You picked the perfect video to accompany your post, and thanks for the mention at the bottom. I was happy to help given my own technical struggles.
You raise a big question here, and it's similar to what's been coming up in my mind researching all the protest songs. Those songs are all completely relevant today! Not much has really changed and we have the same issues we had in the sixties, only I would say worse in some ways as we're involved in two proxy wars, the BRICS alliance is growing by the day, and from what I read the US dollar is under serious threat. When I read quotes from the 60s about the problems like war and government corruption, they could be people talking today. It's quite eerie.
So you're right, where has all that leisure time and Age of Aquarius stuff gotten us?
On the other hand, having engaged in quite a bit of that stuff myself over the years (as I used to go to a yoga and meditation center run by a guru to take spiritual and personal development programs), I would say that it is actually helpful but most people engage in it at a very superficial level. My brother is right now in a very difficult situation caring for a partner who had a double concussion and cannot really function, so he has to take care of everything, leading to almost a nervous breakdown. He's started meditating regularly to cope and it's made a world of difference for him and he's also become a much nicer person, and he says he's feeling a lot of joy he didn't feel before. It's not something I'm drawn to do, but I'm very happy that it's helping him and making his life more livable and enjoyable.
But I agree, we are at the Crossroads. Which way to go? Or should we stay where we are and see what energies we can draw to us?
Love your last phrase -- "unrequited love affair with a paradise on Earth." A lot to think about in that phrase alone.
There is a quote in Joseph Campbell’s work “the kingdom of the Father will not come by expectation; the kingdom of the Father is upon the Earth and men do not see it”. History repeats itself and is just another pattern. Didn’t just list the approaches in this post, I adhered to them, emersed myself then popped out the other end. Find plain living to be the greatest trip of all. Walking has prepared my body for the ravages of entropy and is my routine. And none of this is real, all of this is real. Since indoctrination is slavery…it is not done here. Finally, there’s more coming on the crossroads, so strange it shocks me!
Whoa! My ears couldn't even keep up with the notes. Thanks for sharing that. Inspiring to see what's possible from two masters. (I looked them up on wikipedia.)
Btw, synchronicity has been striking lately. Stumbled upon a luthier one day, found some others around here online who are making or repairing both acoustic and electric, found a used guitar shop. Going to check it out this week. Exciting.
We can have a hootenanny right here on substack. Let me know what you find (try lots of different guitars) when one suits you, the first time you strum it you'll be hooked. Live music is like sex, even when it's bad...it's still pretty good.
You picked the perfect video to accompany your post, and thanks for the mention at the bottom. I was happy to help given my own technical struggles.
You raise a big question here, and it's similar to what's been coming up in my mind researching all the protest songs. Those songs are all completely relevant today! Not much has really changed and we have the same issues we had in the sixties, only I would say worse in some ways as we're involved in two proxy wars, the BRICS alliance is growing by the day, and from what I read the US dollar is under serious threat. When I read quotes from the 60s about the problems like war and government corruption, they could be people talking today. It's quite eerie.
So you're right, where has all that leisure time and Age of Aquarius stuff gotten us?
On the other hand, having engaged in quite a bit of that stuff myself over the years (as I used to go to a yoga and meditation center run by a guru to take spiritual and personal development programs), I would say that it is actually helpful but most people engage in it at a very superficial level. My brother is right now in a very difficult situation caring for a partner who had a double concussion and cannot really function, so he has to take care of everything, leading to almost a nervous breakdown. He's started meditating regularly to cope and it's made a world of difference for him and he's also become a much nicer person, and he says he's feeling a lot of joy he didn't feel before. It's not something I'm drawn to do, but I'm very happy that it's helping him and making his life more livable and enjoyable.
But I agree, we are at the Crossroads. Which way to go? Or should we stay where we are and see what energies we can draw to us?
Love your last phrase -- "unrequited love affair with a paradise on Earth." A lot to think about in that phrase alone.
There is a quote in Joseph Campbell’s work “the kingdom of the Father will not come by expectation; the kingdom of the Father is upon the Earth and men do not see it”. History repeats itself and is just another pattern. Didn’t just list the approaches in this post, I adhered to them, emersed myself then popped out the other end. Find plain living to be the greatest trip of all. Walking has prepared my body for the ravages of entropy and is my routine. And none of this is real, all of this is real. Since indoctrination is slavery…it is not done here. Finally, there’s more coming on the crossroads, so strange it shocks me!
A lot of layers to you! I have a feeling there are lots of stories.
Intrigued by your last statement.
Here's a song from the 80s that seems right today, I love this band and thought you'd enjoy the acoustic guitar -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VysskIC04u0
Thanks Ellen, now I have one for you, what can be done with acoustics...back to our roots: https://youtu.be/zO8IwPbALK4?si=qd_36BXTuF_Whzv1
Whoa! My ears couldn't even keep up with the notes. Thanks for sharing that. Inspiring to see what's possible from two masters. (I looked them up on wikipedia.)
Btw, synchronicity has been striking lately. Stumbled upon a luthier one day, found some others around here online who are making or repairing both acoustic and electric, found a used guitar shop. Going to check it out this week. Exciting.
We can have a hootenanny right here on substack. Let me know what you find (try lots of different guitars) when one suits you, the first time you strum it you'll be hooked. Live music is like sex, even when it's bad...it's still pretty good.
That's quite an incentive. Will try to hit the local shop tomorrow and try some out. See if any cast a spell on me.