Month: September 2019

Stand For Our Mother – Day 312

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Stand For Our Mother

Tonight’s post will be short and sweet.

Amidst all the insanity, all of the human angst and suffering, the cruelty we inflict upon each other, and the struggles each of us engage in on a daily basis, sometimes just to keep our shit together enough to make it through one more day, there is one unequivocal, undeniable constant.

No matter who we are, no matter where we live, no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in on any given day, in any given country, there remains one aspect of this life that we all share: Mother Earth.

Being a Mother

The parallels are there. They’re undeniable. We call this planet upon which we live our lives Mother  Earth for a reason. Just as there’s a reason that we never call this planet Father  Earth.

This observation is not in any way a knock on fathers. Not at all. It is, rather, an acknowledgment of the obvious.

Mother Earth feeds  every thing and every being who lives upon her from her body . In one form or another, we all continue to seek and receive nourishment from the body of our mother, the planet Earth, every single day.

In order to keep us safe, she grows on her ‘skin,’ so to speak, materials that we need and use to build shelters that protect us from the elements.

In order to keep us healthy, she provides the perfect environment for plants to thrive and grow. These plants not only feed us, but also make medicines and other remedies that serve us, heal us, and help us maintain our balance, inside and out.

In order to keep us happy and entertained, warm in the winter and cold in the summer, in order to keep us with gold and silver on our fingers, clothes on our backs, and modes of transportation that take us across town or to the other side of “her,” our planet gives to us of herself.

Everything we use to sustain life here on this planet is created out of or provided directly by Mother Earth.

Taking Responsibility

For the longest time, she has indulged us – as a mother who cherishes her child might, and often does – even though she knows, deep down, that every child eventually needs to grow up and face the consequences of its choices.

Our actions, from what we do when we wake up each day, the food we eat, the cars we drive, the lights we use, to the faucet we turn off, have consequences. And if we don’t start paying attention and noticing the consequences of our actions, it’s akin to jamming a fork into our mother’s eye.

How can we expect her to keep taking care of us if all we do is take, take, take? She needs to recuperate. She needs time to replenish herself and her stores so she can share her bounty with us for years and hopefully millennia to come.

Climate Strike

My whole point is that we need to start standing up for our mother. We need to treat her with the respect and love and appreciation that she deserves. And in order to motivate others to join us in a mutual effort to work together to bring healing to her and, indeed, all of us, we need to take a stand.

If you’ve only been lending half an ear to the latest efforts to bring awareness to climate change, then you may not be fully aware that the youth of the world are asking that we all pay attention and stand up for Mother Earth tomorrow.

We’re being asked to walk out – go on strike – stop working for a time (whether it’s at school or at work or anywhere in between) in order to bring the world to a halt!

Join Me – Join Us – Join Our Youth

Here are a few links to some articles and resources that can explain who, what, when, where, and why.

But the important thing is taking a STAND. Show up. Take responsibility. Don’t be afraid to ‘come out’ as a science believer and a Mother Earth LOVER.

She’s loved us all this time. Let’s love her back – now – when she needs her children to grow the hell up already and stop poisoning her just because we can.

(T-799)

Wasps In Our Face: Part 2 – Day 311

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Creating the nest – Photo: L. Weikel

Wasps In Our Face: Part 2

As I mentioned the other day, I’ve been puzzled by the influx of wasps into my life this summer. I’d even forgotten, until I wrote that post, that I’d been stung by a wasp exactly two weeks before discovering the intricate nest of paper wasps on our home’s office window.

It’s a little disconcerting, I’ll admit. It’s a large nest, and they’re continuing with new construction. And even though I looked them up and discovered that they don’t routinely attack people for sport or entertainment, they will seriously attack you up if you mess with their nest.

That does pose a dilemma, although in our case, I suppose it’s not as bad as it would be if it were on our porch or close to our front door.

Leave Me Alone…

This first tidbit of information on Wasp reminds me, actually, of what I learned about the Copperhead snake that I nearly fell on. Both of these creatures (a) are a bit scary and warrant being given a wide berth; but (b) are not known to go after a human unless we provoke them, either by accidentally stepping on them or going after their nest.

In other words, they leave us alone unless and until we fail to respect their boundaries and get in their faces. That feels significant to me.

On a purely practical note, I didn’t realize it, but they tend to prey on caterpillars and other destructive insects, which I suppose may be one of their greatest contributions to the ecosystem. They also do engage in some pollination, although not – I believe – to the same extent as, say, honeybees. One slightly creepy aspect of their eating habits is that they paralyze their prey instead of killing it. They bring the paralyzed captive back to the nest so the grubs can feast on it, and since it’s not dead, it lasts a bit longer – and doesn’t rot.

Busy, busy wasps; nurturing those grubs – Photo: L. Weikel

Animal-Wise

One of my go-to resources helping me understand why a particular creature may be showing up as a messenger in my life (or in the lives of my clients) are the books by Ted Andrews. While he’s written many, my favorites are Animal Speak, Animal-Wise, and Nature Speak.

The ‘keynote’ expressed in Animal-Wise on Wasp is “Protective nourishment and role fulfillment; dreams fulfilled through practical effort.”

As I read through the couple pages of information, these words popped out at me as being relevant to me and my life right now:

“…(Wasp and its activities) reveals how to construct and nurture our dreams. The six-sided cell is a geometric shape associated with the heart. The grubs are the things of the heart that must be nurtured and hatched in solidness. Dreams without practical preparations are more likely to fail and die. Dreams motivate us, but their fulfillment is based upon work.” (emphasis added)

Wasp grubs (dreams?) – Photo: L. Weikel

Yes, I’m getting a clear message that I need to get to work on manifesting my dreams. Interestingly, Andrews continued: “Wasps have a cycle of power ranging from spring to fall. Late summer it is stronger. Wasps have a tendency to become aggressive in the late summer and early fall. And this cycle is usually at place for those to whom the wasp is a messenger.” (emphasis added)

Andrews then asks some questions that, I must admit, are worthy of my serious contemplation (and getting answered in my journal): “When wasps show up, we should ask ourselves some important questions. Are we feeling paralyzed in the pursuit of our goals? Are we building from the ground up? Are we working solitary or for the group? Are we fulfilling our tasks? Are those around us doing their parts? Are we pursuing our dreams in a practical manner? Are we getting too aggressive in our pursuits?”

I feel it might be worth asking if I am being aggressive enough to achieve my dreams.

He concludes with this thought: “Protection is strong around you now. Dreams will be fulfilled through practical efforts and fulfilling your role and responsibilities.”

Grateful Contemplation and Appreciation

I am grateful for the appearance of these fascinating creatures in my life. It doesn’t escape me that they’ve built their nest precisely in such a way that enables me to watch how they nurture those first, inner grubs – the dreams of the hive – and how they build everything around them.

Seems I’d best get to work.

Building, creating, working – Photo: L. Weikel

One Last Thought

I have to admit, the appearance of this nest from the outside of our house is a bit… disconcerting. I share it with you below.

To me, it looks like a woman, blindfolded, her mouth open in some sort of expression. What is she calling out? Does she represent Justice? Or is she just a mummy?

Photo: L. Weikel

(T-800)

A Quickie Tonight – Day 310

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Train to Lansdale (formerly known as the R5) – Photo: L. Weikel

A Quickie Tonight

No, you guys. That’s not  what I mean!

I’m finding my ability to keep my eyes open this evening is seriously compromised, and thus I will not be discussing my interpretation of Paper Wasp’s appearance ‘in my face’ this evening.

I’ll weigh in on that tomorrow.

Unexpected Opportunity

I’m more tired than usual this evening because I spent the afternoon and evening in Philadelphia. I had the good fortune to be invited to attend the first ever Workers’ Presidential Summit, which was sponsored by the AFL- CIO in Philadelphia.

This has been my lucky political year so far. First, I was invited to an event where I got to meet and listen to Corey Booker a few months ago.

Today, I had the opportunity to hear Joe Biden, Andrew Yang, Bill DeBlasio, Bernie Sanders, Tom Steyer, and Amy Klobuchar address a room full of union workers at the Philadelphia Convention Center.

What a cool thing – to be able to get a sense of these people a little closer up, a little bit more personally and authentically, (or at least not separated from me by a tv screen). I have to say, attending these events has made a difference for me in how I perceive some of these candidates.

Which leads me to feel the need to make one statement before I go to bed this evening:

While I do feel it will be better to have the Democratic field of potential contenders winnowed down sooner rather than later, I actually feel like it’s a great opportunity for people to get their ideas out in front of the public and potentially drive some policy changes in those who ultimately become the nominee.

Make That Two Statements

The second statement I want to make is that I feel we are incredibly fortunate to have such outstanding candidates from which to choose. And my favorites weren’t even represented today, much as I really like some of those who spoke, and gained respect for others.

But I can state that each person who spoke today was sincere and smart, poised and ready to lead the country to a more unified, caring, and prosperous future.

I felt proud of each of these individuals, and appreciative that they care enough about the state of disunity, anguish, and fear of the future so many in our country are feeling to stand up and do something about it.

As I ran to catch my train (and it arrived just as I was hustling down the steps at Jefferson Station), I realized that I feel hope. And it feels great.

Sleeping Beauties – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-801)

Wasps In Our Face – Day 309

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Wasps In Our Face

Oddly, Karl and I seem to be hosting wasps this year – more so than any other year I can remember.

Although I haven’t found a nest, I’ve occasionally seen yellow jackets hanging around. And a few weeks ago, while sitting on my porch working on my computer, I noticed a persistent, high pitched whine of a buzz. Upon investigation, I discovered several rows of clay-colored mud in the shape of pan pipes behind a set of shutters. Mud wasps.

I waited until I saw several leave and knocked down their adobe homes. They apparently took the eviction to heart and have not returned.

Paper Wasps

I cannot say the same for a nest of hornets, or paper wasps, that has taken up residence in a simply astonishing venue.

In early August I was upstairs on the second floor of our home. I walked into our home office to scan some information onto a thumb drive. As I was thumbing through reference book, I heard an intermittent clacking sound on the window, which faces east.

Imagine my surprise when I pulled back the white sheer curtain hanging in that window and found this:

Like an Ant Farm

Yes, I was one of those kids who had an Ant Farm when I was growing up: one of those plastic contraptions that allowed you to watch ants create their networks in dirt compressed between two clear plastic sides. It was amazing to watch those industrious creatures build tunnels and feed their queen, create worker ants and live in community.

Well, the hive being built up against our office window puts even the most elaborate ant farm I ever saw to shame. This thing is a work of art.

And yet? They will mess you up if you even think about getting near them.

That clacking noise I heard? That was the wasps apparently noticing my entry into the office and their displeasure with my presence. Had they been able to penetrate the glass in our window, I would’ve been mercilessly attacked.

I wish I could embed a small video into this blog so you could see and hear and experience the viciousness with which they tried to attack me when I lightly tapped on the window. It gives fresh and scary perspective to the adage warning against ‘stirring a hornets’ nest.’

Why So Many Wasps?

I had to wonder, though. After living in this house for almost 35 years and having no issues with wasps of any sort, why was I suddenly encountering at least three different kinds this summer?

And what in the world was with their undertaking a massive nest right in my face, literally on the window of our office?

And then I remembered: I’d even been stung by a wasp a few weeks earlier (exactly two weeks earlier, as a matter of fact), when I’d taken a friend to sit by the Tohickon.

I never would have guessed the message Wasps were bringing.

(T-802)

Come At Me – Day 308

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Praying Mantis – Photo: L. Weikel

Come At Me!

This is Sheila, my Boston Terrier’s, favorite time of year. Why? Because she delights in the opportunity to indulge in a diet of crunchy greens, and for a few days (perhaps a week?) each year, there are an abundance of such ‘crunchy greens’ just waiting for her to discover them.

Young Love Gone Wrong

I know, it’s unseemly to make light of the grievous massacre that occurs each and every year at this time.

I’m actually not sure if it’s a ritualistic ‘crossing of the road’ that drives this species specifically at this time of year to cross the road in droves – consequently getting smooshed in droves by oblivious human drivers.

Or is it the heady euphoria (pun intended) of mating with one’s beloved, knowing deep down inside that once your primal urge to pass along your genetic material is sated, you will literally get your head bitten off by your partner in gratitude for your winged passion?

Roadkill Buffet

Whatever the cause, Sheila is delighted to offer her services as canine cleanup crew.

No kidding, it probably took us 15 minutes longer than usual to get around the circuit (the walk around – 2.2 miles)  precisely because Sheila was busy prying up dead bodies from the macadam surface and relishing her favorite annual delicacy: Praying Mantis (PM).

Honestly, it was tragic how many Praying Mantises did not make it from one side of the road to the other.

One, however, was entirely affronted when Spartacus (Sheila’s enthusiastic son, who actually doesn’t care for the taste of Praying Mantises and would much rather prefer a random crushed hickory nut) ran up to it to determine whether or not it was alive.

BACK OFF! – or – Come At Me!*

Indeed, it was very much alive, thank you, not only whirring its wings at him in indignation, but also ‘putting up its dukes’ in a bellicose and authentically pugnacious attitude. Not having a taste for PM to start with, and not necessarily looking for a fight with anything for a second thing, Spartacus was easily swayed to leave it the heck alone. (*This is a ‘PG’ translation of my perception of just what that PM was saying to Spartacus when he went up to it and sniffed it.)

I immediately took its photo, trying to capture the indignation.

Of course, as I stood there, no fewer than three automobiles came through and passed us. The fact that we were seeing untoward carnage as we walked, necessitated I break my usual rule of non-interference. So after nudging the Praying Mantis failed to get it to move to the side of the road, I decided to gently grab one of its wings to toss it into the grass beside the road.

Aiding and Abetting Survival

This effort seemed to work well enough to at least save this one, very full-bellied, Praying Mantis. (I only noticed the girth of its abdomen when it landed almost upside down in the tall grasses beside the road.) I’m hoping it was a female, so I can imagine having saved millions of nymphs.

Anyway, since the primary lesson of Praying Mantis is ‘stillness,’ I’m going to close this post out and find some stillness myself – with my head on my pillow.

While the Circle of Life can be harsh, I at least took some comfort in Sheila’s exuberant appreciation of these “Zen Mantises.” (You know, the ones that were “one with the road.”)

Not everyone who aims to cross the road makes it to the other side. But at least there’s a lovable Boston Terrier willing to run cleanup on Tory Road.

Praying Mantis – Closer to the side of the road – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-803)

Another Precious Sighting – Day 307

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Eagle Overhead – Photos: L. Weikel

Another Precious Sighting

I’m going to share with you the four photos I managed to take of the amazing sighting we experienced on our walk today.

They’re crappy. But they were the best I could manage with an iPhone. I was so excited to capture the magnificence of this creature as it soared in massive, ever increasing spirals overhead. But as the spirals grew in radius, they actually brought this symbol of both Spirit and Freedom closer and closer to us as we crested the hill about half a mile from our home.

I’m going to post the photos I got in serial order, but again, I’m disappointed that the zoom was not nearly powerful enough to capture our first-hand experience.

And my disappointment is mostly rooted in the fact that my family goes bonkers when we’re graced with a visit from Eagle. (OK, I probably go the most bonkers. But they at least act pretty  excited by the experience too.)

It’s Not Just Me

I actually don’t think it’s all an act, either. At least on Karl’s part. That’s because just now, before he went upstairs to bed, he reminded me of the first eagle we ever saw in the wild. It was in Maine, on Mount Desert Island, 27 years ago – and we only saw one. Very briefly.

And then we saw a few more when we went to the state of Washington in the early 2000s.

We never thought we’d experience the return of the amazing birds to our home environment here in Bucks County. But we have, and it is a tremendous accomplishment for environmentalists.

THANK YOU to those who cared enough to get rid of DDT and other pesticides. (And keep caring, in spite of the current insanity.)

Eagle Overhead – Photos: L. Weikel

Eagle Overhead – Photos: L. Weikel

Eagle Overhead – Photos: L. Weikel

 

(T-804)

Of Course It’s Cloudy – Day 306

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Of Course It’s Cloudy!

It’s so frustrating how often it seems to be cloudy outside when a full moon, an eclipse, a meteor shower, or any other such celestial event is taking place.

Mind you, I’ve witnessed some very cool atmospheric and ‘cosmic’ events. So many, I suppose, that I really have no standing to complain. But hey – it’s Friday the 13thand the last time a full moon will take place on this date until I am 90 damn years old.

I would like to have seen it, documented it in my journal, perhaps even made an, albeit woefully inadequate, attempt to snap a shot of it for posterity. But no.

Now I have to do my best to cling to this mortal coil for another 30 years, just so I can point to this cranky-ass blog post and say, “See? I was aware of the last one, and I hung in there another thirty years just to finally SEE this one!”

Another Score for Journaling

One interesting little vignette, though: I checked and found that I did, in fact, make an entry in my journal back on Friday, October 13, 2000. And the very first sentence I wrote was: “FULL MOON (in Aries, no less).” (The ‘no less’ comment was because my sun sign is Aries. Therefore I obviously felt that full moon might be tweaking me a bit more powerfully.)

I didn’t make any reference to the fact that the full moon was also falling on a Friday the 13th. This was early internet days, definitely pre-Google and pre-FB, so the heightened awareness of occurrences like these (and perhaps even more relevantly, their relative either commonplace nature or rarity) were much less well known. I probably didn’t bat an eye at the confluence of these two events. Indeed, had I known that it would not occur again until this day, one month shy of 19 years later, I would have mentioned it in my journal – and pondered what my life might be like all those years in the future.

Twenty Years Ago

I was entering the final stages of publication of Owl Medicine. Good grief, that’s depressing. To think – I published my book that long ago and still haven’t followed up with the sequel(s).

In that entry, I also discuss creating my website, which I initially set up under www.sagebearpress.com. (If you click on that link, you’ll see I’ve kept that name and simply reroute visitors to my Owl Medicine site, which, back then, I was only toying with setting up as a website.

My Reward for the Day: A Reminder

As I’ve found happens more often than I can say, once I went back and started reading my entry for October 13, 2000, I was drawn into indulging my curiosity over what else was going on in our lives and occupying my mind at that time.

And that’s when I discovered quite a surprise.

A week after that Friday the 13th full moon co-incidence, I’d apparently found a bit more time to write in my journal and therefore covered a lot more ground in my entry of October 20th than I had on the 13th.

As background, a year or so earlier, I had scaled down my law practice to a substantial degree in order to focus upon the final stages of writing, editing, and publishing Owl Medicine. Given that OM was nearly ready to ‘hatch,’ I was contemplating my full-bore return to the workforce, and I was weighing whether I wanted to reinvigorate my private law practice or branch into some other (as yet unknown) area.

Without going into the somewhat maudlin self-assessment I was engaged in that day, I have to admit I was astonished to read that I considered “…the stuff I (…) do ‘best’ is listening.”

Of course, I lamented at that time that I probably could never get paid enough to contribute meaningfully to our family’s well-being by just ‘listening.’

Listening – It’s Been the Theme of My Life

What I guess I’m surprised by is how listening has been such a persistent and critically important aspect of my life for so many years. Actually, it’s the underlying theme of my life. And yet – I’m always surprised by how important it’s always been to me.

I wonder why I’m surprised?

All I know is that on this full moon, on this Friday the 13th, I’m deciding to take my love for and commitment to listening to the next level.

(T-805)

Inspiration for this Full Moon – Day 305

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Inspiration for this Full Moon

Tomorrow (Friday, September 13th, 2019) a full moon will occur. It’ll also be, obviously, a ‘Friday the 13th.’ Astrologically, the fact that it is ‘Friday the 13th’ has no bearing on anything. Indeed, in my opinion, the whole ‘Friday the 13th’ frenzy and superstition that occurs is unwarranted.

Personally, I’ve always liked the number 13 and don’t consider it to be unlucky. It’s a number often associated with Goddess energy, as there are actually 13 moons in a year. And my eldest son, Karl, was born on the 13th– albeit not on a Friday. Then again…I suppose an argument could be made… No. I’m not going there.

A Rare Occurrence

Having a full moon, which so many people associate with wacky behavior, increased sensitivity, ‘lunacy,’ etc., land on a Friday the 13th is a pretty rare occurrence. Apparently, the last time it occurred was on October 13, 2000, and the next one won’t occur until August 13th, 2049.

I wonder if I noticed anything particularly difficult or outlandish happening in the world at large or personally 20 years ago. I should check my journals!

A Lot Going On

Astrologically, however, this full moon has a lot of aspects that make tomorrow and the next few days hold a lot of potentially challenging aspects. That’s because the moon is opposite not only the sun (which is what makes it, technically, a ‘full moon’), but it’s also opposite three other planets that are hanging around quite close to (considered ‘conjunct’) the sun.

There are other things going on as well – aspects that, considered together, as I said above, could make things quite challenging.

Believing as I do that forewarned is forearmed, I’m going to once again provide you with a link to the most recent Pele Report. As usual, if your eyes glaze over when the position of planets and their aspects to each other are discussed (which may have been triggered simply by reading my paragraph, above), I strongly encourage you to just be patient and wait for Kaypacha to speak directly to the camera. What he has to say in this report is pretty fascinating and definitely worth considering – not only how it applies to your own life, but also how it plays out in the larger world.

The Past Coming Up…to Bite Us?

All full moons ask us to consider what has come to fruition in our life, reached its fullness, or is perhaps reaching a point where it needs to be shed. At the very least, a full moon asks us to notice whether intentions we set at the new moon have borne fruit.

Obviously, sometimes seeds planted take longer than two weeks to germinate and even begin to grow. So the light shed by the full moon may not be illuminating the product of seeds we planted only two weeks ago. It may be reflecting the culmination of ideas or intentions set at a new moon that occurred months ago. (Yet another resoundingly excellent reason to keep a journal.)

This Full Moon In Particular

But this particular full moon seems to be calling up major lessons from the past. Karma, if you will. Asking us to clear out the accumulation of repercussions of things we said or done in the past, shed it, let it go, surrender to it, so we can move beyond the weight of the past to something entirely new – and much more free.

One major gift we can give ourselves to help us navigate these times is silence.

I encourage you to give yourself the 30 minutes or so it will take to listen to Kaypacha’s Pele Report. He also provides some links to help us all ground the energies that are bombarding us so we can navigate these times without losing our balance.

To be clear, it doesn’t matter that you’re listening to it a few days after September 11th. He discusses aspects that are occurring over the course of several days. And for some reason, when I listened to it today, I got the strong sense that I should share it with all of you.

I hope you have an amazing Friday the 13th, filled with insight and illumination, magic and manifestation of your dreams. Go out and howl at that full moon! Maybe we’ll hear each other.

(T-806)

A Lot of Nothing – Day 304

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A Lot of Nothing

I’m sitting here on my couch this evening wracking my brain for something – anything – to write about.

I shouldn’t really say ‘anything,’ since if I weren’t exercising a modicum of discernment, I could write about all sorts of things that are parading through my brain. And that’s where the title of this post comes in: A Lot of Nothing.

There are, indeed, many subjects I could riff on this evening. The obvious, extremely low-hanging fruit, would be 9/11. I don’t want to write about 9/11, though.

If I did start writing about 9/11, I’m sure I’d go down the rabbit hole and rant at the way the first responders to that horrible situation have been treated by Mitch McConnell and the Republicans. And I don’t want to do that.

I don’t want to write about the fires continuing to burn in the Amazon.

I’m decidedly sad about the children being forced to live in cages in Arizona – beyond sad. Sad is such a pathetic emotion. I’m outraged. I’m disgusted. I’m furious, and I don’t want to say it, but I’m bordering on feeling heartsick over what these people are enduring.

But I don’t want to write about them. Or this issue. It’s just all so relentlessly awful.

Weather Anyone?

Yes, indeed. I could write about the weather. But no; I won’t.

You’re welcome.

An Awful Thing Tonight

I could write about something awful that happened during our walk tonight.

The sun was long set and Mama Killa (pronounced as in Spanish: the ‘ll’ being like a soft ‘y’ as in ‘yah’) was blasting her reflected light down upon us, even casting distinct shadows, as if we were illuminated by a spotlight.

Two vehicles – big ones – at least in the range of Suburbans, but possibly even Enclaves or Armadas (you do have to roll your eyes at the names of those beasts, don’t you?) – were barreling toward us from the direction of the park (High Rocks), which technically closed at sunset. We made sure Sheila and Spartacus (as well as our own carcasses) were well off the side of the road, and Karl had his flashlight with green flashing warning light in full display, just to be safe.

As the first vehicle approached, its headlight flooded the pavement in front of us and I suddenly saw a snake absolutely booking it across the road. It was slithering in characteristic ‘s’ fashion astonishingly quickly – but it was headed in the wrong direction. It was headed away from us, toward the grass on the opposite side, almost certainly because it didn’t want to share space with us and the pups. But that was the ‘long way’ across the road.

Just as quickly, I could see that the Armada was going to mow it down. I knew it. I could tell simply by the speed and momentum of both snake and vehicle that the serpent would get clipped by the Armada’s far tire – the one closest to the edge of the road where the snake was headed. I yelled out, but I’m certain that not only didn’t the driver hear me, but even if they had, they wouldn’t have had any idea why I was crying out.

Giving Us a Wider Berth

I’ve been telling myself all night that the driver didn’t see the snake. That I didn’t really see the truck move over to the right even more – just to make sure they hit the creature that was brilliantly exposed by the headlights splayed across the pavement and moving as quickly as possible to get out of the way.

Even Karl had the same thought, but couched it this way: “I’m sure they moved over just then to give us a wider berth.”

Yeah. Sure. We can tell ourselves that. (And even if that is the case, I feel bad that we frightened the creature and caused it to move into harm’s way.)

So…that’s what I was thinking about tonight. Life. Death. Random loss. Cruel indifference. A lot of nothing.

Geez, it’s nights like these that you all probably wish I had some ‘canned’ pre-written posts about kittens. Or clouds.

Garter snake – Photographer unknown

P.S. It was a garter snake – a decent size, about 12” – and I moved it into the grass at the side of the road, hoping its head injury wasn’t life threatening. I’m pretty sure I was fooling myself, but I wanted to give it a chance to survive if it could.

(T-807)

Cool Day, Today… – Day 303

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Cool Day, Today…

Numerologically, anyway. Take a deeper look: Today is Day 303 and the number of posts left to write is 808.

So symmetrical. So easily fitting into the 1111 Devotion discipline and the mystique of this Act of Power.

Even though today (tonight) is the technical 303/808 post, I’m going to go with the sense that by paying attention to it tonight, and it then being read mostly tomorrow, I am activating an intention for the portals represented by the double 11s to swing open over the next 24 hours.

Perhaps nothing will happen. Perhaps breakthroughs will occur. Maybe some within our personal lives or sharing our physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual ‘space’ with us who may have been waiting to make their transitions will choose to do so now. We also have the power, strength, and illumination of the full moon (culminating this Friday the 13th) to augment the “Power of the Portals.”

Not a Public Number

There probably won’t be any significant portal crossings over the next 24 hours because the significance of the 303/808 (11/11) is connected solely to me and my writing. There could be those of you who resonate with me and either my family, Karl, or simply the whole concept of 11/11 and will embrace this double portal opportunity with gusto.

I’m hoping (and setting the intention) of only traveling through portals I’m comfortable returning through (to this realm), as well.

Epiphany

Ha ha – I just had a realization. I received an email from Apple just this evening, as I was preparing to start writing my post. It was very distracting. Why? Because it was an announcement of the new iPhone 11 Pro.

Yeah… I opened up the email because I could see a reference to an ‘improved camera’ in this newest model. You didn’t have to ask me twice to check that baby out.

One of the greatest unexpected delights of writing my 1111 Devotion posts is the fun I’ve had taking photos each day as potential prompts for the evening’s post. I know I’ve mentioned a number of times how I’ve thought about you, my readers, when encountering unique circumstances or witnessing moments of singular beauty and trying to capture that moment or experience so I could share it with you later.

Filled to the Brim

The downside to my desire to enthusiastically share my encounters with you both visually and via prose is that I’ve filled my iPhone to the brim. Over the past couple of weeks I’ve struggled to take photos each day because I keep getting the ‘iPhone Storage Full” message. It’s frustrated the hell out of me, I’ll be honest.

I’ve diligently attempted to go back into my photo archives and delete many photos. I’ve done this every single time I’ve tried to snag a shot and been thwarted.

And my weirdness about ‘Big Brother’ (not MY big brother – no, Henry, I’m not calling you weird, although the moniker could fit) has translated to my not wanting to store all of my ‘stuff’ on the Cloud. I know, I know. It’s probably a ridiculous hang up I have. But there it is.

As a result, I’ve been painstakingly deleting photos and videos every single day for a few weeks at least, trying to free up some storage so I can take more photos.

Just this afternoon, in fact, my iPhone had become so clogged full of photos and music and such that it wouldn’t even let me text. It kept automatically exiting from the camera mode. So I ordered a nifty gadget recommended by a dear friend that is specifically designed to be used to download/offload photos and stuff from one’s iPhone easily and efficiently – and then either store it on that drive or transfer the saved info to a computer.

But NOW…

Lust

Oh dear…now there is the aptly named iPhone 11 Pro. I know I don’t need it. But wow, I sure could use it to take some cool shot for you guys. Just tonight I would’ve been writing about vultures and death (we ran into at least 20 vultures snacking on a dead deer during our walk – but my phone kept blinking out of camera mode) instead of lusting after a new iPhone.

I don’t know. I’m thinking there’s an important connection between the 1111 Devotion, the 303/808 number of the post occurring tonight, and the iPhone 11 being announced just this evening are all sending an unequivocal message. Maybe a celebration is in order?

What do you think?

(T-808)