Cathartes Aura Rex

Summer smolders speeding decay
and the smell of death rides a gale force

summer’s sauna sears the earth
far faster than the heavens
the differential temperature
silently spins thermals
whereupon they sail supreme
janitors aground
regal on the wing
tasting death in the air
living live as they dare

Deception Illuminated

I am amazed by so many small wonders that for me to admit being especially mesmerized by a phenomenon speaks volumes of that phenomenon. Dew formation is just such a wonder.

For me, dew symbolizes the most pure aspects of nature. Pure water condensed from the air as if by magic -- coalescing, adhering and illuminating whatever it touches, often refracting multiple images of what is graced with its proximity.
Beads of crystal innocence held intact by surface tension – the dew drop both the container and the contained. Sunday morning, compelled by almost perfect light and a early morning misty rain, I set out to look for photo opportunities. Nothing specific in mind other than the chance to catch a good shot of a dew drop on a blade of grass, or maybe captured on a flower petal

I soon discovered the added benefit of dew’s properties of adherence and refraction. Things hidden are sometimes revealed. On this particular morning it was beads of dew adhering to spider silk.

The varying size droplets affixed to the webs reminded me of the intricate diamond woven headpieces – something worn by Thracian or Nubian princesses. The web’s proved the perfect medium for condensation. The fine cool fibers collecting equally fine droplets.

Crawling about, water soaking my knees through my jeans, I discovered how easy it was to locate wolf spider tunnels. The dew drops accentuated the tunnel openings I wondered if the spider’s stealth was defeated or enhanced

The tunnel openings were so obvious to me -- would the openings be as obvious to the spider's intended prey, or would the beauty of the diamond beaded tunnels prove mesmerizing enough to lure them closer for a better look perhaps even tempting them to jiggle the web to create multiple images of themselves in the refracting droplest – the vibration signaling the spider to enjoy a distracted but aesthetically pleased meal.

La nature du chat

La nature du chat détermine le sort du lizard

la nature n'est pas toujours bénigne,

mais la nature est toujours beau

même si, parfois, la beauté de la nature est tragique

What's Real (fun)

One has to be careful of how they sleep and sometimes, more importantly, how they awaken. I slept alright, like a baby, in fact, but I was careless in my awakening. So careless that I awoke in another dimension

Fortunately for me, it was a diagonal rather than a parallel universe. It is quite well established that parallels travel infinitely without intersecting, while a diagonal slants and though being at a slant can put one off balance, the saving grace is that you will eventually slide safely back to your home reality.











This reality wasn’t so bad as alternate realities go. Despite some inconsistency in physical and other laws, the occupants were mostly polite and good natured, though a bit odd.







Besides the occasional shepherdess, who didn’t seem at all put out by the absence of her sheep, there were entities seemingly dumped here from across the megaverse . Perhaps some cosmic singularity was responsible for skewed awakenings across several dimensions.

After coming to similar conclusions as I, this demon from a Rasta based universe managed to affect a most excellent “chill”.

It quickly became apparent that this “Eeyore” entity was the focal point of the cosmic disturbance. Beings from distant reaches of the megaverse were compelled to pay obeisance or some other ritual intended to give his some cheer.

I wasn’t the only visitor intent on chronicling the phenomena for posterity.

An otherworldly elf stopped to chat

A stag not partying stag

A troll with a pole

A swashbuckler just in case a swash needed buckling

A “universal” health care system – it was all beginning to seem so much more civilized than “reality”

even "uni"versal transportation -- no emissions

pixies and sprites

of all ages and sizes but of the same sweetness

And so many had wings

flight must be a common place in many of their worlds

A little disgruntlement over lost wings

walking flowers, witches

and a tigger or two

Even a swine flu in

It was such a colorful gathering and so noble a cause that it was almost a shame to eventually slide back down my diagonal slide to a universe where things are more predictable but I wonder sometimes just how far off these worlds are and how much magic remains in each at all times
all in all

a good day

more dancing

Wizards,

Dieties

Why not fools

?

We are a little of each whenever we shake it

well, lookie here, I've found the dance floor

Irie Study

Lest I be accused of misanthropy, given my penchant for exploring and recounting Gaia’s non-human natural wonders -- behold, a post devoted to one of the most norml wonders of nature

Camera in one hand brew in the other I set out to chronicle Homo Sapien We be Jamminus in their natural habitat:

Reggae fest!

I could claim that this was a purely Anthropological adventure
But like one of my idols Margaret Mead I tended toward going native.
I do love me some reggae and the illusion of regression to a more tribal past --
perhaps there was even a bit of nostalgia for portions of my misspent youth)

One of the wonders of Austin and of Reggae is its ability to bridge divides -- young in body / young at heart black with white and brown

And red

The seemed to be a lot of red perhaps red just stands out when it stands up.

As I said, natural "what could be more NORML"

I stuck with beer but there were more exotic liquid libations in silly containers. I meant to snag one to use as a vase for my gladiolas

And food – OMG there was food you could see the primal beast in many exhibited through their choice of snacks

a manly fistful

Oh well, primal hunger knows no gender

There were symbols of support
of worthy causes

And just plain old support

And of course
No spiritual festival
Can be consider complete

Until

The wizard dances
and dance he did

(Apparently performing the horizontal bop)