A request please - Save England's Forests

Hello again. Please could you sign this petition to save our forests? The government plans to sell off natural ancient woodlands of England, and it would be much appreciated if people could add their name and help protect our forests. This would help in our campaign to atleast bring to attention the support for keeping our forests and not have them sold away.

Save England's Ancient Forests

I hope that you would spare a little moment to sign it. I have done this already.
Thanks.

Boy fends off wolves

Breaking News!

A schoolboy, Walter Eikrem, aged 13, was on his way home from school. Then he was surrounded by a pack of wolves. Instead of screaming or running away, he put on some loud music using his mp3 player and started shouting. The wolves lost interest in him and they went away.

The incident happened in Norway. It's not so much that the boy scared off the wolves. He said they didn't appear to look frightened. I think the wolves simply realised he wasn't to be messed with or perhaps they felt respect for him. Wolves take down anyone that shows fear, and this boy simply wasn't afraid of them. Perhaps he was very worried but he displayed bravery and the wolves didn't pick up on fear. Wolves can sense fear.

For more on this story, go HERE

Dark Forests

This is really one of my favourite subjects. I love looking at photographs and paintings of dark forests, especially forests at night time. Forests in black and white photographs. Forests darkened by winter gloom. Forests with damp wet darkened trees and mist. Forests with plenty of shadow and not enough sunlight. Forests that look spooky. Forests with dead trees. Forests with trees that appear menacing. Forests with eyes peering between bushes and leaves. Forests full of ghostly shapes. Forests that contain predatory animals such as wolves and bears that anyone will avoid camping in.

There is not enough websites featurng galleries of such magnificence of nature: darkest forests.

To me, the dark forest conjurs up spectral things like the subconsious, inner fears, a feel of danger lurking and an atmosphere like broken romance.

I cannot emphasise how much this appeals to me.

The dark forest is tremendously beautiful in a chilling way. It causes me to imagine things that are either supernatural or artistic, making me want to live there just as the wild wolfhead woman Maid Marion. To hide in trees, erect wooden shelter and be one with the elements. It seems pretty cheesy but it's nature!

I would simply love to spend a week all by myself in a wooden log cabin bang in the centre of a forest with ghosts, wolves, bears and complete darkness from the thick density of trees all around. I would feel as vulnerable as Little Red Riding Hood or Snow White. Any woman would feel scared. Most people get a thrill out of bunjee jumping, sky diving, mountain climbing or racing. I would get a thrill out of spending a night on my own in a dark forest. That would freak people surely unless they're used to it. People choose anything but isolation and being just cut off from humanity but with unfamiliar animals of the forest is scary.

Whenever you watch a horror film, be it gothic, chiller, psychological thriller, paranormal, even historical fiction with a grim storyline, the dark forest sets it off. The forests frighten people. I've heard people say this and they even dislike trees in gardens.

Browsing at images of "dark forests" is a kind of therapy. What stands out is the elegance of the pictures, whether or not they're painted or photographic. Any picture of a dark forest without anyone in it, not a single creature, gives the forest a very imposing look. I can almost sense being there.  The forest appears threatening just as it's own.

Black metal album covers often feature dark forests.

Garnet birthstone - Wolf of January

Garnet birthstone - Wolf of January

(Note: I would've posted this by the 1st January but couldn't get around to it. I started writing this the other day, and with everyone home for the holidays, this made it impossible for me to spend much time on the computer. Finally I'm able to post this today.)

The birthstone of the month of January is Garnet.

For those who were born in the month of January the garnet is the traditional birthstone. The January birthstone poem reflects some of the properties with which the garnet is associated - purity, truth, faithfulness and friendship. The Traditional Metaphysical Properties for the January Birthstone Garnet are  awareness, commitment, regeneration, insight and removing negativity. The healing properties of the January birthstone are reputed to be effective for health problems relating to the blood, heart, lungs and infection. The garnet is also used to enhance sensuality and sexuality.

This is from: Gemstone of January

For those born in January, it is often considered a lucky charm if wearing a garnet to represent their birth month. Some would consider that the birthstone doesn't fall into place with the zodiac. The birthstone is a seperate element and has different meanings, while the zodiac is shaped by the stars.

Now I intend to make posts based on each of the month about my birthstone wolves and I will describe what they mean for those who have a birth connection with them.

The "Garnet Wolf" is a birth totem for people who were born in the month of January, whether they are Capricorn (December 22 - January 19) or Aquarius (January 20 - February 18).

The wolf often associated with Winter is the Arctic wolf. As January is part of the winter season, it was once considered an After Yule time period. So the Garnet Wolf would be a white wolf surrounded by snow.

Other garnet birthstone animals, or January animals are associated with the cold and snow such as the polar bear, arctic fox and penguins.

The January born Capricorn people are sparkling but icy.
January born Aquarius people are calm but overbearing.

More links about Garnets:

January Birthstone
Meanings of Stones - Garnet

The above image comes from Acaciacat