Coloring outside the lines

[Weeks Pond, Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary; 11:30pm, 11/8/08]

I've always had conflicting tendencies - one side wanting to be good and keep within the lines (Virgo Sun square Saturn) and the other thrilling in the subversive and creative (Leo Moon & Ascendant conjunct Uranus). The two sides have often been difficult to reconcile, though ideally they work together to bring the creative inspiration into form. My initial attraction to astrology, in fact, lies in its validation of the various conflicting sides of my own nature. Of course, at middle age, I find it a little less necessary to have that external validation of my right to exist just as I am.


[Weeks Pond, Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary]

Nature has never had this emotional need to validate its existence (although its right to exist just as it is is very much under threat from the needs of humans). It colors outside the lines drawn by humans, shooting up through cracks in sidewalks, wending its vines around telephone poles, and tossing its leaves willy-nilly across lawns and streets, to name a few very mild subversions. Sometimes it quietly goes a step further to show just how much it thinks of our laws and lines.

[On Somerset Road, outside of the wildlife sanctuary]

Comments

[Lorianne]

I love that last picture!

[leslee]

Lorianne: Yeah, I thought of you when I took it!

[Sara]

I do have some post-brain-tumor residual reading issues, but also I think I've been living here too long. I thought the sign said "PAHKING THIS SIDE."

heh

There are some amusing street signs in Bedford that I photographed a long time ago. One says "STAY IN MARKED LANES." The other says "WAIT FOR GREEN LIGHT." Though good advice in context, no, it wouldn't do to carry them out as broader metaphors. Not all the time, anyway.

[Keith]

looks to be devouring the sign. great shot

[kat]

Beautiful photos, as always. I have to laugh at the last one of the tree, seemingly eating the No Parking Sign.

[marja-leena]

Don't most of us have conflicts between one aspect and another, at least sometimes? That tree growing around the sign is amazing, the power of nature if left on its own.

[Dave]

Oh, I love tree-eating-sign pics! Good find.

[leslee]

Sara: It does look like the bitten off R could be an H! At any rate, you have the pronunciation correct. ;-) I like "WAIT FOR GREEN LIGHT" - it's like those "Danger - do not submerge" tags for hair dryers and the like.

Thanks, all - glad you enjoyed the sign-eating tree as much as I did.

[Shelley]

Hi leslee.
I want to thank you for your comment on my article "Just Say No to Negative Astrology". I've made some revisions and have changed the title a bit.
Your thoughts are very much appreciated. I have a 3rd house Pisces Sun opposite Saturn in Virgo (and Moon conjunct Uranus, too). I remember reading horrific things about my chart when I was a baby astrologer many moons ago.
Shelley

[mm]

The two sides have often been difficult to reconcile, though ideally they work together to bring the creative inspiration into form .

That is my experience also with not dissimilar aspects. Takes time though to get to that point. One of the advantages of getting older!

[leslee]

mm: Yes, I think it becomes less problematic and more useful and creative with age.