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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Daily Perambulations – Day 945

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

Daily Perambulations

Ah, it’s so great to be back on the road. My life is immeasurably enriched by my daily perambulations.

The past two days have been especially delightful. Much as I love sunny days and blue skies, there’s something comforting when the heat and brilliance of a near summer’s day is muted by a layer of clouds so high that they just turn the sky gray-white. The beauty is in the slightly cool hint of a breeze and the chance for everything to just be, with no effort to outshine anything else.

Sometimes it feels like everything is trying too hard when the sun shines. Flowers burst forth in colors that tantalize the buzzing class, including us, vying for the attention of anything and everyone.

Clematis – Photo: L.Weikel

Blooming Clematis

In just the few days I couldn’t manage a walk, whether because it was pouring out or I was distracted by other responsibilities, our neighbors’ clematis bloomed.

Every year I say I want a clematis of my own, climbing our mailbox. While Karl finally planted one last year, it was ground up and spit out by the pickup that mowed down our box this winter. We’ll have to plant another. Soon.

Bees Know

No matter how pale the day may be under that stratospheric layer of overcast shielding us from the brilliance and blazing heat of the sun, the bees know where the good stuff is.

I could’ve stood for hours beside the wildflowers taking photos of them as they lured the baby bumblebees with their nectar and other sweet wares. “Come hither,” they teased, and the bees complied, probably just as happy the sun wasn’t glinting off the petals of more brilliant blossoms just down the road.

It wasn’t until I started looking at still frames of the live shots I took of the bees making love to the blossoms that I realized the bees were crowding the game of other creatures. In one shot an ant triumphantly climbed to the lip of the blossom, staking its claim and kicking the bee out of that sweet spot. Was that ant courageous or crazy? Hungry or simply living its biological imperative?

The bee had to be ten times the size of that ant. And yet the ant prevailed in staking its claim. Or did the bee just decide to bag it?  Hard to say, I guess. We all pick our battles. Some days we want the flower we know; the sure thing. And  some days we realize there are a bazillion other wildflowers out there just waiting to be loved.

“This Tastes Good” – Photo: L. Weikel

“Ew! Wait. What?” – Photo: L. Weikel

“Umm, no thanks. I’m outta here” – Photo: L. Weikel

“That’s right. I’m the boss; this is MY flower!” – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-166)

Dragon Blood – Day 944

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Iris Dragon – Photo: L. Weikel

Dragon Blood

It’s futile to dispute: Irises traffic in Dragon blood. They have to. They either traffic in it or have it coursing within themselves. There’s no way Dragons could feature so prominently in the visages of irises without there being a deep and abiding  – magical some might say – connection between the two.

They’re tricksters, too. I’ll give them that. Just take a look at this spray of irises emerging from a well-manicured garden along the path of my walk. Sure appears benign to me. In fact, it almost goes without saying that these flowers could call out in unison, “Nothing to see here!” and passersby would, well, pass by without nary a second look.

But of course, I’m not your ordinary passerby. I tend to linger a bit when I happen upon a thing of beauty. (Photos in my repertoire would suggest that I’m not only attracted to the beautiful. But I’ll leave that for another day.) When my attention is drawn to something, I tend to examine it from many angles and, if possible, get a couple good shots of it to share here in my 1111 Devotion.

So much beauty – with Dragons hiding in plain sight! Photo: L. Weikel

Magic Strikes Twice

As it happens, I’ve encountered these irises before. I wrote about them two years ago – almost to the day. I’m not sure if I even saw them bloom last year. But if I did, I apparently was too distracted by life to write about them.

From the quality of my photos, I’d say this year’s crop of Dragons is more blatant and ready to be identified and claimed. I’ll leave that assessment up to you, though. But I dare you to tell me this one isn’t pushing the sassy envelope. I can even read expressions on the face of this Nature Being.

Interesting Coincidence

I was pretty sure I wrote a post about these Iris Dragons a while ago. Turns out, as I mentioned above, it was two years ago – within two days or so of this exact date, not to put too fine a point on it.

When I researched that post, I was fascinated to be reminded of the appearance of Raven in my Medicine Card choice that day. Indeed, I’d chosen ‘Raven Squared,’ which means Raven was the main card that I chose, with only a blank card at the bottom of the deck.

Raven is often associated with magic and synchronicity. As a result, I wrote about the magic coursing through my life at that moment, which was exemplified by my discovery of these whimsical creatures ‘in plain sight.’

As it happens, I chose Swan reversed this morning. And underneath that choice? You guessed it: Raven.

A Magic Message

My Swan may have been telling me that I’ve been doubting myself and my intuition lately. I’ve been doubting what I know. I realize now that Raven came pecking at the door to my inner knowing through the appearance of the Iris Dragon. Raven shows up when we need to remember the magic – a timely reminder for all of us?

What an expression – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-167)

Uncomfortably Highlighted – Day 943

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Drowned Fire Pit – Photo: L. Weikel

Uncomfortably Highlighted

Man, I have to tell you, these days of interrupted walking are devastating to my 1111 Devotion. My reliance on my walks for inspiration, usually photographic but sometimes simply related to the creatures I encounter or the images I see in the sky, is uncomfortably highlighted. I need my walks – both on the physical and the creative side.

Today’s weather frustrated me. Initially I sat outside on our porch to do my work. It was chilly out first thing, but the cool breeze was refreshing and a welcome reprieve from the gross heat that felt inescapable the past few days. But the temperature barely got over 60 degrees today!

I realize now I should’ve walked early in the morning. But that window of opportunity slammed shut way earlier than I expected. I checked my weather app and thought I had sufficient time to take a quick walk after an early afternoon appointment. Sadly for both my weekly walking average and me, the rain arrived earlier than predicted and lingered far longer than expected.

Spartacus is unamused – Photo: L. Weikel

Time to Go Inside

I tried gutting it out. In fact, at first the cool air was legitimately refreshing. At least I told myself it was. The temperature was at least 30 degrees cooler than it was only a day or two ago – but then the dim, overcast clouds decided to drop a steady, relentless, chilled, and soaking rain on us (Spartacus was ever at my side). It was time to go inside.

Speaking of Spartacus, he was not amused. But as I mentioned, he never left my side. As long as I kept the blankets piled on top of him, he was content to gut it out in a state of slumber.

My only consolation as far as my walking goes is that I mowed the lawn yesterday. In doing so, I managed to walk the equivalent of 1.8 miles. Thank goodness I did! Because today I could practically see the grass growing with my naked eye.

Elk Reversed

I’m going to leave you with some of the clouds that began rolling in late yesterday afternoon. They heralded a massive thunderstorm that just brushed past us.

This is the best I can muster, folks. Not sure why I’m feeling especially tired this evening. It doesn’t make a lot of sense; but maybe sometimes we just need to listen to our bodies. And since I chose Elk reversed squared today, it’s probably best if I just all it a night and hit the sheets.

(Elk’s keyword is stamina. And when it’s upside down, it’s usually taken as a warning that you’re stretching yourself so thin that you just might snap.)

I’m looking forward to tomorrow.

(T-168)

Today’s Solar Eclipse – Day 942

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Today’s Solar Eclipse (as seen in Boston) – Photo: S. Weikel

Today’s Solar Eclipse

I can’t decide. Should I write a little more about the creature that was in my bedroom the other night and what it means when Moth shows up in your life? Or should I follow up on today’s solar eclipse?

Sadly, I did not get a good look at the eclipse this morning. But my son Sage did! He and Sarah got themselves to a beach, bright and early, near where they live in Boston. And wow – I just had to feature the photo he took with his iPhone. It’s spectacular! And Mother Nature very kindly provided them with just enough of a filter that they weren’t at risk of hurting their eyes, yet the eclipse could still be seen through the wispy clouds.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, although I didn’t witness the eclipse myself, I did contemplate it. (I looked out my bedroom window and couldn’t see anything. I will admit, semi-ashamedly, that I did not hop into my car and drive to my usual celestial viewing spot. I was sure, when I went to bed last night, it would be too overcast to see anything by morning. And while it sort of looked that way from my bedroom window, I have a feeling I succumbed to hasty decision-making.

Consolation Visit

While visiting my sweet Tohickon Creek is never a ‘consolation prize’ (although it is at once both a consolation and a prize – discuss*), I noticed what might be a metaphor for this eclipse.

I was sitting in my car with the windows down listening to the competing conversations of the rushing current of the Tohickon and the cacophony of cicadas in the deciduous trees lining the Tohickon’s banks. I won’t lie: it was heavenly. But as I sat there and wrote in my journal, contemplating the eclipse, I got a glimpse of a fascinating potential metaphor:

Tohickon Flowing at Capacity with Poison ‘in the Past’ – Photo: L. Weikel

The focus of my gaze was before me. The torrential rain from yesterday afternoon, and steadier rain into the evening, translated into a reasonably brisk flow of toward its destination, the Delaware River. The pace of the water passing before me wasn’t excessive, but it was powerful. And truly, it felt like it was reflecting the desire in my heart to move forward.

I feel motivated and excited to catch a rapid (and perhaps a little raucous) ride as the current moves downstream on this new moon. And then I shifted my perception to my rearview mirror and was astonished.

Wow. Sitting right there in plain view was a massive poison ivy plant in the midst of overtaking an entire tree. The tricky part is that the poison ivy is so prolific that it has become gargantuan. Its leaves and hairy vines are significant players, and I have to wonder how many fisher-people and tourists have come home with a nasty case of poison because they didn’t realize those leaves brushing their face from above were poison.

The Metaphor Was Clear

Leave it behind. Put the poison (no matter how big it is) that was revealed by the eclipse of the sun in the rearview mirror and don’t look back. Head downriver where the water runs clear and cool. Ride those currents and embrace the reflections of both blue skies and high white clouds.

This new moon was and is more powerful than most precisely because of the solar eclipse. May we all take advantage of it and sow the seeds of some seriously powerful dreams over the next several days. Dreams that will support and nurture us for the next twenty years or so.

Heading Toward the Future – Photo: L. Weikel

*Warning: Throwback SNL reference

(T-169)

Confession – Day 941

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Closeup – Photo: L. Weikel

Confession

I have a confession to make. Last night when I got into bed and started reading my book (because no matter how tired I am when I go up, I always have to read for a few minutes), I quickly realized we had a visitor.

Now, at first, when the large dark figure caught my attention via my peripheral vision, I thought it was a young bat. Much as I love bats, I did not want a bat in my bedroom, especially at 2:00 a.m. It was moving around quickly in a herky-jerky manner, not alighting anywhere, and its dark brown color up against the white paint of our closed bedroom door prompted a deep, visceral assumption.

Laying my book aside, I carefully extricated my legs from under the covers and the extra entanglement that comes with Spartacus snuggled between my legs but sandwiched between the comforter and the blanket. Tigger was already ‘on mission.’ He saw that thing – whatever it was – and was actively conducting a risk assessment on whether or not to go after it. It was pretty big. Clearly, he was weighing his options.

As soon as I put one foot on the floor, this winged beast took off and careened toward my closet. Oh dear. Ah. Nope. No, it gravitated toward the window instead. Failing to find purchase anywhere near the window, it lurched its way toward me and the light on my bedside table. Great.

Moth Above & Frontal (check out that tail!) – Photo: L.Weikel

Not a Bat

The only good to come of that change of course was confirmation that it was not actually a bat, but rather a substantial-sized moth. Not as big as a luna moth or anything. But big enough to be mistaken for a small bat.

And somehow, at 2:15 a.m., the call of the pillow was louder than the call of the wild. I had no desire to chase this bug down. I was afraid I’d accidentally hurt it; I didn’t want to whack it with anything or kill it, but I did want to tactically immobilize it so I could release it outside. If possible. But not then.

I’ll admit it: since it wasn’t a bat, I opted to ignore it.

A Moth Instead

As you’ve so astutely observed from all the photos, you already know it was a moth. This afternoon I discovered it clinging to the window frame directly beside my side of the bed. Determined to do right by it, I used a tissue to cup it into my hands and immediately took it outside on our porch. I placed it on one of our green pillows and gave it the chance to fly away.

Of course, it didn’t – at least initially. In fact, it seemed to bask in the spotlight that surrounded it as I documented its beauty.

This was no moth that routinely frequents our home, much less our bedroom. Perhaps I’ll search for a website tomorrow that can help me identify it.

In the meantime, take a moment to appreciate its unique beauty. I think I’d like to call it a Cow Moth, by the looks of its face up close. But that up-curved tail is especially peculiar. Doesn’t it almost look like a small plane, possibly one of those that land on water.

Hmm. I just might have to write another post on this creature. Guess we’ll see.

Moth Side View – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-170)

Our Collective Feelings – Day 940

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9 of Cups – Tarot of the Crone by Ellen Lorenzi-Prince

Our Collective Feelings

If you’re feeling edgy or antsy, I want you to know you’re not alone. Not by a long shot. If you feel like you’re waiting for the other shoe to drop or perhaps sense some inchoate dread percolating just under the surface, you’ve got company. And the weather – I swear, it’s mirroring the reality of what so many of us are experiencing emotionally. The heat of summer is here too soon. It’s breaking records. And the humidity is oppressive, plain and simple. Our collective feelings are on display for all of us to enjoy.

Realizing we’re not in this alone can be helpful. There is comfort in shared concern.

I decided to ask the Crone to share some wisdom with us tonight. Of course, I’m referring to my Tarot of the Crone deck by Ellen Lorenzi-Prince.

As usual, my question was straightforward: What is our best strategy to navigate what we’re about to encounter?

I chose the 9 of Cups, with the IX Hermit underneath, giving the entire situation context.

The first thing I notice is that both cards are 9s, which generally represent completion and endings. And we’ve had this card appear to us before (last July).

Nine of Cups ~ Healing

“I am the Many and One

I am whole who has been broken

I am the power of redemption

I am the renewal of creation

Two unusual beings, with ribbons of red life spiraling through the serene lavender of their skin-like cloaks, touch and twist and merge in the creation of something wonderful, whole and new. The Nine of Cups represents healing of the heart and soul: when what has been separated comes together again, when feeling flows free and true, when you are aligned with your greatest good, when you become more than you believed you could. The authenticity of your self is not subsumed by bonds with others, but is enhanced through acting with integrity and love.”

Underneath this card that’s enticing us to embrace a state of healing is the Hermit card. I love the perspective on this card that the author/creator gives us:

IX – Hermit – Tarot of the Crone by Ellen Lorenzi-Prince

IX – Hermit

“I speak

No one listens

But I know what I know

The Hermit is a bag lady rejected by and rejecting comfortable society. She stands on the street of a faceless city, her own face exposed and eloquent. Her dress is a blue that recalls the depths of ocean and sky and the boundlessness that lies beyond their shallow edges. She carries her bags in both hands because she’s learned that balance gives her endurance. She is alone but her isolation is the result not the goal of her journey. Where she goes, others cannot follow. She seeks the mystery at the core of life, at the core of herself. She looks for the magic that exists even in the most artificial environment. She seeks answers to questions that have not yet been born.
The Hermit says look to yourself for the answers, look into the worlds inside you and the uncharted realms within, behind and beyond the ordinary. There are secrets only you are meant to discover and truths only you can divine.”

My Take

We’re all in this together, and if we recognize the power of our interdependence, we can heal the pain, discord, and chaos we’re creating. Yet we’re each responsible for our own perspective, as well as the decisions that flow from how we interpret all that’s occurring around us. This is a time for all of us to step up and take responsibility for ourselves and, yes, each other.

We can do this. It’s time to end the insanity. But in order to achieve a state of healing we need to sit alone with ourselves and take an honest look at what lies within our core – each one of us, individually. It’s time to discover the secrets we’ve been hiding from ourselves. Only then can we move forward together.

(T-171)

Eclipse Season Continues – Day 939

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Solar Eclipse in India 2020 – Image: Times of India (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)

Eclipse Season Continues

As I mentioned in this post, the first ‘eclipse season’ of 2021 began with the lunar eclipse on May 25th, 2021. During that eclipse, the full Moon was in Sagittarius while the Sun was at the opposite side of the zodiac, in Gemini. The eclipse occurred when the Earth moved exactly between the Sun and the Moon, causing the Moon to gradually become engulfed by the shadow of the Earth (and then gradually come out of that shadow). This coming Thursday, June 8th, eclipse season continues.

Eclipses always come in pairs (two weeks apart, the lunar taking place at the full Moon and the solar taking place at the new Moon) – and occasionally three in a row can occur. In fact, almost exactly a year ago we experienced three eclipses in a row: June 5, June 21, and July 5, 2020. (Go figure, right? And somehow it’s unsurprising, too, that there were six eclipses last year.)

The eclipse occurring this coming Thursday will peak at 6:53 a.m. EDT. It happens to be an ‘annular’ eclipse – meaning the Moon will come between the Sun and the Earth, but because of the varying distances of these celestial bodies from Earth (due to the elliptical orbits of both the Earth and the Moon), the Moon will not totally block out the sun, even though it will pass directly between the Earth and the Sun. Rather, because the Moon will be furthest away from the Earth, the Moon will appear smaller than the Sun (from our perspective here on Earth). Thus, at the height of the eclipse, those at the right place on Earth will see what’s known as the “Ring of Fire” as the Moon comes between Earth and the Sun.

The Astrological Perspective

Of course, all of the above is the astronomical explanation of what we’ll be experiencing on our planet this Thursday.

The potentially juicy impact upon human behavior and experience is the bailiwick of astrology. In order to help us understand how this could be influencing circumstances we encounter on either a personal or societal level (or both), here’s a link to Chani Nicholas’s assessment for the week (once again, it helps to know both your sun sign and your ascendant or ‘rising’ sign).

For a more comprehensive look at the entire month (which I actually recommend, given the assortment of major aspects occurring this month, the solar eclipse on Thursday being only one), I recommend Rick Levine’s perspective. It’s fascinating (to me, at least) to observe how the larger patterns playing out celestially are uncannily reflected in our experiences here on Earth.

As always, my purpose in providing this information is simply to offer food for thought. Listen. Look around. Make your own observations. Pay attention to what’s happening in your own life and the lives of those around you. Allow for the possibility that unseen forces may be influencing events or reactions. Take a breath before reacting.

Keep your options open. We’re in this thing together – and knowledge is power.

(T-172)

This Face – Day 938

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Cutie Pig (This Face!) – Photo: L. Weikel

This Face

A few days ago I made a discovery that literally made me yelp with joy. Our local farmer is raising pigs again. Seriously: just look at this face!

It seems like it’s been a very long time since our walks were last graced with these curious creatures. A search of my posts indicates it’s been a good two years since I wrote about them. So it’s no wonder my heart skipped a beat when I beheld their adorable faces again.

It’s been a very long time since any animals have resided within the fencing surrounding this gorgeous tract of land. With the absence of the four-leggeds that used to live there, the grasses have grown tall, thick, and lush. When I first detected movement on the far side of the small pen within the vast enclosure, I dismissed it as wishful thinking.

Definitely Sentient

I think what bowls me over the most about pigs is their friendliness. While I adore the sheep that have grown up within these confines, their personalities overall pale in comparison to the pigs’. It’s undeniable.

The first time I spotted them last week and realized Teddy-the-Farmer was raising pigs again, I called out in my customary sing-song voice that I reserve for babies and small animals. (OK, I’ll admit, I use the voice on toddlers and not-so-small animals, too.) I could see them reacting. The largest seemed to lift her head and grunted, “Huh? What’s that? You talkin’ to me?” She immediately headed over toward me, not caring one whit that Spartacus was with me.

I saw a second one peek at us from around the corner of the pen. A third rambled out of the pen as if awakened from a long winter’s nap.

The three of them chatted with us for a few minutes. I felt bad that I had nothing to give them in that moment and hoped they wouldn’t hold it against us.

Prancing Passel

They didn’t. The next time we saw them, which was a few days later, I couldn’t see any of them as we climbed the hill. I called out to them in my usual way and didn’t the three of them come tearing out of their pen?

Honestly, they appeared to prance as they made their way happily over to see us. The joy they bring is almost too much to bear.

I need to remember to bring carrots tomorrow.

Photo: L. Weikel

(T-173)

A Plethora of Pleasures – Day 937

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Sunset, Tree, and Wildflowers – Photo: L. Weikel

A Plethora of Pleasures

My walks the past two evenings have yielded a plethora of pleasures. From pigs to bunnies to a stunning sunset casting tangerine rays across a field of wildflowers, it’s hard to choose a favorite. Even lightning bugs made their appearance and demanded their share of oohs and aahs.

Lightning bugs are pretty tough to capture with my iPhone. But they were definitely showing off tonight, reveling in their newfound ability to light up the night. Karl and I sat in the dark on our porch and watched them rise from the grass, and slowly make their way up into the trees. A few were sassy and bold, lighting up brightly then dragging their fluorescent abdomens to create streaks across the yard with dramatic flair.

Wary but not afraid – Photo: L. Weikel

Not Much Movement

I don’t know if it was the heat of the day or just a lack of fear, but so many creatures we encountered seemed utterly unfazed by my attempts to take their photo. The bunny allowed me to nearly walk right up to it – and this with Spartacus (obliviously) trotting and sniffing along the way.

A barn swallow continued flirting with me as well. It allowed me to approach and take a slow motion video of it launching into flight that’s stunning.

I didn’t even bother to take photos of all the deer sitting in the fields, their heads the only parts of their bodies popping up out of the wavy grasses. There were at least three moments of unadulterated adorableness when a mommy doe walked onto the road in front of me, only to have the teeny tiniest of fawns stumble onto the road right behind her. I swear, the babies I’ve seen over the past five days or so had to have been born the same day as I saw them.

You Called? – Photo: L. Weikel

Captured My Heart

For now, I’m just going to leave you with a few photos. I’ve had a long day and spent much of it out in the sun. I feel sated by the plethora of pleasures strewn in my path.

(T-174)

Millipede – Day 936

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Apheloria virginiensis – Millipede – Photo: L. Weikel

Millipede

Yet again, Spartacus and I were ambling along one of our favorite routes (this time our full-on walkabout, our four mile trek) when we came upon a most fearsome creature. Holy cow. It was making its way along the berm of the road, when we both seemed to notice it at the same time. I felt a small wave of recognition lap at my feet, but couldn’t place it. My initial thought was, “What will this turn into? Surely something beautiful!?”

But something nagged at me. No, even though caterpillars that metamorphose into stunning butterflies generally have bazillions of little suction cup feet and often appear segmented and sometimes amazingly colorful, this was different. This didn’t have a caterpillar feel to it, even if at first glance it sort of resembles one.

Google Dating Myself

Sometimes, I swear, I date myself by revealing my utter amazement that you can basically type any question into Google and you’ll receive a response. It may not be the answer you’re looking for. You may have to sift through a bunch of whiffs as far as discovering the information or answer you’re looking for – but it’s likely you’ll find it.

I bring this up because I was internally lamenting that there’s nothing (to my knowledge) that resembles my touted PA Herp ID website for insects. How was I going to find out what this bug was?

Looking at this beast, I thought to myself, “Millipede.” But it’s soooo different from the little brown buttheads that play opossum by coiling up into a spiral when touched and are only about an inch long. Could this flamboyant gargantuan really be related to those crunchy little things? And even if I put ‘millipede’ into Google – how will I ever find the one that looks just like this one?

Yeah.

I shake my head at what a rube I am sometimes.

Not a Bug

Turns out when I Googled millipede, one of the top photos that appeared was of a millipede that was a dead ringer for the one I saw earlier in the day. Success! And I was fascinated to read that the millipede is not, in fact, a ‘bug’ or an insect! The very first thing I noticed about this creature, Apheloria virginiensis, was that it belongs to the Animalia Kingdom. And even more surprising was that it’s a member of the Arthropoda Phylum.

Huh.

The research squirrel in my head started scrambling. Arthropods, arhropods.  Wait. It belongs to the same phylum as lobsters?

Sure enough.

Two More Intriguing Facts

While I didn’t find an equivalent to PA Herp ID, I did find Wikipedia coming to the rescue. And now, given that this creature crossed my path, I had to wonder: was it bringing me a message?

Two intriguing facts might bring some clues. First of all, this giant millipede releases cyanide if touched. Wow  – that’s one heck of an antisocial creature. Cyanide?

Second of all – and this I found most peculiar and, well, not a little disturbing – this millipede is known to a host a creepy parasitic fungus Arthrophaga myriapodina. And the fungus’s claim to fame?  It causes those infected by the parasite to climb to an elevated spot before death.

Now…that’s odd. Must contemplate!

(T-175)