Spiders and a Blue Super Moon

created a rollercoaster of emotions this week.

A week ago Thursday was my birthday which always leaves me feeling a bit low, because it’s not the same since Granny or Daddy aren’t here to sing me “Happy Birthday”. I know it’s silly. I’m a grown fifty-two year old woman, but they always made me feel special on that day, so now it’s just another day I miss them more than usual.

Last Friday I discovered a beautiful golden silk orb weaver on the southwest side of our farm cottage. The next morning, I opened the blinds and realized her golden web was across my bedroom window. My very own dreamcatcher! I named her Nephie.

Nephie and her golden silk web.

Nephie and her tiny fella.

When I went down to the swamp, I found her sister in a web on the side of Grandpa’s weathered old river house, and I decided to call her Effie.

Nephie’s sister, Effie

I struggled through some gastrointestinal issues through the weekend. Gut feelings? About who? what? I dreamed of my Granny and great-aunt Willie, no details, just hanging out with them at the old picnic table behind Aunt Willie’s brick home where she kept the huge galvanized tub she’d wash her turnip greens in. It was a good visit because I awakened feeling at peace.

I continued to enjoy Nephie’s company outside my bedroom window and one morning I saw the full moon trapped in her web. That was the last time I saw her. By the following morning she was gone.

During a full moon, healing work can feel heavier and with this super blue moon, there was a double whammy. The moon’s orbit brought it closer to the earth so it appeared bigger and brighter than normal full moons. This also amplified its power. I went out and absorbed some of the luminous moonbeams which led to a spike in my creativity and I created a new logo for my substack. (more about the name change in an upcoming “Writing Update”)

Looking into the night sky, I could hear my Granny singing, “Would you like to swing on a star, Carry moonbeams home in a jar?”

Feeling disconnected and a heavy weight on my heart, I decided to escape into some reading.

I took a walk around the farm to count my many blessings…

Four o’clocks

Sweet Daisy Mae

Ruby and Shredder on the stoop, Loverboy peeking through the door.

Roscoe and Grandmother Magnolia

then I came inside and released my emotions in a poem.

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Summer Respite

Summer has been heavy, has been sad. 
I'm ready for a change.  
It has been another summer of grief. 
Grief of a garden lost to irrepressible herbicide spray on the utility easement. 
Grief for loved ones lost and loved ones who grieve. 
Grief for a life that isn't exactly like I thought it would be. 
Grief for budgets that can't be squeezed any more. 
Grief for climate chaos. 
Grief for senseless wars and the children living through them. 
Grief for the loss of my golden silk orb weaver who spent the full blue moon weekend catching my bad dreams in her web, but the web remains and it catches them still. 
Solace is sought and found among the cypress knees and black willows, along the river bank and in the river with the white sandy bottom.  
Solace is found in the song of the yellow pine warbler, little brown wren, red top-notched cardinal and the "Whoo cooks for you?" of the onyx-eyed barred owl. 
Solace is found in the pink-tinged yellow four o'clocks near the old syrup house and in the barn with a milk-less milk cow who tries to lick the clothes right off you with her lizard-like sandpaper tongue. 
Solace is found in the buoyant love of two Australian cattle dogs called Ruby and Roscoe, and the blue-eyed siamese kitty brothers, Loverboy and Shredder. 
The season will turn, fall will come, and I will welcome the change. 

Image my brother, Michael, created with AI

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I hope you enjoyed this offering. Let me know in the comments below if it was an emotional week for you as well. What do you do to work through them?

Blessings to you, my friends,

💜B💜