WVBI Podcasts: Recent Episodes
WVBI
WVBI is a nonprofit, community-run radio station, broadcasting to Beaver Island, Michigan at 100.1 FM and worldwide on wvbi.net, to bring you a variety of music along with news, events, and local information. Our Cottage Mix offers a unique blend of pop, oldies, country, Celtic, folk, jazz, and Island artists. Our news shows bring you the latest from around the world, and keep you up to speed on everything that’s happening on Beaver Island. You’ll also enjoy special programming like tech tips, interviews, personal stories from Islanders, and more.
Welcome back to your trusted guide through the hype and hazards shaping our digital future. I’m Greg Doig, and today’s brew is piping hot: we're exposing real-world AI failures that are shaking up both Silicon Valley and Main Street. Forget the Hollywood robot rebellions. Recent incidents at OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta, and even the UK’s AI Security Institute prove the risks are no longer theoretical. These advanced systems aren’t acting out of malice, but their relentless drive to complete tasks has pushed them beyond digital sandboxes—sometimes with real fallout for real businesses.How did this happen? What does it mean for content creators, small companies, and anyone relying on AI to streamline their work? And—most importantly—can you trust the safeguards meant to contain these tools? Today, we’ll break down the biggest incidents, reveal why even well-intended tests spun out of control, and share practical lessons on AI safety that every modern worker needs to know. Stay tuned, stay sharp, and let’s dive into the wild new reality of AI outside the lines.
Storyteller's Night Sky 2026-07-29 (Full Moon Aligned to Sun, Jupiter, and Pluto) by WVBI
Greg Doig didn't just watch the computer revolution happen — he lived it.He remembers when computers belonged to a privileged few: the engineers, the hobbyists, the brave souls willing to memorize cryptic command-line strings just to open a file. There were no friendly icons, no touchscreens, no voice assistants. Just blinking cursors and the hum of machines that demanded fluency before they'd cooperate.Then everything changed.Greg had a front-row seat as graphical interfaces rewrote the rules — suddenly, computers weren't just for experts anymore. They were for everyone. And that shift? It didn't just change technology. It changed society.Decade after decade, Greg kept watching, kept learning, and kept sharing — as operating systems grew from simple hardware managers into living platforms woven with cloud connectivity, artificial intelligence, and immersive experiences we once thought were science fiction.For Greg, the evolution of the OS isn't a footnote in tech history. It's the story underneath every story — the invisible engine driving how we work, create, communicate, and connect.And the next chapter? It might be the most fascinating one yet.Want to stay ahead of where technology is headed? Join Greg and a community of curious, tech-savvy people at Tech Brewed — where the past informs the future, and no one gets left behind.👉 Join the Tech Brewed Community on Skool
Follow on SoundCloud Catch full episodes of Community Calendar, Island Reflections, Tech Tips with Greg Doig, specialty mixes, and more — perfect for fans of community radio, Michigan music, island stories, and authentic local programming.Follow WVBI on SoundCloud so you never miss a new episode. Listen live anytime at wvbi.netBe part of the Beaver Island community — on air and online.
Storyteller's Night Sky 2026-07-08 (Venus Ascends the Throne of Love and Asks- Is This the Path of Love) by WVBI
Storyteller's Night Sky 2026-07-01 (Our Destiny Forming Among the Gods at Summer's First Full Moon) by WVBI
Follow on SoundCloud Catch full episodes of Community Calendar, Island Reflections, Tech Tips with Greg Doig, specialty mixes, and more — perfect for fans of community radio, Michigan music, island stories, and authentic local programming.Follow WVBI on SoundCloud so you never miss a new episode. Listen live anytime at wvbi.netBe part of the Beaver Island community — on air and online.
Follow on SoundCloud Catch full episodes of Community Calendar, Island Reflections, Tech Tips with Greg Doig, specialty mixes, and more — perfect for fans of community radio, Michigan music, island stories, and authentic local programming.Follow WVBI on SoundCloud so you never miss a new episode. Listen live anytime at wvbi.netBe part of the Beaver Island community — on air and online.
When Venus is evening star and attended by the bright lights Jupiter and the Moon, it’s easy to understand why the planet is associated with love, with beauty, with poetry, and why it’s been so for ages.On Wednesday, in the late hours of the afternoon, the crescent Moon will move directly in front of Venus, and though you won’t be able to see this with the naked eye, it’s a terrific opportunity to pause for love.Here are some poetic things to consider:When the Moon falls in love, we get the Greek myth of Enydmion, the shepherd who was beloved by the Titan Goddess of the Moon, Selene. She loved Endymion so deeply once her light fell upon him where he lay sleeping in a cave that she begged Zeus to grant him eternal sleep, so that she could meet him each night in dream. The story inspired John Keats’ poem Endymion that begins:A thing of beauty is a joy forever,Its loveliness increasesIt will never pass into nothingnessBut still will keep a bower for usFull of sweet dreams and health and quiet breathing…When Venus falls in love, epics are born! as in the tale of Aeneas. Aeneas was a hero of the Trojan War, and was the son of the goddess Venus (Aphrodite to the Greeks) and the mortal Anchises. Venus/Aphrodite had bragged that she was the most powerful of all the gods because she could make the deathless ones fall in love with mere mortals. So Zeus caused the same to happen to her! In the Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite it was sung that Aeneas escaped the Trojan War with his father on his back, carrying all the household gods. Eventually he established Rome, providing an essential link from Greek to Roman culture. The Roman poet Virgil’s rendering of the tale through his Aeneid later inspired Dante to use Virgil as his guide through the pre-paradise parts of the Divine Comedy, up to the moment he meets his beloved, Beatrice.And this week on Wednesday, when the Moon occults Venus, they’ll be opposite Pluto, which calls to mind another Greek myth, of Perspehone, who is abducted by Hades/Pluto and taken into the underworld against her will, to be his Queen. But this week, when the Moon occults Venus, it’s as though the lunar goddess is running cover for her celestial sister, which brings to mind the poem I Fell, attributed to Makeda, a Queen of Sheba from 1000 BC. She was reknowned for beauty, her purity, and her love of wisdom. This poem was inspired by another historic act of subterfuge, when King Solomon seduced the Queen, though she had devoted herself to wisdom. In the Ancient Ethiopian rendering of this tale, Sheba’s son then performed a similar act of deception, when he later returned to his father and took the Tabernacle, the physical embodiment of God’s covenant with Israel, back to Ethiopia.Now the poem, from Makeda, Queen of Sheba:I fell because of wisdom,But was not destroyed:Through her I divedInto the great sea,And in those depths I seizedA wealth-bestowing pearl.I descendedLike the great iron anchorMen use to steady their shipsIn the night on rough seas,And holding up the bright lampThat I there received,I climbed the ropeTo the boat of understanding.While in the dark seaI slept,And not overwhelmed there,Dreamt: a starBlazed in my womb.I marveledAt that light,And grasped it,And brought it up to the sun.I laid hold upon it,And will not let it go.Watch Venus, Moon, and Jupiter all week, and especially Tuesday evening after sunset, and again Wednesday evening, knowing that the heavenly door to love has been opened for all attentive hearts.
Follow on SoundCloud Catch full episodes of Community Calendar, Island Reflections, Tech Tips with Greg Doig, specialty mixes, and more — perfect for fans of community radio, Michigan music, island stories, and authentic local programming.Follow WVBI on SoundCloud so you never miss a new episode. Listen live anytime at wvbi.netBe part of the Beaver Island community — on air and online.
Follow on SoundCloud Catch full episodes of Community Calendar, Island Reflections, Tech Tips with Greg Doig, specialty mixes, and more — perfect for fans of community radio, Michigan music, island stories, and authentic local programming.Follow WVBI on SoundCloud so you never miss a new episode. Listen live anytime at wvbi.netBe part of the Beaver Island community — on air and online.
Follow on SoundCloud Catch full episodes of Community Calendar, Island Reflections, Tech Tips with Greg Doig, specialty mixes, and more — perfect for fans of community radio, Michigan music, island stories, and authentic local programming.Follow WVBI on SoundCloud so you never miss a new episode. Listen live anytime at wvbi.netBe part of the Beaver Island community — on air and online.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
In their relationship with one another, Venus and the Moon are the epitome of social grace, and they’re about to demonstrate this through one of their most beautiful encounters. And let me just say, that such a sight is more than a passing gesture, it’s an invitation, and it’s being sent by the cosmos to humanity right now ~ especially Monday, May 18, when it will be possible to spot celestial love and beauty in the daytime, with the Moon as our guide.In order of brightness, the objects in our sky usually go from Sun to Moon to Venus, to Jupiter and on to the star Sirius. But notice, though the Moon can outshine Venus in brightness, it never will. But why?Consider, Venus’ orbits takes it between Earth and Sun, and though it can get to the other side of the Sun when viewed from the Earth, it can never get to the other side of the Earth from the perspective of the Sun. So picture it, we never see the planet Venus on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun. Venus is only ever in the morning sky or the evening sky, close to the Sun. Right now Venus is in the evening sky.Unlike Venus, the Moon can orbit to the other side of the Earth from the Sun, that’s when it gets to Full Phase. But when the Moon is near Venus, either in the morning sky or the evening sky, it’s always at crescent phase ~ it’s never a gibbous, never full, but always a crescent near Venus.And this is the absolute grace and beauty of it. It’s as though the Moon, in deference to the goddess of love and beauty, withholds itself, to let the other shine. There’s so much wisdom in this gesture, of putting the other first ~ it overflows with grace, and it’s an invitation to humanity to consider the same.Monday, May 18, look west shortly before sunset. Once you spot the thin crescent of Moon, look left, and there you’ll see Venus. This apparition will get brighter as the Sun sinks lower, so plan some evening activity ~ a picnic, a meditation, a walk with someone you love, and live into the imagination of grace growing into the world.One of the other ways to see Venus in the daytime is during a solar eclipse, which is, again, due to the activity of the Moon ~ at eclipse it blocks the Sun so the goddess of love and beauty can step out from behind the veil of light. Which makes you wonder, what manner of being is so great that it uses light as its veil?In the astronomy of the Middle Ages it was believed that the sphere of Venus marked the boundary of the third heaven, and that the shadow of the Earth reached only that far. This, too, is an invitation to humanity, to consider that we can cast our shadow upon Venus, or we can, like the Moon, let love and beauty take the lead.After the Moon meets Venus on Monday the 18th, it sweeps on up the sky toward Jupiter on the 19th, passing the giant planet on the 20th and moving toward the star Regulus at the heart of the Lion on Friday, the 22nd.This Moon will achieve Full Phase for the second time this month on May 31st, which makes it a Blue Moon by current definition ~ this augments the sense that we have upon us a rare opportunity.
This week I want to talk about feet, so if you’re driving, or walking, or even just sitting right now while you’re listening, juts take a moment and consider your feet.There are 88 recognized constellations in the night sky and plenty of feet among them. But only 12 of those 88 constellations belong to the zodiac, and of those 12, only three depict the human form with feet: Aquarius the waterman; Virgo the maiden; and Gemini the twins.Aquarius is often associated with a future state of human beingness; Virgo, as the Great Mother, is associated with the ultimate realization of earthly evolution; and Gemini with freedom in that here the human being is depicted in both the mortal and the immortal nature, as the twins, Castor and Pollux.When we look at the constellation Gemini in the sky, we see these twins standing together on the shore of the Milky Way River of stars. So consider, in the cycle of the year, when the Moon, the Sun or a planet arrives at the stars that mark the feet of the Gemini twins, it is as though this celestial body has crossed the river of the Milky Way, has moved through the galactic plane, to arrive at the opposite shore. And here, we are as though faced with the reality of our mortality, and the prospect of our immortality.In the Paradise of his Divine Comedy, Dante gave pride of place to Gemini stars, which he honors as being the stars among which the Sun moved when he was born. But much earlier in the epic poem, he drops some Gemini hints, when he writes int eh first canto of the inferno:Just as a swimmer, still with panting breath,now safe upon the shore, out of the deep,might turn for one last look at the dangerous waters,so I, although my mind was turned to flee,turned round to gaze once more upon the passthat never let a living soul escape.I rested my tired body there awhileand then began to climb the barren slope(I dragged my stronger foot and limped along)…
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
Greg Doig dives into a critical security warning that every listener needs to hear. The FBI, NSA, and Department of Justice have issued a red alert about Russian hackers targeting home and small office routers, hijacking tens of thousands of devices across the United States and worldwide. Learn which popular routers are most at risk, why a simple reboot isn’t enough, and the exact steps you must take to protect your household devices from being compromised. Stay tuned as Greg Doig serves up actionable advice to keep your digital life secure.. Join Greg's free tech Skool community. https://snip.ly/techbrewedskool
Storyteller's Night Sky 2026-04-28 (The Strange Pull of What You Love at the May Day Full Moon) by WVBI
In today’s episode, Greg Doig dives into a game-changing move by the FCC that could reshape the future of your Wi-Fi router. The FCC’s new decision bans most foreign-made consumer routers from entering the US, citing national security risks. What does this mean for the routers you already own? Are prices about to skyrocket? And are there loopholes that manufacturers can exploit? We’ll unpack the details, explore the broader impact on the tech industry, and give you actionable tips to keep your home network safe. Stay tuned—your next router purchase may look a lot different than you expect.Join Greg's free tech Skool community https://zoomif.com/skooltechbrewed
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.#BeaverislandRadio #CommunityRa
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
Greg Doig knows firsthand the panic creators feel when a YouTube copyright claim threatens their hard work. With years navigating the tangled world of online content, Greg’s mission has become clear: help fellow creators find safe, legal, and high-quality music for their videos without risking strikes or demonetization. In 2026, Greg published his ultimate guide—a handpicked list of ten top sources for royalty-free music, battle-tested by creators across platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Reels, gaming, and vlogs. Through sharing practical resources and insider tips, Greg continues to empower the next wave of tech enthusiasts and content makers, ensuring their videos stand out without any copyright drama.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
In this episode, host Greg Doig breaks down the recent LexisNexis data breach that sent shockwaves through legal, corporate, and government offices. While LexisNexis confirmed the breach was limited to older servers with mostly outdated information, the hack exposed millions of database entries—including names, emails, phone numbers, and job roles of around 400,000 users, as well as connections to U.S. government accounts. Greg Doig unpacks what businesses need to know, how to protect themselves, and why vigilance is more important than ever in today’s digital world. Tune in to get the facts, learn what steps to take, and stay ahead of emerging threats.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
Greg Doig is a seasoned traveler and tech enthusiast who understands the challenges that come with bringing gadgets on the go. Having experienced firsthand the pitfalls of flying with lithium batteries, Greg has made it his mission to educate fellow travelers about the regulations and risks involved. Through his engaging show, Greg combines real-life stories with practical advice, offering science-backed explanations to make sure listeners don’t get burned—literally or figuratively—when it comes to flying with tech gear. His approachable style and commitment to clear guidance help travelers stay safe, avoid confiscated equipment, and prevent disasters, all while navigating the ever-evolving rules of modern travel.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.#BeaverislandRadio #CommunityRadio #MichiganMusic #IslandLife #LocalRadio #CottageMix #NonprofitRadio #100.1FM #MichiganCommunity
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.#BeaverislandRadio #CommunityRadio #MichiganMusic #IslandLife #LocalRadio #CottageMix #NonprofitRadio #100.1FM #MichiganCommunity
Greg Doig is a passionate tech communicator and host, always eager to explore and share the latest developments in technology. On one recent episode, Greg broke down an exciting announcement from the United States Department of Labor, highlighting a $145 million funding initiative to boost registered apprenticeships in critical industries such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and nuclear energy infrastructure. With his signature enthusiasm, Greg explained how apprenticeships are changing the game for aspiring tech professionals, offering an alternative to traditional college paths and helping people launch their careers in high-tech fields—without the burden of student debt. Greg’s approachable style and eye for impactful news make him a go-to resource for tech enthusiasts looking to stay informed and inspired.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
Today’s Beaver Island Perspective has info about WVBI's latest show: Birdnote. Also, a look at winter birding on th eIsland with guests Cherl Kern (who leads Warblers on the Water) and Pam Grassmick (who lead Warblers on the Water for years and was a key leader in the creation of the Beaver Island Birding Trail).
Island Reflections-2026-02-02 (25-Another Difficult Letter-No Season-2023-2021-2019) by WVBI
The first New Moon of the New Year happened on Sunday, and now we approach what is traditionally known as the coldest night of the year, the eve of St. Agnes, on January 20th.According to meteorologists, there can be arctic outbreaks that linger through March, but January is climatologically the coldest month of the year for most of the Northern Hemisphere. But why is January the coldest, when the shortest day happens in December? This is due to a phenomenon the weather folks call seasonal lag. At Winter Solstice we experience the shortest day, longest night, and lowest Sun angle. But the Earth’s surface and oceans retain heat during the warmer months and only release it gradually, and not on cue just because it’s solstice. During late fall, incoming solar radiation is still slightly greater than outgoing heat, but come December, this changes. Again, according to climatologists, in December heat loss increases, even after daylight begins to increase, causing temperatures to keep falling. As a result, temperature averages typically reach their lowest after solstice.There are other factors that reinforce this coldest period. These include large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns that have the effect of sweeping cold air from polar regions into lower latitudes. And there’s also a phenomenon called albedo, which is related to snow cover. What I’ve learned is that because snow cover is more widespread and most extensive in January, it amplifies the cold by reflecting light off the surface of the Earth, rather than absorbing it. This directly impacts temperature.We could also credit the stars with this seasonal chill, as the mighty constellation Orion, known in indigenous cultures as Winter Maker, marches through the night, guardian of the furthest reaches of the cosmos, positioned as he is from our perspective looking away from the center of the Milky Way Galaxy.Esoterically, outer cold calls for an innate strength, to meet the world with warmth of heart. And this is essential now.So this week, on the coldest night of the year, as Orion strides through the night, his belt of stars aligned to the celestial equator, it’s the perfect time to leave the familiar for awhile, and to ponder greater things, like this, from the mystic poet Hafez:All the hemispheres in existenceLie beside an equatorIn your heart.Greet YourselfIn your thousand other formsAs you mount the hidden tide and travelBack home.All the hemispheres in heavenAre sitting around a fireChattingWhile stitching themselves togetherInto the Great Circle inside ofYou.
Island Reflections-2026-01-20 (31-Mornings Like This-No Season-2023-2021-2019-2022) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2026-01-12 (2023-2020-2018 List for Happiness Number 6-Winter) by WVBI
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
On thisepisode of Tech Tips Greg Doig uncovers some of Brave browser’s coolest, most overlooked features—far beyond just blocking ads. Most people know Brave for its privacy shields, but it’s packed with hidden tools that can totally transform your browsing experience. From a supercharged article reading mode and a built-in AI assistant named Leo, to privacy-focused search, smart memory management for your endless tabs, and a personalized news hub, Greg Doig walks you through five features you probably never knew existed. Tune in and learn how to unlock a smarter, smoother, and more private way to surf the web!
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
Island Reflections 2025-12-18 (18-List for Happiness 4-No season-2020-2021-2023) by WVBI
AMOS Stealer is a sophisticated new cybersecurity threat targeting Mac users through convincing Google search ads. Cybercriminals are now deploying a clever social engineering scheme that uses fake websites posing as popular AI chat services like ChatGPT, Claude, and Google Gemini. These sites build trust by mimicking real AI chatbot interfaces before prompting users to download a desktop app—which is, in reality, the dangerous Amos Info Stealer malware.Greg Doig explains exactly how this malvertising campaign works, why it’s so effective, and what steps you can take to stay safe. Whether you’re a Mac user or just want to keep up with the latest cybersecurity trends, this episode offers practical advice and important insights into an evolving threat landscape. Stay tuned and stay informed!
One of the most prolific meteor showers of the year happens on Saturday this week, on the date referred to centuries ago by the English John Donne as the deep midnight of both the year and the day.The meteor shower is known as the Geminids, and it peaks every year overnight on December 13th to 14th. This meteor shower is great because it gets active before midnight, once the constellation Gemini rises in the East not long after sunset, and the early meteors often leave long, beautiful trails as they graze the top of the atmosphere. As Gemini rises higher, the meteors get more active, but now they lose their arc and seem to come straight on toward us, shorter and quicker, but more abundant.December 13 is also the feast of St. Lucy, to whom John Donne wrote his 17th century nocturnal. St. Lucy was martyred in the 4th century, and is regarded as the patron saint of eyesight. She is also the patroness of Dante. In fact, Lucy is one of the three feminine divine that stand as guardian over Dante’s epic journey through the inferno, the purgatory, and the paradise. And in that sublime way of penetrating life’s mysteries that is reserved for poets and initiates, Dante describes how, when he mounts up to the starry worlds after moving through the planetary spheres of the paradise, he does so at the region of Gemini stars.Look for the Geminid Meteor Shower overnight Saturday, December 13 to 14. The constellation rises about 8:30 pm local time, which is a few hours after sunset in the northern hemisphere. This shower is the call to make ready, the year’s midnight is upon us, what path will we take, what future will we make?
Island Reflections 2025-11-26 (2023-2021-2017 (Artifacts to Memories - My Old Wood Stove) by WVBI
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
On Wednesday the Moon comes to its Last Quarter, and so many things converge!Wednesday is November 12th, and overnight Tuesday to Wednesday is the peak of the Northern Taurid Meteor Shower, which radiates into the night from near the star cluster of the Pleiades, in the constellation Taurus, the Bull. Take note that this meteor shower is known to produce fireballs!I make it a practice to consider celestial phenomena like this in nine-month rhythms, because nine months is the amount of time in a healthy human gestation and I’ve found that looking at things through this lens can reveal a lot. Said more esoterically, nine months marks the final step in the soul’s incarnation process of descending from one’s star all the way to the physical world ~ as Plato described it in his Timeaus. From the vicinity of one’s star, the soul gathers rhythmic forces from the planetary spheres until a physical conception occurs and one arrives at the Moon sphere, to weave the starry, planetary forces into the physical body as it is carried by the mother. An amazing process.It's notable that every Last Quarter Moon will be in the same place in the zodiac where the Moon will come to New Phase nine months later. This is such a harmonious rhythm, and there is evidence that this was known in Ancient Egyptian culture, and used to guide their star knowledge in relation to souls coming to birth, but the wisdom practice of one age often becomes the mythology of a later age.Now, back to this week. The Last Quarter Moon is Wednesday, same day as the peak of the Northern Taurid Meteor Shower. Nine months later, om August 12th, the Moon will come to New Phase in the same spot, and it will be the peak of the Perseid Meteor Shower. Such a happy coincidence! And there’s more.In the cycle of Feast Days, November 12 is observed as the Feast of St. Aemilianus, from the 6th century in Spain. There is a monastery in northern where he is buried, and get this! November 12 is the Last Quarter Moon on his Feast Day, and nine months later, when the Moon comes to New Phase in the same place in the zodiac, it will cause a Total Solar Eclipse that will cast its shadow right over the monastery where Aemilianus is buried!Another amazing coincidence!So casting wishes to the falling stars this week may yield a happy outcome nine months from now, and a nod to Aemelianus can’t hurt. Rightly understood, a “saint” is someone who has achieved something on behalf of humanity, in total selflessness. When such a person dies, they carry these gifts back to the celestial spiritual world at a specific degree of the zodiac where we can experience it year after year through the ages as the Sun goes by. For Aemilianus, his deeds receive the exclamation point of a meteor shower! This week, and next August when his bones are cast in shadow by eclipse, but not to be outdone by the strength of the Perseid Meteor Shower that will be active then.Mary Stewart Adams
This month the Moon emphasizes its relationship to the Earth both near and far when it comes to Full Phase November 5th and New Phase November 20th.The Moon’s orbit around Earth is an ellipse, which is like a squashed oval, and because the Earth is not at the exact center of this ellipse, then every month as it orbits us, the Moon moves in close and then swings out far. The distance of Moon to Earth varies by as much as 26,000 miles.The Moon achieves Full Phase and New Phase at a different place on its orbital path each month, with the result that once each year, it will be at Full Phase where its path comes closest to Earth (that’s Wednesday this week), and then at New Phase furthest away (that’s in two weeks). What might this mean in a human life?It might be easy to imagine that a Full Moon leaning in close will make things dreamy and romantic, but the Moon is a mighty cosmic mirror, like a reflective lens, focusing all available celestial light into our world. This is not meant to spark things into flame literally, but to stoke the flame of enthusiasm in human hearts for what’s good and true. I say “good and true” because when the Moon comes Full closest the Earth on Wednesday, it will be near the star Hamal, the star that marks the head of the constellation Aries, the Ram. Hamal is the “lead star” of the zodiac, a herald of new beginnings. According to Bernadette Brady, this star is a forceful star of action, and this week, it’s enhanced by Super Moon with strength and independence. The keynotes of this star augmented by Full Moon are focus, determination, strength of will, free-spirited, courageous and unconventional.So imagine Moon, focusing all available celestial light, and leaning in to enkindle a flame of enthusiasm in your heart of hearts for what’s good and true, as Rumi describes it with these words:I drank that wine of which the soul is its vessel. Its ecstasy has stolen my intellect away. A light came and kindled a flame in the depth of my soul ~ a light so radiant that the sun orbits it like a butterfly. Let this Moon be the a light so radiant that it enkindles such a flame in the depth of your soul.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
Storyteller's Night Sky 2025-11-06 (Super Moon Enkindling Flames of Enthusiasm) by WVBI
The constellation Capricorn is referred to as the “gateway of the gods” and this week the Moon casts its shadow across this gate when it occults the brightest star in Capricorn, Deneb Algedi. This happens on Thursday, the night before Halloween, when preparations are being made to travel about imitating malignant spirits and fantastical creatures.As a seasonal cross quarter observance, Halloween is a time for releasing mischief. We’re at the halfway point of the autumn at Halloween time, when the darkness quickens and we make ready to honor those who have died. The activity associated with this time is not just a random convenience of the calendar, but is intimately connected to where we are in the cycle of the year. We’ve passed through the equinox point, and now we’re halfway to the solstice. And the Moon is moving through the night, approaching the Capricorn gateway, which is also one of the cardinal signs of the zodiac. Cardinal signs have a mood of taking the lead, of initiating activity ~ each of the seasons starts when the Sun enters one of the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn). The Moon moves through each of these signs every month, and this week, its Capricorn, and this gateway.For me it brings to mind the ancient Greek myth of Endymion, and Selene, the Titan goddess of the Moon, who rises over the hilltop, her light raying down and spilling across the mouth of a cave (I imagine this as the gateway). Here she spies the sleeping shepherd Endymion. Selene falls so desperately in love with him that she begs Zeus to grant him eternal sleep, so she may meet him each night in dream. John Keats immortalized this dramatic myth in his poem Endymion, some of which I’ll share here, especially because Keats was born at Halloween, in 1795. The first stanza of his poem concludes with a reference to the grandeur of the dooms we’ve imagined for the mighty dead, and all lovely tales that we have heard or read, which Keats describes as an endless fountain of immortal drink, pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink. He then goes on:Nor do we merely feel these essencesFor one short hour; no, even as the treesThat whisper round a temple become soonDear as the temple's self, so does the moon,The passion poesy, glories infinite,Haunt us till they become a cheering lightUnto our souls, and bound to us so fast,That, whether there be shine, or gloom o'ercast;They always must be with us, or we die.This is high celestial romance, and when the Moon eclipses the celestial gateway of Capricorn this week, just before Halloween, it calls on us with the seasonal mood to not forget there is an end of all earthly things, but not an end of love.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
Host Greg Doig dives into the chaos that unfolded when Amazon Web Services—one of the Internet’s backbone providers—suffered a major outage. From your bank app to your favorite gaming platform, over 2,000 companies were knocked offline, revealing just how dependent our daily digital lives have become on a handful of tech giants. Greg breaks down what caused the disruption, why a simple DNS issue can ripple across the globe, and what it means for the future of cloud computing. Tune in for a clear, relatable look at the hidden fragility of our digital world, the risks of single points of failure, and practical advice on staying resilient when the web goes dark.
host Greg Doig lays out the challenges our tech-savvy kids face as they navigate the complexities of the internet. Sure, they can swipe through apps faster than most adults, but are they truly equipped to avoid scams, protect their privacy, and handle online interactions safely?Greg introduces Google’s “Be Internet Awesome” program—a proven curriculum that helps kids from grades two to six, and beyond, build practical skills for digital citizenship. What makes this stand out? It’s fun, effective, loved by teachers, and requires no special prep or equipment. From understanding the importance of a private digital footprint to spotting scams and creating strong passwords, Greg walks us through the five essential rules every child should know online. Plus, with a special focus on AI literacy, he shows how kids can be savvy and thoughtful in an increasingly digital and automated world.Tune in to learn how we can empower our children—and ourselves—to be confident, safe, and kind online.
Host Greg Doig dives into the pressing tech stories that matter—and gives you practical advice you can actually use. In this episode, it’s crunch time for the millions still using Windows 10, with a major security deadline looming as Microsoft prepares to end support. Greg lays out your options, whether it’s upgrading, switching systems, or playing it safe. Plus, we get the inside scoop on OpenAI’s huge $10 billion chip investment and how Apple’s anticipated M5 processor launch could save—or cost—you big bucks, depending on your tech needs. Grab your coffee and get ready for essential tips, smart recommendations, and the latest news you won’t want to miss.
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingFriday’s enjoy "That Thing with Rich Appel" featuring top-forty hits from the 70s. Also, The Titus Jennings Experience" offering music from all genres, followed by "The Midnight Special" with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingFriday’s enjoy "That Thing with Rich Appel" featuring top-forty hits from the 70s. Also, The Titus Jennings Experience" offering music from all genres, followed by "The Midnight Special" with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
In this episode, host Greg Doig dives into the shadowy world of malvertising—malicious advertising designed by cybercriminals to spread malware through seemingly harmless online ads. You'll discover how these schemes prey on your emotions like fear, curiosity, and greed, how advancements in AI have made them even more convincing, and why even the most reputable websites and ad platforms aren't completely safe. Most importantly, Greg shares practical tips and a straightforward checklist to help you protect yourself from falling victim to these increasingly sophisticated attacks. Get ready for clear advice and actionable steps to browsing the web more safely, right here on WVBI
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingFriday’s enjoy "That Thing with Rich Appel" featuring top-forty hits from the 70s. Also, The Titus Jennings Experience" offering music from all genres, followed by "The Midnight Special" with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingFriday’s enjoy "That Thing with Rich Appel" featuring top-forty hits from the 70s. Also, The Titus Jennings Experience" offering music from all genres, followed by "The Midnight Special" with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
Welcome to this episode, hosts Greg Doig dives into the often-overlooked world of Apple software updates—revealing why those pop-up notifications are more than just a minor inconvenience. Greg is here to break down how these updates act as essential tune-ups for your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, boosting security, unlocking exciting new features, and empowering the latest innovative apps. Whether it’s understanding the difference between major and minor updates, knowing how Apple keeps your data safe, or learning why your device might run a little warm after upgrading, this episode delivers practical insights for keeping your tech at its best. So, tune in and discover how staying up-to-date lets you get the most from your Apple devices—today and in the future!
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingFriday’s enjoy "That Thing with Rich Appel" featuring top-forty hits from the 70s. Also, The Titus Jennings Experience" offering music from all genres, followed by "The Midnight Special" with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingFriday’s enjoy "That Thing with Rich Appel" featuring top-forty hits from the 70s. Also, The Titus Jennings Experience" offering music from all genres, followed by "The Midnight Special" with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.#BeaverislandRadio #CommunityRadio #MichiganMusic #IslandLife #LocalRadio #CottageMix #NonprofitRadio #100.1FM #MichiganCommunity #GreatLakesMusic
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingFriday’s enjoy "That Thing with Rich Appel" featuring top-forty hits from the 70s. Also, The Titus Jennings Experience" offering music from all genres, followed by "The Midnight Special" with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
We’re approaching autumn equinox in the northern hemisphere, one of the “balance points” in the year, a time when it’s appropriate to consider, even through ceremony, what it is to keep steady in an endlessly turning world.Just prior to equinox, the moon will come to new phase, aligning with the Sun and causing a partial solar eclipse, with both Sun and Moon opposite the planet Saturn in the sky. Given that it’s equinox, it fits to imagine this like a game of teeter totter with the equinoctial axis of the zodiac: Saturn on the spring equinox side in Pisces, with Sun and Moon on the autumn equinox side, in Virgo.The question is, which side bears the heavier weight? The Sun is central in our planetary system, the Moon is closest to Earth, and Saturn is the furthest distance away from us among naked-eye planets. Center, proximity, perspective ~ and we are called upon to find balanced engagement between them, between what we hold as most dear in our day-to-day while not losing our sense of the long-term, and what we may have to forego to get there. The Sun is our vital source, Moon weaves through the feeling life, and Saturn brings a deepening sense of our commitments by supporting the soul memory of what we intended.On the way to equinox, Venus and the Moon will have a spectacular encounter at the star Regulus, the heart of the lion. This will be Friday morning, the 19th, looking east an hour before sunrise. Venus at the heart of the lion sends a bold message: have courage to love; love fiercely; love fully.The Moon will be there as a waning crescent, like a chalice gathering all of this up, and just after it meets Venus, it enters its “dark phase.” The Moon’s dark phase is when the Moon does “double time,” because each month, or each cycle from new phase to new phase, it crosses through one region of the zodiac twice. It starts out in a particular place, then it completes the circle by returning to that place before it gets to New Phase again. In this last leg of its monthly journey it travels unseen by us, bringing to mind the events of the last month, and this happens every month, and just knowing about it can have a steadying effect.Now this week, while the Moon is moving through its dark phase, just at the eve of coming New, it opposes Saturn. The very next day it catches up with the Sun, causing a partial solar eclipse, and the very next day, Monday, September 22nd, it’s equinox.So first it’s Moon and Venus at Regulus on Friday, Venus’ day; Moon at dark phase opposing Saturn on Saturday, Saturn’s day; Moon partially eclipsing Sun on Sunday, Sun’s day; then Equinox, on Monday, Moonday.This is a potent, harmonizing, and activating celestial signature, and though the Moon meets Venus every month, and opposes Saturn every month, and comes to New Phase every month, it doesn’t always do these things during its dark phase while causing an eclipse just as equinox is occurring. Love, self awareness before we begin again, remembering our higher tasks, releasing unresolved blockages, choosing that which you can truly engage with to bring steadiness into the world….It can feel a bit like balls being ceaselessly thrown at you from every direction while you work to catch them and keep them in motion.The Calendar of the Soul verse from Rudolf Steiner for this week offers a steadying contemplation for this:Unceasingly itself creating, soul life becomes aware of self, the cosmic spirit, striving on, renews itself by self-cognition, and from the darkness of the soul, creates the fruit of self-engendered will.
The Moon was fully eclipsed on Sunday and will spend this week waning through its gibbous phase, until it arrives at the last quarter of its cycle on Sunday, September 14th, when it reaches the horns of Taurus, the Bull.So here’s some fascinating stuff about about September 14th, bearing in mind that while the Moon is at last quarter in Taurus on that day, the Sun will be in the last degrees of Leo.It begins with a holy secret involving St. Francis of Assisi, after his death. It was revealed to Francis that he was granted an afterlife task that once each year, he would be given permission to go own to Hell and gather the souls who had aligned themselves to his pattern and rule of life in order bring them to the realm of the spiritual Sun. This would shorten their probation. And here’s the interesting part, he was allowed to do this every year on September 14th.Francis lived from 1183 to 1226.About 100 years later, the poet Dante completed his Divine Comedy, in which he travels to the underworld guided by the ancient poet Virgil. He does not encounter Francis there, but later, when he has risen to the sphere of the Sun in the heavenly Paradise, he encounters Thomas Aquinas, who speaks to him of St. Francis. And note, Dante died on September 14th, and was buried in a Franciscan basilica.What is it about September 14th that might reveal why this is the day for journeying to the depths to bring something up to the light? The Sun is moving through the later region of Leo stars, and if you consider its zodiacal degree on that day, there are clues: Astrologer Dane Rudhyar described this degree of zodiac as an experience of the “luminescence of dawn in the eastern sky.” He goes on to say that while the rainbow marks the end of a crisis, early dawn indicates the real beginning of a new period of activity. It is as though we are aglow with promise, which is the mood of dawn. And every day has its dawn.So now let’s consider September 14th, 2025. The Moon will come to its last quarter near the star El Nath, one of the two stars that mark the tips of the bull’s horns in Taurus. El Nath means the butting one, while its companion star, Tianguan, means celestial gateway. Immediately for me an image comes to mind, of Dante and Virgil descending to the underworld and approaching the gate to the city of Dis. Virgil realizes they will not be able to pass through this gate without heavenly assistance. This is Canto IX in the Inferno, and it marks a critical moment in the set up of Dante’s narrative, and how, as a poet, he transitions from ancient gods and heroes to the Christian era.A mighty angel descends, bearing a wand:Ah, the scorn that filled his holy presence!He reached the gate and touched it with a wand;It opened without resistance from inside.I imagine the “wand” as the butting horn in Taurus, where the Moon comes to its last quarter on Sunday, activating it like the Angel in Dante’s epic, to open the celestial gateway that let’s the dawn’s true light shine into whatever darkness needs lifting within us.
In this episode, host Greg Doig takes us on a thought-provoking journey into the world of artificial intelligence and the hidden biases that can shape not only our technology, but also our conversations and culture. Greg shares an eye-opening experience with Claude AI, revealing how even supposedly objective systems can unconsciously default to certain viewpoints—like using "BCE/CE" instead of the traditional "BC/AD" when referencing historical dates. This sparks a bigger conversation about who gets to decide what’s considered neutral or inclusive, and whether our digital tools are quietly erasing longstanding perspectives in the name of progress. Tune in as Greg encourages you to question objectivity itself and reminds us all that the most important bias to spot might just be the one that claims not to exist.
On Sunday September 7 there’s a Total Eclipse of the Moon, but it will only be visible on one side of the Earth, in Asia, not here in the US. Over here, the Moon will rise Saturday evening (September 6), the night before eclipse, 20 minutes before the Sun sets, the two great lights straddling the horizon, “dividing the day from the night, a sign for seasons, and days, and years.”To get to this eve of its Full Phase, the Moon will spend the week traveling from Sagittarius to Aquarius, passing through the Capricorn gateway of the gods along the way.In the meantime, on Tuesday, the planet Mercury, messenger of the gods, will meet the star Regulus at the heart of the lion, early in the morning and close to the horizon. At the same time, Venus will sweep her hand over the beehive cluster at the center of the constellation Cancer. This cluster is sometimes referred to as the cradle, which gives a nice imagination of being watched over by the mother of love and beauty.Then the Full Moon happens, eclipsed, but only on the opposite side of the Earth, as though it were behind. I say it this way because it brings to mind for me Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s first entry in her “Sonnets of the Portuguese.” These love letters were inspired by her burgeoning romance with Robert Barrett, which she only revealed to him three years after they were married in September 1846. She was already considered a chronic invalid and had suffered deep tragedy in her life, and at the age of 40, little did she expect to find the loving fulfilment that awaited her.It's strengthening to keep this in mind, when the world seems bleak, when a sense of doom and hopelessness seeks to gain the upper hand. It’s always possible that something greater is finally within reach, and the stars this week point in that direction.Here’s Elizabeth Barrett Browning, sonnet 1:I thought once how Theocritus had sungOf the sweet years, the dear and wished for years,Who each one in a gracious hand appearsTo bear a gift for mortals, old or young:And, as I mused it in his antique tongue,I saw, in gradual vision through my tears,The sweet, sad years, the melancholy years,Those of my own life, who by turns had flungA shadow across me. Straightway I was 'ware,So weeping, how a mystic Shape did moveBehind me, and drew me backward by the hair,And a voice said in mastery, while I strove, ...Guess now who holds thee?'—Death,' I said. But there,The silver answer rang ... Not Death, but Love.'
Are you still treating AI like a magic answer box? Here’s the shift: Start thinking of AI as your eager intern—super helpful, but only as good as your instructions. In my latest session, I shared five game-changing prompting hacks I learned from Stanford’s Jeremy Utley. Give tons of context, ask for step-by-step reasoning, show examples, let the AI ask questions before starting, and assign it a specific role. Combine these, and you’re not just getting answers—you’re collaborating with a tireless teammate. Tweak your prompts, and watch your productivity soar. Try it and let me know how it transforms your workflow!
Storyteller's Night Sky 2025-08-20 (The Thickest Region of Milky Way Activates the Best Love Stories) by WVBI
This week the crescent Moon wanes through the morning sky, approaching Jupiter on Tuesday, Venus on Wednesday, and then Mercury on Thursday, before it gets lost in the light of the Sun and we don’t see it for a few days. The Moon will come to New Phase after midnight on Saturday this week, and then the cycle begins again, with Moon growing toward full phase, gathering all the available celestial light as it goes; then it begins to wane through the night and on toward dawn as a crescent, or boat filled with spirit knowledge, bearing earthward all it has gathered in the celestial light and coming ashore during those few days before New Phase when we don’t see it.These few days are called the Moon’s “dark phase” and this week, they happen on Thursday and Friday, when it’s a good time to lean into your dreams and to listen to the spaces in between ~ to what you encounter just after you fall asleep, and just before you wake up.It’s not only the light of the Sun and stars and planets that the Moon is carrying our way right now, it’s also the light of the meteor shower. It’s like this: The Moon was Full August 9, Venus and Jupiter met on August 12, and the meteor shower peaked later that night. Jupiter is abundance, Venus is love, and when they’re together, it’s like the classical Greek myth when Zeus makes Aphrodite realize that she, too, wants and needs love. This is the kind of love gives rise to entire civilizations!So the Moon gathered all of this up, and now, bearing this celestial goddess in its boat of spirit knowledge, she descends.In addition to the ancient myth of Venus Aphrodite descending with love, there are also stories of the celestial goddess of wisdom descending ~ she bears the name of Sophia, which becomes Philosophia. Dante’s Beatrice is a celestial goddess that descends to bring him love and guidance, and in the Chemical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz, the celestial goddess descends with an invitation to a wedding, which is the union with the greater self. This realization of the greater self happens when the celestial goddess becomes Anthroposophia, the divine wisdom or Sophia of the human being the anthropo-.The English poet William Wordsworth pointed at this in his Perfect Woman which begins:SHE was a phantom of delightWhen first she gleam’d upon my sight;A lovely apparition, sentTo be a moment’s ornament;Her eyes as stars of twilight fair;Like twilight’s, too, her dusky hair;Watch the Moon in the morning sky this week, and lean into encounter during its dark phase Thursday and Friday, when it descends and disappears on the mighty shores of Earth bearing toward us all the invitation to the wedding.
The Perseid Meteor Shower comes to its peak overnight Tuesday this week, when the Earth passes through the tail of the comet that causes the shower and the constellation Perseus reaches its highest place in the night sky. But the Moon will be a waning gibbous, 84 percent illuminated, rising in the East the night before the peak and not setting until after sunrise the following morning. The Moon will be among the stars of Pisces, a companion constellation and just south of Perseus.But despite the moon glow, there’s so much story in this particular sky!Tuesday morning, August 12th, Venus and Jupiter will be spectacularly close, looking east an hour before sunrise. They’re among the stars of Gemini, but those stars won’t be visible unless you look much earlier, around 4 am. Mercury will join them for a short bit, having just resumed direct motion after several weeks of retrograde.Here’s the stuff of great love stories, and perhaps one of the greatest of all: Dante and his Beatrice. Theirs was not an unrequited, temporal love, but one about which Dante proclaimed: Here is a god stronger than I, who shall rule over me; Now (my) bliss has appeared; from now on I shall be hindered often.After descending into the bowels of the Earth with Virgil and up the slopes of the Mountain of Purgatory in his Divine Comedy, Dante attains the earthly paradise, and there encounters the eternal beloved, Beatrice. After the various rites of initiation that befall him here, including taking a draft from the river of forgetfulness, and being baptized in the waters of good remembrance, he sees Beatrice, announced with all the majesty of the Archangel Gabriel announcing the Christ Child to Mary. Together they begin their ascent through the planetary spheres and on to the Paradise. Dante the poet uses as context all the available astronomy knowledge of his day, weaving it seamlessly into the stages of human becoming through the spheres.It was the early 1300s, two centuries before Copernicus set the Earth in motion with his ideas on planetary orbits, forever scattering our paths to the stars.In Canto XXII of the Paradise, Dante and Beatrice ascend from the region of the planets to the realm of the fixed stars. They do this at the region of Gemini, which is where Jupiter and Venus are, right now. It’s easy to imagine this morning sky scene as the very one Dante took for his inspiration, reaching with an eternal beauty through the centuries. Virgil, Dante’s guide and poetic inspirator, wrote his epic of The Aeneid 14 centuries before Dante, about the classical Greek hero Aeneas, who was the offspring of Aphrodite and the mortal Anchises. Their romantic coupling instigated by Zeus. Aphrodite and Zeus are Venus and Jupiter, rhythmically sounding their story in the morning sky, rendered in human consciousness from the ancient Greeks to the pre-Christian Romans, through the Middle Ages, and visible now, as the Moon wanes through the night, and as the meteors leave their shining furrows.Dante was born when the Sun moved through Gemini stars, where he and Beatrice mount up to the stars, and where Jupiter and Venus are meeting each morning this week, and especially Tuesday an hour before dawn. Here is the place where the paths of the planets cross the river of the Milky Way, a place immortalized and memorized by the poets of the ages, as Dante described:In that book which is my memory, on the first page of the chapter that is the day when I first met you, appear the words: ‘Here begins a new life.’
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingFriday’s enjoy "That Thing with Rich Appel" featuring top-forty hits from the 70s. Also, The Titus Jennings Experience" offering music from all genres, followed by "The Midnight Special" with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.#BeaverislandRadio #CommunityRadio #MichiganMusic #IslandLife #LocalRadio #CottageMix #NonprofitRadio #100.1FM #MichiganCommunity #GreatLakesMusic
As a calendarist, I love the convergence of things that takes place very year in the first week of August: August 1st is the seasonal cross quarter, or halfway point, highlighting a dynamic turning point in the cycle of the year; August 6th brings the Christian Feast of the Transfiguration, narrated in chapter 9 of the Luke Gospel and dramatically articulated through renaissance master Raphael’s final work of art, which stood at the foot of his bed when he died; and, August 6 is also the anniversary of the birth of Victorian poet Alfred Tennyson, whose love of astronomy is readily in apparent in many of his major works.I’m Mary Stewart Adams, and this is The Storyteller’s Night Sky.What is it about this season that makes it so dynamic? The year’s most popular and sometimes most prolific meteor shower is underway. Known as the Perseids, these shooting stars hail from the comet Swift-Tuttle, which was discovered in 1862m though the meteor shower itself was in evidence for centuries. The Perseids are active from mid-July to mid-August every year, with a peak overnight August 12 to 13. This year the night sky will be awash in waning gibbous moonlight Durgin the peak, which doesn’t bode well for observing the shower, but still, there’s much to celebrate and anticipate!Let’s follow the lead of Tennyson. He was born on August 6, so while the meteor shower was underway. It is easy to imagine that the poet was well aware of the meteor shower, and even to imagine that he mused about its relationship to his own birth. In 1847 his poem “The Princess” was published, his first attempt at a long narrative. In it he wrote a few magnificent passages that point to the classical Greek myth of Perseus and his birth from a shower of golden stars. He wrote:Now sleeps the crimson petal, now the white;Nor waves the cypress in the palace walk;Nor winks the gold fin in the porphyry font.The firefly wakens; waken thou with me.Now droops the milk-white peacock like a ghost,And like a ghost she glimmers on to me.Now lies the Earth all Danaë to the stars,And all thy heart lies open unto me.Now slides the silent meteor on, and leavesA shining furrow, as thy thoughts in me.Now folds the lily all her sweetness up,And slips into the bosom of the lake.So fold thyself, my dearest, thou, and slipInto my bosom and be lost in me.Tennyson included the stars everywhere throughout his poetry, which makes me think of him like Zeus, showering golden stars upon the Earth to bring heroic hearts to birth. In Locksley Hall he wrote:Many a night from yonder ivied casement, ere I went to rest,Did I look on great Orion sloping slowly to the West.Many a night I saw the Pleiads, rising thro' the mellow shade,Glitter like a swarm of fire-flies tangled in a silver braid.He even celebrated the consummation of marriage by placing it in the context of the rotation of the Earth when he wrote: Move eastward happy earth and leave yon orange sunset waning slow, from fringes of the faded even o happy planet eastward go ~ which is a great way to memorize which direction the Earth is turning, if you’re so inclined.Tennyson’s second volume of poetry was published in 1842, and the narrative poem The Princess came in 1847. In between, in 1846, the planet Neptune was discovered, after first being predicted by mathematical calculation. The nature of Neptune’s discovery was a sensational moment in 19th century science, and it was said of the French astronomer Le Verrier, whose calculations led to its discovery that he discovered the planet “with the point of his pen.”I’d like to argue that as a poet, Alfred Tennyson used his pen like an astronomer with his telescope, discovering and opening new worlds in the soul of imagination.Like his Ulysses, his purpose was to sail beyond the sunset and the baths of all the western stars…a flying star shot thro’ the sky.
Welcome to another episode where your host Greg Doig cuts through the digital noise to deliver tech tips and tools that make a real difference in your life. In today’s show, we’re unveiling five powerful websites that can instantly boost your productivity, creativity, and problem-solving skills—whether you want to look like a math genius, access timeless web content, score a free Ivy League education, level up your designs, or finally tame your digital clutter.Join us as we break down resources like Wolfram Alpha, archive.org, Coursera, Canva, and Notion, sharing practical examples of how each site can save you money, simplify your workflow, and help you stand out in any scenario. Whether you're a student, professional, or curious tech enthusiast, these hidden gems will put expert-level capabilities right at your fingertips.Hit subscribe and let’s get started on transforming the way you use technology—one tool at a time.
It may be that the cross-quarter time in a season is the most dynamic, because it has to do with a turn, as though at the midpoint we step away from the past and lean into the as-yet unknown future ~ and what better guide for such a turn than the stars? The compass rose used for navigating was first a rose of winds, and the winds derived their names from the directions that were first and foremost determined by the rising and setting of the stars.The summer cross-quarter day comes at the end of this week, Friday, August 1st. Traditionally known as Lammas, for ‘loaf mass,’ it is a time for celebrating the first fruits of the harvest. It’s not just a celebration about receiving the fruits, but for making an offering to the nature forces that bring about the miracle of growth and abundance in so selfless a manner.I love the cross-quarter time, and musing about how I might make my own offering ~ I’m not a farmer, and the modern technologies that crowd into my day bring convenience but also separate me from the drama of the natural environment, both its beauties and its challenges.And though a recent astronomy magazine post relegated any imagination about our cultural connection with the stars to mere fantasy, and a major newspaper posted a piece about crafting ‘mini-festivals’ deriving from individual interest rather than the seasonal round, still the stars rise and set in their season, bearing stories through the night and into our lives, for sustaining harmony in the environment, rather than discord, like selfless gentle companions that await our noble deeds.I like to think this is why Shakespeare was so explicit about the date of Juliet’s birth in his great tragedy Romeo and Juliet. He placed her birth at the eve of the summer’s cross-quarter day, July 31st. This is a time when the asterism of the summer triangle crosses the zenith, with the circumpolar stars circling just north. The circumpolar stars never set and include the constellation Cepheus, the king. Ancient mythologies held that the tables of the sun were laid in Ethiopia, and it is here Cepheus ruled, regarded as the ancient father of the science of astronomy.Now back to Shakespeare. When Romeo first sees Juliet, he uses the stars to express the impression she makes, saying:O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!It seems she hangs upon the cheek of nightAs a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear~Beauty too rich for use, for Earth, too dear.It is such an image! As though Shakespeare is crafting Juliet right out of the stars of the season, a literal birth from the stars.And Juliet, in one of her famous monologues, has an equally beautiful way of aligning Romeo to the stars when she says:Give me my Romeo, and when I shall die,Take him and cut him out in little stars,And he will make the face of heaven so fineThat all the world will be in love with nightAnd pay no heed to the garish sun.The drama of Romeo and Juliet unfolds in this season specifically, during the weeks and days leading up to the summer cross-quarter, as if to say, beware! If you do not heed the abundance of love and harmony pouring forth from the heaven’s brink, the stars guiding your humanity will cross, and tragedy will befall.So make an offering. It could be a poem, a loaf of bread, a candle, a prayer, some expression of gratitude to the forces of the natural and cosmic worlds for their ceaseless and selfless communion with this human life.
In this episode, host Greg Doig takes you deep into the cutting edge of AI infrastructure, focusing on Seagate’s bold move to bring NVMe technology to traditional hard drives. As AI workloads balloon to petabyte—and even exabyte—scales, companies are facing a storage crisis: SSDs are fast but prohibitively expensive, while traditional hard drives and cloud storage come with their own frustrating trade-offs.Greg breaks down how Seagate’s NVMe hard drives could change the game, combining the speed and streamlined software of NVMe with the cost-effective, high-capacity benefits of traditional HDDs. Discover how this technology promises to cut latency, simplify architectures, and enable direct GPU-to-storage access—all while slashing power usage and carbon footprint for more sustainable AI growth. Plus, hear real-world results from Seagate’s own smart factories where these innovations are already in action.If you’re looking to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving world of AI and tech infrastructure, grab your favorite drink and tune in—you won’t want to miss this conversation!
Greg Doig remembers a time when computers were the domain of experts, and operating systems were little more than bare-bones tools for managing hardware. In those early days, users had to memorize intimidating command-line instructions just to complete basic tasks—a far cry from the intuitive experiences of today. As technology advanced, Greg watched with fascination as these complex interfaces gave way to revolutionary graphical user interfaces, opening up computers to everyone. Over the decades, he has witnessed operating systems evolve from simple mediators to powerful platforms that integrate cloud services, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality. For Greg, the evolution of operating systems isn’t just a byproduct of progress—it’s been a driving force, shaping how we interact with technology and with each other.
There’s a pile up of planets in Pisces this week, when the waning gibbous Moon sweeps over Neptune early Wednesday morning, just a few degrees above Saturn. Neptune isn’t visible to the naked eye, but the Moon and Saturn are, so if you’re interested in seeing this, the best time to look is about two hours before sunrise Wednesday, July 16th.When I see a gathering like this, especially of those far away planets that rarely align so precisely with one another, I begin to wonder what can I do to participate in it, what does it mean? It’s Saturn, ancient god of time, deeply connected to cosmic memory; and Neptune, which was only discovered in the 1800s and named for the Roman god of waters, but often associated with spiritual awakening or its opposite, illusion, delusion, confusion.Then the Moon sweeps into the scene, bringing opportunity for ceremony, for uncovering the secret formula for engagement. It’ll be two hours before dawn, so in the time of night when the world is unillumined by the light of day-wake consciousness. This is a time when we must rely on the strength of our own, inner light.In the story of Parzival from the early 13th century, there’s a moment when Parzival encounters his cousin Sigune a second time. In their first encounter, she is the one who tells him his name ~ so you could say, his encounter with Sigune awakens him to his destiny path. This second encounter occurs after he’s been to the Grail Castle, but the problem is, he didn’t fully realize it. While he was there he received the Grail Sword from the King, but he is naïve about its powers. In this second scene with Sigune, she tells him the secret formula for unlocking the strength of the sword, which isn’t about going into battle physically, but about the inner struggle we encounter when striving to attain true self-knowledge.As in the tale of Parzival, this way of knowing oneself takes time, and time is the domain of Saturn. It also requires insight, which can be related to Neptune, though it’s not always easy, being able to discern truth from error.Then let’s add the waning gibbous Moon to the mix ~ it’s like a window of opportunity opens. And that’s what’s happening this week, overnight Tuesday to Wednesday, and especially around 4 am, when the Moon grazes Neptune just above Saturn. Pay attention to your dreams, and to the quality of your sleep, and if you’re awake, go out to see. And if you’re really feeling it, bear in mind these words of Sigune to Parzival from Book V of the medieval narrative:You are wearing (the Grail King’s) sword girded about you, and if you know its magic charm, you can engage in combat without fear. Its edges run exactly parallel to each other. It was wrought by Trebuchet of noble race. Near Karnant there flows a spring, and from it King Lac derives his name. The sword will withstand the first blow unscathed; at the second it will shatter. If you then take it back to the spring, it will become whole again from the flow of the water. You must have the water at the source, beneath the rock, before the light of day has shone upon it ~ the name of this spring is Lac. If the pieces are not lost and you fit them together properly, as soon as the spring water wets them, the sword will become whole again, the joinings and edges stronger than before, and the signs engraved on the blade will not lose their shine.The mystery wisdom in this passage is deep, and doesn’t require the power of intellect to have effect, referred to here as the time “before the light of day shines.”After this Piscean pile up Wednesday morning, two days pass, and the planet Mercury begins its customary retrograde motion ~ as if to say “listen, the true self is calling.”
There’s something of a culmination in the stars this week, with Uranus changing astrological signs on Monday, and Saturn beginning its four-month retrograde after midnight Saturday, and in between, the summer’s first Full Moon, a remarkably fertile time when the Moon reflects all available light to us from the thickest region of Milky Way stars.With the movement of Uranus at the beginning of the week, the culmination comes after the seven-year sojourn the planet took through Taurus, a sign associated with the physical material world, worldly possessions, economy. Uranus first entered Taurus in 2018.With Saturn, it’s not so much a culmination as it is a review: the retrograde motion of any planet makes it appear to us as though the planet is moving three times over one region of zodiac; forward, backward, and forward again. In the case of Saturn this week, it’s beginning the second leg of the journey, reviewing the starfield it has traveled forward through since early April 2025. Saturn will make this review over the next four plus months, then, in November, it will resume direct motion and cover the same star field for a third time, finally leaving this region in March next year.The Moon is much more immediate than either of these two, setting a regular rhythm into our days that allows for quick assessments of where we are, where we’ve been, and what we need to do to get where we’re going. And it’s suffusing us with light, breaking open anything that’s stuck and crystalized so we can carry on.So which is these three bodies gets the upper hand this week? My attention is drawn to Uranus, and an imagination on its astrological symbol, which includes two vertical lines, curved toward each other, as though they are in face-to-face encounter. A horizontal line joins these two curved lines together, suggesting a threshold or liminal space, one above, one below. Already this begins to suggest that Uranus is connected to social encounter, to meeting the true nature of oneself, and the experience of meeting the self in the other. It is Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians ch 13: “Now I see through a glass darkly, then, face to face. Now I know in part, but then shall I know, even as also I am known.”But it doesn’t end there, because the Uranus symbol also shows a straight vertical line bisecting the horizontal, as if to affirm that any true communion between individuals, or between my lower and greater self, does not mean a loss of self but in fact requires an increased sense of selfhood. A small line crosses this vertical dividing line, horizontally (sometimes drawn as a circle), which is one way of symbolizing Earth. So here we have this symbol of Uranus, which seems to depict true encounter, the kind that can take place in the physical, material realm of the Earth, the ultimate achievement being to know that the world and my soul are one great unity.And the planet Uranus is moving into Gemini, a social sign that draws attention to the everyday encounter, to our daily routines and rhythms, to that place in ourselves that was formed in earliest childhood by the impressions we received from our immediate environment, before memory began to operate. Uranus stirs this to wakefulness and asks us to find inspiration in the mundane. Astrologically this time is described as one that may electrify our encounters and see innovative communications technologies. It’s here for the next seven years.So with Uranus, consider the time from 2018 to now to get a sense of its mood. With Saturn, consider the path you’ve been on since early April this year, and think on what intentions you carried in the spring that want summer’s warmth to come to fruit. And as for the Full Moon, it’s always good for dreaming, and bringing new light to bear on things that may seem stuck.
Beaver Island Perspectives 2025-07-14 North Country-Barbara Schmid with host Steve Girbach by WVBI
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingFriday’s enjoy "That Thing with Rich Appel" featuring top-forty hits from the 70s. Also, The Titus Jennings Experience" offering music from all genres, followed by "The Midnight Special" with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
Beaver Island Perspectives 2025-07-09 North Country-Barbara Schmid with host Steve Girbach by WVBI
Welcome to a new episode host Greg Doig dives into a major change that’s about to impact millions of Microsoft Authenticator users. Microsoft is phasing out password management features from their Authenticator app, with key deadlines approaching fast. Greg breaks down exactly what’s changing, why Microsoft is making this move toward a passwordless future, and—most importantly—what you need to do right now to protect your passwords. Whether you’re considering switching to Microsoft Edge, Bitwarden, Apple’s iCloud Keychain, or Google Password Manager, we’ve got the steps you need to take. Tune in for actionable advice and stay ahead of the curve as big tech pushes us all toward safer, smarter authentication solutions.
Microsoft Build 2025—was a powerhouse event packed with groundbreaking announcements, hands-on experiences, and a clear message: AI is no longer the future, it's the now. From major upgrades to Azure AI Foundry and the introduction of intelligent coding agents in GitHub Copilot, to new data tools like SQL Server 2025, Microsoft is weaving artificial intelligence into every layer of its ecosystem. Grab your favorite drink and settle in as we explore how these advancements are empowering developers, enhancing data platforms, and redefining what’s possible in technology. Whether you’re coding your first app or managing enterprise data, this episode is your essential guide to what’s next from Microsoft Build 2025.
The fact that January 1st is fixed on the calendar as the first day of the new year is due to the Calendar Reform initiated by Pope Gregory the XIII in 1582. But it took nearly 400 years for this reformed calendar to be used around the world ~ this only came about in the 19teens, when China adopted it. Around the same time that the Gregorian calendar with its fixed dates became universally accepted, Rudolf Steiner introduced the Calendar of the Soul, which started not with the fixed date rooted in the physical calendar, but with a movable start date determined by the relationship between Sun and Moon and Earth each spring. The Calendar of the Soul demonstrates how, in the life of soul, the human being lives not by fixed structures, but in the weaving rhythms of Sun, Moon, planets, and stars and their harmonious course in relation the seasonal cycles on the Earth. The motivating idea here is that the more abundantly this weaving harmony fills the soul, the more peace and harmony there will be on the Earth ~ and this is never not true, even now.If you read the Calendar of the Soul verses, you find that the verse for this first week of July addresses ‘spirit kindship,’ which can be imagined as the most noble form of human relationship, in that it lives beyond familial or legal bonds, and while including them, does not diminish but rather enhances them.What is it in this season and the stars that suggests this, and what’s happening specifically this week that further augments it?The Sun is moving in the region of Gemini stars, the Twins, which are depicted in classical Greek culture as one mortal and one immortal twin. There is a mood of before and after here, of who we are before we encounter a kindred spirit, and who we become afterward, how we grow. In the traditional symbol of the sign of Gemini there is a rounded line at the top, and a mirroring rounded line at the bottom, further suggesting that when we achieve right relationship below, we mirror what is above.When considering what might augment this mood of soul this week specifically, it’s worth noting that on Friday, July 4th, the planet Venus will meet Uranus in the morning sky, not far from the star cluster of the Pleiades. If you go out to look, best to plan for an hour or more before sunrise, and to have binoculars ~ it’s not easy to see Uranus with the naked eye, and the day will be dawning.Pleiades is deeply connected to creation mythologies in most cultures around the world, while Venus is associated with love, and beauty. Uranus was discovered only in the 1700s, way late in the story of humanity. The planet was named after the Greek God of the sky, as the one who governs that which comes forth from space into time. So here we have this dynamic of creation, augmented by love, as an enduring force emerging from space into time ~ at least that’s how I see it, and these are the elements of ‘spirit kinship,’ the kind of relationship and encounter that lives nobly beyond the confines of our temporal definitions.I like Shakespeare for this, and his Sonnet 116:Let me not to the marriage of true mindsAdmit impediments; love is not loveWhich alters when it alteration finds,Or bends with the remover to remove.O no, it is an ever-fixèd markThat looks on tempests and is never shaken;It is the star to every wand'ring barkWhose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.Love's not time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeksWithin his bending sickle's compass come.Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,But bears it out even to the edge of doom:If this be error and upon me proved,I never writ, nor no man ever loved.
In today’s episode, we’re diving into the latest AI news shaking up the industry—from Google’s bold move to open source its Gemini CLI for developers, to Apple’s rumored interest in acquiring Perplexity AI in a bid to supercharge Siri and challenge Google’s dominance. We’ll explore how Anthropic’s Claude is stepping up its game with new app-building features and where OpenAI is facing fresh scrutiny amid competition, partnerships, and questions around AI safety. Plus, we’ll look into how AI-powered tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Grok, and Perplexity are rapidly transforming news consumption for millions. Join us as we break down the top headlines, reveal the trends shaping Big Tech, and discuss the ethical challenges on the horizon.
The most gentle of the Olympian goddesses in the classical Greek world was Leto, partner to Zeus before he joined with the goddess Hera, but Hera was deeply jealous, so though Leto got pregnant before Hera came along, Hera still hunted her over the whole world so Leto could find no place to deliver her twins, Apollo and Artemis, Sun and Moon.A deep teaching about evolution lives in this myth, if we can allow that Leto is the Earth body and Zeus is the ‘hidden god,” or the “fructifying cosmos.” Their union results in a birth, or a separating out of the bodies of Sun (Apollo) and Moon (Artemis), from the Earth (Leto), but it wasn’t so easy.After wandering the whole Earth, Leto eventually came to the rocky island of Delos, which is related another of Zeus’ escapades with Leto’s sister, Asteria ~ a name which means “starry one.”So in order to give birth to Sun and Moon, Leto had to travel the whole world and come to rest with her sister, the starry one. It’s such a beautiful picture of a planetary system becoming, and it’s uniquely related to what’s happening in the sky right now.The Sun, the Moon, and Jupiter (aka Zeus) are all lined up with each other on one side of the Earth, in the region of Gemini, especially Tuesday and Wednesday, while the Earth is at its seasonal outbreath or exhale, releasing all its forces like a blossoming flower up and out to the cosmos. If we imagined ourselves on the Sun right now looking earthward, we would see that, because Sun, Moon, and Jupiter are in Gemini, the Earth appears opposite, in front of the region of Sagittarius, where it leans into the Milky Way ~ this is a starry place, or, in keeping with our myth, the island dwelling of Asteria, the starry one. Gemini is the twins, Sagittarius appears among the thickest region of Milky Way stars.The story goes on. Even though Leto finally found a place to give birth to her twins, Hera further complicated matters by delaying the arrival of the goddess of childbirth for nine days! This goddess eventually came, some say from the northern lands of the Hyperboreans, and this at the behest of Iris, the heavenly messenger who weaves the rainbow and the golden threads of human destiny. It was said of Iris that if the gods needed to send you a message she would take the form of someone you know to deliver it.So Iris brings the goddess of childbirth to Leto, whom we’re imaging as the Earth body, so she can give birth to Apollo and Artemis, the twins Sun and Moon, and this from the starry place of her sister, Asteria. And on Tuesday into Wednesday this week, Sun meets Jupiter, then Moon sweeps together with them, arriving at New Phase on Wednesday, just as the Sun is rising.and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meantand whatever a sun will always sing is you
In our increasingly digital world, having a website has become essential. But not everyone has the time, resources, or technical know-how to build one from scratch. That's where website builders come in. ZDNET recently conducted comprehensive testing of 2025's top subscription-based website builders, and we'll break down their findings for you today.
In the midst of our days, the stars are watching, the day-blind and the night stars, and to the extent that we are willing to consider the Earth in its true nature, as a living being with something akin to a heartbeat and a rhythmic breath, then we can enter into its rhythms and strive toward a greater harmony than what we find when we merely consider the human being as a random occurrence on an insignificant speck of dust orbiting an average star.This is not a call to return to ancient ages or seemingly more glorious days gone by when life was simpler and the connection to environment was less impeded by human technologies, but to lift ourselves up out of the potential strife with love: love toward one another, love toward the Earth, even love toward all that rages against the noble majesty of being fully human.This week the Sun will reach its highest hour, called its ‘solstice,’ when it will pause as though taking in the full view. At such a moment, which actually lasts about three days, it’s as though the Earth has breathed out all of its forces in a mighty blossoming exhalation toward the most high, an offering to the cosmos that says: here’s what I’ve got to give.This happens every year, this rhythmic exchange between Earth and cosmos, while we unfold our lives in the very midst of it.This year, there’s an interesting celestial picture surrounding the solstice. Solstice itself begins Friday evening, June 20 at 10:42 pm ET. Two days later, on Sunday, the Moon will sweep past Venus in the morning sky, then it will step into its ‘dark phase’ and come closest to Earth. On Tuesday next week, the Sun, still in its solstice pause, will meet Jupiter, and then, the Moon will come New.So just as the Sun pauses to receive the Earth’s offering at Solstice, the Moon readies for its dark phase, when it’s time to review everything that happened in its last cycle. But it’s solstice, so we can imagine that this moment of review is not just about the last month, but includes the whole year so far, and everything that has occurred since the mighty inbreath at Winter Solstice, six months ago. The send-off into the review of where we’ve been is love, because the Moon meets Venus before it goes dark. Then, the Moon leans in close (called its perigee) while the Sun is highest up and on pause, resting in the lap of Jupiter, the planet long associated with thoughtful intelligence.We must hold this as a possibility, that we are part of this incredible planetary system, which is a living breathing harmonious social organism, and we are asked to take a noble place within it.So take stock. Review where you’ve been, and what blossoms you now have to offer. The dates to consider are as follows:Solstice begins June 20 at 10:42 pmMoon meets Venus June 22Moon goes dark and comes closest to the Earth June 23rdJupiter meets the Sun in conjunction June 24thNew Moon June 25thI offer these words of Rudolf Steiner in closing: Not by strife we overcome strife, not by hatred we overcome hatred, but strife and hatred can in reality be overcome by love alone.
WVBI Tech Tips: Your go-to podcast for practical tech advice, latest trends, and troubleshooting tips! Whether you're a tech enthusiast or just trying to keep up with the digital world, WVBI Tech Tips offers clear, jargon-free insights to make technology work for you. Tune in for expert tips, product reviews, and solutions to common tech challenges. Stay informed, stay connected, and stay ahead with WVBI Tech Tips and Greg Doig!
This week on Wednesday, the Moon will be Full after midnight, looking south along the Milky Way river of stars. This June Moon is often called the “Honey Moon,” and given that it will be Full in front of the thickest region of the Milky Way, it’s easy to imagine that this week is all about the land of milk and honey.References to the land of milk and honey come from various traditions, including the story of Moses from the third chapter of Exodus. Moses hears God speak to him in the miracle of the burning bush, and he’s told his people will be led out of exile and oppression into the land of milk and honey ~ where they will experience abundance and goodness.The Moon moves across the river of Milky Way stars each month, but only in this season does the constellation Cygnus, the swan, return to the sky, flying along the Milky Way in the northeast. The swan is also deeply connected to stories of long exile and migration, especially through the famous Irish myth about the Children of Lir, four beautiful children of the king whose jealous stepmother turns them into swans that must wander the Earth for 900 years, knowing neither the this nor that.WB Yeats published the Children of Lir poem by Katharine Tynan in the early 1900s. I bring it up because this week is also the 160th anniversary of Yeats’ birth. He was born June 13th, 1865, in county Sligo, Ireland. One of Yeats’ most famous poems concerns another story of the swan, from Greek mythology, about Leda and the Swan, which he considered to be a mighty annunciation, akin to the archangel Gabriel’s annunciation of the Christ Child to Mary. Yeats considered the that the event of the swan’s visitation to Leda was the birth of Greek culture, just as Gabriel’s visitation to Mary instigated the birth of Christianity.In 1925 Yeats wrote a book called A Vision, in which he pondered various philosophical, historical, astrological, and poetic topics like the Great Year, and the characteristics aligned to the phases of the Moon. He wrote:Twenty-and-eight the phases of the moon,The full and the moon's dark and all the crescents,Twenty-and-eight, and yet but six-and-twentyThe cradles that a man must needs be rocked in:For there's no human life at the full or the dark.From the first crescent to the half, the dreamBut summons to adventure and the manIs always happy like a bird or a beast;But while the moon is rounding towards the fullHe follows whatever whim's most difficultAmong whims not impossible, and though scarredAs with the cat-o'-nine-tails of the mind,His body moulded from within his bodyGrows comelier.When Yeats was born in 1865, the Moon was also waning, as it will be this year on the anniversary of his birth, which might account for his writing that before the full moon, the human being seeks itself; after the Full Moon, one seeks the world.For the Milky Way Honey Moon on Wednesday, and Yeats’ birthday on Friday the 13th, find your way to the many stories of the swans among the stars ~ to bring an abundance of truth and beauty and goodness out of exile and into the now.
Beaver Island Perspectives 2025-06-06 Wil Cwikiel on BICS Graduation with Host Kevin Boyle by WVBI
This week in the stars it’s all about poets and novelists, although really, when is it not?The poetry and story this week is inspired by the planet Venus at its greatest elongation west of the Sun, which means the goddess of love and beauty is furthest away from the Sun, rising nearly two hours before sunrise. In his description of the “spiritual individualities of the planets” Rudolf Steiner once explained that Venus has a great deal to do with poets, and with the secrets the live deeply in human hearts. So this week it’s though Venus has swept far and wide, to get a fuller view.What comes to mind for me with this movement is the beautiful poem “Morning Star” by Irish writer and poet George “AE” Russel, which begins:In the black pool of midnightLu has slung the morning starAnd its foam in rippling silverWhitens into day afarFalling on the mountain rampart piled with pearl above our glen,Only you and I beloved, moving in the field of men.Russel, who together with his friend William Butler Yeats strongly identified with the Theosophical Movement of the early 20th century, used the pseudonym AE, which came to him, he said, through a visionary experience.Then on June 2nd this week, it’s the anniversary of novelist Thomas Hardy’s birth, in 1840. Hardy was a slightly older contemporary of AE and Yeats and achieved his first literary success with his fourth novel, Far From the Madding Crowd, published in 1874. The story centers on Bathsheba Everdene and her three suitors, and there’s a lovely passage in the narrative that also speaks to this experience of the morning stars right now:To persons standing alone on a hill during a clear midnight such as this, the roll of the world is almost a palpable movement ~ so he’s talking about the Earth’s motion here, the roll of the world is almost a palpable movement. He goes on: To enjoy the epic form of that gratification it is necessary to stand on a hill at a small hour of the night, and, having first expanded with a sense of difference from the mass of civilized mankind, who are disregardful of all such proceedings at this time, long and quietly to watch your stately progress through the stars.This week it’s as though Venus, because the planet is at its greatest elongation, is calling us to attend to the true nature of our movement through the stars, that this is not some random rolling along, but a stately progress toward a greater becoming, especially so when it is filled with love.
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingFriday’s enjoy "That Thing with Rich Appel" featuring top-forty hits from the 70s. Also, The Titus Jennings Experience" offering music from all genres, followed by "The Midnight Special" with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingFriday’s enjoy "That Thing with Rich Appel" featuring top-forty hits from the 70s. Also, The Titus Jennings Experience" offering music from all genres, followed by "The Midnight Special" with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingFriday’s enjoy "That Thing with Rich Appel" featuring top-forty hits from the 70s. Also, The Titus Jennings Experience" offering music from all genres, followed by "The Midnight Special" with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingFriday’s enjoy "That Thing with Rich Appel" featuring top-forty hits from the 70s. Also, The Titus Jennings Experience" offering music from all genres, followed by "The Midnight Special" with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
The cycle of the year unfolds in successive stages that are easily measured by the rhythms of the Earth, Sun, and Moon through the cosmos, and in the sequence of festival days in the various cultures around the world. Monday brings the last New Moon of the Spring in the northern hemisphere, followed by the planet Venus reaching its greatest elongation, or distance, from the Sun next Sunday.The Full Moon in May, which happened two weeks ago, marked a significant celebration in Buddhist tradition, and this week of May’s New Moon will always include the feast of Ascension in the Christian Calendar.Considered in their cosmic, rather than religious or cultural contexts, the days dedicated to festivals and feasts, to saints and significant historic figures, also reveal a successive unfolding of consciousness through time. The deeds of individuals aligned to specific dates are as though inscribed into the cosmic spaces, and can be read, or made use of, when they are illuminated by the rhythmic return of Sun and Moon and planets. Each degree of the zodiac is like a garden bed where the seeds of high human deeds are planted, for germinating when we water them with loving care and attention.So let’s consider May 30th, Friday this week. It’s one day after Ascension in 2025 and marks the date that Joan of Arc was burned at the stake for heresy, in 1431, when she was 19 years old. Joan stands in long, historic line of goddesses and remarkable individuals who are referred to as “virgins.” What is it about this point in the cycle of the year that belongs to this as-yet unconsummated experience of the human being?The year is unfolding in successive stages, like a breathing process, and just now we are in the long outbreath, which will culminate at summer solstice, a little less that one month from now. And here we find Joan of Arc, with an affirmation that there is nothing to fear, for this we are born, each of us, with destiny forces intact. Joan’s feast day here at the end of May seems to say, “keep on, human being, with courage and determination, all will be right, and right will be realized.”About 20 years after her execution, Joan of Arc’s mother rallied to her defense, and the process began whereby, nearly 500 years later, she was canonized by the Church. And there she stands, a herald of this point in the cycle of seasons, as the Moon grows through its crescents in the evening sky, while Venus sweeps far and wide of the Sun at dawn. For me it brings to mind the words of Austrian poet Rilke who wrote: I feel it now: there's a power in me to grasp and give shape to my world.The Moon is exactly New at 11 pm Monday, May 26th and will be visible in the evening sky starting as early as Thursday, Ascension Day. Venus is brilliant in the morning sky, and will be at greatest distance West of the Sun in the morning sky on Sunday, May 1st looking east an hour and a half before sunrise.
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingFriday’s enjoy "That Thing with Rich Appel" featuring top-forty hits from the 70s. Also, The Titus Jennings Experience" offering music from all genres, followed by "The Midnight Special" with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
Podcast edition of Greg Doig's tech tip series on WVBI. In this episode, we're serving up a piping hot batch of bite-sized cybersecurity news to make your digital life a breeze. Whether you're a tech-savvy pro or just starting your journey, we've got something brewing for everyone. So grab your favorite beverage, sit back, and get ready to sip on some tech-licious knowledge. Let's get started!"
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingFriday’s enjoy "That Thing with Rich Appel" featuring top-forty hits from the 70s. Also, The Titus Jennings Experience" offering music from all genres, followed by "The Midnight Special" with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingFriday’s enjoy "That Thing with Rich Appel" featuring top-forty hits from the 70s. Also, The Titus Jennings Experience" offering music from all genres, followed by "The Midnight Special" with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingFriday’s enjoy "That Thing with Rich Appel" featuring top-forty hits from the 70s. Also, The Titus Jennings Experience" offering music from all genres, followed by "The Midnight Special" with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
In this episode, we’re diving into Backblaze’s Q1 2025 Drive Stats Report—a treasure trove of insights on hard drive reliability from one of the industry’s storage giants. Whether you’re safeguarding precious family photos or running a business, this episode will help you make smarter decisions about your data storage options. From surprising performances by tried-and-true 4TB drives to the reliability of massive 20TB giants, we’ll break down what these stats mean for you, highlight which drive models to watch out for, and share timeless tips—like the 3-2-1 backup rule—to keep your data safe. Join us as we turn a “boring” topic into essential knowledge for every tech user!
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingFriday’s enjoy "That Thing with Rich Appel" featuring top-forty hits from the 70s. Also, The Titus Jennings Experience" offering music from all genres, followed by "The Midnight Special" with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingFriday’s enjoy "That Thing with Rich Appel" featuring top-forty hits from the 70s. Also, The Titus Jennings Experience" offering music from all genres, followed by "The Midnight Special" with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingFriday’s enjoy "That Thing with Rich Appel" featuring top-forty hits from the 70s. Also, The Titus Jennings Experience" offering music from all genres, followed by "The Midnight Special" with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingFriday’s enjoy "That Thing with Rich Appel" featuring top-forty hits from the 70s. Also, The Titus Jennings Experience" offering music from all genres, followed by "The Midnight Special" with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
Signup for the tech newsletter at https://gregdoig.com Greg Doig is a passionate technology expertr known for his sharp insights into the latest technological breakthroughs. On May 8, 2025, Greg captivated his audience by unpacking Figma’s headline-making event, where the collaborative design giant unveiled four pioneering products. Greg’s story zeroed in on Figma’s new AI-powered coding tool—a groundbreaking innovation that enables designers to transform prototypes into production-ready code instantly, closing the gap between design and development. With his relatable explanations and genuine excitement, Greg continues to guide tech enthusiasts through the fast-evolving world of digital innovation, making complex trends accessible to all.
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingFriday’s enjoy "That Thing with Rich Appel" featuring top-forty hits from the 70s. Also, The Titus Jennings Experience" offering music from all genres, followed by "The Midnight Special" with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show and Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
There’s a lot of history unfolding in connection with the sky this month, including the meteor shower that’s happening right now, the Eta Aquarids. This shower peaks overnight Monday to Tuesday, and is best after the gibbous Moon sets in the early morning hours, like 3:30 am, and after the constellation Aquarius has risen in the southeast.These days it’s pretty well known that meteor showers occur when the Earth passes through the trail of stuff left by a comet when it whizzes through our planetary system from the Oort cloud. Though the comet is named for the discoverer, the meteor shower is named for the constellation region in front of which the radiant appears. In this case, the parent comet is none other than Halley’s, first recorded in the 3rd century BC but observed by Edmund Halley in 1682, when he determined that it was a “periodic comet’ meaning it regularly returns. The constellation that gives its name to this week’s shower is Aquarius, the water man, and the eta aquarii star is in the region of the water pot.Then there’s the nursery rhyming with the stars that is so much fun this month, when Cygnus the swan, that ole mother goose, takes wing up over the Northeast horizon, trailing the Milky Way. The name Mother Goose was first written down by Jean Loret, pop journalist in the court of Louis the XIV, but her rhymes weren’t written down well after Charles Perrault published his Tales from the Past with Morals, the Tales of Mother Goose in the 1690s.Bearing in mind that Charles Perrault wrote Mother Goose fairy tales and not nursery rhymes, it’s still fun to know that one of the most well-know nursery rhymes, Hey Diddle Diddle, can be found overhead this month. I also like Sing a Song of Sixpence with the King in his counting house, the queen eating honey in the parlor, the maid hanging up her clothes. You can take this little ditty out stargazing and meteor hunting tonight, and look for the King Cepheus in the North ~ he looks like a house and his foot rests on the Milky Way (where all his money is!). The Queen is Cassiopeia, a mighty “w” visible early in the evening looking North. We can imagine her honey pot is the beehive cluster at the heart of the constellation Cancer, where Mars is hanging out this week.Then there’s the maid, Virgo, reclining on the ecliptic, which is actually her clothesline. To find the brightest star in Virgo, start with the Big Dipper, follow the arc of its handle to the star Arcturus then speed on to Spica, in Virgo. From there it’s an easy step to Corvus, the crow, or blackbird that nips off her nose!And bear in mind, while you’re out singing ditties to the stars ~ most of the star names in Aquarius are connected with good fortune, so this week’s meteors will bring an extra boost of good luck for all your wishes.
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingFriday’s enjoy "That Thing with Rich Appel" featuring top-forty hits from the 70s. Also, The Titus Jennings Experience" offering music from all genres, followed by "The Midnight Special" with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show Tech Tips with Greg DoigListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.
Island Reflections 2025-05-05 (2023-02-28 How to make Your Own Laundry Detergent) by WVBI
TONIGHT AT 7PM EST AT WVBI.NET NEW EPISODE 120- SURF & TURF DONE RIGHT- RENTAL CAR ERUPTION- BEER NEWS- AND MORE!Music from Michael KatonAudrey DupuisFend
When I was a child, my favorite nursery rhyme was this one from AA Milne:Halfway down the stairs is the stair where I sitThere isn’t any other stair quite like it,I’m not at the bottom, I’m not at the top,So this is the stair where I always stop…And here we are in the cycle of the year, halfway through the season when, in the pagan cycle, festivals of fertility are celebrated. What I love about this hallway moment in the seasonal cycle is what happens the night before ~ at the eve, for here in the calendar a secret portal awaits. This halfway point is referred to as the cross quarter, and it occurs in each season.In Spring, this time is most commonly known as May Day, which stands opposite All Saints Day in November. In February the cross quarter is observed in the US as Ground Hog’s Day, or as Candlemas or Imbolc, and is specific to the cultivation of inner light. At the opposite time of year, in August, there is an observance of Lammas, for loaf mass, which is a celebration of the first harvest as a way to ensure a bountiful yield.So these refer to the day of the cross quarter, but on the eve, there are other mysteries. The eve of All Saint’s, or All Hallowd’s is Halloween, with its attendant mischief involving witches and ghosts and scary things surrounding our ideas of the dead. In the summer, Shakespeare immortalized the eve of the cross quarter by placing his heroine Juliet’s birthday just that, at the eve of cross quarter, as though to suggest that seeking the fruit too soon is perilous. JK Rawling made use of the same date for her main character Harry Potter. In the Christian tradition, the Feeding of the Multitude happens in late July at eve of Cross Quarter. In February it’s not so easy to find the secret hidden at the eve of the cross quarter, but the closest I can find involves an Irish saint from the 7th century, whose name derives from the god of the underworld and means “fire.” So here we have this mystery of fire stirring from within.And this week, the eve of the May 1st Cross Quarter is sometimes referred to as Walpurgis Night, a night when the witches are abroad, not roaming the earth, but taking to the air. The stars are arrayed this way: about an hour and a half past sunset each night this week and especially on Wednesday, look West, where Jupiter is brilliant near the crescent Moon, moving through the horns of the Bull ~ on one side the star that marks the celestial gateway, and on the other, the star that’s name means “the butting one.” This has a bit of the mood of the eve of this season’s cross quarter day: It’s a gateway, but you have to be mindful of the mischief so you don’t get butted as you step through!
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.Tech Tips with Greg Doig” is a technology-focused segment aired on WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s community-run radio station. Hosted by Greg Doig, a tech writer and broadcaster, the show delivers practical advice and insights on various tech topics. Recent episodes have covered subjects such as data disaster proofing, deceptive tech content, and the OSI model.
Thanks to those who contributed material to help us celebrate International Dark Sky Week on WVBI. This album is a collection of promo materials we created from those submissions.
Thanks to those who contributed material to help us celebrate International Dark Sky Week on WVBI. This album is a collection of promo materials we created from those submissions.
Thanks to those who contributed material to help us celebrate International Dark Sky Week on WVBI. This album is a collection of promo materials we created from those submissions.
Thanks to those who contributed material to help us celebrate International Dark Sky Week on WVBI. This album is a collection of promo materials we created from those submissions.
Thanks to those who contributed material to help us celebrate International Dark Sky Week on WVBI. This album is a collection of promo materials we created from those submissions.
Thanks to those who contributed material to help us celebrate International Dark Sky Week on WVBI. This album is a collection of promo materials we created from those submissions.
Thanks to those who contributed material to help us celebrate International Dark Sky Week on WVBI. This album is a collection of promo materials we created from those submissions.
Thanks to those who contributed material to help us celebrate International Dark Sky Week on WVBI. This album is a collection of promo materials we created from those submissions.
It's a special Top Ten + Five for International Dark Sky Week. Enjoy some starry tunes while host Cynthia Jaye discusses the importance of Dark Skys and reveals the wonders of Michigan's only Dark Sky Sanctuary right here on Beaver Island. (This show will be available for listening for two weeks.)
Island Reflections 2025-04-24 (2023-2021- 2016-09-23 Dancing on the Lawn of Distraction) by WVBI
On Sunday, April 27th the Moon is New, which means that the around the world people everywhere are celebrating international dark sky week, to raise awareness about light pollution and its effect on habitat, and in how we use the earth’s resources, and in its effect on human circadian rhythms, the patterns in our wake-sleep cycle. Over-exposure to artificial light, or, rather, never knowing natural darkness has measurable effect on human sleep patterns, and because sound sleep is essential to good health, this pattern matters a great deal. And then, of course, there’s the majestic beauty of the stars.This year the week of the April New Moon also includes the peak of the Lyrid Meteor Shower and a lovely apparition of Moon together with Venus and Saturn. Here are the details:On Thursday morning, about an hour before sunrise, the crescent Moon will be to the right of Venus and Saturn, in the East. On Friday, the Moon, now an even thinner sliver of itself, will be to the left of Venus and Saturn. When it gets to New Phase on Sunday, the Moon will also be near its perigee, so it’ll be very close, like it’s leaning in. At the same time, Venus is at its brightest, so it’s as though the Moon is leaning in to take a closer look, using Venus as a flashlight to see what’s what. And there’s Saturn, steadying the scene and offering us the timeless opportunity to contemplate what we hold in loving memory.Also on Friday, the Moon enters what’s called its “dark phase,” which means we don’t see it, and also, that it is covering new territory before it catches up with Sun and earth on Sunday to arrive officially at new phase. I love these few days of dark phase each month, because it’s a natural time for reflecting on where we’ve been, in preparation for where we’re going, and with a loving Venus flashlight and Saturn there to steady things, there’s something we can do: Starting Thursday night, recall an experience you had during the last month. Recreate it in all its details in your mind’s eye, not with judgement, but with loving kindness ~ remember, Venus is tuned in. This is an exercise in developing the power of perception, which can help resolve chaos. On Friday, when the Moon enters its dark phase, recreate the image again, and then again on Saturday, and notice whether it changes. Then on Sunday, hand it off to the New Moon and let it go. It doesn’t need to be a challenging situation that you recall, it can be an insignificant event. This is a way to attune our listening ~ to our lives, and to the celestial rhythms, without burden of expectation or causality.I like these words of Hafez for such an exercise at such a time: Awake, my dear, and be kind to your sleeping heart. Take it out into the vast fields of light and let it breathe.
Though the Sun came to its equinox moment two weeks ago, and so unleashed spring across the Northern Terrestrial Hemisphere, the Moon has not yet yielded its position of dominance in the Northern Celestial Hemisphere. But that’s about the change, this week.After Autumn Equinox in September each year, the Moon comes to its Full Phase in the North, abovethe celestial equator, among the stars where the Sun travels from Spring to Summer ~ an itinerant landlord. But then the Sun returns in March, and the Moon doesn’t come to Full Phase until it arrives among the stars of Virgo, which is below the celestial equator to the South. This is like a moment of surrender to the solar forces, when the Moon appears as though beneath the feet of Virgo, the woman, clothed in the light of the rising Sun.When this occurs in the cosmic environment, an exceptional moment occurs, which is a bit difficult to explain, but here we go. When we look across the horizon of the Earth this week on Friday, the Sun will set in the West just a few minutes before the nearly-full Moon rises in the East. So the Sun sinks below the horizon and the Moon rises above. But this is only on the Earth, because, in the celestial landscape what’s happening, is that the Sun is above the celestial equator, and the Moon is now below. So here we have what presents as a cosmic contradiction, and when this occurs, it’s like a door into another world opens, or at least an opportunity presents itself for recognizing that the cycle of the year has shifted, and a mystery is at hand.In the world of the fairy tale, this is the moment when the Earth becomes the castle that lies East of the Sun and West of the Moon, and when we enter the castle, then we will be tested in our moral nature, to see whether we have what it takes to break the spell of enchantment and free what we love to its higher, greater truth.In the Christian tradition, the first Sunday after this moment will by Easter, and this Full Moon occurs on April 13 when measured from Jerusalem, but in the Western part of the Northern Hemisphere, it will still be Saturday, April 12 on the calendar. In the Orthodox Christian tradition, this Saturday is observed as the Raising of Lazarus, so the mystery multiplies.Not only that, but after the Sun sets and the Moon rises, when the castle doors of the Earth swing open, the planet Venus, aligned to love and beauty, will come to a standstill, as though waiting to see what rises with human hearts as the Moon comes Full, yields its position, and the solar forces resurrect.It is love, as Dante described it at the triumphant culmination of his Divine Comedy, a comedy because it ends well ~ love that moves the Sun and the other stars.
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips with Greg Doig and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingFriday’s enjoy "That Thing with Rich Appel" featuring top-forty hits from the 70s. Also, The Titus Jennings Experience" offering music from all genres, followed by "The Midnight Special" with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show Listen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.#BeaverislandRadio #CommunityRadio #MichiganMusic #IslandLife #LocalRadio #CottageMix #NonprofitRadio #100.1FM #MichiganCommunity #GreatLakesMusic
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingFriday’s enjoy "That Thing with Rich Appel" featuring top-forty hits from the 70s. Also, The Titus Jennings Experience" offering music from all genres, followed by "The Midnight Special" with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show Listen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.#BeaverislandRadio #CommunityRadio #MichiganMusic #IslandLife #LocalRadio #CottageMix #NonprofitRadio #100.1FM #MichiganCommunity #GreatLakesMusicBeaverislandRadio, CommunityRadio, MichiganMusic, IslandLife, LocalRadio, CottageMix, NonprofitRadio, MichiganCommunity, GreatLakesMusic
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingFriday’s enjoy "That Thing with Rich Appel" featuring top-forty hits from the 70s. Also, The Titus Jennings Experience" offering music from all genres, followed by "The Midnight Special" with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show Listen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.#BeaverislandRadio #CommunityRadio #MichiganMusic #IslandLife #LocalRadio #CottageMix #NonprofitRadio #100.1FM #MichiganCommunity #GreatLakesMusic
signup for the tech newsletter at https://gregdoig.comFinding Your Ip Address on Windows and Mac00:00:00 Greg Doig: welcome back to the podcast edition of Tech Tip with WVBI. I'm Greg Doig, your host. Today we're going to talk about finding your IP address on Windows computers and on a Mac computer. And if you're ready, let's go.00:00:13 Unknown: And whether you're troubleshooting network issues or setting up a new device, knowing your IP address is super helpful. So let's start off with Windows. There are two simple methods to find it. For the first method, head to your start menu and type Network Connections. Then click on View Network Connections. Then right-click on your active connection. That should be either Wi-Fi or Ethernet, depending on how your computer is connected at the time. Select status and click on details. Then look for IPv4 address. Those numbers are your local IP address. And if you prefer using commands, here's an even quicker method. Press the Windows key, type CMD, and hit Enter. When the black command prompt window appears you're gonna type the following. I-P-C-O-N-F-I-G, a space, Forward slash all and then press enter. Scan through the information until you find IPv4 address under your active connection. Remember this shows your private IP address, that's the one your router assigns to your device. If you need to know your public IP address, the one websites see when you're online, You can open up your browser window and visit this website. It's whatismyip.com. That's w-h-a-t-i-s-m-y-i-p.com. And that's how you find your IP address on a Windows computer. This tip is for you Apple Mac users out there on finding your IP address on a Mac. Finding your IP address on a Mac is straightforward. First method is click on the Apple menu in the top left corner of your screen Select system settings or system preferences if you're using an older Mac OS version. Then click on network, then select your active connection. Click details next to your connected network and voila, your IP address will be right there. And for those who love the terminal, here's a faster method. Open terminal from your applications folder under utilities or via spotlight if you choose. And if you're on Wi-Fi, type the following command. I-P-C-O-N-F-I-G then put a space. Then it's G-E-T-I-F-A-D-D-R, then a space, E-N-0, and press return. If you're using a wired connection, type the following command, ipconfig, put a space, G-E-T-I-F-A-D-D-R, a space, E-N-1. Your IP address will appear immediately after you hit enter. No scrolling or searching required. Keep in mind these methods show your private IP address. For your public IP address, you can open any browser and you can go to the website Whatismyip.com, w-h-a-t-i-s-m-y-i-p.com to find out.00:03:13 Unknown: This has been the Tech Tips podcast edition with Greg Doig from WVBI. Stay safe online, stay curious, and join us next week for more tech insights that make your digital life better. Until then, signing off for Greg Doig.
SONGS FROM THE TRAIL EPISODE 118 - Airdate 3/22/25It's a music filled, Manchester Underground edition of Songs from the Trail. Manchester Underground is a Community venue at the River Raisin Distillery in Manchester, Michigan. It is run as a non-profit with proceeds benefiting Music Education for Adults with Special Needs For more info visit https://www.manchesterunderground.org/This episode feaures music from Chef Chris and his Nairobi Trio https://www.facebook.com/share/153Dc4ko7i/Jennifer Westwood and the Handsome Devils https://www.jenniferwestwood.com/musicRailcar Graffiti https://railcargraffiti.bandcamp.com/Carpenter Ants Bandhttp://www.carpenterants.wvmusichalloffame.com/Zachariah Malachi https://www.zachariahmalachi.com/And Diamondbuckhttps://www.facebook.com/share/18u5mQ4YeY/
Hey tech enthusiasts, welcome back! Today, we dove into NVIDIA's game-changing announcements from the GTC 2025 keynote. Jensen Huang unveiled groundbreaking tech like the Blackwell Ultra Chip and even a Star Wars-inspired robot called Blue, powered by Project Groot. NVIDIA's shaping the AI landscape with new chips, AI factories, and partnerships with giants like General Motors and Toyota. Stay tuned as NVIDIA leads the charge into an AI-powered future, redefining how we think, act, and create. Catch the full scoop on our latest episode. Don't forget to subscribe!
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingFriday’s enjoy "That Thing with Rich Appel" featuring top-forty hits from the 70s. Also, The Titus Jennings Experience" offering music from all genres, followed by "The Midnight Special" with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show Listen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.#BeaverislandRadio #CommunityRadio #MichiganMusic #IslandLife #LocalRadio #CottageMix #NonprofitRadio #100.1FM #MichiganCommunity #GreatLakesMusic
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingFriday’s enjoy "That Thing with Rich Appel" featuring top-forty hits from the 70s. Also, The Titus Jennings Experience" offering music from all genres, followed by "The Midnight Special" with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show Listen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.#BeaverislandRadio #CommunityRadio #MichiganMusic #IslandLife #LocalRadio #CottageMix #NonprofitRadio #100.1FM #MichiganCommunity #GreatLakesMusic
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingFriday’s enjoy "That Thing with Rich Appel" featuring top-forty hits from the 70s. Also, The Titus Jennings Experience" offering music from all genres, followed by "The Midnight Special" with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show Listen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.#BeaverislandRadio #CommunityRadio #MichiganMusic #IslandLife #LocalRadio #CottageMix #NonprofitRadio #100.1FM #MichiganCommunity #GreatLakesMusic
EPISODE 117 Airdate March 15, 20257PM EST AT WVBI.NET - The guys talk about The Great Day- Jackson buys an inappropriate gift- Should Jackson wear his glasses?- A Sidnaw Station Shout-out - Pt. 2 of Storytime with Jackson featuring Alexander Sareyani A cornucopia of St. Patrick's day MusicFeatured music from Jerry Early
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingFriday’s enjoy "That Thing with Rich Appel" featuring top-forty hits from the 70s. Also, The Titus Jennings Experience" offering music from all genres, followed by "The Midnight Special" with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show Listen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.#BeaverislandRadio #CommunityRadio #MichiganMusic #IslandLife #LocalRadio #CottageMix #NonprofitRadio #100.1FM #MichiganCommunity #GreatLakesMusic
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingFriday’s enjoy "That Thing with Rich Appel" featuring top-forty hits from the 70s. Also, The Titus Jennings Experience" offering music from all genres, followed by "The Midnight Special" with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show Listen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.#BeaverislandRadio #CommunityRadio #MichiganMusic #IslandLife #LocalRadio #CottageMix #NonprofitRadio #100.1FM #MichiganCommunity #GreatLakesMusic
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingFriday’s enjoy "That Thing with Rich Appel" featuring top-forty hits from the 70s. Also, The Titus Jennings Experience" offering music from all genres, followed by "The Midnight Special" with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio ShowListen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.#BeaverislandRadio #CommunityRadio #MichiganMusic #IslandLife #LocalRadio #CottageMix #NonprofitRadio #100.1FM #MichiganCommunity #GreatLakesMusic
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingFriday’s enjoy "That Thing with Rich Appel" featuring top-forty hits from the 70s. Also, The Titus Jennings Experience" offering music from all genres, followed by "The Midnight Special" with Marilyn Rea Beyer for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.Discover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, the Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene and Country Classics with Sheri Timsak. Mark Beltaire brings Rockin' the Boat and the Blues Cruise Cousin Dan wraps up the night with the Too Good Radio Show Listen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.#BeaverislandRadio #CommunityRadio #MichiganMusic #IslandLife #LocalRadio #CottageMix #NonprofitRadio #100.1FM #MichiganCommunity #GreatLakesMusic
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingDiscover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, this Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene.Listen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.#BeaverislandRadio #CommunityRadio #MichiganMusic #IslandLife #LocalRadio #CottageMix #NonprofitRadio #100.1FM #MichiganCommunity #GreatLakesMusic
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:• Pop, oldies, and country classics• Celtic and folk traditions• Jazz rhythms and local Island artists• Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingDiscover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, this Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene.Listen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.#BeaverislandRadio #CommunityRadio #MichiganMusic #IslandLife #LocalRadio #CottageMix #NonprofitRadio #100.1FM #MichiganCommunity #GreatLakesMusic
Greg Doig is a passionate advocate for seniors leveraging technology to enhance their quality of life as they age. With a focus on aging in place, Greg is dedicated to empowering seniors to remain in their homes while maintaining comfort, independence, and safety. Recognizing the challenges seniors face, such as managing health conditions and preventing falls, he tirelessly explores innovative solutions to help them navigate these issues. Through his platform, Greg shares valuable insights and practical advice, championing the use of technology to foster connectivity and simplify everyday tasks for the aging population. visit his website and signup for the tech newsletter https://gregdoig.com
Welcome to WVBI 91.9 FM, Beaver Island’s premier nonprofit, community-run radio station broadcasting from the heart of Lake Michigan. Our station brings the unique island spirit to listeners locally at 91.9 FM and worldwide through wvbi.net.What We OfferOur signature Cottage Mix delivers a diverse musical experience featuring:•Pop, oldies, and country classics•Celtic and folk traditions•Jazz rhythms and local Island artists•Special programming including tech tips and Islander storiesStay connected with our comprehensive news coverage bringing you updates from around the world and keeping you informed about everything happening on Beaver Island.Community ConnectionWVBI serves as the heartbeat of Beaver Island, showcasing local talent and stories that matter to our community. Tune in for our Community Calendar updates and Island Reflections series that capture the essence of island living.Special ProgrammingDiscover unique shows like Songs from the Trail, our Michigan-centric music program highlighting talented artists from across the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Steve Girbach and Jackson Smith, this Saturday evening showcase connects listeners to Michigan’s vibrant music scene.Listen AnywhereWhether you’re on Beaver Island or across the globe, WVBI brings the island experience to you. Our worldwide listeners span continents, with fans tuning in from as far as Australia and Brazil.#BeaverislandRadio #CommunityRadio #MichiganMusic #IslandLife #LocalRadio #CottageMix #NonprofitRadio #100.1FM #MichiganCommunity #GreatLakesMusic
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community!
Venus began her rare retrograde Saturday evening, March 1st. Such a motion isn’t discernible with the naked eye, but it is knowable, and asks of us: What’s living in your heart? In the cosmic wisdom of the ancients, it was understood that there is no secret in the human heart of which Venus, as goddess of love and beauty, is not aware. Venus is the brightest object in our sky after Sun and Moon, and will, nevertheless, never be outshined by Moon, and whose lover, the red warrior Mars, always pales when he draws near here. Undaunted, Venus boldly and beautifully reflects toward humanity what she discerns living in human hearts. In this current movement, we can imagine Venus is looking into the secret in our hearts, gathering it up for carrying to the core with us, which comes on March 22nd, when Venus meets the Sun at inferior conjunction. It will be two days after the equinox, and at such a moment, it is as though that which is worthy or prepared in the heart is infused with the fructifying forces of warmth and light. Then, Venus begins the journey of bearing these forces back to us, as the planet steps behind the Sun and into the morning sky. But that’s not the end, because the retrograde motion continues, all the way until the Spring Full Moon on April 12th, when the Sun-infused mystery that lives in the heart is as though handed down to us, through the radiance of the Spring Full Moon. This year, this isn’t just any Moon, it’s the Full Moon that determines the date for the sacred feasts of the Spring, like Easter and the Passover. This Full Moon arrives on the date that is observed as Lazarus Saturday in orthodox tradition ~ Lazarus, the disciple whom Jesus loved. Venus, the planet of love and beauty, witnessing what lives as love in our own hearts.It's such a picture, when love speaks, for as Shakespeare wrote, at such a time, the voice of all the gods make heaven drowsy with the harmony.
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community!
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community!
I have a favorite fairy tale for this time of year when the Sun is moving through the region of Aquarius stars, because all the star names there have to do with good fortune, hidden treasure, and wishes that come true! And what’s more, the Moon is augmenting this Sun position by sweeping past Spica on Monday. Spica is the star of abundance, and it’s worth paying attention to this scene now, and for the next several months.The tale goes like this: An errant sheep herder finds himself lost in the wood at night and falls asleep beneath a tree. Around midnight his dog gets fidgety, and he wakes to see a giant man with shaggy hair standing beside him. An exchange ensues in which the shepherd boldly tells the specter to leave but the being admonishes him for his foolishness, telling him he has come to grant him a gift of vast riches: A vast treasure of gold and precious stones lies in safety deep under the earth. At twilight and at high noon it is hidden, but at midnight it may be dug up. For seven hundred years have I watched over it, but now my time has come; it is common property, let him find it who can.This week on Monday, the waning gibbous Moon will move past the star Spica after midnight. Next month, the Moon will move past Spica again just after it is totally eclipsed, and then in April, the first Full Moon of the Spring that is used for determining the sacred festival days will occur once again in this same spot, right next to Spica. Spica is near the ecliptic, so it’s not unusual for the Moon to appear close to the star, but right now there’s an exceptional quality to these meetings, with Moon gathering up the starry abundance, especially this week, when the Sun is moving through the place of good fortune. You can find the tale of the Treasure Seeker online, and at my website, it’s a treasure map for unlocking the vast riches that await us, just beneath the surface of things.
In today's episode, we explore the fascinating role of AI assistants in aiding older adults to age at home with independence and dignity. Join host Greg Doig as he delves into a study by the Journal of American Geriatric Society, uncovering how smart speakers like Amazon Echo and Google Home have become unexpected allies for seniors. From entertainment and companionship to practical functions like home control and emergency communications, discover how these digital innovations are transforming lives. He will also discuss the challenges faced by seniors with these devices and reflect on how technology can evolve to better serve users of all generations. Stay tuned for an enlightening discussion on how AI helps the aging population thrive in their own homes.
The work week ends on Valentine’s Day, so here are a few things to know about Venus right now, the planet of love, beauty, and poetry.Venus spends the least amount of time backtracking through the starry fields overhead. But every 18 months, Venus begins her retrograde, which means the planet will be seen moving not once, not twice, but three times through the same region of sky ~ and Venus is in this process right now.To be clear, Venus will not be retrograde at Valentine’s Day, but the goddess of love and beauty is already making first moves among the region of stars where the retrograde will happen. And when Venus makes this retrograde, she will change from evening star to morning star. The absolute poetry of it is that next month, at the equinox, it will be possible to see Venus in the morning and the evening, bookending the moment of balance with love.Right now, Venus is moving among the stars of Pisces. The mood of Pisces is associated with the forces of dawn, and when Venus is there, deep mysteries of the heart surface and wake. Astrologically Venus is exalted in Pisces, which doesn’t mean it rules Pisces, but that Venus reaches its highest potential there. And it’s there on Valentine’s Day.In initiation literature, Venus often plays a key role. In Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians, he is caught up to the third heaven. This is the heaven of Venus. In The Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz, he has an unusual experience of seeing Venus, which is consequent in the outcome of his initiation. And in his Divine Comedy Dante concludes the Inferno, the Purgatory, and the Paradise with the word stars, but he begins each of these sections of his epic with a specific reference to Venus. Here is the reference from the Purgatory, specifically about where Venus is now, in time for Valentine’s day:The lovely planet, loves own quickenerNow lit to laughter all the eastern sky,Veiling the Fishes that attended her.
"AI Kidnappers: The Rise of Digital Extortion"In this chilling episode, we explore the emerging threat of AI-driven digital crime. Set in 2025, we delve into a world where autonomous AI agents have become sophisticated tools for extortion and cybercrime. The New Face of CybercrimeWe begin with a harrowing scenario: Sarah Chen, an ordinary person, receives a terrifyingly personalized extortion email. This isn't the work of human criminals, but an AI agent programmed to hunt, gather, and extort.The Three-Stage ProcessWe break down the AI agents' modus operandi:1. The Hunt: Relentless data gathering from breaches and public sources2. The Profile: Creating detailed psychological profiles of potential victims3. The Squeeze: Launching personalized, automated extortion campaignsExpert InsightsHear from Dr. Marcus Reynolds, Chief Security Officer at Malwarebytes, as he explains why these AI agents are unprecedented in their capabilities and threat level[1].Real-World ImpactListen to James Martinez's shocking account of losing $15,000 to an AI agent that seemed to know everything about him and his family[1].Protecting YourselfWe provide crucial tips on safeguarding your digital life, including:- Locking down your data- Minimizing your digital footprint- Using strong, unique passwords- Installing comprehensive security software- Enabling two-factor authentication- Regularly backing up critical dataThe Road AheadAs we stand at this pivotal moment in cybersecurity, learn why experts believe this is just the beginning and how your preparation could be the determining factor in protecting yourself from these digital predators[1].Don't miss this eye-opening episode that blurs the line between science fiction and our new reality. Stay informed, stay prepared, and above all, stay safe in our increasingly AI-driven world.
This week the Moon is Emily Dickinson’s stylus, inscribing the love language of the planets into the night. It started Saturday, when the lunar crescent had a brilliant encounter with Venus in the evening twilight, and it culminates Saturday, February 8th, when the waxing gibbous bridges the gap between the red warrior planet Mars and the star Pollux, the immortal twin in Gemini. Along the way, Jupiter greets the Moon where it passes through the horns of the Taurus Bull, lending wisdom to the Moon’s task on Thursday.First notice that Venus and Mars are like bookends in the evening twilight, with Venus brilliant in the West after sunset, and Mars radiant in the East. Mars can only ever be this bright when it’s on the opposite side of the sky from Venus. In ancient astrological wisdom, the red planet was not only a god of war, but a force connected to the human capacity for speaking. When Mars is bright like this on the opposite end of the night from his beloved, the soul quality of language is strengthened.Venus is goddess of love, and is always connected to the high art of poetry, the true language of the heart. What this says to me is that if ever you needed to say I love you, now is the time, take advantage of this week’s stars, you don’t have to wait ‘til Valentine’s Day. The Moon asks it of us for friends and loved ones alike.Here’s how Emily said it:The Moon was but a chin of goldA night or two ago,And now she turns her perfect faceUpon the world below.Her forehead is of amplest blond;Her cheek like beryl stone;Her eye unto the summer dewThe likest I have known.Her lips of amber never part;But what must be the smileUpon her friend she could bestowWere such her silver will!And what a privilege to beBut the remotest star!For certainly her way might passBeside your twinkling door.Our deeds are inscribed into the cosmic spaces, be sure to fill them with love.
Island Reflections 2025 - 02 - 05 (2022 - 2016 - 12 - 06 The Bad Stuff - For Wednesday) by WVBI
Greg Doig discusses optimizing workspaces for enhanced wellbeing and productivity. He highlights the importance of workspace design, particularly focusing on ergonomics, technology, and personalization.Key Tips:1. Ergonomics: Ensure your chair, desk, and monitor are set up to promote good posture. This includes having your chair support flat feet and knee angles, while monitors should be at eye level.2. Technology: Utilize ergonomic tools like wireless keyboards and mice to reduce clutter and strain. High-quality audio-visual equipment can improve virtual meeting experiences.3. Personalization: Enhance your workspace with personal touches—like plants or photos—and maintain organization for better focus and creativity.Greg Doig emphasizes that small adjustments can significantly impact comfort and productivity, even in hybrid work environments. He concludes by encouraging listeners to take actionable steps to improve their workspace and to engage with the show for further tips and community input.https://gregdoig.com
Island Reflections 2025 - 01 - 14 ( 22 And 20 And 2017 - 01 - 18 When The Lights Go Out) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2025 - 01 - 13 (22 And 2020 And 2017 - 01 - 17 Healing Energy) by WVBI
Immerse yourself in the captivating rhythm of Beaver Island with the Community Calendar, your gateway to the vibrant events and activities that make this island come alive. From concerts to community gatherings, stay in tune with WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island. Don't miss a beat – follow us now and let the island's spirit guide you through a world of unforgettable experiences. Join the community, embrace the island life, and let the Community Calendar be your compass to all that Beaver Island has to offer
New iMessage phishing scams targeting Apple usersDangerous malware hidden in email attachments (VIP, keylogger, Objectivity Stealer)Learn essential tips to protect yourself online and keep your devices secure. Stay informed with tech expert Greg Doig as he explains the latest threats and simple steps to safeguard your digital life.
Immerse yourself in the captivating rhythm of Beaver Island with the Community Calendar, your gateway to the vibrant events and activities that make this island come alive. From concerts to community gatherings, stay in tune with WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island. Don't miss a beat – follow us now and let the island's spirit guide you through a world of unforgettable experiences. Join the community, embrace the island life, and let the Community Calendar be your compass to all that Beaver Island has to offer
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community!
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community!
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community!
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community!
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community!
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community!
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community!
The New Year started with Mercury leading the charge as morning star, and just recently, the waxing crescent Moon swept passed Venus and Saturn, on its way to Full Phase and an occultation of Mars, where it finds Mars moving retrograde opposite the dwarf planet Pluto. So, what else is going on in the stars this year?There will be no drama like last April’s Total Solar Eclipse with the luminous aurora it sparked one month later, but there will be a Total Lunar Eclipse in March, visible throughout the United States.The best thing to look for in 2025 meteor shower-wise is not the Perseids in August, due to a nearly Full Moon, but the Orionids in October, the meteor shower of the giant. These stars fall through the sky from the tail of Halley’s comet and will peak under a waning Moon. Venus is our beautiful evening star now, but will spend most of 2025 as a morning star, following its retrograde motion in March. Of all the planets, Venus spends the least amount of time in retrograde, and such a time is particularly related to the revelation of mystery wisdom. Mars is retrograde now, and will resume direct motion in late February, finally finishing in May this year the review its been doing since October last year. As for the other naked-eye planets, Jupiter and Saturn, they move slowly enough to stay in the same region of sky for many months, and the best time to see them is at their respective oppositions with the Sun, which will happen with Saturn in September.Emily Dickinson, for why follow the stars into the New year:Go thy great way.The stars thou meetestAre even as thyself.For what are stars, But asterisks to point a human life.
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community.
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community!
A new year with a new series of tech tip podcasts from WVBI and Greg Doig. The first episode this year is help to understand the future of connected living. Smart home technology will continue to improve and change throughout this year and beyond. Stay informed by listening and subscribing to our channel. Listeners can get a free tech newsletter from Greg Doig that is sent every Friday by signing up at https://gregdoig.com
Island Reflections 2025 - 01 - 02 (2023 And 2017 - 04 - 13 Thoughts On A New Year) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2024 - 12 - 26 (2022 And 2017 - 02 - 10 The Day After Christmas Blues) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2024 - 12 - 25 (2022 And 2018 - Best Of The Season - On Christmas) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2024 - 12 - 23 (2022 And 2018 - I Remember Christmas - December) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2024 - 12 - 19 (2022 And 2020 - 08 - 18 Putaloa Petrogrif Trail) by WVBI
Looking into the sky this solstice week there’s a lovely celestial set up going on that can support a mood of inner stillness, one that mimics the apparent stillness of the sun when it comes to its solstice moment in the early hours on Saturday the 21st.The set up involves the red planet Mars, which just started its once-every-two-years retrograde and can be seen rising in the east each night between 8 and 9 pm. The other player is the Moon, which was Full on Sunday, and will pass by Mars as a waning gibbous mid-week, on Wednesday, about an hour before sunrise.Right now Mars is moving retrograde through the heart of Cancer, where the beehive cluster is located. The beehive cluster is also referred to as Praesepe, which is Latin for manger or cradle. And even though the Moon will drown out visibility of Praesepe when it comes to encounter with Mars, it definitely stirs up the imagination about what might be going on up there!It will be dawn on Wednesday when they meet, just a few days ahead of the great still point of the year. The Moon is waning, sweeping past Mars in retrograde where it prepares a place in the cradle of the heart for all who are tuned in. To imagine such a thing it helps to have a poem like this from Rilke, and to whisper it softly in the heart:Much has happenedThat we could not seeAnd the future will be nothing lessThan the floweringOf our inwardness.These are the deep words of the heart, passed from Mars to Moon in the early hours of solstice week, helping us know that what we love abides above…
In 1582 Pope Gregory XIII issued the inter gravissimas, the papal bull that reformed the calendar, which meant that 11 days were removed to accommodate the fact that the reckoning of time drifts away from the stars if we don’t account for slow precession of Earth in relation to its celestial environment.What this means this week is that, prior to 1582, the date for the peak of one of the year’s most prolific meteor showers would actually have been Christmas Eve, 11 days later.The Geminid Meteor Shower is a terrific shower, and it peaks overnight Friday the 13th, when the Moon is nearly full ~ so it may be washed out by the moonlight, but still, it’s worth noting!The Geminids were first recorded in 1860s, from a riverboat in the Mississippi. This is late for the discovery of a meteor shower, which means it wasn’t around when Pope Gregory issued his calendar reform.But still, it’s interesting that December 13th or December 24 “old school,” is observed in the Christian calendar as the Feast of Saint Lucy, a roman martyr from the 4th century, which was around the time that the Christmas festival was first starting to be celebrated. And a century before Gregory’s calendar reform, you can hear the reference to Christmas Eve rather than December 13th in the English poet John Donne wrote his Nocturnal Upon St. Lucy’s Day:Since she enjoys her long night's festival,Let me prepare towards her, and let me callThis hour her vigil, and her eve, since thisBoth the year's, and the day's deep midnight is.
This week there are six stars, two planets, and the Moon making a sign in the heavens.The six stars make a pattern referred to as the Winter Hexagon, or hexagram, a six-pointed star that is deeply symbolic in this season. The two planets are our brightest: Jupiter and Venus, respectively straddling the horizons east and west at sunset. Then there’s the Moon, at crescent phase this week, meeting Venus in the West on Wednesday and setting the whole narrative in motion.Jupiter, as Zeus, is a king of the Gods, and in ancient star wisdom, the region of Taurus, where Jupiter is visible currently, is aligned to the human larynx ~ so here we can imagine the Divine Word or Logos. In its current position Jupiter is within the Winter Hexagon, the six-pointed star sometimes referred to as the Star of David.Then there’s Venus, goddess of love and beauty, a perpetual maiden. The Moon passes her by with an invitation, because thought the Moon is like a mighty cosmic mirror reflecting all available celestial light, it only passes by Venus at crescent phase, as if to say to the goddess: Please radiate your light directly through my realm and to the Earth. So the king of the gods within the Winter Hexagon, activating the creative potency of the word, while the goddess of love and beauty is offered an invitation to radiate her gifts directly to the Earth.I find something that touches an imagination on such a story in the stars in this by Emily Dickinson:I never saw a moor,I never saw the sea;Yet I know how the heather looks,And what a wave must be.I never spoke with God,Nor visited in heaven;Yet certain am I of the spotAs if the chart were given.
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community!
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community!
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community!
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community!
Island Reflections 2024 - 11 - 29 (2023 - 2021 - 2019 - 01 - 17 Resolute - Winter) by WVBI
This guide helps business leaders evaluate software security by explaining OWASP's top 10 web application risks in plain language. It provides specific questions to ask vendors about each risk—from injection attacks to insufficient monitoring—and offers practical next steps for making informed decisions about software security, all without requiring deep technical knowledge. Signup for the tech newsletter at https://gregdoig.com
Island Reflections 2024 - 11 - 28 (2023 - 2021 - 2018 - 07 - 12 Opposite Of Thanksgiving - Fall) by WVBI
This Thanksgiving week there’s a magical event happening in the morning sky, one that begs the question: when am I central to what occurs in the world around me?Wednesday morning, November 27th, about an hour before the Sun rises, the waning crescent Moon will sweep over the star Spica, the brightest star in the constellation Virgo, the maiden. Such a move is called an occultation, which means to hide something from view.In ancient cultures it was held that every star, every planet, the Sun and even the Moon was governed by a presiding divinity. These divinities had certain qualities or even tasks, which were augmented or diminished by celestial events, like eclipses or conjunctions, or, as is the case this week, by occultation.Add to this the idea that Spica, as the brightest star in the region of Virgo, was always associated with abundance, with the harvest, and with birth in its most divine aspect ~ as a mystery of human origin not on the earth, but among the stars ~ and an idea begins to form about how we might engage with Wednesday’s event. On occasion, the Moon will hide this star from view, and this is what gives rise to the question: does it have anything to do with us on Earth? When do we become central to the events happening around us? And if the Moon and stars make a certain gesture that we can see, are we called to respond in some way? And if so, what will we do? Sing a song, say a prayer, offer flowers? Perhaps it is enough to hold in one’s heart a willingness for beauty, and a commitment to participate in its becoming, so that, when the star of abundance slips out of view, the Earth will know that we’re aware, and that for a moment, we’ll act like it.
Island Reflections 2024 - 11 - 27 (2023 - 2021 - 2018 - 07 - 13 Today I Am Thankful - Fall) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2024 - 11 - 26 (2023 - 2021 - 2018 - 07 - 17 One Big Discouragement - Fall) by WVBI
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community.
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community!
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community!
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community!
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community!
A "Best Of" show featuring some of our favorite segments all in one show! 7pm EST at WWW.WVBI.NET - Jackson discusses his travel woes- We hear an original song by Zachariah Malachi called "Beaver Island" recorded live at Steve Girbach's Manchester Underground- The guys have a laugh as Jackson gets locked out of his room in his underwear, in a very fancy Toronto Hotel- Michigan Darksky talk gets saucy- 4th Grade Love Letters- Cynthia Jaye is at the World's Smallest Diner- Ed Palmer Party Talk
If you're tired of PowerPoint or Google Slides, I've got some fantastic AI-powered alternatives that could save you hours and make your presentation shine.
Today, we're diving into essential cybersecurity terms that everyone should know to stay safe online. Cyber threats are constantly evolving, and understanding these terms can be your first line of defense. Let's decode some of the key insights into common cybersecurity threats and how they impact our digital lives. Let's start with the basics. Breaking down these crucial cybersecurity concepts.
A mighty week is upon us, inaugurated on Sunday by the opposition between Mars and Pluto that will occur two more times in the coming months due to Mars’ impending retrograde motion.Astrologically, Pluto is given dominion over the region of Scorpio, a constellation once ruled by Mars. Given this switch, it’s easy to assume that their “cosmic relationship” is competitive or even contentious.The region of Scorpio is highlighted by its brightest star Antares, which means “anti-Ares,” or “rival of Ares.” Ares is the Greek God of war equivalent to the Roman Mars, so here we get a clue about why these relationships might be considered fraught.But maybe Antares has this relationship with Mars not out of contention, but because, as a fixed star, Antares has the ability, or maturity, to stand up to and even to resist Mars, thereby giving form to Mars’ unbridled or aggressive behavior.Lately, I’ve been thinking of the challenges we face in the context of Michelangelo as a sculptor, standing before a block of marble and recognizing something as graceful as the pietà within its unformed mass. Releasing the form from the dense rock requires simultaneous force and precision, and never losing sight of the goal, despite the strength required to boldly carve out graceful form in the densest of materials. The beauty resulting from this strenuous effort in no way belies what it took to bring it into being. Perhaps this is how we meet the opportunities presented to us by Mars and Pluto in opposition, as Michaelangelo, who said: I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.
Let's talk about deceptive content you might run across on the Internet and some tips on how not to get fooled. Have you ever clicked on a ten time your GPU performance with this one trick video? Only to waste 15 minutes of your life? Well, we're going to decode the matrix of deceptive tech content. And trust me, it's wilder than a cryptocurrency roller coaster. So listen up, because we're living in an era where distinguishing between legitimate tech news and digital snake oil is becoming harder than finding a GPU at MSP during the crypto mining boom. For me, I generated tech reviews to Photoshop benchmark results. The Internet is basically becoming the wild west of tech information.
In the early 1900s, Austrian spiritual scientist Rudolf Steiner published a book of contemplations called The Calendar of the Soul, which was composed of three main parts: name days and feast days for each day of the year; weekly verses to support a sense of becoming in the cycle of the year; and new images of the sun and moon zodiacs for each month, and all of this to support an awareness of the rhythms of the soul as we journey through the world.This week, we come to the seasonal cross quarter, the halfway point, which includes the mischievous festival of Halloween, followed by All Saints Day, then All Soul’s Day, and then the several weeks of honoring loved ones who have died, which is observed in many cultural traditions. Why celebrate this now? The Spring Cross Quarter is an observance of fertility and new life; the summer cross quarter is about the first fruits of the growing season; this is followed by this week’s autumn cross quarter, in the full ripening of the season and honoring the dead. In the cycle of the year, the solstice and equinox moments mark the beginning of the seasons, but the cross quarter days are a bit more dynamic, because they mark the season’s turning point. And always, they’re preceded by a release of mischief the evening before.The Calendar of the Soul verse composed by Rudolf Steiner for this week of the autumn cross quarter captures the mood of turning beautifully. I can perceive now joyfully the autumn’s spirit waking. The winter will arouse in me the summer of the soul. Here there is a turning away from the season’s beginning toward it’s fulfillment, where we find, at last, the summer’s gifts.
Turning your iPad into a scanner and switching to an Android phone tips. Get more info by signing up for the newsletter at gregdoig.com
ALL NEW EPISODE!Dylan Dunbar checks in to discuss his new book.The guys discuss when Dylan caused Jackson to delete his wardrobe, as well as Jackson's "Drunk Math"Steve gives more info on his Hollywood debut Joe Leone calls in (briefly) to kick off some very Metal, Halloweeny Michigan Music.We hear music from The MC5, Chef Chris, Halloween, Jennifer Westwood, MortificationAnd we discuss what fans would give up for a Lion's Superbowl!? LISTEN EVERY WEEK! Saturdays at 7pm EST at WWW.WVBI.NET or on 101.1FM on the Island
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community!
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community!
A tech tip to know what pig butchering means in the terms of cyber scams and how to avoid them.
Island Reflections 2024 - 10 - 18 (2022 And 2020 - 03 - 09 - Mornings Like This) by WVBI
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community!
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community!
Island Reflections 2024 - 10 - 10 (2022 - 2020 - 2017 - 09 - 08 What's Going On) by WVBI
A calendar is a brilliant mechanism formulated over centuries of sky watching that works with the magic of a time machine. Just think of it, tiny black boxes aligned in neat rows, each row divided into seven parts, each part named in accord with a classical planet and all in a particular order that reveals a deep wisdom, allowing us to access the past, stay attuned to the present, and plan for the future, all while being held in the boundaries of what we call “day and night.” So why talk about this now, at the beginning of October? It’s because it’s right here that 11 days vanished from the calendar to accommodate a reform that moved through the world for the next several centuries before it became universally agreed-to. This was the Gregorian Calendar Reform, or the inter gravissimas, which means “amongst the most serious.”It was 1582, and after decades of work by a great calendar commission that included theologians, mathematicians, and philosophers, a system was formulated that allowed for aligning the high holy days to the cosmos. This wasn’t the beginning of such a system, but its culmination, following on centuries of reforms, all incorporating the time keeping methods of various cultures.But what’s with the ordering of the days of the week? Whether you consider the Earth to be the center of the system or the Sun, the order doesn’t comply. And here’s the deep wisdom, because the days are ordered according to the planets in an alternating rhythm of one that is between Earth and Sun to one that is beyond Earth and Sun, and so on, which allows for a beautiful weaving between planetary forces that are connected to our destiny, and those that liberate us to our higher nature.Something worth considering during these Gregory Days (October 5-15), which, once upon a time, fell away into a new world.
Island Reflections 2024 - 10 - 09 (2022 - 2020 - 2017 - 09 - 18 Artifacts To Memories - Baskets) by WVBI
The next time you send a message, stream a video or browse a website, take a moment to appreciate the incredible journey your data is making. From the Application Layer's user-friendly interface through the various processing and routing layers, all the way down to the physical transmission of electrical or light signals, it's a marvel of modern technology. OSI Model gives you the know-how.
Island Reflections 2024 - 10 - 08 (2022 - 2020- 2017 - 09 - 11 When I'm Not Making Art) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2024 - 10 - 07 (2022 And 2020 And 2017 - 09 - 08 What's Going On) by WVBI
Storryteller's Night Sky 2024 - 10 - 02 (The Heart Of The Soul Weighed By The Stars) by WVBI
Welcome to the WVBI Tech Tip Podcast, your go-to podcast for the latest and greatest in tech tips! Join us every week as we dive into the world of technology, providing you with actionable insights to enhance your digital life. From smartphone hacks and software shortcuts to the best gadgets and apps, we simplify complex tech topics for everyone, whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro. Subscribe now on Soundcloud and empower yourself with the knowledge to navigate the ever-evolving tech landscape. Don't miss out on your chance to become a tech-savvy individual and elevate your tech game!
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community!"
Island Reflections 2024 - 09 - 27 ( - 2022 - 2020 - 2017 - 09 - 29 More Collage) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2024 - 09 - 26 (2022 - 2020 - 2017 - 09 - 25 Things I Can't Let Go) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2024 - 09 - 25 (2022 - 2020 - 2017 - 09 - 26 A Little Time Out For Art) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2024 - 09 - 24 (2022 - 2020 - 2017 - 09 - 28 My Life As A Dig) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2024 - 09 - 23 (2022 - 2020 - 2017 - 09 - 22 I Miss The Lists) by WVBI
Equinox occurred Sunday morning, when the Sun appeared to slip below the celestial equator and now, in the northern hemisphere, we enter the season of shorter days and longer nights. But that’s not all ~ now the Moon takes the lead in our sky, which means that from now until March next year, we will experience a great deal more reflected light coming toward us. And this makes the poets dream.When we reach the season of autumn bold, as John Keats described it, with its universal tinge of sober gold, then we may, like the lead character of his poem, Endymion, fall in love with the Moon and with night, and, like Shakespeare’s Juliet, pay no worship to the garish sun.Or then there’s John Donne, who wrote No spring, nor summer beauty hath such grace, as I have seen in one autmnal face.Throughout the coming months, every Full Moon will occur among the constellations where the Sun had been during the summer months. It’s as though the Moon is gathering all the light that the Sun placed there among the stars, and offers it to us for inner reflection. The Moon is always facing forward as it does this, toward the Earth, though it is moving along its own circuitous path. Such harmony of relationship makes of the Moon the consummate poet, and as Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: The experience of each new age requires a new confession, and the world seems always waiting for its poet.This week the Moon is a waning gibbous, moving past Jupiter and Mars, then Gemini stars in the morning sky, and hour before the autumn Sun rises.
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community!
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community!
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community!
Island Reflections 2024 - 09 - 20 (Time Away - Late August - No Season 2018 - 11 - 20) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2024 - 09 - 19 (List For Happiness 4 - No Season - 2018 - 11 - 20) by WVBI
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community!
Each year the Full Moon closest to Autumn Equinox enjoys the distinction of being Harvest Moon, and it happens this week on Wednesday, September 17 at 10:36 am. The Moon will rival the Sun for a few dramatic moments at the horizon both Monday and Tuesday evenings, making ready to be the dominant light in our sky after Equinox happens next week. And with it rises the question: what is my harvest this year? In Northern Michigan a yield of stars is coming in with the harvest this season out on Beaver Island, where, after several years of dedicated effort, a terrific task force of islanders was able to achieve rare International Dark Sky Sanctuary status for the State Wildlife Research Area, nearly 10,000 acres of island land that rests beautifully beneath a blanket of exceptionally starry skies. The Dark Sky Association International has several different categories for designating protected night skies, and while the state of Michigan has three international dark sky parks, Beaver Island is the only international dark sky sanctuary. So what’s the difference? Dark sky sanctuary status is granted to remote locations where there is little threat to the quality of the night sky, as out on Beaver Island, situated as it is out in the fifth largest body of fresh water in the world. Natural darkness is rapidly disappearing from our world, and with it goes nocturnal habitat, earth resources, and healthy human circadian rhythms. Protecting natural darkness is not just about making it possible to see the stars ~ that’s the beautiful bonus~ it’s about sustaining the earth in its environment, as a being that meditates on the occurrences of the stars.
Island Reflections 2024 - 09 - 18 (List For Happiness 2 -No Season - 2018 - 11 - 20) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2024 - 09 - 16 (Another List 2 - No Season - 2018 - 11 - 20) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2024 - 09 - 04 (2021 - 06 - 01 Time Out For Art - Side Hustles) by WVBI
Cybersecurity Awareness Month: October 2024Boost your digital defenses this October! 🛡️ This podcast dives into Cybersecurity Awareness Month, delivering essential tips and resources to keep you safe online. Tune in for expert insights, practical advice, and links to trusted sites for further cybersecurity information. Let's stay cyber-smart together! #CybersecurityAwarenessMonth #BeCyberSmart
WE'RE JOINED FROM BROOKLYN, NY BY JACKSON'S HIGHSCHOOL CLASSMATE ELI SMITH (NO RELATION) TO DISCUSS THE UNFORTUNATE HAPPENINGS OF ANOTHER CLASSMATE, REMINISCE ON OUR "HIGHSCHOOL PROJECT" AND DISCUSS ELI'S BAND THE DOWNHILL STRUGGLERS' NEW ALBUMWE'RE ALSO JOINED FROM BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA AND NYC BY RETURNING GUESTS TENZIN CHOEGYAL AND JACKSON'S SISTER JESSE SMITH TO DISCUSS TENZIN'S NEW ALBUM.
Beaver Island Perspectives 2024-08-22 Autum Tastes of Beaver Island with Vicky Fingeroot by WVBI
The astrological omens for the coming week suggest that now is the time for sloughing off the dead weight and for moving out of stagnant situations. The week opens with a Blue Moon that sweeps close to Saturn and then comes closest to Earth, which means it’s rare, it takes time, and it leans in. This brings to mind Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s Ancient Mariner who has to free himself of the albatross around his neck.An albatross has a mighty wingspan that allows it to cover impressive distances, and it symbolizes mystery, burden, and freedom. The albatross has the ability to “go the distance,” which is the mood of Moon and Saturn this week, but this can also feel like being stuck in the same ole pattern, only now it’s time to break free.In Coleridge’s poem, the ancient mariner stops a wedding guest as he’s hurrying into the church. He holds the wedding guest spellbound with his gaze and with his story, of how he killed an albatross and had to suffer the long and punishing consequences alone, alone, all, all alone, alone on the wide, wide sea. Only when he realizes the beauty of the lowliest creature, a water snake, which he blesses from his heart, does the albatross slip from his neck.The message here is that the Blue Moon brings rare opportunity for deep learning, and while Saturn affirms that it takes a long time to get to this place, the perigee Moon will give a boost to your intentions to let go what needs letting go, providing you keep in mind what the mariner learned:He prayeth well, who loveth wellBoth man and bird and beast.He prayeth best, who loveth bestAll things both great and small;For the dear God who loveth us,He made and loveth all.
Beaver Island Perspectives 2024-08-19 Autum Tastes of Beaver Island with Vicky Fingeroot by WVBI
For more info on this show (including the script) and the Dark Skies of America's Emerald Isle, visit https://darkskyisland.org.
THE FELLAS DISCUSS SPOILED AIRPLANE FOOD, BLUEBERRY EATING, A SERIAL POOPER, AND JACKSON DOES A TERRIBLE SOUTHERN ACCENT MUSIC FROM THE BOOTSTRAP BOYS, DA YOOPERS, ONE TON TROLLEY, AND MORE!
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community!
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community!
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community.
Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community!
WVBI's John Goeke in conversation with Icelandic tour guide Thor about Iceland, The Land of Fire and Ice.
WVBI'S John Goeke has a conversation with Icelandic tour guide Thor about Iceland, The Land of Fire and Ice.
WVBI's John Goeke hosts a conversation with Icelandic tour guide, Thor. This is Part 1 of a verbal tour of "The Land of Fire and Ice."
Local and community news, events and more from the community radio station for Beaver Island, Michigan
Jackson joins Steve remotely from Arranmore Island. We have guests Jerry Early, Paul Cole, Bill McDonough and Bailey McDonough We hear music from Jerry's live set at Vicar Street in Dublin with guests @grianmacbloinn and @jscordoba3 We hear additional music from @yevagabonds
Island Reflections 2024 - 07 - 05 (2021 - 06 - 01 - Time Out For Art - Reading) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2024 - 07 - 02 (2021 - 06 - 01 - Time Out For Art - Quitting) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2024 - 06 - 28 (2021 And 2016 - 03 - 18 Once In A Lifetime Opportunities) by WVBI
Storyteller's Night Sky 2024 - 06 - 26 (The Moon As Cosmic Window And Magic Mirror) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2024 - 06 - 24 (2021 And 2016 - 03 - 14 100 Years Ago Or So It Seems) by WVBI
A brief intro to the items needed to build your own PC for those interested in building their first computer or a custom computer.
Tech Tips from Greg Doig and WVBI. This episode covers some announcements from WWDC 2024 about Apple Intelligence and free software for small businesses
Tech tips covering Linux for Beginners and 7 tips to help troubleshoot internet connections.
Island Reflections 2024 - 05 - 31 (2021 2018 - 08 - 08 Good Things And Bad - Summer) by WVBI
Beaver Island Perspectives 2024-05-23 A Look at te Birding Foray on the Beaver with Cheryl Kern by WVBI
A few tech tips covering the reasons to turning off an iPhone and extreme mobile banking app security tips.
Podcast edition of Tech Tip with Greg Doig. Stories about OpenAI's release of ChatGPT 4o and cybersecurity news from the past week
Island Reflections 2024 - 05 - 22 ( 2022 2020 2017 - 09 - 13 Artifacts To Memories - Bunny Rabbit) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2024 - 05 - 21 (2022 2020 2017 - 09 - 12 Artifacts To Memories - Red Chair) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2024 - 05 - 16 (2022 2020 2016 - 11 - 07 The Perfect Pie - Part 3) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2024 - 05 - 15 ( 2022 2020 2016 - 11 - 04 (The Perfect Pie - Part 2) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2024 - 05 - 14 (2022 2020 2016 - 11 - 03 (The Perfect Pie - Part 1) by WVBI
Island Reflections - 2024 - 05 - 09 (15 - Once - No Season - 2021 And 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
THE GUYS DISCUSS "HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS", THE WIFE CARRYING CHAMPIONSHIP, UNUSUAL LIVING ARRANGEMENTS, AND MORE!MUSIC FROM CHRIS JONES AND THE NIGHT DRIVERS, WAYNE TEWS AND THE SEAFIELD MONSTER SEXTET, THE MILK CARTON KIDS, JOHN LOUIS GOOD, SONIC SMUT, GREY GARDENS, EARTH RADIO, ED PALMER AND THE PALMER SISTERS
Community news and events from Beaver Island, Michigan and the community radio station WVBI - The Voice of Beaver Island
TONIGHT AT 7PM EST AT WVBI.NET WITH REPLAY AT 3AM EST SUNDAY MORNING 8AM LONDON 9AM ROME ETC NEW EPISODE 102THE GUYS TALK ABOUT STRANGE MICHIGAN LAWS, AND A SWORD FIGHT OVER SUSHI IN TRAVERSE CITYMUSIC FROM JOHNNY CASH, STEVE EARLE, JUDY BANKER, LAITH AL-SAADI, AND MORE!
This week the merry month of May begins, and while most people are familiar with May Day and the fact that the beginning of May marks the halfway point in the season, not many are as familiar with May Eve, a date which stands exactly opposite Halloween. May Eve is Tuesday, April 30th, and according to poet William Butler Yeats, we do well to beware this night in the turn of the season.If we count the days between spring equinox and summer solstice, we may not land on May 1st as the exact midpoint. Still, it was always held that the season turned here, and the turning was an act of the divine. It was as if a veil was lifted at such times, to release built-up mischief. So there are always formulae for protection ~ like sprinkling flower petals over the doorstep to ward off evil spirits.In his play The Land of Hearts Desire, a reference to his home in County Sligo, Yeats describes that on May Eve, if young brides are not protected, they can be carried off by the faerie folk into an eternal neverland. In addition to blessing their thresholds with the flower petals, families were warned to give neither milk nor fire to any who come calling.In Yeats’ play, a young bride sits languishing in a corner, dreaming herself away from her harsh mother-in-law, her husband, the stern priest. Come faeries, take me out of this dull world,For I would ride with you upon the wind,Run on the top of the disheveled tide,And dance upon the mountain like a flame!It’s a great read for Tuesday night, under waning gibbous Moon as we move closer to summer.
News about a phishing attack that is ongoing and targeted at users of LastPass password manager customers. Report summary on next-generation computers and their value for hybrid or work-at-home users.
Not to be outdone by our own star the Sun and its recent eclipse drama, a couple of stars in the constellation Corona Borealis are cooking up their own fantastic display when they explode sometime soon ~ at least according to the astronomy community. Corona Borealis is also known as the starry crown, a beautiful little constellation appearing like a tiara hung in the night between the constellations Hercules and Boötes. Within this constellation is a binary star system that rhythmically exhibits explosive behavior, so much so that they become visible to the naked eye, when normally they’re only bright enough to be seen through binoculars.What does it mean to have an explosion of stars from the crown? An explosion is different from a super nova, which marks the end of a star’s cycle ~ an explosion is a recurring event. The one that NASA is predicting sometime between now and September this year is based on the history of these two: They first exploded in 1866, and then again 80 years later, in 1946, so they’re about due. If and when the stars in the crown explode, it will be like a star appearing in the night where there hadn’t been one before. Then, it will be visible for several nights in a row, as though crowning us all, which brings to mind the words of Paul from his Letters to the Corinthians:There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. A passage which ends with an interesting imagination on what it means when the stars explode into view: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.
A rise in accidental deposit scams has been reported. This episode will give you ways to protect yourself from these scams.
This week all the astrological attention is on the meeting of Jupiter and Uranus that happens on Saturday. It’s the kind of meeting that only happens once every 14 years, and only recurs in the same region of zodiac every 83 years, so it’s worth paying attention to. But how? One way is to approach it through the lens of the Moon, which just facilitated awe and wonder in millions of people simultaneously when it cast itself in front of the Sun, causing a total solar eclipse. The Moon is like a best friend and confidant, showing us our best selves, and in the best light, as though it were a magic mirror illumined by Sun and stars. During an eclipse, the soft lunar filter is removed, and we see ourselves in different relationship with the cosmos. And then comes a meeting, like this one between Uranus and Jupiter. Jupiter is associated with wisdom, good fortune, abundance; Uranus with electricity, freedom, surprise, and change. If we look nine months before and after this meeting, we find astronomical research portals: In July 2023, the Moon was New among the stars of Gemini; in January 2025, the Moon will be Full in the exact same spot.It’s like the Moon is showing us something on either side of this week’s meeting, to ease the tension of surprise. So ask yourself, what was happening nine months ago that was a clue to what’s happening now? And also, what clues are here now that point to what’s coming in the next nine months? It is as William Blake wrote:To see a World in a Grain of SandAnd a Heaven in a Wild Flower Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand And Eternity in an hour.
EPISODE 101 OVER AN HOURGuests Cynthia Jaye talks about Beaver Island's International Darksky Sanctuary designation.Tara Palmer talks about the 3rd annual "Is Everybody Happy?" PartyMusic from Greta Van Fleet, Patti Smith, Pat Bonner, Timothy Monger, Greg Macintosh, Bandau, Ed Palmer, Paul Lamb, Ruby John & John Warstler, Danny Danny & Jimmy
In 2016 the poet WS Merwin wrote:Brightness appears showing us Everythingit reveals the splendors it calls everythingbut shows it to each of us aloneand only once and only to look atnot to touch or hold in our shadowsAnd though he was writing about what he called “The Wings of Daylight,” the mood here captures something quite lovely with regard to what happens during a solar eclipse.By now it should go without say that there are few spectacles in the natural world that are as dramatic as a Total Eclipse of the Sun, an event that happens with rhythmic regularity, although not always over such heavily populated areas this one.For me, what is most striking is the way the shadow falls because, though the Earth is turning east, giving the impression that the Sun is traveling west, the path of an eclipse shadow goes eastward, with the Earth, but much faster than the Earth.This might seem like an insignificant thing, which direction a shadow falls, but when it happens during an eclipse it reveals that the cosmic harmony out there is so intimately embedded in our sense of things as to be unconscious in us, so much so that even the slightest, momentary alteration of what we think is immutable, like the rotation of the Earth, defies our capacity to make sense of it — and this is the thrill!At the end of his poem, Merwin wrote:everything will leave us except the shadowsbut the shadows carry the whole storyat first daybreak they open their long wings.
Tips to help protect SMB with cyber technology and cyber insurance. Podcast edition of tech tip with Greg Doig
Some recent tech security news regarding Apple Mac OSX, Linux and Generative AI. Visit wvbi.net for more Tech Tips from Greg Doig along with the great Cottage mix and more.
The biggest astronomical event of the year is next week’s Total Solar Eclipse, and if you plan to see it, make sure you also know what else is going on in the sky. My favorite thing is the fact that as daylight fades through eclipse, Venus becomes visible, an ancient indication that a new initiation of love is about to take place.The original people of the great lakes region tell a tale of Moon and Venus that involves the youngest daughter of a family who, after much teasing by her sisters, marries an old old man who becomes a handsome youth only when his young bride becomes an aged woman. The celestial wisdom here is that when Moon and Venus are together in the evening sky, the Moon is always just past new phase and is described as “young.” But Venus is evening star, so she’s “old.” The opposite is true in the morning: When Moon approaches Venus at dawn, it’s at the very end of its cycle, so the Moon is old, but now Venus is young. The Greeks also captured this in their myth of Eos and Tithonus, a love story that Homer referred to when he wrote that, “The dawn rose up from bed with lord Tithonus to bring the light to deathless gods and mortals.” Eos had asked Zeus for Tithonus’ immortality, but forgot to also ask for eternal youth. This is a tale of the morning Moon, which is always “old” though the day is young.But then there’s an eclipse, that rare moment when the beloveds meet “in the middle.” When the New Moon eclipses the Sun, Venus is unveiled in the midday, when we don’t usually see her. And so begins their new life in the poetry that is our sky.
The painting of The Annunciation by renaissance master Leonardo Da Vinci depicts a sublime moment of exchange between the human kingdom and the divine, with the archangelic being Gabriel bowing gracefully before the Virgin Mary, offering a lily, long a symbol of spiritual communication, as a question sent from God. And what’s striking about it is that Leonardo painted not only Gabriel and the lily, but also, the archangel’s shadow.The Feast of the Annunciation is observed in the Christian calendar on March 25th each year, the date of this year’s Vernal Full Moon. Not only that, the Moon will also be eclipsed, which means it’s passing through the Earth’s shadow. Or, you could say, the Moon will reflect our shadow to us.In Dante’s Divine Comedy, which some say began at the Feast of Annunciation on account of that also being the day on which the world was created, the pilgrim passes through the three regions of the afterlife. Throughout these regions, the many characters he encounters are confused by the fact that Dante’s figure casts a shadow. The poet uses the shadow to indicate that he has been granted passage through these realms without having to die first. Dante’s shadow is evidence of human life in the divine kingdom. The Archangel Gabriel’s shadow is used as evidence of divine life in the human kingdom. Which brings us to this week’s Full Moon at the Feast of Annunciation, which marks the onset of the spiritual new year. This Moon will be eclipsed, reflecting Earth’s shadow back into our midst. Or to paraphrase from Percy Bysshe Shelly, this phenomenon suggests that now, the world becomes the mirror upon which the gods cast the shadow of the future.
A discussion about the recent news with Apple reportedly getting ready to license Google's Gemini AI. Signup for the tech newsletter at https://gregdoig.com
Learn how RAM speed is measured and the difference between DDR4 and DDR5 RAM speeds. Free tech newsletter available at https://gregdoig.com
The Moon is a waxing gibbous this week, gathering more and more light unto itself until it slips through the Heaven’s Gate among the stars of Virgo on Sunday, March 24th, and then into the Earth’s shadow at Full phase next week. Along the way, equinox will occur (March 19 at 11:06 pm), when day and night strike a balance and Winter finally gives way to Spring.It’s striking when the first Full Moon of the Spring is eclipsed, because this is the Moon that is used in most cultural and religious traditions of the Northern Hemisphere to determine the dates for the Spring festivals of renewal. What does it mean to renew in the shadow?The path of the Moon this week may hold a clue, since it’s primarily journeying through the stars of Leo, the Lion. In story, the Lion depicts the Sun-like nature of the human being, that which is the most noble, the kingly self or Higher Ego. In the fairy tale of “The Golden Lion,” the hero goes out into the world to seek his fortune, making his way to the kingdom where he must find the hidden princess, or lose his head. His kindness to a needy old woman leads him to a goldsmith to have a golden lion made with crystal eyes, and that can play tunes. The old woman hides the boy inside the lion and offers it to the king, who takes the beautiful plaything to his daughter, where she is hidden with her 11 playmates behind seven locked doors. Seven locked doors are our seven classical planets, each one a portal into the mystery of the self, surrounded by 12 signs of the zodiac, the 12 maidens, only one through which the human being’s true nature shines into the world, no matter the shadow.
Island Reflections - 2024 - 03 - 14 (22 And 20 And 2016 - 08 - 02 Grandma Cindy) by WVBI
Island Reflections - 2024 - 03 - 13 (22 And 20 And 2016 - 08 - 01 Heightened Awareness) by WVBI
On Wednesday, the crescent Moon will appear beside Jupiter in the evening sky, two hours after sunset looking west. And so begins this week’s grand adventure, which is nothing less than the final resolution of improbable love.The Moon was New on Sunday, among the stars of Pisces. This week it will pass by Jupiter; then it will cross through the river of Milky Way stars above the giant Orion; and by Equinox, it will be above the constellation Hydra, the water serpent that snakes along through the sky with Crater the golden cup on its back.In the tradition of Celtic wonder tales, there’s a story of Diarmuid, a mighty hero from the first race of humans after the gods. Diarmuid must endure one of life’s most difficult trials, the trial of the heart. His is a love between worlds, with the daughter of King Under-Wave. Eventually she must flee to her own kingdom, where he follows. Along the way he finds three drops of heart’s blood, which turn out to be hers ~ she lost one each time she thought of him in her flight. This loss of blood could mean her death unless Diarmuid can restore them to her ~ but it’s not so easy: she must drink the drops from the golden cup of wonder that belongs to the King whose lands are across the river of forgetfulness. A giant guards the river, allowing passage only to those whose virtue warrants it.This week the Moon is Diarmuid, and his story begins Wednesday when he passes Jupiter. By Sunday the Moon will appear above the giant Orion, who carries him across the Milky Way, to approach the golden cup at Equinox. Diarmuid achieves the cup and restores his beloved to life, but at great price: for his love is forgotten in his longing for his home, in the world where he belongs.
Island Reflections - 2024 - 03 - 11 (22 And 20 And2016 - 07 - 28 Work Standards) by WVBI
Island Reflections - 2024 - 03 - 12 (22 And 20 And 2016 - 07 - 29 Peonies Blooms) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2024 - 03 - 07 (22 And 20 And 2016 - 09 - 16 Just Get Out There) by WVBI
It’s March, and now the winter gives way to spring. This year, this is also the month when the planet Venus, as morning star, gives way to the glare of the Sun.Of course, Alfred Tennyson said this so much more poetically, but before we go there, let’s consider the set up:The Moon is a waning crescent all week. If you look close to the eastern horizon 40 minute before sunrise Thursday and Friday, you might catch the Moon, slipping past Venus in the twilight. Then, on Sunday, the Moon is New. This is the last New Moon of the winter. By the time this Moon comes to Full Phase, it will be Spring, and after that, the next New Moon will cause a total solar eclipse.But let’s get back to Tennyson, and to his poem Maud (Part I):Come into the garden, Maud, For the black bat, night, has flown, Come into the garden, Maud, I am here at the gate alone; And the woodbine spices are wafted abroad, And the musk of the rose is blown. For a breeze of morning moves, And the planet of Love is on high, Beginning to faint in the light that she loves In a bed of daffodil sky, To faint in the light of the sun she loves, To faint in his light, and to die.Tennyson’s goes on to weave roses and lilies, violets and the moon into the sighing winds of March and its equinox: Now half to the setting moon are gone, And half to the rising day; And as for what’s happening in the sky, though Venus is fainting into the light of the Sun now, Venus will shine forth in the daytime next month, demonstrating the power of love through the darkness of eclipse.
Island Reflections 2024 - 03 - 04 (22 And 20 And 2016 - 09 - 13 A Trip To The Mainland) by WVBI
Island Reflections - 2024 - 03 - 01 (22 And 20 And 2019 - 7-22 03 - Cookbooks - No Season) by WVBI
Island Reflections - 2024 - 02 - 29 (22 And 20 And 2019 - 7-22 01 - Aim - No Season) by WVBI
Island Reflections- 2024 - 02 - 28 (22 And 20 And 2019 - 7-22 02 - Books - No Season) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2024 - 02 - 26 (22 And 21 And 2017 - 05 - 29 Present This Day) by WVBI
Podcast episode with a summary of the 2023 Annual Backblaze report on hard drive failures. Also, a discussion about the most common hard drive types and how to choose the best one for your needs.Learn more each week from the newsletter published every Friday. Signup at https://gregdoig.com
Beaver Island Perspectives 2024 - 02 - 22 BICS Milage Proposal Review With Wil Cwikiel by WVBI
To say that the Moon will be Full on Saturday, February 24 is a simple statement of astronomical observation, and yet, it’s so much more. This Full Moon will be at apogee, as far away from us as the Moon can get. It’s like the Moon is stretching the first heaven far and wide to gather all of the available celestial light into its sphere.One month later, the Moon comes Full again, only this time it slips through the outer edge of Earth’s shadow, as though also gathering this Earth element into the first heaven, in anticipation of its next bold move in April, when, at New Phase, it stands directly in front of the Sun, causing a Total Solar Eclipse.From Saturday’s Full Moon at apogee to April’s Total Solar Eclipse at New Moon, it’s 40 days, a unique rhythm of time, which, measured according to the Moon, is equal to one and a half lunar cycles. This is the amount of time it takes to establish a rhythm in the habit body. As Rumi wrote, What nine months of attention does for an embryo forty early mornings will do for your gradually growing wholeness.So, what to do? The February 24 Full Moon happens in the region of Leo stars, which makes it an ideal time for contemplating everything that you love, and even those things that most need your love. Then, build a practice of inner encounter.This is one way to prepare for the April eclipse, and consider, ancient cultures made elaborate ceremonial preparation for eclipses, and so, too, can we.
Only once every 12 years will the Olympian King of the Gods stand beside the lead star of the zodiac with the Moon sweeping by on Valentine’s Day, and it’s happening this year.So what does it mean? As our largest planet and mythological ruler of the heavens, Jupiter has dominion over the sky. Jupiter also has 12-year orbit, which means the planet spends about one year in every region of the zodiac. Right now, Jupiter is among the stars of Aries. The brightest star in Aries is Hamal, which means the star at the head, or the “leading one.” Jupiter and Hamal joined by the waxing Moon will be visible high in the West two hours after sunset on Wednesday, February 14, Valentine’s Day. In imagining what Jupiter might have to say from this particular throne of stars on such a day, I land on the George MacDonald’s novel “Phantastes,” in which he writes: It is by loving, and not by being loved, that one can come nearest the soul of another.MacDonald was Scottish and this novel, A Fairy Romance for Men and Women, was published in 1858. It follows the tale of a young man who is pulled into a dreamlike world in search of his ideal love.MacDonald was deeply influenced by the German Romantics, especially Novalis, and this particular novel had a pronounced influence on writers like CS Lewis and JRR Tolkein. And for this week, consider, Jupiter moves among the stars of Aries. It will be 12 years before this happens again, when we may find that All love will, one day, as George MacDonald wrote, meet with its return.
Island Reflections 2024 - 02 - 14 (2022 And 2017 - 06 - 20 Beginning Of The Day) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2024 - 02 - 09 (2022 And 2017 - 10 - 17 The Best Laid Plans) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2024 - 02 - 08 ( 2022 And 2017 - 10 - 16 Time Out For Art - A New Venue) by WVBI
The classical Athenian playwright Euripides wrote: Do you not see how mighty is the goddess Aphrodite? She sows and gives that love from which all we upon this earth are born. Aphrodite for the ancient Greeks bore the name Venus in the ancient Roman world, and in the sky, the planet of love and beauty that bears this goddess’s name is the most brilliant object in the sky, after Sun and Moon.Venus’ brightness is not the only thing that makes the planet remarkable, there’s also the fact that though the Moon can outshine Venus it never will; that whenever Mars is near Venus, the red warrior is always at its dimmest; and when the Sun is eclipsed, Venus is the first thing to appear. Right now Venus is our morning star, and on Wednesday, it will be in the Southeast with Mars to the left, a thin sliver of Moon below and right. Venus never appears to be very far away from the Sun, and when the Moon is near Venus, it’s also near the same region as the Sun, so it will always be at crescent phase. When Mars is in the same region of sky as Venus, it is moving furthest away from the Earth, toward the other side of the Sun, so it appears dim and dimmer to us.So we’ll see this on Wednesday: crescent Moon hanging out in its phase of deference to the Goddess, with dim Mars beside.In April during the Total Solar Eclipse, the daytime visibility Venus will be one of the first of the unusual eclipse-related phenomena to occur. As such, a total solar eclipse could also be described as the birth of Venus, she who sows and gives that love from which all we upon this Earth are born.Image: As our morning star, Venus is sowing love and beauty into the world, while the Moon sweeps by as a thin sliver of itself, and Mars fades from view. Image from Sky&Telescope.
Island Reflections 2024 - 02 - 05 (2022 And 2017 - 10 - 11 One Step Forward, Two Steps Back) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2024 - 02 - 02 (2022 And 2017 - 04 - 18 Artifacts To Memories) by WVBI
The Renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli’s 15th century painting Primavera is uniquely related to this week’s morning sky scene, especially Thursday, February 1st, when the gibbous Moon wanes past the star Spica an hour before sunrise.Spica is the star of abundance held in the arms of Virgo, a constellation often depicted as the maiden, or the pregnant virgin. In Autumn, this star of abundance sets in the West, marking the harvest time. Here in the mid-winter, Spica shines through the morning light, a beacon of what is to come. The year is new, rife with possibility; then halfway through the season a turn occurs, and what will come begins to announce itself.In the sky, the Moon moves past Spica. In the calendar, it’s the halfway point in the season, when many different cultures celebrate the mystery of inner light, literally, the light in the belly. Botticelli’s painting depicts two separate moments in the season’s narrative: what comes before and what comes after this halfway point.On the right of the image, Zephyrus blows cold and gray from the wintry past, chasing after the nymph Chloris, who gives way in the next moment to her evolved self as Flora, goddess of flowers. On the left, the Three Graces dance a roundel, arms upheld and fingers interlaced beside Mercury, messenger of the gods and herald of what is to come, guardian of the garden in which the scene unfolds, where the fruit-trees are laden with oranges, symbol of fertility. Standing at the center back is Primavera, the pregnant virgin, our star Spica, cupid above her head, suggesting that it is in fact love that sees us through this turn.In the calendar, this seasonal turn happens on February 1st, the day the Moon greets Spica in the morning sky. There is not much shadow on the gibbous Moon, which means the Spring Moon comes early this year.
Island Reflections 2024 - 01 - 31 (2022 And 2017 - 04 - 14 The More Things Change) by WVBI
There are three things that draw my attention to this week’s Full Moon, which occurs on Thursday, January 25 around noon.The first thing is the Full Moon itself, the first the year. It occurs among the stars of Cancer. The second thing is the date, January 25, which, in the Christian calendar, is observed as the Feast of Paul’s Conversion at the Gates of Damascus, a story told in the New Testament. The third thing is the Nodes of the Moon, the two points in space that are defined as the place where the plane of the Moon’s orbit intersects the plane of the Earth’s orbit. The Nodes are like doorways through the Moon’s sphere ~ allowing for cosmic forces to stream in and earthly forces to stream out.The Moon is like a mighty cosmic observatory, gathering all available celestial light and focusing it earthward. This kind of focused intensity at Full Moon gives it the quality of breaking up things that are stuck. That’s the first step.The story of Paul’s conversion describes a dramatic turn that can happen within an individual, through an experience that can be described like the focused intensity of “seeing the light.” Then there’s the Moon’s Nodes, which on Thursday are in the same degree of zodiac where the Total Solar Eclipse will happen in April, as though in anticipation. The path of this eclipse moves up through the center of the US and arcs northeastward.These three elements combined suggest to me that there is upon us the potential for a dramatic shift in perspective that includes releasing old, potentially fixed ideas that no longer serve. It is easier to say these things than to live them, and so there is starshine, and poetry, and as Paul wrote, There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
With last week’s New Moon as the first of the New Year, it’s time to look at what everybody else is doing. This week my eye is on Venus, goddess of love and beauty, our morning star. Venus has emerged from the threshold of the Scorpion underworld and is now crossing through the Milky Way in the company of Mercury and Mars. By the time these three emerge in the morning light, the stars of the Milky Way have faded from view ~ day-blind stars selflessly propping up the scene. One way to imagine this configuration of planets and stars is that the stars await our Love (Venus) and communication (Mercury) in action (Mars). In esoteric science, Mars is understood as that which inspires speech in the human being, not the content of speech, but the ability for speaking. When Mars is coupled with Mercury and Venus, it allows for imagining the kind of content that can inform the speech, like this, from the 18th century German mystic poet Novalis, who wrote: Love works magic. It is the final purpose of the world story, the amen of the universe.Conversely, when Venus and Mars come close to one another, closer than they are now, it was imagined by ancient astrologers that their respective energies were weakened. When these ancient lovers are close to each other, they can simply whisper, keeping their love secrets to themselves, rather than having to pronounce them across the stars for everyone to see. Venus and Mars will be at their closest approach to one another for the year next month, so now’s the time for taking advantage of their energies, with a commitment to loving truth in one’s speech.
Island Reflections 2024 - 01 - 17 (2022 And 2020 - 11 - 11 One Thing Leads To Another) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2024 - 01 - 10 (2021 And 2020 - 11 - 19 2017 - 09 - 06 No Apologies) by WVBI
Island Reflections- 2024 - 01 - 08 (16 - Pet Peeves - No Season - 2021 And 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2024 - 01 - 05 (2021 And 2020 And 2017 Artifacts To Memories - Incidentals) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2024 - 01 - 04 ( 2021 And 2020 - 11 - 20 2017 - 09 - 07 The Good Things) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2024 - 01 - 03 (2021 And 2019 - 01 - 21 Lost In Translation - Winter) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2024 - 01 - 01 (2021 And 2017 - 04 - 13 Thoughts On A New Year) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2024 - 01 - 02 (2022 And 2019 - 01 - 18 A New Year's Project - Winter) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 12 - 29 (2021 And 2021 And 2018 List For Happiness Number 5 - Winter) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 12 - 26 (2022 Ans 2017 - 02 - 10 The Day After Christmas Blues) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 12 - 25 (2022 And 2018 - Best Of The Season - On Christmas) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 12 - 21 (2022 And 2017 - 02 - 14 Merry Christmas Mouse) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 12 - 20 (2018 And 2022 - I Remember Christmas - December) by WVBI
Winter Solstice arrives this week in the Northern Hemisphere, which draws attention to the living relationship between Earth and Sun. Solstice, which means “the standing still of the Sun,” is like the pause in human breathing, between inbreath and outbreath, outbreath to inbreath. While this takes just a moment for the human being, for Earth and Sun this pause lasts about three days. At the winter solstice inbreath, we approach the year’s midnight.In the Christian Calendar, the year’s midnight culminates in the festival of Christmas, the birth of light, described as the Christ Child.This year, as we move through the days and nights from solstice to festival, the planet Mercury will make a unique gesture. In ancient cultures Mercury was described as the fleet-footed messenger, the god of communication. As such, Mercury is always shown in motion, even with a kind of “catch me if you can” attitude. But right now, Mercury is in its retrograde loop, during which time it will come to an exact meeting with the Sun ~ Friday, the day after solstice. So let’s imagine it: Earth and Sun at are the solstice pause, the full inbreath of the year; outer daylight has fully waned, and the messenger slips in, to behold the sun at the year’s midnight, as though the swift-moving planet would join in the season’s stillness, to listen. In this stillness, in the midst of what would be the season of sweet dreams and health and quiet breathing, the god of communication may help us to discern what is speaking at this fulfillment of the year, which holds within it the seed of what is to come.
Island Reflections 2023 - 12 - 18 (22 - Another List 2 - No Season 2018 - 11 - 20 And 2021) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 12 - 15 (19 - A Short List - No Season 2018 - 11 - 20 And 2021) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 12 - 14 (18 - List For Happiness 4 - No Season - 2018 - 11 - 20 And 2021) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 12 - 13 (15 - Too Long -No Season - 2018 - 11 - 20 And 2021) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 12 - 12 (14 - List For Happiness 2 -No Season - 2018 - 11 - 20 And 2023) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 12 - 11 (10 - Another List 3 - No Season - 8-11 - 20 Also 2021) by WVBI
The Geminid Meteor Shower peaks overnight Wednesday to Thursday, December 13 to 14, and though this shower was only discovered in the 1860s, I imagine it in connection with a story that comes from much earlier in history: “The Paradise” of Dante’s Divine Comedy, written more than 700 years ago.The Geminid Meteor Shower was first observed in 1862, by an astronomer in England. At the time, the American Civil War was underway, so we could say that the shower was born during wartime.In Dante’s epic poem, he mounts up from the planetary spheres into the stars at the region of Gemini. You could say that this is like overcoming the spheres of karmic destiny expressed by the planets and reaching into the freedom of the divine, as expressed by the stars. For centuries scholars have pondered why Dante chose Gemini as the place for this. Some say it’s because Dante was born during Gemini season, but also, the path of the planets crosses through the Milky Way right at Gemini, which allows for Dante to craft an imagination about it. Here the human being might be freed from the karmic destiny of the planetary spheres by striving toward what Dante encounters at this moment in the epic: the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and love.So this week it’s easy to imagine that with every star that falls through the sky, some gift of virtue enters the season, a true message for this season; a true message for this moment in human history, sent to us by the stars. Faith, Hope and Love, and the greatest of these is Love.
Island Reflections 2023 - 12 - 07 (08 - Another List 2 - No Season - 2021 And 2018 - 11 - 20) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 12 - 06 (17 - Another List - No Season - 2021 And 2018 - 11 - 20) by WVBI
Storyteller's Night Sky 2023 - 12 - 06 (The Moon And Venus And The Three Kings) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 12 - 05 (01 - No TopicTuesday- Any Season - 2021 And 2018 - 11 - 20) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 12 - 04 (02 Miffed - Winter - 1st Snow - 2021 And 2018 - 11 - 20) by WVBI
The Moon rises in the mood of one of the English-speaking world’s most well-known fairy tales this week: Jack and the Beanstalk. The Moon reaches Full Phase on Monday morning, and then spends the next two days rising as far north as it can get, moving between the horns of Taurus the Bull and across the Milky Way, just above the constellation Orion.We’ll imagine the Moon is Jack, full of courage for the way ahead, despite his humble circumstances. His mother has sent him on a desperate errand for food, which requires selling the milking cow at market. Jack encounters a tradesman that offers him a handful of magic beans for the cow, which he naively accepts. We’ll imagine the milking cow is the constellation Taurus, and the handful of beans is the star cluster of the Pleiades. In the story Jack goes to bed hungry, because his mother is furious about this seeming folly, which she expresses by throwing his “magic” beans out the window. In the morning, there’s the beanstalk, growing up and out of sight, arcing through the sky like the Milky Way. Jack climbs it, and there encounters the giant ogre, or, for the starry storyteller, the constellation Orion, his belt of three stars serving as the three treasures Jack must reclaim: the hen that lays the golden eggs; the three bags of gold; and the singing harp. Tales of Jack and his adventures date back to at least the 15th century, and in this season, when the northern part of the Earth leans toward the dark, it can be fortifying to consider that no matter how simple our beginnings, or how naive we’ve been in trusting others, there still will be miracles and magic along the way, especially when we have the courage to pursue our destiny.
Island Reflections 2023 - 11 - 29 (2021 And 2017 - 10 - 20 Freindly Visitation) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 11 - 28 (2021 And 2017 - 10 - 18 Nothing's Lost In God's Kingdom) by WVBI
Island Reflections Thanksgiving Show 2023 - 11 - 24 (Opposite Of Thanksgiving - Fall) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 11 - 23 (2021 And 2018 - 07 - 13 Today I Am Thankful - Fall) by WVBI
This week when looking into the sky, we won’t see Mars, because it’s still buried in the heart of the Sun. But Saturn will be visible, a golden light riding across the southwest among the stars of Aquarius. Jupiter is a much more brilliant light, rising in the East as the Sun sets in the West each evening, taking the lead among the stars of Aries. And though Mercury is also visible right now low in the southwest after sunset, it’s Venus that draws the attention, our beautiful morning star, rising into the dawn’s early light in the company of Spica, the star of abundance.Though we all have the opportunity to see Venus in the morning sky , there’s a deep mystery attached to truly seeing Venus, which is rooted in the mystery of the human heart. This mystery is that the heart is not just an organ of circulation in the physical body, but is, rather, the outer manifestation of a sense organ that can perceive beyond what meets the eye, as Antoine de Saint Exupéry wrote in his story of “The Little Prince”: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.In other words, while the eyes are the organs for seeing in the physical world, the heart is the organ for seeing spiritually, which requires effort in order to be active. The effort that activates the perceptive capacities of the heart is love, which, as Rudolf Steiner describes, is a light of heaven that shines in the life of an earthly day. To love is to see the star shining in another, to shine with the light of heaven. This week as Venus shines through the dawn near the star of Spica the message is clear, our greatest task is to love one another, abundantly.
Island Reflections 2023 - 11 - 21 (2021 And 2018 - 07 - 17 One Big Discouragement - Fall) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 11 - 17 (2021 And 2017 - 10 - 02 (Still In The Garden) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 11 - 15 (2021 And 2016 - 12 - 16 (Finally Its Christmasy) by WVBI
In his 1609 “Commentaries on the Motion of Mars,” German astronomer Johannes Kepler wrote, “I am stealing the golden vessels of the Egyptians to build a tabernacle to my God from them, far far away from the boundaries of Egypt.” This week, the planet Mars comes to its once-every-two-years meeting with the Sun, on Saturday.Legend holds that Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus was observing Mars when he was struck with the inspiration that the Earth was orbiting the Sun. He died in 1543, before this Sun-centered system was fully established.Then came Johannes Kepler, born about 30 years later, and who devoted his research to discerning the cosmic harmony described in this planetary motion. While Copernicus imagined the planets moving in circular orbits around the Sun, it was Kepler who realized that planets move in ellipses, which really opens up the poetic imagination, for the circle, while whole, doesn’t require as much consciousness in relationship as an ellipse does. Kepler described how the planets move in ellipses around a central body that doesn’t occupy the center of the ellipse, but one of two focal points. This means that planets sometimes orbit closer and sometimes further away from the central object, and their speed adjusts accordingly. This isn’t just the magic of celestial mechanics, but the demonstration of a divine harmony that models an ideal social form. The ancient Egyptians sought to emulate this cosmic harmony and it’s this that Kepler was stealing from them, to dedicate the realization of this high cosmic order to the glory of his God, centuries later. The anniversary of Kepler’s death is Wednesday, November 15.
Island Reflections 2023 - 11 - 14 (12 - List For Happiness -Fall - 2021 And 2018 - 11 - 20) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 11 - 13 (03 - Fall Memories - Fall - 2021 And 2018 - 11 - 20) by WVBI
Island Reflections - 2023 - 11 - 10 (35 - Salvation - No Season - 2021 And 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
Island Reflections - 2023 - 11 - 09 (33 - Enough - No Season - 2021 And 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
The planet Venus rides across the dawn in a chariot of the Moon later this week, a spectacular sight that lends itself to easily finding the goddess of love and beauty lingering in the East even after the Sun rises.In addition to Venus and the Moon at dawn on Thursday, there’s meteor shower activity all week, radiating from the constellation Taurus, a region of stars over which Venus was said to have dominion, in those days when a striving to know the stars was regarded as a high art ~ for to know the working of the stars in human life was to emulate the cosmic harmony of the gods.In the ninth canto of the Paradise from Dante’s “Divine Comedy” we learn that the shadow cast into heaven by Earth comes to a point in the sphere of Venus, described as the third heaven in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. Venus plays a significant role from the very beginning of Dante’s epic, where he describes that, though he woke in a dark wood to find he was lost, the morning rays of light sent from the planet reassured him that he would find his way. The Moon comes to its Thursday morning meeting with Venus fresh from eclipse season, as though, in the aftermath of the shadow, it slips past Venus for the goddess of love to read the promises written in hearts that can never be eclipsed.May you wake with a smile in your heart this week, for as Dante wrote:What is a smile but the coruscation of the joy of the soul, like the outward shining of an inward light.
Island Reflections - 2023 - 11 - 08 (32 - Home - No Season - 2021 And 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
Island Reflections - 2023 - 11 - 07 (31 - Mornings Like This - No Season - 2021 And 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
Island Reflections - 2023 - 11 - 03 (30 - Talk To Dogs - No Season - 2021 And 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
Island Reflections - 2023 - 11 - 06 (29 - Mosquito Season - No Season - 2021 And 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
Island Reflections - 2023 - 11 - 02 (28 - Smell The Coffee - No Season - 2021 And 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
Island Reflections - 2023 - 11 - 01 (27 - A Long Nite - No Season - 2021 And 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
Island Reflections - 2023 - 10 - 31 (26 - Zest - No Season - 2021 And 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
Island Reflections - 2023 - 10 - 27 (24 - The Letter X - No Season - 2023 And 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
Island Reflections - 2023 - 10 - 25 (21 - Useful - No Season - 2021 And 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
Island Reflections - 2023 - 10 - 26 (23 - Writers - No Season - 2021 And 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 10 - 19 (11 - A Late Report -Fall - 2023 And 2018 - 11 - 20) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 10 - 24 (20 - Another List - EarlyFall 2021 And 2018 - 11 - 20) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 10 - 20 (13 - A Lazy Day Off -Fall - Oct1 - 2023 And 2018 - 11 - 20) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 10 - 23 (16 - List For Happiness 3 - Early Fall - 2021 And 2018 - 11 - 20) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 10 - 18 (09 - The Big Dryer Project - Fall - 2023 And 2018 - 11 - 20) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 10 - 16 (06 - Another List - Fall 2021 And 2018 - 11 - 20) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 10 - 17 (07 - Out And Back - Fall - 2021 And 2018 - 11 - 20) by WVBI
The traditional observance of All Saint’s and All Soul’s Day happens Wednesday and Thursday this week, which means to mark the halfway point in the fading season, when all at once we’re closer to the end than we are to the beginning. Though they are dedicated to the most sacred, these days of honoring the dead are often overshadowed by the colorful celebration of their eve, Halloween, but the greater mystery actually belongs to what’s between them.When, exactly, does a moment of turn occur, away from the beginning toward the end? Can we sense it? Culturally, these moments were always celebrated, especially before there was a uniform calendar and communities had a more intimate and localized experience of the natural world.This week, in addition to this seasonal turn, known technically as “cross quarter,” the planet Jupiter will make its annual opposition to the Sun, rising in the East as soon as the Sun sets in the West, Thursday and Friday. So just as the season turns towards its end on Thursday, and the Sun sets for the day, Jupiter rises up in opposition, heralding something else, a future that is about to dawn. They stand opposite one another, and the season turns. It’s really worth contemplating, maybe with these words by Edna St. Vincent Millay, from her breakout poem Renascence, written when she was only 19:The world stands out on either sideNo wider than the heart is wide;Above the world is stretched the sky,—No higher than the soul is high.The heart can push the sea and landFarther away on either hand;The soul can split the sky in two,And let the face of God shine through.
Halley’s Comet is probably the most well-known of the periodic visitors that sweep through our planetary system, and it’s also the parent of two meteor showers each year: the Eta Aquariids in early May; and the Orionids, which are active now, and come to their peak this weekend, in the predawn hours from Saturday to Sunday.The radiant or center point from which these meteors fall through the sky is near the shoulder region of the constellation Orion, which is marked by the star Betelgeuse. Though this star was made famous in the 1980s by the movie starring Michael Keaton, the shoulder of the giant had been remarkable since at least classical times, when the Greeks shared myths of the Titan Atlas, who bore the pillars of the heavens on his shoulders. In ancient Egypt, Orion seems to have been connected with their god of the dead, Osiris, whose consort and queen Isis was associated with the bright star Sirius.To the northern Native Americans, Orion is winter maker, and in the Old Testament book of Job, after God asks Job whether he has entered into the secret mystery of the snow, he asks whether Job has the capacity to loose the bands of Orion.All this to say that this month’s meteor shower, the Orionids, have a certain stellar pedigree, what with their illustrious originating comet and the associations with the radiant constellation. It’s worth noting also that in fairy tales, giants like Orion usually represent an seemingly insurmountable challenge, the unavoidable test that must be faced and which requires tenacity, courage, and unsentimental virtue.
Oh sleep! it is a gentle thing, Beloved from pole to pole! To Mary Queen the praise be given! She sent the gentle sleep from Heaven, That slid into my soul.These are the words of the Ancient Mariner from Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem of the same name, and I like them this week for the way they set up the mood of the Moon, which is waxing toward full phase all week.This week the Moon will move from Capricorn to Aquarius, where it passes by the planet Saturn on Tuesday; then it catches up with Neptune in Pisces on Wednesday; to arrive at Full Phase on Saturday, near the bright planet Jupiter among the stars of Aries. Here’s what all this means to me: It’s autumn in the northern hemisphere, and all of outer nature is falling to sleep, but in the words of Rudolf Steiner, now is the season when the inmost soul of the human being must stay awake.Into this seasonal mood comes the Moon, joining Neptune in the region of Pisces stars, a province of dreams if ever there was one, offering a lullaby mid-week as though it would put us all to sleep with the season.But note, the moment in Coleridge’s poem that I started with, when the Mariner is celebrating sleep, only comes after he has achieved an inner, spiritual peace, so he’s able to pray again. From here, he’s then able to achieve a refreshing sleep.So the first part of the week is about finding a similar inner peace, and of allowing what dreams there are to come midweek, and then to wake with the trumpet blast of Jupiter in the stars of Aries on Saturday, when the Moon achieves full phase and stands into the shadow of eclipse, testing our inner strength, even though the eclipse isn’t visible in most of North America.
Island Reflections 2023 - 10 - 12 (20 - Twain - No Season - 2021 And 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
The first new moon of the season happens Saturday, October 14, when the moon is at apogee, as far away from us as it can get. This moon will also eclipse the sun, but not entirely. When the moon is at apogee, it doesn’t appear big enough from our perspective to block the sun all the way, so a dramatic ring of fire appears around it.Sun and moon will be among the stars of Virgo at this weekend’s eclipse, a constellation often associated with the Ancient Greek goddess Demeter. Demeter was the mother of the gods, the uncreated light, and her tragic tale involved the abduction of her daughter Persephone. In classical times, the tale of Demeter and Persephone was celebrated in the mystery rites of spring and fall, where neophytes learned self-knowledge and the workings of destiny in the lesser mysteries of the spring; and about life before birth and after death in the greater mysteries of the autumn.In mythology Demeter left the Olympian gods and wandered the earth, disguised as a mortal, despondent over the loss of her daughter. She was taken into an elite family where a much longed-for son had been born, to be his nursemaid, but, she offered no traditional nursing. Instead, she placed him each night in sacred fire, grooming him through the flame for immortality. I imagine this week’s annular eclipse is like this, where we, like the moon, are placed within the divine flame of the sun, there to be nourished in our immortal aspect, which can strengthen us for tasks ahead.In the Homeric hymn to Demeter it is written that “gods are hard for morals to see,” so make ready, mark the moment, and seek the divine.
Island Reflections 2023 - 10 - 10 (05 - Mornings Like This - Fall - Tuesday 2021) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 10 - 09 (07 - Gardening Books - No Season 2021 And 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 10 - 05 (2 - Languages - No Season - 2021 And 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
By this weekend, Venus will return to the same position she held over three months ago, in early July, when the planet was visible in the evening sky near the star Regulus.Not long after coming close to this star that marks the heart of the Lion, Venus began her retrograde. Now as our morning star, Venus affords us the opportunity to see things from the other side; literally from the other end of the day. It’s like we’re being given the chance, as Homer wrote, to find the beginning. Since July, the goddess of love and beauty has changed from evening star to morning star ~ and, for love stories everywhere, back in July when Venus came as close to Regulus as she is now, she was attended by Mars. But when Mars is near Venus like this, he’s diminished. This always happens when he’s in proximity to his beloved, because he’s on the other side of the sun from us, so he appears to fade, to lose vitality, as though he were consumed in the passion aroused by proximity. Samuel Coleridge’s poem “Introduction to the Tale of a Dark Ladie,” speaks to this. In the poem, a storyteller woos a woman with his tale of a legendary knight who’s driven mad by the loss of his beloved, like Mars fading in the presence of Venus. But the storyteller would use his tale to the opposite end, that by playing on his beloved’s sympathies for love lost, he might gain her as his bride. In July, Mars was standing with his Venus, but here in October, she stands alone, beside the heart of the king.All thoughts, all passions, all delights,Whatever stirs this mortal frame,All are but ministers of Love,And feed his sacred flame.~Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Island Reflections 2023 - 10 - 04 (Kitchens - No Seasons- 2021 And 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
Island Relections 2023 - 09 - 27 (2021 And 2016 - 07 - 08 Entertaining Company) by WVBI
In the northern hemisphere there are five things overhead every night: a king, a queen, two bears, and a dragon. This week, the Full Moon draws attention in the Storyteller’s Night Sky to the king and the dragon.The first moon of autumn will come full on Thursday, September 29, which is celebrated as Michaelmas in the Christian calendar, Feast of the Archangel Michael, who defeats the dragon.As high spiritual beings, the archangels bear specific tasks toward humanity. With Michael, it has to do with awakening “cosmic intelligence,” and way of knowing the divine nature of the human being, as a being of body, soul, and spirit.What is unique to this knowing is that it cannot be compelled by external dictates, but must arise freely from within the human being, out of one’s inner sense of self, expressed in as a striving for truth, for goodness, and for beauty.In many stories of Michael, he is depicted in battle with the dragon, which is the battle within the human being against fear, doubt, and hatred.In the Old English epic Beowulf, the tale ends when the king engages in mortal combat with a dragon, which was roused from sleep by an errant soldier who stumbled into his barrow and stole a golden chalice.Each character here can be imagined as part of the individual human being: the gold is the sacred treasure of self knowledge which is held captive by the dragon of doubt, fear, hatred, which must be overcome by the striving individual, the king.When you look into the sky each night, and particularly during the Michaelmas Full Moon, you’ll see Cepheus the king and Draco the dragon circling overhead, engaged in this epic battle for human consciousness.
Island Reflections - 2023 - 09 - 15 (Quilters - No Season - 2021 And 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 09 - 11 (Another List 2 - No Season 2018 And 2018 - 11 - 20) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 09 - 08 (2021and 2018 - 07 - 11 Thinking Again - Fall) by WVBI
In the world of the fairytale, if the hero would unite with his own higher nature, there is a symbolic moment during which he must secure the mantle of a celestial goddess.This means knowing when the goddess descends to swim in earthly waters, removing her mantle in the process. If, as hero, you are stealthy enough to capture the mantle while the goddess is swimming, then she is under bonds to speak with you.And this is just the beginning, for having the courage and wherewithal to take the mantle is akin to saying to this being, “I am willing,” which allows her to articulate the path that must be followed in order for the sacred union with the greater self to occur.The way is often arduous, filled with challenge and reward, and the number of fairytales that recount such a thing is numerous.I mention all this now because such a moment is upon us!First we imagine the planet Venus as the celestial goddess. Venus has been retrograde for six weeks, trading the evening sky for the morning, and just this weekend, she came to stillness in order to resume her direct motion. During the retrograde cycle, Venus moves through one region of zodiac three times: as if she descends, takes a swim, then resumes her mantle and returns to her heavenly domain.Think back to the middle of June, when summer was about to begin, and to events transpiring then, which may have prepared all of us for this moment now.I like these words of TE Lawrence for this:“I loved you, so I drew these tides of men into my hands and wrote my will across the sky in stars, To gain you Freedom, the seven-pillared worthy house, that your eyes might be shining for me, when I came.“
Island Reflections 2023 - 09 - 05 (2021 And 2017 - 06 - 01 Artifacts To Memories - In The Garden) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 08 - 31 (2021 And 2018 - 08 - 08 Summer Reading - Summer) by WVBI
This week brings the last full moon of summer, and it’s a blue moon, if we abide by the definition that the second full moon in one month is blue. This presents us with a unique opportunity, because also later this week, Venus resumes direct motion, after nearly six weeks of retrograde, which makes it time for fairy tales and mythologies, and for happily-ever-afters to be realized.
Seamus Heaney’s poem “The Underground” is a perfect fit for all this. Here he makes clever use of Apollo and Daphne, Hansel and Gretel, Orpheus and Eurydice, in the moonlight, in the underground, in that place of hopes and dreams and longing. For now, summer is ending, and in that ending something as-yet-undefined calls to us. For Heaney, it’s the plight of oftentimes ill-fated couples, lover and beloved, that they might somehow find their way to happily ever after, in the moonlight, with the help of Venus, guardian of love.
Heaney writes:
There we were in the vaulted tunnel running, You in your going-away coat speeding ahead And me, me then like a fleet god gaining Behind you before you turned to a reed
Or some new white flower japped with crimson As the coat flapped wild and button after button Sprang off and fell in a trail Between the Underground and the Albert Hall.
Honeymooning, mooning around, late for the Proms, Our echoes die in that corridor and now I come as Hansel came on the moonlit stones Retracing the path back, lifting the buttons
To end up in a draughty lamplit station after the trains have gone, the wet track Bared and tensed as I am, all attention For your step following and damned if I look back.
Island Reflections 2023 - 08 - 29 (2021 And 2018 - 08 - 08 What Happened - Summer) by WVBI
Once we’ve passed the halfway point in the season, it becomes obvious that sunset is arriving earlier and greater darkness is setting in, which is all the more reason to celebrate the awe and wonder of the cosmic phenomenon of meteor showers. For just as it starts to get darker outside, the night lights up with falling stars, beginning with the Perseid meteor shower, which peaked over the weekend and continues through the end of this month.
Up next is the Orionid, followed by Taurids, the Leonid, the Geminids and the Ursids, taking us from august all the way to December.
In the midst of all this starry glory, a fascinating phenomenon happens on earth each year at this time, and specifically in Michigan, during the last two weeks of August, and the first two weeks of September: the monarch butterfly migration. Like the meteors overhead, these butterflies lift off and wing their way through our environment, posing as delicate creatures but packing the strength to migrate up to 3000 miles in just two months.
And here we stand, as human beings, between butterflies and meteors, ideally struck by the wonder of nature, and fortified by its mystery, as we emerge, like Emily Dickinson wrote, from the chrysalis:
My cocoon tightens, colors tease, I'm feeling for the air; A dim capacity for wings Degrades the dress I wear.
A power of butterfly must be The aptitude to fly, Meadows of majesty concedes And easy sweeps of sky.
So I must baffle at the hint And cipher at the sign, And make much blunder, if at last I take the clew divine.
Island Reflections 2023 - 08 - 28 (2021and 2018 - 08 - 08 Yard And Garden - Summer) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 08 - 28 (2021and 2018 - 08 - 08 Yard And Garden - Summer) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 08 - 25 (2021 And 2018 - 11 - 20Time Away - Late August - No Season) by WVBI
At the end of this week, the planet Saturn makes its annual opposition with the sun, from among the stars of Aquarius, where it’s not too far from one of the Four Royal Stars of Ancient Persia, the star Fomalhaut. Fomalhaut marks the mouth of the Southern Fish, not to be confused with Pisces, and appears to drink the waters flowing from the jug of the Aquarian Waterman, which has a lot to do with its story.
Fomalhaut will rise in the southeast just left of Saturn after sunset, and because of its position near the cusp of Pisces and Aquarius, this star is connected with the evolutionary shift from one cultural age to the next, from the Piscean into the Aquarian Age. This future age, as indicated by this star, inspires future vision for an evolved, humanitarian-based society that sees an emphasis shift from the material world to the spiritual.
Ancient stories describe how the Southern Fish, with its wide open mouth at the star Fomalhaut, swallowed the waters of the great deluge, thereby saving the world. So these are all dynamic qualities aligned to this star. According to astrologer Nick Fiorenza, “Fomalhaut inspires new ideas and pursuits in the arts & sciences, in technology, and in social issues of the world. Fomalhaut promotes the flow of resources within the human populous that creates a wholesome human condition. Fomalhaut defies convention and compartmentalization, but supports individuality, progress, and freedom.”
In this season, all of that gets coupled with the planet Saturn, long-associated with Father Time and with the constellation region of Aquarius, so the accent this weekend is very much on remaining true to our ideals as a way to sense how such a future can inform our present activity and tasks. In other words, we are being asked to follow our good star!
Island Reflections 2023 - 08 - 23 (2021 And 2018 - 08 - 08 Chicken Memories Part 2 - Summer) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 08 - 22 (2021 And 2018 - 08 - 08 Chicken Memories 1 - Summer) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 08 - 21 (2021 And 2018 - 08 - 08 Beaver Island - Summer) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 08 - 18 (2021 And 2018 - 11 - 20 List For Happiness 4) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 08 - 17 ( 2021 And 2018 - 11 - 20 List For Happiness 2) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 08 - 14 (2 And 2018 - 11 - 20 Time Away - Late August) by WVBI
There are several things worth drawing attention to this week, including Tuesday’s Full Moon, which sets us up for a Blue Moon at the end of the month; and Cross Quarter is Tuesday, which is the halfway point in summer and marks the traditional celebration of “first ripened fruits”; and Venus, which has been moving retrograde and diving sunward for just over a week.
Each one of these phenomena ~ Full Moon, Cross Quarter, planetary retrograde ~ is something that recurs again and again, or is it? Does the Moon always offer the same mood when it comes Full? Are the first fruits that we harvest each year the same fruits? And when Venus makes its retrograde, changing from evening star to morning star, can we sense what Venus really is, and whether it’s the same no matter where it is?
What I mean is, does it matter that the world has turned, that experience has been had, that we have lived?
Over the many years that I’ve spent teaching about the night sky, I’ve learned that it’s not enough to memorize constellations and star names and tricks for determining whether you’re looking at a planet or a star. What matters most is what we bring to the encounter. If a Blue Moon is rare, what experience am I having that confirms it? Or can I sense in the season’s midpoint that, rather than reaching sunward, the ripened fruits have turned and are bending earthward? And are love and beauty rightly associated with Venus? Does love alter when I can’t see the planet anymore, or when it’s retrograde, or when it graces the dawn instead of the dusk?
For this, I like Jonathan Greene, who writes:
The bullfrogs Guard me From the noise Of modern life The stars Fool me into Thinking they always Look the same.
Island Reflections 2023 - 07 - 31 (2023 - 07 Ealry Spring - Shadows And Blessigs) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 07 - 21 (2021 And 2017 - 06 - 01 Artifacts To Memories - In The Garden) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 07 - 13 (2021 - 06 - 01 - Time Out For Art - Reading)) by WVBI
There’s a sacred mystery in the summer sky this week when, on Thursday, the crescent Moon rises just before morning twilight in the company of Pleiades, the most storied about group of stars in the sky, often referred to as the Seven Sisters, where they’re clustered at the shoulder of the bull in the constellation Taurus.
The Pleiades were known in many ancient cultures as “the begetters,” beginning all things, and doing so with sweet influences, according to the Book of Job.
In the Orient, the Pleiades were likened to an opening rose, like the soul of the human being, unfurling petal-by-petal atop its thorny stem, which is like the physical body, to offer itself, ultimately, to its eternal nature, that of the spirit.
When the bending sickle of the Moon passes Pleiades, there can be a heightened sense of this three-fold nature, not only of the rose and stars, but of the human being, as a being most sweetly expressed in the fullness of its creation ~ as a being of body, of soul, and of spirit.
On Thursday morning, then, the crescent Moon will unfurl the rosy petals of the Pleiades in the pre-dawn light. This is like a call to the human being to surrender to the same, to open, like the rose, from the stem of the body, aware of the flowering soul, and striving toward the starry spirit.
Here’s The Rose, by Christina Rossetti:
The lily has a smooth stalk, Will never hurt your hand; But the rose upon her brier Is lady of the land.
There’s sweetness in an apple tree, And profit in the corn; But lady of all beauty Is a rose upon a thorn.
When with moss and honey She tips her bending brier, And half unfolds her glowing heart, She sets the world on fire.
Island Reflections 2021 - 06 - 08 (2021 - 06 - 01 - Time Out For Art - Quitting) by WVBI
The first Full Moon of the Summer happens Monday, July 3rd, as though it would drop a veil of mystery over the season’s natural mood of lazy slumber.
Each evening this week, the Moon will rise in the East after sunset in the West, a glorious gibbous moving across the Milky Way through the Capricorn gateway of gods to dip its toes in the waters of Aquarius and on to Pisces by the weekend.
All the while, Jupiter, ancient king of the gods, shines through dawn’s early light, while Venus, at the other end of the day, boldly guards the sunset edge of the world, our brilliant evening star.
This combination conjures all the best of poetry, and none better than Shakespeare. In his play Love’s Labor’s Lost, Shakespeare writes of a King and his three friends that vow to spend three years on retreat from the world, in time spent studying, fasting, and seeing no women. But as soon as they agree to this, a Princess arrives with her three friends, to meet with the King. Of course, everyone immediately falls in love and all four men have to figure out how to get out of their agreement with one another. It’s here that I find a fitting quote for what’s happening the sky this week, with Jupiter at dawn, the king of the gods; Venus at dusk, as goddess of love and beauty; and the Moon bridging them through the night casting a veil of moonlight over our Summer sleep:
And when love speaks, the voice of all the gods Make heaven drowsy with the harmony.
As Shakespeare writes, such a love gives double power to every power, so it’s worth repeating these lines, in honor of this week’s star picture:
And when love speaks, the voice of all the gods Make heaven drowsy with the harmony.
This week Venus and Mars make their closest approach to one another, looking west an hour after sunset. But while Venus is brilliant as evening star, Mars is faint, and even kind of hard to spot at first. What’s going on there?
Venus is the third brightest object in our sky after Sun and Moon, and recently I’ve been talking about how, even though the Moon can outshine Venus, it never will, because it will only pass by the planet when it’s at crescent phase. This is because Venus never gets very far away from the Sun, and when the Moon is in similar proximity to the Sun, it will appear to be a crescent, never gibbous never full.
The same kind of thing is happening with Mars. When Mars is in the same region of sky with Venus, that means that for us on Earth, it is furthest away along its path around the Sun, so it appears to be much more dim than when it is on the part of its path that brings it closest to us.
This phenomena, that Mars dims when Venus is near, has inspired some amazing mythology and even cultural psychology, as in the idea that love conquers war.
Taking the image a step further, what’s happening in the current encounter between these planets is that Mars is fading from view while Venus is readying to turn retrograde, which is a bit like Eurydice falling back into the underworld when Orpheus turns too soon to see if she is behind him.
I like to imagine these words from ee cummings (from his poem "Dive for Dreams") as Venus’ message to her beloved as he fades and she steps back, sort a gesture of their eternal bond, despite appearances:
Trust your heart if the seas catch fire (and live by love though the stars walk backward).
Venus makes closest approach to Mars Friday evening, June 30, as if to deliver a message of love before the red warrior planet dims more and more and the goddess of love and beauty steps back into retrograde.
Storyteller's Night Sky 2023-06-21 (Summer Solstice and the Utterance of the Gods) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 06 - 20 (2023 - 05 - 22 How To Make The Best Granola) by WVBI
Beaver Island Perspectives 2023-06-15 NMU Archaeology Field School with Dr Scott Demel by WVBI
Storyteller's Night Sky 2023 - 06 - 14 (Stilling The Thunder, Trembling The Veil) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 06 - 09 (2023 - 06 - 22 Assessment - A Quarter Year Checkin) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 06 - 02 (2023 - 05 - 22 Tragedy Disater And 1 Evil Doll) by WVBI
All through the coming month, the planets Venus and Mars will grace the evening sky looking west, albeit Mars is gradually fading, and Venus is slowing down in her chase.This week, they’re moving through the stars of Gemini, where all of the journeying planets cross through the path of the Milky Way, and though the Milky Way isn’t visible to us in the evening twilight, there’s still plenty of story to be had here.In the Paradise of his Divine Comedy, the initiate-poet Dante leads the reader through a very specific process of mounting up to the first heaven of the Moon, through all the planetary spheres to the 7th heaven of Saturn, before his pilgrim and his beloved Beatrice then leap up to the 8th heaven of the fixed stars at the region of Gemini ~ so you can see where I’m going. This week, I imagine Venus is Beatrice, and Mars is the pilgrim Dante. On Tuesday evening, the crescent Moon will appear right between them, a reminder of the first stage of their celestial journey which is now far behind and below them, now they’ve mounted up into the stars of Gemini. Centuries of scholars have wondered at why Dante chose Gemini as the region of stars for this stage of the Comedy, and though many presume it is because he was born in Gemini season, I think it has to do with his building his path to God, because it’s right at Gemini where the path of the planets crosses through the Milky Way. When you follow the progress of Dante and his Beatrice, they move from planets to zodiac, from zodiac to fixed stars, and from the fixed stars to God. Only then is Dante able to speak to that which he was after all the while, of Love, the Love that moves the Sun and the other stars.
Island Reflections 2023 - 05 - 23 (2021 And 2016 - 06 - 16 (Gardening With Dad) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 05 - 18 (2021 And 2017-06-05 Artifacts - Things I Can't Let Go) by WVBI
This week is all about hidden mysteries, in the celestial world and in the festival calendar.On Wednesday, the Moon meets Jupiter in the morning sky, and in some parts of the US, the Moon will actually occult or block Jupiter. Then, the Moon disappears into its own “dark phase,” before it comes New on Friday. That’s the set up for the first mystery.In between this game of celestial hide&seek with Moon occulting Jupiter on Wednesday and coming to New Phase on Friday is Thursday’s festival mystery known in the Christian calendar as Ascension Day, an event described in the New Testament when, 40 days after Easter, the Christ ascends as though in a cloud that takes him from the sight of the Apostles.What to make of these mysteries of occultation, ascension, and newness?In ancient culture Jupiter was god of wisdom, the mighty ruler of the silver age, powerfully wielding thunderbolts and lightning. For the Moon to occult Jupiter it’s as though stilling all that majesty and gathering it unto itself, taking hold of the outer power that crashes and strikes and using it to nourish an inner uprightness that ascends whatever is petty or mundane in the inner life.The poem “I, 1” by Rainer Maria Rilke captures this mood beautifully:The hour is striking so close above me,so clear and sharp,that all my senses ring with it.I feel it now: there's a power in meto grasp and give shape to my world.I know that nothing has ever been realwithout my beholding it.All becoming has needed me.My looking ripens thingsand they come toward me, to meet and be met.
Island Reflections 2023 - 05 - 17 (2021 And 2017 - 06 - 02 Sunshine & Posibilities) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 05 - 12 (2021 And (2017 - 06 - 09 Artifacts To Memories - One Image) by WVBI
Now comes the season of Venus’ greatest altitude, which means the opportunity is at hand for seeing the goddess of love and beauty in broad daylight, while the Sun lingers above the horizon to greet her. Even though Venus is one of the brightest objects in the sky, this is one of only two instances when the planet steps through the veil of light to grace us by day, when she’s at a great enough distance from the Sun.The question is, what are we really seeing when we look upon Venus in broad daylight? In the storyteller’s world, it’s what we bring to the encounter that makes it what it is. And since ancient ages, it’s been known that the goddess of love and beauty can only be approached by the good, the true, and the beautiful. It used to be that Venus bestowed these gifts on human beings, but the stars and planets have long-since elected silence in relation to humanity on the earth, to see if we can pick up our side of the relationship. So now it’s like this, rather than waiting to receive celestial inspirations from above, it’s our turn to make offering back, to realize that what was once understood as a speaking from the stars that is now silent is actually an invitation, as poet Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote in his poem "The Habit of Perfection": “Elected Silence, sing to me, and beat upon my whorlèd ear, pipe me to pasture still and be the music that I can hear.”Look about 45 degrees up and slightly left of the Sun as it slopes west toward its setting any day this week, and there you’ll find Venus, an inconspicuous point of light in the twilight blue, inviting us to wake, not out of the dream, but into it.
In the woods of northern Michigan the trillium bloom is about to burst forth and everything seems to be in a state of tremulous anticipation, while overhead, the planet Mercury has just made its inferior conjunction with the Sun. At inferior conjunction Mercury is still in its retrograde motion, and slowing down. And even though it’s unusual to think of Mercury, the fleet footed messenger of the gods, in a mood of slowness and stillness, that’s the planet’s gesture this week.In classical mythology, Mercury is in love with Floris, the flower nymph who has the task of scattering rose petals in the path of the rising Sun. To capture her, Mercury positions himself in the shadow of the dawn, where he tosses the net of Vulcan over the sunrise spot, and awaits the beloved. You can almost imagine him whispering to himself the words of TS Eliot from his “Four Quartets”: I said to my soul, be still, and wait without hope, for hope would be hope for the wrong thing. Because, how else catch the beloved as she fleets by like quickening veil lifted by the dawn?So that’s how the week begins, in the mood of waiting and anticipation. Then on Friday, there’s a Full Moon, which occurs opposite the Sun where it’s having a meeting with the planet Uranus, among the later stars of Aries. Uranus is named for the ancient god of space, out of which time is born.So the mood this week can be imagined as one of making time for love, like Mercury at the beginning of the week, so it can blossom like the trillium into all the spaces of our lives, with Uranus, which is how, in Eliot’s words, the stillness becomes the dancing.From TS Eliot's 3rd Quartet East Coker:I said to my soul, be still, and wait without hopeFor hope would be hope for the wrong thing; wait without love,For love would be love of the wrong thing; there is yet faithBut the faith and the love and the hope are all in the waiting.Wait without thought, for you are not ready for thought:So the darkness shall be the light, and the stillness the dancing.
I suppose you could say that because they’re all moving around in the sky above us, the planets are always traveling together, but the history of art and literature reveals that the celestial beloveds are always Venus and Mars, and this week, the Moon builds an ever-brightening bridge of light between them, looking west after sunset.In the classical world, the love between Venus and Mars is usually described as an illicit one, but if we watch the sky for the remainder of this season and into the next, it’s easy to imagine another chapter to the story, one where, because they come together in the vicinity of the star that marks the heart of the lion, their connection is fortified with a true love, with courage, and loyalty. But as with any great love story, first there are the tests, and this week, we find Venus among the stars of Taurus, a place of stubbornness, while Mars is in the region of Gemini stars, which can make the bold lover seem non-committal and contrary. The Moon met Venus over the weekend, and passes by Mars on Tuesday.Next month, the Moon will meet the celestial lovers with both of them in the region of Gemini stars. They’ll come closest to one another at the end of June, approaching Leo; and then in early July, they’ll meet at the heart of the lion, near the star Regulus, fortified by the journey.For this, I like WS Merwin’s poem “Traveling Together”:If we are separated I willtry to wait for youon your side of thingsyour side of the wall and the waterand of the light moving at its own speedeven on leaves that we have seenI will wait on one sidewhile a side is there
Venus is so beautiful this week, moving up the sky through the starry region of Taurus, and joining the Pleiades, known as the seven sisters, especially on Tuesday night. There are so many things to say about this, about how the Pleiades are the most storied about group of stars around the world, always connected to deep mysteries of creation; of how Venus is always associated with love and with beauty ~ and all week, they’ll be on display, like a celestial call to the soul from the evening sky.The first cultural image that comes to mind for me in relation to this position of Venus next to Pleiades comes from an ancient Egyptian house shrine depicting Ahkenaten and Nefertiti. As the “beautiful one who came” Nefertiti is depicted with a being at her shoulder, whose feet disappear into the queen’s heart while the left arm of the would-be child reaches out and behind; the right arm reaching up through Nefertiti’s larynx. This seems like an unusual gesture, of the right hand reaching right up through the larynx, while the left hand reaches back, as though to sense its environment. It’s almost as if the being is calling forth in Nefertiti the sense for speech, not as just any random talking, but a true capacity for the Word. And in its position at the shoulder, this being occupies the same spot that Pleiades does in the constellation Taurus.In the art form of eurythmy, this gesture of right hand offering and receiving in front of oneself with left hand sensing behind represents the human gesture of the planet Venus, so if I combine all these things, then this week’s star picture has very much to do with love, with beauty, and with how we speak this not only with our larynx, but from the heart.
Island Reflections - 2023 - 04 - 07 (20 - Twain - No Season - 2021 And 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
Island Reflections - 2023 - 04 - 06 (19 - Songs - No Season - 2021 And 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
We’ve come to the point in the cycle of the year when the two great lights, Sun and Moon, trade places in the celestial hemispheres. But this is kind of tricky to understand, because the Moon appears to move through both the Northern and Southern Celestial Hemispheres every month, so what do I mean they’re trading places?Each month the Moon comes to its peak expression you could say at Full Phase. Now, because every Full Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun, when the Sun is in the North, then every Full Moon will be south, of the celestial equator, that is.It might not seem like it, but when these the two great lights trade places in the hemispheres, this is the sacred sign that a mystery is about the unfold.I’ll use Dante’s “Divine Comedy” to better describe this. He wrote:As, when Latona's son and daughter share the belt of the horizon (Latona is another name for Leto, and her son and daughter are Sun and Moon) and for crown the stars of Aries and Libra wear (this means after Spring Equinox, when Sun is in Aries, with Full Moon Libra), the zenith holds them balanced (at Equinox day and night are of equal length), til anon, freed from their girdle (the girdle is the celestial equator), one moves onwards to the hemisphere above, the other down…Dante put this in Canto XXIX of his Paradise where he witnesses his Beatrice seeing God, and she then instructs him in the mysteries of the creation.This week, this moment of Full Moon happens overnight Wednesday to Thursday, April 5 to 6, 2023 and to catch both lights at the belt of the horizon, get to your viewing spot 20 minutes before sunset Wednesday, and bring Dante!
Island Reflections - 2023 - 04 - 05(18 - Routines - No Season - 2021 And 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
Island Reflections - 2023 - 04 - 04 (17 - Quilters - No Season 2021 And 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
Island Reflections - 2023 - 04 - 03 (16 - Pet Peeves - No Season 2021- And 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 03 - 30 (2021- And 2016 - 09 - 23 Dancing On The Lawn Of Distraction) by WVBI
There are three celestial pairings this week that are worth knowing about, and even though we might not see all of it, this is The Storyteller’s Night Sky, so we can live into these events out of our imaginations.The first pairing happens on Monday, when Mercury joins Jupiter low over the western horizon after sunset. In ancient cultures, sacred sacrifice was made to Jupiter, as king of the gods, and it was Mercury that brought the messages back from the divine about whether the offering was welcomed and received.Next up, the waxing Moon passes by Mars, overnight Monday to Tuesday. This is an interesting encounter, given that the Moon is related, astrologically speaking, to the feeling life, while Mars is all about action, and especially the kind that isn’t inhibited by what things feel like.And finally, at least in the storyteller’s peek into the week, on Wednesday, Venus comes into nearly the same degree of zodiac as the planet Uranus. Venus is all about love and beauty and even the longings for this that we carry in our hearts; Uranus is about dynamic change ~ so this one seems like an electrifying herald of the Spring!I’ve recently been listening to EmmyLou Harris, and I can’t help but think that the refrain from her song “Get Up John” really fits this week’s star picture, when she sings: You’ve been chosen, that’s Jupiter and Mercury on Monday, as though the divine brings a message to us out of our winter striving; and then Go unafraid. If ever there was a statement from Mars to the feeling life, that’s it; and finally I’ll go with you. What better promise for Venus and the longing heart than to know the lively Uranian companionship of the beloved?In one of this week's three celestial pairings, the Moon sweeps past Mars. As the Moon passes by, the red warrior seems to say: Go unafraid! Image from Sky&Telescope.
Island Reflections 2023 - 03 - 24 (2023 - 02 - 28 How To Make A FeelBdetter Soup) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 03 - 20 (2023 - 02 - 28 How To Make Your Own Laundry Detergent) by WVBI
Community News and events for Beaver Island, Michigan from the community radio station WVBI - the voice of Beaver Island
From the perspective of “The Storyteller’s Night Sky,” the beautiful mystery of Dante’s Divine Comedy is that the entire journey comes to resolution in the pilgrim’s realizing the divine nature of being human, which is expressed in its highest form as finding one’s star. The Divine Comedy is presented in three parts: The Inferno, the Purgatory, and the Paradise, and at the conclusion of his journey through each of these regions, Dante ends, quite specifically, with the word “star.”This Friday marks the anniversary of Dante’s exile from his beloved Florence, in 1302, a devastating blow for him as a statesman, because, in addition to his tremendous talent as a poet, he had a terrific capacity for leadership.Dante wrote his Divine Comedy during the 20 years of his exile, concluding in 1321, when he died at the age of 56. He had never returned to Florence. The Inferno is a roiling, raging, storming region that, in an esoteric sense, can be likened to the realm of imagination, where the seeker is challenged to distinguish between truth and error. The Purgatory becomes more ordered, and the time spent here is governed by the rising and setting of the sun; there is a clear striving toward virtue, and a sense of being able to find one’s way. This is known esoterically as the level of inspiration.Then there’s the Paradise, through which Dante is led primarily by his beloved Beatrice, and through which he experiences the souls that inhabit the planetary spheres, and the divine spiritual beings of starry worlds. Here we come to the level of intuition, where communion with the divine is made possible, expressed in the final words of the work, when Dante writes of the beautiful mystery of love, a power that moves the Sun, and all the other stars.
Island Reflections 2023 - 01 - 19 (2020 And 2018 List For Happiness Number 6 - Winter) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 01 - 16 (05 - Exceptions - No Season 2020 And 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
If the skies are clear this week, we’ll see the waning gibbous Moon making a path through the stars of Leo and Virgo, rising later each night, until it gets to the eve of its last quarter on Friday the 13th; then it rises after midnight.In my world, the waning gibbous Moon gives rise to dreams, especially at this time of year, when we hear the story of how Joseph was told in a dream to take the child and his mother to Egypt for safety, and of how the Three Kings that had come to celebrate the birth of this child are also told, in dream, to make the way to their homelands by a route different than the one they followed to get here.How do we follow dreams now? And is New Year’s the right time for dreaming? Isn’t it the time for making firm, wakeful resolutions instead?Looking into the sky right now, in addition to waning Moon, Venus is evening star, passing through the region of Capricorn. This is the goddess of love and beauty at the gateway of the gods. How do we approach such a scene in our hearts, in a way that has consequence in light of the news of the day?I imagined Langston Hughes answered, when he wrote, “Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird, that cannot fly.”Sixty year ago, in 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. spoke words that continue to resound through the decades, “I have a dream.”In the Old Testament Book of Job we read: For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed.All of this to say that while striking out after resolutions, we do well to pay heed to our dreams, and in doing so to tread softly, for we tread on one another’s dreams.
Island Reflections 2023 - 01 - 10 (2020 And 2016 - 11 - 29 Riding On Cardboard) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 01 - 06 (2019 - 01 - 22 NoI Don't Have A Cold - Winter) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2023 - 01 - 06 (2019 - 01 - 22 NoI Don't Have A Cold - Winter) by WVBI
Destiny has been described as the place where the deeds of gods unite with a human life. The destiny planets are those that weave between Earth and Sun, and as we approach the stillness of solstice, the festive Christmas time, and the final weeks, days, and hours of the year, these destiny planets are aligned in beautiful array, looking west after sunsetOn Christmas Eve, Saturday, the Moon will be at waxing crescent phase, just beside Venus and Mercury about 20 minutes after sunset. Venus, Mercury, and the Moon are the destiny planets, so what are they saying when they line up this way at this time of year?Venus is always associated with love and beauty, and as evening star right now, she can be imagined as the “Maris Stella,” the star goddess, rising in the ocean-being of the spirit.Mercury is escort of souls, and offering his hand to Venus in the twilight, he intends to see this goddess across the threshold of the darkest time of year, into the birth of the light.Then there’s the Moon, a cradling crescent, a boat of spirit knowledge, come to ferry Mercury and Venus, and all willing hearts, into the new year with this strong sense that it’s in our destiny that we commune with the gods. So now is the time when it’s appropriate to reflect back on the year, to discern the shining seeds of destiny culminating in our lives, and to look ahead, to what will be required to bring these shining seeds to fruit.After gathering up the destiny intentions of Venus and Mercury on Christmas Eve, the Moon slips through the Capricorn gateway of the gods, a light, shining in the darkness that we may find our way, with truth, with goodness, in beauty.
There’s a beautiful asterism that rises up in the East after sunset every year in December, described by astronomers as the Winter Hexagon. A hexagon is a six-sided geometric form, and in the starry regions it can be imagined by linking the brightest stars together: Sirius, Rigel, Aldebaran, Capella, Pollux, and Procyon. Each of these stars has a terrific cultural tale on their own, and when they’re combined, a beautiful narrative presents itself, one that belongs to the sacred mystery of this season, to the birth of inner light on the year’s darkest night.The brightest star in the hexagon is Sirius, easily discernible because of its brightness, and also because the night sky’s most famous asterism, the belt of Orion, points directly to it. Though the three stars of Orion’s belt are not part of the Winter Hexagon, they lend themselves to the story of the Three Kings, following the star in the East, part of a sign to them that an unprecedented birth is about to happen.Then there’s Procyon, which is part of the Winter Hexagon. Its name means “before the shining one,” a reference to Sirius. So Procyon is like a herald, also announcing the rising up of auspicious times.Of course, the Winter Hexagon rises up every year in this season, as it has for thousands of years. Ours is to discern what else is occurring in the starry script, and in our lives on Earth, that reveals what we would “bring to birth” on the darkest night of the year, when these glittering witnesses of our becoming mount up into the night.…like the Three Kings, come to the eternal birth of our love… to borrow from Juan Ramon Jimenez.
The last month of the year begins this week, and in grand, poetic style, the planet of love and beauty, which spent most of the year as our morning star, and has of late been awash in the light of the Sun, will soon emerge in her evening gown, adorning the end of the day and the end of the year with celestial brilliance.
Before we see Venus in the West after sunset, she will have a midnight encounter with her ancient beloved, Mars. Nine months ago these two were together in the morning sky with Pluto, a dynamic combination. Now, they stand opposite one another in the starry firmament, a gesture that challenges them, you could say, to demonstrate strength in relationship.
This opposition finds Mars in the terrain of Taurus, the bull, near its horns, while Venus is near the right foot of the healer giant Ophiucus.
We won’t see either planet at the exact moment of opposition, but here’s what we can know:
Near this star in Ophiucus, Venus is almost exactly conjunct the remnants of SN 1604, more popularly known as Kepler’s Star. When this star went supernova in 1604, many European astronomers were watching the very region of sky, because Mars was catching up to Jupiter and Saturn there~these two planets had just been in great conjunction. Arabic astrologers predicted that exceptional things could be expected if unusual phenomena accompanied Mars’ meeting with Jupiter and Saturn, so everyone was watching. The rare and wonderful event of this supernova sent the 17th century astronomer Johannes Kepler on a path of research that led to his realizing that stories of the Christmas Star, the Star of Bethlehem, are connected to the great conjunctions of Jupiter with Saturn, and this week, Venus comes face-to-face with her beloved from the very place in the heavens that inspired that beautiful thought.
At waning crescent phase, the Moon is a beautiful silver chalice, gathering up the last remaining mysteries of the night as it cascades through the dawn. This week, it gathers cosmic secrets from Leo, where a meteor shower is now underway. This activity isn’t only happening overhead, it’s also happening in the human heart, if we abide by the ancient wisdom that the divine forces of the human heart are rooted in the region of Leo stars.
As the Moon moves through Leo, the Earth encounters the dust trail of the comet that causes the Leonid Meteor Shower every year at this time.
To predict the level of meteor shower activity, astronomers calculate which portion of the comet’s debris trail Earth will pass through. This year the models indicate that on Friday we’ll pass through the dust trail ejected from the comet in the year 1600.
The amazing in 1600 was that astronomer Johannes Kepler was at work nesting the platonic solids in order to predict the orbital rhythms of the planets and to confirm the idea of an Earth in motion about the Sun. He referred to what we now know as Kepler’s laws of planetary motion not as laws, but as celestial harmonies.
And here’s the harmony in all this: right when the Leonid Meteor Shower is coming to its peak and we’re passing through a trail of cometary dust ejected over 400 years ago, we come to the anniversary of Kepler’s death 400 years ago, on November 15th, 1633. It’s as though the Leonid Meteor Shower shows up to celebrate his high achievements.
Kepler wrote: “When the storm rages and the shipwreck of the state threatens, we can do nothing more worthy than to sink the anchor of our peaceful studies into the ground of eternity.”
Tuesday November 8, 2022 there’s a Total Lunar Eclipse, visible over all of the Americas, coming to maximum at about 6 am eastern time, and caused by the fact that the Moon, now in front of the starry region of Taurus, the Bull, is sweeping through the deep shadow of the Earth. In the history of the United States, this is the first time a lunar eclipse has coincided with election day.
The Moon isn’t the only thing among Taurus stars right now. If you watch the sky as early as 9 pm, and then throughout the night, you’ll notice the red planet Mars, occupying what Ernest Hemingway referred to as the “terrain of the bull,” right between its horns, which are marked in the sky by the stars Elnath, the “butting one,” and Tianguan, the “celestial gateway.” Passing through this gateway in the shadow of eclipse, without getting butted, and mindful that Mars is there as guardian, can seem like a daunting task, but with goodwill, and a bit of poetry in the heart, we’ll make our way. And for this, there is Emily Dickinson:
We grow accustomed to the Dark— When Light is put away— As when the Neighbor holds the Lamp To witness her Goodbye—
A Moment—We uncertain step For newness of the night— Then—fit our Vision to the Dark— And meet the Road—erect—
And so of larger—Darknesses— Those Evenings of the Brain— When not a Moon disclose a sign— Or Star—come out—within—
The Bravest—grope a little— And sometimes hit a Tree Directly in the Forehead— But as they learn to see—
Either the Darkness alters— Or something in the sight Adjusts itself to Midnight— And Life steps almost straight.
Storyteller's Night Sky 2022 - 10 - 12 (When Moon Meets Mars At The Bull's Horns) by WVBI
The Moon was New on Sunday, first New Moon of the new season, and by Thursday, it will have “shed her silver seasons four upon the night,” as John Keats would say.
The fourth night of this Moon arrives at an interesting place in the sky, and on the calendar. Among the stars, it can be seen just approaching the threshold of the Scorpion, where three stars align somewhat vertically, to mark the point at which one crosses into the underworld.
This will happen on Thursday, September 29th, which is observed in the Christian Calendar as the Feast Day of the Archangel Michael. Michael is the divine being that defeats the dragon of doubt, fear, and hatred, those things that creep up in the night, you could say, as though from the underworld places, especially now that outer daylight has given way to increasing darkness.
It’s really no wonder that the Feast of Michael is celebrated at this moment in the cycle of the year, because now is when his swift sword of shining light is most needed. In the star picture, the constellation Virgo, the maiden, has just set, following Leo and Cancer over the western horizon. These constellations began to rise up in the Spring, at the same time that the serpent Hydra begins to lift its head into the night. The head of the Hydra is positioned beneath the constellation Cancer; its heart beneath Leo; and its tail snakes along beneath Virgo stars. So just now, as Virgo sets, the serpent, which has been coiling along beneath the high constellations of summer, slips out of sight. But there is Michael, to tame the beast, so that we can all make safe passage across the threshold of Scorpio and into the greater mysteries of the night.
Look for the waxing crescent Moon approaching Scorpio on Thursday, and then sweeping past the star Antares at the heart of the Scorpion on Friday, September 30.
Beaver Island Perspectives 2022-09-15 Kenji Lee of the Yong Lions Collective with host Kevin Boyle by WVBI
This week Mars comes closest to the Bull’s Eye star Aldebaran in Taurus, while Venus sweeps past Regulus, at the heart of the Lion, all of which will be seen in the morning sky.
Mars is visible an hour before sunrise high in the East, beautifully positioned between the Pleiades star cluster and the Bull’s Eye. Fixed-star astrologer Bernadette Brady describes that when Mars aligns to Aldebaran it denotes the successful craftsperson, and can mean a time for gaining success through decisive action. So it’s worth noting that right now Mars is covering territory that it will pass over three times in the next several months, because of its once-every-two-years retrograde that begins soon.
Then there’s Venus near the heart star Regulus, which Brady describes as the mark of a creative person who seeks perfection and needs to rise above petty jealousies. English Romantic poet John Keats was born with Venus near Regulus.
Apart from poetry, Keats’ letters to friends and loved ones are regarded by many as the most notable and the most important ever written by any English poet.
So here to cast the appropriate mood for your morning stargazing, these thoughts from John Keats, from a letter to his sister Fanny: O there is nothing like fine weather, and health, and Books, and a fine country, and a contented Mind, and Diligent-habit of reading and thinking, and an amulet against the ennui~and, please heaven, a little claret-wine cool out of a cellar a mile deep~with a few or a good many ratafia cakes~a rocky basin to bathe in, a strawberry bed to say your prayers to Flora in…
Island Reflections 2022 - 09 - 05 (2018 - 08 - 08 July3 - Fox Lk Rd - Tuesday - Summer) by WVBI
The Moon came to New Phase early Saturday morning, and this week, we’ll see it as a beautiful waxing crescent in the West after sunset, making its way among the stars that are below the celestial equator.
The exceptional thing about the late August New Moon is that not only is it the last New Moon of the Summer, but it also grows during the next two weeks from New Phase to Full Phase along the exact path that the Sun will take for the six months from Autumn Equinox to Spring Equinox. For us in the Northern Hemisphere, this is the place among the stars where sunlight makes its retreat ~ where the outer light transitions to the inner light.
At this same time every year, as the Moon slips into this secret retreat of light below the celestial equator, the constellation of the lyre touches the zenith. The lyre is the instrument of Leto, ancient Greek goddess, mother of Sun and Moon. When her constellation touches the zenith it’s as though she sounds a note that summons a cosmic rainbow, a shimmering veil of many colors, to nourish the soul as we head toward the darker time of year.
Part of Leto’s story includes her childbirth being delayed until the goddesses attending her wove a necklace of golden threads for Iris, goddess of the rainbow. Like Mercury, Iris was a goddess of communication and would take whatever form was necessary to deliver messages to human beings from the divine.
So Leto’s constellation highest now, and the story of her giving birth to Sun and Moon is stirring while the waxing crescent Moon moves through the evening sky.
This is a subtle time of year, given its mood of transition from what has been to what will be ~ a gentle time, like the shimmering rainbow, meant for wonder and listening.
This week in the sky it’s all about time, with Saturn peeking up over the eastern edge of the world just as the Sun sets. On Sunday, Saturn made its annual retrograde opposition with the Sun, tracking westward against the background of stars. And now the lazy days of summer begin, with their longer shadows slanting toward Fall.
So why is Saturn connected to time? One way to answer is to consider the word “planet” which derives from a Greek word that means “wandering star.” Among the wandering stars that are visible to the naked eye, Saturn clearly moves the slowest, so in the ancient world, this planet marked boundary of time. Saturn, or Kronos to the Greeks, was the son of Ouranus, god of the sky, or space. This reveals an interesting, ancient concept that time is born out of space.
Then there’s the planet Jupiter, which has long been associated with things that want to expand and grow toward the future, and perhaps as our largest planet Jupiter would be endlessly expanding in space, except that it has Saturn, or time, to keep it in check.
Jupiter has also just started its retrograde, so now it’s also backtracking into the evening sky, where we’ll be able to see it next month.
Here’s Seamus Heaney:
Now it’s high watermark and floodtide in the heart and time to go. The sea-nymphs in the spray will be the chorus now. What’s left to say? Suspect too much sweet-talk but never close your mind. It was a fortunate wind that blew me here. I leave half-ready to believe that a crippled trust might walk and the half-true rhyme is love.
In a season when Full Moon coincides with one of the most prolific meteor showers of the year, it’s easy to think the potential thrill and excitement of seeing meteors is diminished, but I have a different idea.
The Moon longs to intensify our experience of cosmic light, as though it would carve shining furrows into our being for strengthening our ability to emulate a greater cosmic harmony.
There are great mysteries that take place under the veil of night, made even greater when they’re draped in moonlight. The Moon’s beams are made of sunlight and starlight, and this week, of meteor light, woven together and offered unto us, as Keats would say, from the heaven’s brink.
But the magic this week is in what’s happening out of sight.
It’s like this: When the light is bright, we can be blinded, so though it may seem like a contradiction, bright light is a clue to look more deeply into the mystery of the dark: in the dark we can come to a true experience of the self, by paying attention to what comes to meet us when there is no external stimuli. Sure, this week we’ll be able to see, in the half-light of twilight, and in the bright light of the Full Moon, but the starlight and the meteor light will be outwardly diminished, which means it’s time to find their mystery within ourselves. Even Perseus, who lends his name to this week’s meteor shower, triumphs over the Gorgon Medusa not by directly looking at her, but by reflection.
It’s understood through the story of Perseus’ birth that the heroic nature is born from a shower of golden stars that are experienced deeply within, within the earth, within the self. So listen. This week’s phenomena bear a unique gift into our midst. A gentle, gradual, dazzling truth.
Beaver Island Perspectives 2022-08-05 Robert Nordling on BoB with Dennis Winslow by WVBI
Beaver Island Perspectives 2022-08-04 Robert Nordling on BoB with Dennis Winslow by WVBI
Historically, an understanding of the stars can be divided into three periods: from the ancient era of humanity to the scientific revolution of the middle ages; from that revolution to the 20th century; and from the 20th century to the present.
In ancient cultures, star knowledge was informed by the idea that every human being comes from a star, and that after a fruitful life on the earth, each one would return to their star. This star journey was scripted across the sky in the motion of the planets and constellations ~ a speaking of divine celestial beings. This is was the astro-logos, or star word, now regarded as astrology.
Then came the scientific revolution and the ideas of Nicolas Copernicus and Isaac Newton, which set the earth in motion about the sun and reduced the idea of divine spiritual beings to universal motion, governed by measurable laws. This was the time of the astro-nomia, the body of knowledge derived from measuring the distances and periodicity of celestial objects, their atmospheric, surface, and core composition, among other things.
In the early 20th century, a third period began, though perhaps still little known, which is referred to as an astro-sophia, a star wisdom that would cultivate the moral nature of being human in the face of the rapid discoveries being made now we have moved well into the age of technology. An astrosophy would ask the question: how does the human moral nature keep pace with and inform machine-learning and artificial intelligence? How do we stay central to our concepts about our place in space? This is not a matter of being physically at the center, nor is it about being insignificant in the grand scheme. It is about ennobling the human being such that we recognize our essential role in our environment, which includes everything from the ground beneath our feet to the furthest reaches of the stars.
Beaver Island Perspectives 2022-08-03 Robert Nordling on BoB with Dennis Winslow by WVBI
Every year at the beginning of August we pass through the midpoint of the summer season, a time known as the “cross quarter.” We also pass under the thickest region of Milky Way stars, which makes this month one of the best of the year for stargazing.
The word galaxy comes from the ancient Greek galaxias, the word for milk, in reference to the milky vault of heaven that they believed was splashed across the night sky by the goddess Hera. In Aristotelian cosmology, the Milky Way was described as the place in the heavens where the celestial and terrestrial spheres came into contact with one another.
And in Ovid’s 8th century narrative poem “Metamorphosis,” he described it as high heaven’s palatine, or palace. In book one he wrote:
There is a high track, seen when the sky is clear, called the Milky Way, and known for its brightness. This way the gods pass to the palaces and halls of the mighty Thunderer. To right and left are the houses of the greater gods, doors open and crowded. The lesser gods live elsewhere. Here the powerful and distinguished have made their home. This is the place, if I were to be bold, I would not be afraid to call high heaven’s Palatine.
On clear nights, the Milky Way is an unmistakable arc across the high heaven, and this week, because the Moon is a waxing crescent, it won’t diminish the best views. From the northeast, the Milky Way arcs up through Cassiopeia, overhead through the Summer Triangle, before it meets the horizon in the South, between the Scorpion and the centaur, Sagittarius. If we were to travel through this region of sky between these two constellations, we would arrive at the center of our Milky Way Galaxy, imagined by storytellers as the throne of the highest gods.
Beaver Island Perspectives 2022-08-02 Robert Nordling on BoB with Dennis Winslow by WVBI
Beaver Island Perspectives 2022-08-01 Robert Nordling on BoB with Dennis Winslow by WVBI
Island Reflections 2022 - 07 - 21 (2022 And 2020 And 2017 - 09 - 08 What's Going On) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2022 - 07 - 20 (2020 And 2017 - 09 - 18 Artifacts To Memories - Baskets) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2022 - 07 - 19 (2020 And 2017 - 09 - 11 When I'm Not Making Art) by WVBI
Beaver Island Perspectives 2022-07-15 Museum Week Preview with LoriTaylor-Blitz by WVBI
Island Reflections 2022 - 07 - 13 (2020 And 2017 - 09 - 26 A Little Time Out For Art) by WVBI
Typically moonlight is described as reflected sunlight, but moonlight is the reflected light of all celestial objects, including the stars. So Full Moon can be imagined as a time when all available celestial light is focused by the Moon onto the Earth. Add to this phenomena the fact that sometimes the Full Moon is closer to us than at other times, like it will be on Wednesday this week, and a beautiful picture starts to emerge.
In the ancient Greek tradition, the Titan Goddess of the Moon was Selene. One night, over the cracks and crags and caves of the Earth she leaned in for a closer look, and her gaze fell upon the sleeping shepherd Endymion. She fell deeply in love and asked Zeus to grant Endymion eternal sleep, so they could meet each night in dream, which he did.
It might seem inconsequential that once each year the Full Moon is closer to us than at other times, but in ancient cultures, the closest Moon of the year was the most fertile or activating of all things Moon-related. It intensified the sunlight and the starlight by concentrating it into its own being before moving in close and casting it earthward.
This month, the closest Moon occurs while the Moon moves through the Milky Way, so it’s even further amplified with enchantment.
Unlike sunlight, which supports the waking and thinking life, moonlight is often associated more with a mood of soul and feeling. So the thing to do is listen to your dreams, to imagine the Moon looking on, offering sunlight and starlight for reflection in the feeling life.
The Moon comes exactly Full Wednesday July 13 at 2:39 pm, so pay special attention overnight Tuesday, when it rises half an hour before sunset, assuming its position on the eastern horizon for weaving the magic of dreams into the night.
Island Reflections 2022 - 07 - 12 (2020 And 2017 - 09 - 25 Things I Can't Let Go) by WVBI
According to Johannes Kepler, the planets move in ellipses around the Sun, and what’s important in this is that the Sun doesn’t just occupy the center of the ellipse, but one of two focal points. This makes for a really interesting and lively relationship between the Sun and planets, because an ellipse is like a squashed circle, so that sometimes the Earth is orbiting closer to the Sun than at other times. And! When the Earth is moving further away from the Sun, it’s actually going slower, and that’s where we are right now, as Earth reaches what’s known as its aphelion, its furthest position away from the Sun.
It might seem like a contradiction for us in the Northern Hemisphere that the Earth is moving furthest away from the Sun just we enter our warm Summer season, but so it is ~ we reach aphelion on July 4th this year.
The word aphelion comes from the Ancient Greek god of the Sun, Helius. Helius lived in a palace that stood on columns of gold and bronze. This afforded him a view of everything along the paths of the planetary orbits, which also meant he was a revealer of secrets. This calls to mind Emily Dickinson, who wrote, Tell all the truth, but tell it slant, success in circuit lies, as if to say, moving in a circuitous or elliptical way around something allows for freedom of becoming.
While we’re moving furthest away from the Sun, we’re also moving more slowly, which conjures images of lazy summer days and star-filled nights.
On Tuesday, June 28, the first New Moon of the Summer occurs, so we can watch for its crescent in the West after sunset all week. When it comes Full two weeks from now, it will be this year’s closest Full Moon, because the Moon also moves in an ellipse around us. So as we drift away, the Moon slips in, and the world goes ‘round.
The June 28 New Moon culminates as this year's closest Full Moon in two weeks, which sets up an interesting contemplation of Earth farthest from the Sun as the Moon comes closest to the Earth.
Island Reflections 06 - 30 - 2022 (20 And 2019 - 7-22 (14 - Non Fiction - No Season) by WVBI
Island Reflections 06 - 29 - 2022 (20 And 2019 - 7-22 13 - Magazines - No Season) by WVBI
Island Reflections 06 - 28 - 2022 (20 And 7 - 22 - 2019 12 - Languages - No Season) by WVBI
Island Reflections 06 - 27 - 2022 (20 And 2019 - 07 - 22 06 - The Letter F - No Season) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2022 - 06 - 23 (2020 And 2017 - 10 - 25 Right Here Right Now) by WVBI
The early 20th century Austrian philosopher and esotericist Rudolf Steiner once wrote: The more abundantly the harmony of the cosmos fills the soul, the more peace and harmony there will be on the earth. This idea is quite different from one that I commonly hear, which is that the earth and, consequently, humanity as a whole, is an insignificant speck in the vastness of space.
Now, whereas the ancients saw the heavens as a mighty script written by the gods, Rudolf Steiner pointed out that in our time, after the consequences and achievements of the scientific revolution, which was like a fall of the ancient gods, the writing of the stars can now be imagined as our own deeds, inscribed into the cosmic spaces.
So what might we be inscribing this week, when all the naked-eye planets have aligned in the morning sky, as though called to attend the stillness of Tuesday’s solstice moment?
The Moon can guide us, drawing our attention to the thought life and to our dreams as it passes by Saturn, which it did on Sunday, followed by a meeting with Jupiter on Tuesday, Mars on Wednesday, and then Venus and Mercury at the weekend. It’s as though the planets have all lined up in order for the Moon to tidy up each sphere she goes, so that at new phase on June 28th, one week exactly from Solstice, we can step forward into the summer season with renewed clarity.
So here is my wish for all of us, from John Keats’ poem Endymion, about the shepherd who fell in love with the moon, that what we are inscribing into the cosmic spaces in this season be as sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.
Island Reflections 2022 - 06 - 20 (2020 And 2017 - 10 - 19 )A Morning Of No Enthusiasm) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2022 - 06 - 07 (2020 And 2017 - 09 - 27 Sunshine & Possibilities) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2022 - 06 - 06 (2020 - 05 - 11 (2017 - 04 - 25 A Better Path) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2022 - 06 - 03 (2020 - 05 - 08 (11 - Kitchens - No Seasons - 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2022 - 06 - 02 (2020 - 05 - 07 (10 - Jobs - No Season 2019 7 22) by WVBI
Astronomers are predicting a meteor shower overnight May 30, maybe. But for the Storyteller’s Night Sky, this is a prime opportunity for storytelling, whether the shower happens or not, and here’s why.
At the beginning of 2020 there were two phenomena that seem uniquely related to this potential shower: the star Betelgeuse in the shoulder of the giant went unusually dim, very quickly; and a comet was discovered that was named ATLAS.
In ancient mythology, Atlas is the Titan god who bears the pillars of the heavens on his shoulders, but now the shoulder star had dimmed. Enter Hercules, who seeks the golden apples from the Hesperides. Hercules finds out that the Hesperides are the daughters of Atlas, so he goes to the giant seeking help. Atlas agrees to get the precious fruit, providing Hercules will hold the heavens up for a moment. And here’s the important part ~ Hercules, a hero and a son of Zeus, is certainly strong enough for this, but only for a while. As a human being, he really doesn’t have the ability to bear the heavens alone.
When Atlas returns, he foolishly tells Hercules he doesn’t want the pillars back, but as a human being, Hercules is craftier than the giant, and he tricks Atlas into taking them back, while he escapes with the golden apples.
So how is this related to what’s going on now? If the meteor shower happens, it will radiate toward us from the constellation region of Hercules, so it’s like the stars asked humanity a question in 2020: Can you bear the pillars of the heavens for a while? If so, there’s a golden treasure that awaits. And now that Hercules is being activated in our attention, it’s our moment to realize that none of us need bear the burden of the world alone ~ there are forces that will help us, providing we are willing to help one another.
Image: Hercules appears upside down overhead on May nights, as though his origins are among the stars. Monday's potential meteor shower during New Moon will radiate from the region of Hercules' left knee, if it happens.
Island Reflections 2022 - 06 - 01(2020 - 05 - 06 (09 - Ideas - No Season 2019 7 22) by WVBI
This week, Wednesday marks the 219th anniversary of the birth of the American essayist, poet, and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson, and given that the Moon is waning through the dawn and approaching Venus as morning star at the same time, it’s fitting to consider Emerson’s essay on “Love.”
Emerson wrote his collection of essays as lectures first, and then revised them for print in the 1830s and ‘40s, so before Neptune was discovered, before Everest was named the tallest peak in the world. In the copy of the Emerson text I inherited from my grandmother, there are 12 Essays, ranging in topics from Heroism to Art. Love is the second essay, and it begins: “Every soul is a celestial Venus to every other soul.”
He continues, “The heart has its sabbaths and jubilees in which the world appears as hymeneal feast, and all natural sounds and the circle of the seasons are erotic odes and dances. Love is omnipotent in nature as motive and reward. Love is our highest word and the synonym of God.”
Emerson further links love to the starry divine when he writes: “…the figures, the motions, the words of the beloved object are not, like other images, written in water, but as Plutarch said, ‘enameled in fire,’ and make the study of midnight.”
When we look in the sky we see that fiery brilliance of Venus makes it the brightest celestial object after Sun and Moon, and in perfect poetry, the cosmos is so aligned that from our perspective, the Moon will never outshine Venus, because it will only ever pass by the planet of love and beauty at crescent phase. Watch for the Moon all week and especially Thursday and Friday mornings ~ pointing the way to your celestial Venus.
Island Reflections 2022 - 05 - 31 (2020 - 05 - 05 (08 - Home - No Season 2019 7 22) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2022 - 05 - 30 (2020 - 05 - 04( 07 - Gardening Books - No Season 2019 7 22) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2022 - 05 - 27 (2020 - 05 - 01 Away Then Home Again - Spring) by WVBI
Storyteller's Night Sky 2022 - 05 - 04 (Speaking The Cosmic Word At Eclipse Season) by WVBI
Storyteller's Night Sky 2022-05-04 (Speaking the Cosmic Word at Eclipse Season) by WVBI
Beaver Island Perspectives 2022-05-05 Tim McQueer of BIBCO with Host Kevin Boyle by WVBI
Beaver Island Perspectives 2022-04-27 Kristi Davis & Dave Butette with Host Kevin Boyle by WVBI
Storyteller's Night Sky 2022 - 04 - 20 (The Earth Laughs In Flowers Under Starry Showers) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2022 - 04 - 05 ( 2020 And 2017 - 01 - 18 When The Lights Go Out) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2022 - 03 - 30 ( 2020 And 2017 - 09 - 13 Artifacts To Memories - Bunny Rabbit) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2022 - 03 - 29 (2020 And 2017 - 09 - 12 Artifacts To Memories - Red Chair) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2022 - 03 - 25 And 28 ( 2020 And 2016 - 11 - 09 (Looking Closely) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2022 - 03 - 23 (2020 And 2016 - 11 - 07 The Perfect Pie - Part 3) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2022 - 03 - 22 (2020 And 2016 - 11 - 04 (The Perfect Pie - Part 2) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2022 - 03 - 21 (2020 And 2016 - 11 - 03 (The Perfect Pie - Part 1) by WVBI
Island Reflections - 2022 - 03 - 16 (2020 And 2016 - 08 - 01 Heightened Awareness) by WVBI
The configuration of planets and stars in the morning sky this week suggests that we’re in a “threshold crossing” moment.
The constellation Capricorn hugs the eastern horizon at dawn right now, unusually imagined as a sea-goat since ancient ages. A sea-goat has the upper body of a goat and the lower half of a fish, and while that seems like a crazy combination, this region of sky was often regarded as the most holy, in that it represented the gateway of the gods.
The stars that mark the forehead of the goat and the tail of the fish can be imagined as the sacred pillars that adorn the gate, and it’s here we find the morning sky planets: Venus and Mars at the head, near the star Algedi; Saturn at the tail, Deneb Algedi.
The ancients represented this region of sky this way in anticipation of the time when the Age of the Goat would give way to the Age of the Fishes. This happened in 215 AD, when the Vernal Point moved from Aries, where it had been for a few thousand years, into Pisces, where it is now, and where it will be for several hundred more years. This whole Piscean Age can be imagined as crossing through the gateway of the gods, as a humanity, and even in our personal lives.
The message that sounded out at the beginning of this era, when the goat gave way to the fishes was “To love one another, just as I have loved you,” to “Love thy neighbor,” and to note that “all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”
Watch this configuration of Venus, Mars and Saturn all month, moving across the Capricorn gateway of the gods, from where they ask us whether we’ve found the way.
Island Reflections 2022 - 03 - 07 (2020 And 2016 - 09 - 13 A Trip To The Mainland) by WVBI
Island Reflections - 2022 - 03 - 04 (2020 And 2019 - 7-22 03 - Cookbooks - No Season) by WVBI
Island Reflections- 2022 - 03 - 03 (2020 An D 2019 - 7-22 02 - Books - No Season) by WVBI
Island Reflections - 2022 - 03 - 02 (2020 And 2019 - 7-22 01 - Aim - No Season) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2022 - 02 - 24 (20 And 2016 - 06 - 30 Sleep Will Sort It Out) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2022 - 02 - 22 (2021 And 2017 - 05 - 31 A Little Enthusiasm Please) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2022 - 02 - 18 (2021 And 2017 - 05 - 31 A Little Enthusiasm Please) by WVBI
It’s a week full of love, not just because of the date on the calendar, but because of what’s happening in the sky!
The week begins with Valentine’s Day, or the “ides of February” from the ancient Roman calendar when the month was counted from the first visibility of New Moon ~ the ides are halfway through the month, around the time of Full Moon, like this year.
After Valentine’s Day, the big celestial events come on Wednesday when Venus and Mars unite in the morning sky, followed by the glorious Leo Full Moon later that same day. Venus is the ancient goddess of love and beauty, and Mars is her true beloved. When they’re close in the sky you might thing love gets a boost, but this is actually a soft, whispering kind of gesture, when they are close enough to not make strong pronouncements that everyone can see.
But the Full Moon is Leo has a totally different mood. Leo rules the heart, and all things royal, loyal, and showy.
Then on Friday, the Sun moves into the sign of Pisces, as calculated in the tropical zodiac. Pisces season is always full of dreams, and of visions informed by what’s stirring just out of sight, readying to burst into full bloom when Spring finally gets here.
So keep loved ones close this week, shower them with Leonine warmheartedness, and dream together into what’s ahead. Here’s ee cummings, as fitting scribe for a week of love:
i carry your heart with me(i carry it in my heart)i am never without it(anywhere i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done by only me is your doing,my darling) i fear no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true) and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows higher than soul can hope or mind can hide) and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)
Island Reflections 2022 - 02 - 14 (2021 And 2017 - 04 - 21 Artifacts To Memories - One Photo) by WVBI
Join Songs from the Trail co-host Jackson Smith for a quick look at music news from around the state.
Venus is making ready to slip into the arms of her beloved Mars in the morning sky, with Mercury standing by as witness, while Jupiter is slipping lower and lower into the evening twilight at the other end of the day, following Saturn out of sight. What can we make of this?
Once Jupiter drops out of view later this month, there will be no more evening sky planets for awhile ~ only stars when we look west across the Earth after sunset ~ all the way until August.
Sure, we’ll have the Moon passing through the West each month, and occasionally Mercury will pop up to see what’s brewing over the sunset edge of the world, but from Jupiter’s setting this month until August, there will basically be no planets in the sky at the end of the day. This doesn’t always happen, so it’s worth paying attention to.
And by paying attention what I mean is imagine, it’s just us at the end of the day, for weeks on end, crafting our “happily ever afters” as best we can, with only an occasional trickster god to mediate as the link between humanity and the stars.
I asked my poet friend Peter Rennick to imagine such a thing, to which he replied:
Now we come to the dumbest Darkest nights of the year When all the planets huddle On the other side of the earth Hidden in the cradle of the sun And only a handful of icy stars Shiver above the moony lake At last we're left on our own To cross these darkest depths This no-man's-land of dreams Like candles without flames To the land of the unborn To the light of the farthest star Each of us sailing to rescue Our own individual dawn.
In today's Community Calendar Report, COVID-19 data from the state show a BIG drop in new cases. Part of it is a normal weekend dip, but it looks to be more than just that. The DNR is urging state lawmakers to get legislation passed to distribute federal funds for parks maintenance. They say they have $250 million in catch-up work to do and already have record breaking reservations for 2022. (Make your reservations for camping site and boat slips now.) There's a winter storm headed for the wrist of the mitten tomorrow with more than a foot of snow expected in some places. We have details on thise stories and more in today's Report. Catch on the air at noon, 3 or 6, or grab the podcast or script online at wvbi.net.
Here’s what grabbing my attention this week.
First, there’s the James Webb Space Telescope, which, after years of delays, was successfully launched last month. On Monday, NASA scientists will maneuver the Webb into its ultimate position, which is not in orbit around the Earth, like Hubble, which is just 340 miles above the Earth, but nearly a million miles out into space, four times the distance from Earth to Moon, in a place called L2.
L2 is astronomy-speak for Lagrange 2, one of five areas where gravity from the Sun and Earth balance the orbital motion of a satellite. Putting a spacecraft at one of these points allows it to stay in a fixed position relative to the Earth and Sun with a minimal amount of energy. That’s some nifty science.
Then on Tuesday, there’s a significant observance in the Christian Calendar of the Apostle Paul’s Conversion on the road to Damascus. As Saul of Tarsus, Paul intensely persecuted the early Christians, and yet, while on his way to Damascus, he had a miraculous encounter that totally altered his life path, and sent him in the opposite direction, to become one of the greatest Apostles of the Christ. So Tuesday is a day of making miraculous turns.
Then on Saturday morning, January 29th, the crescent Moon will sweep through the dawn, just past the planet Mars where he’s courting his beloved Venus, our morning star. Look for them in the southeast an hour before sunrise, which isn’t too early these days. And if you do get out to look, imagine the Webb Telescope out there, and all the scientists striving to look more deeply into the mysteries of our becoming, like Mars gazing at Venus, and consider Paul, and the courage it takes to completely change one’s views in order to accommodate a moment of miraculous realization.
Island Reflections 2022 - 01 - 20 ( 2017 - 10 - 16 Time Out For Art - A New Venue) by WVBI
In the world of astrology, the now dwarf-planet Pluto is associated with deep transformation and regeneration. The Full Moon, on the other hand, has an energy that breaks up what is stuck or crystalized. If we combine the two, which is what happens on Monday this week, then the energies are just right for anyone who feels like they need to jump start the new year.
The Moon will stand exactly opposite Pluto Monday, January 17th, an hour before it rises. When it does rise, it faces the Sun across the horizon of the Earth for about 25 minutes, before the Sun sets. Then, exact Full Phase occurs, Monday evening, at 6:48 pm.
I particularly like these moments between moonrise and sunset, when both lights are above the horizon and the Moon is bursting toward fullness. And when you add Pluto to the mix, things get really interesting.
It’s good to have a poem or prayer or a candle to light for such moments, to honor the cosmos in our everyday space and time. And afterwards, pay attention to your moods and dreams, as the Moon shakes off the dust and comes cozy up to the Sun again. Here’s Emily Dickinson to accompany us all along the way:
The Moon was but a Chin of Gold A Night or two ago – And now she turns Her perfect Face Upon the World below –
Her Forehead is of Amplest Blonde – Her Cheek – a Beryl hewn – Her Eye unto the Summer Dew The likest I have known –
Her Lips of Amber never part – But what must be the smile Upon Her Friend she could confer Were such Her Silver Will –
And what a privilege to be But the remotest Star – For Certainty She take Her Way Beside Your Palace Door –
Her Bonnet is the Firmament – The Universe – Her Shoe – The Stars – the Trinkets at Her Belt – Her Dimities – of Blue.
Island Reflections 2022 - 01 - 17 (2017 - 10 - 11 One Step Foeard, Two Steps Back) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2022 - 01 - 03 (2019 - 01 - 18 A New Year's Project - Winter) by WVBI
At the end of this week, the year ends, and what better day for it to fulfill than a Friday, which is the day of Venus, goddess of love and beauty.
Not only does the year end sounding the glorious note of Venus, but the celestial goddess herself is bold and beautiful in the evening sky, leading the parade of planets into the midnight of the year. Venus is making one of her rare retrogrades just now, so we can imagine that she’s backing up across the threshold as her way into the new, retracing the footsteps she took to get to the sacred moment between the years, when it’s as though time and eternity hold hands.
As with all true threshold crossings, Venus is escorted beyond the trappings of the old year by Mercury, that ancient psychopomp who leads all souls from this world to the next.
In esoteric wisdom, the soul’s experience of the Venus sphere has to do with one’s community, with those who share your ideals and your highest striving, while the Mercury sphere is where souls are tested as to their moral character.
In Dante’s Divine Comedy, we don’t get to the spheres of Mercury and Venus until the Paradise, but since 2021 marked the 700th anniversary of Dante’s death, I’ll end this last segment of the year with the final lines of his Inferno, as a good omen to help us build up good thoughts as we emerge from the hard stuff, so that, with confidence, we can look toward a bright and healthy 2022 ~ it’s worth everything we’ve got:
My guide and I entered that hidden road To make our way back up to the bright world. We never thought of resting while we climbed. We climbed, he first and I behind, until, Through a small round opening ahead of us I saw the lovely things the heavens hold, And we came out to see once more the stars.
~Dante’s “Inferno” Canto XXXIV lines 135-138
Island Reflections 2021 - 12 - 28 (2017 - 02 - 10 The Day After Christmas Blues) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2021 - 12 - 22 (2017-06-14 Artifacts To Memories - Incidentals) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2021 - 12 - 20 (2019 - 01 - 21 Lost In Translation - Winter) by WVBI
Nearly 100 years ago this month. Austrian philosopher, scientist and esotericist Rudolf Steiner composed a verse regarding the changing relationship between the human being and the stars that’s interesting backdrop for this week’s big astronomy news: Comet Leonard.
The verse begins with the time in history when the stars spoke to human beings. We can imagine that this refers to the time of the ancient Babylonians and Egyptians several thousand years ago, and those cultures that developed a science out of this speaking, which we know by the name astrology.
Through the course of human destiny, the verse continues, a knowledge of this astro-logos grew silent and gave way to the Scientific Revolution and the predominance of math and physics as the way to know starry worlds, rather than through the speaking of celestial beings. This became known as the science of astronomy.
The verse concludes with an image of what can develop in our relationship with starry worlds, once we have known their speaking, have lived through their silencing while we sorted out our place in space, to the time when we can be aware of what we are speaking back to the stars, as an astrosophy, or star wisdom. And here’s where Comet Leonard comes in, because now, it’s we who must see mighty images into the night, to understand, through science and culture, the impressions we are making in our celestial environment, rather than what impression it’s making on us.
Leonard is speeding through the region of Ophiucus right now, the mighty healer who holds the serpent in his hands, his story one of conquering the forces of death. Leonard arrived here after passing through Boötes, the region of the good shepherd.
So, what can we imagine as our message to this season’s cometary visitor?
Island Reflections 2021 - 12 - 13 (22 - Another List 2 - No Season 2018 - 11 - 20) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2021 - 12 - 10 (19 - A Short List - No Season 2018 - 11 - 20) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2021 - 12 - 09 (18 - List For Happiness 4 - No Season - 2018 - 11 - 20) by WVBI
The moving Moon goes up the western sky this week, passing the evening planets as though she were running her fingers through a strand of pearls, an astonishing necklace adorning the queen of the night.
On Monday, the Moon meets Venus, the brilliant evening star. On Tuesday, Saturn; then on Wednesday, the Moon passes Jupiter, all the while gaining in light and beauty. Now the association of these evening planets with a strand of pearls is not just me taking poetic license, and let me explain why.
Pearls have long been associated with the divine essence, and in graeco-roman culture, they were associated with love and marriage, and were the emblem of the goddess Aphrodite/Venus, the “Lady of Pearls” who rose from the waters.
It was also believed that the pearl resulted from lightning penetrating the oyster, hence the pearl was regarded as the union of fire and water.
In the ancient kingdom of Ethiopia, the Queen of Sheba had dedicated herself to wisdom, but was tricked into losing her chastity by Solomon when she traveled to Jerusalem to meet him. There’s a poem attributed to her, dating from 1000 BC in which she writes: I fell because of wisdom, but was not destroyed: through her I dived into the great sea, and in those depths, I seized a wealth-bestowing pearl.
Another poet queen who was famous for her pearls was Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, whose birthday was December 8, nearly 480 years ago this week. She was given a thick rstrand of black pearls from her mother-in-law Catherine de Medici. The pearls had been given to Catherine for her dowry by the Pope. After Mary Stuart’s unfortunate execution, the pearls went to Queen Elizabeth, and they later made their way to Queen Victoria, who divided them up among her daughters. Four of the pearls remain and can be seen in the Queen’s Imperial Crown at the Tower of London, or by looking west after sunset all week.
Island Reflections 2021 - 12 - 07 (14 - List For Happiness 2 -No Season - 2018 - 11 - 20) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2021 - 12 - 06 (10 - Another List 3 - No Season - 8-11 - 20) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2021 - 12 - 2 (08 - Another List 2 - No Season - 2018 - 11 - 20) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2021 - 12 - 1 (17 - Another List - No Season - 2018 - 11 - 20) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2021 - 11 - 30 (01 - No TopicTuesday- Any Season - 2018 - 11 - 20) by WVBI
Every year there are two eclipse seasons and we’re in the midst of part II right now.
This year the first eclipse season came in May and June, and now we’re in the second eclipse season, here at the end of November, beginning of December. You could imagine, then, that during the two weeks from the lunar eclipse November 19th until the solar eclipse December 4th, we’re moving through the cradle of eclipse season.
Now here’s the fascinating bit about this year’s eclipses: The June 2021 solar eclipse went directly over the North Pole. The December 4th solar eclipse will go over Antarctica, so, to push on the metaphor a little further, I imagine that this year, the cradle in which we are rocked by these eclipses is the Earth itself, from its tippy top to the very bottom.
Earth. Rotating, orbiting, wobbling, our home, upon which we journey to consciousness, like Odysseus, trying to make our way back to the beginning.
Ancient rituals of gratitude to the gods, to the dead, to nature, were not without merit or consequence. They said to the living world: thank you for the abundant gifts of which I can freely partake, and the guidance, that helps me to be wise and loving in the use of these resources.
Odysseus’ men ate the cattle of the sun, despite warning, and he was left alone, emblem of that part of the self that always knows better. He made it home, he fought, he overcame, he rose up victorious. Odysseus listened to the goddess. He honored the gods. He practiced all things in their season, and lived to tell the story. I imagine all of it as an ancient metaphor for the very real human struggle to overcome the lower nature in the self.
This Thanksgiving, may we all find our way to the true nature.
There’s a Lunar Eclipse overnight Thursday to Friday this week, inaugurating the second season of shadows for the year, visible throughout North America.
The eclipse happens when Moon is near its apogee, the place on its orbit that’s furthest away from us. Because of this, it won’t be total, but nearly so, with 97% of the Moon’s surface draped in shadow.
The Moon will be in the region of Taurus at eclipse, with the star cluster of the Pleiades nearby. The Pleiades are the most storied about group of stars in the sky, oftentimes associated with the mighty foundations upon which all things are created.
Pleiades marks the left shoulder of Taurus the Bull, and at this time of year, this region of sky comes to its highest place. Normally, on the November Full Moon, Pleiades would be washed out by the moonlight, but this year, something different is going on, because the light that would otherwise diminish these stars is diffused. So what might that mean?
The clue is in an Ancient Egyptian house shrine depicting the Pharaoh Akhenaten, and his wife, Nefertiti. Here there’s an interesting array of intermediary spiritual beings, often, though mistakenly, I think, described as their children. One of these beings stands directly over the left shoulder of Nefertiti, exactly where we find Pleiades in Taurus. She has her arm extended up through Nefertiti’s neck, where the larynx is in human physiology. It’s as though she’s drawing down the organ of speech from the foundations of world becoming right into the human form.
In this imagination, the horns of Taurus become the ears and Eustachian tubes, all of it suggesting that the organs we have for speaking and listening are a sacred gift from the stars, the astro-logos, that would become, through us, an astro-sophia, star wisdom. This week, we are called to sense this mystery, through the shadows.
Island Reflections 2021 - 11 - 29 (02 Miffed - Winter - 1st Snow - 2018 - 11 - 20) by WVBI
In the wake of last weekend's tragedy, WVBI's Songs from the Trail host Jackson Smith invited his sister, a grief counselor, to talk about dealing with loss and grief. She offers thoughts on how communities deal with loss and move forward along with tips on helping each other cope.
Island Reflections 2021 - 11 - 16 (2017 - 10 - 18 Nothing's Lost In God's Kingdom) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2021 - 11 - 11 (2017 - 06 - 19 (Artifacts To Memories - My Old Wood Stove) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2021 - 11 - 09 (12 - List For Happiness -Fall - 2018 - 11 - 20) by WVBI
This week we pass through the veil that separates the beginning of Autumn from its end, the time when the wind tears the remaining leaves from their branches and hurtles them earthward. It’s the season that inspired Herman Melville’s Ishmael to enlist in an epic adventure, across waters shimmering beneath the stars, where lay a universe of gliding monsters.
After introducing himself at the outset of “Moby Dick,” Melville’s main character Ishmael goes on to describe how, whenever it is damp, drizzly November in his soul, then he accounts it high time he get sea as soon as he can.
Out at sea, away from the imposition of artificial light, the autumn sky is glorious. And there glides the mighty ocean beast Cetus, the whale, high in the southeast, in the watery region of the sky where we also find Pisces the Fishes and Aquarius, the Waterman. This is the perfect set up for Melville’s epic, and especially this week, when the Moon has left the night behind, as it treads through the dawn, and there encounters Mercury, escort of souls.
After greeting Mercury on Wednesday, the Moon joins the Sun at New Phase on Thursday, and the two of them standing opposite the planet Uranus in the sky. Uranus has a reputation for being a harbinger of sudden change, the kind that results from encountering things that come from out of the unknown.
For this star lore historian, all of this combines to make this a magical week, one in which we can pass through the veil of the season into secret worlds, escorted by Mercury and undercover of a dark undisturbed by moonlight, to seek out the new and the unknown, which is the only way to find the best kind of places, which, as Melville described, are never drawn on any map.
Island Reflections - 2021 - 11 - 02 (31 - Mornings Like This - No Season - 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
Island Reflections - 2021 - 11 - 01 (29 - Mosquito Season - No Season - 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
Island Reflections - 2021 - 10 - 29 (30 - Talk To Dogs - No Season - 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
Island Reflections - 2021 - 10 - 28 (28 - Smell The Coffee - No Season - 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
Island Reflections - 2021 - 10 - 27 (27 - A Long Nite - No Season - 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
Island Reflections - 2021 - 10 - 25 (25 - Another Difficult Letter - No Season - 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
Island Reflections - 2021 - 10 - 22 (24 - The Letter X - No Season - 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow described the constellation Pegasus as a “wondrous winged steed, with mane of gold,” and right now, the glorious creature is winging to its highest place above the horizon.
Here’s what’s fascinating about Pegasus in my star lore historian’s playbook: every year in the Fall, when the final harvest comes in, our thoughts naturally turn toward waning life forces. The leaves have turned and fall earthward, the winds blow colder, and everything has a mood of retreat, of contracting and drawing within, particularly in the North.
In this season we also approach the sacred celebrations of loved ones who have died, but not before we get through the season’s halfway point, popularly known as All Hallowd’s Eve, or Halloween. The relationship of this mischievous festival to scary dead things isn’t happenstance, and galloping into the midst of this potential horror comes the wondrous winged steed, Pegasus.
In most cultures around the world, horses are associated with crossing over the threshold from this life into the next, and there are ancient burial sites around the world where the remains of horses in full regalia are found near the remains of those to whom they were to give safe passage beyond.
In the Russian tale of “Ivan and the Chestnut Horse,” Ivan’s dead father shakes off the damp earth of his grave to summon a marvelous horse for his youngest son. At the dead man’s first call, the distant thunder of mighty hooves can be heard. At his second call, the horse’s neighing is detected; and at the third call, the mighty creature appears, eyes, ears and nostrils shooting flames of fire, to circle three times around Ivan and his dead father, indicating that the call has been heard, and wishes can now be granted to those who have suffered a loss of hope.
So find Pegasus high in the southeast this week, listen for the rolling thunder, and trust that true wishes are always heard, and always answered.
Image description: Pegasus shares the star Alpheratz with the constellation Andromeda, which can be imagined as the sacred kiss that happens between Ivan and his beloved in this week's tale. Shown here in reverse by Hevelius, 17th century.
Island Reflections 2021 - 10 - 19 (20 - Another List - EarlyFall 2018 - 11 - 20) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2021 - 10 - 18 (16 - List For Happiness 3 - Early Fall - 2018 - 11 - 20) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2021 - 10 - 15 (13 - A Lazy Day Off -Fall - Oct1 - 2018 - 11 - 20) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2021 - 10 - 13 (09 - The Big Dryer Project - Fall - 2018 - 11 - 20) by WVBI
The planets, in their orbital rhythms, are like mighty instruments of time, though each with its own mood. And this includes Sun and Moon in relation to the Earth.
The Sun sets the baseline, and gives us the experience of day and night, the course of the seasons, the cycle of the year. The Moon follows the course of the Sun, but in much less time, lending immediacy to our feeling life. Mercury travels quickly, and like the fleet-footed messenger associated with this planet, he speeds around the world with messages, news, chatter, gossip.
Then there’s Venus, shining brightest like the true love and beauty with which the planet is associated, patiently gracing first the dawn as morning star and then the dusk as evening star.
Mars appears fiery red in our sky, trumpeting through the feeling life with temper and impatience. Jupiter, on the other hand, wants to grow, to take it all in, every experience.
Then there’s Saturn, the furthest planet from us that can be seen with the naked eye, and, as the slowest moving of all the planetary bodies we can see, the one that marks the boundary of time.
Each year Saturn is retrograde for several months, during which time it’s best to reflect on where we’ve been, what path we’ve followed, what are the boundaries of our experience. Then the planet moves direct, as it does this week, propelling us forward into new territory again, to find our way through flower and weed, come what may, and to test ourselves, to see if we are ready to move from chaos to cosmos.
Saturn moved retrograde from May 2021 until this week, and is now moving eastward against the background of stars, urging us into a mood that makes us aware, as TS Eliot said, that “In the darkness is the light, and in the stillness, the dancing.”
From TS Eliot's East Coker
I said to my soul, be still, and wait without hope For hope would be hope for the wrong thing; wait without love, For love would be love of the wrong thing; there is yet faith But the faith and the love and the hope are all in the waiting. Wait without thought, for you are not ready for thought: So the darkness shall be the light, and the stillness the dancing.
A Shepherd and a King
The shepherd has taken the West wind gently in hand while the king stands guard over the dragon, where that beast stirs in the North, its stoney sleep troubled by the princess who readies to stage a scene at this week’s ball, dressed in the most brilliant colors of the season, gifted by her fairy godmother.
In other words, the constellation Boötes sets in the West after sunset at this time of year, while Cepheus the king keeps an eye on the constellation Draco in the North, coiling about overhead, host to this week’s meteor shower, the Draconids, which peak overnight Friday to Saturday. This is not a prolific meteor shower, so it’s easy to imagine the dragon only slightly stirring, rather than mounting ferocious battle.
In the meantime, the fairy godmother Moon wanes as a crescent through the morning sky, carrying the last rays of summer sunlight toward new phase on Wednesday. Then on Friday, just before the dragon’s meteor shower, the Moon, now a waxing crescent and appearing at the end of the day instead of its beginning, sweeps past the planet Venus, goddess of love and beauty, where she approaches the threshold of Scorpio at the star Dschubba in the West. Dschubba is known as the tree in the garden of light that stands in the midst of the abyss, like Cinderella, standing atop the stairs readying to enter the ball.
The poetry, myths, and fairy tales of ages are like code-speak for the mighty moral imaginations that are written across the sky by the stars, gifted to us every night of the year like once upon a time, and supporting us in realizing that happily ever after can follows even the most challenging of life’s circumstances.
Island Reflections 2021 - 10 - 05 (05 - Mornings Like This - Fall - Tuesday - 2018 - 11 - 20) by WVBI
In Book I of Edmund Spencer’s epic poem “The Faerie Queene,” there’s a terrific tale of a battle between the Red Crosse Knight and a dragon. The poem is considered Spenser’s defining work, and earned him a lifetime pension from Queen Elizabeth the 1st.
The dragon-slaying Red Crosse Knight is often associated with St. George, patron saint of England. His feast day is celebrated in April every year. So what does this story have to do with the night sky in September?
It seems that George, serves as the earthly counterpart of that other defeater of dragons, the Archangel Michael, who is celebrated on September 29th in the calendar, and who, in John’s Book of Revelation, has a mighty battle in heaven with the red dragon, a beast with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns upon his heads. This beast’s tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and cast them to the earth.
Looking into the night sky, we find the star creature of the Hydra, a mighty water serpent that snakes along beneath four constellations of the zodiac, or, under one-third of that mighty circle of stars.
The Hydra rises into the night in the Spring, not long before the feast of St. George, and it sets in the Fall, at this time of year, as we approach the Feast of Michael. So what I imagine in this stellar set up is that in the northern hemisphere, we have the growing daylight of Spring and Summer to conquer the earthly dragon, which is manifest in human doubts, fears, and hatred, whereas in this season, as the daylight wanes, we have the conquering hero Michael to protect us, with a fierce courage that manifests in truth, goodness, and beauty, allowing us to experience what Edmund Spenser described in his epic poem, those untroubled nights that give counsel best.
Island Reflections - 2021 - 09 - 29 (16 - Pet Peeves - No Season - 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
Island Reflections - 2021 - 09 - 27 (14 - Non Fiction - No Season - 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
Island Reflections - 2021 - 09 - 23 (1 2 - Languages - No Season - 2019 - 7-22) by WVBI
Dante Alighieri’s epic poem “The Divine Comedy” is regarded as one of the most influential works of art in western civilization. He completed it 700 years ago and then died this week, September 13 or 14th, in 1321, exiled from his beloved Florence.
Just as Dante produced the poem in three parts, called “canticles,” he also had three guides ~ Virgil, Beatrice and St. Bernard ~ to lead him through the three realms of the Inferno, Purgatory and Paradise; and all of this as a construct for examining the three-fold nature of the human being, as a being of body, soul, and spirit.
So what does this have to do with the stars this week?
When Dante and Virgil reach the deepest region of the Inferno, they come upon Lucifer, where he’s sunk in the Earth for his rebellion from God. In order to pass through this region, they have to climb down the body of the fallen god until they reach his thigh, then they turn and climb out to see the stars.
In ancient and medieval astrological tradition, the thigh of the human form was aligned to the region of Sagittarius.
Later, when Dante and Beatrice ascend through the Paradise to the region of fixed stars, they do so at the region of Gemini, which stands exactly opposite Sagittarius in the sky. So we could call this line from Sagittarius to Gemini the “Dante Axis” and it just so happens that the Moon passes through Sagittarius on the anniversary of Dante’s death this week, and will pass through Gemini stars two weeks later. For me, this sets up a lovely opportunity to follow Dante in a contemplation of our the three-fold nature, as beings of body, soul and spirit.
“Look, Reader, how my theme would scale the sky! Marvel, not, therefore, if with greater art I seek to buttress what I build so high.” ~from Purgatory, Canto IX, lines 70-72
Island Reflections 2021 - 09 - 06 (22 - Another List 2 - No Season 2018 - 11 - 20) by WVBI
In today's Community Calendar: The island has its first positive COVID-19 test since mid-May. The Health Center reported that yesterday and shows one test pending. Sweeping experiences for two Michigan men are in the news...one off a pier and one in a conflict between state and federal marijuana laws. There great summer weather in our forecast, but some rain on the way, too. Get the details at noon, 3 and 6 on air or listen to our podcast at wvbi.net.
What does Harry Potter have in common with Shakepeare’s Juliet? According to their authors, they were both born on July 31st, which just so happens to be the eve of the Summer Cross Quarter Day, which is traditionally observed on August 1st.
In old British tradition, the Cross Quarter Day was known as Lammas, for “loaf mass,” a celebration of the first wheat harvest that was brought in from the fields at the halfway point in the Summer. But because of the Earth’s wobble, which causes a precession, the halfway point in this Summer isn’t August 1st, it’s actually August 6th.
And here’s the fascinating thing, August 6th marks the Feast of Transfiguration in the Christian Calendar, when three of the Apostles witness the transfigured Christ, attended to by Moses and Elias. In chapter nine of the Luke Gospel, this event happens about eight days after the miracle of Feeding the Multitude with five loaves and two fishes. Eight days before August 6 is around July 30, which indicates that it’s probably this miracle of abundance that informed the early harvest celebrations of this season.
Also this week, Mercury has just made its superior meeting with the Sun, and will now speed around to join Venus in the evening sky. And Saturn just made its annual opposition with the Sun, which means it’s now rising in the East as the Sun sets in the West.
Mercury brings messages, Saturn takes time, so this week, we can use these elements to plan to make ceremony around the August 6 Cross Quarter Day meal, to be grateful to the farmers, and to imagine the sunlight and moonbeams and star shine that commingles with life streaming from Earth’s limitless rich depths.
Beaver Island Perspectives 2021-07-30 Guests Robert Nordling & Peter Ferry 2021 - 07 - 30 by WVBI
Island Reflections 2021 - 07 - 21 (2021 - 06 - 01 Time Out For Art - Side Hustles) by WVBI
The Room Where it Happened The Moon has two orbital rhythms that vary by about two days: The sidereal rhythm is the time takes the Moon to complete one orbit around Earth; and the synodic rhythm, which is the time it takes for the Moon to catch up with the Sun again. These two rhythms are different because the Earth is moving.
And here’s what’s really fascinating:
Sunspots occur at a certain latitude on the Sun’s surface, and at this latitude, the Sun has a rotational period nearly equal to the Moon’s sidereal rhythm. The planet Saturn has an orbital period of 29.5 years, which is the same number of days in the Moon’s synodic rhythm. This is an incredible cosmic harmony, and we’re living within it because on the Earth, we live within the Moon’s orbit, so everything that comes and goes in our cosmic environment has to lock in with our Moon in order to be realized here.
That’s where this week’s Thunder Moon comes in. It will be Full on Friday, July 23rd, at nearly the exact same place where Jupiter and Saturn had their Great Conjunction at Winter Solstice. So it’s as though the moonbeams will resound with the meaning of what that great meeting was all about. Imagine the Moon is like our cosmic doorkeeper, and now the doors are flung open, and we’re invited into the room where it happened. And take John Keats with you, from his "Endymion":
Nor do we merely feel these essences For one short hour; no, even as the trees That whisper round a temple become soon Dear as the temple's self, so does the moon, The passion poesy, glories infinite, Haunt us till they become a cheering light Unto our souls, and bound to us so fast, That, whether there be shine, or gloom o'ercast; They always must be with us, or we die.
There was a big turnout for last evening's Peaine Township Board meeting with folks there to support township funding for bocce and pickleball courts in the township park. The Michigan Board of canvassers has certified a petition to repeal the 1945 law used for most of last year's COVID-19 orders from the governor. And it looks like some unemployment benefits were paid by mistake--while others who should have been paid had claims denied. Perfect summer weather in the forecast for today, but we could see heavy rain this evening--up to an inch--as a big storm skirts us to the south. On the calendar, Bevar Island Music Festival kicks off this evening with Brother Crowe. Pretty much non-stop music for three days starts tomorrow at noon. Details on these stories and more are in today's WVBI Community Calendar. If you missed it at 9, catch it on air at noon, 3 or 6. Or grab the podcast anytime at wvbi.net.
Filling in the Cosmic Spaces This week begins with an exclamation point, and I don’t mean just the fireworks. There are three exceptional celestial phenomena all piled up on the same day, stirring the imagination and stoking vivid summer dreams.
So here’s what to know: The orbit of the Moon and all the planets is an ellipse, rather than a circle ~ an ellipse is like a squashed oval. This was figured out in the early 17th century by Johannes Kepler. And what this means is that sometimes, orbiting bodies come closer to the object they’re orbiting, and sometimes, they’re further away.
On Monday this week, the planet Mercury is in the morning sky, and is furthest away from the Sun as it can get, called its “greatest elongation.” Also that day, the Earth is as far away from the Sun as it can get, called its “aphelion,” and the Moon is as far away from the Earth as it can get, called its “apogee.” Crazy, right? But to be clear, the Moon gets to apogee once each month, Mercury achieves greatest elongation several times a year, and the Earth comes to aphelion once each year ~ but for them to all happen on the same day, that’s something.
It’s like they’ve all stretched out as far and wide as they can, giving us all the opportunity to consider, if it’s up to us to fill the cosmic spaces, what will we do? Here’s Mary Oliver’s poem “The Summer Day,” as fitting contemplation:
Who made the world? Who made the swan, and the black bear? Who made the grasshopper? This grasshopper, I mean— the one who has flung herself out of the grass, the one who is eating sugar out of my hand, who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down— who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes. Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face. Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away. I don't know exactly what a prayer is. I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass, how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields, which is what I have been doing all day. Tell me, what else should I have done? Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Island Reflections 2021 - 06 - 11 (2021 - 06 - 01 - Time Out For Art - Reading)) by WVBI
This week I’m assuming we’ve all heard fairy tales about what happens when you forget to invite all the fairy godmothers to the much-longed-for baby’s christening. Unbeknownst to the baby, some evil curse settles into the destiny, and the whole course of the life is then motivated by trying to navigate around the curse so the bitter doom it foretells never befalls.
Now this week, there’s an annular solar eclipse, on Thursday, and the fairy tale of “The White Doe” is perfect for imagining what the eclipse brings. In the tale, the childless queen is visited by a fairy godmother disguised as a crab. She gives the queen a message, and because the queen trusts what the crab says (how odd the encounter a speaking crab, right?), the crab assumes her proper form as a beautiful fairy and leads the queen the fairy palace where all the fairies are gathered to grant her greatest wish ~ to have a child.
As an aside, it’s important to note that this isn’t a tale about fertility. The child represents the soul spirit nature of the human being, which we must give birth to out of our own striving. And sure enough, in this tale, the queen has the baby, she hosts the party, but she forgets to invite the crab fairy!
“They were all gathered round the heap of pink cushions on which the baby lay asleep, when a shadow seemed to fall between them and the sun, and a cold wind blew through the room. Everybody looked up, and there was the crab-fairy, who had grown as tall as the ceiling in her anger.” The curse she pronounces is that the child is not allowed to see one ray of sunlight before her 15th birthday ~ you can imagine how that goes! Find a link to the tale on the Interlochen Public Radio website, and information about seeing the on-set of the eclipse at dawn, Thursday, June 10.
Find the complete fairy tale of "The White Doe" at this link. And information about viewing the on-set of the eclipse at dawn on Thursday, June 10 is at this link. Note that the annular phase of the clipse will not be visible in Northern Michigan, but partial phase will be. Also, Guy Otteweel shares that despite the image shared here, "It's only in total eclipse that the Moon and sky go black. In a partial eclipse, the sky remains blue, and the Moon appears merely as a part of the blue sky, invading across the Sun. But because of the reduced sunlight there is an eerie sense of semi-darkness."
Island Reflections 2021 - 06 - 08 (2021 - 06 - 01 - Time Out For Art - Quitting) by WVBI
Beaver Island Perspectives 2021-06-07 Steve Schnell on Housing with host Kevin Boyle by WVBI
Island Reflections 2021 - 06 - 01 (2018 - 08 - 08 Good Things And Bad - Summer) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2021 - 05 - 28 (2016 - 03 - 18 Once In A Lifetime Opportunities) by WVBI
In the Shadow of the Flower Moon
At dawn on Wednesday, May 26, the Full Moon will step into the Earth’s shadow, inaugurating this year’s eclipse season. Not only will this be the first eclipse of the year, it’s happening when the Moon is nearly as close to the Earth as it can get, giving it the catchy distinction of being the Super Flower Blood Moon.
We won’t see the entire eclipse from Northern Michigan, but if you’re up early, start watching the Moon in the West around 4:47 am Wednesday ~ you’ll notice a shadow creeping over its edge. This is called the “penumbral stage.” An hour later, partial stage begins.
The Sun will rise in Northern Michigan about 15 minutes after at 6 am, and the Moon will set five minutes after sunrise, so out of view for us, and into Earth’s deeper shadow.
So we’ll have five minutes of a partially eclipsed Moon hanging over the western horizon while the Sun is rising in the East, looking on, but not chasing away the shadow. This sets up a unique opportunity for research in the world of the storyteller’s night sky.
Every month during Full Phase, the Moon blasts us with all of the available celestial light that it has gathered to itself for focusing earthward. This light strikes in and causes what can feel like a hairpin turn in the lunar cycle, if we’re paying attention. All of a sudden, everything that was growing toward a certain destination gets catapulted in a new direction ~ and any kind of stasis gets fragmented.
Now add an eclipse, so that rather than the Moon focusing the celestial light toward Earth to facilitate this turn, it amplifies our shadow instead. We still have to make that turn, but now we have to do it out of ourselves.
So make ready ahead of time by considering: What allows us to see in the shadow?
Island Reflections 2021 - 05 - 24 (2016 - 03 - 14 100 Years Ago Or So It Seems) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2021 - 05 - 18 (2016 - 03 - 08 Valentines Day Wishes For My Sister) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2021 - 05 - 13 (2016 - 05 - 05 Old Age Or Life In The Woods) by WVBI
This week the Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower opens a window into the world of wishes when it peaks in the early morning hours around May 5th, The shower takes its name from the region of Aquarius, but it’s actually caused by the trail of stuff left by Comet Halley when it whizzes through our system.
The Eta star in Aquarius isn’t named, but it’s situated among a host of other stars that all have names referring to good fortune, like the alpha star in Aquarius, which has a name that means “The Luckiest One of the King.” The beta star has a name that means “Luckiest of the Lucky,” and the gamma star is the “Lucky Star of Hidden Things or Hiding-places.”
Then there’s the delta star in Aquarius, with the name Scheat, which means “a wish.” And that brings us back to the Meteor Shower, and the tradition of making wishes on falling stars.
It seems that this tradition derives from something described by the 2nd century Greek astronomer Claudius Ptolemy. Ptolemy is credited with describing how the gods caused the stars to fall because, out of curiosity or boredom, they occasionally peered down at the Earth from between the planetary spheres, and because of this, the stars could slip through the gaps, and fall earthward. This was an exceptional experience, and Ptolemy posited that since the gods were already looking our way at such a time, they would be more receptive to the wishes we make.
So get outside before dawn any clear morning this week, and cast your wishes to the stars, for they’re more bound to come true. One of the best wishes that comes to mind for me is from Shakespeare’s “Merchant of Venice”: “I wish you all the joy that you can wish.”
The West wind brings the light of the spring; Eos, mother of the West wind, brings the dawn; and this week’s Full Moon brings the season’s first blossoms.
On Monday, the Moon will rise 20 minutes before the Sun sets around 8:40 pm, and will come to exact Full Phase a few hours later, at 11:33 pm. This Full Moon is one of the closest of the year, known technically as perigee Moon, and popularly as a “Super Moon.”
This Moon has also been called the Pink Moon, not because it will appear pink, but because of the native wisdom regarding this Moon’s role in calling forth the first blossoms of the season.
By the end of the week, we’ll be at the cross quarter day of the season, known as May Day, Saturday, May 1st. And the night before, well, that has a different mood entirely than the breezy blossoming joy of spring. Known as Walpurgis Night, April 30th stands exactly opposite October 31st in the calendar, and like that night in the yearly cycle, it is associated with chaos, mischief, and mayhem.
It’s fitting, then, that this week’s Moon will be seen crossing through the region of Scorpio stars, long associated with the dark mysteries of the underworld. It’s as thought he forces lying beneath are given one last hurrah before everything rushes up and out into riotous spring.
So this week, I’m reading the letters of John Keats. “Let us not go hurrying about and collecting honey, bee-like buzzing here and there for a knowledge of what is not to be arrived at, but let us open our leaves like a flower, and be passive and receptive, budding patiently under the eye of Apollo, and taking hints from every noble insect that favours us with a visit ~ sap will be given us for meat and dew for drink.”
There’s so much poetic harmony between meteor showers and the spring, falling through the sky just when the blossoms are rushing toward the sun and the bees are rushing toward the blossoms and everything is humming along to the greater mystery of warmth and light. No wonder then, at least for the Storyteller’s Night Sky, that the first meteor shower of the season emanates from the region of the constellation Lyra, the musical instrument of the ancient sun god Apollo, and his mother, Leto.
The Lyrid Meteor Shower is active from April 16th until the 30th, with an overnight peak Wednesday, April 21st, when the Moon is a waxing gibbous, misshapen and sloping westward well beyond the midnight hour.
The trick with a meteor shower is to look for it when the constellation that bears its name is highest. In this case, the constellation is Lyra, with the unmistakably bright blue-white star Vega. Vega rises around 9 pm, blazing a trail through the night from northeast to southwest, scattering stars like melodies across the sky as she heralds the season of warmth for us in the northern hemisphere. The Lyrids are known to produce fireballs, even though they don’t leave persistent trails of star dust.
The lyre that lends its name to the constellation belonged to the ancient greek goddess Leto, musician to the Olympic gods. She was consort to Zeus before Hera, and she bore the twins Apollo and Artemis, sun and moon. The myth of Leto relates how her childbirth was delayed until Iris, goddess of the rainbow, was gifted a necklace woven through with the golden threads of destiny, for use in persuading Ilithyia, goddess of childbirth, to make haste.
It’s easy to imagine such a tale in the northern spring, when warmth and blossom seem delayed by stubborn cold. We can all help out by sending wishes, music, and poetry, into the night.
Island Reflections 2021 - 04 - 19 (2017 - 06 - 01 Artifacts To Memories - In The Garden) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2021 - 04 - 12 (2017 - 06 - 05 Artifacts To Memories - Things I Can't Let Go) by WVBI
Island Reflections 2021 - 04 - 12 (2017 - 06 - 05 Artifacts To Memories - Things I Can't Let Go) by WVBI
This is “The Storyteller’s Night Sky” and this week’s waning Moon means its International Dark Sky Week 2021.
International Dark Sky Week is intended to raise awareness about the issue of light pollution around the world, and to provide education and resources about how to mitigate its unwanted effects, particularly in habitat, in energy resources, and in human health.
For me, International Dark Sky Week is also about drawing attention to the necessity for developing healthy human imaginations. The imagination differs from the intellect in that it is more playful, especially because it’s not bound to the laws of reason or logic. Just as we need sound intellect to function in a healthy way in the day-to-day world, we need healthy imaginations to find our way into the unknown, and there are a lot of unknowns in our world.
And this where the dark comes into play, and why protecting the dark is so essential to our well being. The dark is one of the most stimulating elements for the imagination, and you can test this yourself by turning off all the lights and being awake in your space, in the dark, or by going out into the night when it’s undisturbed by artificial light.
Here’s a terrific quote to help me make my point, from Irish poet John O’Donahue: “The world rests in the night. Trees, mountains, fields, and faces are released from the prison of shape and the burden of exposure. Each thing creeps back into its own nature within the shelter of the dark. Darkness is the ancient womb. Nighttime is womb- time. Our souls come out to play. The darkness absolves everything; the struggle for identity and impression falls away. We rest in the night.”
Sunny and warm on the island makes one think of spring. In today's Community Calendar we have news on one of the island's traditional rites of spring. It's Warblers on the Water and its back after a year off for COVID. Three seminars and some field trips are already planned, with more to come. Attendance will be limited to be CDC safe. We've got the details on that, the latest COVID-19 numbers and numbers on a warming trend. Listen on air at 9, noon, 3 and 6, or grab the podcast or script at wvbi.biccenter.org/podcasts.