Christmas Mars

Last night, through the mist and clouds, the full moon shone brilliantly with an amazingly large halo. At the moment a conjunction between the moon and Mars is taking place, which amongst other things also led to the following song...


Mars is a red-tinged planet
With a very shiny glow
And if you look to see it
You will find the moon in tow.


All of the other Yuletides
Santa would have at his side
The shiny nose of Rudolph
Acting as his big sleigh's guide


The Vallis Marinaris canyon, much larger and much deeper than the Grand Canyon on Earth.
But this very Christmas Eve
Santa came to say:
"Rudolph, now with Mars so bright,
You can stay at home tonight."


Several impact craters on the frozen plains...
Then all the reindeer teased him.
And they shouted out with glee:
"Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
Outsourced to astronomy."

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Winter wonderland

The weather has been icy, the winds piercing and the days dull, close, filled with quietness...


The trees are filled with frozen mist, white and beautiful to behold... who could imagine that the depth of winter has been reached, from now on the days lengthen and although they may grow even colder, the promise of spring emerges in the lengthening days.

I love this time of year, a point of rest and a time of quietness... the ice beckons, the cold wind chills and refreshes...

Keep well, be good...

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Different faces for different places

In the play of life, we are all actors in our own way...


Which mask do you wear, and when?

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A little inspiration

(Nicked from all over the place, leaving me feeling good...)




Our human mind says,
"Silence is emptiness; it is sheer emptiness and nothingness."
But our aspiring heart knows that silence
is the fullness and plenitude
of our Eternity's Height and Infinity's Light.




Silence gives us joy.
This is totally true.




The inner world
Is full of
Silence and beauty.




The outer world
Is full of
Sad misunderstanding.




Silence itself is joy.
This truth comes down
From the loftiest Heights.




The silence – room is not fierce--
It is all – loving
And all – protecting.




The silence of meditation
Is power beyond measure.



Keep well...

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An occupational hazard?

Don't go pushing your luck, OK?
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Christmas trivia

Little details that occasionally get overlooked...


Our christmas tree had it's own personal watchcat a year or two ago...


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See Me, Feel Me, Touch Me, Heal Me

Listening to "Tommy" The Rock Opera by The Who...


A different approach.
Still brilliant after almost 40 years... keep well.

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The streets

Cobbled roads and well-trodden paths between the places in which lives are lived out, for better or for worse. Sometimes I wonder what stories the streets could tell if they had the chance as, despite their coldness and indifference, the stones have been witness to much that affects the human condition.


Rain and shine, the bitterness of winter with harsh sleet-covered pavements and thick over-coats, the sweetness of spring when the world was renewed and the lovers strolled on, tending their illusions, the playing of children, growing up in the endless summers when the world seemed so small whilst the armies of their parents tramped off to do as they were ordered, the storms of autumn when the leaves were blown around in circles and the ragged people sought shelter in whichever way they could.

Comings and goings, horses and cars, trucks and bicycles passing by to attend to matters needed doing, bringing and fetching the necessities of daily life while the mothers cried and the fathers did as they were told, the silent streets and endless roads brought us back to where we came from.

If you listen quietly, you can still hear the echoes...

Keep well.

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The Fractal Forest

A fascinating image I found this afternoon, an intriguing synthesis of fractal art and cubism...


In the same way cubism disturbs the understanding of perspective, a fractal image also demands a re-examination of one's vantage point.

There's an expression in Dutch "not being able to see the woods for the trees" (= letting oneself be overloaded by details) which is an interesting parallel since the further one descends into the fractal forest, the less one is able to find one's way around in the larger scheme of things.

This post is dedicated to SzélsőFa, who has an everlasting love for trees, nature and the incessantly changing nature of life.

Keep well...

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Santa's little helpers

I suspect he's having some industrial relations problems...
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Progressions

Katie is progressing well at rhönrad gymnastics, doing her best to be prepared for the regional championships on January 5th next year. She's learned a couple of new routines and polished the ones she already knew.


We have a new trainer since a couple of months, one who is well able to bring out the better qualities in the participants and who is able to offer the encouragement needed at the right moments.


It's a difficult sport, requiring varying combinations of pysical fitness, agility, concentration and strength as well as just daring to take on new routines and moves. The children learn easily and quickly, I'm having much more difficulty since my need/wish to control my balance slows me down significantly.


Of course, some people who've been practising for years can offer the most wonderful demonstrations, there are quite a number nowadays who also make an entire show of their sport for the pleasure and amazement for all.


I love it... keep well...

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The circle closes

I can see you before me, I can hear the words you say and the feelings you need to express. I can understand your need, sense your desperation and appreciate your despair, and yet...


My world is so different to yours, I cannot understand or believe in the values you adhere to... the intersections between my existence and yours are diminishing daily in such a sad way, we can't talk and yet when we try we can't understand each other...


I wish our lives had been different, we started out with such high hopes and firm promises, none of which were able to resist the tide of "progress" and the cold indifference of personal realisation... I've done my utmost best, you have too in your own way but in the end it's not enough...


The bells peal for those who wish to listen, the last round has been sounded and the rites need to be performed to secure closure between now and whenever...


Keep well, be good...


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Sunrise

It takes just a few rays of light to dispell the darkness, the colours follow of their own accord...


Keep well.
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Applied geometry

Pythagoras would have been proud of me...
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Paradox

Why do I make life so difficult for myself?

The things I yearn for I actively ignore, I find so much triviality to fill the spaces of an overfull existence and then wonder why I lack freedom and feel frayed.


I once again need to look inside myself, listen to the silence and behold emptiness.

Keep well...

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