Kristen Cheri Weiss

Writer, Editor, Ecologist, Connector of Ideas

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solstice

Like Sunshine on a Cloudy Day

December 21, 2022December 22, 2022 / Kristen / 4 Comments

Today is the winter solstice, and in honor of this darkest day of the year in which we celebrate the coming light, I want to offer some empathy, understanding, and hope to others who feel the darkness more deeply than they’d like.

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Connection: a poem for Feb 1st, written quickly and from the heart
I’m sitting just above the surging waters of a post-storm creek that flows through a canyon outside of the town of Ojai, California. I splurged on a two-day vacation for myself, a self-imposed retreat immersed in nature (from the glamping comfort of an RV) where I could practice a bit more presence, and perhaps chip away at some of the residue left by a constant buildup of internal dialogue. The creek, currently a river, is swift, navigating around rocks, boulders, and an abundance of vegetative debris. After several minutes, I begin to lose myself in the mesmerizing hiss of the whitewater, just a little. I try to follow the flow of water in real-time with my eyes, but the speed is too fast for my brain to keep up with. I envy those innumerable droplets of water, journeying at high speed without a thought about where their path might lead. How freeing it would be, to flow like a single droplet, smashing confidently against rocks without fear, no pain, breaking apart and reforming in each moment, in each millimeter of canyon traveled. I want to be a droplet carried in the weightless flood of billions of other droplets, gushing forth without reserve, the pace set by nature and fate and a million little previous happenings that led to this moment. And this moment. And this moment. A clear, indiscriminate droplet, that any second might evaporate into atmospheric nothingness—not disappeared, but merged with a universal flow of energy.
The cosmic horizon (a.k.a. the ‘edge’) of our universe is rapidly expanding, stretching the space between galaxies as it grows. According to some calculations, 97% of all galaxies in our universe are moving away from us faster than the speed of light, meaning that even though we may eventually observe the light they emitted billions of years ago, we will never be able to reach them. Every year, 20 million stars slip beyond our grasp. For those of us prone to existential melancholia, this is a hard fact to swallow. How can we find comfort and connection in a universe that is steadily pulling us apart? As conscious beings, we are at once a minuscule part of the universe, and incredibly uncommon. 
Wishing you a heartfelt solstice. ✨
What does it mean to truly see someone? When we look in a mirror, how many of us even truly see ourselves? The cells in my eye recognize your shape and shoot electricity through synapses to my brain that paint a picture of you. In my mind's eye, as they say. The same happens for you. But that representation is an incomplete reality. Perhaps the electromagnetic field surrounding each of us reaches out to fill in the gaps, to provide the energetic details that sight or sound alone cannot fathom. Even then, are we truly known? Perhaps. What do we have to compare the feeling to? Self assurance? A confidence in our identity (despite the fickle nature of even that moniker?). We may be able to "look within" to discover a deeper vibration of self knowledge; that ache in the heart that is ours alone. Maybe that helps us recognize the ache in the hearts of others, so that we can then look into their eyes as if to say, "I know your ache, so I know you." And maybe that is enough. Solitary union. Non-human beings seem to come to this conclusion quicker, free from the distracting ego chatter that births doubt and defensiveness. Look into the eyes of another creature, and you may just find the answer you were looking for. You may discover who you are. If you are really lucky, you may even be able to reflect that truth back out into the world, and help heal the underlying ache so that we can build deeper unions of love.
IFYKYK. A momentous day - visiting the Western Flyer, resurrected from the salty depths to tell its tales of a bygone era of fishing, science, and exploration, soon to transport a new generation into the future. Restoration to it's original splendor (with some exciting upgrades) is nearly complete, thanks to the amazing @chaseboatbuilder and @westernflyerfoundation. John Steinbeck sailed on this ship with his dear friend, muse, and fellow raucous-maker Ed Ricketts to the Sea of Cortez. The book they wrote about the venture - an unparalleled exploration of science, philosophy, human nature, and culture, was Steinbeck's only co-authored work, and has become a bible of sorts for marine biology/philosophy wonks. Once the Western Flyer takes to the seas again, it will become a floating mecca for 'Ed Heads' and Steinbeck disciples. But it will also welcome aboard young students, artists, historians, and scientists of all ages and backgrounds to absorb the magic emanating from the Flyer's wooden heart and soul. What an honor for me and @buttercup.the.ocean.pup to take a peek behind the curtain at the astounding attention to accurate detail as this boat is restored to it's original 1937 splendor.

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