Please note Chrome works best for the Archetypal Animations in this post.
— By Wendell Berry
First Archetypal Animation & Stanza
When despair for the world grows in me, and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s live may be,
Second Archetypal Animation & Stanza
I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
Third Archetypal Animation & Stanza
I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief.
Fourth Archetypal Animation & Stanza
I come into the presence of still water.
Fifth Archetypal Animation & Stanza
And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light.
Sixth Archetypal Animation & Stanza
For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
Reflections On Wendell Berry’s Poem to This Moment in Time
When the forces of man’s collective psyche gather into a maelstrom sending destructive vortexes this way and that into the world, it is hard not to feel as Wendell Berry begins his timeless poem:
...despair for the world grows in me, and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children's live may be...
Putin blows his devil’s breath from high within his isolated, depressing Moscow tower. A devil’s wind that makes his warrior vortexes go this way and that. Everywhere they go, the leave behind trails of blood, of dead bodies and blown up buildings, trees, and earth. Up there in his tower of desolation, he bloats in his madness as he congratulates himself over and over again about how he is getting away with unleashing his Hell-scape fantasies, deathly desires, and foolish folly into the world.
If you are a person with normal capacity for human empathy and compassion, then it is impossible to turn away and ignore what is going on in Ukraine. And you must not turn away.
We all must witness this wicked madness straight on, just as the Ukrainians are meeting Putin’s little devils straight on. If we don’t want to become like Putin, we must feel this destruction deeply and furiously. And we must feel down deep into our bones all the other tragedies unfolding in Afghanistan, the Middle East, Africa, Central America, South America, in the heart of all major cities and super rick countries in this world.
If you do, this means you are still human.
Wendell Berry describes the monsters inside us all. And he also tells us how to quell them and to sink into the peace that passes all understanding.
I wonder when was the last time Putin went down to where the wood drakes gather? When did he last lay down on his back, belly exposed to the light, the air, the sun, the stars and breathe in the beauty of this world? When did he last see a heron eat a snake or ponder the peace of still water? When did he last look up into the night sky and wonder about how implausible any of us are here at all?
When did Putin cut himself off from his curiosity, his wonder, his inner grace and awareness that he is alive in a magnificent world with enough bounty for all, if only we would tap into our inner wild nature where the wild wisdom of life runs free with the knowledge there is bounty all, if only we take our fair share? When did Putin become a narcissist blob cut off from his body, his heart, and his humanity? When did he become a monster?
Seventh Archetypal Animation | When Grace Is Lost
Putin lost his inner grace long ago, and now, alone and cold in a forbidding world, he opens a gate for devils to tumble and fumble their way out into this beautiful world. They rape women, shoot children, bomb maternity hospitals, children’s hospitals, and recreation centers where 1,000 women and children huddle in the dark and cold hoping they might just stop their bombing. Instead, they are crushed under the rubble of another bomb.
I hate Putin. I hate Putin’s army of dead and dying souls. I wish the Free World would grow a stronger backbone and kill this man who has become a Dracula overseeing an army of Zombies. But, we are playing on the “civilized” game board, while Putin plays on the barbarian game board.
However, he won’t win. He might kill a Hell of a lot of people. He might even launch a nuclear bomb, but like so many Ruthless Rulers before him, he will crumble into the dust bin of life. Ruthless Rulers always do.
Oh yes, they might win for a time. And, they might press their smelly likeness onto other human beings, adding to the blob, but he will never win. His zombies will never rule over the multitude as he has promised.
Evil never wins! At least not for long…not as long as there is life to live. Not as long as wood drakes sail on lakes or great herons hunt and devour snakes. Not as long as a single human being wanders down to the waters edges and wonders why this whole thing exists at all. Ponders why we are here amongst the divine majesty of the trillion billion stars above.
Being Human by Being Connected to Each Other & the World
My friend Karen shared this poem with me. We both feel deep pain for suffering the of the people of Ukraine. We both feel helpless in the face of such evil, and yet, we live…and…in the face of such horror, in retaliation to the demonic evil unleashing death, destruction and horror on Earth, Ukrainians fight! They live!
And yes, they are dying by the hundreds of thousands because Putin is a coward and his army is ill-equipped and ill-prepared, indeed, they are unwilling to wage this war, expect for the beasts he’s imported in and the degenerate ones who glory in the gross and disgusting side of life…the ones who are too afraid to love or to know who and what they really are.
Ukrainians know the price of this evil, and they stand against it, and they are winning! They are winning because they remained connected to their humanity and grounded to this Earth–our home, our mother, our true nature. They show us, the Free World, each and every day how to fight for what is right and how to be better human beings!
Fight for the people of Ukraine! Glory to Ukraine!
Feature Archetypal Animation
Covid 19 Coronavirus Dystopia Dystopian | toyquests | Elliot Alderson • Age 35 • Los Angeles/United States • Member since March 31, 2020
Male Wood Duck Duck Animal Wildlife Drake Pond | muskrat55 | Robin Arnold • Age 66 • Port Clinton/United States • Member since June 9, 2017
Iceland Arctic Fox Fox White White Fox Canine | Inactive account – ID 12019
Rest Relax Lie Comfortable Sleep Man Person | Hans | Hans Braxmeier • Neu-Ulm/Deutschland • Member since Nov. 24, 2010
Composing Woman Fantasy Face Beauty Mystical Root | KELLEPICS | Stefan Keller • Deutschland / Germany • Member since March 22, 2017 • #391
Sunset Tree Water Silhouette Tree Silhouette Dusk | Cleverpix | Cindy Lever • Age 57 • Melbourne/Australia • Member since May 4, 2016
Meadow Green Meadow Flower Meadow Grass Nature | spirit111 | beate bachmann • Age 59 • berlin/germany • Member since April 6, 2017
Seljalandsfoss Waterfalls Iceland Falls Cliffs | Inactive account – ID 12019
Music: The Peace of Wild Things | Wendell Berry
The Peace of Wild ThingsWendell Berry
First Archetypal Animation
Man Portrait Homeless Poverty Male Poor | Leroy_Skalstad | Leroy Skalstad • Age 74 • Milwaukee/uSA • Member since July 14, 2015
Mental Health Brain Thinking Tree Branches Disorder | Tumisu | Tumisu, please consider ☕ Thank you! 🤗 • English • Member since Feb. 3, 2014
Lights Candle Man Old Fire Flame Candlelight | Skitterphoto | Rudy and Peter Skitterians • Groningen/The Netherlands • Member since July 5, 2014
Covid 19 Coronavirus Dystopia Dystopian | toyquests | Elliot Alderson • Age 35 • Los Angeles/United States • Member since March 31, 2020
Music: Goodbye Then | Crippled Black Phoenix
Second Archetypal Animation
Rest Relax Lie Comfortable Sleep Man Person | Hans | Hans Braxmeier • Neu-Ulm/Deutschland • Member since Nov. 24, 2010
Male Wood Duck Waterfowl Bird Swimming Wildlife | JamesDeMers | Charlottesville/USA • Member since March 6, 2012
Male Wood Duck Duck Animal Wildlife Drake Pond | muskrat55 | Robin Arnold • Age 66 • Port Clinton/United States • Member since June 9, 2017
Heron Snake Wader Bird Kill Ardeidae Prey | mkzsfoto | steven arnold • reunion • Member since Sept. 11, 2018
Music: Wild Imagination | Kurt Vile
Third Archetypal Animation
Fantasy Butterflies Mushrooms Forest Insects | Stergo | Игорь Левченко • Age 32 • Владикавказ/Россия • Member since Jan. 2, 2017
Composing Woman Fantasy Face Beauty Mystical Root | KELLEPICS | Stefan Keller • Deutschland / Germany • Member since March 22, 2017 • #391
Tree Lake Water Nature Landscape Forest | Leslin_Liu | Shanghai/China • Member since June 16, 2017
Fantasy Eyes Forest Branches Face Portrait | KELLEPICS | Stefan Keller • Deutschland / Germany • Member since March 22, 2017 • #391
Fantasy Deer Mammal Forest Nature Outdoors Light | peter_pyw | Peter • KUALA LUMPUR/Malaysia • Member since July 19, 2016
Fantasy Forest Dog Monster Girl Snow Winter | KELLEPICS | Stefan Keller • Deutschland / Germany • Member since March 22, 2017 • #391
Nature Outdoors Ants Forest Light Bulb Light | peter_pyw | Peter • KUALA LUMPUR/Malaysia • Member since July 19, 2016
Music: The Peace Of Wild Things | Keith Kauspedas [1] Deep Echoing (Fox In The Snow) 6:06
Fourth Archetypal Animation
Still Calm Tranquil Moon Sunset Sky Ocean Lake | WelshPixie | Delyth Williams • Age 41 • Western Cape/South Africa • Member since Sept. 14, 2018
Cutter North Sea Port Shrimp Fishing Vessel | ArtTower | Brigitte Werner • Age 68 • Canim Lake/Canada • Member since June 15, 2012 • #89
Sunset Still Water Splash Water Reflection Liquid | truthseeker08 | 🆓 Use at your Ease 👌🏼 • English • Member since April 18, 2016
Still Calm Tranquil Sunset Sky Ocean Lake Water | WelshPixie | Delyth Williams • Age 41 • Western Cape/South Africa • Member since Sept. 14, 2018
Nature Waters Lake Island Landscape Thunderstorm | jplenio | Joe • Munich/Deutschland • Member since Jan. 9, 2018 • #295
Sunset Tree Water Silhouette Tree Silhouette Dusk | Cleverpix | Cindy Lever • Age 57 • Melbourne/Australia • Member since May 4, 2016
Music: Watermark Enya | [9] River 3:12
Fifth Archetypal Animation
Wall Blind Alley Dead End Impasse Lockup Deadlock | ChadoNihi | Alexandr • Age 29 • Cambridge/UK • Member since Dec. 8, 2014
Red Planet Moon Alien Arid Abiocoen Ancient | ChadoNihi | Alexandr • Age 29 • Cambridge/UK • Member since Dec. 8, 2014
Stargate Heaven Gate Science Fiction Futuristic | spirit111 | beate bachmann • Age 59 • berlin/germany • Member since April 6, 2017
Meadow Green Meadow Flower Meadow Grass Nature | spirit111 | beate bachmann • Age 59 • berlin/germany • Member since April 6, 2017
Wormhole Time Travel Portal Vortex Space Warp | Genty | English • Member since May 20, 2016
Galaxy Fog Kosmus Universe Milky Way Night Sky | spirit111 | beate bachmann • Age 59 • berlin/germany • Member since April 6, 2017
Music: Stars Night Mantra
Sixth Archetypal Animation
Mountains Smoke Portrait Girl Field Romantic | manhhongdldhv | Hong Manh • Age 32 • Vinh/Việt Nam • Member since July 4, 2020
Sunset Mountains Trees Silhouettes Conifers | Inactive account – ID 12019
Mountains Hills Sky Clouds Sunset Dusk Twilight | Inactive account – ID 12019
Iceland Aurora Borealis Northern Lights Beautiful | Inactive account – ID 12019
Kingfisher Bird Close Up Perched Perched Bird | Inactive account – ID 12019
Iceland Arctic Fox Fox White White Fox Canine | Inactive account – ID 12019
Seljalandsfoss Waterfalls Iceland Falls Cliffs | Inactive account – ID 12019
Music: Peaceful Piano Musicals Cover Kid | La la Lu (From “Lady and the Tramp”)
Seventh Archetypal Animation
Black Hole Art-Optical Black White Contrast | dric | Français • Member since Nov. 30, 2016
Colour Farbklex Embroidery Blob Drops | Bru-nO | Bruno /Germany • Age 47 • Thank you for your Donation!/Please like your download! • Member since June 29, 2015 • #255
Abstract Astral Astrology Astronomy Background | Buddy_Nath | A Owen • Age 39 • United Kingdom • Member since Feb. 4, 2016
Music: Dark Bloom | Darkness | The Sun Went Out Bright