Yule-mas...2014...

("Father and son and their dog collecting a tree in the forest"; Artist: F. Kruger Vorweihnacht, 1797-1857) 

December of 2014 is nearing its end. Where does the time go? As I grow older I find myself asking that question more often. Sitting here at my keyboard I am beginning this much over do post in...well, not so much a reflective state of mind. I find myself thinking in terms of where I am. Today. In this moment. Trying to balance personal difficulties with things that I'm thankful for. With the last bit of spin on the wheel of the year, in these final days of the 365 we begin each January 1st, I strive to live...to be in the moment...and to face the future. Not to predict it, or worry about it...just to face it. It will be what I make of it. No, I can't foresee what is to come, but I can live in a way that shapes things. We all dance to a tune of our own making. Positive, or negative. Half full, or half empty. It really is just that simple.

Yule came and went. I sensed the great battle between the two kings as I toiled in the mine (I refer to my job as the 'mine'). The reigning Oak king was set upon by the Holly King, just as he is every year. The Winter Solstice marks the spot. The cold months have officially begun, and the Holly King has begun his reign. 

Christmas began months before the official date at the mine. Customers were even snatching up decorations and baking supplies well before they were needed. Ah, the commercial machine that is Christmas. It's not for me, really. I did put up a tree. The only tree we have, which is an inexpensive fake one. Anymore, I am strongly opposed to the notion of buying a dead tree to put in my living room. Trees are one of my favorite things. I prefer to observe them in nature. 

Glenn and I did exchange gifts. He gave me an electronic drawing pad that works with Photoshop. It's what I wanted, and I look forward to playing with it. I also was able to cook a nice dinner. My hands have been quite painful these last few weeks, so I wasn't quite sure if I would be able to handle cooking. I toughed it out and baked a nice ham. I see plenty of sandwiches in my immediate future.

I can see the difference in the outside world. The marsh has shifted from a vibrant green to the browns of dry dormancy. No snow is ever seen (at least not in the six or so years I have lived on the marshes banks), but there is a beautiful graying of things that takes place. A moody dullness. Rain is always in ready supply, and the past week hasn't disappointed. This particular wave of rain was accompanied by something that I love whenever it graces the marsh. Fog. Heavy fog. Some might even call it 'pea soup'.

These pictures are of spots along the marsh banks that I photograph frequently. The bank of Spanish Moss covered trees giving way to the sometimes muddy/sometimes wet marsh grassland that stretches to the Bull River and beyond to the causeway that leads to Tybee island. What can also be seen from the spot above is the Bull River Bridge, and the Bull River Yacht Club. This Yule morning everything was absent. Shrouded in a veil of fog. No 'thunk-thunk' of tires as cars crossed the bridge. No dull hum of boats cutting through the river's surface. Just a cottony quiet touched with the dull erratic drip of moisture collected on leaves, and the occasional call of a heron. Sublime.

From these two views of the dock remains (above and below) the bridge and yacht club are usually visible. Looking out at the wall of white felt like being cut off from the rest of the world. Like being in limbo. Not necessarily an eerie feeling. I would describe it as more of a 'dreamy' feeling. Calm and surreal. I really love the fog. Wish it would visit more often.

The holiday season has had me busy at the mine, so I am exhausted by the time I reach home. As a result, it took longer than I would have liked to post some of the photos of the final Full Moon of 2014, the Gemini Moon of December 6th. The conditions were perfect with a certain amount of cloud cover, and an amber haze that encircled the shining satellite.

Full Moon In Gemini...December 6, 2014...

 (http://fineartamerica.com/featured/gemini-from-zodiac-series-dorina-costras.html)

The last Full Moon for 2014 is here, and it is in the sign of Gemini. This cycle is going to be ‘fire’ and ‘air’ sign dominant. The holiday season is always filled with time spent in the company of our family and friends. An urge to party usually goes hand and hand with this time of year, and 2014 will be no different. There are some things to be conscious of though…

I’ll start off with the good. As a creative person myself, I am happy to say that Gemini represents (among other things) creativity. This Moon being in Gemini means that creative energy is abundantly available, especially to writers. Don’t be surprised if you are inundated with creative ideas. Any blockages you might have been experiencing will most likely be removed. Maybe even think of a collaboration as the Sun and Ceres conjoin Mercury…all three in the sign of Sagittarius. Sharing your ideas with others could have some positive results.

There is a troublemaker about. An Arian Uranus that is trine to the Sagittarian Sun/Mercury conjunction, and sextile the Gemini Moon. Add that Uranus is square Pluto in Capricorn, and you could have your hands full. The potential for mischief is not as distressing as the potential fallout. Blunt feelings and opinions will be delivered unimpeded by the deliverer’s mental filters. In other words, exercising tact is the best way to go. Extra effort will need to be made to avoid hurting the feelings of others.

(Artist: David Palladini)

Jupiter in Leo will be trine Venus in Sagittarius. There is great potential to extend your finances beyond their limits. As much as the holidays make us want to give those we love a special gift, leave extravagance by the curb. Shopping on a budget is strongly advised. Focus on spending what you can.

Positive practices are important for this Yule season. Be kind and use tact. Be aware that others may not strive to use the same tact with you, so keep your head calm. Relax. Laugh. Love. 

If there are terms in the above that you are unfamiliar with, here is a link to a great online astrological dictionary:  http://www.evolvingdoor.ca/glossary/glossary.htm

The following excerpt is from the Farmer's Almanac:

• The Full Cold Moon; or the Full Long Night's Moon ~ December: During this month the winter cold fastens its grip, and nights are at their longest and darkest. It is also sometimes called the Moon before Yule. The term Long Night Moon is a doubly appropriate name because the midwinter night is indeed long, and because the Moon is above the horizon for a long time. The midwinter Full Moon has a high trajectory across the sky because it is opposite a low Sun.

Everything Is Not Black & White...But Sometimes It Should Be...

The marsh. My little corner of Gaia that acts as one of my creative muses. I photograph it frequently, documenting it's moods and seasonal changes. Whether being drenched in rain pouring from a grumbling and lightning riddled sky, or being caressed gently by the lazy breezes of an autumnal dusk, it always exudes a serene and magical vibe of centered calm. Many a time I have walked the shores of my marsh here on the Georgia coast. Many a time I have been swept up by the soothing breath of Gaia to feel the comforting embrace of the swaying marsh grasses, the trees, the herons probing the mud of the marsh floor for food, and the hawks riding thermals overhead. To feel nature all around you is the most incredible feeling. I hold the belief that everything is connected. Every living thing is connected by a strong thread of energy. With the trials of everyday life it can make us forget that...it can make us slip into a state of disconnect. Going out my front door, camera in hand, is my way of reconnecting.

Now that I have been promoted to full time at the mine my opportunities for evening strolls have diminished. When a chance presents itself I grab it with both hands. Especially since Autumn is here in all of her moody glory. A couple of evenings ago just such a chance arose, so I didn't hesitate to grab the digital and walk out into the fresh air. Even though I head out without a plotted course in mind I do visit some of the same spots. They may be repeat visits, but I always see something new or see things in a different way. The grasses of the marsh while once bright green and standing tall, are now colored with the browns and mustard yellows of the changing temperatures. They are heading towards the approaching days of dormancy and death that are inevitable for the time of renewal and rebirth several months off.

The cicada's song once dominated the air here, but this walk was different. It was quieter. The whisper of the gentle breezes in the drying leaves and abundant Spanish moss could be heard. The rustle of unseen creatures in the flora could be heard. The low murmur of voices coming from nearby condos could be heard. All forms of nature existing and moving along in rhythm. All a part of the thread.

The light level was waning during my walk...which is a common component of dusk. *grin* As things grow darker, and shadows form and grow lengthier, the world looks different. The mood I have repeatedly mentioned steps forward more. The beauty of things shifts. The absence of strong color forces a different perspective. When I returned home and uploaded my pictures I hung onto that thought of the color of the marshes not being as prevalent. I took things even farther and did something I really haven't done with my photos. Usually I like to mess with some of the pictures I take by playing with color, and applying different effects (switching them into negative, etc.). This time I took color out of the mix and went for black and white.

(The docks remains ~ a photography haunt of mine)

This was the first of the photos that I converted. My first observation was how it made me see more of the shape and the line of the image's elements. It was as if things were laid bare and shown in their simplest form. Then what came through made things more abstract. The grey. The component that really brought in the mood. A different mood. Different than the mood of color, but not off-putting. Quite the opposite. I really dig what black and white does for these images because it feels 'right' for the time the photos were taken. New sides of the marsh I have grown to know well.

All of the things represented in these photos are things I have photographed before. Autumns past have been documented in pictures, but these are the first images that I have laid bare. As I mentioned earlier, things or places I have photographed always seem to present something fresh or new to me when I revisit them. This is yet another perspective to observe them. Another way to view the beauty of Mother Earth.

I'm a bit surprised that I hadn't ventured into the area of "B&W" photography before now...there will definitely be more to come...

(The marsh expanse I never tire of)

(Old stump near the dock remains)

(Pampas grass)

(Bird house in a Dogwood tree along the tidal creek - one I've photographed in leafier times)

(Some nuts from one of the trees - not sure which)

(A couple of our neighbor's homes on the other side of the tidal creek behind our condo - the tide is out)