The Muse Be Willing

Category: A writer’s journey is never done….

  • Helping Ukraine: Sabotaging Heavy Artillery

    Would it be possible to use a drone to insert small ball bearings into an howitzer canon? Would ball bearing create an obstruction to the canon shell and cause the canon to blow up? If not ball bearings, would anything else dropped into the canon barrel create a problem for firing the canon safely? And if ball bearings would roll out the other end when the canon was loaded, could the drone be designed to squirt something into the barrel first, maybe something sticky like highly expanding foam that would trap the ball bearings in the canon, creating an obstruction?

  • In the world of Kant

    In the world of Kant, people were convinced of the Kant condition and stifled their efforts to accomplish many things. They didn’t see the errors in their judgement, but felt justified in hanging by the gallows of Kant, succumbing to the cough of Kant, surrendering to the down spiraling mesmerizing momentum of Kant. The bliss of Kant was contagious, the habit of tossing caution and Kant to the wind became a clarion call of Kantness, and with the moving menagerie of moaning Kanters, they harvested the Kant consequences.

    The heralds of Kant were everywhere, even in the most cherished of hospitable Kant conscious collectives, where Kant eradication was supposed to take place. Great efforts were made to escape the harrowing horrors of the Kant virus and became of prime importance. But even when education was available, and vigilance exercised, and when they thought they were free and clear, impervious to the tempting allures of Kant, they found that Kant had infiltrated their hearts and they could not make basic strides toward their goals without being accosted by Kant tendencies.

    Even after a diligent search for truth, and the adoption of a friendly relationship with truth, there yet existed a tendency to settle for Kant consciousness, because, it was surmised, they were either lazy or just lacking in vigilance.

    Nevertheless, they chose not to subscribe to the mediocre madness of pretending to be what they were not, and pretending to adhere to principles that were beyond their kin and kind.

    They can see now, that they preferred to belong to the faction of Cann, because aligned with the Cann collective, they could do all that they wanted to be and do, and nothing would hold them back, nothing would keep them down, and they would succeed regardless of the difficulties, regardless of the obstacles, regardless of the problems at hand and in hand, and they knew they would find the happiness they sought. Regardless of the persistent problems, they would finally vanquish vanity, and conquer Kant if they persevered and exerted patience, care, caution and were driven by a spirit of Cann. They would find that they could think that they could, know that they would , and therefore must triumph over difficulties and achieve the final emancipating peace.

  • The How, what, and where of When!

    Are we in tune with an eternal, infinite, divine consciousness, if not how do we get in tune with that eternal, infinite, divine consciousness, or are we tired of trying to resonate with it? 

    Will we allow a sense of tiredness and frustration to stop us? 

    How can we maintain a sufficient loyalty to our visions and goals, to ensure continuity of effort?

    Can we motivate ourseleves to strive for and achieve possibility outside of our customary experience?, 

    Where do we go to get the inspiration, insight, and guidance to explore a transforming possibility paradigm?

    Is a guru, our best chance for a permanent cure to the mortal malaise that confounds us?

    What is the secret of activating a inner transformational habit?

    What positive imperative must we pay better attention to?

    How will this inner transformation work, this transition from melancholy, and dullness to happiness, joy, and brilliance?

    How will we do better, and employ that secret power that will inspire us to develop, or invent our unique contribution to mankind that will seal our worth in a transcendent balloon of spiritual satisfaction?

    What do we do now to establish a new behavior, habit, or lifestyle of creativity that uplifts and invigorates us with a sense of value, humble self importance, and harmonious integration with the universe?

    What must we think, and how must we conceive of ourselves, and how must we be, and when will we able to create, attract, conceive, and create health, wealth and spiritual riches beyond our  wildest dreams?

    How can we realize our full potential?

    How can we be all that we ever wanted to be?

    How can we capitalize on the conceptual consciousness of an infinite, eternal divine source of our being and existence?

    What can we do to create a positive fate?

    How can we have faith in our purpose?

    How can we go on asking, thinking, being and developing our most magnificent, majestic metaphysical selves?

    How can we find ourselves achieving, and exceeding our wildest expectations? 

    What is it that we want to do? 

    What is that we must do? 

    What is it that we can do? 

    What is it that we will do?

    What must we remember in order to be all that we can and want to be?

    What do we aspire to now that we didn’t aspire to yesterday?

    What will be our unique contribution, our divine duty, our spiritual service, our golden goal, our vast vision, our positive possibility, our sovereign source?

    How can we ensure that our lives play out in the most fulfilling manner?

     How can we constructively live with what is happening in the world? 

    What is it that matters most in the ultimate scheme of things?

    What is it now that must be done before it is too late?

    How we can stay calm and relaxed in the knowledge that a supreme intelligence is the doer, working through us, and let go of any sense of blame, yet accepting some responsibility for the consequences of thoughtlessly allowing circumstances to carry us along?

    How can we understand the paradox of pursuing perfection while living in an imperfect world, seeking happiness from a elusive supernatural reality, and striving relentlessly to solve deep subtle mysteries that seem to be impossible to crack. 

  • My Pink Pal


    Do you remember the Peter Seller movies, the pink Panther series? Sellers was a detective who had an asian house servant. The servant would try to ambush Sellers when he returned home. It was an agreement that was designed to help Sellers stay alert and prepared for physical attacks from real enemies.
    I realized that I have a neighbor who has taken on a similar role. She tends to be aware of my mental and emotional states, it’s as though she knows my mood, and can “mess” with me at will. It’s amusing for her, but isn’t for me. Usually, I’m fairly good natured, very rarely angered, and then only for a moment. So I’m the perfect target for a sensitive individual who enjoys teasing and toying with the feelings of another. I’m sure she doesn’t mean any harm.

    When she notices my gobsmacked reaction, or total bewilderment, to her offhanded remarks, she’ll say she was just “messing” with me.
    At least, I feel that I’m not being ignored, but it does tend to get on my nerves, and was causing me a low grade anxiety.

    Once I acknowledged my agitated reaction, I decided I had to do something about it.

    I’m noticed that people who flippantly do things like this, like making off handed jives at one’s icons, are not prepared to hear derogatory remarks aimed at their sacred cows.
    I don’t want to engage in retribution. Forgiveness, understanding, although more difficult, seem to be the better way to respond.

    When I saw the similarity with the asian butler in Pink Panther, I was amused, and began to appreciate how her behavior would help me strengthen my life skills. My wife used to be my partner in the battle of life, but she’s no longer around. My neighbor is not interested in marriage, and that’s fine. But her analytical skills and taunts can be a aid to developing a gracious repartee for healthy emotional growth.

    I don’t remember ever seeing her in pink. I should probably refer to her as my Panther Pal, ready to pounce when the prey is daydreaming.

  • Possibilities Unlimited

    There is a spiritual organization with literature displaying the title: Unlimited Possibilities. How is that possible? … you may ask. It’s possible by not focusing too much on the seemingly inescapability of the tragedies developing around the world. Spiritual literature encourages us to think not only outside the box, but outside the world view and world stage. How is that possible? Let’s use an analogy. You’ve most likely heard the old adage, “everything looks like a nail, when all you have is a hammer”. When all we have is our mundane human means of doing things, like reasoning, and negotiation, we limit our view of what’s available and what’s possible. But what else is there? If you haven’t thought of it by now, you’ll be best advised to suspend your reflexive doubt, and disbelief and prepare to give it a deeper look, if you really want to transform and transcend your experience of the human drama. 

    In order to appreciate its full potential, you’ll have to be prepared to stretch your mind into metaphysical, cosmological dimensions. This practice has been with us, at least, since the advent of the Christian tradition. It’s successful implementation requires focus, creativity, receptivity, intelligence, unselfishness, and a profound faith in an ever present consciousness of infinite possibility beyond our usual mundane experience. 

    Creatives know that the squeaking of their projects, is work and requires a commitment to pushing themselves and their efforts, sometimes, beyond the point of achieving a qualitative zenith. You can call this practice anything you want. Perhaps a good way to think of it would be as a dialogue, that might seem like a monologue, with a presence that can manifest anything of benefit. 

    When we want to get to know someone, most of us engage in a two way conversation, of listening and responding. Of course, now in these times, initial interactions may begin with texting, emailing and telephoning. But eventually we realize that those technologies do not allow us to develop an adequate and satisfying relationship. 

    Let’s say you could and you wanted to have a meaningful and productive conversation with a beneficent metaphysical presence or being, that is rarely heard with the human ear or seen with the human eye. This is a conversation that would require real self honesty, an active conscience, and a willingness to work with an expanding, growing awareness of your presence in the world, and how your thoughts affect it. You’ve most likely heard motivational speakers suggest that we get out of our way, when trying to be successful.

    Along the same lines, we need to get out of it’s way, out of the way of developing an awareness of the unlimited consciousness of possibility. Our egos need to get out of the way, and allow ourselves to develop an identity with a greater, more magnanimous awareness that can move through the barriers of self, race, nationality, and the trappings of the human drama to invigorate the spirits of the downtrodden and transform the minds and hearts of the insensitive oppressors. By persistently forcing the light into the dark places, the darkness will dissipate. 

    So much time is spent focusing on the brute force of super-humans that we miss or fail to appreciate the power of divine love that has a truly transforming effect. Could it be that the movies have better advertising, than saints? Yes, besides that, real transformation and peacefully changing the world requires commitment and participation, definitely more than lip service.

  • Creative Legitimacy

    I was recently listening to a book by Seth Godin who lambasts Bob Dylan’s description of his creative experience. You’d think that someone who reads a lot and thinks a lot would realize that we are all different, and our differences just might extent into our creative experiences. It would seem to  me that there are as many variations of the creative experience as there are people. If you consider the diversity of experience, upbringing, heredity and training that contribute to making up the unique individuals that we are, it’s pretty obvious that there just may be major differences in the way we receive, get or develop our creative works.

    Sometimes people like to lop off the heads of others to make themselves look taller. Being willing to allow the authenticity of other types or flavors of creative experience may expand one’s mind and heart and, thereby enhance and deepen one’s own creative process. Invalidating what is unfamiliar, strange, weird or dreamy just shows a certain lack of inclusivity in one’s universal mindset. One size won’t fit all. It’s not a bad thing to lack appreciation for diversity, but it is a thoughtless reaction that requires some restraint, contemplation and adjustment. Just as I am lambasting the lambastor, it’s a way of making waves, getting attention but not necessarily presenting one’s brand as superior to another’s. 

    Caveat: It could be that Godin thought that Dylan’s description made it appear that creativity came out of nowhere, rather than as the result of hours and hours of work over a span of days, weeks, years,… which it may have.

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  • In Defense of Pantsers

    I know that someone has probably written about this before, and perhaps has done a better job of describing it than I am. But I don’t care whether I am the first or only person to think of this. If someone is exposed to this idea here for the first time, I’m satisfied. The nature of the world is that many people come up the same idea at the same time, probably because we are so better connected, and know more about what’s going on globally.

    Anyway we are focusing on those writers who write by the seat of their pants. If. You’re not familiar with the conundrum or dilemma for writers, there are two approaches to creative writing. One is based on a formula, preplanning, thinking through the story before you start, knowing before hand what’s going to happen and how it’s going to end. That’s good in a way, because, you’re not wondering what you’re going to come with next, or how is the main character going to get out of this fix, etc. If you like predictability, then formulaic writing is right for you. And there are experts who say those are the kind of stories that sell, are make into movies and so forth. Formulaic writing reminds me of what Seth Godin said about grade school education, something to the effect that it was designed to train people to do what they were told. Grade school did not nurture creativity.  I know what he referring to, but creativity finds a way The goal was to train people to become cogs in a machine society. We either fit in or we dropped out, or became entrepreneurs. It’s complicated. Let’s get back to the writing.

    The other approach to creative writing, is taking the story one step at a time. The writer comes up with an idea, sits down to write, and then just types or writes whatever comes to mind with that seed idea in mind. After having written in this way before, I know, there are times when I was just stuck and not sure where to take the story, so in my mind’s eye I had to evaluate the choices as they came up, and see how I was going to get a result that I wanted. The writing becomes a creative adventure, since you don’t know how the story will end up and who the characters are going to be, the story can take unexpected turns and significant characters can suddenly come from seemingly nowhere, to enrich the narrative, and add to the complexity of the tale. It does take a significant amount of patience, and persistence to pursue the seed idea to its finish.

    I am proposing a new variation on seat of the pants writing, that I believe, will facilitate the development of the story with greater efficiency and confidence. I’m raising the bar. I’m calling it “seat of the spiritual eye” writing. Sitting oneself down, just like in meditation, putting one’s attention at the point between the eyebrows. If knitting the eyebrows does not provide enough pressure at that point for you, or it’s too difficult to feel that point, you can press a finger nail there, and then focus on the sting. 

    The point between the eyebrows is the site of the Spiritual eye, which is a reference to a subtle beyond sense detection metaphysical tunnel to infinite and eternal knowledge. That point between the eyebrows is also the will center, and the physiological center in the body. While concentrating at that point, all distractions of a minor nature can be overcome, making concentration much easier. 

    Since the attention is also in the forefront of the brain, it’s easier to be in the present, sort through ideas, and distinquish memories from reflections. So give it a try, and see how goes for you.

  • Let’s Get Uncomfortable

    I was looking for another podcast today, when I happened upon an audio version of a Google interview with Emmanuel Acho, who I was unfamiliar with. I almost moved past it, because it was between two black men, and although I have listened to interviews between black folks before, in fact recently between Leah Johnson and her black podcast host, I sometimes find their experiences and challenges difficult to listen to.

    Anyway I decided to listen to the interview with Acho, who is a sports commentator, retired football player, very educated, and privileged. He has a mission, and dramatically explains, that in response to the George Floyd incident, he started a podcast called “Uncomfortable conversations with a Black man,” and a book by the same name. Since I had listened to Barach Obama’s book and just finished reading “Becoming” I was now even more aware of the black educated and informed voice. I have a lot of respect for what they have accomplished despite their obstacles and struggles. Mr. Acho is taking the conversation of the black dilemma into an uncomfortable space, hence the name of the podcast and book. I went ahead and listened to another episode of his podcast with four police men and then another with Matthew McConaughey. Acho is working the dream, introduced by Martin Luther King Jr,  by attempting to dismantle the nightmare of the black legacy. I imagine the nature of his conversations will gradually become more comfortable, and bravely expanded upon by a cadre of competent young black communicators.

  • Happier than yesterday?

    Are you happier today than you were yesterda

    Why not? Is there a way to become happier everyday?  

    There must be. Whatever it is that we must do to become happier each day, will it eventually be all that we have time for? If we must increase the time we do that thing, it would make sense that we would have to do more and more of that thing each day, to be happier than we were the day before. Unless, the thing we must do everyday doesn’t have to take very long to do, say an hour at the most, and it could build incrementally on the happiness we established the day before. 

    I could compare it to practicing piano, or playing tennis. I don’t do either one of those things now, but I know that daily practice will enable one to improve on one’s performance. And I believe the real improvement comes when one has a coach or teacher who will give the student or practitioner feedback so that they will know what they can improve on. In a vacuum or on an island, we have no one to evaluate our performance, except ourselves and it’s almost impossible to give oneself honest, and constructive feedback. If the feedback is constructive and given with empathy, the recipient of the feedback needs to be open, willing and prepared to take the feedback to heart, and change one’s behavior in order to improve on one’s performance. 

    The same goes for increasing your happiness day after day. Lets’ say for instance that you write a blog everyday and it gives you some satisfaction to type up your thoughts and get clear about them, while maybe going into a topic and finding some angle, depth and insight about your subject that delights you. It’s the constructive feedback that you receive from others that can give you an objective perspective on just how clear your writing is, or the validity of the logic of your thinking, or the importance or relevance of your topic to anyone else’s life.

    If other people resonate with your thinking and take the time to give feedback that can be a source of happiness. The difference of course with a blog post, is that the feedback usually comes from readers, who may or not like the subject matter, the way it’s written or the author, whereas a piano or tennis teacher is an expert in the craft and is invested in helping the practitioner to improve. Of course we are all practitioners, even so called experts. I was listening to an interview with Hilary Hahn, the talented child violinist, with her childhood instructor. The teacher stated that he also learned something while teaching. 

    So whatever it is we are doing, hopefully something constructive, and instructive, to increase our happiness each day, our success will be more likely guaranteed with a competent, patient, and compassionate teacher to help guide our efforts.

    One impactful way that people today are building on their happiness, is through practicing meditation, especially and more effectively when they have an enlightened spiritual teacher to provide meaningful feedback and encouragement.

  • Rime of the Bachelor Party

    About a forty years I belonged to a small spiritual community in California

    A acquaintance of mine planned to be married, and someone organized a bachelor party. There were at least a dozen men attending. The scene that comes to mind was in a living room space. The men were seated around the perimeter, and some on the couches and chairs in the middle of the room. One of the men, a very talented vocalist, sang an aria. Very impressive. I forgot exactly what he sang but that it was not the highlight of the event, at least, not for me. The other men brought packaged gifts, none of which I remember. However one memorable guest offered an unusual presentation, that was very unique. I don’t know why I suddenly remembered this event after so many years, while I was listening to an episode of Hidden Brain,but it is what it is. The unique presenter, who was about 6’6” tall, sat the groom down in an easy chair, and then he sat on one of the padded arms of the chair. 

    The presenter put his left hand on the groom’s right shoulder and proceeded to recite without notes, from memory,  the poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge : The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

    Looking the poem over today, I wouldn’t be surprised if the presenter hadn’t recited the entire poem and, I recall, with impressive confidence and calmness. He didn’t falter or hesitate amidst the mixed, although respectful reactions from the other men. The groom’s face was a study in amazement, incredulity, and amusement. Need I bother to say, that the recitation altered and deepened the depth and nature of the bachelor party.

    .