A Still Moment

See also the previous posts:
• Hare in Field of Gold
• Hare in Summer Field
• In Winter Field
• Afoot
• Field Runners
• Among the Wheat
• Three in One Field

Image: Photographer unknown.

How to Keep Your Love Life Intact During Quarantine

By Melinda Fakuade

This article was first published March 26, 2020 by Architectural Digest.


The novel coronavirus has interrupted our lives in every way imaginable. Workplaces have gone remote, businesses have been closed, and social events have been postponed. For the foreseeable future, life is going to be wildly different. And in these strange times, romance will inevitably suffer – nothing kills the mood like a global pandemic. In-person dates are no longer a viable option. Those searching for the one (or one night) might have to wait a little longer. And long-term couples are susceptible to the stir-crazy feeling that comes with interacting with only one person every day.

While quarantine definitely limits romantic routines, it can actually be an enjoyable change of pace. Have a tendency to get sucked into the vortex of dating apps? Take a break at this time to reconnect with yourself, and reevaluate what you’re looking for romantically. The virus has thrown a wrench in any plans to be physically intimate with new people – while COVID-19 cannot be sexually transmitted, kissing a new partner isn’t a good idea. You can be exposed to respiratory droplets that can infect you. According to the advice of New York state, which has 5% of the world’s coronavirus cases as of this writing: “You are your safest sex partner. The next safest partner is someone you live with.”

For those who were planning on hot dates: Just stay home. It’s irresponsible to meet up with a brand-new partner in person right now, but video chat is always available! A dinner date online can prove to be strangely intimate. For those who are newly dating someone, this period can be a great time to regroup. Without the rose-colored glasses from the honeymoon phase, it’s easier to consider your new relationship from an objective standpoint.

However, don’t feel guilty about feeling lonely or anxious without your partner, new or longtime. In an email, Dr. Carla Manly, a California-based clinical psychologist and relationship expert, said that it’s totally normal to feel negative emotions bubble up. “So much of this occurs on an unconscious level, and partners may be unaware of their own fears and doubts as well as a partner’s worries,” she says. “For those who tend to be insecure or have abandonment issues, the level of anxiety and stress can be extraordinarily elevated when stressful circumstances arise.”

The best way to manage this kind of relationship stress is to use “non-blaming vocabulary” when talking to your partner about your separation. “For example, a partner might say, ‘I can tell that you’re struggling with being away from me; I also miss being with you. Until we can connect in person, know that I am here for you.’” Plan to text and call your partner more often at regular intervals to check in. Be clear about your phone and video chat availability, and be honest about your concerns. “This type of genuine, fluid conversation can be deeply connective,” Manly says. Talking openly about your separation anxiety can actually bring you closer to your partner in the long run. It might be awkward at first, but remember that everyone is feeling nervous right now. Candid conversation can help ease any possible tension between you and your partner.

For those who are quarantined at home with a partner, it’s easy to become anxious about a lack of me time. Experts recommend forming a new routine that allows for couple time as well as independent space. “Be honest and open to alone time,” says Ben Hoogland, a Minnesota-based licensed marriage and family therapist. “Don't be passive or resentful toward one asking for time alone; be realistic about the current situation and that what we used to have – commutes, happy hour, lunch alone, et cetera – are simply not there right now. Instead, have an evening where you each do your own thing.”

Additionally, couples who have just started living together now find themselves in a perfect scenario. They can explore this new phase of their relationship and their new home dynamic without the annoyance of long hours away at work, or visitors who overstay their welcome. “Support your local restaurants and order takeout, have a picnic, trade massages, or rent a movie,” he says. Date night at your place every night can be fun with a partner who is open to finding the bright side of things with you.

Romance might be the last thing on your mind during this strange period of time, or it might be extra stressful right now. But it’s important for our collective mental health that we don’t let relationships burn out. To beat this pandemic, we need to keep our spirits up and stick together. Isolation does crazy things to people, but remember you’re not alone. Whether you’re single, newly dating, or in a long-term commitment, there are ways to make the most of this time.

– Melinda Fakuade
Architectural Digest
March 26, 2020

See also the previous post:
• Coronavirus and Sex

And at The Leveret's brother site, The Wild Reed, see:
• Hope and Beauty in the Midst of the Global Coronavirus Pandemic
• A Prayer in Times of a Pandemic

Image: Subjects and photographer unknown.

The Art of Alexis Vera

Writes artist Alexis Vera:

I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. My first studies and contact with the artistic expression were through photography, participating in workshops and collective exhibitions at several Cultural Centers in my city.

After a journey of self-knowledge through Latin America, life brought me an unexpected journey, the return to the land of my ancestors, Andalucia, Spain, were I currently reside. And this is were I continue to explore my concerns, the way of expressing my feelings and emotions, that impel me to carry out a variety of workshops: drawing, watercolor, live model and acrylic with different artists.

As I gain more knowledge and practice I realize how broad the range of human expression and its continuous evolution are, which place me in a position of constant learning and research.

To visit Alexis's official website, click here.

Related Off-site Link: Alexis Vera's Official Website

See also: The Art of Mauna Nada | Ego Rodriguez | Liam Campbell | Richard Vyse | David Jester | Aaron Moth | Travis Chantar | Douglas Simonson | Guglielmo Plüschow | Vilela Valentin | Dante Cirquero | Nebojsa Zdravkovic | Brenden Sanborn | Wilhelm von Gloeden | Richard Haines | John MacConnell | Leo Rydell Jost | Jim Ferringer | Juliusz Lewandowski | Felix d'Eon | Herbert List | Joe Ziolkowski

April Hare

Art: “April Hare” by Heidi Wickham (charcoal on canvas, 40 × 50).

The Visitor

See also the previous post:
• Horace

Image: Subject and photographer unknown.

The Original Easter “Bunny”

The following is excerpted from "The Hare Is the Original Easter 'Bunny'" by Stephen Colton (The Irish Times, March 26, 2016).


In cultures throughout the world, from America to the Far East, Africa to Europe, the hare is embedded in the folk myths of our ancestors. It is associated with the moon, the dawn, fertility, death, resurrection and fire.

In Celtic Britain and Ireland the hare was sacred. Boudicca, the British Celtic warrior queen, was said to have prayed to a hare goddess before going in to battle with the Romans and before planning which route her army should take, she released a hare from beneath her gown to show her which way to go.

There is also evidence of hares in ritual burial pits in Suffolk and Colchester. Eostre was the Celtic version of the Anglo-Saxon hare goddess Ostara who later gave her name to the festival of Easter and who was associated with resurrection during the turning of winter to spring. She was a ‘shape-shifter’ taking the form of a hare at each full moon. All hares were sacred to her and acted as messengers.

Hares were always respected in Ireland. Their meat was only eaten at the May festival of Beltane. In places a hare crossing the path was unlucky although the mammal was also linked to many folk cures with the hare’s foot carried as a charm and a way of preventing rheumatism. A tuft of fur from a hare was used to staunch bleeding and evil spirits were kept away from newborn babies whose faces were brushed with a hare’s foot.

As Christianity took hold across Europe, hares, viewed suspiciously as witches in animal form, were replaced by the rabbit, a less controversial symbol for Easter.

So, when you next see the bright eye of a hare, remember it carries with it millennia of mythology, folklore and tradition still celebrated across the world.


See also the previous posts:
• Easter Bunny or Eostre Hare?
• Symbol of Enlightenment
• Eostre: Goddess of New Life Beginnings
• The Goddess Ostara
• Remembering Eostre
• Celebrating Eostre
• Hare at Eastertide
• Easter Hare

Related Off-site Link:
The Pagan Roots of Easter – Heather McDougall (The Guardian, April 3, 2010).

Image: Photographer unknown.

Morning Light

See also the previous posts:
• Morning Light – December 18, 2018
• Morning Light – February 18, 2017
• Morning Light – May 20, 2016
• Morning Light – April 7, 2015
• Morning Light – September 2, 2014
• Morning Light – May 14, 2014
• Morning Light – August 30, 2013
• Morning Light – November 5, 2012
• Morning Light – May 5, 2012
• Morning Light – September 29, 2009
• Morning Light – July 15, 2009
• Morning Light – November 21, 2008

Images: Subjects and photographers unknown.

Among Flowers

Art: "Hare Among the Flowers" by Bren Henderson.

Coronavirus and Sex

The following is excerpted from Gonzalo R. Quintana Zunino's article, "Coronavirus and Sex: Dos and Don'ts During Social Distancing," first published at The Conversation, March 24, 2020.

Lately, the one topic the entire world is concerned about is the novel coronavirus.

In line with that, as a sex positive neuroscience sex researcher, I am writing this article with a couple of goals: to inform readers how sex relates to the current pandemic, and to prevent the spread of myths and misinformation in an agitated social environment.

Given the common modes of transmission of respiratory viruses, engaging in certain types of sexual activities may risk spreading the virus. However, expecting people to abstain from sex during times of isolation is unrealistic.

In the current situation, since sex is not a priority as a topic of discussion, misinformation can be easily fostered. People could unwillingly exacerbate the spread of the virus if they do not take the necessary precautions.

So, after washing our hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, let’s get down to business!


Sex and COVID-19

Can the coronavirus be transmitted sexually? The answer is simple: we do not know. At the moment, there is no reliable research, official communication or scientific report from trusted authorities.

Sexual transmission is not the same as contracting the virus from your sexual partner. You can easily contract the virus from an infected sexual partner by activities like kissing — just not through sexual transmission. That term is defined as transmission through sexual contact and fluids including vaginal, oral and anal sex.

Christian Lindmeier, a spokesperson for WHO — the World Health Organization — told the New York Times that coronaviruses are not typically sexually transmitted. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are seven types of coronaviruses, all of which typically affect the respiratory tract in humans.

Other infectious disease experts support these observations. But the coronavirus may not be limited to the respiratory tract. There is some evidence that it has been found in the feces of infected patients, although the CDC expects the risk of transmission is low.

The novel coranavirus spreads via droplets that are expelled when infected people exhale, cough or sneeze. Others become infected by inhaling these droplets, or touching them on a surface and then touching their face. Thus, chances of getting the virus through sexual activities with an infected person is almost certain.

Since the virus is present in respiratory secretions, it is easy to assume almost any sexual practice would lead to its transmission due to close contact. This is not the time to have that sexy social gathering.

The executive director of the American adult industry workers’ coalition, Michelle L. LeBlanc, called for a voluntary shutdown of all adult entertainment productions during the pandemic to help prevent the spread of the virus.


Does isolation mean no sex?

Sexual behaviour is a realm where variety is highly valued. Although it is practically impossible to ask people not to have sex, perhaps we could help by suggesting simple and small experimenting?

Since you can be infected with the virus and not have symptoms, the only reliable way to know if you or your partner are infected is through testing. If you and your partner have no symptoms and have stayed at home, then sex likely poses no risk.

We can contribute to the control of the COVID-19 pandemic by taking a few precautions. We can also learn to thrive differently in times of sexual need.


Gonzalo R. Quintana Zunino continues his article with "a few general recommendations to keep in mind that can reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission" during sexual activity. To read his article in its entirety click here.


At The Leveret's brother site, The Wild Reed, see the related posts:
• Hope and Beauty in the Midst of the Global Coronavirus Pandemic
• A Prayer in Times of a Pandemic

Day 7 of the “7 Days of Sweat Challenge”

Concluding today a series of exercise videos courtesy of The Body Coach (aka Joe Wicks). These full body, equipment-free, 20-minute workouts aim to make you “feel more energized, more alert, more productive and more focused.” Plus, you’re “going to burn some body fat and feel really confident moving forward.”

To start at the beginning of this series, click here.





Related Off-site Links:
The Body Coach – Official Website
7 Science-based Strategies to Boost Your Willpower and Succeed With Your New Year’s Resolutions – Jelena Kecmanovic (Salon, January 2, 2020).

Bel Homme

Image: Subject and photographer unknown.

Kiss of the Rabbit God

Writes Taylor Sprinkle . . .

Critically-acclaimed short films have seen much greater representation across the [LGTBQIA] spectrum, including the 2019 short Kiss of The Rabbit God, which depicts a young man’s encounter with the Rabbit God, the Taoist god of homosexual sex and romance [Tu'er Shen (Chinese: 兔兒神, The Leveret Spirit)].

The film depicts a young and naive Asian American named Matt who works at a compact Chinese restaurant. Matt works tirelessly at the restaurant, taking calls and orders, bussing tables and being the last out the door after closing.

The story starts on the day that a bold and stylish character takes a booth, causing a sudden break from the chaos of Matt’s job. The character, who has already been revealed to the viewer as the Rabbit God [right], introduces himself simply as Shen. The two clearly share chemistry.

After the restaurant closes, the Rabbit God returns, only to leave in a spur of fear and disappointment.

Matt spends the next day longing for the return of the Rabbit God a third time. After the restaurant closes that night, the Rabbit God reappears one more time to give Matt the opportunity to embrace his identity.

Kiss of the Rabbit God is one of the more recent works of Andrew Thomas Huang, a Chinese American filmmaker and artist who is best known as the mind behind many of Björk’s music videos. Huang’s work is often abstract and driven heavily by the use of monochrome — dark, bold and surreal.

In Kiss of The Rabbit God, his style takes no detour from the elements you’d expect. Red and green tones are used to highlight the different personalities alive in the film’s world. Bold, traditional and love-centered red surrounds the persona of the Rabbit God, while the pure shade of green is strongly tied to [the character of] Matt.

And Huang translates ideas with more than just color. The quick, angled shots in parts of the film are used to create the feeling of stress that Matt also experiences during the workday. While he is exposed in a setting where the viewer doesn’t know much about Matt’s character or background, there is a profound sense of his meek, uncertain nature. The purposefully jarring narrative of restaurant work is also used to create a juxtaposition with the slower cuts and more steady shots used during encounters with the Rabbit God.

– Taylor Sprinkle
Excerpted from "Kiss Of The Rabbit God Is The Surreal
and Stirring LGBTQIA Short That You’ll Need To Watch Twice"
Study Breaks
July 30, 2019

NOTE: In Chinese myths and legends, the hare and rabbit are interchangeable. (See for example here and here).


See also the previous posts:
• In American Gods, An Otherworldly Depiction of Queer Attraction and Connection
• Trémulo