pandemic

Portals – Day 731

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11:11 Medallion – Photo: L. Weikel

Portals

Today, of course, was the 11th day of November. 11/11. A day of portals, doorways, openings in time and space.

A day doesn’t go by that I don’t contemplate – if every so briefly – how our eldest son, Karl, facing the myriad array of portals on that fateful evening of 11/11/11 at 11:11 p.m., decided on an unconscious level that all those doorways to utterly new experiences beckoning to him were simply too enticing.

Timing and circumstances.

A New Perspective

I’ve always been aware that Karl died on Veterans Day. He didn’t serve in any of the armed forces, so I never sensed any particular connection between his death and the celebration of this national holiday.

This year, however, my attention was drawn to the fact that Veterans’ Day used to be called Armistice Day. Somewhere deep in my memory banks I’m sure I knew this; surely I learned it in a high school history class. But the holiday was changed to Veterans Day in 1954 – five years before I was born – and in the ‘70s, it seems like there was a lot more focus on either the here and now or the future, and much less on the past. In the ‘70s, World War I seemed a distant memory, eclipsed by the fact that World War II proved it was not, in fact, the ‘War to End All Wars,’ and both the Korean War and Vietnam shunted WWI even further down the memory hole.

Perhaps because of the pandemic we’re experiencing and the coordination between Armistice Day and the Spanish Flu of 1918, Armistice Day has been catching my attention more this year. Even when our Covid-19 was just taking root here and around the world, in the first three months of 2020, I remember reading about the dangers of a ‘second wave.’

Second Wave

Of course, back in March many in our country were (and still are) in denial that a pandemic is raging through our country. The thought that a ‘second wave,’ exponentially greater than the first could hit us in the fall of 2020 and winter of 2021, was pretty well ignored. But I remember reading stories at the time about Armistice Day – November 11th, 1918 – and how people gathered in great throngs throughout the country, mostly without masks, to celebrate the cessation of fighting. Shortly after this great celebration, the pandemic spread like wildfire, killing more than had died in the war itself.

It was actually only this very morning that I realized that Armistice Day was established because the agreement to cease fire between the warring nations in WWI was formalized at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. In fact, one article I read this morning even suggested that it was at the 11th minute of the 11th hour.

I didn’t realize the significance of all of those 11s in the establishment of Armistice Day.

One definition given for the word armistice is: An agreement for the cessation of active hostilities between two or more belligerents. (www.brittanica.com)

This calls to mind the significance of all the 11s. The confluence of all these portals created an opportunity for the world to work together, to walk through a doorway to new ways of working together and creating a better world.

And yet…those portals also opened up the citizens of the world to the spread of a deadly contagion. Why? A big reason was a reluctance to wear masks, as if the call to do so was some sort of oppression.

Natural portal – Photo: L. Weikel

More Reflection

So much of what I’m writing right now is just pouring out of my fingertips and demanding greater reflection.

There is something to the concept of thresholds being created (or at least represented) by the number 11 and the opportunities or perils, depending upon one’s perspective, that await discovery ‘on the other side.’

Perhaps I should have started writing this particular post a bit earlier this evening. Maybe I’ll engage in further contemplation in the days to come. All I know is, I feel like there’s something bigger right now for us to be looking at and perhaps learning from history.

Are we capable of moving through the portals available to us, calling a ceasefire to the insanity we’ve endured for the past four years (or more), and choosing to embrace a new vision of a future of cooperation?

(T-380)

Stillness – Day 728

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Photo: L. Weikel

Stillness

I’ve been sitting here contemplating what I might write about this evening and the word ‘stillness’ keeps popping into my head.

I know I could use some stillness in my life. Perhaps even more than simply ‘in my life,’ I could use some stillness in my thoughts and emotions.

The past week has been a blur. And actually, when I think about what I was doing and thinking a week ago, it almost feels as though I’m remembering another year, another season at the very least. Of course, part of that feeling could be attributable to the unseasonably balmy weather we’ve been enjoying here in eastern Pennsylvania over the past four days or so.

When I think back a week ago, it was cold and rainy outside. All the leaves were getting whipped off the trees. Indeed, exactly one week ago, wild winds took out our electricity for several hours and I was forced to write my post on my phone.

Top of the Coaster

It turns out that our evening of lost electricity was just our little car reaching the top of the roller coaster. The slow tick – tick – tick – that comes with climbing to the crest suddenly gave way. Momentum whisked me forward – from seeing Kamala Harris in Bethlehem to working as an election official for just shy of 17 hours, from holding myself in rigid anticipation with the rest of the country and world to attending rallies encouraging all votes be counted – I’m only just now starting to catch my breath.

This past week most definitely felt like a rollercoaster ride. You know, how it seems to take forever to reach that very first, usually highest, peak, but then once you do, everything seems to blow past you in a blur?

And now, tomorrow, we’re going to begin settling back into a new routine. And yes, to me, it feels like our forward momentum is a bit of a paradox. Maybe that’s why I’m craving a chance to snatch some stillness for myself. I yearn to make sense of where we are before we’re dragged into the next whip-around or stomach-dropping plunge.

Need For Care

Part of my yearning for stillness is a sense that we need to take particularly good care of ourselves right now. In the frenzy of the election and its aftermath, unless we were directly dealing with someone sick from Covid-19, the existence of the pandemic may have receded into the background of our minds. Not that we didn’t continue to wear masks and exercise social distancing; I know I, and those around me, did. But we may not have been actively contemplating dealing with the illness up close and personal.

If we’ve managed to be so lucky, hopefully we’ll continue to keep it at bay in our lives. I was shocked to learn today that the rate of infection climbed in the past week to the point where it’s predicted that by the end of next week, we’ll be gaining one million additional positive cases per week. (There’s that roller coaster again.)

That’s mind-boggling. And definitely not great when you realize that deaths are on the rise as well.

Settle Back – Be Still

So in the midst of settling back into a new routine, I urge us all to prioritize our health. It’s essential that we care for ourselves and each other. A lot of people came into more contact with others than usual this past week, from interaction at our polling places, to participation in rallies, to attending gatherings of solace or celebration.

It’s time now to engage in stillness. Stop. Take stock. Step back. Breathe deep. Maybe make an extra effort to keep ourselves as separate from each other as we can. We need to to make sure we’re not infected – so we don’t hurt the ones we love.

The numbers they’re projecting aren’t really numbers at all. They’re people. They’re our neighbors, our friends.

We need to do our best to make sure they’re not us.

Photo: L. Weikel

(T-383)

Dark Day – Day 715

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Incoming  – Photo: L. Weikel

Dark Day

While not unexpected, this is indeed a dark day. The shameless behavior of the Republicans in the U.S. Senate this evening will have repercussions that reverberate into the very foundation of our country.

There are few people in this country who are paying attention to the startlingly hypocritical maneuverings of Mitch McConnell (and his compatriots that vote in lock step with him) who cannot know, deep in their bones, that our country is broken. This brazen and disgustingly transparent and craven manipulation of our system is unsustainable.

Shocking Revelations of Intentions

I’ve been writing occasionally about the dramatic alignments and aspects of the planets that we’ve been experiencing, particularly since right around December, 2019. The position of three of the four major outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto) in Capricorn and their going forward and then retrograding and now moving forward again very recently have shown quite a correspondence with the arrival and response to Covid-19. These ‘big three’ are not done with us yet. However, more large-scale aspects are starting to come into play now as well.

For instance, we’re starting to feel the effects of planetary interactions (aspects) with Uranus, which usually signals revelations and expositions that feel like lightning strikes. Ripping away lies and revealing harsh secrets and truths can be expected, especially with Mercury currently retrograde, because Mercury is all about communication, and when retrograde, we’re going back over old ground. Digging up stuff that’s been hidden – until now.

I see that happening in two major areas affecting all of us in the United States:

First of all, the Administration is admitting now that they have no intention of fighting the spread of Covid-19. That’s actually a fact that’s been obvious since the very beginning, but driven home by the relentless refusal to advocate the simple precautions of wearing masks and social distancing. The refusal to utilize the Defense Production Act to ensure that the entire country has plenty of PPE and test kits was also (and continues to be) a dead giveaway. The mind boggles at the sheer ghoulish disregard for human life that these architects of a deliberately inept response to a pandemic show toward all of us.

The second example of the ripping away of any veneer of continued lies is the utter hypocrisy of the Senate. And I’m not speaking solely of this disgusting installation of a blatant ideologue onto the Supreme Court (for the second, if not third time). No, I’m speaking of the deal with the devil that Mitch McConnell and the far-right-wing dinosaurs made with DT to attempt to yank our country back into the 1950s, if not further back into our ignominious past. It’s all becoming all too harshly transparent.

Let Him Run Roughshod

The deal? Let him run roughshod over all the basic norms of civil society and a government based upon everyone at least having a modicum of honor and an agreement as to fundamental values of fairness, respect, truth, and integrity, thereby distracting the populace. Let him destroy our alliances, enter into dubious (at best) relationships with dictators and enemies of our country, all the while distracting us from seeing that they (the Republicans holding all the power in the Senate) were fulfilling a 50 year long game of installing right wing ultra conservatives into the judiciary.

This little screed of mine is just scratching the surface of what’s being revealed. But the fact that the Senate left Washington D.C. this evening and will not reconvene until a week after the election – without providing any economic relief to either the states or the millions who are on the brink of losing everything as a result of this pandemic – screams their ill intent from the rooftops. And now we can look forward to the prospect of this newly installed ‘justice’ participating in a decision that will almost certainly obliterate the Affordable Care Act and most certainly shaft every single person who has a pre-existing condition.

But not a single one of those Senators needs to worry. Nope; you betcha – they have top of the line, Cadillac health insurance. And steady paychecks. And investments in the vaunted stock market that are doing oh-so-well. (Shall we take bets on how long it will take before an investigation reveals that some – or many – of them have lots of money in the companies working on the proposed vaccines or touted ‘therapeutics’ for Covid-19?)

Vote

All I can say is, I hope beyond hope that I’m not tempted to have ‘Dark Day’ as my post title next Tuesday, too.

And while I’m sure I’m preaching to the choir: please, please, please: VOTE.

(T-396)

Cool Numbers – Day 707

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T & M’s Exquisite Dahlias – Photo: L. Weikel

Cool Numbers

I wasn’t initially intending upon writing about the cool numbers associated with this blog post, but they caught my eye as I saved the first draft. I can’t remember if I thought about these same numbers when I was ‘only’ on my 404th post, with 707 left to write.

Apparently not. I just checked, and the post I wrote on that day was all about the Winter Solstice (2019) and my participation in the I AM Solstice Symposium the next day.

As I recall, the Solstice last year was a day filled with intensity and drama. It was unpleasant and tough to witness, even if vicariously, for I cared very much for the safety and well-being of those involved. Imagine my surprise when I discovered a few weeks later that it had all been an elaborate ruse, a ‘hoax,’ if you will, apparently strung out over months – if not years.

This has me hopscotching to the upcoming Winter Solstice, nine weeks from tomorrow (technically ‘today,’ when this is read). There is a major astrological aspect that’s going to occur on that day, December 21st, and while I can’t remember what it is at the moment, I know it is significant.

I’ll check on it and get back to you with details.

In the Meantime

In the meantime, let’s face it. December 21st is nine long weeks away. Yes, in some ways it is but a stone’s throw from now. But good grief, I do believe we are all weary, wary, and wise enough to realize that an unbelievable amount of change – for good or for ill, or perhaps both? – can occur in that period of time.

Indeed, I do want to call upon all of you to please, no matter where you live – in the United States or elsewhere in the world – please take good care of yourselves. Social distance. Wear a mask whenever you’re out and about. Only go out and about as infrequently as possible. Zealously wash your hands.

We hear these admonitions all the time, but my spidey-senses are pricking my ears and I’m feeling a sense of urgency that we double and triple our personal and collective vigilance.

Maybe it’s the 707/404 combo that’s bringing home to me the 1111 of it all.

Stay safe, my friends. And drink in the cosmic color and energetic vibration of these exquisite dahlias when you need a boost.

Friends Sharing the Sweetness – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-404)

Doozy of a Day – Day 691

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Mars and the Full Harvest Moon – Photo: L. Weikel

Doozy of a Day

I’ll bet none of us expected today to unfold the way it did. Which is not to say any of us who’ve been paying even half attention to the way the Coronavirus is being handled by the Administration are surprised. While that may be true, even by the standards of this chaotic presidency, today was a doozy of a day.

I discovered that the President and Melania had tested positive just after I published my post last night. Which makes the rapidity with which events seemed to degrade today all the more stunning. And the casualties keep mounting as I sat here this evening. Yet another Senator tested positive this evening (Sen. Thom Tillis) and then – just after 10:00 p.m. – Kellyanne Conway.

Knocked Out

And I will admit it: I fell asleep. Literally. In the midst of all of this, I just conked out. And I just woke up, almost by chance, with but a few minutes left to crank out a post.

I did manage to take a wild photo earlier this evening of the full moon, which is still essentially full as it casts a brilliant light in the night sky, and Mars burning brightly beside it.

Celestial Display

It surprised me that the moon seemed not to be minimizing Mars’s dazzling light in the least, which of course was because Mars is a planet – quite close by – as opposed to a star millions of miles away. A full moon often detracts from our enjoyment of meteor showers and the like because she drowns everything else out. Not Mars. Not tonight, anyway.

Mars may be small compared to stars, but it’s feisty. And it doesn’t seem to want to play second fiddle to anybody – least of all a mere satellite to the Earth.

I hesitate to guess what the third day of October will bring to us. It almost feels like October is a bizarre form of Advent Calendar – with a surprise behind every door.

Stay safe out there. Wear your masks and wash your hands. But mostly, try to stay home. It’s not worth it.

Mars & Full Moon (close up) – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-420)

Measure of Guilt – Day 671

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Photo: L. Weikel

Measure of Guilt

If you live pretty much anywhere on the East Coast, I’m pretty sure you experienced one of those perfect September days today that’s hard to overstate. The hint of fall puts just the slightest, ever so subtle edge to the air when a breeze rustles your hair and cools you down after mowing the lawn. I feel some measure of guilt when I begin to write about days like today when I see the suffering occurring elsewhere in our country.

The fires in California, Oregon, and Washington are terrifying in their devastation. I find it hard to wrap my mind around what it must feel like to see fire rampaging up a mountain toward my home or hear the otherworldly roar of the inferno as it voraciously consumes everything in its path – and sets its sights on me. Or my husband and children. Or my pets.

The photos of the firefighters, splayed out helter skelter on the coolness of a concrete sidewalk, the air all around them a distorted version of pumpkin spice are beyond disturbing. The stories of people being forced to run – literally attempt to outrun a fire on macadam that burns the shoes off their feet – only to discover their loved ones turned back or never made it out of the driveway boggle the mind.

Dead End

I wrote a bunch of words since writing the paragraph above and I just had to delete them. Yeah, I can mouth the words of trying to find some positive arising out of this devastation and heartache – wisdom, perhaps? Appreciation for what’s really, truly, deeply important? A forced re-set of our life?

But it just rings hollow tonight. Anything I might write as I sit here in my comfy home surrounded by my beloved animals with plenty of food in my refrigerator and pantry, a cool breeze of fresh air pouring in through my windows, is warped by my perception – which is admittedly extremely narrow and unbelievably fortunate.

As I said at the beginning, I cannot imagine the terror of being forced to evacuate my home under the threat of a wildfire.

There are a lot of simply awful things people are being forced to endure this year. Yeah, people get sick and die all the time. But not like this. And yeah, wildfires happen every year. But not like these. And hurricanes form and threaten and pound upon the coast every year. But not as early and often as this year.

We must hang in there. No matter how hard or awful things feel. No matter how much we lose. We must hold onto each other. We have to find a way.

(T-440)

A Pandemic Pleasure – Day 665

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Shankweiler’s Drive-In – Photo: L. Weikel

A Pandemic Pleasure

If we squint hard enough, every now and then we can discover a sweet spot in our lives that Covid-19 has either made possible or highlighted from another era. One such bonus to society, actually, is the resurgence of drive-in movie theaters. We could almost call our experience this evening a pandemic pleasure.

Part of the reason going to a drive in movie nowadays (as opposed to when I was a teenager) is actually a delight is the digital experience and the ability to have the audio delivered via radio. Does anyone reading this remember the speakers that were attached to the poles along each parking space?

More saliently, does anyone remember a time when those speakers weren’t dilapidated pieces of heavy metal crap with severed wires hanging from a vast majority of them? The audio on those speakers was abysmal, all crackly and only sporadically audible.

Just as I was growing up and coming of age drive-ins were becoming passé. They were falling into a state of disrepair. Malls were being built and movie complexes alongside them. Everything was changing with movies.

I do remember watching Jaws with my mom, older sister and brother-in-law, and their kids. We were at the drive-in theater in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod. It was the ‘perfect’ summer movie to watch when all we did was basically live on the beach and swim in the ocean all day!

Tonight’s Feature

I have to say, though, tonight’s adventure at Shankweiler’s (America’s oldest drive-in!) was an absolute delight. Because they’d scoped it out earlier in the season, my son and daughter-in-law knew exactly what to do to transform a ‘movie night’ into a pandemic pleasure. They knew just how early we needed to get there to snag a great location (although there probably aren’t any bad locations at Shankweiler’s – it truly is a sweet location).

It’s been at least nine months since we saw a movie. And even though local indoor theaters are open, I personally have no desire to roll the dice for a chance to sit inside a building with pretty much anyone to watch a movie I could rent at home.

But going to the drive-in tonight was so much fun! We each contributed to a delicious tailgater’s evening of snacks and salads and then watched as the sun set and the stars came out. The weather couldn’t have been better. While the three of them got comfy in chairs set out in front of and between our two cars (which were all spaced out with double the room due to social distancing rules), I made myself a nest of blankets and pillows.

We watched Bill and Ted Face the Music, which was a cute, campy movie. I have to admit, it made me sigh a little deeper to realize that the original in the series, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure came out 31 years ago. Holy cow.

We had two little kids at that time, so we didn’t got to see it in the theater. But I know for sure that we rented it (and probably watched it on a VCR also rented from the video store!).

Wow, have things changed. And yet…here we are. I don’t know what the stats are, but I’ll bet drive-in theaters are doing extremely well this year. It’s a pity the drive-in we used to take our sons to down in Warrington is now a Lowe’s parking lot. That makes me sad.

Intermission – hot dogs! – Photo: L. Weikel

 

One Last Thing

The old fashioned interludes they play on the big screen both prior to the main feature and then at the intermission between films are worth the price of admission. They’re hilarious. Here’s a still from one of the ones that graced the screen tonight. Seriously.

If you have a chance to go to a drive-in this fall, go! Especially while the summer weather is still around and the hint of a cool fall breeze is just becoming a feature of its own. It’s a veritable pandemic pleasure. And a super way to spend some socially distant time with friends or family in the great outdoors.

Intermission – ice cream! – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-446)

Working From Home – Day 646

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Spartacus Usurping My Work Space – Photo: L. Weikel

Working From Home

Since the pandemic hit, Karl and I have been working from home. When I say working, for me at least, I am primarily referring to shamanic work and focusing on my next writing project.

Once it became warm enough, I essentially moved my workspace out onto our porch. It’s a small space, but it is where I gravitate to and feel most closely aligned to Mother Earth – and She is my primary partner in everything that I do.

Peeking at me across my driveway – Photo: L. Weikel

In case you’re wondering, I probably should clarify: when I have a session with a client, I don’t usually conduct it outside on the porch. Rather, my habit has been to retire upstairs to one of our bedrooms where I can open Sacred Space, shake my rattles, use my drums, and envision my client reclined in front of me as if they were in my office. That said, as long as there’s good cell service, a session can be conducted anywhere.

But all the other time I spend writing follow up emails to clients, corresponding via email and text message, and working on my next book, I generally spend on our porch. Which means that I’m assisted by a wide range of creatures.

This post is a short one. I’m sharing some photos of only a few of my office mates.

While we don’t generally gather at a water cooler, we have been known to share a few peanuts when the going’s gotten tough.

Hanging near the olive oil for Sacred Fire – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-465)

Taken Aback – Day 634

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Tigger – as disgusted and taken aback as I feel Photo: L. Weikel

Taken Aback

I had a conversation late this afternoon that completely surprised me. I was so taken aback, as a matter of fact, that I did not fully comprehend what was being said to me in the moment. As a result, I failed to respond the way I think I wish I had.

Let me set the scene:

At the grocery store today, I ran into a friend whom I haven’t seen in probably two or three months. We’re both wearing masks, of course. We exchanged pleasantries and inquired about each other’s families.

As conversations are wont to go nowadays, we drifted to the pandemic and mused over whether we’ll ever really and truly get to a point where we can live entirely ‘mask-free’ again. We didn’t describe it that way. It was more a vague wondering on both our parts whether things would ever really and truly go back to the way they were. Both of us expressed a deep sadness that resigning ourselves to a new normal may be what we have to do, but it won’t be without deep sadness.

The Surprise

It was at this point that the conversation took a turn that I definitely did not see coming. She told me that her daughter had taken her five year old grandson to his pediatrician the other day for his well-checkup. It just so happened that the boy woke that day with a slight sore throat. Hmm.

They went to the doctor’s office and, sure enough, the boy was running a slight fever.

When the doctor came into the examining room, he told the boy’s mom that he was not going to test the child. She should just take him home and keep an eye on him. If he got worse, she should bring him in again.

When I asked why they didn’t test him, she told me the doctor said, “Most children and healthy adults don’t get sick with Covid. It’s nothing to worry about. The numbers are being exaggerated by too much testing and they’re being all conflated.”

I was stunned.

A pediatrician said this?

My friend concluded our conversation with, “So they came home and sure enough, the next day he felt completely fine.” As if this proved what? That the boy doesn’t have the virus? Have they not been paying any attention to the way this virus can manifest?

What I Was Thinking

My mind was boggled. In that moment, I could almost literally feel the gears in my brain getting stuck, backing up, and trying to re-engage along a completely different track. Not knowing for sure where her daughter lived, I asked if this was a local pediatrician. Sure enough, he practices in the Lehigh Valley.

I am still somewhat reeling from this revelation. This was a five year old. Why in the world would this pediatrician NOT test this kid – when he was exhibiting symptoms?! I’ve been thinking about this over and over again all evening (hence the reason why I decided to just sit down and write about it).

This kid could easily be spreading it. Who’s to say the whole family doesn’t have it and maybe most of them are asymptomatic? What if my friend, who is a few years older than I am (thus in her 60s) catches it? And I’m not even saying that the kid has it or doesn’t.

My point is: Why in the world would a physician NOT order a test, particularly when the child shows up with symptoms? This is a kid who is kindergarten age! I didn’t ask, but I do wonder whether the plan is for him to go to school whenever it starts…?

Upshot

I regret that I didn’t speak up and question the wisdom of not having the child tested. Then again – would that be my place? And what would that have accomplished? The deed was done, or rather – not done.

I wish I had defended the need for MORE testing – not LESS. I am feeling freaked out that a person I consider intelligent and practical would actually express skepticism over ‘the accuracy of the numbers.’

I definitely was taken aback by this conversation – and now I’m feeling more than a little bit of despair.

(T-477)

Full Moon Dreaming – Day 631

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Full moon in Aquarius – August 2020 – Photo: L. Weikel

Full Moon Dreaming

I’m glad I managed to get some sweet shots of the very nearly almost full moon last night, because there’s not a chance it’s visible this evening. No, we’re relegated to full moon dreaming this evening – and hoping it doesn’t turn into a flash flood nightmare.

Indeed, we’re lucky we even got a two mile walk in. Only minutes after returning home tonight, my phone pinged to alert me to a meteorological prospect I’d already sussed out: we were on the verge of being hit by a severe thunderstorm. While we did receive a reasonable storm (it was nothing like what hit us last Thursday evening), the amount of rain that fell was a mere drop in the bucket to what we’re likely to experience in the early morning hours tomorrow.

It seems a bit weird that here in eastern Pennsylvania we’re getting hit with a tropical storm calling not only for up to 6” of rain falling ‘in a short period of time’ (causing flash flooding), but also winds potentially ranging between 58-73 mph and even the possibility of tornadoes.

I think I can pretty confidently say that Pennsylvanians, on the whole, did not sign up for this. Or tornadoes. Tropical storms are generally southern and mid-western state issues. What the heck is happening here? Mid-Atlantic states say, “No thank you!”

Timing

I’m sure the effects on the coastline of Tropical Storm Isaias (which I believe has regained hurricane strength as it makes landfall in the Carolinas this evening) will be exacerbated by the full moon, undoubtedly creating higher than normal storm surges and even greater erosion than usual. But beyond that, I hate to think of the suffering and risk people will endure as a direct result of the confluence of these battering storms and the unavoidable reality of the pandemic.

It seems like every day we’re bombarded with more and more stories of the precariousness of life here in the United States. Meanwhile, Congress dithers.

Something’s gotta give. And that’s usually when a full moon comes in and gives us a well-timed push.

Choices

Since the inception of 2020, all of us are facing choices day in and day out that we never imagined we would have to make. I think it may have been in this podcast that I heard that this full moon is in the fixed air sign of Aquarius, which is completing a cycle begun at the end of January, at which time we experienced a new moon in the fixed air sign of Aquarius.

I can’t help but wonder at the choices that have been made in how we viewed and dealt with Covid-19 from the earliest days of its arrival here in the U.S. (our first awareness being at the end of January) to how we’re viewing and dealing with it now (at this ‘fullness’ of the same moon as when it all began). I’d like to think that this full moon could represent the climax of the virus’s impact on our society – and had we made other, significantly different choices on how to respond to the virus’s arrival, surely wresting it under control would have been a possibility we’d be enjoying.

But sadly, this full moon could actually signify the virus just starting to hit its stride in taking us out.

Taking a Stand

This full moon could very well be challenging us to stand up to the bullying we’re enduring to have our children and teachers return to school as if the virus is contained. We must acknowledge the truth: it isn’t contained. Not even close.

And a point is going to come – soon, I sense, urged on by the pressure and illumination of this full moon – when parents are going to rise up and demand accountability. Demand testing. Demand a national strategy that will protect all of us, but especially those our government is insanely threatening us to sacrifice: our children, our teachers, those who feed, transport, and clean up after them. Our future.

The present disastrous predicament we find ourselves in did not need to happen. And as unpopular as it might be, there still exists an opportunity for us to dream another future into being. But it would entail short-term but rather draconian sacrifice. Short-term pain for long-term gain. (Something we’ve already squandered once, but hey – maybe we can still turn it around?)

In the meantime, I think Spartacus has the right idea: he’s dreaming, and possibly projecting, himself into a future featuring American humans making wiser, more compassionate choices.

Spartacus – Dreaming of Humans Making Better Choices – Photo: L.Weikel

(T-480)