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Back to the Enchanted Woods
By techgnotic
THE SIDHE by painted-bees
Once upon a time…
Bbefore there was a boy wizard named Harry Potter or anything much was known about events occurring a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… there was the oral tradition of telling fairy tales, the first wonderful basic form of education in the lives of all the children in the world. Civilization was just getting underway with cities and towns and tiny hamlets taking shape in cleared patches of real estate carved out of the primeval European woods. In doing research on line it is clear quite a lot of the earliest fairy tales, passed down to this very day, were actually important schooling in basic survival for the peasant children, the lessons hidden in memorable scary stories told at bedtime, the better for their subliminal internalization during the children’s sleep. “Little Red Riding Hood ” is read to kids today as an entertainment.
The Witching Hour
by dark-spider
Centuries ago it was probably a cautionary tale about the very real danger of being devoured by wolves should little Jack or Jill wander too far into the deep woods unaccompanied by Mom or Dad. And it wasn’t just the dangers of the natural world that parents needed for their children to fear enough to stay well clear of the now magical treeline of their hamlet. For the woods were also enchanted. So there were the ravenous lurking wolves in the dark wood—but also evil witches wanting to toss poor Hansel and Gretel into their demonic ovens.
The fairy tales about wolves and witches have survived, but with their original utility long forgotten, the city parks beyond the suburban backyards having been long since cleared of most fearsome wild beasts and magical enchantments. Now it seems a child’s fairy tales are warm memories of bonding with parents and siblings, going on a first scary rollercoaster ride together, just before settling down for another safe and sound excursion to the dream world of never ending magic. Modern times have rid us of the old fears of eldritch times… but also rid us, sadly, of much of the magic, the wonderful “enchantment.”
An Enchanted Evening
by gravestar
Remus Lupin
by gravestar
But the times are changing… back. I can feel the enchantment upon the digital planes of DeviantArt and elsewhere, so many are striking out once again to go exploring in the deepest recesses of the Enchanted Woods. Rejecting the conformist paradigms of our current society, once upon a time necessary for survival but now achingly obsolete, artists and thinkers are now celebrating the spirits of enchantment that were once shunned for fear of damnation of the soul. The new embrace of the spirit is an exercise in feeding, healing and freeing the soul.
The old fairy tales, still illustrated as re–imagined by each new generation of artists, have come full circle—once abused as totems against playing with the magical in life, they are now touchstones for launching imaginations into lifetimes of neverending Neverlands of the mind and spirit.
It’s really alright to venture back into the enchanted woods.
Welcome home…
Featured Gallery
Little Red COLORS
by pacman23
The secret Entrance
by MinnaSundberg
Perchta oil on panel
by KaradjinovicMarko
Eternally Yours…
by J-u-d-a-s
Teufel
by JochenSchilling
Samhain
by JochenSchilling
Samhain
by wyldraven
Heart of the Forest
by JKRoots
Night Fairy
by dominiquefam
Profanus
by JochenSchilling
mixed drawing techniques
by KaradjinovicMarko
Missa pro defunctis
by JochenSchilling
Looking for Magical Wonders
by JeremiahMorelli
Loh
by Viccolatte
Red Riding Hood
by LaVolpeCimina
Key of the Squirrel Kingdom
by Momotte2
Samhain
by JuliaNikitina
Black Magic
by irinama
Night of Lanterns
by Jurikova
Samhain
by HobascusHolluck
Dullahan
by Hazel-Weatherfield
Samhain
by mechanicalfantasy
A Wiccan Halloween
by DivineWish
The Sidhe
by painted-bees
Your Thoughts
How familiar have you always been with the “coincidence” of so many important religious observances having the same dates as Pagan festivals?
If the ancient Christian religious calendar was set to do “battle” against competing popular Pagan rituals, rather than being aligned with more accurate historicism, should this stir spiritual doubt amongst believers, or be considered an interesting but irrelevant historical episode in bringing people to Christianity?
Why do you suppose the transition from Pagan to Christian holiday celebration was so successful with Easter and Christmas, but a failure with Halloween?
Have you ever encountered an actual fairie? If so, could you please describe the event in every detail?