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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First Total Lunar Eclipse of 2021 – Day 925

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

First Total Lunar Eclipse of 2021

If you’re on social media of any stripe, you’ve undoubtedly heard that Wednesday morning the first total lunar eclipse of 2021 will take place. Earth will pass directly between the sun and the full moon, engulfing the moon in Earth’s shadow. Not only will this blot out the moon’s natural brilliance (as a consequence of it being full) but the shadow will also make the moon appear a deep shade of red – an occurrence that must’ve totally freaked out our ancestors.

I see that I’ve written about our experience of lunar eclipses before (here, here, and here, to be precise) with other mentions scattered throughout the past 924 posts as well. And I notice that the most recent two times did actually presage some, let’s say, revelation of hidden agendas and ultimately ‘upheaval.’

While there are a plethora of interpretations of the significance of us entering the eclipse season, here’s a link to astrologer Chani’s interpretation for the present one. I speak of the eclipse ‘season’ because there will be a solar eclipse in two weeks. And we generally ‘feel the effects’ of these interactions between the luminaries beginning the week before the actual eclipse event and extending through the week following the second eclipse.

I’d Rather Not Look – Photo: L. Weikel

Frog Making a Point

Karl and I had to laugh this morning when we picked our cards on the day. He chose ‘Frog Squared’ (meaning he chose Frog and there was a blank card on the bottom of the deck). We interpret that probably just as you imagine: not just as Frog, but as FROG. As in, “Buddy, you better clean the clutter out of your life.”

It was even more obvious that we are both in tune with this upcoming eclipse when I chose my cards on the day and got Frog – with Wild Boar underneath. Oh man.

Frog, just in case you’ve forgotten, has a lot to do with cleansing and cleaning out. This can be on any level – from clearing out your physical space, cleaning out your body, clearing your thoughts or emotions. It’s an encouragement to rid yourself of any ‘person, place, or thing’ that doesn’t contribute to your state of wellbeing.

Wild Boar Adds Its 2 Cents

And Wild Boar? Well – suffice it to say, Wild Boar urges one to relentlessly cut through one’s bullshit. I heard it snarking at me all day, to be honest, as I took to heart the need to set upon clearing out. (Yet again; yes, I know, I feel like I am forced to tediously face this beast too freaking often.)

But there it was, in our faces. The message of a lunar eclipse, and especially a total one, is to clear out the stuff that surfaces in our life. There seems to be detritus floating to the top (of our consciousness) all the time. It only looks like physical piles of stuff we’ve been accumulating.

I made a point of working on heeding this advice today. And no matter what card I choose tomorrow, I intend to have another go at it again. I’m feeling the need. And I want to seize this opportunity to clear the portal to a new attitude and some exciting opportunities.

(T-186)

Sedentary Sunday – Day 924

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You Can’t See Me… – Photo: L. Weikel

Sedentary Sunday

The arrival of summer temperatures this weekend (it feels too early to me to be hitting 90 degrees, but what do I know?) persuaded me to indulge in a delightfully sedentary Sunday reading and studying on my porch.

Every time I consciously spend several hours away from electronics, I start thinking about how different life was in the not-too-distant past. I know I’ve read a million articles about how addicted we all are to our devices and yet I still check the headlines somewhat compulsively. (I actually chalk that up more to the trauma of the past four years than simple devotion to my laptop or cellphone.) Nevertheless, I’m starting to entertain thoughts of a shift this summer.

We’ll see.

My Real Message

The message I actually wanted to convey this evening has to do with an encounter I had on my walk this evening. Spartacus and I were ambling along the side of the road, taking in the way the sky was being painted by the setting sun.

A car approached us and I did as I try to do as often as possible, which is getting both the pup and myself entirely off the roadway. Most people smile and wave. Some obviously figure, “What the heck,” and floor it. Many are respectful and seem to appreciate that I’m trying to minimize risk for all of us. Yet I’m always a little bit concerned when someone slows down.

Yes, it could be someone I know. But even most of the people I know or recognize from working the polls or simply from living here all these decades don’t stop. They wave and smile.

So I was just a scootch concerned when the compact, navy blue SUV slowed to a stop and the passenger side window whizzed down to reveal the 50-something driver. Her short hair was dark brown and wavy, and it framed her friendly, smiling face. I wondered, “Ugh, darn it. Should I know her?”

To be honest, she did act as though she knew me – and I’m pretty confident we’ve never met. But! What she said next just made my day.

Never Hold Back

“I just had to tell you,” she said immediately upon lowering her window. “I saw my first fawn of the season today!”

Delight was written all over her face and quite powerfully washed over me as she filled me in on the details. She described where she works (a special needs care facility that’s close by and situated in a setting surrounded by nature) and detailed how she’d been greeted by a Mama Doe and her quite fresh newborn standing in the driveway only minutes earlier. She marveled at how the fawn was actually nursing right in front of her – smack in the middle of the driveway – and how neither Mama nor Baby were at all afraid of including her in their moment.

The driver joked that perhaps Mama Doe was making a peace offering because she was pretty sure Mama may have been the same deer that jumped in front of her car on her way into work today. Perhaps presenting her fawn was Mama’s apology and excuse for nearly killing the driver earlier.

Joy Is Catching

The very best part of this entire encounter (beyond imagining the utter adorableness of the newborn fawn) was the spontaneity with which this driver chose to share the unmistakable joy it brought her – and best of all – how she chose to share it with me!

I don’t know which made me grin more: the idea of the Mama presenting her nursing fawn to this woman (and the delight with which this gift was received) or that this woman somehow recognized a kindred spirit in me enough to share her news. I was simply walking along this country road at dusk and my evening was turned into an experience of sharing Nature’s magic and love.

Sharing her joy was a spontaneous act of courage. Next time any of us are tempted to do the same, I hope we don’t hesitate or hold back. We just might change the trajectory of someone’s day (or even more).

(T-187)

My Ears Strain – Day 923

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An Old Ent, Pondering – Photo: L. Weikel

My Ears Strain

I’m sitting here in my living room all by myself. Oddly, I’m truly alone. Spartacus is upstairs in bed with Karl, which is not all that anomalous on its own. No, what’s wigging me out just a bit is the absence of all three of our cats. I’ve no idea where any of them are. The night is quiet. In spite of the front door being flung wide open, my ears strain to hear a sound – any sound.

The stillness of this evening is so complete that even the massive, dying, pine trees across the road are failing to utter even a sigh. I squint my closed eyes. Surely a tree frog or a cricket will give a high sign of life.

Most of me revels in the blanket of silence. A smaller part, though, noticing the lack of any sound, wonders what life would be like in a cataclysm. What if everything changed over night?

Sheltered Life

At times like these I’m confronted with the shocking truth of just how sheltered a life I lead. I cannot imagine the circumstances of those living in so many regions of the world – and so many places within our own nation. If I’m honest with myself, I turn away from truly permitting myself to imagine what it’s like to have my apartment building bombed.

I turn away from even the simple act of contemplating what it must be like to have my home imploded by a tornado or devoured by a wildfire.

My thoughts, when I permit them to even skirt around those circumstances, always seem to gravitate to the irreplaceable items. Of course, that doesn’t even count the possibility of losing a loved one (human or other sentient being). I guess it all comes down to our impermanence.

The ‘irreplaceable’ items – meaning the photographs and journals, primarily – provide context to our every day lived experiences. They also provide a window into our history. Without context, we’re free agents. Free to make things up as we go along.

But do we?

I don’t know.

(T-188)

Raptor Watcher – Day 922

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Raptor at My Back – Photo: L. Weikel

Raptor Watcher

I’ve been talking to Spirit a lot lately. Asking for guidance, maybe a friendly nudge in the right direction, yesterday in particular I sensed I was being heard. I feel I’m on the verge of receiving a response to my queries. And the reason for my optimism is the appearance of the raptor watcher.

The air feels pregnant to me; it’s almost electric in the sense of power I feel is building, but not yet found a place to strike.

As I drove to and from the courthouse yesterday, I must’ve seen at least six hawks. Not all at once, as in, a kettle of hawks. No, each one made an appearance as a unique and distinct visitor to my awareness.

At least four of them were being hounded by crows and smaller birds, perhaps sparrows or possibly starlings. It was obvious the hawks being bombarded had been on nest-raiding missions. Were these details significant? Who knows! I wasn’t feeling the love nor sensing a particular message.

Stop at the Creek

On my way home I decided to make a quick pit-stop at the Tohickon. Honestly, I didn’t feel particularly worthy of having a chat with her in that moment, but too much time had elapsed since I’d stopped and said hello. I even vowed not to whine to her if I stopped for five minutes just to settle my bones.

I parked in my most frequented pull-over spot and marveled at how low the water table is. The banks of the Tohickon appear dry and exposed, which worries me, given it’s only the 21st of May. What will the creek look like in early August?

As I exited my vehicle, I started speaking out loud to both the Tohickon herself and the creatures who live within and along her banks. I deliberately tried to steer the conversation away from my prior musings and questions, which echoed like whining to me in that moment.

No. I didn’t need anything obvious. All I needed was some creek time, some quiet and peaceful ‘alone time’ with the body of water from whom I source significant personal energy.

I scanned the trees lining the opposite side of the Tohickon for any avian visitors. Not a one in sight. I guess I’ve seen enough hawks for the day, I thought. And in that moment, I turned my head to look to my right. Right there, vaulting from a tree across the way from me was a Bald Eagle high tailing it downstream. As soon as I caught sight of it working its way down the creek about five feet above the surface of the water, it veered off to the right and disappeared.

“Get your nest out of the swamp,” I heard echo in my head. “Stop indulging in these sad thoughts,” was another comment. “Knock it off,” said an even less patient messenger.

Blue Heron right beside me – Photo: L. Weikel

Blue Heron Chimes In

There’s no question I felt moved and honored by Eagle’s decision to show up in my life, even if it was brief and only showing me its hind end. Hopefully I’ll never take Eagle’s appearance in my life for granted.

I reminded myself that I’d stopped to take photos of the Tohickon and the shocking shallowness of her waters. Taking my iPhone out of my pocket, I snapped a shot downstream, wishing Eagle would pop back out and make another appearance. But no. That didn’t happen.

I turned to look upstream and nearly fell over when I realized I was fewer than ten yards away from a Blue Heron standing proudly erect on a boulder just beyond where I stood. Oh my goodness, what a surprise. And to think all this time I’d been blithely talking out loud to the creek and to any other creature that happened to be listening.

“No one’s going to give you the answers you seek. You need to go within and do your own self-reflection,” I heard. “Listen to Eagle. Get your nest out of the swamp. Spend some time by yourself. You know the questions you need to ask. And you know you’re the only one who can answer them.”

Ummm. OK.

Raptor Watcher – close up – Photo: L. Weikel

Final Point

About 90 minutes later, I found myself walking with Spartacus. Still encountering some internal static in spite of my Creek encounters, I wasn’t even of a mind to pull a card or engage in any of my trusted practices. I just walked and picked up butts along the roadside.

A fracas in the stand of trees behind me caused me to turn around. I saw Crows dogging a Red-tailed Hawk for probably the fifth time that day.

And then I saw it. Looming in the sky above me. Had those messengers not secured my attention, I almost certainly would have missed the Raptor Watcher at my back.

No, the title to this blog was not a reference to me as a watcher of raptors. Rather, it was a reference to the Raptor – be it a Hawk or an Eagle, I can’t quite discern which – that had its eye on me as I walked home last night. I’ve been given the word. Will I listen?

(T-189)

Tree Peony Festival – Day 921

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Practically Luminous Tree Peony – Photo: L. Weikel

Tree Peony Festival

As you know from my posts over the past several days, last weekend we visited Linwood Gardens, in western New York, for their Tree Peony Festival. We were especially keen to visit because we knew first-hand how beautiful the estate was back when Sarah and Sage were married there. As beautiful as it was that month, everyone who was familiar with ‘the Farm’ told us again and again that the place becomes even more exquisite when the tree peonies bloom.

The caretakers of the premises do their best to have the Gardens open to the public when the peonies are peaking. It sounds like this year was particularly challenging with the fluctuations in temperature. They kept having to shift around the weekends they were open because it would appear as though the peonies were on track to ‘pop’ a certain couple of weekends only to have a cold snap hit, significantly slowing down their final approach to launch.

Given the state of the gardens last weekend, I can only imagine how spectacular a treat visitors will be in for this weekend. While there were more than enough plants, including peonies, blooming last Saturday – there remained at least quadruple that number waiting in the wings for just enough more warm days to fully fledge into a bloom extravaganza.

The colors of these tree peonies were ethereal – Photo: L. Weikel

Ants and Peonies

I’ve always loved these flowers (and been fascinated by the big ants that swarm the buds on our version – which are not ‘tree’ peonies). There was some debate over whether ants hang out with tree peonies as much as the shrub version, but it turns out ants are equal-opportunity nectar lovers. Supposedly. But it sure seemed like they found the shrub version tastier.

I learned last weekend that my belief/assumption that the ants were somehow essential to the pollination of peonies was erroneous. Actually, the love affair between ants and peonies are an example of biological mutualism. And while the ants may not be essential to the pollination process per se, they can be considered the peonies’ protectors. They’ll take out other bugs that come sniffing around their peonies (bugs that would harm the flowers) and ask questions later – if ever. Wink wink. Survival of the fittest.

Given that Ant is often associated with the strategy of patience, maybe those who love peonies are cultivating their ability to exercise this virtue when they need it most. Certainly those who exercised patience this year and scheduled their visit to the Gardens later than they might have otherwise were (and will be) amply rewarded.

If you doubt that, just look at these photos and remember, it still felt just a few days ‘early’ when we were there.

Some of these blooms were simply breathtaking.

Not sure if a tree peony but captivating nonetheless – Photo: L. Weikel

 

(T-190)

Skulk, Leash, or Earth – Day 920

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Love this little one – Photo: L. Weikel

Skulk, Leash, or Earth

I feel like the title of this post would make a great title of a book. Skulk, leash, or earth. It’s difficult to conjure any kind of visual representation of what this possibly could mean. At least, it is for me.

At best, I could imagine – perhaps – Spartacus needing to be placed on a leash if I caught him skulking around somewhere on the earth. You know – skulking where he shouldn’t be skulking. If you ask me, skulking always engenders suspicion, so a leash could definitely be warranted.

At worst, I feel like these three words have absolutely no cohesion to them at all. It wouldn’t surprise me if they were haphazardly harvested by opening three disparate books at random and plucking the first word that jumped off the page.

Yes, actually, that feels like the most likely scenario of how skulk, leash, and earth came to be hanging out together.

I look at these three words and think, “Nope. I’ve got nothing.”

And Yet…

All three have a common denominator, a shared connection that links them all together. What is that connection? FOX. And no, not the television network, either. Each of those words is how one might refer to a group of foxes.

Then as I was sitting here contemplating what I was going to write tonight, a fox yipped a loud, sharp howl just outside our front door. One single yip – so who knows whether there’s a skulk out there. But it did remind me of the tab I’ve had open in my browser for days. The tab with the link to the Wikipedia entry that references these three words.

I’ve wanted to write for weeks about the leash of foxes that live across the road from us. Now is my opportunity. If only they stayed as cute and fuzzy as this little one.

As I wrap up tonight’s post, I have to share a rabbit hole I unexpectedly fell into as I attempted to close with one last reference to an earth of foxes. A light bulb went off somewhere in the recesses of my brain and I wondered if there could possibly be any connection between a group of foxes being called an earth and Eartha Kitt’s name, given that a baby fox is often called a kit. Was there some sly, foxy connection here?

Hahahaha – just as I wrote that, another fox has started yipping.

Close up – Photo: L. Weikel

The Eartha Connection

No, there’s no actual connection between Eartha Kitt and foxes – other than perhaps her foxy demeanor. BUT – interestingly enough, just in doing a quick search, I discovered that her daughter, Kitt, just published a memoir, Eartha and Kitt: A Daughter’s Love Story in Black and White* that was released this month.

I love the genre of memoir. And considering the state of racial awareness (or collective realization of the lack thereof) in our country at the moment, I have to wonder if my musings were breadcrumbs leading me to discover this book for a reason.

It was certainly a circuitous route. Then again, why did I leave that tab open all this time, with the vague intention of writing this post?

*affiliate link

(T-191)

Creatures Reveal Themselves – Day 919

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From afar – Photo: L. Weikel

Creatures Reveal Themselves

It’s no secret how much I delight in how creatures reveal themselves to us in the landscape, including the plants, the trees, and the clouds. And while I have a few photos of some remarkably older ‘gentlemen of the trees,’ they are not my focus this evening. (But I promise, they will be within the next day or so. Yea Ents!)

Tonight I want you to experience what I did as I simply walked closer and closer to a swimming pool built on the property of Linwood Gardens. It’s a lesson in revelation.

My mind was not looking for anything, quite frankly. I was simply trying to find some unique aspects of ‘the Farm’ that might spur conversation or trigger an interesting post.

Coming Into Focus – Photo: L. Weikel

Phoenix or Dragon

At first I was enamored with the way the branches of the tree I noticed were twisty and turny. They almost looked as though they were arms waving in some exotic belly dance.

But then, as I got closer and kept taking ‘candid’ shots of the tree, my perspective shifted. Suddenly the massive almost parrot-like beak of the made me wonder whether this was a Phoenix or a Dragon.

Late Night

I have to admit, I worked the polls all day and evening tonight and I’m bushed. But in some small way, looking at this creature not only makes me smile but also brings a fire back into my belly.

In the meantime, though, I invite you to embrace the magic that was revealed to me as I drew closer and closer to this turn of the 20th century concrete swimming pool.

I cannot decide what this creature is, but it most definitely is not your average animal guardian.

What do you think?

Maybe I’ll ask the Ents tomorrow night what they think.

Unmistakable – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-192)

Metamorphosis – Day 918

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“Hi, I’m Gorgeous” – Photo: L. Weikel

Metamorphosis

In our wanderings around the premises of Linwood Gardens over the weekend, we were treated to a smörgåsbord of flora and fauna in varying states of development and metamorphosis.

We encountered them everywhere, from tightly closed buds to fully flowered explosions of color and luminescence. Most tantalizing were the blooms ‘on the verge,’ so filled with the promise of bursting into magnificence yet almost magically held back by the thinnest evidence of restraint. It’s difficult to look at those achingly promising buds and not viscerally feel our own urge to burst forth into the world in a dazzling expression of our own uniqueness.

With respect to the flowers, it was hard to ignore the accumulation of life force in each bud. The earlier buds, those that were obviously not going to blossom within, say, 24 hours, were tough little nuggets of prospective beauty. But there was no mistaking those buds that were begging for just another hour or day more of warmth before unleashing themselves on the world.

Can’t Hold It In Any Longer – Photo: L. Weikel

Fantastic Frogs

Of course, the classic examples of true metamorphosis are our amphibian friends, which happen to populate the premises in abundance. In each pond, pool, and fountain we found evidence of every stage of life. Indeed, there were a few times that we realized if we sat still long enough and just stared into the water, even without the aid of a microscope we were witnessing almost countless examples of life being lived at a furious and frenzied pace.

From massive tadpoles to shy froglets to adults displaying themselves in glory as they basked in the sun’s warming rays, we were treated to a veritable science exhibit on the miracle of transformation these creatures display. We take their process for granted – at least I know I do. But the process of change from tadpole to frog is astonishing.

Tadpoles – Photo: L. Weikel

Teeming Life

In some ways, it felt like we were being given an opportunity to witness evolution on a micro scale. For myself, it felt like reassurance from Mother Nature herself that even if we humans really mess stuff up – which, let’s face it, in many ways and in many places we already have in a very big way – life will find a way.

Looked at one way, this is an extremely reassuring message. In another, it’s a stark reminder of just how inconsequential we humans are.

No matter how you look at it, it’s hard not to feel a sense of awe. It’s also worth pondering, for me at least, what transformation I want to continue creating in my life. Is another metamorphosis in the offing?

“Hey” – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-193)

Linwood Gardens – Day 917

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A Tree Peony – Photo: L. Weikel

Linwood Gardens

For the second night in a row, I became so enamored with the photos I took over the weekend that I ran out of time to write much of anything. And while I will regale you with a variety of photos from our visit this weekend, I do want to let you know that Linwood Gardens will be opening this Wednesday (May 19, 2021) for a special extra day of floral indulgence.

If you have an opportunity to take a spontaneous mid-week road trip, I highly recommend a trek to the Genesee Valley, just south of Rochester, NY. The tree peonies that are the specialty of Linwood Gardens are just now coming into full bloom, and the addition of another day this week that visitors can immerse themselves in the magic of this place is a treat to seriously consider.

While there are a number of special encounters and discoveries I made this weekend (and was luckily able to capture at least semi-adequately with my iPhone) that I want to write about specifically with their own unique posts, I’m including in this post a few photos that only barely do the gardens justice.

I’m mentioning the opportunity to visit mid-week this week because it’s my understanding that usually the premises is only open to the public on the weekends during the peak blooms. Indeed, it appears from the website that this coming Wednesday is the only day upon which there still remain some open reservations.

Just one of hundreds of tree peonies – Photo: L. Weikel

Almost Can’t Imagine

I have to admit, I almost can’t imagine how overwhelming it will be on one of the days very soon to come when the vast majority of peonies bloom all at once. It was intoxicating enough to meander from one exquisite encounter to the next. But the truth is, there were more blooms quivering on the brink of bursting open than not.

While I realize many of my readers have obligations that would preclude them from embarking upon a 4.5 hour road trip in the middle of the week – I know there are some of you out there who just might be ‘crazy’ (in the best way) enough to say, “Let’s go!”

And to that, I would say, “YES! Plant the seed of spontaneity in your life and prioritize the pursuit of beauty and earthy encounters with Nature Spirits.” Your senses and soul will love you for it.

The scent of these lilacs was amazing – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-194)

Where to Start – Day 916

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Sarah and Sage – Photo: L. Weikel

Where to Start

Today we had a chance to spend the day at the same lovely premises we visited for a most precious ceremony seven months ago. What a treat to experience the magnificent life force flowing from Mother Earth in so many manifestations. To be honest, I don’t know where to start to even begin to capture the ethereal beauty of this estate.

As I transfer photos onto my laptop for inclusion in this and future posts, I find myself lost in time. There were many moments today when I felt a sense of bleed-through from another era; an overlap of today with an era of petticoats and broad-rimmed hats, waistcoats and pocket-watches.

I swear, there were a couple of times when the overlay of past and present was right there – just barely palpable yet distinctly obvious to the most discerning of senses. Both audible and visible in moments so quick they were gone before they registered, long remembered scents and aromas wafted along currents that defied easy explanation.

The constants, of course, are the natural elements. The flora and fauna of this Land, this Sacred Place, are the actual Keepers of the continuity I sensed. They are the bridges that connect one era with another. They’re also the tricksters and the ones that gently remind us that it’s all a matter of where we place our attention.

Bees in Heaven – Photo: L. Weikel

Luminous Beauty

From the tiniest creatures busily loving the blossoms freshly burst forth to the two who celebrated their marriage here seven months ago, the magic just flowed and tumbled and ruffled our hair in the breeze.

A Baltimore Oriole greeted us with a song of such clarity and insistence we couldn’t miss or ignore it if we tried. Flitting directly over our heads and calling to us as it moved from one branch to another directly above where the ceremony took place, it only quieted when I promised to seek out its message.

There’s an abundance to share; again, I don’t know where to start.

For now, I can only share a few photos and promise to do my best to bring the magic home.

Oriole Singing His Song – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-195)