Chanel Pippin - The Pippins Do Fashion Week

 

Ladies and gentlemen, The Pippins are both rocking Chanel ribbons in the most delightful way. Notice Big Pippin's sophisticated headgear, whilst Little Pippin does justice to a stylish sash. We actually see them deposing the Hadid sisters as the next Big Act on the runway, in the not too distant future. We predict they have a great future ahead of them as two Supermodel Dogs.

A close pal of the Pippin's confirmed recently that both dogs are natural models and take their work very seriously. 'They always try to do their very best, no matter what the circumstances', the pal went on to say.

Inari's Kitsune Fox Guardians

Inari is a Japanese deity of the Shinto religion, who is depicted as both male and female. Inari's helpers are often depicted as snow white Kitsunes or fox fae spirits. Kitsunes are themselves very popular in spirit keeping circles as they have strong personalises and they help their companions with all kinds of situations. Sometimes the Kitsune are shown as nine tailed foxes. There are also some very attractive little spirits called Pipe Foxes who are able to run inside a pipe, hence their name and they traditionally help with things like luck and gambling.

We always feed the foxes that come in to our garden because they are sacred to Inari. The above depiction of Inari's Kitsune Fox Guardians was done by 'automatic drawing' as this is something I do. Basically automatic writing and automatic drawing drawing are done by holding a pen or pencil and letting a spirit guide the hand, so essentially the pen holder does not know what will come through.

Also,on the subject of foxes, our lovely little foxy friend, as shown in the top photograph, seems very pleased and contented as he looks in to the camera. He has such a cute little necklace too!

Preston Manor, The Stanfords, Brighton And The Two Pippins

I first came across Preston Manor back in the earlier noughties. It actually featured in my 'Haunted Britain' book. Every time I opened the book at the page on Preston Manor I could smell lavender.

The book became a little bit of a cause for concern because I started picking things up from the photos that were not in the book. I think I was tuning in to it, to be honest so it was put away.  I was particularly drawn to the photo of the Stanfords of Preston Manor  - above - and their animals - particularly the little dog.
I can't remember all I found out about them - but the gist of it was that this was Mrs Stanford's second husband and both her husbands had to take her name (Stanford) in order to marry her. Lots of people visited the house including some of Queen Victoria's daughters and the author Rudyard Kipling. Mr Thomas Stanford eventually became a Baronet and he donated a castle he owned elsewhere in the country - to the local council. He wrote a book about plants in the couple's Madeira garden, where they used to spend winters.

Mr Thomas-Stanford (later Lord Thomas-Stanford) was very fond of dogs and he taught them to do tricks. He had a dog grave yard near to Preston Manor which can be visited to this day, for his pets. Mrs Stanford was incredibly wealthy and did not want her son by her first marriage to get the house as he wanted to turn it in to a school so she arranged to sell it to the corporation (local council).

Preston Manor did feature in a Most Haunted TV show episode, on the 6th of June 2006, which I did see many years later when it was a very old episode, long after I had seen this picture featured above. Preston Manor is supposed to be a haunted house and part of it is very old.

What I liked about the picture is the very homeliness of the scene. Tea in the garden. The little dog begging for a biscuit, another animal near Mrs Stanford, which at first I thought was a cat but may be another dog and a lady who I believe is her half-sister, pouring the tea. A biscuit barrel can be seen on the tray in the old picture.

Pippin and Pippin both posed with my old biscuit barrel which once belonged to my grandparents. It reminded me a bit of the one in the old photo. I really like this particular photo of the Stanfords having afternoon tea at Preston Manor for some reason. It is one of my favourites.

The Two Pippins Pose In Front Of Energy Drawing Wine Boxes

I was really drawn to these colourful and cheerful looking wine boxes and thought they would make a lovely backdrop for the Two Pippins, who as it turned out, seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves in every way possible. Brancott Estate appeared to be a fascinating homestead and the porcupine on the other box was certainly having a good snuffle.

 I got this feeling of good energy coming from the boxes. Red obviously is the colour of Mars, who gets things done. He is very much the warrior and his day is Tuesday, Whether used for getting things moving or sending things away, his colour is always full red. He is definitely a brave warrior. Green is used on a Friday for money or wealth spells as well as for faery dust and it can be used for love spells too as it corresponds to the heart chakra. Green is also the healing colour of Archangel Raphael.

Red in the aura means anger and brown means that there could be a bit of 'psychic sludge' present and a person may be leaking prana or chi from their auric field.

The Two Pippins were very interested in their photo shoot, but the porcupine distracted them a bit...

Pippin's Doppelganger Through The Looking Glass

Pippin now has a slightly larger Doppelganger or 'double'. Doppelganger Pippin is a slightly more robust version of Original Pippin who is mainly the star of this blog. Doppelganger Pippin has all of Original Pippin's characteristics. Here they are both looking at themselves in two mirrors.

Some believe that if a person stares hard enough in to a mirror then they will see spirits. Actually a mirror can be used as a portal to other worlds. Simply sit with a small light - either a table lamp or candle, behind you, or to one side, so that you can see in the mirror but it is somewhat shaded. Then - in your mind's eye - see yourself going right through the mirror. There should be some kind of guardian on the other side - maybe a Merlin type figure. You may see steps to go down with a doorway leading in to a wood or you may have to follow a pathway which will lead somewhere  - often to a clearing of some kind. You will meet people and animals on the way and when you want to return, just retrace your steps and thank your guardian for their help. Come back through the mirror and see yourself closing a door - this is shutting the portal. A good cup of tea should bring you firmly back to earth!

Porthmeor Beach, St Ives, Cornwall Painting - The Whispering Poppies

I bought this painting of Porthmeor Beach, St Ives, Cornwall from a professional artist who exhibits in a gallery. I do have another St Ives painting in a proper traditional frame, a large one I bought a couple of years ago, but I have never got it out of its packaging because I have no space to put it anywhere in my home at present, so it is wrapped with a number of other paintings I was drawn to at the time.

I am not a big fan of chocolate box art to be honest, though at one time I actually worked in an art museum, but I do like the painting shown here.

Poppies are famous for 'Poppy Day' and sacrifice, but what may not be known is that they are a Christian symbol of fertility, occasionally used in churches, so the painting can be taken either way.

The painting could denote a sacrifice of love, or indeed, the fertility of love and the rather sinister poppies, although very beautiful, may be calling to the couple on the beach, who as shadows, may yet be ghost, despite the footprints in the sand. Do the couple feel all will be 'plain sailing' as on the open sea, where the could as yet still become becalmed like the Ancient Mariner of the story? Or do they expect a rocky and obstacle filled journey? The poppies may well have the answers here.

See also:
Mystical Mardale

Pippin St Ives,The Ginger And Cream Monarch, Takes An Interest In Sven Berlin

Sven Berlin was certainly an eclectic artist and sculptor. The book shown, which he wrote in his twilight years, gives an interesting overview of this abstract man who settled in St Ives, Cornwall shortly before the Second World War. Most individuals who come across Sven Berlin, are interested in his book 'Dark Monarch' which upset a lot of people and was ordered to be destroyed back around 1962, but was in fact, republished in 2009. The St Ives Tate did an exhibition around 2010, based on Dark Monarch, which was well publicised, but I think it took away the mystery of the work.

I have at last come across some brilliant material showing the much darker side of this South West area of Cornwall. I just knew it wasn't all cream teas, seagulls, sand and holiday homes! I have been digging for quite some time now and have begun to get hold of what I was looking for. The 'Monarch' bit reminded me of the Monarch and Bluebird programming undertaken by the CIA in the early 60's. It is really meant to be the area Sven Berlin lived in during his time in Cornwall. The dark underbelly of the picture postcard come to life.

Pippin decided to have a Sven Berlin style portrait done too, incidentally.