when the sun, the earth, the moon and the stars align...

as you probably already know, a lunar eclipse occurred on the same night as the winter solstice early this morning...   i believe i read that this hadn't occurred in over 300 years... so we got up a couple of times to take a look... 

there really is nothing like a winter sky to begin with, but this was spectacular... the moon was aligned over orion... the universe was vast and welcoming... it once again made me feel ever so comfortably a part of something much bigger...

'sic itur ad astra'

'thus you shall go to the stars'

these are going out today to female relatives in remembrance of my grandmother and aunt - we lost them, the universe gained them... and they are missed... sapphires hang for their birthstone and for faith... 

another of those we loved joined the dance last night... the energy wrapped up in brown fur and named chuck returned to the eternal source... what a fabulous night he chose... 

here's wishing you a step up the karmic ladder - you certainly brought joy to the humans in the house... and kept the felines on their toes... 

'i died a  mineral and became a plant,

i died a plant and rose an animal, 

i died an animal and i was a man.

why should i fear?

when was i less by dying?'

~ rumi

to the bittersweet...