More and more, this looks like the option. I’ll just keep leading others back to the ocean to learn breathing, freediving, and connecting to nature. Making love. Listening to music. Watching sunsets. Cooking for people and enjoying watching them enjoy the food I’ve prepared for them. Learning to dance, move, and laugh more freely. This is it. I’m glad I’m far from alone in this.
As an aging hippie who stayed culturally engaged in my vocational life, and benefited spiritually and interpersonally from cars, computers, and cell phones, I still don’t see this as an either/or proposition. Yes, I’m watching today’s tech revolution from the sidelines, mostly from the woods and beaches near my home—but I’m still watching, with curiosity, and even with some tattered remnants of hope.
If society shatters, then we’ll continue to cherish and nourish these reciprocal relationships with nature and the simple truths of the world; this is indeed the most human path through a new dark ages. But at the same time, all these same ethical and practical and interpersonal qualities of connection with the annual cycles of seasons and beauty which we are embedded within will ALSO be a core of the essential rebalancing and re-enlivening that our culture will need if we manage to make it through the eye of the needle into a functional and expansive eco-techno future, where being deeply alive in the real will be more important than ever. While I wouldn’t bet on us making it through that portal, it truly feels like the shape of the future is utterly unknowable from where we stand today….it’s dizzying, the possibilities….
So thank you for weaving the core essence of not-so-simple human connection so beautifully here. Wherever we’re headed, we’ll want to take this along with us.
The song "May I Suggest" was written by Susan Werner. She is a beautiful soul and it would be really great for your readers to check out more of her work! Please let people know that she wrote these words.
I did some shows with Susan over the years - she got her start in Philadelphia in the 90s... here are a couple of links, including Susan playing this song at the Philly folk fest...
I'm sorry I never directly answered your question - Susan Werner does not appear in the video in your newsletterand is not a member of Red Molly. I put some links in my one comment, but substack was not letting edit or add another comment to the thread...
Beautiful. I learned of Red Molly, and their spin offs. I learned of Susan Werner, who has been at her craft for over 30 years. All four of these women appear to mostly play in the North East. Never heard of them before this post.
Jamie, I occassionally have come back to an answer Ken Wilber gave to a question from the audience at one of his get togethers about the suffering in the world and whether we should care about it. From the questioner:
"Returning from Big Mind, it doesn't seem to matter rather we have a role in this play. But on the relative point of view, I think we all care quite a bit about that. So.... next hundred years, next two hundred years? What do you think? And, why should we care?"
I actually think Wilber gave one of his better answers once he gets past his intro to a book he never wrote, and the credit for that goes to the questioner, that would be a younger you. I only recently discovered that fact even though I had come back to this answer several times.
I think Big Mind and Big Heart was/is a great technique to help one clear up what is happening inside our heads.
You clearly care about us Homegrown Humans and you are doing your part every day. Your focus has been "on the other side of the street", the here and now and development of Homegrown Humans. Thanks for what you are doing.
I’m 68. I’m lucky, I can take my chances and avoid most of it. I’m in. Best to enjoy the light I can feel and see today and not trade it for the near certain nonsense ahead.
This was gorgeous. I’m in. I often think of the one plant they managed to save in Wall-e. As long as there’s just one! And we still have so much more than one. When my daughter, now 19, was in 3rd grade, I tried desperately to make a pact with all the parents in her grade to keep the phones at bay (this was before “wait for 8th.” So many smart, educated, well-resourced parents couldn’t see the point, feel their own agency. Sone kids already had phones. 3rd grade! We waited as long as we could. 9th, I think. It makes me physically ill to see them on their phones. But thank god, my daughter still loves to frolic.
Not sure there’s a better word, or a better activity.
Beautiful BUT it's worth pointing out that the real and unaltered by western colonialism or new age sales tactics Taoism has very little to do with "go with the flow" and also its rich tradition is full of doctrinal exegesis, codes of conduct and ritual.
Jamie, happy to sense through your writing that you are a balanced human being. The last piece I read on Palestine was poignant. I thought essentially good journalism/reporting and a tough sobering and heartbreaking piece. To see you balance that with this piece, not only holding onto our humanity, but celebrating our six to nine decades of dancing around the sun if we’re fortunate, is somehow reassuring . Nice to feel that you are healthy, balanced and reasonably. Couple of my other philosophy/heroes, Jordan Peterson fell into the shadows after cancel culture, his illness and having to surrender to “Team Rightous Right” and the other writer I followed quite a bit, Sam Harris has gone a little stir crazy over his bias with the Israeli Palestinian conflict. kinda like the Jewish rendition of “I’m with OJ he didn’t do it” My spirit, spiritual philosopher lineup: Vervaeke leading off, Jason Silva batting second, Terry Real third, Jamie Wheal batting cleanup. Appreciate you. Neitche , Jung and Steiner in the outfield. MLK jr. on the mound and Jesus calling the game from the catchers position. 😂❤️
More and more, this looks like the option. I’ll just keep leading others back to the ocean to learn breathing, freediving, and connecting to nature. Making love. Listening to music. Watching sunsets. Cooking for people and enjoying watching them enjoy the food I’ve prepared for them. Learning to dance, move, and laugh more freely. This is it. I’m glad I’m far from alone in this.
As an aging hippie who stayed culturally engaged in my vocational life, and benefited spiritually and interpersonally from cars, computers, and cell phones, I still don’t see this as an either/or proposition. Yes, I’m watching today’s tech revolution from the sidelines, mostly from the woods and beaches near my home—but I’m still watching, with curiosity, and even with some tattered remnants of hope.
If society shatters, then we’ll continue to cherish and nourish these reciprocal relationships with nature and the simple truths of the world; this is indeed the most human path through a new dark ages. But at the same time, all these same ethical and practical and interpersonal qualities of connection with the annual cycles of seasons and beauty which we are embedded within will ALSO be a core of the essential rebalancing and re-enlivening that our culture will need if we manage to make it through the eye of the needle into a functional and expansive eco-techno future, where being deeply alive in the real will be more important than ever. While I wouldn’t bet on us making it through that portal, it truly feels like the shape of the future is utterly unknowable from where we stand today….it’s dizzying, the possibilities….
So thank you for weaving the core essence of not-so-simple human connection so beautifully here. Wherever we’re headed, we’ll want to take this along with us.
yeah 100% a fan of flexible adaptation vs doctrinal rigidity. its more of a philosophical position to deeply consider but then hold loosely
The song "May I Suggest" was written by Susan Werner. She is a beautiful soul and it would be really great for your readers to check out more of her work! Please let people know that she wrote these words.
Thanks!
is she not onstage singing in that video? thought she was part of Red Molly?
I did some shows with Susan over the years - she got her start in Philadelphia in the 90s... here are a couple of links, including Susan playing this song at the Philly folk fest...
https://andrewhidas.com/brilliant-songs-32-susan-werners-may-i-suggest/
https://youtu.be/eW1DDSQnEYo?si=TMul1WZcHKyL6rpy
https://open.spotify.com/track/6YL0Y2JJFhbgDWoLocrkYU
Susan plays solo and in various combinations and has written a number of songs that you would find compelling...
And one more of Susan accompanying Red Molly (or ice versa) unrehearsed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xh4xg3nRz8k
Just listened to a bunch. Particularly liked Barbed Wire Boys
I'm sorry I never directly answered your question - Susan Werner does not appear in the video in your newsletterand is not a member of Red Molly. I put some links in my one comment, but substack was not letting edit or add another comment to the thread...
Beautiful. I learned of Red Molly, and their spin offs. I learned of Susan Werner, who has been at her craft for over 30 years. All four of these women appear to mostly play in the North East. Never heard of them before this post.
Jamie, I occassionally have come back to an answer Ken Wilber gave to a question from the audience at one of his get togethers about the suffering in the world and whether we should care about it. From the questioner:
"Returning from Big Mind, it doesn't seem to matter rather we have a role in this play. But on the relative point of view, I think we all care quite a bit about that. So.... next hundred years, next two hundred years? What do you think? And, why should we care?"
I actually think Wilber gave one of his better answers once he gets past his intro to a book he never wrote, and the credit for that goes to the questioner, that would be a younger you. I only recently discovered that fact even though I had come back to this answer several times.
I think Big Mind and Big Heart was/is a great technique to help one clear up what is happening inside our heads.
You clearly care about us Homegrown Humans and you are doing your part every day. Your focus has been "on the other side of the street", the here and now and development of Homegrown Humans. Thanks for what you are doing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TUr949kmZk
Beautifully said. To what end are we marching blindly with our ceaseless technology and industrial progress? Thanks Jamie!
You’ve got a beautiful way with words, Jamie! Thanks for clarifying my own thoughts for me, just clearer. And much funnier!
I’m 68. I’m lucky, I can take my chances and avoid most of it. I’m in. Best to enjoy the light I can feel and see today and not trade it for the near certain nonsense ahead.
This was gorgeous. I’m in. I often think of the one plant they managed to save in Wall-e. As long as there’s just one! And we still have so much more than one. When my daughter, now 19, was in 3rd grade, I tried desperately to make a pact with all the parents in her grade to keep the phones at bay (this was before “wait for 8th.” So many smart, educated, well-resourced parents couldn’t see the point, feel their own agency. Sone kids already had phones. 3rd grade! We waited as long as we could. 9th, I think. It makes me physically ill to see them on their phones. But thank god, my daughter still loves to frolic.
Not sure there’s a better word, or a better activity.
Beautiful BUT it's worth pointing out that the real and unaltered by western colonialism or new age sales tactics Taoism has very little to do with "go with the flow" and also its rich tradition is full of doctrinal exegesis, codes of conduct and ritual.
I love this “losing” proposition. 💔❤️🩹
Thanks for this one 🥹
Absolutely love this post. Thank you.
Jamie, happy to sense through your writing that you are a balanced human being. The last piece I read on Palestine was poignant. I thought essentially good journalism/reporting and a tough sobering and heartbreaking piece. To see you balance that with this piece, not only holding onto our humanity, but celebrating our six to nine decades of dancing around the sun if we’re fortunate, is somehow reassuring . Nice to feel that you are healthy, balanced and reasonably. Couple of my other philosophy/heroes, Jordan Peterson fell into the shadows after cancel culture, his illness and having to surrender to “Team Rightous Right” and the other writer I followed quite a bit, Sam Harris has gone a little stir crazy over his bias with the Israeli Palestinian conflict. kinda like the Jewish rendition of “I’m with OJ he didn’t do it” My spirit, spiritual philosopher lineup: Vervaeke leading off, Jason Silva batting second, Terry Real third, Jamie Wheal batting cleanup. Appreciate you. Neitche , Jung and Steiner in the outfield. MLK jr. on the mound and Jesus calling the game from the catchers position. 😂❤️
Would that many accept the invitation, Jamie Wheal. A question: are in fact adopting this voluntarily simple life? If so, how’s it going?
works for us! mountains, oceans rivers (and groovy tunes) without end...
This is all that I have been feeling and so eloquently put. Thank you. 🙏