Perchance, you may ride very far upon a ship built, in part, by thy own two hands.
But know, that though your sweat may touch every board and nail, that ship may be set toward waters unfavorable, and unyielding, to your Spirit.
Woe to the soul who does not depart off such a vessel before shores that may better hold their Heart are behind.
Praise be to they who see their seafaring brethren off that wrong ship before it departs for colder, harsher waters, and save the Man at expense of his Arm that could aid the crew in the tough days ahead.
Steer thy rudder in waters most favored by your Spirit, friends. And always guide thy course with Love.
“Deep indeed run the roots of Evil,” said Borlas, “and the black sap is strong in them. That tree will never be slain. Let men hew it as often as they may, it will thrust up shoots again as soon as they turn aside. Not even at the Feast of Felling should the axe be hung up on the wall!”
“Plainly you think you are speaking wise words,” said Saelon. “I guess that by the gloom in your voice, and by the nodding of your head. But what is this all about? Your life seems fair enough still, for an aged man that does not now go far abroad. Where have you found a shoot of your dark tree growing? In your own garden?”
— The Peoples of Middle-earth, The New Shadow
#tolkien #lotr #stories #middleearth
If you’ve never encountered the incredible practice called Humanistic Intervention Training, I highly recommend taking a short dive, at least once:
I’ve been a pre/post Fair volunteer at The Oregon Country Fair about twenty times, and attended this training in-person. The practice, in my words, approaches human to human conflict through a very interesting lens. It seems quite intuitive to me, but it doesn’t seem to be a common practice among folks in this beautiful world, so I’ll consider it a culture thing and get off any perceived high horse 😂 I think this practice really rocks, so let me wax about it.
Each human is, unto themselves, a deep, powerfully subjective universe, sharing in an objective reality. When we find ourselves engaged in conflict, whether we are a direct participant or an outside party, we have the possibility to drop our perspective for a moment and understand, perceptively, and palpably, the experience that the other person is having. From that place, we can choose how we engage, and HIT gives us a great, simple system to check off the following boxes:
- Did we get the thing resolved?
- Did we have fun doing it?
- Do all of us feel loved?
If you’ve done these three things, then you had what we call a “three-chip interaction.” Go get yourself some chips!
There are uncountable times that I have been wrong. I am constantly, and consistently, reflecting on my actions and words, especially when presented a reflection from someone that has had an interaction with me which necessitates communication. Being wrong carries guilt, shame, fear, and often a loss of hope, all of which can be supported and remedied through compassion and patience from the others involved in the conflict, and the folks in your community that are not directly involved.
I revere the human being that is capable of approaching conflict with a heart for resolution, patience for the needs of each person, and a steady determination to get our three chips.
I hope this practice helps to make the world a little brighter for each of you, as it has for me. I know it can be fun to be crass, sharp, edgy, and sound like the big man on campus, calling people names and putting people down who you do not agree with or directly oppose the actions or thoughts of. But I, in my small and humble opinion, think that’s a really stupid way to live.
I’ve got plenty of years among the Burning Man community to know the joy and sorrow of being a humorous and clever asshole. If that’s your bag, then bag it up! But that sure isn’t mine, and there’s a lot of people in this world that respond far better to kindness, compassion, and patience. I hope HIT is another tool you can put in your belt for the long march that is breathing til’ you aren’t.
Keep on rockin’ in the free world, Nostr. GM, GN, LFG, GFY, etc 😜
On Love
BY KAHLIL GIBRAN
Then said Almitra, Speak to us of Love.
And he raised his head and looked upon
the people, and there fell a stillness upon
them. And with a great voice he said:
When love beckons to you, follow him,
Though his ways are hard and steep.
And when his wings enfold you yield to
him,
Though the sword hidden among his
pinions may wound you.
And when he speaks to you believe in
him,
Though his voice may shatter your dreams
as the north wind lays waste the garden.
For even as love crowns you so shall he
crucify you. Even as he is for your growth
so is he for your pruning.
Even as he ascends to your height and
caresses your tenderest branches that quiver
in the sun,
So shall he descend to your roots and
shake them in their clinging to the earth.
•
Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto
himself.
He threshes you to make you naked.
He sifts you to free you from your husks.
He grinds you to whiteness.
He kneads you until you are pliant;
And then he assigns you to his sacred
fire, that you may become sacred bread for
God’s sacred feast.
All these things shall love do unto you
that you may know the secrets of your
heart, and in that knowledge become a
fragment of Life’s heart.
But if in your fear you would seek only
love’s peace and love’s pleasure,
Then it is better for you that you cover
your nakedness and pass out of love’s
threshing-floor,
Into the seasonless world where you
shall laugh, but not all of your laughter,
and weep, but not all of your tears.
•
Love gives naught but itself and takes
naught but from itself.
Love possesses not nor would it be
possessed;
For love is sufficient unto love.
When you love you should not say,
“God is in my heart,” but rather, “I am
in the heart of God.”
And think not you can direct the course
of love, for love, if it finds you worthy,
directs your course.
Love has no other desire but to fulfil
itself.
But if you love and must needs have
desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook
that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own under-
standing of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart
and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate
love’s ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with grati-
tude;
And then to sleep with a prayer for the
beloved in your heart and a song of praise
upon your lips.
The Circle Game by Joni Mitchell
Yesterday a child came out to wonder
Caught a dragonfly inside a jar
Fearful when the sky was full of thunder
And tearful at the falling of a star
And the seasons, they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return, we can only look
Behind, from where we came
And go round and round and round, in the circle game
Then the child moved ten times round the seasons
Skated over ten clear frozen streams
Words like, "When you're older" must appease him
And promises of someday make his dreams
And the seasons, they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return, we can only look
Behind, from where we came
And go round and round and round, in the circle game
16 springs and 16 summers gone now
Cartwheels turn to car wheels through the town
And they tell him, "Take your time, it won't be long now
'Til you drag your feet to slow the circles down"
And the seasons, they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return, we can only look
Behind, from where we came
And go round and round and round, in the circle game
So the years spin by and now the boy is 20
Though his dreams have lost some grandeur coming true
There'll be new dreams, maybe better dreams and plenty
Before the last revolving year is through
And the seasons, they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return, we can only look
Behind, from where we came
And go round and round and round, in the circle game
And go round and round and round, in the circle game
Written by: Joni Mitchell
Album: Ladies of the Canyon
Released: 1970
