Ffolkes,
~~ Friedrich Nietzsche ~~
Dusk over Galway Bay
He sat in a squalid, empty room, engaged in passive questing through the reaches of time, searching for truth. Finding none, he turned away, saddened by the defunct nature implied in such a loss. “Still,” he thought to himself, with an ironic smile touching the corners of his mouth, “it could be worse. It could be raining.” With a poignant shake of the head, he slipped into a dream….
Rain poured down, filling the streets with rushing feet and pounding hearts. Beside the lamp post on the corner, he stood, dripping, with a small shadow of reality sticking to his shoe. Wiping it on the nearest centurion, as directed, he began to bail with the rest of the crowd, stopping periodically to clap his hand to his head, moaning, “Oh, for the boon of sanity!”, in stentorian tones, dulcet over the roar of water on the roofs.
Then, of course, he woke up, only to realize he was deep into the intro section already, without a plan, only a sadly over-rated trick of the trade, or two, to get him to the proper stance, where there exists a small chance of saving this from an early death, well before ever beginning to live. “What the hell is going on?”, he cried in dismay….
Strange, isn’t it, what will happen late at night, with nothing better to do than sit around making shit up in your head? I thought so, but, then, I’m the one who’s trying to find a way back to something resembling reality even slightly…. I think, perhaps, I’d best give up, and get on with the rest of today’s mess…. Whew, made it…. Not only made it, but, made it with room to spare…. Go figure….
Shall we Pearl?….
“What are the facts? Again and again and again–what are the facts? Shun wishful thinking, ignore divine revelation, forget what ‘the stars foretell,’ avoid opinion, care not what the neighbors think, never mind the unguessable ‘verdict of history,’ –what are the facts, and to how many decimal places? You pilot always into an unknown future; facts are your only clue. Get the facts!” — Lazarus Long — Robert A. Heinlein
********************************
Today’s music choice is a nod to two friends, who both expressed their appreciation of this band’s music…. Enjoy, ffolkes, these guys rock!…..
Little Feat
Dixie Chicken
********************************
********************************
********************************
********************************
The discussion I’m working on is not ready, so here is a little discussion from the archives, with a message of hope, once you work your way to the end…. Enjoy!….
From 3/3/2013:
“As a draft-animal is yoked in a wagon, even so the spirit is yoked in this body.” — Upanishads (c. B.C. 800)
Each of us is faced at times with the consciousness of our own approaching encounter with Death, the moment in time when our yoke is removed, and our spirit is freed, to once more join the rest of the conscious minds in the universe in roaming through realms of Reality we cannot see in this form. This Reality we cannot see is much larger, in one sense, than the one we can now perceive; it has to be, to be able to accommodate all the souls that have gone before, and all that are now present on Earth, that will someday join the rest of them, when they die…..
Every human being alive must face their own Death (I am capitalizing the word to give it the proper respect as one of the most important concepts we have as humans….); this is a truism no one can deny, or refute. Many people have banded together, to assume the belief that our universe was created this way by a supernatural being, who, for some unknown, and unknowable (self-explanatory, I think….) reason, decided that we are “special”, and gave us, and only us, the knowledge we have, and our very lives. This, of course, is rather hard to believe, as it doesn’t really account for much of what is observable truth in Reality, being, as it is, complete speculation, devoid of any concrete evidence to support it…..
“There is no conclusive evidence that there is life after death. There is also no real evidence to the contrary. Soon enough, you will know. So, why fret about it?” — Lazarus Long, aka Robert A. Heinlein
I first read this aphorism when I was in my early teens; it codified, and made succinct, what I had already concluded about the major religions of the world, i.e., they’re a collection of unwarranted, and unproven, assumptions. What’s more, they are all highly unlikely, given the observable parameters of the real world. It became obvious to me, as it is to many, that what the religious folks were trying to get me to believe was intended merely to soften my mind, making it more amenable to suggestion, of which they have an endless supply. Preachers, priests, imams, nuns, all are quite willing to give other people advice and suggestions on how they should live, in exhaustive detail, for as long as they are allowed to do so….
Since I had very little desire to have other people decide for me how I should think, or live my life, I rejected the dogma they tried to force into my head, turning instead to other sources of thought about Life, Death, and Reality. I found an endless supply of folks who had thought long and deeply about all of these ideas, and gladly did I read all I could of everything I could find on the subject. In addition, I read science fiction, during the years when its popularity had just begun to climb to the heights it now occupies; sci-fi has always been literature that explored, and continues to explore, the very limits of thought, both in the real world, and the world of the mind.
As is seen by the first pearl above, these thoughts and ideas are not new with me; mankind has been thinking about these concepts since we first sat around the campfires, wondering at the beauty of the heavens we saw above our heads, and all around us. In all that time, no conclusions have been reached that seem to cover ALL of the questions we have about the universe. We still don’t have a clue as to “what is the mind”, or “what is thought”…. and if we cannot understand ourselves, what chance do we have of unraveling the secrets of the universe around us? Not much, would be my guess…
That, fortunately, does not mean it is impossible to know the truth, nor does it mean we are condemned to die in ignorance and fear…. I know this because I have learned in my time that our fear is a direct outgrowth of our ignorance; we fear what we do not understand. Now, if I were a God, why would I make people that way, unless for some ulterior motive, having to do with motivations that are human, not divine? No, it just doesn’t make sense to me to assume that we were put here with a deliberate handicap, just to see how we dealt with it; that seems more like an evil scientist at work than a compassionate deity.
“One must marry one’s feelings to one’s beliefs and ideas. That is probably the only way to achieve a measure of harmony in one’s life.” — Etty Hilsum
Since I believe firmly in the Law of Conservation of Energy (proven true in this universe, to all our knowledge), and, I believe that our minds/souls are a form of energy we currently don’t fully understand, and cannot perceive directly, then the concept of Death is nothing to fear, as it merely means that my current state of energy will be replaced with another state, one I don’t currently have the ability to perceive. What that state may be like may be unknown, but that doesn’t mean it is something of which I should be afraid…. I prefer to look at it as the next great adventure….
So, when my father died, I asked him to leave me some trail-sign, to let me know how to find him in the next reality; he smiled at me, and said he would do that… and I was much comforted by that, knowing that our connection as family can never be severed, and that, someday, I would once more have the pleasure, and comfort, of his presence…. Now that’s something to look forward to, don’t you think?…. Much better than worrying that what I do now is going to determine what happens to me after I die, a silly proposition, at best……
“Do not think that man is but flesh, skin, bones and veins; far from it! What really makes man is his soul; and the things we call skin, flesh, bones and veins are but a garment, a cloak; they do not constitute man. When man departs this earth, he divests himself of all the veils that conceal him.” — Zohar
********************************
~~ Ambrose Bierce, “The Devil’s Dictionary” ~~
Today’s poem is from T.S. Eliot. It’s a rather long poem, but, well worth reading; it is regarded as one of the most important poems of the twentieth century, with a marked influence on the poetry of the time, an influence which continues today…. I give you….
April is the cruellest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory out of desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.
Winter kept us warm, covering
Earth in a forgetful snow, feeding
A little life with dried tubers.
~~ T. S. Eliot ~~
********************************
Observations on Life at Large
*********
Errors, like straws, upon the surface flow;
He who would search for pearls must dive below.
~~ John Dryden, “All for Love, Prologue” ~~
*********
“Forget what you know and learn.”
— Roger von Oech
*********
“Irony is the hygiene of the mind.”
— Insightful Bee
*********
“Action should culminate in wisdom.”
~~ Bhagavad Gita ~~
*********
“The discipline of desire is the background of character.”
~~ John Locke ~~
*********
“As the tempest and the thunder affect not the sun or the stars,
but spend their fury on stones and trees below;
so injuries ascend not to the Soul of the great,
but waste themselves on such as are those who offer them.”
~~ Akhenaton? (c. B.C. 1375) ~~
*********
“The moment in which you confront your own death
is the moment in which you are most totally alive.”
~~ Solomon Short ~~
*********
“Stranger, if you passing meet me and desire to speak to me,
why should you not speak to me?
And why should I not speak to you?”
~~ Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass ~~
*********
********************************
I’m not really sure what took place here today. That’s okay, though; we’ve been here before, haven’t we? Yep. Moreover, we were done, then, too, weren’t we? Yep again. So, what do we do now? We go away, like this, with nary an explanation, nor a clue…. See ya tomorrow, ffolkes; count on it, one way or another…. or, not. Choice is all we have, in the end, which this is….
and May the Metaphorse be with you;
Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy
and everyone else, too…
When I works, I works hard.
When I sits, I sits loose.
When I thinks, I falls asleep.
Which is Why….
Sometimes I sits and thinks,
and sometimes,
I just sits.
gigoid, the dubious
The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.
PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.
“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch
À bientôt, mon cherí….
gigoid 
Morning…..great choice yet again…..Death…”no one gets out alive” or “Death is just the beginning”….or well you get the point….I prefer to worry about something I can try to correct…..I have faced it 3 times in my life so one more is no big deal…..
BTW, my fave Christian has returned yet again……read the comments….
http://lobotero.com/2016/01/19/religious-freedom-in-the-usa/
Have a good day my friend and “live long and prosper”…sorry could not resist…..chuq
Glad you enjoyed today’s mess, my brother…. I did see those comments, & left one of my own there…. Bozos often don’t know their noses have grown….
Live long and prosper, yourself, amigo… Spock is never out of place….
gigoid
Thanx….I saw that you were there after I wrote the comment on your blog…..I appreciate your input….chuq
No worries; some days, I’m quicker than others….
😉
g
My friend you are always quicker than most….chuq
We try….
😉
So am I…hahahaa….
I started before him….I just took longer …I had more to say..and when I got back he had butted in…:(
Now listen chuq…you should be more Christian like…shame on you…may you burn in hell!
Ha!
Of that I have no fear….LOL
Facing what felt like the reality of death
three times in the 40 day period of
no sleep during ‘my lent period’
of 2008.. except for one hour
the first day of 35 days
helped along very
shallow with
an alpha
blocker
and no sleep
at all the last
35 of 40.. counting
down the days to
the final
closing
of the
curtain of pain..
it is one great source
of comfort and confidence
to know and feel how much
of a blesSinG death is no
matter what happens
after that..
a way
out of misery
and suffering that
is worse than any hell
imaginable is certainly
a gift of life death is
then and now..
and sure..
my son dying
in my arms after
51 days of nothing
but tortuous pain
extended by modern
medical so-called
miracles of
living more
the suffering
dead alive..
is the only
part of his
life where a peaceful
look came to his face
shortly before his last
breath comes.. and with
a child there is no morphine
to ease the end.. then they just
disconnect as there are no words
to share of discomfort.. it’s just
a baby with no personality
huh.. but all living things
sense and feel
pain.. only
an ignorant
U N F E E Ling
human would
believe that no
words mean no
feelings same..
no different than
dementia.. where
Love still lives in some..
but the emptiness of losing
one’s heArt.. spiRit of
emoTions that are
literAlly heARt
in a minD and
boDy out of
balanCe is the death
in life wheRE all tHere iS
iS time and now never feels
as now can never feel now..
one must go to this hell
first to understand
it is disconnecting
from the rest
of the Universe
that is the
hell of
human
where only
time exists..
Heaven is now..
that is enough for me..
there is no choice for the best
truths iN liGhts in liFe to trust
what iS.. to the best of one’s
ability.. as fear.. is A
source of aLL
disconnecting
from the rest
of the UniVerse
free.. other animals
only use neurohormones
of fear.. for fight and flight..
human so-called smart with
memories and forecasts of futures
with fear.. is truly the ‘dumbest’ animal
of them all.. as human is the only animal
who can forget how to feel connected free
with the rest of the Universe now.. in TOTAL BALANCE..
i live the lesson of Pan of the FoRest.. dance life free now
with nymphs who dance too.. SinG for Joy..
yes.. Live FREE NOW SonG
of eternal
dance
NOW..:)
This is my initial response, which I find is usually best… “True freedom is the release from pain.” — Anonymous
You can attest to that, I am certain, as certain as I am I can do the same… whether the release is from death, or reconnection to what is real, as a form of balancing what remains, or, in some few cases, by medicine, it is nonetheless real to the one experiencing the freedom…
Dance on, brother; I’m dancing too; just at a lot slower pace, where I’m finding my balance again, after a long period of neglecting my own connections…
Love
gigoid
Hi gigoid..
getting released
from pain.. is certainly
one miracle in life i can
say that iS TRULY REAL..
and happened to me..
but getting emoTioNs
back iS the gift
that keeps
moving.. giving
and the treaSure
of HeARt.. SpiRit
of EmoTioN..
and mind and
body balanCinG
soUl that i for one
do share
most
definitely
aLLFREeNOW..:)
Lovely……smile
it is strange how many little deaths we undergo as travel through life…
Your writing reminds me ……..?
In Just-
spring when the world is mud-
luscious the little
lame balloon man
whistles far and wee
and eddieandbillie come
running from marbles and
piracies and it’s
spring
when the world is puddle-wonderful
the queer
old baloonman whistles
far and wee
and bettyandisabel come dancing
from hop-scotch and jump-rope and
it’s
spring
and
the
goat-footed
baloonMan whistles
far
and
wee
Luscious!! grin
keep up with your work….it is good.
Oh…..the poet?
e.e. cummings.
a fave of mine…
he dances see….
some poetry is so turgid. 😦
when I typed that… the words were
here and there and sliding down over the page
floating in unregulated lines….
now caught in tight corsets in regulated lines
I am not savvy with lap top machines so use your imagination…grin…
bloody machines….:(
Thank you.. my friend.. penniewoodfall.. i was thinking you wrote that and i truly believe there is a UniVersal Poet inside of all of us.. Just waiting to escape the science of culture and return to Art as the core of Nature is truly Art.. whereas.. modern cultures are increasingly changing Nature into an illusion of science away from the Nature of Art that is more a river than a sidewalk.. My friend..:)
And by the way.. the first
two realities of death
were terrifying..
but the last
one was total
peace.. and yes..
i came back.. as
my job was far from dOne..;)
🙂
See the above response to both…
gigoid
Sure.. Smiles..:)
Wot a wonderful gift…….my fave colour……marigolds and the smell !
yum…..reminds me of India..
thanx 🙂
🙂 I remember someone telling me long ago marigolds helps to keep the bugs away?
They keep aphids from roses, I’ve heard said; a good garden puts them on the outer border, to protect other flowers…
And. that is the sum total of my gardening knowledge, what with my black thumb… I’ve killed cactus….
gigoid
The aphids, I see. So you’re a cactus killer, eh?
Didn’t mean to; just kept forgetting it was there… That’s my story, & I’m sticking to it…. (Otherwise, I’d end up digging in the dirt…)
😉
What flowers keep the ‘male’ bug/gers species away? grin
Well, nasturtiums are pretty peppery when chewed…. pretty, and edible, but, a bit much for my taste in salads….
As for male bugs, I’d suggest eau de perspiration…. Me, I like it, but, most males are fastidious creatures at base…. The natural juice of the orange peel is supposed to kill termites; maybe it would work?….
😉
Hahaha…..the global playground..they can kill each other off! 😉
We can only hope…. but, sounds good to me….
gigoid
Reblogged this on gigoid and commented:
Ffolkes,
Having posted a fresh Pearl yesterday, the newly current structure of Time I inhabit kept me busy enough to prevent the same today. I am still on call for babysitting duty, but, that shouldn’t keep me from working on one during the slack time…. but, even that is complicated by the attraction of three new books I received as Xmas gifts, all of which have already grabbed a piece of my attention. However, I did find this Pearl from 2016, with a rather fine rant/discussion of Life and Death from 2013. All in all it’s a pretty damn good one, so, I hope you enjoy the sublimation. I’ll be back with more fresh stuff in a day or two…. In the meantime, y’all be well, & happy as you may be, while I do my best to do the same. Stay strange, ffolkes….
gigoid, the dubious
😎