Winnowing with Tilly Harris
Stable Woman, Tilly Harris, spends a lot of time on White Owl Island. Here local Barn Owls observe as she practices the old art of winnowing.
As she winnows and sorts the seeds from the husks she hums a song
“Fan on power, fan on influence:
Fan on the paddy bin, fan on the paddy barn
Fan on followers, fan on dependents
Fan on good things, fan on appropriate things”
One of Tilly’s motives is to communicate, with people like me, who bring materials to be sorted, the fertility and power of growth possessed by the seeds. Esthonians accomplished the same object by setting a child in the middle of a plot of ground where a sower was sowing hemp. They left the little one there till the sowing was finished believing that the child would shoot up in stature, like the hemp which has just been sown.
While you are on White Owl Island you can get Tilly to sort the corn from the chaff or the seeds from the husks and have her increase your creative fertility. A conversation with Tilly, after she has winnowed for you may prove very illuminating.
Heather Blakey - April 4 2008
Resource for Verse: The Golden Bough by Frazier Part V Spirits of the Corn and the Wild.
Heather Blakey
Lori
cronelogical
loisdaley
woodnymph
aletta mes
traveller2006
Heather, you have the most amazing way of capturing something in the eyes. Another great image that is soulful and rich. It’s like all of your artistic eyes are strong windows to the soul. Very heart warming!
Your images, Heather, are so real, and getting more so all the time. It’s amazing how your have mastered the art. Tilly is so alive as are the owls.
Vi
Fascinating and wonderful, Heather. Needless to say the owls are expressive and looking intently at what is going on. Love the colours! I agree with Vi, it’s like they are all alive.
What does this mean, please?
“Fan on the paddy bin, fan on the paddy barn”
Your images are so rich and laden with symbolism that one can look at them over and over and see something new each time.
love this picture
Fascinated by the image of a child sitting in the middle of a field as it is being sown. What a wonderful connection to the Earth and its people. And fascinated by Tilly and what she offers.