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Hunting Revisited

Experts no longer expend their time with trial and error learning.  As adolescents leave behind the toys of childhood, favoring more age appropriate stimulation, commitment to excellence naturally turns our attention to those who do it well already.

Once we achieve a consistent level of expertise, we are drawn to those who excel our level of mastery ... those who have honed habits that are tried and true.  Anything less is boring, and can even be irritating.

In the case of finding lean meat for our Palladio kitchens, Professor "Wild Bill" eschewed going out on a wild goose chase any longer!  Instead, he headed first to the children's section of Palladio Libraries and borrowed hard cover copies of Farmer Boy* and Little House in the Big Woods*.   Replete with tried and true methods ...as well as safe, simple and sustainable for both hunter and wild creature, these texts offer great descriptions given through the author of course,  Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Let's hear it now from lean game providers who have, like Professor Wild Bill, gone to those before who mastered the process long ago ("Luminaries," as Professor Renard has called them in the field of Pedagogy).

How has hunting changed? How has nutritional research and "remaining youthful" revised our appreciation of  lean meat? 

And those who assist by supporting leaner choices for us?

 (*This was on the recommendation of Dairy Professor Greta, who had found tips therein for her goat milk production just last month...kids have loved the yogurt and chevre on Palladio's menus across campuses.  And the yogurt packaging ..."Aunti M's Farm" with a pic of  little Aunti M in braids had the primary grade children clamoring for more  the morning after it's Monday morning introduction.)

Let's hear it now also from the goat farmers out there! 

How have nutritional updates revised our appreciation of goat milk, goat yogurt, goat cheese?

So how do we differ from our foremothers and fathers?

David Whyte reminds us that we do nothing but from the shoulders of those who have gone before us.

Wheat was the legacy you received from your father? your mother?

A legacy can be helpful or hindering, depending upon the stage, age, context of your life now, their life then. (Define "then.")

• Get clear on their circumstances ... family, gender, the age, the stage, the times, culture, role, fit.  
• What was the status quo?
• To what extent and in what ways did they go with the flow? swim against the current? swim upstream?
• What behaviors/predispositions did they model for you? bequeath to you? Which was a Trojan Horse? Which an albatross? Which a gift in the rough?

Enneagram Evolution

So I am thinking out loud this morning about this fascinating measurement of temperament -and how it's changed over the decades.  In the eighties, my score indicated that I was a peacemaker.  Now the instrument indicates that I am a Type 2: Helper (with Thinker next in line).

So has the instrument changed? Have I changed?

As I ask these questions, my mind reveals an image of the Six Blind-folded Wise Men ...

     A Great Goddess had delivered deep in the night a special invitation to each representative of the other six continents.   Upon awakening to the morning's light, each felt certain that he was called to Her gathering ... to demonstrate what he knew for sure, and thereby demonstrate an even greater truth.

     After serving a delicious breakfast, tailored of course to the taste preferences of each wise man, Great Goddess ushered the men into a clearing sheltered by tall leafy trees and fragrant with the scent of orange blossom.  Each wise man gracefully took the place set out for him around what appeared to be a Wheel of Seasons.  

    Furtively, each looked around at the placement of the others in relation to himself.  Each inwardly wondered at the meaning of this.  Certainly, every action and particle of matter has a meaning.  Each man's mind raced to discover the meaning behind his position, relative to the others ... and what this would mean for his future.  As each man's mind raced, he grew more inwardly excited.  Wanting desperately to give voice to his concern,  but unwilling to look ignorant -for certainly he should be able to discern the meaning of this - each man twitched in his place. Each man made little clearing sounds in his throat, and released mighty exhalation sounds (approximating, "HERUMPH").

     For what seemed an eternity, the wise men sat together in this circle.  They looked askance at the other s from the corners of their eyes.  They herumphed and twitched and recentered themselves as best they could in a situation such as this.  Momentarily, Great Goddess smiled upon them from her sudden appearance from North on the Wheel of Seasons, "Please know that your presence here is very appreciated, even essential to the Legacy of Truth we bequeath to all who follow us. Do you have any needs that require our attention before we begin our purpose here today?"

     Furtively, once more, the six sets of eyes seemed to search the faces and demeanor of all those around the circle.  Since no one wanted to be the first to seem not enlightened, but lacking in some way albeit endurance, stamina, focus, shrewdness, even patience -not a single request was voiced aloud.  Great Goddess allowed all the time needed to connect eye to eye with each man in her presence -awaiting his articulation of need.  When no needs were expressed, she honored their communications to herself and to each other, "Well then.  We may begin.  From the sky soon will drop a mask without eyes.  When it falls into your lap, please reach for your mask and place it securely over you face.  Keep this mask in place for the duration of our experiment forthcoming.

Please nod agreement if you feel full understanding of what is expected of you."

     All six men nodded and with the final nod masks fell into their laps from the sky.  Each man secured his mask, twitching and gurgling as quietly as possible -as all sound seemed even louder now in their respective darkness.  The air began to tingle and clothing clung to each one sitting in this circle unbroken.  One could hear a pin drop.  The men tried to hide the sounds of their own quickened breathing... but each could certainly hear the others.  Anxiety mounted with each measured exhalation.

   Suddenly, the earth beneath each man rumbled, followed by the scent of something odious, mysterious, indiscernible.  From the North this scent grew stronger and the air moved around each man so that he knew he was in the presence of something powerful, significant, and large enough to get his full attention.  "It is among us my friends.  The time has come to use all the wisdom available to each of you.  Listen carefully to my directions, and know that throughout this experience you are indeed safe.  Nothing can harm you.  Simply do as I direct and rely on the great source of knowing within you for the response I will request of you.  Remember, your response will contribute to not only our Legacy of Truth, but perhaps more importantly the Legacy of Truth Finding."

     With that, Great Goddess shared that before each man was something indeed that mattered, something sacred, something to be discerned.  Each man was to remain where he was planted, but from that place he could use all senses but his eyes to discern what was before him.  He could take all the time he needed.  He could ask as many questions as he wished aloud, and Great Goddess would share the information requested. When each man was satisfied he knew the nature of what was before him, he was to lie down and rest.  When all men were resting, their research would conclude. Great Goddess would seek from each man the conclusions drawn from his experience.  Once all men were heard, Great Goddess would  allow them to remove their masks.  A shared discussion about truth and truth finding would follow.

What do you suppose happened next?

     

And our new year?

Our thoughts are not meant to become our identity except through conscious choice...and if we are not dead or dying, we will grow (our rate from slow to exponential is a dependent variable...more about that as time moves on).

Our thoughts, indeed our "acquired" beliefs, if not detached from authentic life, grow along with us (if we let them ...if we haven't on some unconscious level decided that our once upon a time thoughts have become our identity). Oops!

Since we are alive and free beings, we can change this oversight. The weed can be uprooted, the stagnant mulched.

When we find we have unconsciously, inadvertently done a goulish deed...simply let it go like a Zen monk or nun...let go and let our good intention take over... never hold onto something dead...it will contaminate our very life! So on this New Year Eve, say your boo-hoo, and let it go where all once thought thoughts go ... into the Great Recylcing Been.

By EST, it is now 2011, let it be...plant your current seeds, not the old "genetically engineered" ones of your past. Think happening thoughts...and hang on for dear life...literally!

Happy New Year All...and to all, a good Knight or Lady!

Something in the wisdom of the past ...and bringing it forward now

• There's a children's music CD entitled, Bloom Where Your Are Planted.

I bought it for my daughters over thirty years ago, when it was an "album."  It's ideas are so classic to the harmonious development of childhood ideas about growing and changing, that the album is currently a CD.

The title idea ... Bloom Where Your Are Planted... came to mind this morning during my yoga session.  The sun streamed in the windows as I stretched into each asana in a sequence I have come to love because I benefit internally from each pose.  I rest in each pose... and in resting, images flowing through my mind are reflected.  Words came with the reflection we write about here. 


Later, I arranged a Medicine Wheel session for myself to further examine, then integrate these words reflected on the still waters of my mind during yoga: Bloom Where Your Are Planted .  


Here's what  came to mind:  

• A seed's germinating is compromised when motion diminishes access to nutrients and a place to rest, secure itself, engage it's sprouting process, secure rooting, draw in further nutrients
• to  Bloom Where Your Are Planted,  we need acess to rest and security so that our continual process is undisturbed, 
• In environments that do not ensure sufficient rest and security, sprouts are easily uprooted -withering and dying follows.
• applied to human beings, the germinating and sprouting process needs protection and preservation 
• consider this concept: "necessary and sufficient"and apply it to our intention, our effort
• consider this concept: "ecosystem" and apply it to systematized dynamics
• how do unhealthy systems stay in balance?and do they all finally collapse/
• what is necessary and sufficient to create a system in authentic balance? sustainable balance?
• to ensure the growing that scaffolds the blooming process -both within an individual, and between and among people (physicially, emotionally, ideationally, personality-wise and relationally) 
• because being disturbed ... or not sufficiently nurtured... impairs the blooming process.  To what extent does it also initiate a coping/disease process?
• how does the idea of "necessary and sufficient" bring us more clarity as we our think about seeding? sprouting? blooming? designing healthier dynamics? designing healthier systems ...an ecosystem?
• When is an effort "necessary and sufficient"to bring about an intention?
• To what extent is "necessary and sufficient"
• how can we use this information to develop plans for marriage-making?
• how may we consider how to create a home for both individuals and the union?
• how can we use this information to consider our home's capacity to sustain a child across childhood and adolesence?
• and finally how can we model and educate our children so that they are able to sustain themselves upon adulthood?
• Rest with just one choice question above.  Let that question simply rest in the stillness of your mind, as a small boat floats upon the still waters
• Imagine this boat/question traveling organically through the four seasons from spring through winter...evolving as it naturally does without any push or pull externally
• Respectfully consider now the evolved ideas bloomed during their journey through the seasons -after the winter thaw, -after the boats return to shore: What do your discover? Blog it...

Additional quests to rest with, blog about:
Do we eschew REST because we are addicted to stimulation or certain kinds?

Are we afraid of reflection natural to stillness?

Do we confuse stillness with emotional dying because we have only skimmed it's luminous surface?

Here we enter the depths of rest together and find within REST's  inherent values, respectfully.