Oh, how I love that early twilight/dawning time, though in the cold and damp my dogs and I generally wait until after coffee and toast to go tromping in the woods.
You got me searching and I found this:
Navaswan or Brahma Muhurta is the time before dawn when there is a sudden zing of life force. The silence begins to hum. In Vedic timekeeping, Brahma Muhurta is recommended as a great time to practice yoga and meditation. .... Navaswan has a nice ring to it as well as a zing, don't you think?
Wishing you and yours (including, of course, the beautiful Beryl) peaceful, joyful midwintering. And thanks again for sharing your journey.
What a word and what a concept -- "sudden zing of life force when the silence begins to hum." Oh my yes. Thank you so much for this. Navaswan. Oh my, yes.
I've always called it my favorite of the "thin places" those sacred spaces where heaven and earth seem to merge and God's presence is the most powerful. I try not to miss it each morning, it's a quiet but powerful gift! Peace be with you!
That's it. This clenches it. What I've always suspected is now absolutely true...you and I are kindred spirits/sisters from different misters/cut from the same cloth! I ADORE that time of the morning as well and you have described it so very well! I have heard it called The Golden Hour, but this also refers to pre-sunset as well as pre-sunrise...and is not an official term, but rather used by photographers and plain air painters...which I was once and do occasionally take myself out for plein aire sketching often but not as much as I'd like to at the golden hours of the day. Hmmm...must make a plan for that! Anyway...have a marvelously delicious and magical holiday Sarah! I wish you all the Golden Hours you can enjoy and sip the exquisiteness from them! 😍🙏❤️
Gosh Jennifer -- well yeah! Makes perfect sense to me that you're out in the morning golden hour. What better moment for colors, and shadows, and to see the true shapes of things. Have a wondrous holiday yourself. Hoping you'll get to see your new grzndbaby as I'm soon off to see mine!
In a previous life, I lived off grid in the woods in a cabin we built by hand. My little daughter and I would go for walks and identify the plants and birds - and just at twilight, the owls would call to one another through the trees. My little girl, too young to actually tell time but old enough to understand it, would look up at me, her eyes large and round, and whisper, “It’s Owl time.” And so that is what we have always called that mysterious time between light and darkness. Very special indeed.
I thought of you and your daughter this morning when Beryl and I were out at morning "Owl time." There was even a conversation between one very close by, and one half way across town. Magical. Loving thinking about your off-grid cabin built by hand . I've spent much time in away from electricity and the ever-present lights and sounds. What a magical start for your daughter.
Crepuscular doesn't do justice to the luminous light-backlite as it were behind a cloud. I made a sweatshirt once with friends favorite words. I used a very old rubber stamp alphabet. Crepuscular, halcyon, zephyr, probiscus, were a few. To gaze at the sky in that phenomenal light is a precious wholesome moment to savor with all my senses. Thank you for the inspiration of the wished for house-seeing Beryl in the forest allowed me to hope for a place and a pup to enjoy once again.
HA! That is the best idea. The T shirt with favorite words. OH MY yes. And what good ones you've listed. I'd also add palimpsest, which I have long adored. Thrilled that crepuscular made it onto it, though agree that it isn't as poetic as, say, la madrugada...
My husband and I would call it magic time...though we were referring to the afternoon twilight. I think it would fit here, as well. We loved to take a drive around that time, as the light would change, shadows and light were different. There is something about the moments near the switch God puts on every morning and evening that seems spiritually magic.
That is it exactly. Magic -- poised -- outside time for a moment. What a perfect time to take a drive and watch the gradual changes, morning or evening.
I just learned recently it is call the blue hour. which is just before the golden hour, or in the evening the golden hour is also just before sunset and the blue hour is after that.
Another beautiful slice of life, fashioned into drawings, images and words. I call that time ‘first light’ although I see that many dictionaries confuse that phrase with actual dawn, which just goes to highlight our lack of differentiation in modern English. I could watch your sewing video endlessly. Or just spend hours staring at that beautiful piece of indigo ink on paper. I love that you don’t pin as you sew. I used to get in so much trouble for that as a child. It is early summer here but still cold some days, and my days of walking at first light are behind me for now, or perhaps in front of me somewhere in that ‘first light’ of an empty nest. Enjoy your solstice stillpoint and the gentle turning of this time of year. X
Oh I do so love thinking of this as the beginning of summer at the same time as it is winter here. What a wondrous planet this is sometimes. And that here on the internet we're almost in both at once! Trying to imagine the sights and smells of Australia right now-- and perhaps the sounds of your sewing machine click clicking away (with no pins!!!!)
If evening is the gloaming (I do love that term), perhaps morning is the gleaming. You don't yet see the sun, but only the gleam of light heralding its coming.
I love your topics of different kinds of light lately. I do love being up before everyone else, to think, drink coffee, plan, and “examine my life” (thanks Socrates!). The true reward for doing this is to watch that big orange ball called the Sun come up from behind the tree-line. The lit up sky-show is spectacular and different each day. The sun and its light just cheers me up to begin my day! I am loving the Christmas lights, and especially Knick knacks that light up with battery power, change colors, and even play a song if I wish. I may look for year-around inside lights, they are so cheerful. And then there is becoming enlightened. Sarah, you mentioned looking for even little slivers of “light” in our times of mental darkness, and savor them and be thankful. I am taking that to heart now! As always Sarah, you make me think, and give ideas and what-it’s for me to ponder, that give me yet more ideas! Thank you, and I hope you and your family have a very wonderful Christmas!
Thinking, planning and examining one's life-- it is indeed a thing and morning the perfect time. I notice that when I'm not drawing Beryl and I out and about in it, I'm sitting quietly clutching my cup, contemplating the moment and how it is sitting with me -- not unlike Beryl snoozing on my knee . This is the first year I"ve put up lights, inside or out, and I'm really enjoying them. They do add an extra layer of magic. Take care, be well, and best wishes for the new year. Thank you for being here.
I came across this in the NYT this morning and thought it quite wonderful. Hope it shares freely:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/26/opinion/knitting-healing.html
Thanks, Sarah, for your gentle musings. Happiest of holidays to you and Beryl.
Such a lovely meander through the woods. Lucky are those who have trees nearby to commune with.
👍💓
Oh, how I love that early twilight/dawning time, though in the cold and damp my dogs and I generally wait until after coffee and toast to go tromping in the woods.
You got me searching and I found this:
Navaswan or Brahma Muhurta is the time before dawn when there is a sudden zing of life force. The silence begins to hum. In Vedic timekeeping, Brahma Muhurta is recommended as a great time to practice yoga and meditation. .... Navaswan has a nice ring to it as well as a zing, don't you think?
Wishing you and yours (including, of course, the beautiful Beryl) peaceful, joyful midwintering. And thanks again for sharing your journey.
What a word and what a concept -- "sudden zing of life force when the silence begins to hum." Oh my yes. Thank you so much for this. Navaswan. Oh my, yes.
I've always called it my favorite of the "thin places" those sacred spaces where heaven and earth seem to merge and God's presence is the most powerful. I try not to miss it each morning, it's a quiet but powerful gift! Peace be with you!
Thin places! Oh what a lovely phrase. And what pleasure to think of you being out in it too.
That's it. This clenches it. What I've always suspected is now absolutely true...you and I are kindred spirits/sisters from different misters/cut from the same cloth! I ADORE that time of the morning as well and you have described it so very well! I have heard it called The Golden Hour, but this also refers to pre-sunset as well as pre-sunrise...and is not an official term, but rather used by photographers and plain air painters...which I was once and do occasionally take myself out for plein aire sketching often but not as much as I'd like to at the golden hours of the day. Hmmm...must make a plan for that! Anyway...have a marvelously delicious and magical holiday Sarah! I wish you all the Golden Hours you can enjoy and sip the exquisiteness from them! 😍🙏❤️
Gosh Jennifer -- well yeah! Makes perfect sense to me that you're out in the morning golden hour. What better moment for colors, and shadows, and to see the true shapes of things. Have a wondrous holiday yourself. Hoping you'll get to see your new grzndbaby as I'm soon off to see mine!
Snuggles and coos and smiles...oh what a delight these grand babies are! Happy New Year to you Sarah!
And to you!
Happy Solstice!
And to you!
In a previous life, I lived off grid in the woods in a cabin we built by hand. My little daughter and I would go for walks and identify the plants and birds - and just at twilight, the owls would call to one another through the trees. My little girl, too young to actually tell time but old enough to understand it, would look up at me, her eyes large and round, and whisper, “It’s Owl time.” And so that is what we have always called that mysterious time between light and darkness. Very special indeed.
I thought of you and your daughter this morning when Beryl and I were out at morning "Owl time." There was even a conversation between one very close by, and one half way across town. Magical. Loving thinking about your off-grid cabin built by hand . I've spent much time in away from electricity and the ever-present lights and sounds. What a magical start for your daughter.
Crepuscular doesn't do justice to the luminous light-backlite as it were behind a cloud. I made a sweatshirt once with friends favorite words. I used a very old rubber stamp alphabet. Crepuscular, halcyon, zephyr, probiscus, were a few. To gaze at the sky in that phenomenal light is a precious wholesome moment to savor with all my senses. Thank you for the inspiration of the wished for house-seeing Beryl in the forest allowed me to hope for a place and a pup to enjoy once again.
HA! That is the best idea. The T shirt with favorite words. OH MY yes. And what good ones you've listed. I'd also add palimpsest, which I have long adored. Thrilled that crepuscular made it onto it, though agree that it isn't as poetic as, say, la madrugada...
My husband and I would call it magic time...though we were referring to the afternoon twilight. I think it would fit here, as well. We loved to take a drive around that time, as the light would change, shadows and light were different. There is something about the moments near the switch God puts on every morning and evening that seems spiritually magic.
That is it exactly. Magic -- poised -- outside time for a moment. What a perfect time to take a drive and watch the gradual changes, morning or evening.
I just learned recently it is call the blue hour. which is just before the golden hour, or in the evening the golden hour is also just before sunset and the blue hour is after that.
YUM. The blue hour. Makes perfect sense to me as Indigo is the only color I can imagine using for the sky. Thanks!
Another beautiful slice of life, fashioned into drawings, images and words. I call that time ‘first light’ although I see that many dictionaries confuse that phrase with actual dawn, which just goes to highlight our lack of differentiation in modern English. I could watch your sewing video endlessly. Or just spend hours staring at that beautiful piece of indigo ink on paper. I love that you don’t pin as you sew. I used to get in so much trouble for that as a child. It is early summer here but still cold some days, and my days of walking at first light are behind me for now, or perhaps in front of me somewhere in that ‘first light’ of an empty nest. Enjoy your solstice stillpoint and the gentle turning of this time of year. X
Oh I do so love thinking of this as the beginning of summer at the same time as it is winter here. What a wondrous planet this is sometimes. And that here on the internet we're almost in both at once! Trying to imagine the sights and smells of Australia right now-- and perhaps the sounds of your sewing machine click clicking away (with no pins!!!!)
If evening is the gloaming (I do love that term), perhaps morning is the gleaming. You don't yet see the sun, but only the gleam of light heralding its coming.
The gleaming!!! How utterly lovely. And perfect. Geez…
Sarah I don't know if you saw this, but some interesting musings on Milkweed...
https://thecolour.substack.com?utm_source=navbar&utm_medium=web&r=4xver
I did see it -- isn't it wonderful? Thanks for thinking of me though. Never too many milkweed connections..
I love your topics of different kinds of light lately. I do love being up before everyone else, to think, drink coffee, plan, and “examine my life” (thanks Socrates!). The true reward for doing this is to watch that big orange ball called the Sun come up from behind the tree-line. The lit up sky-show is spectacular and different each day. The sun and its light just cheers me up to begin my day! I am loving the Christmas lights, and especially Knick knacks that light up with battery power, change colors, and even play a song if I wish. I may look for year-around inside lights, they are so cheerful. And then there is becoming enlightened. Sarah, you mentioned looking for even little slivers of “light” in our times of mental darkness, and savor them and be thankful. I am taking that to heart now! As always Sarah, you make me think, and give ideas and what-it’s for me to ponder, that give me yet more ideas! Thank you, and I hope you and your family have a very wonderful Christmas!
Thinking, planning and examining one's life-- it is indeed a thing and morning the perfect time. I notice that when I'm not drawing Beryl and I out and about in it, I'm sitting quietly clutching my cup, contemplating the moment and how it is sitting with me -- not unlike Beryl snoozing on my knee . This is the first year I"ve put up lights, inside or out, and I'm really enjoying them. They do add an extra layer of magic. Take care, be well, and best wishes for the new year. Thank you for being here.