About Me:First off, if you'd like to friend me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TommyGleason
I've been Crafting færies (and other flying things) all my life. Designing/building my own wings from scratch and living my childhood dreams one meter (or a thousand) up.
Originally from inbetween the Monterey/San Francisco Bay Areas, I now live in Rough & Ready, California.
Music:Loreena McKinnett my fave overall. Love lots of others too. "Imagine" has always been my favorite song. "What a Wonderful World" (Louis!) my favorite song of hope. My favorite album: "Moodfood" by Moodswings. Upon hearing this album, it immediately knocked all my top "10s" into #8 spots. I've also been haunted (since a kid) by certain songs... Judy Collins "Farewell to Tarwathie;" Tower of Power's "Sparkling in the Sand;" The Moody Blues' "Nights in White Satin;" 10CC's "I'm not in Love;" The Split Enz' "Message to My Girl;" and John Lennon's "Mind Games."
Movies:"Star Wars" and "The Seven Faces of Dr. Lao" immediately come to mind... Lots of others too. Always loved the Sinbad movies featuring Ray Harryhausen's special effects while I was growing up. A recent movie I liked: "Avatar." I loved the echo between the Na'vi and Native American's beliefs. I see the same "Gaia" principle here, the only difference being that while that rock might not look alive to us, it's still an element, part of a synapse so to say, in the Universe's limitless time line. I think this makes sense in that I feel it's ridiculous to assume that "we Humans" are the top life form in a Universe so limitless in matter and awareness. The angels are out there... They belong to Mother Nature though, not religion.
TV:I often wonder why folks put down TV, saying "I don't like THAAT." Well heck, do you dislike bookstore too? Sure, there may be bad trashy books in there, but it doesn't mean you can't find good books as well. TV's the same way. There's plenty of trash, plenty of good stuff! :^) (And folks have no problem listing fave movies...) Anyways, a few of my faves:
PBS: Frontline
Fun: The Chaser's War on Everything
Fantasy: Merlin
Books:"Books are Lighthouses erected in the Sea of Time" - Edwin P Whipple David Eddings: "The Belgariad" and "The Mallorium." Love this guys subtle (and realistic) plugs on religion/politics too.
My favorite spiritual book was by two of my absolute favorite people: Bill Moyers interviewing Joseph Campbell in "The Power of Myth."
Likes:Light. Flight. Drawing Celtic wings for my færies. The rain-harp I made, when rain plinks endless little musical notes upon it. The crystals I've hung all about in the trees outside my window, casting a rainbow of rainbows dancing upon my walls.
Dislikes:I wish folks were more independent of religions. I see pride trapping them into not admitting the horrors in their worship books, and then they try to force the rest of us to abide by their ways.
Hobbies:Photoshop, photography, astronomy☄, geology, history, anthropology (both), linguistics, sewing kites, and gardening all fall in here, but making kids feel treasured beats all of the above.
Vices:Pretending it's too cold / hot outside to go for my bike ride, i.e., Lazy. (Bad Tommy!)
Virtues:Freethought. Critical thinking, because honest truth comes from valid reasoning.
Heroes:Superman. Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Paine. Bill Moyers. Eddie Lama. Sarah McLachlan. Prince Orchar, for his gentle wisdom and generous love for all... May he live on through our love for him. :^)
A daylight hike Creek polished stone The forest reaching high Rocky walled undertone
Sunlight caught In a sparkling rain Silent spread little rings Upon creek’s domain
And I’ve seen that small Willow Growing from a rocky cleft In fact I’ve leaned beneath it Upon cool concave to the left
It’s from there that I’ve listened To the wind-carried forest’s call Distant birdsong drifting by Shimmering waters sing and fall
One evening while trekking Though never quite so late That concave beneath the tree Seemed to open… and await
My eyes fooled? What is this I see? Or not, for it was dark Can I resist this mystery?
I approach, I go to touch… Yet the rock has melted away Pushing on, I enter the portal Upon night time’s sweet bouquet
Above me glisten dark stars From a soirée on high they shine Whilst around me darkness flows Patterns a lovely serpentine
The warm darkness ebbs Pulling me deeper still My senses reaching out I hear a Whippoorwill…
Instinctively I turn around A crescent Moon outside I pace forward to leave Dark stars move for me aside
For they’d drifted down now, About me they’d tugged and played Dark stars I thought they were But I see now: Night Time’s fae
They are the Spirit of the darkness Many wonders in the night Only an insecure unknowing Could give one any fright
So I move not to the portal But lay comfortably within Darkness solidifies about me Those fae... now crystalline
A wiser heart I do have now As of Wizard or Sister Witch Their apexed hats reaching high Touching wisdom to enrich
So when you see that small Willow Growing from rocky cleft In fact I lay behind it now Within cool concave to the left
It’s from there that I now listen To the wind-carried forest’s call Distant birdsong drifting by Shimmering waters sing and fall...
(Thank you to Enchanted Oaks and Root Diety Poems, whose recent poems inspired this one, and whose elements (portals and wise hearts!) you'll find I've touched upon. And yes, this hike and place are "real." Click picture to visit.)
Thank you Laumee. I almost tossed it after posting it, thinking it too lame. But I just reworded it a bit and can accept it now. So glad you liked the pics! I'm down there very often. :^)
I love this poem, and the pics, especially the
curly seed puffs and the reflecting pool. My next Faezine article is about the river reflection where I live. It's a portal too! You just never know where you will come upon them. I will be revisiting this post :)
Oh, Tommy! How perfectly exquisite! Thank you always for these treasures. Thanks also for the message, but I've been unable to open my inbox :( Sorry! I will respond to you properly, I promise :)
All Beautiful!! I really like that new one of Priscilla playing the instrument (She's not able to come to FaerieWorlds this year...sniff, sniff....)
And I love the crane pictures, especially the heart shaped one!
Sarah we have so many (truely!) enchanted people here, but so many's activities steal them away. That's why I'm facebooking so much, trying to remind the ones I can of their home. Especially the ones with hearts like yours...
And Susan, (you) the hidden gem finally uncovered, I think those Sandhills must've been signaling me that they were on their way North... to Redding! ;^) Isn't Sebastia's work most fantastic with Pris and the others on his site? And he's quite the gent too...
This was some event on Oprah (that's why she's there)....they taught a fairly large group of people the moves and then there were some kind of cues for the rest of the crowd which then were able to join in.
There is something so exciting about this video. You start out by saying, "Why look at that extremely energetic young lady! She seems very fond of the Black Eyed Peas!", and then the whole thing gets bigger and bigger, until you feel that the world is a pretty nifty place.
They're all worth it, aren't they Aily? The power of suggestion, from wondering why that young lady didn't have immediate company, to the whole of the train station, can work so well!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010, 02:40 PM PST
[General]
We have so many cool faery artists here... but I don't think I've seen faery music yet? I just spotted Twig's Facebook featuring this Lady though, and thought I'd post it here. Beautiful! I'll pledge a few bucks! ;^)
You must have forgotten moi. We do lots of O'Carolan (Including Si Beg Si Mor: translated "The Big Fairy Hill, The Little Fairy Hill").
I also have originals which I hope to record. It's always hard to find like minded fairy minds in this region (it's the most musically conservative part of the country...even musicians here are ultra conservative, i.e. don't like to break out of a mold.... and as I said, Celtic Festival here means green tee shirts: no one shows up with wings or as the Greenman). So, I never know who I can record with, who will venture forward to do live performances following a CD.
I love the land, the hiking, my family & the architecture, but in every other way, I am out of my element here. I have more the mindset of a northern California or Oregon girl.
Thank you very kindly Tommy for your recent comment. Sorry to have been awhile in response, off line has me beautifly busy but it has been great to view your amazing pictures here, and what a wonderful surprise I found there in too :) Amazing :)Another Thank You :)
thanx for the comment tommy! i like traveling the backwoods wherever i go. in arkansas, some things are like a hundred years ago. i will edlaborate more on the pixs i send in . thanks again . m
Ah! Indeed! Have been pelted by many of those in my day as well! The fae love to collect fallen little goodies in the autumn, and we usually put them out in a bowl. Some smell really nice.
As for the steps...don't even ask! Last summer, it took MONTHS to break out a concrete strip that held up our old picket fence. Just a strip along the front, Maybe 15 or 20 ft. long. The concrete that was used back in the day is indestructable, and a full 8-hr. day with a full-size jackhammer would yield maybe just a few inches! He removed enough of the surface to set in new posts, but it took forever, the poor thing. The new fence was put up, along with an arbor, and on to everything else. How can a small house be so much work? The thing with these old houses is that the wood and metal rots long before the bones. They just don't built 'em like they used to, huh? I need a few house elves.
Sending you brightest spring blessings, my dear one :)
You got a chihuahua? That's great! My dog Lucky is a total little monster to everyone but me. But once a chihuahua loves you, it loves you madly! They are totally loyal and affectionate little beasties!
Hi Tommy...thanks so much for your kind words about my brothers Memorial painting.
I loved the photo you sent to me of your friend. Is he still with us? It's a very awesome photo...captures the peace.I love the lighting.
Thankyou most humbly kind sir for your most gracious of comments! (can you tell i've had too much coffee today?) I'm glad you like them all. I'm not too sure what the Luna Fae is holding, it could be a bit of dew or another world even!! I'll leave that up to your wonderfull imagination!
BB Jennie xxx
thank you for your nice comment. I am so gald, that you like Judith and that you took the time to read a bit about her. I think, she deserves a bit of attention even today(and I really hope I did her justice with my little picture)
Send Message
Add Friend
Block User
Invite to Group
Report User 
Reading your poem was almost like being out on a walk, breathing fresh air and feeling the warmth of the sun. Great pictures, too.
Laumee02:02 AM PST