I wrote in TWA that, in my neck of the woods, the three mountain cluster that I dubbed The Three Witches – Maiden, Mother, Crone – served as a landmark that always led Jimmy Moran back to his home.
That was the ladies yesterday. You have to admit, they are quite a landmark. The name was a nod to Shakespeare’s “Weird Sisters” in Macbeth, as their appearance prophetically foreshadow the magic world Jimmy and Gina have just stepped into.
I love Nature and all of its supernatural elements. They are there if you look. For example, Tolkien changed the way I look at trees. In winter, the leafless, huge old cottonwood trees one spots throughout the NoCo landscape – there is one in the foreground of the above photo – evoke Tolkien’s Treebeard, the Ent. They all look like they are dancing across the open fields, arms stretched out overhead, or are saluting as stand in line at attention along some of the back roads. They all whisper that if Jimmy ever needs them, they will rip those massive roots from the earth and come running. In the summer they become slumbering giants providing much needed shade to all of the animals that graze on those fields. They provide plenty of nesting areas as well.
Jack the Spruce, who stands tall before the entrance of Casa Claire, also plays a role in Jimmy Moran’s magical world.
I often wonder how many readers catch that last move when Jack pins Dan’s arm toward the end of TWA, giving Gina the upper hand. I literally went back and put that into the publisher’s manuscript, because JTS insisted.
And since I spend a lot of time outdoors with Claire and Honey at night, I’ve really become enamored by the moon. Moonstruck.
I took these shots of the full Worm Moon while I was out and about yesterday,
as well as my votive candle seeking its blessings.
Wayne Dyer was right – about a lot of things – but especially his mantra that “When you change the way you look at things, things you look at change.” So much in my life has changed with my evolving viewpoint.
And yes, I converse with the trees, and my statues.
What, you think Claire is the only interesting creature that inhabits my world?
But she is the first among equals. And quite brilliant.
So the next time you find yourself alone in nature, change the way you look at your surroundings.
And strike up a conversation. You never know what you may learn.
Monday is behind us.
Welcome Tuesday.
First a kitty cuddle, my rounds – some really chatty equines and canines – and then the dreadmill.
So, you fine, five readers get out there and conquer the world.
But make today a great one.
