Blog ~ Ruffled Feathers

Thoughts, ideas, perspectives, ruminations. If we make it through life without ruffling a few feathers, have we really lived?

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Welcoming the Darkness – ND #14

Posted on by Lisa Weikel Leave a comment
Sunset 21 December 21 – Photo: L. Weikel

Welcoming the Darkness

Sunset tonight was so starkly vivid and raw with color, it was as if the atmosphere itself had lit a celebratory bonfire welcoming the darkness.

Certainly the temperature plunged to a seasonal degree. I’m glad it did; it felt weird to be walking barefoot on the grass a few days ago. But the frozen ground really is unyielding. The puppies didn’t know what to make of it and seemed confused by how much it hurt when tearing across the tundra after their stuffed toy.

Perspective – Photo: L. Weikel

Survival Mode

Practically every single person I’ve spoken to in the past week mentioned how bone-tired they’re feeling. Some have even termed their outlook to be ‘in survival mode.’

And we thought we were exhausted last year? Ha! If nothing else, hopefully we’ve learned the folly of challenging ‘worse.’

As we welcome and embrace the winter season, let’s commit to finding a way to truly rest our weary bones and rejuvenate our spirits. We probably shouldn’t naively believe that everything’s suddenly going to turn around over the next few weeks. But we can prepare ourselves to meet those days with refreshed perspective.

What activity (even if  – perhaps especially if – it is a non-activity) can we bring into our holiday season to honor our inner weariness? How do we replenish our inner wellspring of hope?

I’m feeling a yearning to read, to laugh and play games, to snuggle and be with the people I love most in the whole world. Maybe even to write a few words.

If we’re finding ourselves in survival mode – let’s make a point of surviving well.

Photo: L. Weikel

(T+14)

Solstice Is Upon Us – ND #13

Posted on by Lisa Weikel Leave a comment
Solstice Eve Sunset – Photo: L. Weikel

Solstice Is Upon Us

Late this afternoon, I managed to capture a glimpse of the sun just before it descended below the horizon. Yet another raptor darted from the bushes to my left – a falcon this time – crossing my path and weaving effortlessly amongst the saplings and grapevines. Hawks had accompanied me the entire length of my extended walk; I’d seen at least four, not counting this smaller, dark brown falcon. “The Solstice is upon us!” the falcon cried. “Time to fluff our feathers and hunker down. You need to get home,” it added.

And so the longest night of the year began with a messenger swooping before my eyes. This must have been Spirit’s last ditch effort to gain my attention, since a Red-tailed Hawk had literally executed a combination swoop/jump from tree branch to tree branch in front of me, spanning a quarter of a mile, its massive wings cupped forward, beckoning me to follow.

No photos of those quick hops from branch to branch. The best I could do was snag one of it facing the setting sun, turning its back to me, facing the wild unknown most bravely.

Hawk Facing West – Photo: L. Weikel

Pensive

I’m feeling decidedly pensive this evening. I was keenly aware of the impending darkness this evening, especially the fact that tonight the darkness would last the greatest amount of time. Our fire is burning gently, reminding us of just how cold it became tonight – all of a sudden, too. I know I’d looked at the Weather Channel app several times over the past 24 hours and not once did I see the call for such frigid temperatures as those we awakened to this morning.

The cold only drives us deeper within.

Contemplating the dreams we wish to manifest over the next three months is our focus at the moment. What changes are we seeking? What messages will we be delivering? What is the coming year going to teach us about ourselves? How can we best honor the our heart’s desire?

So many questions. Such freezing temperatures driving us inside, making sure we hunker down.

Tomorrow we’ll awaken and the days will begin lengthening ever so slowly.

Enjoy the night. Revel in the silence. Or is that the call of a Great Horned Owl I hear?

(T+13)

Self-revelation – ND #12

Posted on by Lisa Weikel 2 Comments
Full Cold Moon – 19 December 2021 – Photo: L. Weikel

Self-revelation

I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m not cut out to be one of those people who can bring things together in a seamless fashion and make it all appear effortless. I’m just not. What, you might ask, has tipped me off to this self-revelation that surely has been apparent to everyone living in my vicinity for – oh, I don’t know – at least the past 40 years?

Hmm. Let me think. Maybe the fact that I was steam cleaning our rugs this afternoon, when I actually have a list of time-sensitive obligations that deserve and demand my attention?

Granted, there are few activities more satisfying than steam cleaning a rug. In my book, it’s akin to mowing the lawn. Perhaps that’s because I perform both tasks in long, straight lines and the transformation as I progress is decidedly obvious.

Visible Confirmation

Every once in a while, I need some tangible proof that I’m accomplishing something worthwhile. If not worthwhile, at least visible and useful or pleasing in some way.

With the arrival of the puppies, the need to steam clean our rugs was becoming more and more of a pressing necessity. The result of today’s effort is pleasing and oddly liberating. But it also ate up a ton of time.

Orange Rising – Photo: L. Weikel

And Then There’s the Moon

The full moon appeared enormous to my eyes as she rose tonight, bursting with such a deep orange hue I wouldn’t have been surprised to see the word ‘Sunkist’ stamped on her surface. Her draw was mesmerizing. When I first noticed her majestically gracing us with her presence above the tree line, my heart leapt into my throat and I felt overcome with reverence.

And yet, I feel like there’s an air of obliviousness about. I read the articles on the transmissibility of the Omicron variant and I am gobsmacked at the throngs of people I see maskless in stores. And then I wonder what the hell I’m doing in those stores myself. I so rarely go anywhere other than the grocery store or the pet food store. (And yeah, I use Chewy, too – but I had a purpose in going to the pet store recently!) I will write about that soon.

I’m all over the place in this post. I keep losing track of what day it is. No, I’m definitely not one of those people who has her act together. And I’m definitely not one who can fake it.

I AM Solstice Symposium

I wanted to invite everyone to watch the I AM Solstice Symposium, which begins tomorrow (today, Monday, when you’re reading this). (The above link will take you to the page where you can buy the recording of the entire event, but down further on the page is a link to join the live presentations on Facebook, which will take place on the Wind Clan FB page.)

Of course, you can still sign up to enjoy the programs. You can jump in at any time, but if you wait, you might miss a talk that could be just what you need to hear and don’t even realize it. And there’s an impressive lineup of cool people speaking.

Truly, I’m honored to be included.

My presentation isn’t until next week (Tuesday the 28th) at 2:00 p.m. EST. But seriously, you’ll be missing out if you don’t sign up first thing tomorrow. It’s free if you watch it live. It’s hopeful. And you might gain some self-revelation that’s way cooler than mine!

And it’s never too late to engage in the devotional act of tending the solstice fire in your home and your heart.

(T+12)

Tend the Fires – ND #11

Posted on by Lisa Weikel Leave a comment
Photo: L. Weikel

Tend the Fires

Whew. Last night’s post turned out to be much longer than I intended. And drawing the Initiation card that rather remarkably echoed what I’d just written (only in astrological terms) – was rather stark. Perhaps we need to tend the fires that burn deep within, stoke our creativity, passion, and love, as we prepare for what’s to come.

It’s unlikely we’re going to be able to sit back and coast into 2022. And if we find we’re actually able to do ‘sit back and coast,’ it’ll almost surely be a result of hunkering down and being happy with a tight circle of close family and friends. Or perhaps even a lot of time completely on our own. So what can we do? What should we do? What do we yearn to do? How can we keep our inner fire from flickering out?

Answering the Questions

Only we can answer those questions for ourselves. Often, though, we keep ourselves so busy, busy, busy that we never take the time to answer them. I’m pretty sure it’s because we’re either afraid of the answers – or perhaps worse, afraid we won’t find any answers.

Well, in these darkest of days and longest of nights, it seems like the perfect time to devote even the tiniest bit of time to creating a space where the answers might come to us on their own.

And yes – you probably noticed my use of the word devote in that last sentence. It was deliberate. That’s because I’m feeling a call to explore the concept and nature of devotion a little more deeply, now that I completed my 1111 Devotion a few weeks ago.

Solstice Time

One of the definitions of devotion contained in my copy of The World Book Dictionary reads as follows: “3. The act of devoting or setting apart to a sacred use or purpose, solemn dedication; consecration.”

As we approach the winter solstice, the week before and the week after are the shortest days (and consequently the longest nights) of the year. As humans, we have a primal urge to go within, draw the blankets around us, and stoke the hearth fires. Even if we don’t have a fireplace or literal hearth fire any longer, most of us indulge in the flicker of candlelight at this time of year.

10th Annual I AM Solstice

As many of you know if you’ve been reading my posts or my Hoot Alerts, I’ve been invited by my dear friend Renee Baribeau to participate in her I AM Symposia for the past ten years. I’ve spoken on a variety of topics, from grief to energetic cleansing to listening, among other topics. This year, Renee asked me to speak on the topic of devotion.

I’ll post the details of the entire I AM Solstice Symposium tomorrow night, but tonight I’d like to invite you to engage in a heartwarming act of personal devotion to keeping the proverbial hearthfires lit.

As part of each year’s I AM Solstice Symposium, those who want to actively contribute their intention to holding space for all who participate (both as speakers and as listeners) volunteer to be Fire Tenders. They “actively set apart to a sacred use” a flame – most often a candle or candles which they replenish as needed – which they keep lit throughout the 14 days of the I AM Solstice Symposium.

Fire Tenders

The I AM Solstice Fire Tenders create a community amongst themselves (via the Wind Clan), holding space for the community and elevating the entire experience through their devotion to keeping the flames burning throughout the 14 days of the Symposium.

This act of devotion to holding space for the light to dwindle, as is its natural course, but never go out, is an Act of Power. It is an opportunity to set an intention and make space for something to crack open within us. It’s a commitment entered into in and an act of love with the support of thousands of other people around the world.

If you would like to participate in this act of devotion, I encourage you to sign up using this link or via the Wind Clan (on FaceBook). There will be a Fire Tenders Gathering tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. EST, where you will receive guidance on best practices and also get a sense of the immense variety of creative ways people have engaged in this ritual in years past.

Come and hold space with us. Tend the fires. Set apart a few minutes each day this Solstice season in devotion to keeping the flames of warmth, love, and creativity burning within your soul.

Photo: L. Weikel

(T+11)

Big Week – ND #10

Posted on by Lisa Weikel 2 Comments
Initiation – Witches’ Wisdom Tarot* by Phyllis Curott

Big Week

From the full moon tomorrow (Saturday) night at 11:35 p.m. EST to the final Saturn square Uranus of the year next Thursday (23 December 2021), and a myriad other somewhat provocative aspects, this could prove to be an especially challenging several days. I’d say we definitely have a big week coming up. And while we’ll probably witness the foundational disruptions most dramatically in the ‘outside world,’ many of us will also experience this grand finale to our calendar year personally, as well.

You may recall that the theme of 2021 was pretty well set by the unusual circumstance of Saturn squaring (being in a 90 degree aspect to) Uranus not only once but three distinct times this year. The first one occurred in February (17th), the second in June (14th), and now this final one next week (the 23rd//24th). And to think, this specific tango between Saturn and Uranus only occurs once every 22 years.

As I understand it, usually this square happens once in its cycle. The fact that it happened three times this year (due to retrograde motion of the planets) made this struggle or challenge occurring between the old and the new all the more powerful, acute, and, well, potentially utterly transformational (or devastating, depending upon your perspective).

The fundamental natures of these two huge outer planets and how they’re in a challenging position with each other indicated that we would all be faced with taking stock of our core values and other foundational aspects of our lives. And along with that, challenged to allow those foundations to suddenly collapse or explode (the lightning-like, disruptive aspect of Uranus).

Resistance

On a societal level, all year we’ve been challenged to look at how the systems upon which our nation is built may be unstable and in need of reform or even complete rebuilding. It’s not been easy and there is a ton of resistance to even believing that our three branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial) might have become corrupted over the years. But we’ve seen a lot this year. And the Uranian energies of illumination, revelation, and radical transformation just keep pounding on the doors of our consciousness.

My sense (and I’m the first to admit, I’m no amazing ‘seer,’ I’m simply paying attention) is that we’re in for a lot more disruption before we stabilize.

Personal Ramifications

While what happens on a national level (or even state or local level) affects us all, especially when we’re talking about the underpinnings of our very democracy, the fact remains that many people are also experiencing radical transformations to their foundations on a personal level. From the ravaging effects of Covid (we reached the awful level of 800,000 deaths this week) to the decimation of voting rights and the right for women to have bodily autonomy, our assumptions about the permanence and stability of our health or our rights in this country have been blown up. Right down to the thousands of people who literally had their homes ripped up and spit out by monster tornadoes. Things we believed stable and rock solid have been proved otherwise.

Guidance

So like I did back in May, just before the second Saturn square Uranus, I’m going to pick a card tonight for us to contemplate and reflect upon over the coming week. (I recommend you check out the card I chose for that post. It’s interesting to read it, knowing how things have played out so far.)

Oddly, the deck I chose from in May (Tarot of the Crone) has gone missing for the moment. (I know it’s around here somewhere – aargh! I’m so frustrated.) But I take my inability to locate that deck as a push to choose from another deck. So here goes. I’m choosing from a deck I’ve been working with all year: Witches’ Wisdom Tarot* by Phyllis Curott.

Initiation – Witches’ Wisdom Tarot* by Phyllis Curott

Initiation

Wisdom: There’s an ancient path for becoming human, for finding freedom and our own selves; there’s a way to heal and to become whole, to discover who we are, where we are, and why we’re here. From the moment of our first awakening, we have created rites of revelation, Initiations into the Mysteries hiding in plain sight.

(…) Trees stir and breathe. Birds sing in their branches as the leaves rustle and dance. The Pilgrim kneels beside a stream to drink, washes her face, sees herself reflected in the Water cupped in her hands. A sign of her quest hangs from her neck, five seed-shaped spaces waiting to be filled. A Crow plucks off her hat, two Fox cubs play and tear at her pack, a Badger carries her past away.

The path leads down, deep beneath the surface, and inward to the very center of her soul. Those who are becoming wise willingly descend, ready to be unmade in order to be made again. It’s time for unburdening, for cleansing the unreal and unwanted, for shedding all that separates you from your sacred self, from the Sacred that surrounds, sustains, and summons you. It’s time to di and be reborn.

(…)

Essence: Purification. Initiation. Trust. Let go of the past. Go within. Plunge into the unknown.

Counsel: What’s behind you? What are you carrying with you? What do you need to unpack? To leave behind? Life will initiate you, and when that journey begins, you must be ready to confront the emptiness of a socially dictated life and the constraints of family conditioning. You must face your fears and self-doubts, your shadows and your ‘kark’ side. You must release what imprisons you. It’s difficult, but it’s joyful. It begins with a single step,a leap of faith that although the old will fall away, something new, true, and beautiful will take its place. Plunge into the Water, into the cave. Plunge into your life. Everything will teach you, once you are open.

My Take

We can’t make this stuff up, my friends.

Buckle up. Let’s do this work: and remember we’re doing it together – and we have each other.

* Affiliate link

(T+10)

Smiling – ND #9

Posted on by Lisa Weikel Leave a comment
DECEMBER Tug-o-war & Visitor – Photo: L. Weikel

Smiling

Even though I feel pressed for time this evening since there’s no way I’m going to get this published by 1:00 a.m., I know it’s a feeling I need to let go. And the reason I need to let it go is because I have to tell you how much I’m smiling inside. Even though this may not get sent out at the requisite witching hour, I’m grateful that I’m writing it at all.

I’m finding it hard to articulate what I mean. Let me back up a little.

This afternoon I was playing with Pacha and Brutus, all three of us drinking in the unbelievably mild weather. It had to have been in the mid-60s today, and darn close to hitting 70.

One of our favorite games is a rudimentary form of fetch, wherein I chuck a squeaker dog toy dressed up to look like an animal as far as I can toward our little barn and they run pell-mell after it. Most of the time they chase and tackle each other, ripping the toy out of each other’s mouths, and eventually bring it back to me for another toss. There’s a lot of taunting and teasing that goes on as well. And then there’s the inevitable tug-o’-war, since the toy has floppy legs that lend themselves to puppies digging in their heels and refusing to unclench their jaws.

An Unexpected Sighting

I’d tossed the squeaker creature approximately 358 times, when they stopped halfway back to me and engaged in an epic battle of tug-o’-war. I don’t know what got into them, but neither was yielding. When I started walking toward them to yank it from both of them (would I do that?!), I saw something completely unexpected: the brilliant head of a dandelion peeking out at me from amongst the piles of leaves and assorted other remnants of autumn detritus.

Trained from my 1111 Devotion experience, I had my phone in the pouch of my sweatshirt, the ready to snap a photo at a moment’s notice. As can be seen from the photo above, not only did I capture the resilience of our December Dandelion, I also managed to get a shot of the ongoing battle that was ensuing.

Back to My Gratitude

All of which leads me back to what I was so inartfully trying to articulate at the beginning of this post. Yeah, I’m posting late, so now this won’t get into my readers’ email inboxes until Saturday. But in the grand scheme of things, and remembering how sad I was feeling two weeks ago (when I was in the midst of my posting hiatus), there’s a smile beaming out from my heart center.

Who’d have thought I’d find a dandelion blooming in the midst of our lawn on December 16th? And why in the world would it make me…smile?

While the long-term implications of this (not to mention the devastating tornadoes and storms of last week and yesterday in the South and Midwest) might indicate the deeply troubling reality of accelerating climate change, the simultaneous beauty and worry generated by this sunny countenance is more meaningful because I can share it with you.

When I saw that dandelion and ‘had’ to take a photo of it, all I could think about was sharing it with you. It’s odd! We’re five days or so from the solstice and the shortest day of the year! And the fact that I was walking on the grass in bare feet was weird too. (In more ways then one, I know.)

But what mattered to me was the prospect of sharing it with all of you. In other words, I’m grateful we’ve renewed this invisible but meaningful connection. The fact that you’re ‘out there’ and we’re sharing these moments matters to me. You make me smile.

11 Mourning Doves also decided to hang out with us – Photo: L. Weikel

(T+9)

Wherewithal – ND #8

Posted on by Lisa Weikel 2 Comments
Lounging – Photo: L. Weikel

Wherewithal

I have a bunch of things I’d like to write about tonight but each topic deserves more thought and effort than I have the wherewithal to muster at this moment. Wherewithal. That’s a cool word.

I feel a tug to pull a couple cards for us, too. But not tonight. I’m thinking maybe Friday or Saturday night. I’ll ask what we need to ILLUMINATE in our lives and perhaps shed or set aside at this full moon. What has reached its fullness in our lives and is ready to move on?

It might benefit all of us to pose that question silently to ourselves now, actually. You know, give ourselves a couple of days to ruminate on the question.

We’re coming up on a powerful time – the winter solstice (here in the Northern Hemisphere, anyway) – the longest night of the year.

Light in the Darkness

It’s important to notice whether any of the intentions we set at the new moon are culminating this week. Or perhaps there are longer term projects that are beginning to see the light of day.

It’s easy for me to plant the seeds of what I’d like to create or manifest in my life – and then forget to ‘check in’ with the Universe to see right where I am at the present moment. It’s an essential practice.

Sometimes we just need to remember to light a candle or otherwise bring some light to the darkness. And sometimes the darkness that’s darkest is what’s inside of us. So in lieu of swallowing fire, how do we find a light in the darkness of our thoughts and feelings?

I’m thinking.

(T+8)

Filmy Gauze – ND #7

Posted on by Lisa Weikel 2 Comments
Waxing Moon Wrapped in a Filmy Gauze – Photo: L. Weike

Filmy Gauze

It’s only right that I give you an update on my effort to enjoy the Geminids last night. As I mentioned, when I took the pups out to be watered and saw how the moon was wrapped in a filmy gauze, I didn’t hold out a lot of hope. Nevertheless, I persisted.

I published my post and waited until the recommended witching hour (2:00 a.m.) to give myself the best chance of seeing these vaunted meteors. The moon, hanging even lower in the western sky than earlier, remained hazy. But looking directly up? Oh my. A crisp and pure December atmosphere only enhanced the brilliance of the stars above.

(l to r) Sirius, Orion, Betelgeuse (above Orion) and Rigel (below Orion) – Photo: L. Weikel

Clarity Rewarded

I drove to the former horse farm (one of my two favorite stargazing haunts) and, surrounded by fields, turned off the car and plunged myself into darkness. The chill wasn’t too bad – it was only 30 degrees. My Sky Guide app on my phone made it clear the Geminids would be emanating from directly overhead, so I just leaned back against my car and took it all in.

In the half hour I spent there, I saw about 12 meteors. They were zipping here and there – certainly not heading in a dominant direction, nor did they seem to originate from anywhere specific. The majority were sprite-like, similar to most meteoric displays, playfully catching my attention out of the corner of my eye.

But at least three times brilliant yellow arcs blazed across the sky. I felt such a sense of joy when those ‘big ones’ occurred – as if they were heavenly gifts just for me.

Of course, I had to give my other favorite spot a chance to dazzle me. I parked in the rutted dirt of the field’s tractor entrance for about ten minutes. And yet I was rewarded here, too, with a handful of little spritzers and one magnificent beauty. Every large meteor I saw last night all was left a lemon yellow tail, while the little ones were brilliant white.

Screen shot from Sky Guide app – Photo: L. Weikel

Other Sights

The most prominent sector of the night sky that caught my attention contained Sirius and the constellation Orion, which includes Rigel and Betelgeuse. I’m always surprised by how red Betelgeuse appears and how brilliant Sirius can be, although my photos didn’t seem to catch the red hue very well.

I’m including the star map from my Sky Guide for reference.

What a treat it was to converse with the stars. Contemplating the immensity of space always takes my breath away.

(T+7)

The Geminids – ND #6

Posted on by Lisa Weikel Leave a comment
Photo: Forbes.com

The Geminids

Oh, I’m so annoyed at myself. I meant to write to you last night about the Geminids. They’re the shooting stars (read meteor shower) – replete with the potential for “multicolored fireballs” – that are peaking tonight. Just after 2:00 a.m., there’s a great chance of witnessing 50-100 meteors streaking through the skies above per hour.

Imagine!

Technically, the Earth will continue to pass through the debris field that causes the Geminids through December 17th. So there’s still time for you to catch some oohs and aahs – although it will get progressively more difficult. First of all, with each passing night following tonight, we’re passing through less and less debris. Secondly, each night will be illuminated more by the waxing moon, which will be full on the 18th.

So tonight’s the best night for catching these chunks of space debris streaking across the sky.

History and Stuff

Last year the Geminids peaked on exactly the same dates (December 13-14). Sadly, clouds obstructed our enjoyment of the height of the spectacle last year, although I did manage to see three meteors a few days beforehand while trying to glimpse the aurora borealis.

Just a few days ago I wrote about Comet Leonard, and I reminded us all that meteors are caused by space dust or ice crystals splitting off from comets. What I didn’t know was that the Geminids are supposedly the greatest meteor showers because they streak across the sky in long, often colorful arcs. But the reason for the long arcs is because the debris soaring into our atmosphere are pieces of ‘3200 Phaethon’ – an asteroid as opposed to a comet. As a result, the little chunks are heavier and their density causes them to take longer to burn up, bringing them closer to Earth before they burn out completely. Their longer burn time increases the chances we’ll see them making their way across the heavens. Those others – the Delta Aquariids, Leonids, Orionids, Perseids, Alpha Monocerotids, to name a few – often come and go so quickly, it’s easy to miss them. (Good grief. I never realized how many of these I’ve written about and hoped to glimpse!)

Aquariids 2019 – Photo: abc7.com

Tonight’s Prospects

Judging by the heaviness of my eyelids at the moment, I may not stay up until 2:00 a.m. tonight. But I’m definitely going to try to see at least a few before I go to bed. So once I hit ‘publish’ tonight, I’m outta here.

Full disclosure: I just took the pups outside for their ‘final watering’ for the evening. Wow, the moon is bright. And I think I glimpsed some haziness obscuring the stars, at least from this vantage point. My expectations have therefore diminished slightly – but I’m still going to hop in the car and drive to my favorite celestial viewing spot a mile or so away. One of these nights maybe I’ll get lucky and actually witness ’50-100’ meteors per hour. That would be quite a thrill for this inveterate meteor chaser.

(T+6)

A Weighty Burden – ND #5

Posted on by Lisa Weikel 2 Comments
OMG – Photo: L. Weikel

A Weighty Burden

You know, it’s hard being an older sibling. Not that I have any personal experience in that regard, mind you. I don’t. But I imagine it must occasionally feel like a weighty burden to shoulder.

I watch the sibling relationships between the felines and canines in this household and marvel at how much they ‘get’ each other. The whole cat/dog mythology is mostly, in my opinion, an extension of the male/female propaganda box we put ourselves into. There’s a lot more playfulness and actual caring going on between species than we care to admit.

Just this morning I was treated to a prolonged interaction between Cletus and Brutus. It probably seemed longer to me because at any moment I expected Cletus to haul off and whack Brutus into next week. And it’s in those moments when I’ve witnessed the most startling acts of gentleness.

But there are also some nuts and bolts training going on as well.

“I love you, Cletus!” – Photo: L. Weikel

Knock It Off

I led this blog post off with the photo above because it made me laugh. I hope it had a similar effect on you as you begin this mid-week of December. There’s a lot going on in the world. We need to remain limber and loose as we head into the final few weeks of 2021.

Of course, Brutus thinks Cletus is an icon. Perhaps someday Brutus can aspire to grow his black and white hair as long and luxurious as Cletus grows his. Of course, when he realizes his idol isn’t running away from him for once, he leans in to give him an impulsive, if utterly sincere, smooch.

Cletus, shocked by the youngster’s lack of decorum exercises restraint, but can’t help but whisper some advice into young Brutus’s ear. Whether it’s appropriate for the rest of the world to hear is debatable.

“I’ll tell you what…” – Photo: L. Weikel

The Way of the World

Judging by the expression on Brutus’s face, I have a feeling Cletus schooled the pup in some classic naughty words. It’s the way of the world. That’s what older siblings do. They pave the way for our growth, intentionally or otherwise. A well-placed claw can be one of the first hard lessons of the cruelties facing us in the outside world.

All in all, though, watching their relationship develop is an absolute delight. And I love imagining their conversations.

“Mommy. He said bad words.” – Photo: L. Weikel

(T+5)