Will I ever let go of the Christmas past and embrace the Christmas present. Will I let the Holidays and life not go according plan and just be? Not wondering what the next year may hold?

I find myself trying desperately to fix life’s problems from what I said I would the year before and pick at what I need to fix for next. I have always seen the New Year as a clean slate. Where the problems from last year seem to miraculously stop and I then have the ability to fix those problems or ignore them from then on. I am surprised when I realize they are still there, growing and festering deep into December. How do I cope with the Ghosts of Christmas past, and all its demons it carries, embrace the Ghosts of Christmas present, and not care about the Ghosts of Christmas yet to come?

By Jeanne Iris Lakatos:

“The Theory of Iconic Realism: Understanding the Arts through Cultural Context

Iconic realism involves the placement of an icon within the midst of a unique realistic setting, out of place for this particular icon, creating a momentary static coalescence of the icon with the designated realism. Since both the icon and the realistic setting represent an aspect of a specific culture, the resulting friction between these two entities is the catalyst that generates enlightenment of a cultural dilemma.

Thursday, March 26, 2009
Bluebirds and iconic realism

The other day I went for a walk down my street. This was especially thrilling because I’ve been constrained with an orthopedic boot on my left foot for the past six weeks. It felt wonderful to be walking passed the farms again. The goats, sheep, llamas, cows, horses all seemed to perk their heads up and smile at me as I treaded once again upon the familiar path. It was brisk, for I live in New England, and winter doesn’t want to give up its stronghold just yet. However, over my head flitted two beautiful bluebirds, their brilliant blue feathers glistening in the bright, early spring sun. At this moment, I realized why these are my favorite birds, and I knew this walk was a blessing.

Then, it occurred to me. These bluebirds were another example of iconic realism, for bluebirds are iconic associations with joy, summer, and general calm. They were flying from tree to tree, realism. Yet, it was so bitterly cold outside. This juxtaposition brought to my attention the cultural dilemma of the importance for us humans to maintain appropriate stewardship of our world. So many beautiful, valuable, fragile creatures’ lives are at stake.”

In magical symbology the bluebird represents confidence. And in the Valentine myth, the Bluebird is a ‘man of laughter’ and symbolizes happy love. Because of its benign qualities, it has become a favourite subject in European fairy tales — and song. ‘The Bluebird of Happiness’ became a popular song in the 1940’s.

According to one Native American tribe, the first-born son of the Sun was called Bluebird. Another myth hails the bluebird as the spirit associated with the rising sun. A dead bluebird is associated with loss of innocence and disillusionment.

In Korea, legend has it that the Bluebird flutters around humans and reports back to the gods. ‘A little bird told me,’ could well apply to the bluebird.

Traditionally, the bluebird (or depending upon your belief, the swallow) is tattooed on one side of a sailor’s chest when he can claim 10,000 miles at sea. When he has clocked 20,000 nautical miles, the sailor may apply the bird’s mate to on the other side of his chest. A pair of bluebirds together is a sign of the well-travelled sailor.

I also love your ornaments. They are beautiful.

It is no secret that we humans have a visceral, biological reaction to the shortening of the day. There is indeed a literal reason why we are so hard-pressed to get everything done at this time of year: we have less sun to light our paths. But maybe there is a hopeful metaphor to be found in the solstice as well: the days grow darker until late December, but the light starts to reclaim its territory before the calendar turns. Maybe there is light waiting for us in 2010.