensively researched. I think the character Sandra annoyed me from the get-go and her transformations within the story were predictable and maybe a little far-fetched. My only quibble is the novel ended too soon and maybe the end was too tidy, but that couldbe my hiddenrevengeful side showing. Would I recommend? Obstacles are placed in our path for a purpose: to slow us down. If you encounter ice, you need to proceed with caution. If you encounter a no, maybe a yes will come from a new source. If you encounter a mountain, you need time to figure out whether you should climb it, walk around it, dig a tunnel through it, or choose another path altogether.
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