wildfires

A Sports Metaphor – Day 1024

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Falcon on my walk today – Photo: L. Weikel

A Sports Metaphor

Happy 1st day of September! I find it a bit unsettling to realize that 2021 is in the last inning of the third quarter. (How’s that for a mixed sports metaphor!?) It’s almost sort-of accurate – and besides, you know what I mean.

I did in fact get a chance to take a walk this evening, while simultaneously getting in some last-day-of-the-compliance-period CLE credits. I have to admit, this was one of the more enjoyable legal seminars I’ve ever attended, at least with respect to the milieu.

Last night I was concerned that the remnants of Hurricane Ida might arrive here early enough to preclude me from walking this evening. Luckily for me, ‘she’ held off. But her torrential rains are expected to arrive within the next several hours.

Obviously, there’s no chance our area will sustain anywhere near an impact even remotely as catastrophic as parts of Louisiana and Mississippi are experiencing. And I’m not trying to draw an analogy to that devastation. But our area is already saturated, so the forecast of possibly 6” of rain falling in a short period of time is not insignificant.

Biodiversity Process

Just thinking about the flooding that will inevitably occur in our area tomorrow, as well as the plight of millions of households and businesses in Louisiana and Mississippi (and elsewhere) due to Hurricane Ida, and the most recent wildfire threat to the Lake Tahoe area (the Caldor fire), I’m reminded of one simple thing we all can do.

I’ve written about it before – lots of times, in fact. It’s the Perelandra EoP Biodiversity Process. I first described the Process here, just over two years ago. Hopefully a few of you are joining me in spending five minutes on the first day of each month engaging in this very simple process. The experience of working directly with the nature spirits of your land with the explicit intention of countering the effects of climate change and restoring balance is remarkable. (And by ‘land’ I mean the land for which you are responsible – either owning or renting – which can even be an apartment in the middle of a city.)

The best and most sincere endorsement I can give is from my own experience. I can feel the response of the Beings with whom we share this land. Not only can I sense a greater overall harmony since beginning this process two years ago, I also see it in the abundant fertility and coherence of the trees, grasses, wildflowers, birds of all sorts, insects of many persuasions, and animals that either live here or pass through routinely.

Giving Back

I’d like to think that my five minutes of devoted attention and intention contribute to the overall strengthening of the biodiversity on our planet. And even better? I love the opportunity it gives me to give back to Mother Earth for the cherished gifts she gives me – and all of us – every day.

If you don’t have your Essence of Perelandra (EoP) to engage in the process this month, I urge you to buy a bottle today so you’re ready on October 1st. Stay safe everyone. And balanced.

(T-87)

Opportunity – Day 1022

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Shark – Opportunity – The Ocean Oracle by Susan Marte

Opportunity

The cards I drew last night for us as a collective yielded Jellyfish – Hidden Gifts as the primary with Shark – Opportunity as the foundation card.

I’m still pondering the perfection of the Jellyfish card’s message in light of the swirling miasma of events we’re witnessing in the world around us. And yeah…lucky are we if we are, in fact, only ‘witnessing’ any or all of it. Because to be experiencing any of the horror firsthand must feel like your entire world is being ripped out from under you.

It doesn’t matter where we look, in what direction, toward which catastrophe, or in which country, there just seems to be a cascade of awfulness. So the fact that the cards that presented themselves were Hidden Gifts and Opportunity begs reflection.

Conundrum

The whole little vignette relayed by Shark in The Ocean Oracle (set out below) has a vaguely familiar feel to it. Perhaps you’ll recognize in it another story that’s often mentioned when people feel forsaken. And it’s probably safe to say that there are thousands (if not millions) of people who feel forsaken right about now.

And just like last night’s message about Hidden Gifts, neither the Opportunity nor the Hidden Gifts are necessarily obvious as such. In fact, it’s likely they’re not. Who could possibly think that any of the extreme circumstances we’re facing in our country and world today could be considered either gifts or opportunities? And yet…

Shark’s Message

“Shark – OPPORTUNITY

The Story

Once upon a time in the watery depths of a great ocean long ago forgotten, there lived a community of sea creatures. They lived together in peaceful harmony. Their community was abundant and prosperous and provided for all of their needs. One day a neighboring shark came by, telling them of an opportunity that would enhance their lives even more. Since the community could not fathom what else they may need, they let the opportunity pass them by. The shark swam away. Time passed and the community started to hear about other communities, who had taken a chance with the opportunities the shark offered them, and how their communities had become even more abundant and prosperous.

The shark came again to the community, and again offered them an opportunity to enhance their lives. They were hesitant. They knew what they had and they were happy. Could there really be more out there? When the shark came for the third time the community decided to take the opportunity presented to them, this time not letting their fear stop them. Although at first it was scary and there was some hesitation, when the community whole-heartedly embraced the opportunity, they found their community grew and expanded in ways they never dreamed possible.

The Messages

Is opportunity knocking? Be aware it does not knock forever. If you do not take the opportunity it could pass you by. Is this an acceptable option? This card could be a reminder that there are opportunities and you need to grab hold and shape what comes your way and make it yours and make what you will of it. Opportunities may or may not be straight forward. They may be in the murky depths. They may come at dawn or dusk or be just out of vision or tangible reach. Opportunities abound. Take the fullness of the possibility and open up to the potential it holds.”

My Take

While some of us may be lucky enough at this moment in time to be witnessing as opposed to directly experiencing the ravages of Covid or Hurricane Ida or the terror of trying to escape Afghanistan or wildfires or earthquakes, it’s only a matter of time before we all get a taste of direct experience. If nothing else, we all live on and share Mother Earth. Climate change, like a virus, is blind to any of the superficial reasons we may tell ourselves that ‘it can’t happen to us.’

But there are hidden gifts in these tragedies. There are immediate lessons we can learn in each moment. And there are opportunities that demand to be explored and embraced if we – the community of humanity – are to thrive. But we must open our eyes without delay.

(T-89)

Where Am I? – Day 1004

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Sunset 10 Aug 2021 – Photo: L.Weikel

Where Am I?

“Wuh – what? Where am I?” That’s a mini reenactment of my experience about five minutes ago. As many of you know, I mostly tend toward being a ‘night owl,’ which enables me to hunker down to write my posts starting at about 11:00 p.m. or later. I’ve tried many times to begin writing them earlier, only to dump almost all of those sad early attempts into my drafts folder, never to be seen again.

So it’s been my lot to exercise trust over these many days, weeks, months, and – wow – it’s now true that I can literally say years and not be hyperbolic! Every evening, I exercise trust that something will get written. While I may not crank out stellar prose, it’ll at least get the job done in the moment.

Fast forward to ten minutes ago when I was awakened by <<shudder>> my own snoring. Good grief! This aging thing isn’t pretty.

It’s the Weather

I’ll blame it on the weather. Why not?

The last two days have lain a blanket of oppression over our area. I break into a sweat just thinking about walking outside. It seems ironic that it’s actually hard to breathe on the East Coast right now primarily because of the amount of water in the air. The humidity is so high, it’s as if we’re breathing through a sponge strapped to our faces like the monster in Alien. (Dating myself here, woops.)

I say it’s ironic to have so much water in the air here on the East Coast when our loved ones on the West Coast (and other areas of the world, to be sure) are literally burning up. The air out there is so dry that it practically spontaneously combusts. I can’t imagine living through that for any length of time, and I apologize for complaining about the humidity here, when I realize you would give anything for it.

And then there’s the Midwest, which is just basically choking on the smoke wafting through the atmosphere of their states, burning eyes and clinging inside throats. Awful enough if you have a home with air conditioning. Horrifying to contemplate if you’re housing impaired or can’t afford air conditioning.

Who Are We Kidding?

I’m going to guess ourselves.

But I’m also going to refuse to accept the notion that we are powerless to stop the chaos unfolding around us. We started this thing; we’ve enabled this thing; and we can not only stop it but turn this thing around.

I truly believe that if we just even reach out to Mother Earth, she will do everything she can to reach back out to us. What I mean by that is that we must dig deep and we must try. We must resist the temptation to yield to despair and assume there’s no hope. While it may not seem as though our efforts will yield the magnitude of change we desire (and think is unquestionably necessary) I urge us all to give Nature – Mother Earth herself – an opportunity to match our efforts, to work in partnership with us (if we would only just try).

Here’s an interesting article I just read. It may be from 2016, but it feels relevant now, given the overwhelm so many of us are feeling right now. And I’m curious to read the book coming out next month from Paul Hawken, Regeneration, Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation*.

But right now, I think I need to go to sleep.

*affiliate link

(T-107)

Cooked – Day 976

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On Fire – Photo: L. Weikel

Cooked

In contrast to the emerald wonderland and water, water everywhere that we’re (for the most part) lucky to have here on the East Coast, conditions couldn’t be more dire elsewhere. Indeed, the real truth is that right here in our own country, we’re cooked.

It’s hard to miss the wildfires that are raging out of control in the west. Right now, in addition to the extraordinary heat domes that are trapping our brothers and sisters under oppressive, day-after-day temperatures of over 100 degrees, there are over 700 more wildfires already being fought this year than there were at this time last year.

By Far the Worst

But by far the worst (well, I guess that’s debatable – especially if its your home that’s been razed by an inferno), is the fact that millions of sea creatures off the Pacific Northwest coast were literally turned into a global-sized clambake. It’s disgusting and tragic, but the effect of the heat dome that killed so many people in Oregon about ten days ago also killed millions – perhaps up to a billion – sea creatures as well.

And just today, I read an article that warns that Chinook salmon are literally in danger of extinction as a result of the heat waves occurring out west right now. The temperature of the Sacramento River has become so warm that the salmon are dying before they can get back to their spawning grounds.

Think about this: they’re all dying before they can reproduce. This isn’t some gradual die-off as these creatures ingest pesticides or battle other human-produced challenges to their lives. This is a drastic, all-at-once event. Not only will it radically impact indigenous people who rely on these salmon for much of their economy (and food) but also our nation and beyond, both for their food source and their part in the overall ecosystem.

And that doesn’t even include the simple grievous horror of losing these fish forever.

Our House Is On Fire

Our planet is out of balance. What is it going to take before our representatives, who have the power to enact sweeping and essential changes to the way our country deals with these existential threats, stop dithering and start facing climate change head-on? What’s it going to take before we the people open our eyes and wake the hell up?

We are facing some truly enormous threats as a country and as a planet. The time for denial and lies must end immediately. Perhaps a few very rich, very powerful people will be able to launch themselves into space when the Earth becomes uninhabitable. Yippee for them.

But the rest of us? If we don’t seize control over where we’re headed and demand meaningful and dramatic change now? We’re cooked.

Eye of the Fire – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-135)

Green – Day 975

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Ferns of Every Stripe – Photo: L.Weikel

Green

I realized again today just how much green inundates our environment. Especially with the wildfires rampaging out of control out west again, it feels like a gross indulgence. Instead of feeling guilty about how much water we have, though, we’re trying to open our eyes, and our hearts, and truly be appreciative of this natural resource’s abundance around us.

There is a portion of lower Bucks County, though, that’s almost certainly not appreciating the over-abundance of water that visited in the form of some torrential rain late yesterday afternoon. The meteorologists are categorizing this as a 100 year flood – but I have a sense we’ll be seeing another just like it, or worse, within the next few years; perhaps even before this summer is over. It’s scary. And expensive – both emotionally and of course financially.

Green & Lightning Bugs – Photo: L.Weikel

Appreciate the Beauty

While we can, for who knows how long we’ll have the benefit of all this moisture coming our way, we need to revel in the greenery. It sure beats having our yards become dirt and everything we plant crumble into dry oblivion.

Speaking of beauty, though – I must admit, this stricture against feeding our birds is torturous. I hear them singing and calling in the trees and within the thickets surrounding our house. They really are wondering what’s up. Even the hawks are wondering why the community is in lockdown and there’s no fast-food joints operating anymore.

To be honest, I think the hawks have been the most vociferous in the past few days. Hawk is having no trouble delivering its message: Feed us! You’re disrupting our entire community here!

Speaking of Food (Again)

I just had to add a photo of the kale I massaged earlier today. This batch was obviously made with green and red grapes instead of strawberries. It was delectable.

Freshly Massaged Kale – with grapes this time – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-136)

Smoky Times – Day 675

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Photo: L. Weikel

Smoky Times

I find myself at a loss for words this evening. We’re living in some mighty smoky times, my friends. While I know I don’t need to tell you, I do find myself unable to concentrate on much else.

What does it say that the skies over the East Coast of the United States are being viewed through a burnt sienna filter as a result of raging infernos 3,000 miles away?

Is there no comprehension of the perversity surrounding two to three feet of rain falling on Alabama and Florida in a single day, at the same time that fires are consuming 4 million acres of land out west?

What blows my mind is that it is neither the peak of wildfire season nor the peak of hurricane season. Yet.

Meanwhile, we have proof positive, playing out before our very eyes, that those in the highest positions of authority in our government are lying to us day in and day out. Atrocities – literal atrocities – are being committed in our name and with our tax dollars against women who have been locked up in private prisons, some for three years or more, as a result of seeking asylum in our country. The country that used to pride itself on being a model of freedom and justice.

Gunfire

I’m sitting here writing these words with the front door of my home open. I was being serenaded by the heartiest of crickets remaining in the grasses and woods just outside.

As I wrote those last paragraphs above, I just heard gunfire. Rapid fire (semi-automatic?) gunfire.

It is 12:53 a.m.

I feel like I’m looking at my country through a haze of smoke and lies and disbelief that go far beyond the ravaging wildfires our brothers and sisters in California, Oregon, and Washington are enduring right now.

I need to consider, again, the small seeds I intend to plant tomorrow for the new moon. What will you be planting?

(T-436)

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)