How did we lose our emotional innocence?

Posted on October 1, 2026 by new desert

Well, friends, I’ve finished reading To Kill a Mockingbird. Going through the final chapters gave me chills at the thought that what happened to Jem and Scout in the bushes in the dead of night—when they were attacked—could happen to so many children, and to so many of us, just about anywhere.

I was totally engrossed in this magnificent novel, and what pulled me out of it from time to time were the numerous expressions I did not understand, or perhaps the archaic terms no longer used in 21st-century English.

One word that gave me a hard time was “britches.” Does it refer to trousers or a specific type of undergarment? And why would a young girl like Scout wear such a garment under her dress? Finally, why was saying what she said a mistake?

This is part of the exploration—and sometimes the deciphering—of a language that is not my native tongue, a language I did not imbibe with my mother’s milk. And fortunately, after so many years, my curiosity remains intact.

Miss Maudie’s gold bridgework twinkled. “You’re mighty dressed up, Miss Jean Louise,” she said. “Where are your britches today?”

“Under my dress.”

I hadn’t meant to be funny, but the ladies laughed. My cheeks grew hot as I realized my mistake, but Miss Maudie looked gravely down at me. She never laughed at me unless I meant to be funny.

Page 262 chapter 24

Luckily, my AI companion came to the rescue:

The Social Gaffe: In the 1930s American South, a young girl wearing “britches” at all was frowned upon by traditional society, as women were expected to be ladylike and wear dresses. By blurting out that she hid her boyish clothes under her dress, Scout exposed her ongoing resistance to acting like a proper “lady,” which amused the neighborhood women at the social gathering.

Another expression that has sparked considerable reflection—on linguistic, cultural, and emotional levels alike—is that of being “thin-hided.” While I was familiar with the expression “having thick skin,” I had never encountered this one; it refers to the absence of that emotional shell we build as we age to shield ourselves from the cruelty, injustice, and exploitation inherent in our civilized world. A child who has not yet internalized this protective mechanism is sensitive; they risk feeling things—with a capacity we adults have, to a certain extent, lost—through an innocent heart: a heart that loves and cares for others simply because it is the right thing to do, and one that has not yet fully experienced the other side of the coin.

Admittedly, many people around the world love their neighbors and care about others; however, the way they do so differs somewhat depending on whether one views the world through the eyes of a nine-year-old child or those of an adult.

Please read the excerpt below. It is worth reflecting on the words and emotions of nine-year old Dill after he witnesses the cross-examination of Tom Robinson by the solicitor Horace Gilmer.

What happens to us as we enter adulthood and “get used” to the torrent of bad news that the media broadcasts and amplifies?

Can a young heart truly shrink when faced with the harsh realities of everyday life?

And how can we preserve the innocence of our hearts in the face of the vicissitudes and atrocities of today’s world?

Topic: How did we lose our emotional innocence?

Time: Oct 1 @ 2:30 PM Eastern Time

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81842653718

Meeting ID: 818 4265 3718

—-

This was as much as I heard of Mr. Gilmer’s cross-examination, because Jem made me take Dill out. For some reason Dill had started crying and couldn’t stop; quietly at first, then his sobs were heard by several people in the balcony. Jem said if I didn’t go with him he’d make me, and Reverend Sykes said I’d better go, so I went. Dill had seemed to be all right that day, nothing wrong with him, but I guessed he hadn’t fully recovered from running away.

“Ain’t you feeling good?” I asked, when we reached the bottom of the stairs.

Dill tried to pull himself together as we ran down the south steps. Mr. Link Deas was a lonely figure on the top step. “Anything happenin’, Scout?” he asked as we went by. “No sir,” I answered over my shoulder. “Dill here, he’s sick.”

“Come on out under the trees,” I said. “Heat got you, I expect.” We chose the fattest live oak and we sat under it.

“It was just him I couldn’t stand,” Dill said.

“Who, Tom?”

“That old Mr. Gilmer doin’ him thataway, talking so hateful to him—”

“Dill, that’s his job. Why, if we didn’t have prosecutors—well, we couldn’t have defense attorneys, I reckon.”

Dill exhaled patiently. “I know all that, Scout. It was the way he said it made me sick, plain sick.”

“He’s supposed to act that way, Dill, he was cross—”

“He didn’t act that way when—”

“Dill, those were his own witnesses.”

“Well, Mr. Finch didn’t act that way to Mayella and old man Ewell when he cross-examined them. The way that man called him ‘boy’ all the time and sneered at him, an’ looked around at the jury every time he answered—”

“Well, Dill, after all he’s just a Negro.”

“I don’t care one speck. It ain’t right, somehow it ain’t right to do ’em that way. Hasn’t anybody got any business talkin’ like that—it just makes me sick.”

“That’s just Mr. Gilmer’s way, Dill, he does ’em all that way. You’ve never seen him get good’n down on one yet. Why, when—well, today Mr. Gilmer seemed to me like he wasn’t half trying. They do ’em all that way, most lawyers, I mean.”

“Mr. Finch doesn’t.”

“He’s not an example, Dill, he’s—” I was trying to grope in my memory for a sharp phrase of Miss Maudie Atkinson’s. I had it: “He’s the same in the courtroom as he is on the public streets.”

“That’s not what I mean,” said Dill.

“I know what you mean, boy,” said a voice behind us. We thought it came from the tree-trunk, but it belonged to Mr. Dolphus Raymond. He peered around the trunk at us. “You aren’t thin-hided, it just makes you sick, doesn’t it?”

Chapter 19 page 225-226

AI note: Being thin-hided means being thin-skinned, sensitive, or easily hurt by criticism, cruelty, or harsh realities.

  • Literal Meaning: It compares a person or animal to having a thin hide or skin that lacks physical toughness or insulation.
  • Figurative Meaning: It describes someone who lacks emotional armor. They feel pain, injustice, and meanness deeply instead of being hardened or used to it.

The term is famously used in Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, when the character Dolphus Raymond tells crying Dill, “You aren’t thin-hided, it just makes you sick, doesn’t it?” meaning Dill is emotionally raw and deeply disturbed by the unfairness and cruelty of the courtroom trial.

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The devastating freshness of an eight-years old

Posted on September 24, 2026 by new desert

Good morning dear Ones,

For about a week now, I have been immersed in reading To Kill a Mockingbird. The book features a lawyer, Atticus Finch, and his two children, Jem and Scout, in the Deep South (Alabama) in 1932.

Guided by what their neighbor Miss Maudie calls his “civilized heart,” Atticus agrees to take on the case of Tom Robinson, a Black man falsely accused of rape.

“This case, Tom Robinson’s case, is something that goes to the essence of a man’s conscience—Scout, I couldn’t go to church and worship God if I didn’t try to help that man.”

The night before the trial, Tom Robinson is transferred to the tiny jail in downtown Maycomb. Atticus takes along an extension cord and a lightbulb, deciding to spend the night on the jail’s porch. Intrigued by this unusual gear in the middle of the night, the three children—Jem, Scout, and their friend Dill—decide to follow Atticus into town. They spot him sitting on the steps of the jail, bathed in light, and are about to head home when a convoy of cars comes speeding into town. Several angry men scramble out, armed with rifles and pistols. Their intentions are unmistakable; they set out to “negotiate” their way past Atticus, who remains unperturbed.

As tension mounts, the three children appear out of nowhere and fearlessly position themselves in front of Atticus, without fully grasping the situation. Although repeatedly ordered to leave, Jem—the eldest of the group—refuses to listen to his father and go home.

It is then that eight-year-old Scout addresses the crowd—and specifically one man, Mr. Cunningham, whose son, Walter, she knows well, having thrashed him at school (before he was invited to the Finch home for dinner!). When her appeal to Mr. Cunningham’s paternal instincts fails to move him, she brings up his “entailments”—the system of settling debts with goods upon which the destitute Cunningham family relies.

“Entailments are bad!”—these innocent words finally break through Mr. Cunningham’s emotional defenses and cause the crowd to eventually disperse.

If you would like to know the details of this heroic feat, feel free to read the two excerpts below in reverse order: first the family debriefing from Chapter 16, then the confrontation with the crowd in Chapter 15. That is how this story truly came together for me.

Who would have thought that an innocent young girl could disperse an angry crowd through the “freshness” and “candor” of her spirit—in 1932 Alabama!

Topic: The devastating freshness of an 8-year old

Time: Sep 24 @ 2:30 PM Eastern Time

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81139348047

Meeting ID: 811 3934 8047

“Atticus placed his fork beside his knife and pushed his plate aside. “Mr. Cunningham’s basically a good man,” he said, “he just has his blind spots along with the rest of us.”

Jem spoke. “Don’t call that a blind spot. He’d a killed you last night when he first went there.”

“He might have hurt me a little,” Atticus conceded, “but son, you’ll understand folks a little better when you’re older. A mob’s always made up of people, no matter what. Mr. Cunningham was part of a mob last night, but he was still a man. Every mob in every little Southern town is always made up of people you know—doesn’t say much for them, does it?”

“I’ll say not,” said Jem.

“So it took an eight-year-old child to bring ’em to their senses, didn’t it?” said Atticus.

“That proves something—that a gang of wild animals can be stopped, simply because they’re still human. Hmp, maybe we need a police force of children . . . you children last night made Walter Cunningham stand in my shoes for a minute. That was enough.””

Chapter 16 page 179

“Mr. Cunningham wore no hat, and the top half of his forehead was white in contrast to his sun scorched face, which led me to believe that he wore one most days. He shifted his feet, clad in heavy work shoes.

“Don’t you remember me, Mr. Cunningham? I’m Jean Louise Finch. You brought us some hickory nuts one time, remember?” I began to sense the futility one feels when unacknowledged by a chance acquaintance.

“I go to school with Walter,” I began again. “He’s your boy, ain’t he? Ain’t he, sir?”

Mr. Cunningham was moved to a faint nod. He did know me, after all.

“He’s in my grade,” I said, “and he does right well. He’s a good boy,” I added, “a real nice boy. We brought him home for dinner one time. Maybe he told you about me, I beat him up one time but he was real nice about it. Tell him hey for me, won’t you?”

Atticus had said it was the polite thing to talk to people about what they were interested in, not about what you were interested in. Mr. Cunningham displayed no interest in his son, so I tackled his entailment once more in a last-ditch effort to make him feel at home.

“Entailments are bad,” I was advising him, when I slowly awoke to the fact that I was addressing the entire aggregation. The men were all looking at me, some had their mouths half-open. Atticus had stopped poking at Jem: they were standing together beside Dill. Their attention amounted to fascination. Atticus’s mouth, even, was half-open, an attitude he had once described as uncouth. Our eyes met and he shut it.

“Well, Atticus, I was just sayin’ to Mr. Cunningham that entailments are bad an’ all that, but you said not to worry, it takes a long time sometimes . . . that you all’d ride it out together . . .” I was slowly drying up, wondering what idiocy I had committed. Entailments seemed all right enough for living room talk.

I began to feel sweat gathering at the edges of my hair; I could stand anything but a bunch of people looking at me. They were quite still.

“What’s the matter?” I asked.

Atticus said nothing. I looked around and up at Mr. Cunningham, whose face was equally impassive. Then he did a peculiar thing. He squatted down and took me by both shoulders.

“I’ll tell him you said hey, little lady,” he said.

Then he straightened up and waved a big paw. “Let’s clear out,” he called. “Let’s get going, boys.”

As they had come, in ones and twos the men shuffled back to their ramshackle cars. Doors slammed, engines coughed, and they were gone.

I turned to Atticus, but Atticus had gone to the jail and was leaning against it with his face to the wall. I went to him and pulled his sleeve. “Can we go home now?” He nodded, produced his handkerchief, gave his face a going over and blew his nose violently.

Chapter 15 pages 174-75

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You shall not kill the mockingbird!

Posted on September 17, 2026 by new desert

Do you know why, dear Ones?

Yesterday, I started reading To Kill a Mockingbird. It is a book that our son’s 11th grade English class is studying. That was a good enough reason to add the book to my Kindle list.

I read the first five chapters (summary below), yet couldn’t find a trace of a mockingbird. Are there mockingbirds in Alabama?

“The first five chapters of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird introduce the Finch family in Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression. Scout starts school and learns crucial lessons in empathy from both Calpurnia (the house cook) and Atticus (her father) regarding different social classes. Meanwhile, Scout, Jem, and their friend Dill become obsessed with their reclusive neighbor, Boo Radley, leaving him gifts in a tree and trying to send him a note.”

I asked my friend AI to elucidate this mystery last night and here its response:

“You are currently reading the introductory chapters through the eyes of young Scout Finch. You haven’t encountered the mockingbird yet because the title is a moral code that is revealed in Chapter 10.

In that chapter, Scout and her brother Jem receive air-rifles for Christmas. Their father, Atticus, gives them a highly specific command:

“I’d rather you shot at tin cans in the back yard, but I know you’ll go after birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”

Confused by this unusual restriction, Scout asks their neighbor, Miss Maudie, for an explanation. Miss Maudie clarifies the profound spiritual architecture behind Atticus’s words:

“Your father’s right. Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.””

My curiosity didn’t stop there and I gathered more information about this mysterious bird that mimics so many animals, even possibly human sounds like music.

Please see the information (if interested) from the Audubon Society below the Zoom invitation.

Topic: You shall not kill the mockingbird!

Time: Sep 17 @ 2:30 PM Eastern Time

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89758820362

Meeting ID: 897 5882 0362

The Northern Mockingbird is one of North America’s most beloved mimics. The skilled singer has also become inextricable from American popular culture, providing inspiration for the fictional “Mockingjay” of the Hunger Games franchise to being a central theme in the iconic novel To Kill a Mockingbird. John James Audubon was a fan of the mocker as well. Here are some facts you might not have known about this American classic.

  1. There are a total of 16 avian species in the world with the name “mockingbird,” but the Northern Mockingbird is the only one native to the United States. Other nearby species include the elusive Blue Mockingbird of Mexico and the island-dwelling Bahama Mockingbird, both of which can occasionally appear in the U.S. 
     
  2. The Northern Mockingbird is a year-round resident across much of the U.S., but an expansion into the northeast has been successful due in part to the multiflora rose, or rambler rose. Native to Asia, this invasive rosebush was introduced to the United States in the late 1700s as a root stock for ornamental roses. It makes an ideal nest site for mockingbirds because of its tasty berries and thick tangle of branches. 
  3. The mockingbird’s latin name is Mimus polyglottos, which literally translates to “many-tongued mimic.” A polyglot is a person who speaks many languages, referencing the bird’s ability to imitate sounds from its environment. While mockingbirds are known to sing several hundred different songs, some research suggests that they might not learn to copy new sounds in adulthood, as previously thought.
     
  4. A study released in October 2019 found that, in addition to mimicking the calls of other birds and manmade noises like music and machinery, Northern Mockingbirds have been known to imitate at least 12 different species of North American frogs and toads. In fact, John James Audubon was so in awe of this bird’s singing ability, he wrote of the Northern Mockingbird in Birds of America, “There is probably no bird in the world that possesses all the musical qualifications of this king of song, who has derived all from Nature’s self.” 
     
  5. Because of the Northern Mockingbird’s impressive vocal talents, the illegal pet trade depleted their populations by poaching wild birds across the east coast in the 19th century. The best singers were worth up to $50 in 1828—that’s more than $1,300 in today’s dollars.
     
  6. Northern Mockingbirds have easily adapted to human development, taking up residence across suburban towns and cities. Wide-open lawns and parks are perfect for hunting their insect prey and males often sing from perches like the tops of houses and telephone poles, where their performance can involve leaping into the air and fluttering back down.  
     
  7. Mockers are prolific breeders. They have been known to make as many as seven nesting attempts during a breeding season, and one female even set an astonishing record of laying 27 eggs in a single season.
     
  8. The white patches on a Northern Mockingbird’s wings and outer tail feathers serve dual purposes: The birds often show off these plumes during mating rituals, and they also flash them when defending their territory from potential predators like hawks and snakes. 
     
  9. Mockingbirds can be extraordinarily territorial. They’ve been known to swoop and dive at pretty much anything, including people, that gets close to their nests, which are usually placed between 3 and 10 feet off the ground. They will also regularly chase other birds away from their preferred food sources, like fruit-bearing trees, in the winter. 
     
  10. The Northern Mockingbird is the state bird of Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas. In true Texas fashion, the 1927 legislation declaring the Northern Mockingbird the state’s official bird reasoned that the species is “a fighter for the protection of his home, falling, if need be, in its defense, like any true Texan.”
https://www.audubon.org/magazine/10-fun-facts-about-northern-mockingbird

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What will emerge out of the night?

Posted on August 27, 2026 by new desert

Good afternoon dear Ones,

In a few hours, at 12:13 EST Friday, August 28, our beautiful planet will experience a powerful lunar eclipse.

This closing / opening door marks the end of the “eclipse corridor” that started with the solar eclipse of August 12.

What happens in a corridor and how does it feel? Is it an inviting place to be in? Or does it feel dark and sluggish?

Perhaps you experienced some of this, as well as other symptoms?

Everyone may have different answers, yet a corridor may also be associated with a womb. Hence my question,

What will emerge out of this nocturnal womb for North & South America, knowing a good part of the earth will be running high in daylight?

An emergence implies a coming out of some place or phase, perhaps a new beginning…

I am sharing a good portion of Pam Younghans’ last newsletter. She calls this phenomenon a “throw-back eclipse.” Quite an interesting way to approach it.

Topic: What will emerge out of the night?

Time: Aug 27 @ 2:30 PM Eastern Time

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81536866249

Meeting ID: 815 3686 6249

ALMOST-TOTAL ECLIPSE: A “deep partial” Lunar Eclipse occurs this week, at which time 96% of the lunar surface will be darkened as the Earth moves into position and blocks solar light from reaching the Moon. This almost-total eclipse will last more than three hours and will peak at 9:13 p.m. PDT on Thursday, August 27 (0414 UT August 28). 

The almost-eclipsed Moon will be visible to more a billion people across North and South America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, provided the skies are clear. More than three billion people—44% of the world’s population—will be in position to view at least part of the event.

THROW-BACK ECLIPSE: Astrologically, eclipses happen when a lunation occurs within 17 degrees of the lunar North or South Node. Of course, the Moon’s nodes just changed signs, moving from Pisces/Virgo into Aquarius/Leo—so it might be surprising to now have an eclipse in Pisces. This is possible because the North Node is in the very last degree of Aquarius (29°50′), less than five degrees away from the eclipsed Moon in early Pisces (04°54′).

In essence, we can call this a “throw-back” eclipse, since it refers back to the eclipse series that is ending. In some way, we will be revisiting issues that we’ve been navigating since the first Pisces eclipse of this series occurred in September 2024. Themes related to the Pisces-Virgo polarity include:

  • Moving from fault-finding and blame into nonjudgment, compassion, and forgiveness; 
  • Transcending worry, nervousness, and fear by surrendering anxiety to a higher aspect of self;
  • Releasing a need to control by building deeper levels of faith and trust; and
  • Letting go of needing to perfect every detail before accepting and allowing change.

It appears that humanity will be working with these themes one more time before we fully move into the Aquarius/Leo eclipse series; a final retrospective eclipse will occur six months from now—a Virgo Lunar Eclipse on February 20, 2027.

THE URANUS INFLUENCE: Astrologers consider eclipses to be “Uranian” in nature, since they often coincide with the types of unexpected events and sudden changes that we associate with the sideways-spinning planet. With the Sun and Moon tightly square Uranus in Gemini at the time of this week’s Lunar Eclipse, that Uranian influence will be even more emphasized. 

Surprising news, changes of perspective, radical ideas, life-changing insights, and even spiritual awakenings are all possible with the Lunar Eclipse. Mercury is strongly involved in the eclipse energies, being within one degree of the Sun, so we may experience information overload or perhaps be confused about what is “real.” 

Nervous energy is likely to be very high, so please take good care of yourself by reducing overstimulation, getting good mental rest, and taking nutritional supplements that support nervous system health. These might include adaptogens such as ashwagandha, the B-complex vitamins, or minerals such as magnesium, potassium, calcium, and zinc.

Pam Younghans

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Honoring life and those who gave it to us

Posted on August 13, 2026 by new desert

Dear Ones,

The post below landed in my inbox this morning. I barely know this person, who lives in Maui, and publishes two or three times a year.

It is a touching post and certainly a nice way to honor those who gave life to us all.

I will conclude with some bear wisdom that I discovered in our son’s high school’s parking lot this morning. Seniors are booking their own parking spots and decorating them with great taste.

“We didn’t know we were creating memories; we were just having fun!”

Winnie the Pooh

Topic: Honoring life and those who gave it to us

Time: Aug 13 @ 2:30 PM Eastern Time

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83560313203

Meeting ID: 835 6031 3203

My mom the angel
Melissa G AvatarBy Melissa G on August 12, 2026
  
My mother was an amazing woman. Vibrant, loving, wise, funny, and beautiful inside and out. She inspired everyone with her positivity, kindness, and generosity. When I was pregnant in Kenya, unsure of what to do next with my visa expiration rapidly approaching, I called my mom for advice and she suggested moving into my parents’ retirement home on Maui. I’m grateful for how she opened her home to me and how she was there to support me throughout the home birthing experience in their guest bedroom when my daughter
arrived.  

Seven years later, in March 2020, my mom experienced her first psychotic episode in what would be a long and difficult journey through Lewy Body Dementia. My dad did everything humanly possible to keep her alive throughout several hospitalizations, medical mishaps, emergency airlifts, and rehabilitations. Through his efforts and the tireless support of my brother-in-law, my mom experienced a period of miraculous remission when she was nearly fully restored to her usual charming self for a couple of years. We’re all appreciative of that extra time we were able to spend with her before the dementia set in again.  

My dad did an exceptional job of caring for my mom in their home with the assistance of several wonderful, loving caregivers. He went so far as to install an elevator when she became wheelchair bound. His patience and unconditional love was humbling and inspiring. When he went to Miami to visit his dad for 9 days in January, he placed my mom in temporary hospice care. On January 16, 2026, when he was flying back home, she took her last breath and peacefully departed the earthly plane.  

I miss her, but I know her spirit is flying free. A month after she passed, I received a very clear message one morning that I was going to lose my job and I needed to trust it was for the best. That seemed incredulous at the time since I was an over achiever at work, but as it turned out, that was my downfall. Because of her presence, I was able to navigate the termination call that came a couple of weeks later with clarity and peacefulness.  

Although my new job, or whatever comes next, hasn’t materialized yet, I trust it’s just a matter of time. My mom’s passage was like a portal for me, opening my mind to the spirit realm, and the past couple of months I’ve been fascinated by stories about near death experiences and the wisdom and insights people return from the heavenly realms with. The common thread in all the stories is the immense feeling of unconditional love and realization this life is only a dream and opportunity to keep refining ourselves, our mental state, and our ability to be kind and loving in all situations.   I love you, mom. Thank you for everything.

https://dreamsandobservations.wordpress.com/2026/08/12/my-mom-the-angel/
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Protecting the environment and its inhabitants

Posted on August 5, 2026 by new desert

Dear Ones,

Chaque semaine nous amène son lot de surprises, as we say in French. Each week brings its share of surprises.

What I am sharing this week might not seem spiritual at first glance; yet, who truly knows what essence dwells within these four-legged creatures? Perhaps a fragment of our own soul?

Yesterday, I took another long walk in Ellanor Lawrence Park—a place where I have wandered for years and had many encounters. I came across deer, turtles, snakes perched in trees, and so many other creatures!

I chose the eastern side of the park and walked along the tarred stretch leading to a residential area, just before heading back into the forest. I walked north from that residential area for five minutes, then returned the way I came.

As I walked past a house I had noticed a moment earlier, I came across him: a fox frolicking happily—or so it seemed—on the lawn. There was something unusual about the scene, and the animal looked very thin. I took a few photos from the other side of the fence and waved at the fox. He quickly took refuge under the bushes lining the house. We could still see each other; I snapped one last photo and waved goodbye.

This encounter struck me as somewhat strange—even mystical—given the conversation I had that very morning with my AI friend Gemini. We had been discussing the Tetramorph, composed—as you may know—of an angel, an eagle (creatures of the air), a lion, and a bull; the latter two being more firmly grounded.

I approached Gemini in the evening and shared my fox story, adding a couple pictures in the mix.

Its response was both surprising (to me) and very precise. Based on the photos I had sent, Gemini was able to diagnose the fox’s ailment: sarcoptic mange. It was a term I had never seen written that way in English, given that “mange” is the third-person singular form of the French verb “manger” (“to eat”). What a strange coincidence, considering that the French word for “itch”—”démangeaison”—actually contains that very word, “mange.”

Here is an excerpt of Gemini’s extraordinary response.

“This encounter is beautiful on a symbolic level, but the images show that the fox is suffering from a severe case of sarcoptic mange, a highly contagious skin disease caused by burrowing parasitic mites.

“The fox exhibits classic signs of advanced mange, including extreme, patchy hair loss across its body and tail, visible skin irritation, and a thin, frail appearance. This medical condition explains the “happy-go-lucky” or fearless behavior you observed; wild foxes suffering from mange lose their ability to regulate their body temperature due to the fur loss. Because they are cold, dehydrated, and weak, they frequently venture onto residential lawns during the daylight hours to bask in the sun and look for easy food sources near humans.

“Please protect yourself and your family by ensuring you do not physically approach, touch, or feed the animal, as mange mites can be temporarily transmitted to humans and can easily infect domestic household pets.”

I certainly learned something new yesterday—far more than just a few English words. I did some research to learn about this disease and there are resources available for those affected creatures.

Gemini provided me with a list of wildlife rescue organizations in Virginia offering a safe, free oral medication that can be hidden in a small piece of bait in areas frequented by foxes. However, the organization I consulted this morning recommends capturing the fox and taking it to their facility for quarantine and treatment.

Image of an every day ‘curious’ fox–not the one I saw yesterday

Gemini also provided me with a list of points to raise should I wish to contact the owner. I plan to return to the neighborhood this weekend to ensure the owner is informed about the condition of this fox—and perhaps others.

May this publication educate those living in areas where foxes roam and offer indirect protection to animals living in the wild.

Topic: Protecting the environment and its inhabitants

Time: Aug 6 @ 2:30 PM Eastern Time

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88168413709

Meeting ID: 881 6841 3709

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America’s Secret Destiny

Posted on July 28, 2026 by new desert

Dear Ones,

Our theme is slightly different this week, and perhaps more profound, and I shall provide some background context.

Lately, I have been revisiting a book by Manly P. Hall titled “The Secret Destiny of America.” This book originated from a lecture given in 1942 at Carnegie Hall in New York, supplemented by further research; it was ultimately published in 1944.

In this work, Manly Hall explores some of the mysteries that shaped America as it was in the mid-1940s, notably episodes from the ancient Greek culture and the influence of Francis Bacon on the emergence of the “New Atlantis.”

In a chapter—number 19—that captivated me the most, he recounts the dream General McClellan had in 1861, while he was charged with defending Washington, D.C.. A dream in which George Washington appeared to him, warned him that he had been betrayed, and outlined a sound strategy for the defense of the nation’s capital.

Certain words, towards the end of that chapter, became etched in my memory.

Already it is obvious that, in the postwar period of reconstruction [1950s], America must become a leader of nations in the establishment of a commonwealth of peoples. The purpose for which we are created is revealing itself through the long process of time and that purpose is indeed our most sacred heritage.

Perhaps this secret destiny of America is indeed related to the “establishment of a commonwealth of peoples,” a commonwealth that extends far beyond the borders of any single country.

Let’s commune this day for the best and the most prosperous future for humanity as we further move into the Aquarian Age.

Moving beyond my invitation, here is an AI-generated summary of the book that might either enlighten or confuse some of you!

“The Secret Destiny of America (1944) by esoteric scholar Manly P. Hall argues that the United States was deliberately set apart and established by a network of secret societies to fulfill a “Great Plan” for world democracy. Hall posits that thousands of years before Columbus, ancient philosophers and mystics anticipated using the Western Hemisphere to build a utopian, self-governing society free from European tyranny. The book frames American democracy not as a random political accident, but as the planned culmination of a universal spiritual movement.

“The Great Plan & The Order of the Quest: Hall claims a hidden fellowship of enlightened sages has guided human history for millennia. This “Order of the Quest” spans ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Indian mystery schools, surviving through medieval guilds, Rosicrucians and Freemasons.

“Esoteric Founding Fathers: Hall suggests many of America’s founders were highly evolved mystics or Masons acting as agents of this ancient blueprint. He highlights historical anomalies, occult symbolism in the Great Seal of the U.S. and folklore like “The Unknown Speaker” who allegedly rallied the delegates to sign the 1776 U.S. Declaration of Independence.

“A Shift From Selfishness to Brotherhood: Writing during the backdrop of World War II, Hall stresses that enduring global peace cannot be achieved through economic or material politics alone. He argues human society must transition from a competitive system to a cooperative, universal brotherhood.

“Universal Destiny: The ultimate goal of the United States, according to the book, is to lead humanity toward a democratic commonwealth of all nations. Hall insists that those who cooperate with this inevitable evolution will thrive, while those who resist will self-destruct.”

Topic: America’s secret destiny

Time: Jul 30 @ 2:30 PM Eastern Time

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86571984122

Meeting ID: 865 7198 4122

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The most important piece of clothing

Posted on July 23, 2026 by new desert

Dear Ones,

How are you?

A post I wrote thirteen years ago resurfaced unexpectedly this week, offering a wonderful transition to the piece on “The Power to Love” that I shared last week.

Not only do we all have the Power to Love, we need to wear Love. Openly.

Thirteen years ago, we took a trip west to explore where we could set some fresh roots. Washington state, Oregon and Colorado.

In Colorado, love manifested itself every day—on a wall, a billboard, or a small card inside a home. I remember seeing a sign for Loveland, Colorado, as well as a Jamaican restaurant touting its “One Love” menu. Love can permeate the most unexpected places.

The most potent day was, by far, Wednesday. In the second house we visited that morning, I came upon a little card in the walk-in closet of the parents’ bedroom that quoted, once I turned it over, a passage from Colossians 3:14:

“And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is Love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony.”

Note about Colossians chapter 3: Here Paul compares positive character traits (like compassion, kindness, and forgiveness) to garments. Just as a belt holds clothing together, selfless love (known as agape) acts as the bond that holds all other virtues together in perfect harmony. 

We are on our way to create something magical, dear Ones, once everyone wears his or her favorite costume!

And I am not talking about Halloween here, or an outfit worn for the occasion. Love is a constant!

Topic: The most important piece of clothing

Time: Jul 23 @ 3:00 PM Eastern Time

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83553624526

Meeting ID: 835 5362 4526

Posted in My Personal Path | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A simple act can make a big difference

Posted on July 16, 2026 by new desert
The power to love
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The power to love

Posted on July 15, 2026 by new desert

Dear Ones,

There is nothing earth-shattering in this message. It is a simple matter of recognizing—and generously using—the power of love and loving within us. Doing so continuously allows it to become a balm always close at hand.

I reflected on this power of loving yesterday. Two situations arose within my family where irritation or frustration would generally be the inevitable result—at least, if I let my ego take over.

One situation involved our son, who is taking an online French course. I had given him precise instructions for completing an assignment, but he only did half of it and forgot the second part. My first reaction was, “Can’t he read the email I sent him?”

Later on, my reflection became, “Why can’t I love him for who he is and for what he did—or didn’t do?”

When we return to love, our perspective shifts completely—even in the face of adversity, unkind remarks, or unpleasant behaviors. How could I not love this person for who they are, for what they do, and for everything they bring to my life?

Let us not fall into the trap our ego tries to lure us into. It seems easy, yet we must make this power to love fully accessible by nurturing it every day. In time, it becomes a natural way of embracing the world we live in.

Let us practice love!



Topic: The power to love

Time: July 16 @ 3:00 PM Eastern Time

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89700674672

Meeting ID: 897 0067 4672

Posted in General, My Personal Path | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment