Saturn

Peepers – Version 2023 (ND #139)

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Ethereal Sunset – Photo: L. Weikel

Peepers – Version 2023

I almost wrote a post some three weeks ago now, and I regret that I didn’t. I know it was still February; indeed, I’m pretty sure it was within a week of my last post (the one about Love Nature Magic). The reason why I regret not having written it is because I’m now unable to definitively document my experience for posterity. And it feels significant that peepers – version 2023 – were emerging from their muddy domiciles in February.

We all know how weird this winter of 2023 has been. For those who find the price of heating oil, inflated due to the war in Ukraine, to be onerous, it’s been a blessing. But for those who enjoy at least one good blizzard wrapping them in the cocoon of a snowed-in home, it’s definitely been a dud of a season.

But it gave me chills to hear these harbingers of springtime calling out across the fields an entire month earlier than usual. Better late than never, I suppose (my documenting, I mean.) It’s interesting to me to read the first post I wrote about peepers. I was excited to hear them then, as I always am – but it was the spring equinox when I wrote that post in 2019. And that’s still nearly two weeks away!

Full Worm Moon – 2023; Photo: L. Weikel

Full Worm Moon and Saturn Sign Change

We started this week out with a glorious full moon just yesterday morning (7:40 a.m. ET to be exact). And then an hour later, the planet Saturn entered a new sign for the first time in approximately 2.5 years.

Interestingly, for the past five years or so, Saturn has been hanging out in astrological signs that it ‘enjoys’ or feels good in: Capricorn and then Aquarius. Saturn is considered the ‘ruler’ of these two signs, although in Aquarius it now shares that honor with Uranus. The bottom line, though, is that Saturn likes the no-nonsense, pragmatic attitude of Capricorn and the generally more emotionally detached attitude of Aquarius. And Saturn is all about structure, time, foundations, and discipline.

So we’ve actually had five years of a ‘happy’ Saturn. Hmm.

On Tuesday, however, just after the moon reached its peak fullness, Saturn entered the sign of Pisces. It’ll be interesting to see how this energetic shift will play out in the world. That’s not to say it won’t impact us on a day-to-day personal level (because it probably will), but the large, slower moving planets tend to have larger, more global impacts on us.

I encourage us all to observe the actions of those on the national and world stage. Is there a change in emotional or psychological tenor? How do we feel about what’s going on in our country (and the world at large)?

Clouds or Mountains? Photo: L. Weikel (this photo was taken only 7 minutes before the main photo, above)

More Big Stuff Coming

Astrologers are expecting this March to herald some profound shifts in the way the world experiences itself. Besides Saturn moving into Pisces, we just had a lovely conjunction of Venus and Jupiter in Aries last week. (I didn’t get a photo of the conjunction due to cloud cover – but I did get a decent shot of the two bright ones flirting with each other the night before they met up.) But probably the biggest shift in the celestial orbs will be Pluto moving from Capricorn into Aquarius on March 23rd.

Given that I started writing this post merely to comment on how chilly I imagine our armies of peepers must be as the March winds whip up some serious wind chill, I’ll leave commentary about Pluto for another day.

In the meantime, I just wanted to touch base with all of you. If you’ve been feeling like things “are at sixes and sevens” (as my mother used to say), you’re not alone. Knowing that you’re not the only one noticing and feeling that things seem edgy can be at least a little bit comforting, as can learning that there are some things going on above our heads that might explain some of what we’re experiencing.

No matter how isolated or independent we fancy ourselves to be, in truth, we’re all far more connected – with each other, with the peepers, with the moon, and with the planets – than we realize.

ND #139

The Big Dipper – Day 1093

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The Big Dipper in the early evening sky – Photo: L. Weikel

The Big Dipper

I managed to get in a long walk this evening. I refer to it as evening, but in reality it was closer to 5:30 p.m. or so. The joy and peace feeling that settled into my heart as I watched the stars becoming brighter and brighter was just what I needed. The Big Dipper took up such a huge swath of sky, I just had to take a photo of it.

I walked an extra loop tonight because the weather was simply too perfect. Karl and I took the pups on the initial two mile walk around, but then I did some separate hoofing because it I needed more contemplative time.

I have to hand it to the puppies. Yet again, they walked all the way around all by themselves. Lately, Brutie’s been balking at the whole concept of a walk, dragging his heels in a most hilarious manner

Moon and Venus – Photo: L. Weikel

Moon and Venus

It was hard to keep my eyes off the sky tonight, to be honest. The moon, even though she’s only just past fingernail status, is a brilliant beacon. And lining up with Venus, it really was hard to tear my eyes away from the utter clarity of these celestial beings.

Jupiter and Saturn were also joining the lineup, with the four heavenly bodies lining up in a most dramatic arc across the southwestern sky.

There was something deep and quiet about tonight’s walk. The temperature outside was incredibly pleasant. It almost felt as though I was cheating somehow – being able to immerse myself in such loveliness on the 8th of November.

Walking at Night

It occurred to me as I was walking in the dark, illuminated only by the crescent moon and burgeoning starlight, that I’m not afraid to walk in this way. I’d hear deer scrambling in the brush beside the road, or perhaps a fox or opossum scurrying across the road.

I realized that I am not afraid of Nature as I walk by myself. The only thing that really engenders fear in me is the prospect of encountering other humans.

That truth made me sad. But I guess it’s not surprising.

Crescent Moon through the Trees – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-18)

Perseid Meteors – Day 1002

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Jupiter and Saturn taken minutes ago – Photo: L. Weikel

Perseid Meteors

Over the past few nights, the sky has been exquisitely clear in my neck of the woods, especially around midnight. In spite of conducive conditions, I’ve yet to catch a glimpse of any Perseid meteors streaking across the sky. I’m hopeful, though. Maybe tonight will be my lucky night.

Technically, the Perseids last until August 24th but they are at ‘maximum streaks per minute’ across the sky later this week.

Of course, as I looked up into the moonless sky last night, thinking about the Perseids and how happy I am when they arrive every year, I was distracted by a few other bright celestial objects calling out to me.

Jupiter & Saturn right now – w/horizon – Sky Guide app

Jupiter and Saturn

First and among the most prominent are Jupiter and Saturn.

Jupiter is pretty hard to miss in the Southeastern sky. It’s obvious why this massive planet is deemed to be a ‘benefic,’ or planet that brings good fortune to us when it makes aspects in our charts. Jupiter is the ‘biggest’ planet we can see with our naked eyes, the one that unexpectedly draws our eyes toward it and say, “What’s that?”

And once again, I must confess, I cannot gush enough about my Sky Guide astronomy app. I love how it tells me exactly what I’m looking at – and even shows me what’s going on below the horizon. The Milky Way dazzles on this app – and only makes me ache to see it again from a place with little vast stretches of open sky and little light pollution.

I was thinking about all of you last night as my heart kept opening wider and wider. I was on my back on top of a picnic table, entranced by the night sky and the accompanying cadence of crickets and katydids. The ethereal music the app creators added to the Sky Guide is truly a perfect accompaniment to cosmos-gazing.

Jupiter & Saturn – just minutes ago – Photo: L. Weikel

Shooting ‘Stars’

I’m almost always amply rewarded for my determination to celebrate our planet’s annual trek through space dust – a/k/a the Perseid Meteor Showers. My only worry is that it’ll be cloudy on Wednesday (11th) or Thursday (12th) night, when ideally they should be peaking.

Believe me, I know how hard it can be to drag yourself outside once you’ve settled in for the evening. But the magic inherent in drinking in the vastness of the visible universe borders on the indescribable, and I want all of you to remember to indulge if you are so inclined.

It seems to me that we so easily and so often forget our relative unimportance in the grand scheme of things. It’s essential, in my opinion, that we remind ourselves of that insignificance every once in a while, especially when we’re on the brink of trashing this beautiful blue planet and potentially rendering it uninhabitable.

Are we truly incapable of raising our game and actually becoming thoughtful stewards of this planet? I’d like to think we’re still redeemable, but my hope is dimming.

Another view of Jupiter & Saturn with a bit of the Milky Way; Sky Guide app!

(T-109)

Crone Calling – Day 968

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Photo: L. Weikel

Crone Calling

Or should I say, “Calling all Crones?” No, even though I embrace my personal status as a Crone (and therefore prefer to capitalize it), I’m not writing this post as a rallying cry solely to my sisters. Rather, I’m excited to announce that there’s a crone calling all of us right now in the form of a brand spanking new, hot off the presses, limited run of 250 Tarot of the Crone decks.

I’ve written many posts (here, here, and here, for instance) in the past 967 days that make reference to my much-loved Tarot of the Crone by Ellen Lorenzi-Prince. These cards always seem to bring an eerily accurate message when I consult them. And beyond whatever intuitive sense I may receive from the cards when I choose them – based simply on either the image itself or my pretty limited knowledge of tarot in general – the narrative provided by the deck’s creator is uncanny.

The exciting news I’m sharing today is that the deck, which has been out of print for a couple of years, I believe, is now available for pre-order.

Guidance for the Coming New Moon

Naturally, then, it feels only fitting that I consult the Crone for some guidance or insight on what to keep in mind as we approach this new moon in Cancer. Again – fundamental beliefs and structures are being challenged. Institutions we thought would always be part of our lives either no longer are or are on their way out. And we’re being asked to contemplate what we want to seed in their place.

As I write these words, I’ve not yet ‘picked.’ So I have no idea whether we’ll be given guidance on what is or needs to be ‘blown up’ (metaphorically, of course), radically changed, or suddenly exposed, or whether we’ll be shown what is waiting in the wings to be seeded as the structure or foundation of the next phase of our lives.

How and What I Chose

I decided to go a little rogue on all of us and instead of just choosing one card (and taking note of the card at the bottom of the deck – giving foundation or context to the ‘top’ card), I decided to pick three cards. The first card for insight into our ‘Saturn’ (i.e., the underlying, fundamental beliefs or structures that operate in our lives that need to be examined, perhaps challenged, and possibly torn down); the second card for insight into our ‘Uranus’ (i.e., how or in what way can or will sudden illumination strike or challenge that Saturn; how or in what area might we benefit from radical transformation); and the third card for insight into what seeds might be planted where the old foundations or beliefs we held (or were told) used to be.

Saturn – Uranus – Seed(s)

  1. (Representing Saturn): Ten of Disks ~ Age

    Ten of Disks – Tarot of the Crone by Ellen Lorenzi-Prince

“My world is smaller

But my soul is not

My world is harder

But I survive

A figure with knobby knees and a sunken aged face sits with her thoughts in a throne-like chair. As the body is the root of life, age is the result. Hers is the voice of experience and the understanding of physical limitations. She may be valued for her wisdom, but her no-nonsense views often set her apart and keep her alone. Like her, know that life occurs mostly inside you. Value your own experience and the wisdom of your body.”

 

 

 

 

  1. (Representing Uranus): Witch of Cups ~ Siren

    “Where the waves dance

    Where the stars and tides align

    There I celebrate my passion

    There I abandon restraint

    There I create movement

    That will last a thousand years

    A red figure, whose body echoes the curl of the purple waves around her, reaches with them for the stars that arch overhead. The Siren flows with the power of water to move and transform. She draws to her what she desires from the strength of her own desire, like calling out to like to join in the dance. She sings with the power to carry you away to worlds where love reigns, souls merge and blood, the juice of your life, runs full and free.”

  2. (Representing the Seeds to be Planted): Nine of Disks ~ Community

Nine of Disks – Tarot of the Crone by Ellen Lorenzi-Prince

“Together we build

Home for us all

Nine homes with open doors are gathered on a rich brown hillside beneath a field of stars. Here connection reaches farther than family. It is not so personal a relationship, but it is quite as necessary. There are others who share your air, your earth, your dreams and there always will be. Each one is part of the whole. Acknowledge the endeavors that support your living. Consider your own contribution. The antidote to isolation is sharing. How do you want to touch this world?”

Food For Thought

The connection of each card with each ‘subject’ is fascinating to me. As is always true, we each bring to the table our own unique set of life circumstances and perspectives to interpreting the message of each card.

I invite you to sit with each card. Notice how you feel when you simply look at the image; then notice and pay attention to the words written by the deck’s creator. Which words jump out at you – and how do they make you feel?

Allow yourself to contemplate (and dare I suggest – write out in a journal?) a coherent message between the cards. Remember, Saturn (structure) being challenged by Uranus (transformation) could indicate that in order to achieve transformation we may need to bring more structure to our lives. Cultivate a secure environment in which to plant those new seeds.

In other words, don’t assume that Uranus always means things need to get flipped upside down and inside out. They could just need to be radically changed. And that can (almost certainly will) look completely different for each one of us.

Have fun with this. It’s time to shake stuff up one way or another. We might as well be active and conscious participants in the reshaping of our lives, don’t you think?

Finally, don’t forget to order your own Tarot of the Crone deck if you feel an affinity with these cards!

(T-143)

Tooth String – Day 962

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Mouth Guard – Photo: L. Weikel

Tooth String

Technically this post is not about the floss I got stuck between my molars last night. Can I tell you, though, how maddening it’s been to have my tongue relentlessly trying to dislodge this errant piece of tooth string? All day. Ugh.

Every once in a while I manage to snag with my fingers a shred of the material – and I literally mean a shred – that’s stuck between my teeth.

But the kicker is the pressure I feel between my teeth. You know – that weird achy pressure that’s hard to describe, but might best be understood by anyone who’s had braces on their teeth. I’m reminded of when my braces would get tightened and I would feel my teeth moving at a glacial pace. I feel the soreness of the floss trying to force a space between my teeth.

Weird Coincidence

In my post last night I mentioned a weird coincidence that I’d not even realized was occurring until I searched for the post I wrote about my broken tooth earlier this year. Honestly, I’d even forgot it happened in January, much less right around the insurrection.

What I realized, and find fascinating, is that I was clenching my teeth so hard at that time in January that I broke off a cracked chunk of tooth and filling in a molar. And believe it or not, there’s an astrological connection.

Don’t roll your eyes. Right now – tomorrow, in fact, at 9:08 a.m. EDT – Mars will be exactly opposite Saturn. Mars is a planet associated with aggressive action, war, forcefulness, willful pushiness, etc. Saturn is associated with structure, foundation, tradition, limitations (teeth/skeleton). Obviously, when Mars is opposing Saturn, there’s a push/pull, clash, confrontation of these two archetypes. Some might describe it as powerful aggression meeting an unmovable object.

Physical/Political

A physical manifestation of when Mars and Saturn meet in challenging aspects such as either an opposition or a square could be an impact such as when one grinds their teeth – to the unhealthy degree that a tooth (Saturn) actually cracks, breaks, or explodes from the unrelenting pressure (Mars). This could happen with either an opposition (when the planets are 180 degrees apart) or a square (when the planets are 90 apart).

A political or outer world manifestation obviously played out most recently in the January 6th insurrection. Aggressive, unrestrained movement rendered an assault on the bastion of our democracy – the body of our country.

What I find interesting, and didn’t realize until last night, was that my tooth issue in January coincided with the insurrection, and both occurred within a few days of Mars squaring Saturn.

There are other aspects happening within the next few days that are distinctly tied in with last January as well. I’ll write about them later; maybe tomorrow.

In the meantime, I’m making another mouth guard for myself. I think I’m going to need it as events unfold over the next several days. Hopefully I’ll get an appointment with the dentist, too. They were closed today, which was a bummer!

(T-149)

Wind Warning – Day 900

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Simply Exquisite – Photo: L. Weikel

Wind Warning

Get ready. It’s never a good sign when the National Weather Service issues a wind warning. Of course, with two days of temperatures that actually exceeded 80 degrees, the arrival of more temperate weather is inevitably going to arrive with some flash and bang – and probably some wild wind as well.

It feels like there’s going to be more happening ‘in the air’ than mere meteorological activity, although thunder, lightning, and wild wind will certainly make brilliant metaphors. I wonder if a surprise arrest may take place, or perhaps some other type of shake-up.

Astrologically, we might find ourselves experiencing extremely unexpected circumstances, perhaps even ‘earth-shaking.’ This is because the sun and Uranus (the “Great Disrupter”) will be conjunct (seemingly right on top of each other) and the two of them will be ‘square,’ or aspecting  at a 90 degree angle, Saturn.

Saturn is tradition, law, foundations – can’t imagine what a square or challenging aspect between Saturn, Uranus and the Sun might reveal. It should be interesting.

Pink on the left, white on the right – Photo: L. Weikel

Hopeful

I’m hoping the wild wind we’ll be experiencing tomorrow night won’t hurt my bleeding hearts.

Sure enough, just taking their photo and talking to them a couple of time has caused my white Lamprocapnos to perk up and suddenly start attempting to give the dark pink ones a run for their money.

I’ve taken a photo of the two plants, which are side-by-side in our garden. It’s clear that the white ones, on the right, are smaller. Something tells me that the newfound attention that’s being paid to the white plant will payoff in a burst of competitive growth. We shall see.

Lady in the Bath – Photo: L. Weikel

Lady in the Bath

In the meantime, I wanted to disclose to you what I believe is a fairly obscure fact about this flower: besides calling the Lamprocapnos ‘bleeding hearts,’ you could also call them ‘Lady in the Bath.’ And while I’ve tried to give examples, I may have to capture one of the blooms in flagrant delecto. Ha ha. I’ll try.

As I close this post, the wind is already starting to whip around outside my open front door.

Lady in the Bath 2 – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-211)

Presence – Day 778

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Rising Moon – 12/28/2020 – Photo: L. Weikel

Presence

While the moon won’t be at its fullest until tomorrow night at 10:30 p.m. ET, it was hard to ignore her presence as she rose above the tree line early this evening. My eyes were drawn to the horizon and when I caught sight of that massive orb rising in the eastern sky, I felt a direct connection between it and my heart.

Tomorrow’s full moon is 2020’s 13th full moon. It’s time to say goodbye.

It’s interesting to note how some objects and some people don’t need to say or do a thing in order to have an influence on their surroundings. Every time I look at the moon, no matter what its phase, I feel a reaction inside myself. Sometimes it’s wonder and awe. Other times it’s delight. Sometimes – not often, but occasionally – it’s a sense of foreboding.

Whatever reaction the moon has on me inevitably comes down to its presence.

This concept applies similarly to humans. It’s fascinating to witness the effect some people have on their surroundings simply by showing up and being themselves. Their mere presence has the power to shift attitudes or change minds.

Full Moon Seeing Its Future – Photo: L. Weikel

Yearning

As we walked this evening, I found it difficult to tear my eyes away from the moon. The shadows she cast were stark and profound. There was no wishy-washy doubt lingering between light and dark. Our shadows, leading us forward since the moon was peering over our shoulders, were crisp and certain. They knew where we were going.

Sensing a slight dimming of the moon’s brilliance at one point, I looked up and saw clouds flirting and taking shape around and beyond her. As I watched, it looked ever so much to me as though the clouds took the form of a waning crescent ‘ahead’ of the moon itself – indeed, a crescent with a classic ‘man-in-the-moon’ face. For the life of me, it looked like the full moon was chasing its future, which in its own way was yearning to move forward, cloud arms outstretched toward an invisible goal.

Reaching Forward – Photo: L. Weikel

Take Advantage

It feels important for us to take advantage of the next few days to contemplate what we want to lean toward this coming year. Where is our shadow leading us? What adventures do we yearn to pursue?

I’m reminded of the dance between Jupiter and Saturn. As we’re well aware, Jupiter has been pursuing Saturn, leaning toward it, and it finally managed to catch its prize one week ago today in the Grand Conjunction.

It was quite surprising then, tonight, to witness just how far Jupiter has left Saturn in its dust in the mere seven days since that conjunction.

I wonder if we’ll slingshot forward toward our dreams just like Jupiter in 2021?

Jupiter (left) whizzing past Saturn – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-334)

Eyes on the Sky – Day 757

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Saturn (left) and Jupiter (7 Dec 2020) – Photo: L. Weikel

Eyes On the Sky

As many of you may know, eight hours after the precise moment of the Winter Solstice this year, on December 21st, 2020, we’ll have the opportunity to witness a pretty cool astronomical (and astrological) phenomenon: the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. But since these planets move so slowly, we won’t need to train our eyes on the sky at the precise moment of 1:20 p.m. ET. In fact, we won’t be able to see them then anyway. But we will be able to see them (weather permitting) just after dusk. And they should be quite a cool sighting.

Technically these two massive planets meet up with each other in a phenomenon known as a Grand Conjunction or a Great Conjunction (lining up in space from our perspective on Earth) every twenty years or so. But this year what we observe will be especially dramatic because the planets will be separated by only 0.1 degree. The last time these two met each other in the sky this closely was in 1623, but that took place so close to the sun that our ancestors may not have noticed. Indeed, it’s thought that the last time these two planets achieved this close of a conjunction that we could see from Earth was in 1226. Think of it! And the next time they’ll be almost as close will be in 2080 – a mere blip on the cosmic calendar to Jupiter and Saturn. But for us?

What About the Moon?

Luckily for us, the grand conjunction on December 21, 2020 will be taking place at a primo location in the sky for all of us to be able to witness the phenomenon. We’ll actually be able to see what appears to be a single, much brighter ‘star’ in the southwestern sky (if we’re in the Northern Hemisphere), which is actually just the two snuggling up very close to each other. There is conjecture that such a very close or tight conjunction of these two planets may have been the Christmas Star of Bethlehem.

Making this event extra special is the fact that it will be occurring at a time and place in the sky where the planets’ light won’t be drowned out by either the sun or the moon. Beyond the degree of closeness the planets achieve to each other, the presence (or absence) of the luminaries in the sky also determine how dramatic a conjunction appears to us – or if we can see it at all.

Yet another gift of 2020 (this time ‘for reals’ – an actual gift!), only a few days before Jupiter and Saturn technically conjunct, a waxing fingernail crescent of the moon will appear just below the two planets. We’ll be able to observe the three of them conversing in the southwestern sky just after sunset on the evenings of December 16th and 17th.

Perspective

While Karl and I were walking this evening, I managed to get a decent photo of Saturn and Jupiter, which I included at the top of this post. (It’s actually much more obvious and clear when observing with our naked eyes.) I’ll try to provide a few more shots of them over the course of the next two weeks as Jupiter really starts picking up speed, documenting their positions in the sky as they approach this grand conjunction.

Just to make things interesting, I’m including a photo (above) that I included with a post I wrote back in July, when I first started noticing and paying attention to their flirtations with each other. As you may recall, astrologically, we’ve been reaping the effects of Saturn, Jupiter, and Pluto all hanging out together in Capricorn since January of 2020 (heralding the arrival of Covid-19, among other things).

Tonight I’m focusing upon the astronomical aspect of the conjunction between Saturn and Jupiter. I’ll save a discussion of the astrological implications for another evening.

In the meantime, I can’t recommend highly enough the invigorating exhilaration you’ll feel by bundling up and taking a just-past-sunset stroll over the next several evenings. Watching the planets approach each other and realizing that it will be another 60 years before anyone gets to witness what we are now is just…cool.

It’s the little things in life. Or maybe it’s the cosmic things. Either way, I love sharing them with Karl and with all of you.

Sunset – 7 Dec 2020 – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-354)

Another Moon Shot – Day 738

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Waxing Crescent – two days on; Photo: L. Weikel

Another Moon Shot

I wish I could figure out how to take great photos of the moon (with my phone) once the sky has darkened to the tones and shades that waver between deepest navy and just-shy-of-black. While I’ve managed to capture the waxing crescent moon over the past few days while the sky sported a Mars-like hue, I’ve met with decidedly less success once all vestiges of sunlight disappeared. And so it is, I’m sharing yet another moon shot or two with you.

I took the photo above with the simple desire to show how much the crescent had grown in just two days. Of course, this growth is inexorable. It happens every day, every week, every month without fail. Why I’m so taken with its observation at the moment escapes me.

Maybe it’s because I am feeling caught between the tug of realizing just how profound the change has been to so much of our lives in the past year, while also feeling stuck in limbo or a never-ending Mobius strip of repeating insanity. (OK, maybe that’s a little dark and dire. But some days I do ‘go there.’)

My point is that I’ve been reveling in the moon’s reflection of the constancy of change.

Woefully inadequate attempt – Photo: L. Weikel

Different Moods

I love the photos of the moon that manage to be in focus, capturing her beauty as she starts to ‘show.’ But then, every time I catch a glimpse of her after darkness has settled, my heart swells even more. I wish only to convey the awe that fills me when I witness Grandmother Moon’s sickle of golden light, supported by her companions of these last many months, Jupiter and Saturn.

And so I dance around, my feet clad only in socks, trying to cajole the phone’s camera to focus just right and reflect the beauty before my eyes. Brr. My reward is cold feet and frustration. But the sense of the night lives within me, even if I don’t quite know what to make of the utterly different mood that’s conveyed.

Unease

I’m not even sure what I’m writing about tonight. The moon, the vagaries of my iPhone’s camera, slow and almost imperceptible change, or a sense that nothing will ever be what it was again. Which of course it won’t be – but in a profound way; and sooner than we know.

Arcing Ripples of Beauty – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-373)

Another Dimension – Day 711

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Crescent and Fog – Photo: L. Weikel

Another Dimension

Sometimes we stumble across a person, place, or thing in our everyday lives and we almost have to pinch ourselves to see if we’re dreaming. That’s sort of been Karl’s and my experience the past two early evenings. Not just once, but twice we’ve encountered a very obvious threshold; a portal into another dimension.

The spontaneous rising of a rather substantial bank of fog in the fields surrounding our home lent an eerie and ethereal atmosphere to our walks the past few evenings. On the one hand, we were treated to a spectacularly clear view of Saturn, Jupiter, and the waxing crescent moon creating a graceful arc in the evening sky. It’s also kind of cool to realize that, if our eyesight were only powerful enough, we’d also be able to see Pluto nestled in the expanse between Saturn and Jupiter.

Yet at the same time that we revel in that unobstructed view of those outer planets and our moon, when we bring our gaze down to ground level, we can barely see beyond our own shoes. There’s a little inner double-take that happens when we first realize how backwards this all seems. Why is our ability to see things up close so obscured?

Perhaps it’s a metaphor; I really can’t say. Maybe we’re supposed to be setting our sights on what we want to create and the ideals to which we choose to aspire. We know what we want; we can see it clearly. But maybe we’re supposed to reach those goals through an act of faith.

Approaching the Portal – Photo: L. Weikel

Entering the Portal

We reached a point in our walk both last night and tonight when the way ahead appeared to be an illustration straight out of a book of fairy tales. Clarity prevailed almost everywhere we looked, but straight ahead? Our path led us directly into what appeared to be a portal to another dimension.

Entering this portal felt like it might lead to another time and space. We joked that at least we had each other; maybe we should hold hands so as not to lose each other in the heavy mist. Perhaps the Beings of the threshold would try to persuade us to take a nap and we would awaken a decade or two hence.

It felt like we weren’t alone as we broached the almost cave-like threshold. A photo I took captured not a wall of fog but rather shapes and swirls and the maybe even the faintest source of cool hands brushing our cheeks and tickling our necks.

We walked maybe 25 yards through this ground cloud of haze only to emerge – suddenly – into a what felt like the other side of the mirror. We returned to the road, further along by far, but with our surroundings revealed to us with laser-like focus and clarity once more.

Photo: L. Weikel

Emergence

Were we changed by the experience? At first glance, it would appear we weren’t. But maybe we should take a little time. Wait and see. Was this a metaphor? Do we feel relatively unscathed because we persevered? Because we continued walking through the veil, putting one foot in front of the other and having faith we’d eventually emerge from the fog?

I don’t know.

It felt significant that we stayed the course; that we didn’t turn around or freeze up just because the way forward was suddenly and dramatically obscured. Not that we even entertained stopping. Or turning around. Not really. But…what was that passing in front of me as I tried to take a photo?

(T-400)