Whales: Photobomb by a dolphin, sharing the wave
A photographer was trying to line up this picture of a surfer, but a dolphin came by.
Result: Awesome photo.
Here’s the story in the Daily Mail.
Whales: Twenty years after “Free Willy,” what have we learned, and what have we missed…
Do you remember where you were, the first time you saw Free Willy? For me, it was in a movie theatre in Eugene, OR, USA, with a packed house that screamed & cheered & clapped when Willy gets away at the end (see the poster at right, for spoiler). It was a football game where the home team won, a fairy tale that wasn’t Grimm, it was a tale of justice, unpeeled. It was awesome.
One of the byproduct events of the movie was the eventual real-life release of the whale who played Willy, a captive killer whale named Keiko. Was this a good idea? DId it work out? Did humans learn anything from the experience about orcas, or about themselves?
I got to shake David Kirby’s hand last summer when he was passing through Friday Harbor (WA) on a promotional tour for his new book, Death at SeaWorld. I found him thoughtful, articulate, and an impassioned warrior against marine mammal captivity. Reading Death at SeaWorld made want to read the article linked below.
He shares his take on what we could have learned, what we missed, and perhaps what lies ahead in this penetrating essay. Let me know what you think.
Here’s the link to David Kirby’s remarks about Keiko on the 20th anniversary of Free Willy.
And…. here’s the trailer for the movie, back then.
Poetry: Far better things…..
Part of the path to purification is walking (or running, if you’re fast that way!) through the fires that burn away the stuff…that keeps us from pure love. The fires are tough, usually painful, sometimes unbearably so – but there’s always another day. There’s always another sunrise. There’s always later…which is a great place to look back from.
Here’s one of my favourite expressions of this, from Rumi:
Sorrow prepares you for joy.
It violently sweeps everything out of your house,
so that new joy can find space to enter.
It shakes the yellow leaves from the bough of your heart,
so that fresh, green leaves can grow in their place.
It pulls up the rotten roots,
so that new roots hidden beneath
have room to grow.
Whatever sorrow shakes from your heart,
far better things will take their place…
~~Rumi
Wordplay: The cycle, for writers
Trap….watch out.
Music: A song for your morning, with Miten & Deva Premal – “Soul in Wonder”
It’s always good to have a tune to wake up to, first thing in the morning, and I’d say “Lokah Shamasta” with Miten & Deva Premal is a good one to start the day.
Look ahead….
There are a number of uplifting & inspiring people on the Internet, and one of them is Gigi Young.
Check out her YouTube essays & website, and you’ll get the idea.
She posted this about a week ago, and it’s been echoing in my head ever since….I kept catching myself wanting to understand the past before I felt I could move ahead with the task at hand.
This kind of thing helps.
How to treat ETs, from the Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama spoke at the University of Portland earlier this year, and as part of his visit, shared his thoughts about what he hopes is the way we humans would greet extraterrestrial visitors.
You can see the whole presentation (it’s about an hour & a half) here if you’d like.
As the harvest moon rises….
Beautiful moon tonight, hey?
Here’s a song to go with it: Play here! (It’s me singing “Brother Sun, Sister Moon” for you….)
Happy Harvest Moon to you!
Music: A “New” song by Paul McCartney
It’s true, isn’t it – the great artists keep reinventing themselves & bringing new work out. I like the spirit of Paul’s new song (the album with it is out in mid-October).
The song is called “New.”
I like the idea of someone, after decades, still writing music. Wahoo!
Starpeople: Why I’m checking on them (and maybe, why they check on me & us)
When I was a kid, the big excitement in the early 1960s in the States was space. We were going to space & to the moon & the stars, and we were making the rockets to get there. We were also making the people to go there, and they were stronger & smarter & tougher than the average bear, because they had to be. They we going into space!
The Mercury 7 were the early heroes of all this, and I knew them & their stories just like I knew the stats on my baseball cars & the details of all those Hardy Boys books we read…and I loved them.
One of those astronauts, Gordon Cooper, became one of the leading proponents of his belief, based on things he had personally seen, that the Earth was being visited by folks from other planets. You can read a quick version here, and here’s a short video of Col. Cooper addressing this:
Other astronauts have reported seeing things as well, with perhaps the most prominent & articulate being Dr. Edgar Mitchell, the sixth man to walk on the moon (Apollo 14). In this interview with James Fox, he reviews his thoughts & experiences regarding what’s there, and the possible reasons people want to deny it.
Over the last few years, people have asked me what I think, and I usually respond that I’m curious, like everyone else. It’s as simple as this: I’ve personally met over two dozen people who have described their encounters with ETs (extraterrestrials), both visual & actual contact, and they’re reliable witnesses, far as I can tell.
That’s the sort of thing I would like to share, here.
So, being curious, I keep asking questions. Hope you do, too.
UFO news: Han Solo on Mercury….
It’s amazing we can see the detail on Mercury that we can….and did NASA just discover Han Solo? Here’s more.
Got a little stress? Dr. Mike has an idea….
Whenever I get in an emotional jam, there are different ways to re-think, re-feel, re-program….and sometimes they work!
Sliding into a place of mindfulness is always handy for any situation, and this little video by Mike Evans from Totonto might help nudge you in that direction. It’s fun, too (I like cartoons!)
Intuitives: Jane Kennard
What’s it like to talk to people who have passed away? And….when they talk to you?
Last night, we went attended a session in Victoria, BC which featured a woman who does just that. About 125 folks showed up to hear what Jane Kennard would offer as she channeled four different guides.
Over the course of nearly an hour & a half, she answered the questions of people in attendance – sometimes very specific, sometimes general – which was greeted by the questioners with appreciative nods, that the responses were in touch.
How does all this work? Jane explains in her website:
When I channel, I begin by tuning in to the energies around the people that I am with. If the session is for an individual, I will see a few beings and hear their words. If it’s for a group, I’ll see a huge crowd of beings and feel their support and love. I take a deep breath, bringing light into every part of my body. I say my own little prayer and ask my guide to take care of me. Then it’s like flying away. I have no knowledge of the words that come through, but trust that they would be acceptable to me. When I return I feel calm and peaceful.
Sometimes I’m asked why I can do this when others are not able to. I believe it’s a talent-like having an artistic ability or perfect pitch. It comes more easily to some people, however we all have the capability to learn. If you would like to develop this ability, I would suggest searching out classes and reading books. Speak openly of your desire and you will be led in the direction that is right for you. How do you know if it’s right? Let your heart lead you. Listen within yourself for what resonates and feels true for you. We all have different ways of connecting with spirit.
Here’s a little video that will give you a taste of what experiencing Jane’s channeling felt like/looked like. You can also take a look at her website, here.
Last night’s event was sponsored by the Meetup Group called the Victoria Metaphysical and Intuitive Development Group, with Dawn & Sarah organizing the evening. Their next presentation will be October 11th….check it out!
Meanwhile, in the fog….
Lotta fog here. We’re a 1/2 mile from the strait here in Victoria, BC, but can hear the boats’ foghorns. Passed a mum & her two year old on the street.
Mum: Hear that?
Kid: Is that a big duck?
So, chug it….
When we were visiting a coffeehouse (that serves alcohol, obviously) in Tofino, BC, on the west side of Vancouver Island, we saw this little warning….
About Brother Ian
Over the centuries, Brother Ian has been collecting stories & information & discourses for the purpose of elevating the human condition as needed, dissecting it when necessary, and building the case for hope.
In the spirit of noting that organized crime, organized baseball, organized labour, and organized religion tend to engender controversy & occasional discord, I promise to be neither organized or critical of those who are.