If you are seeking strength and a whole consistent spirit, do not look for this in the confines of human individuals past or present for you will only find flaws and compromise. Instead, observe the osprey, the orca, the dolphin, the ocean, a mountain, the clouds, a river, the sun, the stars at night — these are strong and consistent spirits.
Thank you White Spark for this music…it is perfect.
If I had the resources…I could create a more poignant video…and music selection…to pay tribute to this angelic and philosophical masterpiece…composed and relevant for children..teens..adults…the elderly…human”kind”…. but…this is an excellent creation….Happy New Year…or more to the point…yet another revolution around the sun…which itself..and our earth..solar system…is rotating around our galactic center…which takes 225-250 million years to complete a full orbit…and our galaxy itself…is probably flying and rotating around something else even larger…taking even more time to complete a cycle…and then there is our universe itself………………………….relative to other universes….or something even more incomprehensible………………………Cheers….to those…that care to comprehend………….that we can’t comprehend…………and what that means as to how we should live our flicker of existence as individuals………… and as a species………and with our other species……………………………………….to those that are not asleep…and are brave enough to see…to greet those that have flown…and to greet those that are flying….or trying to fly………….that see the beauty……..that understand the great mystery without succumbing to a prescription………a solution….to which there is never a solution…….the never ending discovery…..the eternal questions………the forever effort to push on………to go beyond…..and to Love……yourself…and carefully selected others…and something beyond the general human momentum….that appears to be………..not concerned with anything………..sublime……..this very masterpiece……..a threat….an enemy………….to that momentum………..a momentum to where….to what end…to what progression….to what struggle to build…upon one generation to the next…..for the children……………………………………………………………………….to believe………………………………in their dreams………..in the future…………….to receive……………from……their father…..their mother…………………….man”kind”…………a torch………………..a torch that grows…….into a flame as hot and illuminate as the sun………and then….beyond….there is no limit….to the light….the dark….the heat…the cold……….if………we see….if…..we…..want to walk in the air…………if we want our children…and their children….to fly higher…and higher….in the air
🙄
Lyrics…”Walking in the Air”
We’re walking in the air
We’re floating in the moonlit sky
The people far below are sleeping as we fly
I’m holding very tight
I’m riding in the midnight blue
I’m finding I can fly so high above with you
Far across the world
The villages go by like dreams
The rivers and the hills
The forests and the streams
Children gaze open-mouthed
Taken by surprise
Nobody down below believes their eyes
We’re surfing in the air
We’re swimming in the frozen sky
We’re drifting over icy
Mountains floating by
Suddenly swooping low on an ocean deep
Rousing of a mighty monster from his sleep
We’re walking in the air
We’re dancing in the midnight sky
And everyone who sees us greets us as we fly
I was going to write about Act Five — Reprocessing the Middle Class….and discuss the corruption of government via the lobbyist mechanism. I was going to show how the number of lobby firms has grown in the last thirty years and highlight the increase in funds flowing into the manipulation of government officials. I was also going to discuss the corruption involved with the campaign financing status quo. And I was going to discuss how lawyers have gutted the country. But what I really want to write about is the real effect of the current corrupt power structure — submission.
I really don’t give a shit anymore. I am tired. We are tired. Let them take it all. Let them “win”. Besides, who is going to construct a better system that leads us in a more noble and sane direction? How many times has the human being tried to chart an inspiring and worthy direction only to find out man is incapable of progressing in an intelligent direction? Better to appreciate the external natural beauty that exists independent of man, which is, fortunately, everything. Best to appreciate and fall in love with a woman coming into her prime. Admire her beauty — the supple curves and fine lines draped with long fine hair. As for the rest of mankind’s aspirations…let them blow away like dust in the wind.
I drove down to Portland from Seattle to watch my brother’s cat while he is on vacation. Today I decided to take a walk after spending some time in a cafe responding to thoughtful comments on the blog. A wonderful aspect of Portland is that one can walk from the city up to the quiet forest within thirty minutes.
I ascended the steep roads and once I passed the last mansion and entered into a typical Northwest forest, I experienced a sense of peace. I heard the wind breathing through the tops of the towering pines. The air I took into my lungs was pure and full laden with airborne mist from the pacific ocean waves. Trees swayed and groaned. I observed trees that had fallen and died — their massive roots finally gave up their grip on life and tore up the surrounding earth. I could hear a small creek meandering down a fern-lined crevice. And I thought how long it had been since I last walked in such a noble place. The thick fog in my head slightly thinned. As I continued on the path I noticed a nice bench with a small plaque screwed into the back-rest. It read, “Man never has designed a structure as beautiful as the trees.” The quote was from a famous architect. Several thoughts emerged from this short walk amongst beauty.
I reflected on the concept of beauty as it relates to architecture. I recalled the beautiful architecture I observed throughout Europe representing different periods in time, including the ruins of ancient Greece and Rome. My thoughts then turned to American architecture and I grew melancholy. I imagined suburban sprawl, strip malls, mega shopping centers and sky scrapers. Our architecture is not concerned with beauty; rather our architecture is concerned with economics, practicality, convenience, and comfort. I concede the city is a beautiful scene from afar at night or on a partly cloudy day when the beams of sunlight illuminate and splash shadows here and there. I enjoy the activity of the city and the great restaurants, cafes, and bountiful grocery stores. I enjoy observing the pretty women with their shopping bags and high-heels. And I too enjoy convenience, practicality, and comfort, but I miss beauty. One cannot find to many examples of beauty in our everyday architecture.
I also began to think about my attraction to photography and what I enjoy about this semi-art form. I like where photography leads me — to beauty and away from humanity. And an important idea popped into my foggy head. Ever since I had returned to the Northwest I had no energy or will to go off into the beauty for I don’t have my camera or the resources to buy and develop film and prints. But, today I realized that I don’t need a camera right now or the resources for film and prints. All I need is to let beauty pull me away from the comforts, amusements, and burdens of humanity. There is no excuse or obstacle preventing me from going into the mountains to admire the Cascade volcanoes and the rivers that gush down from the glaciers and carve their way amongst rock and towering pines. There exists no road block obstructing me from long walks along the mighty pacific and observing the waves crashing upon the rocky headlands. Money and resources don’t prevent me from seeing the sun sparkling on the expansive ocean or the birds soaring in the ocean breeze thermals above. All I need is a pen and paper to write my thoughts and observations and note areas of interest for future photographic images. These free excursions into beauty are the way back to my mental and physical health.
On my way back down the mountain several more thoughts emerged. Upon leaving the forest I walked among the large nice homes where the people enjoy space, relative quiet, and the close proximity to beauty. It was these types of neighborhoods I enjoyed in my youth. Beauty was always near and just a few steps away. As I continued further down structures began to lose space, cars drowned out the silence, and beauty began to disappear. Humanity began to close in upon itself losing perspective. I listened to the cars drive by and continue on down the road. There is no more lonely sound, in my opinion, than that of an automobile passing by and driving off into distance.
Contemplating The Human Direction 