That image. Is she birthing the orb or receiving its ecstasy? Both?
Agree with you on science and art being more closely related than most will admit.
Perhaps "God" is a word we use when we are a little too frightened to admit that we are already everything. Whatever it is, it's definitely a word. It's not THE most powerful word in terms of getting people's panties in a bunch, but it's gotta be in the top 10. Words are so powerful.
I've been thinking a lot lately about how even these things many of us call "fake" or "representations" are themselves real in their way. Your poem shapes these thoughts further. For instance: symbols, words, thoughts, plans, regrets, nostalgia, mathematics, concepts, daydreams, fantasies...all the things they tell you not to cling to in Meditation 101. Somehow they exist as well. A word has its own reality, reflected in the very tangible facets of its pixels/ink, the ripples it makes as it travels through air and other mediums, the sequence of glyphs and/or phonemes we (mostly) agree on, the representation of that knowledge/feeling in our nervous systems, the way words can trigger all kinds of massive actions way beyond their immediate scope...
Your penultimate stanza gives me major "High" vibes from Rachel Kann:
your response gives me so much to contemplate further!!! I'm sure it'll all ripple out of me in the next days, weeks, months...
God does seem to be a kind of catchall word for "the monstrous mystery" as Joseph Campbell would say. One of the ways we learn to metabolize the knowledge of our everythingness in our nervous systems.
I love what you're saying about the things we're taught to call "fake" being things. I've been thinking about this, too, especially with regard to teaching - how do i/we communicate this absolute interconnectedness in a digestible way - in a way that translates to deeper connection with self and other and the larger ecosystem. Because it is a lot to fathom! Too much to digest all at once, surely.
It reminds me of something Alan Watts says about "bitting up the world" and he goes on to talk about biting, needing to eat things in little bits. What i think is interesting about meditation is that like you said, it aims to do away with the bits, but the way it's taught doesn't always translate to people's ways of being in the world. Maybe it's impractical - maybe it's too much. We need the bits to be able to apply our knowledge and turn it into wisdom! It's like trying to remember the whole of the I Ching at once. trying to see through 62 different lenses at a time. I had a mentor who once told me to look at one hexagram from the I ching each day, and just try to recognize that in my life. It was profound.
The foundation of my own philosophy of movement (and teaching) is that the bits - the categories, labels, brands - can be useful, but only to the extent that they don't become dogmas or aren't understood to be immovable limits. And that fundamentally, all movement (life) is inextricably intertwined - and like you said, triggers movement & transformation beyond what's immediately obvious.
Gosh thank you for this. And wowza I am having visceral memories of hearing that Rachel Kann piece for the first time. I totally feel what you mean
Grateful that the fronds of reality temporarily known as faye and mike can learn from each other in such a way. Grateful for the endless questioning and exploring.
I love how your writing gives me that delightful feeling of awe - just the right mix of “what is she talking about?” and “oh my God, that makes so much sense” and “these words taste so sweet, who the fuck cares what they mean?!” So I cannot choose just one line to appreciate; I love them all. You are an experience to behold.❤️
Ahhhhh Nida, you beautiful creature!!!!!You’re making me cry!!!! (In the best way).You, too are an experience to behold. You are right in the essence of how it felt to write this - “what does it mean? Who the fuck cares, just keep feeling.”
What a pleasure it is to have “met” you here. How is your summer going?
My summer was a bit overwhelming actually. I was in the U.S. for 7 weeks, overdosing on family time. My latest post (and next one, too) will just be me processing it all.
Oooh, road trips and filming sounds fun! I hope you’re getting the space you need to process everything now. I know I am, and I am grateful for that. Yes, I’m settling back in, back to work, trying to re-enter the routine. My son still has a week and a half of holidays, so it hasn’t fully hit just yet.
the senses’ gentle antennae;" - This is a concept I have been mulling over lately and I love the way you put it simply. This is such a wonderful piece! Thank you for sharing!
what is love if not this?
My immense gratitude for being as you are, for writing as you write, for loving as you love life 🙏
mmmmm what a beautiful response to receive. Thank you, Forrest, for your reflection. I'm grateful to have you here
Loving the rhythm of your words, raw and honest.
That image. Is she birthing the orb or receiving its ecstasy? Both?
Agree with you on science and art being more closely related than most will admit.
Perhaps "God" is a word we use when we are a little too frightened to admit that we are already everything. Whatever it is, it's definitely a word. It's not THE most powerful word in terms of getting people's panties in a bunch, but it's gotta be in the top 10. Words are so powerful.
I've been thinking a lot lately about how even these things many of us call "fake" or "representations" are themselves real in their way. Your poem shapes these thoughts further. For instance: symbols, words, thoughts, plans, regrets, nostalgia, mathematics, concepts, daydreams, fantasies...all the things they tell you not to cling to in Meditation 101. Somehow they exist as well. A word has its own reality, reflected in the very tangible facets of its pixels/ink, the ripples it makes as it travels through air and other mediums, the sequence of glyphs and/or phonemes we (mostly) agree on, the representation of that knowledge/feeling in our nervous systems, the way words can trigger all kinds of massive actions way beyond their immediate scope...
Your penultimate stanza gives me major "High" vibes from Rachel Kann:
"…but what all of this means
is that your brain is creating
boundaries
Precisely so that your consciousness,
your you-ness,
will not dissolve
into oneness
with everything."
your response gives me so much to contemplate further!!! I'm sure it'll all ripple out of me in the next days, weeks, months...
God does seem to be a kind of catchall word for "the monstrous mystery" as Joseph Campbell would say. One of the ways we learn to metabolize the knowledge of our everythingness in our nervous systems.
I love what you're saying about the things we're taught to call "fake" being things. I've been thinking about this, too, especially with regard to teaching - how do i/we communicate this absolute interconnectedness in a digestible way - in a way that translates to deeper connection with self and other and the larger ecosystem. Because it is a lot to fathom! Too much to digest all at once, surely.
It reminds me of something Alan Watts says about "bitting up the world" and he goes on to talk about biting, needing to eat things in little bits. What i think is interesting about meditation is that like you said, it aims to do away with the bits, but the way it's taught doesn't always translate to people's ways of being in the world. Maybe it's impractical - maybe it's too much. We need the bits to be able to apply our knowledge and turn it into wisdom! It's like trying to remember the whole of the I Ching at once. trying to see through 62 different lenses at a time. I had a mentor who once told me to look at one hexagram from the I ching each day, and just try to recognize that in my life. It was profound.
The foundation of my own philosophy of movement (and teaching) is that the bits - the categories, labels, brands - can be useful, but only to the extent that they don't become dogmas or aren't understood to be immovable limits. And that fundamentally, all movement (life) is inextricably intertwined - and like you said, triggers movement & transformation beyond what's immediately obvious.
Gosh thank you for this. And wowza I am having visceral memories of hearing that Rachel Kann piece for the first time. I totally feel what you mean
Grateful that the fronds of reality temporarily known as faye and mike can learn from each other in such a way. Grateful for the endless questioning and exploring.
Also, you might enjoy this one:
https://open.substack.com/pub/mikesperiosu/p/vines-and-bagpipes
when the words go free and still make sense
I like it
I love how your writing gives me that delightful feeling of awe - just the right mix of “what is she talking about?” and “oh my God, that makes so much sense” and “these words taste so sweet, who the fuck cares what they mean?!” So I cannot choose just one line to appreciate; I love them all. You are an experience to behold.❤️
Ahhhhh Nida, you beautiful creature!!!!!You’re making me cry!!!! (In the best way).You, too are an experience to behold. You are right in the essence of how it felt to write this - “what does it mean? Who the fuck cares, just keep feeling.”
What a pleasure it is to have “met” you here. How is your summer going?
The pleasure is all mine!🥰
My summer was a bit overwhelming actually. I was in the U.S. for 7 weeks, overdosing on family time. My latest post (and next one, too) will just be me processing it all.
How about you? What have you been up to?
Oh, I'll be excited to read about it. Hopefully you're settling back into your own rhythm?
My summer has also been a bit overwhelming - but exciting. Lots of little road trips and filming... also a lot to process!
Oooh, road trips and filming sounds fun! I hope you’re getting the space you need to process everything now. I know I am, and I am grateful for that. Yes, I’m settling back in, back to work, trying to re-enter the routine. My son still has a week and a half of holidays, so it hasn’t fully hit just yet.
"Maybe we just need
boundaries
so as not to overwhelm
the senses’ gentle antennae;" - This is a concept I have been mulling over lately and I love the way you put it simply. This is such a wonderful piece! Thank you for sharing!
Eep! my phone autocorrected - Maurissa! I love this spelling by the way.
Awh, thank you and no worries, I appreciate the correction! My father Maurice made me his namesake!
Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed it Marissa!
This was so beautiful. Thank you for writing and sharing 🌹♥️
Mmmmm thank you Vashti! I'm grateful you're here to enjoy it ♥️♥️♥️
This is just maravilhoso
As much I read more make sense
Thank you Berkana! That's exactly how it felt to write... as the words flowed, my understanding of them crystallized
“Maybe “god” is simply
curiosity. …” Being curious keeps me moving forward, especially on the hard days.
This line jumped off the page for me.
me too. the promise of openness... all the what ifs help me remember there is so much more than the darkness. I'm glad it resonated with you 🩵