Poster, Color: Goddess Ostara (11x14)
by Mickie Mueller

The Goddess Ostara’s (Eostre’s) celebration day can vary from the spring equinox (circa March 21) to the first full moon after the equinox. She is the Anglo-Saxon / Germanic Goddess of new beginnings, fertility, hope and renewal. It is a time of balance between day and night. Her symbols include the hare, colored eggs, and spring flowers. In older times celebrants wore brand new clothing to celebrate her festival. Does this all sound familiar? It should – the symbolism and even the name of Ostara’s / Eostre’s festival was adopted by the Christian celebration of Easter, which also celebrates renewal and rebirth. One should note that the holiday of Easter moves every year. It always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox. Ostara is an interesting Goddess because she is considered a Maiden Goddess, but instead of a new crescent, she uses full moon energy. This makes sense if we consider that she is the Goddess who fires up all the growth in the Spring. Physics teaches us that an object at rest, tends to stay at rest, it takes more energy to begin momentum than continue it. Consider the seed sleeping beneath the earth or the bud tightly wrapped on a tree branch. It’s like when the alarm goes off while you are snug under your blankets; the hardest part is just getting up and moving, and it takes a lot of energy to get started. That may explain a Maiden with full moon energy. This dynamic Lady of Spring has also had the female hormone Estrogen named after her. Bursting full of the power of femininity as well as regeneration, she takes the relay of life firmly in hand as the Crone has passed it to her from the Underworld. As we note the sprouts, buds and blossoms bursting forth from the deep dark earth, take a moment to thank Ostara. 11"x17" acrylic and Berol Prismacolor Pencils on Illustration board.

Poster, Color: Lugh of the Long Arm (11x14)
by Mickie Mueller

Lugh or LLew (pronounced Loo) means "light" or "shining" and although believed to be considered a deity of the sun by the ancient civilizations of the Celts, the Roman invaders associated him with their God Mercury due to his many skills. He is known as Lugh of the Long Arm, as he is the guardian of the magical spear of Gorias. Another of his magical weapons is the sling, which he used to kill his terrible adversary Balor by using the sling to drive Balor’s evil staring eye backwards in his skull, so that it stared down it’s baneful magic upon Balor’s own armies. Lugh is also known as Llew Llaw Gyffes, "bright one of skillful hand", and his ancient festival day – Lughnasadh, circa August 1 – was usually associated with the bountiful harvest of wheat, sports and games of skill. In one legend, he was refused entry to the city of Tara, as he was told that only someone who had skills that no one in the city possessed could gain entry. He challenged the keepers of the city with his many talents, wheelwright, metalworker, warrior, bard, magician, doctor, cupbearer, and more. He was told that all those skills were met by individual people within the city. He then asked if any one man possessed all of those skills, to which the reply was "No." This was how Lugh gained entrance to the city of Tara and came to serve as steward to King Nuada, and ruled after Nuada lost his hand in battle. In a story from the Mabinogion, Llew had a spell placed upon him by his mother Arianrhod: that he could not have a wife of the human race. Great magicians Gwydion, his uncle, and Math magically made him a wife of flowers – Blodeuwedd, which means flower face. While Llew was away, she had fallen in love with another man. She then tricked Llew into showing her the only method by which he could be killed. She later had her lover Gronw Pebyr attack him in the manner described. According to legend, the spear only wounded Llew, who turned into an Eagle and soared away. Gwydion found Llew and changed him back, and he also transformed Blodeuwedd into an owl to live out her remaining days. Llew killed Gronw Pebyr upon the same spot where he had fallen. With Llew now healed and restored, the land grew bountiful again and prospered. 11"x17" acrylic and Berol Prismacolor Pencils on Illustration board.

Poster, Color: Maiden Huntress (11x17)
by Mickie Mueller

She is known as Artemis to the Greeks, and is closely identified with the Roman Dianna; she is the Maiden Huntress. She is a Goddess with swiftness and grace and a force to be reckoned with. She hunts the woods and mountain regions, accompanied by one of her fine hunting dogs – the ancient hounds that are sacred to her. Other animals sacred to the huntress are the stag and the owl. The Maiden Huntress should be approached with the utmost respect, as she is not pleased with unwanted intrusions, or with any harm to her sacred animals. She guards her virtue fiercely; ask her for assistance if you wish to stave off unwanted advances. She is seen here clothed in a silvery tunic and her athletic build stands against the darkening sky of the early evening. The waxing crescent moon is her symbol. That very thin crescent that you see in early evening that looks like the Cheshire Cat’s grin is sometimes known as "Diana’s` Bow". She has left her hair free and blowing in the evening to represent her free spirit and untamed nature. At the first sighting of the thin sliver of the moon in the west, blow her a kiss three times, then donate silver money in her name, and she will grant you abundance in return. 11"x17" acrylic and Berol Prismacolor Pencils on Illustration board.

Poster, Color: Moon Goddess (11x17)
by Mickie Mueller

"The moon has been represented as feminine in spirit by many world cultures. She is the cool shining counterpart to the fiery masculine sun. She is often associated with healing and rebirth due to the ever-changing cycles of the silvery orb. She is also associated with love, childbirth, prophesy, and magic. Wiccans and other modern earth nature-oriented religions regard the moon as a source of power to effect positive change and inspiration. The moon affects the tides, and as we are mostly water many believe she effects our emotions and energy with her magnetic pull. Just ask any police officer or emergency room worker, or anyone who works with the public, they will tell you that you can always tell when it’s a full moon. This piece is the oldest of all that appear on this site. I was pursuing different avenues with my art when the inspiration came to me for the `Moon Goddess`. It was a real effort at the time to make time to create something that was just for me. After many years I gradually dedicated my art to my spiritual visions and have found myself happier in my artistic pursuits than I have ever been before. Looking back at this piece, I feel that the Goddess blessed me with the peace that I have found creating the art in these galleries. I fondly remember as a child how the Lady Moon seemed to follow me everywhere I went, as if watching over me. She still does." 11"x17" acrylic and Berol Prismacolor Pencils on Illustration board.

Poster, Color: Mother & Child of the Fae (11x14)
by Mickie Mueller

She nurtures her small infant in her arms beneath the protection of a willow tree. A new member of the Fey race, born in the Spring, will grow with love and be taught the ways of nature and the magick that is used by The Good People to make all things live and grow. In the faerie mother is seen the strength of love a mother has for her child, and wisdom held within to be imparted to the young and passed on to future generations. Protection, nurturing, and patience are the blessings a mother bestows upon her young. In the faerie child lives infinite potential and possibilities, everything new and fresh, and the beginning of the paths of life. Everything is new through the eyes of a child. This was created for my own mother who taught me many things, and several other mothers in my life for Mothers Day 2005. As a mother myself, I always appreciate a gift made from the heart. This work would be equally well received as a gift to any mother as well as a gift to hang in a child’s room or nursery. It would also be a great meditation focus for healing your inner child. 11"x17" acrylic and Berol Prismacolor Pencils on Illustration board.

Poster, Color: Thin Veil (11x17)
by Mickie Mueller

Many people believe that things that remain unknown to us in our everyday lives can be accessed through the methods of divination. These unseen events do exist, and you only need a way to tap into the world that is beyond the veil that separates our existence from the next. Almost everyone has at one time or another known who was on the other end of the ringing phone (without looking at caller ID), or had a "feeling" about driving a different way than usual only later to discover that you avoided an accident on your normal route. How many times have you said before, "I knew it, I just knew it!" without any physical or practical way of having such knowledge – just intuition? Everyone can use these extra senses; you just have to be open to them. Some people control these senses by methods of divination. The woman is dressed in a green robe, symbolic of this world and surrounded by purple, symbolic of the next. Her divination tools are spread out before her: crystal ball, runes, tarot cards, and a pendulum. A stone goblet of water is symbolic of the Goddess’ association with intuition. Incense smoke drifts from a tiny cauldron and a candle nestled in an amethyst cluster adds to the vibrations that are just right for divination. She also wears an amethyst ring that helps her attune with the next world. This piece was created for the fourth issue of the U.K.’s Witchcraft and Wicca magazine cover. It was a Samhain issue (pronounced Sow-wen), also known as Halloween. This is the time when the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest, and communication is easiest. Faerie magician Gia modeled for this one, a dear friend from my days with Clan of the North Star. 11"x17" acrylic and Berol Prismacolor Pencils on Illustration board.

Poster, Color: Violet Faerie (11x17)
by Mickie Mueller

The Violet Faerie can be found hovering above the grass or in shady groves where violets bloom in the Spring. She is the guardian of the violet flowers and carries within her essence the magical energies and spiritual vibrations that the tiny purple flowers have. If you ask her permission before you gather the first violet you see in the Spring, she may grant you a wish. Be sure to thank her if your wish is granted by leaving a new penny for the violet plant, or better yet, a small fertilizer spike. If you can coax her to appear to you she may be useful in healing a headache or dizziness. If you are feeling temperamental and having trouble sleeping, meditate upon the Violet Faerie and she will soothe your mind and bless you with sweet dreams. Her delicate wings spread out behind her as she slowly moves her wand through the softly scented air. The crystal tip glows slightly within the crescent moon wand that mirrors the violets’ association with lunar aspects and water. She waits tentatively to see if you will speak with her, or if you will move too quickly and never get the chance. My charming teenage friend Erin was the model for this piece – very much a young fey herself. The wand looks very much like her own, which is made of copper and crystal. You can also see this young high school athlete lending her likeness to The Maiden Huntress. 11"x17" acrylic and Berol Prismacolor Pencils on Illustration board.

Poster, Color: Waning Moon Woman (11x17)
by Mickie Mueller

This is an interpretation of the Crone – one aspect of the Triple Goddess. I chose to portray her as a Native American woman, growing up in New Mexico. I always thought the Navaho women of age with their long silver hair and lines of experience must have some great secrets and wisdom behind their knowing eyes. My wonderful friend, an Elder in a tribe in Wisconsin, advised me on some aspects of this piece, as well as a crash course on the medicine wheel (just the smallest tip of the iceberg). In the basket before her are herbs, including Chicory and Sweet grass, a smudge stick for cleansing, corn representing nourishment, a gourd bowl filled with water representing the cauldron of rebirth, and a tortoise rattle. The two arrows in her hand are a version of the two spears associated with her Celtic Crone sister, as is the cauldron. Her prayer shawl is the deep blue night, alive with stars, crescents, and spirals of rebirth. She draws down power from the waning moon; mysteries, magick and wisdom are hers. A crow, her totem animal, soars through the dark of the waning moon. She reminds us of all things great that come with age, and the wise women we can learn from and must show respect to, for they hold the whisperings of our ancestors. 11"x17" acrylic and Berol Prismacolor Pencils on Illustration board.

Poster: Wheel of the Year

"The Wheel of the year constantly turns with the waxing and waning of the seasons. The sabbats of the olde paths are based on the cycles of the earth, with no beginning and never ending. They are celebrated with the knowledge that each part of the cycle relies upon the others in order for the wheel to keep turning and life to thrive and prosper" Wheel of the Year lightweight parchment poster. Approx 8-1/2" x 11".

AG-EPWHE

Hair Stick: Abalone

Crowned at the top with a garlanded pewter and abalone disk, these 7-1/2" wooden hair sticks attract attention while keeping your hair perfectly in place. Sold singly.