Ahh, summer!
So far we’ve had some extreme heat, some drought, some wildfire smoke (drifting hundreds of miles from Canada), some drenching rain, some very windy weather, and some beautiful 70-degree days here in the northeast United States.
Deep breath in.
Deep breath out.
My heart goes out to the humans, deer, woodchucks, trees, foxes, turkeys, cardinals, bushes, bears, bees, woodpeckers and all of the other animal and plant species affected by these extreme weather events.
Another deep breath in.
And deep breath out.
Very few media people pause to honor the havoc wreaked on wildlife by a flood or a wildfire.
There was some footage from the recent floods in Texas which showed a deer up to its neck in swirling waters…
But that’s all I saw about our non-human fellow species here on planet earth.
One more deep breath in.
And deep breath out.
I’ve been reading a memoir by the Jungian analyst and author Robert Johnson.
Some of the ideas in his book — such as archetypes — remind me of the conversations which Bill Moyers shared with Joseph Campbell back in the day…
So today’s Throwback Thursday links back to a short blog post featuring a mash-up recording of “The Lord Of The Dance” with “Simple Gifts” which I did many years ago.
Thank you to the generous photographers at Pixabay for these gorgeous photos of blooming lupines.
I have planted lupines — along with iris, echinacea and columbines — in front of our house.
But someone keeps nibbling them…
None of the plants are dead, but many of them are hanging on with only a few functional leaves.
Hopefully — as the song “The Lord Of The Dance” proclaims — they will eventually leap up high after having been cut down by woodchucks or deer or rabbits!
Until then I will keep watering (and weeding) them as needed.
Thank you to everyone who keeps showing up to read — and listen to — my blog posts.
I love how respectful the WordPress community continues to be with each other.
Even though we may not agree about many things, I have never seen any snarky, mean-spirited, or combative comments following one of my — or anyone else’s — blog posts.
A huge hurrah for that!
And one more deep breath in.
And one more deep breath out.
amusicalifeonplanetearth 
I enjoyed reading your Thursday throwback very much and your mashup recording, so creative. Your voice is like a beautiful ringing bell and suits the song. It led me to think about Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance. I had not made the connection before. I also enjoyed reading about Sydney Carter. Thank you for sharing it.
It is so sad about the fires. Like you say deep breath in, deep breath out. I think, so much, we as humans are accountable for deep breath in, deep breath out 😢🦌🐃🐿️🦫🦨🦔🐦🙏
Stay kind and caring as you always are.
Thank you, Morag! I enjoyed learning about Sydeny Carter, too. And then I learned more about Bill Moyers (he helped plan the route JFK and Jackie Kennedy’s motorcade took in Texas when JFK was killed — who knew?) and Joseph Campbell when I went to Wikipedia for biographical links. I remain empathetically curious about what happens to the wildlife during these vast and horrible (and sometimes SET by humans) wildfires — although part of me doesn’t want to know because it is probably quite sad. I think the burned koala bears in Australia may be the most widespread/long-lasting story in the media regarding how wildfires affect wildlife. And a bunch of human volunteers leaped in to help when that happened. Ah, humanity! One more deep breath in. And deep breath out.
I meant to say I really like Joseph Campbell’s work. …. I have a friend for life who is a trained environmentallist, nature reservist and volunteer firefighter. My goodness, what they go through 😱 but he loves it.
Bless your environmentalist, nature reservist and volunteer firefighter friend! And all of his peers, too!
💟
It is tragic what is happening to all the creatures on this planet. The wildfires are happening more often, and the weather is crazy.
Cool mashup of the two songs–it really worked well. You probably know this, and I haven’t seen it yet, but there was a musical movie that came out last year, The Testament of Ann Lee.
I heard about that movie (maybe it starred the talented woman who also has played the daughter in the Mamma Mia movies?) but have not yet seen it… Thank you for listening and reading and commenting (yet again)!!!!
You’re welcome, Will!
What an unexpected Gift To Be Simple/Lord of the Dance! Sort of like John Cage meets Joseph Campbell and hip hop with a side of disco feel. 🙂 Love that minimalist Gift To Be Simple section… This has long been one of my favorite songs for both its melody and message. I’m leaving a link to an old favorite version below, (opera singer Benjamin Luxon and folksinger Bill Crofut ) just for fun.
I just watched the video. That is a lovely, collaborative rendition of these two songs. And hurrah for encouragement from the stage for everyone to join in singing as the spirit moved them!
There really are some nice people in this world and a lot of them are on WordPress.
Yes, indeed!!!
It certainly has been a nasty summer, weather wise. Like you, we’ve had it all here. Today is beautiful. Sunny and fresh with no imminent weather warnings. I’ll take it while we can.
I enjoyed listening to the mashup. “The Lord of the Dance” continues to stir up strong feelings. We sing it in our choir at church and there are people who are quite vocal about it being irreverent and inappropriate. And others who love it. 🤷♀️
I think the man who wrote TLOTD said that he was surprised it became so popular. Perhaps he was anticipating some of the backlash your describe regarding its reverence and appropriateness…
Will, you need to read the children’s picture book, Miss Rumphius, by Barbara Cooney. Your library will have it. She was the lupine lady. It’s a wonderful and true story. I know what you mean about the wildlife in the forest fires. The press never has a report. Keep watering and weeding. I will, too!
I will order it from the Minuteman Network!
Please let me know how you like the book.
It turns out there is an extensive entry in Wikipedia about this book!
I’m not surprised. Whatever Wikipedia says, there’s nothing like reading the book. Your library will have it.
Try putting cayenne pepper on the soil around the lupines. Nibblers hate it and it doesn’t hurt the plant. 👌
Aha! I will buy a big container of it at the grocery store and try this out. Thank you!
I got rid of the stubbornest red squirrel in the world this way. 👌
We have very fesity red squirrels here. Very good to know!
Haha, I don’t know about where you are, but in California a red squirrel can’t be killed or even trapped and moved without a permit. Until I found out about the cayenne it laid my little patio garden to waste on a regular basis. After its first whiff of pepper I never saw it again 👌☺️
I love that you have a patio garden — now protected by cayenne pepper from hungry red squirrels!
Had a patio garden. No garden now ~ van life.
A more nomadic life…
Not really. A targeted individual cannot stray far unless she wishes to become immobile in an isolated area due to EMP attack or vandalism. I drive the same few blocks every day, just like everyone else. I can make sure I have trees to look at through my windows, however, and a patch of sky.
I am glad you are able to find trees and a patch of sky on a regular basis.
Midtown Sacramento is beautiful for that!
In-out-live!!!