"Feel us now we are the stars, feel us now we are the sea, feel us now as the magic flowing within your heart" (Wendy Rule)
"Mi principio y mi final se encuentran trazados en la corteza de tu piel"
"La calidez del Astro Rey juega en nuestra piel, reviviendo cada poro y llenándolo de vida."
"Respondo a tu llamado, oh amada Madre Tierra y vuelvo a nacer desde tus entrañas. Soy creación de tu amor inocente."
"Fue en los últimos días de Enero, la nieve aún descansaba sobre la tierra, los árboles seguían cubiertos de mantos inmaculados. El canto del Ruiseñor fue lo que resonó en el perfecto silencio de su sueño. Pequeña y frágil como una semilla, se levantó buscando el respiro de la nueva estación, de lo que sería su nueva vida."
"I bare myself before you, because there is no hiding in your Love."
"I had to return to the cave of sorrows, bury my body in the nurturing soil of your womb. Sleep; die. Like a seed, I awaken, I grow every second in all ways and forms. I can leave the dark cave, never forgetting its darkness, but I leave it willingly. I emerge as a free, wild bird, as the wind, as part of everything. I am everywhere and nowhere."
Photography, concept, makeup and words: Bárbara Badillo
Photography and model: Nuria M. Díaz
Photography and model: Gabriela Cárdenas Editing: Alenadrina Badillo
Let's celebrate the eighth season of the year, the arrival of the dark, cold winter; Yule.
"We walk through the forest unseen, like the whisper of leaves and the sorrow of trees."
"Papa Winter is yet to come, stillness and slumber entwine all around his children... "
"Tesoros mágicos puedes encontrar, sólo abre tu corazón y ahí estarán"
"The beloved Father Sun has gone to sleep, let us wait patiently for his warm return. In this Winter's Solstice be with the ones you love, keep your spirit high and your heart strong."
"We come luminous and bright, dancing with the light of Father Sun"
"In winter we return to the soil where we were born, we sleep soundlessly waiting to be reborn."
"The beloved Father Sun has gone to sleep, let us wait patiently for his warm return. In this Winter's Solstice be with the ones you love, keep your spirit high and your heart strong."
"Con los primeros rayos cálidos de tu amor despierto, tu amor abrazador toca mi piel y cada poro reacciona. Soy la pequeña semilla que ha dormido durante el oscuro invierno, soñando germinar de nuevo. Tuve que dejar morir todo lo que ya no me pertenecía, tuve que dejarme morir dolorosamente. Estuve dormido en el silencio, descansando, retomando la fuerza necesaria para revivir con tu fuego sagrado. Hoy me despierto y escucho tu canto, es momento de levantarse de nuevo; empezar a vivir. Hoy renazco amando tanto a la luz como a la oscuridad, en el balance que designa la naturaleza, en mi propia armonía. Vuelvo a nacer contigo en un ciclo de sabiduría ancestral y eterna."
"Yuletide Season" is inspired in the hope of the rebirth of the Father Sun. In winter all creatures sleep, hide or die, but it is only the temporary death of the wise Mother. Nature always knows that hibernation is the previous step to be born again, stonger and wiser. As creatures of nature we too have to die to be reborn as higher beings.
I hope this long cold winter gives you the necessary time to be with yourself and meditate about who you really are or want to become.
Photography, concept, makeup and words: Bárbara Badillo
Once upon an ancient dark time, there lived for many a thousand years, a beautiful Vampire Queen named, Carmilla.
This lonely and misunderstood being had the most melancholic beauty, serpent form magnetism and dreamy voice. Though she seemed a maiden made of pure moonlight she also was a ferocious and hot-blood craving creature.
Her kingdom was long gone, her ancestors had ruled the shadows for many centuries, but the growing of christianity made the hunters thirst for dark demon's heads, and so, all her relatives and allies were slain mercilessly.
With everything gone from her aristocratic life, she survived many years hiding in her castle of cold wet stone and sad memories.
A century of numbing loneliness passed, hiding of the fiery loving sun, roaming in the enchanted vast forest, speaking with other solitary children of the night... sometimes sharing a bloody meal in a wild animal feast. Living a life of a sorrowful shadow.
Although Carmilla the vampire had never been married, her passionate yet unknowing heart wanted to feel the warmth of true love. Something in her dreams told her that she needed not to be so alone.
One night, while the twilight still lingered, she realized that she wasn't dead as all her kin, she wasn't a cold dry corpse rooting in oblivion, she was a living creature thirsty for life and hungry for love.
If a prayer can be answered for a Vampire, her benevolent father, the night, gave her an answer...
***
In a chilly afternoon, while the the trees sang with the November wind, a lovely sweet maiden decided to wander in the forest near Carmilla's ghost Kingdom. This kind soul wanted to collect some specific herbs and berries that only grew near the gates of the abandoned castle. She never imagined what things could lurk in those realms.
The delicious nectar of Laura's natural smell was the first thing the vampire sensed. Carmilla followed the trace as a hungry wolf follows its pray. As she searched for the owner of that compelling aroma, her beastly instinct awaken in a different kind of way.
Finally she saw her victim's silhouette between the bushes, her eyes darkened, black abysses, her sharp fangs and nails prepared to cut the flesh, her body trembled with hunger... she stepped out of the shadows and presented herself to her prey; for love is life.
At the very moment Carmilla saw those big innocent eyes, her heart filled with warm love. To see Laura's face was to see the beauty of dawn, the color of roses, the breath of pure Love.
Laura was astonished by the dreary exquisiteness of Carmilla's presence, but the most compelling thing of all, and the thing that moved her sweet kind heart was the melancholy that reigned in the Vampire's eyes. Those fierce yet sad eyes, made Laura wanted to hold that raven maiden and never let her suffer again; for love is life.
Carmilla the Vampire Queen, now felt a different kind of hunger, yes, she wanted to consume that beautiful girl, but not in the flesh-eating blood-drinking manner, no, her heart felt a very inusual craving. She realized she loved and wanted that pretty day-walking creature, she hoped for love, for a life where loneliness existed no more. She wanted love, so she decided to embrace it.
"I have been in love with no one, and never shall," she whispered, "unless it should be with
you." How beautiful she looked in the moonlight!
-"Carmilla", Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu,1871
The lonely vampire approached Laura cautiously, with her serpent-like movements, the sweet girl felt as if she could breathe for the first time, she wasn't afraid of the maiden with ebony hair, she wanted to be with her, even though her christian beliefs told her not to.
Laura was too a child of nature, and all laws in nature are merciful with one another. Her will was to accept the life that Carmilla offered, accept her love, her body and her red kiss.
With gloating eyes she drew me to her, and her hot lips traveled along my cheek in kissess;
and she would whisper, almost in sobs,"You are mine, you shall be mine, you and I are one forever"
-"Carmilla", Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, 1871
In the middle of the placid night, with the bright and pale Goddess shining in her perfect circumference, under the gaze of the beloved stars, Laura gave herself willingly to the vampire, not as a victim but as a fellow equal. Carmilla accepted her in such love that her heart burned as the sun, tears of pure devotion ran through her face and entwined with Laura's warm blood. Both creatures accepted each other and promised to care for one another for all eternity.
After a while they left that forsaken place of ghosts and desolation. They started a new kingdom of their own, living their partnership at its fullest, melting in the peaceful shadows of the night realm; for love is life.
The End
"The children of the night... what music they make." -Dracula, Bram Stoker, 1987
CAST AND CREDITS
"Carmilla's Longing" Picture Story is inspired in the characters of the gothic novel by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu "Carmilla" (1871-2)
The novel "Carmilla" was one of the early works of vampire fiction, previous than Bram Stoker's "Dracula". This work shaped many other vampire stories of those times, giving the seductive personality to the female vampire we all identify nowadays.
I personaly fell in love with the main character when I first read it, back in my teens. The way Laura describes Carmilla moved me dearly, that is what I wanted to express in the photos, only that here in my story, both of them have the happy ending they wanted. I've always been fond of vampire romance so I really hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
Photography Concept, Makeup, Written Story and "Vampire Queen Carmilla" Character: Bárbara Badillo
Photography, Editing and "Laura" Character: Nuria Díaz
The power of feminity is all around us and within us, from the seed of a flower to waves of the ocean. In every tear you cry, pure sacred life awaits...
"Be who you are meant to be, not more, not less."
"You are a magickal being; embrace it."
"Warrior, priestess, witch, alchemist, sorceress, maiden, mother, crone and queen."
"Let me follow the path where darkness and light dance in balance."
"I've awaken with the first call of Imbolc."
"A witch's strength and magick comes from her luxurious hair."
"Mother, I am made as your body, spirit, heart and soul."
"I am Love because I am made of your Love."
May the love, power, courage, light and darkness of the Goddess inspire your personal path to eternal wisdom and perfect balance.
En estas fechas invernales, es más que común encontrarse adornando pinos y otras coníferas con el propósito de la celebración navideña, las personas gastamos grandes cantidades de dinero adquiriendo los mejores ejemplares, luces y decoraciones. Disfrutamos de la compañía de nuestros seres amados alrededor de este especial árbol, que así como si nada, introduce un sentido de bienestar en cualquier cuarto donde se encuentre.
¿Alguna vez te has preguntado el por qué del árbol de Navidad? ¿Por qué sentimos que la Navidad está completa con su presencia?
La respuesta está dentro de lo que significa el árbol navideño y de como ha estado dentro de las festividades invernales desde las primeras civilizaciones.
Para esto, traten de imaginarse en una época donde sus vida se encontraban a merced de los fenómenos naturales, imaginen la llegada de un invierno largo, frío y oscuro. Traten de situarse en esa época donde el sol casi no duraba en el transcurso del día, las plantaciones se encontraban secas, los animales dormidos en sus cuevas y madrigueras. ¿Distinto no? Ahora si, viene la explicación...
Desde el comienzo de la civilización, ha habido una época del año donde el ambiente se vuelve frío y un poco inhóspito, las cosechas han sido recolectadas, las flores y plantaciones se secan o mueren, y las criaturas se dedican a esconderse o dormir en sus hogares. El mismo ambiente designa que es momento de oscuridad, de sueño, de muerte y reflexión.
En estas culturas paganas (culturas que adoraban a la naturaleza y sus espíritus) se celebraba la llegada del Solsticio Invernal que normalmente marcaba la llegada del invierno, (los días varían dependiendo en qué hemisferio del mundo te localices) donde como ya mencioné la mayoría de las criaturas y vegetación duermen o mueren; la mayoría más no toda.
Las personas se dieron cuenta que varios tipos de coníferas y palmas no morían con la llegada de dicha estación, algunas incluso se volvían más fuertes y verdes. Esto definitivamente era un símbolo de esperanza y alegría, ya que estas plantas sobrevivían la larga oscuridad, devolviendo un poco de color a las familias de antaño.
Desde la antigua Sumeria, pasando por Egipto, los Celtas, Vikingos hasta culturas de Mesoamérica, encontraron en los árboles un símbolo de vida, de supervivencia, de esperanza y luz.
Hay datos antiguos que platican como los pueblos llenaban sus casas de estos árboles y arbustos para tener la certeza de que la vida triunfa después de la muerte. Más delante empezaron a representar la luz de las estrellas del cielo en el árbol, agregándole velas y otras ornamentas.
La representación del árbol fue variando a través de los años y se fue moldeando de acuerdo a la cultura y tradiciones. El árbol navideño que conocemos hoy en día proviene de la antigua Germania, ese árbol lindo lleno de caramelos, juguetes, cristales, luces y la hermosa estrella que es la luz que uno lleva consigo mismo y jamás se extingue.
Ahora cuando piensen que el árbol navideño no tiene que ver con su cultura, religión o sistema de creencias, sólo recuerden que estos árboles fueron venerados por su supervivencia, por la vida que derrochaban incluso en las estaciones difíciles, por la esperanza de que a pesar de que todo esté oscuro y la muerte se encuentre en el ambiente, la vida siempre triunfará, ya que la naturaleza misma así lo designa.
Les deseo una Navidad y fiestas invernales llenas de luz, paz y mucha reflexión.
