Road Hash- Art, Photograph and Memory

 

“The road to enlightenment is long and difficult, and you should try not to forget snacks and magazines.”
― Anne Lamott

 

Back in the meditative mountains. Thoughts of surrendering the parts of myself I have no control over (onto Nuit) to the universe and just getting on with it all. That too may have to be surrendered. Until then I have the beauty of some of the most amazing scenery and my family and yes lots of good books, snacks and magazines. I have no end of things to be grateful for both small and large and gratitude I have. Still I asked for this trip to be an internal one as well as external and it has been. I have been exploring my vulnerability this week and feeling it and that has been a good thing.
When it comes to any kind of development baby steps are not only ok, they may be essential.
We are already there and miles to go before I sleep are both true and the paradox is as beautiful as any mountain pass.
Blessings, G

 

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Art:

 

Abstract CAbstract C by G A Rosenberg

 

Photograph:

 

Stormy Afternoon in Canadian RockiesStormy Afternoon in Canadian Rockies

 

Memory:

 

The Stress of holding on too tightThe Burden of Holding On to Tight by G A Rosenberg

 

Expanding the Road

 

“The road must eventually lead to the whole world.”
― Jack Kerouac, On the Road

 

I write a lot about the road and the journey and how no two of ours are the same. There is truth in that and yet for most of us our trails widen and the areas of understanding and commonality start intersecting and overlapping more and more. It is very rare that something happens to us that is so traumatic that it narrows our road and forces us to shut down our understanding. Perhaps someone has wronged us horribly in some way that the possibility of feeling compassion for their point of view seems bleak. (As a side note here I want to point out that understanding someone’s point of view or feeling compassion does not mean we condone what they do. If someone was a threat to my family or anyone without the ability to defend themselves, I would step in and cause damage to get them to stop. Yes, I would feel compassion for them and in many cases I believe that the spirit of those who cause harm is crying out to be stopped.) As we understand and allow ourselves to walk in the footsteps of others our road leads out to the world. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Blessings, G

 

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Drifting AwarenessDrifting Awareness by G A Rosenberg

 

Fiery CorridorsFiery Corridors by G A Rosenberg

Artistic Road Trip

“Great artists make the roads; good teachers and good companions can point them out. But there ain’t no free rides, baby. No hitchhiking. And if you want to strike out in any new direction — you go alone. With a machete in your hand”
― Ursula K. Le Guin

 

There’s a difference between being lonely and being alone and its a key one. As much as I enjoy company and genuinely enjoy speaking with others, at times especially while creating, thinking or meditating I crave solitude. Those are the times that even if I have gone where others have I am still blazing my own trail. The territories of the mind, heart, spirit and imagination are infinite and while there is a lot of cross-overs each passageway is unique. We can admire the path that someone else has made but we cannot take it as our own, they’ve paid for it with their experiences and those are unique to each.
After we have journeyed for awhile, it is fun to call a friend in to show them what we have found on the passageway as it is to see what they have found. Since we create our trail as we go, we can never know when we will use something given to us by another. Each item whether internal or external is sacred. Eventually the trails will converge with lifetimes of experiences shared by all.
Blessings, G

 

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Killing Time at the CrossroadsKilling Time at the Crossroads by G A Rosenberg

 

Emmitting Light From the CentreEmitting Light From the Centre by G A Rosenberg

Quote of the Day – November 22 2012

“Try the meditation of the trail, just walk along looking at the trail at your feet and don’t look about and just fall into a trance as the ground zips by. Trails are like that: you’re floating along in a Shakespearean Arden paradise and expect to see nymphs and fluteboys, then suddenly you’re struggling in a hot broiling sun of hell in dust and nettles and poison oak… just like life.”
― Jack Kerouac, The Dharma Bums

 

Of course it can happen the other way around, one moment stepping around quicksand and rattlesnakes, all of a sudden the trail clears and you gain certainty where you are… the next step is always a tricky one… or at least unexpected…after awhile the road becomes simply the road without any expectations, after all if you are unsure where you’ll end up then the road as someone said doesn’t really matter. Each moment becomes a crossroads and each companion on the road a scrying pool for self-understanding
Blessings, G

 

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Apotheosis by G A Rosenberg

 

The Other Side of the Gate Mandala by G A Rosenberg