#WATWB – We Are The World Blogfest

Unbelievable – the end of the month. This We Are The World Blogfest post is the last one for the year. We will re-group in the new year. I did not post last month, I sent my apologies to the team …

It’s hard to know what to write about … the aim of the #WATWB is to bring a little lightness into the darkness as an ongoing reminder of all that is good in the world – all that is beautiful, and kind, and gentle, and compassionate in people in their words and deeds. An ongoing reminder of Nature and her beauty – and our appreciation of her …

I fretted over what to write … and the following came to mind. See below further down.

As we all know, there is great concern over the latest covid variant – Omicron, while battling at the same time with the rising covid 19 concerns in various parts of the world. Just to put the record straight, South Africa detected the strain, it did not necessarily ’emerge’ from here as I heard Dr. A. Fauci proclaim. My husband assures me though that at some point Dr A. Fauci acknowledged this leading role that our scientists and virologists have played, detecting it. I believe we have 4 cases of this Omicron in SA, a few in Botswana, a few in Zimbabwe and one or two other neighbouring countries, and who knows where it is in all other parts of the world. Rapid mutations ..

Flights to various parts of the world from South Africa are banned. We’re a bit pissed off about that – it feels as we are being punished for sounding the alarm. There has been talk that maybe we should have withheld this for a while without sounding the alarm and putting things into a tailspin; and proceeded rather with caution before announcing it. I know of a few who’s flights to various parts of the world to spend with family is no longer possible, and the heartache that many are feeling. Those coming to our country from near and far afield to experience the beauty that this country has to offer, provides a well needed boost to the economy. Already I hear of bookings being cancelled …. the impact will be huge if things grind to a halt. We await news with bated breath …

If this government declares no inter-provincial travel as well over the festive season, then I can think no further than my nose of what may happen if that were to be enforced. We’ll all be spitting .. everyone, not just those who live in a bubble, including myself who can at least claim a roof over her head, food on the table, the usual comforts.

So, not a ‘usual’ good news story, but one that speaks to me and I hope to you. May you find the calm and peace within you to ride this storm and help bring peace and calm to those around you –

The Rain Maker

Rainmaker Media Group, LLC - Photos | Facebook
appearance of the Rain Maker

There was a great drought where [Richard] Wilhelm lived; for months there had not been a drop of rain and the situation became catastrophic. The Catholics made processions, the Protestants made prayers, and the Chinese burned joss-sticks and shot off guns to frighten away the demons of the drought, but with no result.

Finally the Chinese said, ‘We will fetch the rain-maker.’ And from another province a dried up old man appeared. The only thing he asked for was a quiet little house somewhere, and there he locked himself in for three days.
On the fourth day the clouds gathered and there was a great snow-storm at the time of the year when no snow was expected, an unusual amount, and the town was so full of rumours about the wonderful rain-maker that Wilhelm went to ask the man how he did it.

In true European fashion he said: ‘They call you the rain-maker; will you tell me how you made the snow?’

And the little Chinese said: ‘I did not make the snow; I am not responsible.’

‘But what have you done these three days?’

‘Oh, I can explain that. I come from another country where things are in order. Here they are out of order; they are not as they should be by the ordinance of heaven. Therefore the whole country is not in Tao, and I also am not in the natural order of things because I am in a disordered country.

So I had to wait three days until I was back in Tao and then naturally the rain came.’”


p. 419-20 Mysterium Coniunctionis: an Inquiry into the Separation and Synthesis of Psychic Opposites in Alchemy, vol 14 Bollingen Series XX: The Collected Works of C. G. Jung, 2d edition, trans by R.F.C. Hull, Princeton University Press 1976.

 Eric Lahti(https://ericlahti.wordpress.com) and Sylvia Stein (https://sylviasteinswritingcorner.blogspot.com) will be co-hosting, our thanks to them. Do pop round to see what they’ve posted. Do comment and share via social media. We call all do with a boost.

“Newcomers are welcome to browse through our page. We encourage everyone passing through to share this post on Facebook with their friends and family. If you are on Twitter we now have a perch there – WATWB – https://twitter.com/watwb.The idea is to spread #positivity and #light to counterbalance the #negativity and #darkness in #socialmedia these days. If you wish to see more posts like this, then like our page while you’re here”. From Ashlynn Waterstone who is our able administrator and for whom our grateful thanks are also due.


“Come join us next year, the last Friday of each month. Find an inspiring article and share it for WATWB, then just add the link to our group post on our Facebook WATWB group page so others can share and read”. (Thanks to Debby Gies.)

I wish you all a very merry festive season. A safe and healthy one for you, family and friends. May 2022 bring joy and peace.

In Darkness, be Light

48 Comments on The RainMaker

  1. Susan I am glad to be here, with technical issues sometime i am unable to access blogs. Today I am so happy that I could read your post. we are in difficult times once again, we have started physical working only from September and now we hear about the new virus. The newspaper reports everyday about this virus in some parts of our country. The institutions have not completely opened, there is a sense of fear, uncertainty prevailing. International flights have been banned, and I hoped to travel in the coming months if everything is fine, but the prediction here is that the virus is her to stay for some more months, upto march and we are warned to follow the protocols of wearing a mask, washing hands and maintaining social distance. I only pray “this too shall pass”… thank you for that engaging post, I have not been writing much as I am in the process of completing my research work, which is taking a long time. I wish you Joy, Peace and Happiness today and always. May this season of advent give us hope and together we spread light and joy. Love and Hugs.

    • Thanks so much for coming by Genevive. Yes, I worry about the fear that comes along with the news about the new ‘variant’ including lockdowns and restrictions on movement. We follow the masking rule in public spaces, sanitising if visiting a store, 1.5 mts distance. The matric rage was cancelled at the last moment in spite of very strict protocols being in place such as having a test before being allowed into the tent, waiting 10 mins and if clear then allowed in. (not that a pcr test is the best indicator.) All good wishes for your research work, may your Ph.D be in sight! All best wishes to you and family over this festive season – love to you, Susan

  2. It’s really unfortunate that SA is taking the blame for omicron when this is just what viruses do and they don’t care one bit about national borders. Everyone is pretty twitchy these days and just wants it to all be over, something that likely won’t happen. For what it’s worth, there have been stories here in the US reminding us that it was SA virologists that found the variant and let everyone know before it started storming through our cities. Personally, I don’t know that it will wind up being that big of a deal, but time will tell. We’ve already got cases spreading here, but so far it hasn’t been the end of the world that the media wants to make it into.

    • Thanks for coming by Eric. Yes, it’s believed that omicron won’t be as virulent or as devastating as before. We’ve registered an uptick in cases. I saw today that the deaths were about 19, or 21, on TV. I hope the storm passes and we have the means to resist it; likewise I hope we have the means and wherewithal to resist the media’s take on it all. Keep well and safe Eric and thank you for co-hosting this month. All best wishes for a happy festive season!

  3. Thank you for this beautiful post, Susan. I’m so sorry about the concerns you’re all having with the new variant of Covid. The US just detected its first case yesterday. There will surely be more to come in the next weeks. It’s such a tragedy for so many people, and yes, difficult to find inspiring and uplifting stories in the midst of all this.

    The vaccines are a bright spot in all of this. We had 13 around our table this year, all vaccinated and mask-free. It was the first time in two years we’ve been able to do that.

    I love the RainMaker story. I’ve heard it before but never knew it came from Richard Wilhelm. Thanks so much for providing the source. Now I can share it with others knowing it’s actually true! Simply amazing.

    I wish you and your loved ones a joyous, love-filled holiday season.

    Love, Jeanie

    • I meant to say ‘Thanksgiving’ table, but I know you knew that! 🙂 Hugs from Florida! It’s actually quite chilly these days and finally beginning to feel like winter here. 🙂

    • Thank you for your response Jeanie. A belated one from me! I must say that just lately more people seem to be getting ill with covid. A few I know here in Plettenberg Bay. A friend has just had to cancel her husband’s 70th birthday celebrations this coming Saturday because he has contracted it. The symptoms of omicron are supposed to be less severe – and yes he was vaccinated.

      I know that in a post of mine from a long time ago I wrote about the Rainmaker, but I do not how to find it. I tried, before putting up this post so I was glad to find this particular source. It says a lot about how incumbent it is upon each of us to find our own centre.

      Thank you for your good wishes re the holiday season. Your Thanksgiving sounds so wonderful. I love having 13 at a table – it reminds me of the unexpected guest.

      To you and family, keep safe and well, and a joyous festive season to you! Love, Susan

  5. Hi Susan,
    How frustrating that borders are closing to travel again. We are all languishing and do need some light in our lives. It seems there is no end to this Covid thing.
    I enjoyed your story about the rainmaker. I think he must be over here at the moment. We are experiencing very wet weather with many records being broken.
    Take care. Find the light around every corner and the sparkle in each and every pebble.
    I wish you and your loved ones health, safety and joy throughout the holiday season and beyond.

    • Thanks for your comment Norah – sorry to hear the Rain Maker’s been overly long in his stay. Actually, true also for many parts of my country, though heaven knows there are parts of the drought stricken interior that are desperate for rain. It never rains but it pours. I’m hoping that the countries that banned travel from SA re-think this, and it seems as if there is light at the end of it all. It appears that some countries already had omicron (mix up the letters you get moronic) before we identified it, but were maybe de-incentivised to report it because of profits taking a hit.

      Thank you for your lovely wishes. I take them to heart and send same to you and family. Have a blessed and safe festive season.

  6. These are troubled times. Now if only we had a mystic who could bring a rain or snow of virus killing molecules from the skies round the world.

    • Now there’s a thought – a virus catcher. Maybe we be like the rain maker and stay alone and quiet in our hut for three days? I like that idea, thanks John.

  7. Oh Susan, I understand the stress of travel bans and other restrictions. We are all so tired of the pandemic. Thank goodness we all still have ways to stay in touch with each other.

  8. When I first read about the latest Covid variant I immediately thought of you. In a good way, of course, not like you caused it. I am to a point where I have no ideas to share, nor words to politely express, how fed up I am with this pandemic and how it has been handled. Obviously we all have to be safe, but I write that and wonder if it’s obvious at all– conspiracy and rumors abound. As for travel restrictions again, something more but same as before. I wish you and yours peace and a prayer for your safety, as we all wait to see what is next.

    • Good to see you here Ally Bean, thanks for coming by. The President spoke last night to us all, and roundly trounced the UK and others who have banned travel, emphasising that our scientists, epidemiologists, virologists are to be lauded for their role in identifying this variant. (Makes me remember the saying ‘a good deed never goes unpunished.) The head of WHO also said that banning travel was unfounded. Our infection rates are surprisingly low as are other African countries. There is a bit of an uptick right now. Thank you for your good wishes which I return in kind, safety and peace, good health and good cheer to you as we await to see what next – or, in the words of Dorothy Parker “What fresh hell is this”.

  9. It’s worrisome to say the least but with pandemics it’s very much a wait and see game. All we can do is hope for the best and find little bits of light in each moment. We’re not the first in history to endure plagues but we are lucky to have more knowledge, more ways to connect to eachother, to share, and for some, to continue working from the safety of our homes. We’ll have to be cautiously optimistic and pray for the best. Thanks so much for sharing and for being a part of #WATWB! Stay safe, be well and a wonderful holiday season. ♥️

    • Thanks so much Belinda! I love your (cautiously) optimistic outlook and acknowledgement of how we know so much more than before. And, it IS the role of #WATWB to find little bits of light in each moment. Thanks for your good wishes, and I wish the same for you and family. xx

  10. Hi Susan, we are all waiting to see. I am more concerned about whether the vaccination offers adequate protection against this Omicron than anything else. We only just got Michael vaccinated recently and were hoping for a bit of peace. Now this.

    • Yes Robbie, that’s a big question whether the current jabs offer protection against Omicron or whether we’ll be forced to have another, and another and another as the virus mutates which seems to be its natural course. The Pres is having a family meeting tonight on TV. I wonder what he’ll say? Or in the words of Dorothy Parker ‘What fresh hell is this?”

  11. Hi Susan – I will be back to read the poem from Deborah and catch the other news in the email.

    They have here been mentioning that SA advised the world of the new variant… at least the Beeb did and the ‘I paper’ I get on a Saturday … it’s just the media (people – social media types) who never give an accurate picture and explode stories unnecessarily.

    It’s unfortunate re the travel, it’s unfortunate re the pandemic, and it’s unfortunate the way people can’t think … and take on board accurate and sensible information. A friend was going to come over for a ski trip with some mutual friends here (my goddaughter’s parents) and I’d hoped to see her.

    We have a couple of people here with it – but just seen Dr Angelique Coetzee’s note on the Beeb re saying the symptoms seem fairly mild – but they need a few weeks before the effects etc can be seen for vulnerable people, and to check other aspects. There’s been praise for their co-operation.

    Sounds like you had plenty of rain on your way back to Plett – We’re having a nasty windy, wet, snow and icy time in the north and Scotland … today we have some sun down here on the south coast. Blue skies even in the cold help!

    So glad you enjoyed my Red Dress project …just rang so true.

    Cheers for now – I’ll be back … all the best and enjoy being home. Hilary

    • Thanks Hilary for your comment. Yes, the symptoms seem to be mildish .. and yes SA is credited (belatedly) for identifying the variant. A good deed never goes unpunished – . The President is apparently going to be having one of his ‘family meetings’ on TV tonight at 8.00 p.m. We’re wondering what the National Command Council has come up with. Sorry to hear that your friends are unable to make the trip, sorry for you too. Glad to hear that some sun is peeking through the weather you’ve been having, but I agree blue skies help even as we shiver in our boots. Reminds me of winter on the highveld here in SA! Loved your Red Dress! All best, Susan

  12. Thanks for sharing the true news about the variant, and that wonderful rainmaker poem. It was delightful to read people’s responses, too. I always enjoy reading your offerings. Wishing you a very merry season, too, and a safe and healthy one. May 2022 bring joy and peace to us all.

    • I’m glad you enjoyed the post Lizbeth thank you. Others’ responses are always a treat. I enjoyed your post about poop being used as a natural fertiliser instead of chemicals. A very happy Festive season to you, thank you for your good wishes. Joy and Peace for all in 2022 is a lovely ideal …

    • Thanks Donna for coming by. I hope you’re all safe after the terrible storms I heard you’ve been having? All best to you and family.

  14. I loved your beautiful story share Susan. Pandemonium never seems to cease. I do agree that media hypes stuff and I’m sorry for this whole mess. Wishing you Happy Holidays. <3

  15. My thoughts: I think playing the blame game is an exercise in futility. Moreover, it spreads negative energy, more of which we do NOT need. How’s that for a sentence, ha!

    I wish you all the best during this season and honor all who spread the light. Thank you, Susan!

    • That sentence sums it up Marian! Mind you, Adam blamed Eve in The Garden of Eden for taking a bite of the apple and persuading him to do the same, Eve blamed the serpent so the blame game has been around forever.

      Thank you for your good wishes Marian – all the best to you and family for this coming festive season.

  17. The good news part is that many of us here in the US have also lost faith in Dr. Fauci and his proclamations. Unfortunately, our current President has his ear. Sigh. We shall survive this, too.

    • ‘We shall survive this too’ – makes me think of your novels Jacqui that deal with survival against all odds. My husband likes Dr Fauci – I, not so much .. I am ever the skeptic. Thank you for coming by.

  18. It’s a beautiful story and one of tremendous hope, Susan. I’ve been concerned about your family and your country, although it’s never clear with the media.The world seemed quick to “blame” those who alerted everyone to a new strain. Apparently the variant was also found in a few people in Britain. I’m sure it will be here, too. I guess we’ll know more in a few days, but it’s a hard time for this world and especially for people who struggle economically. NY State was doing well with covid, but numbers are rising. I’m glad I’m good at staying home. I love the poem “The Guest House” which Deborah shared, but do they have to tear down everything?
    Love and Blessings to you, your family, and your country. May all be well.

    • Thank you Elaine for your comment and for your concern for us and our country. I don’t really know what to say. I’m concerned about the spiking in countries around the world, including the EU, UK and the US. My son came for tea this afternoon – we were discussing this. He remains overall accepting of this situation and had always believed that there would be a fourth wave. Around about now … the graphs from the beginning predicted it he says. On a larger scale I am concerned about further jabs required and proof to show that the 3rd, the 4th the 5th etc have all been done before being allowed to do anything …

      Deborah’s The Guest House is lovely I agree, and I agree with you, why do they have to tear down everything? A big question … to which there is no immediate answer. Maybe things have to get even more destroyed? Dear heavens ..

      I wish you well Elaine, family and friends. Enjoy the beauty that surrounds you and your furry companions and friends and family. May all be well in your country too. Love, Susan

  19. The Guest House

    This being human is a guest house.
    Every morning a new arrival.

    A joy, a depression, a meanness,
    some momentary awareness comes
    as an unexpected visitor.

    Welcome and entertain them all!
    Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
    who violently sweep your house
    empty of its furniture,
    still, treat each guest honorably.
    He may be clearing you out
    for some new delight.

    The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
    meet them at the door laughing,
    and invite them in.

    Be grateful for whoever comes,
    because each has been sent
    as a guide from beyond.

    written by Jalaluddin Rumi

    This is the second time I’ve shared this incredible poem by the ancient poet Rumi in the last hour which means it must be deeply relevant at this moment in time. As I type the wind is battering my windows and I fear for more loss of life due to a fierce storm that is currently wreaking havoc down the east coast of the UK, much like the covid pandemic continues to do.

    Thank you so much Susan for sharing your thoughts on Omicron, I did wonder how you felt about South Africa being added to many travel ban red lists around the world again and all for whistleblowing and informing us, the rest of the world, what is happening. I hope the situation settles down soon but I fear, alas, that may not happen till the new year now. Pissy indeed!

    In the words of Rumi, and in light of the pandemic, we never know what’s going to turn up at our door and who will be joining us for breakfast, let alone dinner, but I guess we are being wisely advised to welcome them all. Thank you again for shining and sharing your #WATWB light into the darkness of these times. Sending love, light and laughter across the oceans between us, Deborah.

    • Thank you for your lovely response Deborah and also for The Guest House poem by Rumi. I’m familiar with it though have not come across it in a good while. Thank you for sharing it with us. It’s wonderful that this is the 2nd time in the space of an hour that you’ve shared it. Honour the Guest at all times, in all its guises. It is life after all.

      I hear that WHO is advising AGAINST these travel restrictions – a developing story I’m sure.

      I’m sorry to hear of your extreme weather along the east coast of England. We recently returned from being away in Johannesburg for two weeks and while I am familiar with summer thunderstorms up on the highveld, I have to say that I haven’t experienced such fierceness in a long while. Roads turned into raging rivers. On our return we took a different route to our usual one as we’d heard of extreme weather along the Garden Route. Had we taken our usual return route we would have landed in he thick of it. This was a few days after the full moon and her eclipse ..

      From me to you, love and light and laughter in amongst it all. Susan

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