The great qualities of Enlighten-ment
Thor's mailbox was filled with reminders that he was, among his many traits, a hallower of human places, things, and events . . .
“Hear me, my chiefs; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever.” Those are the words spoken today in 1887 by Nez Perce Chief Joseph after surrendering to U.S. Cavalry troops at Bear’s Paw, Montana. He had led 300 members of his tribe on a 1,000-mile trek in an attempt to escape to Canada instead of being forced to resettle on barren land in Oklahoma.
Birthdays today:
Neil deGrasse Tyson. The astrophysicist and author was born on this day in 1958 New York City.
The “Father of the Space Age,” Robert Goddard, was born 141 years ago today in 1882 Worcester, Massachusetts.
Maya Lin, the designer/architect of the Vietnam War Memorial (Washington, D.C.), was born today in 1959 Athens, Ohio.
Events on this date:
The Nobel Peace Price was awarded to Lech Wałęsa on this day in 1983. He helped form and led (1980–90) then communist Poland’s first independent trade union, Solidarity.
And, speaking of the Nobel, Jon Fosse, a Norwegian master of spare Nordic writing, received the Nobel Prize in literature today.
The only way to acquire all the great qualities of Enlighten-ment is to repeat many times the short moments of recognizing
mind essence: Being aware of being aware. There is no other method. One reason for short moments is that, as there is no stability … the recognition of awareness doesn’t last for more than a brief moment, whether we like it or not. By practicing many times, we get used to it. – Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche
Stronger, faster and with a bigger, badder sword . . .
It's Odin's day . . . among the firsts of the gods living in Asgard. God knows where that is . . .
Yesterday too, was a day for firsts. But not the sort of important accomplishments we usually associate with that sort of label, particularly when you consider it was about gagging and losing.-- Joyce Vance
While yesterday was his birthday, today is the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi. The feast commemorates the life of St Francis,and is the Catholic Church’s patron saint of animals. It is a popular day for pets to be “blessed”. . . Oh, yea, he's also known as a pacifist and the first eco-environmentalist – facts usually overlooked by the Patriarchy (except for the Pope who took his name), which is why most businesses remain open and there are few national holidays (except maybe in Italy). So, do your part and bless Bowser and Miss Kitty before you go to the bank.
Speaking of the Patriarchy . . . In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII declared that the day following October 4, 1582, would be Friday, October 15, 1582, thus creating the Gregorian Calendar which all of us still worship today . . . catholic or not.
A more or less recent iconic patriarch, Charlton Heston was born on this date in 1923 Evanston, Illinois. Clearly, I'm overlooking John Wayne and Arnold Schwarzenneger.
No better example of the Patriarchy gone mad is Donald J. Trump. Seconded perhaps by the ongoing pissfight in the GOP. Ask John Kelly.
Mystics and artists are notorious for confronting the Patriarcal, traditionally masculine (Yang) world view, with perspectives that integrate the feminine (Yin) as the true source of power. One excellent example is that of Anne Rice, who was born on this date in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Oh, yea … today in 1957 the Soviets launched Sputnik, initiating the “space race” which resulted, among many, the possibility of this blog on a global internet.
The vampire is the poet and the writer of the monster world. The zombies are the exact opposite. They’re not sexy, they don’t listen to good music and they don’t wear good clothes.” In her famous book Interview with a Vampire, Anne Rice has the Vampire Lestat say ““The prince is never going to come. Everyone knows that; and maybe sleeping beauty's dead.”
Only the drummer is always in step . . .
It's Tew's day . . . ahead of Okieland’s first real Fall cold front, leaving the heat behind. . .
. . . And it's the 842nd anniversary of Francis of Assisi's birth in the 1181 duchy of Spoleto, Italy
This is also the day in 1990 when Germany was reunfied after four decades of Cold War division. Pressure from the German chancellor Helmut Kohl brought Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to sign a treaty which unified Germany within NATO. It probably contributed to the end of Gorbachev’s political career.
None of us came into this world with a “how-to-get-it-right” manual. I try to remember that when my neighbor gets pissy over how many leaves are entering my storm drain after last night's thundershower.
I am not a part of a circle. / I have no 'gang' to blame or hit up for lunch money. / I am alone in the fog-mist of the fringe / of a town that celebrates honky-tonk / while struggling as a wannabe-a-city / in the middle of nowhere / frightened of its possibilities. / Writing is the only thing I can do / with the insane gifts of the cosmos / which keeps me sane.
What a lovely surprise to finally discover how unlonely being alone can be. – Ellen Burstyn