LuceStellare

Celebrate Each Day with a Song – John Denver

Childhood Heroes

Perhaps it’s a cliché, but music does tame the heart and stir the soul. One of the people who most influenced me during my teens as I was forming the values that still guide my daily life was John Denver.

The celebrated and gifted musician, actor, singer and songwriter won fame and recognition for the purity of his voice. His songs taped the heart speaking of the complexity of emotional connections to others in the simplest way. Lovely acoustic melodies played on a six or twelve-string guitar strayed inside of me and stayed there.

Yes, his songs are beautiful. But, it’s the legacy of conservation for wildlife that lingers on. It was John who taught me to be responsible for what I did and to not harm other creatures out of ignorance.

So many years later, I can hear this song and still be moved to tears. The power of great music!

Many thanks to cherished memories.

Bellissima

The Sea Gives

A fine day came along with the rare opportunity to enjoy a visit to the seashore. Preparations began the week before when healing was required for blisters on both heels. A nasty bunch of sores had broken out due to a bout of even nastier heel spurs right under the achilles. The recommended topical remedy backfired and created angry skin. The thought emerged that the best cleanser would be seawater.

A week later, the alarm rang at 5 a.m. to get the journey started. It’s a two-hour drive and with the restrictions on common activities these days, it seemed prudent to go early for that coveted spot on the beach. The last turn arrived, Route 108 off Route 1 in Narragansett to the beach entrance gate.

Sacred, a sacred overwhelming moment of joy rushed from the heart as I took a spot next to the red flag marker. How long had it been? How many years had slipped by since I’d last been to the coast? Blankets laid out, I gathered up the marigold flowers picked that morning in the garden. My old pagan groundings always said, bring a gift to the sea. Without hesitation, I walked in wading through a patch of seaweed, pushing past the breakers to lay the petals on the water. The joy was so intense I cried. My oldest and dearest friend in thee.

The waves were steady and light. The sun settled low in the early September sky. We’re just past the full harvest moon in Pisces a few days ago. The first swim and the ancient recollection of loving the chilly, salty water returned. Yes, the transcendental memory of having been a sea mammal in another incarnation rose up inside. My roots, deep roots of comfort in the mystical returned. How had they slipped away? This day was not only to heal the skin but to find peace and clarity. I am all out of the direction in this lifetime and feel lost. The path has not gone smoothly for my gentle soul. The smog of competition, greed, and ignorance has clouded in. Once, I only wanted to be with horses all day. I had that for ten years. Later, I wanted to be with the fields and trees. To survive, I had to move into different crowds and felt the sting of the tribe. An outsider, perpetually, fate had dealt the hand of an outsider.

Lying in the sand, voices drifted out saying, “what is it? It’s a person?”, “someone’s floating in!”, “it’s big, too big!” People were walking past my spot to the shore. Following the crowd, it was a shock to see a small whale had been brought in with the high tide. We gasped and said how sad it was to see the creature dead and being pushed by the waves. And it was. A young minke whale had washed ashore. Hours later, it was still on the shore, waiting to be taken away and buried. The sea gave us a corpse today.

The news broadcast said the cause of death was unknown. It’s not uncommon to see whales off the coast around Point Judith. But, not adrift and dead. Surely it was an ill omen. I’d come for answers and felt perplexed at the loss. How bizarre to enjoy being in the water, cool and clean while this being was lying there: a carcass. The message had to be a warning for everyone there. Something is not right, you are warned.

The answer came indirectly on social media. This post came up as I was scrolling. Mystical answers come in different ways. I believe this message is the larger meaning of what happened.

On the drive down, I’d listened to an NPR interview with the late poet Mary Oliver. She came from a neglectful home, I identified with this too well. She turned to nature for solace and found it sincerely. I asked for a message. I got one.

Mary Oliver ocean poem

“The sea can do craziness, it can do smooth, it can lie down like silk breathing or toss havoc shoreward; it can give gifts or withhold all; it can rise, ebb, froth like an incoming frenzy of fountains, or it can sweet-talk entirely. As I can too, and so, no doubt, can you, and you.”

ISTJ – Independence

Introversion+Sensing+Thinking+Judging

These four letters are just the threshold for getting to know yourself or someone who identifies as ISTJ. Known as planners, these folks are by far the champions of organization and preparedness. ISTJ’s are experts at bringing uncertainty to the lowest percentage.

The word introversion provides insight into the quiet, contemplative side of their nature. However, the word independence could be a substitution as ISTJ’s are capable of going it alone in most social situations. Why? There’s a DIY component built-in. Sure, the norm for humans is to work in some sort of socialized group. An ISTJ probably has tried over time to join in, however, if the group becomes muddled in personalities rather than tasks, the ISTJ may decide to fade away. If persons with whom they interact demonstrate a lack of response twice, it’s time to move on. The ISTJ know doubt has acted with sincerity and interest. They don’t often attempt a connection so if it’s ignored, so too will be the person in the future. ISTJ’s have great memories for who can be relied upon for making connections. A pattern will emerge. These patterns become the ISTJ’s plan book for how to navigate social connections.

The dislike of a fuss is a common trait. It’s not conflict avoidance, rather a need to not put energy into creating conflicts. ISTJ’s are great at giving others their space. Do what is best for you is a common belief, however, leave me out of whatever it is you are doing! It’s not conflict avoidant. It’s not that they don’t care. It’s your thing, ISTJ’s give you that space and won’t interfere. They’re not distant or uninvolved, it’s your thing.

So much of human interaction is based on the need to be noticed, belong, and fit in. Many actions or words by others may simply be a way to gain a reaction or attention from another. It’s a ploy to be noticed. ISTJ’s are superior at reading patterns into actions so when the perception is that needs are not being heard or will not be met, why stay?

ISTJ’s have the ability to walk into most situations on their own. They’re at their best in small groups or when a few people are involved. In fact, those who have developed and accept their ISTJ traits find themselves comfortable on their own. For instance, they can take in a movie, go for a walk, travel local or international, and live quite happily solo. Why? An innate sense of balance and the lesser need for public recognition or validation with their actions. An innate need for a quiet, orderly life is outside the norm for the U.S. culture. When it takes two or more to do anything, there can be a compromise, but often, there may be a sense of domination happening which will turn off the ISTJ.

At the workplace, they are the best at composing short, directive messages asking for a colleague to contribute something to a joint task. If there’s no response, a follow up may be sent highlighting the task. The same follow up will be vocalized in group meetings as well. If nothing still comes back, they may attempt to go around as the source isn’t cooperating. Should this experience repeat itself, the ISTJ may react adversely. They will examine the message, review the different ways the task has been communicated, and wonder at the competence of the receiver. It’s a task, respond, and move on. A workplace where it’s the norm to get ahead or get by because of kowtowing to the brass won’t make a happy environment. A workplace where it’s common to spend hours of work time socializing will feel like a dead end. ISTJ’s are champions at separating work from personal life and do not often cross the two. Coworkers who have the reverse pattern and bring in every sticky issue on the home front will cause ISTJ’s toes to curl up in their shoes.

ISTJ’s are polite, content, and comfortable within their space. They don’t bore others with unnecessary small talk. When asked about interests, it may be surprised how rich and varied is their private life. They may seem serious or mellow. However, it’s just how that shoe fits. ISTJ’s are task-oriented, genuine, and dependable.