My Morning Star

sometimes my adventure is writing~~

Morning Star

This morning I opened my kitchen curtain and saw Venus winking back at me in the brand new sky. It was just after 5:30am, my usual hour for starting my day.

Solitary morning star, I always feel drawn to her bright sparkle each morning the sky is clear and she is my sky companion on my hikes at dawn, or these first few moments I’m awake and peaking out my window.

Venus, second planet from the sun, not a star after all. Named as the Roman Goddess of love and beauty. Originally, the Greeks, when they discovered the morning and evening star were actually one in the same, named the planet Aphrodite for its bright beauty, brighter than any star in the heavens.

It was the Romans who changed its name to Venus, their Goddess of Love. The northen continent on this shiny spot in the heavens above, is named Ishtar Terra after the Babylonian goddess of love while the southern continent is named Aphrodite Terra, the Greek goddess of love.

The Persian mythology named her Anahita; their goddess of love.

So much love and beauty honoring a tempestuous planet, whose density of surface and the carbon dioxide rich atmosphere along with her thick clouds of sulfur dioxide generates the strongest greenhouse effect in our solar system. This fiery make-up creates quite a bit of heat with temperatures over 850 degrees. She’s hotter than her neighbor Mercury, though Venus is twice Mercury’s distance from the sun. She also is unique in her rotation, opposite from the other planets in our solar system.

All day and night, under her tremendously thick blanket of clouds, her volcanes erupt and lightening and thunder continue around the clock.

The Babylonian astrologers named her Nin-dar-an-na; Brightest Queen of the Sky for her dominant role as brightest star.

Earth’s sister planet is called the spirit Barnumbirr by the Aboriginal culture in Northen Australia. According to their beliefs, as she approaches the early hours before dawn, she draws behind her a rope of light attached to the earth. Along this rope, is a richly decorated Morning Star Pole. This pole allows the people to communicate with their dead loved ones. They can let them know they are remembered and loved. Barnumbirr is also an important creator spirit in the Dreaming; the cultures belief that all things are created in the Dreamtime. This follows their belief that this planet “sang” much of the country into life.

Venus, my morning and evening light, brightest spot in our solar system, quite a title you carry as Queen of the Sky.

Those mornings I leave the house to take my walks just before the sun takes full control of day from night, Venus is my guide and messenger that has always made me feel that my dawn patrol was a very sacred and honored moment for me to be a part of creation.

Here comes a brand new moment, a new day, full of all possibilities, promise and creation.

I have always sensed, my prayers at this hour were more easily heard, that the daily static had not yet overblown the fuses connecting me to Her; Queen of Creation, Goddess, co-creator with God, Heavenly Vibe offering Her chalice of Divine Drink, breathing me and me exhaling Her.

These are my finest moments, the excitement of personal power and knowing, when I slip out of bed, sensing my alarm just a minute or two before she vibrates to me..it’s time!

“Get up! It’s time for you! I’m listening for your footsteps outside, for your yearning heart to search for me and find me here, waiting, calling your name, reminding you how precious you are to me.”

She calls and I must go out and walk and hike up the hill, to the top, when the deer family comes out from their evening resting place and walk through the meadow, ready for breakfast, following their familiar trail. Time when the Kite calls out its morning reverie, the hawk floats on the morning air above me, perhaps a small coyote tries to make its way unnoticed across the field, dawn still holding her own, only saying goodbye when the hills surrounding me can no longer shield us from the morning rays of sun.

I find myself out here alone and yet so much apart of a great celestial awakening that comes back each day to awaken in me once more, my own creation, made in the image of Goddess, my own Bright star body.

I sing my morning song and only the deer hear me, stopped for a few moments in their tracks, their ears perked up and catching my voice coming down the canyon, rolling over the soft hills, falling all around the ground and rocks and dirt.

I receive my blessing of stillness and peace and reassurance of all prayers answered as Venus shines brightest above, reflecting back to me the majesty of the sun; singing me into life each morning, “You are Loved, you are Loved.”

Constant guide, celestial reflection, illuminous creatrix, messenger to loved ones, gateway to a higher Love, Venus.

Next! Bedford Peak..Main Divide!!

Sunday last, it was all about the hike...a new hike for both of us. 2,000 ft in 3 1/2 miles ...straight up sweethearts! Silverado Motorway is just at the end of Silverado Canyon, at the foot of the Santa Ana Mtns, in Cleveland Nat'l Forest; CA. We had seen this trailhead a few times before but had been heading another direction on our mountain bikes. The weather was cool, sunny and clear; perfect for heading up a trail with no shady promises, all exposure on an ever upward, winding single track. I made sure we packed almond butter and jelly sandwiches for this hike. A couple of gels and a small stick of monterey jack cheese and a handful of Ritz Bits was not going to be adequate fuel this time! The trail afforded us wonderful views of the canyons. The winding turns exposed rock formations that told the story of the evolution of these hills, their sedimentary chapters were too many to read on my first pass but beautiful in their undulating form and design. Halfway up is a place called Coffin Rock that offered much more history to anyone who could read rock! Quite a few mtn. bikers passed us heading down as this trail is a very popular end to climbing other trails connected at the Main Divide. It became obvious this trail was well used as additional hikers appeared for and aft. A young family had headed up at the same time we began, but left us in their dust in no time. They inspired me to move at a much steadier pace than if we'd been a solo couple. I also noticed how much stronger I am now, as I mentioned last week, from my reconditioned diet and workout program. Yep, more protein, less sugar, more fruits and veggies; card workout 5 days a week. It's working Shelli!! (She's my fitness coach.) Two hours+ up and we reached the Main Divide. It sounds so impressive...something like Continental Divide. Well, it was my first "divide" and it felt like something very big anyway! We made it to Bedford Peak, one of the highest summits in the Santa Ana mountains. The reward was a 360 of views! The ocean, Catalina Island, snow capped Mt Baldy, the other side of the mountains looking down on Corona, Palos Verdes Peninsula.....if it hadn't been for a very slight haze it would have really been spectacular. Sandwiches always taste so good at 2000 ft. Weird huh? I like the photo of the three bikers heading back down the hill behind me, after we had talked with them at the top. That's where we came from and would turn around and head back down. I can see why this trail is so popular on a clear fall or winter day. It would be impossibly hot in summer, and the reward of spectacular views is worth the pain in my calves all week.

Blackstar, Beek's Peak... ...Conquered!

Finally~~~~~ 8 miles uphill and 2,000 ft. elevation will never rank in any other record book but my own. After 3 other attempts and one being less than a mile to the top, I finally rode all the way up to Beek's Place at the top of Blackstar Canyon, nestled near the peaks of Saddleback mountain.

Last Saturday was a clear and chilly day after the rains offering perfect ride conditions for the group of 8 who pedaled together at the start.

My partner and I are always the sweepers, delegated or not, but we don't mind. We pedal as fast as we can and have surrendered to the energy of tortoise; slow but steady.

This day, my new diet and exercise regimen I'd begun 3 weeks earlier, was kicking in. I had increased cardio power, a bit more muscle mass in the pumpers along with the vision of; "I think I can, I think I can."

I had my sights and handle bars steering towards that giant golf ball (radar or satellite tower?) on top of Beek's peak. Today, I knew we would finally land on top and claim my bragging rights.

The other 6 riders were long gone ahead after 20 minutes out of the starting gate. It was nice while it lasted: hanging out with the group and being a part of the energy always takes me further and faster.

But me and Al realized our trip would be our trip and we'd be saying "see ya" before long.

But that's ok. We tend to be sight seers anyway; always finding a short break in the shade when stopping for a quick re-fuel is needed, or when my thighs can't pump one more revolution no matter how hard I think positive!

The morning had one goal only....to finally get me to the top. Al was not going to see me stop short this time. I was a woman on a mission to have Beek's peak notched on my handle and I could feel it and see it, even if I had to walk. Which of course I did, the last 1/2 mile.

Thighs were begging me for a break and no one was watching!

I would have loved to include more photos of the long and winding road, of the panoramic views of the Hidden Valley Ranch and the number of gorgeous canyons tucked in spots we rode by. Instead I registered each one in my mind to remember always and just kept pumping.

The ease of Blackstar is the fire road all the up and back. No rock gardens, dangerous ruts, roots, or single track with sheer drops to the right or left. Although that IS part of the mtn. bike joy on occasion. The workout and challenge of Blackstar is it's constant uphill 8 miles grind. I like it!

Those rides are a great workout for cardio and endurance.

And so, I've added a notch to my bike belt and Al captured my hard earned, if not exhausted smile at the top and I wondered........did Mr. and Mrs. Beek ride back and forth to work everyday?????