drought Archives - Owl Medicine: Shamanic Healing

Where are they? – Photo: L. Weikel

Disappointment

Sometimes disappointment creeps up on us. It stealthily tiptoes up behind us and jumps out of the bushes when we’re least expecting it. And sometimes we see it coming a mile away – maybe even miles and miles away – but we hope against hope that we’re wrong.

It seems to me there’s more than our share of disappointment in the air at the moment. From witnessing the dramatic shift in the way our system of government conducts itself (or not) to those in power failing to be held accountable for egregious behavior. It’s a disappointment that consequences seem to be visited only upon regular citizens. Masterminds and master manipulators need not worry for a moment. All will be well. Nothing will change in their lives.

Just Weather

And then there’s the disappointment we sentient beings experience when we take a step back and honestly look at the climate alterations that are becoming more and more obvious. How long will it take before those living out west start to realize this is their ‘new normal?’ Yet another ‘heat dome’ settling in over our mostly western states and parts of Canada (the fourth in five weeks!), bringing Idaho of all places their 20^th consecutive day reaching 100 degrees or more.

Of course, we all know it’s just weather. It’s certainly not climate change. And even if the climate is changing, it’s not our fault. And since it’s not our fault then we don’t – indeed, shouldn’t – do anything to mitigate it. Thus, we mustn’t reduce or eliminate our use of fossil fuels because (a) China might not do it; and (b) it’s not our fault.

It’s all about blame. And money. And refusing to take responsibility. Who cares if we can’t breathe? Or that we have no water to drink? Most people (in this country, at least) are sure, deep down, that somebody will take care of us. Somebody will ‘save’ us. And they will, maybe – for a price.

Yeah, that ‘rugged individualism’ looks a lot different when it hits your home. It’s a disappointment people can’t see the truth of that.

Little Things, Too

And then there are the small disappointments in our lives. The personal ones. Witnessing people we know and love refusing to take precautions to keep themselves (and all of us) healthy. Listening to justifications that make no sense because they’re not grounded in reality. Wanting to find common ground again because we care enough to desire a conversation – but finding no traction anywhere anymore.

Or at a very basic level, just wishing we could see our besties again – and having them not show up anymore. Spartacus experienced that profoundly on our walk today, which you can see reflected in these photos.

We haven’t had a chance to take our walk-around (4 mile trek) in several days. It’s just been ‘too damn hot’ – or too rainy. But today we were able to take that longer route and Spartacus was palpably delighted, straining at his harness, yearning to see his ‘buds’ – which I’m not sure is a friendship or more a smack-talking hound fest. Either way, it gets Spart’s adrenalin pumping and he loves his wolfhound neighbors.

Spartacus was the embodiment of disappointment when not a wolfhound was to be seen tearing across the fields toward us, barking in a frenzy of terror-inducing menace. We’ll have to try again tomorrow.

The Embodiment of Disappointment – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-131)

Deluge

The disparities in our climate conditions across our country are growing every day. I can’t believe the west is expected to be trapped under yet another ‘heat dome’ this weekend. Of course, as oppressive and debilitating as those temperatures are, they’re made even worse by the lack of water. And yet here we are in Pennsylvania experiencing major rains and even a deluge last night.

Which comes first? The drought or the hellish temperatures? I don’t know – but I do know it seems like the impact of climate change is unfolding all around us at a cataclysmic rate.

Rain water from last night’s deluge – Photo: L. Weikel

What Fell From the Sky?

When I woke up this morning the evidence that we’d had a wild night of torrential storms and rain was everywhere. Leaves and branches stripped off trees. Limbs and entire trees blocking roads and taking out electrical wires and cables.

I’ve been emptying our fire pit of the water that collects in it after each storm. It’s a convenient pluviometer, albeit not as accurate as more conventional rain gauges. Sometimes, however, quantity isn’t the only quality being measured.

Which leads me to this morning’s discovery. Take a look at the water that accumulated in the two small coolers I’d left outside last night. It almost looks like strong tea or tobacco juice. It’s in both coolers. There were no tree branches or anything else above either of the containers – only clear sky. Nor were either of them near any drainage spouts.

And then I looked at the fire pit. Good grief! What in the world feel from the sky last night? The water in that fire pit was opaque. And the fire pit had been completely empty at the start of the evening. Not a flake of ash nor any leftover rain from the last storm.

This was bone dry before I went to bed last night – Photo: L. Weikel

Troubling

I’m wondering in all seriousness about the color of our rainfall last night. Why in the world did it range from golden brown to walnut black? And did it fall from the sky that way? It sure seems like it did.

To give context, I’ve included at the beginning of this post a photo of rain falling into the fire pit exactly one month ago (June 8^th). The difference in the color of the water falling from the sky is obvious.

I wonder if this has any significance whatsoever. It sure doesn’t feel right.

(T-140)