Month: December 2020

2020 Solstice – Day 770

Posted on by Lisa Weikel 2 Comments
Saturn & Jupiter two nights ago – Photo: L.Weikel

2020 Solstice

I’m writing this on the eve of the final 2020 solstice, but it’ll likely be read on the day itself. Thus, in keeping with the significance of this celestial event, I invite you to sit with me for a moment and embrace the darkness.

This is the day in the Northern Hemisphere when we have the fewest minutes of actual daylight. With the sun rising at 7:20 a.m. and setting at 4:37 p.m. ET, we will have a total of 8 hours and 17 minutes of ‘sunshine’ today: Monday, December 21st, 2020 (at the latitude where I live, anyway).

Yet for many of us, our skies may be enveloped by cloud cover. Sadly, this will obscure our view of the Grand Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter tomorrow evening, which happens only once every 20 years, but has not happened in this particular part of the sky for 200 years. And not to put too fine a point on it, but this conjunction hasn’t taken place in an Air sign in 800 years. (We’ve been collectively experiencing this conjunction in Earth signs over the past 200 years.)

Meanings and Mythologies

There are reams being written lately about the configuration of the planets and the meanings or significance we might ascribe to those positions. I urge you to employ a healthy dose of discernment with respect to anything you read or hear. Use your brain and your heart. Find that middle ground where intellectual curiosity and intuitive resonance meet and create a spark of knowing within. This podcast by Rick Levine explaining the significance of the Grand Conjunction is fascinating, far less ‘sensationalized’ than what many people are claiming, and explains a lot.

As far as how the solstice and Grand Conjunction might impact us astrologically (according to our personal sun and rising (ascendant) signs), Chani gives a quick analysis that’s thought provoking and fascinatingly applicable.

Darkest Before the Dawn

This time of year can be equated to that moment in our daily 24 hour cycle when the sun has been gone from us for the longest sustained period. It’s akin to that moment in time that immediately precedes the dawn – that darkest of moments when the night grows coldest and our ancestors had to hold on to the belief that the sky would soon begin to lighten ever so perceptibly on the horizon.

Literally and metaphorically, that’s where we are now. Times are dark. As stated above, we will only enjoy a total of 8 hours and 17 minutes during which the sun will be above the horizon (here at 40.4 degrees latitude). If the weather is overcast, which is likely, the day may feel even shorter; possibly more dismal. And depending upon the circumstances that unfold as the day progresses, potentially teetering toward hopeless.

Create the Spark

The precise moment of the solstice will occur at 5:02 a.m. ET. So perhaps you early birds can sit a moment in conscious awareness of that precise moment of stillness. In that moment, if you are awake, you might consider lighting a candle, or a hearth fire, and celebrate together with our sisters and brothers across the globe (in the Northern Hemisphere) the return of the light.

But first, before lighting that candle, it feels important to sit with and fully appreciate the darkness, even if only for a minute or two. It’s when we sit in the darkest of darkness that the light of a match or a candle, the spark of insight, wisdom, or compassion, can be most fully and deeply appreciated. And when we share that light with others, the possibilities suddenly seem limitless and, somehow, attainable.

Let’s share our light with each other. Embrace the darkness that’s overtaken us, see it for what it is and has been, and the consciously and affirmatively call in the light. And who knows? Maybe we’ll get lucky and the cloud cover may part, allowing us to catch a glimpse of that long awaited Grand Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn.

(T-341)

Fork – Day 769

Posted on by Lisa Weikel Leave a comment
A Gigantic Fork – Photo: L. Weikel

Fork

The photo above is of a gargantuan fork that’s been in our cutlery drawer for several decades. I put a pen beside it to give context to the extraordinary size of that fork. But even with that, I doubt you’re getting the full flavor of what I’m trying to convey.

But what I may be struggling to convey in the photo is actually something I sense we’re all feeling. Something we all know, at the deepest level of our being.

“Stick a fork in me; I’m done.” Or perhaps more accurately: “Stick a fork in us; we’re done.”

That’s the sentiment I’m feeling at the moment, and it’s threatening to overwhelm me. I don’t think I’m speaking solely for myself, either. Far from it.

So What’s My Deal?

I can’t say for sure. Perhaps this is part of what I ‘do’ in the world. I pay attention to what’s happening in our shared reality and do my best to hold space in my heart for others. We can’t all be on the front lines, after all. We can’t all be reporting on it, either. Not all of us are trained for – or even suited to – engaging in what, at this moment in our evolution, feels like exacting the greatest of sacrifices day in and day out.

But even though I’m not doing it myself, I’m paying attention. I’m also paying attention (on behalf of those who are so engrossed in the day to day efforts of keeping people alive and safe) to what is going on at the highest levels of our government, right before our very eyes. There is a concerted effort, it seems, to rip us asunder while we’re all preoccupied with exponential infection rates and vertical hospitalization and death rates.

While we fight for survival, we’re being taken to the cleaners. Sold out. Compromised in the worst ways. It’s a cynical and even diabolical calculation. But it must be called out. We must each do our part to end the madness.

What’s Our Deal?

We need to stay home. We need to be smart and vigilant and take this threat to our health seriously. We would be wise to pay attention to what we have and what we cherish – and resist the temptation to lament what we’re being asked to forego for a few days, weeks, or months.

We need to stick a fork in our belligerent refusal to acknowledge the astounding suffering of so many in our country (and around the world, but especially here). It’s done. It serves no one – except, perhaps, those who are banking on our preoccupation.

Things are getting worse. All the warnings about what would happen if people ignored the warnings about gathering at Thanksgiving are coming to pass. A single county in California just logged 100,000 new cases in the past week. And yet people shop and carry on – as if nothing is happening.

We can see – right before our eyes – what will happen a month from now. Only it will be worse. Guaranteed.

We need to stick a gargantuan fork in our denial of reality because it’s killing us and distracting us. We must refuse to be distracted any longer.

We’re Better Than This

It’s time to take responsibility for ourselves and each other. If there’s a strain of Covid that’s in the UK that’s spreading at a rate 70% faster than what we’re encountering now, we need to be smart. We need to take even greater precautions than what’s being asked of us. We need to stop living in denial and realize that what they’re dealing with, we’ll be dealing with in the blink of an eye.

We need to love ourselves and each other enough to realize that we’re in this together.

We need to stick a fork in our selfish ways. Ultimately, those ways are hurting us all. They’re breaking our hearts, wearing us down, and sapping our will to be kind and courageous. And perhaps worst of all, they’re serving those who want us distracted from an unprecedented power grab that could have untold implications.

We must find our will. We must be vigilant. We must find our compassion.

And we must remember: we’re better than this.

(T-342)

Closer and closer – Day 768

Posted on by Lisa Weikel Leave a comment
Saturn & Jupiter 12/18/2020 – Photo: L. Weikel

Closer and Closer

If you haven’t taken a walk at sunset lately, I implore you to do so soon. Like tomorrow. And Sunday. Better yet, walk at sunset on Monday to celebrate the Winter Solstice and behold the conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in the western sky. As I’ve been documenting with photos and the occasional post, these two planets are inching closer and closer to each other, culminating on the same day as winter officially begins here in the Northern Hemisphere.

One thing I’ve come to realize from writing this 1111 Devotion is that I’m an astronomy nerd. I never realized just how much I cherish my ability to look up. I’ve also discovered how much joy it gives me to share the awe I feel whenever we have the chance to witness the many mysteries that surround and visit us here on Earth.

I also realize that when I want to deliberately refrain from writing about the comings and goings and doings and undoings of our fellow human beings, it helps for me to focus on the stars and the planets and the luminaries.

Tomorrow Night

Perhaps tomorrow night I’ll write a little more about the significance of the practically simultaneous occurrence of the Winter Solstice and the so-called Grand Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. I suspect you’ve noticed that occurrences here on Earth have rather reliably been tracking the influences the movement of the largest (and furthest away from us) planets in our solar system, specifically Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.

These planets are much more slow moving and have a distinctively different ‘flavor’ of impact upon us humans than the more rapidly moving planets. The movements of those outer planets is definitely more profound.

In the meantime, look up, my friends. Appreciate the wonder that surrounds us and unfolds in amazing ways, right above our heads, every single day.

 

Jupiter and Saturn getting very cozy – 12/18/2020; Photo: L. Weikel

(T-343)

Who Am I Kidding – Day 767

Posted on by Lisa Weikel Leave a comment
Waxing Crescent Moon – Photo: L. Weikel

Wow, was that snowfall dense. We actually ended up getting only about 8” of accumulation, but I venture to guess it would’ve risen to much greater heights had it been the light fluffy stuff. I sure hope the 44” they got along the southern tier of New York wasn’t as thick and heavy as ours was. I shudder to think how I would feel after shoveling that. Oh who am I kidding? I wouldn’t be shoveling if that were the case. Screw it; I’d wait for a thaw.

That said, Karl probably wouldn’t ‘wait for a thaw.’ Which means I wouldn’t either. Why? Because I’m always striving to be his partner. To pitch in and do things together. No, I may not have the upper body strength he does. But I would do my best to hold my own and do what I could.

Sometimes I get tired of always feeling like I have to keep up or do my part. But I guess that keeps me young. Or does that make me immature? Good question. Big difference.

Frustration

This week has been consistent in its inconsistency and unexpected challenges. (And I struggled there for a moment to recall just what day of the week it is. I swear, it feels like we’ve lived a month since Monday.)

A long time ago, in what feels like another lifetime, I was determined to get some serious baking done during the forecasted nor’easter. Kiffels were on the agenda, as were both some peanut butter cookies and oatmeal cookies just to round things out. Chocolate chippers with walnuts were clamoring for creation, but I was realistic enough within myself to know I wasn’t even going to entertain their plea – at least not in the short term. No; if I got the kiffel dough started (and in the refrigerator) and perhaps those other two kinds of cookies baked, I’d be happy.

I decided to start with baking a batch of peanut butter cookies. I knew I’d have to refrigerate the kiffel dough for eight hours, so my thinking was that it would be easier to exercise patience if there were other fresh baked goodies with which to indulge our palettes.

Sound reasoning. But I wasn’t expecting my hand held mixer to crap out on me. And it wasn’t a typical ‘burn out the motor’ type of thing, which I’m pretty sure I did last year. No. This time, I’d be in the midst of creaming the butter and sugar, or slowly adding the dry ingredients, and the beaters would automatically eject into the batter.

WHAT?

The first time it happened, I assumed I’d accidentally pressed on the speed adjustment dial and ejected the beaters. So I was ever so careful not to do that again. Yeah. Turns out that wasn’t the case. No, the beaters just decided they weren’t going to do any heavy lifting anymore. As soon as the batter became even slightly thick, they jumped ship in unison. The language this elicited from me would’ve done a sailor proud.

Foiled

So my kiffels are yet to be baked. Hell, the dough hasn’t even made it to the fridge yet (because it doesn’t exist – yet). Instead, after helping out with shoveling, I went on a quest for a mixer.

What a fool’s errand. And in the middle of a pandemic.  Yet I stayed away from people. I wore my mask. And I drenched my hands with sanitizer after each fruitless effort.

See, the thing is, mixers aren’t made the way they used to be. Apparently they’re only designed to last a year or two, which absolutely incenses me. Planned obsolescence is…well, a whole other topic’s worth of rant.

I did end up scoring a basic mixer that I hope will last longer than four birthday cakes, and a single Christmas’s worth of baked goods. I’m not holding out a lot of hope. But at least I should be back on track tomorrow.

* I did succeed in mixing the peanut butter cookie batter by hand. Not something I wanted to repeat. But at least they’re yummy and providing sustenance – not only for the quest but also for the shoveling. I know I’m going to pay for that tomorrow.

Peanut Butter Cookies – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-344)

Love It – Day 766

Posted on by Lisa Weikel Leave a comment
Mid-storm – Photo: L. Weikel

Love It

I’m sitting here in the silence that is actually anything but silent. The snow and sleet that’s been coming down steadily in very fine flakes (and crystals) all day since 2:00 p.m. continues to swirl and tink-tink-tink against our windows. I love it. And the wind!

Clearly this is no light and fluffy affair. Nope. And it would appear both the state and township are deciding there’s no point in trying to get ahead of this storm. I don’t think I’ve seen one plow go by yet, and we’re approaching 11 hours of virtually non-stop precipitation.

There’s a seriously icy edge to this storm, too. Although perhaps because of that and the weight of the somewhat sleet-like particles raining from the sky, it doesn’t look like the accumulation is as high as one might expect. It’s hard to tell from inside, and truth be told (I must be getting old), Karl and I decided to forego a walk today.

Part of me is disappointed in us. But oh well. Maybe we’ll take two tomorrow. (Doubt it.)

A Strange Sight

I took the accompanying photos just a few minutes ago, to provide a comparison to the ones I used in my blog post the other day.

If you take a close look at the one below, there are some very odd markings on the front porch pillar facing the camera.

I quite distinctly see a face looking at me at the top of that column. And the whole ‘design’ is lovely. I can’t tell if it’s a pattern created by the precipitation (which would be weird) or if it’s just a trick of the light or the camera. But I can vouch for the fact that there’s no design on that column ordinarily, nor is there, especially, a face glancing in my direction. Usually, anyway.

Strange.

I hope all of you who are in the midst of it are enjoying this storm and don’t have to venture out in it (other than to play).

Bizarre designs on post – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-345)

An Observation – Day 765

Posted on by Lisa Weikel Leave a comment
Sunset 12/15/2020 – Photo: L. Weikel

An Observation

I had to run out to the grocery store – two, in fact – today. I needed to stock up on the ingredients necessary to fulfill my lofty snowstorm baking aspirations. In the midst of doing so, I made an observation that I wasn’t expecting: there seems to be an air of anticipation and happy excitement ahead of the snowstorm that’s supposed to arrive tomorrow.

Usually people are grumbly and cranky over an impending snowstorm. And one might think, given the severely restricted nature of our lives over the past year, that the prospect of being cooped up in our homes (yet again) as a result of a snow dump might just have people sidling even more toward the surly edges.

That did not seem to be the case. Instead, I witnessed cheerfulness and a bit more warmth from fellow shoppers and store employees than I was expecting.

Retreat

Could it be that everyone wants to get snowed in?  Is the realization of how much and how quickly the Covid-19 virus is spreading be sinking in? Is it possible that everyone just wants to hunker down and not have to think about washing their hands or making sure their mask is covering their nose and their mouth?

If we’re forced by the weather, something visible and tangible, to stay inside, then it just restores a sense of normalcy to our lives, even if fleetingly. Because let’s face it, our everyday work lives are not normal. Every day we get up in the morning and, if we have to deal with the public or report to an office or a courtroom or a nursing home or a prison, we have to entertain the possibility that we might get sick. Even if we wear our masks and stay 6’ away from everyone, the possibility exists that someone we’re talking to or walking behind may spread it and not even realize it.

And that’s a huge stress.

Find Joy

It sort of feels as though we’re all just so darn ambivalent. Of course we want to work. Not only do we (hopefully) get a sense of worth and purpose from our work, but let’s face it, it pays the bills. And yet the script that’s running quietly at the base of our skulls just keeps on whispering its relentless litany of ‘what ifs.’ A nice thick layer of snow feels like the perfect muffler to drown out the incessant worry.

May we all stop tomorrow and listen to the snowflakes as they click softly into place, piling one on top of each other. If you still have to work, may you find joy. If you get to leave your workplace early, give yourself permission to play – even if it’s only fleeting. Play. Laugh. Find joy. Remember, too, to look for it.

Sunset from the grocery store parking lot – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-346)

Preparing For the Storm – Day 764

Posted on by Lisa Weikel Leave a comment
Christmas Lights Before the Big Storm – Photo: L. Weikel

Preparing For the Storm

Well, no one can look at the major stories in today’s news cycle and not have the question at least cross their minds, “Huh. I wonder if it was in the stars?” Eclipse? What eclipse? Meanwhile, my neck of the woods, the mid-Atlantic and Northeast region of the United States, is preparing for ‘the’ storm that just might cap off 2020 in the manner in which we’re accustomed to being treated by this year-of-all-years: brutally.

Today was a huge day of enormous contrasts lurching from one spectrum to the other. Not least of these being the United States breaching the appalling record of 300,000 Covid-19 related deaths while on the same day rolling out and beginning administration of a vaccine for that same disease astonishingly ahead of predictions.

And of course we can’t forget the seemingly never-ending saga of the 2020 presidential election. Apparently if we didn’t have the good fortune of a solid civics course growing up, we’re being given a crash tutorial in it over the past six weeks. Sadly, I don’t think the obscure challenges and desperate last-minute attempts to thwart the will of the people will end with today’s formal Electoral College certification, either.

While we were treated to watching the broadcast of arcane but somehow reassuring legislative protocols being enacted by electors across the nation, we were simultaneously reminded that more than one of our states required said electors to be either swept into chambers via secret passages or forced to meet non-locally due to credible threats of violence against them for doing their jobs.

Yep. Must be something in the stars.

Need a Distraction

Beyond the somewhat dramatic events of the outside world, my family has experienced some of its own drama. While I’m not one to share the details of others’ traumas, suffice it to say, the day was marked by two falls and one emergency surgery. Stressful to be sure; but by all appearances, at least two out of three of these events could lead to some essential and long-awaited opportunity for change.

Not a walk in the park, though. And definitely revelatory of some long-suspected obfuscation. How eclipse-like (wink).

All of which leads me to an overwhelming desire for some distraction. In light of the winter storm bearing down upon us (over a foot of snow, perchance?), I’ve decided to revisit my culinary quest down the memory hole to Christmases past that I indulged in last year. Yes, I’m going to bake some kiffels. And this year I’m going to do it before Christmas actually arrives!

To the Grocery Store

Thus I am heading out tomorrow to gather the supplies I will need to recreate one of the best memories of Christmas from my childhood: Hungarian kiffels. I’m hoping that this year I’ll be able to dive right into turning out some decent confections. Last year entailed a significant amount of both trial and error as well as seemingly divine (if niece-conveyed) intervention.

This Christmas promises to have its ups and down, its challenges, and hopefully some unexpected moments of brilliance and love.

I want to savor as much goodness as possible. As I’ve said a couple of times in the past several days, 2020 and its after-effects aren’t over yet, and the next six weeks are probably going to be even more intense than we think we can handle.

But we can. And we will. And Goddess willing, as we weather the snowstorm barreling our way this week, we’ll at least have some kiffels to see us through.

More Christmas Lights Before the ‘Big Storm’ – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-347)

Cards for the Eclipse – Day 763

Posted on by Lisa Weikel Leave a comment
Dreamtime – Mystic Art Medicine Orace Cards by Cher Lyn

Cards for the Eclipse

Tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. ET a total solar eclipse will occur. This celestial event will kick off an almost relentless series of profoundly challenging aspects over the weeks ahead. Indeed, as we embark upon the next six weeks or so of our lives, we’re going to need to do everything in our power to keep our wits about us. Thus, it feels important to choose a few cards for the eclipse: something to bear in mind, hold onto, or just plain repeat as centering reminders as the week unfolds.

The top card I chose was Dreamtime – exactly the same one I chose on the eve of Halloween this year, on the eve of the blue full moon (the second full moon occurring in the month of October). Check out what I wrote but six short weeks ago, the upshot being: we must hold fast to the dream we have for the future. We are creating the reality we live in; it is up to us to dream a new dream.

Miracles – Mystic Art Medicine Oracle Cards by Cher Lyn

Underneath: Miracles

The card that lay at the foundation of these ‘choices’ that I made for us was the Miracles card. My heart skipped when I saw it; it does appear quite bleak, reflecting my sense of what may unfold before us in the near future.

The author, Cher Lyn, described the card as follows:

“In the painting, ‘Vision of Mary,’ it is you who stands at the frozen river’s edge, an icy wind bites to the bone. The trees are barren. All is as if lifeless. Yet you are composed. You have faith and in this knowingness a fire emanates from within. A vision soon appears of the Divine compassionate Mother. She hovers above your frozen sea. The light of the snowy moon glows once again reminding you, “You are not alone. You’ve called on me, I am here, I am always with you my dear.”

Beliefs come from feelings. From somewhere inside, you hear a call. The hearing becomes a feeling connecting you to your truth and this is when Miracles appear. Although you may not be able to say why you feel something is so, your belief is true for you and that truth is your foundation for Miracles. (…)

Miracles happen, not in opposition to nature, but in opposition to what we are conditioned to believe. The universe cannot help unless you hold strong intention and focus. Love is the key and truly the only thing that really heals. Let go of what you think. Trust, and know who you are. (…) Remind yourself you are supported, that you are not doing it alone on this Earth.

This card speaks of a Miracle on its way to you. Disharmony creates disease, and harmony creates beauty with ease. Imagine a Miracle and remain open to a surprise.”

My Take

Events and actions we thought we’d only ever see in movies or read about in books are very likely to occur in the not-too-distant future. No matter how balanced we are or strive to keep ourselves, achieving and maintaining our equanimity is going to be a challenge.

It feels like we’re being encouraged to envision our highest aspirations for ourselves, our country, and our world. Hold on to those dreams and not only ask for, but work toward manifesting them – and then believe in miracles.

(T-348

Powerful Aspects On Deck – Day 762

Posted on by Lisa Weikel Leave a comment
Orion’s Belt – 12/12/2020

Powerful Aspects On Deck

2020 has been an intense year so far no matter how you look at it. I don’t need to recite the myriad ways in which life as we knew it a year ago seems almost like a dream. But applying the concept of ‘as above, so below,’ I’m here to tell you: there remain breathtakingly powerful aspects on deck in our lives. December isn’t over yet.

While experiencing a meteor shower is not an astrological transit (although I believe it’s an astronomical weather event), I have to say my experience of leaning against my car and staring into the vastness of space the past two evenings has felt, I don’t know – deeply significant. Humbling. Perspective enhancing.

It’s easy for us to get lost in the crises that scream for our attention day in and day out. A pandemic. Systemic racism. Shocking threats of violence. Contempt for democracy. Vast swaths of our fellow Americans facing profound food and shelter insecurity.

The pain and chaos surrounds and threatens to drown us.

And yet for the half an hour I spent staring at the sky, talking out loud to the stars, to the cosmos, requesting insight – and absent that, a couple of shooting stars – I felt an odd sense of being re-set. It almost felt like the Universe pulled the plug on my systems for several minutes and just forced everything to recalibrate and calm the hell down. Staring upward and drinking in the incomprehensible, my perspective shifted.

It helped that I saw five meteors.

Monday’s Solar Eclipse

The next major astrological transit we’ll be experiencing will be a new moon on Monday, which is always a great time to plant the seeds for whatever we may desire to manifest in our life. But Monday’s is no ordinary new moon. It will be perfectly aligned with (conjunct) the sun, resulting in a total eclipse. While it will be a total eclipse, with both sun and moon at 23 degrees Sagittarius at 11:00 a.m. ET, the classic experience of the event, complete with a corona, will only be visible from South America and locations in the south of Africa.

Sagittarius classically occupies the 9th house of the zodiac, which highlights higher education, spirituality, beliefs, foreign or long distance travel, and adventure. Something tells me that we might want to consider planting some seeds that will expand our perspectives, broaden our horizons, and encourage us to learn new concepts and ways of approaching old problems.

My sense is that our old ways of dealing with conflict and problems that not only impact but expand far beyond our everyday lives will require strategies that will permit us access to new perspectives.

I’m going to be offering whomever is interested opportunities to learn and incorporate just such strategies as we enter a whole new world.

(T-349)

Streaking Weekend – Day 761

Posted on by Lisa Weikel Leave a comment
Cloud Raptor Soaring – Photo: L. Weikel

Streaking Weekend

If you read my post from last night that tracked my failed attempt to glimpse the aurora borealis way down here at 40.4 degrees latitude, you know that the bright spot of that effort was definitely the three meteors I saw streaking through the sky instead. They were quite lovely and long-lasting (as far as shooting stars go), and really did feel like a wonderful consolation prize. The best news, though? We all need to get ready for a streaking weekend.

Lucky for me, a friend and faithful reader of my 1111 Devotion project, Paula, commented on one of my Facebook pages* about the shooting stars I mentioned. She alerted me to the fact that they’re the Geminids.

Shocked

I was shocked. What?! Me, little Miss Celestial Event Broadcaster missed an opportunity to view and recommend a cavalcade of shooting stars? I knew the name Geminids sounded familiar. Surely I must have written about them before?

A quick search of my posts revealed that yes, I had indeed written about the Geminids only seven short weeks ago. Of course, I had to laugh – the post itself was about my foiled effort to view the Orionids back on the evening of October 20th. I may not have seen any meteors that evening, but my research indicated the Geminids should be the best in show of 2020.

I’m ashamed to admit it, but I literally recommended we all mark our calendars for December 13th and 14th, which would be the peek evenings to catch sight of these frequent and flashy sky streaks. And then I promptly forgot to do so.

So, hurray for Paula, for identifying the origin of my three gifts last night – and thereby reminding us all of the even more spectacular opportunity to witness the Geminids this weekend.

A Great Show

If I saw three shootings stars three nights before the event’s peek, just imagine how great they’ll be on Saturday, Sunday, and even Monday evening. I see from this article that they could even streak in different colors!

The particular attribute that I noticed most last night was that they weren’t just quick blips that left me wondering if I’d actually seen them or not. No, they were good, solid arcs across the sky. Brilliant and decently sized as well.

Barring any dreaded cloud cover, the conditions to enjoy the Geminids will be approaching perfection, with the moon being new and thus dark, as opposed to the brilliance of a full moon drowning out the light of the stars. But of course, it’s the potential for cloud cover that so often ruins these otherwise deliciously ripe moments.

Fair Warning

As soon as I post this tonight, I’m going to take a little zip out to see if I can catch a few more streaks before bed this evening. I’m doing this mostly because I just checked The Weather Channel app and it looks like both tomorrow and Sunday night may be hampered somewhat by clouds. But hey, maybe we’ll get lucky. Monday night, however, looks like it could end up being the best night of all.

Finally

Jupiter is continuing to do its best to catch up to Saturn, which again, will culminate on December 21st. Compare their location this evening to that of a few days ago and you can really see the difference.

Saturn (left) and Jupiter, nearing conjunction – Photo: L. Weikel

*I share my blog posts on both of my Facebook pages – Owl Medicine and Owl Medicine Shamanic Healing – as well as on my personal page. If you ever notice a morning when my post hasn’t been delivered to your inbox, check on FB. You can always find it there – and often with even more photos than the email version.

(T-350)