New Moon and Sirius Rising

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Last night, as I walked around the barn, I noticed the New Moon in the clear skies above the cottage, a beautiful prelude to the storm that swept in from the Atlantic in the early hours of this morning.

www.bealtainecottage.com 012This is the time before Midwinter, when clear skies above this small cottage, adds a magical touch to the darkest time of the year.

www.bealtainecottage.com 004The sky at dusk revealed the waxing crescent moon, mystical and delightful alongside the ever brilliant Venus.

www.bealtainecottage.com 014There, high above me in the eastern sky, was the Dog Star, Sirius.

The dark skies of Winter hold a special fascination for me and perfect star-gazing conditions.

 www.bealtainecottage.com 002Looking into the eastern sky in the early evening, I saw mythological Orion’s belt and the three stars that make it up.

Just below this was the Dog Star, Sirius.

www.bealtainecottage.com 003Sirius is one of the brightest stars in the night sky, as it is the closest to Earth.

www.bealtainecottage.com 005According the the Ancient Egyptians, Sirius is the celestial representation of the Goddess, Isis.

Isis was the foremost goddess in all of Egyptian Mythology.

www.bealtainecottage.com 009Clannad produced an album entitled “Sirius” and  here is the title track…one of my all time favourite pieces of music…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twuVcll28EQ

5 comments

  1. Wasn’t that a beautiful sight? Here, the western sky was still copper with the sunset and the deep blue sky above glittering with stars and planets, the crescent moon itself turned blood red as it dipped into the unfortunately polluted zone right above the horizon. But it made a beautiful moon setting.

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