The Universe speaks and all one needs do is tune-in.
I have been blessed.
GRACE was given to me as you all know... and I live in a dream-stream land of happenstances that words fall short of expressing.
And now, the Universe has turned her eye on me still further... to carry a message:
And you all know what that message is... "Row gently and merrily, it is all but a dream, let go... go with the flow...".
And some of you know my passion for water.
My PASSION for metaphor...
My VOICE...
You know I was a DJ way back when...
You know I was an Account Executive for a small division of Experian, way back when...
You know I was an Account Executive for Prime Media in their Marketing Division with three media properties...
You know I was also, 'Vacerro-Pitsero-Roe-Kon-Roe-llerro' delivering pizza and chicken wings in Denver...
Some of you have known me at the Handy-Man... The Security Systems Guy... The phone guy... the Corner Guy... the what-ever ya call it guy... the home-less guy... the sick and dyin guy...
Some have seen me at my best... some at my worst.
And some have seen something else...
Now, what is really awesome is, that all of this has made me into the me that is.
And the me that is... has congelled into a Mr.E. (Congelled is a combination of combining and gelling in mystical ways... it is happenstance and serendipitous... it is full-circle... it is fluid.)
It is elemental in the physical, and meta in the beyond of that...
It is fluid.
And why any of this is important is:
Everything that has happened in my life and is now currently happening is interconnected into a personal dream that I believe is a mirror to the collective whole. You read about it in the last post with the defining of Myth... the Joeseph Campbell quote is but one example.
Another is from "The Heart of Understanding" by Thich Nhat Hanh... ISBN: 0-938077-11-2.
In there, you will read about INTERBEING. It is a story about a cloud floating in a sheet of paper.
Thich Nhat Hanh tells how water is a metaphor for understanding. He tells how without the cloud, the paper can not exist.
And you know how clouds live in air streams, and you know that I live in an Airstream, and you know her name is GRACE, and you know I flow... you know I row... you know I stream this dream here under the moniker of Mr.E...
And now, I want to help you to tie together the personal me, to the professional me... to demystify a vision that I believe to be nothing short of Magical!
Mystical even!
A 'Magical Mr.E Tour'!
So, fasten your seat-belts, cause this is gonna warp your minds:
Now take pause here.
Re-member that story 'Illusions'... Remember the river... the clingers... and the let go! And watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mm0KFOq9ag&feature=share
And this:
http://wimp.com/myvoice/
And this but once again:
http://mrestreaming.blogspot.com/2011/03/he-aint-heavy-hes-my-brother_31.html
You read "A Serendipitous Why", and followed the illness...
You provided GRACE...
Shit got SMASHED!
You read the flow of the personal back-story... and now we're going to tie it all together.
VORTEX!
Air and Water.
Cycles... Re-cycles... re-cycl-ings...
Some thought it nuts for me to gamble on such absurdities as these... To risk it all... to go home-less... to sleep in a hammock! To camp in garage!
To venture into a tornado... to seek it's eye! To find its center.
It is an enterprise that the nay-says said could not be done.
These nay-says, are snools. And this is a snool-free zone!
I swam.
I sank.
I got Smashed!
Smash! saved me.
The corner I was in and the community that is the CORNER, saved me.
You all gave me GRACE.
And she is gracious beyond words...
And in this stream... I row... I steer... I flow...
And that illusive income-stream... through a River, flowed...
River Metals... Elementals...
And the IT Show... showed IT! And metaphors pour...
A Weaver connected to LaPoint.
A thread was drawn...
I met one of the fates... Atropos... a fiery red pheonix... fixed in Cincy...
We floated. Moisture. Warmth. Springings!
And the Weaver offered time...
And two-weeks of in-sight!
In-spired! In-forming!
And the Universe must have Her way.
The paradigm is shifting.
Grovin to a tune of Kuhn, the problem, the crisis, the revelatory reverberations of a revolution in zeitgeist...
Commitments of vendors to play in the Circus... The Road-Show... The Magical Mr.E Tour!
A truck(MONSTER) presents itself... I must Earnst it... Mark it in my mind... I must wade into that moonscape... and with an imitation, cast lines at shadows... koi-time... a slip-strip-stike! Copper in the light... torn from its atmosphere in fear to hear and see the light... exit the cave. Hear the 'why'...
Do what's right.
Do. Be. Flow. Row. Stream. Dream.
Answer the "who am I and how do I fit in my society"?
Take this theater-of-the-absurd on the road! And once you see it... You will be Un-Mazed! Amazingly so!
It is exciting!!! A silver lining in a cloud swirling in a vortex taking mist into moisture to let it rain... right as rain... and see these babblings, like a brook... turn to streams... to rivers... to seas... to ocean... re-cycles... where shit-streams from the main-stream turn to gold that flows back to the those... the others... away from the-they's... away from the nay-says... the clingers and takers...
It is liberation. It is this heart of this Nation. It is a chicken in the pot. It is self-reliance! Confidence!
It is a dream come true...
Let go.
Let go.
And in the process, all is one.
A cleansing.
A baptism.
The Ganges.
The night sky.
A shift.
Monday, May 23
Sunday, May 1
Navigational Technique...
In the last post, at the very end of it, I included a conference at the UofC that is addressing "What are the ideals appropriate to our moment in human history, and how do these ideals derive from or relate to theological reflection in our time?"
'So what?' You might say... or 'Who Cares?' or 'whatever....'
And it is my opinion that this pursuit of ideals and the posing of this question through the UofC, and the way in which it is being presented, is a sign-post. A warning of things to come. The water is gonna get rough!
Now, I am no seller of doom & gloom, or some 2012 apocalyptic, eschatological end time scenario-ist, as that is not my thing. Yet, I will try to ferret out my point here, and to why the minds, great thinkers and The They's are nervous, and in order to do that, I will have to dabble with some things that may be a bit hard to follow, as some of the terms I am going to use will not be used in the standard conceptions of the meanings of these terms. The reader will have to make an effort to see beyond any knee-jerk assumptions and let go of some potentially deep seated beliefs they may hold, all just long enough to be able to see the point of it all clearly. And as the author of the next point said, "on a psychological level, it symbolizes how we must strive never to underestimate anyone, as it is a most dangerous kind of arrogance". You'll remember from my last post, we ALL have a voice, this one is mine.
First thing is to understand what direction I will approach this topic from and why any of this even matters. And to do that, one must understand what myth is.
A myth is a foundational story. Myth is a core element in many belief systems. Myth comes from mythos which simply means "word, narration, tale, and speech" and it is the antithesis of logos... or is it? Both are ways of trying to find a truth. In that sense, myth is truth. Myth is symbolic as well. Myth provides reflection. Myth is concerned with answering the unknowns and provides us all with a way to reflect on individual and collective desires, needs and fears. Myth is like a mirror in this sense, and it has changed little since ancient times. Myth was pre-writing... and is a powerful expression of human imagination. Myth transmits. And in myth, a key is offered to such questions as "Who am I?" and "How do I fit into my culture/society?" And all of this is but one piece of the puzzle, which for your own edification, can all be found in Sarah Bartlett's Mythology Bible. You see, I am not only a fish, but a parrot, too!
Now, I will attempt to take you from this conception of myth, and wrap mythos to the logos to uncover one more small aspect of this metaphorical stream in which we're splashing around in. And one of the keys, or road signs to further understanding, or in-forming, or forming with-in, was in an italicized clue above. That "psychological level" offers us an opportunity to understand quite a few things.
The first is, to take a journey to understanding the historicity of psychology. One book that has done that very well is Robert C. Bolles thematic approach to The Story of Psychology, in which he presents some very insightful bits of in-formation. If you can, get your hands on a copy. Get familiar with his Science. Get familiar with Thomas Kuhn as well. Entertain the idea that science seeks to serve a higher mission. That science seeks broad and powerful generalizations. Science seeks to explain. According to Bolles, "Science is not an abstract thing that transcends normal human activity - on the contrary, science is more than anything else a normal human activity". And science is fluid! And science is not technology. Science is also "not an objective search for truth". And somehow, psychology is "a science, an academic discipline, one of the healing professions and one of the branches of human engineering that tries to cope with social and personal problems" according to Bolles. Wrap your head around it, think critically, and dare to ask yourself what's wrong with this picture? Understand the puzzle, know the problem, see the crisis and embrace the notion that the revolution is soon to follow. Know how and why the paradigm is going to shift. Change is on our door-step.
Now, also consider contrasting Bruce Lincoln's Thesis on Method, in which he points out how language and discussions of the meta-physical are illusive. A good friend and fellow religious studies academic forwarded this pdf to me, and I encourage you to wrestle with it a bit. And depending on how well you do with that wrestling, certain things may come into focus that prior to reading it where unknown to you.
Additionally, it may help to read my piece on Anselm.
Now, all of this ties together. One way is it takes the very approach that the Div School is taking with an interdisciplinary discussion on ideals and how they relate to our point and time. Armed now with Bruce Lincoln's info, and Bolles, and Bartlett and Kuhn and Anselm... you may see that the point here is that there is a shift in the paradigm taking place that has everyone up in arms. What is odd though, is this up in arms thing is still just simmering. Moving toward crisis faster than our economics can't recover from...
You see, the paradigm is run by a bunch of crotchety-crusty-tenured-few. These few are the power-elite. They are The They's and you know what they say... and it is also comprised of those Aspiring-to's that buy the lie that they will ever be a The They!
And anyone in power, and anyone invested in gaining power, fears loosing that power and that effort. And elaborate systems are put in place to ensure that that power is never usurped. Systems of commerce and systems of governance. And like I said in the last post, "all of us are being trained to be part of a society. To be productive members of some idealized Main-Stream. To stay in-line, not cause waves and stay the course that has been predetermined for us by those The They's mentioned earlier" and to that I added the concept of letting go.
Now, the question here is, do you want to take a back-seat and just watch as this story unfolds, cling to the bottom of that stream? or do you want to take theory into reality and take hold of the mental chain's and break em! Take hold of a set of navigation techniques! Take hold of the concept that the paradigm, and The They's are possibly only myth! Vapor! Or just a part of human nature! Let go.
Perhaps one can conceive a different reality if one can shift one's perspective. As myth is also not something that can be contained. Myth is the stream. Myth is the water. Myth flows. Myth is Universal. Myth is enduring. Myth arises "out of economic problems and political and religious manipulations of the people" as Radin said. Myth is a collective unconscious as Jung said. "Myths are public dreams; a dream is a private myth" as Joseph Cambell said. Myth is the heart of the human dilemma... Myth is the source. Myth is a key. Turn it and see! Let go.
So yeah, it matters.
And please, row that boat gently down the stream, merrily, as life is but a dream.
Cheers
'So what?' You might say... or 'Who Cares?' or 'whatever....'
And it is my opinion that this pursuit of ideals and the posing of this question through the UofC, and the way in which it is being presented, is a sign-post. A warning of things to come. The water is gonna get rough!
Now, I am no seller of doom & gloom, or some 2012 apocalyptic, eschatological end time scenario-ist, as that is not my thing. Yet, I will try to ferret out my point here, and to why the minds, great thinkers and The They's are nervous, and in order to do that, I will have to dabble with some things that may be a bit hard to follow, as some of the terms I am going to use will not be used in the standard conceptions of the meanings of these terms. The reader will have to make an effort to see beyond any knee-jerk assumptions and let go of some potentially deep seated beliefs they may hold, all just long enough to be able to see the point of it all clearly. And as the author of the next point said, "on a psychological level, it symbolizes how we must strive never to underestimate anyone, as it is a most dangerous kind of arrogance". You'll remember from my last post, we ALL have a voice, this one is mine.
First thing is to understand what direction I will approach this topic from and why any of this even matters. And to do that, one must understand what myth is.
A myth is a foundational story. Myth is a core element in many belief systems. Myth comes from mythos which simply means "word, narration, tale, and speech" and it is the antithesis of logos... or is it? Both are ways of trying to find a truth. In that sense, myth is truth. Myth is symbolic as well. Myth provides reflection. Myth is concerned with answering the unknowns and provides us all with a way to reflect on individual and collective desires, needs and fears. Myth is like a mirror in this sense, and it has changed little since ancient times. Myth was pre-writing... and is a powerful expression of human imagination. Myth transmits. And in myth, a key is offered to such questions as "Who am I?" and "How do I fit into my culture/society?" And all of this is but one piece of the puzzle, which for your own edification, can all be found in Sarah Bartlett's Mythology Bible. You see, I am not only a fish, but a parrot, too!
Now, I will attempt to take you from this conception of myth, and wrap mythos to the logos to uncover one more small aspect of this metaphorical stream in which we're splashing around in. And one of the keys, or road signs to further understanding, or in-forming, or forming with-in, was in an italicized clue above. That "psychological level" offers us an opportunity to understand quite a few things.
The first is, to take a journey to understanding the historicity of psychology. One book that has done that very well is Robert C. Bolles thematic approach to The Story of Psychology, in which he presents some very insightful bits of in-formation. If you can, get your hands on a copy. Get familiar with his Science. Get familiar with Thomas Kuhn as well. Entertain the idea that science seeks to serve a higher mission. That science seeks broad and powerful generalizations. Science seeks to explain. According to Bolles, "Science is not an abstract thing that transcends normal human activity - on the contrary, science is more than anything else a normal human activity". And science is fluid! And science is not technology. Science is also "not an objective search for truth". And somehow, psychology is "a science, an academic discipline, one of the healing professions and one of the branches of human engineering that tries to cope with social and personal problems" according to Bolles. Wrap your head around it, think critically, and dare to ask yourself what's wrong with this picture? Understand the puzzle, know the problem, see the crisis and embrace the notion that the revolution is soon to follow. Know how and why the paradigm is going to shift. Change is on our door-step.
Now, also consider contrasting Bruce Lincoln's Thesis on Method, in which he points out how language and discussions of the meta-physical are illusive. A good friend and fellow religious studies academic forwarded this pdf to me, and I encourage you to wrestle with it a bit. And depending on how well you do with that wrestling, certain things may come into focus that prior to reading it where unknown to you.
Additionally, it may help to read my piece on Anselm.
Now, all of this ties together. One way is it takes the very approach that the Div School is taking with an interdisciplinary discussion on ideals and how they relate to our point and time. Armed now with Bruce Lincoln's info, and Bolles, and Bartlett and Kuhn and Anselm... you may see that the point here is that there is a shift in the paradigm taking place that has everyone up in arms. What is odd though, is this up in arms thing is still just simmering. Moving toward crisis faster than our economics can't recover from...
You see, the paradigm is run by a bunch of crotchety-crusty-tenured-few. These few are the power-elite. They are The They's and you know what they say... and it is also comprised of those Aspiring-to's that buy the lie that they will ever be a The They!
And anyone in power, and anyone invested in gaining power, fears loosing that power and that effort. And elaborate systems are put in place to ensure that that power is never usurped. Systems of commerce and systems of governance. And like I said in the last post, "all of us are being trained to be part of a society. To be productive members of some idealized Main-Stream. To stay in-line, not cause waves and stay the course that has been predetermined for us by those The They's mentioned earlier" and to that I added the concept of letting go.
Now, the question here is, do you want to take a back-seat and just watch as this story unfolds, cling to the bottom of that stream? or do you want to take theory into reality and take hold of the mental chain's and break em! Take hold of a set of navigation techniques! Take hold of the concept that the paradigm, and The They's are possibly only myth! Vapor! Or just a part of human nature! Let go.
Perhaps one can conceive a different reality if one can shift one's perspective. As myth is also not something that can be contained. Myth is the stream. Myth is the water. Myth flows. Myth is Universal. Myth is enduring. Myth arises "out of economic problems and political and religious manipulations of the people" as Radin said. Myth is a collective unconscious as Jung said. "Myths are public dreams; a dream is a private myth" as Joseph Cambell said. Myth is the heart of the human dilemma... Myth is the source. Myth is a key. Turn it and see! Let go.
So yeah, it matters.
And please, row that boat gently down the stream, merrily, as life is but a dream.
Cheers
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)