The days are beginning to lengthen, but the gloom of this Covid Christmas is hard to ignore. As always, I turn to favorite authors and nature to escape. This week, on her re-christened website, The Marginalia, (formerly Brainpickings) Maria Papova shared excerpts and insights from Antonio Damasio’s book, Feeling and Knowing: Making Minds Conscious. Papova’s essay delves into Damasio’s fascinating theories about the interplay between consciousness and feelings. I was struck by this quote:
What is more impressive than the entire universe is life, as matter and process,
life as inspirer of thinking and creation.
Antonio Damasio
I decided that the last few words made a good strike line for a Golden Shovel to ring in the new year.
I wish you all peace, health, and joy and many opportunities to celebrate the vibrant hum of creation in the coming year. Please be sure to visit Carol at Carol’s Corner for the final Poetry Friday Roundup of 2021.
Reading to the Core 
Wonderful post, Catherine. I so enjoy how a golden shovel opens a conversation with another poet as you have shown here. “The vibrant hum,” indeed. This poem gives me peace at a time when I’ve allowed the pandemic to creep into my thoughts and intimidate me. Thank you for the steady confidence of nature…of life.
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Thank you, Catherine, for the “vibrant hum” of your wise, generous, poetic voice. Happy 2022!
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Out in nature we can see there is so much more, yet we are a part of this world, even if for such a short time. How to use the gifts we are given is a question so worth pondering. Thank you for a lovely post, Catherine and Happiest of New year to you and yours.
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I love those stars wheeling overhead, Catherine. Happy New Year!
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I do believe that we are always inspired by that cycle, Catherine. The ‘now’ Marginalia is a wonder every time I read it. Happy New Year!
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Having just emerged from the winter woods, I felt a kinship to this poem. The stars were amazing each night.
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YOUR vibrant hum is an inspiration to me, Catherine! See you later…after I go back and read Marginalia this week.
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Ahh…I’m loving that “vibrant hum,” too! Here’s to a year of celebrating and savoring!
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