‘Pareidolia’ in the Gulf
Colorado. 6,500' elevation. Seven Eagles. Evening.
[ From Google: "Pareidolia/ˌperəˈdōlēə/noun1.the perception of apparently significant patterns or recognizable images, especially faces, in random or accidental arrangements of shapes and lines: there could be a mysterious stone coffin on Mars, or, more likely, its just the latest example of pareidolia" ]Returning to the desk (again) for another bit of editing on the eventually-to-be-completed ‘Seven Eagles’ post, I was suddenly drawn to a favorite weather website - College of DuPage’s NEXLAB and a brilliant presentation of various NOAA satellite feeds to… hmm… not quite look at the weather in my area, as I’d already done so half an hour earlier.
Rather, I could tell this perusal was an in-sequence / out-of-sequence telepathic prompt related to my recently re-engaged contemplations of cloud-speak - a delightful phenomena which has become a relatively routine form of communication between (and quite possibly among) myself and NHI. This time, probably because I had just been looking at the weather - always starting with global satellite imagery. So, they had something interesting to share. Which they knew I would share with you!
w..h..a..t?
Yes, and often, within the sudden appearance of an organized expression of vapor, a message or an image of an animal, plant, fish, amphibian I often believe to be in need of prayer and/or message conveyance will emerge. And not just in satellite imagery. Often in the open sky itself. Sometimes directly in front of me. Sometimes, inspiring my gaze elsewhere. Sometimes, in very close association with a cloud or other natural formation or composition which NHI knows will, without a doubt, get my attention.
I find these NHI to be quite intelligent, capable and highly attuned to our thoughts and emotions. Benignly parental and attempting to teach.
Others, not so much.
I’ve also found the artistic creativity of benevolent NHI to be extremely emotionally thoughtful, impactful yet graceful in its rendering, and intellectually brilliant. Those NHI are my friends, and together with telepathy and other forms of communication, I truly revel in our ‘conversational’ exchanges.
Other NHI have shown themselves to be abrupt, disruptive and deceiving in their attempted alure. So be cautious and discerning of one’s own self-motivations and outward promptings. Endeavor to be inwardly and outwardly aligned toward truth, light, integrity. Be increasingly ever-worthy of benevolent NHI’s loving shield and assistance.
And, who among us cannot do better in this material world appearing overwhelmingly shaped by arrogant, self-serving human hands toward the rewards of depletion, destruction and deception?
We benefit deeply, enduringly from the love and assistance of those who continue to have faith in us.
When NHI asks for help
So, when vapor takes the shape of one of our Earth critter or plant people, I listen to and pray for them. The whole of their environment - all those co-evolved and co-dependent. Praying then for the whole of Earth, encompassed as it is of all life… and environs… blended… within this tiny, rocky, hydrous sphere, suspended… and spinning… within our spiraled galaxy, itself spinning and bringing us moon and sun and stars… and, ultimately, abundant, diverse life united.
I don’t take issue with the name ‘pareidolia’, per se. But I do take issue with its definition. We appear to need another phrase.
I expect that Elder indigenous, at least somewhere on the globe have long had and still possess a means of expressing the phenomena for more of what it truly is. The phenomena (plural or singular) has likely played a very significant - maybe lead part in ancient history, modern history, and the overall evolution of humankind… not to mention our planet.
Maybe NHI have been here a very, very long time, and we’re just the latest noisy, nosy, trespassing, thieving, trashy (even if the latest, greatest, disposable and most expensive kind of trashy) neighbors moving in, which they are simply struggling to cope with. We have collectively done a lot of damage to the commons, in - theoretically - a very short timeframe.
Eventually, in the conventional, contemporary world we’ve manifest we’ll probably figure out a reference together, far beyond ‘pareidolia’. We’ve thus far not - on the whole - manifest particularly well… likely through unexamined, or selfish and willfully misaligned impulse and affiliations.
But for now, lets at least recognize that what we may readily deem and dismiss as pareidolia, may actually be something far, far more richly manifest and very highly worthy of our notice… perhaps benignly inviting our benevolent engagement toward the recognition of, respect for, nurture of and sustainability of other life on our planet.
At a time of human-centricity (Anthropocene) driving a sixth mass extinction… yielding our long-held and highly humanistically-enabling beliefs and in-kind practices toward what otherwise may be evidence of an effort to communicate from intelligence far, far superior than our own, may now be in order. Let us certainly consider. Let us re-examine our default assumptions and affiliations and align with a higher state of being, inspired by… enabled by… our Creator(s)? Ancestral Spirits? Guardian angles? God?
NHI by any other name?
Like the word pareidolia, the phenomena - any phenomena - is what it is. It is not limited to how we define it, what we call it, or based solely upon our own incapacities to better or more broadly regard it.
It, much like the phenomena of individual faith, does remain for many of us to more roundly discover and explore attempting to do so with respect, an open heart and mind, and honorable intentions.
Let us, perhaps aspire higher as a more tolerantly regardful species. We’ve been greatly endowed; and perhaps it is time to honor that gift a little less self-centrically. A little more inclusively, respectfully and with the gratitude such a blessed and sacred opportunity affords each and every one of us.
An explore of the Gulf and the emergence of ‘pareidolia’
So, back to the inspiration to pop in and check out the satellite view from the College of DuPage’s NEXLAB…
Because I am now becoming so familiar with the signal and pattern of follow-through initiated by NHI, I recognized this prompt was about to lead somewhere. Inevitably, it did (just as the ‘Gray’ had emerged as detailed in “Portrait”. And, just as the image in that post became a suddenly more pronounced collaboration).
So, at the desk, typing in my default address… there it was, adrift once again in infrared imagery.
I don't find the developing presence of a lovely deer (left in Gulf image) any accident of visual patterning. Patterning yes... but unintentional? I suspect not. Notice the skeletal and musculature detail, the eyes, the ears... As an artist I find it stunning and highly recognizable. An image I would easily employ as a study toward a future portrait. Especially for a children's story. Notice the expressive eyes, alert ears. Stunning...
It is hunting season here in Colorado, and just yesterday I came across the aged, sun-whitened skeletal remains of two deer. I don't consider that a coincidence, especially when one considers how intricately woven is our human together with the collective consciousness.
An opportunity, perhaps, to pray for those who need it.
And there are at least two other images which morphed into view within the animation portrayed below only within five screenshots. A triangle and square could also be noted (though not perfect), but vapor does indeed drift.
And because of that, and because we are paying attention we now get to explore what other possibilities may emerge in the Gulf or anywhere else on the planet via satellite feeds sure to be unique in their interpretation to every viewer that happens upon them.
Seeing can be believing!
A couple of tips toward quickly recognizing common attributes of NHI artistic expressions in vapor: 1) Sometimes it is - like the deer - unmistakable and we have to catch it just at the right moment toward its fully intended effect. 2) Look for twin or paired features, as I believe the presence of bifurcated biologies may be quite common in at least our near orbit… so, eyes, ears, legs. 3) Watch for geometry. NHI seems to greatly appreciate it - as it may be… perhaps… a language broadly common to our universe, and finally 4) Don’t be surprised by sophisticated and highly stylized versions of commonly recognizable objects.
Hearts have always been cast my way as a beautiful expression of love, appreciation and empathy. And I’ve seen them expressed in more ways than I could’ve ever imagined - large, pure white and bold within a clear blue sky; embedded within one another; linked; outlined; outline-reversed; in a series; scattered like tossed confetti… nothing less than amazing and always exceedingly humbling and appreciated.
Notes
Screen-grab images credit attributed to: NOAA Band 13 clean IR - as presented here from College of DuPage (an absolute favorite weather source)
Please note, there are ways one can find archival gif animations (collections of single images within a standardly updated time-interval) from an online satellite presentation (see below for a beginning to that process).
I, indeed, attempted to source the specific animated gif collection from the screen grabs below, but to no avail. Neither NOAA’s originating weather center related sources, nor NEXLAB appeared to have all of the needed navigational features in one easy-to-access location (such as access to a selected past interval, or in the other case, a downloadable display of selected imagery). the best I could do under time constraints was to process these screen grabs from my initial witness and documentation of the phenomena via DuPage’s NEXLAB iteration.
If you look for the archived imagery yourself (and really, the stunning animation is not to be missed) here is the College of DuPage NEXLAB time stamp for the interval (which should also materially match NOAA) : [ GOES-19 Band 13 ("clean") Longwave Infrared Window 2.0 km | Valid 19 Oct 26 00:01:17 UTC ]
You can find links to these resources below…
Here, then, are five grabs only slightly different and slightly differently presented for your perusal and perhaps a wee bit of fun going forward… Blue outlines represent costal and US state outlines. The imagery of particular interest is located toward the bottom center-to-right.
hint… don’t read this if you don’t want any clues! I noted a beautiful doe, a grumpy old man, a wildcat with fangs, a triangle, a partial square and a caiman… though more evident in the vid ;)
Links to Source Pages
College of DuPage NEXLAB: CONUS (Continental United States) Satellite Imagery
https://weather.cod.edu/satrad/?parms=continental-conus-13-24-1-100-1&checked=map&colorbar=data
(US) NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration GOES Satellite Index (clickable regions of the Americas)
Copyright Notices
(Top of page) Image title: “Clouds”
Copyright (C) 2026 L. Bracken - All Rights Reserved
This image is for effect only. It is not representative of any particular pareidolia I’ve yet identified, and it is not related to the imagery of the Gulf. Though I will say… I was inspired to take the photo (which is no coincidence) and… there do appear to at least be a few shapes in there, and a bit of heart up top ;)
All satellite images (1-5): Credit: College of DuPage NEXLAB - 2026
From originating satellite source: NOAA GOES-19 Band 13 ( “Clean” Longwave Infrared Window ) - 2026
All satellite images on this page are displayed for scholarly purposes, with full credit and links to sources - though New Flight Books cannot assure the accessibility, validity, accuracy nor security of links provided.