The Wandering Star
The Wandering Star
Around 9pm I can sense that all the dogs are focused on me – Evie the little spaniel gets up and circles, just checking, Alfie rolls an eye … they have an excellent internal clock and think that now is a most exciting moment: the final walk of the day.
As I head towards the back door there is an excited rush of furry friends. Before we exit though, Clemmie, one of the spaniels, has to be put on a lead. She otherwise has her own plans and trots happily off for a night out. Stella, meanwhile, usually such a kind elegant Labrador, is busy barking up a storm whilst the puppies are all long bendy tails in their enthusiasm.
We head out across flat ground in the darkling night. My companions begin to split up to explore trees and grass or exciting fence posts. I know the ground is flat and therefore reasonably safe to stride out on and enjoy the sense of the surrounding darkness to which my eyes quickly become accustomed. The dogs really do not have our human concern with missed footing or uneven ground, taking it all in their stride.
The dogs soon quieten down as they inspect the ground, drinking in the night time scents whilst my thoughts and eyes are drawn to the millions of stars above with the somewhat brighter flaring planets offering more light. The moon undoubtedly makes the most difference to my sight.
Every one of us at some point looks up in wonderment at the stars, seemingly tiny celestial beings to whom we give shapes and stories. Over centuries we have cast our own earthly problems, whether emotional or political, into characters and cosmic myths that we attach to these pinpricks of light. Now of course we know that, in reality, they are just collections of gases that shine due to the radiation derived from their internal energy processes whilst their brightness depends on both how much energy they put out - their luminosity and how far away they are from Earth but it still doesn’t dim the romance.
The names of many of these constellations, galaxies and stars reflect the tragedies and happiness of these stories - from Andromeda, Orion, Cassiopeia, Canis major, Pegasus, Hydra, Ursa Major and all the signs of the zodiac into which many stars are clustered. I suspect like many of you I enjoy spotting the stars and following their travels over the seasons.
On summer evenings, Vega passes almost overhead of my evening perambulations, quite solitary to my eye and slightly blue. In fact, it is often mistaken for the northern celestial pole star. The nomenclature is derived from the image of a diving bird of prey and the constellation was represented as a vulture in ancient Egypt. It is associated with birds with the theme of swooping through the sky, of wandering - it is thus called the wandering star.
It does de-stress me to wander out last thing, slowly stroking the dogs as they return, the puppies ever full of bounding energy.
Curiously there is a nerve which runs around our bodies, called the Vagus nerve - or "wandering nerve," it comes from the same Latin root it is just our spelling which has always varied over time. This nerve plays a vital role in many of the body's functions from the brainstem through the neck and into the chest and abdomen regulating our breathing, heart rate, digestion, and immune response.
It also plays a role in controlling mood, emotions and social behaviour and is has been nicknamed the "wandering nerve" because of the many different parts of the body it interacts with. Stimulating the Vagus nerve can definitely have a calming effect on the body. One way to do so is to rub your fingers up and down just where your ear meets your jaw bone and cheek: it is a useful way to still your wandering thoughts.
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63 Comments
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
Thanku, I enjoyed that! Your photos of your gorgeous dogs are lovely, as are the ones of your fabulous castle!
I didn't know about the Vegas Nerve, I'm certainly going to try rubbing mine to calm me down when I panic!
Have a wonderful new week, much love to you all,
Caroline xx
If you take morning and night walks, you may have noticed the evening and morning bright planets in the sky. I love your visions of life and to make sense of it all. Thank you for your uplifting words and photos.
Given you & Lord Carnarvon have so many wonderful dogs and they need many walk-abouts outside, glad to read that the last night-time one is calming for you given clear sky nights and lovely weather as it is wonderful to see stars and constellations via clear sky nights. Thank you again for an informative and lovely Monday Morning Blog.
The Castle is so elegant especially with the night's sky above. Makes you think of all of the people and the stories that she holds inside.
Thankyou Lady Carnarvon!
What an interesting missive!
Love your photographs of the labradors as I don’t even like dogs but these dogs look - well - nice!
Yes that Vegas nerve is the one I hit with Chinese medicated oil recently and I felt an amazing sense of well being! As for the Wandering Star I don’t go out of doors at night at present but I do see the constellations and the full moon rising thru my kitchen windows and the universe is right there to marvel at on many a summer or winter’s night I do love the stars!
Thankyou
Best wishes
FLEURINA
Orange City
Central Western NSW Australia
I do Jupiter is so bright just now!
Thank you yes we did!
Just gently move your index finger up and down
Thank you
Lady Carnarvon,
What a delightful read on a bright Monday morning. Nighttime in town has way too many lights to enjoy starwatching, but there is the country where in silence one can commune with the brilliant stars.
Thank you for the idea of resolving worries with the vagus nerve. I appreciate this new idea.
I hope you have many wonderful quiet walks with your doggies in the starlight. I do envy you!
Martha G.
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
I learn something new with each of your posts! Consequently, I look forward to them every Monday morning here in the US.
The imagery in your writing allows me to visualize everything going on in your world at the time. It makes my day as I walk the dogs with you and stare up at the stars. I will remember, for sure, the Vagus nerve soothing method! That will come in handy!
Thank you for your Monday posts and for all you do to include and welcome everyone in your world at Highclere Castle. You are amazing.
Warmest and best wishes,
Patsy
So lovely that you have connected the wandering star and the wandering Vagus nerve, both giving us the soothing comfort of body and soul
Thank You
"We are made of star dust" said Carl Sagan! and I am such a star-planet gazer for all seasons. Now I can watch Jupiter rising to the right of the Parthenon from a rooftop cafe/restaurant on these fine October nights. Your walks in the evening with all the furry friends sound lovely, and petting doggies are the best tranquilizers for us. Thank you for the "wandering nerve" tip...i shall gently rub that spot and relax each evening! Enjoy your beautiful Autumn nights at highclere.
Thank you for another wonderful informative blog
I will definitely try the vagus nerve therapy sounds just what I need. I love the photos of the sky and your beautiful dogs . I must say your castle looks stunning in the photo.
I am visiting your beautiful castle for the second time on the 4 th or 5 th of December . I am so looking forward to seeing you beautiful castle at Christmas .
Good Morning Lady Carnavon: - (Canada time)
I was meant to read this this morning for two reasons. I was obsessed with stars when I was little and used to sit on the back hill behind my parents house and look up. My mom worried as I had lots of allergies and my dad said to let her be. I still do this at our home in Kitchener when out sitting by the fire. Now I have a fancy app that reminds me of the names of those stars.
My second reason relates to the wandering nerve as my current cancer treatment has lots of side effects lately that affects my jaw and nerves. Not realizing it but last few episodes, I've been rubbing that area to calm the stiffness in my jaw. It really does help.
Sincerely, Corinne
I always enjoy your Monday blogs over breakfast and as I was reading today’s blog, and you mentioned the star Vega and it’s wanderings in the sky, my mind went to the vegas nerve two paragraphs before I was reading about it! Have I internalized your process of writing? How I wish I could end each day with a walk with the puppies under the night skies of England! There are too many lights of human interference to have that opportunity where I live unfortunately.
Thank you for your thoughtful, educational and insightful musings each week.
What a beautiful picture of the night sky! And the castle, all lit up at night. It’s magical! Your nightly walk out with the dogs sounds like a perfect way to end the day.
My dearest Lady Fionna ,
Good morning , from Rio Claro,
Brazil.
" Ora direis, ouvir estrelas ." poetry from the brazilian poet
OLAVO BILAC.
I love starry nights.
I wake up at dawn to see the stars.
Lovely week for you.
Vila Alemã
Rio Claro-SP
Brazil.
I really look forward to Mondays to read your ‘blog’. I will certainly be trying out the Vagus nerve because as soon I go to bed my mind is just a jumble of racing thoughts. Last night I was awake until 4.30 am thinking about . . . . Who knows what!
Superb photos as always, this week they are spectacular!
Thank you.
Have a good week, look forward to next Monday.
Carla.
Appreciated the insightful information about the Vagus nerve. I so enjoy your thoughtful shared writings. Have a pleasant week.
Thank you for this post and photos! I am sitting here rubbing the very spot of the Vagus nerve. I love Highclere Castle! I got to visit it in May of 2019. It was wonderful. I enjoy your blog and always look forward to reading it when it drops in my email box. I am a huge dog fan, I do love the photos of the dogs!
Warm regards!
Rosayn Warwick
Colorado, USA
LOVELY PICTURES.
I always love to read stories about your dogs and view their lovely photos. Your description of their last walk of the day makes me feel as if I were there too witnessing first their excitement and then their contentedness as they sniffed the trees, grass and exciting fence posts. I also love the photo of the night sky. This is such a beautiful post. Thank you, Lady Carnarvon.
The WANDERING AND SO BEAUTIFULLY ARTFUL AND ELOQUENT LADY FIONA YOU ARE INCREDIBLE! I am really, really thankful and gifted by you! to read this blog today. Thank you and by the way, next task for the day: scheduling an updated COVID-19 and annual flu vaccine for November 1. Again, thank you from a former Special Education middle school teacher -Josie
Yes my Labrador has an internal clock I think it must be in her stomach as it’s used to remind me it’s time for her meals
Another lovely blog post. You’re a gifted writer. You manage to entertain and inform. I always smile when I see your blog email come to my in box.
Thank you for yet another beautiful and thoughtful blog post.
Living here in Florida we get a lot of clear nights and we especially like them when a launch is leaving at night. We live near to the Kennedy space centre so we are lucky to watch the rockets leave our planet and head off to places unknown or known but hard to see like the ISS. It must be incredible for those lucky enough to be taking that ride to see what we see in the heavens only they are a little closer.
Love your wonderful pictures of the castle and those fur balls ( aka puppy's and parents) having a grand old time sniffing out all the smells that as humans we rarely get to share with them. Do hope you all survived the storm and did not suffer to badly from the rain and wind, hard to watch on television seeing places that we are familiar with now under water and homes destroyed.
Our prayers are with you all in the UK and beyond that when the floods subside people are able to return and repair their homes.
Beautiful and so interesting as always, you have such a lovely way of expressing your short stories that makes them so enjoyable to read. I look forward to them every Monday! I had not known about the Vagus nerve I must give this a try, as I sometime get quite anxious. I love the night sky too, the celestial stars a quite beautiful, I lay on my wool blanket sometimes just staring at the wonder they behold. I can Imagine how beautiful at night it must be at HighClere walking with your lovely companions by your side. Have a lovely week Lady Carnarvon
Spotting constellations is one of the most lovely pastimes. Calming and enlightening. Cassiopeia is one of my favorite, so much so that I named one of our family dogs after it. She is nicknamed Cassi, but is called by her full name - Cassiopeia Diana Jane - from time to time and quickly responds to it. Our Cassi is as beautiful and elegant as her namesake, but not as nearly as vain.
Dear Lady Carnarvon, I was impressed by your knowledge of the Vagus Nerve. My daughter, Jennifer has a Vagus Nerve Stimulator, which is planted under the skin between the collar bone and left breast. The stimulator is a type of neuromodulation. The stimulator the size of a small pacemaker. It is designed to change how brain cells work by giving electrical stimulation to certain areas involved with seizures. The VNS may help control seizures by increasing blood flow in key brain area’s raising levels of some brain substances called neurotransmitters. Jennifer wears a magnet on a lanyard around her neck. The magnet is used to trigger additional stimulation during a seizure, which shortens the seizure. The stimulator has a variety of settings which can be adjusted. Usually stimulation is given for 30 seconds every five minutes. This is probably information you are well aware of by I wanted to share because You seem to be interested in helping others to stimulate their learning of new knowledge or existing knowledge. I appreciate all the knowledge you share with us! Thank you, Teresa D Matthews
Thank you, as always, Lady Carnarvon, for sharing your thoughts and your life. It is most generous of you. What gorgeous night photos. I am wondering what kind of camera/device you use to snap those photos. The quality is excellent. Thank you, also, for reminder about the Vagus nerve. Have a lovely day (now getting on toward evening for you.)
Thank you - I think some of the photos are very real !!! ie not very good but...
Wishing you all the best
Enjoy your nights in Greece!
Thank you!!
I too look forward to Christmas - I know it is every year but that is rather comforting!!
Thank you - yes covid is still around - sounds a good idea
Thank you but we have been quite lucky here- it is the north east which has suffered
As you write I immediately want to gently ease my face!
I love that !
It is my phone - except the starry night one that is a local photographer with a long exposure
How amazing - my knowledge is light but rooted in listening to others and remembering my parents teachings..there was so much lore in their knowledge
I do like the sense of continuity - I think it helps with taking the next step
You are very kind
I envy you having the dogs as I used to study the sky at night walking ours! I do sometimes go into our garden and look for Gemini , the Plough, etc! Now it’s changing as we enter the winter solstice! Thank you .
I do love that sense you mentioned, Lady Carnarvon, of being able to stride out confidently in the darkness — almost like gliding along through the night. I reside in a quiet (and flat) neighborhood where I’ve lived all my life. The topography is deeply familiar to me, which allows me to walk steadily with no flashlight of any sort— just me and my thoughts in the starry night. So peaceful. Orion is one of my favorite constellations, partly because he is so easily recognizable all winter, and partly because when he descends and no longer dominates the sky we know that spring is on the way!
I did not know about the Vagus nerve. Thank you so much! I have trouble sleeping and will certainly try this.
Added to your many hats: Dr. Carnarvon
Interesting and educational column this week. I learned a couple of new words (quieten and perambulation) and enjoyed your overview of The Vagus nerve.
Thank you!
Definitely not a doctor but it is a good tip!!!
My father was always perambulating!!!!
I like Orion too!!
You always write in a way that transports me! How wonderful to be queen and caretaker of such a lovely place, and have the gift to describe life there to others. I could hear the puppies coming in for the night! Thanks for tip on Vagus nerve!
Love your weekly blog❣️
I tried rubbing The Vagus nerve and it does feel soothing. I'll try that when I have panic attacks. Thank you for that advice! I just returned from a trip to Italy and visited the Galileo Museum in Firenze. There were so many instruments in there from astronomers that lived hundreds of years ago who used to look at stars and chart them out. Being at Highclere, away from the city lights, you must see a wonderful canopy of millions of lights, perfect for gazing through a telescope.
So enjoyed reading about your late night walk at Highclere Castle and the stars you admire
Wonderful composition and photos. Thank you for sharing. I enjoy it. Nilda
Dear Lady Carnarvon: I'm extremely late getting to your wise words this week. I love the photos of the stars over the castle. I'm going to try The Vagus nerve affect and see how I like it. It's been a very crazy week for me. Thank you so much.
Good I hope slowing rubbing your fingers up and down helps!
Thank you
Lady Carnarvon, Thank you for your fascinating post! I have trouble some nights calming my thoughts in order to sleep. Tonight, I’m going to try rubbing the Vagus nerve.
Beautiful observations.
Dear Lady Carnarvon:
Thank you for this Monday's blog. I enjoyed reading about your nightly adventures before and during the walks with your Dogs. Appreciate the share about the de-stress point; might try it sometime.
Until next time, keep looking up at the stars.
Perpetua Crawford
Lovely pictures of the wandering of star did you and lord Carnarvon have a nice weekend and lovely to visit highcrlere castle and l am of Downton Abbey