Beautifully put, Neko - summer really isn’t kidding this year. Bears and spiders can be lethal, like humans, but cats are bonsai’d killers - too small to hurt us. What a world!
I wouldn't have made it this far in life without spirituality. Between the beauty and intelligence of nature and the mystery of creativity, how could anyone think there's nothing beyond us?
Thank you for your writing! I was a botany major/entomology minor in college and never worked in those disciplines, but that background has helped me see/appreciate many life forms. Lonely as it may be at times, the plants and critters are good company. Thank goodness for deep time, evolution and spiders. Oh and if you have not seen it you must watch this video, a fantastic tribute to the sacred diversity of life, particularly spiders :-) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms2klX-puUU
It is turned very cold and wet which is of course winter.
Everyone has been crook (unwell) and it is not great when our little granddaughter coughs and splitters.
The dogs are resting, we have permanent loan of my daughter s pooch Ollie, Jett loves him but gets very whiny if he sleeps on the bigger of the two dog beds.
Today we looked at the mangroves and the estuary of the Port Adelaide river system. I was hoping to see dolphins and a blue Wren, but was satisfied with cormorants and herons.
I recall reading Joseph Campbell who had a science pal show him micro life in the lab and his revelation was life is in constant motion, my spiritual vision is of a kind of universal energy that transcends creepy old bearded dudes.
Sorry I am rambling.
Keep cool, that's real Adelaide summer weather
All the best to all who follow along the lung trail.
Same, same-same. Apart from the heat. It’s thundering rain on the tin roof and stringybark in the woodfire down here in the other solstice. Christianity ruined it for me too Neko, but nature is a big church, with room for all of us. Ii like a congregation that turns up naked and preferes we do the same. So greatful for eyes to see the beauty and connection all atound us.
The deer are poaching our pears! Our young pear tree had 6 pears on it, until the deer snacked on three of them. They didn't even leave a "Thank you!" note. How wude!
And it's hot down here in McDonough Georgia too. Sunday I got a little nauseous after working outside all afternoon...not real bad, so I just rehydrated and relaxed after dinner. It was so hot I saw a dog chasing a cat and they were both walking!
Birds have been flying into our picture window more often than usual recently. The little ones don't fly with as much force and just ring their bells, recover for a few, then fly off. It's always thrushes that die from impact. I usually have to remove a body, maybe two, every year, but a couple weeks ago there were three in two days. Felt ominous.
I’m with you on this. Nature is my only god. I just got back from a tour of the Canadian Rockies. Everything I saw there just filled me with deep awe and wonder. The mountains and valleys, the grizzly bears, black bears, bighorn sheep, elk, ad infinitum.
You nailed my understanding on "spirituality". I'm not a Christian or anything formal really. But what I do love about Christianity is Gospel. You did "John Saw that Number" and I love it. There is often real passion behind the singing in Gospel. Just give a listen to Swan Silvertones doing "Mary Don't You Weep". It builds to a point where I can barely catch my breath. Mind blowing..
It seems like that bear appeared in your dream to protect you, especially since it changed the whole mood when she showed up. Amazing. I've been cleaning some storage areas in the house and seeing a lot of nice little spiders. I only really don't like to see spider-eggs. They freak me out. I still leave them alone as much as I can, but I feel itchy when I see them.
I am growing my first raised bed gardens at the community garden in my town. While I’ve always loved nature and felt at home in it, seeing these vegetables and herbs grow feels miraculous.
A tiny jalapeno started to sprout yesterday and I had a little moment of gratitude to the earth for bringing her magic to my little space. The peace I feel watering and tending to it while the birds chirp and the trees blow feels spiritual and I’ve long given up on religion but this? This feels like the best gift I’ve been given.
I too found spiritually, not in religion, but in nature. Thanks in part to my grandmother who, though we were Christians, she never went to church, she went to her favorite park to pray each week.
Man is the most insane species. He worships an invisible God and destroys a visible Nature. Unaware that this Nature he's destroying is this God he's worshipping.
We are in South Carolina and our northern relatives and friends have been way hotter than us! Hope it breaks for you guys soon.
I read recently that human civilizations made and worshipped 18,000+ gods in our time as a species. Next thing I read said a dinosaur fossil that was 1.5 million years old was going up for auction. So lets do the math:
Dinosaurs have been here for over 1.5 million years.
Humans have existed for less than 100,000 years.
Humans have worshipped 18,000 different gods, with each worshipper believing their gods were real, and the others were all fake.
Folks have to really suspend any and all critical thinking skills, imo, to believe this stuff. The new Pope and I went to school across the street from each other, and , trust me, no one living in Dolton, Illinois in 1970 was infallible.
Beautifully put, Neko - summer really isn’t kidding this year. Bears and spiders can be lethal, like humans, but cats are bonsai’d killers - too small to hurt us. What a world!
Mine are going to trip me to death, so who's to say they aren't qualified? haha!
I'm certain that I'll die by tripping over an animal.
Your love and concern for all animals (especially that tiny spider) is a balm in these times!
I wouldn't have made it this far in life without spirituality. Between the beauty and intelligence of nature and the mystery of creativity, how could anyone think there's nothing beyond us?
Thank you for your writing! I was a botany major/entomology minor in college and never worked in those disciplines, but that background has helped me see/appreciate many life forms. Lonely as it may be at times, the plants and critters are good company. Thank goodness for deep time, evolution and spiders. Oh and if you have not seen it you must watch this video, a fantastic tribute to the sacred diversity of life, particularly spiders :-) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms2klX-puUU
Hi Neko, once again so nice to hear from you.
It is turned very cold and wet which is of course winter.
Everyone has been crook (unwell) and it is not great when our little granddaughter coughs and splitters.
The dogs are resting, we have permanent loan of my daughter s pooch Ollie, Jett loves him but gets very whiny if he sleeps on the bigger of the two dog beds.
Today we looked at the mangroves and the estuary of the Port Adelaide river system. I was hoping to see dolphins and a blue Wren, but was satisfied with cormorants and herons.
I recall reading Joseph Campbell who had a science pal show him micro life in the lab and his revelation was life is in constant motion, my spiritual vision is of a kind of universal energy that transcends creepy old bearded dudes.
Sorry I am rambling.
Keep cool, that's real Adelaide summer weather
All the best to all who follow along the lung trail.
Same, same-same. Apart from the heat. It’s thundering rain on the tin roof and stringybark in the woodfire down here in the other solstice. Christianity ruined it for me too Neko, but nature is a big church, with room for all of us. Ii like a congregation that turns up naked and preferes we do the same. So greatful for eyes to see the beauty and connection all atound us.
The deer are poaching our pears! Our young pear tree had 6 pears on it, until the deer snacked on three of them. They didn't even leave a "Thank you!" note. How wude!
And it's hot down here in McDonough Georgia too. Sunday I got a little nauseous after working outside all afternoon...not real bad, so I just rehydrated and relaxed after dinner. It was so hot I saw a dog chasing a cat and they were both walking!
Hahahaha! Now THAT is funny.
Thank you! It's always satisfying to know some of my humor brightened up someone's day.
Birds have been flying into our picture window more often than usual recently. The little ones don't fly with as much force and just ring their bells, recover for a few, then fly off. It's always thrushes that die from impact. I usually have to remove a body, maybe two, every year, but a couple weeks ago there were three in two days. Felt ominous.
Hi! I learned about a remedy for this a few years ago and thought I would share: https://shop.collidescape.org/product-category/bird-window-strike-solutions/
Of course there are other companies/sites with similar products, if you don't like the look of these.
I’m with you on this. Nature is my only god. I just got back from a tour of the Canadian Rockies. Everything I saw there just filled me with deep awe and wonder. The mountains and valleys, the grizzly bears, black bears, bighorn sheep, elk, ad infinitum.
You nailed my understanding on "spirituality". I'm not a Christian or anything formal really. But what I do love about Christianity is Gospel. You did "John Saw that Number" and I love it. There is often real passion behind the singing in Gospel. Just give a listen to Swan Silvertones doing "Mary Don't You Weep". It builds to a point where I can barely catch my breath. Mind blowing..
Bears to the rescue. Yes please.
It seems like that bear appeared in your dream to protect you, especially since it changed the whole mood when she showed up. Amazing. I've been cleaning some storage areas in the house and seeing a lot of nice little spiders. I only really don't like to see spider-eggs. They freak me out. I still leave them alone as much as I can, but I feel itchy when I see them.
So hot my shampoo bottle started sweating when I brought it home from the grocery store last night
I am growing my first raised bed gardens at the community garden in my town. While I’ve always loved nature and felt at home in it, seeing these vegetables and herbs grow feels miraculous.
A tiny jalapeno started to sprout yesterday and I had a little moment of gratitude to the earth for bringing her magic to my little space. The peace I feel watering and tending to it while the birds chirp and the trees blow feels spiritual and I’ve long given up on religion but this? This feels like the best gift I’ve been given.
Thank you for your words, they always inspire me.
I too found spiritually, not in religion, but in nature. Thanks in part to my grandmother who, though we were Christians, she never went to church, she went to her favorite park to pray each week.
Man is the most insane species. He worships an invisible God and destroys a visible Nature. Unaware that this Nature he's destroying is this God he's worshipping.
- Hubert Reeves, Canadian astrophysicist
We are in South Carolina and our northern relatives and friends have been way hotter than us! Hope it breaks for you guys soon.
I read recently that human civilizations made and worshipped 18,000+ gods in our time as a species. Next thing I read said a dinosaur fossil that was 1.5 million years old was going up for auction. So lets do the math:
Dinosaurs have been here for over 1.5 million years.
Humans have existed for less than 100,000 years.
Humans have worshipped 18,000 different gods, with each worshipper believing their gods were real, and the others were all fake.
Folks have to really suspend any and all critical thinking skills, imo, to believe this stuff. The new Pope and I went to school across the street from each other, and , trust me, no one living in Dolton, Illinois in 1970 was infallible.