Spring forward

It's Spring here in North Texas. Volatile weather conditions are normal; thunderstorms,  warm fronts, cold fronts, tornadoes, and flash floods abound. But so does the simple beauty of wildflowers lining the roads, and trees in full bloom, exhaling a cloud of yellow pollen.

Mother Nature is busy now. Plants are growing,  blooming; birds are nesting,  hatching, singing, flying.

I have been busy,  too. Unfortunately I have allowed myself to be distracted by the needs of "the job", to the detriment of my creativity and spirituality. I'm staying longer hours at the job I'll be leaving in a few short months. But I've also been trying to make time to write, letting characters grow and allowing the story to wind vine-like, until it takes on a life of its own. And I'm working on other projects that I intend will bring in another revenue stream in the future.

Gypsy Reno is my ever-present editorial assistant.  She has a wonderful sense of story, and she's a grammar fiend!  She also reminds me to slow down and enjoy the process, whether it's writing,  editing, or simply sitting on the porch watching the storm come in.

I feel like I've gotten myself on the highway by accident,  and I'm caught in traffic and can't find my way home (to quote a favorite songwriter). I'm trying to remember to breathe and pay attention,  to move into the slow lane, and spot the exit ahead.  Soon I'll be able to focus on the things I love: reading,  writing,  sewing,  traveling.   And above all,  resting. 

I'm ready now to fully embrace my simple and charmed life.  It's about time.

Obsessing the SUN

Today's post is not so much about literary things, or creativity, or much of anything except my latest obsession: taking pictures of the sun. That blazing orb seems to be changing shape, emitting more energy, on different levels.  And in photos, you can sometimes catch the fluctuations.

Here are a few photos taken the weekend of July 28.  It was stinking hot - miserably so. But I felt all day that I was being watched - no, guarded. Look in the photos and you'll see some orbs and light flares, and then, where least expected, a small, light blue dot. I'm one who believes wholeheartedly in angels, guardians and Spirit. I follow the seasons, and the shifting patterns of the heavens (even if I don't know the names of all the stars).  I absolutely believe that those orbs and that blue dot are evidence of angels and guardians.


This one is from Sunday evening, Aug 5, about 7pm local time.  Note the orange halo, the orbs and again, that blue dot (never in the same place twice - I checked & cleaned all lenses to be sure it was not a dust mote).  

I feel comforted by those orbs and blue dots (guardians).  Sheltered.  If a Spirit/Angel is here to guard me - guide me - then I/we must be here for a reason, a purpose. Okay, not everyone gets to be the leader of the free world, or Einstein, or Maya Angelou. But that does not make me/us less important. 

My purpose here is much simpler: to learn to love fearlessly.  To know that the Divine Universe will provide for all my needs and desires in great abundance. To know that I am special, even when I feel I am not. To learn to let go of petty grievances, hate, bitterness, fear.  

What if - instead of being afraid, and angry, and hateful - we looked up and saw halos on the sun and moon, the stars above us and orbs and guardians with us. 

What if we looked up and gave ourselves to the Divine Universe, and knew in our hearts that this life, on this planet, was not our first, nor would it be our last.
 

Here are a couple more shots, taken about midday today.  A lovely light flare on the one taken from under the eave of the porch, and the blazing sun back-lighting a cloud.  

I am proud to be part of this time and place. I am proud to be witness to this power and beauty, and to embrace my simple and charmed life.