pink, pooches and pondering

For most of us, Valentine's Day is Over. If there is residue for you, here's hoping it's the sweet kind. That said, let me share with you:

There is no pink, at least in the world of light.
This brief animation explains:

What colors don't we see? Could radio waves, gamma rays, x-rays and cosmic rays be pink ? Possibly. I expect they are not totally though. I fantasize that there is more to the rainbow.

It's well known that dogs are color blind. They see images in shades of black, gray and white. I wonder how their species would be different if they could see a peacock in full color. And their food (blegh). And how would humans, as a species in whole, be different without color?

 

What does color mean to you?

 

And, what will our existence be like when we see beyond our current visible luminous rays?

in the passive voice

Unfinished projects, proposals and yes, heaven forbid, even blog posts were piling up. My mind was spinning. Nothing could be completed. Resilience and reserves were gone. Creative juices, evaporated.

Then the doctor orders a blood screening of cortisol and adrenal hormone levels. Ok, it's time.


Welcome the Winter Restoration Project

One month later, I'm surprised how hard it is to rest. Myself, and I'm sure many, are programmed to move, produce and move again. Slowing down is not often welcome in our culture. The hardest part is giving myself permission. Restlessness has been very apparent in the process. Stillness is now the challenge. Fortunately, positive results are surfacing. Small doses of true, genuine creativity are returning. Even some silliness.

Still a work in process, here's what the Winter Restoration Program looks like:

1. Put aside the To Do list. It's hibernation season. Your list will still be there come spring.
2. Rest often. Naps, baths, whenever. Read fiction, just because.
3. Eat well,  but not restrictive. Start with the good stuff. The junk will become less appealing. Soup, especially homemade. Pumpkin Latte's. Fiber's required. You can't restore if you're holding onto trash.
4. Speaking of trash... Purge unnecessary items. Stuff is a drain. Pass it along, Freecycle.
5. Participate in restorative exercise. Swimming, gentle yoga, nature hikes. No pursuit or even mental energy invested in racing, training or anything competitive.
6.  Indulge in a craft or hobby. I'm sewing gift bags and sachets, utilizing existing materials. Silk fabric and  the scent of lavender are soothing.
7. Spend one on one time with friends. Key. Share a latte. And a hug.

Pumpkin Latte:

1 c  almond milk
1/4 c pumpkin puree
1/8 t almond or vanilla extract
sweetener of choice
dash pumpkin spice

Warm ingredients on the stove top. Mix in blender to froth.
Rest and Enjoy!

the space between

You've heard it before. Music is defined by the space between the notes. Right now, that's where I am, Between.

Jack, One Year by Barbara Burke, 2009

Forward is my comfort level. However, motion is not presently an option. Grief has never been so prominent in my life as it is now. It is stunning. And numbing. Inspiration is void. 

There's too much going on to move. Family constellations are being illuminated. Legacies are solidified. Mortality is questioned.

Seemingly lacking in presence, I am more present then ever. Honouring the healing that must happen, I accept this is where I need to be. So, I sit.

Between.

Between being nurtured and nurturing, learning and teaching, anger and love. Between viels of understanding. Between the subject and the artist.