while connecting with nature,
the human wanders in, through the
eye on the stone.

goddess hasn’t spoken with
feathers in a whiles,
she prefers the nudges
to strong declarations,
the gentle tears,

to the deluge.

her anger need not be so wrathful,
her transformation not so ultimate.

there are gentle ways to call in
changes, and changes do not need to be
dramatic, nor colorful, to be effective.

let the subtle speak more today.

When we try to “do it all” we grow more, so that we can do more. I’ve spent most of my life outside of my comfort zone. I write publicly, I published a personal book of poetry, which is still available for purchase here. You can buy it, read it, and add your own review. I’ve studied anthropology to learn about different cultures, so that I could make sense of peace and how and why sometimes it doesn’t happen. I’ve traveled to places where I didn’t feel comfortable. I’ve moved a lot, and sometimes into situations that didn’t feel comfortable. I’ve somehow managed to survive discomfort.

Here’s what’s what:

I’m not going to let go of my blog, because I can’t reciprocate by visiting all of your blogs, and showing my interest (even though I am interested!); but in the spirit of the season, I’ve had some sniffles and some aches, and I’m letting go of all of that which does not serve me. I’ve had to miss class for the first time. So, what is happening, is that I’m graduating into a more realistic version of myself – here’s what I can do, and let it be for me, what I can do for me. Because without ‘me,’ I am no good for anybody.

That said, I titled my picture below: “Shells are for Growing In”

I earned my shell, as much as my wings.

Using bibliomancy, I opened up 2 days ago, to this particularly apt passage from my favorite Rumi book, gifted to me from an old friend who “left my current reality” years ago, when he became a Buddhist monk. My friend and I shared a close friendship, and right when he was at the gateway to his “new life,” he turned back to me and said to me in a letter, “Thank you for encouraging me to follow my heart.” Greg L. Those words were the magic words that let me know: I had been doing a good job.

Happy Virgo New Moon- and now for RUMI, before I run off to do many more things, some things just unjoyful busywork, for now:

Dear Readers, collectively, thank you for encouraging me to follow my heart.

Without further ado, words from the ever popular and magnificent Rumi:

THE NEW MOON

A human being being human, out of breath,
burns the strangers to ash,
and breathes deeper.

Completely gone, the new moon
is able then to become the new moon.

Autumn anger turns wistful in early spring.
Language-headaches smoothe their brows.

Let the military hero fight barehanded
with lions and elephants.

When you drift up, remember: Fold in on yourself
as clouds do to open downward
their water bags of rain.

It’s the turn of the year again, soonish
and I’m anticipating another very busy schedule,
at least that’s what I’ve signed up for.

I still try to visit blogs as much as possible,
and will focus in on my current blogger book list.

Those that I’ve invested already in.

While I get things together at home, and find myself,
my attention is turned to this wonderful Virgo Sun.
She draws me back into my Earthly needs,
to soothe and to fix, to sort and to order.

Self-care and loving center hearth’s embrace.

Mr. Ka’s most repeated quote to say is, “After ecstasy, laundry.”
Mine is, “don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater.”

Even after the epic eclipse period, we have a continued planetary presence of Sun and Mercury in Virgo with Mercury still retrograde, while Mars conjoins the North node in Leo. Mars has featured very strongly in this recent time period, and as we look inwardly to where we can make the difference in our own lives, and bring about our greatest active compassion closest to home, we can learn a lot from these transits, while also keeping some forward gaze, realizing that the planetary weather, is just weather, and there’s certainly been a bit of planetary “hot air” 😉

Here’s a collection of photos from our Autumn’s past, all photos by me, except for the one of me. Courtesy of Mr. Ka ❤

Neither of the photos in this post were taken by me, these are open source stock photos. I haven’t been able to get to my photography love in a while. I’m barely catching up with where I left off with ‘my’ astrology, and all the people in my worlds, and my inner being.

I’m devastated by what has been happening. I’m not going to go into it at this time. I’m also experiencing a lot of growth and peace and a lot of connectivity – I’m on break, so I have the time to schedule and block out appointment time with friends, and for myself.

Two days ago, the green space in front of my house was filled with at least 50 dragon flies. I’d say that’s highly symbolic for eclipse time. A time of great change (every 6 months), but this viewable – in the United States –  ‘total’ eclipse is more intriguing to people; and therefore, there’s a lot more interest and energy going on ‘about’ it, and well, into it.

Dragonfly Symbolism