A special night

"The night has a special magic to it don’t you think? This night especially. Halloween. In the old religion, they call it Samhain. The night when the walls between the worlds grew thin and spirits of the underworld walk the earth. A night of masques and bellfires, where anything is possible and nothing is quite as it" from Masques episode of Beauty and
The Beast, Season 1.

It is a special night indeed. Today I did my daily Tarot card for the day from my beloved Tarot of The Magical Forest. Look, who popped up. My old friend The Magician which I lovingly call the Magi.



What does The Magi say? The Magi says to go out, have fun and see the magical in the mundane. We all have our special brand of magic within. Tonight use a bit of the faerie dust and moonlight that runs through us all.

Whether your taking your children trick or treating, going to a Halloween party, staying in to watch movies or just want to enjoy a Saturday night, remember add a touch of whimsy and sparkle to your night.

If you celebrate the day to honor your ancestors, have fun too. Put on a favorite song your loved one use to listen to or watch their favorite movies. Or light a candle and say a prayer for those who have crossed over.

I'm wishing you all a magical and safe Halloween.

Thank you for all who love Beauty and The Beast as much as I do. Here
is another B&B video in honor of Halloween. It also includes Ron Perlman
reading sonnet 29. Enjoy.

Magical TV Series: Beauty and The Beast

To end my magical movie series, I decided on something different. Today's final offering is the one of the most magical television series ever: Beauty and The Beast (1987-1990).

The story is simple enough: Catherine Chandler (Linda Hamilton),is a rich pretty lawyer, in New York. She works for her father's law firm but doesn't take the job seriously. One night, in a case of mistaken identity she is attacked. Her attackers throw her in the Central Park. There she rescued by a man named Vincent (Ron Perlman)who lives in an underground world beneath the city. As her face heals, the two begin a friendship. When she is finally healed and given a mirror to see herself..she sees her new friend, Vincent. Vincent has the soul of a poet and the face of a lion. He is an extraordinary man.

Catherine is changed deeply from her attack. She accepts Vincent for who he is;
Vincent slowly begins to see the beauty in himself. Thus begins a love story which is filled with great stories and characters from Catherine and Vincent's world for three seasons.

If you have never seen the series, well you are in for a treat. I have to admit the third season is not my favorite. So just a heads up. The first two seasons are perfect to me. If your have been a devoted fan since 1987 like me. Well,
it's like dropping in on old friends and feeling like you never left.

The truth be told the wonderful writing is matched by the beautiful chemistry between Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman. We believe in Catherine and Vincent because these two actors make there them as real as people we know in our own lives.

Here is the opening sequence to the tv series.


In the first season, one of my favorite episodes is called Masques which is a lovely Halloween episode. You can find here

I hope you all enjoyed my magical movies and t.v. tribute for October. If I missed some of your favorites, I'm sure I will get to them next year.

I'll be back tomorrow for more magical treats for Halloween.

Using The Force

This post is inspired by both June's post yesterday and Suzie's posts on mystical subjects she is doing for October. My mom had certain rules she impressed upon me as being most important. One of those rules was to always follow my intuition. It would never lead me astray. She is right. If I felt something off about a person or an event, I tell my mom. She understand and reaffirm what I felt.

So, I grew up using my intuition all the time. This isn't to say I always avoided unpleasant people, experiences or events. There are some things we have to go through to learn. I accept that. I also feel there a lot of things we don't have to endure if we had paid attention to our intuition. To me it is our parting gift from God as we enter the world as babies. A part of the divine that stays with us until we draw our last breath. Everyone has it. Let me repeat this: Everyone has it!

Here are a few examples how it works for me:

Out of the blue, I get a quick flash of a friend/family's face in my mind's eye. In a day or two, I will get a call from her/him or see them in person . If I dream about a person two days in a row, I know I need to call because something is up.

When I talk to people, I get not only what they are talking about but what they are feeling as well. It's like being in a foreign movie: I hear the words and can read the subtitles. This helps me to deal especially with obnoxious,aggressive or pushy people, I know how to dance out any manipulation or guilt trip they throw my way.

If I'm in a rut or need an answer to a particular problem, I always get directed to read a certain book, watch a movie, listen to a song or even looking up at a billboard ad which gives me the right solution for what I'm looking for.

Your intuition talks to you in all five senses: touch, sound, sight, sound, taste.
Here are easy ways to start:

When someone leaves a message on your cell, let yourself imagine what they are going to say before listening to it.

Before meeting someone new for the first time, write down three or four words that pop into your head about them. See how accurate it is after your meeting.

In the morning, ask yourself what is your word for the day. Write it down and see did it come to pass?

Getting dressed in the morning, ask yourself what color will help you most today. Then choose that color and observe how it makes you feel during the day.

Ask yourself, what foods should I eat today for my health? See what you are guided to eat.

Make it a game and have fun. Easy does it is the motto when starting off to use your intuition. As you get more confident, move on the bigger questions. Do it at your own pace. Your intuition is like the wind that blows on a rainy day or the sun that warms your face. It's always there, accessible and natural.


To read more about intuition I check out books by: Dr. Judith Orloff, Sark, Sonia Choquette, Julia Cameron, Lusiah Teish, Iyanla Vanzant and Ellen Dugan. Whether you call it your gut, hunches, gps system, tracking device or as I like to call it using The Force, our intuition is there for us. Whoever you feel has given us this gift, it is a gift to be used for our good and help us as we travel through this adventure we call life.

Magical Movies: The Ghost and Mrs. Muir

Lucy Muir (Gene Tierney) to start a new life as an independent widow moves her daughter, Anna, and her maid, Martha, to lovely house called Gull Cottage by the sea. The hitch is the former owner, Captain Daniel Gregg (Rex Harrison) doesn't want the house occupied. He's not leaving at all even if he died four years ago!

So begins the delightfully romantic The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947). I remember as a kid watching the reruns of the tv series based on the movie. I enjoyed the series, the movie is well so much more.

Gene Tierney is wonderful mix of ethereal and strength as Lucy. You believe she falls in love with Gull Cottage as soon as she sees it. Personally this has to be one of my favorite movie houses in all of cinema. No ghost is going to scare her out of her home, she stands up to the wily Captain Gregg from the first time he appears. Rex Harrison is perfect as the Captain. I know he is best known and loved for playing Professor Higgins in My Fair Lady. This is my favorite role of Rex. He is sexy, swashbuckling and sensitive all in one breath. Watching Gene and Rex spar and then fall for each other is simply lovely.



I can tell you more about the plot. You know by now, I don't like to give it all away. Just watch and you too will wish you had a your own Captain Gregg haunting you.
Though I feel the film is perfect as it is. I can see a remake. The key to a good remake is to find the right Captain Gregg. Denzel Washington or Gerard Butler can play the role easily. Seriously, the last romantic comedy Denzel has done was The Preacher's Wife. He didn't even get the girl in that one! I think Denzel is way over due.

Enough about my remake ideas. As always, here is fan video I found on you tube of the movie.



If you have never seen The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, now is the perfect time. If you have already, it's always nice to visit Lucy and Captain Gregg. They are worth many visits.

PS. Look out for a young Natalie Wood as little Anna.
2nd PS. I do like the name Lucia after seeing the movie again.

Dreamthought #20: Finishing Strong

The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face

Since I was little, I have a habit of falling in love with certain actors. Some are flavors of the year, others have my undying devotion. Is it silly to lose your heart over someone who has been dead long before your born? I don’t know..the heart has her own rules which we must obey.

Elvis Mitchell and Richard Gere was talking about him on TCM. I made a mental note to check a movie he is in. To my good fortune the next week, From Here to Eternity came on. I never saw it before and decided to watch. I always liked Burt Lancaster. I figured for him alone it would be good. Poor Burt got pushed to the side when I saw him: Montgomery Clift.


As soon as he walked on the screen, I was transfixed. He is beautiful to me. It wasn’t just his looks that captured me. There was an energy to him that radiated on the screen. I literary felt his presence reach across time and space to touch me all the way in 2009. By the end of the movie, I had lost my heart.



His birthday was on the 17th which was the day of the blog party. I wanted to at least dedicate a post to him even it’s a few days later. I’m sure he won’t mind.
What is my favorite Monty film so far? Oh, that is hard to pick. From over the half of his movies I have seen, there are scenes and moments which stick into my head. My goal is to finish all his movies this year.

If you have never seen any of his films..well I recommend to start with:
From Here to Eternity
A Place in The Sun
The Heiress

These three are all radically different characters and Monty fully inhabits each one. I finally finished the trilogy of films he made with Elizabeth Taylor: A Place in The Sun, Raintree County and Suddenly, Last Summer. Monty and Liz have to be one of my favorite on screen couples. When they are on screen together, everyone else fades in the background.

Montgomery Clift inspires me with his commitment and passion to acting. Something that can erode as an actor when you are exhausted from auditioning, networking and doing all the business of actor. He reminded me that pouring myself into acting is one of the reason I wanted to be an actor in the first place. I want to burn up the screen like Monty does.



I wish you Happy Birthday Monty. Thank you for all these wonderful movies you have left behind. Thank you for reminding me why I love acting.

PS. Before I go, I want to give out big hugs for all the love for my faerie story on Saturday. Also a big thank you to Anakin who took the pictures of me. Without you, it would never have gotten done. Also to Marcus Patrick for being the gorgeous muse for my Raven. I don't know Marcus personally, if he ever reads this thank you, too.

I know I have posted this before. I can never get tired of this scene. I like to imagine he is saying this to me.

A Faerie story

I am delighted to be part of Vanessa's Halloween Party. For all of you I have
a faerie story to share.

It was the night after Autumn came, my story begins. I sat watching a beautiful
sunset from my window. I heard the calling of a bird. Into my sight flying by my window back and forth: A Raven. Then every night when I was home at sunset. The Raven came. I don't know why but The Raven felt like a He. Some nights he circle my window and other times he would sit on my window sill looking at me. His eyes almost human.




The night of the Full Moon. He came late. I realized I had been looking for
My Raven. For that is what I called him now. When he appeared, I was so happy. How can I be happy to see a bird? I was. I began to talk to my Raven and share with him my feelings and thoughts.



Days later, I woke up with the idea I needed to go to the park. It is All Hallow's eve. I followed my intuition. I dressed carefully and flew out the door to my beloved Pelham Bay Park. There I mourned the my trees which had been friends through the seasons. They had been cut down by storms of wind and snow.



Then I sat on the stump of one of my favorite trees. I felt a strange feeling come over me. Come on, Shell snap out of it, I admonished. I still had a vivid imagination and sometimes I could drop into a reverie very quickly.



I couldn't ignore the stirring to go deeper into the Park. I got up to say one last goodbye to my trees. I went to smell the flowers which had sprung up where the trees had been cut. Reminding me about the circle of life.



I walked deeper in the park. As I did, I felt the sensation that I'm not alone. There are a few people scattered about yet I knew that isn't what I felt. I heard a familiar sound. My heart beat faster. It sounded like My Raven. Raven I called out. Then I looked and saw a most wondrous sight.



The golden and red leaves began to swirl higher and higher. On the top flew My Raven. He went into the leaves. I held my breath. A blur of colors spinned and spinned. Then, a man came walking out of it dressed in gray with the eyes the color of My Raven.



Hello Shell.
Raven I sighed in amazement.
Come, the party is about to begin. I want you to come with me.
But how is this possible?
He walked closer to me.
On this one night, I can be human. I rarely do, I wanted to for you, Shell. Now, let us dance, sing and live.



He took my hand and we ran deeper into the park. The sun had set and the night had fallen upon us. I could hear this song playing as we ran into the crowd of people. The park is thick with people of all colors and shapes dancing. I am sure some of them were not quite Human. Like My Raven. I didn't care. I am with Raven and nothing else matters. We danced, sang, feasted. Raven and I lived.



Suddenly, Raven took my hand again. I noticed the soft blue of the early morning.
My Time is ending, Shell. The sun comes and I must go back to being in my true form.
I don't want you to go.
Raven touched my face tenderly and softly kissed me. He put his arm around me and the world spun around us. I stood back in my apartment. Raven dressed a bit differently stood looking at me.



I must go now.
Will I never see you again?
I came because you needed me. Now, you don't anymore.
That's not true.
I wanted to show you that life can be still beautiful even in the face of grief. Now, you have learned that lesson.
I reached for his hand.
Promise me you'll come back.
If you have need of me, at the next Autumn equinox I will return. Remember, there are those who love you right here and now. Don't forget that. Goodbye, my sweet Shell.



He shifted back to his Raven form and flew out the window. I sat in my chair and looked at the sky as he disappeared into the blue. That is my faerie story. So if you happen to see a Raven, say hello. For it might be My Raven. What a beautiful and magical Raven he is.

Happy Thursday

Happy Thursday. It is a perfectly gray day here in The Bronx. So I am quite happy. I just got in from morning errands; and, have to go out later this afternoon to teach a private acting lesson tonight.

I know I have been doing the magical movies on Friday. Tomorrow's installment is going to be postponed to next week because I have to prepare for the Halloween blog party on the 17th. Also my beloved Montgomery Clift's birthday is on the 17th along with one of my good friends, Lady R. I'll be doing a post for him on Monday or Tuesday.

I know we finally got the rain everyone else has had. If you have been staying indoors, rainy days are a great time to play on your dreams. At least a little bit.

There is still time to join in on the party. So click here for all the details.

I will see you all back here on Saturday.

P.S. Does any else watch Criminal Minds? It's one of my favorites.

Take it Easy

Since being told by many people: I need to slow down and don't do everything all at once. The past couple of weeks I have been following this advice. It has helped me get new ideas, relax deeper and get more sleep.

So, today if you have a long list of to do's, calls and emails you have to make. For one day, let it go. Lounge, loaf, daydream, have a party in bed, watch movies, read a book, listen to music. Take the day off. Yes, I know it's the middle of the week. This makes it more fun!

Make Me Smile Monday

Happy Monday. Things that make me smile:


1) My floors done in my bedroom and living room.
2) President O. receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.
3) Finishing the book: Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin. This book inspired the President in picking his cabinet.
4) Reading Zora Neale Hurston's autobiography Dust Tracks on a Road.
5) My new boot slippers from Old Navy in pink and read.
6) Finally able to send pictures from my cell to my e-mail.
7) Getting ready for The Halloween blog party on the 17th.
8) My brand new Victoria Magazine waiting for me to read.
9) Discovering Nutella.

What is making you smile today?

Magical Movies: Portrait of Jennie

I'm continuing my every Friday in October celebration of magical movies with Portrait of Jennie.

I have to share back story with you. Long before I fell for Montgomery Clift, my heart belonged to Joseph Cotten. I still adore him, whenever they show one of his movies I am compelled to watch. I especially loved when Joseph was teamed with Jennifer Jones. They did four movies together: Duel in the Sun, Since You Went Away, Love Letters and my personal favorite, Portrait of Jennie.

Portrait of Jennie (1948) stars Joseph Cotten as frustrated artist Eben Adams. On one magical night he meets a lonely girl named Jennie Appleton played by Jennifer Jones. I could tell you more, that would spoil all the delights that are in this movie. Suffice to say, their love for each other inspires art, courage and bending time itself. Does it all sound grand? It is. Ethel Barrymore (Drew's great-aunt) plays the gruff Spinney who encourages Eben's paintings is wonderful as well.

If you have never seen this before, your in luck: it's on DVD! I do have to get my own copy. I should add it is filmed beautifully in black and white with Debussy's music beautifully highlighted in the film.

For me, Portrait of Jennie is on my personal short list of films that I feel should not be redone. Before I go, I want to thank you all for sharing your words of wisdom and thoughts on dealing with grief. It gave me great comfort.

Here is a few clips of the movie. Enjoy and Happy Friday.

Butterflies of change

As some of you know, I loss one of my closest friend, Sean, in early January. When I hit the sixth month mark in July it was quite painful. It truly sank in that he is gone. No more phone calls, letters or trips to Canada.

Since August, I have been redoing my home. It has spilled into other areas of my life. I want to throw out clothes, furniture, shoes. I want to change everything. I know this urge to change is part of my healing over his death. I know everyone's journey with grief is different. I wanted to ask did anyone experience this too? Or is this is my own reaction. If it is, that is fine, just curious.

If you wish to share your thoughts and don't want to leave it in the comments, you can e-mail me at Jettswan@gmail.com as well.

Dancing wih the Harvest Moon

Last night, I woke up to see the Moon shining brightly through my window around five am. The sky still dark and misty from the rain. She glowed above the mist. If only my digital camera didn't need batteries. I realize some moments to be savored when they happen. So I savored my moment with Lady Luna.

Tonight is the Harvest Moon. This full moon is under the sign of Aries. So if your an Aries or have the moon in Aries, as I do. Well this is your moon. The Harvest moon always appears bigger than all the other moons. As always if you can't play with her tonight, her magic lingers for another day. So there's always Monday which is perfect. Because Monday gets it's name from her being Moon day.

This is one of my favorite songs from of my favorite singers: Cassandra Wilson. This is her rendition of Harvest Moon originally done by Neil Young.

I invite you to dance, play, laugh, think, write, cuddle, party, dream under the Harvest Moon.

Magical Movies: The Enchanted Cottage

I thought I do something different for Fridays in October. I'm going to share movies I love which are romantic and have a touch of magic in them which is perfect for this time of year.

The Enchanted Cottage from 1945. I talked about it here. It stars Dorothy McGuire and Robert Young as two lonely people who are transformed by love. This to me is another classic movie which can be remade and cast with actors of all races. (I have a running list of movies I love to be remade properly and with respect to the original film.) The underlining theme of the effects of war is just as strong as it was in 1945 as it now is 2009.

Turner Classic Movies plays it from time to time. Hopefully someone will get a clue and put it out on DVD. For all my fellow Romantics out there, this is one not to miss.

Here is the trailer for it.




PS. This film is a remake of the original silent version. Which I have never seen but I love to watch.

Happy October

Happy October everyone. Here is another scan from my beloved Richard Scarry book. The time of sweaters, rich hot cocoa, sunsets before six, a bit of magic, apples and rich colors blooming everywhere. What delights will October bring? I'm looking forward to delights expected and unexpected this month.