creativity thrives in adversity - November 8, 2003

Fifteen years ago, I was fortunate enough to participate in the First International Women's Playwrights Conference in Buffaloe, New York, where I learned to refer to other females not as 'girls' but as 'women'. Of particular interest these days is what I learned about writing under censorship from a Russian and an African playwright.  Write whatever you want.  If you make it funny (whether it's a comedy or not), it will pass any form of censorship. Make them laugh and you can say whatever you want.  It's also useful today, as we enter a period of greater social/political repression, to remember that, historically, periods of great adversity inevitably produce or stimulate great creativity.  Write on!

Always another day...

Time does, indeed, march on.  It's time to get past my dismay.  I don't know whether I'm more annoyed about our American aggression or our political ineptitude.  But it's time to move on, time to more gracefully accept the eclipse of my sense of liberty.  Or maybe it's more the eclipse of my sense of national righteousness.  So it goes.  It's turning colder now and coats tend to obscure the small disappointments of the day.

Looking into the Abyss--July 26, 2003

It's always difficult to view the future through anything but our own perception.  We can empathize with others but it is not quite the same as seeing through their eyes, their experience, their uniquely biased knowledge of the world. I admit, however, that it never fails to amaze me when I speak with friends from one political party or the other, one race or other, one interest group or other, one religion or other, and attempt to reconcile aspects of their world-view with my own.  Each sees any given situation intelligently, with clarity, but with diametrically opposed interpretation on personal and international events. With so many dramas going on in many parts of the world, and each is viewed by people, both involved and uninvolved, through the prism of their own individual and collective perception. Never have I seen such strong polarization of views on so darned many subjects.  And never in my lifetime do I recall such intense feelings backing opposing positions. It is said that only history can accurately judge current events.  That may be true.  I will think further about this.

MARCHING INTO FRIENDSHIP--March 15, 2003

Increasingly, I feel and I see signs of the gathering storm clouds which swirl about us concerning Iraq, our poor relations with the rest of the world, gas prices, and so on.  Even that mysterious pneumonia coming from Asia.  There are periods which illustrate change in such dynamic ways that the general public is unable to ignore it.  So, for what it's worth, I offer my own form of rationalization as to war with Iraq (regardless of cause or outcome).

This comment may not be popular at the moment, but the notion of Peace does not, to be, seem the highest virtue.  For me, Relationship (preferably good relationship) is better.  Not to defend what is happening today, but to begin to see beyond it, let me point out what the wisdom teachings say about good relations. 

There are three stages or states where relationship between people, between nations, or even between kingdoms in nature, or planets are concerned.  These are: 

You cannot go directly from 'no relationship' to 'good relationship' because there's nothing to transform.  No relationship is just that--no relationship.  When relationship with 'other' is being established, inevitably it is negative, one way or another.  Sometimes in almost every way.   That's an aspect of truth in the Relationship game.

Once you have established a relationship, however, everything changes.  That poor or even deadly relationship can be transformed and improved and built on.  A negative relationship, transformed into a positive relationship, is a joy for everyone involved.  Then wonderful things become possible.

I am no historian, but I look at our relationship after WWII with Germany and with Japan, and after the Vietnam War with the Viet Nam peoples, at I am amazed at the wonderful friendships.  It's a bit like looking a few years later at a landscape after a forest fire. 

Regardless of our personal relationships with various friends from Iran, Iraq, and so on, and regardless of our tolerance and understanding for those who follow the Islamic traditions, as a national group, the American government as a whole has had virtually no such relationship.

My way of looking at things is regardless of whether war is carried into physical expression or not, the focus, the possibilities, are creating relationships where none existed before.  Even hatred, or fear, or other negative forms of relationship with the Islamic world is a positive step forward for most Americans.  They cannot understand what they don't see, don't care about, don't acknowledge.  Like it or not, our attention--and the attention of all Islamic peoples--is being focused on our newly energized relationship.

As always, I take the long view of things.  And in the long run, I believe we can and will transform our national animosities and fears into a genuine friendship and a comfortable familiarity with another large segment of humanity.  Of course terrorism is an awful but mostly expected reaction to lack of relations with each other. Ignorance allows people to work only with slogans and ideals and not with people.  And even if the devastation of war brings the Islamic culture into back yard, it creates Relationship as it moves.  War is a lamentably cruel, but effective, way to establish personal relationship with a previously mostly unknown culture, mostly misunderstood relation, mostly mysterious area of our small world.

I am opposed to war because such conflict can take place on more philosophical planes.  But I accept reality.  From no relationship to poor relationship is, oddly enough, a truly spiritual move.  So let's begin to envision the transformation of that awful relationship--as enemies--into a new and closer world of fascinating new friends.

“Because the outer work we do is embedded in the material substance of the human centre we are affected by the actual condition and events in the world at any one time, particularly by those events which mold and determine material resources.  We are affected—but not conditioned.  We are conditioned only by our own ability to hold to the source of energy and inspiration, by the actual state of group and individual integration in consciousness and liberation from the control of material forces.”    Mary Bailey, “...To Carry on the Work”, 10/30/74

a favorite poem to live by--18 January 2003

COMMITMENT by W. H. Murray

Until one is committed there is
hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always
ineffectiveness.

Concerning all acts of initiative
(and creation),
there is one elementary truth,
the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans:
that the moment one definitely
commits oneself, then Providence moves too.

All sorts of things occur
to help one that would never otherwise have occurred.
A whole stream of events issue from the
decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of
unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance,
which no man could have dreamt would have
come his way.

I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets:

Whatever you can do, or dream you can,
begin it.

Boldness has genius, power and
magic in it.”

Recognize good advice when you see it--24 dec. 2002

“Every now and then—go away. Have a little relaxation. For, when you come back to your work, your judgment will be surer, since to remain constantly at work will cause you to lose the power of judgment....Go some distance away, because then the work appears smaller—and more of it can be taken in at a glance, and a lack of harmony or proportion is more readily seen.”   Leonardo da Vinci

Put 'simple' back in Christmas - 21 December 2002

I've been enjoying the discussion group bulletin board on Simplicity on www.bhg.com which is the Better Homes & Gardens magazine's wonderful website.  It's amazing to read comment after comment, suggestion after suggestion, on how to simplify your life, especially in times of emphasis on acquisition.  Truly refreshing. 

Most people seem to agree that turning back the clock isn't the right sort of simple living.  Life is far too physical without microwaves, cell phones and indoor plumbing.  In response to the question, 'what is a simplified life' here's my response.

Honesty. That's the real basis of simplicity. In general, stimulation leads to complications, abstraction leads to simplicity. But honesty in all relationships (with compassion, of course) leads directly to the simplification of all your relationships. But to be honest, you must first Know Yourself. Then be true to yourself. And be quick to let things go. Give away everything you can as quickly as you can. Works for me.

PS to above. A year ago I sold a three bedroom house, the butterfly garden I'd put in, etc. and now my dog and I live in a small one bedroom apartment. My house/yard/garden had become my life and no matter what I did I couldn't simplify or find spare time. Got rid of it all--gave everything away. It wasn't easy because rather than deciding what I liked and what I didn't, it was deciding between the things I'd saved that I really, really loved. Good exercise. Since then I've gained amazing amounts of free time, money, creative energy. I cook big and freeze every week or two, and am now trying to switch from news to classical music. Simplicity takes hard work to get it started, I think. The only thing I regret giving away was a tiny wooden painted Santa. So now it's in my heart. Don't fear to give away (almost) everything. In 30 years I've never had to re-buy anything! And thanks anon...I may give away my huge TV and move in a 13 inch.
 
My refreshing 'new life' is firmly based on my interests rather than my acquisitions. I adored my old house but am thankful every day to have moved on.

Your Time or your Money - 20 November 2002

Reasons aside, I took an important step this month.  I filed early retirement papers, planning to continue working part time.  For several years I've yearned for more time, more personal time, more contemplative time.  And yet I always thought I couldn't possibly afford to quit.  And when I finally took that step, filed those papers, it was with the knowledge I would have to cut back, budget, be careful.  This remains theoretical, however, because the actual retirement date is early next year.

Years ago, while living in New York City, I came to the realization that Time and Money are in almost every sense, interchangeable.  In the most obvious sense, we can either pay others to do things for us, or do them ourselves.  So with everything I paid others to do, I revisited that decision.  In some cases, I chose to pay others.  In others, I did things myself to save the money.  Neither, I concluded, was the better way, they were just different ways.  My Time or my Money is always a straightforward choice.  And I suspect I will opt to use my Time more in the future than in the past.  And that's just fine with me. 

PARING DOWN TO ESSENTIALS - 21 OCTOBER 2002

There's nothing like a little bad news about the health of a loved one, or a friend, or oneself, to clarify the static in one's daily life.  All of a sudden the trivial noise (whether television, shopping, or just killing time) ceases to call to us and life gets quiet and quite wonderful.

I read recently about a person whose therapist recommended that they imagine the worst day of their old age or their condition.  Then think what they would really want to do if they were as healthy or able they are today.  What an interesting exercise in clarifying your priorities.

When I thought this through I was surprised that there was virtually nothing I would do differently.  But then I've always lived my life 'as if' I might die tomorrow.  By that I mean that all along the years, if I really wanted to do something, or accomplish something, or visit some place, or experience something, I've done it immediately.  I never wanted to have a day come up when I could or would look over my shoulder and say, "Oh, I wish I...."  And that's the way I've lived.  I recommend it.

Got a lovely catalogue in the mail yesterday called something or other Elm.  I read it cover to cover, loved the simplicity of everything I saw, and tossed it out.  It's currently buried beneath the makings of a stew simmering on the stove so I can't pull it out.  It's a great quality to develop to be able to window shop, or to look through a catalogue, and thoroughly love what you see, and know it would be wonderful if you owned it, but not carry through with the impulse to buy.  Controlling, or, more accurately, letting go of, the impulse to have or to buy or to own something gives you the total freedom to relish and enjoy all that your senses bring you, safely.  Inexpensively.  The less your tendency to possess or to own, the freer you are safely to experience all that life offers.

Forgive my rambling.  I haven't yet found my rhythm in writing on this page.  But I'll keep trying.

SPEED VS. SIMPLICITY - 29 SEPTEMBER 2002

"The intuition is what speed strives to be". 
Dale McKechnie

In this technologically-oriented society of faster is better and more is good, one can't help but wonder what we might be losing.  This is not new, of course.  This search and striving for faster showed up in Henry Ford's auto assembly lines early last century.  It is also evident in the post-WWII rush for more efficient, faster appliances.  And then towards the end of the century, when knowledge and communication translated directly into higher income, the entire focus of technology created the complex high-tech information network we know and love.

As with all technological advances, while the general public (at least the more affluent or forward thinking folks) becomes entranced with the latest, the best, the fastest the market has to offer--the individual has more choice.  The individual person may take it, or leave it.  This choice, however, depends on recognizing what might be lost in the high tech shuffle.  As we sit in front of our digital televisions, using a computer operating system that fast forwards through commercials, while leaving voice messages on a cell phone and emailing a copy of our to-do list to ourselves at the office for tomorrow, pause for thought is in order.  Real pause for thought.

The conscious mind is an interesting mechanism.  In my opinion, it operates with an in/out switch at any given moment: subjectively taking in information or data, or objectively creating expressions of what is known or learned. We are either listening or we are thinking.  While some people can do both to some degree, it is useful to recognize the limitations of the brain and act accordingly.  Perhaps when we better grasp slower nature and limitation of operating through a physical brain, more directed effort will be made to learn to think intuitively.  Sigh...  At any given moment, we either take in information, or we put it out.  We either learn or we (no, not teach) create or innovate.  Absorbing the vast amount of world information, whether reading a book or a computer screen or a television news report, is just that--taking in rather poorly related bits of information.  When we wish to create, to write, to do in any form, we must first switch our brain mode, for the moment, relinquishing the in-take mode.  

The Whole may think something is fabulous, and it probably is for humanity.  But this may be detrimental to the intuitional, creative individual.  Always there is a choice.  To turn things on or turn things off.  The individual is always free to walk another path.

SIMPLICITY LEADS TO WISDOM - 8 September 2002

Become the sculptor of your soul.  People often believe the soul is the epitome of simplicity.  Wrong.  The soul is pure Relationship. Busy, busy, busy. For simplicity to trickle down into their lives, they must look to the spirit.  The One Spirit.

Simplicity is based on removing inessentials, not adding to them.  It doesn’t involve buying anything, even candles or chimes; it doesn’t involve extra work organizing our bookkeeping.  It is less—big time.  If we work as sculptors of the human spirit, and if we were to view our work entirely and wholeheartedly from the perspective of spirit (rather than soul), of oneness (rather than relationship), of wholeness (rather than process), then inevitably simplicity follows. 

RECOGNIZING SIMPLICITY

The distinction between the complicated, relating warm process of unity and the cool simplicity of Being is mostly ‘where’ we stand to look at our life. 

WHAT IS ONENESS (SYNTHESIS)?

Both simplicity and synthesis are characterized--and can be understood--by a single word:  One.  Oneness (spiritual Being) is what simplicity and abstract synthesis have in common.  All else (especially aspiration) is either superfluous or irrelevant.  The simplicity of the soul is based on the fact of One Soul; not ‘my soul and thine’, but a single shared level of intelligent, conscious awareness.  The soul has a multitude of qualities, relationships, perspectives or characteristics. 

As one contemplates the nature of One Soul, simplicity becomes the overriding characteristic.  Simplicity characterizes being beyond mere unity because unity must involve process.  The concept of oneness transcends or supersedes all process, movement, progress, change of any type, and is therefore characterized by simplicity.  The simplicity of Being transcends all symbolic relationships because--as a reflection of Spirit--the One Soul IS. 

In a way, the simplicity of the soul holds a similar place in the overall spiritual hierarchy as the new group of world servers on a lower turn of the spiral.  For the One Soul occupies the threshold between inclusive soul consciousness and the synthesis of spirit.

SEEING IN WHOLES

The relationship between synthesis and simplicity perhaps is as a reflection.  Simplicity is a reflection of oneness, not in detail but in intensity, ideation, abstraction or by inference.  Synthesis supersedes and includes all quality, all progression, all aspiration, all relationship, all love--synthesis simply IS.  And simplicity is its reflection.

Simplicity is mostly a matter of perspective.  From the perspective of Oneness, simplicity is seen as a stepping stone to wholeness not yet perfectly achieved.  From the perspective of the soul, oneness remains theoretical--oneness as yet incomplete or untested; oneness that incorrectly appears to result from achieved unity.

Teaching on ‘bridging’ techniques (to move from soul consciousness to spiritual Being) are unnecessarily cumbersome for today’s agile mind.  Regardless of preliminaries, this shift in awareness is a natural (perhaps inevitable) element of growth in understanding.  It remains--still--a leap of faith.  Practice viewing everything, every truth, from the perspective a vast, single, conceptually synthetic One, and the necessary abstraction of our understanding gradually takes place. This creative exercise in abstraction alters our perspective.

THE PROBLEM OF ASPIRATION - September 2, 2002

Spiritual aspiration can prevent spiritual progress.  When the sense of progress or aspiration drives one upward, the One Soul (or relationship consciousness, i.e. relativity) literally is as far as you can go.  Based on relationship, on progress, on change and growth, there is a point beyond which you cannot go.  This limitation is based primarily on the relative nature of time. 

If you are to work through this limitation in mental terms, you must assume oneness, assume synthesis, assume timelessness, assume that you no longer ‘think as a group’, or even as humanity, but as One--and then work downward, so to speak.  The saying 'you can't get there from here' is really true in spiritual work when working 'upwards'.  Where synthesis is concerned--as opposed to relating unity--you must first Be there, then pull yourself up by your own mental bootstraps, by your own growing ability to accurately abstract yourself from the confining context of the consciousness of the soul.

THE NOTION OF 'DIVINE INDIFFERENCE'

I started to say I have no idea what divine indifference is, but then I realized that I do.  Divine indifference (note that it is abstractly Divine and not simply consciously Spiritual) is the realization that ‘everything which came before’ is irrelevant.  The past and its teachings and experience is part of the process, of course, but no longer to be taken seriously as true of anything other than the process of our deliverance into the here and now.  As an image, one could say the butterfly is divinely indifferent to the pupae from which it emerged.  It represented truth for the butterfly only while it held relevance for its aspirations, its growth.  As we release the life within, the old ideas, attitudes, goals must be then allowed to fall away and disappear of attrition.

THINKING AS THE SOUL

Thinking AS the soul (since the soul is relationship) means thinking in terms of the effect our actions, words and thought have on others.  This means our group relationships (whether America, democrat, literary society, guild or what have you) as well as our personal relationships. 

These days, whatever we essentially are tends to reflect upon the various groups with which we are (knowingly or unknowing) associated.  My first spiritual group (since I grew up somewhat of a loner) was the realization of a planetary group made up of 'people like me'.  Big revelation.  My group.   

Until we are soul conscious, i.e. conscious not of the Soul or even as the soul--but as the One Soul—the experience of true simplicity (necessary to mentally accept the truth of our synthetic oneness) remains theoretical.  When we comfortably begin to think as an aspect of One Soul, all the 'givens' will change.  Simplification begins when one can abstractly, mentally, accept that all Life (in its myriad forms) is essentially One, and one begins to accept that oneness in terms of intelligence.  When this becomes possible, simplification of absolutely everything rapidly follows.  For those who have personally experienced oneness in any degree (as opposed to group or soul unity, or theoretical oneness), this synthesizing force working out in the world is apparent at a casual glance in every conceivable direction.  

In reality, a 'touch of oneness' in our own thinking allows us to recognize oneness in others.  The result of even the slightest experience with timelessness is greater joy, greater service, greater life.

Thanks for thinking with me,  

Rae Lake