Month: January 2021

Sleep Well – Day 801

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Tigger Sleeping Well – Photo: L. Weikel

Sleep Well

There’s nothing I can say tonight that can do justice to the spectacular nature of today’s events. My heart is full, my unabashed idealism stoked. I’m speechless, but undaunted in my desire to revel in the hope that’s been renewed in my soul. Tonight, at least, this household will sleep well.

There were so many moments. All day. Culminating in the single most amazing fireworks display I’ve ever seen. I only wish I could’ve been there to witness them personally, to feel their reverberations, and to immerse myself in their brilliance.

I can honestly say that in all my 61 years on this planet, I’ve never felt so invested in witnessing inaugural pomp, circumstance, and festivities as I did this year. Right down to the swearing in of the thousand or so people starting new jobs in the administration today who will be carrying forward the day-to-day work of getting the government working for us, the people, once again. I felt my heart flutter when I heard President Biden welcome and celebrate these civil servants and simultaneously let them know they would be summarily fired if found to be disrespecting or denigrating constituents. Accountability. Yes. May it be brought to every level of our government, especially the highest.

Precious Sleeping Well – Photo: L. Weikel

Back to Basics

President Biden brought some simple yet inarguably powerful concepts to the fore today, concepts that if honored can restore us from the ground up: Unity. Truth. Respect. And while he didn’t use the word very often, a sense of LOVE wove its way through every sentence he spoke.

Not the wet-lick-in-the-ear understanding of love we may be tempted to default to when we hear that word. I mean a higher order of love. A love that is founded upon respect, that embraces facts and tells the truth, and a love that cherishes our differences because they are what make us stronger because we each bring to the table something no one else can. Unity in diversity.

E pluribus unum. Out of many, one.

Cletus (Probably Faking It) – Photo: L. Weikel

Top Down

Even beyond all the words (and wow, speaking of words – Amanda Gorman was absolutely brilliant and a testament to the reason why we have no choice but to have faith in and hope for our future), the most striking lesson from everything we witnessed today was just how much power, authority, and influence those who occupy the highest positions carry.

We take our cues from those we choose to lead us. We look to them for confirmation of what we know, deep down, is right and true. If compassion is their watchword, we feel comfortable expressing it toward each other and ourselves. If they tell us the truth, we learn to trust not only them (whether it’s good news or bad) but also our own ability to handle that truth. We realize we’re resilient.

When kindness and grace is displayed by those we hold in highest regard, we emulate it. When we see with our own eyes the power that simple acts of goodness confers, we’re changed. We’re inspired.

Never underestimate the power of a leader who leads by example of both head and heart.

Perhaps we’re ready now to appreciate just that.

One thing I know: we’ll all sleep well tonight with people like President Biden and Vice President Harris leading the way into our future.

Spartacus Zonked – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-310)

Remember to Heal – Day 800

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Photo: L. Weikel

Remember to Heal

No, I’m not suggesting that you’ve forgotten that you need to heal something you’ve put on the back burner. The title I chose for tonight’s post is a reminder of the words President-elect Biden used early this evening when he and Vice President-elect Harris, along with their spouses, paid tribute to the over 400,000 people who’ve lost their lives to Covid-19 over the past year. We must remember to heal. The crux of his speech was that healing cannot take place without embracing our memories and allowing ourselves to feel. We must remember in order to heal.

When we sustain the loss of someone we love and cherish, it can feel like we’ve been burned. We shy away from the flame. We don’t want to go there again. It hurts too much.

But the truth of life and love is that we cannot separate our emotions. It’s impossible to parse out only the so-called ‘good’ feelings and emotions and simultaneously refuse the existence of the harder, more painful ones. You simply cannot have one without the other. They truly are two sides of the same coin.

Yet We Try

Just because the pain comes with the joy, the delight comes with the sorrow, doesn’t mean we won’t try to separate them. Of course we will – at least, most of us will try. As humans, that seems to be our default nature.

And that’s pretty much been our national reaction to this pandemic up to this point. There’s been a denial by many of the devastating loss. The deaths – so many, so staggeringly predictable, yet callously rejected as true. And the utter loneliness in which so many were forced to endure these losses.

Now, We Remember

This evening we were finally given permission to acknowledge the losses many of us, and so very many of our brothers and sisters, have sustained – and are enduring at this very moment. We remember. We know. We acknowledge the truth of our love, our relationships, our heartbreak, our loss.

Now, we start to heal.

(T-311)

Holding Our Breath – Day 799

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Evening 18 January 2021 – Photo: L. Weikel

Holding Our Breath

Come on. Who among us will deny that we’re all holding our breath until Wednesday at noon? Actually, I suspect we’ll be holding our collective breath for longer than that.

Yes, we’ve had a reprieve for a few days. Sunday didn’t turn out to be as antagonistic as it could have – not be a long shot. And I’m grateful that was the case. But the détente doesn’t feel sustainable. Actually, what I mean is, it doesn’t feel like it January 6th was the final attempt at a coup.

Maybe we’ll all be pleasantly surprised, and the inauguration will go on without a hitch. Perhaps we’ll be able to joyfully celebrate the historic magnitude of Kamala Harris becoming Vice President. I sure hope so.

Mind Game

It’s fascinating to contemplate the devastation so many of us felt four years ago, and the overwhelming numbers of people (mostly women) who marched in protest to the inauguration that year. It’s beyond remarkable to remember just how vast the numbers were of protesters across the world – peaceable protesters – who marched without violence, without bloodshed, without hate for others.

That’s not what we’re seeing now. The situations almost defy comparison.

And that makes me sad.

We need to hold tight to our democracy.

(T-312)H

Reprieve – Day 798

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Spartacus “I feel so much better” – Photo: L. Weikel

Reprieve

Ah. Do you feel it? A slight ripple of calm, an underlying current, a non-verbal sense of ease encouraging us to take a deep breath for the first time in as long as we can remember. What do we even call it? A reprieve?

Merriam Webster Dictionary gives us this salient definition:

Reprieve. (Noun) (…) 3. : a temporary respite (as from pain or trouble)

Yes, that’s a pretty accurate description of how I felt today. For whatever reason, pretty much from the moment I opened my eyes to right now as I write this, I felt as though the headlock of pain we’ve been forced into lately just dropped a way. For a time, at least. <<Poof>>

If I’m honest, there’s a voice inside that’s naively hoping this is the harbinger of a new day. That it’s more than a simple reprieve; that it’s a new era. Alas, while I may wish it were so, I nevertheless trust the words that come to me, particularly the words that come to me during this sacred time of the day when I set aside everything else and dedicate my attention to my 1111 Devotion.

The word that came was reprieve. And the operative part of the definition that caught my eye (which was also included each of the other resources I checked ), the part I want to ignore but feel constrained to instead highlight? The word temporary.

We’ll Take It

But you know what? Life’s too short to keep ourselves on tenterhooks. Not only is it exhausting to try to remain ever vigilant, it’s also a fool’s errand. It’s better to trust our intuition, grab some joy or peace or simple relief when we can, and give ourselves a chance to recharge our hope batteries.

Things are changing. They are on the precipice of getting better.

It’s possible we’ll still be faced with rage and violence this week from people who’ve been radicalized by DT. But I want to believe that today was an example of the winds of insurrection being hit with the doldrums. Perhaps, if we’re lucky, the wind will soon be permanently out of those sails.

Spartacus Concurs

And so I offer this photo of Spartacus from earlier today. I mentioned the other night that he was bouncing back quite nicely from the shocking appearance of ‘cherry eye,’ and this is my proof.

A little background on this photo: We received a video this morning of one of our ‘Grandcats’ (we have four) stalking and pouncing on an empty paper bag, which Karl and I kept playing over and over. (Yet more proof that we were feeling the playfulness and simple joy of this reprieve.) It felt so great just to laugh.

In the midst of our chuckling, Spartacus, feeling oh-so-much-better than he was feeling last week at this time, started prancing around in circles chasing one of his chew toys. Plopping it in front of me, the message was clear: this reprieve is for all of us to enjoy, Mommy.

Play with me; dirty paws and all.

(T-313)

Diversion From and Unity With – Day 797

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The Hu – Photo: L. Weikel

Diversion From and Unity With

And now for something completely different. I offer tonight’s post as both a diversion from and unity with the world at large.

It’s been a while since I wrote about one of the loves of my odd life: Tuvan throat singing and its very close cousin, Mongolian throat singing. I have a couple of favorite Tuvan throat singing groups, but tonight I’m thinking wistfully of The Hu, the Mongolian folk-metal band that Karl and I went to see in Brooklyn in September 2019.

I’m so glad we had that experience! Little did we know that it might be a very long time before we ever have such a chance again.

Tonight’s Diversion

My niece posted a video by The Hu on Facebook today that I just saw this evening. I have to admit, I became mesmerized and haven’t been able to turn their music off ever since.

I decided to write about them again tonight in the hope that you might allow yourselves to give this music a listen. It may strike you as really strange at first, but if you close your eyes and just allow yourself to ‘ride’ the rhythms, vocals, and ancient instrumentals, you may find yourself transported (or at least diverted) from the stresses we’re all encountering right now.

One selection I am finding myself loving as I sit here trying to muster my thoughts is a piece entitled Shireg Shireg*. What I love about this selection in particular is how much it reminds me of more traditional folk pieces from both Mongolia and Tuva.

I’ll see if I can find a single version of it on YouTube (I did – it is linked above to the title), but if I can’t, it’s at minute 38.27 in this wonderful fundraising video. I hope you’ll listen to it and allow yourself to be transported to the steppes for a few minutes. Both are beautiful renditions in their own ways.

Unity

And it is this video benefiting Covid-19 relief by The Hu that brings me to speak of experiencing the unity we have with even the furthest parts of the world. Mongolia is pretty much on the opposite side of the globe, and is a land of vast steppes, taiga, wild nature, and tremendously fierce and loving nomadic people.

Yet Mongolia, like the rest of the world, is not immune to Covid-19. And The Hu performed this fundraiser to benefit their fellow Mongolians who are battling the ravages of this pandemic just as we are. (I do believe they are more compliant with the mask wearing and have actually been more successful in quelling the spread than we have been here in the U.S.) That said, they don’t have anywhere near the healthcare capacity that we do (nor the population).

No country is immune. We’re all in this together. But that doesn’t mean we can’t lose ourselves in that great unifier…music.

*I just found the lyrics to Shireg Shireg and – what a surprise – find them to be meaningful to me in many ways, and quite possibly to you as well:

Water your red horse with piebald mane without the gag-bit
Please, remember the kindness of your old and grey father
Ride on the slope of the blue fold mountains
Please, remember the compassion of your old and caring mother
Shireg shireg
Shireg shireg
Take care of your loyal steed when you travel in foreign lands
Make friends with good people who you ride in the horde
Feed your bow and arrow with the wind
Abide by your moon sword as you sleep
Have the intuition to see the evil
Have the strength to endure barriers
Shireg shireg
Shireg shireg
We kiss your right cheek as we say farewell
We’ll kiss the left one when you return
Farewell, your elderly father and mother will be waiting for you at home
Shireg shireg
Shireg Shireg
Source: LyricFind

Mongolian shamans on the steppe – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-314)

Even the Clouds – Day 796

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Lenticular Clouds – Photo: L. Weikel

Even the Clouds

We’ve known it was coming; this time of unrest and instability in our country. If we didn’t, we were either kidding (lying to?) ourselves or deliberately refusing to pay attention to everything going on around us. And if we think it’s all over now, that January 6th, 2021 was the worst expression we’d see of the rage and grievance that’s been simmering for over a century and stoked for the past four years, think again. Even the clouds are telling us: there’s a rough road ahead.

I started writing about what’s taken place so far and what is threatened over the next several days, but I deleted it. I don’t actually want to paint a picture with my words of the potential carnage (using that word deliberately) we may be forced to witness and endure.

I would rather float a beacon of hope on the waters of our collective disappointment, fear, and heartbreak over dreams dashed and hopes mocked. And the hope is this:

Through all of this, there has been one consistent liar. One person who, with a cadre of yes-people echoing his comments to give them greater volume, has tried to make everyone believe that the cause of their misery is someone else. And the fact is, right now, that liar, who has done everything he can to profit off their misery, is leaving them high and dry. My hope is that they will remove the veil from their eyes and see the truth – and instead of following through on what he’s stoked, step back and think twice.

Before it’s too late.

Lenticular Clouds

I believe the clouds that appeared on the horizon as we walked last Saturday, days after the 1/6/21 Trump Insurrection, were a metaphor for what we are experiencing right now.

Take a good look at these eerily shaped and exquisitely hued clouds. I confess I’m not a meteorologist, but they look, to me, like lenticular clouds. And I have to admit I was taken aback when I saw them, as I believe they are usually associated with mountains. (I’m most familiar with photos of lenticular clouds near the top of Mount Shasta.)

In fact, just before starting this post tonight, I looked up lenticular clouds just to see what I might find. The words used to describe them jumped out at me, given our collective circumstances.

Specifically, I read: “Lenticular clouds indicate great instability in that layer of the atmosphere, and form in areas of mountain waves. (…) It makes sense that it would be a ‘rough ride’. (…) If you see Lenticular clouds (standing wave clouds) you have visual proof the air above is very turbulent. Although pretty, those clouds are ‘mean’.” (emphasis added)

Holding the Vision

I’m still holding a vision for our country and our fellow citizens of a United States that becomes for real what we’ve always thought we were deep down inside.

We have within us the ability to transform into a thing of beauty. Sadly, it’s the transformation itself that many so deeply fear and resist. It’s going to take effort and dedication, courage and resilience to sustain the rough ride we’re on to get there.

Ultimately, we need to take care of each other. We need to love each other – at least enough to give our idealism a try. And if we can get to the place where we actually allow the light to come through – the fear and panic will melt away, and the turbulence will subside.

Let’s try to hold this vision in the coming days.

(T-315)

No Escape – Day 795

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Tohickon Flow 14 Jan 21 – Photo: L. Weikel

No Escape

There’s so much stress swirling around all of us these days. It’s in the atmosphere, on the news, in the grocery store, on the Capitol steps. It’s bombarding us on our phones, in our homes, and definitely squeezing hospitals all across the country – and around the world. It seems there’s no escape.

But there is. It’s called Nature.

I’m sure I’m preaching to the choir here. Nevertheless. Even if I am, I’m going to repeat myself. Because no matter how vigilant we are about maintaining our balance or taking a break from the news, it can be all too easy to talk ourselves out of it in times like these. Taking a walk, watching the flow of a creek, or sitting on the porch for 15 minutes to watch the sunset can feel entirely inappropriate when viewed through the lens of how dire life can seem at the moment.

Case in Point

Over the weekend, when I wrote about how so many of us are feeling under pressure, Spartacus was also feeling the stress. The very same day my tooth broke, Spartacus woke up with an extreme flare-up of what’s commonly called ‘Cherry Eye.’ I describe it as extreme because he has occasionally sported a red bump in the corner of his eye before, but never was it so huge as it was on Sunday. It was extremely disconcerting to look at him. It almost felt as though he, too, had been feeling the pressure – and while I took my stress out on my tooth, he manifested his where his body was the weakest.

Even worse than how awful it looked was how sad he became. He was totally thrown off his game by losing most of the sight in his eye – and sadly, that’s how large the prolapse was. Even when he slept, his eye wasn’t closing. He barely sniffed at his food. We even took a walk, but in spite of the mild weather, his heart wasn’t in it.

I’m glad to report that the ointment they gave me for his eye worked wonders – even on the bulge as big as it was. He feels so much better now. (I’ll post an ‘after’ photo tomorrow – or soon, at least. I promise!)

Spart’s Cherry Eye – Photo: L. Weikel

Lost My Point

Ha ha – as I sit here, I swear, I’ve lost the point of where I was going with this post. I didn’t intend to write in such detail about Spartacus’s affliction, but there it is. I’ll share it, since it has a happy resolution. I didn’t want to write about it while we were going through it because it’s one thing to write about a broken tooth and quite another to write about your puppy (even if he is 12 years old) looking like he’s been in a war.

I didn’t want to bum any of us out any more than we were already feeling!

I Remember Now

I was writing about the simple joy of being in Nature and how essential it is for all of us to be reminded of that fact, especially as we face these intensely stressful times. I related the story about Spartacus because this afternoon, he and I were hanging out on the porch for a moment as I filled the birdfeeders, and I was filled with gratitude that he was feeling so much better and was shamelessly basking in the sun.

We’ve had a satisfying array of visitors to our feeders, and Karl’s trick of hanging chunks of Irish Spring soap to the feeders seems to have quelled the deer from draining the tubes each night. As I listened to the birds chirping and cheeping in the branches and bushes surrounding the porch, alerting all their friends and neighbors that the two legged was finally refilling the feeders and maybe even putting out some peanuts, I recalled an article I’d read recently about the impact of birdwatching on our happiness.

Just another example of how being in Nature is a balm to our souls.

In spite of all the anxiety we’re feeling over extremism in our lives and the possibility of more violence over the next several days, give yourselves the gift of appreciating the simple, natural, pleasures in life. The cardinals and chickadees. The squirrels and goldfinches. The puppy who can see again, scrounging up shelled peanuts that fall to the ground when you’re filling the peanut coil.

It’s the little things.

(T-316)

Distracted – Day 794

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Distracted

Well, we’ve managed to experience yet another day that will go down in the history books for generations to come. One day after another, it almost feels like we’re boxers in a ring with one arm tied behind our backs. While I vowed to accomplish a number of items on my to-do list today, ultimately, I found myself hopelessly distracted.

I think what’s most disheartening is how DT manages to suck the oxygen out of the room no matter what else is happening in the world. And no matter whether he’s even in the room. For instance, it is unconscionable that I do not know how many people died today from Covid-19. From the historic second impeachment to credible discussions of Congressional members aiding and abetting the siege on the Capitol, there isn’t any room, apparently, to discuss or lament or mourn the victims of the pandemic.

All of which brings me to yet another aspect of the egregiously selfish and arrogant times in which we live. How many of us have seen the images of one of the safe rooms where members of the House were shepherded during the insurrection – the room in which a Democratic Representative politely offered masks to her Republican colleagues and asked them to wear them, since they were all in a confined space for who knows how long?

Two Things

There are two things that jump out as a result of that encounter. First of all, there are at least four people who have tested positive for the Coronavirus almost certainly as a result of exposure in that room. Three are members of Congress. And a fourth victim of the bullying ignorance of the Republican anti-maskers is Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley’s (D-MA) husband, Conan. He happened to be in Washington D.C. with his wife to attend and celebrate his wife’s swearing in. Little did he realize, he would also get a front row seat to sedition and what amounts to deliberate infection with a potentially deadly virus.

As members of the House of Representatives, these people are supposed to be our leaders. They are sent to Washington to work on our behalf, to craft laws and policies that make our country stronger, and to wisely guide our country on a path to equality and inclusion. (Yes, I am idealistic.) But no, the smug, arms-crossed, arrogant refusal of these members to simply wear a damn mask in order to protect other people – in order to simply be polite, if nothing else – was too much to ask.

Some example of leadership. Compassion. Maturity above the level of a six year old.

The Other Thing

The second thing that jumped out at me from the short video clip of that scene was the weird overall behavior of these Republican members. (And I should note, the ones shown were almost, if not entirely, all newly elected members. Members who may or may not qualify as conspiracy-minded.) When you look at that video clip and take into consideration that the Capitol was – right then and there – literally under siege, with windows and doors being battered down and marauders rioting through the halls, ransacking offices, running off with historic relics, and leaving calling cards of human feces and urine in our hallowed halls of Congress – these members sure seemed preternaturally cavalier about the situation.

Every single time I see that clip I get a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach. Their obvious and utter lack of concern over their own wellbeing and safety is unnatural given the circumstances. Unless, of course, they somehow sensed that they were untouchable. I don’t know…that the mob maybe knows who they are, and won’t go after them?

Perhaps I’m reading it all wrong. It’s certainly possible. I just think there’s a ton of information that’s still going to come out – and a ton of potential violence that we may still bear witness to before this onslaught on our country is over.

I have a terrible sense that, really and truly, our greatest enemy is within. We must not be distracted from rooting it out.

(T-317)

Overload – Day 793

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Falcon (Kestrel) – Photo: L. Weikel

Overload

Honestly, I’m struggling to come up with something to write about that has nothing to do with either the votes I see taking place on the floor of the House of Representatives tonight, or the insurrection that took place just six short days ago. It’s hard; let me tell you. I’m on overload.

From the looks of things, it appears that the House is first voting to urge Vice President Pence and the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment in order to effectively remove DT from office. Pence has pre-emptively sent Congress a letter advising that he has no intentions of doing so. Thus it is expected that tomorrow the House will vote to impeach Donald Trump for his part in inciting the insurrection we witnessed take place last Wednesday, January 6, 2021.

Reasons

There are myriad reasons why Congress is moving forward with this action so quickly. Not least of these reasons is that we probably came within five minutes or so of the mob of thousands of Trump supporters not only storming the Capitol at the urging and instigation of Donald Trump, Donald Trump, Jr., Rudy Giuliani, and others, but also taking hostages and possibly killing those in the line of succession to Donald Trump.

We’ve seen videos, heard chants, and read posts that establish these intentions. And we’ve witnessed DT telling these people, “We love you.” The outrage is not in an expression of unconditional love (which would have had to be coupled with a swift and harsh rebuke to stop the violence) but rather from the tacit implication, “We love your behavior.”

The behavior of the mob was, in a word, deplorable. Not to mention illegal. And utterly immoral and diametrically opposed to the fundamentals of democracy.

As DT is wont to do, he deliberately says something that means one thing but in actuality intends the opposite. It’s a trick of rhetoric that he constantly employs yet is probably unconscious of and unaware that he does it. He talks out of both sides of his mouth.

A Different Messenger Today

Given the manner in which events are unfolding, including the credible reports of (admittedly incredible) additional attacks on both the inauguration ceremony and state capitols around the country over the coming days, our country is on high alert. We are being placed in the stance and mindset of imminent threat.

All of this reminds me of the quite unexpected visitor that swooped and looped over my back yard and above my head this afternoon: a gorgeous falcon. Specifically, I believe it was a kestrel; also known as a sparrow hawk.

While I might be inclined to try to apply the attributes of Falcon to myself or my life, I actually feel this might be more of a confirmation of the best manner in which to deal with DT’s actions.

For instance, Ted Andrews, in his book Animal Speak*, states:

“The kestrel will usually plunge down upon its prey from a perch, or hover above it about twenty feet up before the plunge. This is unique among birds of prey, but also among most birds. (…) For those with a kestrel as a totem, this is very significant. It allows the movement to be performed with great speed and precision. It gives the kestrel a gracefulness. It implies the ability to stop and use the flight to its fullest advantage.

The kestrel teaches control of speed and movement. It teaches patience. The kestrel is often a symbol for recognizing opportunities and acting upon them at only the correct moment. It teaches speed and accuracy of action. (…) The kestrel and any falcon can teach us to know when to act but to fully commit to our actions for the greatest success.”

Accountability

All of this reminds me once again of how essential it is that those who participated in the attempted coup on our government be held accountable – swiftly and without equivocation. It is a sad testament to our current predicament that because accountability has been delayed, denied, or deflected up to this point, the infractions against our country and our people have only become more egregious.

We need to act quickly; we need to act decisively; and we need to hold all those who would rip apart our democratic republic through treachery and violence accountable.

Falcon reminds us.

*affiliate link

(T-318)

More Challenges – Day 792

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Mystic Art Medicine Oracle Cards by Cher Lyn – “Medicine Power”

More Challenges

I’m willing to bet most of you join me in feeling the weight of this week hanging on our collective shoulders. A sense of foreboding is starting to permeate everything. It doesn’t help when the FBI warns that even more challenges may erupt in all 50 states, as well as the nation’s capital, at any moment.

As I sat down to write this evening, I wanted to provide something for us to ponder or perhaps use as inspiration or, dare I say it, hope. I feel as though the Crone cards I chose last week are still formidable guides for the entire month, so I feel like we should ‘stand pat’ on those.

My gaze went to my Mystic Art Medicine Cards deck by Cher Lyn. Do they have something to impart that might provide an assist as we deal with the after-effects of an attempted coup?

Perhaps.

Medicine Power

I shuffled gently and calmly, opening my heart and asking what might serve us to focus upon tomorrow, or perhaps as the week plays out. I felt quite peaceful as I shuffled, so I was surprised when one card literally jumped out of the deck and fell to the floor, face up. Hmm. Medicine Power. Flipping the deck over to see what was on the bottom, I again felt a sense of awe: Transformation. A card and a concept that, like the Eagles I wrote about yesterday, has been stalking us.

As soon as I looked it up and started reading, I realized the craftiness of Spirit.

Medicine Power – “Crazy Horse”

Eagle awakens vision eye,

Medicine power, ancient master wise.

Spin the cosmic portal

Unveil the secrets to be immortal.

~ Cher Lyn

“In the painting of “Crazy Horse,” one side of his head is donned with a white eagle feather, a sign of pure power bridging the spirit world to the physical plane here on Earth. On the other side is blazing firepower for transformation. Crazy Horse possessed Medicine Power as a prophet, seer, leader, and spiritual healer. He had the ability to commune with spirits dwelling on all levels of Creation. His face painted with the six-pointed star is a key of ancient cultures, Sacred Geometry come together and in itself is a Medicine Power. Conveying balance of the masculine and feminine within the infinite circle.

The dictionary acknowledges medicine as a synonym for magic, relating to magical forms of healing. Medicine Power doesn’t only represent healing the body from illness, but includes the design of finding all things of the Earth and Cosmos a gift. Native Americans use the word medicine to describe inexplicable forces beyond human perception. Medicine Power can be a stone, bone, plane, animal, or even a paintbrush. Everything is alive with spirit and potential medicine. Love is the most powerful Medicine. Your Medicine Power is innately always in you without a talisman, still a talisman helps you remember.

Wake up, take notice, and watch for omens and signs for the gifts of Medicine Power are always available to you. Don’t be fooled by medicine just because it seems small to your ego; the ant is a very powerful medicine.

Drawing the Medicine Power card is not to be taken lightly. Watch for signs. This card signifies an important medicine gift coming your way. In your heart, you have all the Medicine Power you need to heal your world.” (emphasis added)

Mystic Art Medicine Oracle Cards by Cher Lyn – “Transformation”

The Foundation – Underneath: Transformation

Transformation – “Egyptian Magic”

“ (…) All things form and transform within the mysterious cycles of birth, life, and death. Instead of fearing the darkness you can bless it, learn from it, and embrace it. It is both your humanness and your light. The shadow you fear is powerless without the interpretation of your beliefs, thoughts, and desires. The power of Transformation lies in your ability to find the light within the shadow and make the connection, infusing focus on its light quality instead of the darkness.

Everything you think, feel, and do creates your lessons in the world you live in. Inside you great intelligence, wisdom, and love are ever present. It is the beliefs you have been taught that are the hindering factor here. Let the fire in your heart inspire you for Transformation. Perfecting your character and at the same time helping you let go while allowing any pain, sorrow, or difficulty to just be there. Allow the alchemical change to unfold and evolve you in its own time as you journey through your world with the power of intentions.

The Transformation card suggests that you be in touch with both your shadow side and your spiritual side. True Transformation can only happen in connection with your heart. Setting in motion authentic spiritual alchemy you will see a change in you, like base metal into gold. Essentially shifting your whole perspective.” (emphasis added)

A Reminder

I cannot love enough how Eagle managed to show up again for me today. Not literally in the feather, but in this main card for us – Medicine Power – reminding us of the power of paying attention to the messages being sent our way. It’s also reminding us of how essential it is that we discern within ourselves what unique gifts we can bring to shifting and transforming our world – right now.

It’s also uncanny how the Transformation card has been following us around like an obedient dog over the past many weeks and months. It was the foundational concept (watchword) when we were tasked with Perseverance not two weeks before the election.

Some good stuff to contemplate as we do our best to stay the course and witness the transformation of our country and our world.

(T-319)