I Saw the Spectacular Moon and the Moon Saw Me

Awestruck

I arrived home late afternoon/early evening on Saturday to a scene that took my breath away- the full November supermoon hanging low in the sky at the end of my street. And it was out of this world spectacular. I parked my car and dashed (relatively speaking) down the street to point and stare. Calling out to everyone walking towards me to turn around and look. I probably looked a sight in the middle of the street flinging my arms around and beaming from ear to ear. I didn’t care- my only job was to not let anyone miss it.

I FaceTimed my son and daughter-in-law in Vancouver to show them, but my iPhone could not even come close to capturing the sheer beauty of what I was looking at. I had Siri call a friend at Grand Lake, and she was, of course, on it. “Even more exquisite,” she said, “with no city lights, or traffic noise.”

I related to this tiny poem by Miamoto Hobuakira (spelling may be wrong)

“If only I could show them to someone who knows,

This moon, these flowers, this night that should not be wasted.” 

There are so many things about Japan that I deeply appreciate and their reverence and love of nature is one of them. What is interesting is how they combine their love of nature with their social events such as how they celebrate cherry blossom season with special food and saki under the cherry trees with loved ones and even strangers. Or in olden times how they would have moon viewing gatherings and write poetry by the light of the moon.

You can see this is not my moon. I tried, but I was not able to even inadequately capture it. The one shown here is a hint of the spectacular Nov moon on the west coast,thanks to Gottfried,

The November Moon

This November moon is the last supermoon of 2024, and I caught it by pure luck. I do pay attention to the moons, but this is the first time I saw one at the end of my street and so low in the sky. So it felt like a very special gift.

Ten thousand flowers in spring, the moon in autumn,
a cool breeze in summer, snow in winter.
If your mind isn’t clouded by unnecessary things,
this is the best season of your life. Wu-Men (1183-1260)

Enjoy these moons while you can

I have said this before, and I know it is hard to imagine that we will run out of moons. But like it or not, we are mortal. When we grasp this fundamental fact of life, you/I might be inclined to take time to look at the vastness of the sky, the mountains, the sea, and the next full moon December 15th .

As Oliver Burkeman, stresses: “You really, really, really ought to spend more time in nature. We already know that it boosts mental health. But new research suggests the effects might last for years.”

Notes:

1:) Speaking of nature, there is a short, highly rated five-series program on Netflix. It is called Our Oceans, skillfully narrated by Barack Obama.

2:) I am listening on Audible to Samantha Harvey’s 2024 Booker Prize winner, Orbital.  As the Booker judges described it, ” Orbital offers us a love letter to our planet as well as a deeply moving acknowledgement of the individual and collective value of every human life. “

3:) Thank you for stopping by. May things be as good as possible, and may you have the strength and courage to respond to the needs of your situation. Perhaps keep your eyes peeled for owls, dappled light and the golden hour. Best wishes, Trudy