Dolphins and their mystical importance

			DOLPHINS AND THEIR MYSTICAL IMPORTANCE               …these references seem to point to a deeper association with the processes of life, death and rebirth, perhaps linked to the dolphin’s ability to pass between the air-breathing, living world of humans and the suffocating, terrifying world beneath the waves, which for the Greek sailors could easily be identified with the kingdom of the dead…     Dolphins teache us that when we live in tune with the patterns and rhythm of nature, we learn how to truly be in touch with, resonate and communicate with All That IS and how to share this sagacity with anyone interested. There are those that believe Dolphins are more intelligent than humans. Especially when it comes to love. They have large brains, superior intelligence and are often associated in mythical lore with higher forms of consciousness. Some believe they are far more evolved than we are, especially on a spiritual level.Dolphins are connected with the power of breath and with emotional release, which are also both deeply connected. One of the most important factors in spiritual growth is to give ourselves the freedom of full experiencing our feelings and emotions. Often negative emotions are suppressed as we don’t want to be a part of them, so we try to stay apart from them. Some of these emotions are,  sadness, pain, anger, grief — we need to stop doing this, as this only lays the foundation for disagreeable outcomes. We need to feel our feelings, by suppressing these feelings, of course they DO NOT go away. They are still there, subconsciously, manifesting blocked energy with-in, and if these blocks aren’t removed, this can go on to physical imbalances, with-out. On top of this, by blocking these so called negative feelings, this can result in losing the quality of being able to feel at all, losing much of life’s joy. Becoming dead to the world. Simply stated breathing is conversing with the outside world. When people feel that the outside world is a source of pain, they learn, very frequently at a young age, to constrict their breathing. The diaphragm is built to assist us in breathing and to feel deeply, but it becomes suppressed. When we learn to breathe deeply we can learn to feel deeply, in turn letting go of stifled feelings. One way of doing this is to copy the dolphins pattern of breathing, a superb tension reliever!. Dolphisn breathe deeply, hold their breath underwater, then breathe out forcefully. Living in water is an important characteristic of Dolphins, as in many belief systems, including astrology, water is related to feeling and emotion. If a dolphin swims into your life, he/she is asking you to relish water both physically and mentally, swimming freely and going along with your natural feelings. He/she is showing you how to enter the waters of life and then with breath and sound call forth what you most need or desire. Dolphins use a variety of whistles, grunts, clicks, and body postures to communicate. They have unique, personal whistles they give out. If they want to get the attention of another Dolphin, they give out their personal whistle. Sound is the creative life force and a big part of dolphins life, therefore this needs to be a part of your life. Communicate. With those around you and All That Is. Creating inner sounds creates outer manifestations. If a Dolphin is your power animal, you may do well using your voice for healing or communicating, whether incorporating this into a job or just as a hobby or in day to day life with those nearest and dearest to you. Dolphins have a wise, innocent, purity of being which reaches out to our inner nature. Follow their lead and open yourself to the energy of love, harmony and balance. Express your inner truth, be true to yourself. follow your inner joy. Dolphin is asking you to go back to your roots, to the depths of your being and rediscover the Love that you truly are. Dolphins spend most of their day playing. Their life is lived in joyful harmony with each other and their world. Apparently they have learned the lesson that love is the most important factor in life. If dolphin is your power animal he may be there to teach you how to love yourself and your world more. A big part of Dolphins medicine is living in balanced, harmonious communities. They live in big groups of up to 100. Females will give birth to a single offspring, with several dolphins around her, helping with the birth, pulling the newborn out by its tail. They then protect him or her from any imminent danger. If a dolphin is hurt or ill, other dolphins will tend to them, lifting them to the surface to breathe. Dolphins mystical symbolism includes: knowledge of the sea, change, patron of sailors, harmony, wisdom, balance, communication skills, freedom, trust, understanding the power of rhythm in your life, use of breath to release intense emotions, water element magic, unselfishness. Dolphin reminds us to get out, play and most importantly, to breathe. DOLPHINS IN ANCIENT GREECE Like the people in ancient greece, people who spend their lives at sea are superstitious. The sea itself tempts seafarers to become irrational. Before the days of the compass and the shipping forecast, the sea was indeed wildly unpredictable and dangerous. It is still terrifying and awesomely powerful, even with today’s satellite positioning and sonar. To frightened, suggestible sailors, an inquisitive dolphin frolicking in the bow-wave must have seemed like a messenger from the gods. It is those seafarers, whose families never knew whether they would return alive, who gave us the first myths about the creatures.The Greeks were among the first great seafaring nations, and the wealth of their civilization was built largely on their forays across the Mediterranean. It is not surprising, then, that dolphins appear frequently in Classical mythology – they are depicted, for example, on frescoes on the bathroom wall in the Palace of Knossos in Crete, which dates to 1600 BC– but it is through the writings of the Greek poets that most of the myths about dolphins are known to us today. One of the earliest dolphin stories is Homer’s ‘Hymn to Apollo’, which describes how the God Apollo founded the temple at Delphi after a journey which took him all over Greece in search of a suitable site. Eventually he chose a lonely cave nestling at the foot of Mount Parnassos, which was guarded by the dragoness Python, whom he slew with an arrow from his silver bow. After killing the dragoness, Apollo set off to hijack a Cretan merchant ship, leaping aboard the boat in the guise of a dolphin. Terrified, the crew huddled below deck while the dolphin Apollo directed the winds to blow the ship right around the Greek coast and into the harbour below Delphi. Then, according to Homer’s poem, the sun god instructed his hostages to live in the new temple and serve him as priests: And whereas I first, in the misty sea, sprung aboard the swift ship in the guise of a dolphin, therefore pray to me as Apollo Delphinus. Like most myths, this is a story told in code. It is about the invasion of one culture by another; the replacement of the indigenous earth goddess Python, or Delphys, by the sun god Apollo; the overthrow of the mysterious, complex, female spirit of night by the bright, clear, logical, and preeminently masculine spirit of the sun The appearance of dolphins in earlier works of irt it Knossos and elsewhere suggests that the dolphin already had a place in Cretan oral mythology, although the works of later writers and poets do not make it clear exactly what this was. The dolphin continued to feature in art and sculpture wherever the Greeks had influence, from Palestine and Mesopotamia in the east to Rome in the west, and later throughout the Roman Empire. Even in the rock city of Petra, miles from the sea and hidden in a cleft in the Jordanian desert, there is a carving of a dolphin. Without a detailed written record it is difficult to know exactly what significance dolphins held for the Greeks. The sculptures, the mosaics, the beautifully engraved and painted pottery tell us that they were important, but not why. There are, however, some clues. In many sculptures from the East, the dolphin is associated with Atargatis, the mother goddess, goddess of vegetation, nourisher of life and receiver of the dead who would be born again. In later myths, particularly in Roman literature, and again in art and statuary, it is the dolphin that carries souls to the ‘Islands of the Blest’, and around the Black Sea images of dolphins have been found in the hands of the dead, presumably to ensure their safe passage to the afterlife. Taken together these references seem to point to a deeper association with the processes of life, death and rebirth, perhaps linked to the dolphin’s ability to pass between the air-breathing, living world of humans and the suffocating, terrifying world beneath the waves, which for the Greek sailors could easily be identified with the kingdom of the dead. Whatever the exact symbolism, it is clear that the dolphin is intimately involved with the fundamentals of human existence. If the dolphin is implicated in some way in the transition between this world and the next it is no surprise to find that it is also associated with God Dionysos, who himself dies and is reborn again each year in his role as the God of vegetation, and who was also worshipped at Delphi. Although most Greek writers refer to Delphi simply as the temple of Apollo, Plutarch is at pains to point out that the worship of Dionysos was equally important at the site. He should know – he was one of the priests of Apollo at Delphi for many years. The surviving story that links Dionysos with dolphins gives barely a hint of their mystical importance, though it does once again involve them in the transition between life and death. Dionysos is travelling in disguise on board a pirate ship when the sailors decide that instead of delivering their passenger safely home they will sell him into slavery in another town. Dionysos retaliates by driving the crew mad with hallucinations, at which they jump into the sea. They are saved from drowning only because they repent of their evil plan, at which Dionysos relents and turns them into dolphins. This myth is often cited as the reason why, for many Greeks, killing a dolphin was an appalling crime. Dolphins were once human, and they retain human characteristics such as care for their young and sociability.

New York Women’s RTW collections – Spring 2014 Part -I

NEW YORK FASHION WEEK Spring 2014 – highlights

Always looking for the Goddess, every single year, in every single collection, year after year. Do you blame me? After all, I am  “Inspired by the Gods.” The timeless “goddess look” has always been my inspiration for my jewelry designs,  and as far as I can see, many fashion designers are inspired as well.

Here are some modern-day goddess as they appeared on the New York City runway – looks to me that they belong on Mt. Olympus with Zeus, Apollo, Ares, Hermes, Athena, Artemis and Aphrodite and the rest of the divine ones…The collections of course, are for Spring 2014 .

Marvelous!

Divine!

Perfect!

More of my favorite goddess-inspired highlights  to come soon my darlings!

xoxoSusanna

PS. Please  visit my website at: http://www.susannagalanis.com to see AGE OF GODS – my Goddess Inspired jewelry collection

 

Good stone

Introduction to Meaning and Uses of Black Tourmaline

 

Black Tourmaline is a  stone that is revered as a premier talisman of protection, a psychic shield deflecting and dispelling negative energies, or  destructive forces. It guards against radiation and environmental pollutants, and is highly useful in purifying and neutralizing one’s own negative thoughts and internal conflicts, and turning them into positive, usable energy.

Black Tourmaline is also a powerful grounding stone, electrical in nature, providing a connection between Earth and the human spirit. Its supportive energy aligns the energy centers of the body and channels healing light throughout the system. It promotes a sense of power and self-confidence, allowing for a clearer, more objective view of the world. It is empowering to those who must live or work in challenging environments or when facing difficult circumstances.

Black tourmaline or schorl is one of the most protective stones. It not only protects from the negative thoughts and emotions of others, it also clears your own negative thoughts dissolving tension and stress encouraging a laid back attitude with a clear, focused, objective and rational, neutral thought process.

Black tourmaline is a stone of emotional and mental stability. It promotes a positive attitude even in difficult circumstances. A powerful grounding stone, it helps to bring flighty and scattered energies and thoughts into focus. This also eliminates unnecessary energies from our system by pulling it into the ground to be dispersed. Black tourmaline is a cleansing stone like no other.

Many Crystals and stones have the ability to cleanse negative energies and work quite well for those purposes but tourmaline is one of the quickest and strongest stones for cleaning the subtle energy bodies as well as our environment. Tourmaline takes heavy, dense, low vibrational energy and dissolves and transmutes it to lighter vibrations. Just holding Black tourmaline brings about instant grounding cleansing as well as protection from further dense and environmental energy pollution.

You will see the term pollution used in regards to the uses of Black tourmaline quite often as it has a wide sweeping effect that not only affects the body but the surrounding environment as well. While many stones work on the low dense or negative energy given off by the thoughts and consciousness of your self and others Black tourmaline also absorbs and cleanses natural and man-made sources of energetic pollution.

Black Tourmaline pulls less refined energies such as electromagnetic smog as well as many other environmental pollutants  that are caused by the electrical devices and radio frequencies. A piece of tourmaline taped or glued to a cell phone or computer can help protect you from some of the most common sources of electromagnetic smog. A large piece of black tourmaline is effective in blocking geopathic stress which is believed to be radiation points due to the stresses from the earth itself.

The effects of prolonged exposure to strong electromagnetic fields have been thought to cause, Nervous system symptoms (e.g. fatigue, stress, sleep disturbances), Skin symptoms (e.g. facial prickling, burning sensations, rashes), Various body symptoms (e.g. pain and ache in muscles), Eye symptoms (e.g. burning sensations), Various less common symptoms, including ear, nose, and throat symptoms, digestive disorders, As well as anxiety depression and panic and uncontrollable irrational fears that are said to be responsible for the belief in some haunting scenarios. Black tourmaline is one of the stones to top the list as a protection and cleanser of this energy.

 

The Electric Stone

Black tourmaline is an interesting energetic stone. Scientists worldwide have long been intrigued by the unique electrical and magnetic properties of tourmaline. American statesman and inventor Benjamin Franklin, possessed at least one tourmaline stone and is said to have used it in his experiments (he invented the lightening rod). In Europe in 1880, Pierre Curie and his brother Jacques, a mineralogist, discovered that tourmaline carries a weak electric charge when it is heated (pyroelectricity) or when pressure is applied to its surface (piezoelectricity). Later, research in Japan confirmed that tourmaline carries a faint but constant electric charge of 0.06mA, which is why tourmaline continues to be known as “the electric stone,” especially in Asia. Japanese researchers also found that no matter how small tourmaline is ground or crushed, it is still capable of conveying an electric current.

A Luck Talisman and more

Mystical Tradition says to rub black tourmaline for luck and happiness. This reputation as a powerful stone and a very lucky stone, might come from the piezoelectric qualities. When the tourmaline is rubbed it becomes charged with magnetic electricity and the luck intensifies.

Additionally, black tourmaline can help your overall health and well-being:

• ground energy (this is a root chakra stone)
• increase vitality
• reduce tension and stress
• clear negative thoughts
• encourage a positive attitude no matter the circumstances
• stimulate altruism and practical creativity
• strengthen the energy body and immune system

How does the black tourmaline work? It help your body towards homeostasis – the state when your body is working perfectly and everything is in balance.  Black tourmaline is said to be one of the best grounding stones because it helps you remain in the grounding circuit of the earth’s electromagnetic field. It also seems to have a constant clearing effect on the Chakras, drawing and grounding any negative energies.

 

Fortunate me

The Greek deity of fortune

The lucky person passes for a genius.
–Euripides (Ancient Greek Playwright)

God’s dice always have a lucky roll.
–Sophocles (Ancient Greek Playwright)

You gotta try your luck at least once a day because you could be going around lucky all day and not even know it.
–James Dean (American Actor & Cultural Icon)

Luck be a lady tonight
Luck be a lady tonight
Luck if youve been a lady to begin with
Luck be a lady tonight…

Little that he knew, Frank Sinatra, when he sang this song that Luck was not just a lady but the eternal and Divine  Goddess Tyche.

 

Tyche represented in Greek Mythology something everybody has always been searching or wishing for: fortune. This is the Goddess that I wish to encounter more although, I am so grateful for her gifts already. After all,  if it was not for the divine Tyche’s graces, I wouldn’t have been able to design my jewelry so effortlessly and claim that “I am inspired by the Gods.” She is, and has always been  besides me, [well, most of the time]  ever since the day I was born back in my birthplace  Macedon, Northern Greece. Was she there specifically for me  on my birthday, or it was just my lucky day that she was around? I wonder. I tend to think that she made a very special trip just so I can receive all her blessings. Fortunate me. As it was, my grandfather Dimitrios and my grandmother Alexandra both gifted me with a gold coin as soon as I arrived for “Good Luck” thus, my love affair with ancient Greek coins began right there and then. Efharisto Thea Tyche (much gratitude), my beautiful Greek Goddess!

As she is today, Goddess Tyche was the personification of Hope, Luck and Wealth. She was a labile, yet virtuous spirit, mediating between gods and mortals and leading human lives. She was therefore extraordinarily worshipped by the ancient Greeks.
The main symbol of goddess Tyche was a huge horn, inside of which she was keeping all wealth and richness; the horn once belonged to Amalthea, the goat who fostered Greek god Zeus during his infancy. Tyche was carrying the horn with her constantly, occasionally turning it upside down to spread all its goods to anyone who would meet her on his way.

Tyche – A Deity in Greek Mythology In Greek, Tyche means “luck” and sometimes refers to the destiny and fate.

Although not a goddess in Greek Mythology, Tyche was often seen as goddess and/or a patron-deity of luck, fortune, success, even prosperity in many cities of ancient Greece. Some gave her even power over chance and fate.

During the Hellenistic period, cities that had her as their patron, presented the specific icons of Tyche, on which she was wearing a mural crown.

During the same period, Tyche appeared in many coins used by inhabitants in various cities and villages in the Aegean Sea.

Additional skills attributed to Tyche came probably from the other personification attached to her name. She also represented the “concept”. That’s how she became both an inspiration and intrigue for poets, writers, philosophers, all kind of artists in ancient Greece.

The two most famous works of art celebrating her power are: the statue ofAgathe Tyche by Praxiteles and Tyche of Antioch by Eutychides, which became the prototype for the images of the goddess.

Tyche simply became a symbol of fortune, luck, chance… The turns of fortune, that she carried, were often used in famous romances such as Clitophon and Leucippe or Daphnis and Chloe.

Empedocles On the Nature of Things, notes that “…all things are conceived in the will of Tyche”  

Tyche described by Greek historians

Tyche lived through times and changes, always equally unpredicted and embraced or held responsible for several events and incidents. As the Greek historian Polybius wrote, whenever there was no tangible reason found for some disasters, like floods or frosts, Tyche was considered as a force behind them.

According to Hesiod’s Theogony, Tyche was one of the eldest of many Oceanides, daughters of Oceanus and Tethys. She had various attributes attached to her name. She was given the power of conducting the world’s affairs while holding a rudder.

With Ploutos she symbolized the plentiful gifts of fortune. And with a ball, Tyche was fully herself – nor steady nor capable of rolling in any direction, as the fortune is.

Tyche and Ploutos

The Romans were inspired by the myths related to deity Tyche of the Greeks and created the Goddess Fortuna, who also represented luck, fortune and “concept” in life.

Be grateful for luck. Pay the thunder no mind – listen to the birds. And don’t hate nobody.

 Eubie Blake quotes 

And now you know why, like all my beautiful and divine ancestors, I  worship with much gratitude the eternal Goddess of fortune Tyche. My two beautiful nephews George and Angelo have surprised me on my recent birthday (May 25th) with a statue of the Goddess which has been placed right front and center on my studio desk for continuous good luck and blessings. Lucky me ! Both George and Angelo are my good luck charms and I am so fortunate to have them 🙂

xoxoSusanna

Father Zeus

KING OF THE GODS

“It is not possible either to trick or escape the mind of Zeus.”

Hesiod

According to my divine ancestors, the ancient Greeks, Zeus was the “Father of Gods” who ruled the
Olympians of Mount Olympus. He was the god of sky and thunder.

As He still is today, ZEUS was the king of the gods, the god of sky and weather, law, order and fate. He was depicted as a regal man, mature with sturdy figure and dark beard. His usual attributes were a lightning bolt, royal sceptre and eagle.

Some of the more famous myths featuring the god include:

• His birth and upbringing in the Diktaion cave, where he was nursed by Amaltheia and guarded by the shield-clashing Kouretes;
• The Titan War in which he overthrew the Titanes and imprisoned them in Tartaros;
• His battle with Typhoeus, a hundred headed, monstrous giant who attempted to capture heaven;
• The War of the Giants who attempted to storm Olympos but were slain by Zeus and the gods;
• The Great Deluge in which he flooded the earth to destroy mankind and begin the world anew;
• His conflict with Prometheus over the theft of benefactions for mankind;
• The punishment of Salmoneus, Tantalos and Ixion, men who offended the god with their impiety;
• The birth and life of Herakles, his favoured son, who he had transferred to Olympos at death;
• His extramarital affairs with women such as Leda, seduced in the form of a swan; Europa, as a bull; Danae, as a golden shower; Kallisto, as Artemis; and Antiope as a satyr;
• The Trojan War which he orchestrated from start to end, including the casting of the golden apple of discord.

Zeus was the child of Cronus and Rhea, and the youngest of their siblings. In most traditions he was married to
Hera, although, at the oracle of Dodona, his consort was Dione. According to the Iliad, he was the father of
Aphrodite by Dione. He was also known for his erotic escapades which resulted in many godly and heroic
offspring including Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Hermes, Persephone (by Demeter), Dionysus, Perseus,
Heracles, Helen of Troy, Minos, and the Muses (by Mnemosyne); by Hera, he was said to have
fathered Ares, Hebe and Hephaestus.
Even the gods who were not his natural children addressed him as Father Zeus. For the Greeks, he was the King
of the Gods, who ruled the universe. As Pausanias observed, “That Zeus is king in heaven.” In Hesiod’s
Theogony Zeus assigned the various gods their roles. In the Homeric Hymns he was referred to as the chieftain
of the gods. His symbols are the thunderbolt, eagle, bull, and oak. Zeus is frequently depicted by Greek
artists in one of two poses: standing, striding forward, with a thunderbolt leveled in his raised right hand, or
seated in majesty.

BIRTH

Cronus, the Titan God, sired several children by Rhea: Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, and Poseidon, but
swallowed them all as soon as they were born, since he had learned from Gaia and Uranus that he was
destined to be overcome by his own son as he had overthrown his own father—an oracle that Rhea was to
hear and avert.
When Zeus was about to be born, Rhea sought Gaia to devise a plan to save him, so that Cronus would get
his retribution for his acts against Uranus and his own children. Rhea gave birth to Zeus in Crete, handing
Cronus a rock wrapped in swaddling clothes, which he promptly swallowed.

INFANCY

Rhea hid Zeus in a cave on Mount Ida in Crete. According to varying versions of the story:
-He was then raised by Gaia.
-He was raised by a nymph named Adamanthea. Since Cronus ruled over the Earth, the heavens and the
sea, she hid him by dangling him on a rope from a tree so he was suspended between earth, sea and sky
and thus, invisible to his father.
-He was raised by a nymph named Cynosura. In gratitude, Zeus placed her among the stars.
-He was raised by Melissa, who nursed him with goat’s milk
and honey.
-He was raised by a shepherd family under the promise that their sheep would be saved from wolves.

KING OF THE GODS

After reaching manhood, Zeus forced Cronus to disgorge first the stone (which was set down at Pytho under
the glens of Parnassus to be a sign to mortal men, the Omphalos) then his siblings in reverse order of swallowing. In some versions, Metis gave Cronus an emetic to force him to disgorge the babies, or Zeus cut Cronus’ stomach open. Then Zeus released the brothers of Cronus, the Gigantes, the Hecatonchires and the Cyclopes, from their dungeon in Tartarus, killing their guard, Campe.

As a token of their appreciation, the Cyclopes gave him thunder and the thunderbolt, or lightning, which had previously been hidden by Gaia. Together, Zeus and his brothers and sisters, along with the Gigantes, Hecatonchires and Cyclopes overthrew Cronus and the other Titans, in the combat called the Titanomachy. The defeated Titans were then cast into a shadowy underworld region known as Tartarus. Atlas, one of the titans that fought against Zeus, was punished by having to hold up the sky.

(Zeus in Titanomachy below)

After the battle with the Titans, Zeus shared the world with his elder brothers, Poseidon and Hades, by drawing lots: Zeus got the sky and air, Poseidon the waters, and Hades the world of the dead (the underworld). The ancient Earth, Gaia, could not be claimed; she was left to all three, each according to their capabilities, which explains why Poseidon was the “earth-shaker” (the god of earthquakes) and Hades claimed the humans that died.

ZEUS AND HERA

Zeus was brother and consort of Hera. By Hera, Zeus sired Ares, Hebe and Hephaestus.  Some also include Eileithyia and Eris as their daughters. The conquests of Zeus among nymphs and the mythic mortal progenitors of Hellenic dynasties are famous. Olympian mythography even credits him with unions with Leto, Demeter, Dione and Maia. Among mortals were Semele, Io, Europa and Leda and with the young Ganymede. Many myths render Hera as jealous of his amorous conquests and a consistent enemy of Zeus’ mistresses and their children by him. For a time, a nymph named Echo had the job of distracting Hera from his affairs by talking incessantly,  and when Hera discovered the deception, she cursed Echo to repeat the words of others. According to legend, Metis, the goddess of prudence, was the first love of Zeus. At first she tried in vain to escape his advances, but in the end succumbed to his endeavor, and from their union Athena was conceived. Gaia warned Zeus that Metis would bear a daughter, whose son would overthrow him. On hearing this Zeus swallowed Metis, the reason for this was to continue to carry the child through to the birth himself. Hera was outraged and very jealous of her husband’s affair, also of his ability to give birth without female participation. To spite Zeus she gave birth to Hephaestus parthenogenetically  and it was Hephaestus who, when the time came, split open the head of Zeus, from which Athena emerged fully armed.

Zeus: Oh for shame, how the mortals put the blame on us gods, for they say evils come from us, but it is they, rather, who by their own recklessness win sorrow beyond what is given. 

And now you know the story of  the King of the Gods, according to the myths and the legends of my divine ancestors the ancient Greeks.

xoxoSusanna

Enchanted Heart

 

Enchanted Forest – this is where I envision my favorite Gods Apollo and Daphne [and inspirations for the Fall’13 jewelry collection I designed] dealing with their love “issues” caused by the spell of Eros and where Daphne finally metamorphoses into the immortal laurel tree. Sad story yet, very true.

Love matters. Period. Apollo learned this lesson the hard way. Daphne was gone…and Apollo immortalized her…according to the myths and the legends…[Please see my November 29th post on the tragic love between Apollo and Daphne.]

Oh… those ancient Greeks, they were very wise, they tought us so many valuable lessons. Don’t ever underestimate the significance and power of love. I, for sure do not want Eros to teach me another lesson ever again – lesson learned when his arrow got me and my beautiful heart was severely wounded by a Nordic man reminiscent of a Greek God… anyway… “love yourself first” I say… lesson learned. I suppose I can say how sorry and sad I was but, at the end it was all good. Did I learn a lesson? absolutely! Love matters. Period!

  “Nature does nothing foolishly.” Aristotle, 384 BC- 322 BC 

Going back to the subject  that inspired me to write this blog: fashion advertising: Shu Pei is back once again for the fall 2013 advertisements from New York fashion designer Vera Wang. The Chinese beauty stars in a series of dark and romantic images shot by Carter Smith made with creative direction by MODCo Creative. Shu models the designer’s collections in a beautiful forest that reminded me of Apollo and Daphne….etc…

I love these images. Mother Nature did it again…with such grace.

 

xoxoSusanna

http://www.susannagalanis.com

 

Pop Your Color

As much as I love a simple white tank paired with a chunky statement necklace I’ve really been drawn to bright colors and fun patterns as of lately. I browsed through some of my favorite boutiques this past weekend and couldn’t help but notice how my NYC ladies are mixing and matching contrasting colors creating creating eye catching ensembles. Even the ladies in the studio have been coming dressed to work in summer neons and brights making for a fun and festive work place! I have to say I am loving the look!

Naturally after beginning to embrace this colorful trend I couldn’t help but to think of one of my favorite artists, Andy Warhol. His works of art are nothing but genius and as all we all know, fashion and art are the greatest imitations of one another. One is always inspiring the other! You all know I love nothing more than an art inspired trend! Look below to see how I’m mixing and matching art and fashion to create an inspired look!

xoxo,

Susanna

Mad for Men

Is it just me or are the men of New York adjusting their style along with the suns increasing heat? With every corner we turn these stunning guys seem to be turning up the heat in their summer style and may I say “Bravo!” The ladies in the studio can’t seem to stop discussing how our city men look more dapper than ever in their sleek suits and street style. I mean who can resist staring at a tall, dark, and handsome accountant strutting his stuff down West 57th or a street styled writer on a coffee run in Brooklyn?

The bolder the sun has become the bolder these New York men are with their summer time outfit selections, and yes gentlemen your NYC counterparts have noticed! Kat, just one of the lovely ladies here in the office, is ecstatic to see boat shoes back on the feet of our NYC gentlemen. With a love for all things beach-y she just can’t help but push her boyfriend to mix it up with a little summertime prep while heading out for dinner and drinks after work. Jillian, our favorite Long Island lady, is a sucker for a dark-haired man hailing a cab in a fitted Gucci suit which means lunchtime is scouting time for this debonair diva. A mixture of patterns with business wear has Alexandria lusting for a man who can rock a Marc Jacobs floral frock with the confidence of Clooney on the red carpet. Who can’t help but love a man confidently wearing a button down shirt you one day hope to steal and turn into a dress? Finally, our Jersey girl Tricia is looking for a downtown man with uptown style who can mix preppy with street chic to create an all over unique New York look. Give her a man mixing patterns and good tailoring and she’s all yours.

Each lady has such different taste in not only their menswear style but in their taste in men. The city is filled with gorgeous gentlemen all rocking the latest summer trends that any New York City fashionista can’t help but congratulate our guys on a job well done . So get ready ladies because the sun is only getting hotter and whether you’re searching for your own Aiden or Mr. Big I think we can all agree that we’ll make sure to be dressed in our Carrie Bradshaw best.

Look below to checkout the ladies favorite menswear looks as well as what inspires them in a man.

xoxo,

Susanna

VALENTINO – Haute Couture Autumn 2013

VALENTINO – Paris

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER – Haute Couture Autumn 2013

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER – Paris