JULTANKAR / CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS

This time I only write in english - I guess you all understand that ----

It's day before christmas eve - or to be honest it slowly are becoming evening. The dark winter night is slowly winning over the very sunny day we had today. I guess it's a bit lighter today, yesterday it turned . We are going towards lighter days and shorter nights. I'm not sure if it's recognizable yet, a few minutes perhaps, but mentaly it means a lot for us northern people, just the knowledge that we have passed the darkest day and are now getting closer to the light summer nights. Well it is still some months left for that, but yet .... we have started the journey towards the light. The masks will be part of that journey to , the journey towards the light, as well as being part of next falls darkening days into winter. The masks will make four seasons , the same as a year is part of. They will be working with artists in winter, spring, summer and fall..... sounds like a tune I know * smile* .  

I took a walk today in the forrest, to relax and get the mind into christmas mind. I strongly believe that christmas is a very, very good holiday. It's a time for rest and peaceful thinking. I guess it somehow becomes more and more important as life tends to become more and mo

re stressful. So many people I've been talking to this winter have said the same thing: -This fall has been the most stressful ever! Wonder why ? What has been hiiden in this fall that has made more people than ever so stressed ? So now it's christmas and time to leave all stress for a few days.  And having tricks not to get caught by the commersial stress around you is necessary . Like having "Ave Maria" with Barbara Hendricks sounding in you car in the middle of the traffic jam. Or as I did today - take that walk in the sun, sit for 10 minutes and just let everything go. Feeling the sun warm your face, feeling the smell from the wet wood, still wet after the last day of rain. 

I once discovered my need to use my hands. It's many years ago , I had broken up with my fiancé at that time; moved to the city, worked as a teacher in junior high , living in a terrible suburb----- and I hated it all !  I gained 20 pounds of weight in a year and felt misserable. Than one day in spring I walked out into the woods ..... and felt the smell from the trees, felt the early spring sun. Suddenly I touched the bark of a tree.... it felt very special.  As I was walking around

 touching trees and rocks I felt an ease come to me. It was like life started to sprout,  as so many things do in the springtime. There was something special with touching.... the sence to come close and feel the rough bark under my hands or the smooth rocks. I guess this is an important part of why I need to make things with my hands. The sence of touching is very strong and needs to be fed regularly. 

So - if I get so strong feeling from touching wood - I hope some of the same sence were returned back into the wood while I was making these two masks. Something for anyone to be inspired by in any way they like. 

A GREAT MERRY CHRISTMAS ------- soon the journey starts ---the journey of two mas

ks that will bring us into spring and summer, and another fall and winter !

Thank you all for being part of this project with your thoughts and comments. 

Torbjörn