Thursday, December 30, 2010

I Want to Be an Astronaut When I Grow Up


This is not the first time I've revealed my love for all things space-y, so I might as well say it myself, having been accused of being one:  I will forever be a space cadet. In third grade, I spent a good deal of time deep in a comic book, learning all about training to be an astronaut. Mrs. Vincent, my third-grade teacher, also fed my obsession via a capsule of information where we learned about John Glenn, what astronauts eat in space, what the Big Plans were, etc. I ate it up and begged for more: 'More space, please.'  I still can't get enough.

As my personal exploration of space, via the computer now (supplemented with lots of standing under the night sky and looking up in wonder), takes me deeper into space, I feel that my exploration of spirituality dovetails with it, in fact they seem to be interchangeable in many ways.  This is a subject I have written about before and will undoubtedly write about again, but today I want to share with you a link that my son, Coleman, sent to me this morning. These are photographs taken by Col. Douglas Wheelock, during his command of the International Space Station. Besides being an astronaut, he's one world-class photographer. And I do mean world-class. His photographs are astonishingly beautiful. His photograph above looks like something out of  "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," one of my top ten favorite movies of all time. I would also venture to say he is one fine metaphysical writer. His captions are pure poetry. This is nature writing at its finest.

I may be prejudiced by my own love of space, but I hope you will click on the link below and will enjoy them as much as I did. Then, I urge you to click on the link to his biographical data in the introduction to them (an amazing look at what dedication to your chosen field can do) and to his twitter account. His full captions enhance the images with poetic descriptions of the incredible views he enjoyed from space.

This is art, this is science, this is spirituality, and it sets my heart on fire.

http://triggerpit.com/2010/11/22/incredible-pics-nasa-astronaut-wheelock/



19 comments:

  1. I was pleased to see a post from you, and what a beautiful post it is! That is an incredible set of photos, and the captions are lovely. I like the fact that people who see our world from that perspective are awed by it. I guess when you stand out in the clear cold night and look up at the stars, you have a pretty great perspective, too.

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  2. Nothing wrong with being "a space cadet," I've known and loved a few myself! Have a safe and joyful New Year's eve celebration, and may 2011 be kind to you with good health, good cheer with much happiness and laughter!

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  3. Hi Nancy! Good to hear from you! Nothing like the night sky, from any perspective. So glad you liked the photo and captions, too. I trust your "retirement" is bringing wonderful new ways of Being. Happy New Year!

    Linda, Aren't they cool? I just had to share them. I loved your Yellowstone pics. What fun! Happy New Year!

    Kate, Thank You! Good to hear from you! A Joy-filled New Year to you!

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  4. A toast with a glass of Tang.I'm told they still consume this drink in space. I enjoyed looking through a number of posts. You have found beauty in the world around you, and felt the spirit or love it harbors for all of us to enjoy.Many of us don't look well enough to understand what is right in front of our noses.Happy New Year

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  5. So glad you stopped in! Yes, a toast with Tang, but no food in tubes, for which I'm thankful. Thanks for reading other posts and for your kind words about my blog. It's so good to make new connections. Happy New year!

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  6. Happy New year!!!
    I'm sure glad to be hearing from you again. I really did miss your posts.
    Lynn

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  7. Hi Lynn! Thank You! It's good to be back and so nice to hear from You. Happy, NEW year!

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  8. I didn't know you were back until I saw you on my blog. Hope you had a restful respite. A space cadet, huh? What a great thing. In Florida we lived around the curve from the cape and watched all the lift-off's from our balcony, plus my oldest son worked at the cape. It was a "spacy time." I checked out the pictures of Wheelock's. Amazing!!! Thrilling to see the pictures. Imagine seeing that in the real. I am always in awe of the pictures that show the curvature of the earth. And that Wheelock is also a hunky guy, huh? (I still notice, LOL)

    Hope you have exciting plans for tonight. Me.... too cold and slippery and too many Montana drunks. I'm reading all my books on Edgar Cayce again. I love that man.
    Happy New Year and glad you're back.
    Peace...xo xo xo

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  9. Manzi! So good to hear from you! I'm jealous - just around the corner from the cape! I'm glad you enjoyed the pics. Yeah, that curvature is amazing, isn't it? And, yes, the colonel is "hunky." :) Never stop noticing ! I don't plan to! I have no plans for the night, just another evening here. It's very snowy, windy and cold. I actually find the Solstice more inspiring towards moving forward.

    I'm enjoying the Abraham-Hicks book, "The Vortex," about relationships and all that jazz. Enjoy the Cayce, have a beautiful night, and Happy New Year!

    So, Onward and Upward !
    Buzz Lightyear

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  10. Happy new year Teresa! Hope your new year is filled with love and joy. xo

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  11. Absolutely spectacular! Thanks you for the link, Coleman! My favorites were #21 (the great barrier reef) and #22 (Italy - which I think looks exactly like a reindeer leaping into space).

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  12. Thank you, Karen! A very Happy Love-filled New Year, to you, as well!

    Hi Cheryl! Aren't they great? I love it - a reindeer leaping in space! No more hot toddies for you! LOL Besides , it was clearly a bunny rabbit... :) Oh it's good to be back... Happy New Year, Cheryl!

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  13. Oh my goodness those photos are wonderfully spectacular, how proud you must be, I must look further and I can't wait to show Gary the photos he will just love them, but he is sleeping right now and would kill me if I woke him up, well not kill, but you know what I mean. I am a land lubber myself, but Gary loves to fly. I have always thought of space cadet in other connotations and I don't believe you are one of those, te he, happy new year, hope you are having fun, sounds like you are. Now I've got to go to the link and be even more awed. thanks so much for a another great post.

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  14. Hi Linda! I love a display of heart and soul, such as Col. Wheelock with his photos and captions. They serve as a nice metaphor for enlarging our perceptions and seeing things from a Higher standpoint. Glad you like them, too.

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  15. Teresa, I want to wish you a very Happy New Year! May you have love, good health and fortune in the coming months. I look forward to reading your writing in the coming months. Warmest regards, Jack.

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  16. Thank you, Jack. I wish all good things for you, as well.

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  17. You would have made a fine astronaut! And after reading his writings and seeing his images, so is Astronaut Wheelock, who has taken flying high to even greater heights.

    Rick and I had a hard time closing the site and walking away from his photos. My, they are world class. Just last night we were discussing the space station and what it would be like to be up there, and here you are with the answers.

    How very lucky we all are, here on little planet earth. My hope for the new year is a globally unified belief in holding her dear and making her well.

    Thank you Teresa.
    Hugs and love, Chris

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  18. Wasn't his use of "Vincent" wonderful on the second page of photos? I'm so glad you both enjoyed them and questions were answered. :) Your wish for the new year is perfect.

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