Slaying the Dragons

"Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle,
be our protection
against the malice
and snares of the devil."
-- Pope Leo XIII

Last summer was particularly hard for me, with many family and other personal issues coming to a head at the same time. I've always relied on art as my shield against the "malice and snares," no matter in what form they arrived. But when things got too tough, I realized that art by itself wasn't going to cut it. I needed some armor.

George the Dragonslayer is the patron saint for my family and for Castle in the Air, vanquishing fear with his decisive sword. Even though I was a fearsome fencer in college, these days I've dropped my sword in favor of my paintbrush, or perhaps...magic markers? Trying times call for a bit of magic, no?

Inspired by George's heavenly counterpart, the Archangel Michael, I took up my markers and forged some divine armor from a dress. The magic flowed into my new linen hauberk, with wraparound Dragonslaying heraldry! As soon as I put on the dress I knew I'd have the strength to face the world again. It's come in handy a few times since last summer, too!

Having a Wild Weekend

Aside from hailing all the amazing new changes at Castle in the Air, I'm also celebrating all the wonderful and bold changes that happened when my husband, Duncan, and I married each other ten years ago today. This Tarot card image (from Magic Realist Press' The Victorian Romantic Tarot by Karen Mahony and Alex Ukolov) is about having graceful strength as we move through all that life brings our way. It's a good talisman for anyone, married or not. But I didn't choose it for its symbolism. No, Duncan and I honeymooned on the savannah in Africa, and this weekend we're having our tenth-anniversary honeymoon at Safari West, an African wildlife preserve right here in Northern California!