A visible “Long Now”

I like how the evening shadow of the Peace Garden’s Spiral acts like a large sideral sun dial as it casts itself over the pond towards either the Ancestral Midden or the Split Rock. There is a slow, six month journey of the shadow between the two sets of stones.

During the month of June the top most portion of the long evening shadow cast by the Spiral passes over the pond and stops just to the right of the Ancestral Midden. After the winter solstice (June 21) it begins to move back towards the Split rock and hovers there half a year later during the suimmer soltice period in December.

With the Spiral representing “the Future”, the Split Rock “the Present” and the Ancestral Midden “the Past”, the evenings sun dial effect of the Spiral’s Future’s shadow moving between the Present and Past, keeps the whole of the Peace Garden alive with its cyclic, clock work changes.

What was a total surprise to me happened yesterday as I stood in front of the Ancestral midden while the Spiral and the setting sun were directly behind me on the far side of the pond.

The shadow I cast over the midden stones was a double shadow; one from the direct rays of the sun, another from the sunlight bouncing off the mirrored, still waters of the pond.

Almost eerie, yes?

If one wants to contemplate how the “Long Now” might be visualised, one need go no further than to look at this photo.

Rising up from the ancestral stones, the resultant shadow seems to be of an ancestral spirit wearing a chasuble or some other dark, sleeveless ecclesiastical vestment.

To the right, and in the raised hand of this chthonic figure, is the shadowy spiral staff of the future, held firmly.

I was tantalised and then became mesmerised by what I was seeing. Me, obviously the Present, being sermonised by the Past who is holding onto the Future.

Talk about lack of boundaries. Or, a visible representation of the “Long Now”.

Can you hear what I heard? Can your hear yourself being told to listen to the past to gain the wisdom in order to protect the future? Not the future of next week, but the “Long Now” future where your great, great, great, great grandchildren reside.

Can you, at least, hear the Hallelujah Chorus?

Post Script…….. After writing the above, I happened to notice on top of the piano were these photos of my parents shown wearing the attire when my mother was the choir director of Detroit’s Serbian Orthodox church. Sleeveless vestments.

Celestial music, anyone?

I strongly believe that in imagination is the preservation of the world.

By calling upon those who have passed before us for help and guidance, we can create a future that is not only safe from terrorism, but full of reverential gaiety and fearless enjoyment.