.
1158
Best Witchcraft is Geometry
To the magician’s mind–
His ordinary acts are feats
To thinking of mankind.
1233
Had I not seen the Sun
I could have borne the shade
But Light a newer Wilderness
My Wilderness has made–
……………………
2 more that pass my jealousy test–I wish I might have written….
365
Dare you see a Soul at the White Heat?
Then crouch within the door–
Red–is the Fire’s common tint–
But when the vivid Ore
Has vanquished Flame’s conditions,
It quivers from the Forge
Without a color, but the light
Of unanointed Blaze.
Least Village has it’s Blacksmith
Whose Anvil’s even ring
Stands symbol for the finer Forge
That soundless tugs–within–
Refining these impatient Ores
With Hammer, and with Blaze
Until the designated Light
Repudiate the Forge–
With the imminent closing of McGill’s Education Library, there is perhaps a turning point in societal priorities in Canada. (Saving) money is more important than education, books, reading, and equipping teachers to teach. In terms of symbolism, it is a significant, telling moment amidst the many changes in an increasing centreless society, deconstructing its valuable instititutions, cutting people further adrift without any permanence, wisdom, or hope.
Even when I taught, I spent much of my time shoring up myself, broadening myself in the acquisition of information, knowledge, and wisdom of what is and the best of what has been. Curiosity and a desire to refill myself–the perpetual depleting personal reserves cause from teaching–was always sufficient motivation for whatever new learning. In the end, one has to take responsibility for filling or refilling oneself. No one else will necessarily do it for one, and one will be frightfully narrow (especially these daze) with the smug satisfaction of being just as smart as their school record.
Although courses are helpful, it is more the personal explorations that get the most fulfilling results in assuming charge of one’s continued, continuing education. Start with the simple–Who are the many great men and women of history and the arts that you know nothing of and are curious about? By this point in my life, as I belatedly listen to the masterworks of Beethoven, I am heartened to know that it is still possible for an individual to learn as much as they want about anyone and anything. My only fear is the day I run out of curiosity and no longer automatically Google for information on something or someone I want to know better. (And there is so much more than Wikipedia as any (auto)biography reveals).
Modes of receiving the information can be varied, too. I listen to audiobooks or watch videos about everyone and everything. Whatever information or knowledge one wants or needs is, fortunately, still mostly available out there. And yes, you may have to spend money to get some of these learning experiences. But that is where we came in on this topic, isn’t it? Will one limit oneself and one’s education in the name of money? How shallow, limited in perspective, and small in true value and personal growth. There are many larger costs, though, to making money the priority in one’s life and education. A complete abandonment of the development of individuals, inner life, and consciousness possibilities. A massive price to pay for selling (one’s and others’) educations short.
“I am large, I contain multitudes.”–Walt Whitman
It has been my own experience and observation that giving the gifts of self is, more often than not, the easier, more common end of the equation. What too many nice, good people have difficulty with is the acceptance of gifts of self and learning to go with the flow of that love. In order to truly receive the gifts of other, one must needs learn to let go–a very large obstacle for many people far more used to the giving and expressing mode. And, yes, it is good to receive as much as to give. It gives more purpose, meaning, depth, richness, and reciprocity to any and all gifts of self, including love.
Complete, delicate, simple,
young and wise.
His rhythms sweet, true,
and natural.
On the other side of metaphor
light opens deep and beautiful.
A sun unto itself
the many seeds and gardens.
Wind’s articulation
the voice of years.
Self-selected play
a quality of sense.
Mist’s memory
and the mountains he moved.
An inner growth
the flame of feeling yes.
Directions of words
design of love.
Seeing all
awake.
Forward
now.
[They] almost hear a meaning in their noise.”–Thom Gunn, “On the Move”
What an ironic use of the word from its primal meaning in beautiful, natural birdsong….
“And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.”–John Keats, “To Autumn”
The snow whirling randomly revealed the old man in his parka mushing his dog-team over the ghostly white, bumpy cart track. Only when they arrived at the cabin with the storm supplies, did he consider himself safe and a lucky man. April had come to Edmonton!
Getting used to saying words, even no-nonsense words to describe his feelings and thoughts. As well as familiar approximations such as “nan-na” for banana. A certain delight when these approximations occur, suggesting recognition and a certain staticness to some experiences: nan-na is always a banana.
Movement slightly drunken walking, but firmly staying up. Quick turns to get to where he’s going.
Most delight comes from play, especially the invented games. He still like peekaboo and is still heavily into sharing, often carrying single pieces of a puzzle, for instance, to one or two favorite adults or to several people on occasion. He offers the bone to the dog and is learning appropriate behaviors to go with those he is closest to.
He dumps his books on the floor signalling he is quite happy to sit on an adult’s lap to read. He is able to manipulate various book dynamics such as pull-outs and enjoys interacting with books and controlling their movements–something that began at several months with page-turning. He has enjoyed the control aspect of reading for some time.
He enjoys organizational sorts of toys like stacking cups, shape-sorters and puzzles. He is defintely interested in pattern. There is also a definite pleasure to the autonomy of eating food with his increasing number of teeth.
He has been waving goodbye this past month with the knowledge of what this means. A pleasurable activity in itself as much as the hellos when waking up from his nap to see his grandparents suddenly back in his world. (He also turns on the music of his mobile when he wakes up to transition back to the world of wakeful consciousness.)
For me, there is much to learn, vicariously, as usual and, to some extent, to recall from long-ago personal experience. My main interest with my own two kids was language, language acquisition, and reading–how all of that unfolded with help and encouragement. This time my own experience is certainly broader and more leisurely. This has certainly been a different, but fun way to begin a relationship. Free from the usual fears and hangups of others in adult relationships. Tabula rasa. I don’t miss the limitedness and limitations of adult others in any of these meetings and sharing with my grandson.
As always, new possibilities and the role of providing information to someone who wants to learn is a worthwhile experience in and of itself.
