Blogs of note

I've been galloping off in all directions lately in sheer yelping delight at the variety of human experience and expression. The other day, while getting onto this site so I can do this blogging experiment, I ventured into Bloggers "Blogs of Note" section, which provided me with a huge field in which to gallop and yelp. It seems like everybody's writing about everything.
With a view toward being more focussed, I will mention one blog which is most prominent on my mind today.
In this particular page, our blogger experiments with advice from a book on how to write. The author suggests "sitting in front of the computer for hours even if I have no ideas."He then "document(s) the experience."
I think this is an interesting idea. I have done it in various forms; sitting in front of a blank notebook with pen in hand, sitting in front of a typewriter, a tape recorder, a video camera. All these have been fruitful. But I will definitely do the same thing sitting in front of this memex and take note of what goes on during a specified time. But not right now. I am going to do some other stuff now, and iwill be back.

Kingdom

"The world is so full of a number of things
I'm certain we all should be happy as kings!"

When I was a child I had a copy of Robert Louis Stevenson's "A Child's Garden of Verses"
I just loved these poems and I am certain they colored my world view more deeply than I can fathom. I also spent a lot of time alone in a blissful state where everything was magical, as I remember my early years. So it's easy for me to slip right back into that state of being. It's my "default", as it were.
(Which I suppose can be interpreted as vapid, vacuous trivial, inane, clueless, etc. I don't care).
And as I get older and spend more time alone, I find myself spending more and more time there.
This "Memex"on the desk in front of me makes it easy to view more and more delightful vistas. Ir seems to me that the delightful and marvelous is on the rise whereas the nightmare is passe. Actually, even the nightmarish phenomena are being elevated to pleasureable experiences.
Quoting from one of my current favorite books, "Pronoia is the Antidote to Paranoia" by astrologer Rob Bresny:
"At a concert in California, devotional singer, Krishna Das told the story of escorting his revered teachers, a frail old Indian couple, to an acupuncturist in New York. They had to walk through a neighborhood dominated by strip clubs, prostitutes, and drug dealers. Every few feet a new salesperson approached with an offer of crack, weed, crank, or sexual adventures.
Krishna Das worried about subjecting his beloved guides to such a degrading experience, but they were unfazed. "This is heaven," said the woman. When a surprised Krishna Das asked what she meant she replied, "Heaven is any place where one's needs can be met."
That's my idea of it, too.
When I was a teenager I took every opportunity I could to go into this garden of every possible delight that is the Big Apple and avail myself of such experiences as cannot be spoken of in this day of apparent fear and repression.
I had no fear and came to no harm. I just enjoyed it all.
But the world huge and there are endless delights to be enjoyed in the realms of food,music or whathaveyou.
I not really making any kind of point here, but I just think it's delightful all around!

Dreaming Peace

Greetings, friends. It has been a while since I saw any of you , but my good wishes go out to you.
At this time in my life my energy is intensely inward and involved in the beauty and perfection of my inner world. On that level I feel engaged with the energies of others who also feel the pull of the Golden Land. By disengaging in the illusion of fear, competition and violence, we remove energy from these patterns. We concentrate our energies in holding the perfect dream of peace.
This morning I found a website, surrealist.org, that says it all very well.
To quote another Dreamer, "I hope someday you'll join us and the world can live as one."

One eye open

It seems the Twenty-first Century is tapping on my window asking me to come out and play. Playing looks more and more attractive every day.
"All this world is but a play; be thou the joyful player." ("Maya" by the Incredible String Band)
There are more wonderful and interesting things in this world. And it just keeps getting better and better. And so far, without me ever leaving home.
But...first of all I have to get used to doing things here on this machine and welcoming more artful aids to broaden the scope of my life. I have been deep inside myself, which is utterly lovely, but it seems like the outside world has infinite marvels to offer, as well.
Even with what I consider to be my limited acquaintance with computer stuff, I have a real good vision of how our world is poised on a breathtaking transformation through these technologies.
The answer is YES I will come out and play!

Days of Miracle and Wonder

Oh it gets better and better.
Beauty abounds


Then there's this.

I love that guy.

self knowledge

This afternoon I was surfing around in hyperspace and I came upon this cool website, personalDNA. I just love anything that has to do with self-knowledge or personality testing, so I dug right in.
Turns out I'm a Respectful Inventor. (I know, I don't seem respectful, but I am.)

My personalDNA Report
This personality test is thoughtful and well presented. Instead of multiple choice, most questions have a slider or a sliding grid so one can finely tune one's answers.

For the Record

Notes to the self from the Self.
Now matter where you are in life, there is beauty and value all around you.
You can't compare yourself to anyone else.
Even if things are weird and crazy, don't panic. Pay attention and keep some sort of notes- sketches, journal entrys, photographs.
The inner landscape is actually more important than the inner one. Pay attention. If you get lost try different approaches. All roads lead to om.
There are many treasures in dark places.
People only see through their own eyes so don't worry how you look.

no nudes now

I suppose you wonder why, with all this talk about dark sides and all, there is no nudity/sex stuff? Maybe because I don't think that stuff is evil or dark. I've never had a problem with having my clothes off. Stretch marks, jelly rolls and all. Fat chick, pig, cow, ee-i ee-i-, oh..
You know my tuesday/thursday, monday/wednesday/friday class story?Well, nekkid bodies, titties and all, are not the issue. And definitely not evil. tafn.
Stay tuned, folks.

Only the Shadow Knows

C.G.Jung said the greatest act of moral courage was to start by withdrawing your own personal shadow from the world.

I prefer to own my shadow; that is, take responsibility for it, explore it and harvest it's gifts.
This morning I was musing on how much energy I've spent trying to be something other than what I really am. This has led to all sorts of kerfuffles and pissed my Self right off. It was like, "well if I can't be my Self, then neither can anyone else." "and "if you don't like me the way I am then I'm outta here.", etc.

As I approach my second Saturn return, I am real clear that my only hope is the full truth about and toward my Self.

This afternoon I was drawn to open one of my bookmarks, "Creativity Portal". One of the contributors to this site was Steve's girlfriend back around New Year 2000 when I was in San Diego. She went camping with us in the Anzo-Borrego Desert. We had a lovely time (got rained out...we had to come back and sit around Steve's fireplace, telling stories and drinking cocoa)

The guys, who had picked me up in Vancouver and brought me to Steve's, headed out and left me stranded there.

Steve didn't want me there. He made me sleep outside in his van (not a problem, but I was having abandonment issues..) He told me, this girlfriend was jealous and wanted me out of there, and he put me in the homeless shelter.

I had a great time in the shelter, needless to say. (I always have a great time once I get over whatever), but that's another story.

Anyway, back to the Creativity Portal....Steve's ex, Jill is the author of a book "The Nine Modern Day Muses (and a Bodyguard): 10 Guides to Creative Inspiration for Artists, Poets, Lovers and Other Mortals Wanting to Live a Dazzling Existence."
(among others she has written.She has a great website, The Muse is In, too)

SO...I emailed her today and asked her if she had indeed had me cast into the homeless shelter, and if so, many heartfelt thanks as it was a wonderful deep, funny, touching experience.
But that's another story.

All together now.

I have been drawn into the whole "social networking" phenomenon lately. Ben got me into myspace, and Adam invited me onto facebook.
It's like homecoming for me, being able to reach out and communicate with people I haven't seen in years...people I cared very much about, but somehow lost contact.
A lot of these people were kids when last I saw them...kids I hung out with and knew well. Now they are grown and it's our world and the possibilities are endless.
I was just getting ready to check out of this planet because everything seemed so dead end. (Some days, anyway.Other days are manic.)
It's nice to share stories, which also brings up new memories and connections.
Now we have this macalusoclan thing, too, which I kind hope will serve as a forum for family healing and understanding. Coming together in transparency.
Anyway...the continuing story..