The ideal relationship

Morning temp: 52F
Afternoon high: 58F
Tonight's projected low: 40F
Humidity: 100%
Moon: Waning, 4%

Today looks to be both cloudy and windy. Thus far, there's been a fairly steady and quite cool breeze out of the West at 14mph, though there's some concern that gusts could become considerably stronger. In fact, we're under a "wind advisory" until later this evening.

1. So, if you've got kami in your Garden, what does this mean? What are you supposed to do about it? Another superb question, one we could answer a number of different ways! To begin, let's recall that kami are spirits or divine beings found throughout nature, especially in those places that inspire awe (or dread) within us. The storms that have been sweeping across the eastern half of the country certainly qualify. Very early this morning, after the front line of thunderstorms departed, I stepped outside and felt that they had done some very important work for us. We know that they clear the air of the pollutants we've put into it, but perhaps they've cleared something else as well. We've all noticed how it feels after a thunderstorm, how much more calm and peaceful it seems. Perhaps these storms are clearing out the anger and frustration that we have been putting out there. Moreover, perhaps storms will continue to grow in intensity and frequency until we learn to cultivate different thoughts and emotions, such as patience, peace and forgiveness. This accords nicely with traditional Shinto understandings of what it means to live in harmony with the kami. On Shinto teachings, when human beings get stuck in negative inner thoughts and emotions, particularly those that give rise to unkind and inconsiderate actions, this creates an intolerable atmosphere for both earthly and heavenly kami. You might think of it as a kind of "emotional pollution." As a result, the so-called "negative kami" become activated, the first stage of which is frequent and angry storms that both cleanse the atmosphere of unhealthy energies, and (hopefully) wake us human beings up, so that we may once again begin to cultivate the thoughts and emotions that give rise to kind and considerate behavior and actions, and thus harmonize ourselves not only with the kami, but with each other.

Much like our stories of calling upon and feeling the presence and assistance of St. Fiacre and his angels while we work in the Garden, whatever we make of Shinto mythology - whether we see it as literal truth or existential metaphor - we believe that insofar as it helps us to adopt a calm and patient attitude toward one another, and to live in harmony with nature and our neighbors, it points the way toward learning to live well.

2. It's a very cool, windy day here in Zone 7b, and we're grateful that the line of storms that passed through were very gentle with us. We received lots of steady, soaking rain and the clean, crisp air that comes in behind. We're hoping that the "strong winds" said to be moving through today will be similarly mild. In fact, I'm considering asking them to be as careful as possible in keeping our home, Garden and community safe and well-protected, asking that any negative emotional energies they may be attempting to clear-out be released easily and effortlessly, without so much tumultuous thunder, lighting and such. In truth, I did this yesterday afternoon with the storms headed our way, and I felt that they responded with awareness and understanding. I'm also considering putting the plantlings out on the front porch, to harden them off to even chillier and windier weather. I think, also, that it will be a another good day for inside chores.

Looking to the future: Today (4/15) is our "last frost date," and so we're moving as many plantlings as possible out to the Garden tomorrow. The lows this week are supposed to be in the mid-30s on Monday and low-40s Tuesday and beyond, so we'll probably transplant only the hardier varieties, and wait on the tomatoes and other more sensitive plants.