Some further thoughts on The Tower.

So... it turns out the cards were right after all. I maybe shouldn't be surprised by now? Right after making yesterday's post, I finished up an article I'd been partway through, and it outlined a devastatingly data- and logic-heavy argument against all public uses of masks.

This falls under The Tower for me because, I actually spent my own time and money putting up signs in Portland begging people to wear masks in July 2020. I genuinely believed at that time that it was the only way left to protect ourselves, and our economy. So... to see it laid out in data that there's a good chance that the masks both killed people and more heavily damaged our economy is... heavy.

I see now why people don't like the Tower card.

For whatever reason - I won't pretend this is logical - despite being more personally involved... this still feels less emotionally devastating than being disbelieved about the goddamn motherfucking antifa. I think it's because I *personally* have received the blowback from the spell (I see my actions that way now) which I tried to cast... I have suffered *intensely* from the fear which has gripped my society over COVID. It very nearly destroyed my relationship with my own family - I've only just eked out continuing to have a relationship with my own father. And it isn't even over yet - though it feels recently like there might be a light at the end of the tunnel (in no small part because of articles like the one I just read surfacing). I've suffered *with* others, not merely watched others suffer, as was the case with Portland. So it feels to me like I've successfully eaten up at least some of the karma on my plate.

Also - I did have what I thought was a good logical case at the time: Japanese people wear masks whenever they feel sick and continue about with their normal business, and there is a wide-spread belief there that the masks prevent aerial transmission of respiratory diseases to others. I lived for 2 years working in an office where everyone was unshakeable in that belief. I presumed that if I could transfer that belief to Americans, that they would start to behave like the Japanese - calmly going about their usual business unafraid of potential infection, so long as the masks were visible signs of reassurance.

Nevertheless, I didn't have enough information about other factors... specifically mass hysteria, and how it works and how dangerous and disruptive it can truly be. I feel like I got an absolutely brutal crash course in that over the course of last year. A lot of historical writings--particularly about the World Wars and cultural movements surrounding them--I kind of went "huh" about in the past.. now, I'll be reading them with significantly more personal understanding, and a heavier heart.

No idea who wrote this quote but I'll never again forget it: "Men go mad in groups, but recover their sanity one by one."

I've thought from time to time of starting a quote collection - if I ever do, that one's going on the wall.

Druid Curriculum: Birds of the Willamette Valley Region

This is the second of my candidate books for local ecology. The title is Birds of the Willamette Valley Region. The authors are Harry Nehls, Tom Aversa, and Hal Opperman. It was published in 2004 by the R. W. Morse Company, in Olympia, Washington. Its ISBN is 0-9640810-4-0.

SUMMARY: This is a book that contains pictures and information of all birds commonly observed in the Willamette Valley Region, which the authors interpret to extend throughout the entirety of the actual valley as well as parts of the lower Columbia River valley.

NOTE: I am a complete amateur in the field of bird-watching, so this review will consist of me specifically recording which of these birds I have personally seen, the location, and the circumstance. This will not include every bird listed in the book, but will force me to interact with the book in the way I am best able to at this time.

LIST OF BIRDS

Canada Goose: Have seen them everywhere. A gaggle of them like to feed on the lawn of Beaverton High School during the winter.

Wood Duck: Have seen one at the Crystal Springs Rhododendron garden. A beautiful bird!

Mallard: Have seen them everywhere. Cannot think of a non-chlorine body of water in the region that doesn't host them.

Cinnamon Teal: Have seen one at the local habitat exhibition at the Oregon Zoo.

Ruddy Duck: Have seen one at the local habitat exhibition at the Oregon Zoo.

Great Blue Heron: Have seen one regularly in the habitat water feature next to the Beaverton Transit Center.

Turkey Vulture: I have seen a tame one in a cage at the Audubon Society. Such a cutie! <3

Bald Eagle: Have seen them everywhere. Most recently across the lake at the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden.

Red-Tailed Hawk: Used to prey on Mom's pigeons. Have only seen from a distance, high in the air.

California Gull: I think this is what we commonly call a "seagull". Have seen them everywhere. Feasting at garbage dumpsters across the region!

Rock Pigeon: Have seen them everywhere. In particular pecking about on the sidewalk in downtown Portland.

Barn Owl: Saw one once in childhood when visiting the Audubon Society - it was in a cage recovering from injury. A memorable bird!

Anna's Hummingbird: A mating pair of these regularly visit my dad's garden!

Red-Breasted Sapsucker: I remember my dad excitedly pointing one of these out to me at the Audubon Society once in childhood.

Northern Flicker: A regular visitor to my dad's suet feeder.

Stellar's Jay: A family of these used to live in the neighbor's pine tree. We rescued a chick that fell from the nest and cared for it for a few days. (I remember we were able to release it, and it returned to its family.)

Western Scrub-Jay: We have a regular at dad's suet feeder - I see him all over the neighborhood when I take walks!

American Crow: Have seen them everywhere. We have several that hang out a bit down the street and like to talk noisily with each other.

Common Raven: Saw a tame one in a cage at the Audubon Society upon my most recent visit. Very friendly! <3

Bushtit: Have seen these cute little birds hopping in and out of bushes many a summer by now.

American Robin: Have seen them everywhere. We had a nest in our apple tree for many years.

European Starling: My dad's most hated bird! Used to see them throughout the neighborhood, but not recently.

Dark-Eyed Junko: One male regularly visits my dad's suet feeder.

Bullock's Oriole: A cat we owned in childhood killed one of these. My dad kept its body in the freezer for years because it was so beautiful.

American Goldfinch: An occasional visitor to my dad's suet feeder. So yellow~!


WHAT DOES THIS BOOK MEAN TO ME?

Birds are easy to take for granted. They hop or fly about on the perimeter of our societies, trying their best to survive in our human environments. But they should be acknowledged as the impressive survivors that they are, for one - they are the last living relatives of the dinosaurs! Also, without them, our lives would be much quieter, and one more essential linchpin of our local ecology will have given way, with uncertain and unnerving consequences.

I learned from this book that a lot of human-made environments mimic natural ones: pigeons, for example, find ornate historical buildings as easy to make nests in as a rocky cliff face. Many of the birds I see regularly about me in the suburbs belong to a "scattered woodlands fading into prairie" niche in nature, and have adapted just fine to older suburbs with mature trees.

Finally, the book mentioned many bird-viewing spots in the area that I intend to visit as time and distance permits, with the hope of seeing local flora and fauna in a relatively more pristine environment.

This book was... a difficult read. But hopefully, it can provide a foundation for further study about the birds that exist all across this region, and which I now know better how to see. Only 7 more books to go!

Daily div.

Another one bang-on - I spent the entire day working on stuff - I got SO much done, I'm completely caught up, and have nothing whatsoever hanging over my head left to do! :) Focus and Clarity, indeed!

King of Hearts... I wonder. I did a lot of applying to jobs and getting my resume out there today. I gots my $737, lol! I suppose that counts good 'nogh.

7 of Hearts... I did realize something at the end of the day, as we were hosting our neighbors... Mike offered that I was doing tarot cards recently, and I realized - I actually don't want anyone else to touch my cards! They have "me" all over them now, and I don't want to disrupt that. Secrets? New Feelings? Perhaps both...

That was a pretty good one. Let's do the daily div!

Me: 4 of Clubs - Solid Foundations, Stability, Celebration

Situation: 6 of Hearts (The Lovers) - Love, Beauty, Union

Outcome: 9 of Hearts - Selfishness, Excess

This one seems decent! I like being the solid foundations for sure :) And hopefully, Mike and I will have a day (or a session??? lol!) of closeness as partners. The outcome is a bit worrisome - I will need to keep an eye on the end of the day, in particular when Cory comes over, to make sure that I don't get greedy with his emotional energy... that's probably the most relevant danger.

And with that - to bed, with a book <3