So appreciate your perspective! Although I completely emphasize with the left-leaning-progressive and also concerned with the potential catastrophic danger Trump's election poses, I am also seeing an invisible energy that is potentially life-affirming behind all this, if we say yes to it. However, this energy is not something easily spelled out in words, especially not in modern English.
The best I can come up with is a picture. Imagine the left and right perspectives as a line of keys on a piano. When composing a piece of music, each key is necessary and essential (even when it is not played). The collective energy behind Trump's election struck a silent note that has been muted on the collective piano. Emerging from rust and erosions due to lack of care, it sounds awful. But a key is a key. It carries a specific frequency of energy. How can we (left-leaning, progressive, intellectual) re-write our music by incorporating this new note?
Recently I have been teaching ancient Chinese as a way to teach the Tao. So much of our perception of the world is determined by language. As long as we are restricting ourselves to the grammar, semantic sense-making, and logic of modern language, especially modern English, it's very hard to "see" or "hear" the positive energy behind the chaos that's unfolding right now.
However, the opening and softening you proposed here is such a healthy response that can lead us to "see" or "hear" more clearly.
Spring, I read your comment yesterday and I have thought of it multiple times since. The analogy of the note on the piano that is rusty from neglect, but that is eke-ing through now rings so true. The essence of the note needs to be heard and attended to. Thank you for adding your wisdom to the conversation. Big hugs back to you.
Such gorgeous words. All of them. And then you closed with “my” enneagram song! Such beauty amidst such devastation. Thank you for traversing the difficult waters of balance and nuance in such tumultuous times ❤️
Thank you Rachel! "One" is my favorite of all the Enneagram songs from Sleeping at Last. And as an SP3...I relate a lot to 1's. Hope you are navigating the waters of this week with some sort of peace. <3
Ugh love Sleeping At Last. And this is a very thoughtful and well-written way to engage what's happening right now. I admire your willingness to show up to it.
Thank you for your encouragement, Liv! Do you know your Enneagram type, and if so do you like Sleeping at Last's song for your number? (I am a 3, and I kind of like the song but it's a little too slow for my taste...which is kind of the point, I know...) I LOVE the song for 1.
As a neighbour to your north, I find your entire inspiring message here, like a giant hug or a warm cup of cocoa. May all of us, the world over, drink in your words and then most critically decide to take inspired action.
Claire - thank you so much for sharing this in such a vulnerable, honest and insightful way (but...how did you get in my head!?!). Your presence in this space is so valuable!!
Thank you for your response! I'm trying to balance being authentic while also contributing something constructive to the conversation...not easy especially when big emotions and big stakes are involved. It helps to hear it landed for you!
Thank you for sharing those three great questions. They’re exactly what I want to be asking and getting curious about. I need others to give me a perspective. I’m clearly not seeing so I can have hope for our future. I look forward to conversations from a place of learning and letting go.
Thanks for affirming this, Beth. Read Spring's comment on this post, too - I think you'll like it. Her analogy of seeking to hear the musical note in our collective conscious that wants to be heard right now is really opening my heart and my curiosity further.
So appreciate your perspective! Although I completely emphasize with the left-leaning-progressive and also concerned with the potential catastrophic danger Trump's election poses, I am also seeing an invisible energy that is potentially life-affirming behind all this, if we say yes to it. However, this energy is not something easily spelled out in words, especially not in modern English.
The best I can come up with is a picture. Imagine the left and right perspectives as a line of keys on a piano. When composing a piece of music, each key is necessary and essential (even when it is not played). The collective energy behind Trump's election struck a silent note that has been muted on the collective piano. Emerging from rust and erosions due to lack of care, it sounds awful. But a key is a key. It carries a specific frequency of energy. How can we (left-leaning, progressive, intellectual) re-write our music by incorporating this new note?
Recently I have been teaching ancient Chinese as a way to teach the Tao. So much of our perception of the world is determined by language. As long as we are restricting ourselves to the grammar, semantic sense-making, and logic of modern language, especially modern English, it's very hard to "see" or "hear" the positive energy behind the chaos that's unfolding right now.
However, the opening and softening you proposed here is such a healthy response that can lead us to "see" or "hear" more clearly.
Big hugs
Spring
This is such a beautiful analogy, Spring. I especially appreciate it as a musician.
I would ask for caution as labeling the left as “intellectuals” which insinuates the opposite on the other polarity, which en masse isn’t accurate.
Spring, I read your comment yesterday and I have thought of it multiple times since. The analogy of the note on the piano that is rusty from neglect, but that is eke-ing through now rings so true. The essence of the note needs to be heard and attended to. Thank you for adding your wisdom to the conversation. Big hugs back to you.
Such gorgeous words. All of them. And then you closed with “my” enneagram song! Such beauty amidst such devastation. Thank you for traversing the difficult waters of balance and nuance in such tumultuous times ❤️
Thank you Rachel! "One" is my favorite of all the Enneagram songs from Sleeping at Last. And as an SP3...I relate a lot to 1's. Hope you are navigating the waters of this week with some sort of peace. <3
Ugh love Sleeping At Last. And this is a very thoughtful and well-written way to engage what's happening right now. I admire your willingness to show up to it.
Thank you for your encouragement, Liv! Do you know your Enneagram type, and if so do you like Sleeping at Last's song for your number? (I am a 3, and I kind of like the song but it's a little too slow for my taste...which is kind of the point, I know...) I LOVE the song for 1.
As a neighbour to your north, I find your entire inspiring message here, like a giant hug or a warm cup of cocoa. May all of us, the world over, drink in your words and then most critically decide to take inspired action.
Thanks for chiming in to let me know that this message was resonant and comforting!! Yes to "inspired action".
Thank you for this beautiful piece of writing, Claire. This is what the nation needs right now.
Claire - thank you so much for sharing this in such a vulnerable, honest and insightful way (but...how did you get in my head!?!). Your presence in this space is so valuable!!
Thank you for your response! I'm trying to balance being authentic while also contributing something constructive to the conversation...not easy especially when big emotions and big stakes are involved. It helps to hear it landed for you!
Thank you for sharing those three great questions. They’re exactly what I want to be asking and getting curious about. I need others to give me a perspective. I’m clearly not seeing so I can have hope for our future. I look forward to conversations from a place of learning and letting go.
Thanks for affirming this, Beth. Read Spring's comment on this post, too - I think you'll like it. Her analogy of seeking to hear the musical note in our collective conscious that wants to be heard right now is really opening my heart and my curiosity further.