Being mid-Summer in Australia we are celebrating Litha, the Summer solstice while the northern hemisphere celebrates Yuletide. Over the last few days the water temperature in the pool has been a comfortable 28-30oC.
Afternoons spent frolicking with the undines of the pool flow perfectly into evenings on the deck surrounded by the gnomes of the Earth while celebrating the salamanders by candlelight and honouring the sylphs of the air with sandalwood incense.
Blessed be to all.
I count myself fortunate to be able to enjoy the pockets of green in an urban landscape.
I feel drawn to places like this. While it appears to be the same each time I visit, there is always something I haven’t noticed before that captures my imagination.
When considering time in terms of months of the year I visualize an ellipse. Like a racetrack with January and December marking the beginning and end of the cycle. For me January to June tends to be a gentler gradient and a slower pace than July to December. By mid December I’m in need of a break.
The years in my life appear as a stack of ellipses joined together in an upward spiral. When I was a child a year seemed to last forever, so using this perception of time the first ellipse located at the bottom would be the widest. The ellipses reduce in size as they coil up forming an elliptical cone.
This is the path of my life through time, I can see where I’ve been and where I am now. I can make a guess at what will be happening in the next few months, beyond this the path is unclear. I wonder if my journey will continue to a peak or will the years appear to pass more slowly as I move into old age. In this scenario the path of my life could end up looking like a lopsided hourglass.
What does the shape of your life through time look like?
Born on July, 1st, 2010, Stan’s loving, playful, bossy nature keeps us on our toes. His favorite toys are a platted rope and a ball that he will happily bring back when thrown, after he’s killed them of course. Stan positions himself close to us, facing out and is quick to alert us to potential visitors. He has an amusing way of alternately raising his eyebrows while lying close to the ground. We’re never quite sure if this is bemusement at our antics or a sign that he’s analyzing our behavior. Attentive and independent, Stan’s always ready for a tummy rub.
Imagine a tree with a trunk that twists this way and that, swathed in a maze of deeply cracked bark. It’s gnarled dark brown branches jut out in a contorted mass, effortlessly supporting clusters of ballerina shaped blooms gently bobbing in the breeze.
A gale develops that catches the branches, causing them to creak and groan as the blossom is torn from their grasp. A silky blizzard of white petals tinged with pink dance in downward spirals as they are carried to the ground by the whistling wind.
Order returns to this snow dome scene, the skeletal tree appears naked in the Spring light. Gently undulating white chiffon forms a shifting circle surrounding the base of it’s tortured bulk. White, fluffy powder puff shapes speed across the azure sky above.
Space to Reconnect
Being an introvert I am not good at investing time and energy into maintaining friendships. My partner performs the role of social secretary to perfection. A chance encounter in a pub provided the catalyst for us to organise a space where five people could come together and reconnect.
Preparation for such an event is usually marred by sore feet from spending hours in the kitchen. On this occasion, a simple menu of Caprese salad, Lasagne al forno, Tiramisu and a few bottles of Italian wine made this the smoothest running and easiest of dinner parties.
The resulting conversations around life, health issues, death, politics, religion and discrimination carried us into the wee hours of the morning.
In reminiscing we worked out that two of us had known each other for almost 30 years. I have carefully looked after the gift I received from them on my 21st birthday.
We have led separate lives with our paths crossing at various points in time. We agreed that our the perception of each other is a memory of them, it does not take into account people, places, illness and events that have impacted on them.
The outcome of the evening can be summed up in one of my partner’s favourite expressions “a quality moment”.
At the Portuguese festival in Petersham, NSW, the local council had a stall, advertising events and giving out packets of seeds. At the time we were living in a house with a sun baked courtyard, scant shade and ducted air conditioning. The house was not well insulated, this combined with floor to ceiling glass, resulted in sweltering temperatures inside during the Summer months. The temptation of switching on the aircon and not venturing outside was too great.
Thankfully, we moved to a house with shaded windows on four sides which provide cross ventilation and a garden that catches the eastern sun at the front and the hot western heat at the back overlooked by a large shaded deck. Since moving into the house just over a year ago we have spent more time outside than in any of our previous homes.
I enjoy cooking with ingredients grown in the garden, however, herbs are the limit of my foray into horticulture for the time being. I was pleasantly surprised when I came across the seeds and realised that they were not all chili peppers, as I first thought. My partner in his usual encouraging way bought me seed raising mix and trays. I set about planting basil; the first time I have grown plants from seed since primary school. I have experienced such good feelings about sewing the seeds, watching their progress, imagining how sweet the basil taste with tomatoes, salt and olive oil and working out how to maximise the number of people who will receive a basil plant gift.
refracted light
I have always enjoyed rainbows; it took a physics class for me to realise that they are created by light refracted through water droplets. I remember directing white light at a prism and being amazed at the colour spectrum emitted from the other side.
magic bathroom
This fascination sparked my interest in candle magic, auras and chakras. I count myself fortunate to live in a house that has a leaded, coloured glass window in the bathroom. Some of the clear glass panels have bevels that catch the bright northern light (southern hemisphere) and project rainbows onto the white porcelain fittings and tiles. The effect is heartening and magical.
Birthday baking at Brasserie Bread
I enjoy food, especially when created from scratch containing whole-foods. A work colleague asked me whether I had done any baking recently, when I replied no, she said that must be disappointing for me. When I explained that I had been spending time writing, she said “you can’t eat words”.
Hmm could this be the answer to weight loss?
It is a while since I have flown in my dreams. I would often soar and hover at will; I wonder if this is common for those born of a cardinal air sign?
When I exercise, I listen to podcasts compiled by DJ Kam Shafaati http://liquidlogic.podomatic.com/, a waking alternative to my night flights.
A ball of energy forms deep within my being. As the beat and richness of the music rises and falls the power within me expands and contracts. When the track reaches a crescendo a feeling of exhilaration moves up through my body until there is an outward surge of power. The faster the tempo, the harder I work out. This set me up for the day ahead.
theINFP 