Melting snow is not terribly photogenic, hence this recycled pic from right after the twin blizzards.
According to the cosmology of Thomas Moore (who is responsible for the title of this post), it's OK to be complicated. It's OK to be sad, too. Being "normal" doesn't really do much for anyone except deaden the connection to the soul. Being present, according to Thomas Moore, means being aware not only of what's right in front of your face, but also hanging out with memories, hopes, worries, and the imagination, all of which accompany us every second of every day.
Almost 100% of the time, when I read his books, my head is nodding yes, yes, yes. Yesterday a friend returned his book Original Self that she had borrowed some time ago. When a borrowed book comes back to me, I tend to leaf through it, remind myself why I bought it in the first place.
My head has been nodding. Yes, yes and yes. Moore and James Hillman, and other "archtetypal psychologists" - at least that's what they used to call themselves - are very interested in human depth, more interested in soulfulness than cleverness or stability or "success" - whatever that means - in life.
It's such a relief to read someone who believes, as I do, that people are very complex, and therefore endlessly fascinating. I don't have to understand everything or maintain control over my life, according to Moore. The very idea of control is a fantasy, he says. I couldn't agree more! I'm allowed to be confused which also makes possible states of awe and wonder - as well as possibilities outside the limitations of the status quo. Splendid indeed is the multiverse of Thomas Moore. Oh yeah!
It is melting, though ... took this shot yesterday.
16 comments:
Wow, I'm the first comment!
It seems to me that most of what passes for the richness of life is really pretty trivial. We spend wway too much time chasing happiness and not enough time looking for it.
I have only read Moore in bits and pieces, but I've embraced this concept of gentle presence with the complex self through other writers and teachers. It really is a radical gift to realize it can be this way!
Last night I dreamed that we had finally met, Reya, near a harbour.
We did not speak but just walked a while together. That was nice.
Angela, how nice that we met, next to a body of water. I wish I could remember, but I slept hard and did not remember my dreams this morning.
Merle you are the guy who said, "Life will come to you, if you let it." Words of absolute wisdom, just like today's comment. I salute you.
Anytime anyone tells me I don't have to conform to mainstream culture, I inadvertently sigh with relief. Because I am so NOT mainstream. Yes, Polly, it's a radical gift. Oh yeah.
Your post is awesome. Confucious said in reference to Truth -- don't believe just because I tell you, but investigate for yourself. If it is good, just, honest and uplifts humankind, then believe. I love that!! After reading that, my soul was nodding yes, yes, yes!!
Humans are complex beings. People tend to shy away from their dark qualities, but we should embrace and accept them as well as our light ones. Duality. We are all both good/evil, dark/light, intelligent/ignorant, honest/liar. Both qualities serve a purpose in our time of need.
One of my fave authors, Debbie Ford, writes about this in her book "Why Good People Do Bad Things." An excellent read. Cheers Reya!!
P.S. I, too, am interested in Reiki. It's a facinating science/art. Most people don't understand that humans are pure energy.
More Moore need here, thank you for the reminder! Love the stop sign telling me to stop standing on my head...
To you, in the bottom photograph, that snow is melting but to me, it still looks like an awful lot.
I mostly agree with Merle Sneed's comment except that I think we spend way to much time chasing happiness and not enough time just "being" happy. I do love Thomas Moore's work
I love the phrase "Don't worry, be happy." I doubt that there was a better one written. When you see someone who totally follows that philosophy you see a person who is totally happy. And the phrase, "Come what may, will come." I think these are ways to tell us to accept what happens in life and make the best of it that we can because we cannot change it. Once we accept it then we are usually happier about it.
The snow melting is giving a glimpse of the coming spring and it is oh so beautiful. Plant a garden even if it is just in some pots, it is amazing watching nature grow and all the creatures will love you for it.
Spring is in the air, oh yeah!!!
God bless.
come on green stuff!
Love that title, very apt! We are complicated; so much so, that we are not sure of how we think, how we are constructed, how we break down.
I'm so glad the snow is melting!
I'm going to think about a post along these lines. I find it interesting that so many people endeavor to be positive, happy and upbeat, even when they're not really feeling it. (I certainly do this, anyway.) I've never heard of Thomas Moore -- maybe I should check him out?
reya - i know thomas moore's name but i'm pretty sure i haven't read his writing. i like his thinking (through you here) because we are who we are and we is what we is (says me) and there's so much - so much! - floating around that makes us, that it's a fantasy for sure to think we can contain it or know it all, and i'm very alright with that!!! i like the people who really are. steven
I never tire of the complications and complexity and contradictions of people. I don't know Thomas Moore's work, but his world-view sounds like a YES to me, too.
Good reminder - a bit of complex soul-making mixes well with the Buddhist stripping down. Now - to get enough sleep to catch those dreams!
Wow, this comes to me as a balm during a rough time... thanks for the post!
yes, yes, yes.
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