Winter was doing her best to cloak the growing light of the sun. She threw a shroud of freezing mist across the sky, to try to gather away all of the light and the warmth, and she almost succeeded. The sun however was determined, and she shone with all of her might, through the cold winter sky of the mountains. Layers of landscape were whispered, almost forgotten, across winters breath. The golden disc of the small winter sun gleamed white hot in her heart, against the cruel cold grip of the Cailleach Bheur.
Black bare branches rattled like the antlers of the hill. The sun rested a little among the arms of the trees, after all her efforts. She was beginning to weaken and sinking slowly back towards the dark curve of the earth. The power was fading from her fast, and winters cold fingers were closing in, drawing the day to an end.
In one last gasp, the sun drew a line of gold across the face of the loch. She smouldered down into mist and water, as they became one with the light. Day was over, and winter held us all again in her cold frozen spell of night. The Cailleach Bheur it seems is not ready to relinquish her crown just yet.
These images were taken on my iPhone, deep in the heart of the Scottish Highlands around 3:30pm on Saturday afternoon.
The Cailleach Bheur is the goddess of Scotlands winter, and of the earth and stones of her mountains.
See another post about the Cailleach Bheur here.
breathofgreenair 
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this is magical, Seonaid… ♥
Thanks Alexandra, lovely to hear!
Glad you are back, Seonaid! Beautiful captures with iPhone! 🙂
Thanks Amy, its not a bad wee device!!
Gorgeous. I feel every word
Many thanks….lovely feedback💞
Such loveliness here, Seonaid. That first image took my breath
It was a breath taking moment in life too Laura😊
Missed you, Seonaid. 🙂 Nobody tells it quite like you.
Aw..too kind Jo😆💞
Something so peaceful and quiet about this post and the humble light in the photographs, I feel the rejuvenating rest in winters mystical mist and cloak. Beautiful tranquility.
Many thanks Hanne…and yes peaceful and mysterious was the feeling!
Magical light, Seonaid 🙂
Winter is utter magic up here!!
I can see that 🙂
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I gasped when you said 3.30 .. What a magic post, and such glorious words and pictures .. The sun sliding towards the water is lovely ..thank you 😃
Yes Julie, thankfully the sun is stretching out her time to shine each day now, but there are some lovely sights to see in these short winter days! The sun over that loch was breathtaking….I couldn’t quite believe what I was seeing….our natural magic 🙂
Such golden beauty.
The warm gold is beautiful at this time of year Fi
magic!
Nature casting her spell!
What a beautiful post! Hard to believe it’s from iPhone. 🙂 I live all of these captures!
it’s not a bad wee camera, and so handy, but I’m drooling at the thought of what I might have captured on my ‘proper’ camera!
Fabulous and serene winter images. I love bare branches. Beautifully captured.
Thanks Jane, and I love bare branches too….there’s a sort of stripped down honesty about them.
So lovely. These photos remind me how close magic comes to the surface of our consciousness in winter…
That’s so true Rachael, the liminal edges are very close.
Ah Seonaid! that last image especially is very beautiful, especially because it’s so ephemeral. Thank you. x
Many thanks David x
So still and peaceful, I’d like to be there!
It was a very soothing space, almost between worlds and between breaths….I felt I might be dreaming it all, and you would have loved it Gilly x
From the title to the final full stop not a spare word: wonderful imagery and images. Thanks for posting.
My pleasure, and you have made me smile with your generous praise. Many thanks x
Perfect!
Thank you x
Splendid winter mist ! (because the photos are splendid 🙂 )
Thank you Christiane, my little iPhone did a pretty good job….I can only dream of the images I might have caught had I had my proper camera with me!!
This post is brilliant, pleasantly done….The photographs and the writing – you have caught the enchantment of winter…
Very kind, it’s such an entrancing time, with delicious light, and sun sets which are at quite reasonable hours!
This post is golden, nicely done.
Many thanks Maverick!
It looks utterly mystical.
It felt quite mystical Suzanne, almost unreal!
These photos are beautiful.
Thank you Colline….there is something magical about sunlight through mist😊
This is exquisite! The photos and the prose – you have captured the magic of winter.
Many thanks Janet, delighted you felt swept into winters spell😊
Beautifully written.
Where have you’ve been? It’s great to see you around with wonderful sentiments about winter mist.
it’s magical!
That’s the perfect response to the post!! Magical was the feeling up there in the cold mist.
I’ve been very busy moving my whole life north into the Scottish Highlands….new job, new place to live….just a few transitions which have been eating up my time. Have been missing WP though, so its good to be back among old friends 🙂
Looking forward to seeing more of your posts here once time gives us a chance!
I’m looking forward to getting out with my “proper ” camera very soon. There is so much to inspire up here, on the edge of the the mountains and the sea!
Lovely
Thank you John x
Your winter’s shroud seems to keep the earth in mourning with those of us here in the U.S. due to our election. As Emily said, our Pacific Northwest looks similar to your misty and frozen land. Your pictures still depict the beauty of the earth. Thanks!
The Pacific North West seems to have much in common with Scotland, both the people and the landscape. I have been avoiding the news this weekend in an attempt to pretend that nothing has changed….but I fear my strategy has not worked….he is still there.
I imagine after Trump’s games regarding his golf course, there in Scotland, that Trump is as unpopular there as here. Yes, I hope when I wake up each morning, my nightmare will be gone. I KEEP trying!
A golden story with golden photos…lovely.
Many thanks Tina…..it was a very magical journey through the winter mist!
That shows!
Great images, and I loved the story of the Cailleach Bheur
She is quite a character….a very old figure indeed of a primal earth shaper. I have written other posts about her in previous winters….
Incredible feeling in these photos — I see winter mist like this in my native Pacific Northwest, so this feels very much like home to me. Blessings to you, Emily
Many thanks Emily. Winter does have some very pretty and atmospheric faces, where ever she visits!