Month: December 2019

Winter Solstice – Day 404

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First Lights – Photo: L. Weikel

Winter Solstice    

When you read this post it will be December 21st, 2019, the shortest day of the year. Hence, it is also the longest night.

I don’t know about you (although I can guess), but is sure has felt like a long, dark night all week.

I’m ready for the light to begin filtering back into our lives.

Speaking of Which

Of course, speaking of darkness, it seems only appropriate that I mention probably one of my favorite things about this time of year: the lights; especially the lights on our Christmas tree.

I adore sitting in our living room, all the regular lights turned out, the tv off, and just the candles in the windows and the tree lights illuminating the darkness. A couple of evenings over the next two weeks or so – perhaps even tomorrow night (who knows?) – I’d love to spend the entire evening reading, the fire burning in the fireplace, the lights twinkling, and the darkness remaining at bay outside.

In the Meantime

I want to remind you that the I AM Solstice Symposium is taking place tomorrow (Saturday, December 21st, 2019). Tune in! There’s a great lineup of inspiring speakers who will be sharing all sorts of insight, wisdom, strategies, lore, and opportunities for connection.

I’ll be speaking live at 5:30 p.m. (EST). With the theme of this year’s I AM Symposium being Navigating Turbulent Winds, I thought it might be helpful to discuss some strategies I’ve learned over the years on how to “Batten Down the Hatches.”

It’ll be dark outside (around here anyway) by the time I start speaking. So light a candle, bask in the glow of the holidays, and invite the lights of peace, hope, and optimism (and maybe a little mirth thrown in, too) to enter all our lives. Snuggle up on your couch and join me for a fireside chat.

Wishing you a Joyful Solstice. Give birth to the light within your Self.

Photo from Deborah Hinton’s post on The Wyrding Way

(T-707)

Icy Night – Day 403

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Photo: L. Weikel

Icy Night      

Wow, the temperatures were frigid today. Winter is most definitely coming.

On nights like tonight, which begin far earlier than during the spring, summer, and fall, it takes every ounce of gumption for us to haul our carcasses around our shorter (2.2 mile) loop. You can forget even the thought of us traversing the longer (4.0 mile) loop. Not when temperatures are hovering in the low 20s or even lower.

Oppo-partners

Karl and I are so lucky that, in so many ways, we’re opposites. Don’t get me wrong: on fundamental beliefs, we’re completely on the same page. But when it comes to spur-of-the-moment choices or decisions, or even just simple approaches to problems, we come at them from opposite sides of the spectrum.

For instance, if we need to get somewhere and there are two choices of routes, with each option roughly similar in travel time: inevitably, we will choose the opposite of each other. If I am debating with myself which of two meals to cook for dinner and I ask Karl which he would like, inevitably, he’ll choose the one, if I were completely honest, was my second choice.

It’s really gotten to a point where we can predict our choices, based upon past experience. If we know what either one of us would choose personally, inevitably, choosing the opposite for our spouse will win the day.

Instigators

And so it is that, thankfully, we have each other to poke and prod the other when we don’t feel like walking. I’ve probably written about this before. I should do a search of tag words to see if I can come up with an old post on this subject.

The bottom line, though, is that neither one of us wanted to walk today. And Sheila – wow. Even after we put her jacket and and harness on, she just resolutely stood in front of the fireplace and seemed to fall asleep with her eyes open.

Only Spartacus was enthusiastic about the prospect of going for a walk.

Rewarded For Our Effort

Nevertheless, Karl dressed the dogs before I could even make an argument against walking tonight. And so, as we walked along in the dark of this early evening, marveling at the stars above (and the astonishing size and brightness of Jupiter low in the western sky), we were captivated by the faerie-like, ice coated trees that had retained their cloaks of ice from yesterday. I tried capturing this beauty as we walked up the road and a car, approaching us from around the bend, caused a riot of prisms. For a moment, the glittering beauty was captivating.

I’m grateful that Karl lights a fire under me and goads me into walking some evenings! Especially on an icy night.

(T-708)

A Day of Moment – Day 402

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Photo: L. Weikel

A Day of Moment

If I didn’t write about what happened in the House of Representatives this evening, it would be obvious that I am tiptoeing around the elephant slumbering at my feet.

While I don’t think there’s anything I can say that can provide additional insight into the process we just witnessed, I do feel it is a day of moment that deserves acknowledgment.

Sitting here, I’ve just written and then deleted several variations on paragraphs decrying what I perceive as a perilous path our nation is treading on right now, which is the refusal to have an understanding of a shared reality.

How do you have a reasonable debate with anyone if you cannot agree on something as fundamental as what is fact?

It is seriously mind-bending, for instance, to watch and listen to Republican Congresspeople argue that the impeachment articles were based upon ‘hearsay’ evidence and rail upon the fact that ‘no first-hand evidence was produced’ when the second article of impeachment, Obstruction of Congress, is specifically based upon the President’s outright refusal to allow the White House to comply with the nine subpoenas that were issued demanding documentary evidence as well as compelling testimony from all the people who had direct evidence of the President’s conduct and intentions.

This is utterly insane. And it’s offensive, really, to any logical approach to living in a civilized society.

Can’t Have It Both Ways

To allow a person who is accused of a crime to (a) refuse to comply with a subpoena themselves; and (b) direct all the people who were directly involved (or potentially involved) and who worked directly for that person not to comply with subpoenas is bad enough. Right there, that simple act should speak for itself and give rise to the obvious inferences.

But then to have that person’s defenders use the lack of witnesses, which was the direct result of that refusal to provide witnesses, as evidence that no crime was committed is absolute lunacy. It’s insulting to the rule of law. It’s insulting to our intelligence. And it’s insulting to our ability to engage in actual discourse and debate.

And yet, an entire party in our government right now is making that argument with a straight face. And yelling in rage and faux outrage at anyone who will listen.

I ask you: where do we go from here? How do we create any hope of resolving issues together? Reaching compromises? How do we get to a middle ground if acceding even the existence of shared facts, of a shared reality, is perceived as yielding to the ‘enemy?’

No Shame

It’s also terribly disconcerting to me that it would appear that people don’t care how they appear anymore. I’m not talking about superficial looks or appearances. I mean people no longer seem to care if they are spouting allegations that are blatantly creating double standards.

There appears to be no shame in A accusing B of doing X, all the while A and A’s children, are doing X all the time, in many venues, and in plain sight and broad daylight. What are we teaching our kids about hypocrisy when this blatant example of it is taking place all the time – in our highest institutions?

Sense of Fairness and Justice

As an attorney, I have to admit I’ve always had an affection and respect for, and been a nerd about, our mode of government, our court system, and the sanctity of impartiality. Even when I was a lowly member of our township’s Zoning Hearing Board, I took my oath as a member of the board extremely seriously. I made a point of being impartial, of taking my responsibility to listen to all of the facts and examine all of the evidence from a completely neutral place.

Why? Because that’s the fundamental basis of our society. If we can’t believe in and rely upon the integrity of those we elect or who are appointed to serve us, then we have nothing. We invite anarchy. We end up hopelessly divided and suspicious and cynical.

Day of Moment

Today was a day of moment. Impeachment occurred, and the president was held accountable for abusing his power and obstructing Congress in its job of providing oversight of the executive branch. But this is no reason to celebrate. When not one single Republican put aside their abject refusal to see the hypocrisy of claiming a lack of evidence supporting the first article, and the obvious blocking of provision of that evidence (proof positive of the second article), we are faced with the fact that our country is in deep, deep trouble.

The insanity continues when McConnell states unequivocally that he will not be impartial in a Senate trial on the articles of impeachment – when the very oath he is required to take states: “I solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that in all things appertaining to the trial of the impeachment of the (person being impeached) now pending, I will do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws: so help me God.”

It should be noted that the oath quoted above is one that every Senator must take in order to participate in an impeachment trial. This oath is over and above – and different from – the oath they take as Senators.

Not a Day for Revelry

It’s because of this fundamental breakdown of our ability to agree on simple facts and adhere to logic and reason and a sense of fairness and truth that I find the state of our country terribly distressing – and depressing. If we can’t agree on what is up and what is down, if we can’t agree on what is truth and what is a lie, we cannot expect to have a functioning society, much less a government that is sustainable and respected.

This is a day – and an era – of moment.

(T-709)

Ice and Fire – Day 401

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Icy berries – Photo: L. Weikel

Ice and Fire  

The accuracy of the weather forecasts so far this season has not been impressive. I realize meteorology is an imprecise science, given the whims and vagaries of the elements, but I really thought the field had its act together better than this.

We awakened this morning to a lovely coating of ice on practically everything living: trees, plants, grasses. Not so much coating on inanimate objects, though. And the roads were, luckily, a piece of cake.

There is a crystalline beauty to ice storms, though. And it’s much easier to appreciate that beauty if you are lucky enough not to lose boughs off your trees or electricity due to downed wires. I’m grateful to report that we lost neither limb nor light.

Nevertheless, It Persisted

I was surprised that the coating of ice on all the branches didn’t melt as the day wore on. In fact, even though the temperature hovered right around 33, I actually think some of the coatings grew thicker. In spite of expectations of yielding and bending to thermodynamic facts, the ice nevertheless persisted. All day – and into tonight.

Fire In the Belly

And in spite of the cold and raw temperatures that dominated the day, several hundred people gathered outside Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick’s (R-PA 01) home office to demand that he represent the will of his constituents and vote yes in tomorrow’s impeachment vote in the House of Representatives.

I have to admit, I’m actually starting to feel like an old hand at this protesting stuff. For each cause I’ve been moved to show up for and speak out about (climate change, women’s rights, immigration reform – particularly the separation and caging of families and children – and now impeachment, among others), I’ve found my fellow protestors to be kind, polite, peaceful, yet passionate – with a fire in their belly for what they believe is right and just for all.

The only one of my photos I could upload. (The others will arrive tomorrow via email from my phone to my laptop.) Thanks, VZ wireless. Photo: L. Weikel

A Sense of Melancholy

Perhaps it was the ice. Perhaps it was the rain. Perhaps it was the effect of both working to dampen the fire in everyone’s belly. While there absolutely was a sense of determination in this crowd, a resolute insistence that no one is above the law, the evening felt tempered by a sense of melancholy.

For all the hundreds of people there demanding the president be held accountable for his transgressions, there was a pocket of about 30 of those who feel he is an example of everything that’s right with the world.

What I noticed was their meanness.

A large white diesel pickup truck with the barest excuse for a muffler rode slowly among the rows of parked cars behind the crowd revving its engine. Over and over. Just revving its diesel engine, spewing fumes as it crawled from one row to another, quite obviously on a mission not to park, but to distract and annoy. We made a point of moving deeper into the plaza.

So it was ironic that 45 minutes later, the driver of that same vehicle took notice of us as we were leaving. Just as we were unlocking our car, I heard the familiar revving again. I glanced toward the truck, as it once again started revving its engine as it waited in line to exit the parking lot. The driver, a young man probably in his mid to late 20s, had his window down and his left arm hanging out the window and down the door of the truck’s cab. Picking up on my glance, he looked over at me with a grimace and quite distinctly called me a “fucking whore.”

Really?

He followed it up with a taunt that I should enjoy driving home in my “piece of shit Prius,” then revved his engine again, apparently for emphasis.

Wow. I’d only glanced in his direction precisely because he kept revving his engine. He’d been looking for attention. And when he received it, when I made eye contact, he used the opportunity to hurl an ugly heap of nasty on me.

That’s when the melancholy hit me hardest. I looked at Karl, who I could tell wanted to respond but was actively choosing not to engage, and felt a wave of despair. Talk like that, antagonism toward us as someone ‘other’ than their own family and friends, is disheartening.

Here we are, speaking up and taking a stand for this kid to live in a country where the elite do not have more or better rights than he does. And here he is, taking the part of those who would exploit him at the drop of a hat. Buying the lies that the powerful use to divide us.

I don’t know how to heal the wounds if we can’t even agree on a shared reality anymore.

 

(T-710)

I AM Solstice Symposium – Day 400

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Friends

This will be a short post tonight. I only have about half an hour to get this written, as I’ve been struggling with – no – agonizing over – no – crafting the Hoot Alert I just sent out, advertising the upcoming I AM Solstice Symposium.

To any of you out there who are fluent or even simply conversant in creating marketing materials in the digital age, you probably think I’m exaggerating the effort it took me to send that out. But alas, the struggle is real.

I titled this post “Friends” because the host of the I AM Solstice Symposium, Renee Baribeau, is my friend. Indeed, she is one of those friends who pushes me to break through my comfort zone. She challenges me. She pokes and prods and offers me opportunities that I would otherwise probably never have.

That’s Friendship?

Some of you may be thinking, “Yikes. With friends like that…” But I beg to differ.

To me at least, friends are not people who just rubber stamp your feelings. They listen; yes. They have compassion; absolutely.

But do they indulge you when they think you’re misperceiving who you are or what you have to offer to the world? Do they give you a pass when you think you can’t do something, just because you’ve never done it before?

Not in my book.

To me, being a friend is holding a vision of a person out so they can see themselves from your perspective. Being a friend is refusing to buy their bullshit about what they think they can or can’t say, do, or accomplish. Being a friend is holding them up to a higher aspiration than they dare hold for themselves.

I AM Solstice Symposium

Renee and I have both grown a lot in the past 15 years or so that we’ve known each other. Ever since I met her, she’s been pushing me to “get myself out there.” Our first collaboration was the Business of Healing – a weekend-long event she produced in Joshua Tree, CA in which she persuaded me to speak. This was the first time I’d ever given a ‘class’ of any kind – and the first of many times Renee has pushed me past my comfort zone.

Back then, I was the one who’d published a book. Now look at her: a Hay House author. And not ‘just’ an author with a major publisher, but creator of  Winds of Spirit, a book that is “Winner of the Nautilus Award, Body Mind Spirit President’s Choice Award, Indies Finalist and the Readers’ Choice Award.”

That’s pretty amazing. And I’m very, very proud of her.

When Renee invited me to participate in the first I AM Symposium, I did not readily accept. I really had to think about it.  I was flattered that she asked me, but just the thought of being heard by so many made my blood run cold. If I’m honest, I have to admit that she cajoled me into taking the risk.

This year’s Solstice Symposium is my 4th I AM Symposium event. Obviously, I’m grateful that she thinks enough of me to include me among the roster of the much ‘bigger’ names who are also participating. But even more, I’m grateful that she cared enough to push me past my comfort zone.

Bottom Line

I don’t know if I’ve pushed Renee to break through any of her self-imposed limitations, because I honestly don’t know if I’ve ever seen her let a barrier get in her way. She’s a dynamo. She makes things happen. She’s…indefatigable. And she’s a true friend.

I’m actually extraordinarily lucky. I have more truly amazing friends than anyone’s entitled to have. And I hope they know I try to be to them the type of friend I’ve described above – one that pushes them to be the best and most amazing versions of themselves that they can be. The version of themselves that I see shining out of them whenever I look at them.

Please join us this weekend for the I AM Solstice Symposium. For more fun, and to bring the sacred into your home in a unique manner, sign up to be a Fire Tender. It’s a cool way to join a community of soulful people who listen to the wind.

(T-711)

Fighting Something Off – Day 399

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Cabin Run – Photo: L. Weikel

Fighting Something Off      

I’ve been off my game all day today. I woke up with a slight headache, and my equilibrium has been just a tad sketchy. I felt a little too cold at times and then a little too warm at others. That never bodes well.

And cranky doesn’t even begin to describe my attitude. Surly might be a tad more precise.

I’m hoping that the snowstorm they’re calling for tomorrow will bring the shift in energy I require to transmute whatever is trying to get a toe-hold in my system.

Solstice Arrives On Saturday

I’m making final preparations for my interview this coming Saturday. I’m pleased to announce that I will be participating in my 4thannual I AM Symposium, hosted by my dear friend Renee Baribeau.

While I’ll be announcing the event more formally in tomorrow’s blog post, I’m hoping you’ll be interested in joining me and the 16 other cool people who will be sharing insights and meditations, journeys and rituals on Saturday, December 21st, 2019.

My particular talk/interview will be taking place at 5:30 p.m. EST. I’ll share more tomorrow.

The format for this year’s chats will be 20 minute presentations. Different perspectives and unique suggestions to welcome in the new year and new decade in ways that resonate with you.

Become a Fire Tender

One way to have fun and feel part of a much larger community as we celebrate this shortest day of the year is to become a Fire Tender. By keeping a flame alight during the darkness of the Winter Solstice (with acknowledgement to our Southern Hemisphere siblings that they, too, are welcome to hold the light for us up here in the dark!) we share the hope that the light will return to us in these darkest of days.

It’s a big job – and hopefully many of us will take up the candle.

I’ll provide you with links to the I AM Solstice Symposium tomorrow night, including a link to become a Fire Tender. For those seeking community while maintaining a bit of introverted seclusion, this is a great opportunity.

In the meantime, enjoy these photos I took today of sunlight peeking out and glinting off Cabin Run, a tributary to my lovely Tohickon.

Cabin Run December sunset – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-712)

180 Degree Attitude Shift – Day 398

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The Turkey Distractors – Photo: L. Weikel

180 Degree Attitude Shift   

I had an interesting evolutionary experience yesterday. I underwent a 180 degree attitude shift as a result of a most unexpected encounter.

Yesterday afternoon, I ran out to the grocery store to pick up a few items. As I made my way home, navigating the puddles of rainwater accumulating on the asphalt and feeling the weight of the creeping fog that matched my mood all too well, I found myself behind a Bucks County Transport Company bus, it’s blinking yellow light caroming off the droplets of water suspended in midair.

The bus had slowed to a stop to allow a neighbor’s disabled brother to disembark, backpack clutched to his chest, his steps carefully measured so as not to lose his balance. His sister, a person I consider to be a passing acquaintance (quite literally, since we really only know each other from when she and her husband jog by us as we take our walks), was standing just up the driveway, waiting to greet him with a wide smile and open arms.

I felt so privileged in that moment to witness such unadulterated and spontaneous love and kindness.

A Moment Disrupted

My appreciation of that moment was jarred out of place by the revving of an engine immediately behind me. Looking in my rearview mirror, I saw a massive pickup truck looming over me, pulled up so close that its headlights were barely visible. It revved its engine again, and I could sense that it wanted to swing out into the oncoming lane and pass both me and the bus ahead of me, but was being forced to stay behind us by approaching traffic.

The impatience was palpable. The judgment, too.

But the bus resumed its route just as the oncoming car went by, and sealing the pickup’s fate of having to remain behind us was the approach of a second car in the opposing lane.

Just down a piece, my road splits off from the main thoroughfare. The bus bore left, remaining on the primary road, while I took the offshoot leading to my home. Regrettably, the gigantic pickup followed me. It continued ‘up my butt’ until I pulled straight into my driveway just to get out of its way. Unsurprisingly, its engine gunned as the impediment to its haste (yours truly) was removed. It tore down my road, far exceeding the 30 mile an hour limit.

It Must Be the Season

As I started writing this post, I realize that the attitude that clicked into gear in my head at that moment was not all that far off from something that happened last year.

You guessed it. When the pickup revved its mag engine yet again and sped down my road, I just had to see where this jerk was going. I backed out onto my road and started following the truck. We went about three quarters of a mile, with me keeping a decent enough distance behind that I was in no danger of being perceived as following. I saw where the truck coasted through a stop sign and turned off onto another road, but as I approached that same stop sign a flock of about 12 turkeys burst out from the left side of the road, crossed right in front of me, and landed pell-mell on the wooded bank above me.

Well, I could not let this opportunity pass. I stopped the car, turned on my 4-ways, and got out, all the while talking to the turkeys and thanking them for the gift of their presence. I told them how much more fun it was to be encountering them than chasing after some jerk.

Even More Gifts

As I took the photo above, I heard a couple muted gobbles and turned back to where the dozen had emerged. I was astounded to see at least another two dozen turkeys running through the leaves, down the bank on the opposite side and splashing through the creek that runs parallel to the road. They were running, half flying, and just making a total ruckus.

I was enchanted. I’ve never seen so many turkeys in one place.

Suddenly, all the turkeys that had burst out in front of me, crossing the road and breaking my determined chase after the impatient pickup started flying back across the road to return to their flock. I took a video, but it’s mostly of me swirling and twirling about, trying to catch them as they took off all around me. It was amazing and they had me laughing out loud. And the aerodynamic skills of these hefty birds (check out that photo) were, umm, comical to say the least.

And so it was that a 180 degree shift in attitude was the gift Turkey – actually a whole enormous flock of them – brought me yesterday. The delight they brought me was a reminder to focus on the love I’d just witnessed at my neighbor’s home.

Funny though – while it didn’t serve me to focus on the unconsciousness and impatience of the bully pickup, I do send it gratitude for leading me to a reminder of what’s important. Without it, I would’ve missed that remarkable encounter.

Turkey butts – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-713)

Strange Discovery – Day 397

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Frog in Palm – Photo: L. Weikel

Strange Discovery

Even thought it’s raw outside right now, it’s raining, so I know it’s still above freezing. That wasn’t the case the other day, when I went to my office and made a most peculiar discovery. No, the temperatures were definitely frigid that afternoon. The inch or so of snow that had fallen the night before and into the morning was showing no signs of melting.

I pulled my car into my office parking lot and backed up so I was close to the rear entrance. (Yes, in case you’re wondering, the Grey Ghost, aka Good Girl, is still my faithful steed.) I flung my door open and stepped one foot onto the black macadam. Just as I started to take a step with my other foot, I noticed a small stone roughly the size of a half dollar right in my path.

I’m always looking at stones, appreciating them for their beauty or distinct features, and this one made me do a double take. It was mottled, possibly sporting some lichen or something, judging from its coloring. Yet it was strangely symmetrical.

I bent down to pick it up and realized some of the markings resembled little feet tucked up to a cream colored belly. Gingerly, I picked it up and immediately knew – this was no stone.

Frozen Nugget

I was utterly dismayed to realize my discovery was no stone. It was a small frog. And it was frozen – frozen in a perfectly serene, nearly zen-like pose of tranquility.

When I picked it up, honestly, it felt as if I were holding an ice cube in my palm. All the while, I’m talking to it (as I am wont to do), telling it how glad I was that I hadn’t backed the car over it and squished it, or worse yet, stepped on it. Meanwhile, my mind was flipping through it its internal catalogue of random amphibian facts.

Hibernation

I’ll admit it; I seemed to recall that frogs hibernate in mud at the bottom of ponds and such, which made me wonder if they sometimes freeze, and then ultimately reanimate, essentially, when their bodies warm up. I supposed I could’ve looked it up, but I had work to do. So I brought the little guy with me, hoping I might thaw him out. I figured I could set him up with his own pad (couldn’t resist) and nurture him through the winter.

I felt like it was a possibility. Its skin was very supple. It didn’t feel at all as if the creature was dead, other than the fact that, underneath that soft, responsive skin felt like a little ice cube.

I took him into my office, set him down carefully while I did my errands, and brought him back outside with me. I wanted to hold him with both hands and really pump some energy and warmth back into his little body. So I brought him home and did just that. I even held my hands close to the fireplace in our living room.

Frozen Frog Smiling – Photo: L. Weikel

Unrequited Effort

Sadly, I have no miracle to report. But I did managed to snag some pretty odd photos.

It wasn’t until I embraced the realization that no matter how much gentle heat I tried to radiate into him, nothing was going to bring him back, that I actually took a long hard look at him.

He was smiling. And his legs were tucked up underneath his body just perfectly. Everything about this little creature embodied complete surrender; certainly, no struggle or fear.

I kept him in the house for another hour or so, just in case he was thawing so gradually that, well, I don’t know. He might still spring forth revivified. When I realized for sure that he was dead, I started to take him out to the small patch of woods to a tree with a beautiful spot at its base where I take all creatures that may die around us: mice, birds, what have you.

Kin

And that’s when I remembered the large toad sculpture (with a smaller one on its back) that I have permanently guarding one of our maple trees. I placed the little guy on the back of the smaller frog (or toad – whatever), and it looked like a perfect resting place. It looks like it found its kin.

The whole experience and discovery was odd. But again, as I told him, I’m glad he wasn’t squished unceremoniously in my office parking lot. And I’m glad he shared his beauty with me. Yet I am puzzled by the perfection of his death and the truly bizarre place I found him. I can’t help but wonder how he ended up in that spot, in that position, frozen.

And that smile…wow.

Found his kin – Photo: L. Weikel

 

(T-714)

Busted – Day 396

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Busted   

Yes, I’m busted. Tonight’s post is going to be especially short because, I must admit, I was distracted by the end-of-day proceedings in the House of Representatives. I got lost in watching events unfold in the Judiciary Committee (yeah, I’m a government nerd) and was shocked when I almost randomly glanced at the time and realized it is nearly 1:00 a.m.

I’m choosing the photo that’s accompanying this post deliberately (obviously, since I thoughtfully choose all of my photos), because I want to believe there’s a rainbow coming for all of us.

There’s certainly a lot (a lot, a lot, a lot) of angst, strife, and abject despair over the political situations around the world these days. The apparent results in Great Britain being the latest example. Obviously not counting what’s going on over here because everything so far, over here, has been preliminary.

Full Moon

That moon is shining just as brightly tonight as she did last night. The blue light casting stark, dark shadows just feels a bit colder, if you ask me.

Personally, I’m still purging. Luckily not in the physical (barfing) sense, but purging nonetheless.

Hang in there, friends. We will survive.

(T-715)

Final Full Moon of the Decade – Day 395

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Rising Full Moon (peaked 12:12 a.m., 12/12/2019) – Photo: L. Weikel

Final Full Moon of the Decade

Surely you know me well enough now to figure there’d be no way I could let this full moon take place this evening, reaching its apex just past midnight (Eastern Standard Time), without mentioning it.

I’m fairly dedicated to keeping track of the moon’s phases. I’ve found that the satellite that causes our tides and, in fact, holds a great deal of sway over all the liquids on our planet (from the seas to our own blood, to even the fluidity of our emotions) has a much bigger impact on our day to day lives than most care to admit.

Many people don’t even realize the moon’s influence on our lives. They literally could not tell you where it rises or where it sets; what phase it is in on any given day; and rare is the person who could offer the astrological sign it is in (especially since it moves through a sign every 2.5 days).

Frozen full moon – stars and frozen drops of snow on branches; Photo: L. Weikel

But the sense that this full moon is particularly momentous is probably lingering in the back of the minds of many – even those who would not ordinarily pay attention to that massive orb in the night sky. That’s because the moon will reach her fullest at 12:12 a.m. EST on the 12thday of the 12thmonth of 2019 (which, if you fancy your numerology, which you know I do) adds up to 12 (2+0+1+9)*. And on some level, just as people always seem to get a little, shall we say wackier? intense? during a full moon regardless of whether they know it is a full moon, I suspect almost everyone is feeling a tickle around their edges tonight.

Personally Speaking

For myself, though, I have to say all these 12s remind me of all the 11s I was so keenly aware of on 11/11/11. I recall sitting within my mesa at 11:11 a.m. (EST), holding space and clearing my mind, not having the slightest clue that my life would change cataclysmically at 11:11 p.m. (PST) that evening.

So, while I tend to be a ‘glass half full’ kinda girl, I’d be less than completely honest if I denied feeling the tiniest bit of trepidation at this grand parade of numbers.

The truth is, it feels momentous. The truth is, even though you can argue that the 12:12 timing, at least, is less than momentous given that it is only one time zone out of 24, especially when you’re living in that time zone – it feels significant.

And there are, of course, a plethora of ‘takes’ on what this full moon portends. There is Hare in the Moon, Chani Nicholas, and my favorite guy who makes me laugh while listening to his insight, Kaypacha. But they all pretty much agree that this full moon, in conjunction with all the other intense astrological aspects the planets are making to each other, portends great change.

Full moon far afield – Photo: L. Weikel

 

Cleansing and Releasing

For my part, I’ve opened Sacred Space and am allowing my mesa to bask in the intensity of Mama Killa’s light. Using my mesa and the khuyas (sacred stones) that are contained within it as proxies for me and various aspects of myself and my life, I am surrendering to the power and wisdom of letting go of what no longer serves me. I’m asking Her to burn off the dross.

This is also the final full moon of a decade that, from my perspective, has been filled with blindsides. I wish to shake off the detritus of this decade in order to enter the 20s with renewed hope, refreshed vision, and an abundance of joyful energy.

Ah yes…

It is now 12:21. My time outside was magical. If you didn’t get a chance to go outside tonight, I hope you will give yourself that gift tomorrow night. Even if only for five minutes, go outside. Look up. Be still. Give thanks.

I’m ready to complete this post and hit ‘publish.’ For whatever reason, as I stood outside in the stark brilliance of the FULL moon minutes ago, I felt compelled to wish peace to all Beings who are suffering in any way. May we all let go of the burdens we’ve accumulated this decade, especially those that weigh heavy on our hearts.

*And yes, of course, this means that we are being inundated with 3s, since 12 reduces to a 3. But I don’t want to go down that road at the moment.

(T-716)