We Are Stardust

Happy holidays! And brief reflections on 2022

Each point is a galaxy in this view of deep space, from the Map of the Observable Universe at mapoftheuniverse.net.

I started 2022 on a precarious note, having just quit my job with only a general plan for switching to consulting. Luckily, that worked out better than I’d dreamed!

Back in January, when I thought about what I’d really like to do with my time, what came to me pretty quickly was that I’d like to write about whatever I want. I’m so lucky to get to write as part of my paying work — even more than in my pre-consulting life. But this newsletter has given me the gift of writing, in my own voice, about anything that strikes my fancy.

I’m not the only one covering a range of subjects, but I feel like I’m in a minority. In writing, as in much else in our society, there’s pressure to specialize. While I appreciate getting to know a topic well, as I’ve done in my clean-energy work, the world is just too varied and interesting to be limited to one area. At least, that’s how it feels to me.

So I want to thank you, my readers, for your indulgence as I flit from EV road trips to semicolons to songs and movies — to the larger issues in our society.

I so appreciate your subscribing to and reading my newsletter! Without you, I’d be writing into the void. As much as I love writing for its own sake, it wouldn’t be the same.

In these trying times, writing this newsletter helps me make sense of things while providing me the respite of doing something I love.

I look forward to a full year of writing in 2023 — and as crazy as it seems to say this every time our calendar decides it’s a new year, let’s hope for better developments for our world in the year to come.

As we close out 2022, this amazing view of our universe from Johns Hopkins University reminds us of our place in the big scheme of things:

If you go to the map here, you can click on Explore the Map to see more cool stuff!

Maybe, at least for a moment, that can put all our problems in perspective. To paraphrase Rick in Casablanca, our problems don’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy universe. Of course, we still have to live with them and deal with them. But sometimes we need a little respite — and for me, remembering our place in the universe can help.

I wish you all the happiest holiday season and a wonderful new year!

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I leave you with an unexpected Christmas story, plus my two favorite Christmas songs.

A few years ago, I came across this article suggesting that Christmas might have shamanic origins. I feel compelled to revisit it every year, because I love the story!

“Santa is a modern counterpart of a shaman, who consumed mind-altering plants and fungi to commune with the spirit world.”

This short video explains more:

Far-fetched? Who knows, but the psychedelic past could be one of many factors shaping the Christmas story. It’s a cool perspective, and it certainly adds magic to the season and evokes a deeper spirit of Christmas.

And now, to show I don’t hate all Christmas songs, my two faves: