inspiration

Ace of Air – Day 1089

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Tonight’s Sunset – Photo: L. Weikel

Ace of Air

I can’t say as I’ve gained much, if any, additional clarity on ‘what’s next’ on my devotional agenda since last night’s selection of the Ace of Air. But when I read the card’s interpretation written by the deck’s creator, I have to smile. While I can’t quite put my finger on it, I feel like my question (“What’s next?”) has been heard and I’ll receive an answer all in good time. As with so many things in life, patience seems to demand its place in the grand scheme of my unfolding.

The keyword (perhaps ‘key phrase’ is more appropriate) for the Ace of Air in the Witches’ Wisdom Tarot* deck is Wind Harp. The addition of the word wind to the concept of the harp alone does add an element of letting sound be carried out across the ethers. Relevant? Perhaps.

Ace of Air – Witches’ Wisdom Tarot* by Phyllis Curott

The rest of the lovely, lyrical interpretation of the card by its author (Phyllis Curott) is as follows:

Ace of Air – Wind Harp

“Wisdom – Air, the first vibration from which everything proceeds into manifestation, the element awakening us to the consciousness of Creation, to infinite connection. Between the bones of what was first created, the winds of summoning stir the strings woven by spiders and filled with stars. A deafening noise roars through, a cosmic chord of sounds piled one upon the other. Together, they are almost music. The swish of a breeze and rustle of leaves, the melody of birdsong and howl of a storm, and all the sounds in between… This is the magic of the Wind Harp. It’s Love.

Essence – Listen, awareness, divine Love. Say what’s in your heart.

Counsel – Air is the element of consciousness, intelligence and intuition, reflection and communication, laughter and music, infinite connection and love. But silence comes first. If you’re talking, you cannot listen. The mind is always confronted with choices, and so it chatters. But don’t rush to action. Slow down. The answer you’re seeking is waiting for you to hear it.

Magic – Go outside on a windy day. Feel the Air on your skin, messing up your hair, singing in your ear. What do you hear? Listen to the love songs the wind sings to you. What is the enchantment of the moment? What is the song in your heart? The spell you long to chant? Give it voice and let the wind carry it into Creation.”

Underneath It All

There is some confirmation in this card, both in what I simply ‘saw’ in the symbolism (and wrote out last night) and the much more poetic expression as offered by the author, for at least one seed I’m quietly nurturing.

And as those of you who’ve watched how I work with cards know, I always like to look at the card that’s ‘underneath’ the one I select as the main card. Unsurprisingly, the one underneath my Ace of Air does have a related ‘feel’ to it. I’ll share that tomorrow.

*affiliate link

(T-22)

New Moon In Scorpio – Day 1088

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Tonight’s Sky Without the Moon – Photo: L. Weikel

New Moon In Scorpio

I’m sitting here on my couch anticipating this final new moon of my 1111 Devotion. Specifically, the new moon in Scorpio will occur tomorrow: Thursday, 4 November 2021, at 5:14 p.m. EDT. I feel like I should be planting the seeds for the next chapter in my life.

Perhaps that sounds a bit hyperbolic. Maybe it is. But it’s how I feel and what I’m contemplating as I sit here listening to the silence. For one thing, as I pointed out above, this new moon is taking place in Scorpio, the sign of death and rebirth, hidden or buried treasures, resources, and secrets.

Obviously, one thing that will die during the upcoming lunation is my 1111 Devotion. It comes to an end this month. Will the commitment, the Act of Power, the dedication and devotion it represents to the memory of my son find another expression? Will my 1111 Devotion die in one sense yet find rebirth in another form?

I don’t know. I’ve yet to receive any inspiration or direction from Spirit powerful enough for me to sit back and say, “Yup. That’s it. That’s my next devotion.”

So I wait.

A Card For Inspiration or Guidance

Perhaps choosing a card for this New Moon (I’ll capitalize it in this sentence – it wants to feel special) will give me a clue or serve as an inspiration? As I’ve been working a lot with my Witches’ Wisdom Tarot deck this year, I feel drawn to work with it tonight.

As I sat here shuffling, I held as my intention the question, “What seed can I plant at this time that will serve as the next expression of my devotion to Karl’s life? How can I continue to honor him and his memory?”

Ace of Air – Witches’ Wisdom Tarot* by Phyllis Curott

Ace of Air

At first glance, I’m struck by how similar the background of the card resembles the two photos I took of the night sky this evening as Karl, the pups, and I took a quick walk. It is indeed the time of the approaching Dark Moon. The absence of the moon’s brilliant reflected light allowed the artistry of the clouds and stars to fill us with wonder and awe.

To me, an Ace represents a gift, a seed, a new beginning. So I’m delighted that an Ace appeared as an inspiration for this new moon and the larger purpose of my intention. The nature of the seed I’m being asked to plant? Just from looking at the card and knowing that the element of Air is associated with thoughts and the mind, I suppose it could signify a new project ‘of the mind.’

Magical Sky of the Dark Moon – Photo: L. Weikel

A Few More Details

Of course, the main element of the card (beyond the backdrop of the starry evening sky) is the Celtic harp created from bones. I’m not sure in this moment what those bones signify (or if it’s even Celtic), but they feel sturdy and somehow fundamental. The spurs on the bones? Or are they claws? I’m not sure what they signify – perhaps when I read the narrative from the deck’s creator I’ll understand better what inspired her (and her illustrator) to include them in this image.

There is a sturdiness to the three sides of this musical instrument that sends vibrations, if not melody and beauty, out into the world. It reminds me of how I felt for the first seven years of Karl’s life – that we were a “Sacred Three.” And then of course, with the arrival of M and S, our sons themselves were our Sacred Three.

I’m also keenly aware of the Spider spinning the 13th string of the instrument. Grandmother Spider is the creator of the Universe and thus is the ultimate representative of creativity. The strings also seem to be incorporating the stars, which somehow feels significant. And 13 is a wonderfully sacred number associated with the Feminine and the Goddess – not to mention that Karl was born on a 13th.

Each of the bones comprising the Harp is of a different part of the body. Are they all related to the legs, perhaps signifying movement? Are they even all human – or are any of them? I’m not sure. Again, those talons or claws feel significant.

When I really look closely at this card, I notice something red in the upper left corner of the harp. I’m not sure what it is. And this obvious instrument of great power is sitting atop a grassy hill –  evoking a sense of it being an offering to the sky and the stars…and maybe even the Universe.

Sleep On It

I’m going to sleep on the details I’ve noticed in this image and reflect upon this card’s message as the new moon occurs. Perhaps tomorrow night I’ll share what ‘the book’ has to say. Something may be dying, but surely a rebirth is also on its way. What will this new moon in Scorpio inspire you to end…and begin?

*affililate link

(T-23)

Unsettled – Day 1061

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Unsettled Weather – Photo: L. Weikel

Unsettled

Things felt weird tonight. We had one of the Shamanic Caravan ‘Wagons’ I offer (usually twice a week), and the journeys described by almost everyone attending yielded unexpected, disappointing, or unsettled results. Most of the participants felt a bit ‘off.’

Given the celestial influences bombarding all of us on the planet and the odd energy most of us felt this evening in our Wagon, I thought I would ask for some guidance from the Crone. It seems to me that her wisdom could come in handy as life becomes a bit more intense. Things are roiling just below the surface, it seems to me. And it will soon become impossible to ‘keep a lid’ on it any longer. Again.

Three of Swords – Tarot of the Crone by Ellen Lorenzi-Prince

Top Card

“Three of Swords – Inspiration

Within confusion
I find my way
I find a place to discover
Thoughts greater than my own

Thee blades of light strike the head of a figure, cutting and flashing through her to create a footpath in a dark and mysterious landscape. The principle of creation in the realm of mind becomes inspiration. This is the lightning flash, the intake of breath, the birth of a new awareness. Look for a light that shines in the darkness; follow the vision that beckons you on to bigger things. For it is the compelling image of the mountain seen at a distance that gievs you the idea the mountain can be reached at all.”

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

Underneath/Foundation Card

“Shadow of Cups – Drowning

All I feel
Is all I am
And I am
No more

A naked figure hangs unmoving in dark waters. Shadow in the suit of Cups is drowning and dissolution. A powerful emotion has flooded all boundaries, broken down all solid ground. Your behavior may or may not be passive at this time, but your soul is. Inside you are sinking, accepting obsession, heaviness and darkness. Allowing one thing to comprise your entire life and denying yourself a separate identity. It could be it’s time for this and you need to rest here until some understanding is found. Just take care you don’t lose yourself in this forever.”

My Take

I just want to let out a huge sigh. Not a sigh of relief necessarily, although I guess I’m glad the order of these two cards weren’t reversed. More a sigh of mixed sadness, hope, and exhaustion.

The foundational (underneath) card, “Drowning,” holds particular depth and pain to me, as might be imagined. It’s depressing. And quite honestly, I feel it is where we, as a nation and perhaps even many of us as individuals, are finding ourselves in this moment. That’s especially true given the revelations that are coming to light day after day this week. The magnitude of complicity, greed, and downright malignancy we’ve both wittingly and unwittingly been subjected to year after year is stunning. The erosion it’s caused on the very underpinnings of our democracy, of our understanding of who we are (again, as a nation and as individuals), can’t be overstated.

And yet it feels as though we had to get here. We had to reach this place where we’re drowning in our own denial. We had to see it all ‘die’ (or come darn close) before we would choose to lift our heads in the midst of the storm and see the mountain in the distance that’s being revealed by the lightning of the storms we’re weathering.

Inspiration

I’m heartened that the top card, the main card I chose, was the Three of Swords. We desperately need to call Inspiration into our lives. We need to realize that what we thought we had has died. That’s a powerful admission, and one very few people come to willingly.

But that’s the energy of now. That’s the influence of Pluto (Lord of Death and the Underworld) squaring Eris (the Goddess of Chaos) and beginning to move ‘direct’ or forward. Pluto is catalyzing inspiration within us in order to bring something new into being. This new moon, conjunct with Mars (another character in the nature of Pluto and Eris) is birthing something new – but the struggle is real.

Is the struggle over the final realization that something has died? Or is the struggle tied to the fear of being struck by the lightning of inspiration that will lead to something new and better – something we’ve only glimpsed from afar? Inspiration is something most of us yearn to experience and channel into our lives. But the prospect of being struck by lightning is scary. No wonder we feel unsettled.

Will we survive the jolt?

(T-50)

Change of Seasons – Day 1060

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White Wildflowers – Photo: L. Weikel

Change of Seasons

Is it the change of seasons that’s making me so tired every night? The past several evenings I’ve found myself struggling to keep my eyes open and my thoughts coherent. It’s been a bit frustrating because I’ve been feeling enthusiastic and eager to throw myself into some new adventures and projects – during the day – but as soon as Karl goes to bed, it’s as if I’m covered in a haze of pixie dust that immediately puts me to sleep.

It’s weird. And I have to say: it throws me off.

Another thing I notice particularly since the equinox on September 22nd:  the evening light has not been romantically taking its time, gradually fading. No. It actually feels more like an old-fashioned bank clerk abruptly pulling the shade on their service window. It’s as if the darkness descends suddenly and all at once.

It’s unsettling.

Recent Musings

If you’ve been reading my posts lately, you know I’ve been pondering how I would react to knowing my time here on Earth was going to end in the easily foreseeable future. A variety of occurrences in my orbit of friends and family have catalyzed such musings.

One person, someone I can truthfully only call an acquaintance, is Ellen Fein. I met Ellen tangentially through an online group comprised of people who’ve attended a Taos Writing Retreat with Jen Louden. It’s a testament to Jen as a retreat facilitator, the vulnerability of writing itself, or perhaps even the magic of Taos Mountain how many of us have remained in touch and actually feel we know each other quite well after only spending a short week together.

And some of us never actually met in person because we attended the Taos Retreat in different years. But that didn’t matter. Obviously. There was something about Ellen and her comments and musings, her voice, her attitude toward life that resonated with me so deeply that I’m honestly hard put to say whether we ever met in person. I feel like we must have. And yet…

Anyway, Ellen revealed to us (her writing community), a few months ago at the most, that after a period of remission for some years, she was experiencing a recurrence of cancer and kidney disease that did not bode well. As a result of her life’s work, she decided to share with us the process of her conscious and gradual letting go.

Photo: L. Weikel

Grace

Oddly (or perhaps not so oddly), she was very much on my mind as I was grieving Spartacus’s sudden demise. Wondering how she was, and feeling that perhaps she was on the brink of crossing over as well, I looked for her on FB to no avail. I tried to find her blog posts without success. And then just the other day (all my days seem to have run together lately), I saw the publication of Ellen’s final post – with a postscript by her daughter. I saw that she’d passed away the day after Spartacus – just after that powerful full moon and a day before the change of seasons, the equinox.

There’s honestly nothing I can say here that adds anything to the conversation. I would instead ask you to read Ellen’s last three posts. Her grace, humor, and beautiful soul shine through and speak for themselves.

You can find them here. May she be an inspiration to all of us.

(T-51)

Fair Warning – Day 978

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Stars – Photo: L. Weikel

Fair Warning

After writing 977 consecutive posts for public consumption, I notice a couple idiosyncracies about myself. For instance, I realize I just might have a few ‘go-to’ topics that consistently pique my interest. With this in mind, I consider it a service that I provide you with ‘fair warning’ this evening of the approach of an event that’s one of my favorite experiences of the summer – every summer.

The Perseids Are Coming

Yes! I’m a big fan of so-called ‘shooting stars.’ My favorites are the Perseids. And actually – technically – they’re here already. Even more accurately, the Earth started passing through the debris-filled tail of comet 109PSwift-Tuttle on July 14th and will continue to do so from now until August 24th.

The most active evenings for maximum oohs and aahs as we stare into the cosmos will be the nights of August 12th-13th. There’s a chance we could witness 100 ‘shooting stars’ per hour at the peak of the Perseids. And lucky for us, the moon will only be waxing at that time – so her brightness shouldn’t drown out our ability to catch them streaking across the sky.

My reason for writing about them tonight is two-fold: First, there’s a good chance you’ll see some (maybe one or two – possibly more) brilliant streaks across the sky if you look up tonight. And knowing when and where to look is a major factor to meeting success! Second, it’s helpful to cultivate a love of star-walking in the evening now. That way, by the time the most active evenings arrive, you’ll have a routine in place and be able to jump right in (or lay right down) to enjoy the show.

Personal Sweetness

The Perseids are also my favorite light show because they always peak on our son Karl’s birthday. Even before he was a glint in my eye, I knew these particular meteor showers would always hold special significance to me when I watched them from the beach of an island off the coast of the former Yugoslavia (now Croatia). I was only 18 then, but the magic of that entire experience will never leave my bones.

I see that I’ve waxed rhapsodic over my beloved Perseids for two years now (of course), here, here, and here. It’s doubtful I’ll ever stop writing about them and the effect they have on my sense of place in the Universe. Extolling the benefits of immersing ourselves in one-on-one encounters with the natural world feels like one of the best ways I can honor the memory of my son.

If you haven’t yet given yourself the experience of witnessing miniscule particles streaking through our atmosphere and creating fireballs of light that generate spontaneous gasps of delight, it’s time. There’s something both profoundly inspiring and humbling to realize tiny specks of dust can create huge fireballs blazing across the sky. Doesn’t it make you wonder even for a moment what we might be capable of creating?

It’s moments like these that have the potential to remain in our hearts long after the television shows, card games, and movies have long since faded into oblivion.

Practice. Get ready. They’ll be here in droves by mid-August.

Photo: travelandleisure.com

(T-134)

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 Number – Day 888

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Framed Brilliance – Photo: L. Weikel

Today’s Number

I barely pay attention anymore to the quantity of posts I’ve written. After all, it doesn’t matter where I am exactly in my 1111 Devotion. What matters is that I show up. But if you’ve read my posts for any length of time, you know I notice and pay attention to patterns. So I guess it’s not a stretch to imagine I’d sit up and give a nod to today’s number.

Today I’m on Day 888 and tomorrow there will only be 222 left to write in order to fulfill my homage to our son. It’s funny; I often feel like an alcoholic as I write these each night: honestly, I can only contemplate fulfilling this devotion one day at a time.

So when people occasionally ask me if I intend to keep writing posts after I reach my goal, I can only, in all honestly, shrug my shoulders. Heck, I’m not counting my chickens about reaching the goal; how can I predict with any credibility at all what I may do if and when I finally get there?

Today’s Photos

I’ve mentioned before how utterly impossible my 1111 Devotion task would be if I couldn’t take photos each day and easily upload them with my iPhone. The visual cues that remind me of each day’s magic are probably a bigger and perhaps better reflection of what really matters to me than the words I write.

Hmm. As I reflect upon that statement, I have to admit it’s not entirely accurate. The reason for that is because I so rarely post photos of the people in my life. And the people with whom I interact in my life, my family and friends, of course – but also my clients and the people I encounter on a regular basis and honestly care about, and even the random people who cross my path (or whose path I cross) in life  – matter to me.

Yet I rarely post photos of people. Mostly, I guess, because it doesn’t feel right to do so. There have been a couple of exceptions, but those were usually more of a ‘crowd’ shot than a personal statement or revelation.

But while the people in my life do matter to me, it’s the gifts of Mother Earth that are the treasures that never cease to provide inspiration and hope. And occasionally even some insight – almost always courtesy of my encounters with winged ones or other Beings.

A Bright Spot

Karl and I spent yet another day going through ‘stuff.’ I think we kept hoping the sun would come and out and coax us into taking a walk. But no. The sky remained overcast the entire day, sporting just a tad of a chill, too.

Finally, though, we tore ourselves away from our tasks and set off for a walkabout (the four mile trek). We both knew we needed more than ‘just a two.’

As we rounded a corner on one of the legs of our journey, we gasped at the splash of color that appeared in the midst of not only the gray and dismal day but also the haphazard arrangement of sticks and briars and the dark edge of a forest at dusk.

“Ah,” I said out loud. “There’s something to share on my blog.”

And so I am.*

Photo: L. Weikel

*And what this has to do with today’s number, I’ll never know.

(T-223)

Twelve Days – Day 704

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Created within 12 days – Photo: L. Weikel

Twelve Days

What a difference twelve days make.

Karl and I finally managed to drag our weary bones out to do the larger (4.1 mile) ‘walk-about’ today, and not a moment too soon. It’s been far too long since we took this longer route. It’s not that we weren’t game to walk it earlier this week – we were. It’s just that we found ourselves caught a bit flat-footed by how much earlier the sun was setting. While we yearned the past few days to do the longer walk-about, we found the darkening skies, both from the sun setting and a somewhat daunting cloud cover, persuasive in their insidious whispers cajoling us to only walk the shorter 2-mile walk-around.

And while you might be thinking this post’s initial sentence is referring to my realization of the shocking rapidity with which our bodies devolve into languid corporeal decrepitude when not consistently engaged, you would be incorrect. Well, not entirely, for that is actually also true; we did become slugs. But my main thrust was an astonishment at what can be accomplished in twelve days, as opposed to lost in that amount of time.

Massive Wasp Nest

Enter exhibit ‘A.’ We discovered this massive wasp’s nest hanging from a tree along our ‘walk-about’ route today. It was not there twelve days ago – not even as a fledgling nest. I suppose we may have missed seeing it, but it is directly at eye level and, as can be seen, rather conspicuously positioned.

It is a work of art. And of course, me being who I am, I ‘see’ things – expressions, if you will – within the patterns of the paper wasps’ creation. But I will leave each of you to see what you see.

Photo: L. Weikel

New Moon Tomorrow

This reminds me that tomorrow (Friday, October 16th, 2020) a new moon occurs at 3:30 p.m. eastern time. What do you hope to create over the next two weeks? Or what seeds do you wish to plant that will flourish in six months’ time? Or a year from now?

It’s amazing what can be accomplished in twelve days by tiny, if ferocious, creatures. I’m feeling inspired.

(T-407)

Ninth House – Day 636

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Photo: L. Weikel

Ninth House

Although I’ve started a couple of posts this evening, I keep deleting them. Nothing seems relevant. Or maybe it’s more accurate to say that nothing I can think of feels worthy of my or your attention.

I’m feeling a bit distracted. I can’t put my finger on anything in particular, other than to admit that perhaps it just an overwhelming desire to lose myself in a good book.

I have about 30 pages left in the novel I’m reading, Ninth House*. I know I’ve said it before, but it just feels great every once in a while to immerse myself in story that has nothing to do with anything going on in my life at the moment. My problem (if you can call it that) is that I’m a really slow reader. If you add to that the fact that I almost never give myself permission to ‘read for pleasure’ during the day, it means it usually takes me f-o-r-e-v-e-r to finish a book. That’s especially true now that I’m writing these posts every night.

Honestly, I usually manage to read between one and two pages a night before nodding off. That is not a recipe for plowing through my list of wanna-reads at a decent clip.

Maybe if I finish this book and begin the one that’s been on deck for a good month or so, The Murmur of Bees (recommended by a dear friend whose taste I trust implicitly!), I’ll be inspired to write about something new or different.

It’s time.

*Affiliate link

(T-475)

Timely Reminder – Day 578

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Turtle Girl – Photo: L. Weikel

Timely Reminder

Many of us are encountering opportunities to reflect upon our beliefs, review the paths we’ve taken to arrive where we are, and potentially take steps to restructure our lives if they no longer suit us or reflect who we are (or aspire to be). We’re contemplating the seeds we choose to plant for our future. In that regard, I was given a timely reminder of something we should all bear in mind as we take steps to cultivate our futures.

I, for one, am rarely fully satisfied with all aspects of my life. Sometimes I’m happier with my life choices than others. But usually I’m reflecting in my journal on what I could be improving or where I’d like to be heading as far as my next challenge. I tend to thrive when I both love what I’m doing, but also have a challenge on my horizon; something new to learn or an idea to develop.

Often, such aspirations need to be planted and allowed to grow at their own pace, fed by research and reflection, connections and inspiration. Another analogy that can be made to this process is building a nest and laying an egg (or a couple of eggs). Actually, the eggs are only (or maybe I should say ‘all’) potential. They require time and tending to become something new and of substance.

Teacher-by-example

The other day, Karl and I happened upon our first Eastern Box Turtle of the season. As you can see from the photo above, she’s a beauty.

When we encountered her, she was directly underneath the mailbox of one of our neighbors. And while I was relieved and delighted that she wasn’t on the road when we discovered her, I was a bit dismayed at what it appears she was doing.

It looked to me as though she was digging a hole in which to lay her eggs. See for yourself in the photo below.

Of course, I didn’t disturb her at all or dissuade her from her task. That’s not for me to decide for her. (OK, perhaps I did annoy her a little when I stuck my phone in front of her face to snap her photo; but I maintain this was but a minor irritant!)

But it was in her choice of where to build her nest and lay her eggs that got me thinking. It’s important how we take care of the ideas we have. It’s critical that we take care of those nascent thoughts and not-yet-developed seeds of inspiration. She brought me a timely reminder to be careful with the results of all the reflections we’re engaging in and the choices we’re making. These are precious realizations and aspirations. They need to be protected and nurtured until just the right time arrives to introduce them to the world.

Making a nest? Laying her eggs? – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-533)