This haunting photo of the ocean is a total mystery. I don’t remember where or when I snapped it, but it’s intense.
I can certainly relate. I’m working on the shadowy crevices between total darkness and the love and positivity that shines a light into the murky gloom.
Embrace and make peace with our shadow side with a lot of love and self compassion.
Back when the original Angel Boy began to walk and talk, my default response when the “I’m bored, I have nothing to do” complaints started, has always been, “Go read a book.”
Now I do the same thing to the grandkids, especially Angel Boy 2.0 who has become a wonderful reader.
Recently we were in a baseball card shop and he was TAKING LITERALLY FOREVER to look at cards and decide which ones he wanted to buy and figure out how much of HIS money he was willing to spend and how much he could get from me. That scenario brought up happy deja vu memories of his parsimonious dad at the same age. The thrifty apple didn’t fall too far from THAT tree, haha.
I walked outside, I walked back in, I pulled on his shirt and whined, “Are you almost done? I’M SO BORED!!”
Without skipping a beat, he said, “Hey Grandma, why don’t you go read a book!”
And then he laughed and I laughed but I got the last laugh because that proved that he had really listened to me. A total win for Grandma!
I gotta confess though, I was SO BORED in that card shop, every minute seemed like an hour. Memories.
It’s really funny, because the original AB is NEVER without a book and leveraged that love of reading into a Yale PhD, writing his own book (published by a prestigious house), and tenure at a major uni, so I guess my annoying mantra helped guide his path to success.
Grandma’s Mantra:
📚 If you’re bored, read a book!
📚 If you have a minute before school starts, read a book!
📚 If you’re waiting for a doctor’s appointment, read a book!
📚 If you can’t think of anything productive to do, read a book!
Try my method; it really works!
📚
“Here, beneath this tree, she had lain on her back in the sun and watched the butterflies. Part of her would linger there for ever: a footstep running tip-toe to the creek, the touch of her hand on a tree, the imprint of her body in the long grass. And perhaps one day, in after years, someone would wander there and listen to the silence, as she had done, and catch the whisper of the dreams that she had dreamt there, in midsummer, under the hot sun and the white sky.”
— Daphne du Maurier, Frenchman’s Creek.
Three of my favorites in one painting: a wolf, a raven, and trees. I’d love to curl up and hibernate in a mighty oak guarded by my beloved animal family — to dream of butterflies and seashells and other simple but profound bearers of joy.
As a true Taurean, I hold on tightly. I believe, I have faith, I hope, I wish — but sometimes I have to let go, as much as it causes immense pain.
If ever anything was past the point of no return, it’s these black bananas. I held on for so long, I saved them because I figured they’d be perfect for banana bread or muffins, but then I became emotionally attached and couldn’t let go, even when they lost all signs of life.
And I still couldn’t dispose of them.
I cleaned out the refrigerator (Lion’s Gate Portal activity) and put them to one side in a sort of transitional area JUST IN CASE, because you never know when the heart will start to beat once again.
This is the way my brain works. Here’s what I wonder: If I peel them, what will I discover? Have they become toxic and inedible? Can they be resurrected or is it too late? What if I toss them out and they were still good?
What do you think?
We’re in the middle of Lions Gate Portal 2025, which occurs annually from around July 28 to August 12, and will peak tomorrow, August 8.
It’s an enchanted, magical period when the Earth, Sirius, and the Sun in Leo align in the cosmos, creating a powerful burst of energy.
Sirius, known as the “Dog Star,” is a beacon of light and wisdom. This alignment opens a gateway to higher energies, enhancing our intuition to help us connect with the divine.
This alignment is thought to amplify manifestation energy and encourage self-expression and authenticity. It’s a time when many believe we can tap into our inner power and manifest our desires.
This portal is supercharged by a rare cosmic phenomenon—the Major Lunar Standstill which occurs every eighteen years. There’s also a Full Sturgeon Moon on Saturday, August 9 — a lot going on! In fact, this full moon will be a special two-night event with the moon appearing full Friday and Saturday.
These events create a once-in-a-generation wave of celestial energy to enhance emotional healing, ancestral connection, and karmic closure.
The universe conspires to make our dreams come true. Isn’t that lovely?
it’s a powerful time for setting intentions and manifesting desires related to abundance, love, clarity, and positive transformation.
What can we do to enhance this enchanted celestial energy?
As above, so below…
Image credit to Lsmorescience.com
“Yeah, I know with the help of the good God, and an artificially induced religious experience, I think it’s gonna be all right.”
The Master of Space and Time’s churchy, rolling piano and drawling vocals, his zealous evangelical outpouring of energy from the stage made his concerts, as Russell put it, “an artificially induced religious experience.”
Leon was offered an off-camera role in the film, “When You Comin’ Back, Red Ryder”, as Reverend Duane Hindley, a radio preacher broadcasting from Del Rio, Texas.
He’s heard in the scene with Peter Firth as Stephen “Red” Ryder and Audra Lindley (remember Three’s Company?) as Ceil Ryder, Red’s mother.
Leon later revealed he read that religious rant, (he wrote it), in the style of Asa A. (A.A.) Allen, a 1960s American Pentacostal evangelist known for his “Voice of Healing.”
Listen closely to hear Leon say, “Feel the power,” “count your blessings,” and “encounters with the Devil.”
I thought this was a pretty cool discovery about Leon Russell. He could have had another career as a fire and brimstone preacher.
I’d definitely attend the Church of Leon. I believe!
In the corner of the garden close to the back gate, I found a wing that belonged to a Monarch butterfly. Poor tattered little one, colors dull and listless; I carefully picked her up to bring inside the house to spend eternity resting in a pretty box of similar treasures.
When I went back outside to finish a yard clean-up project, I had a visitor — this magnificent Monarch who stayed still long enough to spread her wings for a picture, vibrant and alive:
It’s a blueblue sky circle of life day here in SoCal.
If you look, this is where you’ll find me...
They be the Enchanted places.
That whisper our name.
And no one shall know.
These places we go.
A Little Poem by Athey Thompson.
Credit to the artist, curated via Pinterest
It’s been an insane couple of days here on Earth, hasn’t it? A lunar occultation, double meteor showers, giant earthquakes, tsunamis — in addition to retrograde Mercury and the Lion’s Gate portal — and we are definitely in the midst of a massive amount of cosmic energy. I’m not sure what it all means, but I’m on high alert, that’s for sure.
There were no earthquakes or tsunami damage around here, but check out this crazy photo! I was in the garden near a brick patio cleaning fallen leaves from the eucalyptus tree. It’s a really annoying job because my stupid city planted the wrong sort of street trees decades ago and not only do eucs make a giant mess, they’re also a fire hazard. I have to constantly pick up the leaves and the incredibly painful-to-bare-feet seed pods (known as gum nuts). No matter how many times neighbors and I lobby the city to get the tree removed, we are always turned down; another stupidstupid city decision.
In and around the bricks and rocks, I had positioned a few random tiles to add some color when a friendly real lizard stopped by for a visit. I’m glad my camera was close by to memorialize the meeting between art and reality.
Does art imitate life or is life imitating art?
You can see some of the offending euc leaves that fell right after I had cleaned up this area. It’s SO annoying!
Photo by Enchanted Seashells
#WordlessWednesday
The first planetary event is a lunar occultation. I had never heard that before, have you?
It sounds quite witchy and magical, don’t you agree? I hope our SoCal skies are clear tonight so I’ll be able to see what it’s all about and absorb some of that mystical celestial enchantment.
Tonight, July 28, two worlds align as the Moon will pass incredibly close to Mars to create a lunar occultation — a fascinating event where the Moon temporarily hides the Red Planet from view.
Lunar occultations involving bright planets like Mars are incredibly rare.
The Moon will move in front of Mars, causing the planet to disappear behind it for a brief period. This is known as a lunar occultation, and it’s a stunning, rare cosmic alignment you’ll want to catch.
Depending on your location, you could experience:
🌓 Mars completely disappearing behind the Moon (full occultation)
🌓 A close conjunction, with both celestial bodies appearing side-by-side in the sky.
🌓 No telescope required — but binoculars or a zoom lens will give you a clearer view.
🌓 Look toward the eastern sky shortly after sunset for the best view.
There’s more…
Don’t miss this two-in-one meteor shower.
The second sky show will occur tomorrow, July 29–30. We’re in for a breathtaking celestial show as two meteor showers—the Southern Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids—reach their peak at the same time.
This rare double meteor shower event will light up the night sky with glowing streaks of light, creating a truly magical experience.
The Southern Delta Aquariids, active from July 18 to August 12, will be at their brightest around these dates and can produce up to 8 meteors per hour under dark skies. Meanwhile, the Alpha Capricornids, though milder at around 3–5 meteors per hour, are known for occasionally producing bright fireballs that surprise even experienced stargazers.
With the moon only 27–36% full, the darker skies will make this event even more visible. It’s the perfect time to step outside, find a quiet spot, and enjoy nature’s own light show.
Info curated from Astrowonders, Google, and Pinterest
Don’t forget to LOOK UP!!!
Enchanted Seashells | Princess Rosebud 