Kenosis: what a beautifully nourishing idea and practice! 🙏 It made me think of fasting, which can also be a kind of “slowing.” Be well, Jonathan. A pleasure to have met you at the Festival.
Disquiet can be sign of something in gestation, requiring space be cleared of old certainties so it may emerge new and shining. It's wise you're allowing its term and turn. & ... thanks for a fine Festival, truly healing for many of us.
A machine that must produce stimulation for others?
I think a lot of us are being emptied out by the system/machine/capitalism.
The difficult thing lies, I suspect, somewhere in Merton's "I *want* to be somebody no-one knows." Personally speaking, I think there's always the problem of not knowing what one really wants ("God knows best" is a common Muslim refrain) and of not having the patience or trust to follow the rituals/channels that allow for the possibility of 'emptying' (if that's the right word).
It's a gift that you have the opportunity to do this. I on the other hand have got to hunker down and start writing more. So much to say, so much gets in the way. Via con Dios
Interesting! I’ve recently been involved in discussions in several groups of artistic researchers about writing less through practices of collaborative writing. Can you link to some of the Japanese artists you refer to?
Jonathan, although your devoted readers shall miss your wonderful musings over the next months, we understand the need for sabbatical and digestion of the chaos and intensity of these days. Wishing you restful contemplation and well deserved relaxation for the summer. When you decide to return, we will be here! 🙏💛🕊️
Wish you a good summer-respit, and it will give us(me) time to reread and reponder your posts, wanted that for a long time! Thank you.
Kenosis: what a beautifully nourishing idea and practice! 🙏 It made me think of fasting, which can also be a kind of “slowing.” Be well, Jonathan. A pleasure to have met you at the Festival.
Disquiet can be sign of something in gestation, requiring space be cleared of old certainties so it may emerge new and shining. It's wise you're allowing its term and turn. & ... thanks for a fine Festival, truly healing for many of us.
Enjoy your well-deserved break from the keyboard. 🙏
A machine that must produce stimulation for others?
I think a lot of us are being emptied out by the system/machine/capitalism.
The difficult thing lies, I suspect, somewhere in Merton's "I *want* to be somebody no-one knows." Personally speaking, I think there's always the problem of not knowing what one really wants ("God knows best" is a common Muslim refrain) and of not having the patience or trust to follow the rituals/channels that allow for the possibility of 'emptying' (if that's the right word).
Kenosis. Very important, the emptying out, and the filling up. Time away from the keyboard is imperative to our well being. Every blessing, Candice
As it happens, I'm about a third of the way through The Moves that Matter. I read a bit every morning with coffee.
So while you may be resting now, you might like to know that work you already completed is still brewing and percolating.
It's a gift that you have the opportunity to do this. I on the other hand have got to hunker down and start writing more. So much to say, so much gets in the way. Via con Dios
Perhaps we write too much... perhaps we should take a lead from some Japanese artists and focus on producing less...
Thanks! I live in Sweden so the link is fortuitous.
Jaana is quite wonderful! Check out this group as well
https://slolab.ca/
Interesting! I’ve recently been involved in discussions in several groups of artistic researchers about writing less through practices of collaborative writing. Can you link to some of the Japanese artists you refer to?
Hokusai only started painting very late in life once he had mastered his craft and was ready in his inner being as it were... I don't know specifically of others but I've had discussions with artists when I visited Japan who go with slow time. There is an artist in Finland, here is one of her talks... https://blogs.plymouth.ac.uk/artsinstitute/2016/11/02/23rd-november-2016-slow-thinking-lab-for-connecting-people/
I also know that scientists make the biggest breakthroughs when left alone to do as they need. .
Empty away. Go blank. Do nothing. (Aside from kids+)
Enjoy your reprieve - It is well deserved. Thanks so much for sharing your heart's prose.
Jonathan, although your devoted readers shall miss your wonderful musings over the next months, we understand the need for sabbatical and digestion of the chaos and intensity of these days. Wishing you restful contemplation and well deserved relaxation for the summer. When you decide to return, we will be here! 🙏💛🕊️
You no doubt know about William Kentridge’s self-portrait as a coffee pot!