Spring Tiptoes In...

In Florida, spring is a bit of a let-down. Sure, there are a couple of trees which shed leaves and starts sending out new buds and shoots. The tabubea tree opens lovely, brilliant yellow blooms. Birds sing more frequently, and can be seen gathering little bits for their nests as they fly hither and yon.

It's not the same as the appearance of the season in more northerly climes. No sunny, cheery daffodills raise their trumpets to the sun; no fragrance of hyacinth fills the air; no pussy willows, or crocus, or tulips. The snow doesn't disappear followed by a sudden awakening to Mother Nature's gown of brilliant green. 

But still, it is all a part of the circle of life. The birth of new life in the spring follows the death of autumn and hibernation of winter, as it always has and as it always will. 

With changes in the global climate, spring is being observed earlier each year. There are organizations tracking this now, and Mother Nature is donning her spring duds about ten days earlier, worldwide. This will affect species, some of which will move their habitat somewhat further north.  I suspect I'll harp on this subject often - the time for action is now.

put down the party hat and walk away...

Just like a flash, New Year's Eve came and went. As usual, we got together with friends to ring in the new and bid adieu to the old. It was a lovely south Florida night - temperatures in the low 70s, just about cool enough for a small fire in the fire pit on our friend's patio.

Fireworks supplied aural and visual entertainment throughout the evening, as neighbors exploded bottle rockets, small arial bursts and firecrackers, among other noise-making items. After eating from the "we always put out too much food" buffet, we sat and chatted as the clock ticked away the minutes 'til the New Year's baby arrived. At the appropriate hour I offered blessings of the Gregorian calendar year to all in attendance. We've got to follow it, as its the way the world turns, but I'd really rather go to a lunar based system, it makes more sense for me.

Resolutions? I've never been terribly good at sticking to those. There are some things I want to do... develop a more focused spiritual practice on a regular basis, keep my fingers on my crafts projects, and -- perhaps -- begin work on a photography project that popped into my head a few days ago. Of course work will take up much of my time as it always does -- I tend to be a workaholic. I'm going to do my best, though, to not spend as much time at the keyboard. 'Tis making me a dull gal, methinks.

So, with thoughts of the Gregorian year ahead, I offer all praise to Artemis, Lady of the Wild Things and Protectress of Women and the Young Ones. May her arrows fly true when necessary, and may she shelter those who need it from the storms of life. I hope to walk in your wild lands more often in the 363 days ahead.

silent night...

On Saturday I'll celebrate the Winter Solstice with a group of very close friends. After a year of waiting, the mead we added our magic to last Yule will be unveiled! A great time will be had by all, no doubt.

But... (and you knew there had to be a but, didn't you?) at this time of year, as I have for the last 20, I find myself missing the quiet that is the hush of freshly fallen snow and the cold crisp air that is a northern winter. There was something special about celebrating the return of the light then. 

Some of my favorite winter memories are stringing lights on the evergreens that were in front of the house with my dad (and with that, Dad, I still miss you but know you're out there, somewhere)... building snowpeople... building snow forts... cross-country skiing when I got older. There was a peacefulness, a calm. 

As I've said said many times, nature is my temple. I feel best when outdoors -- in my tiny butterfly garden, in a park, in the Everglades. I miss peace and quiet, with the only sounds those of nature. Right now I'd be really glad for a few hours in a snowy wood, watching cardinals, bluejays and other woodland creatures carry on their day. 

Tis the season...

... for the annual "who does the holiday belong to" hubbub to begin. 

Down the road, in white and gold lights, Calvary Chapel of Fort Lauderdale proclaims "Jesus is the Reason for the Season!" Somewhere, Bill O'Reilly is pitching a fit at those who would rather call the events happening in December the "holidays". 

While Christ does rightfully belong in the word Christmas, is Christmas, and the birth of Christ, really the reason for the season?

More than enough evidence has been presented to indicate Jesus was not born somewhere even remotely near December 25th, in fact the celebration of his natal day was moved to that time period during the 4th century CE, when Christianity was made the official religion of Rome. It is generally presumed Jesus was born in the spring. 

Even earlier, the Egyptians celebrated the god Osiris, who died and was reborn, the time of the Winter Solstice. The Greeks celebrated the "Festival of Wild Women" around Dionysus, who was murdered and reborn during the same period of time. In Rome the Saturnalia was celebrated. 

The Winter Solstice, or return of the sun, began pre-religion, as early man observed the cycles of the sun. It is said that aboriginal people were able to notice a slight elevation in the sun's path within days of that time when the sun sunk to its lowest point on the horizon, and it is believed people soon began to celebrate the sun's return, or rebirth, around the solstice, as they knew that soon the warmth would return and they would be able to cultivate crops. 

On December 21st, or thereabouts, I'll be celebrating the return of the sun, in my mind the real reason for the season.

Back to nature

In the hustle and bustle of working for a living, it seems my entire life is tied to a computer these days. If not working on the computer, I'm doing a bit of poking around on the internet looking for information, reading interesting news and blogs, or finding the next thing I want to throw money at.

It gets tiresome being on a keyboard all day and well into the night. 20 years ago I was saying I wanted to work on a computer full time. Be careful what you wish for...

At any rate, sooner or later the time comes when I just have to get outdoors, spending time in the butterfly garden or going to a park or even just taking a walk around the neighborhood looking for flowers to photograph.

This weekend was one of those times. The impetus was the incredible photography of Clyde Butcher, inheritor (in my opinion at least) to the crown formerly worn by Ansel Adams. Butcher's black and white work, particularly of the Florida Everglades, is just amazing. After reading that Butcher was having an open house at his Big Cypress gallery, in the Big Cypress National Preserve, I knew it time to pack up the camera, toss it in the truck and get down the highway.

We arrived at the gallery around 2pm or so, a bit late in the day for really good light in terms of taking pictures. After oooh-ing and ahhh-ing at Butcher's work, much of it in very large format, we stepped out the door onto a small nature trail which wound back to a pond practically outside the gallery door, where we'd stopped when we first parked our vehicle.

It was photography heaven. In a very small space was a gator, a great white egret and an anhinga, all practically posing for the lens. Merrily, I clicked away, til I felt I'd gotten all the decent shots I could. We jumped back into the truck and went another half mile down the road, to the visitor center at the preserve. All the while, my husband counted gators on the far side of a creek-like body of water that ran parallel to the road.

We parked, jumped out and strolled close to the water's edge on the far side of the barrier erected to keep cars from going into the water. As Mikal counted critters, my shutter was clicking, each photo opportunity seeming almost better than the last. Some of the gators seemed gargantuan! The egrets, ibises and anhingas seemed not to mind them at all, strolling or wading past. Perhaps they knew it wasn't dinner time.

I particularly enjoyed watching a white ibis, the one whose photo is attached here. Those pink legs, with knobby knees, and that curved beak just make me chuckle. They're so darn cute -- and curious.

A couple of hours flew by, and as the sun started getting closer to the western horizon, we knew we didn't want to drive the two-lane highway back to 'civilization' in the dark so it was time to leave.

As I drove homeward, I promised myself we'd visit Big Cypress again and, more importantly, that I'd try to get some more outdoor time while the cooler dry season is here. The sense of calm which I always find when I spend time away from the madding crowd stayed with me all weekend. I want that feeling to be with me all the time.

Butcher says, in a CBS interview, "Nature is my spiritual retreat." He's got that right, it's mine too.

A Celebration of Peace!

On Saturday, November 17th, 2007, on World Peace Day, in Fort Lauderdale, FL, all are invited to attend Harmony for Humanity, a Ritual for Peace. For more information, please visit: http://www.uucfl.org/harmony/

hypocrisy and such...

Last night, listening to news comments around the Senator Craig story, a member of the Christian right -- whose name escapes me at the moment -- spoke about the immoral nature of our society. In the newspaper, I've read a number of letters to the editor around our city's mayor, who has created a real buzz in the local gay community.

I'm at a loss. While I understand that each of us has views shaped by the particular aspect of society we were raised in, by our spiritual beliefs and our concept of what is moral to us, I can't wrap my mind around the concept of telling people they should agree with my positions, precepts and values.

Is our essential nature much like that of the pack animal? Must we go along with the pack, and follow the leader? I don't think so. It seems to me that the Divine has gifted us with the ability to think for self; to decide what is right for us, and to live by our own personal set of guidelines. That's not to say I think that murder, child molestation or rape is acceptable, I don't. But... who am I to say what you should think about other's sexual preference or spiritual beliefs? What works for you, or them, is fine by me.

Does it matter to me if Sen. Craig is gay? Heck no! What does bug me, though, is if he _is_ gay, that he can't stand up for himself and declare he is what he is.

Society seems to dictate to us. I don't think it should. We should be free to be who and what we are; to worship as we see fit, and to enjoy our own sexuality and sexual preferences, what ever they are.

Freedom. An of-forgot concept.