Royal Family Portrait With Ancestor (aka Diana Aglow)

Royal Family Portrait With Ancestor (aka Diana Aglow)

Royal Family Portrait With Ancestor (aka Diana Aglow) Ife Oshun's artistic interpretation of official royal wedding photo

Credit: Alexi Lubomirski (with added imagery)

Like an estimated 29 million people, I, too, was mesmerized by the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. I rejoiced in their delicious love story, arose at 5 A.M. EST to view the broadcast live, and devoured, along with tea and cinnamon babka, every second of the event. When they released the official royal photographs, I again fell in love, this time with the joy that rippled over the faces of the family members.

But then my eye was drawn to the portrait’s right side. Next to William there was, at least in my mind, a gap.

An official royal wedding photo with empty space highlighted

Credit: Alexi Lubomirski

The space above the five children on the right struck my painter’s eye as asymmetrical. As soon as my mind made that realization, a memory intruded into my heart with a gentle rush…

Many years ago, a few days after my mother made her transition (kicked the bucket in other words), she visited me. I’d fallen asleep wondering when she would come. My mom was a medium, and I grew up with the knowledge that the so-called spirit world is just another aspect of an existence we take for granted. I knew it was just a matter of time before she would come a’calling.

And come a’calling she did.

Mom was aglow–blinding/vibrant/electric–alive in a way I could barely process. Unrecognizable, yet familiar to the core. She’d come to soothe me–to let me know she was okay, and that I, despite my grief, was okay, too.

But she knows me well.

Of the two of us, I have always been the more practical. So, in order to address the cynic in me, she left me a sign in “real” life. A testament, so to speak… The next morning, I stepped out onto my patio, and saw it. It was so strange, it felt right.

A single, yellow flower had sprouted out of one of the many plant pots. Although it was in full bloom, it hadn’t been there the day before–in fact there had been zero trace of anything about to emerge from below the surface of the soil. The time of year defied flowers shooting up from the dirt; we were in Los Angeles, the season wasn’t right.

I nor my roommate had even planted it.

But there it was–a buttercup. And I knew immediately–felt it in every atom, every cell–that the flower was my mom’s way of saying “See? I’m still very much a part of your “real” life.”

When she walked this earth she used to call me Buttercup.

So, when I saw the gap in the royal family portrait, I immediately recalled my mom’s visit and her lesson: that our ancestors are with us every step of the way. They rejoice when we rejoice, and support us in every stage of life. That’s why, when the big things happen–births, deaths, marriages–we keenly feel their presence. It’s as if the event’s emotional intensity peels away resistance, and we finally allow ourselves to feel our ancestors standing next to, with us, and for us–lovingly, patiently, and unconditionally.

I will never forget that lesson.

And that’s why, after I observed the gap, and felt that rush, I added what seemed to be missing–Diana aglow, reminding us that she was there, a mother standing with her family, sharing in their joy, rejoicing in their love. She reminds us that the real life business of taking a wedding picture could easily be a reflection on the reality of the eternal nature of Love. That those who have come before, those who are here, and those who have yet to come are all one along this brilliant continuum called Love.

Perhaps Alexi Lubomirski, as he composed this portrait, instinctively heeded the invitation to make space, to allow a visual void to just be.

Either way, I love that gap, and would love to turn Royal Family Portrait With Ancestor (aka Diana Aglow) into a painting. Perhaps, someday, I will…

And, perhaps, if one looks closer at the gap just in front of the Queen’s feet, one might see Harry and Meghan’s first child, aglow as well, beaming happily at the camera.

 

Perseids Meteor Shower: 2013

Perseids Meteor Shower: 2013

I love meteor showers and every year always do my best to see them in action. Recently, we got blessed with the Perseids Meteor Shower, and it was fabulous.

In the Northeast, it was challenging to see the shower clearly on the last peak night, August 11. Fortunately, the viewing was extended to the 12th, which is when I got to see it. I didn’t get any good pictures; I leave that to the real photographers. What I did do was compile some of my favorite pics to share with you. These all come from www.nasa.gov. Feel free to share links of any other ones (not photoshopped or pics of satellites) you’ve found over the ‘net. Enjoy!

Perseids Meteor Shower 2013

Video allsky image of Perseid shower over Colorado – Credit Chris Peterson
This shows 85 Perseids (non-Perseids have been removed) captured between dusk and dawn.

Perseids Meteor Shower 2013

Rainbow Perseid – A multicolored Perseid Meteor, from the Red Desert of Wyoming on 8-11-13. Credit – dakotalapse

 

Perseids Meteor Shower 2013

Perseids from the Washburn-Norlands Living History Center – Credit Steve Coates

Perseids Meteor Shower 2013

Monster Mojave Perseid Meteor – Credit – Wally Pacholka

Perseids Meteor Shower 2013

Credit – conemmil

Space and Galaxy Photos

Space and Galaxy Photos

I absolutely love cool photos of outerspace; galaxies, nebulas, star systems, and the like have always captured my imagination. When I think of angels, and where they may or may not reside, pictures like these really help to fire up my imagination without bringing the preconceived notions that come with science fiction and space travel movies and television.

There is something so simple, yet complex, about pictures of these types. A lot of the space and galaxy photos I end up pinning onto my Pinterest board come straight from the NASA site. Looking at these pictures bring me a sense of peace and awe, and I’m happy to share some of my favorites with you. Some sites I visit often include:

nasa.gov

hubblesite.org

space.com

Space and Galaxy Photos from Nasa.gov

The Orion nebula  wired.com

Omega Centauri - I remember this name being thrown around a lot on one of those really old space shows from the 70s. Or was it Alpha Centauri?

Omega Centauri- hubblesite.org

Some space and galaxy photos from Nasa.gov

Space and Galaxy Photos from Nasa.gov

Merging NGC 2623
Image Credit: Hubble Legacy Archive, ESA, NASA; Processing Martin Pugh

Space and Galaxy Photos from Nasa.gov

This one looks like a giant eye, and always gives me the creeps.

NGC 7293: The Helix Nebula
Image Credit & Copyright: Martin Pugh

…and one of my favorite:

Space and Galaxy Photos from Nasa.gov

The Horsehead Nebula
Credit & Copyright: Nigel Sharp (NOAO), KPNO, AURA, NSF

Visit my Pinterest board, where I post a lot of these. Hope you enjoyed these photos and visit the sites where you can see hundreds more of these types of photos every day.

Lyrid Shower 2012 – Ooohh, Aahhh!

I stayed up until 5AM writing last night/this morning and during that time tried to see the Lyrid Meteor shower. Alas, the sky was overcast all night, but I did find this gorgeous photo:

Credit: AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit

Also check out this cool photo from China DeSpain Freeman:

Credit: Science@NASA

This cool video from NASA explains it all: