Month: June 2020

Holding My Breath – Day 596

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A Little Bird Told Me – Photo: L. Weikel

Holding My Breath

As this week unfolds, we’re awaiting the publication of more decisions by the United States Supreme Court. One case I think a lot of people are on the edge of their seats over is whether the president will be compelled to release his tax returns to Congress. I’m both holding my breath in anticipation of the decision and not holding my breath for actual justice to be dispensed.

It makes me sad to admit how skeptical I am that this Supreme Court will do its job and rein in this president’s belief that he is above the law. And that is the Supreme Court’s job. The existence of our three co-equal branches of government and our system of checks and balances are integral and unique to our country’s identity and success.

Simply put, if he is given a green light to essentially thumb his nose at the subpoena power of Congress to engage in legitimate oversight, we are in for a most calamitous decline.

But let’s face it: we’re already there. The decline is real and it is precipitous.

Eclipse Season Revelations

The behavior of this administration is relentlessly exhausting. I know I’m not saying anything new or tipping you off to a perspective that’s unique. But you have to admit that, if eclipses are said to bring to light information that’s been hidden, we’re certainly experiencing horrifying revelations on a daily basis.

First (and obviously, this is not the ‘first’ exposure – it’s simply one of the more recent major issues uncovered since this eclipse season began at the beginning of this month) was the overt racism and fascistic response to the Black Lives Matter protests. The militaristic reaction to mostly peaceful protests and the use of tear gas, rubber bullets, and astounding threats of force against our own citizens were beyond the pale.

Then there is the admission that the nationwide availability of the testing for Covid-19, which is essential to helping our professionals accurately track, trace, and isolate the spread of this virus, is being deliberately ‘slowed down’ at the behest of the president.

Worse Yet?

And now we have an abundance of reporting that our president has known since February that Russia was putting a bounty on the heads of our troops in Afghanistan – and yet he has taken no action to defend our troops or retaliate in any way. The president has done absolutely nothing about this heinous attack on our troops. Not only that – he has gone out of his way to advocate on behalf of Putin for Russia to be readmitted to the G-7 (making it the G-8), as well as throw him other astonishing bones, such as unilaterally declaring our withdrawal of troops from Germany.

All of these things are cascading out of the dark boxes in which they’ve been hidden. The level and extent of the abuse our country is sustaining at the hands of the man charged with protecting us and having our best interests at heart seems to know no end.

Tax Returns?

As a result of everything we’re witnessing right now, from everything I mentioned above to the horrific spikes in Coronavirus cases, and now hospitalizations, in Florida, Texas, and Arizona (to just name the three worst cases at the moment) and the reality that they are caused by states slavishly following the demand of DT to ‘reopen the country,’ I do not have a good feeling.

If he is ordered to release his tax returns – what will he do to distract us?

If he is allowed to circumvent Congress and not forced to release his tax returns – what will he then feel emboldened to do next?

Either way, I’m holding my breath.

Photo: L. Weikel

(T-515)

Beauty – Day 595

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Anniversary Clouds – Photo: L. Weikel

Beauty

What a day we enjoyed today, mostly just hanging out with each other. Isn’t that the beauty of a relationship that’s celebrating 40 years of official togetherness? (We knew each other for three years before we tied the knot, so there are a few years of ‘unofficial’ togetherness, too…wink wink.)

But honestly, the best part about Karl and our relationship is how much I enjoy just being with him. Sitting on the porch, reading together, picking cards, laughing, snarking, watching the birds, cursing the squirrels, dreaming more dreams, wondering what’s next on our adventure agenda.

Anniversary Clouds 2 – Photo: L. Weikel

We really only did two things today: (1) We purchased a wonderfully deep and melodic wind chime, something of beauty to remind us of our milestone every day; and (2) took a walk. Of course. Because it’s the sacred little things we do that make all our lives both magical and worth the effort.

I share with you the blockbuster clouds that accompanied us on our journey today.

Love to all of you who sent us a happy thought or two today. We mirror them back to you with joy!

And hang on to your hats, everyone. I have a feeling this week is going to be…raucous.

Anniversary Sunset – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-516)

40 – Day 594

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Wedding Party – Photo: Mr. Willner

40

40. There’s a number that takes me by surprise. It seems like only a couple years ago, Karl and I were asking my parents if we could get married on their 40th wedding anniversary. I already knew I was going to wear my mother’s wedding dress, so wouldn’t it just be even more of a cool tribute to them – and us – if we celebrated exactly on their day?

It made perfect sense to us. The only hitch was that Mommy and Daddy’s anniversary was in October and I wouldn’t be graduating from college until the following May. Seven months away.

Turned out my father wasn’t too keen on that idea, so it didn’t happen. We waited. I graduated from college in May and we got married in June. Ah, young love.

Family

I’m the youngest of my siblings, and they were all married while I was growing up. I’d been in each of their weddings, graduating to a new level in each one: flower girl, junior bridesmaid, bridesmaid and, well, bridesmaid again. (I never was anyone’s maid of honor – although I was my maid of honor’s matron of honor three months after my own wedding. I’d say that counted double.)

I’d grown up adoring my siblings – and their partners – and I could not imagine having to choose one over the other. I loved my sisters and brother so much that I wanted all of them to be in my wedding as I’d been in theirs. And I wanted Karl’s sisters to be included as well.

But I also had my non-blood family. My friends. My maid of honor and I had been friends since we were about 8 years old. The others had become dear to me in college. I didn’t want to pick from among them, either – but I nevertheless had to pick and choose (to make it an even number) and ultimately had to leave a few out. That never sat right, but I had to do it, and we remained close anyway. Another plank in our foundation.

My point here is that a quick look at our wedding party and anyone can see why our marriage has lasted as long as it did.

We started out with an amazing foundation of love and support. Love from blood and love from heart. They’ve all played a part in holding us together through the toughest of tough times and the most joyful of others.

Family – Friends – Each Other

What could be better than marrying my best friend and creating a family with him over the past 40 years?

On the day pictured above, I now had both friend and family all rolled up into one endearing, frustrating, soulful, thoughtful, loving, maddening, charming, funny (OK, nope; that’s a bridge too far) person. Did I mention gorgeous? Yeah, that too.

I love you, Karl.

(T-517)

Not Many Words – Day 593

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Protective Hawk Cloud – Photo: L. Weikel

Not Many Words

I’ve been finding the last several days’ posts harder than usual to write. I find myself wishing for something entertaining or thoughtful to flow from my fingertips onto the keyboard, but not many words seem to have heard the call. Or if they’ve heard the call, they’re declining to volunteer for duty.

I’ve been limiting myself to mostly reading headlines and trying to stay away from my phone more generally.

Relishing the liminal moments of the day when fireflies and bats come out to play, we often don’t eat until close to 9:00 p.m.

The State of Things

I’m finding the state of our country increasingly upsetting. I’m horrified at the accuracy with which everything that’s unfolding in the South and the West was predicted. None of the surges in positive cases can come as a surprise to anyone who’s been paying attention. The crisis that New York and New Jersey faced in March and April were not because those states are dirty or crowded or governed by a Democrat.

I can only speak for myself, of course, but I find myself wanting to scream at these people who were very clearly sitting in judgment on New York and New Jersey a few months ago only to find themselves in an even worse predicament because they failed to prepare. They thought they were immune.

So much for the immunity of hubris.

Share Some Beauty

Instead of railing on these things, I’d rather share some photos from our walk tonight. The one at the top made me feel as though we’re still being protected. It reminded me of a giant hawk flying over us, wings outspread to protect us, again, like I’ve been taught to protect others at a Sacred Fire.

The other is simply a finger-painted sunset.

It feels especially important that we drink deeply of the beauty while we can.

Fingerpainted Sunset – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-518)

Peanut Gallery – Day 592

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Peanuts with an olive oil chaser – yum! Photo: L. Weikel

Peanut Gallery

I’m definitely getting trained. While I can’t say that I’ve totally got this down yet, since I pretty much need to get harangued every morning before I spring into action, I feel I’m at least becoming a bit more responsive to the demands of my peanut gallery.

And I actually think they take turns. Some mornings it’s the blue jays who glare at me, issuing forth an ear piercing shriek is I manage to ignore their dirty looks as they hop from one branch to another.

Other days it’s my grackles. They snag my attention by visiting in groups of five or six at a time. They swoop in and land on the empty peanut coil causing it to clatter against the wrought iron post that also proffers two conventional feeders filled with sunflower seeds. Black oil, no less. Only the best for my buds.

While the grackles and blue jays will reluctantly consume sunflower seeds, it is quite obvious that their preference is peanuts. And it goes without saying that all the woodpeckers that hang around near our home also do their best to deplete the resources, including their cousins, the nuthatches.

For a couple weeks, the fish crows had moved back into the avian neighborhood. Their distinctive grokking voices could be heard taunting each other high in the ash and maple trees that were just beginning to leaf out. They, too, knew of the legendary Weikel peanut dispensary and would visit frequently.

Inspecting the coil – Photo: L. Weikel

Feeding My Face – and Theirs

As I wrote about a couple of times in April and May, I simply had to confess my utter helplessness to stop binge-eating peanuts in response to the stress of this pandemic and its effect on my emotions. But I promise you: I would not be compulsively feeding my face with peanuts if I didn’t have bags of them set aside for my birds (and yes, even the squirrels).

It’s because of my dedication to my creatures that I have these stupid peanuts around my house, tempting me. But I’ve discovered something else. If I went by the demand in my yard, I could literally blow through a three pound bag of roasted peanuts every single day. And that’s without my help anymore!

But come to find out: one person’s loss is another critter’s bonanza. Check this out.

I just might be doing my fellow (peanut planting) Americans a service. Apparently there’s a glut of the prized Virginia peanuts on the market due to the suspension of major and minor league baseball. I didn’t realize bagged peanuts in the shell are a huge source of munching pleasure enjoyed by baseball aficionados.

As a result of discovering the plight of peanut farmers due to the Coronavirus, I now have a newfound appreciation for just what my patriotic duty could entail. Three pounds a day. I can do it.

And I know I have a lot of support for that strategy in the yard as well.

Grackles cracking open peanuts on the driveway – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-519)

Pay Attention – Day 591

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“I’m a Stick” – Photo: L. Weikel

Pay Attention

“Stop!” I yelled, jarring Karl out of his reverie. We were just entering the part of our walk that approaches High Rocks, where the over-arching canopy of trees throws shade and cools us off on days of bright sunshine.

“What? What?” he asked, momentarily stopping in his tracks but looking to his left, into the woods and toward the cliffs. He started turning toward the trees, not even thinking about the fact that he was moving his feet to do so.

“Stop!” I yelped again. “Don’t move. Look down.”

“Ooooh, wow. I totally missed it,” he said, when he spied the young snake laying stock-still in the gravel.

Camouflage?

I was walking a few steps behind Karl and had noticed the characteristic swooshing ‘s’ shape of the snake as it scurried across the road. Karl narrowly missed stepping on it and probably only did so because the snake was moving so quickly. Nevertheless, it was as if the snake understood me as well as Karl did when I yelled stop, for it, too, froze in its tracks.

Curiously, it stopped its trek through the gravel and came to rest straight as a pencil. In fact, it looked like a stick or a long piece of hay (albeit slightly more brown) just laying in the road. I wonder whether this was intentional, or unique to this particular type of snake – at least, in a survival sort of way – since most snakes I’ve seen will stop mid ‘s’ curve, showing no effort to straighten itself out.

S/he did permit me to take its photo up close and personal enough to get a nice shot of its impressive tongue.

Forked Tongue! – Photo: L. Weikel

Finally, as it decided to resume its journey, I managed to catch it sssslithering its way onto the berm.

Change in Topic

I was going to write about a different animal messenger that’s been coming to me lately, but this encounter changed my mind. Something tells me I’m not alone in still needing to shed or transmute some old attitudes, beliefs, or maybe even grievances before we can step fully into manifesting our future.

Perhaps our old ways of blending in or ‘going along to get along’ just aren’t cutting it anymore. Our environments are changing. The old means of camouflage don’t work anymore. Or maybe we no longer want to fit in? That’s possible too.

Snakes teach us that sometimes we need to recognize the poisons in our environment and learn how to transmute them into something we can live with – indeed, something we can allow to pass right through us – like water or air.

An essential aspect of working with snake, though, is appreciating the need to pay attention in the first place. We don’t have to be bitten by the snake in order to learn to transmute its poisons. We can, if we watch where we’re going and pay attention to our environment, avoid the worst of the poison* by never getting bitten to begin with. That’s a different sort of transmutation. Seems to me it could be a bit gentler on our systems.

Movin’ along – Photo: L. Weikel

*Just to be clear: I’m not saying this particular snake was poisonous. I’m talking about poison in the context of snake venom in general and transmutation of poisons. Indeed, using my trusted identification website, this looks like a Northern Brownsnake,, which is non-venomous.

(T-520)

Wind Spirits – Day 590

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Winds of Spirit by Renee Baribeau

Wind Spirits

Judging from the faces appearing in the clouds as torrential rains approached us earlier tonight, I’d say we’re being visited by some distinctly opinionated wind spirits.

I can’t, and am not going to, venture to guess what messages these wind beings may be bringing us, but I do think it would be wise to heed them if we can. It’s possible they’re bringing each of us our own distinct message.

A Storm “Blowing” In – Photo: L. Weikel

For instance, you may look at the photos accompanying this post and think, “Of course I recognize the West Wind swooping down to clear away my fearful thoughts.” Meanwhile your neighbor may look at that very same photo and sense, “I need to have faith. I see and know that benevolence is looking down on me. I may be buffeted now, but this will pass.”

And then there’s the odd rectangular clouds that also preceded the wild and woolly torrential rains that hit us about ten minutes after I took these photos.

I have a couple of gut-level senses of what that cloud formation might be saying. But I’ll leave you each to your own interpretations.

Photo: L. Weikel

Working With the Winds

I think I can safely say that I am a middle-of-the-road person when it comes to oracles and interpreting signs and omens. What I mean by that is that I don’t make it a habit to rely solely on other people to interpret the messages that cross my path or come directly to me. But neither do I eschew the guidance or wisdom tools available to us that are designed to help us interpret our encounters with the numinous.

That’s one of the reasons I like to quote the books provided by authors of certain oracles or tarot decks. Some interpretations feel especially ‘tuned in’ to either the cards themselves – or – perhaps it’s just that they have similar sensibilities as I and so tune into the messages and articulate them in ways that feel natural to me.

Whatever it is, I like to approach discernment of messages in a balanced manner. I trust both my own intuition as well as the interpretations of others, provided they resonate with both my head and my heart.

Winds of Spirit

One unique and distinctive aid to helping us interpret the messages of the Winds in particular is a book written by a very dear friend of mine, Renee Baribeau. Her book is Winds of Spirit, Ancient Wisdom Tools for Navigating Relationships, Health, and the Divining*. This book is a valuable and unique addition to the field of augury and interpretation, and provides a wonderful compendium of Wind Beings that have been known to cultures across the world for eons.

I make no secret of my approach to the world, which is that there is sentience in everything. The Winds of the world have waited a long time for people to wake up to the fact that they are capable of being in relationship with us. This book provides us with ideas on how to enter into conversations with the Winds. Those chit chats could change your life.

* Affiliate link

(T-521)

First Hot One – Day 589

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Spartacus – Photo: L. Weikel

First Hot One

I wasn’t sure how I wanted to title tonight’s post. Obviously, it’s a commentary on Spartacus’s sprawling position under the birdfeeders today. With his toy and a bottle nearby (albeit of olive oil), you would be forgiven for assuming Spart had partaken in a night of debauchery. Instead of “First Hot One,” I nearly named it, “What a Night!”

I chose  “First Hot One,” because like clockwork, the solstice occurs and we get slammed with oppressive heat and humidity. And that definitely was the case today, although I know the humidity can (and will) get even worse.

But today was one of the first days of truly summer weather. The thunderheads gathering in massive, billowing threats on the horizon struck fear in our hearts as we crested the first hill on our shorter trek. A jagged flash of piercing lightning struck just ahead of us, and almost instantaneously a massive thunder clap let us know that jagged strike had issued forth much closer than was comfortable

Sheila’s daily constitutional would have to be cut short tonight, which was not a welcome development for either of us. I needed a walk. Desperately.

Crisis Averted

Why? Because unbelievably (in hindsight), I tried to help my laptop complete its Windows 10 update (which it insisted on telling me day after day was needed) but which it kept informing me was unable to be consummated because I didn’t have enough memory on my laptop. So I bit the bullet. I took care of business with an external hard drive and moved some files around.

And I forgot Mercury was retrograde.

I actually forgot that messing around with my laptops when Mercury is retrograde has not ended well for me in the past. Indeed, I’ve even written about some of those debacles – at length – and the disastrous results that, for one thing, explain why I write all of my posts on my Apple instead of the Dell.

How did I forget the sins of my past?!

Black Screen White Cursor

Well, that just goes to show how we can get lulled into a sense of complacency and then – bam!

All of a sudden, I was looking at a black screen. Not a blue screen of death (thank goodness), but a black screen that I couldn’t coax into doing anything else. No control-alt-delete. No holding the power button down for a really, really long time. Nothing. In fact, it looked as though the power was off, although eventually a white cursor seemed to randomly show up. But that was it, the only concession the machine would make to me bringing it inside. (Karl insisted it was probably just hot.)

And that’s when it hit me that I’d been to this rodeo with this stupid computer (the Dell) – once before – during Mercury Retrograde.

All’s well that ends well (so far anyway). It looks like this snafu may have been connected to the Windows update.

Would someone please remind me never to update Windows again when Mercury is retrograde?!

After all was said and done, believe me when I say that I felt like Spartacus looks in that photo above. Worn the heck out.

So much for the first hot one of the season.

Thunderheads matching my mood! – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-522)

Job Well Done – Day 588

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Guarding Our Backs – Photo: L. Weikel

Job Well Done

OK, I’ll admit it; I don’t want to speak too soon. But that being said, I also don’t want to overlook the small steps we’re all taking, collectively, to not only survive the insanity of the present times but also incrementally make things better. And that’s why I’m inclined to give us all a “Job well done!”

This was a big weekend energetically. I’ve written about it, as have a bazillion other people more adept at reading signs and placements and aspects.

But the call to those paying attention was made: Strategically holding space. Holding the center. Maintaining calm and peace in the midst of discord, disharmony, and the deliberate instigation of chaos.

Volatility Index

If there were such a thing as a volatility index, my guess is that it would be hovering at the top of its scale since May 25thor so, when George Floyd was senselessly murdered by a policeman (and callously observed as he did so by three other officers) in Minneapolis. And the needle hasn’t moved much since then, as incident after incident keeps happening, reminding us every day that even when the spotlight is shining directly on our society, ugly stuff just keeps piling on.

As we were approaching this past weekend, we all knew DT had initially planned a ‘comeback rally’ supporting his re-election on Juneteenth in the city of Tulsa, where 99 years ago an absolutely heinous attack was made on Black people by Whites. Yes, amidst calls that this was utterly tone deaf and provocative, he postponed his rally by a day. Thus it was scheduled for this Saturday, June 20th, the arrival of summer and the beginning of an annular solar eclipse.

A lot of signs point toward unrest, massive protests, and possible radicalism. And there’s nothing to say that the danger of seeing these things is past.

But by taking one day at a time, cooler heads have prevailed – so far. And that, in my opinion, borders on miraculous. Especially when taking into account the incendiary rhetoric being tossed about by the DT, the President of the United States.

Surprised?

While part of me was surprised by the outcome of Saturday’s rally in Tulsa, another definitely was not. I felt the sense of protection that was coming forth to keep the peace in Tulsa and around the United States and the rest of the world. There definitely was a calming presence, which may or may not have been a collective presence created by the intention of many loving beings on the planet.

Indeed, I was reminded of Beings, seen and unseen, watching over us – not unlike how we are taught to have each other’s backs when we approach a sacred fire. One of the first rules of etiquette at a sacred fire is that no one approaches a fire to do personal work without another member of the circle standing behind them, arms raised in protection. This ‘having a person’s back’ enables the person approaching the fire to freely interact with the element, have a conversation with it, and allow it to guide and heal them without fear that they will get blindsided or accosted from behind when they are most vulnerable.

That knowing that space will be held and a person’s back will be protected is essential to creating the trust and vulnerability necessary to effectuate true healing.

Larger Forces at Work

When I saw these huge clouds forming in the sky on Saturday afternoon, they reminded me of what it looks like when a person guards the back of another at a sacred fire. I hoped it meant that protection was being afforded on a higher level; that space was being held on a much larger scale than human, and that we were actually setting the intention by holding that space for our brothers and sisters ourselves.

The cavalry was hearing and responding to our call.

While situations can change in the blink of an eye, and the volatility index is not slated to decline much, if at all, this week, I take comfort in knowing that our efforts are being recognized and reinforced. Certainly it’s undeniable that a potential tinderbox was not ignited in Tulsa last night.

For that, I am grateful, and consider our efforts a job well done. Let’s not lose our focus now.

(T-523)

Eclipse – Day 587

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Ring of Fire eclipse – Image: Space.com

Eclipse

Right now, as I write this post, the ‘ring of fire’ solar eclipse (so called because it is an annular eclipse, meaning the moon coming between the Earth and the sun does not entirely block out our view of the sun’s rays) has begun. It officially began at 11:45 p.m. EDT this evening, will reach its totality (thereby creating the ‘ring of fire’ where visible) at 2:40 a.m. EDT on Sunday the 21st, and will conclude at 5:24 a.m. EDT.

In case you are one of those people who awaken shortly after I’ve gone to bed, here is a site where you can track the eclipse online. One of the places on the Earth where the ring of fire will be visible is in the Himalayas. Just the thought of witnessing this eclipse in the rarefied air of Tibet or anywhere along the track of the eclipse, especially high in those massive apus (sacred mountains), thrills me.

I’m definitely starting to feel the siren song of faraway travel calling to me again.

Happy Solstice

This solstice had an auspicious start for me this morning. I listened to and joined in on a solstice ceremony with one of my favorite and beloved paqos (Medicine Man/Shaman in the Q’ero tradition of the high Andes), Puma Fredy Quispe Singona. The heart in his teachings is undeniable and palpable.

I encourage you to watch the recording, which I’ve linked to, above.

This evening, Karl and I sat on our porch in candlelight, the western sky still streaked with hints of sunlight following the powerful thunderstorms that barreled through an hour earlier. We took to heart Puma’s reminder that today, Saturday, June 20, 2020, was the last day of our ‘old life.’

We opened Sacred Space.

Sitting in the waning light of this waning Time, we each made a list of those ways of being or thinking that we’re ready to leave behind. Of course, this is a timeless practice, as we are always growing and learning, accumulating lessons – some more painful than others – and experiencing the lessons that come with living a life on Mother Earth. In other words, it’s the rare person indeed who finds they have nothing to release in ceremony.

After completing our lists, we took turns offering these lists to our solstice fire, holding space for each other as made our offering and cleansed our mesas.

Tomorrow is the Dawn of a New Day

I know that during this time we are in alignment with the Galactic Center of our universe. As the eclipse takes place, the moon’s blocking of the light of the sun enables other energies to have more of an impact upon us. Some might consider us more open or receptive to downloads of celestial blessings or upshifts in our energy.

As we both ‘cleansed our palates’ this evening of the taste of old energies, lessons, hurts, and beliefs that were holding us back or weighing us down, we also each wrote a list of those attributes we seek to bring more of into our lives. Feelings, aspirations, ways of being that we want to cultivate not only in our own selves, but also in our interactions with family, friends, colleagues, and beyond.

We tucked these lists of higher vibration into our mesas. Doing so is not unlike placing them under our pillows and dreaming them into being – although I might argue working with our mesas is even more effective and intimate.

It’s not too late to set your intentions for this New Time. Take 5 minutes, or 15. Do it now. You won’t regret it.

(T-524)