HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY AND IMBOLC

2/1-Michigan weather at its finest: in just a few hours it went from heavy rains to ice to snow with East Lansing faring worse than our area.

It cleared to partly cloudy later in the day. The Diner was busy.

Tonight marks the beginning of Imbolc. For the Celts this marks the half-way point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. Imbolc translates to "in the belly" marking lambing time where the ewes are coming into their milk. It also is the time of welcoming back the light as the days are lengthening.

2/2-Groundhog Day-Phil, the rodent in PA saw his shadow and with that, 6 more weeks of Winter. MI Phil, did not-early Spring! Woot Woot!

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Images of Jupiter's swirling clouds from NASA's Juno probe:

Potoo:

From Wiki: Potoos are nocturnal insectivores that live in Central and South America. They hunt from a perch like a shrike or flycatcher. During the day they perch upright on tree stumps, camouflaged to look like part of the stump.

Silbury Hill:

Jonathan C.K. Webb

Part of the Avebury/Stonehenge complex, it is the largest prehistoric man-made mound in Europe. Made primarily of chalk and clay, its volume is similar to Egyptian Pyramids and is thought to be contemporary estimated to have been built in stages 2400-2300 BCE.

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Navajo Nation flag

Diné or Navajo people's tradition with solar eclipses:

They believe that solar eclipses are a sacred time for reverence and reflection. They believe that the sun is a father figure who temporarily dies and is reborn during an eclipse.

Beliefs and practices:

• The sun and moon are holy beings 
• The sun protects the Earth from monsters
• The sun, moon, and Earth are constantly renewing themselves and that the eclipse is a time for the universe to be realigned and reborn
  
• Looking directly at the sun during an eclipse can harm your eyes
• Breaking the rules during an eclipse can cause spiritual, physical, and mental misalignment
• They believe that activities should cease during an eclipse and stay inside their hogans and sit quietly, fast, pray, and don't go outside, sleep, eat, drink, or engage in intimate relationships
• They recount traditional teachings about the origins of the sun and moon

A Diné custom:

Navajo believe that babies are in between the spirit world and the living world until their first laugh. It's a sign they've decided to stay. The person who elicited the first laugh is honored with the responsibility of hosting a celebratory party for the baby's family, signifying the baby's full acceptance into the community and physical world; this practice emphasizes the value of generosity as the baby symbolically "gives" food and gifts to guests during the gathering. Rock salt is one of the primary gifts.

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Diver encountering humpback whales:

 Mermaid in aquarium surrounded by small fish:

 School of mobula rays in Mexico:

 Dog being swarmed by butterflies: