Cooperator, Party On (3) – Look Inside, You’ll Open Wide

Every bit of the “work” you will do today can be performed as BOTH a servant AND a guest at the celebration of creation’s unfolding. If you assume the role of one or the other, shame on you. That’s not what the invitation is for. And when you think of the work you do with your life, if that “work” feels like service alone, shame on you. Your eyes are open but a slit, and can see only with ego vision.

You alone are the only one who can voluntarily open them wider and “have eyes to see.” You cannot look upon the fullness of creation until you perceive the fullness of You at the celebration. You are also a guest at the party. The party is not only yours, but it is yours and everyone’s. A party of one is lonely.

Eyes which look inside
Are eyes which open wide.

Cooperator, Party On (2) – Shame On Religion

I do not like the emphasis that religions put on “doing God’s will.” That makes God’s will sound like a to-do list, a burden, a set of rules and duties to fulfill. Individual persons make up a religion. A religion doesn’t make individuals. People do not exist to serve religion; religion exists to serve persons. And burdens don’t serve persons. If you think you know best how God speaks to God’s children, shame on you.

Cooperator, Party On (1)

“I have so much to do today.”

“Everything I have to do today…”

“I should…”

“I have to…”

Much of what is on your to-do list today is not a duty or burden. Seen with appropriate eyes, those to-dos are invitations. You are invited to a party. A celebration. Where the workers are the guests, and the guests are the workers. Where each relies on the other. The universe is codependent! Where no dance is a solo.

An omnipotent God could unfold creation any way that God wishes. But God wishes to do it through us party-goers, not by any other channels.

Tree. Roaring.

Says this stalwart tree to the roaring water: “You give me life by the moment, but you can only move me over decades. Do not respect me because I am immovable. Sometimes I envy your constant motion, being never the same from one moment to the next. Muddy and fearsome in your fierceness; clear and soothing in your calm. I cannot live without you. All I have to offer you is my thanks and love.”

Neil D. 2020-07-23

Related: The Still River Hike

how to exit a body

Heartbeatingwings's avatarMelody Chen

there are good days and there are bad days
then there are days when they hold a broken mirror
to your face and say
this is a self-portrait
press seven shards of bad luck into your palms
like petals between pages
under the weight of a thousand words in every voice
except your own, but
you read them all anyway
let them take up space
your head, so heavy
and the bones in your legs aching like steel rods
this is how a lost train must resent its cargo
this is why people must hide from store windows, and
calm lakes and silver spoons
you pour and you miss and you’re still left half full
you want to speak and not hear your voice
you want to crawl out of this skin
burn the bad bits, then return
but you’re scared of being left with nothing

View original post

“How do you feel?” “I don’t know…”

“How do you feel?”
“I don’t know…”

I don’t think it’s unusual not know what we’re feeling. Nor even to be unable to feel.
What are you feeling now?
Are you feeling a mixture of feelings?
Are you feeling one shallowly?
Are you feeling one deeply?

If you aren’t sure, there are some almost universal triggers to make or help you feel.

I’m not at all a fan of the musical genres jazz, classical, or country. I can enjoy occasional hits from each, but rarely more than one or two at a time. Upon hearing of my disdain for classical, my sister challenged me.

I believe this 3.5 minute piece is one of the almost universal triggers that cannot be heard without a maelstrom of accompanying feelings (listen with space to move your arms through their full ranges, and fasten your headphones or earbuds securely, for your head will dance upon your neck, and, almost certainly, you’ll need to stand, and quite possibly dance):

If you are a classical music aficionado, don’t try to convert me, but please do share with me pieces like this one, which do not require an appreciation for the art form, and do not for the uninterested include wasteful bridges, interludes, and introductions. I wish to hear more brief pieces like this, in which every note has intrinsic value, even to the infidel.

Neil D. 2020-07-19