The stunning Shell Grotto

 In 1838, Margate, Kent, a workman digging in the ground hit upon a stone. Soon, after removing the stone, what was found there was an underground grotto filled with colourful shells. The "Shell Grotto" (as it's called) leads to underground passages and rooms, all covered in a variety of shells that are mosaics. These shells create gorgeous patterns and designs, that seem to have been made with precision and care. Each shell of a certain size, contour and shape fits in with the mosaic artwork and it covers the entire grotto. 

What's also very interesting is that nobody really knows how old it is and no one knows who made it. Some believe that this was created by the Knights Templar, and others think it was made by Freemasons, or that it's an ancient built site, and even that it's merely a rich man's folly. Dating the Shell Grotto has been strange in that research was done although the information isn't published. This is a mysterious location. Yet at the same time it's very much unique and breathtakingly beautiful. The skills and crafts gone into making it is remarkable and I say this from an artistic view. 

Shell Grotto in Margate

Storm Valkyrie 🌹  

The Zorya

There is a beautiful story from Slavic mythology about two sisters called The Zorya. They are also called Zorza and the Auroras. Both sisters are goddesses and daughters of Dazhbog, the sun god. They live on the island of Buyan, where also there lives the winds, of the according to the Dove Book. The Zorya sisters are guardians of the doomsday hound Simargl, chained to the Polaris star in Ursa Minor. or Little Bear. If Simargl broke loose, he would eat the constellation and the world would end. 

Each sister has a name and function. There is Zorja Utrennyaya, a dawn goddess, the "morning star" who opens the palace gates to release the sun. She's also associated with the planet Venus. It's said that she and her sister are the wives of the moon god Myesyats. Although other accounts have the sisters as virgins. Warriors often prayed to her before going into battle:

"Defend me, O maiden, with your veil from the enemy, from the arquebus and arrow."

Her sister is Zorja Vechernyaya, a dusk goddess, the "evening star" and sometimes associated with the planet Mercury or sometimes with Venus. She closes the celestial palace gates after the sun has returned. Both she and her sister are love goddesses and protect against evil spirits. Their sacred animals are horses.

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Dreams of a calm sea

 If you have had dreams of being on a small boat at sea, it means your emotions and present self in life. Often the small boat is your own journey, and it symbolises moving through day and night, work, studies, decisions, and many other things about living. To dream of the sea is always a reflection of how you feel and about your deep self. 

Often, it depends on the kind of sea itself. If you dream of a calm sea, a clear sea, a tropical sea, a stormy sea, a misty sea, again the colours too, green, blue, grey. If you dream of the sea and it's got other boats, swimmers, islands, people, animals. Some seriously bad dreams involve dangers in the way of storms, predators, monsters. 

Last night I dreamt that I was in a wooden rowboat. At first I was among a group of people in the boat, and we met up with other groups in similar boats. We were at sea, the water was very calm, grey in colour, and the sky was a foggy grey. We were all taking part in a game, and had to row at the end by shore. With much disappointment, we had to go back to where we started again. Later on in the same dream, I was at sea again but this time I was alone in a small boat. I don't remember rowing, but I sat there in the boat, not far from the beach. Again the water was grey, calm and slightly foggy. It was almost magical. I can recall feeling so much peace. Unfortunately I was woken up. When I did return to sleep again, I was back in the boat at the same place. It's quite common now for me to continue the same dream when I return to sleep.

For other interpretations, or if you want to check your own dream meanings, visit the following websites:

Aunty Flo has an A-Z dream dictionary.

"Discover your dreams" and interpretation at Dream Dictionary. 

Psychologist World does a massive dream dictionary here.

The pictures used are: Chester Row Boat by artist Al Bergin. Wallpaper Stock nature Tree on a Beach. Painting Rowing Boat by artist Alexander Averin.    

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