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Squalls – ND #74

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Tonight’s Sunset – Photo: L. Weikel

Squalls

The weather provided a bit of drama today. Just the name of what we experienced, ‘snow squalls,’ invokes a different vibe than our usual fare. And what put the squall in those ‘snow squalls’ was the wind. Oh, how the wind played into our experience of horizontal snow, creating near zero visibility for several minutes. Best of all, though, was how cleansed everything felt after those squalls blew through.

This February has felt more like what a ‘normal’ March should feel like. February should’ve had more snow – or at least more cold days (and fewer eerily mild ones). The fluctuations from one day to the next in temperature and temperament are much more akin to those we would expect closer to the arrival of Spring. Which makes me wonder just what we might have in store by the time we reach the dog days of August.

Just an odd cloud dancing in the wind – Photo: L. Weikel

Brisk Walk

By the time we took our walk today, the snow had subsided, but the squalls were still threatening. As we hastened to pick our way through the fallen limbs and broken branches strewn across our path, the tops of the trees arching overheard danced and groaned and creaked, and loudly shushed in the few that retained their leaves. Pacha and Brutus kept peering upwards, suspicious of both the wind and those riding it, from honking geese to screeching hawks, with a clattering stick or branch thrown in.

The colors of the sunset were stunning.

Everything felt freshly scrubbed, indeed scoured, by the squalls. While the wind whipping around my face took my breath away, it simultaneously filled my lungs with crisp sustenance that is the antithesis of the stale indoor air typical of Winter.

I feel like I’m breathing easier this evening after today’s walk, which is interesting, since it was probably the shortest I’ve taken in several days. It was the squalls; I just know it. They were the perfect infusion of freshness with just a tad of wildness, too.

Missed the Moment (looked like a vulture) – Photo: L. Weikel

(T+74)

Waiting – ND #73

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Ice Hearts Waiting to Melt into the Tohickon – Photo: L. Weikel

Waiting

Sometimes it feels like everywhere you look ticking time bombs are just waiting to go off. What’s even worse is having that feeling and knowing many people are refusing to see what’s right before their eyes.

I don’t even need to enumerate the ticks we’re hearing in the background of our lives. There are so many simultaneous ticks that I have to wonder if those are what’re keeping the beat in our lives. We’re all living on the edge right now. We’ve been living in a state of heightened anxiety for at least six years. And if we’re paying even half attention now, we sense things could crash down on our heads at any moment.

Honestly, this feels like the most precarious time I’ve ever lived through – and I’ve been around 62 years. I’m talking cumulatively – from geopolitical aggression to the meteoric rise of fascism here in the U.S., as well as the free and proud expression (and legislation) of prejudice, racism, and misogyny.

It’s all a bit overwhelming.

A Word

Is there a word or expression we might be wise to focus upon over the next few days? Some concept that can keep us stable and fundamentally calm as we watch the shit-show unfold?

Yes, we need to put our beliefs into action. But we can’t be in perpetual motion. So what might we want to bear in mind when we allow ourselves to stop and take a breath? How can we keep ourselves from falling into either fear or despair?

I asked Cher Lyn’s Mystic Art Medicine Oracle Cards:

Reverence – Mystic Art Medicine Oracle Cards; Tools for Transformation by Cher Lyn

Reverence ~ Honoring the Goddess

“In the painting “honoring the Goddess,” the central God figure bows respectful in His prayer. The Female Goddess is assisting his third eye connection to open. In union, their powers join and support each other, each in their own honoring way praying for the Earth and Humanity. They represent the balance of the Masculine and Feminine necessary to remember how to create the paradise we seek. (…)

Reverence is an attitude of honoring life. You bless that which you do with gratitude and respect. Your actions affect all of mankind. In the web of life you are a strand interconnected with everyone else doing your part to weave our tapestry together. As you appreciate the beauty in a moment, in children, in nature, or anything, your appreciation of that beauty radiates like the sun blessing all of Creation. One person who dedicates themself to seeing the sacredness of all of life, thereby reveres all of life, walks through their day lifting the consciousness of many, many people simply by being.

As you become reverent your tendency to harm anything including you, diminishes, your consciousness raises and peace reigns supreme. Every single moment of your life contributes this way, toward the light, or it pulls it away. Your decision to become more reverent is your decision to become more spiritual. Opening more to the beauty of you. This is a natural aspect of your authentic power. (…)”

My Take

As controversies and antagonisms flare, as aggression, fear, and hate try to overtake and consume our attention, our best means of breaking the spells being woven around us and the world right now is consciously noticing and cherishing what is right in front of us. Some very big concepts (and egos) are playing out right now; it’s true. And most of us are neither diplomats nor soldiers.

I believe the Reverence card is suggesting to us that our responsibility in de-escalating the darkness is achieved by looking upon all the little treasures of life and smiling. It makes a difference. By doing so, we make a difference.

There is a better way. There is a sweet spot achievable by bringing together the best qualities of the feminine and the best qualities of the masculine. We can create a balanced, visionary melding of the two that is more powerful and more sensitive than either of them separately.

What might happen if we look upon the little things in life, the mundane, the natural world, and even each other with a smile? What might happen if we reach out and ever so gently touch each other and the face of our world with reverence and awe?

(T+73)

The Sleep Vibe – ND #72

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Cletus Trying to Sneak a Few Zzzs – Photo: L. Weikel

The Sleep Vibe

Every single creature in our household is in some form of recline or repose at this moment. The ‘sleep’ vibe is utterly irresistible. It seems like they’re as affected by this sudden swing of temperatures as I am. At least, that’s what I’m attributing it to!

When I get this tired, it’s best to just call it a night.

One thing I can share with you, though, is the recent desperation experienced by Cletus. It’s probably mean that I’m chuckling at his efforts to find some privacy, but considering how he wakes us up at 3:00 or 4:00 a.m. by stomping on us and mrrrowing loudly in our faces, I’m not feeling much remorse.

Cletus – awakened from his slumber – Photo: L. Weikel

Cletus’s Desperation

We’re still keeping the crate we bought for the puppies in our living room so it’s easily accessible. They never spend a great deal of time in it, but it’s good to have in case they need a little space to themselves. We probably use it the most when we need to leave the pups at home by themselves. There’s no way our house would survive if we ever left them unattended.

So we have this crate taking up significant floor space in our living room. It’s almost become invisible to us, albeit an obstacle to be negotiated daily.

What’s the point? – Photo: L. Weikel

 

Imagine our surprise the other day when we realized Cletus was fast asleep inside the crate. We have no idea what prompted him to curl up on the blanket in there and take a snooze. It seems like an odd place for a cat to find himself, especially should the pups spontaneously decide to run in there to squirrel away a toy or a chew stick.

As I was thinking about how ironic it was that he took refuge in the dog crate, Brutus bounded into the room and immediately ‘sniffed an intruder’ in the crate. I swear I could hear Cletus roll his eyes.

Once the pups realized Cletus thought their crate was the hot place to be – well, naturally, they wanted in on the excitement. This of course ruined it for Cletus. It immediately lost any and all cool status.

Oh well. That’s life in the Big Kitty.

(I told you I was tired.)

(T+72)

Nightmare Alley – ND #71

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Full Moon that has a Nightmare Alley look – Photo: L. Weikel

Nightmare Alley

We watched another movie nominated for Best Picture tonight: Nightmare Alley. There are at least six very well known actors in the film, Bradley Cooper being the male lead and both Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett playing significant female roles. I assumed it had been nominated for something concerning them, such as Best Actor, Actress or Best Supporting Actress or Actor. Not once did I realize it was nominated for Best Picture – nor did I think it deserved it after watching it.

Holy cow was it a long movie – over two and a half hours! It definitely was not worth sitting in one place for that long. I was grateful, therefore, that we watched it at home, on HBO. Or maybe we watched it on Hulu. I can’t remember. It’s available on both of those streaming services. It was both a blessing and a curse to have the clicker handy for puppy bathroom breaks. When we would hit the pause button, Karl and were shocked – at least three times – to see just how much run-time was left on the film. (That’s never a good sign.)

And that’s not to say that I object to long movies. Quite the contrary, if they’re so engrossing I don’t even realize the passage of time. Dune, also up for Best Picture, was almost exactly as long – but in that movie I felt the length encouraged an immersion in its story.

No Surprises

I guess I was disappointed with the writing. The story line in Nightmare Alley was formulaic and flirted with being cliché. Even the plot twists (such as they were) seemed to be broadcast miles ahead and were sadly predictable.

I feel like a curmudgeon, griping about the length of a movie, or the formulaic storytelling. Between Nightmare Alley and The Power of the Dog, I sound pretentious and cranky even to my own ears.

I guess I’m offering my observations just in case any of you have a limited tolerance for watching movies and could use a filter.

How to Compare?

The only movies nominated for Best Picture that we have left to watch are Belfast, Licorice Pizza, West Side Story, and Drive My Car. And of those, it looks like the only one we have left to watch at home is Belfast – and even that will cost $19.99. The last three we’d have to go to a theater to see, and none of them have enough allure to lure me there at this stage of the game.

For the life of me, I don’t know how the Academy of Arts and Sciences can pit ten such vastly different movies against each other for Best Picture. So far, I think my favorites (of the nominees) have been Dune and King Richard. And just in sheer scope of losing myself in a film, I’d have to choose Dune. For now. But I’m open to being persuaded by the remaining contenders I’ve yet to watch.

Sincerely, your very neither Siskel nor Ebert.

(T+71)

Leo Full Moon – ND #70

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Leo Full Moon (Almost) rising – Photo: L. Weikel

Leo Full Moon

We have a Leo full moon to embrace tomorrow (today when you read this). The precise moment the moon reaches its exact opposition to the sun on Wednesday, the 16th of February, will be 11:56 a.m. And I venture to guess it’s going to be a big week for all of us, either personally or as bystanders to things playing out on the national and world stage. That’s because there’s a bunch of Pluto action mixing stuff up (more on that in another post) and Mars and Venus conjoining (and also messing around with Pluto). In addition, we can look forward to the illumination (and culmination) of patterns and intentions that happen with a full moon.

It’s hard to believe the moon wasn’t full when it rose early this evening. You can see from my photos how robustly ripe she was and how much light emanated from her as she rose.

If she’s not full until tomorrow…all I can say is, “Wow. Look out. This is going to be a big one.”

Tarot Perspective

We’ve already experienced rather startling revelations unfolding this week (DT’s accounting firm’s disavowal, the settlement of the Sandy Hook parents’ suit against Remington, the doping scandal of the 15 year old Russian skater, and the settlement of Prince Andrew’s sordid sex scandal lawsuit, to name a few) and it’s only Tuesday!

And of course everyone is trying to figure out what Putin intends to do to Ukraine – and how the rest of the world should react. From all out war to the threat of cyber-attacks, things could deteriorate in the blink of an eye (or the press of a single keystroke).

So what illumination on this full moon might my Tarot of the Crone bring us?

Seven of Wands – Tarot of the Crone by Ellen Lorenzi-Prince

Seven of Wands ~ Risk

“To go to further, to be more

I will light the match

I will fan the flames

I will dance with danger

Let Power lead

A cloaked figure stands with arms outspread amidst flames and lines of raw power. She plays with fire, as well as opening herself to let power play with her. She is willing to embrace danger in the hope of further achievement, knowing that sometimes you have to take chances. Trust your experience gained thus far; you know when something has potential. It’s time to take a real risk, but not a blind one. You know you can’t stay comfortable where you are. There’s more you want. So let the discomfort goad you into creating a more powerful future and investing in a proposition. Go stand out on that limb.”

My Take

While I chose this card with the intention of receiving insight for all of us as this full moon shines down upon us, in this moment it feels like this is most obviously speaking to the Russia-Ukraine situation. At least that’s how it feels at first blush.

Certainly, however, we’re all being pushed (‘goaded’ is such a great word) into pushing our internal envelopes. It feels like this full moon may find a lot of us saying, “Screw it. It’s time to make a move.” Indeed, the urge may hit us like a wave. So…knowing that, it might be wise to take a few moments to assess where this might come up for you and – before that wave of feeling goaded hits – have a think on what’s worth going out on that limb for. And what’s not.

Rising Leo Full Moon (almost) – Photo: L. Weikel

(T+70)

Love and Affection – ND #69

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A Lesson in Love and Affection – Photo: L. Weikel

Love and Affection

Valentine’s Day means different things to all of us. For most, it’s an opportunity to declare or express one’s love and affection for a significant ‘other’ in your life. For some, that means a romantic dinner by candlelight or a bouquet of roses. And for others it means the gift of a piece of jewelry or a wonderful book.  It’s not the cost of the gift, it’s the care and attention to its selection that matters.

A lot more often than many realize, though, is that for many there may not be an ‘other’ with whom to share one’s Valentine’s Day affections. That should never, ever be a reason to eschew the holiday (even if you generally dismiss it as a fiction created by Hallmark Cards). No. It’s my contention that Valentine’s Day can be a day ideally suited to displaying to yourself just how much you’re treasured.

And while it’s true that some have mastered the art of being an elf to yourself, I have a feeling there are a lot more of us who find it weird or selfish. When in fact, what’s weird is how tough it can be to honestly express love to ourselves; don’t you think?

“Give us a kiss” – Photo: L. Weikel

Unlikeliest of Teachers

For some of us, loving ourselves means taking a long hot bath and soaking in our favorite bath salts and essential oils. Then there are those who crave some alone time and set aside an entire day to turning off their phones, reading a book or two, and writing in their journal. Still others indulge in a manicure, pedicure, or perhaps even a facial.

And so it is the most unlikely of teachers, my Princess, enters the picture.

Imagine my surprise when I encountered my sweet little girl on Valentine’s Day, mid-solo-celebration. How did I know she was indulging in a little sanctioned self-love?

The mask of mud and hay gave it away.

Princess in all her ‘masked’ glory – Photo: L. Weikel

Princess’s Inspiration

What an inspired spirit this sweet porcine princess embodies! I’ve never entertained the thought of giving myself an at-home facial. But what a delightful and indulgent way to ‘celebrate’ Valentine’s Day.

I’m going to have to remember this as a possibility next year. Most important to remember? It’s not necessarily an option reserved for swinging singles like my bad-ass Princess.

(T+69)

Bright Spot – ND #68

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Photo: L. Weikel

Bright Spot

Last night’s sky just kept producing hit after hit. As I wrote about yesterday, the rainbow dog we encountered before we set off on our walk was a definite bright spot. But the truth is, a mere half an hour after witnessing the rainbow dog, we were treated to yet another scene of remarkable beauty.

This feels like it’s going to be my shortest post yet. I want to share the photos I took of the clouds seeming to reach out like a hand, beckoning us into the west, into the sunset. And obviously, I am sharing them now.

But I have nothing to offer as far as additional thoughts or perspectives.

Super Bowl

Of course, given the relentless hype we’re all exposed to in one way or another, you would be hard pressed not to have at least tangential awareness that the Super Bowl took place today. If you like football, it was a fun game to watch. It’s great when the teams are reasonably well-matched and both playing to their potential. There’s nothing worse than a boring blow out – except perhaps a tedious game of back and forth defense in which neither team can manage to score.

One of the best parts of tonight’s game was watching the reaction of the players after the win. Every year, of course, the winning team is jubilant. But this year it seemed like the winners, the Rams, had a sweetness about them. It was a treat to see these big guys sporting even bigger grins, allowing tears of joy to spill down their cheeks. I was surprised to see so many of them expressing their emotions with abandon. They didn’t care about appearing ‘macho.’ Or if they did, they clearly felt that tears of friendship and elation and a realization of a dream come true are totally ok to express.

So many of them have families, too. And as happy as they were in their post-game elation – and complimentary of their teammates and coaches – you could tell that what mattered most was sharing the moment with their partners and children.

This team felt like they exemplified a more old-fashioned love for what they do and why they do it. I saw and heard what looked and sounded like a genuine humility. We rarely see that anywhere anymore. Their smiles and tears were the bright spot of tonight.

Night Sky – Photo: L. Weikel

 

(T+68)

Unsettled – ND #67

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Panorama of Rainbow Dog Over Cemetery – Photo: L. Weikel

Unsettled

I’m feeling kind of quiet this evening. Karl and I watched one of the movies that received a ton of Academy Award nominations the other day, “The Power of the Dog,” on Netflix. Perhaps it was the movie that left me feeling unsettled and reticent to write much of anything. Or maybe I was headed in that direction even before we watched it.

It’s movies like this that make me feel decidedly pedestrian in my discernment of artistry in film. I guess I have to be satisfied with liking what I like. While I was kept in suspense over where the characters were headed, in the end, I craved more character exposition. There just seemed to be so much more I yearned to know about these people. And perhaps – is that it? Is that what I don’t ‘get’ about some critically acclaimed films? Is engendering the feeling of wanting to know more – or just being free to allow our imaginations to build out the backstories –  the mark of a profoundly Oscar-worthy film?

Perhaps.

And maybe that’s why, if I had to pit this against Dune, I’d choose Dune. Then again, there are a number of other films I’ve seen (so far) in the Best Picture category that also captivated me.

Words Unnecessary – Photo: L. Weikel

Look to the Sky

Instead of leaving you guys with a cranky personal grouse over The Power of the Dog, I’d like to offer some photos of a rainbow dog we saw this afternoon as we crested a hill near our home. We were passing by a cemetery that holds special significance to our family. Not because of who’s buried in it, but because of those who tended to its maintenance for several years.

Sadly, it is not maintained the way it used to be. The grass seems to almost be hacked instead of mowed and nothing is trimmed neatly around the gravestones. Many headstones have in fact toppled over. This makes me sad.

Yikes. Yes, I’m noticing the pattern.

There was actually a glimpse of profound beauty as we came upon the cemetery today, though.

Perhaps, as my mother used to say, “Discretion is the better part of valor.” Instead of writing anything else, I’ll just share the rainbow dog and the beauty we witnessed – and call it a day.

Ha – perhaps I just stumbled upon the true power of the dog – the rainbow dog: to transform ‘unsettled’ to ‘awe-filled.’

Rainbow Dog – Photo: L. Weikel

(T+67)

Walk Without a Jacket – ND #66

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Fox or Hyena? I pick Hyena – Photo: L. Weikel

Walk Without a Jacket

Deep down, I didn’t believe them. The prognosticators promised today would be even more brilliant than yesterday, but it sounded too good to be true. And yet the prediction was so accurate, I was actually able to take a walk without a jacket. In February.

Even better, though, were the clouds. Oh my goodness. It feels like it’s been ages since the clouds came out to play. Wispy feathers of clouds were the instrument of choice in today’s sky.

The one I loved the most was the one I placed at the beginning of this post. Is it a visitation by Fox or Hyena? At first I was confident the creature prancing across the expanse of sky was Fox. But now that I’m looking at it here at home, I’m getting a much stronger Hyena vibe.

I’m pretty sure it’s the ears. As weird as it sounds, they remind me of the ears of the hyenas in one of my favorite Disney films, Lion King.

Of course, we all know someone else I hold near and dear who has huge ears. Yes, I’m looking at you, Pacha.

Pacha Pup Playing Coy – Photo: L. Weikel

Daffodils

As I wrote last night, I noticed the daffodils breaking out of the ground during my walk yesterday but declined to take their photo. Well, they beckoned to me when I passed them again today and this time I couldn’t resist.

I know full well the daffodils (and croci, for that matter) will handle a return to winter weather in stride. But still. I hate to see their hopeful stretches toward the sun turn brown.

Phoenix?

Perhaps a tad less obvious than the hyena was the glimmer of a phoenix rising on the horizon. Hey, with even just the barest tangential tracking of the news lately, it only seems right to look for hope wherever we can find it. And Phoenix energy, rising from its ashes as it does, is a decent cloak for a Cloud Being to don.

I almost lost my head today simply reveling in the freedom of walking without a jacket. Believe it or not, I came perilously close to skipping. Good grief, what a sight that would’ve been!

If you haven’t had a chance to revel in the weather these past two days, you have one more day. Be your own sweetie and treat yourself to the bliss of turning your face to the sky and soaking in Vitamin D from the Source.

Who knows what’s in store for us in the days ahead. Nurture yourself now.

Daffodils in February – Photo: L. Weikel

(T+66)

Warm Front – ND #65

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Embedded Leaf – Photo: L. Weikel

Warm Front

It’s hard not to succumb to Spring Fever when you step outside expecting a harsh frigid slap, only to feel a warm breeze swirl up to greet you instead. I don’t know about you, but even though I knew intellectually that a warm front had arrived, I nevertheless felt a need to don my neck warmer before setting out on our walk late this afternoon. And then, of course, I got hot.

Even though we walked the longer ‘walk-around’ today, I failed to take a single photo. And there were a couple I considered. For instance, the first daffodil leaves that break open the earth and create space for the stem and blossoms to follow made their appearance today. I spotted them on the outer perimeter of an exquisite stone farmhouse we pass almost every day.

A half mile before the groundbreaking daffodils, we witnessed a flock of bluebirds flitting across the single lane road that passes through a former horse farm. It was as if there was a bluebird factory hidden along the hedgerow. One after another, sometimes two or six at a time, they crossed in front of us. All in all, we probably saw at least two dozen move from one field to the other.

Some of the males were so profoundly royal blue that it took our breath away. Juxtaposed against the deep rusty peach of their undercarriage, they looked like they’d only recently been colorized by the Master Gardner.

I contemplated (briefly) trying to capture them with my iPhone, but ended up not even trying. The phone stayed in my pocket.

Along Route 32 – Photo: L. Weikel

Maybe Tomorrow

Who knows what tomorrow will bring. In the meantime, I’ll share some random loveliness I’ve witnessed over the past several days, back when it felt like February, not April.

There’s something about a frozen waterfall that makes me stare at it in wonder. Even though I know it’s not an instantaneous process, I can almost imagine the freeze occurring as a stop-frame moment. Like a light switch.

Flowing and crashing one moment; silently stopped midair the next. Eerie.

(T+65)