Signal Wave
Last week, I asked myself the following question: how do we on the left re-light our internal fires? Trying to answer that question, I ran smack into an assumption, as someone groping their way across a dark room might run into a wall: the philosophy of churn. The left-wing version of this philosophy is "Use yourself up, you're working for a just cause. If your morale is low, suck it up, Buttercup." Or, as someone at Daily Kos once said to me, "Go look at what the Republicans are doing. That'll fix your morale problem."
Evidently, one answer to the question How do we relight our fires? was First dispense with useless and outmoded assumptions. That's true, as far as it goes; we won't repair our morale by sticking to the philosophy of churn. I have no doubt that further digging would reveal even more assumptions that block our way, and I will continue to do that analysis. But that's really the easy part. That's what we *don't* do. Digging up old ideas and saying "Not that," is far easier than coming up with new ideas and saying "Yes, this."
So, how do we rekindle the fire?
Partly we must figure out what, in particular, is keeping our personal fires out. For me, it's anxiety and despair. My problem has been that I can't use my reason to defeat these demons, because there is good reason to be both anxious and desperate. I've found that I have to actually set my reason aside in order to work my way up and out of the trauma that the last ten years or so of American politics has brought me. This is tough, because my morality up till now has been based on the notion that you always keep your reason in the driver's seat. (That's one reason the right wing has, historically, had stronger morale than the left; their morale doesn't have to be based on facts.) Can I justify even temporarily abandoning reason? How do I do that without abandoning the truth?
I'm trying to master the (for me) tricky process of knowing something but not dwelling on it. But my heartbeats are ticking by, and I can't wait around in despair and anxiety until I've mastered it. I need to tackle those twin demons head-on at the same time that I try to teach my brain a new way of being. Man, this is hard.
Without reason providing a clear path forward, I've started throwing shit at the wall to see what sticks, hoping to find something helpful. Because I'm using that time-honored strategy of throwing shit at the wall, not everything I post in these threads will help everybody, and I actually hope other people will throw some things into the pot too. Perhaps together we will make some headway!
So here's my contribution to the pot for this week: qui gong. Qui gong is a practice of breathing, visualization and light exercise and stretching that I have found to be phenomenally helpful in managing both my mind and mood. It's not just that I feel better afterwards; the process seems to temporarily take me out of my mental ruts, so that I have ideas and insights I wouldn't ordinarily have.
Here's the official definition of qui gong from the National Quigong Association website:
Qigong can be described as a mind-body-spirit practice that improves one's mental and physical health by integrating posture, movement, breathing technique, self-massage, sound, and focused intent.
I've heard that in Asia, qui gong is often seen as a precursor to Tai Chi.
This is the short qui gong routine I've been doing. It only takes seven minutes out of my day, and yet helps my day go better. See what you think!
Comments
Good morning!
Woke up with my eyelids stuck together. Yech!
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Any other helpful ideas out there?
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Hi there. Yes, go into Nature as best you can. Let your lawn
become a prairie. Find regenerative agriculture being practiced in your area, and help the farmer, or buy their products. Enjoy your dog and/or cat. Plant one pot of flowers.
Read Finding the Mother Tree by Suzanne Simard. She is getting to the heart and soul of the matter.
So much more.
Thank you so much.
A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit. Allegedly Greek, but more possibly fairly modern quote.
Consider helping by donating using the button in the upper left hand corner. Thank you.
So glad to see
the Suzanne Simard rec. I haven't read the new book yet but the book is in the house! (I'm just waiting in line to read it).
This is an hour long interview but it gives an idea of this book.
Rand, I can't thank you enough for the interview!
I've been slowly reading her book, and took time off to listen to this. So worth the time. She keeps leapfrogging our current knowledge and understandings.
A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit. Allegedly Greek, but more possibly fairly modern quote.
Consider helping by donating using the button in the upper left hand corner. Thank you.
Those are awesome ideas.
I do try to spend some time in my beautiful backyard every day. Wilder nature than that would be a good idea, too, as I start to move around a little more freely. We are doing the square-foot-gardening boxes (and hopefully a small greenhouse) rather than allowing our land to become a meadow, but the southeast yard could be developed along those lines.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
And thanks for the book recommendation.
I will look into it.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
I would actually love to work in soil reclamation.
The end of the story "Divine Right's Trip," in The Last Whole Earth Catalog, left D.R. and his girlfriend on his grandfather's old, abandoned Appalachian farm, restoring the soil with rabbit shit.
I think it would be extremely satisfying to know you are rebuilding the soil.
"Put your faith in the two inches of humus
That will build under the trees
every thousand years."
--Wendell Berry
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Bless you too, for so many things. Not the least courage to
answer so many in the Caucus 99 thread. I have finally learned that when a person I encounter consistently makes me feel stupid, unstable, out of bounds, I really need to take a hard look at that person. I am who I am, and notice I can elicit quite varying responses in others, doing the same things and saying the same things the same old way that I do. So I have concluded: it's not always me. Or about me.
Suzanne Simard is the godmother of those like Isabella Tree who are (re)Wilding and using regenerative agriculture. The massive under surface fungal highways (mycilliam -sp?) are concepts she has been on the forefront of (re)discovering. Paul Stammets (a character also named in the Star Trek Discovery series) was a great discoverer of said mycorrhizal networks.
Just love this stuff, and will go to sleep watching YouTube videos of people doing what they can to heal the earth.
Our Cuckoo has returned now that the massive eight inch May rains have given way to sun.
Thank you.
A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit. Allegedly Greek, but more possibly fairly modern quote.
Consider helping by donating using the button in the upper left hand corner. Thank you.
Good morning CSTMS. Heh -
Fall in love? Possibly often, with lots of stuff.
Doodle and or scribble, perhaps both "Scroodle?"
As Dawn said, dig ye (upon) nature. Watch boids and bugs and wind in the leaves and clouds.
ALWAYS MAKE TIME TO WASTE SOME TIME!
Each of us has a vast store of knowledge and facts that we don't dwell on. IF you get an earworm, I often try to displace it with a differrrent tune that can't become an earworm because it is such nonsense. (I often find Brenton Wood's "Oogum Boogum" good for this purpose). Similarly, you can displace ideas of knowledge you dwell on overmuch by dwelling on something else, preferably through visualization. You are standing on the surface of a spinning ball hurtling through the void, really, so visualize that, from the outside, but also from the inside. Start with your feet, look where they are and think about where they are and think-look right through them (they are somewhat immaterial, ya know). Just dig on and bask/bathe in the whole standing on a ball flying through space phenomena, remembereing that there's another side, "below" you. If you combine focal and afocal vision, you can pick any damn thing and go elsewhere, perceiving all kinds of shit in new-old ways and enhanced detail and noting all the relationships. (You can get lost in your bulletin board if you have one, so do so now and then) Look out a window until it disappears. Look at the window until the view is a painting.
Remember, trump is something one declares in certain card games, and biden is a mispelling of bidet, forget that shit.
be well and have a good one.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Thank you. This is very good advice.
I will try these techniques.
As for Trump and Biden, they are not the Medusa heads that draw and fix my gaze. It's more the climate--and the great masses of propagandized minds. In that order.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Boy do I miss double deck Pinochle. We played with our
parents. Mom would point to her wedding ring if it was diamonds trump. Shooting the Moon my favorite way to win. Hah.
A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit. Allegedly Greek, but more possibly fairly modern quote.
Consider helping by donating using the button in the upper left hand corner. Thank you.
Ideas!
This OT could have been written for me. Being in nature is a healer for me as well. Sitting by the river where I live is super peaceful and rejuvenating and the small waterfalls help with white noise! Yoga is good for me because of breath work involved.
The shutdown has been hard for me to get out and feel like I am making a difference. Looking forward for this to change! The news today has heightened my anxiety and makes me feel better to know I am not alone! Best of luck to you and your exercise path is a great step. Thanks for bring up this topic!
Life is what you make it, so make it something worthwhile.
This ain't no dress rehearsal!
Thank you, j.b.,
Nature is indeed wonderful, and most of my life I've used it as a support and restorative, just like you. But about 11 years ago, the disaster in the Gulf pretty well shattered me, and since then, I haven't been connecting to Nature in the same way that I had from the time I was a tiny kid till, well, 2010. That has done really bad things to me spiritually and emotionally. I need Nature to be basically OK; if I believe that, then I can rest on that assurance, and my spirit slips into what feels like its right relation to other things.
The best I've been able to do so far is to remember that Mother Earth can produce more biospheres. She's done it before. And it's not like some things from the old biosphere didn't survive into the new one. I have faith in the Earth--men have not advanced far enough to prevent the Earth from creating more life. But I love the biosphere I was born into, and it wrecks me to contemplate its end. I gotta wrap my head around that somehow. I admire/envy Lookout so much on that count.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Tai Chi is a discipline within Qi Gong (energy work)
Been learning and working with various aspects of Qi Gong for a number of years. Originally approached from a medical perspective of herbs. My understanding jumped significantly after reading publications by Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming this past decade. His approach is from a martial arts training combined with his western science education. One of the few educators wish I had been aware of much sooner in my journey of life.
Intro to his latest official lecture video
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBnumkdseoY&list=PLfVAvDMzKBJ00uXTxMhvzV...
Full playlist (13 videos about 2 hours)of excerpts from the lecture.
Official releases of excerpts from recordings made several years ago based on his understanding at the time. (aprox 10 min each)
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
The routine you posted is great way to get started.
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
Thank you for posting this!
I've been trying to figure out a way that we could do a small quigong routine w/check-in here on the site, if there were any takers. I think it might be great, if people wanted to do it.
I'll have a look at Master Yang.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Harr matee
Thanks for the OT!
I like the breath control idea.
Both deeply within us and without us.
Nature is both a palliative and a reasoned cure.
Good luck!
You're welcome!
It's amazing how useful I've found that little, seven-minute exercise.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Thanks for this
CSTMS. This is a fascinating and overwhelming subject. So many people I know are grappling with similar issues. I have errands to run now but will be back later to add my 2 cents.
Sure thing. I'm curious to hear
your ideas.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
BTW, thanks for the quickie Qigong "warm-up"
I just gave it a shot out in the garage. Have you tried it with your eyes closed and sensing/seeing your body from within as you do it? Also have you tried it smiling and being aware of your smilingness and smile itself?
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Not exactly--
I try to visualize the things he's describing, mostly. But there is one thing--when you take in the deep breath and draw in the chi, I got the image of a sort energy version of my body--like a body inside the body--colored blue. It breathed in the chi while I was breathing in the air.
I am particularly interested in your smile idea. Might help me bring more positivity into my outlook.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Small group practice
I for one would be interested in this idea of a small group practice. Right now my yoga class and stretch and strengthen class are done via zoom and it works well. Even though not in a group for the contact with others that I am also looking for, this sort of exercise is so very beneficial to my well-being.
Life is what you make it, so make it something worthwhile.
This ain't no dress rehearsal!
I'd like it to have some presence on the site...
I'll see if I come up with a way to integrate a Zoom thing with caucus99percent.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Ok hear me out: time travel
I've been fighting cancer since late 2018 (so far, winning! but you know, wily beast) and one of my favorite comedians of all time is Bill Hicks, who, when he was dying of pancreatic cancer, returned to his parents' home and re-read some of his favorite books from childhood. Seemed like a good idea that shouldn't wait for an actual deathbed, so I got into it. There's a kind of freedom of/untethered consciousness experience that I can't quite find the right words for but is a little like meditation or lucid dreaming while also time traveling.
I hadn't read Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising series (5 books, one of them won a Newberry) since I was 11, when I read it out of order because I couldn't get all the books easily but also couldn't wait for more story. Just finished re-reading the first book at age 50 and it felt as mmmm as a day at the water park way back when. Absolutely savoring this experience.
Also notable, re-reading Richard Bach has been delightful, particularly Illusions, which I feel like I grok on a whole nother level now than when I was a teenager. The material feels more playful but also somehow deeper too, while of course the change is in my own perspective and subjectivity.
Anyway it's been a salve for a certain kind of dark mood when nothing else has worked, and I know you like stories, so maybe it'll be good for you too? And maybe the suggestion will make its way into someone else's pocket and they'll pull it out just when they need it.
Thanks for posting about Qi Gong, gonna try it, already dig Tai Chi.
Rev Jane, absolute blessings on your travels with cancer.
I am wishing the best healing for all of you.
Take care.
A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit. Allegedly Greek, but more possibly fairly modern quote.
Consider helping by donating using the button in the upper left hand corner. Thank you.
Thanks muchly Dawn
I appreciate the response as well as the kindness and hope the best for you as well.
Take good care,
and please keep us posted.
Always let me know if I can help in any way!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Thanks otc
I really appreciate that. Always dig reading your takes on things, especially when you talk about your clients, your love life, and your travel adventures, may you continue to enjoy all three for many years.
Reverend Jane--
I'm glad you're winning. As Dawn said, blessings on your journey.
I'm sorry I called you a nutball.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Thanks
And no apologies necessary for that -- I am a bit of a nutball.
OMG--you had my exact experience
I hadn't read Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising series (5 books, one of them won a Newberry) since I was 11, when I read it out of order because I couldn't get all the books easily
except I started with The Grey King, fourth in the series, because I saw a copy in a bookstore and liked the cover! Then I tried to read the series in order, but had to settle for The Dark Is Rising, because I couldn't find Over Sea, Under Stone. I ended up reading the first book last.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
I've been in the
"suck it up, Buttercup" crowd my whole life. It's just part of my culture. What that ultimately means is that I've been blind to other people's distress. If you don't see a problem, you can't entertain the possibility of a solution other than just "keep your chin up" and you'll be OK.
So now, finally, very late to the game, I'm having to recognize this distress I see among the people I care about, in myself, and in so many people around me. I am at a loss and am floundering as I navigate through the possible options of how to help. Just to be clear, I'm not talking about anyone who is in immediate danger or in need of emergency help. The distress though, is real and is corrosive.
So I did what I always do which is to check books out from the library on the topic and read what I can on the internet. The problem with that approach is that I could end up barking up the wrong tree. Additionally, it's a long, slow, slog. As I said, I don't really know what I am doing.
I've always been a proponent of exercise, and being in nature, and reading. So I like all the ideas mentioned by other commenters above. My approach so far has been to read about the mind-body connection and how that affects the health of our brain. There is a fairly new branch of Psychiatry that is recognizing the role of nutrition in helping to prevent or reverse diseases of the brain. They do not reject the utility of medications and therapy but are beginning to see there are more ways to heal the brain than just that.
So right now I'm reading about the biological factors that affect the brain. This includes nutrients and various disease processes that can cause inflammation, reduced blood flow, and imbalances of neurohormones. Some of these factors I consider to be the low-hanging fruit. Some of these I have some control over and have a chance at effecting a positive outcome.
Oops, must take dog out, will tie up my thought below.
To make a long story short...
here are some links:
This article draws the connection between damaged epithelial cells (which can be in the gut) and diseases of the brain;
The article concludes that possible preventive strategies that could reduce disease may include "targeted dietary measures".
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/05/210506105352.htm
This is a short video that talks about how diet and nutraceuticals may be useful as one tool among other tools in helping to care for our brains.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SsC9UWYPDM]
This video is longer and features a nutritional psychiatrist
Wow, thanks.
That is a whole lot of information!
I may post a follow-up next week.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Super subject, randtntx. We have cut out most gluten, sugar
unless it is berries, or fibrous fruits. We both have inflammation which affects each of us in different ways. But working constantly on cooling the flames and taking COVID prevention supplements and vitamins.
Just recently have upped the amount of veggies and salads, and am feeling a true physical difference.
The Lymph system drains toxins from our body, so I retrieved our old Rebounder and try to jump around five or ten minutes a day.
Listening to Marvin Gaye or Al Green can getcha bouncing around too. Bill Frisell Heard It Through the Grapevine - ok here goes:
[video:https://youtu.be/1v-MGE2pziQ]
I used to have a saying: Rock til you drop. Mr. Meta doesn't like it, but when I'm not feeling down and out, I love rocking. 71 this month. Aacchhh!
A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit. Allegedly Greek, but more possibly fairly modern quote.
Consider helping by donating using the button in the upper left hand corner. Thank you.
We do the same here
, trying our best to keep everyone healthy. I don't do the jumping, but it is a good idea! I do tons of walking though.
Happy Birthday in advance, have a great one!
Still love Def Leppard's song with that name
This whole album rocked the house -- but maybe turn your sound down first if you play this vid so you don't wake the mister, heh.
For all of us, one to another....
Have a Little Faith in Me:
[video:https://youtu.be/-RWEseP-ouk]
A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit. Allegedly Greek, but more possibly fairly modern quote.
Consider helping by donating using the button in the upper left hand corner. Thank you.
Very nice
, for all of us
Thought about her...thought about you...made the connection
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/rose-mcgowan-who-was-brought-up-...
In the Land of the Blind, the One-Eyed Man is declared mentally ill for describing colors.
Yes Virginia, there is a Global Banking Conspiracy!