Seven Cold Days 'til Christmas

 

"Moonlight," 5 x 7 acrylic greeting card

The Mohawks named it the "Cold Moon." 

It's also known as the "long night moon," and is the longest full moon of the year. I don't quite understand the science on that, but as the moon closest to the winter solstice, our shortest day of the year, it appears as a full moon longer.

I woke before this morning with the temperature at 18 degrees,  and it was still there in the western sky, as bright as ever, like it was at its brightest last. night.

Both names are fitting in this season of darkness, in these years of cold darkness of other kinds. 

We need the light more than ever, including the holiday lights adorning buildings and homes, as we approach the darkest day of the year. It's also a beacon for the coming of a  spiritual light, which we observe in seven days. Humans, creation, always seeks light.

In painting also, our eyes always go toward the lightest areas first. Thus this greeting card.