Some More Musings From The Marsh...

Summer in Savannah. Humidity so thick you can almost poke a hole in it. Any time I walk outside I feel like I'm immersing myself in the air. It envelops me. I can feel it move around me and conform to my bodies shape. A moderately hot day in the low 80's can feel like 100+. When I moved to the west coast around 1987, I was glad to leave the moist humidity of the deep south and relocate to the dry air of California. I didn't miss the humidity, but there were things that I did miss. Seasonal change, for one. I am a worshipper of the Fall. I say it frequently in my blog posts, but if I had my way we would have autumnal weather all year round. The crispness in the air, the colors, and the vibe...the vibe is the thing. Then there was the other major loss I experienced. Rain.

The humidity heralds the rain. Do we get rain every day? No. (Most days, though.) However, we do get predictions of rain on a daily basis. Our local weather people deliver their forecasts each day, and they usually end things with at least a 30% chance of thundershowers. It is very common for the sky to be sunny and blue one moment, then turn grey and 'flashy' the next. Then...back to sunny and blue. I dig it. Just wish the stormy periods outweighed the sunny ones.

Our section of the Atlantic coast can get breathtakingly moody. The clouds are abstract and beautiful. It may sound strange, but it's almost as if the sky is bigger here. Maybe it's the humidity. Maybe that's what creates those mesmerizing clouds. The shapes, the color variations, and how quickly they move. One of my favorite forms of meditation is to watch the clouds.

Then there are the storm fronts. I felt so lucky to catch photographs of the first front I had the pleasure to see. That was about five years ago. I have caught several since, and they never lose their magic. A thick, cottony blanket being pulled out to the ocean. My vantage point for each sighting is by my marsh. There is always a soothing breeze blowing the spanish moss tendrils around. We have spanish moss on all of the trees here. Adds to the magic of this place. The breezes carry the scent of rain on the way. So sublime. More than once I have been caught in a sudden downpour, and arrive home soaked to the skin...and it's a short walk. I don't mind at all. I love the rain.

I took the above shot of the last storm front I caught about a week ago. Normally I would be waving off a heavy onslaught of mosquitoes, but the breezes preceding the rain were keeping them away. I did see another form of life though.

I was standing there looking out at the view. Beautiful storm front. Soothing breeze. Other than the trees rustling and the wind blowing past me it was pretty quiet. Then I noticed something swimming in my direction.

I see a furry creature of some sort swimming to the bank a few feet away from me. All I see above the water is the upper two-thirds or so of their face, the eyes and pointy little ears bobbing side to side as it swam along. Then I see its eyes move in my direction. I just stand there. I've got no problem with a marsh dweller coming to shore to search for food, have a visit with the feral cats...whatever. Well, once it saw me it did an about face and headed back to the cover of the marsh grass. I was a bit disappointed, but que sera. I assume it to have been an otter. They are one of the many different critters that live around here. The encounter...or should I say 'near' encounter...was pretty funny. I *snerked*.

Shifting gears a bit, I'm going to switch to the beautiful Full "Super" Moon of July 12th. (I'm working on re-energizing my blog, and have a few things to catch up on...one of those things being my usual photography/musings posts.)

I love seeing each Full Moon by the marsh. There are a number of residents out here that pile everyone into the car and head over to the beach at Tybee to see the Super Moons rise, but I haven't made the trip. On the one hand I would love to see the Full Moon from my favorite beach, Tybee's north beach. On the other hand, I don't want to have to fight people for a parking space. Tybee is very small, so the parking is limited. There is also only one way on and off the island. I call it the "land bridge", but if mentioned out loud around a certain person I live with who happens to be a Savannah native, I will be corrected as it is the "causeway". Whatever moniker one wishes to use, it is a good road for traffic. I don't relish sitting in traffic on a road that is two lanes most of the way. I lived in Los Angeles for roughly eighteen years, so I've had my fill of traffic. Anyway, I may bite the proverbial bullet and head over for one of the future Super Moons or some other lunar bit of magic. For now I'll just stick with watching the magic from the bank of my marsh.

Pictures just don't do this last Full Moon justice. I plan on getting a camera in the not too distant future that is better suited for night photography. I have finally finished paying the tax man (*grumble, grumble*), so I have funds again. Wee! That being said, I do like some of the abstract shots I get with this digital camera of Glenn's. In the above and below shots you can see the line of headlamps coming from Tybee...the traffic I mentioned before. Yes, I could be like all of those motorists, sitting in my car and sighing about the traffic. Instead, I was standing by the pond here in the condos...it overlooks the marsh. Such a beautiful view. I did take a bit of video of the rising Moon as seen from the pond area. It would have provided audio of the many frogs living there. Unfortunately, the video...well, it sucked, so I decided not to post it. *snerk* You could also hear the occasional smack of my hand dispatching one of the little bloodsuckers (mosquitoes) dive bombing me. (I had so many bites on my right arm I looked like I had measles...of the arm.)

Today is the New Moon for July. As I mentioned earlier, I am re-booting my blog. My Full Moon posts have resumed, and I will be starting my New Moons posts soon...but not with this one. I will most likely mention aspects of it in a blog post for tomorrow...which is my Birthday. Before I start in about that I'm going to sign off here and save it for tomorrow.

Cheers...

Full Moon In Capricorn...July 12, 2014...

(Artist:  Stephanie Pui-Mun Law)

Super Moon. A moniker tied to those full sightings of Luna when she is the closest to the Earth (the technical term being ‘perigee’). This also means that this Full Moon in the sign of Capricorn, is in direct opposition to the Sun in the sign of Cancer. ‘Balance’ is a major theme here. All Full Moons (and this type of Moon especially) are all about putting issues in bright focus whether you have been purposefully brushing them aside to deal with them later, or have forgotten about them. Professional and personal matters and wants need equilibrium, and this is a good time to work on restoring a balance.

The Capricorn (Earth element) Full Moon brings several key themes into the process: the practical versus the physical; your responsibility and integrity in conjunction with the personal and professional; everything as it relates to the long-term as Capricorn is a cardinal mode sign and carries a lot of spirited energy with it. Most have heard the old saying “where there’s a will, there’s a way”…with the abundant energy accompanying this Moon, if you apply yourself you have the potential to achieve or master anything. Patient Capricorn is all about logic…focus on your goal and put the work into it. Hard work can be rewarded with fruits of your labors.

This lunation holds a Grand Cross with the Capricorn Full Moon, Sun in Cancer, Arian South Node, Libran North Node, and Libran Mars. Don’t sweat this one as it’s low-key. There is only one reappearance here and it’s from Mars. There is nothing to really acknowledge as Mars is just passing through on its way to Ceres in Libra. If anything this Grand Cross might help to add some more clarity to issues that were over looked in April. Reinforcing the hard work angle is Saturn (Capricorn’s ruler) trine the Sun, and sextile the Moon. The Grand Cross makes sure all parties in any given issue are acknowledged and heard.

With Mars, Ceres, and North Node all in Libra, they can only help enhance Capricorn as they are both cardinal signs. This trifecta can also hang with the Capricorn-Cancer axis to make things cohesive. Libra’s qualities of fairness and working well with others will help bring out the best. The Arian South Node would like to isolate, but the North Node pulls it into the mix. Individuality has its place and that should be acknowledged, but try to find the strength in teamwork, especially if family is involved.

During this Full Moon cycle emotions could be extremely charged. Try your best to stay grounded, and allow the process to work the way it is intended to. There may be more than one issue pertaining to both physical parent(s), and the inner mother/father. Patience is key here with the potential emotional roller coaster. You are not only responsible for your physical well-being you are also responsible for your mental and emotional well-being. The issues that bubble up do so for a reason. Not only do they show themselves to make you aware of them, they can also provide insight and teach you important lessons. If an emotionally charged subject presents itself own it. Own the feelings. These lunar cycles help present issues that can help us adapt, heal, and even alter the path we take forward.

Jupiter in Cancer and Mercury in Gemini are getting ready to enter the next sign. A semi-sextile between them will bring a sense of closure. Something that has been hanging in the balance is about to come to an end. By the time of the next lunation Jupiter will be in Leo, as well as the New Moon, with Mercury in Cancer. Expect some charged issues to mellow.

(Artist: David Palladini)

Saturn is inconjunct Arian Uranus, and sextile Pluto in Capricorn. Don’t be surprised (or alarmed) if some issues from months past pop up again. Keep things real and all should be well.

There is a trine between Ceres-Mars in Libra and Venus in Gemini. This bodes very well for romance. It’s a good time to show the one you love how you feel.

You may have to make some tough choices, but with all of the constructive energy around the potential for weathering the storm is great. Keep your head up and don’t let emotions get the best of you. Moving forward may seem daunting at times, but rest assured that those moments shall pass. Be open to teamwork, and allow the collective to help you make some transitions. Express yourself and allow others to do the same.

Don't know the meaning of some of the terms in this post? This link will take you to a great online astrology dictionary: http://www.evolvingdoor.ca/glossary/glossary.htm

The following excerpt is from the Farmer's Almanac:

• The Full Buck Moon: July is normally the month when the new antlers of buck deer push out of their foreheads in coatings of velvety fur. It was also often called the Full Thunder Moon, for the reason that thunderstorms are most frequent during this time. Another name for this month's Moon was the Full Hay Moon.