Some info....there are 3 "starry night" pictures done by Van Gogh:

A Brief Understanding of Three Starry Nights.

Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh has risen to the peak of artistic achievements. Although Van Gogh sold only one painting in his life, the aftermath of his work is enormous. Starry Night is one of the most well known images in modern culture as well as being one of the most replicated and sought after prints. From Don McLean's song 'Starry, Starry Night' (Based on the Painting), to the endless number of merchandise products sporting this image, it is nearly impossible to shy away from this amazing painting.

One may begin to ask what features within the painting are responsible for its ever growing popularity. There are actually several main aspects that intrigue those who view this image, and each factor affects each individual differently. The aspects will be described below:

1. There is the night sky filled with swirling clouds, stars ablaze with their own luminescence, and a bright cresset moon. Although the features are exaggerated, this is a scene we can all relate to, and also one that most individuals feel comfortable and at ease with. This sky keeps the viewer's eyes moving about the painting, following the curves and creating a visual dot to dot with the stars. This movement keeps the onlooker involved in the painting while the other factors take hold.
2. Below the rolling hills of the horizon lies a small town. There is a peaceful essence flowing from the structures. Perhaps the cool dark colors and the fiery windows spark memories of our own warm childhood years filled with imagination of what exists in the night and dark starry skies. The center point of the town is the tall steeple of the church, reigning largely over the smaller buildings. This steeple casts down a sense of stability onto the town, and also creates a sense of size and seclusion.
3. To the left of the painting there is a massive dark structure that develops an even greater sense of size and isolation. This structure is magnificent when compared to the scale of other objects in the painting. The curving lines mirror that of the sky and create the sensation of depth in the painting. This structure also allows the viewer to interpret what it is. From a mountain to a leafy bush, the analysis of this formation is wide and full of variety.
Van Gogh painted Starry Night while in an Asylum at Saint-Remy in 1889.

During Van Gogh's younger years (1876-1880) he wanted to dedicate his life to evangelization of those in poverty. Many believe that this religious endeavor may be reflected in the eleven stars of the painting. In Genesis 37:9 the following statement is made:

"And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me."

Whether or not this religious inspiration is true, it is known that the piece is not the only Starry Sky painting that Van Gogh ever created. Gogh was quite proud of a piece he had painted earlier in Arles in 1888 that depicted stars reflecting in the Rhone River. (THIS is the one I have) Like Starry Sky this previous piece shares many of the qualities that have made Starry Sky such a popular painting. For instance:

The stars in the night sky are surrounded with their own orb of light.
The Reflection of artificial light (new to the time period) from Arles in the river makes the one's eyes move around the painting; thus keeping the viewer visually involved.
There are structures in the distant lit up in a warm glow of light.
Starry Night over the Rhone contains one final aspect that is not featured in the Starry Night piece; humans. In the bottom right corner of the painting there is a couple walking along the river. This gives the painting a down to earth feel with a natural quality. Although this painting is not nearly as popular as the seconded Starry Night piece, it still creates a pleasurable and life like environment to look at. It is also resides as a very sought after piece when it is placed with Starry Night and the following painting to create a montage of Van Gogh's Starry Night works.

Cafe Terrace At Night was also painted in Arles in 1888. The similarities between this piece the previous two are vaguely similar. This piece offers a new type of perspective on the star filled sky.

The Stars are barely consumed in their own light.
The bright yellow wall draws in ones attention rather then assisting to move one's eyes around the painting.
There is a sense of balance attributed to the dark cityscape silhouette to the right of the painting (Contrasting the bright yellow wall).
Never the less these three paintings have astounded millions of people and remain three of the best works ever to flow from Van Gogh's paint brush. Each Day hundreds of people crowd around the original paintings located in various art museums to offer their own personal interpretation as to the meaning of the pieces. Although we may never know how Vincent himself truly felt about these paintings, mankind still embraces their greatness.
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I find this part catches my eye: Starry Night over the Rhone contains one final aspect that is not featured in the Starry Night piece; humans.

I used to have a copy of the later one, Cafe Terrace at Night. My partner is currently working on a piece which takes after "Starry Night" the original one of the three. It occurs to me now that my partner has placed a whitish female looking figure over the landscape in his picture. You can barely see it at this point, kind of like a vague whitewash. It is not obvious. The land and the sky are her body, and the stars, in their swirling colors, seem part of her body. I haven't discussed or mentioned this aspect.

Well, it's really going to be a tremendous painting when it's done...

Strange strange strange. Honestly, I have been wondering what is on the other side of the wall in my neighbor's apartment, wondering if I should go take a look. Maybe I won't need to do that!

love, blink

I think we are all connected, Juditha, so that makes sense to me! I'm glad you and Bets have a match there. Wonderful! I can see why you responded to my description. Perhaps the visions we each had were related. That's also a possibility.

I think there are multiple layers to the connections that we have, as Bruce recently described in the thread in which he talks about his "twins" which are perceived by others in his workshops. Therefore, it is interesting how our experiences can overlap.

I think it is something to pay attention to.

Below are the words of the song by Don McLean referenced above, one of my favorites:

Starry, starry night.
Paint your palette blue and grey,
Look out on a summer's day,
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul.
Shadows on the hills,
Sketch the trees and the daffodils,
Catch the breeze and the winter chills,
In colors on the snowy linen land.

Now I understand what you tried to say to me,
How you suffered for your sanity,
How you tried to set them free.
They would not listen, they did not know how.
Perhaps they'll listen now.

Starry, starry night.
Flaming flowers that brightly blaze,
Swirling clouds in violet haze,
Reflect in Vincent's eyes of china blue.
Colors changing hue, morning field of amber grain,
Weathered faces lined in pain,
Are soothed beneath the artist's loving hand.

Now I understand what you tried to say to me,
How you suffered for your sanity,
How you tried to set them free.
They would not listen, they did not know how.
Perhaps they'll listen now.

For they could not love you,
But still your love was true.
And when no hope was left in sight
On that starry, starry night,
You took your life, as lovers often do.
But I could have told you, Vincent,
This world was never meant for one
As beautiful as you.

Starry, starry night.
Portraits hung in empty halls,
Frameless heads on nameless walls,
With eyes that watch the world and can't forget.
Like the strangers that you've met,
The ragged men in ragged clothes,
The silver thorn the bloody rose,
Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow.

Now I think I know what you tried to say to me,
How you suffered for your sanity,
How you tried to set them free.
They would not listen, they're not listening still.
Perhaps they never will...


love, blink

Orlando, very nice to think of you there. I have been to Paris twice...beautiful. When I was there I loved seeing the owners of petite dogs in the cafes together. It is indescribable.

I saw this article on CNN this morning (4:34 a.m. here to be precise)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6963373.stm

It's about a Greek fire in which people could not escape. In the countryside. They were trapped, and a considerable number of them, at that. I guess it just happened.

Now I think back to my vision. And how I thought it could be a Greek man. And how the images were displayed on the Van Gogh immediately next to the partial statues in the photographs on my wall.

I see a relationship there, but is it relevant? Some might say I am cloud-gazing....and I have done that in the last 24 hours too....thinking about this puzzle. Creating a puzzle?

Why am I awake at this time of night? Why did I read that article? Why am I here on this site? Because I am.

I guess someone wants a retrieval right about now....why else would someone wake me up like this? I'm going to go along with this and see what happens....

Okay, I'm back. Although it's five hours or so later. I haven't looked at the news again. I did try to do a retrieval, and did seem to float past a few images, but I didn't talk to anyone that I remember. I did get a name, Laura, and I had a  last name, but lost it. I remember seeing a couple of different women. There was a child that I saw, or felt also. I didn't see flames, but smoke, maybe. Some cars. A roadside inn or gas station, something of that sort. Seemed to be a gas station or rest station. Fell asleep later.

I don't know why it didn't resolve as a normal retrieval, but I haven't done one in a long time, to tell the truth. Not unless I'm doing them while sleeping.

Well, enough obsessing....yes, France is beautiful, Orlando. I brought out my photograph album of Musee D'Orsay, and there were several Van Gogh's there, including his self-portrait. I took photos I shouldn't, back then, just couldn't resist. So, they are there, along with a multitude of photos of statues, at the Louvre, etc. etc. Lovely memories.

Ah, yes. Now I remember. I believe yesterday was my ex-husband's brother's birthday. There's a connection here. They are both French natives, and their mother was a Russian immigrant. The brother lives outside of Paris now, but has not personally shared his address with my ex or me. I haven't spoken to him since the death of my mother-in-law in '93. The letters stopped long ago. My ex-husband and he are estranged. Seemed to be all about money back then...so silly. Well...perhaps it is time to call and let him know where life has taken his brother and me...it is positive change that has occurred, although difficult, but perhaps some kind of resolution is needed.

love, blink

I do wonder if there's a deeper connection to him, as you must be wondering why it was given to you. sometimes we may have associated with a person in another timeline. I do believe this can cause you to wonder about it, then when you least expect it, an answer may show up, what the connection was for. in any case, we will know someday. love, alysia