Author: A'Journe

 

 

Richard Cory

 

Whenever Richard Cory went down town,

We people on the pavement looked at him:

He was a gentleman from sole to crown,

Clean favored, and imperially slim.

And he was always quietly arrayed,

And he was always human when he talked;

But still he fluttered pulses when he said,

“Good-morning,” and he glittered when he walked.

And he was rich—yes, richer than a king—

And admirably schooled in every grace:

In fine, we thought that he was everything

To make us wish that we were in his place.

So on we worked, and waited for the light,

And went without the meat, and cursed the bread;

And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,

Went home and put a bullet through his head.

                                           – Edwin Arlington Robinson

 

 

 

There a many (and great) forces pushing us toward Materialism.

I am thinking of a “simple” billboard image.  There is nothing “happening”. It’s just an image of a woman.  She is beautiful. She’s about 28. She’s lounging back in a slinky dress.  Maybe the ad is there to sell us perfume … or maybe jewelry. (It does not matter.)

This model’s job (and she is RICH, of course) – is not really to convince us that we should want what she has. It is ASSUMED that we want what she has.  It’s HER JOB to communicate to us that, now that she can AFFORD the diamonds (or the expensive perfume or whatever), and that NOW THAT SHE HAS IT … she finds that – it is, without Any Question – Absolutely Fulfilling!   

Mmm?

Such ads contain almost no words.  But they are subtle … and powerful.

 

I wonder whether ANY industry has, in the past 40 years, learned as much as has the Public Relations Industry!  (which SHOULD, of course, be called – the Public MANIPULATION Industry)

 

WHO WE THINK WE ARE is Big issue.  And in the Great War of Ideas, the Advertising Industry knows Quite Well – that they ‘have a dog in this race’!

 

I just now tried to get some useable stats – on ‘deaths due to anorexia and bulimia’ and I did not succeed.  But we all KNOW that it’s a problem

I DID learn though – that anorexia is our most fatal mental illness – with a mortality rate FOUR times that of clinical depression.

 

And What Else do we know?  We know that the Advertising Industry is complicit in these (many) deaths.

Of course – what they do is NOT ILLEGAL.  And from their point of view, I suppose it’s just ‘unintentional’ … just ‘inevitable’ (and acceptable) Collateral Damage.

 

These deaths … these are Casualties … in the Great War of Ideas.

Mmm?

 

Suppose you hold your hand out in front of you (a foot or so) – palm down … and you want your hand to float upward (a foot or so) – it will DO SO!

For me, this is adequate evidence – that the Soul owns the Body … and NOT the other way round!

Mmm?

 

But …

If the Ad Industry can convince an entire population of young girls that they ARE their Body … they will have achieved a Major Step in making them into Proper (& manageable) Consumers.

 

Many times have I witnessed young parents telling their young girl-child (or saying so in FRONT of her) – that she is BEAUTIFUL.

(And NEVER have I gotten the sense that they felt that they were doing ANYTHING WRONG.)

Even so … it’s a BAD IDEA !

Because

That child will take those “compliments” to mean that THAT’S what’s GOOD about her!  That it’s important.  That that is what makes her lovable!

 

(Surely we don’t want to assist the [already too powerful] Public Relations Industry!

Bill Watterson says [through the mouth of Calvin] – that “We’re so involved with our corporations, that WE pay THEM to advertise for them!”  Mmm? )

 

You should compliment your child on their CHOICES … on their CHARACTER.  (NOT on their genetics)

 

[You might want to watch the film – “Circle of Friends” (1995).  It’s a ‘coming of age’ story about 3 girls in a village in 1950’s Ireland.  It becomes clear that the most beautiful one in this group has been ‘spoiled’ and is inclined to abuse her power.           It’s a good story.  Minnie Driver, et al.]

 

I just now added a certain Maxfield Parrish painting to the ‘Images’ section of the References page.  (It’s the 2nd image there.)

I did this because I realized (while I was a student at MIU, and was doing a lot of meditation) – that we are meant to understand that the CHARACTERS in Parrish’s paintings clothe themselves the WAY they do – because of WHO they construe themselves to BE.

And then I realized that if (hypothetically) some certain morning … if we ALL (everyone in all of Western Civilization … without thinking about it) were to go to the closet and don a simple (Maxfield Parrish style) garment (which somehow just ‘happened’ to be there)… and then wear that all day … just that – would Change the World.

 

So

Here’s what I think we should do –

 

WITHDRAW support from Materialism  (in the Great War)

Think twice before buying a T-shirt which will turn you into a ‘billboard” for any corporation.

Maybe, sometimes, wear loose-fitting and graceful clothing.  (Let me know if you’d like me to make you a dress.)

Meditate regularly and/or do other spiritual practices which will provide you with an experiential Basis rooted in the truth – (that we are spiritual beings).

Take care when complimenting your children (or other children).

And

Do whatever ELSE you think might help us ‘win the war’.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

“Circle of Friends” (1995)  – film w/ Minnie Driver

 

I grew up in the midwest … in northwest, semi-rural Ohio.  I had an older and a younger brother. Our house was about a mile from Shawnee School, and only a quarter mile from the church.  My brothers and I were in Scouts; and our family also belonged to the Grainge. Potlucks were pretty common. They were always fun.  And always a “bargain”.

I mean – people eat anyway!  Many people (those, on this planet – who are able to do so) eat three times a day!  So – if you were going to do SOMETHING for dinner anyway, why not just prepare a SINGLE dish … meet up with other folks doing the same thing … and have a FEAST ?  And for no more work! Or cost!

That’s why it’s a Bargain.  (That’s why it’s like Stone Soup)  You get Something Nice … for Nothing!

I spent 17 years in a Religious Order, in Arizona.  And, for about the first year, we gathered every Thursday evening – for a  potluck. About 50 of us. It was wonderful. When this practice was discontinued (due to various, normal growth changes) – I experienced this change as a Great Loss.  That weekly gathering – just to see each other (and talk about whatever we felt like) – was Priceless!

My (considerable) experience forces me to the conclusion – that to have some sort of “Program” (in addition to just eating together and “visiting”) – is not really necessary.

But … my suggestion – for the simplest and most basic “agenda” – would be a Simple Check-In.

Someone should take on the role of Facilitator.  People should sit in a circle (preferably, a single circle).  Just go round the circle … people should introduce themselves, and say a little something (probably about themselves, perhaps – about the Group … and how to make the best use of it).  

It is important – that people are respectful … that they listen (and do not interrupt).

The Facilitator should play the ‘Guide on the Side’ … rather than the ‘Sage on the Stage’.

If someone should deport himself in a way which is clearly ‘wrong’ … the facilitator should (if possible) have a word with that person … later, and in private.  

Just the fact that everyone is able to say what they wish to say (without interruption) is very Valuable.  It creates a sense of Equality … of Respect … of Trust.

Even in such a situation – in which there seems to be Very Little Happening … there is, in fact – a Great Deal Happening.

Everyone should promote – Respect, true Friendliness, and equalization of Power.

Some housing developments … some communities have a Community Center (some sort of space, maybe even – with a kitchen) which can function as Gathering Place for the residents.  If this is YOUR situation, I would urge you to Do Something. Get the necessary ‘permission’ … and facilitate a Stone Soup Potluck. Put up a notice. Invite people. Cook something nice.  Show up.  Start a Tradition.  Change the Culture   (away from Alienation … and toward Connectedness)

And imagine this happening – all over the World!

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

http://www.aboutlistening.com/

 

 

Advice

                          

Someone dancing inside us

learned only a few steps:

the “Do-Your-Work” in 4/4 time,

the “What-Do-You-Expect” waltz.

He hasn’t noticed yet the woman

standing away from the lamp,

the one with black eyes

who knows the rhumba,

and strange steps in jumpy rhythms

from the mountains in Bulgaria.

If they dance together,

something unexpected will happen.

If they don’t, the next world

will be a lot like this one.

                             – Bill Holm

 

 

I want to thank you for showing up.  The fact that you’re here, reading this – suggests that you already understand the importance of Sustainability.

You may not know what to do about it, but you very likely already realize  that

The Human Family seems determined to wreck our planet’s (fragile) life-support systems

No major governments appear committed to end the madness …

Our laws support planetary degradation.  (Nowhere is it illegal to destroy the planet.)

The (few) people who run the biggest corporations are calling the shots …

We don’t seem to realize – that we live in a Biological System FIRST (and SUBORDINATELY in an economic/political system.

If we are to survive as a Species, we’re going to have to CHOOSE it … and CHANGE.

 

And most of these are, of course, very disturbing.  How could it happen – that we find ourselves heirs to such widespread and profound neglect?

Many of us (even the best of us) feel daunted, if not altogether discouraged – by the magnitude and complexity of the problems which beset us.

But at least, you’re HERE.  That suggests to me that you are not willing to give up without a struggle.

Well – Good on ya’ !

Even as we mature and grow up spiritually, we are required to ‘make do’ with our imperfect selves.

I really wonder – if perhaps my (many) failures and shortcomings don’t outshine my successes and virtues.

I find it painful (don’t you?) – to address a problem which is bound to make me feel inadequate and feeble.

But, fortunately, I can tolerate it.

A human being can withstand suffering … if there is meaning in it.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

http://www.thrivemovement.com/

 

Today marks the 242nd birthday of the United States of America.  Those of us who live here – have much to be grateful for. But complacency would be inappropriate.  

In “America the Beautiful” is the line – “God mend thine every flaw”.  We should probably not take this to mean that God (himself … having been thus instructed) will correct our ‘problems’.  We should probably (ourselves) assume that responsibility. I would MUCH rather live with Patriots who actively WORK to mend our flaws … than live with ‘patriots’ who pretend that we HAVE no systemic defects … that we (simply) live in the ‘best country in the world’ … and give NO THOUGHT as to how to make life here better for us and for our children and grandchildren.

[ref:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML3qYHWRIZk    (America is not the greatest country – Jeff Daniels)]

Robert L. Humphrey found out – that the most dangerous thing one could do (ANYWHERE in the world) – would be to threaten the life or well-being of someone’s loved ones.  (ref: my blog post of 24 January 2018)

I consider this to be a (fair and accurate) depiction of our Basic Human Nature; and it’s NOT specific to any particular culture or country.

But a (fair) Second Approximation – would acknowledge that NOT all cultures are equally Alienated or equally loving or equally devoted to their families.  No. This is a Variable. And I do not think that the American (that is, the United States) culture would rate very high in this variable. (And, as I have said before, this variable is well illustrated in the film “Bella”; and also – in a film I saw quite recently – “The Lost Child”  (Hallmark Hall of Fame film)

We’re AMERICANS! … and this is what we do:

 

We go down to the Culture Store …

(We don’t shop around or look through the store;  we made up our mind what we want

before we got there.  We just walk right up to the counter …)

“Hi Mel.  Could you get me a 75-pound bag of Self-sufficiency, please?

Also –

Fifty pounds each   of

Rugged Individualism

Independence, and

Financial Security.

And of course the usual supply of

Selfishness and Self-absorption.

And could you have Jimmy load it all into the back of my SUV?

Thanks.”

 

Then we take this stuff home

And feed it to our families … (and ourselves)

Mmm ?

 

I can’t help but wonder – if we couldn’t choose something

more nourishing …

because

very many Americans live

in a Social Desert.

The Isolation, Alienation, and Loneliness

which permeate our lives –

are a direct result of this ‘diet’ …

which has been carefully chosen –

to be aligned with

our core values.

 

WHAT IF …

most of the people in the whole world

were to adopt the custom of

getting together with their neighbors

once a week

for a potluck dinner?

What if we got to KNOW each other, and

got together routinely to enjoy each other?

Would not Alienation be reduced?

Would not Loneliness be lessened?

Would there not be more Joy in the world? … and less fear?

Would not many of our ‘problems’ find easy solutions?

Might not this one (simple & cheap) habit (or custom)

increase our chances for Survival as a species?

I think so.

Are not the ‘biggest threats’ to our survival

actually psycho-spiritual in nature? – (anomie/alienation, and hopelessness)

 

I suggest watching this –

                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trbHdayluLA    (Stone Soup)

I read this very book (story) when I was a child.  Many of us did, I’m sure.  (In fact, this story is told in many countries and cultures.)

One (obvious) aspect of the story is – ‘deception / trickery’.

But another (and more important) aspect is – getting something from nothing

also … the principle of Giving – what can happen when we move beyond our fear

and embrace Community and the Basic Goodness of Life  .

 

Therefore, I think we could call these Universal weekly potluck gatherings –

(or at least THINK OF them as) – Stone Soup Potlucks.

 

It would cost us very little (indeed)

and the effect could be huge.

           

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~     

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-vFkvcf3Cs    (The Moral & Economic Collapse of America)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQvig0KvUaE    (Noam Chomsky:  Donald Trump is a Distraction)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBynRIpgkbM    (Doomsday Clock predicts human survival)

 

       “ I AM NOT  I”

 

I am not I.

                        I am this one

Walking beside me whom I do not see,

Whom at times I manage to visit,

And at other times I forget.

The one who remains silent when I talk,

The one who forgives, sweet, when I hate,

The one who takes a walk when I am indoors,

The one who will remain standing when I die.

                                                                  –  Juan Ramón Jiménez

 

 

To me it is wonderful – that there are (a few) actual people who are able directly to apprehend such truths (as expressed in the epigram, by Jimenez)    

Rilke has such insight, and Machado … probably Neruda (and others, no doubt)

Me – I’m a thinker and a philosopher (and I’ll write a poem when I HAVE to), and I’ve studied some.  But basically such ‘direct apprehension’ seems to be above my pay grade. The reason that I regard as true – the basic notion in the epigram – is that it is confirmed by my studies.

I happen to have a very high regard for the British philosopher, G. K. Chesterton, who said –

“The whole order of things is as outrageous as any miracle which could presume to violate it.”

We all believe in the ‘physical world’.  And we’ve heard rumors (at least) – of ‘metaphysical’ phenomena.

‘Metaphysical’ means – ‘beyond the physical’ … things that are ‘way out there’ on the iffy rim of the horizon.  And we say this because we imagine that here at the center of reality – things are physical; and out there somewhere, in ooga-booga land, may also exist realities NON-physical.

But really, I think, we have it backwards (or maybe inside-out) … because here at the center is the ‘EXPERIENCER’, who is wonderfully non-material and airy.  And we do NOT just experience material things; we also experience joy and sorrow, loneliness, beauty, grief, music, humor, love … quite a range of emotions and feelings.  I suggest this is good reason to conclude that we are multi-dimensional beings. Mmm ?

[“Spock!  You green blooded, pointy-eared hobgoblin!”   “Calm yourself, Doctor”]

For several years I worked as a Hospice CNA; and I think it’s fair to say that we humans live in more than a single dimension … (certainly, at least) if we take into account the ‘normal’ experiences of people who are nearing death.

Dr. Christopher Kerr (a physician, who has bothered to study the experiences of the dying … and work up a data base)   gives a very good TED talk:

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbnBe-vXGQM    (dreams & visions of the dying … data)

 

His findings corroborate my own experience – that even while the body is dying, real healing may be happening at other levels.

 

In general, here is what I suspect from many decades of (broad) enquiry and thought –

that we all live in a vibrational BAND (or dimensional frequency range); and this band is not completely narrow.  And it is also somewhat labile. We are capable (sometimes, under certain conditions) of upshifting slightly … maybe even more than slightly.

You are probably familiar with the ‘single photon, double slit’ experiment – which seems to suggest that there is ambiguity regarding particle and wave … and (unavoidable) interaction of the ‘observer’, the observer’s “participation” in the outcome.

                             https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=546&v=p-MNSLsjjdo

But, I wonder – maybe light (for example) exists SIMULTANEOUSLY as Particle and Wave … only in DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS.

Mmm ?

(and WE happen to SHARE these same dimensions with light)?

“Make This Simple Test”

Blindfold yourself with some suitable object. If time permits remain still for a moment. You may feel one or more of your senses begin to swim back toward you in the darkness, singly and without their names. Meanwhile have someone else arrange the products to be used in a row in front of you. It is preferable to have them in identical containers, though that is not necessary. Where possible, perform the test by having the other person feed you a portion — a spoonful — of each of the products in turn, without comment.

Guess what each one is, and have the other person write down what you say.

Then remove your blindfold. While arranging the products the other person should have detached part of the label or container from each and placed it in front of the product it belongs to, like a title. This bit of legend must not contain the product’s name, nor it’s generic name, nor any suggestion of the product’s taste or desirability. Or price. It should be limited to that part of the label or container which enumerates the actual components of the product in question.

Thus, for instance:

“Contains dextrinized flours, cocoa processed with alkali, non-fat dry milk solids, yeast nutrients, vegetable oil, dried egg yolk, GUAR, sodium cyclamate, soya lecithin, imitation lemon oil, acetyl tartaric esters of mono- and di-glycerides as emulsifiers, polysorbate 60, 1/10 of 1% sodium benzoate (to preserve freshness).”

Or:

“Contains anhydrated potatoes, powdered whey, vegetable gum, emulsifier (glycerol monostearate), invert syrup, shortening with freshness preserver, lactose, sorbic acid (to retard mold growth), caramel color, natural and artificial flavors, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bisulfite.”

Or:

“Contains beef extract, wheat and soya derivatives, food starch-modified, dry sweet whey, calcium carageenan, vegetable oil, sodium phosphates, BHA, BHT, prophylene glycol, pectin, niacinamide, artificial flavors, U.S. certified color.”

There should be not less than three separate products.

Taste again, without the blindfold. Guess again and have the other person record the answers. Replace the blindfold. Have the other person change the order of the products and again feed you a spoonful of each.

Guess again what you are eating, or drinking, in each case (if you can make the distinction). But this time do not stop there. Guess why you are eating or drinking it. Guess what it may do for you. Guess what it was meant to do. By whom. When. Why. Guess where in the course of evolution you took the first step toward it. Guess which of your organs recognizes it. Guess whether it is welcomed to their temples. Guess how it figures in their prayers. Guess how completely you become what you eat. Guess how soon. Guess at the taste of locusts and wild honey. Guess at the taste of water. Guess what the rivers see as they die.  Guess why the babies are burning. Guess why there is silence in heaven. Guess why you were ever born.

                                                                 – W. S. Merwin

                                                                                                          (reposted from April 18th’s blog)

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In Blog 2  (13 January  2018) I suggested you look at a film –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEV5AFFcZ-s   ( THRIVE: What On Earth Will It Take?)

 

These folks are currently making a sequel –  Thrive II: This Is What It Takes!

 

Meanwhile, I’d like you to acquaint you with the

THRIVE SOLUTIONS TOOLKIT

http://www.thrivemovement.com/thrive-solutions-toolkit

 

I tried to post it here – but it looked terrible.

So (please) simply

download it yourself, and

have a look at it.

 

And I suggest you also have a look at  –

https://anewscienceofeverything.com/science/sacred-geometry/flower/foster_gamble_interview

&

at Vantari’s

http://3dmandalas.com/

I will admit to having an “assignment” to build tetrahedrons … but my work is quite elementary compared to Vantari’s.      (though I do not intend to abandon my assignment)

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And I commend to you (one of the best film series I’ve ever seen) –

La Niña

(because – in the Great War of Ideas – the main character is a casualty in the battle

between the belief that ‘exploitation is necessary’ … and the belief that it is unnecessary and that exploitation is  ‘a mistake’.)

Here’s some of the music –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt7kbpkxfU8    (Te Invito   [La Nina theme song])

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaKG17XoQ48    (Te Invito  – Herencia de Timbiqui)

 

Also –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts4AxTD7ctc    (Wexford Lullaby  – John Renbourn)

I have loved this piece for years, but only recently learned its name.

It is old, beautiful, and full of human tenderness and pathos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“El Viento, Un Día Brillante”

El viento, un día brillante, llamado

a mi alma con un olor del jazmín.

“en la vuelta para el olor de mi jazmín,

quisiera todo el olor de sus rosas.”

“no tengo ninguna rosa;

todas las flores en mi jardín son muertas.”

“bien entonces, tomaré los pétalos marchitados

y las hojas amarillas y las aguas de la fuente.”

el viento dejado. Y lloré. Y dije a me:

“qué le tienen hecho con el jardín que fue confiado a usted?”

                       – Antonio Machado

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The wind, one brilliant day, called

to my soul with an odor of jasmine.

‘In return for the odor of my jasmine,

I’d like all the odor of your roses.’

‘I have no roses; all the flowers

in my garden are dead.’

‘Well then, I’ll take the withered petals

and the yellow leaves and the waters of the fountain.’

the wind left. And I wept. And I said to myself:

‘What have you done with the garden that was entrusted to you?

                                     – Antonio Machado

 

 

One time, in about 1982, I ‘threw the I Ching’.  Between about 1975 and 1985 I was the resident landlord of a cooperative household in Seattle, about a mile west of the University of Washington.  By living cooperatively, we could live fairly well and yet fairly inexpensively. And I got to live with quite an array of interesting and (mostly) high quality people.  One of these was a sannyasin; that is, a follower of Bhagwan Rajneesh. He mostly wore orange clothing. I quite liked this young man. He was lively, intelligent, natural, and had a clean energy.  One day he invited me to throw the I Ching – a book he considered wise and useful. I doubt we had access to yarrow stalks, so I expect we used coins. Pennies are adequate. Six coins, I think. And I drew (threw) … the Bowl of Worms.  

The image is – that I hold in my hands a bowl of food – meat perhaps.  And I have failed to take care of it, such that now there are worms in my bowl of food.  

Food is something which is valuable to everyone.  (We ALL need to eat.)

So

What the I Ching was telling me – was that there are things which I have in my life (which I know are valuable – but) which I have failed to take proper care of.

Well !

I don’t know what I was expecting

But I was not expecting THIS !

I was appalled, and a bit horrified.

But of course, I knew right away that it was true.  

And the hell of it is – that it is STILL true.

A great many times (since that day) I have come to the (dismaying) realization that I have (yet again) thrown the bowl of worms.  That I have failed to take care of something valuable. A poor choice, no doubt, but – a choice.

Perhaps one day I will mature; and this ‘maturity’ will include caring for everything that is valuable … including my time.

and then, perhaps

I may move on.  And maybe I’ll feel to throw the I Ching again.

 

How about you?  Have you ever thrown the bowl of worms?

 

How about the Earth?

Is the World valuable to us?

And

are we taking care of it?

 

And God stepped out on space,
And he looked around and said:
I’m lonely—
I’ll make me a world.

And far as the eye of God could see
Darkness covered everything,
Blacker than a hundred midnights
Down in a cypress swamp.

 

              – James Weldon Johnson

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

                                 But these stories don’t mean anything

                                 When you’ve got no one to tell them to.

                                                                   – Brandi Carlile

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Eternity

is about

relationships.

                   – Gabriel

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Loneliness Industry is huge.  And it’s growing fast. I have spent the past 2 ½ years inside it  – as a customer. That is, I have been ‘dating’ online for that time.  I started out communicating with local women. I met with two of them; and one of those is still a friend.  But after about six months (of communicating with local women) I realized that what I was doing wasn’t going to take me anywhere I wanted to go.

When I was in the Navy, I spent a year in language school studying Russian.  And our teachers were from Russia. I very much enjoyed being with these people.  And, for the past ten years or so I wondered if I might have a sweetheart somewhere in that part of the world.  

There are sites which specialize in Russian speaking women; and I began to look at some.  After a few weeks, I began to understand – that those cultures are very different from the (American) one I’d grown up in.  

By now I have had some communication with hundreds of women.  And I feel confident that the vast majority of them want simply – to love and be loved.  They want “real feelings”. They are not looking for something unworthy or wrong. (A FEW are, of course.  But let’s not worry about them.) Mainly what they seek is – an end to Loneliness.

For a great many human beings (right now, on this world) the pain of loneliness is somewhere between excruciating … and unbearable.

[As Paul Simon says, in The Boxer –  “I do declare, there were times that I was so lonesome I took some comfort there.”]

A few years ago I realized that I was lonely to such a degree and extent that I was “at risk”; I was nearly going crazy.  So I knew I had to do something about it. And that’s when I started looking online for a Life Partner.

It is not at all unusual for me to hear from someone (even in an introductory letter) that she has spent the past decade pursuing her career; but now, having achieved success on that front, she feels unfulfilled emotionally and very lonely.   And she now wants to find someone she can share her life with.

I now feel as if I have been initiated into the world of Loneliness.  And it’s astonishing. And very touching. And the amazing thing NOW – is how so many people are unaware of this enormous human hunger.  I think it must be universal.   But many of us are somehow largely ‘out of touch’ with it.  (I am guessing this is possible through a form of denial.  As Mark Twain says – “Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt.”)

Loneliness … deserves our respect.  It deserves to be acknowledged and honored.

As Rumi says –

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23pTFRcuW68    (God’s Trombones  –  James Weldon Johnson)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8pQLtHTPaI    (The Story  – Brandi Carlile)

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfWQS5fWxxU    (Shower the People  – James Taylor)

 

‘The Family Is All There Is’

 

Think of those old, enduring connections

found in all flesh–the channeling

wires and threads, vacuoles, granules,

plasma and pods, purple veins, ascending

boles and coral sapwood (sugar-

and light-filled), those common ligaments,

filaments, fibers and canals.

Seminal to all kin also is the open

mouth–in heart urchin and octopus belly,

in catfish, moonfish, forest lily,

and rugosa rose, in thirsty magpie,

wailing cat cub, barker, yodeler,

yawning coati.

And there is a pervasive clasping

common to the clan–the hard nails

of lichen and ivy sucker

on the church wall, the bean tendril

and the taproot, the bolted coupling

of crane flies, the hold of the shearwater

on its morning squid, guanine

to cytosine, adenine to thymine,

fingers around fingers, the grip

of the voice on presence, the grasp

of the self on place.

Remember the same hair on pygmy

dormouse and yellow-necked caterpillar,

covering red baboon, thistle seed

and willow herb? Remember the similar

snorts of warthog, walrus, male moose

and sumo wrestler? Remember the familiar

whinny and shimmer found in river birches,

bay mares and bullfrog tadpoles,

in children playing at shoulder tag

on a summer lawn?

The family–weavers, reachers, winders

and connivers, pumpers, runners, air

and bubble riders, rock-sitters, wave-gliders,

wire-wobblers, soothers, flagellators–all

brothers, sisters, all there is.

Name something else.    

                  

           – Pattiann Rogers

 

 

 

Two days ago (5/28/18) the people of the United States celebrated Memorial Day – an annual celebration intended to remember and honor those who put themselves in harm’s way to preserve our Freedom and ‘the American Way of Life’ … and especially to pay tribute to those men and women who gave their lives for this – (who died in battle or in war).  I myself participated in a small ceremony Monday morning here in Central Oregon (on the Village Green, in Sisters, Oregon)

Memorial Day (here in the U.S.) is also used as a time to gather the family around the back-yard BBQ, enjoy the good weather, and (probably) drink a lot of beer.  In any case – the patriotic component is regarded as “American”.

However, I think it would be better if we were also to bear in mind that the people in ALL countries have a similar experience … and grieve (just as WE do) with the loss of a loved one to the ravages of war (ANY war).

I think we are Self Absorbed … not just as individuals – but also collectively.  And I suspect (having lived for 17 years in a spiritual community, which had in it people from other countries [as well as from this country] – that Americans are about the LEAST informed about the rest of the world.  And this is partly because we think we own the world (which is, of course, basically true) … so – why should we bother? Everyone else can inform themselves ABOUT US.          Mmm ?

Let’s have a look at ‘who died’ in WW II  –                                                                                                   

                                                                   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_casualties   

Here, we see that the United States lost 419,000 lives … Great Britain : 450,000 … France : 600,000 … Poland : 6 million … China: 15 -20 million … and Russia – 20 million.  So, Russia lost about 40 times as many of their people in that war as did the U.S., or England, or France.

And (according to Oliver Stone’s documentary) – it was mainly Russia that defeated the Nazis.

I would commend to you Stone’s videos –                                                             

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=oliver+stone+untold+history+of+the+united+states    (Oliver Stone’s ‘Untold History of the United States’  [134 episodes])

This body of work would seem to be a sincere effort – to document the truth – and to inform the populace.  Please consider making some use of it.

The American People have no monopoly on Patriotic Death & Loss.

 

 

From most points of view

this world – the Earth

is

“another planet.”

 

 

In August of 2009 a huge ‘crop circle’ appeared in a field in Holland.  It appears to be a ‘human butterfly’. (It also seems to be a version of the famous drawing of Mel Gibson by da Vinci – “The Vitruvian Man”)  I do not consider it an extravagant interpretation – to take this as ‘encouragement’ … as though we’re being told that we may be about to go through a metamorphosis, from which we may emerge – an entirely different creature.

No doubt – there are many crop circles which are simply man-made; but the best ones – I don’t think so.  The ‘Julia Set’, for example (July 1996) – which appeared in a field just across the road from Stonehenge – earned a comment from the pilot of a small plane (which routinely carried tourists over Stonehenge).  He said that on the afternoon (when the formation appeared) he had just made a run and had noticed nothing unusual in the fields; but when he came back (the same way) 45 minutes later – there in the field, quite near Stonehenge, was the fully completed “Julia Set” … a formation about 900 feet across.

The likeliest explanation – is that such formations are the work of beings with technology superior to ours … and also with intelligence superior to ours.

As far as I am aware – France is the only (sizeable) nation which admits (openly) to the existence of extra-terrestrial life.

Why is this?  Why do most governments (publicly) deny the existence of UFO’s etc.?

I think it is because – not only do these visitors come here from very far away (which means they are smarter than we are) … they have not (after all this time) eaten us or sold us in the intergallactic slave trade (or something) … which means – they are also BETTER than we are.  In other words, they are are Elders.

And if Humanity knew THIS – we would listen to our VISITORS, and NOT to our governmental ‘leaders’.

Mmm ?

It would be ‘bad for business’.

We live (if my studies are correct) on a Fallen World.

But on a Normal World – women (for example) are not afraid to walk alone at night … because there is nothing to be afraid of.

On the Earth (alas) – this is not the case.

My intuition tells me – that the Crop Circles are the work of intelligent and benevolent beings.  They are trying to help us.

I have not made anything approaching an exhaustive study of crop circles; but I will recommend a couple videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoPY19drp7M    (10 crop circles)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBjO1RyizJ4    (greatest crop circles)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74g4Ef3JB2w    (Arcturians explain crop circles)

Personally, I think it makes sense to spend some time simply looking at the photos of the best crop circles … to allow them to sink in, and perhaps inspire us.

 

For one thing – about 1 person in 17 on this planet is Starseed.  And if you are reading this, the odds are considerably higher. If you are Starseed, your soul origin is not ‘from here’.  (Maybe Avalon [the Pleiades]; maybe Fanoving; maybe Wolvering)

While you probably do not have any clear memories of having lived a Higher Life,  you have a distinct sense – that the way we are living (here, on the Earth) is NOT the best we could be doing.

Nor do we know what we are capable of.

 

Look at the patterns.   (Good may come of it)

 

If you are skeptical …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RH_MD6qMt4    (Why crop circles are NOT man-made)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuE7-VYExPg    (scientific evidence for crop circles)