The image is one of my first attempts at the Japanese art of woodblock (ukiyo-e and shin hanga), and we used it on the family Yule card this year. The image knits up (I think) so many valuable and important notions: nature, wildness and simplicity, light, peace and non-duality, the "suchness" of things, the timeless Japanese ethic which finds its expression in "wabi-sabi".The best greeting of all for this day is the one used by a dear friend to close her messages all year long, "Wishing you love and light...". To her words, I add my own this morning:
"Wishing you a lighted tree and a fire on your hearth, a comfortable chair nearby. Wishing you the companionship of clan and kindred spirits and friends from far and near. Bright blessings in this holiday season. May all good things come to you!"
Beautiful Yule card. It's simple and clean. Many blessings to you.
ReplyDeleteJust brightful, joyful, beautiful, simple yet fulfilling. This is very you. May bountiful blessings come your way forever...
ReplyDeleteLouise
Best wishes for the New Year!
ReplyDeleteAhhhhh, your card is stunning in her simplicity! Thank you for sharing it with us and for your Christmas blessing. Asking and wishing the very same for you, dearest sister.
ReplyDeleteLovin' twinkles and *huge* hugs,
Every post is a gift from you, Cate. Thank you for this extra special Christmas blessing.
ReplyDeleteMay you walk in beauty all the days of your life,
Suzanne
Lovely. Thank you. :-) Joyce
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful card, Natalie. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas--and will have a great Boxing Day tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteAnd now we "clean house" internally to empty out 2008 and welcome 2009. I have a lot of cleaning to do internally and externally.
Whoops! I just commented and for some reason I thought I was on Blaugustine's blog.
ReplyDeleteI still love the card and all your beautiful photos in earlier posts.
What I said to Natalie I say to you, too.
I love woodblock prints and this is beautiful! Happy new year to you and yours
ReplyDeleteThis is one of your FIRST attempts?! I look forward to seeing some more.
ReplyDeleteThe image is very beautiful, though for me, I feel it maybe perhaps too cheerful for wabi-sabi, the ribbon doesnt look desolate enough. Too much hope :o)
Gosh, I didnt mean that to sound critical!