The moon wobbles

"We’re riding out big winds, power outages and wetness here in the PNW. Your perspective: 'The mood is grounded and pleasurable, if a bit charged with big issues and the natural wobble they convey. The Moon sextiles Venus. The earth cup fills with delicious, intangible whimsy and affecting treats. Drink deep' fits well as I drink the last of my strong hot tea. Big issues(home, security and redemption) wobble in my life. The earth cup is oddly flavored whimsy. In spite of the challenges there is pleasure. Real pleasure." -Weekend Love Forecast from Satori

Between the forceful gusts of wind from the south, a small moment of clearing allowed us a view of the moon. Mahina. In her brightness the bare limbs of the Alders created an eerie glow, not so much scary just different; shaken up but in a good way. I believe we were experiencing the moon's wobble.

A photograph of two beautiful pieces of wrapped wire and sea glass jewelry, early designed created by our son Christopher Kawika Brown, hanging next to an early photograph and button art of young Aretha Franklin.

"Possibly, but not probable." In my choir of voices, that opinion would be one heavy with responsible and practical explanations about things happening. That would be the voice that holds life tight, and accounts reasonably. But, I have come to know the other voices and the unaccountable truth in being able to feel energy in mysterious ways.

The winds have calmed, trees have been cleared from their fallen down positions sawed for future fires, power returned now with a flip of switches. The sky is dark, stars twinkle and the moon? She is very bright in her half-lit glow. Hawaiians call this an 'Ole Moon, a time for resting, not a time for beginning any new project but a good time to prepare for what will come or reflect on what has passed.

The night is quiet. Within this small wagon space Pete leans against the wall and I sit at the keyboard; both of us searching for words to better express our place in the world. Earlier in the day we shopped for food to make dinner, chatted with our friend who works the produce on Sundays, and on my way out I noticed a flier for an event with local resident and poet David Whyte. 

I don't know David Whyte's work, but had just seen him walking with a couple people I do know from around town. Tonight as I pull thoughts together, an old friend long since a close friend came to mind. At one time he was a very, very close friend. It was not the first time I have thought of him, nor the first time I tried to find him. Tonight the algorithms must have been in sync. I found Raymond's obituary after seeing his familiar face looking back at me with that slightly crooked, ever quirky Welshman's smile.

"FRIENDSHIP is a mirror to presence and a testament to forgiveness. Friendship not only helps us see ourselves through another’s eyes, but can be sustained over the years only with someone who has repeatedly forgiven us for our trespasses as we must find it in ourselves to forgive them in turn. A friend knows our difficulties and shadows and remains in sight, a companion to our vulnerabilities more than our triumphs, when we are under the strange illusion we do not need them. An undercurrent of real friendship is a blessing exactly because its elemental form is rediscovered again and again through understanding and mercy. All friendships of any length are based on a continued, mutual forgiveness. Without tolerance and mercy all friendships die." - David Whyte, quoted on Brainpickings

My long since gone old friend passed away suddenly in 2015. "Without tolerance and mercy all friendships die," the local poet wrote. And as I write these lines I feel the wobble of the moon as surely as I remember when I was given two of the beautiful lacquered chopsticks. Gift-giving was one of Raymond's great talents. How sorry I am to have never reached across my vulnerabilities to connect. Is there time yet to soften the ground of my retentive nature, and embrace my wobble and in the process become a more loving and merciful friend, more willing to forgive and be forgiven?

One of two lacquered wooden chopsticks given to me a long, long time ago.

"The moon rotates once on its own axis during each 27-day journey around the Earth. But as the moon makes its elliptical orbit, its velocity varies and alters that synchronicity, causing our perspective of the "light side" to appear at slightly different angles throughout any given month. In short, the moon wobbles." -Quora