Goblin Gloaming

"Goblin Gloaming" by Erika Flynn, 2014

Blue gloaming pushes at the yellow light melting in from the next room. Fall brings a chill when the sharpest colds are still distant enough to feel romantic.
Red silk Wren turtleneck.

Ama 海女

Photograph by Fosco Maraini (via)

Photograph by Eishin Osaki (via)

Photograph by Yoshiyuki Iwase (via)

The ideas and fishing practices of the Ama pearl divers are so different from the ones used in the community where I live. These ladies are so legendary to me. They have such a strong faith in nature and the ocean. The picture above gives me a great feeling of summer and what is like to be a human.

"Ama – The Pearl Diving Mermaids of Japan"

One of the lesser-known but fascinating parts of Japanese culture is that of the Ama pearl divers. Ama (海女 in Japanese), literally means ‘woman of the sea’ and is recorded as early as 750 in the oldest Japanese anthology of poetry, the Man’yoshu. These women specialised in freediving some 30 feet down into cold water wearing nothing more than a loincloth. Utilising special techniques to hold their breath for up to 2 minutes at a time, they would work for up to 4 hours a day in order to gather abalone, seaweed and other shellfish. ...

- Michael Gakuran (via)

This is an awesome short documentary on the Ama and features a great interview with a real live woman of the sea!


I highly recommend checking out this article ("Ama – The Pearl Diving Mermaids of Japan") by Michael Gakuran if you'd like to learn more!

Gouro Zaouli Dance

As far as seduction dances go, I say this is a pret-ty good one. 

Onfim

"This is my Dad! He is a warrior. When I

grow up, I want to be a warrior just like him!" 

This is a little birchbark drawing by a boy named Onfim. He lived in Novgorod, Russia sometime during the 11th - 15th century. I wish my dad had rakes for hands. For more on Onfim and his drawings check The Art of Onfim.