Robert Gale Ongley

Author: Bo

  • ON MAGICAL THINKING

    It has been suggested to me recently that I’m inclined toward magical thinking. It’s set me to thinking, analytically that is. It doesn’t come as a surprise that I would be seen as a magical thinker. I’m a believer in a lot of stuff, probably bordering on naive at times. I don’t see myself as gullible, but I tend to believe all things are possible. I have a deep sense that everything happens for a reason. I believe that our identity lies in our spiritual nature, not in our names or bodies. I see complete understanding (enlightenment) as our destiny individually and collectively. But I haven’t always been right in my beliefs. So, I’ve decided to take a closer look at magical thinking versus critical thinking. Perhaps we can all benefit from greater clarity along these lines.

    What is Magical Thinking?

    I’ve had the impression it meant different things to different people. To provide a thread of consistency, I’ve now found a few definitions I’ll share with you.

    From Brittanica.com: “Magical thinking, the belief that one’s ideas, thoughts, actions, words, or use of symbols can influence the course of events in the material world. Magical thinking presumes a causal link between one’s inner, personal experience and the external physical world. Examples include beliefs that the movement of the Sun, Moon, and wind or the occurrence of rain can be influenced by one’s thoughts or by the manipulation of some type of symbolic representation of these physical phenomena.”

    From Psychology Today.com: Dr. Alex Lickerman writes, “Magical thinking is defined as believing that one event happens as a result of another without a plausible link of causation.” He follows this with an excellent discussion about what constitutes magical thinking and what does not. Among many others, he makes the point that truth is largely subjective, but we must be sure to maintain a healthy skepticism when coming to any conclusions.

    From Scientific American.com: “ ‘Magical thinking’ (as it has been called) is defined as the belief that an object, action or circumstance not logically related to a course of events can influence its outcome.”

    Critical Thinking

    The Oxford Dictionary defines critical thinking as “the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment.”

    Here’s a more sweeping description from the website criticalthinking.org: “Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action.”

    The Envelope, Please

    Based on what we’ve just read, it would seem a person would have to be a fool to consider magical thinking as superior to critical thinking. Being a critical thinker means using actual proof versus belief or blind faith…working with scientific method as opposed to someone’s word or one’s own intuition…determining answers to questions without bias, rejecting findings that don’t stand up to the scrutiny of logic.

    I can’t argue with that, as far as it goes. Admittedly, it goes pretty far. Science does have its limitations, however. Ponder this for a moment. Of all that is knowable in this universe, what percentage of it has science proven to be true. Must it not be infinitesimal? And doesn’t science deal primarily with matter, energy, and space? There are still frontiers on this planet alone that are largely awaiting investigation, such as the deep ocean or the plane of quantum fields. The full workings of the mind are far from understood by scientists. They are good at what they do, but there’s so much they haven’t done.

    By the way, science evolves. Many of its discoveries of truth are eventually proven untrue and replaced with better ones.

    What Do You Know?

    I submit the concept that we can know things without having performed experiments to prove them. Here are some common examples.

    1. People can realize who is calling them before the phone rings.
    2. I think, therefore I am.
    3. Having certainty of an ability to do a challenging task.
    4. Understanding truth when it is realized.
    5. Sensing a bond of friendship.

    These are levels of knowing that are personal and unshakable if we just accept our capability to know. Can transference of this knowing into intention and exerting it upon the exterior world only through thought have observable influence? Is this merely magical thinking or is there some potential in this type of thinking? At this stage of our development, it’s a matter of faith, but there are cases where people have made convincing demonstrations of “mind over matter.”

    The Truth Within

    Critical thinking is a vital part of our survival skills. The human brain gives us this talent we should never waste. By the same token, some of the great minds in history have told us “Truth lies within.”

    Within lies conscience, untapped love, compassion and wisdom reflected back to us if we will just look in honest inquiry. There is so much to be found and this too should not be wasted. Carl Jung stated it magnificently. “Your vision becomes clear when you look inside your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.”


  • CREATIVE LIVING FOR A SMOOTHER LIFE (PART TWO)

    Living in this universe can be a rough ride. We often don’t make it easy on ourselves with our decisions and our mindsets. Why would this be? It has to do with violating certain laws of the universe or misusing them.

    Commonly Known Universal Laws

    I have in mind taking some laws of the universe that can be used in everyday living, then presenting how we can use them to flourish and prosper individually and collectively. Let’s start with some big laws and work our way into a tighter focus on ones that relate to our ways of life.

    Isaac Newton had one of the greatest minds ever. Using some basics postulated by Galileo, he discovered laws of motion. Quoting Brittanica online, “Newton’s first law states that, if a body is at rest or moving at a constant speed in a straight line, it will remain at rest or keep moving in a straight line at constant speed unless it is acted upon by a force. This postulate is known as the law of inertia.”

    The law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed. It can only be transformed to another form of energy, such as when water is boiled and converted to heat. Water has potential energy and heat has kinetic energy.

    Cause and effect is the law which states that every cause has an effect and every effect becomes a cause onto something else. This suggests everything happening in our lives is the result of a cause and effect chain of events.

    Make Them Work for You

    If you find motivation to be in short supply, Newton’s first law is a reminder that in order for you to accomplish anything, you first have to move. Putting your body into motion will get you started. Once you’re in action, keep in mind that the tendency to keep moving will eventually get you to a goal or the ultimate finish line on a project.

    Although our energy does ebb and flow, it’s good to know there is no shortage of energy in the universe. Proper eating and getting plenty of rest regenerate your energy resources, fueling your creative efforts.

    The law of cause and effect brings us the assurance that we can make things happen. Do anything to create or improve conditions and you can be certain there will be an effect that will lead to more cause and more effect, forever really. It’s comforting to know that even a destructive act can create an effect that, by our will, can be turned into a benevolent deed.

    Social or Spiritual Laws

    From what I can tell in my limited research, social and spiritual laws are conclusions drawn based on observation. They are not created or arrived at by use of scientific methods and the demanding criteria natural science requires. To refer to them as laws may be considered a form of exaggeration. However, it doesn’t mean they aren’t necessarily true. It would be advisable to use critical thinking when considering their validity. I suggest trying them out with no attachment to the outcome of your own experiment.

    In the book of humor titled Theories on Stuff and Stuff penned by Froth P. Harrington, Etc., one of the theories is that in an automobile accident, the driver who is at fault is not injured. The driver not at fault is injured. This theory is tongue-in-cheek, but it could be considered a social law because of the frequency with which injuries are claimed per this breakdown. It may be observable in the majority of cases, yet not rise to the level of being a law since there will be many exceptions.

    When it comes to creative living to make a smoother life, I’ve found some “laws” that I have found to be true for me. Accordingly, I submit a couple for your consideration.

    Deepak Chopra wrote a remarkable book titled “The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success…A Practical Guide to the Fulfillment of Your Dreams.” One of my favorites is The Law of Pure Potentiality. His introduction speaks to me. “The source of all creation is pure consciousness…pure potentiality seeking expression from the unmanifest to the manifest. And when we realize that our true Self is one of pure potentiality, we align with the power that manifests everything in the universe.” One way to access that field of pure potentiality is meditation, silence and non-judgment, per Chopra.

    The Law of “Dharma” or Purpose in Life is another of Chopra’s Seven. The introduction on this one sums it up beautifully. “Everyone has a purpose in life…a unique gift or special talent to give to others. And when we blend this unique talent with service to others, we experience the ecstasy and exultation of our own spirit, which is the ultimate goal of all goals.”

    Smooth

    I believe the best way to enjoy life is to take it without judgment as it comes, not resisting what the intelligence of universal nature sends our way. We can then create in joy and harmony.

  • CREATIVE LIVING FOR A SMOOTHER LIFE

    Ernest Holmes once wrote, “Seek to make your work a prayer, your believing an act, your living an art. It is then that the object of your faith will be made visible to you. It is then that you shall ‘kiss the lips of your desire.’ “

    Holmes was saying that to make life what you want it to be, it isn’t necessary to pray and/or meditate all the time. Though prayer and meditation have their place in life, it’s even more important to be living that which you aspire to rather than pleading for it or visualizing it.

    Who Are You?

    These words are found in Holmes’ book titled, “This Thing Called You,” published in 1948. It’s one of my favorite books, packed with wisdom. He goes on to say, “Your thought is creative, not because you will, wish, hope, pray or long for it to be so. It is creative because there is a creative law operating upon it. You did not make this law, you only use it.”

    I’ve used this book in my life and Holmes’ spiritual philosophies are never far from my mind, but the distractions and stresses of everyday life have taken me off track in some ways. I haven’t been using my creative abilities to make this journey as joyous as I had been for much of my life. Turning to this book again has lifted my spirits and made me realize newly that my decisions determine what and how life can be.

    Seeds of Creativity

    When we send an intention into the universe, it is tantamount to sowing a seed. To make a seed grow into a full-sized plant, we water it until it germinates, furnish it with sunlight, nourish it with fertilizer, and weed around it as needed to help it thrive.

    We expect a seed to grow when we plant it. We are wise enough to not expect it to happen instantly. We exercise patience and allow it to go through its various stages until it flowers or bears fruit. We need to understand this about our seeds of thought. They probably won’t manifest our intentions immediately. We should expect them to come to bear, though. We keep the intention in place, nourish it with enthusiasm and weed out thoughts and emotions that can destroy it. We will eventually see our dreams come true.

    This is a natural process based on natural law. We’ve all used it whether we have a garden or not. We’ve set a goal of creation, shown determination to reach it despite any obstacles, and followed through until completion. The problem is we don’t do it enough. We don’t make it a point to live this way every day in every way. As Holmes said, make your living an art.

    Living Examples

    Jack Canfield is one of the most inspiring individuals on the planet. Author of Chicken Soup for the Soul, he made a series of such books and sold over 123 million of them through his franchise. He is a motivational speaker and has helped hundreds of thousands of people realize their dreams.

    When he was a teacher making about $8000 per year, he was coached on how to use the Law of Attraction and was instructed to set an income goal of $100,000 for the next year. He attached an image he’d made of a $100,000 bill on the ceiling above his bed, visualized having that every morning, and made his goal the focus of his activities every day.

    His book started selling well, money started flowing his way and when the year was over, he had earned $97,000. Phenomenal, considering he had never experienced anything like that prior to using the Law of Attraction.

    Oprah Winfrey tells the story of how she got the part of Sofia in The Color Purple. When she read the book by the same title, she loved it so much she bought many copies for people she knew. She was consumed by the story. Eventually, she received a call asking her if she would like to audition for a part in a movie even though she wasn’t known for acting. It turned out to be The Color Purple. She auditioned and heard nothing back.

    She thought she wasn’t being chosen because she was so overweight. She went to a “fat farm,” as she called it. While there, she was locked in on the part so much that she was crying and praying simultaneously. She sang a song of surrender and acceptance to herself. Even as this was happening, she received a call from Steven Spielberg. He wanted her for the part. She knew she had brought that role into her life by using the Law of Attraction.

    Laws of the Universe

    There are many laws governing how this universe operates. The Law of Attraction is only one of them. Holmes wrote of it back in the 1920’s. I’ll cover more on how we can use these laws for our collective benefit in my next post. For now, another quote from Holmes.

    “Enter in and possess this promised land. When you accept in simple faith, you will receive. When you knock in childlike belief, the door will be opened. What you seek with enthusiastic acceptance, you will find.”

  • WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR OWN CREATIONS?

    If you’re driven to bring any kind of artistic expression into the world, you care about its quality. You want it to be good, valid, worthy of your time and worthy of having an effect on others. I submit that the more you create, the more you care. There will be exceptions, of course, but I’m convinced this is true of most people.

    When you’ve completed a project, whether it’s a film, a drawing, a dance routine or anything in the realm of art, you stand back in some sense of the term and assess what you’ve done. This may involve viewing a visual version of it, hearing a recording or reading a manuscript. When you evaluate your final product, are you filled with a sense of accomplishment? Does it excite you as a representation of your evolution in the field of your endeavor? Or does it usually bring disappointment? Do you tend to emphasize your weak points and the imperfections in your work?

    The Artist and the Ego

    I’m writing here about observations, not scientific fact. A discussion about this topic would bring out others’ views and a variety of welcome viewpoints. For now, though, I’m offering mine.

    In this one-sided discussion, it’s important to first clarify what I mean by the ego in this context. The basic definition in the Random House Webster’s College Dictionary is “the ‘I’ or self of any person; a thinking, feeling, and conscious being, able to distinguish itself from other selves.” Carl Jung described the ego “as the centre of the field of consciousness which contains our conscious awareness of existing and a continuing sense of personal identity.”

    Taking this a step further, I quote Eckhart Tolle who uses the Bhagavad Gita as his guide on the ego. ” According to the Gita the ego is the feeling of separateness, the sense of duality, or the idea of being distinct and different from others. It is the false perception of oneself as a separate being or a limited being.”

    I believe this sense of self goes a long way in determining the opinion we form of our artistic creations. The way we view ourselves can be in rational balance with regard to the truth, self-esteem and how we are perceived by others, but with many people, it’s irrationally low or high in any one of these areas. If we don’t have this rationality and a healthy sense of objectivity, we have difficulty being able to see our work without bias one way or the other. As much as possible, we need to set ego aside and take an honest look at that which we create.

    Love Yourself, Love Your Art

    The way I see it, if you’re down on yourself in general, you’re less likely to have a high opinion of whatever you bring to the world. This could be job performance, your appearance, whatever you create. With healthy, in-perspective self-esteem, you should be able to assess what you’ve produced accurately as long as you are well informed or educated as to what makes for quality in the field where you’re creating.

    I have a long list of mistakes I’ve made in life and considerable objective proof that I didn’t know what I was doing along the way. Plenty of times, I’ve been highly frustrated with myself. However, more often than not, I’ve been able to take it easy on myself and loved who I am internally and eternally. For whatever reason, I have confidence in and take pride in my creative work. I have often thought my latest song is my best. I get excited about the literary and journalistic pieces I’ve written. I like what I do. I like editing and revising these works, making them the best they can be.

    The Dim View

    As much as I believe in my theory above, I’m not so arrogant as to discount other factors that may enter in with regard to an artist’s opinion of their own works of art. Here are a couple of examples.

    There are those in every discipline who don’t like their work. This doesn’t necessarily mean they have a low opinion of themselves and what they do. Some simply have higher standards. They may have an extraordinarily clear vision of what it is that the Muse is showing them and they’re determined not to fall short of that vision.

    Maybe there are those whose work isn’t that accomplished yet and they simply have the good sense to see it for what it is. At least they have that awareness and can strive toward improvement, perhaps one day reaching their goal of excellence.

    On Balance

    I suggest maintaining a positive approach regarding your chosen art. Have a critical eye, but admire your good works. The Muse will.

    Erato The Muse of Love Poetry by Francois Boucher

  • CHARMS OF ANTIQUES ROADSHOW

    Antique shop

    I have been a fan of Antiques Roadshow since about 2009. I can’t claim to be an art connoisseur, but I think this blog is evidence of my appreciation for the entire spectrum of the arts. I don’t pretend to even know that much in the field. My expertise is thin, but I can share an interest and good conversation up to a point. The fact is, I’ve learned quite a lot by watching Antiques Roadshow.

    A Little History

    From Wikipedia: “Antiques Roadshow is an American television program broadcast on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) Public television stations. The program features local antiques owners who bring in items to be appraised by experts. Provenance, history, and value of the items are discussed. Based on the original British Antiques Roadshow, which premiered in 1979, the American version first aired in 1997. When taping locations are decided, they are announced on the program’s website raising the profile of various small to mid-size cities, such as Billings, Montana; Biloxi, Mississippi; Bismarck, North Dakota; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Hot Springs, Arkansas; and Rapid City, South Dakota. Antiques Roadshow has been nominated 16 times for a Primetime Emmy.”

    The American version of the show rose to the top of the popularity ratings and is seen by as many as eight million people per week. Its host is Mark L. Walberg. It’s hard for me to pin down who the real star is, as Walberg limits his involvement to quick wrap-around appearances and occasional features on people or places. Most of the show is spent on the antiques and the people bringing or evaluating them. I’m focusing on the American version because I’m more familiar with it, having watched less than a full episode of the UK production.

    The Best Part

    I have to confess I am most fascinated with seeing how much the pieces are worth and the reactions of the owners. The values bring o-o-o-s and ahhs. The reactions to them leave me satisfied or wanting more. These are the low-hanging fruit, though. The real value is in learning about the artwork, the artisan work and the collections.

    I’ve been able to learn about tiffany and imitations, art deco, master painters I never heard of, furniture of different eras, and so much more. Every episode has something in it that amazes me. Rare pieces turn up at times. I seem to recall some being so rare the appraiser thought there were no more of them in the world.

    When something is rare and was made by a well-known artist, the stage is set for excitement. Diego Rivera, famous and influential Mexican painter, was born in the 1800s. One of his early works, El Abanil, had been thought to be lost for many years. Its owner had it hanging behind a door, but thought enough of it to bring it to Antiques Roadshow and discovered it was worth at least $800,000.

    Rare is often enough for tremendous value without having to be made by an iconic individual. Prime case in point is the gold-plated Leica Luxus II camera that is now thought to be one of those only ones left on the planet. It was appraised at $780,000.

    Stellar Moments

    It’s one thing to see a guest of the show be overwhelmed by the value of the item they brought in for inspection. It’s quite another to witness such a reaction by the appraisers. These people see interesting antiques as part of their daily routine. Their tolerance for surprise and the unusual is high. The examples of touching moments that follow are a couple of the finest examples of what the Roadshow can mean to people.

    The first is appraised by Lark E. Mason of New York. It was a Tang Dynasty marble lion valued in 2002 at $150,000-$250,000 for insurance purposes. When Mr. Mason started to talk about the sculpture, he told the owner that when he first saw it, he could hardly…well, then he choked up. He couldn’t speak of his first reaction without his voice cracking. He apologized and continued, but through his cracking voice, saying it was one of the finest examples of Chinese art they have ever had on the Roadshow. “The carving is beautiful. The workmanship is stunning,” he gushed. He was truly moved.

    The second one has to do with a Navajo Ute blanket given to the foster father of the owner’s grandmother by Kit Carson. The appraiser, Donald Ellis, was composed, but he and the owner agreed that he was having a little trouble breathing just seeing this blanket. It was among the first chief’s blankets and the earliest Navajo weaving. When he told the owner that its value was between $350,000 and $500,000, he added that when he saw it, he just about died. Not only that, he said the blanket is a national treasure. The owner’s reaction was all over the place. He was smiling, but tears had to be wiped away and he could only say such things as “Jeez!” and “I just hung it on the back of a chair!” His alternation between joy and grief was heartwarming indeed.

    Early Navajo Weaving

    Reality at Its Best

    Antiques Roadshow is a lovely combination of history, art education and human psychology. If you haven’t ever seen it, open yourself to its charms.

  • SCULPTURE WE WON’T FORGET

    I have always admired sculpture. I really don’t know much about it. I do know what I like. For the most part, I suppose my tastes tend toward conventional sculpture, whether ancient or contemporary. Marble would be my choice as a medium, but bronze and others have certainly the capacity to thrill.

    We’ve seen plenty of sculpture, whether in museums, galleries or just on various screens. As with all forms of art, there are certain pieces that grab our attention and never let go. It’s those we will now examine. I have to add that bizarre, obtuse sculpture doesn’t linger in my mind. I have found it to be mostly forgettable. I’ve researched the subject to see what others find unforgettable, broadening my catalog from which to choose.

    J. Anne Butler–Born to Dance

    On strolls through museums or galleries, I have found myself captivated by sculptures of horses. Few creatures on our planet have more universal appeal than horses. They are poetry in motion. Just standing, they pose majestically. Ms. Butler has sculpted a lot of horses in inspiring representations of equine grace. She has been called “the most outstanding Arabian horse sculptor of her generation.” Born to Dance shows a mare and her foal rearing up as though in a wild dance.

    Gian Lorenzo Bernini–Ecstasy of St. Theresa

    This magnificent portrayal of an angel about to thrust an arrow into the body of St. Theresa as she wears a “bring it on” expression of submission summons such passion that it leaves me wondering what the nun was thinking. It turns out she was also a mystic who wrote about an encounter she had with an angel. It must have been a good one.

    Jagannath Temple–12th Century

    There are many beautiful carvings and sculptures in this Hindu temple. They represent many aspects of life. Here we have erotic sculptures of at least a couple Kama Sutra positions which, if I may be so bold, encourage and develop the sexuality segment of human existence.

    Auguste Rodin–The Burghers of Calais

    This remarkable depiction of a scene from The Hundred Years War between England and France is poignant in its despair and defeat. Calais had been under siege for over a year when these town elders offered themselves up for capture in exchange for allowing the citizenry to be spared. In a bold and revolutionary move, Rodin set his sculpture on a low pedestal to bring a sense of realism to the work. The people of Calais could stand next to their historic heroes in a local park.

    Michelangelo–David

    This tribute to the Old Testament king of the Hebrews was finished by Michelangelo in 1504, some 40 years after it was started by another sculptor. Michelangelo was the third sculptor to work on it. It is one of the most famous sculptures of all time and it was done in the High Renaissance style.

    Louise Bourgeois–Spider

    Ms. Bourgeois was born in France. She died in 2010 at the age of 99. She created the daunting Spider in 1996. It’s huge, but they are made to various scales and there are ones much bigger than this.

    Robert Smithson–Spiral Jetty

    In the category of unique, Spiral Jetty stands out. It can be found on the Great Salt Lake in Utah. The materials were dug up onsite and consist of mud, salt crystals and basalt. Very durable, they were under water for decades until a drought revealed the sculpture once again.

    The Terracotta Army–China circa 209 BC

    When Emperor Shi Huang died in 210 BC, he was entombed. Nearby underground, approximately 8000 human-sized clay statues of soldiers were placed on guard to protect the deceased monarch. They were outfitted with actual weapons of the time and given horses and chariots. It was discovered by farmers digging a well in 1974. Currently, the army is touring the world and can be seen in October of this year in Santa Ana, California.

    Bust of Nefertiti–Egypt in 1345 BC

    This is one of the most striking sculptures ever. The beauty of Nefertiti, an Egyptian queen with Pharaoh Akhenaten, with delicate features far ahead of her time, is captivating. The condition and clarity of the face and neck are wondrous.

    Auguste Rodin–The Thinker

    Here he is, thinking about what could be the most recognizable sculpture of all time. If it isn’t this one, it must be on the short list. The bronze, the body, the pose is classic. It’s thought provoking, don’t you think? And it’s unforgettable.

    Solid Thought

    To have a vision and then to be able to render it clearly in three-dimensional form is worthy of tremendous admiration and praise. Sculpture can reach deep within us and strike a chord that resonates strongly. The works we have seen here will be held in memory for a long time.

  • TEN MEMORABLE SONGS ABOUT MEMORABLE HUMANS

    There have been some outstanding songs based on the lives of people in history as well as some who currently are among us. I’ve found there are more being written than I even care to hear about. Here we’re going to look at and listen in our heads to ten well-known tunes about people that we should remember.

    Candle in the Wind by Elton John & Bernie Taupin

    This tribute to Marilyn Monroe was a heartfelt composition which lamented the loss of a sweet and lovely person who lifted the spirits of so many people in the world. A sample of the beautiful lyric:

    And it seems to me you lived your life
    Like a candle in the wind
    Never knowing who to cling to
    When the rain set in
    And I would have liked to have known you 
    But I was just a kid
    Your candle burned out long before
    Your legend ever did

    Vincent by Don McLean

    This song is a masterpiece, blending lyrical poetry with melody as well as it could ever be done. McLean speaks intimately to Van Gogh with deep understanding.

    Now I understand
    What you tried to say to me
    And how you suffered for your sanity
    And how you tried to set them free
    They would not listen, they did not know how
    Perhaps they’ll listen now

    Abraham, Martin and John by Richard Holler

    Sometimes songs about people group together a few or more of the illustrious who light the way for the rest of us. Honored here are three assassinated leaders beloved by many for their contributions to humanity.

    Didn’t you love the things they stood for?
    Didn’t they try to find some good for you and me?
    And we’ll be free,
    Someday soon it’s gonna be one day.
    Has anybody here seen my old friend Bobby,
    Can you tell me where he’s gone?
    I thought I saw him walkin’ up over the hill
    With Abraham, Martin and John.

    Greensleeves by Henry VIII (maybe)

    The woeful monarch allegedly penned one of the most beautiful tunes of all time in Greensleeves. He is said to have been commenting on the state of his dissolving marriage to Anne Boleyn. That did not turn out well for her.

    Greensleeves was my delight,
    Greensleeves my heart of gold
    Greensleeves was my heart of joy
    And who but my lady Greensleeves.

    Victoria by Ray Davies

    The Kinks were excellent with satirical lyrics. This was about Queen Victoria. It opens with an acidic verse, though later ones were almost adoring.

    Long ago life was clean
    Sex was bad and obscene
    And the rich were so mean
    Stately homes for the Lords
    Croquet lawns, village greens
    Victoria was my queen
    Victoria, Victoria, Victoria, ‘toria

    The Ballad of Ira Hayes by Peter La Farge

    It honors a marine who was born on the Gila River Indian Reservation in Arizona as a member of the Pima tribe. He was one of the American war heroes photographed planting the United States flag at Iwo Jima. His story is inspirational, but tragic.

    Ira Hayes returned a hero
    Celebrated through the land
    He was wined and speeched and honored
    Everybody shook his hand
    But he was just a Pima Indian
    No water, no home, no chance
    At home nobody cared what Ira’d done
    And when did the Indians dance

    Talkin’ Baseball by Terry Cashman

    This iconic tune celebrates a slew of baseball heroes, especially Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle and Duke Snider. When baseball was king, these guys were household names.

    We’re talkin’ baseball!
    Kluszewski, Campanella.
    Talkin’ baseball!
    The Man and Bobby Feller.
    The Scooter, the Barber, and the Newc,
    They knew ’em all from Boston to Dubuque.
    Especially Willie, Mickey, and the Duke.

    Bette Davis Eyes by Jackie DeShannon and Donna Weiss

    Those unforgettable eyes immortalized in a Number One hit by Kim Carnes. Davis had acting skills that championed independent women. She was not a one hit wonder by any means, but those eyes…

    And she’ll tease you, she’ll unease you
    All the better just to please you
    She’s precocious, and she knows just
    What it takes to make a pro blush
    She got Greta Garbo’s standoff sighs, she’s got Bette Davis eyes

    Hurricane by Bob Dylan and Jacques Levy

    Heavyweight boxing great Rubin “Hurricane” Carter was unfairly convicted of murder back in 1966 and spent 19 years in prison. This powerful composition helped bring attention and funding to the legal defense of Carter. In 1985, the Supreme Court exonerated the man for good.

    Rubin Carter was falsely tried
    The crime was murder “one,” guess who testified?
    Bello and Bradley and they both baldly lied
    And the newspapers, they all went along for the ride
    How can the life of such a man
    Be in the palm of some fool’s hand?
    To see him obviously framed
    Couldn’t help but make me feel ashamed to live in a land
    Where justice is a game

    Don’t Cry For Me Argentina by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice

    From the 1978 musical Evita came this song about Eva Peron, the Argentine political leader. While her husband was President, she helped establish many charitable institutions while also supporting workers’ unions. In the musical, she grandly sings her message to a crowd from a balcony of the Casa Rosada.

    Don’t cry for me, Argentina
    The truth is, I never left you
    All through my wild days, my mad existence
    I kept my promise 
    Don’t keep your distance

    And as for fortune, and as for fame
    I never invited them in
    Though it seemed to the world they were all I desired
    They are illusions, they’re not the solutions they promised to be
    The answer was here all the time
    I love you, and hope you love me
    Don’t cry for me, Argentina

    Take Five

    Making music in honor of those we know or remember can be one of the most loving and kind forms of art. Even when we’re poking a little fun, it’s still a tribute for someone who could probably afford to be brought back down to reality just a bit. If you know of some other songs about memorable people, feel free to comment and share a title or two.

  • THE ZEN OF WISDOM

    Zen and wisdom have one major thing in common. We know far too little about them. An interesting point about them is they may be interchangeable. I could have titled this post, The Wisdom of Zen. There’s a beautiful symmetry in that, but this isn’t about Zen. As I understand it, Zen is a movement within Mahayana Buddhism that teaches enlightenment through direct “absorption” rather than through studying books and manuscripts unless they somehow aid in bringing enlightenment to the reader as an actual experience. So, the Zen of wisdom suggests that wisdom is gained through experience and not reading about it or hearing people talk or watching television.

    Conceptual Versus Practical

    The argument may arise that in order for there to be a growth in wisdom, the person must receive information, which requires reading or listening or watching. We could throw in some other senses there as well. It’s not that any of these sensory inputs couldn’t help us in our quest for wisdom, but the fact that we’re exposed to them doesn’t guarantee we’ll be able to glean any understanding from them either.

    Sensory perception is limited. We use our five senses and information is processed through our brains. As fantastic as our brains are, they are not infallible. There have been studies that show how the brain can be inadequate in its interpretation of external stimuli. A TV show called Brain Games has interactive segments that demonstrate how the brain can be deceived or simply can’t be accessed fully to use all the data we are bombarded with from moment to moment. With all of the distractions of our daily lives, we can’t trust that what we read, hear or see is the whole truth.

    The larger point is that written content, verbal input and visual entertainment provide us most of the time with a conceptual understanding of their subjects. We can get it, but not really get it. An example of this would be a tutorial on how to drive a vehicle with a manual transmission, how to feel when the time is right to lift the foot off the clutch, to a person who has exclusively driven vehicles with automatic transmissions. They may understand it conceptually, but only with experience do they grasp it on a practical level.

    This is what the Zen master wants, that we know on a deep level what it is that’s being taught. Occasionally, when we least expect it, something we take in through reading or whatever can hit us like a ton of bricks and we truly internalize it. That’s great, but we’re more likely to completely understand through the process of experiential learning or coming to know through our intuition.

    Developing Wisdom

    The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
    ― Socrates

    If you’re 16 years old and you read this quote, you’re probably discounting it. If you’re 16 and you see the truth in it, you’re way ahead of me at that age. The older you get, the more you realize you don’t really know anything. Yet, there’s a wisdom in this knowledge that you know nothing. And if you go far enough into it, there’s peace to be had in the uncertainty. I do feel certain that wisdom gets a foothold when we comprehend Socrates’ words.

    Most of us are going to gain some wisdom along the path of experience we travel. One bit of it that I did get by watching someone in real life would be worded something like, “Don’t snow ski on a dirt road while being towed by a car.” We can accelerate our accumulation of wisdom by being open to it. At some point in life, many people develop an attitude that they know it all and stop being open to learning more about the world. Being thirsty for greater wisdom opens the floodgates. With that attitude comes humility such as Socrates illustrated.

    Developing wisdom is a game of growth and, as such, it brings with it growing pains. Here is a quote I like along these lines:
    Developing the muscles of the soul demands no competitive spirit,
    no killer instinct, although it may erect pain barriers
    that the spiritual athlete must crash through.
    – Germaine Greer

    Be Yourself

    A saying comes to mind. Experience is the best teacher. This is our own experience, not someone else’s. Our everyday events are our teachers and they’re in the people we know and meet. They’re in our successes and failures. Most of all, there’s a teacher within. Pay attention. Allow the teacher to be heard in the silences and the spaces. Peace and wisdom!

  • THE MAGNIFICENT DANCE OF MOTHER EARTH

    Earth in rotation

    On a night in May when a waning blue moon has risen huge on the eastern horizon, I take in the stars and planets shining bright in a clear sky. Palm trees along the street are silhouetted in the foreground. The scene couldn’t have been choreographed more beautifully. I’m full of awe and gratitude for being born in this garden spot of the universe.

    I reflect on how the planets, the solar system and the galaxies are waltzing around their hubs as they simultaneously hurtle on their primary courses through space. The Milky Way and Andromeda, for instance, are on a collision course expected to happen in about 4.5 billion years.

    Yet, there’s so much we can’t see with our naked eyes–the cells, molecules and atoms. And they’re all in motion. They may not be as predictable as the larger bodies out there, but they are contributing to the overall dance.

    Following is an excerpt from www.discoverycube.org that was written in February of last year. It illustrates the deliberate, organized movement found in nature.

    Patterns

    “The patterns found in nature have fascinated scientists for many years. Humans have looked at the stars to find patterns – called constellations. Each day we experience a sunset and a sunrise – patterns caused by the Earth’s rotation around the Sun, which we call time. Patterns help us organize information and make sense of the world around us.

    A pattern exists when a set of numbers, colors, shapes, or sound are repeated over and over again. Patterns can be found everywhere: including in animals, plants, and even the solar system!

    Some specific patterns are called fractals or spirals. Fractals are patterns that repeat at different scales. This means if you zoom in on a picture, you will see the same pattern replicated, and much smaller, inside the larger image. Broccoli is a great example of a fractal because a small piece of broccoli, when zoomed in, has the same pattern as the larger head of broccoli.”

    Art It Must Be

    Even the scientific explanation of how the earth came into existence is a story of artistic creation. The early solar system was a cloud of dust and gas in a disk form. Swirling around with tremendous speed, the disk separated into super-hot rings. When the core was separated from the rest of the disk, the outer rings formed fiery balls of gas and molten liquid now revolving around the new sun. Eventually, the globes cooled into solid form and became the planets. The potter’s wheel at work, metaphorically speaking.

    From a fiery mass to a virtual big blue marble covered with water and teeming with life is a transformation so rare that we don’t know of any others in existence. The beauty of our planet is unmatched, in my opinion.

    The Elegant Word

    Nature is sharply focused on Earth, speaking to us through trees waving in the wind, through birdsong, through the wailing of the whales and in countless other ways. As human beings, we shape the grace of our terrestrial home with creative language, hoping to place in the minds of others the rapturous images we have in our own. In that spirit, I turn to some illustrious writers for their thoughts that celebrate Mothers Nature and Earth. I had hoped to assemble several memorable excerpts from the works of writers. Well, as I went searching, I found just what I needed in one article called 50 of the Most Beautiful Quotes about Nature. It appeared in www.rd.com. Here are a few samplings. Enjoy!

    “ ‘Is the spring coming?’ he said. ‘What is it like?’ …’It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine, and things pushing up and working under the earth.’ ” —Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden.

    “Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth.” —Henry David Thoreau. 

    “I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says ‘Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.’” —Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass

    “The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the universe, to match your nature with Nature.” —Joseph Campbell

    Feeling the Connection

    Once while living in Santa Barbara, I drove to a saddle along a ridge where I could look down into a luscious valley away from the ocean. As I sat, drinking in the mountain beauty, the thought floated up to consciousness, I am the land. It was an expression of deep love for the earth.

    Santa Ynez Mountains

  • THE ENCHANTED PAINTER

    As a writer and musician, I know something about becoming engrossed in my craft. I’ve experienced having the hours slip by unnoticed as I happily write or play. The artist who is the subject of this article takes single-minded focus to an entirely different level, however. In coming up with the above title, I considered several adjectives for this painter. Descriptive words such as preoccupied, mesmerized and obsessed. Any could apply. She happens to be my wife.

    The Focused One

    Not made for multi-tasking, Sandy can take on a single task with nearly impenetrable focus. If she’s involved in something, a person seeking to communicate with her would be wise to say her name with the volume turned up a little before intruding with any further words.

    The result is that she works fast and efficiently. Not being distracted gives her a great advantage over most of us. It doesn’t hurt that she has always had a nearly inexhaustible energy supply, but it’s primarily concentration that enables her to accomplish so much.

    Only in recent years have I seen her abilities applied to painting. I’ve known for a long time that she wanted to paint artistically. She reflects on the origins of her dreams. “When I was 18 yrs old and thinking of my future life, I knew I wanted to be a wife and mother and make a lovely home for my family, but I also wanted to at least try art, all mediums such as painting, pottery, sculpting and sewing. I planned to have a room all to myself to do my art, just for my pleasure. It never occurred to me to sell it.”

    The Arts Take Center Stage

    It was about four years ago when we bought a house that was somewhat suited to her dream. It has an area that was converted from a carport to a family room. We divided it so half is hers for art and half is mine for writing and music. We bought some art supplies and slowly she started using them.

    “I am finally beginning to fulfill a lifelong desire after working full time for 50 yrs while being a wife and mother with no time for me. I was retired for two years, in my 60’s before I got the courage to try painting. I did not know the first thing about it. I had always done drawings with pencil.”

    My latest novel was published and she hand painted bookmarks to give away to book buyers. She could paint those fairly fast and they were beautiful. It was with these that Sandy started to enter a particularly imaginative zone. The ideas started flowing effortlessly–nature scenes, animals, dancers and so on. She would do them for hours, one after another. Eventually, she started selling them through a local used bookstore. The quality improved rapidly.

    “Currently, I am working with acrylic paints. I began with watercolors about two years ago or so. It’s hard to do, as watercolors are not forgiving. One goof and your painting is lost. I’m painting dogs and cats onto stones with acrylics at this time. I had been painting on canvas but that can get costly, and where do you put all these paintings? When my dog died, I received an adorable portrait on a stone from a friend. I loved it and wanted to learn how to do that. So I began painting them. They were awful at first, but I just kept at it. They are much better now. When some people have seen them, they’ve wanted to commission me to paint their pets on stones.”

    Spellbound

    Whatever the medium, Sandy becomes immersed in her work thoroughly, but it’s with the stones that she takes it to a new level. I’ve seen her start on touching up a stone that was considered near completion in the morning and get caught up in detail to such a degree that she didn’t finish it until eight hours later.

    “Painting is my meditation. Nothing is on my mind when I am painting. I can sit for hours and hours painting, forgetting to eat, forgetting everything. I think it increases my serotonin levels. It is truly calming. It is where I get my serenity, however temporary it is.”

    Life is Good

    Yesterday, I asked Sandy how her life is better since she began painting regularly.

    “My life is much better having my new hobby painting. It is certainly therapeutic. I feel better about myself. My thoughts turn to what I want to paint in the future rather than what I am worried about. I am doing my art, my thing and I can get that great serenity whenever I need to by sitting down to a jar of water, paint brushes, stones or canvas.”

    And so it is.