Waxing moon

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)

Liminal Time – Day 1042

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Turtle Rock – Photo: L. Weikel

Liminal Time

Perhaps it’s the waxing moon, so close to reaching her fullness this Monday night at 7:55 p.m. Eastern Time. My walk this evening felt a bit magical, perhaps because I was out at that liminal time when the sun has set and the moon is rising and anything is possible.

Definitely Disappointed – Photo: L.Weikel

Turtle Rock & Shagbark Man

For instance, I’m not sure how many times I’ve walked past these rocks, but I can tell you I’ve never seen this Turtle stepping forward before. It took me by surprise. So much so, I had to coax Spartacus back (he was on his way to see his Wolfhound buddies) so I could take this photo. I have to wonder why I never saw this before.

But then again, just shortly down the road a piece a Shagbark Hickory tree gazed down upon me. I felt a sense of displeasure, or perhaps simply a slight scolding energy emanating from the tree. It wouldn’t have surprised me to see some spindly branches akimbo on either side, as if it had its hands on its hips.

We’re Invisible – Photo: L. Weikel

Invisible Deer

About half a mile down the road, I heard a crackle in the woods to my right. I stopped, saw nothing, but then stopped again. I chuckled. They were right there, right under my nose. The one closest to me was larger than the other two. In fact, the fawns in the back still had the faintest of white spots in their coats.

It was a marvel, actually, to appreciate just how well they were being trained to blend into their background and ‘be invisible.’ I hope they got a treat after dinner for executing this exercise so well.

Waxing Moon – Photo: L.Weikel

Waxing Moon & a September Eve

Just as we crested the hill, I caught sight of the moon rising in the multicolored layers of reflected sunset. I hope I’ll be out and the weather is clear when the moon rises on Monday. If tonight is any indication, she will appear with quite a substantial girth. Again, I wish I could zoom in better. But it’s a decent shot.

It almost seemed like every few steps I’d be tempted to take another photo. But believe it or not, I actually walked quite far between indulging my urges to capture the moment(s).

Nevertheless, I offer this photo as proof that magic definitely was in the air last night.

The last photo I wanted but didn’t take was the moon as she lit the way from behind us as we were walking along the penultimate leg of our journey. She was so bright and cast such long, dark shadows, it was almost as if a motorcycle with a brilliant headlight was chasing us home.

I urge you: try to get out and take a walk tomorrow night around 7:00 p.m. You won’t be disappointed.

Liminal Time – Photo: L.Weikel

(T-69)

Sushi, Brownies, and Friendship – Day 884

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Sushi – Not tonight’s, but close enough – Photo: L. Weikel

Sushi, Brownies, and Friendship

Some nights I go off on tangents about raptors, clouds, and messages. But sometimes the only reasonable course is to just take a time out and focus on sushi, brownies, and friendship.

I want to continue the conversation I began last night about Seeing patterns and connecting dots and how all of that comes together differently for each of us. But tonight is not the night for me to pursue that line of thought.

No, tonight was a night of sushi, brownies and friendship, and the upshot of that fact is the truth that I don’t feel like going so deep or so wide into my thoughts or feelings. Instead, I’m simply reveling in the sweet truth of what it felt like to sit around a fire safely ensconced in a fire pit, in the midst of a windless, completely still evening, with people I’ve known for all but maybe twelve months of their life to those I only met minutes before pulling up a chair to the fire.

Ah, the freedom of being outside and more than six feet away from all of these people (there actually were only four of us around the fire), yet still able to look at their faces – their full, maskless faces – and react to their expressions and laughter and full-toothed grins. It was the best birthday gift ever.  (But I’ll admit, the sushi and brownies were exquisite as well).

Knowing What’s Important

Sitting together outside tonight we shared a number of precious moments: the barely waxing newest of moons in Taurus, flashing but a tiny fingernail shape in the western sky, while captivatingly revealing the rest of her shadowy self if you looked closely enough. What a sight; especially when glimpsed through the trees that are just starting to bud out and contemplate bursting into full, leafy glory over the next few days.

Another moment? The satisfaction of coaxing the fire to rise to the occasion, licking its flames across the delicious bark of the wood we fed it. Ah, the warmth and flickering of flames that danced across our countenances as we told stories of years gone by to give the newcomer a taste of who we are and how we share certain bits of history.

Everything has a story if you give it enough time. Even people we’ve known all our lives have stories they can share that surprise or beguile us.

Sometimes, the further we travel from home, the more we realize that the people closest to us might just be the most exotic. Or at the very least, the most eclectic.

Amazing Seeds Being Planted

It feels to me as though this week is a particularly powerful week in which to plant the seeds of what we wish to manifest not only in the next thirty days or so, but also in the next six months and event he next year. The new moon (on Sunday evening) was in Aries but the seeds we’ve been planting since then – yesterday, today, and tomorrow – have been, and are being, planted while the moon is in earthy, nurturing Taurus.

To me, that feels luxuriously nurturing and like the perfect environment to cradle those incipient dreams.

I’m going to call tonight as one of those evenings we all yearn for but only rarely experience. Filled with sushi, brownies, and friends, it was momentary perfection. For a few hours this evening, four people sat around a crackling fire, listened to distant peepers, exclaimed over Canadian geese honking their way directly overhead, and knew we were all exactly where we were supposed to be in that moment.

Decades may separate us, but in the moment, we were all simply reveling in the company of kindred spirits. I couldn’t be more grateful for the experience.

(T-228)

Almost Full Moon – Day 866

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Rising Almost Full Moon – Photo: L. Weikel

Almost Full Moon

Wow, did I manage to capture a magical photo of the almost full moon as she was rising this evening. It was still light enough out for my iPhone to be able to focus on the face of the moon and not get blown out by her brilliance.

There are a bunch of powerful, interesting aspects occurring this week astrologically, especially this weekend. We had a brief discussion about them at the beginning of our Wagon last night (Thursday night) and a fellow Traveler emailed me a link to this astrologer’s interpretation of how all of this is impacting us.

I’ve never read anything by this astrologer, Gahl Sasson, before, and I appreciate the opportunity to experience a new approach. While I’m not Jewish, I nevertheless find his perspective, which includes the Kabbalah, intriguing. Talk about an ancient tradition.

Rising Waxing Moon (closeup) – Photo: L. Weikel

The moon doesn’t actually reach ‘full’ until Sunday at 2:48 p.m., when it reaches exactly the opposite degree (in the sign of Libra) of the sun (in Aries).  But I guarantee we’re all going to be feeling the effects of the unique configurations taking place in the sky all weekend and into Monday.

I feel like there are some significant cycles coming to an end – and as night follows day, some very exciting new ones beginning. Check it out.

Magical Colors of Dusk – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-245)

Snagged It – Day 831

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Icy Tree – Photo: L. Weikel

Snagged It

Last night I waxed on about my hope that today would bring the shimmering beauty of ice coating tree branches, blades of grass, and pine needles. While such crystalline delights are enhanced by the reflections and refractions of sunlight, that wasn’t happening today. But then, even though we walked well after sundown, between some well-positioned porch lights and an assist from an approaching car, our neighbors’ tree declared its brilliance and demanded an appearance in my blog. And I snagged it!

So without further ado, I give you the wintery wonder of our walk this evening.

Waxing Moon

It precipitated pretty much all day here; there was no sunshine peeking out anywhere. So when we looked up and saw Grandmother Moon beaming down upon us, we were happy to welcome her as our unexpected companion.

Once again, the silence was such a balm to our souls. Our walk was mostly focused on remaining upright and immersing ourselves in the comfort of our togetherness.

As I was sending the photos included in this post from my phone to my laptop, I came across one that really has me wondering just what it is I’m looking at.

Maybe I’ll share it tomorrow. I would prefer to give it its own platform – mostly because the moon and the ice lacing the trees deserve their own night in the spotlight.

I’m so grateful I snagged a shot to share!

Waxing Winter Moon – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-280)

Tonight’s Walk – Day 482

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Waxing Moon in Puddle – Photo: L. Weikel

Tonight’s Walk

Wow, did I need a walk this evening. I’m not even sure why, specifically, tonight’s walk felt so essential to my balance, but it did.

The moon began rising in the east before the sun had even set. Karl and I watched it rise as we set off on a four mile jaunt, both of us knowing how essential it is to remain in balance during times of stress.

Even the morning after receiving the call telling us our son had died, Karl and I walked. We walked and we walked and we walked, picking up garbage along the way like we always do. I’ll never forget it: the first day following our receipt of that horrific call, we found an empty bottle of Golden Monkey. For whatever reason, that bottle felt like a sign from him; a sign that he was OK and we should smile through our tears.

Shots of the Moon

I’m not happy with the photos I’ve taken of the moon lately. They’ve felt like they need more context, or a better zoom, or both.

So tonight I tried something different. My attempts were made through a side door, of sorts. Trying to sneak up on the moon and maybe get a bit of a head start on zooming in for a closeup by agreeing to capturing her in costume. So tonight’s almost-full moon was captured in puddles we encountered along the way.

The first one, which I placed at the top of this article, is simply a watery depiction of our magnificent moon, as she readied herself for embracing her fullness tomorrow night into Monday morning.

This photo was taken before it was even dark out. I have to admit, I never tire of trying to capture the moon’s elusive beauty, even if it ends up being her reflection cherished amongst dead leaves.

Magical Reflections

The second shot was a total surprise. While it, too, was taken as a reflection in a puddle, nighttime had fully set in and it took some fiddling to keep it from using a flash or automatically going into ‘night mode.’

Finally, nevertheless, I managed to find the right setting for the job. I’m not sure I’ll be able to replicate how I managed to discover the setting that perfectly captured what I could see in that moment, but at least I found it once.

All this photo reminds me of is that there’s magic no matter where you look: down into a puddle or up into the vast terrain of space.

Keep This In Mind

In these times of potentially needing to restrict our movements in order to minimize our exposure to the Coronavirus, let’s remember now just how much earthly and unearthly beauty surrounds us all the time. Take joy in the little things, such as moonlight reflected in a puddle of water along a country road.

If there’s any chance to walk, do so. Let’s celebrate our health, our freedom, and our unparalleled access to nature’s beauty.

Let’s celebrate the little things, like reflections in puddles.

Waxing Moon in Puddle Photo: L. Weikel

(T-629)