Swan Sanctuary

There has been a reckoning happening in our world for the past several years. All manner of disasters have been taking place in order to wake up our collective consciousness. The terrible crimes that have been committed against our fellow man (and even against our own family members) the corruption in our government, the lies we have told ourselves, and the truths that we refuse to see, are being exposed bit by bit. For the past four years, an evil force has occupied our White House. By himself, Trump isn’t much of a threat; but those who follow and support him, who are driven by the same hatred, and who have no moral compass, are a threat not only to our democracy, but to our entire planet. These people, coupled with the pandemic in which we find ourselves in the midst of, are a symptom of the disease that has infiltrated the human species. The fate of human life – and of all life – lies in our ability to awaken to, and make amends for the wrongs that we have allowed to continue. 

We have made some great strides in exposing the truth, but only time will tell if we have done enough to reverse our descent into the great abyss. Several generations have hid behind the deceit of christianity, making their weekly trek to Sunday services to show their neighbors that they are good, while raping their daughters, their sons, or their slaves during the week. Priests used their sacred disguise to hide the hideous sexual abuse of their congregants’ sons’. These things were never, ever talked about. Later, when Boy Scouts of America was founded and parents believed they were doing right by their boys, we have since learned, had become a cover for deviant, homeosexual behavior by its leaders. There was incest in families where lies were harbored for decades, or taken to the grave. The movie, August-Osage County, which aired in 2013, brought home the reality of trauma caused to children and other family members, when those lies begin to fester. In a more recent drama, Uncle Frank, we see the often devastating repercussions of ignorant attitudes towards gays. Many excellent movies have been made, where superb acting brings home the atrocities committed to blacks, native Americans, and Jews – by white supremacists, by redneck cowboys, and by dictatorships. Movies have supplanted the tradition of storytelling; which, unlike a news story, can touch people at the heart level. 

Grown men are still suffering from having fought in useless wars; then coming home to live hollow, empty lives. We still have murderers, sexual predators on the loose, poronography, and underground slave trades; but the truth is slowly being revealed. Alcoholism and drug addiction are a symptom of the spiritual cancer that pervades our world. Many of these people drink or self-medicate because they were victims of the aforementioned crimes that were committed against them. Their pain is too great. Often, they commit suicide.

This is the world that my great-grandchildren are being born into. They cannot see the beauty that once existed here because the previous generations have destroyed it. If we wake up before it is too late, we can teach them to have awe and reverence for our planet and for each other. This time of reckoning is our last hope to set the human race (and all life) on the path to recovery. Are you willing to make the necessary changes, for the future of those children?

If you have grown up with it, or if you have lived in the heart of a large city, possibly in an apartment building, you may not be bothered by noise. A few people have been fortunate to have grown up in the country where neighbors were close enough to be neighborly, but far enough away to not become intrusive. Some, like me, did not discover the immense peace of silence until later in life.

I was like most teenagers when I was young. I would hide out in my bedroom and play my music loudly in order to drown out the drone of the TV, which my stepfather always had tuned to sports, or news. Our neighbors were not particularly noisy; but the din of traffic on the highway that was situated only about ten yards from our home, was at times deafening. Noise pollution has multiplied exponentially over the past fifty years. There are millions more people piled on top of one another in cities, trying to drown out noise from their neighbors. It is exacerbated by the many things which have become part of our modern life. Human beings have always lived in groups – in towns, cities, and communities – but there were far fewer ways to get on one another’s nerves. There may be safety in numbers, but not necessarily, peace. It is possible that in times past, people were generally more respectful of their neighbors. 

Today, we have a nearly infinite number of noisy sources in smaller and smaller areas; and we are crowded together in often the worst kinds of situations. There is of course, the ever present array of sounds made by automobiles, like the flapping of tires hitting pavement on the highway, the powerful engine noise of tractor trailers, and the rumble of motorcycles.This is compounded by the shriek of sirens that is nearly constant in big cities, and the blast of trains as they barrel through railroad crossings. In the more dangerous sections of large cities, the sound of gunshots is not uncommon. The number of domestic dogs has increased along with our human population, giving rise to often raucous and incessant barking. The frequent hum of lawnmowers and string trimmers in summer, and snowblowers in winter, are often accompanied by our numerous industrial machines, like jackhammers and power saws. Added to that, are our many household appliances like blenders and electric toothbrushes. There is also the music that is everywhere. It can be booming from our neighbors’ windows or shaking the ground from the automobile outside our window, driven by a teenager who has the bass turned all the way up. It can be any of multiple genres, from rock to reggae, to country, classical, or rap, to name only a few. The majority of homes, restaurants, and stores have some kind of music playing day in and day out. They also have at least one television that is tuned to any of hundreds of channels, or streaming a movie, or a YouTube video. When people are not texting on their phones, they are often engaging in conversations, adding to the ever present hum that pervades our world of sound.

One hundred and fifty years ago, neighbors were appreciated, since they often lived some distance away. The constant need to shut out or drown out our neighbors, did not exist. Headphones are becoming more common these days; but in closing off the sounds of the neighbors around us, we also close off the sounds of life itself. I surround myself in the quiet to the extent that I am able to. I hear the blue jay’s call when it comes to snatch up the peanuts I set out for him each morning. I can hear the distress calls of my chickens whenever a stray cat turns up in their yard. Sometimes when I lay awake at night, I listen to the various creaks and groans that this house makes, whenever the furnace or the water heater cycles on. I find these sounds comforting because any slight alteration to these sounds alerts me to possible danger. Too much noise causes me anxiety. I have come to crave the quiet, knowing that like water, it is one of my basic needs. And, I prefer to keep my neighbors at a comfortable distance, where we can each honor our personal space.

There has been a flurry of talk in the news these past couple of days, about the soon to be available COVID19 vaccine. It seems strange that three different companies have created their “miracle” vaccine within weeks of one another. I respect the field of science. It has taught us much about the world we live in. I draw the line; however, when science is used in an attempt to control our world. Most scientists refuse to admit that nature is infinitely smarter than we are. Every time a vaccine is created to fight a virus, the virus mutates and becomes immune to the poison that has been made to eradicate it. Every time an herbicide or pesticide is developed, to wage war on an invasive species, that species evolves an immunity to it. Dangerous drugs continue to be pushed onto the unsuspecting public, to treat the symptoms of an underlying cause. When “side effects” are encountered, creating more symptoms, another drug is forced upon the patient who has placed all of his or her hope in the doctor’s prescribed medications. It is a merry-go-round from which millions cannot escape. I strongly suspect that COVID19 did not exist naturally in our world; but that it was brought about as a natural response from a previous vaccine that was meant to stop a different virus. Perhaps it was created purposely, to be used in the world’s endless conflicts. 

There is discussion about who should get the vaccine first, after it is made available. Most agree that those working in the medical field, first responders, and law enforcement should have priority. I was surprised; though, that they believe those people in nursing homes should be the next recipients of the vaccine. Really? These people are already on their way out the door of life. Does it not make more sense (if in fact, the vaccine actually made a difference) to offer it to those who must work, and who have families to support, and who can still contribute to society? The problem is that there are a large number of elderly people these days, whether in nursing homes or not, who contribute to the largest amount of revenue for the drug companies and the medical entities. They want to prolong the lives of the senior population for as long as possible because it puts money in their pockets. Just like funeral homes, they prey on the emotions of loved ones. I find it disturbing that each fall I see signs in front of pharmacies offering free flu shots. Do they make this offer because they know that the shots will actually make people sick and send them running to the doctor for more drugs?

I strongly believe that wearing masks, social distancing, and practicing good hygiene is the best preventative measure that we can undertake; but vaccines serve only to compromise the immune systems of those who are already in a state of poor health. We can only hope that one day soon, the world will wake up to the lies it has been told; and all will refuse to be a guinea pig any longer, for those scientists who seek to control, rather than to understand our world.

We are officially three weeks away from winter; but with an expected high of only 36°F today, we are already in the throes of its relentless cold. To many people, 36°F is not that cold. Those who revel in winter sports and whose core temperatures hover slightly higher than normal, are not deterred by the cold; but for the gardener, the endlessly frigid days are bleak. My cat refuses to accompany me now when I go out to let the chickens out of their coop in the mornings, or tuck them in at night. In fact, most domestic animals that have been provided an indoor life, prefer our creature comforts, when given a choice. Cold weather has never agreed with me and the only thing I love more than immersing myself in a warm bath, is feeling the warmth of the sun on my back – or on my front or legs or arms. Now that I am old, I find that I must wrap my lower half in a blanket, whenever I am sitting for a period of time. 

Our sun, like our planet, has been under appreciated. It is often taken for granted; but every living thing on our Earth would cease to exist if our sun were to burn itself out. It is easy to overlook the miracle of life when we are caught up in doing, rather than being. The fact that we exist at all, is a miracle. Still, many humans believe themselves to be the center of the universe. They wish to control their own world and everyone else’s world. They live in illusion, causing themselves and others unnecessary suffering. When we learn, as Eckhart Tolle reminds us, to “accept the unacceptable”, we give up the need to control. Instead of trying to remove the iceberg that is blocking our way, we can simply move aside and allow the sun to melt obstacles that stand in our path. Ralph Waldo Emerson advised, “Let us take our bloated nothingness out of the path of the divine circuits”. All we need to do is to look up at our beautiful, amazing sun, and give thanks.

The final line in the following poem by 13th century poet, Shirazi Saadi, is well known.

 “If, of thy mortal goods, thou art bereft,

And from thy slender store two loaves alone to thee are left,

Sell one, and from the dole

Buy hyacinths to feed the soul.”

It seems that human beings have an insatiable need for flowers. Even at this dreary time of year, when most plants have gone dormant, we find ways to surround ourselves with them. My three Christmas cactus are beginning to bloom. The original one, given to me by a dear friend who has passed away, is always the first to bloom. I have a white cactus as well, and one that blooms with yellow flowers which fade to a pretty peach. Various shades of red amaryllis are blooming in pots and paperwhites are filling our rooms with fragrance. For those who cannot resist them, spring bulbs like hyacinths and tulips have been forced into early bloom indoors. Homes are being decorated with greenery and the fresh scent of pine. Bright holly berries shine like jewels among the branches of green wreaths. The tiny white berries of mistletoe are hung over our heads, inviting tender kisses.

The plant kingdom has provided us with an endless number of species, of trees, shrubs, flowers, and berries. Our lives depend on them. Flowers are produced for the purpose of creating the next generation. Butterflies, moths, bees, hummingbirds, and some bat species rely on flowers for food; and the flowers depend on them to spread the pollen, ensuring the survival of their species. They coexist together in perfect harmony. We depend on plants too, but only a few flowers are edible. Flowers feed that part of us that is not physical. Flowers feed our soul and a satiated soul, is a happy soul.