I learnt something new today - a new Name for an Old Trait

I cannot believe that it has been four months since the last time I wrote, even though it was an intention to write here as often as I can now. Oh yes, of course we are still in a Pandemic -- and now it is winter, with second, and in some places, third, waves.

It seemed almost spooky, how my last post was on hypocrisy of human behaviour during a pandemic (mostly driven by Fear of the Unknown Reflex) -- in the height of summer, in August, I did watch somewhat disbelievingly, on how nonchalant the locals behave, when there are direct evidence of community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 occuring here. Not just locals, but of many North Americans in general.

What went wrong? In part, due to the Superspreader of Misinformation, who has just recently been voted out of the White House. When the people are repeatedly exposed to the degree of misinformation, as how we see since 2016, and especially in the early stages of the pandemic in March and April, was it really a wonder how widespread the virus is within the American community... and now within Canada as well.

I have never seen the innocent (yet life saving) behavioural changes showing common decency of "watching out for other people" (like Mask Wearing, Physical Distancing, diligent handwashing -- Hmmm.... sounds like a Raccoon, now, doesn't it?) became so politicised. Nor have I seen the degree of Self-Centred foolhardiness displayed amongst the "younger generation" in North America. These were supposed to be the "Woke" generation -- yet I see them Sleepwalk themselves into directly contributing into a Global Disaster; and I Quote, verbatim, a throwaway statement from such Youth "Most of the Deaths are only in Carehomes. We won't die". These are University Educated Creme de la Creme of Quebec who utterred those words. It shocked me to the core. The utter lack of Social Responsibility.

Perhaps another contributor is the lack of personal experience on their part, of what it is like to live through a major disaster/war/pandemic within the living memory of their community members. I mean.... the World Wars did not reach here - with exception of Pearl Harbour, and the demographic who served in the Wars. They have never seen a "battle" so to speak on their homeground - and what it took to pull out of a Disaster scenario. A Society is fragile if the grassroots are not capable of empathisizing with the weakest and frailest within their community. The first true proof of Civilisation in early humans is evidence of a healed thigh-bone - as no human can survive a broken femur unless they are taken care of, protected and supported, by people around them.

So we witnessed the catastrophe of Youth Spread Pandemic, especially when the initial advisory was phrased in a manner that (overly) minimises the potential danger; "Most people will have it mildly. Except the Elderly and those with Underlying conditions". Perhaps if the initial message was phrased differently, with intentions to "remind how many "innocent bystanders" can die from exposure to a "carrier", so let's look out for each other", the results would have been different.

Perhaps SARS-CoV-2 is like the Descolada virus - it forces Humanity to finally grow up and face up to our own foibles... and before that happens, it will continue to smoulder and ember, especially in pockets of communities who are vehemently against vaccination.

What made me think to write today, was the fact of how much I am grieving for Humanity. And for the family members, and friends who have lost their lives since the pandemic started. And in part of my Grieving process, I honour their memory by doing the work I do. And try to Live one of their most admirable trait within my own life right now.

In Aikido, the practitioner do not resist an incoming blow, rather they redirect it in a way that would avert injury to themselves. And accepting the fact that you will get blows, and you will fall - and learn to get up after each one.

I came across the concept "Antifragile" that describes how repeated exposure to challenges and setbacks can actually make something or someone better, by embracing the change and not resisting it. I personally call it "Embracing the Eye of the Storm" - finding the Centre of Calm within the swirling Chaos. And so, I continue my Dance with the Universe. Even with so many setbacks and blows - each challenge is an opportunity to change and grow. Evolve. To Evolve is to Embrace the Storm.

Day 1 at the Gwaihir Tor

An Eagle flew above overhead today. Maybe it is a good sign

I am at a new place, new life, hoping to help my several people with my expertise.
Each iteration is a new page on my uncharted journey, where nothing I planned worked the way it did, and so I try to wing it, the way the Eagle did today.

I have a feeling I will be having a few corvid friends soon. Critters tend to hang out with this Fox, and right now I prefer the company of non-humans. 

Humans behave very strangely during pandemics. Those whom I thought were "humane" were proven to not be so. And those who are unexpected, are those who step up.

Life is strange. Humans never behave the way they "say" their core values are. Hypocrisy is Human Trait that is endemic in a pandemic.

Tales of Tails

A year and 3 months since the last post!

And the world has flipped it's magnetic axis.....


JUST KIDDING!

well, pretty close though. If Climate Crisis is not bad enough a Situation to remedy, The Universe has decided to release a Pandemic Virus onto the "virus" that's been wrecking the world's immune system.

So, as with the rest of humanity (who care enough to not become a Vector, infective one, not mathematical) we locked down.

And while my official work is Very Topical to the crisis at hand, my mind needs a very not topical things to make.

First concept was this heron on the rock:












Simple enough on paper, and thus after "wanting" to do this for so long, I did.

Heron Iteration 1 -- weathered Aspen twig on Aspen bark

And then I switched tactics, to something a bit more formulaic

Say Hi to Groot and Greta -- White Pine twigs (groot needed a right hand)

And then a Fox came along ... from White Pine

Getting more confident now....

Heron Iteration 2 - White Pine
The eye mark is a natural knot in the wood!!! :D
Universe Approves of this Heron

Heron Iteration 3 -- I broke it's neck :( had to be glued back on
But a finer carving

Herons 4 and 5, they come in Pairs, as Herons should be.

Change in Technique.
"Little brown Birb"

Brown Birb and Heron Iteration 6