It’s All So Simple

Posted on December 26, 2016 by randomyriad

….Remember you are this universe and this
universe is you.
Remember all is in motion, is growing, is you.
Remember language comes from this.
Remember the dance language is, that life is.
Remember.

From Joy Harjo’s “Remember” From Stony Soil Vermont

Posted in Check this out, dancing, music, Other peoples words, paying attention, poetry, Singing | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Supporting a Wave of Creativity

Posted on December 18, 2016 by randomyriad

The arabesque is, rather obviously, not a position that can be held for any prolonged length of time. Balanced on the tip of one foot, the ballerina gives her audience a momentary glimpse of the arabesque, and then she is gone. But the impression of an effortless grace, produced by the precisely controlled relationships of arms, hands, legs, body, and head, remains like the pure clear sound of a single flute note, flashed across space in an instant.

Perhaps it is the memory of a beautiful moment that is as important as the moment itself. Who of us has not experienced the bittersweet recollection of a perfect moment and has not hungered to have it back? It will not return, but one always can—perhaps one always should—look eagerly for the next arabesque.

—Donald Elliott, Frogs and the Ballet from Alec Nevala-Lee

Perhaps we need to, as much as we can, work toward inspiring each other and ourselves to create these moments of pure joy and flow no matter what form they take. If we push the people in our lives toward the things that feed the sense of agency that comes from actions that carry others forward as well then a wave can start, and that wave can carry us all to a place where everyone matters and no one is left behind. But the important first step is creating a society that values creative attempts at moving toward joy and acceptance and away from divisive judgement. Judgement in itself is not bad- it is just when we judge people and ideas in a superficial unthinking way that damages the delicate framework of society that supports creative endeavors. In the coming year lets support everyone’s efforts at creating a more joyful, inclusive human society, and maybe we can start solving some of the problems we all face.

This is a beautifully arranged musical arabesque that inspired me. from Immortal Jukebox.

Posted in All part of the process, Being Human, Check this out, dancing, make your own world, music, my museum of inspiration, Other peoples words, paying attention, philosophy, thinking in words | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

An Initial Attempt to Come to Terms with 2016 : A Poem, 2 Quotes, and A Song

Posted on December 13, 2016 by randomyriad

To live in this world

you must be able
to do three things:
to love what is mortal;
to hold it

against your bones knowing
your own life depends on it;
and, when the time comes to let it
go,
to let it go.

~ Mary Oliver

 

“It is almost banal to say so yet it needs to be stressed continually: all is creation, all is change, all is flux, all is metamorphosis,”  

Henry Miller

 

“a civilization is not destroyed by wicked people; it is not necessary that people be wicked but only that they be spineless”

James Baldwin, The Fire Next Time

Something good that happened this year: This movie and this song.

Posted in All part of the process, banality of evil, Being Human, can't really complain but, change, Chaos and Order, Check this out, delusions of progress, music, my museum of inspiration, Other peoples words, poetry, scenes on screens, thinking in words | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

More Thoughts from the Land of WTF Just Happened.

Posted on November 22, 2016 by randomyriad

“Tomorrow we shall have to invent, once more, the reality of this world” — Octavio Paz

I don’t agree with those that think leaving because of the election is a moral thing to do. It is the practical thing, and I understand. It is not a moral stand to leave a place because of injustice or bigotry. It is immoral to stay and do nothing about it or support it. People are basically the same everywhere. No matter where you go there will by people who will create injustice and use power in the worst ways possible. It is just as likely the next place you go will face the same or some different social crises. It cannot be avoided. But I think it is alright to find a place where the government is working for the people and the system seems to work for everyone. You can’t just live there though you have to make sure that it stays that way. Any government worth existing needs vigilant guarding from human beings who let greed and fear rule their lives. What has happened here can happen anywhere people who care are not paying attention or have become arrogant and blind to fear and anger. I hope your life is good wherever you go, but pay attention to the opportunities to build communities of real diversity that include everyone. That is what makes a place worth living.

“I have only to go on, as if there were something to be done, something begun, somewhere to go.  It all boils down to a question of words, I must not forget this…”

– Samuel Beckett, The Unnameable –

It all comes down to things that make no sense yet are. People listen to words and know they are lies coming from someone who has spent his whole life getting only what he wants, and not really caring how other people feel about it. They know he is only aiming at a goal that will suit him, and when he tires of it he will burn the whole thing to the ground and walk away, because that is who he is. And everyone knows it. he has the matches and the gasoline ready. He is setting up the scene. And everyone is saying stay calm. He’s probably not as crazy as he says he is. I tend to look at peoples actions, as well as their words. And there behind a flaming path of broken promises and con games all meant turn out really great, you’ll see, believe me.

I am very unclear how all this is going to turn out, but that has been true every step of my life. Each one an invitation to disaster each one taken blind with so little information to call it an educated guess is laughable. But I keep taking steps, and I have managed to get to this point without causing any catastrophic damage and maybe doing a little bit of good for some people. Maybe that is the way it is always everywhere I just take the next step and hope I keep my balance and don’t squish anything that can feel it. And maybe every now and then I step into a situation where I can help someone else gain a little of their balance or learn to walk or give them information on the steps I have taken, so that they can maybe find a sounder path, maybe not fall as much as I have fallen along the way. One can hope for that even in this very weird place.

Posted in banality of evil, Being Human, can't really complain but, change, Chaos and Order, delusions of progress, mindworks, my life, Other peoples words, thinking in words, visions from the dark side, Wacky World, Walking, whereever you go there you are, Word play | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Post Election Thoughts and Responses

Posted on November 13, 2016 by randomyriad

1. I always feel like I don’t like labels. We label to ignore and be safe. I know people label me, but I try look beyond the labels and see what each person is saying. There are human beings behind every political and social label who are not being heard. People under the label of liberal are often deafened by arrogance and righteous frustration. The racist right by ignorance which leads to fear which stifles all the diverse music of the world. I try to remove my earmuffs as often as I can and I hear the people who cynically perch above us laughing and patting themselves on the back. In Their ears is the song of material gain. They cannot hear the jackhammers eating away that the root of their tree. It will come down eventually.

2. Why is it so hard for some people to look for what there is in common, instead of fearing and hating differences? Why are people so fearful and ready to blame others? We need to figure these things out or that path to power will always be there, the path that leads through fear and blame. If we don’t rise together, we don’t rise at all.

3. It wasn’t just the haters that voted for Trump. I can’t figure out why they did, but I think we have to try to figure that out. I think there are a lot of things we don’t understand about people because we tend to listen in our own groups. I have a hard time with this myself. but I am pretty sure that if we can’t figure this out, we will be doomed to these cycles of no progress. We can’t just erase half of voters in this country as nonhuman. We have to listen when it is hard to listen and speak from understanding or we go down the shit hole with the people we label. We do have to protect our rights and fight for the marginalized first, but until we can communicate a commonality with those that are reachable, people like Trump will be there to divide us and set us against each other to the detriment of ourselves.

4. By the way, I am not saying you should keep people in your life who hate and are toxic. We just need to listen beyond the bluster and rage and ginned up fear. I work in a skilled nursing facility where Fox (news) is on 24/7 in a good majority of the rooms and these people vote. When someone says something offensive, we might start asking why they feel that way. It doesn’t support their behavior, and we may learn something. I don’t feel that way so I don’t really understand it. But if I ask I may find a way to reach them. 
 
5. I want Elizabeth Warren to be the first woman president or Michelle Obama. Hilary wouldn’t have been different than Obama. What we really need to do is start from the bottom up. Really give someone like Obama or Warren a chance to make some real change for everyone.
https://youtu.be/rkGsUZedp2g
Posted in banality of evil, Being Human, can't really complain but, Check this out, delusions of progress, discovery and recovery, Other peoples words, the end is the beginning, thinking in words | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments