Moments
of
Shared Trust
and
Vulnerability
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Six Words
Struggling
against
the
urge
to
Run
also consider: Retreat, Go, Stop, Sleep, Dream, Smile, Laugh, Cry, Disappear, Float, Quit, Surrender, Shoot, Attack, Avenge, Assume, Accept, Agree, Advise, and _________
against
the
urge
to
Run
also consider: Retreat, Go, Stop, Sleep, Dream, Smile, Laugh, Cry, Disappear, Float, Quit, Surrender, Shoot, Attack, Avenge, Assume, Accept, Agree, Advise, and _________
Thursday, October 11, 2012
new post on practical navigation log
a new entry on using the Tarot as a tool for navigating life.
practicalnagigationlog.blogspot.com
practicalnagigationlog.blogspot.com
Sunday, October 7, 2012
attempting ...
...to write a new short essay on attitude and possibility using the process and aesthetic convention of stone sculpture as a metaphor. I am in the process of working on a small piece of shale which has many fractures, inclusions and other "imperfections." I also work with more traditional materials such as granite and marble which are more or less free from such flaws. But tend to prefer the less than perfect pieces that others would most likely overlook, because I learn more from them.
Michelangelo told us that a piece of stone already contained the finished sculpture, and that it was the sculptors job to simply remove those parts which were concealing the true potential of the work.
To actually do this requires a great deal of sensitivity on the part of the artist. Most artists back then and now though, didn't and don't attempt such a fete. It's far beyond the skills of many very talented and even quite gifted people. Instead they impose their vision on the stone, and in many cases the results are breath-taking. But it's possible that it would have been even more remarkable if the true essence of the rock was revealed.
Using seemingly flawed stone, suggests many different paths. I have to make decision. I don't follow up on every hint. Sometimes I successfully find my way and sometimes I ruin a piece. These objects help me to perfect my skills so that I will be more likely to feel and reveal the nature of a beautiful rock. The texture itself of even the most apparently flawless stone contains subtle variations and suggests direction and depth. It is a challenge, but a most rewarding one.
After thirty years of teaching, it is my sad observation that in quite a similar manner, students are more often than not shaped to preconceived standards rather than being allowed to reveal their uniqueness. Fortunately the scope of modern education is rather limited and much of the original child remains in the young adult produced by our one size fits all system. But many are damaged along the way, both students and teachers. Teachers who actually know how to inspire are all too often not allowed to really exercise their skills. And those who are doing so are probably in violation of some rule.
Michelangelo told us that a piece of stone already contained the finished sculpture, and that it was the sculptors job to simply remove those parts which were concealing the true potential of the work.
To actually do this requires a great deal of sensitivity on the part of the artist. Most artists back then and now though, didn't and don't attempt such a fete. It's far beyond the skills of many very talented and even quite gifted people. Instead they impose their vision on the stone, and in many cases the results are breath-taking. But it's possible that it would have been even more remarkable if the true essence of the rock was revealed.
Using seemingly flawed stone, suggests many different paths. I have to make decision. I don't follow up on every hint. Sometimes I successfully find my way and sometimes I ruin a piece. These objects help me to perfect my skills so that I will be more likely to feel and reveal the nature of a beautiful rock. The texture itself of even the most apparently flawless stone contains subtle variations and suggests direction and depth. It is a challenge, but a most rewarding one.
After thirty years of teaching, it is my sad observation that in quite a similar manner, students are more often than not shaped to preconceived standards rather than being allowed to reveal their uniqueness. Fortunately the scope of modern education is rather limited and much of the original child remains in the young adult produced by our one size fits all system. But many are damaged along the way, both students and teachers. Teachers who actually know how to inspire are all too often not allowed to really exercise their skills. And those who are doing so are probably in violation of some rule.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
just a reminder
There was still a little time,
he remembered thinking to himself,
and perhaps a chance or two to salvage things
to the extent that she wouldn't want to end everything immediately
that she'd feel sorry enough for him to postpone for just a bit longer what was probably inevitable
He would miss her so much
It's funny because after a few days of complete internal chaos and uncertainty, he had managed to regain some balance.
That lasted for another two or three days.
He began to think he was in the clear.
That he had somehow managed to dodge the bullet which usually hit him between the eyes.
And then of course just when he was beginning for feel thankful for that, it all caught up with him.
He hadn't allowed himself to fall for anyone like this in a long, long time.
But it hadn't exactly been a choice.
It was meant to be,
but it was only meant to last for what would feel like a few moments.
And yet they would both remember,
perhaps forever,
not with a sense of loss, longing, or regret
but rather they would understand,
that the whole thing was a reminder,
that there was still hope for each of them.
There still was some hope left, still alive within them both.
Each had begun to doubt that
each believed they had given up on that possibility
before crossing paths with each other.
he remembered thinking to himself,
and perhaps a chance or two to salvage things
to the extent that she wouldn't want to end everything immediately
that she'd feel sorry enough for him to postpone for just a bit longer what was probably inevitable
He would miss her so much
It's funny because after a few days of complete internal chaos and uncertainty, he had managed to regain some balance.
That lasted for another two or three days.
He began to think he was in the clear.
That he had somehow managed to dodge the bullet which usually hit him between the eyes.
And then of course just when he was beginning for feel thankful for that, it all caught up with him.
He hadn't allowed himself to fall for anyone like this in a long, long time.
But it hadn't exactly been a choice.
It was meant to be,
but it was only meant to last for what would feel like a few moments.
And yet they would both remember,
perhaps forever,
not with a sense of loss, longing, or regret
but rather they would understand,
that the whole thing was a reminder,
that there was still hope for each of them.
There still was some hope left, still alive within them both.
Each had begun to doubt that
each believed they had given up on that possibility
before crossing paths with each other.
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