Natural Night
The night sky is a map of possibilities, each star a potential dream waiting to be realized. — Unknown The Milky Way Click Here to View A 5-Minute Journey Through The Night See also PBS’ Northern Nights, Starry Skies Succeed and Soar‘s Thrive! shares insights that can improve life’s quality. This post presents ways star-filled skies help both personal and the planet’s health. Goal: Limit light/photo pollution. It’s the excess, artificial light in urban and industrial areas. Main forms are: Glare: Light that causes discomfort. Trespass: Light that enters unwanted places [like from bathroom into bedroom]. Clutter: Too many lights in one place. Dark Sky reported that migratory birds rely on natural light to guide them. Artificial light can cause collisions and misdirection. Not only are the patterns of nocturnal animals like owls, badgers and frogs affected. Studies show that artificial lights confuses internal human clocks. Worse, fake light has been connected to lung, breast, colorectal and prostate cancers. Of Blue Light, Harvard Medical School wrote, Not all colors of light have the same effect. Blue wavelengths—which are beneficial during daylight hours because they boost attention, reaction times, and mood—seem to be the most disruptive at night. And the proliferation of electronics with screens, as well as energy-efficient lighting, is increasing our exposure to blue wavelengths, especially after sundown. Here are protections from blue light at night: Use dim red lights for night lights. Red light is less likely to shift circadian rhythm and suppress melatonin. Avoid looking at bright screens two to three hours before bed. More Paul Bogart is a great, dark-sky resource. His books include, Where Are All the Wild Things, Daddy? Let There Be Dark Night Vision More Here’ are 60 Dark Sky Places for Great Star Gazing.[Gorgeous photos] The article Light Pollution, Health Risks & Facts has a great bibliography. The Museum of Natural History’s temporary exhibition “Lights Out: Recovering Our Night Sky” stated that star stories connect us through time and across cultures. Here are several more reflection, The night was made for lovers, dreamers, and visionaries. Stars can’t shine without darkness, just as we can’t appreciate the light without the night. COMMENT Succeed and Soar! Sandra Gould Ford Presenting arts experiences to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thinking and inspire. Buy Succeed & Soar Sweat Shirts Featured hoodie contains art and the wisdom from the April 9, 2022 Sub-Optimal Decisions post, “You are not the mistake you made unless you continue to do it.” Hoodies are 75% cotton/25% polyester. Five different background colors available. Machine washable. Buy featured item. View All Hoodies Thanks for shopping!
Einstein 22: Your Awesome, Big Picture
A human being is part of a whole called by us the universe. – Albert Einstein Savor the following marvels about who you are and your glorious possibilities: “We are stardust brought to life, then empowered by the universe to figure itself out.” Neil deGrasse Tyson Read More. “When we look out into space we are looking into our own origins because we are truly children of the stars.” Source Unknown Read more. “The world would have you agree with its dismal dream of limitation. But the light would have you soar like the eagle of your sacred visions.” – Alan Cohen More “A person is neither a thing nor a process but an opening through which the Absolute can manifest.” – Martin Heidegger More With these awesome thoughts, Succeed & Soar’s Einstein Inspirations series ends [and can be revisited here.]. Hope you’ve enjoyed. For the past month, I’ve considered taking a posting break. Aah! But there are so many wonderful wisdoms and images to share. So, this summer Succeed and Soar will deliver quick delights chosen to lift hearts and spirits, awareness and humanity. Blessings & best wishes, Sandra Gould Ford Presenting arts experiences to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thinking and inspire Shop “Gorgeous Green,” this week’s Featured Art. This Post’s Featured Video A Super Special Weekend Saturday, June 19: Juneteenth We also don’t want people to think it’s a Black thing, or a Texas thing because it’s not. None of us are free until we’re all free. And we aren’t free yet. – Opal Lee, Grandmother of Juneteenth Read more. The holiday’s name encompasses the week required for word to cross Texas that the United States had ended Chattel Slavery and for celebrations with music, games, parades and red soft drinks to begin. Check out: How to Celebrate Juneteenth Earliest Juneteenth Celebrations Pittsburgh Juneteenth Observances 50 Companies observing Juneteenth and investing in social equality Sunday, June 20 Father’s Day Sometimes, we need to father ourselves as well. Here are precious ways. Summer Solstice When Earth’s north pole is tilted farthest from the sun [at 11:32 pm EDT], the northern hemisphere enjoys its longest day [remember to enjoy strawberries]. ******* Sandra’s Greeting Cards Keep in touch with family and friends beautifully! My greeting cards will send smiles across the miles. Say thank you, share something funny, send birthday wishes and let folks know you’re thinking of them. My greeting cards, Measure 5” x 7” large enough to frame Made of chlorine- and acid-free, archival-quality 120 lb. premium cardstock Available in matte or glossy finish Professionally printed Sold in set of 10 or 20 with white envelopes Produced in compliance with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Made in USA Twelve images from my galleries are currently offered [selections change]. Support Succeed and Soar. Shop today. Join Succeed & Soar Mail List
Path to Joy: 1st of 12 – Keep Life Simple, Honest and Real
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. – Leonardo da Vinci Years ago, I found an old book of inspirations called The Treasure Chest. Page 117 contained “The Twelve Rules of Happiness.” This letter launches “Twelve Paths to Joy,” my adaptation using visual meditations I called Illustrated Wisdom. This Post’s Featured Art, “Simplicity,” A Visual Meditation What I like best about the picture The gleam of the gold paint. The lines circling upward. Why The shining gold brightens and adds vitality. The lines look like paths that trip the light fantastic with leaves and flowers growing along the way. What does this picture teach? Because the intent was to envision life lived simplistically, to me: The dark borders suggest night, a time of rest within which large, gold stars shine. The gold sprays look like galaxies where countless stars cluster. The dark shows possibilities that cannot be seen by daylight. The curlicue lines teach that many dances are possible. The spirals say life can have carefree moments. The flowers remind to appreciate life’s beautiful, natural and simple gifts. The green dots represent seeds. They teach that opportunities can be abundant and grow from tiny packages. How can these insights lead to joy? The picture reminds me to: Relax, Enjoy the times when life dances, Find delight in peace and contentment, in keeping life simple, honest and real. The ‘Paths to Joy’ are adapted from The Treasure Chest, an old book I found years ago. Page 117 contained “The Twelve Rules of Happiness.” Of special delight is using paints markers and ink to illustrate meditations inspired by this wisdom. The technique is adapted from the book Visual Journaling, Going Deeper Than Words, by Barbara Ganim and Susan Fox. In this “Twelve Paths to Joy” series, permanent markers, ink, colored pencils, crayons, metallic, water color, acrylic and tempera paints are applied to 98-pound, 11 x 14-inch, mixed media paper. The doodling and dabbling, scribbling and splashing provides a process for stepping away from life’s hustle and bustle while creating pictures guided by the heart [rather than structured by the mind]. Along the way, Peaceful and inspiring spaces are opened Choices are clarified Important insights are gained The body, mind and spirit are relaxed and refreshed To see more of my art and purchase prints, Visit: SandraGouldFord.ImageKind.com